CHURCH COURTESY TO STRANGERS.
SEVERAL years ago two strangers, well-dressed young men, entered a church in a small town and seated themselves in an empty pew. Presently an elderly woman, the owner of the pew, came to the door and motioned for them to come out until she should pass to the further end. They were offended at her discourteous manner, and marched angrily out of the church, refusing to listen to any invitation to remain. A few years afterwards the queen of Holland, being an invalid, visited the city of Heidelberg, in Germany, for medical treatment. While there she went each Sabbath to a modest little church, occupying the back seat in order to escape notice. One day a scholarly-looking man, plainly dressed, came into the church and took a seat near the pulpit. A few minutes later a haughty German lady swept up to the pew, and, seeing a stranger in it, ordered him by an imperious gesture to leave it. The stranger quickly obeyed, and, going into one of the seats reserved for the poor, joined devoutly in the services. After they were over, the lady’s friends gathered round her, and demanded whether she knew who it was that she had treated so rudely. “No; some pushing stranger,” she replied. “It was King Oscar, of Sweden,” was the answer. “He is here visiting the queen.” Her mortification may be imagined. A correspondent, who was an eyewitness of both these scenes, sends the story to us and asks, “Which played the more manly part, the two vain young men or King Oscar?” The answer is obvious.—Selected.