Think Again

Quecn Victoria was not twenty years of ajie wlien she ascended the throne. Coming iuto possession of power, with a heart ir.-sli, tender, and pure, and with all lier instinct inolined to mercy, we may bu aure that she i'ound many things that tried lier streni;th of resolution to the utmost. On a briyht, beautiful niorniogthe youngqueeu was waited upon at her palace of' Wimlsor by the Duke of Wclliogton, who had brought from Londoo various papers requiring her aignature to render them opcrative. Oae ot' them was a sentenee of courtmartial, prooounced agaiost a soldier of the line - that he be shot dead ! The quecn looked upon the paper, and then looked upon the wondrous bcauties that nature had .-pread to her view. " What hasthis man done?" sheasked. The duke looked at the paiwr, and replied, "Ah I uty royal mistress, tbat man, I tear, is iocorrigible? He bas deserted three timas." "And can you not say souicthing in bid bebalf. uiy lord?" Wellington shook his bead. " üh, think again, I pray you! " Seeing that her majo.-ity was so deeply moved, and f'celing sure .she would not have tne man shot in any ovont, ho linally confessed that the man was brave, gallant, and really a good soldier. " But," he added, " think of the influenoe !" "Influence?" cried Victoria, her eyes I! isliing and her bosom heaving with strong emotioii. "Letitbcours to wield iofluence. I will try mercy in this man's case ; and I charge you, your graoe, to let me know the result. A good soldier, you said. Oh, I thank you for that I And you may teil him that your good worda have saved bim." Tlien she took the paper and wrote, with a buld, firm hand, across the dnrk page, the britfht, saving word- "Pardoned! " The duke was fond of telling the story, and he was willing also to confèss that the t'iving of tbat paper to the pardoned soldier, gave him far more joy than he could have experienCed from the taking of a city.