4.  One Saturday evening, between light and dark, a stranger from one of the coaches, asking for a barber, was directed by the hostler to the cellar opposite.  Coming in hastily, he requested to be shaved quickly, while they changed horses, as he did not like to violate the Sabbath.  This was touching the barber on a tender chord.  He burst into tears; asked the stranger to lend him a half-penny to buy a candle, as it was not light enough to shave him with safety.  He did so, revolving in his mind the extreme poverty to which the poor man must be reduced.

5.  When shaved, he said, “There must be something extraordinary in your history, which I have not now time to hear.  Here is half a crown for you.  When I return, I will call and investigate your case.  What is your name?” “William Reed,” said the astonished barber.  “William Reed?” echoed the stranger:  “William Reed? by your dialect you are from the West.”  “Yes, sir, from Kingston, near Taunton.”  “William Reed from Kingston, near Taunton?  What was your father’s name?” “Thomas.”  “Had he any brother?” “Yes, sir, one, after whom I was named; but he went to the Indies, and, as we never heard from him, we supposed him to be dead.”

6.  “Come along, follow me,” said the stranger, “I am going to see a person who says his name is William Reed, of Kingston, near Taunton.  Come and confront him.  If you prove to be indeed he who you say you are, I have glorious news for you.  Your uncle is dead, and has left an immense fortune, which I will put you in possession of when all legal doubts are removed.”

7.  They went by the coach; saw the pretended William Reed, and proved him to be an impostor.  The stranger, who was a pious attorney, was soon legally satisfied of the barber’s identity, and told him that he had advertised him in vain.  Providence had now thrown him in his way in a most extraordinary manner, and he had great pleasure in transferring a great many thousand pounds to a worthy man, the rightful heir of the property.  Thus was man’s extremity God’s opportunity.  Had the poor barber possessed one half-penny, or even had credit for a candle, he might have remained unknown for years; but he trusted God, who never said, “Seek ye my face,” in vain.

Definitions.—­2.  Ap-par’ent, clear, plain. 3.  Gen-teel’, fashionable, elegant.  Re-duced’, brought to poverty. 4.  Vi’o-late, to break, to profane. 5.  In-ves’ti-gate, to inquire into with care.  Di’a-lect, a local form of speech. 6.  Con-front’, to face, to stand before. 7.  At-tor’ney (pro. at-tur’ny), a lawyer.  I-den’ti-ty, the condition of being the same as something claimed.  Trans-fer’ring, making over the possession of.  Ex-trem’i-ty, greatest need.  Op-por-tu’ni-ty, favorable time.

XIV.  THE SANDS O’ DEE.