sport, she shrieked out, and cried, she was falling. Robinet, hastening to support her with his other hand, let his basket drop into the stream. As soon as she was safe over, he jumped in, and recovered it; but, when he took it out, he perceived that all the salt was melted, and the pepper washed away. Nothing was now left but the onions. Well! exclaimed Robinet, then I must sup tonight upon roasted onions and barley-bread. Last night, I had the bread, alone. To-morrow morn

ing, it will be of no consequence, what I have. So saying, he trudged on, singing, as before.

GENEROUS REVENGE.

Ar the period when the Republic of Genoa* was divided between the factions of the nobles and the people, Uberto, a man of low origin, but of an elevated mind and superior talents, and enriched by commerce, having raised himself to be the head of the popular party, maintained, for a considerable time, a democratical form of govern

ment.

The nobles, at length, uniting all their efforts, succeeded in subverting this state of things, and regained their former supremacy. They used their victory with considerable rigor; and, in particular, having imprisoned Uberto, proceeded

*In Italy. See a map of Europe.

against him as a traitor, and thought they displayed sufficient lenity, in passing a sentence upon him of perpetual banishment, and the confiscation of all his property. Adorno, who was then possessed of the first magistracy, a man, haughty in temper, and proud of ancient nobility, though otherwise not void of generous sentiments, in pronouncing this sentence on Uberto, aggravated its severity, by the insolent terms in which he conveyed it. "You," said he, "the son of a base mechanic, who have dared to trample upon the nobles of Genoa, you, by their clemency, are only doomed to shrink again into the nothing, whence you sprung."

Uberto received his condemnation with respectful submission to the court; yet, stung by the manner in which it was expressed, he could not forbear saying to Adorno, "that perhaps he might hereafter find cause to repent the language he had used to a man capable of sentiments as elevated as his own." He then made his obeisance, and retired; and, after taking leave of his friends, embarked in a vessel bound for Naples,* and quitted his native country, without a tear.

He collected some debts due to him in the Neapolitan dominions, and, with the wreck of his fortune, went to settle on one of the islands in the Archipelago, belonging to the State of Venice.

* In Italy. Look on the map of Europe.

Archipelago. A considerable portion of the Mediterranean Sea is so called; it is partly in Europe, and partly in Asia. Its principal islands are forty-five in number.

Here, his industry and capacity, in mercantile pursuits, raised him, in a course of years, to greater wealth than he had possessed in his most prosperous days at Genoa; and his reputation for honor and generosity equalled his fortune.

Among other places, which he frequently visited as a merchant, was the city of Tunis,* at that time in friendship with the Venetians, though hostile to most of the other Italian states, and especially to Genoa. As Uberto was on a visit to one of the first men of that place, at his country house, he saw a young Christian slave at work, in irons, whose appearance excited his attention. The youth seemed oppressed with labor, to which his delicate frame had not been accustomed, and, while he leaned, at intervals, upon the instrument with which he was working, a sigh burst from his full heart, and a tear stole down his cheek. Uberto eyed him with tender compassion, and addressed him, in Italian. The youth eagerly caught the sounds of his native tongue, and, replying to his inquiries, informned him he was a Genoese." And what is your name, young man ?" said Uberto. "You need not be afraid of confessing to me your birth and condition." "Alas!" he answered, "I fear my captors already suspect enough to demand a large ransom. My father is indeed one of the first men in Genoa. His name is Adorno, and I am his only son. "Adorno!" Uberto checked himself from uttering more, aloud, but, to himself,

*In Africa. See a map of that quarter of the world.

he cried, "Thank Heaven! then I shall be nobly revenged."

He took leave of the youth, and immediately went to inquire after the corsair captain, who claimed a right in young Adorno, and, having found him, demanded the price of his ransom. He learned that he was considered as a captive of value, and that less than two thousand crowns* would not be accepted. Uberto paid the sum; and, causing his servant to follow him with a horse and a complete suit of handsome apparel, he returned to the youth, who was working, as before, and told him he was free. With his own hands, he took off his fetters, and helped him to change his dress, and mount on horseback. The youth was tempted to think it all a dream, and the flutter of emotion almost deprived him of the power of returning thanks to his generous benefactor. He was soon, however, convinced of the reality of his good fortune, by sharing the lodging and table of Uberto.

After a stay, of some days, at Tunis, to despatch the remainder of his business, Uberto departed homewards, accompanied by young Adorno, who, by his pleasing manners, had highly ingratiated himself with him. Uberto kept him, some time, at his house, treating him with all the respect and affection he could have shown the son of his dearest friend. At length, having a safe opportunity of sending him to Genoa, he gave him a faithful

* A crown is a silver coin, about equal, in value, to one dollar and fifteen cents.

servant for a conductor, fitted him out with every convenience, slipped a purse of gold into one hand, and a letter into the other, and thus addressed him :

My dear youth, I could, with much pleasure, detain you longer in my humble mansion, but İ feel your impatience to revisit your friends, and I am sensible, that it would be cruelty to deprive them, longer than is necessary, of the joy they will receive, in recovering you. Deign to accept this provision for your voyage, and deliver this letter to your father. He probably may recollect something of me, though you are too young to do So. Farewell! I shall not soon forget you, and I shall hope you will not forget me." Adorno poured out the effusions of a grateful and affectionate heart, and they parted, with mutual tears and embraces.

The young man had a prosperous voyage, home; and the transport, with which he was again beheld by his almost heart-broken parents, may more easily be conceived than described. After learning that he had been a captive at Tunis, (for it was supposed that the ship, in which he sailed, had foundered at sea,) " And to whom," said old Adorno," am I indebted for the inestimable benefit of restoring you to my arms ?" "This letter," said his son," will inform you." He opened it, and read as follows:

"That son of a vile mechanic, who told you that one day you might repent the scorn with which you treated him, has the satisfaction of