Year: 1877

There was once a German duke who
disguised himself, and during the night
placed a great stone in the middle of
the road, near his palace.


Next morning a sturdy peasant,
named Hans, came that way with his
numbering ox-cart. "Oh, these lazy
people !" said he; "there is big stone
right in the middle of the road, and no
one will take the trouble to put it out
of the way" And so Hans went on
his way, scolding about the laziness of
the people.


Next came a gay soldier along. He
had a bright plume waving from his
helmet, and sword dangling by his
side, and went singing merrily on his
way. His head was held so far back
that he didn't notice the stone, so he
stumbled over it.


This stopped his song, and he began
to storm at the country people, and
call them "boors and blockheads, for
leaving huge rock in the road for
a gentleman to fall over. Then he
went on.


Next came a company ofmerchants,
with pack-horses and goods, on their
way to the fair that was to be held at
the village near the dukes palace.
When they came to the stone, the road
was so narrow that they had 10 60 of
in single file on the other side.


One Of them, named Berthold, cried
out, did any one see the like of that
big stone lying here all the morning,
and no one stopping to take it away!"


1t lay there for three weeks /; and no.
body tried to remove it. Then the
duke sent around word to all the peo-
pie on his lands, to meet at q deep cut
in the road, called Dornthou, near
where this stone lay, as he had some
thing to tell them.


The day came, and q great crowd
gathered at the Dornthou. Each side
Of the cut was thronged with people
overlooking the road. Old Hans, the
farmer, was here, and 50 was Berthold,
the merchant.


And now winding horn was heard,
and the people all strained their nccks
and eyes toward the castle, as a splen-
did cayalcade came galloping upto the
Dornthou. The duke rode into the
cut, got down from his horse, and with
pleasant smile began to speak to the
people thus:


''My friends, it was l who put this
stone here three weeks ago. Every
passer-by has left it just where it was.
and has scolded his neighbor for moi
taking it out Of the way"


When he had spoken these words
he stopped down and lifted up the
stone. Directly underneath it was 9
round hollow lined with white pebbles
and in the hollow lay small leatherr
bag. The duke held it up that all the
people might see what was written Oh
it. On piece Of paper fastened tC
the bag were these words, ''for him
who lifts up the stone" He united
the bag, turned it upside down, ano
out fell a beautiful gold ring and TWEEN.
ty large, bright golden coins.


Then everybody wished that he hao
moved the stone instead of going
around it and only blaming his neigh
bors. They all lost the prize because
they had not learned the lesson OF
formed the habit Of helpfulness. Ant
we shall lose many prize, as we &C
on in life, if we don't form this habit
That bag Of money was the dukes
promise Of a reward for helpfulness
But that promise was hidden away
under the stone so that no one coulC
see it. Gods promises are not hiddel
in this way. They are written plainly
out in the Bible, so that we may al
see them and understand them.


DR.. Franklin used to say, "Wha
though you have found no treasure, ,anC
had no legacy left you, never mind
Remember that diligence is the mothe
of good luck. Then


"'Plow deep while sluggards sleep,
And you will have corn to sell and keep.


Work while it is called to-day, fo
you know not how much you may b.
hindered tomorrow. One to-day il
worth two to-mowows; and neve
leave till tomorrow anything that yol
can do to-day. ."-ObSerUer