Th

soon as he had recovered breath enough to speak, answered in this manner:-Sir, all this is owing to what you told me about taming animals. I wanted to make them tame and gentle and to love me, and you see the consequences. Indeed, said Mr. Barlow, I see you have been very ill-treated, but I hope you are not hurt; and if it is owing to any thing I have said, I shall feel the more concern.

11. No, said Thomas, I cannot say that I am much hurt. Why then, said Mr. Barlow, you had better go and wash yourself; and when you are clean we will talk over the affair. When Thomas had returned, Mr. Barlow asked him how the accident had happened; and when he had heard the story, he said, I am very sorry for your misfortune, but I do not perceive that I was the cause of it; for I do not remember that I ever advised you to catch pigs by the hinder legs.

12. T. No, sir; but you told me that feeding animals was the way to make them love me, and so I wanted to feed the pig. Mr. B. But it was not my fault that you attempted it in a wrong manner. The animal did not know your intentions, and therefore, when you seized it in so violent a manner, it naturally attempted to escape; and its mother, hearing its cries, very naturally came to its assistance.

13. All that happened was owing to your inexperience. Before you meddle with any animal, you should make yourself acquainted with its nature and disposition; otherwise, you may fare like the little boy, who, in attempting to catch flies, was stung by a wasp; or like another, who, seeing an adder sleeping upon a bank, took it for an eel, and was bitten by it, which had nearly cost him his life.

14. The next morning Thomas and Henry went into the garden almost as soon as it was light, to sow the wheat which Henry had brought with him, upon a bed that Thomas had dug for that purpose. While they were at work, Thomas said, Pray, Henry, did you ever hear the story of the men that were obliged to live six years in that terrible cold country, I forget the name of it, where there is nothing but snow and ice, and scarcely any animals but great bears and other wild beasts?

15. H. Yes, I have. T. And did not the very thoughts of it frighten you dreadfully? H. No, I cannot say they did. T. Why, should you like to live in such a country? H. No, certainly; I am very happy that I was born in such

a country as this, where the weather is scarcely ever too hot or too cold: but a man must bear patiently whatever is his lot in this world.

16. T. That is true-But should you not cry, and be very much afflicted, if you were left in such a country? H. I should certainly be very sorry, if I was left there alone, more especially as I am not big enough, or strong enough, to defend myself against such fierce animals. But the crying would do me no good-It would be better to do something, and endeavour to help myself. T. Indeed I think it would; but what could you do? H. Why, I would endeavour to build myself a house, if I could find any materials. Mr. Barlow then came to call them in to read, and told Thomas, that as he had been talking so much about good-nature to animals, he had looked him out a very pretty story upon the subject, and begged that he would read it well. That I will, said Thomas; for I begin to like reading extremely: and I think that I am happier too since I learned it; for now I can always divert myself. 17. Indeed, answered Mr. Barlow, most people find it When any one can read, he will not find the knowledge any burthen to him; and it is his own fault if he is not constantly amused. This is an advantage, Thomas, which a gentleman, since you are so fond of the word, may more particularly enjoy, because he has so much time at his own disposal. And it is much better that he should distinguish himself by having more knowledge and improvement than others, than by fine clothes, or any such trifles, which any one may have that can purchase them, as well as himself. Thomas then read, with a clear and distinct voice, the following story.

So.

SECTION IV.

The good-natured little boy.

1. A LITTLE boy went out, one morning, to walk to a village about five miles from the place where he lived, and carried with him, in a basket, the provision that was to serve him the whole day. As he was walking alone, a poor little half-starved dog came up to him, wagging his tail, and seeming to entreat him to take compassion on him.

2. The little boy at first took no notice of him, but at length, seeing how lean and famished the creature seemed to be, he said, this animal is certainly in very great neces

sity: if I give him part of my provision, I shall be obliged to go home hungry myself; however, as he seems to want it more than I do, he shall partake with me.

3. Saying this, he gave the dog part of what he had in his basket, and he ate as if he had not tasted victuals for a fortnight. The little boy went on a little farther, his dog still following him, and fawning upon him with the greatest gratitude and affection, when he saw a poor old horse lying upon the ground, and groaning as if he was in great distress: he went up to him, and saw that he was almost starved, and so weak that he was unable to rise.

4. I am very much afraid, said the little boy, if I stay to assist this horse, that it will be dark before I can return; however, I will try; it is doing a good action to attempt to relieve him. He then went and gathered some grass, which he brought to the horse's mouth, and he immediately began to eat with as much relish, as if his chief disease was hunger. He then fetched some water in his hat, which the animal drank up, and seemed immediately to be so much refreshed, that after a few trials, he got up, and began grazing.

5. He then went on a little farther, and saw a man wading about in a pond of water, without being able to get out of it. What is the matter, good man? said the little boy to him; can't you find your way out of this pond? No, my little friend: I have fallen into this pond, and know not how to get out again, as I am quite blind, and I am almost afraid to move for fear of being drowned.

6. Well, said the little boy, though I shall be wetted to the skin, if you will throw me your stick, I will try to help The blind man then threw the stick to that side you out. on which he heard the voice; the little boy caught it, and went into the water, feeling very carefully before him, lest he should go beyond his depth: at length he reached the blind man, took him very carefully by the hand, and led him out.

7. The blind man then gave him a thousand blessings, and told him he could grope his way home, and the little boy ran on as hard as he could to prevent being benighted. But he had not proceeded far before he saw a poor sailor, who had lost both his legs in a battle at sea, hopping along upon crutches. My little friend, said the sailor, I have fought many a battle to defend poor Old England, but now

I am crippled, as you see, and have neither victuals nor money, though I am almost famished.

8. The little boy could not resist his inclination to relieve him, so he gave him all his remaining victuals, and said, I would be glad to help you more poor man! but this is all I have, otherwise you should have more. He then ran along, and presently arrived at the town he was going to, did his business, and returned towards his own home, as fast as he could. But he had not gone much more than half way, before the night shut in extremely dark without either moon or stars to light him.

9. The poor little boy did all that he was able to find his way, but unfortunately missed it by turning down a lane which brought him into a wood, where he wandered about a great while, without being able to find any path to lead him out.

10. Tired out at last and hungry, he felt himself so feeble, that he could go no farther, but sat himself down upon the ground, crying most bitterly. In this situation he remained for some time, till at last the little dog, which had never forsaken him, came up to him, wagging his tail, and holding something in his mouth. The little boy took it from him, and saw it was a handkerchief nicely pinned together, which somebody had dropped, and the dog had picked up; and upon opening it, he found several slices of bread and meat, which the little boy ate with great satisfaction, and felt himself much refreshed with this meal.

11. So, said the little boy, I see that if I have given you a breakfast, you have given me a supper; and a good turn is never lost, done even to a dog. He then once more attempted to escape from the wood, but it was to no purpose; he only scratched his legs with briers, and slipped down in the dirt, without being able to find his way out. He was just going to give up all farther attempts in despair, when he happened to see a horse feeding before him, and going up to him, he saw by the light of the moon, which just then began to shine a little, that it was the very same he had fed in the morning.

12. Perhaps, said the little boy, this creature, as I have been so good to him, will let me get upon his back, and he may carry me out of the wood. The little boy then went up to the horse, speaking to him, and stroking him, and the horse let him mount his back without opposition; and then

proceeded slowly through the wood, till he brought him to an opening which led to the road.

13. The little boy was much rejoiced at this, and said, if I had not saved this creature's life in the morning, I should have been obliged to have staid here all night; I see by this, that a good turn is never lost. But the poor little boy had yet a greater danger to undergo; for as he was going along a solitary lane, two men rushed out upon him, laid hold of him, and were going to strip him of his clothes, but just as they were beginning to do it, the little dog bit the leg of one of the men with so much violence, that he left the little boy, and pursued the dog, which ran howling and barking away.

14. At this instant a voice was heard that cried out, There the rascals are, let us knock them down! which frightened the remaining man so much, that he ran away, and his companion followed him. The little boy then looked up, and saw it was the sailor, whom he had relieved in the morning, carried upon the shoulders of the blind man whom he had helped out of the pond. There, my little dear, said the sailor, we have come in time to do you a service, in return for what you did us in the morning.

15. As I lay under a hedge I heard these villains talk of robbing a little boy, that from the description, I concluded must be you; but I was so lame, that I should not have been able to come time enough to help you, if I had not met this honest blind man, who took me upon his back while I showed him the way.

16. The little boy thanked them very gratefully for thus defending him; and they went all together to his father's house, which was not far off, where they were all kindly entertained with supper and bed. The little boy took care of his faithful dog as long as he lived, and never forgot the importance and necessity of doing good to others, if we wish them to do the same to us.

17. Indeed, said Thomas, when he had finished, I am greatly pleased with this story; and I think that it might possibly be true; for I have observed myself that every thing seems to love little Henry here, merely because he is good-natured to it. I was quite surprised to see the great dog, the other day, which I have never dared to touch for fear of being bitten, fawning upon him, and licking him all over. That dog, said Mr. Barlow, will be equally fond of you, if you are kind to him. But since you have read a