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.

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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 the king, and told the whole story from beginning to end.  King Philip was very angry when he learned that the man whom he had trusted had done so base a deed.  He sent for the soldier in great haste; and when he had come, he caused these words to be burned in his forehead:—­

     “The ungrateful Guest.”

Thus all the world was made to know of the mean act by which the soldier had tried to enrich himself; and from that day until he died all men shunned and hated him.

ALEXANDER AND BUCEPHALUS.

One day King Philip bought a fine horse called Bu-ceph’a-lus.  He was a noble an-i-mal, and the king paid a very high price for him.  But he was wild and savage, and no man could mount him, or do anything at all with him.