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had not yet eaten; therefore, I could not wait the dance, and I said to the man, "Ah, dear sir! I will immediately go and write all this to my son Johnny, and tell him to pray diligently, and to learn well, and to be good, so that he may also come to this garden. But he has an Aunt Lehne; he must bring her with him." Then the man said, "It shall be so; go and write him so."

Therefore, my dear little son Johnny, learn and pray away! and tell Lippus and Jost, too, that they must learn and pray. And then you shall come to the garden together. Herewith, I commend thee to Almighty God. And greet Aunt Lehne, and give her a kiss, for my sake.

Anno, 1530.

Thy dear father,

MARTINUS LUTHER.

JOHANN GOTTHOLD EPHRAIM LESSING. 1729-1781. Lessing was born in Upper Lusatia, and was the son of a Lutheran clergyman. So early was his love of letters, that, at the age of five, he was unwilling to have his picture taken without a great pile of books by his side. He began his literary career by writing for the stage; but there is scarcely any province of literature which his genius and learning did not illustrate. "He was one of those ill-starred geniuses who fail to find an equal and congenial sphere for the exercise of their faculties, and are never at one with their destiny."

[Translated from the German, by Mr. Hedge.]

FABLES.

ZEUS AND THE HORSE.

"FATHER of beasts and of men!" so spake the horse, approaching the throne of Zeus, "I am said to be one of the most beautiful animals with which thou hast adorned the world; and my self-love leads me to believe it. Nevertheless, might not some things in me be improved?"

"And what, in thee, thinkest thou, admits of improvement? Speak! I am open to instruction," said the indulgent god, with a smile.

"Perhaps," returned the horse, "I should be fleeter, if my legs were taller and thinner. A long swan-neck would not disfigure A broader breast would add to my strength. And, since

me.

thou hast once for all destined me to bear thy favorite, man, the saddle which the well-meaning rider puts upon me might be created a part of me."

"Good!" replied Zeus,

"wait a moment." Zeus, with earnest countenance, pronounced the creative word. Then flowed life into the dust; then organized matter combined; and suddenly stood before the throne, the ugly camel.

The horse saw, shuddered, shuddered and trembled, with fear and abhorrence.

"Here," said Zeus, "are taller and thinner legs; here is a long swan-neck; here is a broader breast; here is the created saddle! Wilt thou, horse, that I should transform thee after this fashion?"

The horse still trembled.

"Go!" continued Zeus. "Be instructed, for this once, without being punished. But, to remind thee, with occasional compunction, of thy presumption, do thou, new creation, continue ! - Zeus cast a preserving glance on the camel," and never shall the horse behold thee without shuddering."

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THE SPIRIT OF SOLOMON.

An honest old man still bore the burden and heat of the day. With his own hands he ploughed his field; with his own hand he cast the pure seed into the loosened bosom of the willing earth.

Suddenly, under the broad shadow of a linden-tree, there stood before him a godlike apparition. The old man was astounded. "I am Solomon," said the phantom, with a voice which inspired confidence. "What dost thou here, old man?"

"If thou art Solomon," replied the old man, "how canst thou ask? In my youth, thou sentest me to the ant; I considered her ways, I learned from her to be diligent and to hoard. What I then learned, I still practise."

"Thou hast learned thy lesson but half," returned the spirit. "Go to the ant again! And now learn from her, also, to rest in the winter of thy gathered!"

days, and to enjoy what thou hast

THE SHEEP.

WHEN Jupiter celebrated his nuptials, and all the animals brought him gifts, Juno missed the sheep.

"Where is the sheep?" asked the goddess." Why does the good sheep delay to bring us her well-meant offering?"

The dog took upon himself to reply, and said, "Be not angry, goddess! It is but to-day that I saw the sheep. She was very sad, and lamented aloud."

"And why grieved the sheep?" asked the goddess, beginning to be moved.

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'Ah, wretched me!" she said; "I have at present neither wool nor milk. What shall I bring to Jupiter? Shall I, -I &lone, appear empty before him? Rather will I go and beg e shepherd to make an offering of me!"

At this moment, together with the prayer of the shepherd, the smoke of the offered sheep ascended to Jupiter through the clouds, -a sweet-smelling savor. And now had Juno wept the first tear, if ever tears bedewed immortal eyes.

JOHANN GOTTFRIED VON HERDER. 1744-1803.

Herder was a native of East Prussia, and his father was very poor. Fortunately, his talents were discovered by the clergyman of the place, who inst.ucted him with his own children. He gained other friends, and, partly through their aid, made great attainments in various departments of science. He was offered a professorship in Göttingen; but accepted the appointment of Court Preacher, and several other offices, at Weimar, where he became a prominent member of the brilliant literary circle which adorned the court of the Grand Duke, and was at length ennobled.

[Translated from the German, by Mary Howitt.]

A LEGENDARY BALLAD.

AMONG green, pleasant meadows,

All in a grove so wild,

Was set a marble image

Of the Virgin and her child.

There, oft, on summer evenings,
A lovely boy would rove,
To play beside the image
That sanctified the grove.

Oft sat his mother by him,
Among the shadows dim,
And told how the Lord Jesus
Was once a child like him.

"And now from highest heaven
He doth look down each day,
And sees whate'er thou doest,
And hears what thou dost say.'

Thus spake the tender mother;
And, on an evening bright,
When the red, round sun descended
'Mid clouds of crimson light,

Again the boy was playing,
And earnestly said he,
"O beautiful Lord Jesus,

Come down and play with me!

"I'll find thee flowers the fairest,
And weave for thee a crown;
I'll get thee ripe, red strawberries,
If thou wilt but come down!

"O, holy, holy Mother,

Put him down from off thy knee! For in these silent meadows

There are none to play with me!"

Thus spake the boy so lovely;

The while his mother heard, And on his prayer she pondered, But spake to him no word.

That self-same night she dreamed
A lovely dream of joy;
She thought she saw young Jesus
There, playing with her boy.

"And for the fruits and flowers
Which thou hast brought to me,
Rich blessings shall be given
A thousand fold to thee.

"For in the fields of heaven

Thou shalt roam with me at will,

And of bright fruits celestial

Thou shalt have, dear child, thy fill!"

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