with different elevations, which had been found convenient for quartets, but lately was not much in use.  The boy laid hands on this, and built up his representatives of nature one above the other in steps; so that it all looked quite pretty and at the same time sufficiently significant.  On an early sunrise his first worship of God was to be celebrated, but the young priest had not yet settled how to produce a flame which should at the same time emit an agreeable odor.  At last it occurred to him to combine the two, as he possessed a few fumigating pastils, which diffused a pleasant fragrance with a glimmer, if not with a flame.  Nay, this soft burning and exhalation seemed a better representation of what passes in the heart, than an open flame.  The sun had already risen for a long time, but the neighboring houses concealed the east.  At last it glittered above the roofs:  a burning-glass was at once taken up and applied to the pastils, which were fixed on the summit in a fine porcelain saucer.  Every thing succeeded according to the wish, and the devotion was perfect.  The altar remained as a peculiar ornament of the room which had been assigned him in the new house.  Every one regarded it only as a well-arranged collection of natural curiosities.  The boy knew better, but concealed his knowledge.  He longed for a repetition of the solemnity.  But unfortunately, just as the most opportune sun arose, the porcelain cup was not at hand:  he placed the pastils immediately on the upper surface of the stand; they were kindled; and so great was the devotion of the priest, that he did not observe, until it was too late, the mischief his sacrifice was doing.  The pastils had burned mercilessly into the red lacquer and beautiful gold flowers, and, as if some evil spirit had disappeared, had left their black, ineffaceable footprints.  By this the young priest was thrown into the most extreme perplexity.  The mischief could be covered up, it was true, with the larger pieces of his show materials; but the spirit for new offerings was gone, and the accident might almost be considered a hint and warning of the danger there always is in wishing to approach the Deity in such a way.

 SECOND BOOK.

All that has been hitherto recorded indicates that happy and easy condition in which nations exist during a long peace.  But nowhere probably is such a beautiful time enjoyed in greater comfort than in cities living under their own laws, and large enough to include a considerable number of citizens, and so situated as to enrich them by trade and commerce.  Strangers find it to their advantage to come and go, and are under a necessity of bringing profit in order to acquire profit.  Even if such cities rule but a small territory, they are the better qualified to advance their internal prosperity; as their external relations expose them to no costly undertakings or alliances.