Deny their office; only you do lack

That mercy, which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note, for mercy-lacking uses.

Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes
For all the treasure that thine uncle owns;

Yet I am sworn, and I did purpose, boy,

With this same very iron to burn them out.

Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised.

Hub. Peace: no more: Adieu !—

Your uncle must not know but you are dead:
I'll fill these dogged spies with false reports.
And, pretty child, sleep dauntless, and secure
That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
Will not offend thee.

Arth. O heaven!—I thank you, Hubert.

Hub. Silence: no more. Go closely in with me: Much danger do I undergo for thee.

[Shakspeare.

THE EVIL ADVISER.

Thomas. What's your hurry, Frank? stop a minute. Frank. I can't stay! Father sent me with this letter to the railroad depot.

Th. Well, the depot won't run away.

Fr. But the cars will; there's a gentlemen going to New York, who promised to carry this letter, and there's money in it for my brother.

Th. But don't you see it's but ten minutes past three,— and the cars don't start till four, and you have time enough for what I want of you.

Th. Just step in here to see the wild beasts with me; you have never been, have you?

Fr. No: I'll go when I come back from my errand.

Th. No, you can't, for then it will be time to go to the writing-master.

Fr.

Then I'll go with you to-morrow.

Th. No, you can't, for this is the last day of the exhibition. Fr. Is it? that's bad! I did not know there were any beasts in town till to-day. How many are there?

Th. Ever so many; there's a polar bear, and an elephant, and a most beautiful rhinoceros,—

Fr. I have seen a rhinoceros, and he is the ugliest creature that ever was; his skin sets as loosely upon him as a sailor's

trousers.

Th. Well, there's a royal tiger,—

Fr. Is there? I never saw a royal tiger!

Th. O he's a beauty, all yellow, and covered with black stripes. Then there are little leopards playing just like kittens; and,—there! there! do you hear that? that's the lion roaring!

Fr. Whew! that's a peeler! How long will it take to see them all?

Th. O not half an hour; and it won't take you five minutes to run down to the depot afterward, if you clip it like a good fellow.

Fr. Are there any monkeys?

Th. Plenty of them! the funniest monkeys you ever saw ; they make all sorts of faces.

Fr. Well, I don't know,-what if I should be too late for the cars ?

Th. No danger of that, I tell you; the town clock up there is too fast; it's all out of order; and, beside, you might

see half the beasts while you are standing here thinking about it; looking up the street and down the street.

Fr. Well; come along, then; where's your money ?

Th. O! I don't pay! I got acquainted with the doorkeeper after I had been in twice, and now he lets me in for nothing every time I bring a fellow that does pay.

Fr. O ho! well, I suppose it's quarter of a dollar, and I have one somewhere in my pockets. (Pulling out his handkerchief to search for the money, drops the letter.) Ah! here it is! Come, Tom! no time to be lost. Mind you do not let me stay too long.

(They go into the exhibition booth.)

(Frank's father, passing along, picks up the letter, examines it, looks round for Frank, and passes hastily away.)

(After some time, the boys come out.)

Th. You did not see half of them, you were in such a hurry and worry.

Fr. I know it. Are you sure that clock is too fast, Tom? Th. I don't know,-I suppose so,-the clocks are wrong half the time.

Fr. Why, you told me it was too fast, Tom! and now I'll bet any thing I shall be too late! I wish I hadn't gone in!

Th. Well, why don't you move, then? What are you rummaging after?

Fr. Why, after my letter. I'm sure I put it in this pocket. What in the name of wonder has become of it?

Th. Look in t' other pocket.

Fr. It is n't there! nor in my hat! What shall I do?
Th. Why, you can't have lost it, can you?

Fr. I have lost it; I am sure as I can be I had it in this very pocket just before I met you, and now it's gone!

Th. May be somebody stole it in the crowd.

Fr. That's comfort! There was ever so much money in it, for I heard father talking about it at dinner-time.

Th. O! I'll tell you what's become of it?

Fr.

Th.

What? what?

Why, I guess the elephant took it out of your pocket!

Fr. You ought to be ashamed to stand there laughing, after you have got me into such a scrape! I have a great mind to go in again and look all round.

Th. They won't let you in again, unless you pay.

Fr. O, Tom! what will my father say to me? Where shall I look? I wish I had never heard of the beasts; there was no comfort in looking at them, for I was thinking of the cars all the time; and now my letter is lost, and brother Henry's money, and all; and what will father do to me?

Th. What's the use of telling him any thing about it? he'll never know whether the letter went or not, if you don't say a word.

Fr. Yes, he will; my brother will write to inquire for the money.

Th. Well, and can't you say you gave the letter to the gentleman?

Fr. No, Tom; I can't do that. I can't tell a lie, and, above all, to my father.

Th. The more fool you! But you needn't look so mad about it. There's your father coming now! run and tell him, quick, and get a whipping!

Fr. He will punish me, Tom; that he will. What shall I do? Th. Take my advice; I'll tell a fib for you, and do you hold to it.

Fr. I never told a lie in my life, Tom!

Th.

Then it's high time you did; you'll have to tell a before

great many

you die.

Fr. I don't believe that.

Th. Well, here's your father. Now see how I'll get you out of the scrape. That's right! keep staring up at the hand-bill on the wall.

(Enter Father; Frank stares at the hand-bill.)

Father. Why, Frank, you have run yourself out of breath; I trust that letter will go safely, for your brother wants the money very much.

Th. Frank was just in time, sir. The cars were just starting.

Fath. O you went with him, did you ?

Th. Yes, sir; and I saw the gentleman put the letter in his pocket-book very carefully. I fancy it will go safe enough. Fath. I fancy it will. What is in that hand-bill, Frank, that interests you so much?

Fr. I don't know, sir.

Fath. What's the matter, my boy?

Fr. I can't stand it, father! I can't stand it! I had rather take ten whippings, Tom, any day, than,—than,— Fath. Ho, ho! what is all this?

Th. You are a fool, Frank.

Fr. I know I am a fool; but I can't tell a lie. I lost the letter, father; I went to see the wild beasts with Tom, and lost the letter!

Fath. And this precious fellow wanted you to deceive me about it, did he?

Th. Why, I thought,

Fath. Frank! I would willingly lose a dozen letters, with ten times as much money in them, for the pleasure of finding you resist the temptation! Come here, my boy, and leave off crying. I found the letter, and carried it myself to the depot in time for the cars; I can forgive your folly,—since it has