ther uses. He should sell the oil and the wine and the
wheat which are left over at the close of the year. Let him also sell
the old oxen, the calves, lambs, the wool, the hides, the unserviceable
carts, the rusty iron, the old, infirm, and sick slaves. Let him be ever
selling. The father of the family should be the seller, not the buyer.
Note that well, Scipio!"

But Scipio was restless and scarcely heard him.

The rustics had ceased boxing, and the youth, eager to be off, glanced
far away toward the river.

"Cato, this is the time for athletics. I must go to the bank of the
Tiber to train myself in running and in pugilism, and to take an hour
for swimming afterward."

"Go when you will, and heed my advice. After the lesson, athletics and
the cold bath, which harden the body, are excellent. The citizen who
wishes to serve his country must not only be prudent but strong."

The boy walked away, and Cato retracing his steps met the Greek who was
following him. Actaeon's appearance attracted him, and he approached.

"Greek," he said, "what do you think of our city?"

"It is a gloomy town, but a great one. I have been in Rome only three
days."

"Are you, perchance, the messenger from Saguntum, who will appear before
the Senate to-day?"

Actaeon replied in the affirmative, and the Roman leaned on his arm with
grave familiarity, as if he were an old friend.

"You will accomplish very little," he said. "The Senate is suffering
with a sickness just now--an excess of prudence! I detest mad deeds; I
do not believe that Hannibal is a great captain, since I see him commit
such an audacity as the siege of Saguntum; but I cannot tolerate in
silence the faint-heartedness with which Rome proceeds in her affairs.
She wishes to avail herself of all means to keep the peace. She fears
war, while war with Carthage is inevitable. She and our city will not
fit in the same sack. The world is too small for the two. I am always
saying, 'Let us destroy Carthage!' and they laugh at me. Some years ago,
when the war of the mercenaries broke out, we could have crushed her
with ease. By sending to Africa a brace of legions the revolted
Numidians and the mercenaries would have finished with Carthage; but we
were afraid; after her victory Rome occupied herself only in healing her
wounds. We feared the uprising of the soldiery of all countries, so we
saved Carthage, helping her to destroy her revolted mercenaries."

"It is different now," sa