he could; and not only provided for us, but also for our horses.'

"When a stranger approaches an Arab village,' says La Roque, 'he signifies to the chief, that he wants a supper and lodging; and he confers on him all that he wants. But often, as soon as the people see a stranger advancing, they go out to meet him; if he wishes for refreshment, and then to go forward, he stays under some tree, and they bring him eggs, butter, curds, honey, olives, or fruit, either fresh or dried.'

"Whoever presents himself at their door,' says Volney, referring to the Druses, 'in the quality of a suppliant, or a passenger, is sure of being entertained with lodging and food in the most generous and unaffected manner. I have often seen the lowest peasants give the last morsel of bread they had in their houses to the hungry traveller. When they have once contracted with their guest the sacred engagement of bread and salt, no subsequent event can make them violate it.'

"Nothing,' says Elphinstone, in his account of the kingdom of Caubul, 'could exceed the civility of the country people; we were often invited into gardens, and were welcomed in every village by almost every

What does La Roque say of Arabian hospitality? What does Volney relate of the Druses? How did the people of Caubul treat Elphinstone ?

man that saw us. Sometimes they would lay hold of our bridles, and not permit us to pass, till we had promised to breakfast with them on some future day, and confirmed the promise by putting our hands between theirs."

"Did you say, father, that the people in the East make an engagement with strangers with bread and salt?"

"Yes; salt was often regarded as the emblem of friendship and fidelity: hence it was mixed with their sacrifices and covenants.

"The divine Author of Christianity expects from his disciples universal benevolence; and they all exemplify it, who are really what they profess to be. Hence, at the day of final reckoning, he has told us, that he will say to them, 'I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Inasmuch as ye have done it. unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." "

"You often say that nothing is lost by kindness.” “True, Harry; and I do think that this is the case: How was salt regarded by the people of the East? What does Christ expect from his disciples? What will he say to them at the last day?

it may be laid down as a general rule. He who shows kindness to his fellow creatures, is sure to be repaid with kindness. The measure we mete to others, is very often, even in the present world, 'measured to us again.' And every benevolent individual has an immediate, and a most gratifying reward in his own. bosom."

HOMAGE.

"How low that man bowed to you, father!" "He did, Harry; though I never wish people to do so; but when they do, I think it my duty carefully to return their courtesy."

"Yes, I took notice; you bowed almost as low as he did; and the man was but a labourer, was he?"

"I believe not, Harry. Henry the Fourth of France,-who, by the way, was by far the best of the French kings, was standing one day, with some of his courtiers, at the entrance of a village, and a poor man, passing by, bowed down to the very ground; and the king with great condescension, returned his salutation just in the same manner; at which one of his

Will those be repaid who show kindness to their fellow creatures? Relate the anecdote of Henry the Fourth.

attendants ventured to express his surprise, when the monarch finely replied to him,-" Would you have your king exceeded in politeness by one of the lowest of his subjects?"

"The Scriptures frequently mention acts of homage, which are not common among us."

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True, Harry; yet they are still common in the East; though, I think, their manners in this respect are not to be commended. Such humiliation as is there required by the great men from their inferiors is evidently improper from man to man; we ought thus to humble ourselves before God, but not before our fellow-creatures. A free people will approach their sovereign with heartfelt respect and esteem, but not as if they were his abject slaves. Though the individual upon a throne be adorned with royal magnificence, he is still but a man; and no one ought to approach him in the same way that he would enter into the presence of the Divine Majesty."

"Will you mention some of the instances in the Scripture which show the manner of the Eastern homage ?"

"There are many, Harry. When Joseph's brethren came before him, they bowed down themselves be

Is homage common in the East? Is it to be commended? Before whom ought we to humble ourselves. How ought a sovereign to be approached?

fore him with their faces to the earth.' When a servant had a favour to beg, Our Lord represents him as falling down at his Master's feet; and the inferior servant as falling down before him who was in a higher station. So the Syrophenician woman fell down at the feet of our Lord. Thus the Prophet Isaiah represents the nations of the earth as coming, with all humility and gratitude, into the Church of God. 'With their faces to the earth,' he says, 'they shall bow down to thee, and shall lick the dust off thy feet.' And in the 72nd Psalm it is predicted that the enemies of Messiah <shall lick the dust.' These expressions evidently are descriptive of deep humiliation."

"I recollect, in that account which you lent me of Hugh Boyd's embassy to Ceylon, he says, that when he was called to visit the king, he knelt before him; but he adds, 'My companions almost literally licked the dust; prostrating themselves with their faces almost close to the stone floor, and throwing out their arms and legs; then, rising on their knees, they repeated, in a very loud voice, a certain form of words of the most extravagant kind that can be conceived; such as that the head of this king of kings might reach

Mention some instances which show the manner of Eastern homage. What does Hugh Boyd say of his visit to the King of Ceylon ૨