The King's Lesson

Iokman, the sin ve ui Talmt, stood behlnd His mnstcr'g table as he snt at inoat; And oftentimcs it pleaBod the royal mind With Loktmin to divide scme moreel sweet Of bis abnndiince. It was his oonceit One day to i'pr-d him with melou-rlnd, Acriil and bitter, nnd unlit to eat ; Thin with no Boornful purpose or unkind, lint fora jost; and the Kim? looked tosee The slave's griiuuces, but he looked in vain ; For Lokttmn ate the melon placiilly, Nor (if its cvil taste dirt once oomplnln. It niiuht have heen- for all wa saidor done- As swoet a fruit as ripens iu the sun. Then wonder at such patiencc came instead Of the lijiht laughter lor which Talmi planncd: " You eat the thing-, and make no 6jrn!" he said ; You, ti.at are used to dainties iïom my hnnd!" " Yes," said the slave, "it was my lord's commanü That I should eat; and when I have been fed Uaily uponthe fatness of the land, Should 1 tor this be dtaqaleted? liitler or sweet, it is enoufch for me That Talmi g-ives it." And lor this reply TheKinifwas pleased to make his üondsnian free - Acknowli'dfring n lesson loarncd thereby. " God is my Kinjf : homjcforth the Kins shall mei t With egual jrraee Ilis bittü rsrifts and sweet ."