same time, and his son Harry with him. This boy was much of the same disposition as William, thinking there was no crime in committing any mischief, provided he was not discovered. His father had a gun charged, which he brought into the garden in order to shoot the sparrows which made sad havoc among his cherries, and was sitting in a summer-house to watch them.

16. แ At that instant, a servant came to acquaint him, that a strange gentleman desired to speak with him, and was waiting in the parlour. He therefore put down the gun in the summer-house, and strictly ordered Harry by no means to touch it; but he was no sooner gone, than his naughty son said to himself, that he could see no harm. in playing a little with the gun, and therefore took it up, put it on his shoulder, and endeavoured to act the part of a soldier.

17. "The muzzle of the gun happened to be pointed towards Mr. Davis's garden, and just as he was in the midst of his military exercises, a stone thrown by William hit him directly in one of his eyes. The fright and pain together made Harry drop the gun, which went off, and in a moment both gardens resounded with the most dismal shrieks and lamentations. Harry had received a blow in the eye with a stone, and the whole charge had entered William's leg. The sad consequences of which were, the one lost an eye, and the other a leg.'

18. Richard could not help pitying poor William and Harry for their terrible misfortune; and Mr. Stevenson was not angry with his son for his tenderness. "It is true (said he) they were much to be pitied, and their parents still more, for having such vicious and disobedient children. Yet it is probable, if God had not early punished these boys, they would have continued their mischievous practices as often as they should find themselves alone; but by these misfortunes they learned to know, that God publicly punishes all wickedness done in

secret."

19. This had the desired effect, as both ever after left off all kinds of mischief, and became prudent and sedate. Certain it is that an all-wise Creator never chastises us but with a view to add to our happiness.

20. Richard was very much struck with this story, and said he hoped he should never lose either a leg or an eye by such imprudent conduct. This interesting

conversation was interrupted by their arrival at their own house, when Richard hastened to find his brothers and sisters, to tell them the adventures of his walk, and the history of William and Harry.

SECTION III.

The Sparrow's Nest.

1. BILLY JESSAMY, having one day espied a sparrow's nest under the eves of the house, ran directly to inform his sisters of the important discovery, and they immediately fell into a consultation concerning the manner in which they should take it. It was at last agreed, that they should wait till the young ones were fledged, that Billy should then get a ladder up against the wall, and that his sisters should hold it fast below, while he mounted after the prize.

2. As soon as they thought these poor little creatures were properly fledged, preparations were made for the execution of their intended plan. The old birds flew backwards and forwards about the nest, and expressed, as well as they were able, the sorrow and affliction they felt on being robbed of their young. Billy and his two sisters, however, paid no regard to their piteous moans; for they took the nest, with three young ones in it.

3. As they had now got the innocent prisoners in their possession, the next thing to be considered, was, what they should do with them. The younger sister being of a mild and tender-hearted disposition proposed putting them into a cage, promising to look after them herself, and to see that they wanted for nothing. She reminded her brother and sister how pretty it would be to see and hear those birds when grown up.

4. Billy, however, was of a very different opinion; for he insisted on it, that it would be better to pluck off their feathers, and then set them down in the middle of the room, as it would be very funny to see how they would hop about without feathers. The elder sister was of the same way of thinking as the younger, but Billy was determined to have the matter entirely his own way.

5. The two little ladies finding they were not likely to have things as they wished, gave up the point without much hesitation; for Billy had already begun to strip the helpless birds. As fast as he plucked them he put them

B

down on the floor, and it was not long before the little birds were stripped of all their tender feathers. The poor things cried Wheet! Wheet! and complained in the most piteous accents; they shook their little wings and shuddered with the cold.

6. Billy, however, who had not the least kind of feeling for their sufferings, carried his persecutions still further, pushing them with his toe, to make them go on when they stopped, and laughed most heartily whenever they staggered or tumbled down through weakness.

7. Though his two sisters at first had pleaded against this cruel kind of sport, yet seeing their brother so merry on the occasion, they forgot the former dictates of humanity, and joined in the cruel sport with him. Such, as we see in the preceding Tale, is the influence of a bad example!

8. In the midst of this cruel kind of enjoyment, at a distance they saw their tutor approaching; this put them into some flurry, and each pocketed a bird. They would have avoided their tutor, but he called to them, and asked their reasons, for wishing to shun him. They approached him very slowly, with their eyes cast downwards, which convinced him something amiss was going forward.

9. On their answering that they were only playing, their tutor observed to them, that they very well knew he never denied them innocent amusement, but on the contrary was always glad to see them cheerful and happy. He took notice that each held one of their hands in their pockets, upon which he insisted on their pulling them out, and letting him see what it was they endeavoured to conceal.

10. They were obliged to comply much against their will, when each produced a poor bird that had been stripped of its feathers. The tutor was filled with pity and indignation, and gave each of them a look, that was more dreadful than any words he could have spoken. Afte some silence, Billy attempted to justify himself by saying, that it was a droll sight to see sparrows hopping about without feathers, and he could not see any harm in it.

11. "Can you then, said the tutor to Billy, take pleasure in seeing innocent creatures suffer, and hear their cries without pity?" Billy said he did not see how they could suffer, from having a few feathers pulled off. The

tutor to convince him of his error, pulled a few hairs from his head, when he roared out loudly, that he hurt him.

12. "What would your pain be then, said the tutor, were I thus to pluck all the hair off your head? You are sensible of the pain you now feel, but you was insensible of the torment to which you put those innocent creatures that never offended you. But that you, ladies, should join in such an act of cruelty, very much surprises me!"

13. The ladies stood motionless, and then, without being able to say a word, sat down with their eyes swimming in tears; which their tutor observing, he said no more to them. But Billy still persisted in his opinion that he did the birds no harm; on the contrary, he said, they showed their pleasure by clapping their wings and chirping.

14. "They clapped their wings, said the tutor, from the pain you put them to; and what you call singing, were cries and lamentations. Could those birds have expressed themselves in your speech, you would have heard them cry: "Ah, father and mother, save us, for we have fallen into the hands of cruel children, who have robbed us of all our feathers! We are cold and in pain. Come warm us and cure us, or we shall soon die !"

15. The little ladies could no longer refrain from tears, and accused Billy of leading them into this act of cruelty. Billy was himself become sensible of his faults, and had already felt the smart of having a few hairs plucked from his head; but the reproaches of his own heart, were now visible on his countenance.

16. It appeared to the tutor, that there was no need of carrying the punishment any further; for the error Billy had committed did not arise from a natural love of cruelty, but merely from want of thought and reflection. From this moment Billy, instead of punishing and tormenting dumb creatures, always felt for their distresses, and did what he could to relieve them. BERQUIN.

SECTION IV.

Caroline, or a Lesson to cure Vanity.

1. A PLAIN white frock had hitherto been the only dress of Caroline., Her auburn hair, which had never felt the torturing iron, flowed upon her shoulders in

graceful ringlets, now and then disturbed by the gentle winds.

2. Being one day in company with some little girls, who, though no older than herself, were dressed in all the empty parade of fashion, the glare and glitter of those fine clothes raised in her heart a desire she had never before felt.

3. As soon as she got home, "My dear mamma, said she, I have this afternoon seen Miss Flippant and her two sisters, whom you very well know. The eldest is not older than myself, and yet they were all dressed in the most elegant manner. Their parents must certainly have great pleasure in seeing them so finely dressed; and, as they are not richer than you, do, my dear mamma, let me have a fine silk slip, embroidered shoes like theirs, and let my hair be dressed by Mr. Frizzle, who is said to be a very capital man in his profession."

4. Her mother replied, that she should have no objection to gratify her wishes, provided it would add to her happiness; but she was rather fearful it might have a contrary effect. As Caroline could not give in to this mode of thinking, she requested her mamma to explain her reasons for what she had said.

5. "Because, said her mother, you will be in continual fear of spotting your silk slip, and even rumpling it whenever you wear it. A dress like that of Miss Flippant will require the utmost care and attention to preserve it from accidents; for a single spot will spoil its beauty, and you very well know there is no washing of silks. However extensive my fortune may be, I assure you, it is not sufficient to purchase you silk gowns as often as you would wish to have them."

6. Caroline considered these arguments as very trifling, and promised to give her mamma no uneasiness as to her carelessness in wearing her fine clothes. Though her mamma consented to let her be dressed in the manner she requested, yet she desired her to remember the hints she had given her of the vexations to which her vanity would expose her.

7. Caroline, on whom this good advice had no effect, lost not a moment in destroying all the pleasure and enjoyment of her infancy. Her hair, which before hung down in careless ringlets, was now twisted up in paper, and squeezed between a pair of burning tongs; that fine