The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-10-12

him. mat ne to-uay Ndth Hdut
| fox too huge, that of which he spak'
was verify not 80 large as an TX
but stone and bone, as big as is d
good sized roe q!
The lord replied. with wonder ia
his tone, what of this fox concern
eth me ? Iflare ar small | care not.
Spur we our horses, knavc. for to-
day our Journey must he long
Long indeed. still thought the
serving groom and in sadness he
crossed the brook. Then came they
to stream, rnnningqnickly through
green meadow, the stones showing
themselves in many places above its
frothy water. The varlet started,
and cried aloud--another river
Surely of rivers there il to-day M
end was it of this thou talkedst
heretofore? No, replied the lord
not of this and more he said not
yet marked he, with inward glad
ness, his servants fear. Because
in good truth, rejoincd the knave,
1t is Oh my conscience to give
thee note. that the fox of which l
spake was not larger than a cay !
Large or small. let me not be trou.
bled with the fox the beast con-
cerneth not me at all
As they quilted the woody coun-
try, they perceived a river in the
way, which gave sign Of having
been swollen by the rains and on
it was boat This; then is the
doom of liars, said the knave {; ana
he looked earnestly towards the pas
saec.craft. Be informed, my good
lord, that Reynard was not larger
than a fat wedder sheep The lord
seemed angry, and answered. TINS is
not yet the grave of falsehood why
torment me with this cursed iox
Rather spnr we our horses Tor we
have far to go. Stone aud bone,
said the knave to himself, the end
of my journey approacheth
Now the day declined, and the
shadows of the travellers lcnglhen-
ed on the ground but darker than
the twilight was the sadness on the
face of the knave. And, as the
wind rustIed the trees, no ever and
anon turned pale, and inquired OF
) his master, il the noise we're OF q
torrent or stream of water! St'li
az tho nv"";"g fell, his eyes stroVt
to discover the course or winding
river. But nothing of the sort coul'
he discern, SO that his spirits beSa'
to revive, and he was fain to join II
discourse with the lord But thu
lord held his peace, and looked a.
one who expects an evil thing.
: Suddenly the way became steep
and they descended into a low AM
woody valley in which vas broao
and black river, creeping iearluily
along. like the dark stream Of Lethe
without bridge or bark to be seeI
near. Alas, alas. cried the knave
and the anguish oozed from tht
pores of his pale face. An, miscra
BILE me This, this then is the river
in which liars must perish Even so
said the lord this is the stream o
which | speak but the ford il
sound and good for true men Spun
we our horses, knave, for night APP.
proacheth, aud we have yet far Il
SO.
My life is dear to me. said thu
trembling serving man and tho,
knoWest that were it lost my 1UJ
would be disconsolate. la sinceri
ty, then, | declare, that the fox
which saw in the distant country
was not larger than he 10ho fed from
as IN the 1UoOd this morning.
Then laughed the lord aloud, ant
said, Ho, knave, Vast thou afrail
of thy life, d will nothing cure til,
lying Is not falsehood which kill
the soul, worse than death, which ha
mastery only over the body ? This ri
YER is no more than any other no
hath it apower, such as | feigned
The ford is safe, and the waters gen
tie as those we have already passed
But who shall pass thee over tn
shame of this day? In it thou mus
needs sink, unless penitence come t.
help thee over, and cause thee Il
look back on the guIph of thy lies
as on a danger from which thou has
been delivered by heavens grace
Aud, as he rallied against his ser
want, the lord rode on into the water
and both in safety reached the oppo
site shore. Then vowed the knav C
by stone and bone, that from tina
time forward he would duly measure