MISCELLANEOUS. 277 



but a blessing to all the people who lived on his father 'a 

 land. 



It happened once, while this young man was away 

 from home, that a French gentleman came to the castle 

 on a visit to the father. This visitor was an atheist ; he 

 did not believe in God, and never thought of trusting 

 Him for anything. 



One day, when they were talking together, he said 

 something about God which grieved his friend's heart very 

 much, and he could not help saying to him, " My friend, 

 are you not afraid of offending God, who reigns above, by 

 speaking of Him in this way ? " 



" No," said the gentleman. " I have never seen God. 

 I know nothing of Him, and care nothing about Him." 



His friend said nothing more to him at that time, but 

 resolved to try and show him how wrong he was. So, the 

 next morning, he took him about the castle grounds to 

 show him different things. In the first place he called 

 his attention to a beautiful picture that hung on the wall. 

 The gentleman admired the picture very much, and said, 

 "Whoever drew this picture must be a very good 

 painter." 



" My son drew that picture," said his friend. 



" Then your son is a very clever man," replied the 

 Frenchman. 



Then the two went into the garden, which was beauti- 

 fully laid out, with a great variety of beautiful flowers 

 and trees. 



" What a beautiful garden ! " said the gentleman, 

 " Do tell me who planned and arranged it ? " 



" It is my son's work," was the answer. 



"Indeed!" said the other. *'I am beginning to 

 think very highly of him." 



Then the gentleman took him into the village and 



