r and more Christian motives;' and, upon
my conscience, the little fellow turned up his eyes towards heaven, in a
way that would shame Father Roche himself. Faith, if there wasn't truth
there, I don't know where you could get it. 'The reports I speak of,'
says he, 'touch the solvency of your firm.'

"'Able to pay fifty shillings in a pound,' said I, not willing to
encourage the outcry.

"'I'm delighted to hear it,' says generous little Solomon; 'but all I
have to say is, that if it had been otherwise, or should it actually be
otherwise, so far as a few hundred pounds go, you may draw upon a man--a
sinner--a frail mortal and an unworthy--named Solomon M'Slime. This,' he
went on, 'is not mere worldly friendship, Mr. M'Loughlin, that promises
much until the necessity arrives, and then do all such promises flee
as it were into the wilderness. No, my friend,' says the warm-hearted
little saint, 'no my friend, these offers are founded not on my own
strength, so to say, but upon those blessed precepts, Mr. M'Loughlin,
which teach us to love our neighbors as ourselves--and to do unto
others even as we wish they should do unto us.' He squeezed my hand,
and whispered in my ear--'As far as three hundred pounds go, should you
require it, rely on me; but harkee,' says he, 'and now,'--well, here's
his health--'and now,' says he, 'and now,'--oh! I knew he was in
earnest--'and now,' says he, 'one word with you--I trust--I hope, I may
say, that I am a Christian man, who would not speak aught against my
neighbor; but this, out of a principle of Christian kindness, I will
say;--beware of Valentine M'Clutchy. It is known there!' said he,
pointing his finger, and turning up his eyes to heaven--'it is known
there from what motives I speak this. I am glad I saw thee--peace be
with thee--farewell, and do not despise or overlook my services, or my
poor sinful offers.'"

"Now," said the simple-minded but upright and unsuspicious man, "I do
say that was no every-day offer. I would be glad to hear M'Clutchy
make such an offer to any man--for which reason here's little Solomon's
health once more, and long life to him!"

CHAPTER X.--A Dutiful Grandson and a Respectable Grandmother

--Military Dialogue --Disobedience of Orders--Solomon's Candor--A
Confidential Communication--Solomon Dances the Swaggering jig--Honest
Correspondence--Darby's Motion of Spiritual Things--Two Religions Better
than One--Darby's Love of Truth.

We believe our r