backgammon one day with a nobleman of his court. There was a doubtful move, and the courtiers who surrounded him were discussing the matter, when (a) the Count de Grammont entered. "Be our judge, count,” said the king to him. "Your majesty has lost," said the count without hesitating. "How can you decide against me without knowing the case?" "Do you not see, sire, that, if there had been the least doubt, all these gentlemen would have decided in your favor?" (Historical.) 27. A COAL-CONTRACTOR FOR HELL. A curate of Newcastle, in England, teaching catechism to a group of children, gave them a very vivid picture of hell, which he said was nothing but a large fiery furnace eternally burning. One of these children, the daughter of a rich coal-merchant, had listened very attentively, and was trying to get nearer to him. The curate noticed it, and, pleased with the zeal of the child, said to her: "Come nearer, my child. Did you understand well? Perhaps you wish me to explain something; speak." "Ah! sir," answered the young girl, "could you recommend my papa as coal-contractor for hell? ” (a) When (quand, lorsque) s'emploie dans le sens de où après les noms de temps. trac avec un seigneur de sa cour; il y eut un coup douteux; et les courtisans qui l'entouraient débattaient cette question au moment où (a) le comte de Grammont entra. "Soyez notre juge, comte,” lui dit le roi. "C'est Votre Majesté qui a perdu," dit le comte sans hésiter. "Comment pouvez-vous décider contre moi avant de savoir de quoi il s'agit?" "Ne voyez-vous pas, sire, que, s'il y eût eu le moindre doute, tous ces messieurs vous auraient donné raison?" (Historique.) 27. LE FOURNISSEUR DE CHARBON DE L'ENFER. Un curé de Newcastle en Angleterre, faisant le catéchisme à un groupe d'enfants, leur fit une trèsvive peinture de l'enfer, qu'il disait n'être qu'une vaste fournaise ardente brûlant éternellement. Une de ces enfants, fille d'un riche marchand de charbon de terre, avait écouté très-attentivement et cherchait à se rapprocher de lui. Le curé s'en aperçut, et, content du zèle de cette enfant, il lui dit: "Approchez-vous, ma fille; avez-vous bien compris ? Peutêtre désirez-vous que je vous explique quelque chose? Parlez." "Ah! monsieur le curé," répondit la jeune fille, "pourriez-vous, par vos recommandations, faire nommer mon papa fournisseur de charbon de l'enfer." (a) Où is used for when after nouns expressive of time. 28. FILIAL PIETY REWARDED. Atys, the son of Croesus, King of Lydia, had reached boyhood without being able to utter a single word. His father had neglected nothing to correct this natural defect; but all the science of physicians had failed. At the taking of Sardis, the capital of Lydia, which was carried by storm by the Persians, this young prince saw a soldier rush sword in hand on his father, and, trembling for his life, he forgets his infirmity, opens his mouth, and collects all his strength to cry out. O prodigy of tenderness! the ties which kept his tongue captive are suddenly broken, and he loudly articulates these words: "Soldier, spare my father! it is Croesus, it is the king!" Thus, young Atys saved the life of his father. He was well repaid for his filial love; he acquired, for the remainder of his life, the precious faculty of expressing his thoughts. (Historical.) 29. TIT FOR TAT. One day a person requiring some information contained in a book, which he knew was in the library of a learned gentleman who occupied the apartment next to his, sent to borrow it. The latter, being very careful of his books, said: "I never lend my books outside. If the gentleman wishes to come and read (a) here, I will lend him with (a) Voir note (a), p. 88. 28. PIÉTÉ FILIALE RÉCOMPENSÉE. Atys, fils de Crésus, roi de Lydie, était parvenu à l'adolescence sans pouvoir proférer une seule parole. Son père n'avait rien négligé pour corriger ce défaut de la nature; mais toute la science des médecins y avait échoué. A la prise de Sardes, capitale de la Lydie, qui fut emportée d'assaut par les Perses, ce jeune prince vit un soldat fondant l'épée à la main sur son père, et, tremblant pour sa vie, il oublie son infirmité, ouvre la bouche et rassemble toutes ses forces pour crier. O prodige de tendresse ! les liens qui retenaient sa langue captive se rompent soudain, et il articule fortement ces. mots: "Soldat, épargne mon père! c'est Crésus, c'est le roi!" C'est ainsi que le jeune Atys sauva la vie à son père. Il fut bien payé de son amour filial: il acquit ainsi, pour le reste de sa vie, la faculté précieuse d'exprimer ses pensées. (Historique.) 29. À BON CHAT BON RAT. Une personne ayant un jour besoin d'un renseignement que contenait un livre, qu'elle savait être dans la bibliothèque d'un savant qui habitait l'appartement voisin, le lui envoya emprunter. Celui-ci, très-soigneux de ses livres, dit: "Je ne prête jamais mes livres au dehors. Si le monsieur veut venir (a) lire ici, je lui prêterai avec plaisir (a) See note (a), p. 89. pleasure all the books he pleases." A few days after, the scholar, being unable to light his fire, sent some one to request his neighbor to lend him his bellows. "I never lend my bellows outside," answered the neighbor; "but if the gentleman chooses to come and blow his fire here, he may use them as long as he pleases." 30. THE EMPEROR AURELIAN. The Emperor Aurelian, having arrived before the town of Tyana, and finding the gates shut, swore, in his anger, that he would not leave a dog alive in that rebellious city. The soldiers were rejoicing beforehand, in the hope of making great booty. The town having been taken, Aurelian said to his troops, who were entreating him to keep his oath: "I have sworn not to leave a dog in the town; kill then, if you wish, all the dogs; but I forbid you to do any harm to the inhabitants." (Historical.) 31. THE ENGLISHMAN AND THE FRENCH BARBER. An Englishman, arriving from Dover, had no sooner landed in (a) Calais than he went to a barber to get shaved. "Sir," said the islander, "I am very nervous and dreadfully afraid of being cut while I am getting shaved. Here is a guinea for you, if (a) Voir note (a), p. 108. |