A FRIEND IN NEED. 401

lead him to virtue. Thus the fable we have becn
mentioning rightly concludes with

“Thy fame is just, the sage replies,
Thy virtue proves thee truly wise.”

Cererrn ame Le see

TWENTY-NINTH EVENING.

A FRIEND IN NEED.

Groren Cornisn, a native of London, was brought
up to the sea. Atter making several voyages to the
Hast Indies in the capacity of mate, he obtained the
command of a ship in the country trade there, and
passed many years of his life in sailing from one port
to another of the Company’s different settlements,
and residing at intervals on shore with the super-
intendents of their commercial concerns. Having by
these means raised a moderate fortune, and being now
beyond the meridian of life, he felt a strong desire of
returning to his native country, and seeing his family
and friends, concerning whom he had received ne
tidings for a long time. He realized his property,
settled his affairs, and taking his passage for England,
arrived in the Downs after an absence of sixtcen
rears.

He immediately repaired to London, and went to
the house of an only brother, whom he had left
respectably established in a public office. He found
that his brother was dead, and the family broken up ;
and he was directed to the house of one of his nieces,
who was married and settled at a small distance from
town. On making himself known, he was received
with great respect and affection by the married niece,
and a single sister, who resided with her. ‘l'o this
good reception, the idea of his bringing back with him
a laree fortune did not a little contribute. They
2D