less as the wind that moans
And wanders through the streets.

--_Longfellow._

905

GIVE GOOD MEASURE.

When I was a young man, there lived in our neighborhood one who was
universally reported to be a very liberal man, and uncommonly upright in
his dealings. When he had any of the produce of his farm to dispose of,
he made it an invariable rule to give good measure, over good, rather
more than could be required of him. One of his friends, observing him
frequently doing so, questioned him why he did it, told him he gave too
much, and said it would not be to his own advantage. Now mark the answer
of this man. "God Almighty has permitted me but one journey through the
world; and when gone I cannot return to rectify mistakes."

906

To be honest and faithful is to belong to the only aristocracy in the
world--and the smallest.

--_Israel Zangwill._

907

COMMERCIAL HONESTY.

On one occasion the first Napoleon being informed that a certain army
contractor had cheated the government by supplying the troops with very
inferior and insufficient food, sent for him to inquire into the affair.
"How is this?" said the Emperor: "I understand you have been violating
your contract." "Sire," was the answer, "I must live." "No," replied the
monarch, "I do not see the _must_. It is not necessary that you should
live; but it is necessary that you should do right."

908

Too much assertion gives ground of suspicion; truth and honesty have no
need of loud protestations.

909

REUBEN AND SANDY.

Can any one who was present ever forget the broken voice and streaming
tears with which he (Dean Stanley) told the story of two little Scotch
boys, Reuben and Sandy? The story was as follows: "On a cold winter day,
a gentleman in Edinburgh had, out of pity, bought a box of matches from
a poor, little, shivering boy, and, as he had no pence, had given him a
shilling, of which the change was to be brought to his hotel. Hours
passed by, and the boy did not return. Very late in the evening a mere
child came to the hotel. 'Are you the gentleman that bought the matches
frae Sandy?' 'Yes.' 'Well, then, here's fourpence out o' yer' shillin';
Sandy canna come. He's verra ill. A cart ran over him and knocked him
doon, and he lost his bonnet and his matches and yer sevenpence, and
baith his legs are broken, and the doctor says he'll dee; and th