QUESTIONS.—1. Where is the town of Tangier? 2. What order had been given by the captain of the vessel? 3. Who seemed most to enjoy the sport? 4. What is said of the old gunner? 5. What did he do? 6. What effect did his shot produce? 7. Describe the closing scene.
[!-- Marker --] LESSON XXIV.
DIS GUISE', concealment.
WAY' LAID, beset by the way.
THREAT' EN ED, declared the intention.
IN CLINE, dispose.
RUF' FIANS, robbers; murderers.
DIS TRIB'UTE, divide; apportion.
TREAS' UR Y, place for keeping money.
ALMS, gifts; donations.
MI' SER LY, covetous; niggardly.
SAL' A RY, wages; allowance for services.
IN VOLV' ING, entangling.
BE WIL' DER ED, puzzled; perplexed.
LOG' IC, reasoning.
SAGE, wise man.
FUL FILL' ING, performing.
E VA' SION, departure from truth.
DE CEIT', deception; fraud.
THE TRUTHFUL KING.
1. A certain Persian king, while traveling in disguise, with but few attendants, was waylaid by robbers, who threatened to take not only his goods, but his life.
2. Feeling himself beyond the reach of human aid, he inwardly made a vow, that if God would incline the hearts of these ruffians to mercy, and restore him in safety to his family and people, he would distribute all the money then in his treasury, in alms to the needy of his realm.
3. The robbers, from some unknown cause, liberated him, and he soon reached home in safety, having sustained no injury, save the loss of the small purse of gold that he had carried in his girdle.
4. Desirous of keeping the vow he had made, he summoned his officers, and commanded them to make immediate distribution to the poor, of all that the treasury contained, at the time of his return.
5. But his officers, more miserly than himself, and, fearful that they might fall short in their salaries and pensions, began to urge upon the monarch the folly of keeping this rash vow, and the danger of thus involving himself and his kingdom in difficulties.