much better." He then withdrew. Almost immediately after
this, the eldest son of the widow came in with a medical man.

"O mother!" cried the boy, "a kind, good gentleman has given me all
this!" and he placed in his mother's hand, the money which the emperor
had given him. "There now, don't cry, mother; this money will pay the
doctor and buy every thing till you are well and strong again."

"A physician has already been here, my child, and has left his
prescription. See, there it is." and she pointed to the paper on the
chimney-piece. The boy took the paper, and no sooner had he glanced at
its contents, than he uttered an exclamation of joyful surprise.

"O mother! It's the best prescription a physician ever wrote; it's an
order for a pension, mother--a pension for you--signed by the emperor
himself; listen, mother; hear what he says:--

"'_Madam:_--Your son was fortunate enough to meet me in the city,
and informed me of the fact that the widow of one of my bravest
officers was suffering from poverty and sickness, without any means
of assistance. I had no knowledge of this, therefore I can not be
accused of injustice.

"'It is difficult for me to know every thing that takes place in my
empire. Now that I do know of your distress, I should indeed be
ungrateful, did I not render you all the help in my power. I shall
immediately place your name on the pension list for the yearly sum
of two thousand florins, and trust that you may live many years to
enjoy it.

"'_Joseph II_.'"

The widow and her children were taken under the especial care of the
emperor, and a brilliant career was opened up for the boys, who had
inherited all their father's bravery as well as their mother's gentle
nature.

* * * * *

Directions for Reading.--Mark the _inflection_ of the following
questions.

Where do you live?

Is your name Harry or John?

Why are you begging?

Do you wish to walk?

In such a question as the last one, if _emphasis_ be given in turn to
the words _you, wish, walk_, the answer might still be _yes_ or
_no_; and yet the meaning of the answer would be different in each
case.

Do _you_ wish to walk? Yes, I do.

Do you _wish_ to walk? No, I do not _wish_ to walk; but suppose I
must.

Do you wish to _walk?_ No, I would rather _ride_.

* *