n under a heavy load of coal. He
told the man his case, who agreed to let him carry away the coal, and
they might pay for it, if they were able, when he called for it. But he
never called. It is _always safe to do right_.

_A son's love._

A man in Sweden was condemned to suffer death for some offences
committed while he held a public office. He had a son, about eighteen
years of age; who, as soon as he heard of it, hastened to the judge and
begged that he might be allowed to suffer instead of his father. The
judge wrote to the king about it; who was so affected by it that he sent
orders to grant the father a free pardon, and confer upon the son a
title of honor. This, however, the son refused to receive. "Of what
avail," said he, "could the most exalted title be to me, humbled as my
family already is in the dust?" The king wept, when he heard of it, and
sent for the young man to his court.

_Filial piety rewarded._

Frederick, king of Prussia, one day rung his bell, and nobody answering,
opened the door and found his page fast asleep. Seeing a letter in his
pocket, he took it out and read it, and found it was a letter from his
mother, thanking him for having sent a part of his wages to relieve her
wants. The king was so much pleased that he slipped a bag full of
ducats into the young man's pocket, along with the letter.

_Filial Tenderness._

A young man, newly admitted to the military school in France, would eat
nothing but bread and soup, and drink nothing but water. He was reproved
for his singularity; but still he would not change. He was finally
threatened with being sent home, if he persisted. "You will not, I hope,
be displeased with me," said he to the Principal of the institution;
"but I could not bring myself to enjoy what I think a luxury, while I
reflect that my dear father and mother are in the utmost indigence. They
could afford themselves and me no better food than the coarsest of
bread, and of that but very little. Here I have excellent soup, and as
much fine wheat bread as I choose. I look upon this to be very good
living; and the recollection of the situation in which I left my
parents, would not permit me to indulge myself by eating any thing
else."

_Filial impiety punished._

God has promised long life and prosperity to the child that honors his
parents. Of course, this promise is not meant to be _absolute_; for
many die before they have an opportunity of obeying the command, and
others