ed with sorrow at a tale of woe, and he longed for nothing more than opportunities to relieve the distresses of his fellow creatures.
He had scarcely finished this fine harangue, when a good looking man in plain attire, approached them, humbly soliciting their attention to his mournful story; he said that his house had been burnt, and his stock in trade completely destroyed, at the same time producing vouchers for the truth of his assertions, from persons of the most umdoubted credibility.
The citizen who had not spoken declared his inability to relieve the unfortunate petitioner; but observed to his friend, that here was a fine opportunity of displaying his favourite virtue. The beneficent man, however, declared that pity, was all he could then afford, and he never carried money about him.
The other on the departure of the poor mendicant, began to upbraid his friend: telling him he should have relieved the man himself, had he not been withheld from delicate motives, not wishing to deprive him of his darling pleasure, and again, charity, being a virtue to which he had never pretended. "Now," added he, to his abashed companion, "you have clearly demonstrated that benevolence is your characteristic, valor is mine! I look with reverence on the annals of former times, which furnish us with so many instances of admirable intrepidity; and sadly regret the want of magnanimity in our days, yet, notwithstanding this almost general defection, I think I may without vanity, boast of as much personal courage as any
