“Cease idle wail! The sin unpunished, what can sighs avail? How weak the laws by man ordained If Virtue’s law be unsustained. A second sin is thine. The sand Of Araby, Gaetulia’s sun-scorched land; The desolate regions of Hyperborean ice, Call with one voice to wrinkled Avarice: He hears; he feels no toil, nor sword, nor sea, Shrinks from no disgrace but virtuous poverty. “Forth! ’mid a shouting nation bring Thy precious gems, thy wealth untold; Into the seas or temple fling Thy vile unprofitable gold. Roman, repent, and from within Eradicate thy darling sin; Repent, and from thy bosom tear The sordid shame that festers there. “Bid thy degenerate sons to learn In rougher schools a lesson stern. The high-born youth, mature in vice, Pursues his vain and reckless course, Rolls the Greek hoop, or throws the dice, But shuns and dreads the horse. His perjured sire, with jealous care, Heaps riches for his worthless heir, “Despised, disgraced, supremely blest, Cheating his partner, friend, and guest, Uncounted stores his bursting coffers fill; But something unpossessed is ever wanting still.” At the conclusion of the ode, Dr. Greydon remarked: “Mollie, there is much wisdom in our Latin poets. Simplicity and virtuous lives are the safeguards of nations. When Horace sang, the Roman people began to feel the dangers of wealth and riotous living; may our own country escape these baneful influences.” Mrs. Greydon looked at her daughter with loving eyes when she had finished her translation, and turning to Mr. Barclugh, said as she arose to leave the young people to themselves: “Mr. Barclugh, we take much pleasure in our Mollie’s preaching. We hope that she will not bore you. “You will pardon the Doctor and me for retiring so soon, but we have many duties to perform.” The Doctor and Mrs. Greydon then left the library to allow the young people to have their own conversation. When Dr. and Mrs. Greydon had left Roderick Barclugh and their daughter to their fates, Barclugh sat on the settle with his arms folded on his breast, and looking squarely at Mollie Greydon, ventured the words that were burning within his heart: “Miss Greydon, I wish to address you on a subject that is most dear to my life. I----” “Why, Mr. Barclugh, what is it that you mean?” interrupted Mollie as she put down her book. “Miss Greydon, I believe that I could recover my former health more quickly if I could settle one thing in my mind,” continued Barclugh. “I am sure that if there is anything to be done you ought to do so at once, Mr. Barclugh, for you have been a very ill man,” returned Mollie, as she looked at him and saw that peculiar expression that she had noticed in his eyes when he sat opposite her at the breakfast table two months before.