prey,

Which only gifted spirits know.

little slave.

Almost a child, that boy had seen

Not thrice five summers yet,

But genius marked the lofty brow
O'er which his locks of jet

Profusely curled; his cheek's dark hue
Proclaimed the warm blood flowing through
Each throbbing vein, a mingled tide,
To Africa and Spain allied.

His pencil had some magic power: The eye with deeper feeling beamed. Sebastian then forgot the hour, Forgot his master and the threat

Of punishment still hanging o'er him; For with each touch new beauties met And mingled in the face before him.

At length 'twas finished; rapturously
He gazed. Could aught more beauteous be?

"Courage" his master said, and each
Essayed, in kind, half-whispered speech,
To soothe his overpow'ring dread.
He scarcely heard till some one said,
"Sebastian, ask-you have your choice-
freedom." At the word
Ask for your freedom."

The suppliant strove to raise his voice;
At first but stifled sobs were heard,
And then his prayer, breathed fervently:
"Oh, master, make my father free.
Him and thyself, my noble boy!"
Warmly the painter cried ;
Raising Sebastian from his feet,
He pressed him to his side.
Thy talents rare and filial love
Een more have fairly won;
Still be thou mine by other bonds—
My pupil and my son."

66

can reach.

N Tuesday, April 13, he and Dr. Goldsmith and I dined at General Oglethorpe's. Goldsmith expatiated on the common topic-that the race of our people was degenerated, and that this was owing to luxury."-JOHNSON. "Sir, in the first place, I doubt the fact. I believe that there are as many tall men in England now as ever there were. But, secondly, supposing the stature of our people to be diminished, that is not owing to luxury; for, sir, consider how very small a proportion of our people luxury Our soldiery, surely, are not luxurious, who live on sixpence a day; and the same remark will apply to almost all the other classes. Luxury, so far as it reaches the poor, will do good to the race of people; it will strengthen and multiply them. Sir, no nation was ever hurt by luxury; for, as I said before, it can reach but to a very few. I admit that the great increase of commerce and manufactures hurts the military spirit of a people, because it produces a competition for something else than martial honors a competition for riches. It also hurts the bodies of the people, for you will observe there is no man who works at any particular trade but you may know him from his appearance to do so. One part or other of his body being more used than the rest, he is in some degree deformed; but, sir, that is not