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" That is true , " said the other . " There is no woman in Rome so much like a queen as our own dear mother . " Soon Cornelia , their mother , came down the walk to speak with them . She was simply dressed in a plain white robe . Her arms and feet were bare , as was the custom in those days ; and no rings nor chains glittered about her hands and neck . For her only crown , long braids of soft brown hair were coiled about her head ; and a tender smile lit up her noble face as she looked into her sons ' proud eyes . " Boys , " she said , " I have something to tell you . " They bowed before her , as Roman lads were taught to do , and said , " What is it , mother ? " " You are to dine with us to - day , here in the garden ; and then our friend is going to show us that wonderful casket of jewels of which you have heard so much . " The brothers looked shyly at their mother's friend . Was it possible that she had still other rings besides those on her fingers ? Could she have other gems besides those which sparkled in the chains about her neck ? When the simple outdoor meal was over , a servant brought the casket from the house . The lady opened it . Ah , how those jewels dazzled the eyes of the wondering boys ! There were ropes of pearls , white as milk , and smooth as satin ; heaps of shining rubies , red as the glowing coals ; sapphires as blue as the sky that summer day ; and diamonds that flashed and sparkled like the sunlight . The brothers looked long at the gems . " Ah ! " whispered the younger ; " if our mother could only have such beautiful things ! " At last , however , the casket was closed and carried carefully away . " Is it true , Cornelia , that you have no jewels ? " asked her friend . " Is it true , as I have heard it whispered , that you are poor ? " " No , I am not poor , " answered Cornelia , and as she spoke she drew her two boys to her side ; " for here are my jewels . They are worth more than all your gems . " I am sure that the boys never forgot their mother's pride and love and care ; and in after years , when they had become great men in Rome , they often thought of this scene in the garden . And the world still likes to hear the story of Cornelia's jewels . ANDROCLUS AND THE LION . In Rome there was once a poor slave whose name was Androclus . His master was a cruel man , and so unkind to him that at last Androclus ran away . He hid himself in a wild wood for many days ; but there was no food to be found , and he grew so weak and sick that he thought he should die . So one day he crept into a cave and lay down , and soon he was fast asleep .
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