A KIND-HEARTED EMPEROR. 1. Joseph II., Emperor of Austria, used to wander about his dominions under a variety of disguises. He thus came within hearing of complaints which would never have reached him on his throne; and he was enabled personally to give help to the needy, and comfort to the sorrowing. On one occasion he was passing through the streets of Vienna, dressed as a private gentleman, gathering several useful hints from the casual remarks of those whom he addressed. 2. It is not often that hodden gray and regal purple are brought so closely together; not often that a king and his poor subjects speak freely to each other. As the emperor passed a church, his steps were arrested by an importunate appeal for charity. He distributed some money amongst the applicants, and was about to proceed when his attention was drawn to a boy about twelve years old. who came timidly towards him. 3. "What can I do for you, my little friend?" said the emperor. He spoke kindly, and the child was encouraged to reply. "Oh, sir," answered the child, in a voice trembling with emotion, "you are so kind that you repulse no one; you will not refuse to bestow your charity on me!" 4. "Indeed I should be sorry to refuse you," said the emperor; "but how is it you are begging? You were meant for something better; your voice, your manner, show me you are no child of the streets; why are you in tears, and why do you blush when you ask for help?" 5. "Your goodness, sir, encourages me to speak freely," the boy replied. "For months past we have been destitute. My father was a gallant officer in the imperial army; compelled by illness to quit the service, he supported his family on a pension granted to him by the emperor; at the beginning of this year he died, and we are left quite destitute." 6. "Poor child! Is your mother alive?" "She is, sir; and I have two brothers, who are with her now. She has been unable to leave her bed for weeks, and one of us must watch beside her while the others come out to beg!" The child burst into a flood of tears. 7. "Take comfort, my boy," said the emperor; "we'll see what can be done to help you. Is there any doctor to be found near here?" "There are two, sir, not a stone's throw from the church." "That is well; fetch one of them to your mother's assistance. There is money, not only for the physician's fee, but to provide all things that may be necessary for weeks to come. Take it, child, don't fear, rest assured the good services of your father shall not go unrewarded." 8. The child gazed upon him in amazement. "Oh, sir," said he, "how can I sufficiently thank you? You have saved my mother's life; you have also kept my brothers from want." "Not a word, child; go, seek the physician." 9. The boy obeyed with alacrity, and the emperor, having ascertained the situation of the house where he resided, bent his steps in that direction, and soon arrived at the dwelling of the unfortunate widow. 10. The apartment in which he found her was a scene of the greatest misery. There was scarcely any furniture, the mother having disposed of nearly everything she possessed to procure bread for her children. The poor woman was lying on a stump bedstead. She was still young; but misery had rendered her pale and thin, robbing her cheeks of their bloom, and her eyes of their lustre. She breathed with difficulty, and seemed to be threatened with that terrible disease-consumption. 11. When Joseph II. entered the apartment, the widow and her children regarded him with astonishment. "I am a physician, madam," said the emperor, bowing respectfully; "your neighbours have apprised me of your indisposition, and I am come to render what service may be in my power." 12. "Alas! sir," she answered with some embarrassment, “I have no means of remunerating you for your attentions." "Do not distress yourself on that account; I shall be amply repaid if I have the happiness of restoring you to health." 13. Joseph II., with these words, approached the couch, made inquiries as to the symptoms of the disease from which the patient was suffering, after which he wrote a few lines and placed them on the chimney-piece. "I will leave you this prescription, madam; and on my next visit I hope to find you much relieved." He then withdrew. Almost immediately after his retirement the eldest son of the widow came in with a medical man. 14. "Oh, mother," cried the boy, "a kind, good gentleman has given me all this;" and he poured the contents of the purse which the emperor had given him into his mother's hand. "There now, don't cry, mother; this money will pay the doctor and buy everything till you are well and strong again." 15. "A physician has already been here, my child, Where does it form one of the chief productions of the country? Why is Egypt well suited for its cultivation? In what part of America does it flourish? What are swamps? How is the rice planted in Carolina? In what part of Europe is it cultivated? Why is its cultivation restricted there? What preparation does it undergo for eating? In countries where it is only occasionally eaten what is used with it? 1. A good thing is it to obey 2. Of such an one, to you, my friends, A truthful and a touching tale,— I pray ye, mark it well. |