The treasure sent is rightly spent,
And serves the end design'd,
When held by Nature's gentleman,
The good, the just, the kind.
He turns not from the cheerless home
Where Sorrow's offspring dwell;
He'll greet the peasant in his hut,
The culprit in his cell;

He stays to hear the widow's plaint,
Of deep and mourning love;

He seeks to aid her lot below,
And prompt her faith above.
The orphan child, the friendless one,
The luckless, or the poor,

Will never meet his spurning frown,
Nor leave his bolted door;
His kindred circles all mankind,
His country all the globe-
An honest name his jewell'd star,
And truth his ermine robe.
He wisely yields his passions up
To Reason's firm control;

His pleasures are of crime-less kind,
And never taint the soul.

He may be thrown among the gay,
And reckless sons of life;
But will not love the revel scene,
Nor head the brawling strife.
He wounds no breast with jeer or jest,
Yet bears no honey'd tongue;

He's social with the grey-hair'd one,
And merry with the young;

He gravely shares the council speech,
Or joins the rustic game;

And shines as Nature's gentleman
In every place the same.

No haughty gesture marks his gate,
No pompous tone his word;
No studied attitude is seen,
No ribald gossip heard;

He'll suit his bearing to the hour-
Laugh, listen, learn or teach;
With joyous freedom in his mirth,
And candour in his speech.
He worships God with inward zeal,
And serves him in each deed;
He would not blame another's faith,
Nor have one martyr bleed:
Justice and Mercy form his code;
He puts his trust in Heaven;
His prayer is, "If the heart mean well,
May all else be forgiven !"

Though few of such may gem the earth,
Yet such rare gems there are,
Each shining in his hallow'd sphere

As virtue's polar star.

Though human hearts too oft are found

All gross, corrupt and dark,

Yet, yet, some bosoms breathe and burn,--
Lit by Promethean spark:
There are some spirits nobly just,

Unwarp'd by pelf or pride,

Great in the calm, but greater still

When dash'd by adverse tide-
They hold the rank no king can give,
No station can disgrace:

Nature puts forth her gentleman,
And monarchs must give place.

-ELIZA COOK.

61. GIFTS.

It is more blessed to give than to receive.
"BIBL E-ACTS 20."

The manner of giving has been said to show the character of the giver more than the gift itself; yet the character of the gift may often be of even more significance than the manner of giving. It is not the value of gifts in money that renders them precious to any but mercenary hearts.

Wherever the tree of liberality takes root,
Its branches and top pass beyond the sky.
-SADI'S GULISTÂN.*

If thou desire greatness, practise liberality;

For till thou scatter the seed, it will not germinate. -SADI'S GULISTÂN.*

A generous man's motto is, "Win gold and share it."

Liberality consists less in giving much than in giving at the right moment.

He doubles his gift, who gives in time.

• Translated by Platts.

He gives twice who gives quickly according to the proverb, but a gift not only given quickly but unexpectedly is the most welcome of all.

A gift long waited for is sold, not given.

An interested man's gift is a demand; a generous man's gift is a true present.

That which is freely and voluntarily given is as valuable as milk,

That which is granted after a demand for it is as valueless as water;

But what is wrested with force is repulsive like blood,

So says the poet Kabîr.

-KABIR.

Liberality consists not in giving largely, but in giving wisely.

For many men act recklessly and without judgment, conferring favours upon all, incited to it by a sudden impetuosity of mind; the kindnesses of these men are not to be regarded in the same light or of the same value as those which are conferred with judgment and deliberation. But in the conferring and requiting of a favour, if other things be equal, it is the duty of a man to assist where it is most required. The very opposite of this often takes place, for men assist those, from whom they hope to receive in return, even though they do not require it.

-CICERO.

Seek the good of other men, but be not in bondage to their faces or fancies; for that is but facility or softness; which taketh an honest mind prisoner. Neither give thou an Æsop's cock a gem, who would be better pleased, and happier, if he had a barly corn. The example of God teacheth the lesson truly; He sendeth his rain and maketh his sun to shine upon the just and unjust, but he doth not rain wealth, nor shine honour and virtues upon men equally.

-BACON.

Some are unwisely liberal, and more delight to give presents than to pay debts.

Sympathising and generous natures like yours may lay down a rule for themselves which I think would apply to nearly every difficulty in action. Let them always make sure that they do not indulge their generous impulses at the expense of others; or, in other words, that they do not give away that which is not their own, and that whatever sacrifices they risk fall upon themselves.*

.

That liberality is but cast away,

Which makes us borrow what we cannot pay.

-DENHAM.

To a grateful man give money when he asks.

Confer benefits on him who has injured thee.

-SÂDI.

• From Chambers's Stories.