those who are weaker than himself. It was truly said of Sheridan
--who, with all his improvidence, was generous, and never gave
pain--that

"His wit in the combat, as gentle as bright,
Never carried a heart-stain away on its blade."

Such also was the character of Fox, who commanded the affection
and service of others by his uniform heartiness and sympathy. He
was a man who could always be most easily touched on the side of
his honour. Thus, the story is told of a tradesman calling upon
him one day for the payment of a promissory note which he
presented. Fox was engaged at the time in counting out gold. The
tradesman asked to be paid from the money before him. "No," said
Fox, "I owe this money to Sheridan; it is a debt of honour; if any
accident happened to me, he would have nothing to show." "Then,"
said the tradesman, "I change MY debt into one of honour;" and he
tore up the note. Fox was conquered by the act: he thanked the
man for his confidence, and paid him, saying, "Then Sheridan must
wait; yours is the debt of older standing."

The man of character is conscientious. He puts his conscience
into his work, into his words, into his every action. When
Cromwell asked the Parliament for soldiers in lieu of the decayed
serving-men and tapsters who filled the Commonwealth's army, he
required that they should be men "who made some conscience of what
they did;" and such were the men of which his celebrated regiment
of "Ironsides" was composed.

The man of character is also reverential. The possession of this