for every whisper in the room-what were they all thinking of him? He was ashamed to go on kneeling, ashamed to rise from his knees. At last, as it were from his inmost heart, a still small voice seemed to breathe forth the words of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" He repeated them over and over, clinging to them as for his life, and rose from his knees comforted and humbled, and ready to face the whole world.

8. It was not needed: two other boys besides Arthur had already followed his example, and he went down to the great school with a glimmering of another lesson in his heart, the lesson that he who has conquered his own coward spirit has conquered the whole outward world.

9. He found how greatly he had exaggerated the effect to be produced by his act. For a few nights there was a sneer or a laugh when he knelt down, but this passed off soon, and one by one all the other boys but three or four followed the lead. I fear that this was in some measure owing to the fact, that Tom could probably have thrashed any boy in the room except the prepositor; at any rate, every boy knew that he would try upon very slight provocation, and didn't choose to run the risk of a hard fight because Tom Brown had taken a fancy to say his prayers.

2. And when the mighty dome was done,

Within the noble frame,

Upon a tablet broad and fair,

In letters all aflame

With burnished gold, the people read
The royal builder's name.

3. Now, when the king, elate with pride,
That night had sought his bed,
He dreamed he saw an angel come
(A halo round his head),

Erase the royal name, and write

Another in its stead.

4. What could it mean? Three times that night

That wondrous vision came;

Three times he saw that angel hand

Erase the royal name,

And write a woman's in its stead,

In letters all aflame.

5. Whose could it be? He gave command
To all about his throne,

To seek the owner of the name
That on the tablet shone;
And so it was the courtiers found
A widow poor and lone.

6. The king, enraged at what he heard,
Cried, "Bring the culprit here!"
And to the woman, trembling sore,
He said, ""Tis very clear

That you have broken my command;

Now let the truth appear!

7. "Your majesty," the widow said, "I can't deny the truth;

I love the Lord, my Lord and yours,—

And so, in simple sooth,

I broke your majesty's command

(I crave your royal ruth).

s. And since I had no money, sire,

Why, I could only pray

That God would bless your majesty ;
And when along the way

The horses drew the stones, I gave
To one a wisp of hay."

9. "Ah! now I see," the king exclaimed, "Self-glory was my aim;

The woman gave for

love of God,

And not for worldly

'Tis my command the tablet bear

The pious widow's name."

1. WHEN the spring drew near, all the Athenians grew sad and silent, and Theseus saw it, and asked the reason; but no one would answer him a word.

Then he went to his father, and asked him; but Ægeus turned away his face and wept.

"Do not ask, my son, beforehand, about evils which must happen: it is enough to have to face them when they come."

2. When the spring came, a herald came to Athens, and stood in the market, and cried, "O people and king of Athens, where is your yearly tribute?" Then a great lamentation arose throughout the city. But Theseus stood up to the herald, and cried, —

"And who are you, dog-faced, who dare demand tribute here? If I did not reverence your herald's staff, I would brain you with this club."

3. And the herald answered proudly, for he was a grave and ancient man,

"Fair youth, I am not dog-faced or shameless; but I do my master's bidding, Minos, the king of hundredcitied Crete, the wisest of all kings on earth. And you must be surely a stranger here, or you would know why I come, and that I come by right."