The parent's assistant or, Stories for children

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md

Fr^i^

THX

PARENT'S ASSISTANT;

OR

STORIES FOR CHILDREN.

BY

MARIA EDGE WORTH.

IN SIX VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

CONTAININO

LAZY LAWRENCE,

TARLTON,
THE FALSE KEY.

A HEfT EDITION,

' LOKDOK :

PRINTED FOn R. HUNTER^
flVqCBSSOR TO THE LATE J. JOfLTSffiO^ f,

BALDWIN, CRAPOCKV/ANDioTI?

AND

SIMPKtN AND >Af Anef^AiL*.

1822;

4 '
J < 1 >

<- • }

C. Baldwin, Printer,
New Bridfe-kteMt, T^aiAdn* -

-.!■ Ill , mi »#iii-'< *

f • •

PREFACE,

ADDRESSED TO PARENTS.

All ixlho have meditated on the art of goveming^
manlind have been convinced that the fate of empires
depends on ilie education of youih. AaiSTOTLK*

A MOTTO from Aristotle may appear pedantic,
\mi it was chosen merely to oppose such high
authority to the following assertions of Dr.
Johnson.

*< Education,'' says he, *^ is as well known,
" and has long been as well known, as ever it
"*' can be. Endeavouring to make children pre^
*' maturely wise is useless labour. Suppose they
*' have more knowledge at five or six years old
** than other children^ what use can be made of
'' it ? It will be lost before it is panted, and the
^ waste of so much time and labour of the teacher
" is never to be repaid.*' * — The remainder of this
passage contains such an illiberal attack upon
a celebrated female writer, as ought surely ta
have been suppressed by Dr. Johnson's biogra-^
pher. When the doctor attempted to ridicule this

*
• BoflwelFs Lifeof Johosou.

A 2

IT FRErACE.

ladj for keeping an ioianl boardlDg-school, and
for condescending to write elementary books for
children^ he forgot bis ovn eologiom upon Dr.
Watts, of whom he speaks thus :

** For children he condescended to lay aside
** the philosopher, the scholar, and the wit^ to
^ write little poems of devotion, and systems of
'* instruction adapted to their wants and capa*
" citieSy from the dawn of reason, to its grad^
** tioD of advance in the morning of life. £?ery
** man acquainted with the common principles
*^ of human action, will look with veneraUon
^ on the writer, who is at one time combaUng
<* Locke, mnd at another time making a cat^
<< cbiaffk for ehildren in their Jburthi/ear. AvoIue-
*^ taiy descent from the dignity of science is per«*
** baps the hardest lesson which humility can
^« teach."

It seems, however, a very easy task to write
for children* Those only who have been inter-^
ested in the education of a family, who have
patiently foilovved cliildren through the first prar
pesses of reasoning, who have daily watched over
liieir tlioughts and feelings ; those only, who*
know with what ease and rapidity the early asso*
ciations of ideas are formed on vhi«h the Aiture-
taste, character, and happiness depend, can feel

VESVACB* T

the dangers andcliiBciiIlies of sacfa an under*

For a ieogth of time edacation was classed
amongst the subjecto of vague and metaphysical
speculation; but^ of late, it has attained its pro*
per station in experimental philosophy.— -The
sober sense of Locke, and the enthusiastic elo*
qnence of Rousseau, have directed to this object
the attention of philosophers and men of genius*
Many theories have been invented, several just
observations have been made, and some few facta
have been established.

Dr. Reid remarks, that, ** if we could obtain a
** distinct and full history of all that hath passed in
** the mind pf a child, from the beginning of life

and sensation, till it grows up to the use of rea* .

son, how its infant faculties began to work, and
** how they brought forth and ripened all the va*
** rious notions, opinions, and sentiments which
** we find in ourselves, when we come to be capa*
'* ble of reflection, this would be atreksurex>f na*
*^ tural history, which would probably give more
'* light to the human faculties, than^ all the sya-
'' terns of philosophers about them, since the be*
" ginning of the world.'' *

« Dr. Reid on the Intellectiial Powers of Mas*

A 3

€£

been to ascertain facts— a difficulty, which in A0
$mmtf of edii«fliion:fieaidiareirciSMstaooet.fii>n-
$(filf^4o iooraaie^ {fom tbe dbgeola of lemrji m^
{•limei^i; am so inierc^tjng, tiiat we caMM*:Mi
#liff miada indifiereat to tbe nault Nor k it 1»
Iwi-^Kpedod that many rcgisttfa of oxperiiaeaN%
fiiCBissafiil and uasuooeiifiii, sbould be kef ^ nrarii
loK^eho^ bo pubiisbed^ when we coMidor» tktt
ll^ opmbined powers of aieetioQ and vwily^
of partiality lo his cU Id aod U> fats theory, wiH
act upon the mind of a parent, in opposiftiow te
lbs abstract love of justice, and the general de»
eire to ioorease the wisdom and happioeao of

NotwithstUDdiBg these difltoiltics, an attanpt
to keep msii a register has actually been aaaie t
it was begun «n the year 177$» kmf faeftme Dr.
lUiiVs b9ok ir«a pubUsbed* The design has ftom
liino to time been pniaiied to this psesene year^
gpd thewgh mich has not hee» cnHeeted, eiwry
^K^^nsitanc^ attd coQveifaftiQn that has beonpre^'
4S^rve4 <a feithAtlly oiad f^urately relsted.

These notes ha¥o beito of greatt advstt«mo t^
the writer of the followHig fikories} asnlwilipN^
babljTi «t fjome futiiu-e tiaie be laid befiire tbapnb*

miaek kmibtMsu fakhtflQ tMatied tbpamfdaatkjr^

The SMosmg laics bave hetn dhided intoJMit^
fml^ m thfly were deaigoed for diftmt dtamm
ofebiMrai. Xhe^pKstio&^wh^baraoewtyeMM
«rii«iit wttkout liia dkttacttm of nodBSyita foa^
liMiBffoliviiig avarialy of qoa^iiioated dticanuNM^

M pf«aeol k it neceaiarj that tha adiicataoaaf
diferatit laoka abouU, ia soiae veaptcta, be di&fw
aat; du^ bave faar ideai^ fear babiti» in cooummi;
Iheir |Maetdiar i^eca and virtuaa do notarise ftaaa
tha.«aaie oaiiaea» aaddwiraBftbitionift tobadU
iacled to diffaaeat obj^ela. But juttke^ trntJv
and humanityi are eonfiaed to no particular raal^
aad abpidd be enforced vilb equal oare aod energy
a|oa die aauids of yooeg paapfte of every atation;
md it w baped Ibat these principles h$i9m never
bean forgotten in the foUowii^ P*8^s*

As the idtaa of chiMrea t»tt]tiply» tbe kagiiage
tf tiieir books sImoM becvase less siaiple; eiaa
tbeir taste wm qutdtiy ba disgusted, or will mp
asHfai 8tftfioiiary% Children that liipe y^ttb people
arho'fiaBveiae witbelegaaoe, willwatbejctntettted
laitb «atyldiiArior to wfcattbey bearfvom mmf
ba4|r ttsar ibam*
• itioegr; beiMiarked». thatjaluioat all laaguagt

is iiieta{ihoric-*-^rom die conversation of the rosiA
in ^e nursery^ who lulls a cross infant to sleep, to ,
4hat of the ladjr in the drawing-room, who, with i
aiUy civility, takes a child upon her lap to enter*
tain it by a repetition of fashionable phrases* ^
Slang (the term is disgracefully naturalized in our
^vocabukry) contains as much and as abstract
jnetaphor as can be found in the most refined lite^
rary language. Nor have we reason to suppose^
•that one kind of metaphor is more difficult than
another to be understood by children ; they fre-
^piently hear the most complicated metaphorical \
expressions in conversation, such as allude to
4mr fashions and the prejudices of society, with |
^whidi they are utterly unacquainted.

All poetical allusions have, however, been
avoided in this book— only such situations are
described, as children can easily imagine, and
which may .consequently interest their feelinga.-*-
Such examples ef virtue are painted as are not
above their conception of excellence, and their
powers of sympathy and emulation.

It is not easy to give rewards to children, which

shall not indirectly do them harm, by fostering

aome hurtful taste or passion. In the story of

Lazi/ Lavorence, where the object was to excite a

^it of industry^ care has been taken to propor*^

tion the reward to tbe exertioni wad i» fioint oat
Uiat people feel dieerfid and htapff whilst tfeagt
are employed^ The reward of war Mnatriaua
boy, though it be money, it oalj mon^ cooaadcv*
ed as the means of gratifying a benevcdent wish*
In a commerdal nation, it is especiaUy neeessary
ta separate, as much as posaihley tbe sphit of in^
dvtry aad avarice ; and to bewane lest we iatro*^
dace Vicie under the form of Virtue.

hx the st<My of TurUpn and Lwfab are repre^
seated the danger and the folly of that weakness
of Stfnd^ and easiness to be led, which too ofteft
pass for good-nature; and, in the story of tftie
Wmst Ke^f Bre|)ointed out some of die evfls to
which a well^^uoated boy, when he fiivt goes l^
service^ is exposed, from the profliga;ey of his
f^AowHienrants.

In the Biartk*^y Present^ in the History of
MttdemmeUe Panache, and in the tdiaracter of
Mrs. Theresa Tattie, the Panent's Assistant liaa
pointed out the dangen which may arise in edu»
cation from a bad servant, a siUy goTerness, (md
t common acquaintance.

In die Barring otdy tbe emM to which a high
llfint and Ae love of party are apt to lead, liavo^
llpen nsade the attjeot of correetioa ; and it i^
^>ed that tbe common fiudtof mAldog the

X PBBFACB.

ttisehicTOus ebarficteiv appear the most adke
imd the most ingenious^ has been as much as
fKMribie avoided* Unsuccessful cunniog will not
be admired, and cannot induce imitation.

It has likewise been attempted in these Stories
to provide antidotes against ill-humour, the epide-
mic rage fbr dltoipation^ and the fatal propensity
10 admire and imitate whatever the fashion of the
moment may distinguish. Were young people,
either in public schools or in private families,
Absolutely free from bad examples, it would not
be adviseable to introduce despicable and viciouB
diaracters in books intended for their improvement
But in real life they must see vice, and it is best that
^ey should be early shocked with the representa-
tionof what they are to avoid. There is a great deal
of difierence between innocence and ignorance.

To prevent precepts of morality from tiring the
ear and the mind, it was necessary to make the
stories in which they are introduced in some
measure dramatic ; to keep alive hope, and fear,
end curiosity, by some degree of intricacy. At
the same time care has been taken to avoid in-
flaming the imagination, or exciting a restless
spirit of adventure, by exhibiting fake views of
4ife, and creating hopes which, in the ordinary
^eofse of things, canned be realiaed.

PRSFACE. XI

Pr. Jqhsson*«-lo recur to b|iii» not from a spirit
of contradiction, but from a fear that his autho-'
rity should establish errors — Dr. Johnson sayr,
that ^ Babies do not like to hear st<^ies of babies
** like themselves ; that they require to have their
*^ imaginations raised by tales of giants and fai*
^ rieS) and castles and enchantments."— The fact
remains to be proved : but supposing that they d»
prefer such tales, is this a reason why they should
be indulged in reading them ? It may be said that
a little experience in life would soon convince
them, that fairies, giants, and enchanters, are not
to be met with in the world. But why should the
mind be filled with fantastic visions, instead of
useful knowledge I Why should so much valuable
time be lost ? Why should we vitiate their taste^
and spoil their appetite, by suffering them to feed
upon sweetmeaU ? It is to be hoped, that the
magic of Dr. Johnson's name will not have power
to restore the reign of fairies.

But even when the iqaprobability of fairy tale»
IS avoided, care should be taken to keep objects
in their just proportions^ when we attempt an
imitation of real life.

j^^ Love, hatred, fear, and anger, are to be raised
** in the soul," says an eminent poet, ** by showing
** their objects out of their true proportioni either

3111

*<'8r«atortlflnliier6feorl0«; b«il iiMtni6tiMk|
<*'ta be gircs, by sbowing them wiiet they:

(«

»>

Afid mmly awriter^ who Bioctrdy wiibes
tncraaie. tto htpjpiaeei of naidEifidy. wfl& fiad
e«t]r tetgive^up die fame thai might be acquh
1^ ekiqaeBce» ivbcn it is it^unow to tiM
ef truth.

LAZY LAWRENCE.

Ik the pleasant valley of Ashton there
lived an elderly woman of the name of
Preston : she had a small neat cottage^
and there was not a weed to be seen in
her garden. It was upon her garden
that she chiefly depended for support :
it consisted of strawberry-beds, and one
small border for flowers. The pinks and
roses she tied up in nice nosegays^ and
sent either to Clifton or Bristol to be
sold ; as to her strawben ies, she did not
send them to market^ because* it was the
custom for numbers of people to come
from Clifton, in the summer-time, to eat
strawberries and cream at the gardens
in Ashton.

Now the widow Preston was so obli-
ging, active, and good-humoured, that

VOL. I. B

2 LAZY LAWRENCE.

every one who came to see her was
pleased. She Jivetf Itajjpil^ |b/tbis man-
ner for several years; but, alas! oneau-
trntili she fcU dkrk^ lBid»>4iiswiS» ha* ift-
iseis; ^evef^ things iwiMfc' wfM||;.; .^f^r*
den iras neglectcid, Ifur cmf iieA, aii4
fill the oiDii^y which she had Mved was
S|^t in paying fiar /mediciatt. The
Winter passed- a^vra^, ivhile ^e was m
weak that Bhi^ ^pM, earn but littte t^
her whrk ; ahd^ wheo the summer came,
ber rent was called fcMf, and the rent was
mt ready in her littie purse as usuid.
She begged a few months' delay, fend
tkey irere granted to her; but at tl^
end t»f that tifne there was no resource
bttt tiD sell her horse Lightfoot. Nof^
Lightfeot, though pertiaps he had seen
his best days, was a very great fiHfourite:
iA his .vottth he had" alw^^ ealrried the
4tMe to ioarkeft hefaiad her husband;

and it trat nonT faer UlUe son J^'^s tusq
ta jide him. It was Jem'^ I^Kusiness la
£Ml3;JghtfQot, aod to take <:^re q£ him ;
a claacge whidi be oever Qegtec4^4» £^^«
bttUes beiog n vfeiy goy^^^mtur^^ h^
was a very industrious boy.

* tiwill ^o-i^ear to breiifc my Jem's
bwrt,'' asid dunie Preston to be2:$el|l, aa
she sat one evening hesi^ the fi^e^ i^y^r.
VOff the embesr^ . ftud considerip^ bow-
she had best q{w» ihfii nmtit^ to \m,9m^
who stood opposite to b^» t?atii3fc^ dry
crust of f>seiidv«ry heftirtijy J^ supper.

" Jem,* mid the 15W wwnap^ .** what,

^ That 1 4111, tea<«^aEfMihmsr3rJf' .

^^ Aye! ii&waiid^»y«tt'veb»iibitay)ei
hari I* work— Eh ? "

" Bmv^ :hiird I | wi*h it was n^t $m
4ark) mothf r* that you m^ just st^

«4 *^ «^'^ iiR'^ i^ it>e <}^ ;^ i'

B 2 ^^

^ LAZT LAWRENCX.

know youM say it was no bad day's work;
' — and, oh mother! I've good news;
Farmer Truck, will give us the giant*
strawberries, and Tm to go for 'em to»
morrow morning, and I'll be back afoie
breakfast."

^^ Bless the boy ! how he talks !—
Four mile there, and four mile back
again, afore breakfast."

'^ Aye, upon Lightfoot, you know,
mother, very easily, mayn't I? "
'' Aye, child!"

" Why do you sigh, mother ? "
" Finish thy supper, child/*
" Tve done ! " cried Jem, swallowing
the last mouthful hastily, as if he thought
he had been too long at supper— ^^ and
now for the great needle, I must see and
mend lightfoot's bridle afore I go to
bed. "—To work he set, by the light of
the fire ; and the dame having once more

4(9^^ go iamr lit idl now ? "^^-^ Wtet^

WB'4Ki wdl of his Immnieas in idl ^is

HUoi^ ; &iid then he*s so &t be otin hoiriif
wag." — *^ Bless him — that's i4gbt-«rwe
must^se^s J^esi, an4 l^c»p <Um fat."'

'' Forwhsiti iMlher."

^^ Eor jMbndny fortmgfat at the fan*.
Hft*9 t0 fe e »■>..■■ sold ! *'

'* Lfi^tfeot ! " oied *Jem» and let tiie
bridle fall froftn his hand; ^' aad wiM
HN»a»er ^11 Ltghtfoot ? "

•' ;Fi7// no : but I fnmt^ Jem."

** Must .; mh0 says yo« wa^f f why
MM/ you, mother?"

^ I iniiat» I say» child-^Why* mmib
Ml I pi{^ :«iy de^«-hrae$tly«^a«}d Inusl
not I pay my rent ; ami was 0ot it l:aUed
firioiig And ^Mg i^o ; ^vA hwe not I

B 3

e LAZY LA^VRENCE.

had time : and did not I promise to pay
it for certain Monday fortnight^ and am
not I two guineas shorts — ^and where am
1 to get two guineas ? So what signifies
talking, child?" said the widow, lean-'
ing her head upon her arm, ^^ Ligbtfoot
must go/'

Jem was silent fqr a few minutes.—
" Two guineas ; that's a great, great
deal. — If I worked, and worked, and
worked ever so hard, I could no ways
earn two guineas afore Monday fort-
oiight — could I, mother ? "

" Lord help thee, no ; not an* w<»k
thvself to death. "

^< But I could earn something, though,
I say," cried Jem proudly ; " and I wiU
earn someihing'^if it be ever so little
it will be something — and I shall do my
very best ; so I will."

** That Tm sure of, my child/* said

LA2Y L^WRSNCB. 7

his mother, drawing him towards her,
and kissing him ; ** you were always a
good industrious lad, that I will say
afore your face or behind your back ; —
but it won't do now — lightfoot mtist

go."

Jem turned away, struggling to hide
his tears, and went to bed without say-
ing a word more. But he knew that
crying would do no good; so he presently
wiped his eyes, and lay awake, consider*
ing what he could possibly do to save
the horse.—" If I get ever so little," he
still said to himself, " it will be some'
thing ; and who knows but landlord
might then wait a bit longer? and we
might make it all up in time; for a
penny a-day might come to two guineas
in time,"

But how to get the first penny was
the question.-^Then he recolfected that

9 JiftXr ULWBSKKJL

one da^ wben he had been seat to^CW
tDQ Id -ieH mme flowers^ he had seenmi
did lyoBian Willi a board beside her ia»*
vered wHh tbiioiis sparkEng stonis^
irluch peoide stopped to liKifc: ai ^as thejt
passed, and he remembered that sdoat
people bought the stones; one paid two*
peace^ another threepence, and anothcif
sixpence for them ; and Jem heard her
aaj that she got tltem aoioogst the
x»igfabouriag rocks : so he thought l^at
if he tried he might find some too» and
aell tbem as she had done.

JSarly in tlte morning he wakened fiiii
nf his schemes, jumped up, dressed faisiN
sdf, and, having given one loek at pMV
Ligitfoot in his stably set off tir CURdQ
im search of the old woman^ to inquife
where she found her sparkling stameSi
Bnt it was too early in the momii]^ the
^ wosaaa waat not at her seait;.a8 te

LAZY LAWAENCE. 9

torned hack again disappointed. — ^He
did not waste his time waiting for her,
hut saddled and hridled Lightfoot, and
went to farmer Truck's for the giant-
strawberries. A great part of the mom*
iDg wto spent in putting them into the
ground ; and, as soon as tha^ was finish-
ed, he set out again in quest of the old
woman, whom, to his great joy, he spied
sitting at her corner of the street with
her board before her. But this old wo-
man was deaf and cross ; and when at
last Jem made her hear his questions, he
could get no answer from her, but that
she found the fossils where he would
never find any more. ^^ But can't I look
where you looked ? " — " Look away, no-
body hinders you," replied the old wo-
man ; and these were the only words she
would say. — ^Jem was not, however^ a
boy to be easily discouraged ; he went

10 LAZY LAWAENCS.

to tlie rocks, and walfaed slind^
lookiog^at all the stones as he paaRcA;
Presently he came to a. piaoe wfaere ai
number of men were at work lanseniiqi
some large rocks, and one aoaongst tiM^
workmen was stooping down Jbooking fias
a<Mnethhig very eagerfy; Jem raa aifn
and aidced if he coukl fae|p him. '' Ye%"^
said the man^ ** ymi can ; I've Just iItg^
ped) amongst this heap of rubbish, Jk
fine piece of arystal that I got tondajr^'l
-^'^ What kmdofa loddngtiiing^^ it?''
said Jem* "" WMte, and lake gl&sa^'^:
said the man, and went on workJbi|p
wliiist Jem looked veiy careGaUy ovqei
^ heap of rubbish ftr a ^great w^bilfik.
<^ Came>'* smd the nian^ ^ itfs;^Be.ftr
e^er; doa't trouUe yourself wxyncusee^
my boy ."--<' It^ no trouUe ; Til kdL
a Uttfe longer ; we'U not give k U]p jt
son^" said Jiem ; and, after ha Iwl

LkSt LAWRBNCK. IJ

ktoktd a Uttle longer, he fouiod the
fMce of crystal. « Thank'e/' said the
j&an, "^ jott tae a fine little iadustrioui
ftfioir/' J»»i^ encouraged l^ the tooe
fif toioe in wUcfa the man spoke thia^
vmtured to ask him the same questioos
nhkh be asked the old woman. " One
Ifood ttim deserves another,"' s£ud the
nan ; ^ we are gosng to dinner jn^it iu»Wj
md shall leave off woric — ^wait for me
hiire, ami J'H make it worth your while.'*
Jem waited ; and, as he was very at-
tentively observing how the workmen
went on with their work, he heard some-
jtody near him give a great yawn, and,
tening round, he saw stretched upon the
gva^s, beside tiie river, a boy about
his own age, who he knew vei^y weH
l^ent in the village of Ashton by the
Wroe of Lazy Lawrence ; a name which
lie tedet ^nslly deserved, for he never

12 LAZY LAWRENCE-

any thing from morning to night; h4
neither worked nor played, but sauni
tered or lounged about restless and ya>
ing. His father was an alehouse-kee]
and being generally drunk, could tsiki
no care of his son ; so that Lazy La^
rence grew every day worse and woi
However, some of the neighbours sail
that he was a good-natured poor felloe
enough, and would never do any on<
harm but himself; whilst others, wh<
were wiser, often shook their heads, an(
told him that idleness was the root
all evil.

** What, Lawrence!" cried^Jem
him, when he saw him lying upon th<
grass — *' what, are you asleep ? " — " N(
quite.'* — *^ Are you awake?'* — ** Nol
quite." — ^^ What are you doing there ? *'
— " Nothing."—" What are you think-
ing of?"—*' Nothing."—" What makes

LA^T LAWRENCE.

you Ke there ?**—** I don't know*— 4)e-
cause I can't find any body to play with
me to day— Will you come and play ?'*
— "No, I can't; Tm busy.-— " Busy r
cried Lawrence, stretching himself, '^ you
aie always busy— 'I would not be you for
the world, to have so much to do al-
ways/'— « And I," said Jem, laughmg,
"would not be you for the world, to
have nothing to do." So they parted,
for the workman just then called Jem to
follow him. He took him home to. his
own house, and showed him a parcel
of fossils which he had gathered, he said,
on purpose to sell, but had never had
time yet to sort them. He set about it
however, now ; and having picked out
those which he judged to be the best, he
put them into a small basket, and gave
them to Jem to sell, upon condition
that he should bring him half of what
VOL. I. c

14 LASDT hkwaMmat

lie -got. JetKv pletsed to be crmploy^
nmt readfr to f^ree to %vhat the Ynan pM^
poaed, jKoiridcsd kfa nether ted no <il^
Jectkm to It. When he went borne 1o
dinMr^ iie t<^ hb mnihfar his schen^ ;
«Bd she "smifed and sb^ he might 4o M
lie ideased» t&r^he wbs not afraid tit Im
being from home. ** You are not an idle
boy^'' said alie, ^^so there is Uttie danger
<tf y<Mir g«£tin^.into anjr mischtef/'

Accordittg^y Jem thaU; evening took
his stand, wiA his little basket, tipon
the bank of the river, just at the place
vrhere pei^ land from a ferry-«bciat, aiut
wbere the \fBUt tusQ& to tbewells, where
ntiodbers of people perpetually pass to
diink the watem. iie chose his place
¥ndl, and WBa^ted almost all eremng, ofi^
ikftmg his.£9ssii» with great asstdoily to
ev€9!7 passeager: bait not oue person
baid^t anjr. ^^Hotta!" canedaoine

Wit irliM iiadi josfc ]N>%red.a bmt toland^
'^liedr' a luuid here, wUI yaui my Jittte
£el]aw! and owrj these pannk ibr at
iote jriHid^ir hM&6«" Jemxan dU)wn i«'»
omtiatelj jfer thd parcel^ and did what
1m was asked to do sof}iiiakl)rv and wi^
50 ou^h i^ood wilti tfant the laastxnr of
tbe boat took notide of Mm^ «lnd iHhen
b« was gdlBg ^wfety, stopped t»atk hwoi
what he had got in his litjtle bafsket : and
when ho aaw that thef w^are IomIb, lie
ipsiviadiatoly told Jom to fiaUow hiat^
fittthat he wascgoii^ tO£arr;<iMmie shdla
he had biioiight fvctfa abroad tea lad)r
in the neighbourhood who was making ft
grotto*^ '' She wiU Tery Ukeljr faity yt)ur
stones into the bai^ain; dome along*.
vaj lad^ we can but tiy^^

The htdy lived bat a v^- little ysm%
«l^6p that they were soon at bo^houao.
She was alono in .ber p^tow^ dad waiS

c 2

16 LAZY LAWRSNCe.

sorting a bundle of feathers of diflfefent
odours ; they lay on a sheet of paste-
board upon a window- seat, and it hap-
pened that as the sailor was bustling
round the table to show off his shdUs,
he knocked down the sheet of paste-
board, and scattered all the feathers.

The lady looked very sorry, whi^
Jem observing, he took the opportunity
whilst she was busy looking over the sail-
or's bag of shells, to gather together all
the feathers, and sort them according to
their diffei^nt colours, as he had seen
them sorted when he first came into the
room.

" Where is the little boy you brought
with you ? I thought I saw him here just
now/' — ** And here I am, ma'am,* cried
Jem, creeping from under the table
with some few remaining feathers which
he had picked from the carpet; ^^I

XtfBT LAWUBRGB. If

AM^C added he, poiBtiog to the
ad»r% ''I Ittd better be dM^ some^
liiiig than standii^ idle, sia^Mn.*^ She
moMf and, pleased with his activity
ad simplicity, began to ask him sevend
qaistioin ; wmh as> who he was^ wfa»e
te liv^, what ttapfeyment he had^ and
how rnndi a day he earned by gathering
hssah. *^This is the 6xsL day I emt
taed," said Jem; I never sold any yet,
and) if you don't bay 'em now^ ma'am^
ibi afraid nobody ^se will, fen* Fv^
•Ised ^very bcdy ehe."*— ^ Come then,**
«aid tfaehuiy> laugfaiag, ''if that is the
QBse, I think I had better buy them all^'
& enoptytng all the -foss^ cait of ins
hoafcet^ she pot haV a crown into it.
Jem's eyes spai^d with joy. '^Oh^
^huk. ymi, laa'am^" 4Baid he, ^I wifl
ha aure aiid faring you as many move ta^*
WttTow. W' ¥es^ hut 1 detft proKiiae

c3

18 LAZY LAWBBNO&

you/' said she, '^to give you half a
crown to-morrow* " — " But, perha|i8^
though you don't promise it, you wiH*^
— " No," said the lady, " do not decdive
yourself; I assure you that I wBk
not. That, instead of encouragmg you
to be industrious, would teach you to
be idle/' Jem did not quite understand
what she meant by this, but answered,
'^ I'm sure I don't wish to be idle ; what
I want is to earn something every day,
if I knew how : I'm sure I don't wish to
be idle* If you knew all, you'd know
I did not.*' — " How do you mean. If J
knew all ?" — ^*'Why, I mean, if you knew
about Lightfi)ot."— " Who's Lightfoot ?"
— " Why, mammy's horse," added Jem,
looking out of the window ; *^ I must
make haste home and feed him, a&M
it get dark ; he'll wonder what's gone
with me."-^Let him wonder a few

LAZY LAWABNCE. 19

flunutes longer,'' said the lady, ''and
tdl me the rest of your story."—
'' I've no story, ma'am, to tell, but as
how mammy, says he must go to the
inr Monday forbiight to be sold» if she
caa't get the two guineas for her rent ;
and I should be main sorry to part with
him, for I love him, and he loves me ;
so. rU work for him, I will, all I can:
to be sure, as mammy says, . I have no
chance, such a Uttle fellow as I am, of
earning two guineas afore Monday fort-
night." — " But are you in earnest will-
ing to work ?" said the lady ; " you know
there is a great deal of difference between
picking up a few stones, and working
st^ulily every day, and all day long."-^
?*But," said Jem, "I would wOTk every
day, and all day long." — *' Then,** said
lite lady, " I will give you work. Gome
here to«morrow morning, and my gar*

M iMsr LkyKtLWKm

deoet wfll set ;fdu to^wGBAUm dmrnV k ^
ries, and I will pay ymi six^cv^a ^ig^
ilememb^ you »»»( be iifc the gates'by
ifx o'clodc.** Jem hofmA, ibmsisj&i Inn
and wtnt away. U ^^^9i& late ia -dttt
tmiAngf and he wits etipati^Et. tor ^d
home to li^ed lightfoot; y^tJie tedok
l^isted that he had promised tfaeoMm
wto had tmsted him to seO the fossii%
ttiat he wooid briag^ hiia hld(^>ef sofaat
he ^ for th^m; so he thougiil that far
hiad better go tohini <MrectIy ; AnAsmmy
hb M^^tut; runomg alMg hy the Mfotaa^
iide about a quarter of a sde, tiilJb»
ornie to the man's ho«s^* He was ^ilt
iDcme home from work, and was sm*^
frised when Jem showed "bim the tastf*
^yown^ sayings '*Look whsu I gok^iat
tim stones ; ym are to liair« liatf; ^
faiota^/''-^** N&;' said iJi€f mati, whei^M
iMd lioaxd hii story^ «^ I ihaO not taiie

yaX LAWBBNCE. 21

balf of tbat ; it was given to you. I
expected Imt a shilliog at the most, and
the half of that is but sixpence, and
that ru take.— Wife ! give the lad two
shillings, and take this half-crown.'' So
\m wife opened an old glove, and tootk
^t two shillings ; and the man, as she
opened the glove, put in his fingers, and
toe*: out a little silver penny. — " There,
he sl^all have that into the bargain for
his honesty — Honesty is the best policy
—There's a lucky penny for you, that
Tve kept ever since I can remember."-—
" Don't you ever go to part with it, do
ye hear ?" cried the woman. ** Let him
do what he will with it, wife," said the
muEL "But," argued the wife, "an.*
other penny would do just as well to buy
gingerbread, and that's what it will go
for."— "No, that it shall not, I pro-
ni|se you," said Jem; and so he ran

iBLwayhome^ ftd Liglttfdot^ 4lMked liMH
9mDtto bed, jumpei upatftw^^dodtia
Am mommgy sani went dn^gim w^sA
«v gay as a lark«

Four dasysie worked ^* etmyt<^^ ml
«& dajr k>Qg ;'* and the hAf ev^ry evM^
ki^, wbftA «he caiM outto walk in IM
gwdoosy looked at Ids woifc« ili« bwt
gbe said to her gtstdener, «TM& Htlil
h0y works very fa«d''*^'' Merer had m
good a Jittfe boy about the gwmd^f*
said the gardener; ** fac% alwHys at Im
work, let loie cone bjr when {> wiSH^ ami
he has got twice as lansch^oneas MB&iet
wiottid do ; yw, twice ar srnicK, nmimm;
tst look hene-^-he begfati at thia kef&
MK bindi, aad now he's got to whem
yffm rtaad, ma'am ; and berekthe daff^
wmak ttet t'other boy^ 9aid>hi!B thorn
yaws old«r too, did to-day-^^lsay, mtm
Hire Jem's fairly, aad it%tmic&mmmjbi

5Me/?^« WdV' Baid the kdjT t0
lier ganl«ier» *' show me how much is a
fittf g€Qd dayl^ work £dr a boy of hm
«ge/'-^*^ Come at six oVdoek, and go
^sp& ? wligr» afaoi:^ thk.BUudi, ma'am/'
aaid the gtfrdencart tnarkkigoff apiece
of the baldier wfth his ^pade. '^ l^iett,
li(^ bc^;* 9m1 the lady, ''so muck
dmU be your task e^ery Aay; thegar*^
daiier will/iMdi^ it off for you.; and wheat
j^auVe deM» the teat of the day y^n
Wfy do what you please." Jem ymsi
extreioely gkd of this ; oad the next
(k^ he had .finished his task by fiomr
i^'dodc^ so that ha4uid ad the rest of the
evening tolumself. Jem was as fond t>f
I^ as an|r liMlehngr t»ufal be, and whoi^
he wm at it, played with dl the ea*
gmsess mA gmeky iouginafafte : so laa
saoQ as he had fimdied las task, f&A
Ijg^tfbiiky and pnt "hf fthe sopeace.lMi

j|4 LAZY LAWRENCE.

had earned that day, he ran to. the phyi
ground in the village, where he found #
party of boys playing, and amongst thenj
Lazy Lawrence, who indeed was not
playing, but lounging upon a gate wiA
his thumb in his mouth. The rest weiC
plajdng at cricket. Jem joined them?
and was the merriest and most active
amongst them ; till, at last, when quiHt
out of breath with runnings he waflr
oUiged to give up to rest himself,
sat down upon the stile, dose to
gate on which Lazy Lawrence was
swinging. ** And why don't you play,
Lawrence ?" said he.—** Tm tired," said
Lawrence.— .** Tired of what?"—**!
don't know well what tires me ; grand-
mother says Fm ill, and I must take
something — I don't know what ails me.''
*— **Oh, pugfa! take a goodrace^ one,
two, three, and away, and you'll find

nd

LAZY LAWRENCE. 95

yourself as well as ever. Come^ run— ?
one^ two, three, and away." — " Ah, no,
I can't run indeed^" said he, hangings
back heavily ; ** you know I can play
dl day long if I like it, so I don't mind
p% as you do, who have only one hour
for it.** — " So much the worse for you.
Come now, Tm quite fresh again, will
you have one game at ball? do." — " No,
I tell you I can't ; I'm as tired as if I
had been working all day long as hard
as a horse." — " Ten times more," said
Jem, *' for I have been working all day
long as hard as a horse, and yet you see
I'm not a bit tired; only a little out of
breath just now." — " That's very odd,*'
said Lawrence, and yawned, for want
of some better answer ; then taking
out a handful of halfpence — " See
what I have got from father to-day, be-
cause I asked him just at the right
VOL. !• B

9$ iMx iifcWAfiNee.

tififie, vjwi he hsA drimk a ^mkm
two; :l3ien I cu jgA aqy tlOAg I \v.«iiti

tl»ee-|»eiice» fbur-pmee— there'^t ei^
pence in aU ; would not you be hfqpn
if you hsA ^ghUpen^ ? "—** Why* 1
don't keow," sakl Jem laughing, ^ ftl
jxra don't sec» hapjiy, and you ik4M
tigbt^pengt.'*-^^^ Tliat does i^ot «%!!%
Ibougb-nlVn aure you mky say that ke*
canse you emy me — you don't ku(M
wbat it is to have eight-penoe*— yoe
Jierer had more than two«pence or thsee*
pence at a time in all your life." Jaa
smikd. '^ Qh^ as to that/' said hei
^ you are imsfadsen, £)i: I have at 4iil
very tkaae «uipe than two*pen€e» thi«e»
penee^ or eight-pence either; I have^
kt ane -see^^ffStones^ two shtUiogs; thea
fifvte .days' woiisL* tisat's fiv^e eixpenoM
that's tiro sfatllings and siK^fence» iajill

a^'^vei^ lyenoy, is jfour and sefven^^^iaacoi
Fmr niid seveb?*pengr 1 *— ^ Too Jmive
liot^'' said tawvtuce, roused 8ei> as ai»
oiiBteljr to stand upright^ ^ &ur and
iCfven^'penQe ! have job? Shaw ii tm^
flod then 131 beliemt jmft/'-*-'^ Fdlaie
ne tfieo^** cried Jem, ^ and ni^setmimdot
Jrou believe me ; ceme.'***^* fe it &r ? ' •
9aiA Lawrence^ followingr half^ruoidi^
kl]r4KifaUing» iaH be oamc to the jstsaUe^
vhere Jem showed hixa his treasixve^
^- Jmd ^(iw did ytM oome fa^'it? bo^
Itofly? ''-*•*« Hon^df 1 tgr be sure I didf
i fearned.it all.**^*-^^ Blest mc^ emmed kT
11^ Tve a great nutid to vrork; but
ften it's such hot weather ; besid^iSy
gvMdmother saysJ Vn mAsttang ejatnug^
]net>£3r bnrd irark ; and besides^ LkimiR
hom: to <tkax daiddf out of. mdtie;f
iben i want it^ bo I need aat SvaA/*-^

D 2

r

28 LA2Y LAWRENCE.

But four and seven-pence ! let's sePi
what will you do with it all ?''—** That's
a secret/' said Jem, looking great. ^ I
can guess. I know what I'd do with it
if it was mine. — ^First, I'd buy pockets-
fiill of gingerbread; then Fd buy ever
so many apples and nuts : don't yoo
love nuts? I'd buy nuts enough to last
me from this time to Christmas, and Fd
make little Newton crack 'em for me;
for that's the worst of nuts, there s the
trouble of cracking 'em." — ** Well, you
never deserve to have a nut/'—** But
you'll give me some of yours," said
Lawrence in a fawning tone, for lie
thought it easier to coax than to work
— ** you'll give me some of your good
things, won't you ? " — " I shall not hare
any of those good things," said Jem.
••* Then what will you do with all your
money ? " — " Oh, I know very well

^«t %Q. 40 with H; liut, aa litoid ;fQNi»
ttot'6 a^seer^ and I riian't tefl it aqr
jMd}i---0)aie aowv let's |p tiadk audi
|b]r'~tlieir \gattie'a ii{v I dare say***-*-*
l4»wfeiice went back with Mm foU of
^niȣdtj9 and out of humour with hira^
self and his eight-pencew-^^^ If I had
&m a,iid S(eveiv*pence/' 3aid he to him-
ad& ^' I certaiQly should be hapfjV

The nexi day» as U9ual> Jem junlped
lip bie£EM*e six. o'dock aod went to ha
wjsk, wfaikt Lassy I^wreuoe sauntered
Mbwkt wiithotft kniowing what to do witli
Miiiael£. In the course of. two days ht
laid out $rx^ pence ctf his money iuapfdefi^
ittd gingeri^ead, and as long as tbesr
hgieAbe foui^ himsdf weHitscei^^ h^
hb eompanknits ; but at tengtb i3)e thotd
dqr he spe&t hk last halfpenny^ and
wkte. it was gone^ ua&iftufiately sow
fiuts tfampted him 5rety miKh». but he

D S

^0 I'AZY LAWUKNCX.

liad no money to pay for them ; so be
ran home to coax his father as he called
it When he got home, he heard fak
&ther talking very loud, and at first be
thought he was drunk; but when he
opened the kitchen-door, he saw that he
was not drunk, but angry.

** You lazy dog ! *' cried he, turning
suddenly upon Lawrence, and gave him
isuch a violent box on the ear as made
the light flash from his eyes ; '^ you la^
dog! see what you^ve done for me—
look! — ^look, look, I say!" Lawrence
looked as soon as he came to the use of
his senses, and, with fear, amazement,
and remorse, beheld at least a dozen
bottles burst, and the fine Worcester*
shire cider streaming over the floor.
** Now, did not I order you three days
ago to carry these bottles to the cellar;
and did not I charge you to wire the

LAZY LAWRBNCiL 81

tx)rks ? answ^ me, you lazy rascal ; did
not I ? " — ** Yes/* said Lawrence^
scratching his head. ^* And why was
it not done ? I ask you,** cried his father
with renewed anger, as another bottle
Wst at the moment ** What do you
stand there for, you lazy brat? why
don't you move? I say. No, no/*
catching hold of him^ " I believe you
can't move ; but 1*11 make you." And
he shook him, till Lawi'ence was so
giddy he could not stand. ^^ What had
you to think of? what had you to do all
day long, that you could not carry my
dder, my Worcestershire cider, to the
cellar when I bid you ? But go, you*ll
never be good for any thing, you are
such a lazy rascal-*-get out of my sight !'*
So saying, he pushed him out of the
house-door, and Lawrence sneaked offV
/

3A hhzx hikVftJim&

seeing that thb was na tittiA tomaki; ]Ni>
jpetitiou for hali^ience.

The Bext day he saw tha nuta-Qigpili^
and^ wishing for them more than evei^
went home in hopes that bis &ther» m
he said to himself^ would be in a l»tMf
liumour^ But the cider wa» still ifiveaii
in his recollection, and the momcedt
I^wrence began to whisper the if^jpi
** halfpenny" in his ear, his father sw^tss^
with a loud oath,/^ I will not giv^e yM
a halfpenny, no^ not a fairtlung, ibr «
month to Gome; if you want moip^
go work for it ; I've had enottg;h of ycm
laziness — Gk) work !" At these texriiile
words Lawrence burst into tears, and*
gding to the side, of a ditdi^ sat do^va
8nd cried for aaa hoiir4.4od whw be faad
cri^d till he ccfuU cry no mwe^ he egi^
«Erted himself so far as, to ^mpty hi$

LAZY LAWRENCE. 3S

.f

pockets, to see whether there might not;
happen to be one halfpenny left; and
to his great joy, in the farthest comer of
his pocket one halfpenny was found.
With this he proceeded to the fruit-wo-
man's stalL She was busy weighing out
some plums, so he was obliged to wait ;
and, whilst he was waiting, he heard
some people neai* him talking and laugh*
ing very loud. The fruit-woman*s stall
was at the gate of an inn-yard; and
peeping through the gate in this yard,
Lawrence saw a postilion and stable-boy
about his own size playing at pitch-^
&rthing. He stood by watching them
for a few minutes. " I begun but with
one halfpenny,'* cried the stable-boy
with an oath, " and now I've got two-
pence!" added he, jingling the halfpence
in his waistcoat-pocket. Lawrence was
moved at the sounds and said to himseU>

f 4 }d^S» JLAWUBNCBa

^nad li|(e hi to Witfa having t«»o-ft($a0^
4|»d it is eaaier (o {day atr pitidtffkityiif
i^n to work^"

. So be. stepped forwmtA^ pKismting fad
Ihalfpemiy, offeratg to tost? up mt&lte
steble-I^7t who, after looking Mm iUI
in the face^ accepted tlie pitqMxtal, aai
threw his halfpenny into tiie air. ^^ifairi
w tail?*' cried he. « Ifcad,'^ repKrf
Jviawrenoe, and it Cftn>e up head*. Jb
seized the penny, surprised at Ins 0m
anipcess, and would have gone iiistaBli|:
to have laid it out in nuts ; but tbe
ftoUe^boy stopped him, and t&atptoii
Mm to throw again. This time he ioit}
hie thtew again and wjonr and so he weal
c^t sometitaes losings b^t most &9*
^u^atly winning, till half the moniaf
wm gone. At laat» howeTa*^ he chancaA
to win twice ranniiig^ and, ^fiteiiBg hsff^

0ll£ iiufitar of three Mfpwce, saaS ie
pMild pla7 ao .mwe. SIfbe stsble-boj^
pusiblii^ swi^ri^ he ^ONdd jbaire bb
lei^enge aiwtha? time» and iLawrence
vmfe aad bonglM; ihe mite. ^ K is a
f»od thing," said he to hinrtelf, ^*^
fhf at pitch^iarthing : the im%X time I
jmit a«^fpenny» I'U nat.a^k mj^ ftthat^
ibr it> n(i^ rgo ta wo£k neither/^ Satiik
#a(l with ^\m vosolMtiQn lie f ^ down to
\&mti(^ his Qjiitfl art hi« If^nre. njpmi Uie
iharae-falaek in the inn-yard, Hepe^
iithifet he ote^ he overheand the 0QnYei>-
^aatrni of the staUe4K>3^ and po^ttlioM.
MiA &nt tiieir seeking mX\i% and Imid
Umtngitiog frighAaned and^ocked him;
lin- Imwenc^ though a /m^, had sat
fiat If^ned to be a m'cA^ hey. iBtiifu
% dKigrees> he was aiMistoHted to the«r
swearing and quarrelling, aad took a cb-
l%ht/Mdiinteffi(lt i« tlus^ diiiiutes and

86 LAZY LAWRENCE.

battles. As this was an amusemeirf
which he could enjoy without any sort
of exertion on his part, he soon grew si
fond of it, that every day he returadi
to the stable-yard, and the horse-blodi
became his constant seat. Here hi
found some relief from the insuppoits-
ble fatigue of doing nothing ; and hei^
hour after hour, with his elbows on hb
ioiees, and his head on his hands, heart
the spectator of wickedness. Gamii^
cheating, and lying, soon became fano^
liar to him ; and, to complete his ruia^
lie formed a sudden and close intimacy
with the stable-boy with whom he lad
£rst begun togame— a very bad hcf
The consequences of this intimacy tM
^hall presently see. But it is now
to inquire what little Jem has been
ing all this while.

One day; after he had finished

LAZr ULWKENCS. St

tmk, ike gudener adced hiiii to stiqr
l^littfe wUkf to hdp him to carry wmn^
jmuiium pots into the hall. Jem» always
lolire and obliging^ readily stayed from
pliy^Taad was carrying in a heavy flo wapp
|0t» when hk mistress crossed the hall^
f What a terriUe litter," said she, '' yon
Me a-making here — why don't yoil
Npe your shoes upon the mat ? " Jem
Ittmed round to lo<^ for the mat^ bat
b saw none. '^ Oh ! " said the lady>
KOoUecting herself, ** I can't Uame
jrw, for there is no mat/'< — ** No,
ma'am," said the gardener, ^^ nor I
fan't know when, if ever, the man will
Wag home those mats you bespoke,
tta'am/' — " I am very sorry to hear
khat,"' said the lady ; " I wish we could
find somebody who would do them, if he
can't — I should not care what sort of
Aiats they were, so that one coidd wip6

TOL. i; E

98 xAar 'ULmnmieA,

^fitfs'ieet on then.*' 'Jem, ai'<lie-4«ll
MuMpliig away the ^iMtiv mbm'f^eiitmi
these* iart WOF&, said -to Hmaetf, ^^

way 6oitoe, at he tnidgod ateag mi Wai
iitii^, he was thinUiig over ^a 60h#n( '
for making mats^ which, hcmev^.VUi
it tnay appear, he cUd not despair ^
executing, with patieiioe afid' indoMVjH
Many were the 4Mlciri)ti^ which -tlii
^ prophetic eye '* ferfesaw, fcut he ftH
within himself that spirit, ^idi Sjpyvi
men on to great enfterprises, and m
fhem ^* trample an impossiMiities."

He recollected^ in the Urst place, MMt
ne h^d seen Lazy Lawrence, whilst he
lounged upon the gate^ twist a bit af
heath into different shapes i and he
Aought that if he could find sene
Way of plsdting heath firmly together,
it would make a rery pretty green, s^

mmi^wt^mm m

PWnti ty. o£ this, ho^^th ; aii4» f s it wan
¥^^ii/Ay BiK. o^^^k, im the eyepkig^ ha
Itoi^. tbftt ^ ^il^)i^ h«if e tUtle to. i!wft

tftnvf^t wad.mak^ o^e trial qf Im B|il|
(pfifdre be wont to b^ '

^tiJpig^tjfoot c^fd Hm Byri£t]f to ttif^
NMttmon, wA theve Jem: gatheored aa^
jjMM^h.iif the hpith as he thougj^; lie
wwld .want JB^nt/ what toil» wha6
tiiM, ^wb§t pain^ did it cost hii»^ liefoire
lM:0Mild f»A);:& aojf thii)g likr &; m^lf
Xwmmtf |iiile$ he was^ ready to ttero^vip
aside the heath, and give up his pfi^
jf^tpt&om iiBfi^hi^^ of jsep^M^ dis^

E 2

4i^ uzr lAWftnMi.

ipp(»iBtaint8. But still fae peemm^
VMhmg truhf great cm be mMm
llished widiout toil aad tiHie. Tw
lieurs he worked befoie he wetit to M
All his play^hours the next day he
at his mat; whidi, in all, made fot
hours of fruitless attempted — ^The mxltk
however, rqwtd him for the laboorrs
the otiier five ; he conquered his grM^
dMkultj ctf fastening the heath sufastliH
tiaOy tc^ther, and at length compietd^
finished a mat, which far surpassed Ul
most sanguine expectations. He wsi
extremely happy— sung, danced rouatf
it— -whistled — ^looked at it again Mi
again, and could hai*dly leave off loc^^*
ing at it when it was time to go to bo4
He laid it by b^ bed*side, that he niigM
see it the moment he awoke in the mom*
ing.

And now came die grand (dtasure d

Mtoiyte^ k ttf'his m&tijiew. She feofcei

HAftf nmdi Mrpobed as' ite ekpebtodt

MiftB duo san^ il» and when slie hcant

«Mib inade it. After Iwrkig^ duly aifr

liiilbd it, $he asked him haw much he

tliq^eirtad for his nmiL ''Expect ! — No-

111%^ nta'«)/' Mid Jem» '< I meant tm

%lrfe it 70U> if yorotd have it ; X did not

ibwnii to sett k. I made k at isj plaifw

imirr, and I was very happj making it;

lMMi)ifm irery glad too ibat you Ske ifct

Md if you please to keep it ma'aair*^

itatfa aH"— '' But that's not alV saU

t»^lady. '^ Spend your fiaae no more

i M weeding in my garden, you ean em^

ph^' ypdcself much better ; you AaK

hatiK the n^Hrard* of youv ingenaily as

*vMHe aa ctf your induttryi Make aa

atanjr'ttbra siith slats aaydu can, anil

I ftili'>tdai care and dispose ei them

fmiT-^^ Thtonk'e mn^amv" daid'

£ 3

M LAOS LAWinOK

making his best bow, for he tbcMcqifet
Irf the ladjr's \cxks that she meant tod»
lum a favour, though he repeatedLtii
hinfiself, ^ Diqnie <^ them ; what does
that mean ? ** i

The next day he went to work ti$
make more mats, and he soon leamid
to make them so well and quidily, tkatj
he was surprised at his own succoMtf
In every one he made he found Ian
difficulty, so that, instead of makng
two, he could soon make four, in ^
day. In a fortnight he made eighteen.
It was Saturday night when he fimriied^
and he carried, at three journeys. Us*
dghteen mats to his mistress's homes
piled them all up in the hall, and stooi
^th his hat off, with a lodt of proud
Iinmilityy besidfe tbe pile, waiting ftr
iiis nristress'S q^pearance. Presently •
JbUoig dotar, at one end of the liaH,

LAST LhrffVaSSCE. is

bpeoed, and he sarvr his nistiess, with a
great many gentlemen and ladies rising
item several tables.

' ^ Oh \ there is my little boy, and his
liiats," cried the lady; and, fottowed
kgr'«all the rest of the company, she
SHBe into the hall. Jem modestly re*
tned whilst they looked at his mats;
bat in a minute or two his mistress
toekoned to him, and when he came
kto the middle of tiie circle, he saw
tiiat his pile of mats had disappeared.
"^ Well,'' said the lady smiling, '' what
io you see that makes you look so sur-
|iris^?"~'' That all my mats are
^ae," said Jem ; ** but you are very
*reteome.*'— «" Are we? *' said the lady t
^ well, take up your hat, and go home
tfien, fin* you see that it is getting lat^
and you know ** lightfoot will wonder
Miat's become of you/' Jem turned

4t

4i Lil2Y <LAffniK(fi».

coriaid to tebe- up'hb^afc^whithlMf'kll
left en the floor. . ^ .w4i

Biit hoHT his countflsiaiioe'dkiffl^gpedfM'
4ik:bat was hstory wkh ^uiUfi^ Efdff
one who liad t^ken a* liiat had ^Btril
iitro shiHkigs ; sa that for the e%hteil
aate he had got thirty-six sitillinnii
Thirty^six ^hiUbi^sr said tfte^ hidjn
&«e aaid seren-pence I thiidc jai
Iflld me you* had earned ahead)' hair
«Mtcb does that make? I tinist addict
Mkve, oile other aix-^penoe to nudll
out yonr irwa ^uiiieasw*' — ^ ♦* lO^m
gufaioas ! '^' exdaim^ Stmi ^^^'^ ^iii^
Msquernag hb bashfiriaess^ foi* at Iht
vioflnent he forgot 'where h^ was^ §mA
W^^v^baitf thfiit fmh ^r:. ** Hmm
IfmikmV* medhe, dapping iBsjfewidi
iag/t%ist^^ Oh Ii^itfoot.!^^«Qll Mh^
Ihisri'^ ThM/ reebl^tiRg hioifeif^ite
iHMr bis' nlstressy wbomlie ne^ lonilBi

' LAZir L4WAENC& %$

p- ta q«te as a finend. '' Win ^m
kumk them aU^** said he, scarody
kiriiig to glance his eye round upon the
mapmny^ ** will jfou ttrnvk 'em, for you
jfiow I donH know how to thank *eni
tigktfy^* Every body thought^ how-
|«er, that they had been thanked

I ^ Now we won't keep you any longer
jh-ot^ly^" said his mistress* *^ I have one
Nag to aric yon, that I may be by
iriien you show your treasure to your
toottier/' — ** Come, then/* said Jem,
^ come with me now." — " Not now,"
laid the lady laughing, '' but I will
tome to Ashton to-4norrow evening;
|«rhaps your mother can ind me a few
•trawberries.'*

*• That she wiU," said Jem; « III
Mn!€h the garden mysel£" He now
irent home^ but ML it a great restraint

41 Um ]»4W£)««.

|g[,,w|||C. till .t4MMiT9W ewfiW^i 1^

Dolf -Unisetf be fieir to? ti^ ntuMii
^' light^t^* foH.'fletJi#t!t# be wUk'4oi

him^. ^Bd 4h0p omUI wA nefraugi ftl(||
ifitfililllf^ oii/t his moDi^.. Whilst «J|0
was intent upon this, Jem was .?|IW0^
}^j a rmm at . tHe Aotm ; <«aiiiieba^. w^
tqriii^ .t0 puH y^ tbe lal eh. It ppemw^
«aid iJiem aume in. JL^^ Lati^jrence, miitti
#.b(]^ in A r«d jacket^ who had aiMdl
undkr )ib:arm. Theji'rtartedwhe^tfaiS
gpit int<» the imddla vof the^ ^tabj|%. «i[i4
lfbpn,th«if saw JE^i,/.wha hftd Jiteil*irt
^i)p»t hjd4eiif<hj thehprse. - jo»

Lazy Lawrence — ^^ I mean^.I tsmttUhUB
toiMjo*-^* *c Xo )uk yw," contlwed
«lie staUe-bbjfvift a>.hQtd!tai^, '""wlMUbifBI
jms, mil go! ii^tJi us to Mbus^ cQ^^\k%^m

\ tnAx f9 Sm, ¥i^ a ine «ock heftj^
Wd^lamrea^ isM ise yon were a gwHl
Kend of iB95 so I Cflflne/^
i Lawrence nomr iMempted to mj scnMk
Mng in praise of the pleaiwes of codEk
Igktiiig, and m recotmneiklatioii of ^
new compauian. Biat Jem looked at
ftie rtab)e-boy wUh diBlike, and a sovl
0f dread; then turning his e^eh vprnt
(he codk with a look of csompassion^
ttM^in a low voice to Lawrewce, " Shall
fm like to stand by and see its ^ym-
pleked out ? ''— •^ I donU know/' saiA
iawKBce, ** as to that; but they Miy a
•e(*:-%ht'sa fine s%ht, and it's no more
cmel in me to go than another; and
• great many go ; and I've nething else
to do, so I shaDi go."—** Bu* I have some-
tMiig else to do,** said Jem laughing, •^ »*
Ishaft not go *— *« But,'' continued Lar*
lence, ^ you know Monday tsthe great

Bristol fidr, and one must ben
IlieB, of all dtnys ia tile ]rear/'-~<^ Qm
day in the year, swe th&ce'n no ham ia
being merry/' said the stiddMboy. ^?d
hofe not," said Jem ; ^^ for I know»
my part, I am marry every day in tfi
year."—** That's very odd," s
fence; *' but I knoir» for my part>-^I
woidd not for all the worid miss goin|^ ti
the fair, for at least it will be sometbirif^
to talk of for half a year after ;•
you-ll go, won't you?" — ** No,'
Jem, still looking as if he did not Vim
to talk before the ill-looking strai^^ien
** Then what will you do with all yen
money?"—'' I'll tell you about 'tfaift
another time/' whispered Jem ; '' and
don't you go to see that cock's eyes
pedsied out ; it wonH make you meri;,
I'm sure." — ** If I had any thing dse to
divert iKke^-/' said Lawrence^ hesiti^log

UUtr I^MTBBBiGf. 40

^mi jmnkm^^'' Gcne^" cried the
Mfcilii boy, Muinig his attetehing ariii»
^, oome aioof »" eriad he ; and> puBisg
kiii away fimn Jon, upon whom he
imb a look of extrenie coiiteinpt» '' leave
litt alone, Wb not Ae sort.''—'' What «i
Aei you are!" said he to Lawrence^
fthe moment he got him out of the
iiaUe, *^ you mi^t have known he
awuld not go — dse we should soon have
trimmed him out of his four and seven*
jwmce. But how came you to talk of
iter and seven^pence; I. saw in the
manger a hat full of silv^." — '' In*
lleed ! " exclaimed Lawrence. '' Yes, in-
tbed-^but why did you stammer so
^Mrhen we first got in ? you had like to
have hhmn us all up»"<-«'' I was so
;e^amed/' said Lawrence, hangiliig
Aoiwii his head. '* Ashamed ! but yoii
illU9t net talk of shame now you are in
VOL. I. «• ,

09 IMBl'

:'i'i •

ftr it^mA I sht&atitlet fen^oftpi^iwi
us bal£ ufoom^ mtolkBtd^mmd. I >iliiiiiiii

some bow or other/' Aftfiraci
p«Bse h0 fiddttl^ '"^ rU muMiterj£Nr:ilt
aevcr mis(»-haif a gddirii euft ctf ett ikM
«ibrer."'^<' Butte afkedi/' saidLawreMii
cbsawiog back witb honoi>^*^ I Tiewi
tliougfat I shouU c^nne lo tbe^---aiiiljgtiii»
p«0r Iran too — 4he nKioey that be.Aip
wariced so 'hard Jkr ta9»"-^<^ BvMt Umi^
not stealing.; we dioft't nmwa toisteal ; 4^^
to borrow it : aiyi^ if <vre ww» as^ vre-ow^^
tably &hall» aik the coilk-rfight^ pay it bMk
ugem, and he'll neveo* Ii^miw any things
of the matter ; and mhai haxm wMk 4t
do him? Besidcg, what sBgaifies taltei^
jrou can't go -te Ijhe codc-figh/^op |he Mt
lather^ if you doD!t; and J tdl yt^ wt
don't mean tosteal it ; wie^pagrit opNS
on Monday n%ht.'' Lawreott Jude m

Miijbi«^I«tl«liil pause ia our 8tor^«^-^e
Mrilribimt ^ifimid tOfOM — ^tbe rest .ui
ptf;'}9|K)€km9~our Uttie leacter^ witt
tMdiur im tiliey\nad. s . Biftt h is better.
lillii th^< ihould ' kiM)F' the tratb^ atid
MiwAa* th0 kUi} bji^came totftt.last,
Nil|iri)th0 ilMd; <^'thi». niglit lAirr«Me
|MpiMiKbpdjr.jtdp»«0<Ms wi^ Mi
imm Wisil trjbfd il w&ah,;^ this. vrM ttm
Ifnal ag>*aed^pM betvneeHl him and his
PWhod <toiq|paiikHi/ . Ud tvemUed m
tbt tboi^hto of nHiat fae^ was absul to
Ikt^nd ky .quite atitty iviith hi^. liead
M^F. tber bed-dokhe^ IftU hi hesard th<
miotid tap^ : Thefa he gat up,. diaeaseA
UmssU^ and opsiiad hf^. window. It
Mb ftfanost 0T«K withrtkegroimd. J3m
mo^Bs^an mid to him in a hoUow vtdfit;^
IfifviVM jrcm^readjr ? " Ijb miile so* an*'

F 2

n

5t LASnr LAWUBNCi.

iwer, but got out of tile wkHtm m$
followed. When he got to the at«kl%
a bhck cloud was jurt psMi^ onrer tkt
moon, and it was quite dark. ^ Wbmm
are you?** whispered Lawrence, fei upftH
about, ** where are you ? Sfieak ta flM(9
^ I am here ; give me your hand*''' Lm^
rence stretched out his hand. '' la tiMk
your hand?" said the widced boy^ ai
Lawrence laid hold of him ; **^w mN
it fek! "—'' Let us ge back/ said UHfw
lence; ^it is time yet"^-^'' {t k no
time to go back,'' repKed tiie otbai^
opening the door ; ** you've gone liaa
tm now to go badk :" and he puaiwi
Lawrence into the staUe.— »^* Have fm
found it ? — ^take care of the hor8e--*ham
you done? — what are you about iU«4«
make haste, I bear a noise/' said ths
sidble boy, who watched at the daaa.
^ I am ieding for the half crowu^ but

xxaciftirarjiaiDE; m

■fe hraHgbb. Jem'a bfokcsn flosmr^^oi^
Mitt 'idl tfaeisDney iii:.il ta tke -doos^
mtfFbt lAmdk el(mimB»maw passed* oMr
Utat^ttoio, MdriUed^ht.slionefMB npoH
MMifel^^i What^ we Aaad heteibr ? ^^

|Htt Mt tf Lawrence^si 'trembHiig. hBni%

Mob pbHed' him awaj from the dmefv

iNSho^,** vxmd La^vence^ "* you iv^%

tofete^Tittl^Yausaid, yo»'d only take balf

'^ tfown» tad pay it back on Ma»

ji a y^ ii- y iott sa&d' yoii*d oidy take half a

«aHH»!''-— '^ Hald yoiir tongiter!" m-

filed tfteother^ waUdi^ ouy deiif to aft

MitiDmrtrdiiceA-*^" if I am to be hangeid

«»«r, St Aa^B't be filr half a crowiK?

feawrend^a biood van cold in hat v^imh

tmht felt as if aU his hair atood em

(^:. Kfot a«M^ter wQfd paased. W$

imooipMe ;ciRimd df tte m<m^, itod

p 3

94 I^ZT LAWIENCK.'

Lawrence crept^ with dl the homHrs^^if
guiit upon him^ to bis retsdewhedL ASj
night he was starting ftom flpighlM
dreams; or else, broad awake, he Iv^j
Hstening to every small noise, unaMu M
stir, and scarc^y daring to breatl»«itfl
tormented by that most dreadAil of it \
kinds of fear, that fear which ia tfaa
constant companion of an evil
science. He thought the morning
never come ; but when it was day,
he heard the birds sing, and saw every
tiling look cheerful as usual, he Mt sliB
more miserable. It was Sunday motm*
ing, and the bdl rang for churdi. JM
the children of the village, dressed m
their Sunday clothes, innoc^st and gay,
and little Jem, the best and gayest
amongst them, went flocking by 'Us
door to church. " Well, Lawrende,^
said Jem, pulling his coat as he paased^

LhXr LA'WfiEKG£J 55

Ind* saw Lawrence, leaniag agmnrt hii

jhiher^s doer, ^ what nudces joq look

Mtblack?" << I ! " said Lawrence, starts

iHg, ^^ whj do yott say that I locA

UiK^k ? "_« Nay then,** said Jeni» '' jou

iBok wfahe enoogfa now, if that wiU

fiease you; for you're turned as pale

death." — " Pale!** replied Lawrence*

knowing what he said ; and turned

libruptly away^ for he dared not stand

asotfaer look of Jem^s ; conscious that

goMt was written in his faoe, he shunned

tirery eye. He would now have given

tbe world to have thrown oS the load of

guSlt which lay upon his mind; he longed

te follow Jem, to fall upon his knees*

and coirfess aU : dreading the moment

when Jem should discover his loss;

Liiwrence dared not stay at home;

and^ not knowing what to do, or where

tn .go, be mechanically went to his M

haunt at the stab)e*yard, and littkttd

tiienabcmte «li day, vftli * Us mcMI

^iae, who tnedin vam toqciief M^ ftiA

itod raise fais spibite, by tdkii^ dftli

iiexi day's cocfefi|fht. It wa9 agr

Ubat as soon as fbe dilsk of the ev

llttne OB^ they should go together i

^fertaan bfteiy firfd^ and there ^B?fiA

ftea booty. *

In the inea& time; Jemi when he Mt

*mmd from (Atm^ehv was vety fidl otW

moss^ prefumng for €)e reoeption oPUl

t»Kiteedi« of wlkoBo intemfedf Yis^ he hdl

infarmed his moiimr; and \riiilst sM

tRabairailfbig the kttchen and their litli

Imrkmr, he tan to waoreh the strawbeiff^

hada " Why, • my JeHu, hoiw imxh/r j^k

Mre to day !" ^td hfe mother when •111

pame ih with the stishirberries, anAi/im

jumping about the room playMHji

^ Now keep tbose jspirits of y^iars, Jw

Itt yM wajit Vki|^ a»d Aso'^let it csw^

>tftt O'ctoaU jit(;0Me. HaTseitmiDnl

L4sr L»muaiKM. afi

Itft to*iBonmiir*s ftiir-day and Ligkt*
b^t must gKK I bid filmier Truck cmSL
iP'Idm to night; he Mid he'd take htm
jlngr. witik his 0W1I5 aad faeH 1)6 here
pM; now-*«iid then I know how it wiH
hMeith you,Je»!"*-''SodoI!'* crkd
hok^ swallowing hfe secret with great
iiffieulty» and then tumbling head over
iMila four ttmes running. A carriage
pMsed the window and stopped at the
loor.- Jem ran out ; it was his mistress*
She oame in soiling, and soon ma^
tba old woraiaii smile too, by prai^s^
llie neatness of every thing in the housew
Bait we shall pass ov«*, however impor-
tant they were deemed at the time, the
firaises of the strawberries, and of ^ my
grandmother's china plate." Another
knook was heard at the door. " Run,
Jbm," said his mother, <' I hope it's
Mr milk-woman with cream for the

tM LOST htmMEtSMA

l«fy/'-*No ; ft. : itias. israier iTMt
Mme for LigKtfiNit.. Tiie cM nAll
niiti*0 coMBtieiitece.i feUJ 'E0t€hiIlal|i
oirt^ deaiv^ fiaid sbe^' tuirifing)i7t(r< rMl
mm\ bufe.Jmi**was'>go«e9 he-^flew
teitiie sfabfe the monialt.he stw^
fli^ of fiuimr - Tf uck'a gittat^eo
<' Sit ye doilrti) i&nifi^r^'' 'floid the
wofltoaa, after .they had leaaMdabdufc:
«^utes ii>'«3^daiioB« of Jeiii^
.'' Yim'd Ust^sk doMta> if the Ibdjr
f^y^ you kaTe.;. fim b^U-nof hunwy
self back- agaiii%^ fliy4)(iifr^s a^fobl^
^im&9 about! that itfaere' horse.'' i Ti
to hMigh^ 9h&.'Mdeil^ ^^ I ktaew^.
Ifi^bifoot and he "irauld be kiath ei^
|o pait«-^be.wei9rft bmgphhnoM ^'4i#
kufe mkiute^ ; ao do - siit je dmrnv mif^
hmtt." The. &ttier Ifaad . seavcely fi*^
deH^Qf. whetf Jtm^ ndth a pde wH
fiiiinieiiaiiWr eanU^ badiu . ^^*Mih8fs1i«

Milter 9 " <fliiid Us:tautMBs. '' God Un»
iMi Ih«^ { '* 'fliid hkk^oiiQtber^ ionking m
Imi Quite' tlH^teiied, imkUak be txiedtm
jfmkf kv^% aonidwA. fiheweht up to
^ .wi then ksniog hb heai agaitiiO
km, be onediy ^' It!s gaiie!«^t's idl
|Mie!" aad^ liursfthig ioilo tears, he
wUmA as if his litible heait would break.
I What's gone^ love ? " ^aid bis motbev.
{•lAfy two g!aiDeasr«-rLig^tfiiot's two
liuoeas. I went to fetch 'em to give
PKi> muiuhy ! but the bixdcen flower*
jpot that I put them m, and all's gome I

ito^uite gone ! "' repeated he, checkii^

<

In 8oh& <^ I saw them safe last nighty
lad was shosring 'em to Ugfatfoot ; and
Imis 80,^ad to tiiink I had earned them
ill myself ; and I tiiougfat how surpnwi
jMi'd look, and how ^ad jou'd be, 9mA
kdw you'd Idas aaie, and all ! '*
' His mother Jistoa^ to hios with the

it LAanr unraBMCs.

fltood in tUenoe, looidog int at the fliH
WDOUBi^ ani then afc Jem, wilh a peM#
tratii^ eye, as if she tsuspecied the tinitf '
o£ his stoiy 9 and was afraid of beconaiM^
the dupe ef her own compasaoD. '^ TUf
is a very strange thing!'* said she grav«iflri
^^ How came you to leave all your muuM
in a broken flawer-pot in tiie stabM-P
Haw came you not to give it to yowl*
mother to take care of?" — '' Why, doau^
you remember," said Jem, looking ' op
in the midst of his tears ; *' why, don't
you remember you your own self bidi
me not to tdl her about it till you weseN
by."—** And did you not tell her ? "-»♦
^ Nay, ask mammy,^' said Jem, a llttie
offended ; and, when afterwards the ladjr
went on questioning him in a sev^cft
manner, as if she did not believe him, hA
at last made no answer. "Ohi Jem

ip! whydiin't jm^rfipeskto^heiadyr:
pdhis motber. ^I have spdce, «id
loke the trutV said Jew, protidiyy
iHid she 4J4 ^lot bdieve me."
f^StUl the lady, who hadUved too loxkg
|{jl)ie woHd to be without suspicion^
wntained a cold mannef, anddeter-^
lined ^ to wait the event without inter-
P^gf sayii^ only, that she hoped the
laaey would he found; and advised
fm to have done crying. " I have
koiie;' said Jem, " I shall cry no more "
i3}d as he had the greatest command
|rer himself, he actually did not shed
ppther tear, not even wh^ the farmer.
fsA up to go, saying, he could wait no
Iff^T. Jem silently i^^ent to . brii^
m Lightfoot. — The lady now took her^
^t where she could see all that passed
9ijt the open parlour window. — The <dd
woman stood at the door, and sev^al

VOL, I. G

idle pM^ of ttQ y^Kkige, who had^
tiieted rouRd^M^ lady's c&nriage exanfiaii
iag it, turned about -to Msten. Iiit^
minute or fmo ^em appewed, i¥ffili4{
Steady countenance, leading* Ligfatfdel
and, whai he cattie up, without sajinfj
a word, put the bri^e into faroMrj
Truck's band. ** He ha» heen a
hoi«se,** said the fermer. "-He is a
horse !" cried Jem, and threw his.
over Lightfoet*s neck, hiding his own
face as he leaned upon him.

At this instant a part j of milk-womea
went by ; and one t>f them hating srt^
down her pail, came behind Jem^ and
gave him a pretty smart blow upcm <^

back.-^He looked up.-^^^And dam^

»

you know me ?" said she. ** I fiorge*/
m^A Jem ; ** I think I have seen ymt
ftice before, but I forget"—" Do yoa
80? and yoii'U tell me just now^*"

MH^hesr hiilf opeiijpg h«>aiid, ^tlwit;

l^fHhifQTg^whp g^ve ymi ttjd^, and wh^

MNavgcd you not to part iirith it too.?

U^ijarshe %uite opened her laq|;ie;haiid|

lad oil. ^e palpi ^f it i^peaml Jem'f

#fGar penny. " Where ?" ai^dfunied

^tmy seising it, '^ oh whe^ did ycfu fiq^

|lf?'.^nd hftv^ yoih^qh tettmei: have you

lllit.the rert of my^money ?"t— " I d^n^i;

Iraow iKHhii^ of your mcHJBy— ^I jdm't

inotor. wl^lit you Wi9uld l^rOt,", siaid.^

,Ail9k«^wamaa. ' ^'l^ut w^re,, pray teljL

ine , wherc^ ; 4id yo^jfiftd ^ ?''-t- •' WWi

them tb^ yiM g^ave it to^ I,sHppo9o//

uid tiie iittlk<hHK>|nmn,. turnipgtaway^sttdi-

liex%. to ' take, ^p her jni^k^pail. l^wt

fy^ J^m's mistress caUed to her.throu^

the window, . iNegging^ her -to stop^ asi4

Seii^ipg in his e^tr^ties^ to know tiow

♦«ke Oame by the silvei? pf nt^y^ . .

-'^Whyy IP Adam;' s|ii|l: jftie, ta^K^

G 2

64 LAZY L&WttBMdK.

tip the corner of her apron, ^ I dUKt
by it in an odd way, too — ^You nlWRi
know my Betty is sick, so I come wift
4he milk myself, though it's not MilMj
Tm nsed to ; for my Bettys — ^you kfiiMP
tny Beity," said she, tnmbig rouMH^
Ihe old woman, * my Betty serves y9tSi
and she^sa tight and stirring Ias»^, inlt*M|
I can assure — ** •'Yes, I don't doulK
it," said the lady, impatiently; '< Mk
about the silver penny ?*•—** Why, ^btSh
true ; as I was coming along all aMlH(
fcr the rest came a round, and I earned i
short cut across yon field — No, y<H|
can't see it, madam, where you stan^fc*^
but if you where here — "* " I see it— I
know it,** said Jem, out of breath wftft
anxiety. *' Well — well — I rested mf
pail upon the stile, and sets me dcHfM
a while, and there comes out of tli^
hedge— ^I don*t know weU how, for they

jfffstti^ <»^ ^ J^'d Iflie to bute.tbfowtt
il^^lfo iskf inilk-*^twa. bc^^ <)9ae abdnt
(If . niie of W a^M d»e» poidtMig til
Ijgili .''.and oo^ st niatttf taller^ faut ^
\fff^ps!^ l]ke> ao Ifdid aot think ta stir ta
0^ waj! |3r tbem^ ai^ th^y wenf
||^ in a da9p0mte huiry ; so, wilhmit
ir^itio^ £pv tfetje sdle, ooe of *em {MdUed
l^^j^e ga!te» and whaa it WiOuld not opcsi
l^it wa$i tied wit* a prttty «to^t o(»d)^
,(Mt 4f '.em whifa out with lus; kmfe and
|«tai**~^ .... I

^ ,*^Now have yoo a kiiife abwfa yoi«i
1^^?*' omtinued the milk^woiviaa to 4he
&nMi?< He giftw her his knife.
I ./^Here nowr, ma'aine» inst ^ich|iig.a»
it were here, bet*»eiwa ihe Waii^ Bn(Jl ,the
liaflii tTM tlte sifcterpeany. H^ took
i*, DOtio^i but 'wrh^.he <H)e»«d itr iwit
tt'.iilUs; atiai*trft^s.iio b^, >feiife cwW
^'tobrdiM I.>dBidJ^re^.4)|id;thl9M|fli

G 3

e6 LAST LAWIElMlKi

the gate thQr wemtf and out of sight*"ii
half a minute. I picks tip the peni^ll
for my heart misgave me that it watf tht ,
very one hudisnd had bad a long tind
and had given against my voice to htt/l(
pointing to Jem ; '* and I charged Ml
not to part with it ; and, ma'am, wkM
I looked I knew it by the mark, s^ ^
thought I should show it to he,'- agall
pointing to Jem, *<and let him gire^ it
bade: to those it beloi^ to."— '' It 4)e-
Icmgs to me/' said Jem ; ** I never gaM
it to any body-^but— ** *' But," crkd
the farmer, " those boys have robbai
him—- it is they w1k> have all his money.**
*— « Oh, which way did they go ?** cried
Jom» '< ril run after them.'*

^ No, ho,** said the lady, catting »t#
her servant ; and die desired him to take
his horse and ride after them. *^ Ayej^*
added farmer Track, << do you tdoe the

mAj, and IH tiake tl^ field way, and
HD be bound we'll have 'em presently.**
^ i Wl^st they were gone in pursuit of'
^ tfaievtes, the lady, who was now
■nroiighly convinced of Jem*s truth,
4Mi^ her coachman would produce
•faat she had ordered him to bring with
Mm that evening. Out of the boot of
ttr carriage the coachman immediately
praiuced a new saddle and bridle.
" ' How Jem's eyes sparkled when the
saddle was thrown upon Lightfoot'i
back ! "Put it on your horse yourself^
fcm," said the lady — ^'^t is yours."

Confused reports of Lightfoot's spleni
Sad accoutrements, of the pursuit of the
thieves, and of the fine and generous
ludy, who was ^andmg at Dame Pres-
tOiD*s window, quidcly qnread through
the vfllage, and drew every body fronk
their houses. They crowded round Jem

ci#yr. whp J were ^ ^d QS^Mm fj^

t^t^yea^. Eyarj: ejse w#s.,4»
^etch^ w4 now .^f^^i: wha :1|^
49^9 the iane, gmopb back el
ttJH^K^ th«r are! ,tb|^yV^ «^t Jf]

yl^.'^l^ £>dt[i^fia on horsehMfc p^i
ape bay b^ote bim; and the, %Hm
strt4^ a]^Gmg;». dxagg^ at^tkei
^i^ had OB 41 red j^qkfit, whick;tiKi||
3pmimfmii¥^ely jreQoUectedi and sCff^
ly dared lift hfe ej^es to kH)k^t tbQ,tel
dh horseback. ^' Astfs^^ag !" $ajA j^
jta.bimdeU;. ''it nni$t be~y«v suisdif it
($a«t't . be tl^i^wmncet" The &^^mi
rock a» #»t aa the peofie w^l^,M
)lim. The bo^'s h«ib^ias ^imckfyi, . mi
)m hettd.hiH^ do^im,.^ t^hat . ift^be^lf

» * -. III

i

At this insiaht there was a distutl^

ftnce' in the crowd. A' man who was

ludEf drunk pushed his waj- forwarAi^

inreaiing that nobody should stop hirn^

4liiat he bad a right to see ; and he

■fmtuld see. And so he did ; for, fdhrctng

through all resistance, he staggered lap

to the footman just as he was lifting

Aiwn the boy he had carried before him.

« i wiii-^I tell you, I wiil see the thief r

cried the drunken man, pinMng up the

IwH^g hat-^It was his own son. — "Law-

rrniceT exclaimed the wretched father.

Ilie shock sabered him at once, and he

hid his face in his hands.

l%ere was an awful silence. Law-
rence fell on his knees, and in a voice
^at could scarcely be heard, made a
0ill confession of all the circumstances
€i his guilt. ^* Such a yoimg creature
to wicked ! What coidd put sudi

7S LAZY LA^WBENCE.

go to Bridewett now, than to the gaUowa

Nothing ni<Hre was said, for e?^«
body felt the truth of the farmerj
speech, (jawrmce was sent to
well for; a months and the s
was transpcNTted to Botao}' Bay.

Duriiig Lawrence's confineinent^
often visited him, and earried hioi
little presents as he could affiml to
;eind Jem could ajford to he g^nermH
because he was industrious Lawreno^
heait was touched by his kindness, . aafl
his example struck him so forcibly, thsM
when his confinement was ended, hevhi
sidved to set immediately to work ; aiMiil
to the astonishment of all who knew hiflHf
soon became remarkable for industry ; ii9
was found early and late at his woiii^
eptabU^hed a new character, and fcnr antf
Iqst the name of Zaay Lawrence

I .

TARLTON.

«

Fqukg- Hardy was educated by Mr*
breeman, a very good master, at one of
he Sunday-schools in shire. He

Iras honest, obedient, active, and good-
latured ; so that he was esteemed and
Moved by his master, and by his com*
pttnions. Beloved by all his companions
ivho were good, he did not desire to be
bved by the bad ; nor was he at all
i^xed or ashamed, when idle, mis-
chievous, or dishonest boys attempted
to plague or ridicule him. His friend
Loveit, on the contrary, wished to be
universally liked ; and his highest ambi-
tion was to be thought the best-natured
boy in the school :-^and so he was. He
usually went by the name cfpoor Loveit,
VOL. I. H

74 TARi^TON.

and every bcdy pitied him whad he gtt
into disgrace, which he frequently did^
tor though he ImmI f j9i4#sfposition, hi
was often led to do things which hi
Igffm ^ )^;wwqg,,in^r^rl)*f^mT

<yHild«^y;erJl2Me tl^^^miuiVf i»mshM$i
bpoause. im was nfratd^^tfi^fiSwNidtMie ih
Hiijtui;^!. and CQul^ mA- him i0 iNn
l|yy|ghedjQ4;.b|^ footed

One.ftpe^utiwin.ei^mvigt: atiltlii^h<|t
%ff^, jH^Kmt^ieA Hq gp out tp pl^j mn^

IW^eity and another boy lulled Tarkoi^
b^^ to i^y a^game ai baiUedare aiwt
shuttkcock, and a larg^ party $tMd Ip
tf imkm; for t^y were t|i^ b^
pl^yeiis at battledore f^d sfa«tOecqd& in
ttifi ^ohfiolpiaQd tbia n^as a dial of sldH^
iKtw^i^ tbeati. Whtiii. tbe^f^ .h«id.kiplit
^g^ to th^m hiiiidis^ mA im^y^ thr
gawftihPffliOT vecF iiit^Mtiiifir;..tlie ani

■C • Urn takhsAMJB gnew m ttowi^ iSiat
the$ caxM MXMdfy widA Ae baCti»^
dtreit>«NMtiie BlmtttBcodB hej^n to wiHxft
im iht^ mb; SM>«^ ft aloRtst tmidMfi
gMUiiA;^ aiiAnMr, to tlie 4U*omsiis^
of liie wp&ttmVon^ inouiilei again
Mgh «ver ilidr tea<b; y($t tbe stvoieiiil
tecaiMr fwUer and isriiiler ; a]id<^)>^mr
Loveit ! •• '' Now Tariton ! '' resms&sk
mm attJttitiBB^ Sor anoter mttiute the
liiirtliTy vma ^odhUU; bai U Im^m^

QO longer see the shuttkcodlr, ani il
Jttl.afeli».£aalw

wmrhmmimm^. mofy kod^ antlaiiiMii;^
"frttow Lfiwtt!'^;*«4^fatfa1fiiit beaMi^
«na& ffltow^tifctto wfKM^'^^
fitjr' tilMblia ilUknnk ftaild 1^

H 2

f6 TAKtTON.

<< Now I dare you all to play asoOlV
game with me/' cried Tarlton, vamrt*'
uigly ; and as he spoke, he tossed tlirf
shuttlecock up with all his force : witili'
so much force, that it went over
hedge, and dropped into a lane w
went close behind the field. '' H
day ! " said Tarlton, <' what shall
do now ? *'

The boys were strictly forbidden to
go into the lane ; and it was upon thcif
promise not to break this commas^
tiiat they were allowed to play in iht
aidyoining field.

No other shuttlecock was to be Iur^
and their play was stopped. They stood
OQ the top of the bank peeping over the
hedge. '' I see it yonder,'' said Tarlton ;
** I wish any body would get it. Out
could get over the gate at the bottom ci
the field, and be back again in half ft>

#uiU«Hcmi oMiUi lit dp ?."-^«f B d4nlt»»
Wtr hattledorr ; '' faulr^'' *^Y<ni..€ki^

afipaiitof ? I aalr f^ife*' Loifeit: o«ioura^
wmt^ Ml drmnminf» aa4 «g«Ds w C

BiitmpoB Taiiitm'ftMpefttk^ ui atilicHM

]i^M:afiteid.o£?** he 9u<idaQly, kit 0iP^.

'' tejWflS»fnofrafiMw|'.9C ray thing; that \m
ymem of."--*^ Ye&, hat jou: ai%" lai*
yimci^^ Moiiag forwMdb '"^^ Aa. I ? " d«Mt
iiMtil^; ''ifii^hi^prajsaml a&^?"

"Witintf f^ fii¥Mliaii Tai>ntiit diittidnMi

f% TASI/RRff

lum^ 80 that he made ererjr body kogta

*^ Now bad'nt you better say , sSnaA of

being 6ogged? ''— « No/' said Haf^/

cooUy, after the laugh had somewhitl

sttbiided, 'M am as little afraid of beii^

flogged as yoit are, Tarlton ; but i'

aseant— " ^ No matter what you mean(*f

why should you interfere with your wii^^

dom, and your meanings; nobo^

ttought of asking you to stir a step &r

us ; but we a^ed Loveit, because he^

tke best fellow in the world/' — *^ AsA

tor that very reason you should not aai

bun, because you know he can't rdiise

you any thing." " Indeed though," cM

Loveit, piqued, " there you're mistak^'

§ait I could refuse if I chose it.''^ HarAf

smled ; and Loveit, half afraid of 1^

contempt, and half afraid of TarU<»^»

xbiicule, stood doubtful, and again \ai

tteomw to Ms battledore, which he h^

TARLTON. 79

imced most curiously upon his fore-
finger. " Look at hhn ! — ^now do look *
nt him ! *' cried Tariton ; " did you ever
in your life see any body look so silly ! — •
Hardy has him quite under thumb;
ke's so mortally afraid of him, that he
Aare not turn either of his eyes from
ihe tip of his nose ! look how he
squints ! " — "I don't squint," sHid
Loveit, looking up, ^* and nobody has
me under his thumb; and what
Hardy said, was only for fear I should
get into disgrace : — ^he's the best friend
I have." Loveit spcke this with more
Uian usual spirit, for both his heart
and his pride were touched. '^ Come
abng, the'n," said Hardy, taking him
by the arm in an affectionate man*
nor; and he was just going,* when
Tariton called after him, " Ay, go .
dimg with its best friend, and take

QKcr it io» mA ^gfi- into u-AiitgftliM
gpoi bgr, Xittk F^aadaF'-*^'' Wl» 4t
tfafiv call Little Faaadci?" saaALMftal^
tuiwJBig his head lu^ ^^ie^ii

njnd,'' said Hai^, '' what dsm iMrngta
aify ? ''^'' No;' asM Ijmmi, ''tote
.fmceit does not sigpify ; but imt dw)
not libe ta be called little Pa&adM
htsides/' added he,, afiter jpoii^ a. fi»fa
«t^ fiirtli^9 '' tbey'lL all think it aorjtti^
Matured — I had better go bafik^ aai.
just tell thea», tl»it I'm sK»ra*y I cau'4.jf|
their sbuttlecoek ;r^do cxuoe. hack wittj,
»B^"_*^ No," said Ha«dj^ •* I caa'tfti
ha^ /. and you'd better ootJ' '' Buli^
I a^ufe you, I woa't stay a miBnteii
W^ for me," added X40veit ; and im^
slDok bai^k agaiji^ to gros^ thai h& > wm^
nat Utile Fanadou . ^

, Onw letuuied, the rest foUomnilLtlk
mm9>i ^^ to;3ii]}i|pt bi9 chim(;^«iu|i|i^

tAblton. ai

good-^natore^ he was obliged to yield to
Ifee entreaties of his companions ; and, to
ibow his spirit, leaped over the gate,
mudst the acclamations of the little
Mob : he was quickly out of sight.
^ •* Here," cried he, returning in about
Ive minutes, quite out of breath, ^* IVe
pit the shuttlecock ; and I'll tell you
irhat IVe seen," cried he, panting for
breath. "What?** cried every body,
Mgerly. " Why, just at the turn of the
Mnmer, at the end of the lane,** pant-
dg. ^* Well," said Tarlton, impatiently,
*6o go on." — "Let me just take
Hieath first." " Pugh ! never mind your
teath." — " WeU, then, just at the
urn of the comer, at the end of the
Rile, as Itwas looking about for the
huttkcock, I heard a great rustling
omewhere near me, and so I looked
rkere it could come from ; and I saw in

x'

'U ntoe ]^le||udwt em 4be
if£ the my. « bogr, iribont; m
T^tw. rit^ in » j;i»M;; lie^i
4iie branches ; mA fkt^^mif tfyii
there cmie filled^ n Aelnrer^AMto
r^M^y api^ they BiaAe laif a iwittr
i9r; so I €albA ta th^ Ih9^ _

but he saidi, he could aefeg^ iMr
^ thi^ thejF WIM& bis. 9»
and juitattlptmiititew icwit

the frand&lher |)^ed. hklieidi
the window*: w Inmeff «8(£ip
liqupfc WMiid OMTjp me^.tbeiig^ i
Im^lmmUng ^ft^ lae m the ««
<' And let hin hai;a|^'' aied.
^ be shim^ bawl |br mrtiufi;: Ite
l^fmiMd well have wmi^ -if Iw
hMBi ws^ v^i^ Iwtee I iiImp Ml

^^^^'^^^ * ^^W"* '^wi^^p '-awip^' pwp* Tfuwa^^pi^ap

iPP HMifl P/ exoept Loveit^ wlio look-
l^tarii, SLpppAedAve that he ifaould
li^inmm on modi &rtfaar than he in-
Hied^-^^Oh, indeed!'' said he t»
iMrif, ^m Haidjr tcid me, I had
HffiF not have come bai^.'*
fltegnrdless of this confusion, Tarlton
Mlittoed, ^ But before i sajr an j more,
Hfepe vne have no sjnes amongst us.
('^^ithere is an^ one of jou afraid i(^
fi AoggtAf let him msrdi off this in**
laotF'V^Loveit eoloored, bit his lips^
iihad to go, bitt bad not courage to
Me first — He waited to see what every
irigr else would do ; — ^nobody stirred; —
ti^yteit stood stilL

^WeU tlwn,** cried Tarlton, giving
behind to the hoy next him, tiien to <
lM;no9tt» *^ your word and bonour that
i>tt/iit>n^t betray me ; but stand fay me,
Hi^jn^ «teDd by yov/^ Each boy gne

84 TARLTON.

his hand^ and his promise; repeatiB|^
^ stand by me, and PU stand by you.**— ••^
Loveit hung back till the last ; and hai
almost twisted off the button of the
boy's coat who screened him, wheal
Tarlton came up, holding out his ha]i4
** Come, Loveit, lad, you're in for k :
stand by me, and I'll stand by you.'*««-«
^Indeed, Tarlton," expostulated he,
without looking him in the face, *' I do
wish you'd give up this scheme ; I dare
say all the applesare gone by this time;-— <
I wish you would — Do, pray, give up
this scheme."— ^'^ What scheme, man!
you hav'n't heard it yet; you may as wdl
know your text before you begin preadi*
ing." The comers of Loveit's moutii
could not refuse to smile, though in his
heart he felt not the slightest inclinatktt
to laugh. *^Why I don't know you, I
declare I don^t know you to day," said

TARLTCHf. 85

Tarlton ; *' you used to be the best^mu
tured, most agreeable lad in the world»
and would do any thing one asked you ;
but you*re quite altered of Ute, as we
urere saying just now, when you sculked
gway with Hardy : come, do man, pluck
up a little spirit, and be one of us, at
you^ll make us all hate you.*' — ** Hate
me !" repeated Loveit, with terror ; *^ no,
surely you won't all hate me ! " and he
mechanically stretched out his hand,
which Tarlton shook violently, saying,
Jj/f now, that's right.'' — " /^y, noWy
that's wrong ! " whispered Loveit's con-
iscience ; but his conscience was of no
use to him, for it was always over-
powered by the voice of numbers ; and
though he had the wish, he never had
the power, to do right. "Poor Loveit;
I knew he would not refuse us/' cried
his companions ; and even Tarlton, tlie
VOL. I. I

9t TMOJttltt^

of mid is ^^ifheA^ boOi by ffie goof
atti faf tfaefad.

like 4eiq»iie being this formefi l^xl^
tae ««NtBiod 4iL<lie«ttrsQf a coEnmancEef/
eiplOTied Im schcfnes, and isM tbe {^
0f$Madk npmi Itie poor cSd man's apple
tiM. It iras ^e only one he had in the
ivorld. We shiA not d\fBQ upon ihm
condttalioD, lor the amusement of coo-
ttbfwng sufA expediti^as is often the
chief ^this(g which mduces iSLe hoys to
eo^age in them.

There was a small window at the end
of the bock staitease, through which,
between nine and ten o^dbdc at n%ht,
IWlton, acx3dmpamed by Loireit ma
aiaotheF boy, crept onl. It was a moon*
I2|^f "ni^it, and, after crossing the fiehlj
and «fimbBig Hm gafie, <Breciled

the 9Sm witb ifirit, tlief jmemsMi
dtfwn the lane with xmk^ jek jfearful
st$fs. At a distmce Lo?^ «w ^
white-wnshed cottngct, and tbi^ aj^fJch
tree beside it; th^ qpkkfsmii thioir
jpaoe^ and with some difficu^y 9csrii»iblid
through the hedge whidi fm^»d tte
garden, thoygh ii0t withmit bewg
scratched and toro by the Mwl ISvof
tiling was silent. Y^ mm and tb» ail
eircry msthng of the 1m>^ tbejf atairted^
and^their hearts beat violoatt]^; Omm
as Loyeit was climbing the aHplcKtran
)ie thoug^it h&heajsd a^ door in the oat-
^gQ Qp^» a]»i earnest!; begged Im
mmpaaiens ta desist and i«tom bMMu
|[nus hawerei^he cQuIdbjr not imeimit pexi*
auade them to dnw wtil t^ bui liM
ikm poi^sts wKb nfipfm^rilbm^ ^ Iw

I 2

88 TARLTOKT.

staircase window, and each retired, SSt|
softly ais possible, to his own apartmsi

Loveit slept in the room with Hai
whom he had left fast asleep, and whoi
he now was extremely afraid of wakett^
ing. All the apples were emptied oui
of Loveit's pockets, and lodged wit]
Tarltoli till the morning, for fear th(
smell should betray the secret to Hard]
The room door was apt to creak, but
it was opened with such precaution, that
no noise could be heard, and Loveit
found his friend as fast asleep as when
he left him.

** Ah," said he to himself, ** how
quietly he sleeps ! I wish I had been
sleeping too." The reproaches of Loveit*s
conscience, however, served no other pur-
pose but to torment him ; he had not
sufficient strength of mitid to be good
The very next night, in spite of all his

jhfffiL ffflH BiB hi? Mmtmce«i aiuL> dl Ms

ACri^mQ party aa «. »»aUar wii^edttiai^
WewaM oh3ei?v^« Ihait tbe neowsitjr £»(
ttfHitiPiifiig their deDcedfttions became
ilroi^]: the third ijby ; Dnr though «A
jSvsi only a small f arty had bfie» w th«
secret, hy di^grei^ ix wa& di^rulg^ tQ thd
nd^d/e school; a»d H was necessary ta
fi^care secrecy by sharing the booty.

Ig^ery on^ wa^h astonishi^ that Hard§;«
^h all hUk qpickoi@s& md p^DetKatira^
)iad not y^ discovered their |^rocee<ti«f^ ;
bMt IL^veit could nolt help, suspectii^
%Bt he was not4}uite s^ i^ofaot as be
^Htiewred ta bcN Imt^^ had^rictly kegt
hk<p^iiMse o£ secmey^ hut be was^ bf
«a-i9f aM.«9. astfttl bcgR ;, aad in^ talfciiig
tti bis ft»»4i WAramn thai he hid
'Um i rtfbiiai t^ wncea)^ be wa« p^Pil^

I 8

90 TARLTON.

tually on the point of betraying himself;
then recollecting his etigagement, he
Unshed, stammered, bungled ; and upon
Hardy*s asking livhat he meant, would
answer with a silly guilty countenance,
that he did not know ; or abruptly bred:
off, saying. Oh nothing ! nothing at aB !
It was in vain that he urged Tarltosi
to permit him to consult his friend ; a
gloom overspread Tarlton's Iwow when
he began to speak on the subject, and
he always returned a peremptory refusal,
accompanied with some such taunting
expression as this— »<< I wish we had
nothing to do with such a sneaking SA-
low. He*ll betray us all, I see, befbie
we have, done with him."* — ** WdB/*
said Loveit to himself, ** so I am abused
aibsr all, and caUed a sneaking ^low
finr my puns ; that's rather hard, to be
sure, when IVe got so Uttle by the jdk''

TARLTON. 91

In truth he had not got much, for in

division oi the booty only one apple,

4md a half of another which was only

tialf ripe, happened to fall to his share ;

though^ to be sure, when they had i^

ieaten their apples, he had the satisfac-

^n to hear every body declare they

were very sorry they had forgotten to

•offer some of theirs to " poor JLoveit ! **

In the mean time the visits to the

apple-4ree had been now too frequently

repeated to remain concealed from the

old man, who lived in the cottage. He

used to examine his only tree very fre*

qnently, and missing numbers of rosy

apples which he had watched ripening,

he, tliough not much prone to su^ici<m,

l^egan to think that there was somethu;^

going wrong; especially as a gap was

made in his hedge, and tteie were se-

vmd ffitnatt footst^ in his flo wer^beds.

ift Hm Imtk ^imfkiomi fir t)b^««|^ Ir
/MM Mt jdch^. he had Wiim^ ;i9i Jiw
vpQiiy b^fMiiie he bad bam voiy^ indM^
triana w h^ jaiith.-,: and he wa«F. akmf^
^rerfv^Ay %^pB0Bt with tybe^Uttii^Jbhii^
w» wais^ he a crD9a ^ mail. If. lut^
#B«^ w^dtuld hum iaad« hiMi^4i«i(i;i3i|iJ(r
mfuld hate b^ei^ the «t!^ Ua^ &mmitt
4]^ rphba4 a» hie haii pHomhifd/ hjunaiy
llit pfea3W« 9f ^iag^ hk mi «{«toi4to^
iHa^' fva«d*ehihhrett ^ hib bwjfti A||.
MiH¥^i^^^ he todkcidi up M; tii»;4iM» 19
jaiMir £a<te« than in^mg^^mA^hmmi
viiipri^hwiittf^vhft begMi. t%(MindMti|hii
^/haiheatdo*

^ '^Mi mt^nk^ to ihrib tgHNfe** aii
Jhli^lo^MBiiali;«^(dM|r niUB o«r«Ml|iilia

TABLTON. 9t

logged, and that I should be sorry for ;
jret they must not be let to go on steal-
ing, that would be worse still, for that
would surely bring them to the gallows
ifi the end. Let me see— oh, ay, that
inll do ; I will borrow farmer Kent's dog
Barker, he'll keep them off^ Til answer
Ibr it/'

Farmer Kent lent his dog Barker, cau-
tioning his neighbour at the same time,
to be sure to chain him well, for he was
Hkd fiercest mastiff in England. The
old man, with fanner Kent's assistance,
chained him fast to the trunk of the
8{q>le-tree.

Night came, and Tarlton, Loveit»
and his companions, returned at the
usual hour. Grown bolder now by fire-
quent success, they came on talking and
laughing. But the moment they had
set their foot in the garden, the dog

stated Mp; mAt ^Mbamg M^ tjusim m
Jto ^^na^ forwrafd, badted wilib Vim
MtotiiS fisy. T^]F staod i^ a» V
fiabfid to the sfot, Th«>e wasjuiri;
^f^t €Soii|^ to see tlie dog;« '^IdSfc
41}: Hm 0lher side ^ t)» tteew'
X«ltoi. But to nrhkdiever $i4e 49
turned, the dog flew round in an in.itiwli
hurfcJBg With incTMsed fm^r.

'* He^tt bfieik his cbaio and tett^ 4li
to piereSs" cried Tikiitoii : wsd^ fi^bnsA
vitii teffiw> be immedii^e^ tiweip davtt
the hodwt he had btm^i^ wil& hisik
4wl het«k kimaelf to flight niilh Iht
greatest precipitation. — ** Help» j»ie^^
feitif^ help ! I ca&'i get tfamnf^ the
tedgsb" cried Loveit^ la ^ hmMtiMr
to»ej, whibk thedeg gmvied hidMMdIift
wmI iMOis^&ir^iswd to the ^SKlbtoB^i^ tC
iHUi eM».««" I (ssm'% get oyfei 1 Qlt

t

TABdCKi. fff^

MPQ^V ^cw Tarltoiv rt&y ftf me: one:

lie Gidieif in vain; be was left to
itaruggie through hi? difficoltiies by him.
■e3f ; and of all hia dear friends, not one
ttanncd back to help him. At hist, torn
rixid tera?ified, he got through the hedge
amd ran bcHne, despising his eon^moi^
Bor their seUishness. Nor could he help^
Uftmr ving Ifaat Tariton, with all his
-v^annted prowess, was the fixsl to nm
^Mray from the appearasice of danger.
Ilie next morning he could: not help
reproaching the party with their oob<«
^liK*,— « Why could not you, any of
ysM^ stay one minute to help me?'*
sbAS. he* '* We did not hear you call,**
answered cme, ^' I was so fr^htened,'*
said another, *^ I would not have turned -
bidk for the whole world."—*' And you,
'Btelton. '^—^* I } " said Taiiton. « WmA

96 TARLTON.

not I enough to do to take care of iBf^
self^ jou blockhead? Eveirj bw ibr-
himself in this world ! ** ** So I see,"*
said Loveit gravely, <' Well,^ man ! is
there any thing strange in that?** —
* Strange ! why yes, I thought you aD
loved me?** " JLord love you, lad!
so we do ; but we love ourselves better.**
— •** Hardy ' would not have served nae
so, however/ said Loveit, turning
Hway in disgust. Tarlton was alarmed.
*♦ Pugh ! '* said he, ** what nonsense
have you taken into your brain ? Think
no more about it. We are all very sorry,
and beg your pardon; come, shake
hands, forgive and forget." *Lovat
gave his hand, but gave it rather coldly :
— ** I forgive it with all my heart,** said
he, " but I cannot forget it so soon ! *
— ^^ Why, then, you are not such a good*
humoured feSow as we thought you

TARLTQN. 97

were. Surely you cannot bearnudioe>
Loveit? '' Loveit smiled, and alloxn^
that Be certainly could not bear malice.
** Well then, come ; you know at the
bottom we all love you, and would do
any thing in the world for you.'* Poor
Loveit, flattered in his foible, began to
bdieve that they did love him at the
bottom, as they said, and even with his
eyes open consented again to be duped.
.^ ** How strange it is," thought he,
** that I should set such value upon the
love of those I despise ! When I'm onee
out of this scrape, I'll have no more to
do with them, Fm determined/'

Coinpared with his friend Hardy, bis
new associates did indeed appear con*
temptible : for all this time Hardy had
treated him with uniform kindness^
avoided to pry into his secrets, yet

YOL. I. K

*<1U

if it IhkI fawm offinwdL

ikAor sdraoHii tl^^ wefimgs w he ww
almdn^ sflec^y beside Hanfy, who was
nriitaga Aesk of papa* fbr Mm, Taittoii»
in his brtrtal maimer, caoie aqpv aod-
MHEiiig^ him hy the arm, cried, ^ Cowam
eimg rniHk me, Loimty IVe simieClii^
te^ say to yow/'—** I ca»*t com® hww>**
said Lcnriol; diawiiig^ arvray his avm.^'-^
^^ Ah, 40 omie bow^," said Tarlton in a
vmoe ot perauaaon. ** Well, I'll cone
presently."—^ Nay, but do, pray ; there^a
agood fUlinr, come now, because Vr%
something to say to yon.'*--'** What is it
y»u'v« got to say to me ? I wish you*d
let me alqoe,'^ said Loreit ; yet at tbe
snne tine he sirffered himself to be ted
aMsay*

Tarklm took particular pdss t» l»»-
mour him and bring him into temper

^9|g«»; m4 ewfi' thoaipb he ^mu aftt
.v^Tf 1^ to fiart widi hk ^yOla^piy
w»t JDffin?^ to Miy, '' Xiowtf tk&Dtfacr
jdflQr you wstnted « Jop ; m |[fr« jsim
A»eyif jottdeeireiL" Lara^tiiaidMl

f«f .poOBesfiifl^ this to^ ^ JBkii irliftt "did
Jim innat to saj tot «mi just now? '^«^
« Ajri^ we*U talk of tibH piMMit|y»^^mlt
j^b-«<N4i¥)^n wie £vt ^oitf tof iuemo^.''^*^
"^ Nolio^ is aamr us/' said lA^m^U-^
« Come a Utile fiurthert, liM«fi^/' mi
"TmitWi liKdEiQg yoiiod aiNf iiaoiisd|r«^
«" Wett nwt, irall P'«-^' ¥Qii lamfMm
dtee tbiRt ft%Mti^n«d |lsai^lalt«^Bbl? ^^-^
'* Ym.** -AM.** it wiU iM^ums &it^Uim m

:*^ iMk h0im^** said T«dtoH|» ^winf
JaBfi» Im pofk^ Mmttbiiifi wraipii m

100 TAELTON.

daimed Loveit. '' How came you bf
it?''— « Tom, the servant boy, Tom
got it for me, and Vm to give him sdx-
pence/' — ** And is it for the dog ? **—
•* Yes ; I vowed I'd be revenged on him,
and after all this he'll never bark again/
— « Never bark again !— What do yoo
mean ? — Is it poison ?" exclaimed Loveit,
starting back with horror. '^ Only poi-
son for a dog,** said Tarlton^ confused ;
*' you could not look more shocking if
it was poison for a Christian/* Loveit
stood for nearly a minute in profband
silence. ** Tarlton,'' said he, at last,
in a changed tone and altered manner,
** I did not know you ; I will have no
more to do with you.*' — " Nay, but
«tay/' said Tarlton, catching hold of
Ms arm, ** stay- ; I was only joking.*'—
** Let go my arm, you were in earnest"
— " But rtien that was befc»e I kneur

9^mam. lii

toUl jgm i£'u a timi; ihtfe'^B fiAfQ^ 4dW;
Mk ToBi.''-^^' I'& ask mlbudf I swdy

^tbant Toia does/'*^^^ SM oaigr jittf mk

Um^ to haw what he'll 8^./'^-^' 1 4d«ft

imit ta hear what he% mj,^' wild

' li0veit vehMieiitly. ^ The dog w]flr4l&

m ag0nijQt»^«-<in havrid agonies i Thm&

: ^Sm i» tlm jai?d.~-^0i>r «^ui4 ! te
k^n dadr howled^ a«d wijithed himsdif 1 '*
^ j^^f ^rmtore ! Wel}». tfaisc^s.«o^ ham
^s^ uem^' ^P^ Tadrl((K% jrif^ a hypr
^^fii^feal tone. Bui. tbdugU h0 thaiiglit
fit ta <jbfpei»hle with Lweil^it He was

returned to his friend Hardy ; but HHifi

X 8.

102 TA&LTON.

mind was in such agitation, that he nei«
ther talked nor moved like himself; toA
two or three times his heart was so fall

4

that he was ready to burst into tears.

'* How good-natured you are to me^**
said he to Hardy, as he was trying vainly
to^entertain him; "but if you knew — ^
Here he stopped short, for the bell for
evening-prayer rang, and they all took
their places, and knelt down. After
prayers, as they were going to bed,
Loveit stoppedTarlton.— «»^e/// " asked
he, in an inquiring manner, fixing his
eyes upon him. — *^fVeU!^ replied TmI-
ton in an audacious tone, as if he meant
to set his inquiring eye at defiance ;-—

what do you mean to do to-night ? **
To go to sleep, as you do, I sup-
pose,'' replied Tarlton, turning away
^raptly, and whistling as he walked

4Mr«

TARLTON. lOa

^ Oh, he has certainly changed l^a

-mind !*' said Loveit to himself, *^ else

tie could not whistle/' About ten tni*

nutes after this, as he and Hardy were

undressing. Hardy suddenly recollected

Ihat he had left his new kite out upon

the grass. " Oh,'* said he, ** it will be

quite spoiled before morning ! " — " Call

Tom/' said Loveit, ** and bid him bring

it in for you in a minute." They both

went to the t top of the stairs to call

Tom; no one answered. They called

again louder, ** Is Tom below ? " — " I'm

here," answered he at last, coming out

of Tarlton's room with a look of mi^ed

embarrassment and effrontery. And as

he was receiving Hardy's commission,,

Loveit saw the corner of the blue band-

kerchief hanging out of his pocket*

m I

This excited fresh suspicions in Lov^it%
mind ; but, without saying one word^

3gt imoMMfiiit^^ stationed hiinfijf i^ akt
inoidoir iq bis reow, wfcicb looMI out
towards the lane; «nd as the »mb ipm

..a&ien, be could see if any one piwiai
thatway.. '^ What are yoadoii^theMb?^
aaid Hardyt after he had becsi watcUm;
aone titne; wkj don't you eaide'lo
|»ed? '' Lovdt retunied tK» anmrei^ IhiI
^awtiaued standing at the window, tim
4id he watch long m vain : pre8«i% Jie
aaw Tom gUding slowly along a by^i^ath}
;mdget orer the gate intQ the lane.

^^ He's gone to do it!'' eTW*lai.ia)ri
2x>veit abud» with an emotion wMck be

HGXuild not eommand, ** Who's g^m I
to do what ? " cried Hardy, startinup «f •
** How cruel, how wicked ! ** continiMd
Jjoveit '^What's icruel — ^what'awidMI?

^peak out at on^T' xetuned Mw^»

.jn that commanding teiie» wbic^.ti

of dana^ji strong laioda Hill

i't)n:%it

,tfj>

TARLTON. 105

>tiieinselves entitled to assume towardsr
hireak ones. Loveit instantly, though in
km incoherent manner, explained the
Imffair to him. Scarcely had the word
passed his lips, when Hardy sprang up
pRmd began dressing himself without say*
"ing one syllable. " For Gkxi's sake
"What are you going to do ? " said Loveit,.
in great anxiety. ** They'll never for-
give me ! don't betray me ! they'll never
fcigive me ! pray speak to me ! only say
you won't betray us." — "I will not
betray you, trust to me,'* said Hardy ;
and he left the room^ and Loveit stood
in amazement : whilst, in the mean time^
Hardy, in hopes of overtaking Tomt
before the fate of the poor dog was de*
cided, ran with all possible speed across
the meadow, and then down the lane»
He came up with Tom just as he was^
^^dimlnng the bank into the dd man's

jjurdecu Hwdy, tot am^o^ii^ Imttk
,|D speaks seized bold of him,
iiim dowii, detaufiypf Mm wilJi a
jpmp whilst he pantedi for
^ Whati, master Haxdy^is it jon ? wi
:4be matter? what do yau want? **^
.wast the poisomd meat that j4m
in your pocket/**—" Who told you
I had aojr such thmg ? '* said T<m^
.{HX^ his hand upon his guil^
<^ Give it me 4puetly» and Til
4iff."-~** Sir, upon my word I havea^
I didiiH; ! I don*t Jcnow, what jou
•9aid Tom ^mUing^ though he was
ftr the strocifest of the two; *^«84ee4
43im*t know what you meaBu**— *^ Ym^
4^^ ssad Hardy» wkh great iiid%natiMf
janda violent stnig^ innmedtatdtr <^*^
meaced* The dc^» now idi^med If
4he vipices^ hegm to hark oiitn|gaMaj|r^
J}(m was t^yjfied Jesfc the- olidinaaahiii^

0m om to see wlMft waa t^ UAtter;.
tthntteBgOh finvook htet and iisgtsgfi^
|& hsndkfiKliief and meat over the
loige^ he mn away with all his speei»
Hie baiaf&ercMef feU withm the reack
IF the dog, who instantly sna^ied irt it r
heftily it did not come untied. Hardjr
KMT a ftttclifiHfk on a dunghill dbise besidfe
in, amd sefasing u{ion it, stuck it ktto
kr haadkerdtfef. The dog puUed, tore»
pR^wled^ gTa{q>led, yefied; it was loi*
iossible to gpet the hanc&eFdhief from,
iietween his teeth; but the knot wasr
Imiedy the meat unperceii^ by the
bg dropped out^ and while he dragged
the handkerclnef in triumph, Harctf
V^ inexpqressiUe joy plunged the pitch^
M^ into the pdsoned meat^ and bofiB^
itawxjr.

Kev^r did hero retire with more satis^
iMrtion hoiai a fidd o£ battle* FuH of

108 TABLION.

m

I

the pleasure of successful beiievokM^
Hardy tripped jojrfully home, and vault-
ed over the window-sill, when the first
olgect he beheld was Mr. Power, the
usher, standing at the head of the stairs^
with a candle in his hand.

" Come up, whoever you are," said
Mr. William Power, in a stern voice ; I
thought I should find you out at last
Come up, whoever you are!" Hardy
obeyed without reply. — " Hardy ! " ex-
claimed Mr. Power, starting back with
astonishment : ** is it you, Mr. Hardy ?"
repeated he, holding the light to his
face. " Why, sir," said he in a sneer-
ing tone, ** Tm sure, if Mr. Trueman
was here, he wouldn't believe his own
^es ; but, for my part, I saw through
ydu long since ; I never liked saints, for
niy share. Will you please to do me the
favour, sir^ if it is not too much trou«

TARLION. 109

Me, to empty jour pocket8.«-*Hai4}^
ddefed in sifence. ** Heyday ! menil
mw meat ! what next ? *•— .** That's aB/*
md Hardy, emptying his pockets inside
mt. ** This is all;* said Mr. Power;
taking up the meat. — *^ Pray, sir^"* tuAi
flardy, eagerly, ^ let that meat be
turned, it is poisoned.'*—** Poisoned ! •*
'Cried Mr. William Power, letting it drop
OQt of his fingers ; ** you wretch !" look*
tog at him with a menacing air, ** what
is all this ? Speak." Hardy was silent»
" Why don't you speak?" cried he»
shaking him by the shoulder impatiently.
Stin Hardy was silent. *^ Down upon
your knees this minute, and confess all ;
tell line where you've been, what youVe
been doing, and who are your accom-
plices, *for I know there is a gang of
you : so," added he, pressing heavily
upon Hardy's shoulder, « down upon
VOL. 1. L

1^0 -^tMosm

vJpAte ; th«i*8 your opljr' i«ay n^ivtlwrfftt
t^ youndlf : If you lyqpiet f0F iiy pp^
40n» loma tell you it's not t^rlNr turf
ilitbo^t asking for. '^ '' Sir,'' said Har^»
la a firm but respectM voioe^ '^ I lum
m pfw4pa to ad(, I have Botimg
i^nbm, I am insoeent; but if I^ mm
BOtt I wouU never try ta.g«t' off mjmH
Jbgr betrayiag my eofnpauiws "--«** VjBtf
wellt sir ! very well ! very &ie ! stieit to
it» stidk to ]t» I advise you-^^-oeid ^wt
jibaU. see. Aad how wiU you iMk. to»
inorrow, Mr. Innocent^ when toy uadi
-the Doctor comes home ? ''r-^ A3 I #
130 w, sir/' said Hardy unmoved* W$
4p9iopos«re threw Mr. Po^er iulo a r^
^ great for uttersmce. *< SSor^''
l^ued Hardy, *' ever since I have
^t school, I never told a lie, apd tbevd"
&>Xf, sir, I hope you wiB beKeve ait

TMnffir;' wn

# «pi» mf 9wd * atid faoiiMr, a^
(*aT»4oiie Mthii^ wrong."*—'' "NaUhmg
mUtg?. Better and bett^ ! what^ wktiii
liOHtcI^ fou goiag out at n^^ ? *'-*•««'
f '3%ii/ i to bk anre was wrMgf/' saidi
Itedj, «w(dle€Aing fairasdf ; ^ isnt «d»
^pt tha t ■■' »" *' £xcept tka<^ sic ! h
tSl except notUng. Come along witli)
iie^.3roung gentleniaii ; jovat time fiett*^
p»dim is past." Sajing these woidKr
ha pulled Hardy along a narrow passag#
toa amaU deset, set apart fot dasparsto
Q&vdevsy and mniaOy iooown hf the
aam^ of the Blaab H^k. '' There, si^
Irike up joor lodging th^e for tp^nigbt^*''
addhe, pudiiag him in; ^* ta4tiorrow"
Bl klibw more, or Til know* irtiy/^
«MBd he, double^k)c]cing thedoot, wtth^
a. tr^ftendous noise, u^on his |Hisonee^>
mA hM^mg abo the door at the end of
ikm passtfge, so thU no one Mtild hate

l2

119 TAHMQH.

UtecsB.to bim. ** SawmlMaklhm^
jiwtafe!'' said Mr. WBlian Powerito
Ipmadf, sticking off with steps whUk
nade the whok gdkrjr sesouiid» mod
iMuch made many a gwhj heart tremble.
The ocNiversatkm whidi had passed be*
tireeii Hardy and Mr. Power at the head
id the stairs had been anxiously listened
to^ but only a word or two here and
tjMre had been distinctly oveiheard^*-^
The lodking of the Uadc-hde door was
a terrSile sound — some. knew not what
itportended^ and others knew tooweU;
all assembled in the morning with iaotB
<tf anxiety. . Tailton*s and Loveit's we»
the. most agitated. Tarlton for himself ;
ijovdt tor his . friend, for himself^ fir
0rery body. Every one of the pari^
and Taiiton at their head^ surrounded
him with reproaches ; and considefed
liim as the author of the evils which

T^SkVtOiSl lit

lamg oTdr tliem. ^ How coulfi you d#
«d? And why did you say toy thing 1^
HMr^«ho«tii? when you had prcnnked
iodi^— 4>h what diidl we aH do ! wh»t it
dC^a{>e you hareJbrougfat^is into! Lov;eH^
ie§ idt your fkult! ** ♦* All nkf/dult^''
fUpksiloeA poor Lo^eit, with a ioghi
^ wen, that is hard.**

** Goodness! there*s the beU," eifi*
Admefl a number of voices at onoe^
*• Now for it! They all stood in n
hflU drcle &r morning' prayers! they
Mstened^ •* Here he is coming ! No*-**
Yes— Here he is ! " And Mr. Wflfiam
Power, with a gloomy brow^ af^eared
and walked up to hki place at the he«dl
af the room. They knelt down to
prayers ; and the moment they rose, Mr*
Wffiiam Power, laying his hand upoa
the tiMe, cried, ^tSttand still, gettfie^^
mm, if ym please." Every body *tdo4

L 3

114 TABLTOK.

stock still ; be walked out ^ the cbde.;:
tiiey goessed that he was gone for Ebunify
tad the wh<de room was in commotiQB.
Sach with eagerness asked each wiial
none could answer, " Has he toldP^'
^^What has he told ?''—« Who l*s
he told of? ''— ^^ I hope he has not UM
of me?*' cried they, " Til answer ftr
it he has told of afl of us," said Tsrl-
ton. '^ And FIl answer for it he his
told of none of us,'' answered Lov«it,
with a sigh. ^^ You don't think he's
such a fool, when he can get himself
off;** said Tarlton.

At this instant the prisoner was led u,
^ad as he passed through the circle, ewrf,
€fe was fixed upon him : his eye turned
Vip6n po one^ not even upon Lovek, who
puUcfedhm hy the coat as he passed-*-
every one feh almoet afraid to breathe*
—^ Wdl> sir," said Mr. Power, sitting

TARLTOKt 111^

down in Mr. Traeman's relbow-diair^
aiid 'placii^ the prisoniBr opposite fo
Min ; *^ well, sir, what have you to saj
to me tins morning ? " — *' Nothing, sir,**
answered Hardy, in a decided yet mo-
dest manner ; <' nothinjg but what I said
last night." « Nothing more ? " « No-
tlung more, sir."—" But I have some-
ilfiDg m(»re to siEiy to you^ sir, then ; and
a great deal more, I promise you, be-
£ire I Imve done with you ; and then
smzing him in a fury, he was just gomg
to give him a severe flo^ng, when the
school-room door opraed, and Mr.
Trueman appealed^ followed by an old
man, whom Loveit immediately knew.
He leaned upon his stick as he walked^
and in hds other hand carried a basket
of apjdes. When they came within the
drde, Mr. Trueman stopped sh<n*t<-^
'* Mawiir I » exdmdied he^ with a v«ice

116 TKtajTon:

ai tmftigned miriiriae, whiht Mr. ^Mftr
laun Power stood witii his hand SIP
pended, *^ Aye, Hardy, ^^ i t ^peM t l
he« '' I told him yoo'd not bdief*
your own eyes.^-^Mr. Tmeiiitti wk
tanc^ with a siow step. ^' Now, si%
gire fne leave,** said the usher, eag^
^ttwwmg hiin aside, and wHspmngj^
^ So^fldr,'' said Mr. T. When ^ whifip#
was done, addressing himself to Hmif
wilfei a vmoe and manner, which, bad 1st
beenguflty, mit^ have pierced hiM W
^e heart, ^ I find I have been fleci^f^l
ifi you^-^it is but three hours ago ti^
I told yom* unde t never hi^ a boy ft
my schooi in whom I placed so mmM
cmifiilenoe ; but, after aH tiiis tftbwtf
hoitour and integrity, tb^ moment Hf
back is turned, yon afe the first to set m
example of disit^ieifience to my ot^lmh
Wky do I talk of ^^k^ing my eMa-

TJyWION. 117

^jM are ft thief!''-—"!, or!''
oudaimed Hardy, no longer aUe to ie»
jK&m Im fiBdiiig8«-~^* You, no*,— 70a and
mne others," sud Mr. Tnianan, locA:-
iiig round the rc)om with a penetrating
l^bnoe — ^^ 70U and some others — ^.
^ Aye, sv," interrupted Mr. William
Pbwer^ " get that out of hun if you
enB-*-«k hitn." — ** I will ask him no»
tUng; I shall neither put his truth nor
his honour to the trial; truth and ho*
nonr are not to be expected amongst
tfueves.''— *^' I am not a thief ! I have
never had any thing to do with thieves/
died Hardy, indignantly. " Have not
you robbed this old man? don*t yoa
know tha taste of these apples ? ^ said
Hr« Trueman, taking one out of the
basket. ^^No, sir, I do not; I never
ttedied one of that old man's apples."-^
^ Never touched one of them ! I sup-

hMe4oflie wane, you hitvt»liid ItketeiN:
bMtjy the hasenessr, to attma^li i6 fMi|
soft his d«^ ; the poiaoned meat ww^
foaOGl in Tourpockrt fawt ii^.''*^^ Tkm
peisaBed tne»t was found in mf pedbdfy
m I but I B0ver MieaxpteA to poiwnthe'
do|^<; I ttTed Us life."-^^' Lord Ubati
lum/' said the M mm. ** NmseBMbb
cunniitg 1 " g^d Mr. l^meir. '' I faop^
yoo w<itt't let him xDdiposd i^n ymt sg^
sfar." ^ No, he cadnot ko^Mise «pmr
me; J have a proof he is Ittle prq«Biflk
for," sftid Mr. Truefman^ produciog'
Uue handkerchief in which the
hadbMii wraiqped.

Tarltxm tamed pale; Httdy's
traance never chioiged^ *^ Ikm*t jrofti
know this handkerchief, sk ?*"—-'' I lia^
sir.''^** is it not jmn ? "— •« No, ik.^.
— "Don't ym know whose it is ? '' cifted
Mr. Power. Hardy was silent.

*•

'^ I am Bot fimd •£ pmmhii^
biiiwhm I do it, yonkBrnrH^M
idways in earnest. I will begiotivifii tilt
iUa^ of you ; I will begin with Hardj^
mid- flag you wiisli ni^ mm hm^JM.
Has luHidkewhirf is oymsdr ^ ,Vm
mue i^s net nniie ; " ^^ and I*m safe it'$
MBMoCmine;" laiistfroateviei^tniiiith^
iibttst thejr lodged at aac^ o^r in dwr
inay» for none but Hardy, Lo^irait» and
^aritton, knew the seeret«-— ^ My fmn^l^
miA Mr* Tmeman^ and Powei! handad
kklk tbe caae— Loveit . groaued froai tim
bottom of his heart — ^Tailiai^ tBomi
liad^ against the waU with a blairkfioun^
iaucace— Hardy looked with a steady
ajKoat-the cane.

^^ But first," said JE^. Tnieman^ li^
,ii)e* dowa the ome, '<klus/se&; periiafs
m may find out the owner of lhisr)haaict>

190 TAIUCDM

Jfiordiief another wmy^" maoBtiBSmig ^
eommm ; it was tosm idoMMit to pieoiil
Iwt luclcfly &e corner tfaatwat nuotai
venaiaed. '<»

<' J. TJ '' cried Mr. l^oemMft
B?ery eye turned upon the gwityWrnA
ton, who, novr^ as pale as ashei^ mad
trenMing in eveiy Hnb, saidc daam
upon his knees, and in a ivldnii!^ vnina
hegged fw mercy. *^ Upon my wmi
and honour, sir. Til tdl you aH; I
snoidd never have thought of stealiB||^
the apples if Loveit had not first toil
me of them ; and it was lV>m who int
put the poisoning the dog into my head: i
it was he that aimed the meat ; wamft
it ? ** said he, appealing to Hardy, wheaa
word he knew must be believed — ^^ Q^
dear or ! " continued he, as Mr. Tme*
man began to move towards him, ^idi
let nie off — do pray let me off this timet

«Nf

IM

$mmi.*hi^ diljr qm indeed, sir ! I hofie
fw !propi*t «iako ae m exanqpie t$t the
Wit . It ;» ^eiy hard Fm to be flogged
■BMe than thejr ! '' — ^^ Fm not going to
iag you/' — *' Thank you, sir/' said
TnritoOy getting up and wipuig bis eyes.
*^ You need not thank me/' said Mr.
Aiieaiaii. '^ Take your jiandkerchief^-
§D out of this iDom-^-out of this houae
^^--let me nevier see you more."

''If I had any hopes of him/' said
Ifir. Trueman, as heishut the door after
him ; *' if I had any hctpes of. him^ I
would have punished him: but I have
nooe-^pttnishment is meant only to
mak^ people better; and those who have
&af hopes of thansdves will know how-
to submit to it**

At these words Lomt first, and im«*
u^^t^y all the rest of the guilty party,
stopped out of the rank^, confessed their

VOL. I. M

ypopwi-^^ Obf. they Imve-teen pwinM
anotfgh/' niA the dd maa ; ^ Angftvt
HMD, sir."

Haiciy looked » if he wiahad^ f#

'^ Not becattse you aik it,** sdd iir.
l^Meiium; *^ thoi^ I shovld be glad '!»
oUige you-^t vouldiiH be just-— but
Aiere (pcmiting to Havdy), there k (me
tifao has merited a reimrd ; tiie higliHt
I can gire him is the paMbn of his com-
ftmms.**

Haidy bewed^ and his £use gtowed
fpith [dieasuiey whibt every body preseDt
sympathised ifi his feelings.—^ I an
sure,'* thought Loveit, ^ tiiis is m leasaa
I shiA never foi^t."

^ GentleineD,'* said, tin old man wM
a fidteriag voice, ** it wasnl fti i^

TAKLTOtt. las

sake of my i4>ple6 that I spoke; and
jou, sir,'' said he to Hardy, *' I thank
you tpr saving my dog. If you please^
ril plant on that mount, opposite the
window, a young apple4ree, from my
old one; I will watar it, and tA^e care
of it with my own hands for your sake,
as long as I am able.— And may God
Mess you! (laying his trembling hand
on Hardy's head) may God bless you-—
Fm sure Grod will bless all such boys as
you are."

m2

FALSE KEY.

Mtau S^NOfefi, a irisrj benevoteal atil
leriiible maBy MiddMocic the educatioli
dT several poor ohildrea. Amongst
m^ ^TMt "was a bof of the name itf
flnoiiUift, whdm be had bred up fiboi
«lf0 tmn^ h6 was fire^wte old. FfbtfUk
hlMl thfr laiaiertane to be the son df a
man of infamous character; and tatnmaf
femm this was a diis^ace and reproa^ to
bit l;bild. When any of tihe neigbbQunr^
chfltbf ^i qnan^Ued with hia^ they uasd
to idH him be wdubl tihrn out Bte his
ftudier; Bat Mr. SpeaccH' idways asbiised
hiitiy tbdl he ioigbtmake bitiHelf wkafr»
^<ff%€ ^ased ; tdbat by behaving w«fi
brwuuM tei!taiid]r, scMner dr brttt*, H^

M 3

1£6 THB FALSI KET.

cure the esteem and love of a& wbi^
knew him, evea of those who had Iht
strongest prejudice against him on his
&ther*s account.

This hope was very ddightfid to
Franklin, and he showed the ' str6ng|M
desire to leaim to do every thing titot
was right; so that Mr. Spencer sooB
grew fiMpd of liim, and took great ptim
to instruct htm, and to give him aU Hm
good haUts and principles which uoffk
make lum a useful, respectable, Md
happy man.

When he was abwt thirteen years^
age, Mr. Spencer one day sent for han
into his closet; and as he was foldnjf
up a letta* whidi he had bieen writing;
and to him with a very kind look, but
in a graver tone than usual, <' FranUai;
you are going to leave me»"-^" Siri*
said Franklin. << Yon isre now gong

THBFALSBKBY. 127

to leave me, and to begin the world for
yfwirself. You will cany this letter to
my sister, Mrs. OhurdiiH, in Queen's
Square— you know Queen^ Square-^"
Frantdin bowed. ** You must expect,**
continued Mr. Spencer, '* to meet with
several disagreeable things, and a great
deal of rough work^ at your first, setting
o«t; but be faidiful and obedient to
jdur mistress, and oUiging to your fel*
Itfir-flenrants, and all will go welt. Mrs.
CSiurdiitt will make you a very good
mistress if you behave properly, and I
kave no doobt but you will/*-— '^ Thank
foUf sir/' — •^ And you will always (I
n^ean as long as you deserve it) find a
friend- in me.'*—** Thank you, sir—
I am siMfe you are — ^" There Franklin
stqi^Kd diort, fiir the recollection of all
Mr. Spencer's goodness rushed upon
at once, and he could not say an-

tM THE Wkum^jsm^

Ajs letter,*^ said in Mirter ; and be mm
twy glad to gat out of the roam. Ha
came haA ^vith the OMdle, and ^wiliill
istort heart stood by whikt thelatMr wM
rtaiMng; and whea his laaster pnA it iats
hia hmd» said, in a c^aerAil ♦oioe» ^ i
hope yon #ill let ase see yoo agate, siil^
sometmieB/' — *^ Cettmity : trhteneMi
yMr mistress ctok spare yon I riiatt bt
faff glad to see you ; and, aeflnaodwi
if ever yea get into any dtfliculty, daifl
he afraid to come to me. I have simia*
tfanes spoken harshly to yoiiy but yai
#ill 110C meet witfi a more indulge
Iriend/' Franklin at this tttfned mm^
#k& a ^U heart; and, irfber nibdda|
t«ro or -three attempts to expaess Mi
gratiti^^ Mft the Toom without bthii|
ahfeto'spfeak.
•ile giit ta %iaita'a Sqamt dMf

THB FALSE KEY. la^

o*dock. The door was opened
hf Uilmrge red^fiiced man in a Uue coat
and scaflet waistcoatt to whom he ftlt
afiraid to give his message^ lest he should
not be a servant. <^ Well, what's your
Imsiness/ sir?" said the butler. '' I
liave^ a letter for Mrs. Churchill, sir,"*
said Franklin, endeavouring to jnto*
iKNUice his sir in a tone as respectful
as the birtler's was insolent The man
]wving examined the^ direction, seal,
and edges of the letter, carried it up
atiiirSt said in a few nunutes returned,
and ordered Franklin to rub his shoes
w^ and feUow him. He was then
shown into a handsome room, where he
fkmnd his mistress, an elderly lady. She
asked him a few questions, examining
him attentively as she spoke; and her
severe eye at first, and her gracious
amile afterwards, made him feel that

H^ TiiR FALSER KSarv

Ib9 was a pencm to ht bath ywdrnti
feared, '^ I nhall ^¥e you in cliai^ge^?
$$iA she» ringing a bdl» <^ lo my hoittan
kteper, and I h<^ she will have noonAn
Ma to be dispieaABd with you."

The housekeeper^ when she first eMM
in, appeared with « imiUcig countenamM
but the momaEit she cast her eyes Ml
Franklin, it changed to a look of suiq^iM*
aad suspicion* Her mistress reeooM
aiended him to h*r protection, sayi^^
^^ Folnfiret, I hope you will ke^ thia
boy under your own eye." And ite
received him with a odd '^ Vety wfirili
ma^am ; " whith plainly showed she Wti
ntft disposed to like lum. In feet, MtU
Pdmfret was a woman so fond of powei^
and so jealous of favour, that she would
hate quarrelled with an angel who hdd
gotten so n^ar her mislress without her
lutloduction. Site snjothtred het^digpisa

'nil iyuj£ KEY. isi

moat, hcmever, Iffl! w^tA i ndien, as iste
iMeoded her misbress's tdlette, she could
iKii refnAn from ex[Nress»ig her senti*
pasts. She began eauttously; Ma'am,
]S>aot this the boy Mr. Spencer was tdk*
ing ef one day — ^that had been brought
up by the VittaifUrcpie Society y I thisk
tfcey caU it?*'—" Philanthropic Society;
yes; and my brother gives him a high
cKaracter : I hope he will do veiy weU.**
^ Fm sure I hope so too ; but I can^t
say; for my part, IVe no great notion
of those low people. They say sdl those
diildren are taken from the very lowest
Urugs and refugees of the town, and
sucely they are like enough, ma*am, to
t9ke after their own fathers and nuK
filers.**—" But they are noit suffered to
be with their parents, and therefore can*
not be hurt by their example. This lit*
fle boy to be sure was unfortunate in his

lit THE FALttB KSr. f

father^ but he bus bad an ewdient ^bixk^
eatioQ."— " Ob» edicatum! to be san^
ma'am, I know— -I don't wy but wkat
edicaikm k a great tUing. . But tlim^
ma*am, edicatian can't change the natuff
jtfiat's in one, they say ; ai^ one thai%
Imnh naturally bad and low, they sayj
dl the edication in the world won't 4o
no good; and, for my part, ma'am,!
know you knows best, but I should. be
afraid to let any of those ViUaintrifk
folks get into my house, for nobody can
tell the natur of them Ijefbre^hand : I '
declare it frights me." — " Fomfr^t, I
thought you had better sense : how could
this poor boy earn his bread? he wooU
be forced to starve, or steal, if every boc^
had such prejudices/' Pqmfret, who
really was a good woman, was Sfoft^ed
at this idea, and said, <' God tbrbid he
should starve, w steal ; and God fotlrid

TH& KALSB KSX. %$$

I dtould sagr mj ^aogprefuAciary 9i
ib^ hojt fw ihoe may be no haciii in
Mm.''—" WeU,^ said Mra. CboichiU,
diangin^ her toBe, '^but^ Pomfir^/if
we d<m*t like the boy at the end of tt
fiMnth we have done with him ; fixr I
ba^e only promised Mr. Spenoer to keqp
bmi a month upon trial-^^there is no
harm done.*' — '' Dear, no, ma'am, to
be sure — and cook must put up wilb her
dKappoiBtment, that's all."r— '' What
disappcantment ?*' — ** About her ne-
phew, ma*am ; the« boy she and I was
speaking to you for." — ** When ?**—
^ The day you called her up about the
slraond pudding, ma'am ; if you re-
member, you said you shall l^ve no
ebjecti^as to tiy the boy ; and upon that
cook bought him new shirts ; but they
are safe as I tell her.'' — '' But I did not
promise to take her nephew.'* ~" (Mi,

VOL. I. N

ISA THM WkiME KEY.

m», 0M*«ai» npit at $jli stw does not
ikdak. to M^ thmt^ elie I should tpe v«y
m^pry; but the pow nimiiati nerer tet
ftUaword, aay moce titan frets that^lhe
kojr diould nuss sudi a good pfaioe.*'^*-
^ Well^ but fiiiice I did say timt Isbouii
Iffgre no objection to tiy him, I fkoM
keep mjr word ; let him come ta moiw
low : let them both have a fair tsial) aad
at the end of the month I can dedde
which I like best, and which we had
better keep."

Dismissed with these ofdeits, Mn.
Bow&et hast^fied to rep(H*t all tihat hfA
passed to the cook, like a favourite mi*
nkter ; proud to display the extent of h^
secret i|tf ueiibe* Ip the morning Fiti&cj
the oodk's nephew, arrived ; and tibs
moment he came into the kk€^en, eveiy
eye, even the scullion's, was fixed upon
him with approbation, and afterwwds

THi|.FAL8S KSY. ISi

flaaced upcm Franklin with ooato^pfex^
^teii4it whidi fVanklin could net eA*
dure without wme confiiaion, though
qute «iconscioii8 of havis^ deserved it ;
mm', ujj^n the most impartial and coal
ael&exa&iinationf could he comprtiiend
flie juitke of his judges. He pemdmi
iadeedy for tfa6 comparisons #ere mi'>'
aatdy Aade in audible and lieo^mfid
wlaspersy that Fdix was a much hand^
soBder, or, as the kitchen-maid expressed
it, a modi more genteder, gentlemanl]r*
lookipg^likcisort of aperson than he wis;
rad he was made to understand, that he
waited a frill to his shirt, a cravat, a pahr
of thin shoes, and, above Idl, shoe*
striqgs, besides other namdete advaii*
tageBf whidi justly made his rival the ad-
O^mtion of the kitchen. However, u^a
eaUing: to miAd all that his friend Mr.
%Mdic^ bad ever said to him, he cOuld

N 2

A

ISC tOA FALSB KBY.

vot reooUect his having warned 1^1^
riioeHKhrinjgs were indi^ie^MaUe reqo^ites
to the diaractar of a good servant ; so
that he ootild only comfint himself vnA
vesolvuig,' if possible, to make amends
for these deficiencies, and to dissipatte
the i»e}ndices which he saw wefefoivded
against him, l^ the strictest adbei«Me
to att that his tutor had taught him to be
his duty. He hoped to secure the spK
prc^tion of his mistress by scmpidoos
irfiedience to all her commands, and Mth-
fal care of all that bdonged to her ; at
the same time he flattered himsdf he
shouU win the good- will of his fefiow^
servants, by showing a constant dtmve to
oblige them* He pursued this plan of
cmiduct steadily for neariy three we^
mod found that he succeeded beyond ik
espectations in pleasing his mistress ihnt
uvfortmiately he found it more

? M . » »

mi muui iBT. at?

liphMi Ub ftltow sa^ante, aiidtKeKosKBk.
4MMS oAbiidid wkeB he leatt estpect*

He had 'made great pitgran in tiH^
lAetMni of Oorhaciew the butter. Iff
ikofkang krfeed veiy h«pd tot him, aall
Mi^^ eviiry day at least hidf hfe burina*;
BirtSene imfGatanate fiight the butkr iTA
giiie eiit«^«4ibe fadi raag-^he weilk up
fliam; i^nd his nmtress askisg whem
^thflcvew wasy heaMwer^d that he wm
gate out> ''Whare te ? '' sdd hia ttia*
tfeas^ <« I don't ktaow/' answ^fred Fradi*
fifty A«d w he had tald exMdy the ,
tMlh, aad meafft to de no harm, he wai
amftised, fsA thebutler'a retmrd, wbda
he.repeateii'tD him whak had paesedy ^i6
iReneite a mddmi >bai( im the ear, mid
Ite sppalMttiMft dP a nmtdiievdti^ v^tpm^
iite^ meaiMpirited brat ! ''MiadMeir^

N 3

ISg THE FALUi EEY.

FfftnUm to himadf; but lookmg ia
the butler's face, whkh was of a dtqwr
scarlet than usual, he judged that he wis
hr from sober, and did not dmilrt hot
that the next morning, when he eraieto
the use of his reason, he would be sensi^
Me of his injustice, and apologise ftr
this box of the ear. But no apology
ocmung all day, Franklin at last ▼entored
to request an explanation, or ratimr to
ask what he had best do on the next-oo
easion. ** Why,'* said Corkscrew, " when
mistress asked for me, how came you to
say I was gone out ?"-^^ Because you
know, I saw you go out."—** And whaa
she asked you were I was g6oe,
how came you to my that you did
not know ?*' — ^** Because indeed i did
not." — '*You are a stupid UoekhMi :
could not you say I was gone to tiie
wadierwoman'8?'''*^**Bttt n^ere yowy

THS FALSK KEY. ISf

said FraakHn. ""Was I!" cried Cark.
9emWf and looked as if he would ^ha^e
fitradc him again ; ^* hour dare you gi?e
ne the Ue ?— ^Mr. Hypocrite, you wouU
be ready enough, I'll be bound, to
make excuses for yourself. — Why are
not mistress's clogs deaned ? go alQQ||^
aad Uadten 'em this minute, and send
EeUx to me."

From this time forward Fdix alone
was privikged to enter the butter^s
pantry. Felix, became the favourite of
Corkscrew ; and though FrankUn by no
means sought to pry into the mysteries
of thdr private conferences, nor ever
eirtered without knoddng at the door,
yet it was his fate once to be s^ntof^a
message at an unlucky time, and as the
door was half open he could not avoid
seeing Kdix drinking a bumper of red
K^pior, which he could not help su^ect-

)iO T^^ FAL9K SH :

kig ta be t^te; mA a^ 1it^i)0tBmm
wM^ mmdly weotnuj^aHors aiker disw^
ftmr at this time in the haik^s^pgmf^
uritlMufe aiqr ^;to{ip^ Jii ity Ae 4frasdii«»
hliit^% forced to svispeek timy wmt
dimkitig his imilrass'i^'Wiiie.

JKor Were the bwiper^ <tf pett Om
Mbf ^iflriawfiil wwmrds "Whkk ftdisiM^
ceiyed ; his aunt the cook hmi mom6MI
Jior..1ii» as&tiemce, and tfte had iMiijf ^
ttcidtis dbttcenrti in it^r ffSb. Ms»ftm
ImMifiil of ipuiteQt9» matiy a htif owtaMi^
mmf a tviaiigidar f entaMHit of pie/ tei^
aides the ehoioe tif his .ow« meed *i^
iM^»kfoit, ^mi^y and aiipper, &il It
i;be shatfe of the favoarM^ Ffinc ;: wiwht
FtonkKn iTw n c g i gct e d » titou^ he: taak
4ila atviast fcdm *0 fl&m tke«iirt^.la
iA honaumble 88i*vimy Md^ ivhaiidtai
m$i^ hs^ ^M%r3r, ^ irtiniifi^ he M(fm
4im^B al hand to help h^r ; alid ii^ 4lll

THE FALSE K£Y. 141

lamt of adTersdtjr, wfien the clock strvtak
five, and no dinner was dished, and no
kitchen-maid with twenty pair of hands
was to be had, Franklin would answer
to her call, with flowers to garnish her
dishes, and {uresence of mind to know»
in the midst of the commotion, where
ef&y thing that was wanting was to be
found; so that, quick as lightning, aB
dfficttlties vanidied before him. Yet
when the danger was over, and the hour
of adversity passed, the ungrateful cook
WooM forget her benefectw, and, when
it came to be his supper time, would
throw him, with a carelessness which
tmidied Kim sensibly, any thing which
ike other servants were tod nice to eat«
All this Franklin bore with fortitude,
Mr did he envy Felix the dainties Whick
he ate sometimes close beside him:
^ For," tmA l}e to himself, *^ I have ^

)4f TH£FALS£KSY.

^il^ftr cc«i8cieiioe» and that is mote t|iMI
f'^lix can have. I know how he ^i#9
oDokV favour too wdtl^ and I £mpioj i
know how I have offetlded her ; f^
since the day I saw the basket, she hm
flone nothii^ but huff me/'

The history of the basket was this :
Mrs. Pomfret, the housekeeper^ Imd
severed 4imes, directly and iodirectljri
given the world below to understanA
thsU; she and her mistress thought thei^
was a prodigious quantity of meat <a|6i(
ctf late. Now when she spoke^ it ww
wually at dinner time ; she sdways kiofa-
ed, or Franklin imagined that she look^
suspidousiy at him. Other peo[^ k>ak«
ed still more malidoi^y : but as he £^
^imseU* perfectly intiocedt, he ii^^Bt 6^
tQk^ng his dinner, in silence. Bust 9i
leng^lh it wasf time to explain. Om
SundaJ^ tiiere aj^ated a hatids6me isurMft

THE FALSE KEY. 14S

•

ff beef, which before noon on Monday
had shrunk almost to the bare bone, and
presented such a deplorable spectacle to
the opening eyes of Mrs. Pomfret, that
her long smothered indignation burst
forth, and she boldly declared she was
BOW certain there had been foul play,
and she would hare the beef found, or
die would know why. She spoke, but
DO beef appeared ; till Franklin^ with a
kok of sudden recollection, cried, " Did
not I see something like a piece of beef
m k 4>asket in the dairy — I think—*'
"Rie cook, as if somebody had smote her
a deadly blow, grew pale ; but suddenly
recovering the use of her speech, turn€fd
^pon Franklin, and with a voice of
tiniider, gave him the lie direct ; and
forthwith, taking Mrs. Pomfret by the
ruffle, led the way to the dairy, de-
daring she could defy the world ^^ that

144 TH£ FALSE KEY.

she could and so would/' — ** Thef^i
ma^am,*" said she, kicking en emj^y
basket which lay on the floor — ^ there%
malice for you — ask him why he don\
show you the beef in the basket.**—^ I
tttought I saw-^" poor Franklin began*
•* You thought you saw !" cried the
cook, coming close to him with ktm-
boed arms, and looking Hke a dragon-—
^ And pray, sir, what business have such
a one as you to think you see ? — And
pray, ma'am, will you be pleased to
speak — perliaps, ma'am, he'll conde-
scend to obey you-— ma'am, will you ht
pleased to forbid him my dairy— for here
he comes prying and spying about— ani
how, ma'am, am I to answer for injt
butter and cream, or any thing at all ?—
Vm sure it's what I can't pretend to, «*
less you do nie the justice to forbid hte
my places."

Mrs, Pomfret, whose eyes were bKnd-

ill lliij nWiiiiillimiiT (ftiitfirrjbjBtKfr ikth k0

i/tOBtrnd to< bi; gnoMiiig; AifivTAunlDf ioi har >
KiiflTili^^ todk^pwl intititlimdiUli. JtadL^

shitty* *^ lieba&a«'ami^'te9iis^aii&irinib*t
i«Bii«i^lfaai»r;.bQi «• abalb oMJirlhiMte'
f«^.i11 lie hpwwrft ia .sQimiof Itfs Hm^^
bHnfsi I lsB0w 4^ Mto«e 0£ bint vdft
fitfonl^inn tiie fint tjmr: I-owr. wfc ttft
eyrn^ ufMi kkm; faitf vtaatKmssbmS^L taaat
JbM^otm «^y, and hct thor. e*di of ikf
!£iMie nMds^Miftkthe fatttor aiitee.a£ i»*
Jmdte^ drew ttaw si leng^ fiist dbmir
the imurii clnndc of itenk^iv
ol^l^fBmMy hflse: toacbed Mrk

VOL. I. o

list THKF&UB Kirx

iktk%ht :he» <' tkb. is toot iiiMi.V]i^
£Ki J?iibt bed till nowfvoieMd kioMtf i
Irii&M-dH^y.atid had mi ;. his 'part le^J
otMsd ixoiA FnmUin inwfuivbcal.piaQii)
oP ftieiiddap.; fiitlil iiiB^:.be:t<iiiif itU**

turn to got bieiykfiwty.F^ist/iiotar^^is.
i4» in deoent time,- alid must inefitoiif'
biiie ccime^to fMiUiedisgvaee, if-fVanlDir;
liv libd not gotten aHrtlie iMraakfittt Mvg$^
rMify for him,^ the Ikwd I and . btttttrv;
speeody' 4Mid the toast* tfoasted ; ^and taft^
BOtmooreooer repdaii^; whon^e ^odO'
stmok e^hty and Mrs. ;Foiqffotfs* foot^'
waa lieaM-^oYttbead, run to ottltuthp
sloepil^vSUix, andihdfttd. bita eam^^
ataatly :throngh the: harvf of: g^sMiog'
dmaBd one instant beftire the bmamU
hoi^r came down staink . Ali>tbi8;00idd
BbtJbftit.be present to his memory ; ibiiti^^
sdosmag to reproach htm, VrnUm •

wijiea tpncy Vm cracoivie win^ an pre*
tawppda iMighwnim<(M»«U€ii^ ^' ' '.

i^The hodroi^relvilMteft was, h^m^vav
.«t » f«r off 'M Fefix iflxigiiiedtf CNni*
*ia^ people-niaf go on deveflrlif in iheir
iericet&r soOMetiiiie; bitl tiitit|b thejr
*nmf eictpe cmo^^ iMrioe^ ^ fterhiqpB iiiii«t!f«
iiHW times, wlwt does that signify) fat
iihe^ksiiA^edlh they OMoe to shane, - aod
^IdseiaH their character. GviniirR beld bjr
jftequent suceesst Felix bebanie ' Mdie
diDQless . in his operatieni; aad it hep-
•peiied that one .day he met' hfe -miiitiiefls
&U in the pasMge, as he was going on
^ne of the cook's secivlcTfahds. ''^ Where
^areyott gotng, Felix ? " said his mistress.
*^ To the washerwoman's, ma*am/' an»
.swered he, with his usoal efironterf.
"^ Very well,** said she ; f' call at the
ibookseUer's in<r— stay, I most write down
'the diieotion.--*Foiiifiret,** said she^ opra-^^

o S

tMP .mmmummK.

you a la^itf *|WfiHri? "•■ ■■.ifUmiktil^mm
4M97 tMKi^ <il*t- i<dlxiwm pftig j«lt

^Him Mit ikUe aftta&s «« b Jillle SSufwii

Mm$9 ImixpM toovt fim xdmm mai^^
^Imt "^i^i ifmt tmrn^im uMPesies nemjm-

j^; pM^ feihwa i ' to «»4 ifl QiwMf i i i|w i r

Titt FALSI ICBT. 14^

Sin Mknchon leaped up again, and be-
^pm smelHag near the fatal podtet hi a
mott alannihg tttamer. * '< Yon witt see
dqr.thfa dbectian where jou are to go^'*
jaid hia miitiess. *' Manelion, cmk
l i fro - A nd yon witt be so good - as fo»
bring me^— Down ! down ! Manchon, be
^ttiet ! " But Manchon knew better; he
bad now gotten his head into Felix's
pocket, and would not be quiet tffl He
had drawn thence, rustling out of its
brown* paper, half a cold turkey, wbich
had been missing since morning. ^ Afy
*eold turkey as Fmali^e!** exclainiad
'the housekeeper, darting upon it with
horror and amazement. ^^ What is all
this ? ** said Mrs. Churchill in a compos-
,ed voice. ^^ I don't know, ma'am/* an-
swered Fdix, so confiised tltisit he knew
J not what to say— ** but— " "Bntwbat?*^
Uried^ Mrs. I\>mAet, indignation flashing

OS

4M» jimmmmwm.

4HcqQ0i|Fted VidiKj finf tkon^ nidi «

#f «3Cfipi3^ be knew thirt iie jonuUlMrt;
inTWili .^i|f ^mwm in ' iw^ i»MMh
.ii(;^ipe^ vFhIab <;ckidd jitond tin ^xMrinn-
j^HPt #f a fieiisKv^ in ]ier .Mier somos.; Jfe

rfrw. ^tfwk dumb. "^ SfMatk," mM Mm^
jQlqircb9i^ ib.ftstUlloirwttaKi ^ Ij«i
IPMdf t^ fa^fir aft jpim hav^ tOM^r : imwtg
ibiMe ^«|^ body '$haU faeive JMtiMNt-

ffli F^x^; aod^ aftier jn xwm attpa^iytD
«qulr€«:ate> eonfeBsed tbs^ be wa g^wi^
1^ ilake^be tuiA^y to .bis cnMiri'sz'Attt
iit tbaeewaU ibe bb^me upe^ bb «uMt»
ibefraok, urbo, beMickbadimimdibfan
*i|fM 'tbiS expedMkm« Tbe tMik ms
jMir ittmttfisfidl ; but Ai twtattr dnibid

'4ft immMiS^ ia£yAmmMm^im0k Hmmmt

in»dtd JBboiklfe^hBw^ Urn hmB^^ Ite

•ihodBrta wet 'Otiadjr, loareMi^ mA Ae

<fif d^bwiog : hip te tenet tlw im^se mow-
4i«tafe|r^ attd^ ii(ifc'l>eiiig very »i3ttDg^ li>
leave a place in siidch he ^faad tirad m>
wsML mkk itimi^buAerj <did mat h^Me to
mmimiA im mmt ^th mmmmmee ^eiinil
^ Iter omm. Hetoewiwir itb faraigjhis
sImBgt borne (to bar« Ha ymduaril ja
VNfte SB iier vetm head^vFXJiiogf ^Ate fitf-
fgirt of vUbb BSM to «eqtMedtliericmiwml&
maeptaiKie ^ ^' .^Msm de&eate tOoMtm--
Ju6j^^^iBmA i^ bog dsie;Mi«^«e«ftifa9r^4y
#10 f»fcNira of 4h^ tewer^ aliitrlBiiif Inr
ndttitjr Arandj.

• jViwu iChirachilL 2aHiQy.:9rai>te upoB Ite
iink of jthe oite iitc 4ieok'^ iKic^M^,
:«ii*iafoi»Bdr jyfe Ae .fa«i 'Jw ffiiiihir

mi Tat lAUB air.

pbAMig. wkk man J twre, wfaidh JPMHi^
JBi did.«ot edl anseaiHe ieans^ thalhlm
' w«s so yoiMig, mod tiuit he MdMiunier tlm
•dbimiuiHi bf hvannt^ he rtooched Mm
Ponfict's con^flMOOB^ and she obtiiiMi
-ftr faim peramsioii to stef tittle «id #f
idke month, to gife hidi ]r«i a chaiioe.'iif
^fede^niog his charaeier.
' Mrs. Pomfret now seeii^ how^ far riK
had been imfxised upoa^ resdred §» tke
&ttare'to be more upon her g«ard witt
FiMxf and felt that she had treated
Franh£n .wiih great injustiee, when shs
accused him of mal^iMractices about the
-dtloin of beef. Good people, when thejr.
are made sensible that they have treated
anjr one with iajurtice, are imps^ent to
have an opportunity to rectify ^eir mis-
take; and Mrs. Pomfret was now-pre-
pared ^to see every thn^w^h FlMl»
iMMi m the imit fivouittible peMl «tr

(JBIg».ifaoilafr'tbe mtiet ifim-tlwf .tea, apd

filil«&il|r iiiiif,*e^ i^ CMit

JhiMsr til jiar i&iMiwtte{i4o»'«ii6trrup^

MiftAe itaasteUigedb (li^ >iio«fi|89f'illiLt'']9i&

icMNinc^i of ttbe tlmQinfffi^ :im mu aibi ^ am
wild ^41 awne ieiioM a|Hir« ^ /-^'^

fiMii itini^holghfcnuWin) njfifliiour In iaat
-WfiAtk^'Aisaiat TlHiinlil1i(lniiii inwiii|il

vho hid* i audi dxiksi dksgrf4mki^,
CoriciciiMr kdpt tlie knjri o£ithe^ UMte

iwhifrihour hcvthwigiiit piiq^;

.>liir hiifltwart iAbt mpj^i JPtfec lontir'
r # hiiy fto: <MMt-lii»» audi, did nat.^ 9cmfk
do iaftft€Mqrbfcik<tei»excwfts; whidbpMvi
.fim^dln.iiad too BataclrMtegR^ te
'AH titse ]»eoaufeioiiB taken, Ike bi
was «l'ttier<9^ to kidalge Us finroi
Iptmkmf wluGk so 'mcvewed with kMlnl^i
^pODuoet that hki wages ware by lio
'inil|irtitnt ta. stippdrt hini in hss 1
fife. Every day be dBelt less
Jio^^ break thrqugh hps bad hahiti^
e^recy day edrinAGuig: beeaipe more ^
iMtr^oJbiai* His heidlh whati^faMdi^

bbftf, lie app^osed the iriotiM of;infeox»»;
CtttHSri.' Jbi'itte mimifa^'Wlienibe^ti^
his b«|iiil tMriMidy Mb ^ ^ito'^fti^dy^
h»-coiikd do nttking/tilt^ kid^.t^en n*
dltmi^ ; «1E» ^op^fiitiiHi trhkb ' he wm oUi^ -
gtd la Impost' S09ieid^time»«hi' thi cmmm:
of 4h^ d4jr/ itt'atf tliMe'#«*tthctt peofAef'
$Amti iHib^once'tfcqiiiwitHis cwtotti. . -^
-^e-had run up a Um^ bttt-tat tbeide-^'
famssfe wkkh he ifVequ^nteii ; and' ihe
bmdieidj' who 'grew 'urgefit fin* ^ht8<nio*^
wif, ^ lefuised to give him iiirther cMdit. ^
Due ti^t^ when CcvkMmtiK.'faad dtimic
»iCHigh only to make hkn ft^tftil, he^
htt&ed^nvMi his eibow-siirl% 'Uponthe
table, began to qoarrel'wkli the land--
flid, and swdve that he had not*'of late -
seated him like a gentleniain. To whicl^-
ha landlord codly replied^ ^ That as
tmg t^ he had paid Uk» a gentleiaan^ he-

eMnntolMrttlii^«l«tfe^Uia aili4Mi%
With, tkmm 'Mhm^' wege ia hin^ g^fll

tiMMxiriMHhr «lktm^ tlMlt w; tte iynnwi-
e£ kisfiiflsl^ ber Mtn €flaiwoinQillMlll»
tbtti^AoliMi^allliit •Mi aSUei^ but dl

lamWf^^ Ml ittiitceM^s^
Mir aeir Mnids^ wne bjr m-

tdk; fir tiiejr had 8€ct«t tfew«i^. iriMb

qn faywiTM tfcqw rmg ip gni him* tb Mub

mtn w» otitt' «IP> «<n w %i #t w ma J i
Qitt 4if< the m«» acliMtt][r «AKd. to
laid Qtidmmm thMMt piweag tawMtJ
thK^ paynoiA. of his. dfrtit,. ivifd- hia«»

tkeir fart^. and/ vepeatfld pramiset cC
MCKsj^oa hiSy ttey^ait leagUk^dkddiQd'
tlM» plaM' to bin. Thsf giMMt hi0i«lt»
iiwhuil uml tftirt i£ ke wmMi* mmt^ m
kftti)^ Ihonu inte him mitiM^k ha&m^
klM0 wmldi lei him h»m «i amfife
slMei 101 th& ImwIjs^ Hmt; butfefv whor

VOL. li p

r

tmn, and indeed ^Mbfie ilMgMl^ Mli»
hilhiMtb been i^o(€ agikist eV^^^liii^
biitilib miMress's PArt, tHraed piJef iwH '
ti^emMed at this pt^^xisar*; dra«l«»ti(^%^'
ttotMJ^ tairmpel^ to drowti thoi^ilti Wslt-
promiMfitogmKaii ^Mrierthe n^sit Aij^*
« He liTent home mofe than half fKt'
texkated. ' tfis vtAtid wbs so iftdl^Hf'
what had'pas^> that ^be could not li^ '
bMggiflig. to FolfeK, whom M ^und
awake at his r^lunf, th^t he td^Mlkbm*
bis bill piOd'off at the aleboUfiie w^nievi#-
he pleased-; dmpping beside someMM^ *
which were not lost upon Fdix. fei thit
morning' f^lbc reminded him ofl' the
tMngs whieh ike had said; amit Cofi^
B&tew, - alarmed, endeavoiired to ei^^d^
hi^ qUestioQs, by saying tb^ ^hevwai
not in his sensed when he talked in titol^
manner. Nothing, however, that ^he
conld urge made any impresi^^m \^pt» -

.19ii AUW KCr. 049

i^t6 perfectly ^etimtj : iMd^who liad :too
fHiiich .iwiiiiBg Mmiilf, ^d\;too v:Mttle
"^mfjiiiimtp io hb conqnuiioQ, to be the
iuipe of his dissimalatMNi.r; cS'fae hutltr
imrar aM what to do^ when be 8«ir":that
'SSqKx wa> nbfolmbilj idetenmaed^ etther
jto bettay thdr sohetoe, or to beoBoie. a
«hav(^ itt their booty. .1

. . . The next Q^hC caitie/Qii, and he
'j|ov toriiiAke a fiiialideciiiori» eithe
AllinaSf^ (sm breakup loff eotifely i
Im new. acqaaintaiice; or taidog i
ffith himto join the pfot. '

His. debt^ Im lave ofdrinkiog^ the ii
pflari b il iit y of :inchil||iBg^ it witjiMt a fred)t
.aiif^ of .money, all came intaJiis.Bf&iid
J9A oooe, aiid ; coiiqi«^ited his remaining
acrnpltt. ) It is sBid by thi)Be,who$< fatal
«igm[ience |^ve them a r^t to bb b»*
Uewit tibfl a dniAlwrd will sufltfofe «if

woc'tf iMMtttd iatMiMioii !<«»

«iiad ciMtan, thim (to hreA <tei igi i I t

tlttMl Mice foraMld-! '<;<'!•

him, and a glass of iMndj Midf j f WJii i K
«it. Kfe riglMd*-4dw n|k i lW I i titted^
<draak <i^atiw-4ieiiTd irtie \MM&id4ab4[

would, ifngr it in a aMiMn&<*^'4braii!i^
i^n---cursed kkmss^^ mi glv4ft^4i^
iMDdtto :fthe ipflhoB, wlie ^as ^vri&ipei^i^
JR fak «ttr, twi^e -tiiat he eaiH^-^wt
Mp it^ Mid 4mi»t do ag i&kefmmSlt%m^
ftrau OPhef reqoiMd cif faiiBk«ogi^if
tthe beff #f «he house 4loDr, tUM^tttwr
4dghit^t another i^delij at >»Hiteiii<

.THB WALSfL XJBT. Jfil

ito^mfUkk tihe iitw diflkid^. whidi ittd
rarieeb. ^ Fduc knew e«iwgh /to mm
^^Hum^ifoaA mast tlMnefilve Jie wcm over.
'JXbib was no verjr diffieiittiiaflk ;.ihe^liad
<'a ^ istraog . desBi^e ' to have.' .some . w&ritoA
Ueamvataf ,a«d die. butler knew.eDoi^fa of
Jimi;to' Mienre^ tlMt this would be^ siiA-
.dbnt bribe. The cravats !were Jbougfat
4md Aomn : to Felix. He thcoig^ Aem
;ihe pidf.tbilifs ynmAvig to makehiM a
iooai^te.ifinie. genlieiiian; t and .to go
iivithcnjA^thoiD^ especially rwrhenlie;^. had
Hiiice 'siiaQ UtDself in the g]«»vwil&oae
Hed'cniii a s^endid bow, ,ap|i6ai»d;im-
"yosEiUe; Ev)en tins paltsy temptafcicb,
-^imrldi^i upsfi bis vanity, at lengtklpra-
*^vaited ii^th a boy, whose integrity bad
tloiig been corrupted by the <>habtts of
pctey fU&iiii^ and daily fidsclmdd, it
.was f^gbeed: tbat^ the first tidie bis nij»*
.IfiiB iMit biin out OIL a ]^^ be

PS

wm Tm lAui nnr.

ahltfliMrrf ithtt kef of thi kMw4oir
'to iut couMi^ and 4diMrSit iite^ihe
bmda «f one i«f Hk gMj^ iidM> JMie

Mbcme. JMixi :die «iglit niter wtL^M$
bodlienpleittifedy «mititiiMdl»inMLM
4Mt asleep ; bat the .WJCTs lAs Imrliwt
y^ ^Qci 4:he ratoe of aonaflkoBey: ^fiil,
fti ihe «3eace of the mf^ m aBM|^
fmrtiUj misemUe, Itet, iofleed ff ^goiflil
't9 vest, he stele ^otfHf ivBlo th^ ipmtxf
"§» a iKiMle of (his «iatffli^4rifee, a«i
^keKy' dnridni^ glass all« ghirn^ 1r
^ateyed ^ be became so &r 4iili»dbt«oi,
liMit/:Mioiigh he condsired tofindlMsw^^
4Mpk to bed, heimikib^«i«MiBl*«tt-
ahMs hiiMeif. Without anf power .laf
woAoBlioD, lie fluBig biasaeif ja|iM| ilfe
fted, iamkig Ua candfe m£ Imagfs^
HBBfc oC «fae candbstii*: hoMb M«.
j&ai4iiMi aiepft withroieabiDatt^driai,

.nm wujo, Man. nm

mAfinmjMif irriwMtig:lfca»giJt lie p«i-

Jmg^ Mejufliped ofi^MdMeiiif a%ttt
•Mfedir AbetMrtkifs iioor, iqieiitly opened it^
«Bd to Iw ntOMwhrtyrt belieldMe 4if
llieiKAfDiHtaiM aa flaaeiL ife iinMk
•dlitttdy jTM to likt twtSkr, and pyUfid Irai
Vfth alllw fttrce to.i»Me feam from life
Jb^bai^. H^ game to his senses at iengtb,
<biit nvs :m t^adfisd and sa belpkas, ibai,
MitimAwA beea fior Ei»Bkliii» the ivOiefe
jhfinse W0idd soob nievttafafy have liecn
anfim, IFeliac, tictDbIi»g aiid ^eovtardlir^
Jsmem not sriiat todo; asd it iras cv^aom
4o see biia.obejiiY Fmtiklin^ wisbie timi
it wte^MMT to oaminand* Franidni.mm
mpr stsws to ivvisen Mrs. Ptemfteti whose
Icrriir of fire was so great, dtot Bhefcmm
&6m bar »<aa akndit out of Tuer^senses,
wihsbt Ae, wHIi 4te fjKatcat fntstacv
JMP4«:taitdkQted wktete be Usid.«aatt «m

164 TSi FAi4» mr.

laige tubs of water, wMdi diemaidiiiMi^
pcefiBied the niglit befinne tw^^ikmimmkt
itigt aiHl, aeizbg the. wet fiwn wbWi
,faad been left to aoafc, threw it upitB ite
.flanks. He exerted faimeifwiiiis^miiA
^good sense, that the fire was f«emM^
extii^ished. Everjr thiBg was now MMi
more safe and quirt. Mrs. Pomfipet^tM*
.Govering from her fright, postpmied'^iii
inquiries till the mdming, aBdrcgoi^
that her mistress had not been awaioedeA
.whilst Corkscrew flttttexed hknsdf t^
,he. should be able to conceal the -'tew
cause of the accident. ^< Don^t yon tifl
;Mrs. Pomfret where you found the esK*
idle, when you came into the rooin/^wA
he to Franklin. '* If she asks aie^ yoa
Imow I must tdyi the truth," lepSad. fair
/^ Must!" repeated F«Hk mce«iiiiglf4
?" what you mw/ be a teiUatei ''--^Hj^
*I never told any tales of any'ljody, asrt

•inkaiMit mity^^iony^ get ^my one

not toll a U«/^hA flir mjrs^'er miy
tkodpf else, trt you 'can me ^bat imme
^jmi ^wai;*'— **^ Bttt^ T were to give you
'40fMAii^ lAnit you 'woukl 4llee,'^^stcid
'4!!iirl»oiew i-^*^ w&mtftHing {bat I know
yM wo^ Mbel "^ repeated F^fk. "^Tf o-
Hling yott eaif give me wiR ^5'' an-
-twwed FVaH^iR steadily ; ^^ itl§ use-
HtM *o say «ny mc*e about it — I hope I
4ulfi not 1)e ^uertioncsd." I0 t!^ hope
ile ^ims tnistttken^ for thelfartik thing Mrs.
Pteft fft^t ^did in f be nioming-was^ to eotne
4hMo the bnller's room to examine and
^•depfore the burnt curtains, whilst Cork-
aerew stood by endearouring to excul-
"pate^bimsdf by ^ the excuses be could
ilweot. Mrs. Pomfret/bowever, though
rsemetimes bKnded by her pi-ejudioes,
^iras no dibol, and it was absolutely im-

.^

^ whktk had becsi teft on th&hf<irth^.wlwir
CoHcserew protert^dte had l«ft«itj cwU
have set curtains, on Jra, wtiffrii w«la*«t

least six ft^ clto«mit» Tumiagi Apft

round to Fraidktiq^ ake fioired that' he
vrouid shoir her where he foiradi-»4le
.candle when he came iatk^ ^ rao^i-
He faq[ged not to be questioned rjbfit
she innsted. He took up the candla*
stick ; but the moment the haiiaQls;e|||^
cast her ejes- upon it, she.8natph|fi|ii#
from his handso^*' How did this cpwSl^
stick come here ? This w^Bf»ot the can-
dlestick you found here last n^ht/' m0^
she. ''Yes, indeed it was," aaswcooi^
Franklin. '* That is impossible,'' ra-
torted she vehemeo%> '' finrlidt t^s
candlestick with my own hands« la^
nighty in the hall; the last thiipg I did»
after you/' said ^^ turnji^g tfi ; the

batter, <* wti^'i^bne to bed— rm vote of
V^Jiaji doh"l yo^ lecoilect my takiiig'
iSSMJ^amied canile^tvek out of your^

* ' »

hattd; and making' you go tip to bed'
iMili the! brass on^^kwi I bolted tiie door
M t)ie' stair-bead aftier you ?'*

' Thw wasall vieryltrue; but Corkscrew'
had* afterwards gone down fram his room
hf iBt ba<^k staft'-cade, unbolted that door^ >
and^ • upon his return frdm the alehoi(^, •
had taken the japanned candlestick by
mistake up staii^s, and had left the brass '
one in its steiid upon the hall table.

^ ** Oh, ma'am," said Felix, "indeed'
you forget,' tot Jftr. Corkscrew came ihto '
uiy room, to defisir^ me to call him betimes *

- ' . I

in the morning, and I happened to take-
particular notice, and he bad the japanned ^
candlestick in his hand, and that was just '
as I heard you bolting the door — indeed, ^
ma'am, you forget." -^ <* Indeed, sir,"

"I da not fi^K^ I^ p;t WBMjp^^W!

not — I did not miem^i^s^jjimfm^if^

but 0)% i tltoug^rt p < Mrfc » i P» ^iw fi%bl
nolb. gastSculaiiyr iseiMJoJ^m^ftr tf«19*

pob» j^nrif ioiao thi& 8iBii^pS3~lKkil(
have j^Qtt fo do with it^ I abauIdibrtgliA
UlHSOir ?''—*' Nakhmffimiimty^mM^A
Qothingt, IB the waiM ;, Tfyaa mm^ Ii ^bif;

a. Mft, to0»»,. aiid»: sn^iridiig^ oS^^Jeft;, faw
iHi^id^ Gtirlinrewto %|it lus^ cwMi. bart > » ^
s«ffietl£^ rasofarHig;, ta defev^dn^gpo^thMii!^
if he^ sMT any; d^ngp^ oi the alfthmii»
tram»ctiaB8 cottiug ta li||i|»

fiiPtWU oC Ua-gi^ l;w|[iQd.pi^,ii and af«.

ti» mfp$M &r ber' :^tesN]Mtce. at h^^
Umi^r^^* Hosir. 4i»»3^^ find yowsdf thk.

tilt ^cfi|FtMBii» •*¥eiy sl^jy indeed,*^'.
sftmnife^^sm^wkAxe^ voice;;

<^li« tbiilkiK h lanftt ^eefi half, an hour^

]^mm^ nuiiMft; l»4; L wpBOse I had.
tmitt: agm a^ lif^e. of tiie windaw***
akiMti^.ffii: kTs; ppifeiiitte."_f<Btttju«ki
8|lHwktr'^''€Hi d«i^» ma!am» it stmdst.

•

tfiy tm FALiE '^

we are twenty minxes ' slow:^**^fes
u«," excladmed Mrs/'l^othfret, ^»'*jKe'
let fall the bar of the window^ wMJJS'
roused her mistress—** Tm stiife- t''1il%*
pardon a thousand times— ^itV onlf tBS'
bar— because I had this great key4n'nr|r'
hand"."-^** Put down the key tHefey'W-
you'll knock something else dowriV aHH^
you may open the shutters now, for'f^"
quite ' awake.'*—'* Dear me ! Fm '%5
sony to think of disturbing you,'* dISl"
Mrs. 'Pomfret, at the'same ti*ie tlmJlit'
ing the shutters wide open :** but ^'
be sure, ma'am, I have something' to 'idT
you, which won't let you sle^p agsSh
in a hurry. I brought up this here tef'
of the house door for reasons of my owfr,!
which I'm ^ sure youTl approve of — Wit ^
I'm not come to that part of^my stinfy*
yet — ^I hope yoii were not disturb^ -
by the noise in the house last nl^lj)^

ma'am^'* — f* I ^rd no noifjs," — ** I am
aiirprized at tibiit thougb/' contiqpi«4
Mfs«. Pomfret^, a^ now prq^^^d to
' give the most aviple accc^unt, of the fire,
,af her fears^ and*ber suspiqipqs.'-^^^ To
be sure^ lua'am^ what I say i^ that»
. wkhout the sfarit of prophecy, one can
110 ways account for what has passed*
fm qfdtt dear in my own jifdga^n^
.tjbat j^r. .Corkscrew ngiust have bo^n out
last nig^t after I went to,bed ; for^ be-
dsides the japanned candlestick, wjiich of
ilself Tm sure is strong:enoi]gh.tohaT^
a man, there's another circiimstiaice,
nda'am, that certifies it to me-^th(Migh
I have not mentioned it, ma'am^ . to no
one yet,'* — flowering her voice — *' Frank*
l)n« , when I questioned him, told me,
.^at he left the lantern in the outside
'porch in the court last night, and this
moraing it was entire kitchen tabfe:

q2

^ flibtNrt 'that^yovlniDtr; lbi>'1*rafiflki

<««]r3, %^^s aoft'lie'ltft'tbelMitmi tMti'",

-^** Awfl lid i^ '%eU(Me Mm^ "— ^** *»

4ie 8Uf«9 ma'flfn-^how dm I 4idl^ He-

HHteleiult 'symptomxif ii9fc, ^once^i^verlite
^Cttme into the hmis^'; mxme'tsBnAh llti^
%diBri% in him, IBce ^Wm w iiot:**-*-
-^ WithMt ineaiitB^ ^itift aMs^hiioi,
Tiowevcr/hc might la^rAti^mi^bBS^l^^
^l!7t>, mifam^ he never ^mribes mistiftmr;
it is mt M^ w&j to go psmfiag 'wM
HMSitigi he tiettr tAh Hity ^etdtfg M
^e'ls aiked, kvA titen ilfs fit he ^famiid.
-Afiout the ^ifloltt ' liP 'beifif, and ^, le
w„ri^.f»Htee«lllb«nd,toa.lfc

^Mite; wifl Ttn stripe lie'ar t^t tttfcr
^ik the fainteni— 'h^s ^eys nfg^m
^Bfips. Cfatdrdhfll codM ikrt; ' h^ ^Ui8ftd|

THE FALSE &KY. 1,73

, — "If you had sem him, ma'am, last

q%fa^ in the nwbtcf the ^ — I'm sm«

.we B^ay thank hup^that we are set burned

alive in our beda-rand I ahall never &!>

,|pet his cwiii^ te eall mer-*7Fb(Nr feHow !

t ifi that I was always scoldk^ and scdd^

, log, enough to, make him hate me. But

. he's too good to hate any body ; and TU

( ^ be bqund I'll make it up to him now/'^^^

> *^ Take care that you don't go from one
ji ^extreme into another^ Pomfret ; don't
f spoil the boy."— "No, ma'am^ there's
^ fio danger of that ; but I'm sure if you
( 4^ seen him last night yourself, you

> would think he deserved to be rewarded."
^ ;r— ** And so he ^hall be rewarded," said

Mfs. Churcfeall ; *^ but I will try htm
J fame fully yet," — " There's no occasioii^
I think, for laying him any ^ mono,
ma'ani/' said Mrs. Pomfret, who : was
iif 1^9Bt in h^ JUmgfi as. in her di^lm*

'^tf4 vat tMsfk mt.

^mk» lie irfll biiii^ iq^ breilifiiM «b
'iMYnftig; tttdlegf^ tkm key veftheli u aii t
"doopy PomlfMy wftli "inc.**

• When Frenftfin brauglit tiie tirft ifito
"fhe f>rNddEkrtC pariour^ kis tnistieM HM
«tttidiiigbyi%eti«e with the Inyib Air
hftdd. She spdke to ym of In iMt
ii%ht*<« eicertnms in lenns n^f iti«di M^
'^^ba^en. ^ How long^ have you fived
%i4th ine?^' fittid ahe^ pausing; '"time
weeks, I think ?^ — •* Thtee weeks w/A
4bitr days, niadttni.*''*-*'*'*ltiift is hiit«
Atft time; yet yon hftve eendiieiel
yowself so «s to make me 4Jini& 3 Miqr
iispend npon you, Yoa know iidB
kfey?^^'^ bdliefe> madam, it is Hie
Jd^^ ihe hoase4aor.^*-«'Itis. ) 'OmM
Amt it jn your cate: . R is a ffM^mnak
Hit 80 young a person as you aM^
Cnuik&i' stood silMi wMi* a fii » i>ti l t

iMIVer ^e it out ^ fmt ^HW HaMM.
ttk *Che daj^tiiM 9b muM ittil %(f tefir ill
lift dew. Yea tm* tn&i tA MyHM^
'irtkere ymi keep k «t N^lit; atfd 4lib
1iM»e door nmrt not be unidbked i0Ut
4i £yti i d^[jdck eft Bigftt, iml^ by Dor^
^mAfet^. WWL ifoH take ch&tge ef ihk
*«y uj^ tJiesie condithwis ?^— ^ I wflit
mftdflni, de Wij iMtif^ you order me,**
*siiiA Fmnklifi, and received Oiie key
€mm faer4ift!b^

When Mrs. €him:hift'% orders 'w^ei^
ttnde km^nv 4iiey emided matiy dcieret
M«irfeIBng» and «iuntiiirhigs. Cork**
Mirew and FAx were dideeticerti^d, and
tiOtH)^ly amw fheir ^sfcmteM -;
HlMiy trentoi fVaiikUti with ttie
p^HMeat flN!i%ilW^ khMiMiBinid' eohlftiifty*

Sv^cy tlih^ wwb ao smoothly for |)j|«e
Afy^; the biiU^ noFer attempted htP
^4ipiial ipufarigbt n^to to the ale^oun^
^bitt w^ent to bed in {Hrpper thaesi m^
|iaid ' partjenlar court to Mrs. PqmSaii,
in order to dispel her sm^idoos. Sl»
hod never hftdanyideaof thereel.fini;
4h«t he^ and Felix were join^. in a plot
with house^breaherai, to rob the hopiaB^
but thought he only went out at inKH
^ular hours, to indulge himsetf mrhlB
passion for drinkiqg«--^So stood aSbm
the night before Mrs. Churchiira bktli^
day* Corkscrew, by the houwkrtyat^i
means, ventured, to present a petittoa,
|hat he might .go to the play the n^Kt 4tUb
and his request was granted, .ilp'raaklia
eame into the kitchen just wh^i ^
the servants )iad gibbered xwind t)p
butler, whoj . wi*^ groat . impoESCaMib
was reading aloud the pMy-^^lJi. ^ Mtm

once, and with grett endnMilM^HflHM
HP ^' "pl&^lAMne, ^e 'mai«',^'kiiii aa-
%<eiss»s ; attd theti ¥^k, i«^« llMB('tMriiil»
^^Mteli to ^"ftoikim, '«tid %aXt,' *«li»^
'y^ kiMW tHtttiiftg^MI titfs'! ^ ««!«»
*l»feiit 40 ft pftij^, diii you ?"*-i»»^V^;*
"liiga '^nldlti, Mni'%lt,1t6MMM^]i«M(ir
-^hy, ft YHtte 'OiJ^ained ', and triilbng^
etiremSly to gb to one. ** How MamM
^a n&e to go 10*^ ^y ipvtlfti'liii^W-
iamvowr said <:(rfkscr«w. ^^li,"^^
Mjlinitid FratflSiii, «» I lihotilflllte 1t««N
«*cBng!y.*' *<Andi9o7ooiAiitniniistt^
nt^ouM tetyou if I iisl^d *-""tt»Aft?«»-
Way 'be She • wttiMy If Mrt^. Pbmfi^
•tekttl lieti.*— '<«tif flten yitti' ^Ve KKb
^ttoiiey, have yon ?'^*-!'"Nf>^'' ssWUfttPbte.
nil, s^Mng. '"BiSt «iyi**•*fticl•G«*^
«a«*tt^» **^»tiat l'«in thhttung;i6f is, th>li
!flfltiistr^ wlblbt ytn/ go.TllHMMt fiik

< ; : Defeat, wrprifie, and g|s^|^t|}i^^. ^

4ef^ ^J^ had ffyunfl a. most i/ffj^^
^temptirtiQQ. f' Well^ th(^» TU go .^,^||t
#pw and ask her : in the ij^CAn tiaie j^^l^
Sin^ the key of tbi^ house doo|r f<^-^
Unimiie^ o? two." — " Th(Ef.k)3pr J" f^
jp^j:c4}Franklis^ .sd)aits^ " Tm acp]^
but ' I can't do that, £01? IVe prc^Q^foA
jour mistress n^r^r to let it out of my^^nrai
hands.'' — ^^But how will she kpoiTfic^jr
^thin^ of the ma|l»? Ru9, i^n^ j^s0
ipet it. for i»." — «No, l.canmt,'' j^
,|p}ied FranUin^ resistic^ the pu^ wldidli
jthe butJIjea- gifve his Moulder. ^'^Yl^
.can't?" cried Corkscrew^ chwfp^}^
tone; ''Uiei, ar, I can't ti^ 7P¥f|fi
4he plwr." — " Very wdl,, sir;' ap^d

AnnkKh- MdtdwffaUj^'Init' with' stenff''
vea. **Verjr wdl, str," said- r«6r;'
lidthicking him, ^ yoa iieed not Idok sb*
important, nor fancy yourself such a gr^kt^<
i^n,' because you are master of a ke;^*-
— ^*Say no moit to him," interrupted!*
Corkscrew; •'let^him alone to take lii^^
own way — ^Fdix, you would have nd*
objection, I suppose, to going to ' tli^r
play with me.*i-l-«Oh, I should like^
if of all things, if I did not come f)e2*
tween ' any body else;— But come, '"
come!" added the hypocrite, assuming^
a tone of friendly persuasion, **ybtlf
won't be such a blockhead, Franklin^
as to lose going to the play for nothing •
it's only ' just obstinacy : what harm* carf *
it do to lend Mr. Corkscrew the key 'fb^'
five minutes ; hell give it to you back
again safe and sound ?" " I don*t doubt
that 9'' answered Franklin. "Then it

iBmL be >;lU. fafiCBIIIte VML^dttft't JHikl^

miL Infonsk ns. titvihTtfi' *— '■*'»^ "miit Ti

be. «iaukkfceeiiJiift{miad " Shak&lMadBL
BfK, . QwkaiQreii," ai»(U£n«iaiiiH,i#nai^

^ We sdbiaU mak^ no brad of tiwf
pngv** 8Mi CorKacrefT. '' Bat we'U httw
the key from lufli in apito of aU hk ob«
itiiiaey»'' wid EettK ; '^ and H h«n make
his. stoiy good if be can ftfterwanb^
He shaU repent ol these airs* To^no^t
rU wafedb him, mod. find out uriiexe ha
hides the key; and yn^ssax he's asleep»
ve'U g^ it without tbaidikig him/'

This plan Fc&c pot in en^eciitiffli*
They discoirered the fSace where Fruhr
Itt kept the k^ at ioght» stiole it wltthA
ha slept, todi off the mpsessiMe im waa^
md' cBififiiUy replaced it ia FraskUoi'a
trunk vhrae iSt^ fcand it;

Arohfilily otfr young readers canaat
Ipisass^ what iiae.tbey eorid meui tn maka
>af tUs uaqpresflkm. ef the keyr in waik.
Jftsowxair how to do maAkt ia rery diff^
Ibmt^ 0»s wiriiiiig.tii do it;, aad Ifae
most ittMceat peisatAa net gemr^. tiie

TOL. I. &

Iga THE FALSE KEY.

least ignorant. By means of the im*-
pression, which thej had thus d[>tained.
Corkscrew and Felix proposed to get a
fidse key made by Picklock, a smith
who belonged to their gang of house-^
breakers ; and with this false key they
knew they could open the door when*^
ever they pleased.

Little suspecting what had happened^
FrankKn the next morning went to un-
lock the house-dom* as usual ; but find*
ing the key entangled in the lode, fat
took it out to examine it, and perceived
a lump of wax sticking in one of the
wards. Struck with this circumstance^ H
brought to his mind all that had passed
the preceding evening, and, being sute
that he had no wax near the key^ h^
began to suspect what had bippenecB;
and he could not help recoUecting^iwiMit
he had once beard Felix say, that ^^ gite

THE FALSE KEY. 183

bim but a hal^nny-worth of wax, and
he could open the strongest lock that
ever was made by hands."

All these things considered, Franklin
resolved to take the key just as it was,
with the wax sticking in it, to his
mistress. " I was not mistaken when I
thought I might trust you with this
key/' said INIrs. Churchill, after she had
heard his story. ** My brother will, be
here to-day, and I shall consult him ; in
the mean time say nothing of what has
passed/'

Evening came, and after tea Mr*
l^iencer sent for Franklin up stairs. ** So,
Mr. Franklin," said he, " Tm glad to find
you are in such high trust in this family.**
FrabUin bowed. ^ But you have lost,
I understand, the pleasure of going to
ttie play to-night." — ** I don't think any
thing — ^much, I mean — ^of that, sir/'

E S

184 THE FALSE KKT.

ftnswered FrBnldiui) sRii&ig. ^AxteCcok*
screw and Felix g&ne to the play?'*
— ^^ Yes ; half an hour ago, sirJ'-^
^^ Then I shall Iodic into his room, and
examine the pantry and the {date tlaik
under his care."

When Mr. Spencer came to exaoune
the pantrj, he found the large salvers
and cups in a basket behind the dooc^
and the other things placed so as to be
easily carried off. Nothing at tint
appeared in Corkscrew's bed-K^ham*^
ber to strengthen their suspicions, tiU^
just as they were going to leare the
room,. Mrs. Pomfiret exclaimed, '* Why,
if there is not Mr. Corkscrew's dress
t^oat hanging up there ! and if here iaift
Fdix's fine cravat that he Wasted la
such a hurry to go to the play ! — ^Why,
air, they can't be gone to the pUy*^ I
Icifiik at the -eranrat*.*— Ha ! unou VBBf. '

J

THE PAL&E KEY. 185

mrord, I am afraid they are not at tbe
play — No, sir, no ! you may be sure that
they are plotting with their barbarous
gang at the alehouse — ^and they'll cer«
tainly break into the house to-nigh&«»
we shall all be murdered in 4)ur beds, as
9me as Tm a living woman, sir — But if
youll only take my advice—" " Pray^
good Mrs. Pomfret, don't be alarmed."
-i-" Nay, sir, but I won*t pretend to
sleep in the house, if Franklin isn't to
have a blunderbuss, and I a haggonetT
— ^** You shall have both, indeed, Mrs.
Pomfret ; but don't make such a noise,
for every body will hear you."

The love of mysteiy was the only
thing which jcould have conquered Mrs.
Pomfiret's love of talking. She was
silent ; and contented herself the rest of
the evening with making signs, looking

VOL. I. E S

1«6 Ta% FALtt tKT.

tmimus, and stalking about the house
]ik» one possessed with a secret.

fiicaped from Mrs. Bomftet'a' fesft
tfod adfice, Mr. Spettcer went to a AOf
trithin a few doors ci the aleteouiie^
which he iKard Corkscrew £requaated»
and sent to beg to speak to the la^loi^.
He came, and when Mr. !^)encer qtMS*
tim^d him, confessed that C<»pkscrew
and FeUx were actually drinking in his
house, with two men of susj^dous ap*
pearance: That, as he passed through
the passage, he heard them disputfng
idbout a key ; and that one of them said,
** Since we've got the key, we'B go
abmit it to-night.^ Tiiis was sufficient
indbrmation Mr. Spencer, lest the laadU
lord should give thAn infermation of
what was goii^ finrwards, took him
abag with him U^ Bow«strest;

HIE 9ALSB KEY. 1«^

A constaMe and prc^per assistance w«s
seat to Mrs. Churchill's^ They stationed
themaelves in a hads. partour, which
opened on a passage lea^g to the
butler*s pantrj, where the plate Vas
kept. A little after m]dn%ht they beard
the hall-door * open ; Coi^scre w and his
accomplices went directly to the pantry,
and there Mr. Spencer and the constable
immediately secured them» as they were
carrying off their booty.
' Mrs. Churchill and Pomfiret had spent
the night at the house of an acquaint*
ance in the same street. •* WeB, ma'am,''
said Mrs. Pomfret, who had heard all
liie news in the morning, ** the viBains
are M safe. I was afraid to go to

w

the window this morning, but it was
my luck to «ee them aB go by to gad
—they looked so shocking! — I am sure
I never shall forg^ F^lissfs !ook to my

188 THE FALSK KKY.

dying day! — But poor FraokUn! ma'am,
that boy has the best heart in the
world— I could not get him to give a
seooHd look at them as they passed —
poor fellow! I thought he would have
droiq;>ed ; and he was so modest, ma'am^
when Mr. Spencer spoke to him, and
tdd him he had done his duty/' — *' And
did my brother tell him what reward I
intend for him ? ** — ^* No, ma'am, and
I'm . sure Franklin thinks no more of
reward than I do." — " I intend/' con-
tinued Mrs. Churchill, ** to sell some
of my old useless plate, and to lay it
out in an annuity for Franklin's life.** —
^^ La, ma'am ! " exclaimed Mrs. Pom-
fret with unfeigned joy, " Fm sure you
are very good ; and Tm very giad of it."
— " And," continued Mrs. Churchill^
** here are some tickets for the play»
which I shall beg you, Pomfret, to give

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I THE FALSE KEY. 189

him, and to take him with you/* — ** I
am very much obliged to you, indeed,
ma*am ; and TU go with him with all
my h(^art, and choose such plays ak
won't do no prejudice to his morality*
—And ma'am,** said Mrs, Pomfret,
i " the night after the fire I left him my
great Bible, and my Watch, in my will ;
for I never was more mistaken at the*
first in any boy in my bom days : but
he has wqii me by his own deserts^ and
I shall from this time forth love all the
Villaintropic folks for his sake."

END or THE FIRST VOLUME*

C Baldwin, Pnotat,
jWew Bridfcrtwctt Loadon.

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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
RBFBRBNGB DBPARTMENT

This book is under no cir^mstoaces to be
taken from the Bniidiaf

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