not enjoy, yet he refuses to relieve the distresses of an only brother.

"My name, signor, is Camillo Schedoni, and my father was a merchant of some eminence; myself, and my brother who is two years younger, were his only children, and as he intended us for his own profession, he spared no expence, as we grew up, to initiate us in all the mysteries of commerce. Naturally industrious and of an active disposition, my attention to business rendered me my father's favourite, and this preference my brother never forgave. While we were yet young, our parent died, and bequeathed his fortune in equal proportions between us. Attached to and expert in trade I continued to traffic, but brother declined remaining with me, and quitted Naples. He went to Rome, and there married a woman whose fortune was superior to his own; he returned with her to Naples, and for some time he lived in a stile of luxury and extravagance ill befitting his situation

my

in life. I used the privilege of a brother, and remonstrated with him on his conduct; but he heard me with indifference, and replied in a manner that proved my admonitions were far from welcome: from that time we became almost strangers, and my marriage soon after totally divided us.

My wife was of humble birth, and unblest with the gifts of fortune; but her heart was good, and her temper gentle and affectionate. The haughty wife of my brother, however, treated her with contempt; and as I was resolved not to suffer her a second time to be insulted, all intercourse between us ceased.

"Providence blessed my industry, and I saw myself in possession of every comfort, and gifted with the means of being serviceable to my fellow-creatures.

"My brother's mode of life, as I had foretold, soon involved him in difficulties, and in a short time he was reduced almost to indigence; hurt as I had been by his behaviour, yet I could not forget

that he was my brother, and I strained my credit to the utmost to serve him; my wife, too, overlooked the contemptuous treatment that she had received from her sister-in-law, and endeavoured by the kindest attentions to alleviate the sorrows which that vain and unfeeling woman had brought upon herself.

"Grown wiser by misfortune, my brether now sedulously applied himself to business, and in a short time his affairs began to wear a prosperous appearance; Heaven knows how sincerely I rejoiced in his good fortune, and he hypocritically pretended to feel the warmest gratitude for what I had done, and to ascribe his success solely to my advice and assistance: but while I saw with pleasure that he daily throve more and more, I found that, by one of those vicissitudes which unfortunately occur but too frequently amongst commercial men, my credit received a shock: I recovered it, however, and for some time I proceeded as formerly..

"But I was destined to meet with severe trials: my wife, who had been the soother of every care, died; and this blow was for a time more than I could bear. My boy was too young to be sensible of his loss, or to be of service to me, but I committed my affairs to the care of my brother, and I resigned myself wholly to the indulgence of a grief, which I found it was in vain to try to conquer.

"For some time, absorbed in sorrow, I heeded not how my business proceeded; nor did I rouse from my lethargy 'till it was too late 'till I was ruined. Oh, signor, what were my feelings when the truth burst upon me! when I found that 1 had been a victim to a brother's malice and duplicity, and that myself and two helpless children (this youth, then ten years old, and a girl two years younger), were reduced by him to beggary! "The malignant pleasure with which he announced to me the state of my af fairs, first opened my eyes to his treachery; and when I asked the assistance

which, as a brother, I had a right to demand, the vague and frivolous manner in which it was refused, convinced me that I was his victim, and that all hope from him was vain. Too proud to complain, I bore my misfortunes in silence; and as his wife offered to take the charge of my children, I hoped that industry would enable me, after some time, to procure bread for them and for myself.

"It was however my lot to drain the cup of poverty even to the very dregs; my brother's conduct influenced others, where I was treated with un

and kindness.

every

Why do not you apply to your brother?' was the reply of all those from whom I solicited assistance: he is rich and childless, doubtless he will enable you again to enter life with credit.'

"Alas! so far from serving me, he strove to embitter my situation; my son was accustomed to hear him daily speak of the imprudence of my conduct: I had charged Camillo never to notice