OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 27 



establish either its trutli, or such an extreme probability as to leave 

 in my mind, and I think in yours also, very little room to doubt. 



The story book tells lis that his master, a rich merchant, was about 

 to fit out a ship to trade to the Coast of Barbary (some say Guinea), 

 and that being of a generous and kind hearted disposition, ho called 

 his servants together and asked of them whether they would like 

 to have shares in the venture, as a speculation was then called. 

 In those days there were no savings banks, or indeed any other 

 banks, in which the lower orders could invest their savings and 

 obtain a fair jirospect of increasing their little capital. It was there- 

 fore very kind of this liberal minded merchant to give his domestics 

 a chance of bettering their condition. When all had responded to 

 this invitation to the best of their abilities, Eichard "was asked 

 whether he had anything to venture. The poor lad hung down his 

 head, ashamed that he alone should have nothing to offer, and most 

 bashfully he whispered no ! A malicious fellow-apprentice, however, 

 who was envious of Richard's steadiness of character, which he had no 

 desire to imitate, and jealous of the pleasure he enjoyed in caressing a 

 favorite kitten -which he had bought for a penny, (his only pleasxire, 

 probably,) craftily suggested that Richard might venture his cat. The 

 master caught at the suggestion, and it was decided that the cat 

 should be sent. "We need not dwell upon the grief of the guileless 

 lad at parting with his favorite, the only creature he thought that he 

 had in the wide metropolis on which to bestow affection, and the only 

 one which, by purring and other signs of feline satisfaction, would ap- 

 pear to return his love. This may be supposed to have been a mark of 

 weakness on Richard's part by some who are made of sterner stuff. 

 The cat, however, w^as sent and shortly became a great favorite of the 

 captain of the ship. Immediately on the arrival of the vessel at its 

 destination begun that process of barter which was customary with 

 those barbarous nations. It happened that the king of the country 

 (for kings themselves at those times and in those parts were traders) 

 invited the captain to dinner ; but while apparently thus agreeably 

 employed, little enjoyment could be had from the swarms of rats 

 which ran over the table and carried off the viands, nothing terrified 

 by the presence of royalty, or royalty's guests, though represented by 



