their
brav-er-y. The name of their land was La-co'ni-a, and so they were
sometimes called La-cons.

One of the strange rules which the Spartans had, was that they should
speak briefly, and never use more words than were needed. And so a
short answer is often spoken of as being _la-con-ic_; that is, as
being such an answer as a Lacon would be likely to give.

There was in the northern part of Greece a land called Mac'e-don; and
this land was at one time ruled over by a war-like king named Philip.

Philip of Mac-e-don wanted to become the master of all Greece. So he
raised a great army, and made war upon the other states, until nearly
all of them were forced to call him their king. Then he sent a letter
to the Spartans in La-co-ni-a, and said, "If I go down into your
country, I will level your great city to the ground."

In a few days, an answer was brought back to him. When he opened the
letter, he found only one word written there.

That word was "IF."

It was as much as to say, "We are not afraid of you so long as the
little word 'if' stands in your way."

THE UNGRATEFUL GUEST.

Among the soldiers of King Philip there was a poor man who had done
some brave deeds. He had pleased the king in more ways than one, and
so the king put a good deal of trust in him.

One day this soldier was on board of a ship at sea when a great storm
came up. The winds drove the ship upon the rocks, and it was wrecked.
The soldier was cast half-drowned upon the shore; and he would have
died there, had it not been for the kind care of a farmer who lived
close by.

[Illustration]

When the soldier was well enough to go home, he thanked the farmer for
what he had done, and promised that he would repay him for his
kindness.

But he did not mean to keep his promise. He did not tell King Philip
about the man who had saved his life. He only said that there was a
fine farm by the seashore, and that he would like very much to have
it for his own. Would the king give it to him?

"Who owns the farm now?" asked Philip.

"Only a churlish farmer, who has never done anything for his country,"
said the soldier.

"Very well, then," said Philip. "You have served me for a long time,
and you shall have your wish. Go and take the farm for yourself."

And so the soldier made haste to drive the farmer from his house and
home. He took the farm for his own.

The poor farmer was stung to the heart by such treat-ment. He went
boldly to