PARLEY THE PORTER.

AN ALLEGORY.

Shewing how Robbers without can never get into an House, unless there are Traitors within,

THERE

HERE was once a certain nobleman who had a house or castle situated in the midst of a great wilderness, but inclosed in a garden. Now there was a band of robbers in the wilderness who had a great mind to plunder and destroy the castle, but they had not succeeded in their endeavours, because the master had given strict orders to "watch without ceasing." To quicken their vigilance, he used to tell them that their care would soon have an end; that though the nights they had to watch were

dark and stormy, yet they were but few; the period of resistance was short, that of rest would be eternal.

The robbers, however, attacked the castle in various ways. They tried at every avenue; watched to take advantage of every careless moment; looked for an open door or a neglected window. But though they often made the bolts shake and the windows rattle, they could never greatly hurt the house, much less get into it. Do you know the reason? it was, because the servants were never off their guard. They heard the noises plain enough, and used to be not a little frightened, for they were aware both of the strength and perseverance of the enemies. But what seemed rather odd to some of these servants, the Lord used to tell them, that while they continued to be afraid they would be safe; and it passed into a sort of proverb in that family, "Happy is he that feareth always." Some of the servants, however, thought this a contradiction.

One day, when the Master was going from home, he called his servants all together, and spoke to them as follows: "I will not repeat to you the directions "I have so often given you; they are "all written down in THE BOOK OF LAWS, "of which every one of you has a copy. "Remember, it is a very short time that

you are to remain in this castle; you "will soon remove to my more settled habitation, to a more durable house, "not made with hands. As that house " is never exposed to any attack, so it "never stands in need of any repair; "for that country is never infested by

any sons of violence. Here you are "servants; there you will be princes. "But mark my words, and you will find "the same in THE BOOK OF MY LAWS, "whether you will ever attain to that "house, will depend on the manner in "which you defend yourselves in this. "A stout vigilance for a short time will "secure you certain happiness for ever. "But every thing depends on your pre

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"sent exertions. Don't complain and "take advantage of my absence, and "call me a hard master, and grumble "that you are placed in the midst of a howling wilderness without peace or "security. Say not, that you are exposed to temptations without any power to resist them. You have some difficulties, it is true, but you have many helps and many comforts to "make this house tolerable, even before

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you get to the other. Yours is not a "hard service, and if it were, 'the time " is short.' You have arms if you will "use them, and doors if you will bar "them, and strength if you will use it. "I would defy all the attacks of the "robbers without, if I could depend on "the fidelity of the people within. If "the thieves ever get in and destroy "the house, it must be by the connivance "of one of the family. For it is a stand

ing law of this castle, that mere outward "attack can never destroy it, if there be "no consenting traitor within. You will

"stand or fall as you observe this rule. "If you are finally happy, it will be by

master.

my grace and favour; if you are ruined, it will be by your own fault.” When the Nobleman had done speaking, every servant repeated his assurance of attachment and firm allegiance to his But among them all, not one was so vehement and loud in his professions as old Parley the Porter. Parley. indeed, it was well known, was always talking, which exposed him to no small danger; for as he was the foremost to promise, so he was the slackest to perform and, to speak the truth, though he was a civil spoken fellow, his Lord was more afraid of him, with all his professions, than he was of the rest who protested less. He knew that Parley was vain, credulous, and self-sufficient; and he always apprehended more danger from Parley's impertinence, curiosity, and love of novelty, than even from the stronger vices of some of his other servants. The rest, indeed, seldom got