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diff --git a/old/30274-h/30274-h.htm b/old/30274-h/30274-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33b2caa --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30274-h/30274-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,19520 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> + +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> + + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The History of Sandford and Merton, by Thomas Day</title> + <style type="text/css"> + +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + hr.short { width: 5%; + margin-top: .2em; + margin-bottom: .2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-indent: 1em; font-size: .85em;} + + .firstwords {font-variant:small-caps;font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;} + .newpg {page-break-before: always; } + .tocchapter {text-align: center; font-size:1.25em;} + .toc {text-align: left;font-size:1em; display: block; padding-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + span.smaller {font-size:.75em;} + #titlepage {margin:2em 0; padding:2em; border:4px double black;} + .caption { + margin: 0.5em auto 1em auto; + text-indent: 1em; + font-size: .9em; + width: 445px; + text-align: justify; + padding-bottom: 2em; + } + + .alignright { + float: right; + font-size: .9em; + padding-right: .4em; + } + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;padding-top:1em;} + + +--> + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The History of Sandford and Merton, by Thomas Day + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The History of Sandford and Merton + +Author: Thomas Day + +Release Date: October 17, 2009 [EBook #30274] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF SANDFORD AND MERTON *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Linda Hamilton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter newpg"><img src="images/i001.jpg" +alt="" title="Frontispiece" border="1" width="431" height="700"></div> +<div class="caption">"In that instant the grateful Black rushed on like lightning +to assist him, and assailing the bull with a weighty stick that +he held in his hand, compelled him to turn his rage upon +a new object."<span class="alignright"><i><a href="#bull">P. 349.</a></i></span></div> + + + +<div id="titlepage" class="newpg"> + +<h1 style="padding-top: 1.5em;line-height: 2em;">THE HISTORY<br> + +OF<br> + +SANDFORD AND MERTON.</h1> + +<h3 style="padding-top: 2.5em;"><span class="smcap">By</span> <span style="font-size: 1.2em;">THOMAS</span> DAY.</h3> + +<p class="figcenter" style="padding-top:6em;"><img src="images/six_coloured.png" alt="Six Coloured Engravings on Steel." title="" width="474" height="95"></p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="padding-top:6em;"><img src="images/philadelphia.png" alt="Philadelphia" title="" width="233" height="58"><br> + +<span style="font-size:1.3em;">J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.<br></span> +<hr class="short;" style="width:10%"> +<span style="font-size:.75em;">MDCCCLXVIII.</span></div> +</div> + + +<!-- Page iii --> +<h2 class="newpg">CONTENTS.</h2> +<hr class="short;" style="width: 15%"> + +<table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="Contents" align="center"> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER I.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> </td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"><span class="smaller">PAGE</span></td> +</tr> + + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">Description of Harry Sandford and Tommy Merton—Adventure with +the Snake—Harry in Mr Merton's house—Mr Barlow undertakes the +education of Tommy—The first day at Mr Barlow's—Story of the +Flies and the Ants—Harry rescues a Chicken from a Kite—Story +of the Gentleman and the Basket-maker—Tommy learns to read—Story +of the two dogs,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER II.</span> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">Tommy and the Ragged Boy—Story of Androcles and the Lion—Conversation +on Slavery—Conversation about an Ass—Tommy's Present +and its consequences—The Story of Cyrus—Squire Chase beats +Harry—Harry saves the Squire's life—Making Bread—Story of the +Two Brothers—Story of the Sailors on the Island of Spitzbergen,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_II">47</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER III.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">Harry's Chicken—Tommy tries kindness on the Pig—Account of the +Elephant—Story of the Elephant and the Tailor—Story of the +Elephant and the Child—Stories of the Good Natured Boy and the +Ill Natured Boy—The Boys determine to Build a House—Story of +the Grateful Turk—The Boys' House blown down—They rebuild +it stronger—The Roof lets in the Rain—At last is made Water-tight,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_III">95</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER IV.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">The Boys' Garden—The Crocodile—The Farmer's Wife—How to make +Cider—The Bailiffs take possession of the Farmer's Furniture—Tommy +pays the Farmer's Debt—Conclusion of the Story of the +Grateful Turk—The three Bears—Tommy and the Monkey—Habits +of the Monkey—Tommy's Robin Redbreast—Is killed by a Cat—The +Cat punished—The Laplanders—Story of a Cure of the Gout,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV">185</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER V.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">Lost in the Snow—Jack Smithers' Home—Talk about the Stars—Harry's +pursuit of The Will-o'-the-Wisp—Story of the Avalanche—Town +and Country compared—The Power of the Lever—The Balance—The +Wheel and Axle—Arithmetic—Buying a Horse—History of +Agesilaus—History of Leonidas,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_V">197</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter"><!-- Page iv -->CHAPTER VI.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">The Constellations—Distance from the Earth—The Magnet and its +Powers—The Compass—The Greenlanders and their Customs—The +Telescope—The Magic Lantern—Story of the African Prince and the +Telescope—Mr Barlow's Poor Parishioners—His Annual Dinner—Tommy +attempts Sledge Driving—His mishap in the Pond—His +Anger,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI">255</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER VII.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">Tommy and Harry visit Home—The Fashionable Guests—Miss Simmons +takes notice of Harry—Harry's Troubles—Master Compton and +Mash—Estrangement of Tommy—Visit to the Theatre—Misbehaviour +there—Card Playing—The Ball—Harry Dancing a Minuet—Story +of Sir Philip Sidney—Master Mash insults Harry—The Fight +in the Drawing-room—The Bull-baiting—Tommy strikes Harry—Master +Mash's Combat with Harry—Tommy's Narrow Escape from +the Bull—The Grateful Black,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII">298</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td colspan="2" align="center" valign="bottom"><span class="tiny"> </span><br><span class="tocchapter">CHAPTER VIII.</span></td> +</tr> + +<tr valign="top"> + <td align="left" style="width: 90%; padding-bottom: 0!important;"> +<span class="toc">Arrival of Mr Barlow—Story of Polemo—Tommy's repentance—Story +of Sophron and Tigranes—Tommy as an Arabian Horseman—His +Mishap—Tommy's intrepidity—The Poor Highlander's story—Tommy's +Sorrow for his conduct to Harry—Conclusion of the Story +of Sophron and Tigranes—Tommy's resolution to study nothing but +"reason and philosophy"—Visits Harry and begs his forgiveness—The +Grateful Black's Story—Tommy takes up his abode at Farmer +Sandford's—The Grateful Black's account of himself—Mr Merton's +visit to the Farm—The unexpected present—Conclusion,</span></td> +<td valign="bottom" width="10%"> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">355</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + + +<!-- Page 1 --> + +<H1 style="padding-top: 1.5em;line-height: 1.5em;" class="newpg"><span style="font-size: 80%">THE HISTORY</span><br> +<span style="font-size: 60%">OF</span><br> +SANDFORD AND MERTON.</H1> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Description of Harry Sandford and Tommy Merton—Adventure with the +Snake—Harry in Mr Merton's house—Mr Barlow undertakes the education +of Tommy—The first day at Mr Barlow's—Story of the Flies and the Ants—Harry +rescues a Chicken from a Kite—Story of the Gentleman and the +Basket-maker—Tommy learns to read—Story of the two dogs.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">In</span> the western part of England lived a gentleman +of great fortune, whose name was Merton. He had +a large estate in the Island of Jamaica, where he had +passed the greater part of his life, and was master of +many servants, who cultivated sugar and other +valuable things for his advantage. He had only one +son, of whom he was excessively fond; and to educate +this child properly was the reason of his determining +to stay some years in England. Tommy +Merton, who, at the time he came from Jamaica, +was only six years old, was naturally a very good-tempered +boy, but unfortunately had been spoiled +by too much indulgence. While he lived in +Jamaica, he had several black servants to wait upon +him, who were forbidden upon any account to contradict +him. If he walked, there always went two +negroes with him; one of whom carried a large<!-- Page 2 --> +umbrella to keep the sun from him, and the other +was to carry him in his arms whenever he was tired. +Besides this, he was always dressed in silk or laced +clothes, and had a fine gilded carriage, which was +borne upon men's shoulders, in which he made visits +to his play-fellows. His mother was so excessively +fond of him that she gave him everything he cried +for, and would never let him learn to read because +he complained that it made his head ache.</p> + +<p>The consequence of this was, that, though Master +Merton had everything he wanted, he became very +fretful and unhappy. Sometimes he ate sweetmeats +till he made himself sick, and then he suffered a +great deal of pain, because he would not take bitter +physic to make him well. Sometimes he cried for +things that it was impossible to give him, and then, +as he had never been used to be contradicted, it was +many hours before he could be pacified. When any +company came to dine at the house, he was always +to be helped first, and to have the most delicate parts +of the meat, otherwise he would make such a noise +as disturbed the whole company. When his father +and mother were sitting at the tea-table with their +friends, instead of waiting till they were at leisure to +attend him, he would scramble upon the table, seize +the cake and bread and butter, and frequently overset +the tea-cups. By these pranks he not only made +himself disagreeable to everybody else, but often met +with very dangerous accidents. Frequently did he +cut himself with knives, at other times throw heavy +things upon his head, and once he narrowly escaped +being scalded to death by a kettle of boiling water. +He was also so delicately brought up, that he was<!-- Page 3 --> +perpetually ill; the least wind or rain gave him a +cold, and the least sun was sure to throw him into a +fever. Instead of playing about, and jumping, and +running like other children, he was taught to sit still +for fear of spoiling his clothes, and to stay in the +house for fear of injuring his complexion. By this +kind of education, when Master Merton came over +to England he could neither write nor read, nor +cipher; he could use none of his limbs with ease, +nor bear any degree of fatigue; but he was very +proud, fretful, and impatient.</p> + +<p>Very near to Mr Merton's seat lived a plain, +honest farmer, whose name was Sandford. This +man had, like Mr Merton, an only son, not much +older than Master Merton, whose name was Harry. +Harry, as he had been always accustomed to run +about in the fields, to follow the labourers while they +were ploughing, and to drive the sheep to their pasture, +was active, strong, hardy, and fresh-coloured. +He was neither so fair, nor so delicately shaped as +Master Merton; but he had an honest good-natured +countenance, which made everybody love him; was +never out of humour, and took the greatest pleasure +in obliging everybody. If little Harry saw a poor +wretch who wanted victuals, while he was eating his +dinner, he was sure to give him half, and sometimes +the whole: nay, so very good-natured was he to everything, +that he would never go into the fields to take +the eggs of poor birds, or their young ones, nor +practise any other kind of sport which gave pain to +poor animals, who are as capable of feeling as we +ourselves, though they have no words to express +their sufferings. Once, indeed, Harry was caught<!-- Page 4 --> +twirling a cock-chafer round, which he had fastened +by a crooked pin to a long piece of thread: +but then this was through ignorance and want of +thought; for, as soon as his father told him that +the poor helpless insect felt as much, or more than +he would do, were a knife thrust through his hand, +he burst into tears, and took the poor animal home, +where he fed him during a fortnight upon fresh +leaves; and when he was perfectly recovered, turned +him out to enjoy liberty and fresh air. Ever since +that time, Harry was so careful and considerate, +that he would step out of the way for fear of hurting +a worm, and employed himself in doing kind offices +to all the animals in the neighbourhood. He used to +stroke the horses as they were at work, and fill his +pockets with acorns for the pigs; if he walked in the +fields, he was sure to gather green boughs for the +sheep, who were so fond of him that they followed +him wherever he went. In the winter time, when +the ground was covered with frost and snow, and +the poor little birds could get at no food, he would +often go supperless to bed, that he might feed the +robin-redbreasts; even toads, and frogs, and spiders, +and such kinds of disagreeable animals, which most +people destroy wherever they find them, were perfectly +safe with Harry; he used to say, they had +a right to live as well as we, and that it was cruel +and unjust to kill creatures, only because we did +not like them.</p> + +<p>These sentiments made little Harry a great favourite +with everybody, particularly with the clergyman +of the parish, who became so fond of him that he +taught him to read and write, and had him almost<!-- Page 5 --> +always with him. Indeed, it was not surprising that +Mr Barlow showed so particular an affection for +him; for besides learning, with the greatest readiness, +everything that was taught him, little Harry +was the most honest, obliging creature in the world. +He was never discontented, nor did he ever grumble, +whatever he was desired to do. And then you might +believe Harry in everything he said; for though he +could have gained a plum-cake by telling an untruth, +and was sure that speaking the truth would expose +him to a severe whipping, he never hesitated in declaring +it. Nor was he like many other children, +who place their whole happiness in eating: for give +him but a morsel of dry bread for his dinner, and he +would be satisfied, though you placed sweetmeats and +fruit, and every other nicety, in his way.</p> + +<p>With this little boy did Master Merton become +acquainted in the following manner:—As he and the +maid were once walking in the fields on a fine summer's +morning, diverting themselves with gathering +different kinds of wild flowers, and running after +butterflies, a large snake, on a sudden, started up +from among some long grass, and coiled itself round +little Tommy's leg. You may imagine the fright +they were both in at this accident; the maid ran +away shrieking for help, while the child, who was in +an agony of terror, did not dare to stir from the +place where he was standing. Harry, who happened +to be walking near the place, came running up, and +asked what was the matter. Tommy, who was sobbing +most piteously, could not find words to tell him, +but pointed to his leg, and made Harry sensible of +what had happened. <a name="snake">Harry, who, though young,<!-- Page 6 --> +was a boy of a most courageous spirit, told him not +to be frightened; and instantly seizing the snake by +the neck, with as much dexterity as resolution, tore +him from Tommy's leg, and threw him to a great +distance off.</a></p> + + +<div class="figcenter newpg"><img src="images/i002.jpg" +alt="" title="image2" border="1" width="440" height="700"></div> +<div class="caption"> "Harry, instantly seizing the snake by the neck, with as +much dexterity as resolution, tore him from Tommy's leg +and threw him to a great distance off."<span class="alignright"><i><a href="#snake">P. 6.</a></i></span></div> + +<p class="newpg">Just as this happened, Mrs Merton and all the +family, alarmed by the servant's cries, came running +breathless to the place, as Tommy was recovering +his spirits, and thanking his brave little deliverer. +Her first emotions were to catch her darling up in +her arms, and, after giving him a thousand kisses, +to ask him whether he had received any hurt. +"No," said Tommy, "indeed I have not, mamma; +but I believe that nasty ugly beast would have +bitten me, if that little boy had not come and +pulled him off." "And who are you, my dear," +said she, "to whom we are all so obliged?" +"Harry Sandford, madam." "Well, my child, +you are a dear, brave little creature, and you shall +go home and dine with us." "No, thank you, +madam; my father will want me." "And who +is your father, my sweet boy?" "Farmer Sandford, +madam, that lives at the bottom of the hill." +"Well, my dear, you shall be my child henceforth; +will you?" "If you please, madam, if I +may have my own father and mother, too."</p> + +<p>Mrs Merton instantly despatched a servant to the +farmer's; and, taking little Harry by the hand, she +led him to the mansion-house, where she found Mr +Merton whom she entertained with a long account +of Tommy's danger and Harry's bravery.</p> + +<p>Harry was now in a new scene of life. He was +carried through costly apartments, where everything<!-- Page 7 --> +that could please the eye, or contribute to +convenience, was assembled. He saw large looking-glasses +in gilded frames, carved tables and chairs, +curtains made of the finest silk, and the very plates +and knives and forks were of silver. At dinner he +was placed close to Mrs Merton, who took care to +supply him with the choicest bits, and engaged him +to eat, with the most endearing kindness; but, to +the astonishment of everybody, he neither appeared +pleased nor surprised at anything he saw. Mrs +Merton could not conceal her disappointment; for, +as she had always been used to a great degree of +finery herself, she had expected it should make the +same impression upon everybody else. At last, +seeing him eye a small silver cup with great attention, +out of which he had been drinking, she asked +him whether he should not like to have such a fine +thing to drink out <a name="tn_pg_14"></a><!--TN: "off" changed to "of"-->of; and added, that, though it +was Tommy's cup, she was sure he would with great +pleasure, give it to his little friend. "Yes, that I +will," says Tommy; "for you know, mamma, I +have a much finer one than that, made of gold, +besides two large ones made of silver." "Thank +you with all my heart," said little Harry; "but I +will not rob you of it, for I have a much better one +at home." "How!" said Mrs Merton, "does your +father eat and drink out of silver?" "I don't +know, madam, what you call this; but we drink at +home out of long things made of horn, just such +as the cows wear upon their heads." "The child is +a simpleton, I think," said Mrs Merton: "and why +is that better than silver ones?" "Because," said +Harry, "they never make us uneasy." "Make you<!-- Page 8 --> +uneasy, my child!" said Mrs Merton, "what do +you mean?" "Why, madam, when the man threw +that great thing down, which looks just like this, I +saw that you were very sorry about it, and looked +as if you had been just ready to drop. Now, ours +at home are thrown about by all the family, and +nobody minds it." "I protest," said Mrs Merton +to her husband, "I do not know what to say to this +boy, he makes such strange observations."</p> + +<p>The fact was, that during dinner, one of the +servants had thrown down a large piece of plate, +which, as it was very valuable, had made Mrs +Merton not only look very uneasy, but give the +man a very severe scolding for his carelessness.</p> + +<p>After dinner, Mrs Merton filled a large glass of +wine, and giving it to Harry, bade him drink it up, +but he thanked her, and said he was not dry. "But, +my dear," said she, "this is very sweet and pleasant, +and as you are a good boy, you may drink it up." +"Ay, but, madam, Mr Barlow says that we must +only eat when we are hungry, and drink when we +are dry: and that we must only eat and drink such +things are as easily met with; otherwise we shall +grow peevish and vexed when we can't get them. +And this was the way that the Apostles did, who +were all very good men."</p> + +<p>Mr Merton laughed at this. "And pray," said +he, "little man, do you know who the Apostles +were?" "Oh! yes, to be sure I do." "And who +were they?" "Why, sir, there was a time when +people were grown so very wicked, that they did not +care what they did; and the great folks were all +proud, and minded nothing but eating and drinking<!-- Page 9 --> +and sleeping, and amusing themselves; and took +no care of the poor, and would not give a morsel +of bread to hinder a beggar from starving; and the +poor were all lazy, and loved to be idle better than +to work; and little boys were disobedient to their +parents, and their parents took no care to teach +them anything that was good; and all the world +was very bad, very bad indeed. And then there +came from Heaven the Son of God, whose name was +Christ; and He went about doing good to everybody, +and curing people of all sorts of diseases, +and taught them what they ought to do; and He +chose out twelve other very good men, and called +them Apostles; and these Apostles went about the +world doing as He did, and teaching people as He +taught them. And they never minded what they +did eat or drink, but lived upon dry bread and +water; and when anybody offered them money, +they would not take it, but told them to be good, +and give it to the poor and sick: and so they +made the world a great deal better. And therefore +it is not fit to mind what we live upon, but +we should take what we can get, and be contented; +just as the beasts and birds do, who lodge in the +open air, and live upon herbs, and drink nothing but +water; and yet they are strong, and active, and +healthy."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said Mr Merton, "this little +man is a great philosopher; and we should be much +obliged to Mr Barlow if he would take our Tommy +under his care; for he grows a great boy, and it is +time that he should know something. What say +you, Tommy, should you like to be a philosopher?"<!-- Page 10 --> +"Indeed, papa, I don't know what a philosopher is; +but I should like to be a king, because he's finer and +richer than anybody else, and has nothing to do, and +everybody waits upon him, and is afraid of him." +"Well said, my dear," replied Mrs Merton; and +rose and kissed him; "and a king you deserve to be +with such a spirit; and here's a glass of wine for +you for making such a pretty answer. And should +you not like to be a king too, little Harry?" "Indeed, +madam, I don't know what that is; but I hope +I shall soon be big enough to go to plough, and get +my own living; and then I shall want nobody to +wait upon me."</p> + +<p>"What a difference between the children of +farmers and gentlemen!" whispered Mrs Merton to +her husband, looking rather contemptuously upon +Harry. "I am not sure," said Mr Merton, "that +for this time the advantage is on the side of our son:—But +should you not like to be rich, my dear?" +said he, turning to Harry. "No, indeed, sir." +"No, simpleton!" said Mrs Merton: "and why +not?" "Because the only rich man I ever saw, is +Squire Chase, who lives hard by; and he rides +among people's corn, and breaks down their hedges, +and shoots their poultry, and kills their dogs, and +lames their cattle, and abuses the poor; and they +say he does all this because he's rich; but everybody +hates him, though they dare not tell him so to his +face—and I would not be hated for anything in the +world." "But should you not like to have a fine +laced coat, and a coach to carry you about, and +servants to wait upon you?" "As to that, madam, +one coat is as good as another, if it will but keep me<!-- Page 11 --> +warm; and I don't want to ride, because I can walk +wherever I choose; and, as to servants, I should have +nothing for them to do, if I had a hundred of them." +Mrs Merton continued to look at him with astonishment, +but did not ask him any more questions.</p> + +<p>In the evening, little Harry was sent home to his +father, who asked him what he had seen at the great +house, and how he liked being there. "Why," +replied Harry, "they were all very kind to me, for +which I'm much obliged to them: but I had rather +have been at home, for I never was so troubled in all +my life to get a dinner. There was one man to take +away my plate, and another to give me drink, and +another to stand behind my chair, just as if I had +been lame or blind, and could not have waited upon +myself; and then there was so much to do with +putting this thing on, and taking another off, I +thought it would never have been over; and, after +dinner, I was obliged to sit two whole hours without +ever stirring, while the lady was talking to me, not +as Mr Barlow does, but wanting me to love fine +clothes, and to be a king, and to be rich, that I may +be hated like Squire Chase."</p> + +<p>But at the mansion-house, much of the conversation, +in the meantime, was employed in examining +the merits of little Harry. Mrs Merton acknowledged +his bravery and openness of temper; she was +also struck with the very good-nature and benevolence +of his character, but she contended that he +had a certain grossness and indelicacy in his ideas, +which distinguish the children of the lower and +middling classes of people from those of persons of +fashion. Mr Merton, on the contrary, maintained,<!-- Page 12 --> +that he had never before seen a child whose sentiments +and disposition would do so much honour +even to the most elevated situations. Nothing, he +affirmed, was more easily acquired than those +external manners, and that superficial address, upon +which too many of the higher classes pride themselves +as their greatest, or even as their only accomplishment; +"nay, so easily are they picked up," +said he, "that we frequently see them descend with +the cast clothes to maids and valets; between whom +and their masters and mistresses there is little other +difference than what results from the former wearing +soiled clothes and healthier countenances. Indeed, +the real seat of all superiority, even of manners, +must be placed in the mind: dignified sentiments, +superior courage, accompanied with genuine and +universal courtesy, are always necessary to constitute +the real gentleman; and where these are wanting, it +is the greatest absurdity to think they can be supplied +by affected tones of voice, particular grimaces, +or extravagant and unnatural modes of dress; +which, far from becoming the real test of gentility, +have in general no other origin than the caprice of +barbers, tailors, actors, opera-dancers, milliners, +fiddlers, and French servants of both sexes. I +cannot help, therefore, asserting," said he, very +seriously, "that this little peasant has within his +mind the seeds of true gentility and dignity of character; +and though I shall also wish that our son +may possess all the common accomplishments of his +rank, nothing would give me more pleasure than a +certainty that he would never in any respect fall +below the son of farmer Sandford."<!-- Page 13 --></p> + +<p>Whether Mrs Merton fully acceded to these observations +of her husband, I cannot decide; but, +without waiting to hear her particular sentiments, he +thus went on:—"Should I appear more warm than +usual upon this subject, you must pardon me, my +dear, and attribute it to the interest I feel in the +welfare of our little Tommy. I am too sensible that +our mutual fondness has hitherto treated him with +rather too much indulgence. While we have been +over-solicitous to remove from him every painful +and disagreeable impression, we have made him too +delicate and fretful; our desire of constantly consulting +his inclinations has made us gratify even his +caprices and humours; and, while we have been too +studious to preserve him from restraint and opposition, +we have in reality been ourselves the cause +that he has not acquired even the common attainments +of his age and situation. All this I have long +observed in silence, but have hitherto concealed, +both from my fondness for our child, and my fear of +offending you; but at length a consideration of his +real interests has prevailed over every other motive, +and has compelled me to embrace a resolution, +which I hope will not be disagreeable to you—that +of sending him directly to Mr Barlow, provided he +would take the care of him; and I think this accidental +acquaintance with young Sandford may prove +the luckiest thing in the world, as he is so nearly +the age and size of our Tommy. I shall therefore +propose to the farmer, that I will for some years +pay for the board and education of his little boy, +that he may be a constant companion to our son."</p> + +<p>As Mr Merton said this with a certain degree of<!-- Page 14 --> +firmness, and the proposal was in itself so reasonable +and necessary, Mrs Merton did not make any +objection to it, but consented, although very reluctantly, +to part with her son. Mr Barlow was accordingly +invited to dinner the next Sunday, and Mr +Merton took an opportunity of introducing the subject, +and making the proposal to him; assuring him +at the same time, that, though there was no return +within the bounds of his fortune which he would +not willingly make, yet the education and improvement +of his son were objects of so much importance +to him, that he should always consider himself the +obliged party.</p> + +<p>To this, Mr Barlow, after thanking Mr Merton for +the confidence and liberality with which he treated +him, answered him in the following manner:—"I +should be little worthy of the distinguished regard +with which you treat me, did I not with the greatest +sincerity assure you, that I feel myself totally unqualified +for the task. I am, sir, a minister of the +Gospel, and I would not exchange that character, +and the severe duties it enjoins, for any other situation +in life. But you must be sensible that the retired +manner of life which I have led for these +twenty years, in consequence of my profession, at a +distance from the gaities of the capital, and the +refinements of polite life, is little adapted to form +such a tutor as the manners and opinions of the +world require for your son. Gentlemen in your +situation of life are accustomed to divide the world +into two general classes; those who are persons of +fashion, and those who are not. The first class contains +everything that is valuable in life; and there<!-- Page 15 -->fore +their manners, their prejudices, their very vices, +must be inculcated upon the minds of children, from +the earliest period of infancy; the second comprehends +the great body of mankind, who, under the +general name of the vulgar, are represented as being +only objects of contempt and disgust, and scarcely +worthy to be put on a footing with the very beasts +that contribute to the pleasure and convenience of +their superiors."</p> + +<p>Mr Merton could not help interrupting Mr Barlow +here, to assure him that, though there was too much +truth in the observation, yet he must not think that +either he or Mrs Merton carried things to that extravagant +length; and that, although they wished their +son to have the manners of a man of fashion, they +thought his morals and religion of infinitely more +consequence.</p> + +<p>"If you think so, sir," said Mr Barlow, "it is +more than a noble lord did, whose written opinions +are now considered as the oracles of polite life, and +more than, I believe, most of his admirers do at this +time. But if you allow what I have just mentioned +to be the common distinctions of genteel people, you +must at one glance perceive how little I must be +qualified to educate a young gentleman intended to +move in that sphere; I, whose temper, reason, and +religion, equally combine to make me reject the +principles upon which those distinctions are founded. +The Christian religion, though not exclusively, is, +emphatically speaking, the religion of the poor. Its +first ministers were taken from the lower orders of +mankind, and to the lower orders of mankind was +it first proposed; and in this, instead of feeling my<!-- Page 16 -->self +mortified or ashamed, I am the more inclined +to adore the wisdom and benevolence of that Power +by whose command it was first promulgated. Those +who engross the riches and advantages of this world +are too much employed with their pleasures and +ambition to be much interested about any system, +either of religion or of morals; they too frequently +feel a species of habitual intoxication, which excludes +every serious thought, and makes them view with +indifference everything but the present moment. +Those, on the contrary, to whom all the hardships +and miseries of this world are allotted as their +natural portion—those who eat the bread of bitterness, +and drink the waters of affliction, have more +interest in futurity, and are therefore more prepared +to receive the promises of the Gospel. Yes, sir; +mark the disingenuousness of many of our modern +philosophers; they quarrel with the Christian religion, +because it has not yet penetrated the deserts +of Africa, or arrested the wandering hordes of Tartary; +yet they ridicule it for the meanness of its +origin, and because it is the Gospel of the poor: +that is to say, because it is expressly calculated to +inform the judgments, and alleviate the miseries of +that vast promiscuous body which constitutes the +majestic species of man. But for whom would these +philosophers have Heaven itself interested, if not +for the mighty whole which it has created? Poverty, +that is to say, a state of labour and frequent self-denial, +is the natural state of man; it is the state +of all in the happiest and most equal governments, +the state of nearly all in every country; it is a state +in which all the faculties, both of body and mind,<!-- Page 17 --> +are always found to develope themselves with the +most advantage, and in which the moral feelings +have generally the greatest influence. The accumulation +of riches, on the contrary, can never increase, +but by the increasing poverty and degradation of +those whom Heaven has created equal; a thousand +cottages are thrown down to afford space for a single +palace. How benevolently, therefore, has Heaven +acted, in thus extending its blessings to all who do +not disqualify themselves for the reception by voluntary +hardness of heart! how wisely in thus opposing +a continual boundary to human pride and sensuality; +two passions the most fatal in their effects, +and the most apt to desolate the world. And shall +a minister of that Gospel, conscious of these great +truths, and professing to govern himself by their +influence, dare to preach a different doctrine, and +flatter those excesses, which he must know are +equally contrary both to reason and religion? Shall +he become the abject sycophant of human greatness, +and assist it in trampling all relations of humanity +beneath his feet, instead of setting before it +<a name="tn_pg_24"></a><!--TN: "the the" changed to "the"-->the severe duties of its station, and the account +which will one day be expected of all the opportunities +of doing good, so idly, so irretrievably lost and +squandered? But I beg pardon, sir, for that warmth +which has transported me so far, and made me engross +so much of the conversation. But it will at +least have this good effect, that it will demonstrate +the truth of what I have been saying; and show +that, though I might undertake the education of a +farmer or a mechanic, I shall never succeed in that +of a modern gentleman."<!-- Page 18 --></p> + +<p>"Sir," replied Mr Merton, "there is nothing +which I now hear from you, which does not increase +my esteem of your character, and my desire to engage +your assistance. Permit me only to ask +whether, in the present state of things, a difference +of conditions and an inequality of fortune are not +necessary, and, if necessary, I should infer, not +contrary to the spirit of Christianity?"</p> + +<p>"So it is declared, sir, that offences must come; +but that does not prevent a severe denunciation +against the offenders. But, if you wish to know, +whether I am one of those enthusiasts, who are +continually preaching up an ideal state of perfection, +totally inconsistent with human affairs, I will +endeavour to give you every satisfaction upon the +subject. If you mean by difference of conditions and +inequality of fortunes, that the present state of +human affairs in every society we are acquainted +with, does not admit that perfect equality which the +purer interpretations of the Gospel inculcate, I certainly +shall not disagree with you in opinion. He +that formed the human heart certainly must be +acquainted with all the passions to which it would +be subject; and if, under the immediate dispensation +of Christ himself, it was found impossible for a +rich man to give his possessions to the poor, that +degree of purity will hardly be expected now, which +was not found in the origin. But here, sir, permit +me to remark, how widely the principles of genuine +Christianity differ from that imaginary scheme of +ideal perfection, equally inconsistent with human +affairs and human characters, which many of its +pretended friends would persuade us to believe in;<!-- Page 19 --> +and, as comparisons sometimes throw a new and +sudden light upon a subject, give me leave to use +one here, which I think bears the closest analogy to +what we are now considering. Were some physician +to arise, who, to a perfect knowledge of all preceding +medical facts, had added by a more than human +skill a knowledge of the most secret principles of the +human frame, could he calculate, with an accuracy +that never was deceived, the effect of every cause +that could act upon our constitutions; and, were +he inclined, as the result of all his science and +observation, to leave a rule of life that might remain +unimpeached to the latest posterity, I ask, +what kind of one would he form?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose one," said Mr Merton, "that was the +most adapted to the general circumstances of the +human species, and, which observed, would confer +the greatest degree of health and vigour."</p> + +<p>"Right," said Mr Barlow; "I ask again, whether, +observing the common luxury and intemperance of +the rich, he would take his directions from the +usages of a polite table, and recommend that heterogeneous +assemblage of contrary mixtures, high +seasonings, poignant sauces, fermented and distilled +poisons, which is continually breeding diseases in +their veins, as the best means of preserving or regaining +health?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. That were to debase his heart, +and sanction abuses, instead of reforming them."</p> + +<p>"Would he not, then, recommend simplicity of +diet, light repasts, early slumbers, and moderate +exercise in the open air, if he judged them salutary +to human nature, even though fashionable prejudice<!-- Page 20 --> +had stamped all these particulars with the mark of +extreme vulgarity?"</p> + +<p>"Were he to act otherwise, he must forfeit all +pretensions either to honesty or skill."</p> + +<p>"Let us then apply all this to the mind, instead +of the body, and suppose for an instant, that some +legislator, either human or divine, who comprehended +all the secret springs that govern the mind, +was preparing a universal code for all mankind; +must he not imitate the physician, and deliver +general truths, however unpalatable, however repugnant +to particular prejudices, since upon the observance +of these truths alone the happiness of +the species must depend?"</p> + +<p>"I think so, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Should such a person observe, that an immoderate +desire and accumulation of riches, a love of +ostentatious trifles, unnecessary splendour in all +that relates to human life, and an habitual indulgence +of sensuality, tended not only to produce +evil in all around, but even in the individual himself, +who suffered the tyranny of these vices; how +would you have the legislator act? Should he be +silent?"</p> + +<p>"No, certainly; he should arraign these pernicious +habitudes by every means within his power—by precept, +by example."</p> + +<p>"Should he also observe, that riches employed in +another manner, in removing the real miseries of +humanity, in cherishing, comforting, and supporting +all around, produced a contrary effect, and tended +equally to make the obliged and the obliger happy; +should he conceal this great eternal truth, or should<!-- Page 21 --> +he divulge it with all the authority he possessed, +conscious, that in whatever degree it became the +rule of human life, in the same degree would it tend +to the advantage of all the world?"</p> + +<p>"There cannot be a doubt upon the subject."</p> + +<p>"But, should he know, either by the spirit of prophecy, +or by intuitive penetration, that the majority +of mankind would never observe these rules to any +great degree, but would be blindly precipitated by +their passions into every excess against which he so +benevolently cautioned them; should this be a reason +for his withdrawing his precepts and admonitions, +or for seeming to approve what was in its own nature +most pernicious?</p> + +<p>"As prudent would it be to pull off the bridle +when we mounted an impetuous horse, because we +doubted of our power to hold him in; or to increase +his madness by the spur, when it was clearly too +great before. Thus, sir, you will perceive, that the +precepts of the Christian religion are founded upon +the most perfect knowledge of the human heart, as +they furnish a continual barrier against the most +destructive passions, and the most subversive of +human happiness. Your own concessions sufficiently +prove, that it would have been equally derogatory +to truth, and the common interests of the +species, to have made the slightest concessions in +favour either of human pride or sensuality. Your +extensive acquaintance with mankind will sufficiently +convince you, how prone the generality are to give +an unbounded loose to these two passions; neither +the continual experience of their own weakness, nor +of the fatal effects which are produced by vicious in<!-- Page 22 -->dulgences, +has yet been capable of teaching them +either humility or moderation. What then could +the wisest legislator do, more useful, more benevolent, +more necessary, than to establish general rules +of conduct, which have a continual tendency to +restore moral and natural order, and to diminish the +wide inequality produced by pride and avarice? Nor +is there any greater danger that these precepts +should be too rigidly observed, than that the bulk of +mankind should injure themselves by too abstemious +a temperance. All that can be expected from human +weakness, even after working from the most perfect +model, is barely to arrive at mediocrity; and, were +the model less perfect, or the duties less severe, there +is the greatest reason to think, that even that mediocrity +would never be attained. Examine the conduct +of those who are placed at a distance from all +labour and fatigue, and you will find the most trifling +exertions act upon their imaginations with +the same force as the most insuperable difficulties.</p> + +<p>"If I have now succeeded in laying down the +genuine principles of Christian morality, I apprehend +it will not be difficult to deduce the duty of one who +takes upon him the office of its minister and interpreter. +He can no more have a right to alter the +slightest of its principles than the magistrate can be +justified in giving false interpretations to the laws. +The more the corruptions of the world increase, the +greater the obligation that he should oppose himself +to their course; and he can no more relax in his +opposition than the pilot can abandon the helm, +because the winds and the waves begin to augment +their <a name="tn_pg_29"></a><!--TN: Period added after "fury"-->fury. Should he be despised, or neglected by<!-- Page 23 --> +all the rest of the human species, let him still persist +in bearing testimony to the truth, both in his precepts +and example; the cause of virtue is not desperate +while it retains a single friend; should it even +sink for ever, it is enough for him to have discharged +his duty. But, although he is thus restricted as to +what he shall teach, I do not assert that it is improper +for him to use his understanding and experience +as to the manner of his instruction. He is strictly +bound never to teach anything contrary to the purest +morality; but he is not bound always to teach that +morality in its greatest extent. In that respect, he +may use the wisdom of the serpent, though guided +by the innocence of the dove. If, therefore, he sees +the reign of prejudice and corruption, so firmly established, +that men would be offended with the genuine +simplicity of the Gospel, and the purity of its +primeval doctrines, he may so far moderate their +rigour as to prevent them from entirely disgusting +weak and luxurious minds. If we cannot effect the +greatest possible perfection, it is still a material +point to preserve from the grossest vices. A physician +that practises amongst the great may certainly +be excused, though he should not be continually advising +the exercise, the regimen of the poor; not +that the doctrine is not true, but that there would +not be the smallest probability of its ever being +adopted. But, although he never assents to that +luxurious method of life, which he is continually +obliged to see, he may content himself with only inculcating +those restrictions which even the luxurious +may submit to, if they possess the smallest portion +of understanding. Should he succeed thus far,<!-- Page 24 --> +there is no reason for his stopping in his career, or +not enforcing a superior degree of temperance; but +should it be difficult to persuade even so slight a +restriction, he could hope for no success, were he to +preach up a Spartan or a Roman diet. Thus the +Christian minister may certainly use his own discretion +in the mode of conveying his instructions; and +it is permitted him to employ all his knowledge of +the human heart in reclaiming men from their vices, +and winning them over to the cause of virtue. By +the severity of his own manners, he may sufficiently +evince the motives of his conduct; nor can he, by +any means, hope for more success than if he shows +that he practises more than he preaches, and uses a +greater degree of indulgence to the failings of others +than he requires for his own."</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Mr Merton, "can be more rational +or moderate than these sentiments; why then +do you persist in pleading your incapacity for an +employment which you can so well discharge?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said Mr Barlow, "he that undertakes +the education of a child, undertakes the most important +duty in society, and is severally answerable +for every voluntary omission. The same mode +of reasoning, which I have just been using, is not +applicable here. It is out of the power of any individual, +however strenuous may be his endeavours, +to prevent the mass of mankind from acquiring +prejudices and corruptions; and, when he finds +them in that state, he certainly may use all the +wisdom he possesses for their reformation. But +this rule will never justify him for an instant in +giving false impressions where he is at liberty to<!-- Page 25 --> +instil truth, and in losing the only opportunity +which he perhaps may ever possess, of teaching +pure morality and religion. How will such a man, +if he has the least feeling, bear to see his pupil +become a slave, perhaps to the grossest vices; and +to reflect with a great degree of probability that this +catastrophe has been owing to his own inactivity +and improper indulgence? May not all human +characters frequently be traced back to impressions +made at so early a period, that none but discerning +eyes would ever suspect their existence? Yet +nothing is more certain; what we are at twenty depends +upon what we were at fifteen; what we are at +fifteen upon what we were at ten; where shall we +then place the beginning of the series? Besides, +sir, the very prejudices and manners of society, +which seem to be an excuse for the present negligence +in the early education of children, act upon my +mind with a contrary effect. Need we fear that, +after every possible precaution has been taken, our +pupil should not give a sufficient loose to his passions, +or should be in danger of being too severely +virtuous? How glorious would be such a distinction, +how much to be wished for, and yet how little +to be expected by any one who is moderately acquainted +with the world! The instant he makes +his entrance there, he will find a universal relaxation +and indifference to everything that is serious; +everything will conspire to represent pleasure and +sensuality as the only business of human beings, +and to throw a ridicule upon every pretence to +principle or restraint. This will be the doctrine +that he will learn at theatres, from his com<!-- Page 26 -->panions, +from the polite circles into which he is +introduced. The ladies, too, will have their share +in the improvement of his character; they will +criticise the colour of his clothes, his method of +making a bow, and of entering a room. They will +teach him that the great object of human life is to +please the fair; and that the only method of doing +it is to acquire the graces. Need we fear that, +thus beset an every side, he should not attach a +sufficient importance to trifles, or grow fashionably +languid in the discharge of all his duties? Alas! +sir, it seems to me that this will unavoidably +happen in spite of all our endeavours. Let us, +then, not lose the important moment of human +life, when it is possible to flatter ourselves with +some hopes of success in giving good impressions; +they may succeed; they may either preserve a young +man from gross immorality, or have a tendency to +reform him when the first ardour of youth is past. +If we neglect this awful moment, which can never +return, with the view which, I must confess, I have +of modern manners, it appears to me like launching +a vessel in the midst of a storm, without a +compass and without a pilot."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Mr Merton, "I will make no other +answer to what you have now been saying, than to +tell you, it adds, if possible, to my esteem of your +character; and that I will deliver my son into your +hands, upon your own conditions. And as to the +terms—"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me," replied Mr Barlow, "if I interrupt +you here, and give you another specimen of the +singularity of my opinions. I am contented to<!-- Page 27 --> +take your son for some months under my care, and +to endeavour by every means within my power to +improve him. But there is one circumstance +which is indispensable, that you permit me to have +the pleasure of serving you as a friend. If you +approve of my ideas and conduct, I will keep him +as long as you desire. In the mean time, as there +are, I fear, some little circumstances which have +grown up, by too much tenderness and indulgence, +to be altered in his character, I think that I shall +possess more of the necessary influence and authority, +if I, for the present, appear to him and +your whole family rather in the light of a friend +than that of a schoolmaster."</p> + +<p>However disagreeable this proposal was to the +generosity of Mr Merton, he was obliged to consent +to it; and little Tommy was accordingly sent the +next day to the vicarage, which was at the distance +of about two miles from his father's house.</p> + +<p>The day after Tommy came to Mr Barlow's, as +soon as breakfast was over, he took him and Harry +into the garden; when he was there, he took a +spade into his own hand, and giving Harry a hoe, +they both began to work with great eagerness. +"Everybody that eats," says Mr Barlow, "ought +to assist in procuring food; and therefore little +Harry and I begin our daily work. This is my bed, +and that other is his; we work upon it every day, +and he that raises the most out of it will deserve +to fare the best. Now, Tommy, if you choose to +join us, I will mark you out a piece of ground, +which you shall have to yourself, and all the produce +shall be your own." "No, indeed," said<!-- Page 28 --> +Tommy, very sulkily, "I am a gentleman and +don't choose to slave like a ploughboy." "Just +as you please, Mr Gentleman," said Mr Barlow; +"but Harry and I, who are not above being useful, +will mind our work."</p> + +<p>In about two hours, Mr Barlow said it was time +to leave off; and, taking Harry by the hand, he +led him into a very pleasant summer-house, where +they sat down; and Mr Barlow, taking out a plate +of very fine ripe cherries, divided them between +Harry and himself.</p> + +<p>Tommy, who had followed, and expected his +share, when he saw them both eating without taking +any notice of him, could no longer restrain his passion, +but burst into a violent fit of sobbing and crying. +"What is the matter?" said Mr Barlow very +coolly to him. Tommy looked upon him very sulkily, +but returned no answer. "Oh! sir, if you don't +choose to give me an answer, you may be silent; +nobody is obliged to speak here." Tommy became +still more disconcerted at this, and, being unable to +conceal his anger, ran out of the summer-house, and +wandered very disconsolately about the garden, +equally surprised and vexed to find that he was now +in a place where nobody felt any concern whether +he was pleased or the contrary.</p> + +<p>When all the cherries were eaten, little Harry said, +"You promised to be so good as to hear me read +when we had done working in the garden; and, if it +is agreeable to you, I will now read the story of the +'Flies and the Ants.'" "With all my heart," said +Mr Barlow; "remember to read it slowly and distinctly, +without hesitating or pronouncing the words<!-- Page 29 --> +wrong; and be sure to read it in such a manner as +to show that you understand it."</p> + +<p>Harry then took up the book, and read as follows:—</p> + + +<H3>"THE FLIES AND THE ANTS."</H3> + +<p>"In the corner of a farmer's garden, there once +happened to be a nest of ants, who, during the fine +weather of the summer, were employed all day long +in drawing little seeds and grains of corn into their +hole. Near them there happened to be a bed of +flowers, upon which a great quantity of flies used +to be always sporting, and humming, and diverting +themselves by flying from one flower to another. +A little boy, who was the farmer's son, used frequently +to observe the different employments of +these animals; and, as he was very young and ignorant, +he one day thus expressed himself:—'Can any +creature be so simple as these ants? All day long +they are working and toiling, instead of enjoying the +fine weather, and diverting themselves like these +flies, who are the happiest creatures in the world.' +Some time after he had made this observation, the +weather grew extremely cold, the sun was scarcely +seen to shine, and the nights were chill and frosty. +The same little boy, walking then in the garden, +did not see a single ant, but all the flies lay scattered +up and down, either dead or dying. As he was +very good-natured, he could not help pitying the +unfortunate animals, and asking at the same time, +what had happened to the ants that he used to see +in the same place? The father said, 'The flies are +all dead, because they were careless animals, who<!-- Page 30 --> +gave themselves no trouble about laying up provisions, +and were too idle to work; but the ants, who +had been busy all the summer, in providing for their +maintenance during the winter, are all alive and +well; and you will see them as soon as the warm +weather <a name="tn_pg_37"></a><!--TN: Single quote added after "returns"-->returns.'"</p> + +<p>"Very well, Harry," said Mr Barlow, "we will +now take a walk." They accordingly rambled out +into the fields, where Mr Barlow made Harry take +notice of several kinds of plants, and told him the +names and nature of them. At last Harry, who had +observed some very pretty purple berries upon a +plant that bore a purple flower, and grew in the +hedges, brought them to Mr Barlow, and asked +whether they were good to eat. "It is very lucky," +said Mr Barlow, "young man, that you asked the +question before you put them into your mouth; for, +had you tasted them, they would have given you +violent pains in your head and stomach, and perhaps +have killed you, as they grow upon a plant +called night-shade, which is a rank poison." "Sir," +said Harry, "I take care never to eat anything +without knowing what it is, and I hope, if you will +be so good as to continue to teach me, I shall very +soon know the names and qualities of all the herbs +which grow."</p> + +<p>As they were returning home, Harry saw a very +large bird called a kite, upon the ground, who +seemed to have something in its claws, which he +was tearing to pieces. Harry, who knew him to be +one of those ravenous creatures which prey upon +others, ran up to him, shouting as loud as he could; +and the bird, being frightened, flew away, and left a<!-- Page 31 --> +chicken behind him, very much hurt indeed, but still +alive. "Look, sir," said Harry, "if that cruel +creature has not almost killed this poor chicken; +see how he bleeds, and hangs his wings! I will put +him into my bosom to recover him, and carry him +home; and he shall have part of my dinner every +day till he is well, and able to shift for himself."</p> + +<p>As soon as they came home, the first care of little +Harry was to put his wounded chicken into a basket +with some fresh straw, some water and some bread. +After that Mr Barlow and he went to dinner.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, Tommy, who had been skulking +about all day, very much mortified and uneasy, +came in, and, being very hungry, was going to sit +down to the table with the rest; but Mr Barlow +stopped him, and said, "No, sir, as you are too +much of a gentleman to work, we, who are not so, +do not choose to work for the idle." Upon this +Tommy retired into a corner, crying as if his heart +would break, but more from grief than passion, as +he began to perceive that nobody minded his ill-temper.</p> + +<p>But little Harry, who could not bear to see his +friend so unhappy, looked up half crying into Mr +Barlow's face, and said, "Pray, sir, may I do as I +please with my share of the dinner?" "Yes, to be +sure, child." "Why, then," said he, getting up, "I +will give it all to poor Tommy who wants it more +than I do." Saying this, he gave it to him as he +sat in the corner; and Tommy took it, and thanked +him without ever turning his eyes from off the +ground. "I see," said Mr Barlow, "that though +gentlemen are above being of any use themselves,<!-- Page 32 --> +they are not above taking the bread that other +people have been working hard for." At this +Tommy cried still more bitterly than before.</p> + +<p>The next day Mr Barlow and Harry went to work +as before; but they had scarcely begun before +Tommy came to them, and desired that he might +have a hoe too, which Mr Barlow gave him; but, as +he had never before learned to handle one, he was +very awkward in the use of it, and hit himself +several strokes upon his legs. Mr Barlow then laid +down his own spade, and showed him how to hold +and use it, by which means, in a short time, he +became very expert, and worked with the greatest +pleasure. When their work was over they retired all +three to the summer-house; and Tommy felt the +greatest joy imaginable when the fruit was produced, +and he was invited to take his share, which seemed +to him the most delicious he had ever tasted, because +working in the air had given him an appetite.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had done eating, Mr Barlow took +up a book, and asked Tommy whether he would +read them a story out of it? but he, looking a little +ashamed, said he had never learned to read. "I am +very sorry for it," said Mr Barlow, "because you +lose a very great pleasure; then Harry shall read to +you." Harry accordingly took up the book and read +the following story:—</p> + + +<h3>"THE GENTLEMAN AND THE BASKET-MAKER."</h3> + +<p>"There was, in a distant part of the world, a rich +man, who lived in a fine house, and spent his whole +time in eating, drinking, sleeping, and amusing him<!-- Page 33 -->self. +As he had a great many servants to wait upon +him, who treated him with the greatest respect, and +did whatever they were ordered, and, as he had +never been taught the truth, nor accustomed to hear +it, he grew very proud, insolent, and capricious, +imagining that he had a right to command all the +world, and that the poor were only born to serve and +obey him.</p> + +<p>"Near this rich man's house there lived an honest +and industrious poor man, who gained his livelihood +by making little baskets out of dried reeds, which +grew upon a piece of marshy ground close to his +cottage. But though he was obliged to labour from +morning to night, to earn food enough to support +him, and though he seldom fared better than upon +dry bread, or rice, or pulse, and had no other bed +than the remains of the rushes of which he made +baskets, yet was he always happy, cheerful, and contented; +for his labour gave him so good an appetite, +that the coarsest fare appeared to him delicious; +and he went to bed so tired that he would have slept +soundly even upon the ground. Besides this, he +was a good and virtuous man, humane to everybody, +honest in his dealings, always accustomed to speak +the truth, and therefore beloved and respected by all +his neighbours.</p> + +<p>"The rich man, on the contrary, though he lay +upon the softest bed, yet could not sleep, because he +had passed the day in idleness; and though the +nicest dishes were presented to him, yet could he +not eat with any pleasure, because he did not wait +till nature gave him an appetite, nor use exercise, +nor go into the open air. Besides this, as he was a<!-- Page 34 --> +great sluggard and glutton, he was almost always +ill; and, as he did good to nobody, he had no +friends; and even his servants spoke ill of him +behind his back, and all his neighbours, whom he +oppressed, hated him. For these reasons he was +sullen, melancholy, and unhappy, and became displeased +with all who appeared more cheerful than +himself. When he was carried out in his palanquin +(a kind of bed, borne upon the shoulders of men) +he frequently passed by the cottage of the poor +basket-maker, who was always sitting at the door, +and singing as he wove the baskets. The rich man +could not behold this without anger. 'What!' +said he, 'shall a wretch, a peasant, a low-born +fellow, that weaves bulrushes for a scanty subsistence, +be always happy and pleased, while I, that am a +gentleman, possessed of riches and power, and of +more consequence than a million of reptiles like +him, am always melancholy and discontented!' +This reflection arose so often in his mind, that at +last he began to feel the greatest degree of hatred +towards the poor man; and, as he had never been +accustomed to conquer his own passions, however +improper or unjust they might be, he at last determined +to punish the basket-maker for being happier +than himself.</p> + +<p>"With this wicked design, he one night gave orders +to his servants (who did not dare to disobey him) to +set fire to the rushes which surrounded the poor +man's house. As it was summer, and the weather +in that country extremely hot, the fire soon spread +over the whole marsh, and not only consumed all +the rushes, but soon extended to the cottage itself,<!-- Page 35 --> +and the poor basket-maker was obliged to run out +almost naked to save his life.</p> + +<p>"You may judge of the surprise and grief of the +poor man, when he found himself entirely deprived +of his subsistence by the wickedness of his rich +neighbour, whom he had never offended; but, as +he was unable to punish him for this injustice, he +set out and walked on foot to the chief magistrate +of that country, to whom, with many tears, he told +his pitiful case. The magistrate, who was a good +and just man, immediately ordered the rich man to +be brought before him; and when he found that he +could not deny the wickedness, of which he was +accused, he thus spoke to the poor man:—'As this +proud and wicked man has been puffed up with the +opinion of his own importance, and attempted to +commit the most scandalous injustice from his contempt +of the poor, I am willing to teach him of how +little value he is to anybody, and how vile and contemptible +a creature he really is; but, for this purpose, +it is necessary that you should consent to the +plan I have formed, and go along with him to the +place whither I intend to send you both.'</p> + +<p>"The poor man replied, 'I never had much; but +the little I once had is now lost by the mischievous +disposition of this proud and oppressive man. I am +entirely ruined; I have no means left in the world +of procuring myself a morsel of bread the next time +I am hungry; <a name="tn_pg_42"></a><!--TN: "thefore" changed to "therefore"-->therefore I am ready to go wherever +you please to send me; and, though I would not +treat this man as he has treated me, yet should I +rejoice to teach him more justice and humanity, and +to prevent his injuring the poor a second time.'<!-- Page 36 --></p> + +<p>"The magistrate then ordered them both to be put +on board a ship, and carried to a distant country, +which was inhabited by a rude and savage kind of +men, who lived in huts, were strangers to riches, +and got their living by fishing.</p> + +<p>"As soon as they were set on shore, the sailors left +them as they had been ordered, and the inhabitants +of the country came round them in great numbers. +The rich man, seeing himself thus exposed, without +assistance or defence, in the midst of a barbarous +people, whose language he did not understand, and +in whose power he was, began to cry and wring his +hands in the most abject manner; but the poor +basket-maker, who had always been accustomed to +hardships and dangers from his infancy, made signs +to the people that he was their friend, and was willing +to work for them, and be their servant. Upon +this the natives made signs to them that they would +do them no hurt, but would make use of their +assistance in fishing and carrying wood.</p> + +<p>"Accordingly, they led them both to a wood at +some distance, and showing them several logs, +ordered them to transport them to their cabins. +They both immediately set about their tasks, and +the poor man, who was strong and active, very soon +had finished his share; while the rich man, whose +limbs were tender and delicate, and never accustomed +to any kind of labour, had scarcely done a +quarter as much. The savages, who were witnesses +to this, began to think that the basket-maker would +prove very useful to them, and therefore presented +him with a large portion of fish, and <a name="tn_pg_43"></a><!--TN: "several their" changed to "several of their"-->several of their +choicest roots; while to the rich man they gave<!-- Page 37 --> +scarcely enough to support him, because they +thought him capable of being of very little service +to them; however, as he had now fasted several +hours, he ate what they gave him with a better +appetite than he had ever felt before at his own +table.</p> + +<p>"The next day they were set to work again; and +as the basket-maker had the same advantage over +his companion, he was highly caressed and well +treated by the natives, while they showed every +mark of contempt towards the other, whose delicate +and luxurious habits had rendered him very unfit +for labour.</p> + +<p>"The rich man now began to perceive with how +little reason he had before valued himself, and despised +his fellow-creatures; and an accident that +fell out shortly after, tended to complete his mortification. +It happened that one of the savages had +found something like a fillet, with which he adorned +his forehead, and seemed to think himself extremely +fine; the basket-maker, who had perceived this +appearance of vanity, pulled up some reeds, and, +sitting down to work, in a short time finished a very +elegant wreath, which he placed upon the head of +the first inhabitant he chanced to meet. This man +was so pleased with his new acquisition, that he +danced and capered with joy, and ran away to seek +the rest, who were all struck with astonishment at +this new and elegant piece of finery. It was not +long before another came to the basket-maker, +making signs that he wanted to be ornamented like +his companion; and with such pleasure were these +chaplets considered by the whole nation, that the<!-- Page 38 --> +basket-maker was released from his former drudgery, +and continually employed in weaving them. In +return for the pleasure which he conferred upon +them, the grateful savages brought him every kind +of food their country afforded, built him a hut, and +showed him every demonstration of gratitude and +kindness. But the rich man, who possessed neither +talents to please nor strength to labour, was condemned +to be the basket-maker's servant, and to +cut him reeds to supply the continual demand for +chaplets.</p> + +<p>"After having passed some months in this manner, +they were again transported to their own country, +by the orders of the magistrate, and brought before +him. He then looked sternly upon the rich man, +and said:—'Having now taught you how helpless, +contemptible, and feeble a creature you are, as well +as how inferior to the man you insulted, I shall +proceed to make reparation to him for the injury +you have inflicted upon him. Did I treat you as +you deserve, I should take from you all the riches +that you possess, as you wantonly deprived this +poor man of his whole subsistence, but, hoping that +you will become more humane for the future, I +sentence you to give half your fortune to this man, +whom you endeavoured to ruin.'</p> + +<p>"Upon this the basket-maker said, after thanking +the magistrate for his goodness:—'I, having been +bred up in poverty, and accustomed to labour, have +no desire to acquire riches, which I should not +know how to use; all, therefore, that I require of +this man is, to put me into the same situation I was +in before, and to learn more humanity.'<!-- Page 39 --></p> + +<p>"The rich man could not help being astonished at +this generosity, and, having acquired wisdom by his +misfortunes, not only treated the basket-maker as +a friend during the rest of his life, but employed +his riches in relieving the poor, and benefiting his +fellow-creatures."</p> + +<p>The story being ended, Tommy said it was very +pretty; but that, had he been the good basket-maker, +he would have taken the naughty rich man's +fortune and kept it. "So would not I," said Harry, +"for fear of growing as proud, and wicked, and idle +as the other."</p> + +<p>From this time forward, Mr Barlow and his two +pupils used constantly to work in their garden every +morning; and, when they were fatigued, they retired +to the summer-house, where little Harry, who +improved every day in reading, used to entertain +them with some pleasant story or other, which +Tommy always listened to with the greatest pleasure. +But little Harry going home for a week, +Tommy and Mr Barlow were left alone.</p> + +<p>The next day, after they had done work, and +retired to the summer-house as usual, Tommy expected +Mr Barlow would read to him; but, to his great +disappointment, found that he was busy, and could +not. The next day the same accident was renewed, +and the day after that. At this Tommy lost all +patience, and said to himself, "Now, if I could but +read like little Harry Sandford, I should not need +to ask anybody to do it for me, and then I could +divert myself; and why (thinks he) may not I do +what another has done? To be sure, little Harry +is clever; but he could not have read if he had not<!-- Page 40 --> +been taught; and if I am taught, I dare say I shall +learn to read as well as he. Well, as soon as ever he +comes home, I am determined to ask him about it."</p> + +<p>The next day little Harry returned, and as soon +as Tommy had an opportunity of being alone with +him, "Pray, Harry," said Tommy, "how came you +to be able to read?"</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Why, Mr Barlow taught me my letters, +and then spelling; and then, by putting syllables +together, I learnt to read. <i>Tommy.</i>—And could not +you show me my letters? <i>Harry.</i>—Yes, very +willingly.</p> + +<p>Harry then took up a book, and Tommy was so +eager and attentive, that at the very first lesson, he +learned the whole alphabet. He was infinitely +pleased with this first experiment, and could scarcely +forbear running to Mr Barlow, to let him know the +improvement he had made; but he thought he +should surprise him more, if he said nothing about +the matter till he was able to read a whole story. +He therefore applied himself with such diligence, +and little Harry, who spared no pains to assist his +friend, was so good a master, that in about two +months he determined to surprise Mr Barlow with a +display of his talents. Accordingly, one day, when +they were all assembled in the summer-house, and +the book was given to Harry, Tommy stood up and +said, that, if Mr Barlow pleased, he would try to +read. "Oh, very willingly," said Mr Barlow; "but +I should as soon expect you to fly as to read." +Tommy smiled with a consciousness of his own proficiency, +and, taking up the book, read with great +fluency,<!-- Page 41 -->—</p> + + +<h3>"THE HISTORY OF THE TWO DOGS."</h3> + +<p>"In a part of the world, where there are many +strong and fierce wild beasts, a poor man happened +to bring up two puppies of that kind which is most +valued for size and courage. As they appeared to +possess more than common strength and agility, he +thought that he should make an acceptable present +to his landlord, who was a rich man, living in a +great city, by giving him one of them, which was +called Jowler; while he brought up the other, named +Keeper, to guard his own flocks.</p> + +<p>"From this time the manner of living was entirely +altered between the brother whelps. Jowler was +sent into a plentiful kitchen, where he quickly +became the favourite of the servants, who diverted +themselves with his little tricks and wanton gambols, +and rewarded him with great quantities of pot-liquor +and broken victuals; by which means, as he +was stuffing from morning to night, he increased +considerably in size, and grew sleek and comely; he +was, indeed, rather unwieldy, and so cowardly that +he would run away from a dog only half as big as +himself; he was much addicted to gluttony, and was +often beaten for the thefts he committed in the +pantry; but, as he had learned to fawn upon the +footmen, and would stand upon his hind legs to beg, +when he was ordered, and, besides this, would fetch +and carry, he was mightily caressed by all the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"Keeper, in the meantime, who lived at a cottage +in the country, neither fared so well, looked so +plump, nor had learned all these little tricks to<!-- Page 42 --> +recommend him; but, as his master was too poor to +maintain anything but what was useful, and was +obliged to be continually in the air, subject to all +kinds of weather, and labouring hard for a livelihood, +Keeper grew hardy, active, and diligent; he +was also exposed to continual danger from the +wolves, from whom he had received many a severe +bite while guarding the flocks. These continual +combats gave him that degree of intrepidity, that no +enemy could make him turn his back. His care +and assiduity so well defended the sheep of his +master, that not one had ever been missing since +they were placed under his protection. His honesty +too was so great, that no temptation could overpower +it; and, though he was left alone in the +kitchen while the meat was roasting, he never +attempted to taste it, but received with thankfulness +whatever his master chose to give him. From a +continual life in the air he was become so hardy that +no tempest could drive him to shelter when he +ought to be watching the flocks; and he would +plunge into the most rapid river, in the coldest +weather of the winter, at the slightest sign from his +master.</p> + +<p>"About this time it happened that the landlord of +the poor man went to examine his estate in the +country, and brought Jowler with him to the place +of his birth. At his arrival there he could not help +viewing with great contempt the rough ragged appearance +of Keeper, and his awkward look, which +discovered nothing of the address for which he so +much admired Jowler. This opinion, however, was +altered by means of an accident which happened to<!-- Page 43 --> +him. As he was one day walking in a thick wood, +with no other company than the two dogs, a hungry +wolf, with eyes that sparkled like fire, bristling hair, +and a horrid snarl that made the gentleman tremble, +rushed out of a neighbouring thicket, and seemed +ready to devour him. The unfortunate man gave +himself over for lost, more especially when he saw +that his faithful Jowler, instead of coming to his +assistance, ran sneaking away, with his tail between +his legs, howling with fear. But in this moment of +despair, the undaunted Keeper, who had followed +him, humbly and unobserved, at a distance, flew to +his assistance, and attacked the wolf with so much +courage and skill, that he was compelled to exert all +his strength in his own defence. The battle was long +and bloody, but in the end Keeper laid the wolf dead +at his feet, though not without receiving several +severe wounds himself, and presenting a bloody and +mangled spectacle to the eyes of his master, who +came up at that instant. The gentleman was filled +with joy for his escape and gratitude to his brave +deliverer; and learned by his own experience that +appearances are not always to be trusted, and that +great virtues and good dispositions may sometimes +be found in cottagers, while they are totally wanting +among the great."</p> + +<p>"Very well indeed," said Mr Barlow. "I find +that when young gentlemen choose to take pains, +they can do things almost as well as other people. +But what do you say to the story you have been +reading, Tommy? Would you rather have owned +the genteel dog that left his master to be devoured, +or the poor, rough, ragged, meagre, neglected cur<!-- Page 44 --> +that exposed his own life in his defence?" "Indeed, +sir," said Tommy, "I would have rather had +Keeper; but then I would have fed him, and washed +him, and combed him, till he had looked as well as +Jowler." "But then, perhaps, he would have +grown idle, and fat, and cowardly, like him," said +Mr Barlow; "but here is some more of it, let us read +to the end of the story." Tommy then went on +thus:—</p> + +<p>"The gentleman was so pleased with the noble behaviour +of Keeper, that he desired the poor man to +make him a present of the dog; which, though with +some reluctance, he complied with. Keeper was +therefore taken to the city, where he was caressed +and fed by everybody; and the disgraced Jowler was +left at the cottage, with strict injunctions to the +man to hang him up, as a worthless unprofitable +cur.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the gentleman had departed, the poor +man was going to execute his commission; but, considering +the noble size and comely look of the dog, +and above all, being moved with pity for the poor +animal, who wagged his tail, and licked his new +master's feet, just as he was putting the cord about +his neck, he determined to spare his life, and see +whether a different treatment might not produce +different manners. From this day Jowler was in +every respect treated as his brother Keeper had been +before. He was fed but scantily; and, from this +spare diet, soon grew more active and fond of exercise. +The first shower he was in he ran away as +he had been accustomed to do, and sneaked to the +fire-side; but the farmer's wife soon drove him out<!-- Page 45 --> +of doors, and compelled him to bear the rigour of +the weather. In consequence of this he daily became +more vigorous and hardy, and, in a few +months, regarded cold and rain no more than if +he had been brought up in the country.</p> + +<p>"Changed as he already was in many respects for +the better, he still retained an insurmountable dread +of wild beasts; till one day, as he was wandering +through a wood alone, he was attacked by a large +and fierce wolf, who, jumping out of a thicket, +seized him by the neck with fury. Jowler would +fain have run, but his enemy was too swift and +violent to suffer him to escape. Necessity makes +even cowards brave. Jowler being thus stopped in +his retreat, turned upon his enemy, and, very luckily +seizing him by the throat, strangled him in an +instant. His master then coming up, and being +witness of his exploit, praised him, and stroked him +with a degree of fondness he had never done before. +Animated by this victory, and by the approbation of +his master, Jowler, from that time, became as brave +as he had before been pusillanimous; and there was +very soon no dog in the country who was so great a +terror to beasts of prey.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time Keeper, instead of hunting +wild beasts, or looking after sheep, did nothing but +eat and sleep, which he was permitted to do, from a +remembrance of his past services. As all qualities +both of mind and body are lost if not continually +exercised, he soon ceased to be that hardy, courageous +animal he was before, and acquired all the +faults which are the consequences of idleness and +gluttony.<!-- Page 46 --></p> + +<p>"About this time the gentleman went again into +the country, and, taking his dog with him, was willing +that he should exercise his prowess once more +against his ancient enemies the wolves. Accordingly, +the country people having quickly found one +in a neighbouring wood, the gentleman went thither +with Keeper, expecting to see him behave as he had +done the year before. But how great was his surprise +when, at the first onset, he saw his beloved +dog run away with every mark of timidity! At this +moment another dog sprang forward, and seizing +the wolf with the greatest intrepidity, after a bloody +contest, left him dead upon the ground. The +gentleman could not help lamenting the cowardice +of his favourite, and admiring the noble spirit of the +other dog, whom, to his infinite surprise, he found +to be the same Jowler that he had discarded the +year before. 'I now see,' said he to the farmer, +'that it is in vain to expect courage in those who +live a life of indolence and repose, and that constant +exercise and proper discipline are frequently able to +change contemptible characters into good ones.'"</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Mr Barlow, when the story was +ended, "I am sincerely glad to find that Tommy has +made this acquisition. He will now depend upon +nobody, but be able to divert himself whenever he +pleases. All that has ever been written in our own +language will be from this time in his power, +whether he chooses to read little entertaining stories +like what we have heard to-day, or to read the +actions of great and good men in history, or to +make himself acquainted with the nature of wild +beasts and birds, which are found in other countries,<!-- Page 47 --> +and have been described in books; in short, I +scarcely know of anything which from this moment +will not be in his power; and I do not despair of +one day seeing him a very sensible man, capable of +teaching and instructing others."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Tommy, something elated by all this +praise, "I am determined to make myself as clever +as anybody; and I don't doubt, though I am such +a little fellow, that I know more already than many +grown-up people; and I am sure, though there are +no less than six blacks in our house, that there is +not one of them who can read a story like me." +Mr Barlow looked a little grave at this sudden +display of vanity, and said rather coolly, "Pray, +who has attempted to teach them anything?" +"Nobody, I believe," said Tommy. "Where is the +great wonder, then, if they are ignorant?" replied +Mr Barlow; "you would probably have never +known anything had you not been assisted; and +even now you know very little."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;"> + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Tommy and the Ragged Boy—Story of Androcles and the Lion—Conversation +on Slavery—Conversation about an Ass—Tommy's Present and its +consequences—The story of Cyrus—Squire Chase beats Harry—Harry saves +the Squire's life—Making Bread—Story of the Two Brothers—Story of the +Sailors on the Island of Spitzbergen.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">In</span> this manner did Mr Barlow begin the education +of Tommy Merton, who had naturally very good +dispositions, although he had been suffered to<!-- Page 48 --> +acquire many bad habits, that sometimes prevented +them from appearing. He was, in particular, very +passionate, and thought he had a right to command +everybody that was not dressed as fine as himself. +This opinion often led him into inconveniences, +and once was the occasion of his being severely +mortified.</p> + +<p>This accident happened in the following manner:—One +day as Tommy was striking a ball with his +bat, he struck it over a hedge into an adjoining field, +and seeing a little ragged boy walking along on that +side, he ordered him, in a very peremptory tone, to +bring it to him. The little boy, without taking +any notice of what was said, walked on, and left the +ball; upon which Tommy called out more loudly +than before, and asked if he did not hear what was +said. "Yes," said the boy, "for the matter of that +I am not deaf." "Oh! you are not?" replied +Tommy, "then bring me my ball directly." "I +don't choose it," said the boy. "Sirrah," said +Tommy, "if I come to you I shall make you choose +it." "Perhaps not, my pretty little master," said +the boy. "You little rascal," said Tommy, who +now began to be very angry, "if I come over the +hedge I will thrash you within an inch of your +life." To this the other made no answer but by a +loud laugh, which provoked Tommy so much that +he clambered over the hedge and jumped precipitately +down intending to have leaped into the field; +but unfortunately his foot slipped, and down he +rolled into a wet ditch, which was full of mud and +water; there poor Tommy tumbled about for some +time, endeavouring to get out; but it was to no<!-- Page 49 --> +purpose, for his feet stuck in the mud, or slipped off +from the bank; his fine waistcoat was dirtied all +over, his white stockings covered with mire, his +breeches filled with puddle water; and, to add to +his distress, he first lost one shoe and then the other—his +laced hat tumbled off from his head and was +completely spoiled. In this distress he must probably +have remained a considerable time, had not +the little ragged boy taken pity on him and helped +him out. Tommy was so vexed and ashamed that +he could not say a word, but ran home in such a +plight that Mr Barlow, who happened to meet him, +was afraid he had been considerably hurt; but, +when he heard the accident which had happened, +he could not help smiling, and he advised Tommy +to be more careful for the future how he attempted +to thrash little ragged boys.</p> + +<p>The next day Mr Barlow desired Harry, when +they were all together in the arbour, to read the +following story of</p> + + +<h3>"ANDROCLES AND THE LION."</h3> + +<p>"There was a certain slave named Androcles, +who was so ill treated by his master that his life +became insupportable. Finding no remedy for +what he suffered, he at length said to himself: 'It +is better to die than to continue to live in such +hardships and misery as I am obliged to suffer. I +am determined, therefore, to run away from my +master. If I am taken again, I know that I shall +be punished with a cruel death; but it is better to +die at once, than to live in misery. If I escape, I<!-- Page 50 --> +must betake myself to deserts and woods, inhabited +only by beasts; but they cannot use me more +cruelly than I have been used by my fellow-creatures; +therefore, I will rather trust myself with +them, than continue to be a miserable slave.'</p> + +<p>"Having formed this resolution, he took an opportunity +of leaving his master's house, and hid +himself in a thick forest, which was at some miles' +distance from the city. But here the unhappy man +found that he had only escaped from one kind of +misery to experience another. He wandered about +all day through a vast and trackless wood, where +his flesh was continually torn by thorns and +brambles; he grew hungry, but could find no food +in this dreary solitude! At length he was ready +to die with fatigue, and lay down in despair in a +large cavern which he found by accident."</p> + +<p>"Poor man!" said Harry, whose little heart +could scarcely contain itself at this mournful recital, +"I wish I could have met with him; I would have +given him all my dinner, and he should have had +my bed. But pray, sir, tell me why does one man +behave so cruelly to another, and why should one +person be the servant of another, and bear so much +ill treatment?"</p> + +<p>"As to that," said Tommy, "some folks are +born gentlemen, and then they must command +others; and some are born servants, and then they +must do as they are bid. I remember, before I +came hither, that there were a great many black +men and women, that my mother said were only +born to wait upon me; and I used to beat them, +and kick them, and throw things at them whenever<!-- Page 51 --> +I was angry; and they never dared strike me again, +because they were slaves."</p> + +<p>"And pray, young man," said Mr Barlow, "how +came these people to be slaves?"</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Because my father bought them with +his money. <i>Mr Barlow.</i>—So then people that are +bought with money are slaves, are they? <i>T.</i>—Yes. +<i>Mr B.</i>—And those that buy them have a right +to kick them, and beat them, and do as they please +with them? <i>T.</i>—Yes. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then, if I was to +take and sell you to Farmer Sandford, he would +have a right to do what he pleased with you? No, +sir, said Tommy, somewhat warmly; but you +would have no right to sell me, nor he to buy +me. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then it is not a person's being bought +or sold that gives another a right to use him ill, +but one person's having a right to sell another, and +the man who buys having a right to purchase? +<i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—And what right have the +people who sold the poor negroes to your father +to sell them, or what right has your father to buy +them? Here Tommy seemed to be a good deal +puzzled, but at length he said, "They are brought +from a country that is a great way off, in ships, +and so they become slaves." Then, said Mr Barlow, +"if I take you to another country, in a ship, I shall +have a right to sell you?" <i>T.</i>—No, but you won't, +sir, because I was born a gentleman. <i>Mr B.</i>—What +do you mean by that, Tommy? Why (said +Tommy, a little confounded), to have a fine house, +and fine clothes, and a coach, and a great deal of +money, as my papa has. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then if you +were no longer to have a fine house, nor fine<!-- Page 52 --> +clothes, nor a great deal of money, somebody that +had all these things might make you a slave, and +use you ill, and beat you, and insult you, and do +whatever he liked with you? <i>T.</i>—No, sir, that +would not be right neither, that anybody should use +me ill. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then one person should not use +another ill? <i>T.</i>—No, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—To make a +slave of anybody is to use him ill, is it not? <i>T.</i>—I +think so. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then no one ought to make +a slave of you? <i>T.</i>—No, indeed, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—But +if no one should use another ill, and making a +slave is using him ill, neither ought you to make +a slave of any one else. <i>T.</i>—Indeed, sir, I think +not; and for the future I never will use our black +William ill; nor pinch him, nor kick him, as I +used to do. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then you will be a very good +boy. But let us now continue our story.</p> + +<p>"This unfortunate man had not lain long quiet in +the cavern before he heard a dreadful noise, which +seemed to be the roar of some wild beast, and terrified +him very much. He started up with a design +to escape, and had already reached the mouth of the +cave, when he saw coming towards him a lion of +prodigious size, who prevented any possibility of +retreat. The unfortunate man now believed his +destruction to be inevitable; but, to his great astonishment, +the beast advanced towards him with a +gentle pace, without any mark of enmity or rage, +and uttered a kind of mournful voice, as if he demanded +the assistance of the man.</p> + +<p>"Androcles, who was naturally of a resolute disposition, +acquired courage, from this circumstance, +to examine his monstrous guest, who gave him suf<!-- Page 53 -->ficient +leisure for that purpose. He saw, as the +lion approached him, that he seemed to limp upon +one of his legs, and that the foot was extremely +swelled, as if it had been wounded. Acquiring still +more fortitude from the gentle demeanour of the +beast, he advanced up to him, and took hold of the +wounded paw, as a surgeon would examine a patient. +He then perceived that a thorn of uncommon size +had penetrated the ball of the foot, and was the +occasion of the swelling and lameness which he had +observed. Androcles found that the beast, far from +resenting this familiarity, received it with the greatest +gentleness, and seemed to invite him by his +blandishments to proceed. He therefore extracted +the thorn, and, pressing the swelling, discharged a +considerable quantity of matter, which had been the +cause of so much pain and uneasiness.</p> + +<p>"As soon as the beast felt himself thus relieved, he +began to testify his joy and gratitude by every expression +within his power. He jumped about like a +wanton spaniel, wagged his enormous tail, and licked +the feet and hands of his physician. Nor was he +contented with these demonstrations of kindness: +from this moment Androcles became his guest; nor +did the lion ever sally forth in quest of prey without +bringing home the produce of his chase, and sharing +it with his friend. In this savage state of hospitality +did the man continue to live during the space of +several months; at length, wandering unguardedly +through the woods, he met with a company of +soldiers sent out to apprehend him, and was by +them taken prisoner and conducted back to his +master. The laws of that country being very severe<!-- Page 54 --> +against slaves, he was tried and found guilty of +having fled from his master, and, as a punishment for +his pretended crime, he was sentenced to be torn in +pieces by a furious lion, kept many days without +food, to inspire him with additional rage.</p> + +<p>"When the destined moment arrived, the unhappy +man was exposed, unarmed, in the midst of a spacious +area, enclosed on every side, round which many +thousand people were assembled to view the mournful +spectacle.</p> + +<p>"Presently a dreadful yell was heard, which struck +the spectators with horror; and a monstrous lion +rushed out of a den, which was purposely set open, +and darted forward with erected mane and flaming +eyes, and jaws that gaped like an open sepulchre. +A mournful silence instantly prevailed! All eyes +were directly turned upon the destined victim, whose +destruction now appeared inevitable. But the pity +of the multitude was soon converted into astonishment, +when they beheld the lion, instead of destroying +his defenceless prey, crouch submissively at his +feet, fawn upon him as a faithful dog would do upon +his master, and rejoice over him as a mother that +unexpectedly recovers her offspring. The governor +of the town, who was present, then called out with +a loud voice, and ordered Androcles to explain to +them this unintelligible mystery, and how a savage +of the fiercest and most unpitying nature should thus +in a moment have forgotten his innate disposition, +and be converted into a harmless and inoffensive +animal.</p> + +<p>"Androcles then related to the assembly every +circumstance of his adventures in the woods, and<!-- Page 55 --> +concluded by saying, that the very lion which now +stood before them had been his friend and entertainer +in the woods. All the persons present were +astonished and delighted with the story, to find that +even the fiercest beasts are capable of being softened +by gratitude, and moved by humanity; and they +unanimously joined to entreat for the pardon of +the unhappy man from the governor of the place. +This was immediately granted to him; and he was +also presented with the lion, who had in this manner +twice saved the life of Androcles."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said Tommy, "this is a very +pretty story; but I never should have thought that +a lion could have grown so tame: I thought that +they, and tigers, and wolves, had been so fierce and +cruel that they would have torn everything they met +to pieces."</p> + +<p>"When they are hungry," said Mr Barlow, "they +kill every animal they meet; but this is to devour +it, for they can only live upon flesh, like, dogs and +cats, and many other kinds of animals. When they +are not hungry they seldom meddle with anything, +or do unnecessary mischief; therefore they are much +less cruel than many persons that I have seen, and +even than many children, who plague and torment +animals, without any reason whatsoever."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir," said Harry, "I think so. And I +remember, as I was walking along the road some +days past, I saw a little naughty boy that used a +poor jackass very ill indeed. The poor animal was +so lame that he could hardly stir; and yet the boy +beat him with a great stick as violently as he was +able, to make him go on faster." "And what did<!-- Page 56 --> +you say to him?" said Mr Barlow. <i>Harry.</i>—Why, +sir, I told him how naughty and cruel it was; and I +asked him how he would like to be beaten in that +manner by somebody that was stronger than himself? +<i>Mr B.</i>—And what answer did he make you? +<i>H.</i>—He said, that it was his daddy's ass, and so +that he had a right to beat it; and that if I said a +word more he would beat me. <i>Mr B.</i>—And what +answer did you make; any? <i>H.</i>—I told him, if it +was his father's ass, he should not use it ill; for +that we were all God's creatures, and that we should +love each other, as He loved us all; and that as to +beating me, if he struck me I had a right to strike +him again, and would do it, though he was almost +as big again as I was. <i>Mr B.</i>—And did he strike +you? <i>H.</i>—Yes, sir. He endeavoured to strike me +upon the head with his stick, but I dodged, and so it +fell upon my shoulder; and he was going to strike +me again, but I darted at him, and knocked him +down, and then he began blubbering, and begged me +not to hurt him. <i>Mr B.</i>—It is not uncommon for +those who are most cruel to be at the same time +most cowardly; but what did you? <i>H.</i>—Sir, I told +him I did not want to hurt him; but that as he had +meddled with me, I would not let him rise till he +had promised not to hurt the poor beast any more, +which he did, and then I let him go about his business.</p> + +<p>"You did very right," said Mr Barlow; "and I +suppose the boy looked as foolish, when he was +rising, as Tommy did the other day when the little +ragged boy that he was going to beat helped him +out of the ditch." "Sir," answered Tommy, a<!-- Page 57 --> +little confused, "I should not have attempted to +beat him, only he would not bring me my ball." +<i>Mr B.</i>—And what right had you to oblige him to +bring your ball? <i>T.</i>—Sir, he was a little ragged +boy, and I am a gentleman. <i>Mr B.</i>—So then, +every gentleman has a right to command little +ragged boys? <i>T.</i>—To be sure, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then +if your clothes should wear out and become ragged, +every gentleman will have a right to command you? +Tommy looked a little foolish, and said, "But +he might have done it, as he was on that side of +the hedge." <i>Mr B.</i>—And so he probably would +have done if you had asked him civilly to do it; but +when persons speak in a haughty tone, they will find +few inclined to serve them. But, as the boy was +poor and ragged, I suppose you hired him with +money to fetch your ball? <i>T.</i>—Indeed, sir, I did +not; I neither gave him anything nor offered him +anything. <i>Mr B.</i>—Probably you had nothing to +give him? <i>T.</i>—Yes I had, though; I had all this +money (pulling out several shillings). <i>Mr B.</i>—Perhaps +the boy was as rich as you. <i>T.</i>—No, he +was not, sir, I am sure; for he had no coat, and +his waistcoat and breeches were all tattered and +ragged; besides, he had no stockings, and his shoes +were full of holes. <i>Mr B.</i>—So, now I see what +constitutes a gentleman. A gentleman is one that, +when he has abundance of everything, keeps it all +to himself; beats poor people, if they don't serve +him for nothing; and when they have done him the +greatest favour, in spite of his insolence, never feels +any gratitude, or does them any good in return. I +find that Androcles' lion was no gentleman.<!-- Page 58 --></p> + +<p>Tommy was so affected with this rebuke that he +could hardly contain his tears; and, as he was really +a boy of a generous temper, he determined to give +the little ragged boy something the very first time +he should see him again. He did not long wait for +an opportunity; for, as he was walking out that +very afternoon, he saw him at some distance gathering +blackberries, and, going up to him, he accosted +him thus: "Little boy, I want to know why you +are so ragged; have you no other clothes?" "No, +indeed," said the boy. "I have seven brothers and +sisters, and they are all as ragged as myself; but I +should not much mind that if I could have my +belly full of victuals." <i>Tommy.</i>—And why cannot +you have your belly full of victuals? <i>Little boy.</i>—Because +daddy's ill of a fever, and can't work this +harvest! so that mammy says we must all starve if +God Almighty does not take care of us.</p> + +<p>Tommy made no answer, but ran full speed to the +house whence he presently returned, loaded with a +loaf of bread, and a complete suit of his own +clothes. "Here, little boy," said he, "you were +very good-natured to me; and so I will give you all +this, because I am a gentleman, and have many +more."</p> + +<p>Tommy did not wait for the little boy's acknowledgment, +but hastened away and told Mr Barlow, +with an air of exultation, what he had done.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow coolly answered, "You have done well +in giving the little boy clothes, because they are +your own; but what right have you to give away +my loaf of bread without asking my consent?" +<i>Tommy.</i>—Why, sir, I did it because the little boy<!-- Page 59 --> +said he was very hungry, and had seven brothers +and sisters, and that his father was ill, and could +not work. <i>Mr B.</i>—This is a very good reason why +you should give them what belongs to yourself, but +not why you should give them what is another's. +What would you say if Harry were to give away all +your clothes, without asking your leave?" <i>T.</i>—I +should not like it at all; and I will not give away +your things any more without asking your leave. +"You will do well," said Mr Barlow; <a name="tn_pg_66"></a><!--TN: Quote added before "and"-->"and here is a +little story you may read upon this very subject:—</p> + + +<h3>"THE STORY OF CYRUS."</h3> + +<p>"Cyrus was a little boy of good dispositions and +humane temper. He was very fond of drawing, and +often went into the fields for the purpose of taking +sketches of trees, houses, &c., which he would show +to his parents. On one occasion he had retired into +a shed at the back of his father's house, and was so +much absorbed in planning something with his compasses, +as not to be for a long time aware of his +father's presence. He had several masters, who +endeavoured to teach him everything that was +good; and he was educated with several little boys +about his own age. One evening his father asked +him what he had done or learned that day. 'Sir,' +said Cyrus, 'I was punished to-day for deciding +unjustly.' 'How so?' said his father. <i>Cyrus.</i>—There +were two boys, one of whom was a great and +the other a little boy. Now, it happened that the +little boy had a coat that was much too big for +him, but the great boy had one that scarcely reached<!-- Page 60 --> +below his middle, and was too tight for him in +every part; upon which the great boy proposed to +the little boy to change coats with him, 'because +then,' said he, 'we shall be both exactly fitted; +for your coat is as much too big for you as mine is +too little for me.' The little boy would not consent +to the proposal, on which the great boy took his coat +away by force, and gave his own to the little boy in +exchange. While they were disputing upon this +subject I chanced to pass by, and they agreed to +make me judge of the affair. But I decided that +the little boy should keep the little coat, and the +great boy the great one—for which judgment my +master punished <a name="tn_pg_67"></a><!--TN: Single quote removed after "me."-->me.</p> + +<p>"'Why so?' said Cyrus' father; 'was not the +little coat most proper for the little boy, and the +large coat for the great boy?' 'Yes, sir,' answered +Cyrus; 'but my master told me I was not made +judge to examine which coat best fitted either of the +boys, but to decide whether it was just that the +great boy should take away the coat of the little +one against his consent; and therefore I decided +unjustly, and deserved to be punished.'"</p> + +<p>Just as the story was finished, they were surprised +to see a little ragged boy come running up to them, +with a bundle of clothes under his arm. His eyes +were black, as if he had been severely beaten, his +nose was swelled, his shirt was bloody, and his +waistcoat did but just hang upon his back, so much +was it torn. He came running up to Tommy, and +threw down the bundle before him, saying, "Here +master, take your clothes again; and I wish they +had been at the bottom of the ditch I pulled you out<!-- Page 61 --> +of, instead of upon my back; but I never will put +such frippery on again as long as I have breath in +my body."</p> + +<p>"What is the matter?" said Mr Barlow, who +perceived that some unfortunate accident had happened +in consequence of Tommy's present.</p> + +<p>"Sir," answered the little boy, "my little master +here was going to beat me, because I would not +fetch his ball. Now, as to the matter of that, I +would have brought his ball with all my heart, if he +had but asked me civilly. But though I am poor, +I am not bound to be his slave, as they say black +William is; and so I would not; upon which little +master here was jumping over the hedge to lick +me; but, instead of that, he soused into the ditch, +and there he lay rolling about till I helped him +out; and so he gave me these clothes here, all out +of good-will; and I put them on, like a fool as I +was, for they are all made of silk, and look so fine, +that all the little boys followed me, and hallooed +as I went; and Jack Dowset threw a handful of +dirt at me, and dirtied me all over. 'Oh!' says I, +'Jacky, are you at that work?'—and with that I +hit him a good thump, and sent him roaring away. +But Billy Gibson and Ned Kelly came up, and said +I looked like a Frenchman; and so we began fighting, +and I beat them till they both gave out; but I +don't choose to be hallooed after wherever I go, and +to look like a Frenchman; and so I have brought +master his clothes again."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow asked the little boy where his father +lived; and he told him that his father lived about +two miles off, across the common, and at the end<!-- Page 62 --> +of Runny Lane; on which Mr Barlow told Harry +that he would send the poor man some broth and +victuals if he would carry it when it was ready. +"That I will," said Harry, "if it were five times +as far." So Mr Barlow went into the house to give +orders about it.</p> + +<p>In the mean time Tommy, who had eyed the little +boy for some time in silence, said, "So, my poor +boy, you have been beaten and hurt till you are all +over blood, only because I gave you my clothes. +I am really very sorry for it." "Thank you, little +master," said the boy, "but it can't be helped; you +did not intend me any hurt, I know; and I am not +such a chicken as to mind a beating; so I wish you +a good afternoon with all my heart."</p> + +<p>As soon as the little boy was gone, Tommy said, +"I wish I had but some clothes that the poor boy +could wear, for he seems very good-natured; I would +give them to him." "That you may very easily +have," said Harry, "for there is a shop in the village +hard by where they sell all manner of clothes +for the poor people; and, as you have money, you +may easily buy some."</p> + +<p>Harry and Tommy then agreed to go early the +next morning to buy some clothes for the poor +children. They accordingly set out before breakfast, +and had proceeded nearly half-way, when they +heard the noise of a pack of hounds that seemed +to be running full cry at some distance. Tommy +then asked Harry if he knew what they were about. +"Yes," said Harry "I know well enough what they +are about; it is Squire Chase and his dogs worrying +a poor hare. But I wonder they are not ashamed<!-- Page 63 --> +to meddle with such a poor inoffensive creature, that +cannot defend itself. If they have a mind to hunt, +why don't they hunt lions and tigers, and such +fierce mischievous creatures, as I have read they +do in other countries?" "Oh! dear," said Tommy, +"how is that? it must surely be very dangerous." +"Why, you know," said Harry, "the men are accustomed +in some places to go almost naked; +and that makes them so prodigiously nimble, +that they can run like a deer; and, when a lion +or tiger comes into their neighbourhood, and +devours their sheep or oxen, they go out, six and +seven together, armed with javelins; and they run +over all the woods, and examine every place, till +they have found him; and they make a noise to +provoke him to attack them; then he begins roaring +and foaming, beating his sides with his tail, till, +in a violent fury, he springs at the man that is +nearest to him." "Oh! dear," said Tommy, "he +must certainly be torn to pieces." "No such thing," +answered Harry; "he jumps like a greyhound out +of the way, while the next man throws his javelin +at the lion, and perhaps wounds him in the side; +this enrages him still more; he springs again like +lightning upon the man that wounded him, but this +man avoids him like the other, and at last the poor +beast drops down dead with the number of wounds +he has received." "Oh," said Tommy, "it must +be a very strange sight; I should like to see it out +of a window, where I was safe." "So should not +I," answered Harry; "for it must be a great pity to +see such a noble animal tortured and killed; but +they are obliged to do it in their own defence. But<!-- Page 64 --> +these poor hares do nobody any harm, excepting +the farmers, by eating a little of their corn sometimes."</p> + +<p>As they were talking in this manner, Harry, +casting his eyes on one side, said, "As I am alive, +there is the poor hare skulking along! I hope +they will not be able to find her; and, if they ask +me, I will never tell them which way she is gone."</p> + +<p>Presently up came the dogs, who had now lost +all scent of their game, and a gentleman, mounted +upon a fine horse, who asked Harry if he had seen +the hare. Harry made no answer; but, upon the +gentleman's repeating the question in a louder tone +of voice, he answered that he had. "And which +way is she gone?" said the gentleman. "Sir, I +don't choose to tell you," answered Harry, after +some hesitation. "Not choose!" said the gentleman, +leaping off his horse, "but I'll make you +choose in an instant;" and, coming up to Harry +who never moved from the place where he had been +standing, began to lash him in a most unmerciful +manner with his whip, continually repeating, +"Now, you little rascal, do you choose to tell me +now?" To which Harry made no other answer +than this: "If I would not tell you before, I won't +now, though you should kill me."</p> + +<p>But this fortitude of Harry, and the tears of +Tommy, who cried in the bitterest manner to see +the distress of his friend, made no impression on +this barbarian, who continued his brutality till another +gentleman rode up full speed, and said, "For +any sake, Squire, what are you about? You will +kill the child, if you do not take care." "And the<!-- Page 65 --> +little dog deserves it," said the other; "he has seen +the hare, and will not tell me which way she is +gone." "Take care," replied the gentleman, in a +low voice, "you don't involve yourself in a disagreeable +affair; I know the other to be the son of +a gentleman of great fortune in the neighbourhood;" +and then turning to Harry, he said, "Why, +my dear, would you not tell the gentleman which +way the hare had gone, if you saw her?" "Because," +answered Harry, as soon as he had recovered +breath enough to speak, "I don't choose +to betray the unfortunate." "This boy," said the +gentleman, "is a prodigy; and it is a happy thing +for you, Squire, that his age is not equal to his +spirit. But you are always passionate——" At +this moment the hounds recovered the scent, and +bursting into a full cry, the Squire mounted his +horse and galloped away, attended by all his +companions.</p> + +<p>When they were gone, Tommy came up to Harry +in the most affectionate manner, and asked him how +he did. "A little sore," said Harry; "but that +does not signify." <i>Tommy.</i>—I wish I had had a +pistol or a sword! <i>Harry.</i>—Why, what would you +have done with it? <i>T.</i>—I would have killed that +good-for-nothing man who treated you so cruelly. +<i>H.</i>—That would have been wrong, Tommy; for I +am sure he did not want to kill me. Indeed, if I had +been a man, he should not have used me so; but +it is all over now, and we ought to forgive our +enemies, as Mr Barlow tells us Christ did; and then +perhaps they may come to love us, and be sorry for +what they have done. <i>T.</i>—But how could you<!-- Page 66 --> +bear to be so severely whipped, without crying out? +<i>H.</i>—Why, crying out would have done me no good +at all, would it? and this is nothing to what many +little boys have suffered without ever flinching, or +bemoaning themselves. <i>T.</i>—Well, I should have +thought a great deal. <i>H.</i>—Oh! it's nothing to +what the young Spartans used to suffer. <i>T.</i>—Who +were they? <i>H.</i>—Why, you must know they were +a very brave set of people, that lived a great while +ago; and, as they were but few in number, and +were surrounded by a great many enemies, they +used to endeavour to make their little boys very +brave and hardy; and these little boys used to be +always running about, half-naked, in the open air, +and wrestling and jumping and exercising themselves; +and then had very coarse food, and hard +beds to lie upon, and were never pampered and indulged; +and all this made them so strong and hardy, +and brave, that the like was never seen. <i>T.</i>—What, +and had they no coaches to ride in, nor sweetmeats, +nor wine, nor anybody to wait upon them? +<i>H.</i>—Oh! dear, no; their fathers thought that +would spoil them, and so they all fared alike, and +ate together in great rooms; and there they were +taught to behave orderly and decently; and when +dinner was over, they all went to play together; +and, if they committed any faults, they were severely +whipped; but they never minded it, and scorned to +cry out, or make a wry face.</p> + +<p>As they were conversing in this manner, they +approached the village, where Tommy laid out all +his money, amounting to fifteen shillings and sixpence, +in buying some clothes for the little ragged<!-- Page 67 --> +boy and his brothers, which were made up in a +bundle and given to him; but he desired Harry to +carry them for him. "That I will," said Harry; +"but why don't you choose to carry them yourself?" +<i>Tommy.</i>—Why, it is not fit for a gentleman to carry +things himself. <i>Harry.</i>—Why, what hurt does it do +him, if he is but strong enough? <i>T.</i>—I do not +know; but I believe it is that he may not look like +the common people. <i>H.</i>—Then he should not have +hands, or feet, or ears, or mouth, because the common +people have the same. <i>T.</i>—No, no; he must +have all these, because they are useful. <i>H.</i>—And is +it not useful to be able to do things for ourselves? +<i>T.</i>—Yes; but gentlemen have others to do what they +want for them. <i>H.</i>—Then I should think it must +be a bad thing to be a gentleman. <i>T.</i>—Why so? +<i>H.</i>—Because, if all were gentlemen, nobody would +do anything, and then we should be all starved. <i>T.</i>—Starved! +<i>H.</i>—Yes; why, you could not live, +could you, without bread? <i>T.</i>—No; I know that +very well. <i>H.</i>—And bread is made of a plant that +grows in the earth, and it is called wheat. <i>T.</i>—Why, +then, I would gather it and eat it. <i>H.</i>—Then +you must do something for yourself; but that would +not do, for wheat is a small hard grain, like the oats +which you have sometimes given to Mr Barlow's +horse; and you would not like to eat them. <i>T.</i>—No, +certainly; but how comes bread then? <i>H.</i>—Why, +they send the corn to the mill. <i>T.</i>—What is +a mill? <i>H.</i>—What! did you never see a mill? <i>T.</i>—No, +never; but I should like to see one, that I +may know how they make bread. <i>H.</i>—There is one +at a little distance; and if you ask Mr Barlow, he<!-- Page 68 --> +will go with you, for he knows the miller very well. +<i>T.</i>—That I will, for I should like to see them make +bread.</p> + +<p>As they were conversing in this manner, they +heard a great outcry, and turning their heads, saw +a horse that was galloping violently along, and +dragging his rider along with him, who had fallen +off, and, in falling, hitched his foot in the stirrup. +Luckily for the person, it happened to be wet ground, +and the side of a hill, which prevented the horse +from going very fast, and the rider from being much +hurt. But Harry, who was always prepared to do +an act of humanity, even with the danger of his life, +and, besides that, was a boy of extraordinary courage +and agility, ran up towards a gap which he saw the +horse approaching, and just as he made a little +pause before vaulting over, caught him by the bridle, +and effectually stopped him from proceeding. In an +instant another gentleman came up, with two or +three servants, who alighted from their horses, disengaged +the fallen person, and set him upon his legs. +He stared wildly around him for some time; as he +was not materially hurt, he soon recovered his +senses, and the first use he made of them was to +swear at his horse, and to ask who had stopped the +confounded jade. "Who?" said his friend, "why, +the very little boy you used so scandalously this +morning; had it not been for his dexterity and +courage, that numskull of yours would have had +more flaws in it than it ever had before."</p> + +<p>The Squire considered Harry with a countenance +in which shame and humiliation seemed yet to +struggle with his natural insolence; but at length,<!-- Page 69 --> +putting his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a +guinea, which he offered to Harry, telling him at +the same time he was very sorry for what had happened; +but Harry, with a look of more contempt +than he had ever been seen to assume before, rejected +the present, and taking up the bundle which +he had dropped at the time he had seized the +Squire's horse, walked away, accompanied by his +companion.</p> + +<p>As it was not far out of their way, they agreed to +call at the poor man's cottage, whom they found +much better, as Mr Barlow had been there the preceding +night, and given him such medicines as he +judged proper for his disease. Tommy then asked +for the little boy, and, on his coming in, told him +that he had now brought him some clothes which he +might wear without fear of being called a Frenchman, +as well as some more for his little brothers. +The pleasure with which they were received was so +great, and the acknowledgments and blessings of +the good woman and the poor man, who had just +began to sit up, were so many, that little Tommy +could not help shedding tears of compassion, in +which he was joined by Harry. As they were returning, +Tommy said that he had never spent any +money with so much pleasure as that with which he +had purchased clothes for this poor family; and that +for the future he would take care of all the money +that was given him for that purpose, instead of +laying it out in eatables and playthings.</p> + +<p>Some days after this, as Mr Barlow and the two +boys were walking out together, they happened +to pass near a windmill; and, on Harry's telling<!-- Page 70 --> +Tommy what it was, Tommy desired leave to go +into it and look at it. Mr Barlow consented to +this, and, being acquainted with the miller, they all +went in and examined every part of it with great +curiosity; and there little Tommy saw with astonishment +that the sails of the mill, being constantly +turned round by the wind, moved a great flat stone, +which, by rubbing upon another stone, bruised all +the corn that was put between them till it became +a fine powder. "Oh dear!" said Tommy, "is +this the way they make bread?" Mr Barlow told +him <a name="tn_pg_77"></a><!--TN: Quote removed before "this"-->this was the method by which the corn was +prepared for making bread; but that many other +things were necessary before it arrived at that state. +"You see that what runs from these millstones is +only a fine powder, very different from bread, which +is a solid and tolerably hard substance."</p> + +<p>As they were going home Harry said to Tommy, +"So you see now, if nobody chose to work, or do +anything for himself, we should have no bread to +eat; but you could not even have the corn to make +it of without a great deal of pains and labour." +<i>Tommy.</i>—Why not? does not corn grow in the +ground of itself? <i>Harry.</i>—Corn grows in the +ground, but then first it is necessary to plough the +ground, to break it to pieces. <i>T.</i>—What is ploughing? +<i>H.</i>—Did you never see three or four horses +drawing something along the fields in a straight +line, while one man drove, and another walked +behind holding the thing by two handles? <i>T.</i>—Yes, +I have; and is that ploughing? <i>H.</i>—It is; +and there is a sharp iron underneath, which runs +into the ground and turns it up all the way it goes.<!-- Page 71 --> +<i>T.</i>—Well, and what then? <i>H.</i>—When the ground +is thus prepared, they sow the seed all over it, and +then they rake it over to cover the seed, and then +the seed begins to grow, and shoots up very high; +and at last the corn ripens, and they reap it, and +carry it home. <i>T.</i>—I protest it must be very +curious, and I should like to sow some seed myself, +and see it grow; do you think I could? <i>H.</i>—Yes, +certainly, and if you will dig the ground to-morrow +I will go home to my father, in order to procure +some seed for you.</p> + +<p>The next morning Tommy was up almost as soon +as it was light, and went to work in a corner of the +garden, where he dug with great perseverance till +breakfast; when he came in, he could not help +telling Mr Barlow what he had done, and asking +him, whether he was not a very good boy for +working so hard to raise corn? "That," said Mr +Barlow, "depends upon the use you intend to make +of it when you have raised it; what is it you intend +doing with it?" "Why, sir," said Tommy, "I +intend to send it to the mill that we saw, and have +it ground into flour; and then I will get you to +show me how to make bread of it, and then I will +eat it, that I may tell my father that I have eaten +bread out of corn of my own sowing." "That will +be very well done," said Mr Barlow; "but where +will be the great goodness that you sow corn for +your own eating? That is no more than all the +people round continually do; and if they did not do +it they would be obliged to fast." "But then," +said Tommy, "they are not gentlemen, as I am."</p> + +<p>"What then," answered Mr Barlow; "must not<!-- Page 72 --> +gentlemen eat as well as others, and therefore is it +not for their interest to know how to procure food +as well as other people?" "Yes, sir," answered +Tommy, "but they can have other people to raise it +for them, so that they are not obliged to work for +themselves." "How does that happen?" said Mr +Barlow. <i>Tommy.</i>—Why, sir, they pay other people +to work for them, or buy bread when it is made, as +much as they want. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then they pay for it +with money? <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then they +must have money before they can buy corn? <i>T.</i>—Certainly, +sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—But have all gentlemen +money? Tommy hesitated some time at this question; +at last he said, "I believe not always, sir." +<i>Mr B.</i>—Why, then, if they have not money they +will find it difficult to procure corn, unless they +raise it for themselves. "Indeed," said Tommy, +"I believe they will; for perhaps they may not find +anybody good-natured enough to give it them." +<a name="tn_pg_79"></a><!--TN: Comma and closing quote added after "But"-->"But," said Mr Barlow, "as we are talking upon this +subject, I will tell you a story that I read a little +time past, if you choose to hear it." Tommy said +he should be very glad if Mr Barlow would take the +trouble of telling it to him, and Mr Barlow told him +the following history of</p> + + +<h3>"THE TWO BROTHERS."</h3> + +<p>"About the time that many people went over to +South America, with the hopes of finding gold and +silver, there was a Spaniard, whose name was Pizarro, +who had a great inclination to try his fortune +like the rest; but as he had an elder brother, for<!-- Page 73 --> +whom he had a very great affection, he went to him, +told him his design, and solicited him very much to +go along with him, promising him that he should +have an equal share of all the riches they found. +The brother, whose name was Alonzo, was a man of +a contented temper, and a good understanding; he +did not therefore much approve of the project, and +endeavoured to dissuade Pizarro from it, by setting +before him the danger to which he exposed himself, +and the uncertainty of his succeeding; but finding +all that he said was vain, he agreed to go with him, +but told him at the same time that he wanted no +part of the riches which he might find, and would +ask no other favour than to have his baggage and +a few servants taken on board the vessel with him. +Pizarro then sold all that he had, bought a vessel, +and embarked with several other adventurers, who +had all great expectations, like himself, of soon becoming +rich. As to Alonzo, he took nothing with +him but a few ploughs, harrows, and other tools, +and some corn, together with a large quantity of +potatoes, and some seeds of different vegetables. +Pizarro thought these very odd preparations for a +voyage; but as he did not think proper to expostulate +with his brother he said nothing.</p> + +<p>"After sailing some time with prosperous winds, +they put into the last port where they were to stop, +before they came to the country where they were +to search for gold. Here Pizarro bought a great +number more of pickaxes, shovels, and various other +tools for digging, melting, and refining the gold he +expected to find, besides hiring an additional number +of labourers to assist him in the work. Alonzo,<!-- Page 74 --> +on the contrary, bought only a few sheep, and four +stout oxen, with their harness, and food enough to +subsist them till they should arrive at land.</p> + +<p>"As it happened, they met with a favourable voyage, +and all landed in perfect health in America. +Alonzo then told his brother that, as he had only +come to accompany and serve him, he would stay +near the shore with his servants and cattle, while he +went to search for gold, and when he had acquired +as much as he desired, should be always ready to +embark for Spain with him.</p> + +<p>"Pizarro accordingly set out not without feeling +so great a contempt for his brother, that he could +not help expressing it to his companions. 'I always +thought,' said he, 'that my brother had been a +man of sense; he bore that character in Spain, but +I find people were strangely mistaken in him. +Here he is going to divert himself with his sheep +and his oxen, as if he was living quietly upon his +farm at home, and had nothing else to do than to +raise cucumbers and melons. But we know better +what to do with our time; so come along, my lads, +and if we have but good luck, we shall soon be +enriched for the rest of our lives.' All that were +present applauded Pizarro's speech, and declared +themselves ready to follow wherever he went; only +one old Spaniard shook his head as he went, and +told him he doubted whether he would find his +brother so great a fool as he thought.</p> + +<p>"They then travelled on several days' march into +the country, sometimes obliged to cross rivers, at +others to pass mountains and forests, where they +could find no paths; sometimes scorched by the<!-- Page 75 --> +violent heat of the sun, and then wetted to the skin +by violent showers of rain. These difficulties, however, +did not discourage them so much as to hinder +them from trying in several places for gold, which +they were at length lucky enough to find in a considerable +quantity. This success animated them +very much, and they continued working upon that +spot till all their provisions were consumed; they +gathered daily large quantities of ore, but then +they suffered very much from hunger. Still, however, +they persevered in their labours, and sustained +themselves with such roots and berries as they could +find. At last even this resource failed them; and, +after several of their company had died from want +and hardship, the rest were just able to crawl back +to the place where they had left Alonzo, carrying +with them the gold, to acquire which they had +suffered so many miseries.</p> + +<p>"But while they had been employed in this manner, +Alonzo, who foresaw what would happen, had +been industriously toiling to a very different purpose. +His skill in husbandry had easily enabled him +to find a spot of considerable extent and very fertile +soil, which he ploughed up with the oxen he had +brought with him, and the assistance of his servants. +He then sowed the different seeds he had brought, +and planted the potatoes, which prospered beyond +what he could have expected, and yielded him a +most abundant harvest. His sheep he had turned +out in a very fine meadow near the sea, and every +one of them had brought him a couple of lambs. +Besides that, he and his servants, at leisure times, +employed themselves in fishing; and the fish they<!-- Page 76 --> +had caught were all dried and salted with salt they +had found upon the sea-shore; so that, by the time +of Pizarro's return, they had laid up a very considerable +quantity of provisions.</p> + +<p>"When Pizarro returned, his brother received him +with the greatest cordiality, and asked him what +success he had had? Pizarro told him that they +had found an immense quantity of gold, but that +several of his companions had perished, and that +the rest were almost starved from the want of provisions. +He then requested that his brother would +immediately give him something to eat, as he assured +him he had tasted no food for the last two days, +excepting the roots and bark of trees. Alonzo then +very coolly answered, that he should remember that, +when they set out, they had made an agreement, that +neither should interfere with the other; that he had +never desired to have any share of the gold which +Pizarro might acquire, and therefore he wondered +that Pizarro should expect to be supplied with the +provisions that he had procured with so much care +and <a name="tn_pg_83"></a><!--TN: Single quote removed after "labour;"-->labour; 'but,' added he, 'if you choose to +exchange some of the gold you have found for provisions, +I shall perhaps be able to accommodate +you.'</p> + +<p>"Pizarro thought this behaviour very unkind in his +brother; but, as he and his companions were almost +starved, they were obliged to comply with his demands, +which were so exorbitant, that, in a very +short time, they parted with all the gold they had +brought with them, merely to purchase food. Alonzo +then proposed to his brother to embark for Spain in +the vessel which had brought them thither, as the<!-- Page 77 --> +winds and weather seemed most to be favourable; +but Pizarro, with an angry look, told him that, since +he had deprived him of everything he had gained, +and treated him in so unfriendly a manner, he should +go without him; for, as to himself, he would rather +perish upon that desert shore than embark with so +inhuman a brother.</p> + +<p>"But Alonzo, instead of resenting these reproaches, +embraced his brother with the greatest tenderness, +and spoke to him in the following manner:—'Could +you then believe, my dearest Pizarro, that I really +meant to deprive you of the fruits of all your labours, +which you have acquired with so much toil and +danger? Rather may all the gold in the universe +perish than I should be capable of such behaviour +to my dearest brother! But I saw the rash, impetuous +desire you had of riches, and wished to +correct this fault in you, and serve you at the same +time. You despised my prudence and industry, and +imagined that nothing could be wanting to him that +had once acquired wealth; but you have now learned +that, without that foresight and industry, all the +gold you have brought with you would not have +prevented you from perishing miserably. You are +now, I hope, wiser; and therefore take back your +riches, which I hope you have now learned to make +a proper use of.' Pizarro was equally filled with +gratitude and astonishment at this generosity of his +brother, and he acknowledged, from experience, that +industry was better than gold. They then embarked +for Spain, where they all safely arrived. During +the voyage Pizarro often solicited his brother to +accept of half his riches, which Alonzo constantly<!-- Page 78 --> +refused, telling him that he could raise food enough +to maintain himself, and was in no want of gold."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Tommy, when Mr Barlow had +finished the story, "I think Alonzo was a very +sensible man; and, if it had not been for him, his +brother and all his companions must have been +starved; but then this was only because they were +in a desert uninhabited country. This could never +have happened in England; there they could always +have had as much corn or bread as they chose for +their money." "But," said Mr Barlow, "is a man +sure to be always in England, or some place where +he can purchase bread?" <i>Tommy.</i>—I believe so, sir. +<i>Mr B.</i>—Why, are there not countries in the world +where there are no inhabitants, and where no corn +is raised? <i>T.</i>—Certainly, sir; this country, which +the two brothers went to, was such a place. <i>Mr B.</i>—And +there are many other such countries in the +world. <i>T.</i>—But then a man need not go to them; +he may stay at home. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then he must not +pass the seas in a ship. <i>T.</i>—Why so, sir? <i>Mr B.</i>—Because +the ship may happen to be wrecked on some +such country, where there are no inhabitants; and +then, although he should escape the danger of the +sea, what will he do for food? <i>T.</i>—And have such +accidents sometimes happened? <i>Mr B.</i>—Yes, several; +there was, in particular, one Selkirk, who was +shipwrecked, and obliged to live several years upon a +desert island. <i>T.</i>—That was very extraordinary indeed; +and how did he get victuals? <i>Mr B.</i>—He +sometimes procured roots, sometimes fruits; he also +at last became so active, that he was able to pursue +and catch wild goats, with which the island abounded.<!-- Page 79 --> +<i>T.</i>—And did not such a hard disagreeable way of life +kill him at last? <i>Mr B.</i>—By no means; he never +enjoyed better health in his life; and you have heard +that he became so active as to be able to overtake +the very wild beasts. But a still more extraordinary +story is that of some Russians, who were left on +the coast of Spitzbergen, where they were obliged to +stay several years. <i>T.</i>—Where is Spitzbergen, sir? +<i>Mr B.</i>—It is a country very far to the north, which +is constantly covered with snow and ice, because +the weather is unremittingly severe. Scarcely any +vegetables will grow upon the soil, and scarcely +any animals are found in the country. To add to +this, a great part of the year it is covered with +perpetual darkness and is inaccessible to ships; +so that it is impossible to conceive a more dreary +country, or where it must be more difficult to +support human life. Yet four men were capable +of struggling with all these difficulties during several +years, and three of them returned at last safe to +their own country. <i>T.</i>—This must be a very +curious story indeed; I would give anything to +be able to see it. <i>Mr B.</i>—That you may very +easily. When I read it, I copied off several parts +of it, I thought it so curious and interesting, +which I can easily find, and will show you. +Here it is; but it is necessary first to inform +you, that those northern seas, from the intense +cold of the climate, are so full of ice as frequently +to render it extremely dangerous to ships, lest +they should be crushed between two pieces of +immense size, or so completely surrounded as +not to be able to extricate themselves. Having<!-- Page 80 --> +given you this previous information, you will easily +understand the distressful situation of a Russian +ship, which, as it was sailing on those seas, was +on a sudden so surrounded by ice as not to be +able to move. My extracts begin here, and you +may read them.</p> + + +<p style="text-indent: -1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i>Extracts from a Narrative of the Extraordinary Adventures +of Four Russian Sailors, who were cast away on +the Desert Island of East Spitzbergen.</i></p> + +<p>"In this alarming state (that is, when the ship +was surrounded with ice) a council was held, when +the mate, Alexis Hinkof, informed them, that +he recollected to have heard that some of the +people of Mesen, some time before, having formed +a resolution of wintering upon this island, had +carried from that city timber proper for building +a hut, and had actually erected one at some +distance from the shore. This information induced +the whole company to resolve on wintering there, +if the hut, as they hoped, still existed; for they +clearly perceived the imminent danger they were +in, and that they must inevitably perish if they +continued in the ship. They despatched, therefore, +four of their crew in search of the hut, or any +other succour they could meet with. These were +Alexis Hinkof, the mate, Iwan Hinkof, his godson, +Stephen Scharassof, and Feodor Weregin.</p> + +<p>"As the shore on which they were to land was +uninhabited, it was necessary that they should +make some provision for their expedition. They +had almost two miles to travel over those ridges<!-- Page 81 --> +of ice, which being raised by the waves, and +driven against each other by the wind, rendered +the way equally difficult and dangerous; prudence, +therefore, forbade their loading themselves too +much, lest, by being overburdened, they might +sink in between the pieces of ice, and perish. +Having thus maturely considered the nature of +their undertaking, they provided themselves with +a musket and powder-horn, containing twelve +charges of powder, with as many balls, an axe, +a small kettle, a bag with about twenty pounds +of flower, a knife, a tinder-box and tinder, a bladder +filled with tobacco, and every man his wooden +pipe.</p> + +<p>"Thus accoutred, these four sailors quickly +arrived on the island, little expecting the misfortunes +that would befall them. They began with +exploring the country, and soon discovered the +hut they were in search of, about an English mile +and a half from the shore. It was thirty-six feet +in length, eighteen feet in height, and as many +in breadth; it contained a small antechamber, +about twelve feet broad, which had two doors, +the one to shut it up from the outer air, the other +to form a communication with the inner room; this +contributed greatly to keep the large room warm +when once heated. In the large room was an +earthen stove, constructed in the Russian manner; +that is, a kind of oven without a chimney, which +served occasionally either for baking, for heating +the room, or, as is customary among the Russian +peasants in very cold weather, for a place to sleep +upon. Our adventurers rejoiced greatly at having<!-- Page 82 --> +discovered the hut, which had, however, suffered +much from the weather, it having now been built +a considerable time; they, however, contrived to +pass the night in it.</p> + +<p>"Early next morning they hastened to the shore, +impatient to inform their comrades of their success, +and also to procure from their vessel such provision, +ammunition, and other necessaries, as might better +enable them to winter on the island. I leave my +readers to figure to themselves the astonishment and +agony of mind these poor people must have felt, +when on reaching the place of their landing, they +saw nothing but an open sea, free from the ice, +which but the day before had covered the ocean. +A violent storm, which had risen during the night, +had certainly been the cause of this disastrous +event; but they could not tell whether the ice, +which had before hemmed in the vessel, agitated by +the violence of the waves, had been driven against +her, and shattered her to pieces; or, whether she +had been carried by the current into the main—a +circumstance which frequently happens in those +seas. Whatever accident had befallen the ship, +they saw her no more; and as no tidings were ever +afterwards received of her, it is most probable that +she sunk, and that all on board of her perished.</p> + +<p>"This melancholy event depriving the unhappy +wretches of all hope of ever being able to quit the +island, they returned to the hut, whence they had +come, full of horror and despair."</p> + +<p>"Oh dear!" cried Tommy, at this passage, "what +a dreadful situation these poor people must have +been in. To be in such a cold country, covered<!-- Page 83 --> +with snow and frozen with ice, without anybody to +help them, or give them victuals; I should think +they must all have died." "That you will soon +see," said Mr Barlow, "when you have read the rest +of the story; but tell me one thing, Tommy, before +you proceed. These four men were poor sailors, +who had always been accustomed to danger and +hardships, and to work for their living; do you +think it would have been better for them to have +been bred up gentlemen, that is, to do nothing, but +to have other people wait upon them in everything?" +"Why, to be sure," answered Tommy, "it was +much better for them that they had been used to +work, for that might enable them to contrive and do +something to assist themselves, for, without doing a +great deal, they must certainly all have perished."</p> + +<p>"Their first attention was employed, as may +easily be imagined, in devising means of providing +subsistence, and for repairing their hut. The twelve +charges of powder which they had brought with +them soon procured them as many reindeer—the +island, fortunately for them, abounding in these +animals. I have before observed, that the hut, +which the sailors were so fortunate as to find, had +sustained some damage, and it was this—there were +cracks in many places between the boards of the +building, which freely admitted the air. This inconveniency +was, however, easily remedied, as they +had an axe, and the beams were still sound (for +wood in those cold climates continues through a +length of years unimpaired by worms or decay), so +it was easy for them to make the boards join again +very tolerably; besides, moss growing in great<!-- Page 84 --> +abundance all over the island, there was more than +sufficient to stop up the crevices, which wooden +houses must always be liable to. Repairs of this +kind cost the unhappy men less trouble, as they were +Russians; for all Russian peasants are known to be +good carpenters—they build their own houses, and +are very expert in handling the axe. The intense +cold, which makes these climates habitable to so few +species of animals, renders them equally unfit for +the production of vegetables. No species of tree or +even shrub is found in any of the islands of Spitzbergen—a +circumstance of the most alarming nature +to our sailors.</p> + +<p>"Without fire it was impossible to resist the +rigour of the climate, and, without wood, how was +the fire to be produced or supported? However, in +wandering along the beach, they collected plenty of +wood, which had been driven ashore by the waves, +and which at first consisted of the wrecks of ships, +and afterwards of whole trees with their roots—the +produce of some hospitable (but to them unknown) +climate, which the overflowings of rivers or other +accidents had sent into the ocean. Nothing proved +of more essential service to these unfortunate men, +during the first year of their exile, than some boards +they found upon the beach, having a long iron hook, +some nails of about five or six inches long, and proportionably +thick, and other bits of old iron fixed in +them—the melancholy relics of some vessels cast +away in those remote parts. These were thrown +ashore by the waves, at the time when the want of +powder gave our men reason to apprehend that they +must fall a prey to hunger, as they had nearly con<!-- Page 85 -->sumed +those reindeer they had killed. This lucky +circumstance was attended with another equally +fortunate; they found on the shore the root of a fir-tree, +which nearly approached to the figure of a +bow. As necessity has ever been the mother of +invention, so they soon fashioned this root to a good +bow by the help of a knife; but still they wanted a +string and arrows. Not knowing how to procure +them at present, they resolved upon making a couple +of lances, to defend themselves against the white +bears, by far the most ferocious of their kind, whose +attacks they had great reason to dread. Finding +they could neither make the heads of their lances +nor of their arrows without the help of a hammer, +they contrived to form the above-mentioned large +iron hook into one, by beating it, and widening a +hole it happened to have about its middle with the +help of one of their largest nails—this received the +handle; a round button at one end of the hook +served for the face of the hammer. A large pebble +supplied the place of an anvil, and a couple of reindeer's +horns made the tongs. By the means of such +tools they made two heads of spears, and, after +polishing and sharpening them on stones, they tied +them as fast as possible, with thongs made of reindeer's +skins, to sticks about the thickness of a man's +arm, which they got from some branches of trees +that had been cast on shore. Thus equipped with +spears, they resolved to attack a white bear, and, +after a most dangerous encounter, they killed the +formidable creature, and thereby made a new supply +of provisions. The flesh of this animal they relished +exceedingly, as they thought it much resembled beef<!-- Page 86 --> +in taste and flavour. The tendons, they saw with +much pleasure, could, with little or no trouble, be +divided into filaments of what fineness they thought +fit. This, perhaps, was the most fortunate discovery +these men could have made, for, besides +other advantages, which will be hereafter mentioned, +they were hereby furnished with strings for their +bow.</p> + +<p>"The success of our unfortunate islanders in +making the spears, and the use these proved of, encouraged +them to proceed, and forge some pieces of +iron into heads of arrows of the same shape, though +somewhat smaller in size than the spears above-mentioned. +Having ground and sharpened these +like the former, they tied them with the sinews of +the white bears to pieces of fir, to which, by the +help of fine threads of the same, they fastened +feathers of sea-fowl, and thus became possessed of +a complete bow and arrows. Their ingenuity in +this respect was crowned with success far beyond +their expectation; for, during the time of their continuance +upon the island, with these arrows they +killed no less than two hundred and fifty reindeer, +besides a great number of blue and white foxes. The +flesh of these animals served them also for food, and +their skins for clothing and other necessary preservatives +against the intense coldness of a climate +so near the Pole. They killed, however, not more +than ten white bears in all, and that not without +the utmost danger; for these animals, being prodigiously +strong, defended themselves with astonishing +vigour and fury. The first our men attacked +designedly; the other nine they slew in defending<!-- Page 87 --> +themselves from their assaults, for <a name="creatures">some of these +creatures even ventured to enter the outer room of +the hut, in order to devour them.</a> It is true that +all the bears did not show (if I may be allowed the +expression) equal intrepidity, either owing to some +being less pressed by hunger, or to their being by +nature less carnivorous than the others; for some of +them which entered the hut immediately betook +themselves to flight on the first attempt of the sailors +to drive them away. A repetition, however, of these +ferocious attacks threw the poor men into great +terror and anxiety, as they were in almost a perpetual +danger of being devoured."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter newpg"><img src="images/i003.jpg" +alt="" title="image" border="1" width="441" height="700"></div> +<div class="caption">"Some of these creatures even ventured to enter the outer room +of the hut, in order to devour them."<span class="alignright"><i><a href="#creatures">P. 86.</a></i></span></div> + + +<p class="newpg">"Sure," exclaimed Tommy, "such a life as that +must have been miserable and dreadful indeed." +"Why so?" said Mr Barlow. <i>Tommy.</i>—Because, +being always in danger of being devoured by wild +beasts, those men must have been always unhappy. +<i>Mr B.</i>—And yet they never were devoured. <i>T.</i>—No, +sir; because they made weapons to defend +themselves. <i>Mr B.</i>—Perhaps, then, a person is +not unhappy merely because he is exposed to danger, +for he may escape from it, but because he does not +know how to defend himself. <i>T.</i>—I do not exactly +understand you, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—I will give you an +instance. Were you not very unhappy when the +snake coiled itself round your leg, because you +imagined it would bite you? <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—But +Harry was not unhappy. <i>T.</i>—That is very +true, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—And yet he was in more danger +of being bitten than yourself, because he took hold +of it. <i>T.</i>—Indeed he did. <i>Mr B.</i>—But he knew +that by boldly seizing it, and flinging it away, he<!-- Page 88 --> +was in very little danger; had you, therefore, known +the same, you probably would neither have feared +so much nor have been so unhappy as you were. +<i>T.</i>—Indeed, sir, that is true; and, were such an +accident to happen again, I think I should have +courage enough to do the same. <i>Mr B.</i>—Should +you then be as unhappy now as you were the first +time? <i>T.</i>—By no means, because I have a great +deal more courage. <i>Mr B.</i>—Why, then, persons +that have courage are not so unhappy as those that +are cowardly when they are exposed to danger. <i>T.</i>—Certainly +not, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—And that must be +equally true in every kind of danger. <i>T.</i>—Indeed, +it must; for I have sometimes heard my mother +shriek out when she was passing in a coach through +a small stream of water, while my father only +laughed at her. <i>Mr B.</i>—Why, then, if she had +possessed as much courage, perhaps she would have +laughed too. <i>T.</i>—Indeed, I believe she might; for +I have sometimes seen her laugh at herself, when +it was over, for being so cowardly. <i>Mr B.</i>—Why, +then, it is possible that when these men found they +were so well able to defend themselves against the +bears, they might no longer be afraid of them; and, +not being afraid, they would not be unhappy. <i>T.</i>—Indeed, +I believe so. <i>Mr B.</i>—Let us now continue.</p> + +<p>"The three different kinds of animals above mentioned—viz., +the reindeer, the blue and white foxes, +and the white bears—were the only food these +wretched mariners tasted during their continuance +in this dreary abode. We do not at once see every +resource; it is generally necessity which quickens our<!-- Page 89 --> +invention, opening by degrees our eyes, and pointing +out expedients which otherwise might never have +occurred to our thoughts. The truth of this observation +our four sailors experienced in various instances. +They were for some time reduced to the +necessity of eating their meat almost raw, and without +either bread or salt, for they were quite destitute +of both. The intenseness of the cold, together with +the want of proper conveniences, prevented them +from cooking their victuals in a proper manner. +There was but one stove in the hut, and that being +set up agreeable to the Russian taste, was more like +an oven, and consequently not well adapted for +boiling anything. Wood also was too precious a +commodity to be wasted in keeping up two fires; and +the one they might have made out of their habitation +to dress their victuals would in no way have +served to warm them. Another reason against their +cooking in the open air was the continual danger of +an attack from the white bears. And here I must +observe that, suppose they had made the attempt +it would still have been practicable for only some +part of the year; for the cold, which in such a climate +for some months scarcely ever abates, from the +long absence of the sun, then enlightening the opposite +hemisphere,—the inconceivable quantity of +snow, which is continually falling through the greatest +part of the winter, together with the almost incessant +rains at certain seasons,—all these were almost +insurmountable to that expedient. To remedy, +therefore, in some degree the hardship of eating +their meat raw, they bethought themselves of drying +some of their provisions during the summer in<!-- Page 90 --> +the open air, and afterwards of hanging it up in +the upper part of the hut, which, as I mentioned +before, was continually filled with smoke down to +the windows; it was thus dried thoroughly by the +help of that smoke. This meat so prepared, they +used for bread, and it made them relish their other +flesh the better, as they could only half-dress it. +Finding this experiment answer in every respect to +their wishes, they continued to practise it during +the whole time of their confinement upon the island, +and always kept up, by that means, a sufficient +stock of provisions. Water they had in summer +from small rivulets that fell from the rocks, and in +winter from the snow and ice thawed. This was +of course their only beverage; and their small +kettle was the only vessel they could make use of +for this and other purposes. I have mentioned +above that our sailors brought a small bag of flour +with them to the island. Of this they had consumed +about one-half with their meat; the remainder +they employed in a different manner +equally useful. They soon saw the necessity of +keeping up a continual fire in so cold a climate, and +found that, if it should unfortunately go out, they +had no means of lighting it again; for though they +had a steel and flints, yet they wanted both match +and tinder. In their excursions through the island +they had met with a slimy loam, or a kind of clay +nearly in the middle of it. Out of this they found +means to form a utensil which might serve for a +lamp, and they proposed to keep it constantly burning +with the fat of the animals they should kill. +This was certainly the most rational scheme they<!-- Page 91 --> +could have thought of; for to be without a light in +a climate where, during winter, darkness reigns for +several months together, would have added much +to their other calamities——"</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Pray, sir, stop. What! are there +countries in the world where it is night continually +for several months together? <i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Indeed +there are. <i>T.</i>—How can that be? <i>Mr B.</i>—How +happens it that there is night at all? <i>T.</i>—How +happens it! It must be so, must it not? +<i>Mr B.</i>—That is only saying that you do not know +the reason. But do you observe no difference here +between night and day? <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir, it is light in +the day and dark in the night. <i>Mr B.</i>—But why is +it dark in the night? <i>T.</i>—Really I do not know. +<i>Mr B.</i>—What! does the sun shine every night? <i>T.</i>—No, +sir, certainly not. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then it only +shines on some nights, and not on others. <i>T.</i>—It +never shines at all in the night. <i>Mr B.</i>—And does +it in the day? <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—Every day? +<i>T.</i>—Every day, I believe, only sometimes the clouds +prevent you from seeing it. <i>Mr B.</i>—And what +becomes of it in the night? <i>T.</i>—It goes away, so +that we cannot see it. <i>Mr B.</i>—So, then, when you +can see the sun, it is never night. <i>T.</i>—No, sir. +<i>Mr B.</i>—But when the sun goes away the night +comes on. <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—And when the +sun comes again what happens? <i>T.</i>—Then it is +day again; for I have seen the day break, and the +sun always rises presently after. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then +if the sun were not to rise for several months +together, what would happen? <i>T.</i>—Sure, it +would always remain night, and be dark. <i>Mr B.</i><!-- Page 92 -->—That +is exactly the case with the countries we are +reading about.</p> + +<p>"Having therefore fashioned a kind of lamp, they +filled it with reindeer's fat, and stuck into it some +twisted linen shaped into a wick; but they had the +mortification to find that, as soon as the fat melted, +it not only soaked into the clay but fairly ran out of +it on all sides. The thing, therefore, was to devise +some means of preventing this inconvenience, not +arising from cracks, but from the substance of which +the lamp was made being too porous. They made, +therefore, a new one, dried it thoroughly in the air, +then heated it red-hot, and afterwards quenched it +in their kettle, wherein they had boiled a quantity +of flour down to the consistence of thin starch. The +lamp being thus dried and filled with melted fat, +they now found, to their great joy, that it did not +leak; but for greater security they dipped linen rags +in their paste, and with them covered all its outside. +Succeeding in this attempt, they immediately made +another lamp for fear of an accident, that at all +events they might not be destitute of light; and, +when they had done so much, they thought proper +to save the remainder of their flour for similar purposes. +As they had carefully collected whatever +<a name="tn_pg_101"></a><!--TN: "happend" changed to "happened"-->happened to be cast on shore, to supply them with +fuel, they had found amongst the wrecks of vessels +some cordage and a small quantity of oakum (a kind +of hemp used for caulking ships), which served them +to make wicks for their lamps. When these stores +began to fail, their shirts and their drawers (which +are worn by almost all the Russian peasants) were +employed to make good the deficiency. By these<!-- Page 93 --> +means they kept their lamp burning without intermission, +from the day they first made it (a work they +set about soon after their arrival on the island) until +that of their embarkation for their native country.</p> + +<p>"The necessity of converting the most essential +part of their clothing, such as their shirts and +drawers, to the use above specified, exposed them +the more to the rigour of the climate. They also +found themselves in want of shoes, boots, and other +articles of dress; and as winter was approaching, +they were again obliged to have recourse to that +ingenuity which necessity suggests, and which +seldom fails in the trying hour of distress. They +had skins of reindeer and foxes in plenty, that had +hitherto served them for bedding, and which they +now thought of employing in some more essential +service; but the question was how to tan them. +After deliberating on this subject, they took to the +following method: they soaked the skins for several +days in fresh water till they could pull off the hair +very easily; they then rubbed the wet leather with +their hands till it was nearly dry, when they spread +some melted reindeer fat over it, and again rubbed +it well. By this process the leather became soft, +pliant, and supple—proper for answering every purpose +they wanted it for. Those skins which they +designed for furs they only soaked one day, to prepare +them for being wrought, and then proceeded in +the manner before-mentioned, except only that they +did not remove the hair. Thus they soon provided +themselves with the necessary materials for all the +parts of dress they wanted. But here another +difficulty occurred; they had neither awls for making<!-- Page 94 --> +shoes or boots, nor needles for sewing their garments. +This want, however, they soon supplied by +means of the pieces of iron they had occasionally +collected. Out of these they made both, and by +their industry even brought them to a certain degree +of perfection. The making eyes to their needles +gave them indeed no little trouble, but this they also +performed with the assistance of their knife; for, +having ground it to a very sharp point, and heated +red-hot a kind of wire forged for that purpose, they +pierced a hole through one end; and by whetting +and smoothing it on stones, brought the other to a +point, and thus gave the whole needle a very tolerable +form. Scissors to cut out the skin were what +they next had occasion for; but having none, their +place they supplied with the knife; and, though +there was neither shoemaker nor tailor amongst +them, yet they had contrived to cut out the leather +and furs well enough for their purpose. The sinews +of the bears and the reindeer—which, as I mentioned +before, they had found means to split—served them +for thread; and thus, provided with the necessary +implements, they proceeded to make their new +clothes."</p> + +<p>"These," said Mr Barlow, "are the extracts which +I have made from this very extraordinary story; and +they are sufficient to show both the many accidents +to which men are exposed, and the wonderful expedients +which may be found out, even in the most +dismal circumstances." "It is very true, indeed," +answered Tommy; "but pray what became of these +poor men at last?" "After they had lived more +than six years upon this dreary and inhospitable<!-- Page 95 --> +coast," answered Mr Barlow, "a ship arrived there +by accident, which took three of them on board, and +carried them in safety to their own country." +"And what became of the fourth?" said Tommy. +"He," said Mr Barlow, "was seized with a dangerous +disease, called the scurvy; and, being of an +indolent temper, and therefore not using the exercise +which was necessary to preserve his life, after +having lingered some time, died, and was buried in +the snow by his companions."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;" class="newpg"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Harry's Chicken—Tommy tries kindness on the Pig—Account of the +Elephant—Story of the Elephant and the Tailor—Story of the Elephant and +the Child—Stories of the Good Natured Boy and the Ill Natured Boy—The +Boys determine to Build a House—Story of the Grateful Turk—The Boys' +House blown down—They rebuild it stronger—The Roof lets in the Rain—At +last is made Water-tight.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">Here</span> little Harry came in from his father's house, +and brought with him the chicken, which, it had +been mentioned, he had saved from the claws of the +kite. The little animal was now perfectly recovered +of the hurt it had received, and showed so great a +degree of affection to its protector, that it would run +after him like a dog, hop upon his shoulder, nestle +in his bosom, and eat crumbs out of his hand. +Tommy was extremely surprised and pleased to +remark its tameness and docility, and asked by what +means it had been made so gentle. Harry told him +he had taken no particular pains about it; but that, +as the poor little creature had been sadly hurt, he<!-- Page 96 --> +had fed it every day till it was well; and that, in +consequence of that kindness, it had conceived a +great degree of affection towards him.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Tommy, "that is very surprising; +for I thought all birds had flown away whenever a +man came near them, and that even the fowls which +are kept at home would never let you touch them." +<i>Mr B.</i>—And what do you imagine is the reason of +that? <i>T.</i>—Because they are wild. <i>Mr B.</i>—And +what is a fowl's being wild? <i>T.</i>—When he will +not let you come near him. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then a fowl +is wild because he will not let you come near him. +This is saying nothing more than that when a +fowl is wild he will not let you approach him. But +I want to know what is the reason of his being wild. +<i>T.</i>—Indeed, sir, I cannot tell, unless it is because +they are naturally so. <i>Mr B.</i>—But if they were +naturally so, this fowl could not be fond of <a name="tn_pg_105"></a><!--TN: Period added after "Harry"-->Harry. +<i>T.</i>—That is because he is so good to it. <i>Mr B.</i>—Very +likely. Then it is not natural for an animal +to run away from a person that is good to him? +<i>T.</i>—No, sir; I believe not. <i>Mr B.</i>—But when a +person is not good to him, or endeavours to hurt +him, it is natural for an animal to run away from +him, is it not? <i>T.</i>—Yes. <i>Mr B.</i>—And then you +say he is wild, do you not? <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr +B.</i>—Why, then, it is probable that animals are only +wild because they are afraid of being hurt, and that +they only run away from the fear of danger. I +believe you would do the same from a lion or a tiger. +<i>T.</i>—Indeed I would, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—And yet you do +not call yourself a wild animal? Tommy laughed +heartily at this, and said No. "Therefore," said<!-- Page 97 --> +Mr Barlow, "if you want to tame animals, you +must be good to them, and treat them kindly, and +then they will no longer fear you, but come to you +and love you." "Indeed," said Harry, "that is very +true; for I knew a little boy that took a great fancy +to a snake that lived in his father's garden; and, +when he had the milk for breakfast, he used to sit +under a nut tree and whistle, and the snake would +come to him and eat out of his bowl." <i>T.</i>—And +did it not bite him? <i>H.</i>—No; he sometimes used +to give it a pat with his spoon, if it ate too fast; but +it never hurt him.</p> + +<p>Tommy was much pleased with this conversation; +and, being both good-natured and desirous of +making experiments, he determined to try his skill +in taming animals. Accordingly, he took a large +slice of bread in his hand, and went out to seek +some animal that he might give it to. The first +thing that he happened to meet was a sucking pig +that had rambled from its mother, and was basking +in the sun. Tommy would not neglect the opportunity +of showing his talents; he therefore called +Pig, pig, pig! come hither, little pig! But the pig, +who did not exactly comprehend his intentions, +only grunted, and ran away. "You little ungrateful +thing," said Tommy, "do you treat me in this +manner, when I want to feed you? If you do not +know your friends I must teach you." So saying +this, he sprang at the pig, and caught him by the +hind-leg, intending to have given him the bread +which he had in his hand; but the pig, who was +not used to be treated in that manner, began +struggling and squeaking to that degree, that the<!-- Page 98 --> +sow, who was within hearing, came running to the +place, with all the rest of the litter at her heels. +As Tommy did not know whether she would be +pleased with his civilities to her young one or not, +he thought it most prudent to let it go; and the pig, +endeavouring to escape as speedily as possible, unfortunately +ran between his legs and threw him +down. The place where this accident happened +was extremely wet; therefore Tommy, in falling, +dirtied himself from head to foot; and the sow, who +came up at that instant, passed over him, as he +attempted to rise, and rolled him back again into +the mire.</p> + +<p>Tommy, who was not the coolest in his temper, +was extremely provoked at this ungrateful return +for his intended kindness; and, losing all patience, +he seized the sow by the hind-leg and began pommelling +her with all his might, as she attempted to +escape. The sow, as may be imagined, did not +relish such treatment, but endeavoured with all +her force to escape; but Tommy still keeping his +hold, and continuing his discipline, she struggled +with such violence as to drag him several yards, +squeaking at the same time in the most lamentable +manner, in which she was joined by the whole litter +of pigs.</p> + +<p>During the heat of this contest a large flock of +geese happened to be crossing the road, into the +midst of which the affrighted sow ran headlong, +dragging the enraged Tommy at her heels. The +goslings retreated with the greatest precipitation, +joining their mournful cackling to the general noise; +but a gander of more than common size and<!-- Page 99 --> +courage, resenting the unprovoked attack which had +been made upon his family, flew at Tommy's hinder +parts, and gave him several severe strokes with his bill.</p> + +<p>Tommy, whose courage had hitherto been unconquerable, +being thus unexpectedly attacked by +a new enemy, was obliged to yield to fortune, and +not knowing the precise extent of his danger, he +not only suffered the sow to escape, but joined his +vociferations to the general scream. This alarmed +Mr Barlow, who, coming up to the place, found his +pupil in the most woeful plight, daubed from head +to foot, with his face and hands as black as those of +any chimney-sweeper. He inquired what was the +matter; and Tommy, as soon as he had recovered +breath enough to speak, answered in this manner: +"Sir, all this is owing to what you told me about +taming animals; I wanted to make them tame and +gentle, and to love me, and you see the consequences." +"Indeed," said Mr Barlow, "I see you +have been ill-treated, but I hope you are not hurt; +and if it is owing to anything I have said, I shall +feel the more concern." "No," said Tommy, "I +cannot say that I am much hurt." "Why, then," +said Mr Barlow, "you had better go and wash +yourself; and, when you are clean, we will talk over +the affair together."</p> + +<p>When Tommy had returned, Mr Barlow asked +him how the accident had happened? and when he +had heard the story, he said, "I am very sorry for +your misfortune; but I do not perceive that I was +the cause of it, for I do not remember that I ever +advised you to catch pigs by the hinder <a name="tn_pg_108"></a><!--TN: End quote added after "leg."-->leg." +<i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir; but you told me that feeding<!-- Page 100 --> +animals was the way to make them love me; and +so I wanted to feed the pig. <i>Mr B.</i>—But it was +not my fault that you attempted it in a wrong +manner. The animal did not know your intentions, +and therefore, when you seized him in so +violent a manner, he naturally attempted to escape, +and his mother hearing his cries, very naturally +came to his assistance. All that happened was +owing to your inexperience. Before you meddle +with any animal, you should make yourself acquainted +with his nature and disposition, otherwise +you may fare like the little boy that, in +attempting to catch flies, was stung by a wasp; or +like another that, seeing an adder sleeping upon a +bank, took it for an eel, and was bitten by it, which +had nearly cost him his life. <i>T.</i>—But, sir, I +thought Harry had mentioned a little boy that used +to feed a snake without receiving any hurt from it. +<i>Mr B.</i>—That might very well happen; there is +scarcely any creature that will do hurt, unless it is +attacked or wants food; and some of these reptiles +are entirely harmless, others not; therefore the best +way is not to meddle with any till you are perfectly +acquainted with its nature. Had you observed this +rule, you never would have attempted to catch the +pig by the hinder leg, in order to tame it; and it +is very lucky that you did not make the experiment +upon a larger animal, otherwise you might have +been as badly treated as the tailor was by the +elephant. <i>T.</i>—Pray, sir, what is this curious story? +But first tell me, if you please, what an elephant is?</p> + +<p>"An elephant," said Mr Barlow, "is the largest +land animal that we are acquainted with. It is<!-- Page 101 --> +many times thicker than an ox, and grows to +the height of eleven or twelve feet. Its strength, +as may be easily imagined, is prodigious; but +it is at the same time so very gentle, that it +rarely does hurt to anything, even in woods where +it resides. It does not eat flesh, but lives upon +the fruits and branches of trees. But what is +most singular about its make is, that, instead of +a nose, it has a long hollow piece of flesh, which +grows over its mouth to the length of three or +four feet; this is called the trunk of the elephant; +and he is capable of bending it in every direction. +When he wants to break off the branch of a tree, +he twists his trunk round it, and snaps it off +directly; when he wants to drink, he lets it down +into the water, sucks up several gallons at a time, +and then, doubling the end of it back, discharges +it all into his mouth."</p> + +<p>"But if he is so large and strong," said Tommy, +"I should suppose it must be impossible ever to +tame him." "So perhaps it would," replied Mr +Barlow, "did they not instruct those that have been +already tamed to assist in catching others." <i>T.</i>—How +is that, sir? <i>Mr B.</i>—When they have discovered +a forest where these animals resort, they +make a large enclosure with strong pales and a deep +ditch, leaving only one entrance to it, which has a +strong gate left purposely open. They then let one +or two of their tame elephants loose, who join the +wild ones, and gradually entice them into the +enclosure. As soon as one of these has entered, a +man, who stands ready, shuts the gate, and takes +him prisoner. The animal, finding himself thus<!-- Page 102 --> +entrapped, begins to grow furious, and attempts to +escape; but immediately two tame ones, of the +largest size and greatest strength, who have been +placed there on purpose, come up to him, one on +each side, and beat him with their trunks till he +becomes more quiet. A man then comes behind, +ties a very large cord to each of his hind-legs, and +fastens the other end of it to two great trees. He is +then left without food for some hours, and in that +time generally becomes so docile as to suffer himself +to be conducted to the stable that is prepared for +him, where he lives the rest of his life like a horse, or +any other sort of domestic animal. <i>T.</i>—And pray, +sir, what did the elephant do to the tailor? "There +was," said Mr Barlow, "at Surat, a city where +many of these tame elephants are kept, a tailor, who +used to sit and work in his shed, close to the place +to which these elephants were led every day to drink. +This man contracted a kind of acquaintance with +one of the largest of these beasts, and used to present +him with fruits and other vegetables whenever +the elephant passed by his door. The elephant was +accustomed to put his long trunk in at the window, +and to receive in that manner whatever his friend +chose to give. But one day the tailor happened to +be in a more than ordinary ill-humour, and not considering +how dangerous it might prove to provoke +an animal of that size and strength, when the +elephant put his trunk in at the window as usual, +instead of giving him anything to eat, he pricked +him with his needle. The elephant instantly withdrew +his trunk, and, without showing any marks of +resentment, went on with the rest to drink; but,<!-- Page 103 --> +after he had quenched his thirst, he collected a large +quantity of the dirtiest water he could find in his +trunk—which I have already told you is capable of +holding many gallons—and, when he passed by the +tailor's shop, in his return, he discharged it full in +his face, with so true an aim, that he wetted him all +over, and almost drowned him; thus justly punishing +the man for his ill-nature and breach of friendship."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Harry, "considering the strength +of the animal, he must have had a great moderation +and generosity not to have punished the man more +severely; and therefore, I think it is a very great +shame to men ever to be cruel to animals, when they +are so affectionate and humane to them."</p> + +<p>"You are very right," said Mr Barlow; "and I +remember another story of an elephant, which, if +true, is still more extraordinary. These animals, +although in general they are as docile and obedient +to the person that takes care of them as a dog, are +sometimes seized with a species of impatience which +makes them absolutely ungovernable. It is then +dangerous to come near them, and very difficult to +restrain them. I should have mentioned, that in +the Eastern parts of the world, where elephants are +found, the kings and princes keep them to ride upon +as we do horses; a kind of tent or pavilion is fixed +upon the back of the animal, in which one or more +persons are placed; and the keeper that is used to +manage him sits upon the neck of the elephant, and +guides him by means of a pole with an iron hook at +the end. Now, as these animals are of great value, +the keeper is frequently severely punished if any<!-- Page 104 --> +accident happens to the animal by his carelessness. +But one day, one of the largest elephants, being +seized with a sudden fit of passion, had broken loose; +and, as the keeper was not in the way, nobody was +able to appease him, or dared to come near him. +While, therefore, he was running about in this manner, +he chanced to see the wife of his keeper (who +had often fed him as well as her husband), with her +young child in her arms, with which she was endeavouring +to escape from his fury. The woman +ran as fast as she was able; but, finding that it was +impossible for her to escape, because these beasts, +although so very large, are able to run very fast, she +resolutely turned about, and throwing her child +down before the elephant, thus accosted him, as if +he had been capable of understanding her: "You +ungrateful beast, is this the return you make for all +the benefits we have bestowed! Have we fed you, +and taken care of you, by day and night, during so +many years, only that you may at last destroy us +all? Crush, then, this poor innocent child and +me, in return for the services that my husband has +done you!" While she was making these passionate +exclamations, the elephant approached the place +where the little infant lay, but, instead of trampling +upon him, he stopped short, and looked at him with +earnestness, as if he had been sensible of shame and +confusion; and, his fury from that instant abating, +he suffered himself to be led without opposition to +his stable."</p> + +<p>Tommy thanked Mr Barlow for these two stories, +and promised for the future to use more discretion +in his kindness to animals.<!-- Page 105 --></p> + +<p>The next day Tommy and Harry went into the +garden to sow the wheat which Harry had brought +with him, upon a bed which Tommy had dug for +that purpose.</p> + +<p>While they were at work, Tommy said, "Pray, +Harry, did you ever hear the story of the men that +were obliged to live six years upon that terrible +cold country (I forget the name of it), where there +is nothing but snow and ice, and scarcely any other +animals, but great bears, that are ready to eat men +<a name="tn_pg_114"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "up?"-->up?" <i>Harry.</i>—Yes, I have. <i>T.</i>—And did not +the very thoughts of it frighten you dreadfully? +<i>H.</i>—No; I cannot say they did. <i>T.</i>—Why, should +you like to live in such a country? <i>H.</i>—No, +certainly; I am very happy that I was born in +such a country as this, where the weather is scarcely +ever too hot or too cold; but a man must bear +patiently whatever is his lot in this world. <i>T.</i>—That +is true. But should you not cry, and be very much +afflicted, if you were left upon such a country? +<i>H.</i>—I should certainly be very sorry if I was left +there alone, more especially as I am not big enough, +or strong enough, to defend myself against such +fierce animals; but the crying would do me no good; +it would be better to do something, and endeavour +to help myself. <i>T.</i>—Indeed I think it would; +but what could you do? <i>H.</i>—Why, I should endeavour +to build myself a house, if I could find myself +materials. <i>T.</i>—And what materials is a house +made of? I thought it had been impossible to +make a house without having a great many people +of different trades, such as carpenters and bricklayers. +<i>H.</i>—You know there are houses of different<!-- Page 106 --> +sizes. The houses that the poor people live in +are very different from your father's house. <i>T.</i>—Yes, +they are little, nasty, dirty, disagreeable places; I +should not like to live in them at all. <i>H.</i>—And +yet the poor are in general as strong and healthy as +the rich. But if you could have no other, you +would rather live in one of them than be exposed to +the weather? <i>T.</i>—Yes, certainly. And how would +you make one of them? <i>H.</i>—If I could get any +wood, and had a hatchet, I would cut down some +branches of trees, and stick them upright in the +ground, near to each other. <i>T.</i>—And what then? +<i>H.</i>—I would then get some other branches, but +more full of small wood; and these I would interweave +between them, just as we make hurdles to +confine the sheep; and then, as that might not be +warm enough to resist the wind and cold, I would +cover them over, both within and without, with +clay. <i>T.</i>—Clay! what is that? <i>H.</i>—It is a particular +kind of earth, that sticks to your feet when +you tread upon it, or to your hands when you touch +it. <i>T.</i>—I declare I did not think it had been so +easy to make a house. And do you think that +people could really live in such houses? <i>H.</i>—Certainly +they might, because many persons live in +such houses here; and I have been told that in +many parts of the world they have not any other. +<i>T.</i>—Really, I should like to try to make a house; +do you think, Harry, that you and I could make +one? <i>H.</i>—Yes, if I had wood and clay enough, I +think I could, and a small hatchet to sharpen the +stakes and make them enter the ground.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then came to call them in to read, and<!-- Page 107 --> +told Tommy that, as he had been talking so much +about good-nature to animals, he had looked him +out a very pretty story upon the subject, and begged +that he would read it well. "That I will," said +Tommy; "for I begin to like reading extremely; and +I think that I am happier too since I learned it, for +now I can always divert myself." "Indeed," answered +Mr Barlow, "most people find it so. When +any one can read he will not find the knowledge +any burthen to him, and it is his own fault if he is +not constantly amused. This is an advantage, +Tommy, which a gentleman, since you are so fond +of the word, may more particularly enjoy, because he +has so much time at his own disposal; and it is +much better that he should distinguish himself by +having more knowledge and improvement than +others, than by fine clothes, or any such trifles, +which any one may have that can purchase them as +well as himself."</p> + +<p>Tommy then read, with a clear and distinct voice, +the following story of</p> + + +<h3>"THE GOOD-NATURED LITTLE BOY."</h3> + +<p>"A little boy went out one morning to walk to a +village about five miles from the place where he +lived, and carried with him in a basket the provision +that was to serve him the whole day. As he +was walking along, a poor little half-starved dog +came up to him, wagging his tail, and seeming to +entreat him to take compassion on him. The little +boy at first took no notice of him, but at length, +remarking how lean and famished the creature<!-- Page 108 --> +seemed to be, he said, 'This animal is certainly in +very great necessity; if I give him part of my provision, +I shall be obliged to go home hungry myself; +however, as he seems to want it more than I do, he +shall partake with me.' Saying this, he gave the +dog part of what he had in the basket, who ate as +if he had not tasted victuals for a fortnight.</p> + +<p>"The little boy then went on a little farther, his dog +still following him, and fawning upon him with the +greatest gratitude and affection, when he saw a poor +old horse lying upon the ground, and groaning as if +he was very ill; he went up to him, and saw that he +was almost starved, and so weak that he was unable +to rise. 'I am very much afraid,' said the little +boy, 'if I stay to assist this horse, that it will be +dark before I can return; and I have heard that +there are several thieves in the neighbourhood; +however, I will try—it is doing a good action to +attempt to relieve him; and God Almighty will take +care of me.' He then went and gathered some grass, +which he brought to the horse's mouth, who immediately +began to eat with as much relish as if his +chief disease was hunger. He then fetched some +water in his hat, which the animal drank up, and +seemed immediately to be so much refreshed that, +after a few trials, he got up and began grazing.</p> + +<p>"The little boy then went on a little farther, and +saw a man wading about in a pond of water, without +being able to get out of it, in spite of all his +endeavours. 'What is the matter, good man,' +said the little boy to him; 'can't you find your +way out of this pond?' 'No, God bless you, my +worthy master, or miss,' said the man, 'for such<!-- Page 109 --> +I take you to be by your voice; I have fallen into +this pond, and know not how to get out again, as +I am quite blind, and I am almost afraid to move +for fear of being drowned.' 'Well,' said the little +boy, 'though I shall be wetted to the skin, if you +will throw me your stick I will try to help you out +of it.' The blind man then threw the stick to that +side on which he heard the voice; the little boy +caught it, and went into the water, feeling very +carefully before him, lest he should unguardedly +go beyond his depth; at length he reached the blind +man, took him very carefully by the hand, and led +him out. The blind man then gave him a thousand +blessings, and told him he could grope out his way +home; and the little boy ran on as hard as he +could, to prevent being benighted.</p> + +<p>"But he had not proceeded far before he saw a +poor sailor, who had lost both his legs in an engagement +by sea, hopping along upon crutches. 'God +bless you, my little master!' said the sailor; 'I +have fought many a battle with the French, to defend +poor old England; but now I am crippled, as +you see, and have neither victuals nor money, although +I am almost famished.' The little boy could +not resist the inclination to relieve him; so he gave +him all his remaining victuals, and said, 'God +help you, poor man! this is all I have, otherwise +you should have more.' He then ran along and +presently arrived at the town he was going to, did +his business, and returned towards his own home +with all the expedition he was able.</p> + +<p>"But he had not gone much more than half-way +before the night shut in extremely dark, without<!-- Page 110 --> +either moon or stars to light him. The poor little +boy used his utmost endeavours to find his way, +but unfortunately missed it in turning down a lane +which brought him into a wood, where he wandered +about a great while without being able to find any +path to lead him out. Tired out at last, and +hungry, he felt himself so feeble that he could go no +farther, but set himself down upon the ground, crying +most bitterly. In this situation he remained +for some time, till at last the little dog, who had +never forsaken him, came up to him wagging his +tail, and holding something in his mouth. The +little boy took it from him, and saw it was a handkerchief +nicely pinned together, which somebody +had dropped, and the dog, had picked up, and on +opening it he found several slices of bread and meat, +which the little boy ate with great satisfaction, and +felt himself extremely refreshed with his meal. +'So,' said the little boy, 'I see that if I have given +you a breakfast, you have given me a supper; and a +good turn is never lost, done even to a dog.'</p> + +<p>"He then once more attempted to escape from +the wood, but it was to no purpose; he only +scratched his legs with briers and slipped down in +the dirt, without being able to find his way out. +He was just going to give up all further attempts +in despair, when he happened to see a horse feeding +before him, and, going up to him, saw, by the +light of the moon, which just then began to shine +a little, that it was the very same he had fed in the +morning. 'Perhaps,' said the little boy, 'this +creature, as I have been so good to him, will let me +get upon his back, and he may bring me out of the<!-- Page 111 --> +wood; as he is accustomed to feed in this neighbourhood.' +The little boy then went up to the horse, +speaking to him and stroking him, and the horse let +him mount his back without opposition, and then +proceeded slowly through the wood, grazing as he +went, till he brought him to an opening which led to +the high road. The little boy was much rejoiced at +this, and said, 'If I had not saved this creature's +life in the morning, I should have been obliged to +have stayed here all night; I see by this, that a good +turn is never lost.'</p> + +<p>"But the poor little boy had yet a greater danger to +undergo; for, as he was going down a solitary lane, +two men rushed out upon him, laid hold of him, and +were going to strip him of his clothes; but just as +they were beginning to do it, the little dog bit the +leg of one of the men with so much violence, that he +left the little boy and pursued the dog, that ran +howling and barking away. In this instant a voice +was hard that cried out, 'There the rascals are; +let us knock them down!' which frightened the +remaining man so much that he ran away, and +his companion followed him. The little boy then +looked up, and saw it was the sailor whom he had +relieved in the morning, carried upon the shoulders +of the blind man whom he had helped out of the +pond. 'There, my little dear,' said the sailor, 'God +be thanked! we have come in time to do you a +service, in return for what you did us in the morning. +As I lay under a hedge I heard these villains +talk of robbing a little boy, who, from the description, +I concluded must be you; but I was so lame +that I should not have been able to come time<!-- Page 112 --> +enough to help you, if I had not meet this honest +blind man, who took me upon his back while I +showed him the way.'</p> + +<p>"The little boy thanked him very sincerely for thus +defending him; and they went all together to his +father's house, which was not far off, where they +were all kindly entertained with a supper and a bed. +The little boy took care of his faithful dog as long as +he lived, and never forgot the importance and necessity +of doing good to others, if we wish them to do +the same to us."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word," said Tommy, when he had +finished, "I am vastly pleased with this story, and I +think that it may very likely be true, for I have +myself observed that everything seems to love little +Harry here, merely <a name="tn_pg_121"></a><!--TN: "bcause" changed to "because"-->because he is good-natured to it. I +was much surprised to see the great dog the other day, +which I have never dared to touch for fear of being +bitten, fawning upon him and licking him all over; +it put me in mind of the story of Androcles and the +lion." "That dog," said Mr Barlow, "will be +equally fond of you, if you are kind to him; for +nothing equals the sagacity and gratitude of a dog. +But since you have read a story about a good-natured +boy, Harry shall read you another concerning +a boy of a contrary disposition."</p> + +<p>Harry read the following story of</p> + + +<h3>"THE ILL-NATURED BOY."</h3> + +<p>"There was once a little boy who was so unfortunate +as to have a very bad man for his father, +who was always surly and ill-tempered, and never<!-- Page 113 --> +gave his children either good instructions or good +example; in consequence of which this little boy, +who might otherwise have been happier and better, +became ill-natured, quarrelsome, and disagreeable +to everybody. He very often was severely beaten +for his impertinence by boys that were bigger than +himself, and sometimes by boys that were less; for, +though he was very abusive and quarrelsome, he did +not much like fighting, and generally trusted more +to his heels than his courage, when he had engaged +himself in a quarrel. This little boy had a cur-dog +that was the exact image of himself; he was the +most troublesome, surly creature imaginable,—always +barking at the heels of every horse he came +near, and worrying every sheep he could meet with—for +which reason both the dog and the boy were +disliked by all the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>"One morning his father got up early to go to the +alehouse, where he intended to stay till night, as it +was a holiday; but before he went out he gave his +son some bread and cold meat and sixpence, and +told him he might go and divert himself as he would +the whole day. The little boy was much pleased +with this liberty; and, as it was a very fine morning, +he called his dog Tiger to follow him, and began his +walk.</p> + +<p>"He had not proceeded far before he met a little +boy that was driving a flock of sheep towards +a gate that he wanted them to enter. 'Pray, +master,' said the little boy, 'stand still and keep +your dog close to you, for fear you frighten my +sheep.' 'Oh yes, to be sure!' answered the ill-natured +boy, 'I am to wait here all the morning<!-- Page 114 --> +till you and your sheep have passed, I suppose! +Here, Tiger, seize them, boy!' Tiger at this +sprang forth into the middle of the flock, barking +and biting on every side, and the sheep, in a general +consternation, hurried each a separate way. Tiger +seemed to enjoy this sport equally with his master; +but in the midst of his triumph he happened unguardedly +to attack an old ram that had more courage +than the rest of the flock; he, instead of running +away, faced about, and aimed a blow with his forehead +at his enemy, with so much force and dexterity, +that he knocked Tiger over and over, and, +butting him several times while he was down, obliged +him to limp howling away.</p> + +<p>"The ill-natured little boy, who was not capable of +loving anything, had been much diverted with the +trepidation of the sheep; but now he laughed heartily +at the misfortune of his dog; and he would have +laughed much longer, had not the other little boy, +provoked beyond his patience at this treatment +thrown a stone at him, which hit him full upon the +temples, and almost knocked him down. He immediately +began to cry, in concert with his dog, and +perceiving a man coming towards them, who he +fancied might be the owner of the sheep, he thought +it most prudent to escape as speedily as possible.</p> + +<p>"But he had scarcely recovered from the smart +which the blow had occasioned, before his former mischievous +disposition returned, which he determined to +gratify to the utmost. He had not gone far before he +saw a little girl standing by a stile with a large pot +of milk at her feet. 'Pray,' said the little girl, +'help me up with this pot of milk; my mother sent<!-- Page 115 --> +me out to fetch it this morning, and I have brought +it above a mile upon my head; but I am so tired +that I have been obliged to stop at this stile to rest +me; and if I don't return home presently we shall +have no pudding to-day, and besides my mother will +be very angry with me.' 'What,' said the boy, +'you are to have a pudding to-day, are you, miss?' +'Yes,' said the girl, 'and a fine piece of roast-beef; +for there's uncle Will, and uncle John, and grandfather, +and all my cousins, to dine with us, and we +shall be very merry in the evening, I can assure +you; so pray help me up as speedily as possible.' +'That I will, miss,' said the boy; and, taking up +the jug, he pretended to fix it upon her head; but as +she had hold of it, he gave it a little push, as if he +had stumbled, and overturned it upon her. The +little girl began to cry violently, but the mischievous +boy ran away laughing heartily, and saying, 'Good-by, +little miss; give my humble service to +uncle Will, and grandfather, and the dear little +cousins.'</p> + +<p>"This prank encouraged him very much; for he +thought he had now certainly escaped without any +bad consequences; so he went on applauding his +own ingenuity, and came to a green where several +little boys were at play. He desired leave to play +with them, which they allowed him to do. But he +could not be contented long without exerting his +evil disposition; so taking an opportunity when it +was his turn to fling the ball, instead of flinging it +the way he ought to have done, he threw it into a +deep muddy ditch. The little boys ran in a great +hurry to see what was become of it; and as they<!-- Page 116 --> +were standing together upon the brink, he gave +the outermost boy a violent push against his neighbour; +he, not being able to resist the violence, +tumbled against another, by which means they +were all soused into the ditch together. They +soon scrambled out, although in a dirty plight, and +were going to have punished him for his ill behaviour; +but he patted Tiger upon the back, who +began snarling and growling in such a manner as +made them desist. Thus this mischievous little +boy escaped a second time with impunity.</p> + +<p>"The next thing that he met with was a poor +jackass, feeding very quietly in a ditch. The little +boy, seeing that nobody was within sight, thought +this was an opportunity of plaguing an animal +that was not to be lost; so he went and cut a large +bunch of thorns, which he contrived to fix upon the +poor beast's tail, and then, setting Tiger at him, he +was extremely diverted to see the fright and agony +the creature was in. But it did not fare so well +with Tiger, who, while he was baying and biting +the animal's heels, received so severe a kick upon his +forehead, as laid him dead upon the spot. The boy, +who had no affection for his dog, left him with the +greatest unconcern when he saw what had happened, +and, finding himself hungry, sat down by the wayside +to eat his dinner.</p> + +<p>"He had not been long there before a poor blind +man came groping his way out with a couple of +sticks. 'Good morning to you, gaffer,' said the +boy; 'pray, did you see a little girl come this road, +with a basket of eggs upon her head, dressed in a +green gown, with a straw hat upon her head?'<!-- Page 117 --> +'God bless you, master,' said the beggar, 'I am so +blind that I can see nothing; I have been blind +these twenty years, and they call me poor old blind +Richard.'</p> + +<p>"Though this poor man was such an object of +charity and compassion, yet the little boy determined, +as usual, to play him some trick; and, as he +was a great liar and deceiver, he spoke to him thus: +'Poor old Richard, I am heartily sorry for you +with all my heart; I am just eating my breakfast, +and if you will sit down by me I will give you part +and feed you myself.' 'Thank you with all my +heart,' said the poor man; 'and if you will give me +your hand, I will sit by you with great pleasure, my +dear, good little master!' The little boy then gave +him his hand, and, pretending to direct him, guided +him to sit down in a large heap of wet dung that lay +by the road-side. 'There,' said he, 'now you are +nicely seated, and I will feed you.' So, taking a +little in his fingers, he was going to put it into the +blind man's mouth; but the man, who now perceived +the trick that had been played him, made a +sudden snap at his fingers, and, getting them +between his teeth, bit them so severely that the +wicked boy roared out for mercy, and promised +never more to be guilty of such wickedness. At last +the blind man, after he had put him to very severe +pain, consented to let him go, saying as he went, +'Are you not ashamed, you little scoundrel, to +attempt to do hurt to those who have never injured +you, and to want to add to the sufferings of those +who are already sufficiently miserable? Although +you escape now, be assured that, if you do not<!-- Page 118 --> +repent and mend your manners, you will meet with +a severe punishment for your bad behaviour.'</p> + +<p>"One would think that this punishment should +have cured him entirely of his mischievous disposition; +but, unfortunately, nothing is so difficult to +overcome as bad habits that have been long indulged. +He had not gone far before he saw a lame +beggar, that just made a shift to support himself by +means of a couple of sticks. The beggar asked him +to give him something, and the little mischievous +boy, pulling out his sixpence, threw it down just +before him, as if he intended to make him a present +of it; but, while the poor man was stooping with +difficulty to pick it up, this wicked little boy knocked +the stick away, by which means the beggar fell +down upon his face; and then, snatching up the +sixpence, the boy ran away, laughing very heartily +at the accident.</p> + +<p>"This was the last trick this ungracious boy had +it in his power to play; for, seeing two men come +up to the beggar, and enter into discourse with him, +he was afraid of being pursued, and therefore ran +as fast as he was able over several fields. At last +he came into a lane which led into a farmer's +orchard, and as he was preparing to clamber over +the fence, a large dog seized him by the leg and held +him fast. He cried out in agony of terror, which +brought the farmer out, who called the dog off, but +seized him very roughly, saying, 'So, sir, you are +caught at last, are you? You thought you might +come day after day and steal my apples without +detection; but it seems you are mistaken, and now +you shall receive the punishment you have so long<!-- Page 119 --> +deserved.' The farmer then began to chastise him +very severely with a whip he had in his hand, and +the boy in vain protested he was innocent, and +begged for mercy. At last the farmer asked him +who he was, and where he lived; but when he +heard his name he cried out, 'What! are you the +little rascal that frightened my sheep this morning, +by which means several of them are lost; and do you +think to escape?' Saying this, he lashed him more +severely than before, in spite of all his cries and protestations. +At length, thinking he had punished +him enough, he turned him out of the orchard, bade +him go home, and frighten sheep again if he liked +the consequences.</p> + +<p>"The little boy slunk away, crying very bitterly +(for he had been very severely beaten), and now +began to find that no one can long hurt others with +impunity; so he determined to go quietly home, and +behave better for the future.</p> + +<p>"But his sufferings were not yet at an end; for as +he jumped down from a stile, he felt himself very +roughly seized, and, looking up, found that he was +in the power of the lame beggar whom he had +thrown upon his face. It was in vain that he now +cried, entreated, and begged pardon; the man, who +had been much hurt by his fall, thrashed him very +severely with his stick, before he would part with +him. He now again went on, crying and roaring +with pain, but at least expected to escape without +further damage. But here he was mistaken; for as +he was walking slowly through a lane, just as he +turned a corner, he found himself in the middle of +the very troop of boys that he had used so ill in the<!-- Page 120 --> +morning. They all set up a shout as soon as they +saw their enemy in their power without his dog, and +began persecuting him a thousand various ways. +Some pulled him by the hair, others pinched him; +some whipped his legs with their handkerchiefs, +while others covered him with handfuls of dirt. In +vain did he attempt to escape; they were still at his +heels, and, surrounding him on every side, continued +their persecutions. At length, while he was in this +disagreeable situation, he happened to come up to +the same jackass he had seen in the morning, and, +making a sudden spring, jumped upon his back, +hoping by these means to escape. The boys immediately +renewed their shouts, and the ass, who was +frightened at the noise, began galloping with all his +might, and presently bore him from the reach of his +enemies. But he had but little reason to rejoice at +this escape, for he found it impossible to stop the +animal, and was every instant afraid of being thrown +of and dashed upon the ground. After he had been +thus hurried along a considerable time, the ass on a +sudden stopped short at the door of a cottage, and +began kicking and prancing with so much fury that +the little boy was presently thrown to the ground, +and broke his leg in the fall. His cries immediately +brought the family out, among whom was the very +little girl he had used so ill in the morning. But +she with the greatest good-nature, seeing him in +such a pitiable situation, assisted in bringing him in, +and laying him upon the bed. There this unfortunate +boy had leisure to recollect himself, and reflect +upon his own bad behaviour, which in one day's +time had exposed him to such a variety of misfor<!-- Page 121 -->tunes; +and he determined with great sincerity, that, +if ever he recovered from his present accident, he +would be as careful to take every opportunity of +doing good, as he had before been to commit every +species of mischief."</p> + +<p>When the story was ended, Tommy said it was +very surprising to see how differently the two little +boys fared. The one little boy was good-natured, +and therefore everything he met became his friend +and assisted him in return; the other, who was ill-natured, +made everything his enemy, and therefore +he met with nothing but misfortunes and vexations, +and nobody seemed to feel any compassion for him, +excepting the poor little girl that assisted him at +last, which was very kind indeed of her, considering +how ill she had been used.</p> + +<p>"That is very true, indeed," said Mr Barlow; +"nobody is loved in this world unless he loves +others and does good to them; and nobody can tell +but one time or other he may want the assistance +of the meanest and lowest; therefore, every sensible +man will behave well to everything around him; +he will behave well, because it is his duty to do it, +because every benevolent person feels the greatest +pleasure in doing good, and even because it is his +own interest to make as many friends as possible. +No one can tell, however secure his present situation +may appear, how soon it may alter, and he may +have occasion for the compassion of those who are +now infinitely below him. I could show you a story +to that purpose, but you have read enough, and +therefore you must now go out and use some +exercise."<!-- Page 122 --></p> + +<p>"Oh pray, sir," said Tommy, "do let me hear +the story; I think I could now read for ever without +being tired." "No," said Mr Barlow; "everything +has its turn; to-morrow you shall read, but now +we must work in the garden." "Then pray, sir," +said Tommy, "may I ask a favour of you?" +"Surely," answered Mr Barlow; "if it is proper +for you to have, there is nothing can give me a +greater pleasure than to grant it." "Why, then," +said Tommy, "I have been thinking that a man +should know how to do everything in the world." +<i>Mr B.</i>—Very right; the more knowledge he acquires +the better. <i>T.</i>—And therefore Harry and I are +going to build a house. <i>Mr B.</i>—To build a house! +Well, and have you laid in a sufficient quantity of +brick and mortar? "No, no," said Tommy, smiling; +"Harry and I can build houses without brick +and mortar." <i>Mr B.</i>—What are they to be made +of, then—cards? "Dear sir," answered Tommy, +"do you think we are such little children as to want +card-houses? No; we are going to build real houses, +fit for people to live in. And then, you know, if +ever we should be thrown upon a desert coast, as +the poor men were, we shall be able to supply ourselves +with necessaries till some ship comes to take +us away." <i>Mr B.</i>—And if no ship should come, what +then? <i>T.</i>—Why, then, we must stay there all our +lives, I am afraid. <i>Mr B.</i>—If you wish to prepare +yourselves against the event, you are much in the +right, for nobody knows what may happen to him in +this world. What is it then you want, to make +your house? <i>T.</i>—The first thing we want, sir, is +wood and a hatchet. <i>Mr B.</i>—Wood you shall have<!-- Page 123 --> +in plenty; but did you ever use a hatchet? <i>T.</i>—No, +sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—Then I am afraid to let you have +one, because it is a very dangerous kind of tool; and +if you are not expert in the use of it you may wound +yourself severely. But if you will let me know what +you want, I, who am more strong and expert, will +take the hatchet and cut down the wood for you. +"Thank you, sir," said Tommy; "you are very +good to me, indeed." And away Harry and he ran +to the copse at the bottom of the garden.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then went to work, and presently, by +Harry's direction, cut down several poles about as +thick as a man's wrist, and about eight feet long; +these he sharpened at the end, in order to run into +the ground; and so eager were the two little boys at +the business, that, in a very short time, they had +transported them all to the bottom of the garden; +and Tommy entirely forgot he was a gentleman, and +worked with the greatest eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Mr Barlow, "where will you fix +your house?" "Here, I think," answered Tommy, +"just at the bottom of this hill, because it will be +warm and sheltered."</p> + +<p>So Harry took the stakes and began to thrust +them into the ground at about the distance of a foot, +and in this manner he enclosed a piece of ground, +which was about ten feet long and eight feet wide—leaving +an opening in the middle, of three feet wide, +for a door. After this was done they gathered up +the brushwood that was cut off, and by Harry's +direction they interwove it between the poles in such +a manner as to form a compact kind of fence. This +labour, as may be imagined, took them up several<!-- Page 124 --> +days; however, they worked at it very hard every +day, and every day the work advanced, which filled +Tommy's heart with so much pleasure that he +thought himself the happiest little boy in the universe.</p> + +<p>But this employment did not make Tommy unmindful +of the story which Mr Barlow had promised +him; it was to this purport:—</p> + + +<h3>"THE STORY OF THE GRATEFUL TURK."</h3> + +<p>"It is too much to be lamented that different +nations frequently make bloody wars with each +other; and when they take any of their enemies +prisoners, instead of using them well, and restoring +them to liberty, they confine them in prisons, or sell +them as slaves. The enmity that there is often +between many of the Italian states (particularly the +Venetians) and the Turks is sufficiently known.</p> + +<p>"It once happened that a Venetian ship had +taken many of the Turks prisoners, and according to +the barbarous customs I have mentioned, these +unhappy men had been sold to different persons in +the city. By accident, one of the slaves lived +opposite to the house of a rich Venetian, who had +an only son of about the age of twelve years. It +happened that this little boy used frequently to stop +as he passed near Hamet (for that was the name of +the slave), and gaze at him very attentively. Hamet, +who remarked in the face of the child the appearance +of good-nature and compassion, used always +to salute him with the greatest courtesy, and testified +the greatest pleasure in his company. At length<!-- Page 125 --> +the little boy took such a fancy to the slave that +he used to visit him several times in the day, and +brought him such little presents as he had it in his +power to make, and which he thought would be of +use to his friend.</p> + +<p>"But though Hamet seemed always to take the +greatest delight in the innocent caresses of his little +friend, yet the child could not help remarking that +Hamet was frequently extremely sorrowful, and he +often surprised him on a sudden when tears were +trickling down his face, although he did his utmost +to conceal them. The little boy was at length so +much affected with the repetition of this sight that +he spoke of it to his father, and begged him, if he +had it in his power, to make poor Hamet happy. +The father, who was extremely fond of his son, and +besides had observed that he seldom requested anything +which was not generous and humane, determined +to see the Turk himself and talk to him.</p> + +<p>"Accordingly he went to him the next day, and, +observing him for some time in silence, was struck +with the extraordinary appearance of mildness +and honesty which his countenance discovered. +At length he said to him, 'Are you that Hamet of +whom my son is so fond, and of whose gentleness and +courtesy I have so often heard him talk?' 'Yes,' +said the Turk, 'I am that unfortunate Hamet, who +have now been for three years a captive; during +that space of time your son (if you are his father) +is the only human being that seems to have felt any +compassion for my sufferings; therefore, I must confess, +he is the only object to which I am attached in +this barbarous country; and night and morning I<!-- Page 126 --> +pray that Power, who is equally the God of Turks +and Christians, to grant him every blessing he +deserves, and to preserve him from all the miseries +I suffer.'</p> + +<p>"'Indeed, Hamet,' said the merchant, 'he is +much obliged to you, although, from his present +circumstances, he does not appear much exposed to +danger. But tell me, for I wish to do you good, in +what can I assist you? for my son informs me +that you are the prey of continual regret and +sorrow.'</p> + +<p>"'Is it wonderful,' answered the Turk, with a +glow of generous indignation that suddenly animated +his countenance, 'is it wonderful that I +should pine in silence, and mourn my fate, who am +bereft of the first and noblest present of nature—my +liberty?' 'And yet,' answered the Venetian, 'how +many thousands of our nation do you retain in +fetters?'</p> + +<p>"'I am not answerable,' said the Turk, 'for the +cruelty of my countrymen, more than you are for the +barbarity of yours. But as to myself, I have never +practised the inhuman custom of enslaving my +fellow creatures; I have never spoiled the Venetian +merchants of their property to increase my riches; +I have always respected the rights of nature, and +therefore it is the more severe.'——Here a tear +started from his eye, and wetted his manly cheek; +instantly however, he recollected himself, and folding +his arm upon his bosom, and gently bowing his +head, he added, 'God is good, and man must submit +to his decrees.'</p> + +<p>"The Venetian was affected with this appearance<!-- Page 127 --> +of manly fortitude, and said, 'Hamet, I pity your +sufferings, and may perhaps be able to relieve them. +What would you do to regain your liberty?' 'What +would I do!' answered Hamet; 'by the eternal +Majesty of Heaven, I would confront every pain and +danger that can appal the heart of man!' 'Nay,' +answered the merchant, 'you will not be exposed to +a trial. The means of your deliverance are certain, +provided your courage does not belie your <a name="tn_pg_136"></a><!--TN: Single quote added after "appearance."-->appearance.' +'Name them! name them!' cried the impatient +Hamet; 'place death before me in every +horrid shape, and if I shrink——'</p> + +<p>"'Patience,' answered the merchant, 'we shall be +observed; but hear me attentively. I have in this +city an inveterate foe, who has heaped upon me +every injury which can most bitterly sting the +heart of man. This man is brave as he is haughty; +and I must confess that the dread of his strength +and valour has hitherto deterred me from resenting +his insults as they deserve. Now, Hamet, your look, +your form, your words, convince me that you were +born for manly daring. Take this dagger; as soon +as the shades of night involve the city I will myself +conduct you to the place where you may at once +revenge your friend and regain your freedom.'</p> + +<p>"At this proposal, scorn and shame flashed from +the kindling eye of Hamet, and passion for a +considerable time deprived him of the power of +utterance; at length he lifted his arm as high as his +chains would permit, and cried, with an indignant +tone, 'Mighty prophet! and are these the wretches +to whom you permit your faithful votaries to be +enslaved! Go, base Christian, and know that Hamet<!-- Page 128 --> +would not stoop to the vile trade of an assassin for +all the wealth of Venice! no! not to purchase the +freedom of all his race!'</p> + +<p>"At these words the merchant, without seeming +much abashed, told him he was sorry he had offended +him; but that he thought freedom had been dearer +to him than he found it was. 'However,' added +he, as he turned his back, 'you will reflect upon my +proposal, and perhaps by to-morrow you may change +your mind.' Hamet disdained to answer; and the +merchant went his way.</p> + +<p>"The next day, however, he returned in company +with his son, and mildly accosted Hamet thus: +'The abruptness of the proposal I yesterday made +you might perhaps astonish you, but I am now come +to discourse the matter more calmly with you, and +I doubt not, when you have heard my reasons——'</p> + +<p>"'Christian!' interrupted Hamet, with a severe +but composed countenance, 'cease at length to +insult the miserable with proposals more shocking +than even these chains. If thy religion permit such +acts as those, know that they are execrable and +abominable to the soul of every Mohammedan; +therefore, from this moment, let us break off all +further intercourse and be strangers to each other.'</p> + +<p>"'No,' answered the merchant, flinging himself +into the arms of Hamet, 'let us from this moment +be more closely linked than ever! Generous man, +whose virtues may at once disarm and enlighten thy +enemies! <a name="tn_pg_137"></a><!--TN: "fondness" changed to "Fondness"-->Fondness for my son first made me +interested in thy fate; but from the moment that I +saw thee yesterday I determined to set thee free; +therefore, pardon me this unnecessary trial of thy<!-- Page 129 --> +virtue, which has only raised thee higher in my +esteem. Francisco has a soul which is as averse to +deeds of treachery and blood as even Hamet himself. +From this moment, generous man, thou art free; +thy ransom is already paid, with no other obligation +than that of remembering the affection of this +thy young and faithful friend; and perhaps hereafter, +when thou seest an unhappy Christian groaning +in Turkish fetters, thy generosity may make thee +think of Venice.'</p> + +<p>"It is impossible to describe the ecstasies or the +gratitude of Hamet at this unexpected deliverance; +I will not, therefore, attempt to repeat what he said +to his benefactors; I will only add that he was that +day set free, and Francisco embarked him on board +a ship which was going to one of the Grecian islands, +took leave of him with the greatest tenderness, and +forced him to accept a purse of gold to pay his +expenses. Nor was it without the greatest regret +that Hamet parted from his young friend, whose +disinterested kindness had thus procured his freedom; +he embraced him with an agony of tenderness, +wept over him at parting, and prayed for every +blessing upon his head.</p> + +<p>"About six months after this transaction a sudden +fire burst forth in the house of this generous merchant. +It was early in the morning, when sleep is the +most profound, and none of the family perceived it +till almost the whole building was involved in flames. +The frightened servants had just time to waken the +merchant and hurry him down stairs, and the instant +he was down, the staircase itself gave way and sunk +with a horrid crash into the midst of the fire.<!-- Page 130 --></p> + +<p>"But if Francisco congratulated himself for an +instant upon his escape, it was only to resign himself +immediately after to the most deep despair, when he +found, upon inquiry, that his son, who slept in an +upper apartment, had been neglected in the general +tumult, and was yet amidst the flames. No words +can describe the father's agony; he would have +rushed headlong into the fire, but was restrained +by his servants; he then raved in an agony of +grief, and offered half his fortune to the intrepid +man who would risk his life to save his child. As +Francisco was known to be immensely rich, several +ladders were in an instant raised, and several +daring spirits, incited by the vast reward, attempted +the adventure. The violence of the flames, however, +which burst forth at every window, together with the +ruins that fell on every side, drove them all back; and +the unfortunate youth, who now appeared upon the +battlements, stretching out his arms and imploring +aid, seemed to be destined to certain destruction.</p> + +<p>"The unhappy father now lost all perception, and +sunk down in a state of insensibility, when, in this +dreadful moment of general suspense and agony, a +man rushed through the opening crowd, mounted +the tallest of the ladders with an intrepidity that +showed he was resolved to succeed or perish, and +instantly disappeared. A sudden gust of smoke and +flame burst forth immediately after, which made the +people imagine he was lost; when, on a sudden, +they beheld him emerge again with the child in his +arms, and descend the ladder without any material +damage. A universal shout of applause now +resounded to the skies; but what words can give<!-- Page 131 --> +an adequate idea of the father's feelings, when, on +recovering his senses, he found his darling miraculously +preserved, and safe within his arms?</p> + +<p>"After the first effusions of his tenderness were +over, he asked for his deliverer, and was shown a +man of a noble stature, but dressed in mean attire, +and his features were so begrimed with smoke and +filth that it was impossible to distinguish them. +Francisco, however, accosted him with courtesy, +and, presenting him with a purse of gold, begged he +would accept of that for the present, and that the +next day he should receive to the utmost of his +promised reward. 'No, generous merchant,' answered +the stranger, 'I do not sell my blood.'</p> + +<p>"'Gracious heavens!' cried the merchant, 'sure +I should know that voice?—It <a name="tn_pg_140"></a><!--TN: Single quote moved to after the dash-->is——' 'Yes,' exclaimed +the son, throwing himself into the arms of +his deliverer, 'it is my Hamet!'</p> + +<p>"It was indeed Hamet, who stood before them in +the same mean attire which he had worn six months +before, when the first generosity of the merchant +had redeemed him from <a name="tn_pg_140a"></a><!--TN: Period added after "slavery"-->slavery. Nothing could +equal the astonishment and gratitude of Francisco; +but as they were then surrounded by a large concourse +of people, he desired Hamet to go with him +to the house of one of his friends, and when they +were alone he embraced him tenderly, and asked by +what extraordinary chance he had thus been enslaved +a second time, adding a kind of reproach for +his not informing him of his captivity.</p> + +<p>"'I bless God for that captivity,' answered +Hamet, 'since it has given me an opportunity of +showing that I was not altogether undeserving of<!-- Page 132 --> +your kindness, and of preserving the life of that dear +youth, that I value a thousand times beyond my +own. But it is now fit that my generous patron +should be informed of the whole truth. Know, then, +that when the unfortunate Hamet was taken by +your galleys, his aged father shared his captivity—it +was his fate which so often made me shed those +tears which first attracted the notice of your son; +and when your unexampled bounty had set me free, +I flew to find the Christian who had purchased him. +I represented to him that I was young and vigorous, +while he was aged and infirm; I added, too, the gold +which I had received from your bounty; in a word, +I prevailed upon the Christian to send back my father +in that ship which was intended for me, without acquainting +him with the means of his freedom; since +that time I have staid here to discharge the debt +of nature and gratitude, a willing slave——'"</p> + +<p>At this part of the story, Harry, who had with +difficulty restrained himself before, burst into such a +fit of crying, and Tommy himself was so much +affected, that Mr Barlow told them they had better +leave off for the present and go to some other employment. +They therefore went into the garden to +resume the labour of their house, but found, to their +unspeakable regret, that during their absence an +accident had happened which had entirely destroyed +all their labours; a violent storm of wind and rain +had risen that morning, which, blowing full against +the walls of the newly-constructed house, had +levelled it with the ground. Tommy could scarcely +refrain from crying when he saw the ruins lying +around; but Harry, who bore the loss with more<!-- Page 133 --> +composure, told him not to mind it, for it could +easily be repaired, and they would build it stronger +the next time.</p> + +<p>Harry then went up to the spot, and after examining +it some time, told Tommy that he believed he had +found out the reason of their misfortune. "What +is it?" said Tommy. "Why," said Harry, "it is +only because we did not drive these stakes, which +are to bear the whole weight of our house, far +enough into the ground; and, therefore, when the +wind blew against the flat side of it with so much +violence, it could not resist. And now I remember +to have seen the workman, when they begin a +building, dig a considerable way into the ground to +lay the foundation fast; and I should think that, if +we drove these stakes a great way into the ground, +it would produce the same effect, and we should +have nothing to fear from any future storms."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then came into the garden, and the +two boys showed him their misfortune, and asked +him whether he did not think that driving the +stakes further in would prevent such an accident for +the future. Mr Barlow told them he thought it +would; and that, as they were too short to reach +to the top of the stakes, he would assist them. He +then went and brought a wooden mallet, with which +he struck the tops of the stakes, and drove them so +fast into the ground that there was no longer any +danger of their being shaken by the weather. Harry +and Tommy then applied themselves with so much +assiduity to their work that they in a very short +time had repaired all the damage, and advanced it +as far as it had been before.<!-- Page 134 --></p> + +<p>The next thing that was necessary to be done, was +putting on a roof, for hitherto they had constructed +nothing but the walls. For this purpose they took +several long poles, which they had laid across their +building where it was most narrow, and upon these +they placed straw in considerable quantities, so that +they now imagined they had constructed a house +that would completely screen them from the weather. +But in this, unfortunately, they were again mistaken; +for a very violent shower of rain coming just +as they had finished their building, they took shelter +under it, and remarked for some time, with infinite +pleasure, how dry and comfortable it kept them; +but at last the straw that covered it being completely +soaked through, and the water having no vent to +run off, by reason of the flatness of the roof, the +rain began to penetrate in considerable quantities.</p> + +<p>For some time Harry and Tommy bore the inconvenience, +but it increased so much that they were +soon obliged to leave it and seek for shelter in the +house. When they were thus secured, they began +again to consider the affair of the house, and Tommy +said that it surely must be because they had not put +straw enough upon it. "No," said Harry, "I think +that cannot be the reason; I rather imagine that it +must be owing to our roof lying so flat; for I have +observed that all houses that I have ever seen have +their roofs in a shelving posture, by which means the +wet continually runs off from them and falls to the +ground; whereas ours, being quite flat, detained +almost all the rain that fell upon it, which must +necessarily soak deeper and deeper into the straw, +till it penetrated quite through."<!-- Page 135 --></p> + +<p>They therefore agreed to remedy this defect; and +for this purpose they took several poles of an equal +length, the one end of which they fastened to the +side of the house, and let the other two ends meet +in the middle, by which means they formed a roof +exactly like that which we commonly see upon +buildings; they also took several poles, which they +tied across the others, to keep them firm in their +places, and give the roof additional strength; and +lastly, they covered the whole with straw or thatch; +and for fear the thatch should be blown away, they +stuck several pegs in different places, and put small +pieces of stick crosswise from peg to peg, to keep +the straw in its place. When this was done they +found they had a very tolerable house; only the +sides, being formed of brushwood alone, did not +sufficiently exclude the wind. To remedy this <a name="tn_pg_144"></a><!--TN: Period changed to comma after "inconvenience"-->inconvenience, +Harry, who was chief architect, +procured some clay, and mixing it up with water, to +render it sufficiently soft, he daubed it all over the +walls, both within and without, by which means the +wind was excluded and the house rendered much +warmer than before.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;" class="newpg"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Boys' Garden—The Crocodile—The Farmer's Wife—How to make +Cider—The Bailiffs take possession of the Farmer's Furniture—Tommy pays +the Farmer's Debt—Conclusion of the Story of the Grateful Turk—The three +Bears—Tommy and the Monkey—Habits of the Monkey—Tommy's Robin +Redbreast—Is killed by a Cat—The Cat punished—The Laplanders—Story of +a Cure of the Gout.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">Some</span> time had now <a name="tn_pg_144a"></a><!--TN: "elasped" changed to "elapsed"-->elapsed since the seeds of the +wheat were sown, and they began to shoot so<!-- Page 136 --> +vigorously that the blade of the corn appeared green +above the ground, and increased every day in +strength. Tommy went to look at it every morning, +and remarked its gradual increase with the greatest +satisfaction. "Now," said he to Harry, "I think we +should soon be able to live if we were upon a desert +island. Here is a house to shelter us from the +weather, and we shall soon have some corn for food." +"Yes," answered Harry; "but there are a great many +things still wanting to enable us to make bread."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow had a very large garden, and an +orchard full of the finest fruit-trees; and he had +another piece of ground where he used to sow seeds +in order to raise trees, and then they were carefully +planted out in beds till they were big enough to be +moved into the orchard and produce fruit. Tommy +had often eaten of the fruit of the orchard, and +thought it delicious, and this led him to think that +it would be a great improvement to their house if +he had a few trees that he might set near it, and +which would shelter it from the sun and hereafter +produce fruit; so he asked Mr Barlow to give him a +couple of trees, and Mr Barlow told him to go into +the nursery and take his choice. Accordingly +Tommy went, and chose out two of the strongest-looking +trees he could find, which, with Harry's +assistance, he transplanted into the garden in the +following manner:—They both took their spades and +very carefully dug the trees up without injuring +their roots; then they dug two large holes in the +place where they chose the trees should stand, and +very carefully broke the earth to pieces, that it might +lie light upon the roots; then the tree was placed in<!-- Page 137 --> +the middle of the hole, and Tommy held it upright +while Harry gently threw the earth over the roots, +which he trod down with his feet in order to cover +them well. Lastly, he stuck a large stake in the +ground and tied the tree to it, from the fear that +the wintry wind might injure it, or perhaps entirely +blow it out of the ground.</p> + +<p>Nor did they bound their attention here. There +was a little spring of water which burst forth from +the upper ground in the garden, and ran down the +side of the hill in a small stream. Harry and Tommy +laboured very hard for several days to form a new +channel, to lead the water near the roots of their +trees, for it happened to be hot and dry weather, and +they feared their trees might perish from the want of +moisture.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow saw them employed in this manner +with the greatest satisfaction. He told them that in +many parts of the world the excessive heat burned +up the ground so much that nothing would grow unless +the soil was watered in that manner. "There +is," said he, "a country in particular, called Egypt, +which has always been famous for its fertility, and +for the quantity of corn that grows in it, which is +naturally watered in the following extraordinary +manner:—There is a great river called the Nile, +which flows through the whole extent of the country; +the river, at a particular time of the year, begins +to overflow its banks, and, as the whole country +is flat, it very soon covers it all with its waters. +These waters remain in this situation several weeks, +before they have entirely drained off; and when that +happens, they leave the soil so rich that everything<!-- Page 138 --> +that is planted in it flourishes and produces with the +greatest abundance."</p> + +<p>"Is not that the country, sir," said Harry, +"where that cruel animal the crocodile is found?" +"Yes," answered Mr Barlow. "What is that, sir?" +said Tommy. "It is an animal," answered Mr +Barlow, "that lives sometimes upon the land, sometimes +in the water. It comes originally from an egg, +which the old one lays and buries in the sand. The +heat of the sun then warms it during several days, +and at last a young crocodile is hatched. This +animal is at first very small; it has a long body and +four short legs, which serve it both to walk with +upon the land and to swim with in the waters. It +has, besides, a long tail, or rather the body is extremely +long, and gradually grows thinner till it ends +in a point. Its shape is exactly like that of a lizard; +or, if you have never seen a lizard, did you never observe +a small animal, of some inches long, which +lives at the bottom of ditches and ponds?" "Yes, +sir, I have," answered Tommy, "and I once caught +one with my hand, taking it for a fish; but when I +had it near me, I saw it had four little legs, so I +threw it into the water again for fear the animal +should be hurt." "This animal," answered Mr +Barlow, "may give you an exact idea of a young +crocodile; but as it grows older it gradually becomes +bigger, till at last, as I have been informed, it +reaches the length of twenty or thirty feet." "That +is very large," said Tommy; "and does it do any +harm?" "Yes," said Mr Barlow, "it is a very +voracious animal, and devours everything it can +seize. It frequently comes out of the water and<!-- Page 139 --> +lives upon the shore, where it resembles a large log +of wood; and if any animal unguardedly comes +near, it snaps at it on a sudden, and if it can catch +the poor creature, devours it." <i>T.</i>—And does it +never devour men? <i>Mr B.</i>—Sometimes, if it +surprises them; but those who are accustomed to +meet with them frequently easily escape. They run +round in a circle, or turn short on a sudden, by +which means the animal is left far behind; because, +although he can run tolerably fast in a straight line, +the great length of his body prevents him from turning +with ease. <i>T.</i>—This must be a dreadful animal +to meet with; is it possible for a man to defend +himself against it? <i>Mr B.</i>—Everything is possible +to those that have courage and coolness; therefore +many of the inhabitants of those countries carry +long spears in their hands, in order to defend themselves +from those animals. The crocodile opens his +wide voracious jaws in order to devour the man; +but the man takes this opportunity and thrusts the +point of his spear into the creature's mouth, by +which means he is generally killed upon the spot. +Nay, I have even heard that some will carry their +hardiness so far as to go into the water in order to +fight the crocodile there. They take a large splinter +of wood about a foot in length, strong in the middle, +and sharpened at both ends; to this they tie a long +and tough cord. The man who intends to fight the +crocodile takes this piece of wood in his right hand, +and goes into the river, where he wades till one of +these creatures perceives him. As soon as that +happens the animal comes up to him to seize him, +extending his wide and horrid jaws, which are armed<!-- Page 140 --> +with several rows of pointed teeth; but the man, +with the greatest intrepidity, waits for his enemy, +and the instant he approaches thrusts his hand, +armed with the splinter of wood, into his terrible +mouth, which the creature closes directly, and by +these means forces the sharp points into each of his +jaws, where they stick fast. He is then incapable of +doing hurt, and they pull him to the shore by the +cord. "Pray, sir," said Tommy, "is this dreadful +animal capable of being tamed?" "Yes," answered +Mr Barlow; "I believe, as I have before told you, +there is no animal that may not be rendered mild +and inoffensive by good usage. There are several +parts of Egypt where tame crocodiles are kept; +these animals, though of the largest size, never do +hurt to anything, but suffer every one to approach +them, and even little children to play about them +and ride securely upon their enormous backs."</p> + +<p>This account diverted Tommy very much. He +thanked Mr Barlow for giving him this description +of the crocodile, and said he should like to see every +animal in the world. "That," answered Mr Barlow, +"would be extremely difficult, as almost every +country produces some kind which is not found in +other parts of the world; but if you will be contented +to read the descriptions of them which have +been written, you may easily gratify your curiosity."</p> + +<p>It happened about this time that Tommy and +Harry rose early one morning and went to take a +long walk before breakfast, as they used frequently +to do; they rambled so far that at last they both +found themselves tired, and sat down under a hedge +to rest. While they were here a very clean and<!-- Page 141 --> +decently-dressed woman passed by, who, seeing two +little boys sitting by themselves, stopped to look at +them; and, after considering them attentively, she +said, "You seem, my little dears, to be either tired +or to have lost your way." "No, madam," said +Harry, "we have not lost our way, but we have +walked farther than usual this morning, and we +wait here a little while to rest ourselves." "Well," +said the woman, "if you will come into my little +house—that you see a few yards farther on—you +may sit more comfortably; and as my daughter has +by this time milked the cows, she shall give you a +mess of bread and milk."</p> + +<p>Tommy, who was by this time extremely hungry as +well as tired, told Harry that he should like to accept +the good woman's invitation; so they followed her +to a small but clean looking farm-house which stood +at a little distance. Here they entered a clean +kitchen, furnished with very plain but convenient +furniture, and were desired to sit down by a warm +and comfortable fire, which was made of turf. +Tommy, who had never seen such a fire, could not +help inquiring about it, and the good woman told +him that poor people like her were unable to purchase +coals; "therefore," said she, "we go and pare +the surface of the commons, which is full of grass +and heath and other vegetables, together with their +roots all matted together; these we dry in small +pieces, by leaving them exposed to the summer's +sun, and then we bring them home and put them +under the cover of a shed, and use them for our +fires." "But," said Tommy, "I should think you +would hardly have fire enough by these means to<!-- Page 142 --> +dress your dinner; for I have by accident been in +my father's kitchen when they were dressing the +dinner, and I saw a fire that blazed up to the very +top of the chimney." The poor woman smiled at +this, and said, "Your father, I suppose, master, is +some rich man, who has a great deal of victuals to +dress, but we poor people must be more easily +contented." "Why," said Tommy, "you must at +least want to roast meat every day?" "No," said +the poor woman, "we seldom see roast-beef at our +house; but we are very well contented if we can +have a bit of fat pork every day, boiled in a pot +with turnips; and we bless God that we fare so well, +for there are many poor souls, who are as good +as we, that can scarcely get a morsel of dry bread."</p> + +<p>As they were conversing in this manner, Tommy +happened to cast his eyes on one side, and saw a +room that was almost filled with apples. "Pray," +said he, "what can you do with all these apples? I +should think you would never be able to eat them, +though you were to eat nothing else." "That is +very true," said the woman, "but we make cider of +them." "What!" cried Tommy, "are you able to +make that sweet pleasant liquor they call cider? +and is it made of apples?" <i>The Woman.</i>—Yes, indeed +it is. <i>Tommy.</i>—And pray how is it made? +<i>The Woman.</i>—We take the apples when they are ripe +and squeeze them in a machine we have for that +purpose. Then we take this pulp, and put it into +large hair-bags, which we press in a large press till +all the juice runs out. <i>Tommy.</i>—And is this juice +cider? <i>The Woman.</i>—You shall taste, little master, +as you seem so curious.<!-- Page 143 --></p> + +<p>She then led him into another room, where there +was a great tub full of the juice of apples, and, taking +some up in a cup, she desired him to taste +whether it was cider. Tommy tasted, and said it +was very sweet and pleasant, but not cider. "Well," +said the woman, "let us try another cask." She +then took out some liquor of another barrel, which +she gave him, and Tommy, when he had tasted it, +said that it really was cider. "But pray," said he, +"what do you do to the apple-juice to make it +<a name="tn_pg_152"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "cider?"-->cider?" <i>The Woman.</i>—Nothing at all. <i>Tommy.</i>—How, +then, should it become cider? for I am sure +what you gave me at first is not cider. <i>The Woman.</i>—Why, +we put the juice into a large cask, and let it +stand in some warm place, where it soon begins to +ferment. <i>Tommy.</i>—Ferment! pray, what is that? +<i>The Woman.</i>—You shall see.</p> + +<p>She then showed him another cask, and bade him +observe the liquor that was in it. This he did, and +saw it was covered all over with a thick scum and +froth. <i>Tommy.</i>—And is this what you call fermentation? +<i>The Woman.</i>—Yes, master. <i>Tommy.</i>—And +what is the reason of it? <i>The Woman.</i>—That I do +not know, indeed; but when we have pressed the juice +out, as I told you, we put it into a cask and let it +stand in some warm place, and in a short time it begins +to work or ferment of itself, as you see; and +after this fermentation has continued some time, it +acquires the taste and properties of cider, and then +we draw it off into casks and sell it, or else keep it +for our own use. And I am told this is the manner +in which they make wine in other countries. +<i>Tommy.</i>—What! is wine made of apples, then?<!-- Page 144 --> +<i>The Woman.</i>—No, master; wine is made of grapes, +but they squeeze the juice out, and treat it in the same +manner as we do the juice of the apples. <i>Tommy.</i>—I +declare this is very curious indeed. Then cider is +nothing but wine made of apples?</p> + +<p>While they were conversing in this manner a little +clean girl came and brought Tommy an earthen porringer +full of new milk, with a large slice of brown +bread. Tommy took it, and ate with so good a +relish that he thought he had never made a better +breakfast in his life.</p> + +<p>When Harry and he had eaten their breakfast, +Tommy told him it was time they should return +home, so he thanked the good woman for her kindness, +and putting his hand into his pocket, pulled +out a shilling, which he desired her to accept. +"No, God bless you, my little dear!" said the +woman, "I will not take a farthing off you for the +world. What though my husband and I are poor, +yet we are able to get a living by our labour, and +give a mess of milk to a traveller without hurting +ourselves."</p> + +<p>Tommy thanked her again, and was just going +away when a couple of surly-looking men came in +and asked the woman if her name was <i>Tosset</i>. +"Yes, it is," said the woman: "I have never been +ashamed of it." "Why then," said one of the men, +pulling a paper out of his pocket, "here is an +execution against you, on the part of Mr Richard +Gruff; and if your husband does not instantly +discharge the debt, with interest and all costs, +amounting altogether to the sum of thirty-nine +pounds ten shillings, we shall take an inventory of<!-- Page 145 --> +all you have, and proceed to sell it by auction for +the discharge of the debt."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said the poor woman, looking a little +confused, "this must certainly be a mistake, for I +never heard of Mr Richard Gruff in all my life, nor +do I believe that my husband owes a farthing in the +world, unless to his landlord; and I know that he +has almost made up half-a-year's rent for him: so +that I do not think he would go to trouble a poor +man." "No, no, mistress," said the man, shaking +his head, "we know our business too well to make +these kind of mistakes; but when your husband +comes in we'll talk with him; in the meantime we +must go on with our inventory."</p> + +<p>The two men then went into the next room, and +immediately after, a stout, comely-looking man, of +about the age of forty, came in, with a good-humoured +countenance, and asked if his breakfast +was ready. "Oh, my poor dear William," said the +woman, "here is a sad breakfast for you! but I +think it cannot be true that you owe anything; so +what the fellows told me must be false about Richard +Gruff." At this name the man instantly started, +and his countenance, which was before ruddy, became +pale as a sheet. "Surely," said the woman, +"it cannot be true, that you owe forty pounds to +Richard Gruff?" "Alas!" answered the man, "I +do not know the exact sum; but when your brother +Peter failed, and his creditors seized all that he had, +this Richard Gruff was going to send him to jail, +had not I agreed to be bound for him, which enabled +him to go to sea. He indeed promised to +remit his wages to me, to prevent my getting into<!-- Page 146 --> +any trouble upon that account; but you know it is +now three years since he went, and in all that time +we have heard nothing about him." "Then," said +the woman, bursting into tears, "you, and all your +poor dear children are ruined for my ungrateful +brother; for here are two bailiffs in the house, who +are come to take possession of all you have, and to +sell it."</p> + +<p>At this the man's face became red as scarlet, and +seizing an old sword which hung over the chimney, +he cried out, "No, it shall not be; I will die first; +I will make these villains know what it is to make +honest men desperate." He then drew the sword, +and was going out in a fit of madness, which might +have proved fatal either to himself or to the bailiffs, +but his wife flung herself upon her knees before +him, and, catching hold of his legs, besought him to +be more composed. "Oh, for heaven's sake, my +dear, dear husband," said she, "consider what you +are doing! You can do neither me nor your children +any service by this violence; instead of that, +should you be so unfortunate as to kill either of +these men, would it not be murder? and would not +our lot be a thousand times harder than it is at +present?"</p> + +<p>This remonstrance seemed to have some effect +upon the farmer; his children too, although too +young to understand the cause of all this confusion, +gathered round him, and hung about him, sobbing +in concert with their mother. Little Harry too, +although a stranger to the poor man before, yet with +the tenderest sympathy took him by the hand and +bathed it with his tears. At length, softened and<!-- Page 147 --> +overcome by the sorrows of those he loved so well, +and by his own cooler reflections, he resigned the +fatal instrument, and sat himself down upon a chair, +covering his face with his hands, and only saying, +"The will of God be done!"</p> + +<p>Tommy had beheld this affecting scene with the +greatest attention, although he had not said a word; +and now beckoning Harry away, he went silently +out of the house, and took the road which led to +Mr Barlow's. While he was on the way, he seemed +to be so full of the scene which he had just +witnessed that he did not open his lips; but when +he came home he instantly went to Mr Barlow and +desired that he would directly send him to his +father's. Mr Barlow stared at the request, and +asked him what was the occasion of his being so +suddenly tired with his residence at the vicarage. +"Sir," answered Tommy, "I am not the least tired, +I assure you; you have been extremely kind to me, +and I shall always remember it with the greatest +gratitude; but I want to see my father immediately, +and I am sure, when you come to know the occasion, +you will not disapprove of it." Mr Barlow +did not press him any further, but ordered a careful +servant to saddle a horse directly and take Tommy +home before him.</p> + +<p>Mr and Mrs Merton were extremely <a name="tn_pg_156"></a><!--TN: "suprised" changed to "surprised"-->surprised and +over-joyed at the sight of their son, who thus unexpectedly +arrived at home; but Tommy, whose +mind was full of the project he had formed, as soon +as he had answered their first questions, accosted +his father thus—"Pray, sir, will you be angry with +me if I ask you for a great favour?" "No, surely,"<!-- Page 148 --> +said Mr Merton, "that I will not." "Why, then," +said Tommy, "as I have often heard you say that you +were very rich, and that if I was good I should be rich +too. Will you give me some money?" "Money!" +said Mr Merton; "yes, to be sure; how much do you +want?" "Why, sir," said Tommy, "I want a very +large sum indeed." "Perhaps a guinea," answered +Mr Merton. <i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir, a great deal more—a +great many guineas. <i>Mr Merton.</i>—Let us however +see. <i>T.</i>—Why, sir, I want at least forty pounds. +"Bless the boy!" answered Mrs Merton; "surely +Mr Barlow must have taught him to be ten times +more extravagant than he was before." <i>T.</i>—Indeed, +madam, Mr Barlow knows nothing about the +matter. "But," said Mr Merton, "what can such +an urchin as you want with such a large sum of +money?" "Sir," answered Tommy, "that is a secret; +but I am sure when you come to hear it, you will +approve of the use I intend to make of it." <i>Mr M.</i>—That +I very much doubt. <i>T.</i>—But, sir, if you +please, you may let me have this money, and I +will pay you again by degrees. <i>Mr M.</i>—How will +you ever be able to pay me such a sum? <i>T.</i>—Why, +sir, you know you are so kind as frequently to +give me new clothes and pocket-money; now, if +you will only let me have this money, I will neither +want new clothes nor anything else till I have +made it up. <i>Mr M.</i>—But what can such a child +as you want with all this money? <i>T.</i>—Pray, sir, +wait a few days and you shall know; and if I +make a bad use of it, never believe me again as +long as I live.</p> + +<p>Mr Merton was extremely struck with the earnest<!-- Page 149 -->ness +with which his son persevered in the demand; +and, as he was both very rich and liberal, he determined +to hazard the experiment, and comply with +his request. He accordingly went and fetched him +the money which he asked for, and put it into his +hands, telling him at the same time that he expected +to be acquainted with the use he put it to; and +that, if he was not satisfied with the account, he +would never trust him again. Tommy appeared in +ecstasies at the confidence that was reposed in him, +and, after thanking his father for his extraordinary +goodness, he desired leave to go back again with +Mr Barlow's servant.</p> + +<p>When he arrived at Mr Barlow's, his first care +was to ask Harry to accompany him again to the +farmer's house. Thither the two little boys went +with the greatest expedition; and, on their entering +the house, found the unhappy family in the same +situation as before. But Tommy, who had hitherto +suppressed his feelings, finding himself now enabled +to execute the project he had formed, went up to the +good woman of the house, who sat sobbing in a corner +of the room, and, taking her gently by the hand, +said, "My good woman, you were very kind to me in +the morning, and therefore I am determined to be +kind to you in return." "God bless you, my little +master," said the woman, "you are very welcome to +what you had; but you are not able to do anything +to relieve our <a name="tn_pg_158"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "distress."-->distress." "How do you know that?" +said Tommy; "perhaps I can do more for you than +you imagine." "Alas!" answered the woman, "I +believe you would do all you could; but all our goods +will be seized and sold, unless we can immediately<!-- Page 150 --> +raise the sum of forty pounds; and that is impossible, +for we have no earthly friend to assist us; +therefore my poor babes and I must soon be turned +out of doors, and God alone can keep them from +starving."</p> + +<p>Tommy's little heart was too much affected to +keep the woman longer in suspense; therefore, pulling +out his bag of money, he poured it into her lap, +saying, "Here, my good woman, take this and pay +your debts, and God bless you and your children!" +It is impossible to express the surprise of the poor +woman at the sight; she stared wildly round her, +and upon her little benefactor, and, clasping her +hands together in an agony of gratitude and feeling, +she fell back in her chair with a kind of convulsive +motion. Her husband, who was in the next room, +seeing her in this condition, ran up to her, and +catching her in his arms, asked her with the greatest +tenderness what was the matter; but she, springing +on a sudden from his embraces, threw herself upon +her knees before the little boy, sobbing and blessing +with a broken inarticulate voice, embracing his knees +and kissing his feet. The husband, who did not +know what had happened, imagined that his wife +had lost her senses; and the little children, who +had before been skulking about the room, ran up to +their mother, pulling her by the gown, and hiding +their faces in her bosom. But the woman, at the +sight of them, seemed to recollect herself, and cried +out, "Little wretches, who must all have been +starved without the assistance of this little angel; +why do you not join with me in thanking him?" +At this the husband said, "Surely, Mary, you must<!-- Page 151 --> +have lost your senses. What can this young +gentleman do for us or to prevent our wretched +babes from perishing?" "Oh, William," said the +woman, "I am not mad, though I may appear so; +but look here, William, look what Providence has +sent us by the hands of this little angel, and then +wonder not that I should be wild." Saying this, +she held up the money, and at the sight her husband +looked as wild and astonished as she. But Tommy +went up to the man, and, taking him by the hand, +said, "My good friend, you are very welcome to this; +I freely give it you; and I hope it will enable you to +pay what you owe, and to preserve these poor little +children." But the man, who had before appeared +to bear his misfortunes with silent dignity, now +burst into tears and sobbed like his wife and children; +but Tommy, who now began to be pained with this +excess of gratitude, went silently out of the house, +followed by Harry; and, before the poor family +perceived what had become of him, was out of sight.</p> + +<p>When he came back to Mr Barlow's that gentleman +received him with the greatest affection, and +when he had inquired after the health of Mr and +Mrs Merton, asked Tommy whether he had forgotten +the story of the grateful Turk. Tommy told +him he had not, and should now be very glad to +hear the remainder; which Mr Barlow gave him to +read, and was as follows:—</p> + + +<h3>"CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE GRATEFUL +TURK."</h3> + +<p>"When Hamet had thus finished his story, the +Venetian was astonished at the virtue and elevation<!-- Page 152 --> +of his mind; and after saying everything that his +gratitude and admiration suggested, he concluded +with pressing him to accept the half of his fortune, +and to settle in Venice for the remainder of his life. +This offer Hamet refused with the greatest respect, +but with a generous disdain; and told his friend +that, in what he had done, he had only discharged a +debt of gratitude and friendship. 'You were,' said +he, 'my generous benefactor; you had a claim upon +my life by the benefit you had already conferred; +that life would have been well bestowed had it been +lost in your service; but since Providence hath +otherwise decreed, it is a sufficient recompense to me +to have proved that Hamet is not ungrateful, and to +have been instrumental to the preservation of your +happiness.'</p> + +<p>"But though the disinterestedness of Hamet made +him underrate his own exertions, the merchant +could not remain contented without showing his +gratitude by all the means within his power. He +therefore once more purchased the freedom of +Hamet, and freighted a ship on purpose to send him +back to his own country; he and his son then embraced +him with all the affection that gratitude +could inspire, and bade him, as they thought, an +eternal adieu.</p> + +<p>"Many years had now elapsed since the departure +of Hamet into his own country, without their seeing +him, or receiving any intelligence from him. In the +mean time the young Francisco, the son of the +merchant, grew up to manhood; and as he had +acquired every accomplishment which tends to improve +the mind or form the manners, added to an<!-- Page 153 --> +excellent disposition, he was generally beloved and +esteemed.</p> + +<p>"It happened that some business about this time +made it necessary for him and his father to go to a +neighbouring maritime city; and as they thought a +passage by sea would be more expeditious, they both +embarked in a Venetian vessel, which was on the +point of sailing to that place. They set sail, therefore, +with favourable winds, and every appearance +of a happy passage; but they had not proceeded +more than half their intended voyage, before a +Turkish corsair (a ship purposely fitted out for war) +was seen bearing down upon them, and as the +enemy exceeded them much in swiftness they soon +found that it was impossible to escape. The greater +part of the crew belonging to the Venetian vessel were +struck with consternation, and seemed already overcome +with fear; but the young Francisco, drawing +his sword, reproached his comrades with their +cowardice, and so effectually encouraged them that +they determined to defend their liberty by a desperate +resistance. The Turkish vessel now approached +them in awful silence, but in an instant +the dreadful noise of the artillery was heard, and the +heavens were obscured with smoke intermixed with +transitory flashes of fire. Three times did the +Turks leap with horrid shouts upon the deck of the +Venetian vessel, and three times were they driven +back by the desperate resistance of the crew, headed +by young Francisco. At length the slaughter of +their men was so great that they seemed disposed to +discontinue the fight, and were actually taking +another course. The Venetians beheld their flight<!-- Page 154 --> +with the greatest joy, and were congratulating each +other upon their successful valour and merited escape, +when two more ships on a sudden appeared in sight, +bearing down upon them with incredible swiftness +before the wind. Every heart was now chilled with +new terrors, when, on their nearer approach, they +discovered the fatal ensigns of their enemies, and +knew that there was no longer any possibility either +of resistance or escape. They therefore lowered their +flag (the sign of surrendering their ship), and in an +instant saw themselves in the power of their +enemies, who came pouring in on every side with +the rage and violence of beasts of prey.</p> + +<p>"All that remained alive of the brave Venetian +crew were loaded with fetters, and closely guarded in +the hold of the ship till it arrived at Tunis.</p> + +<p>"They were then brought out in chains, and +exposed in the public market to be sold for slaves. +They had there the mortification to see their companions +picked out one by one, according to their +apparent strength and vigour, and sold to different +masters. At length a Turk approached, who, from +his look and habit, appeared to be of superior rank, +and after glancing his eye over the rest with an +expression of compassion, he fixed them at last upon +young Francisco, and demanded of the captain of +the ship what was the price of that young man. +The captain answered that he would not take less +than five hundred pieces of gold for that captive. +'That,' said the Turk, 'is very extraordinary, since +I have seen you sell those that much exceed him in +vigour, for less than a fifth part of that sum.' +'Yes,' answered the captain, 'but he shall either pay<!-- Page 155 --> +me some part of the damage he has occasioned, or +labour for life at the oar.' 'What damage,' +answered the other, 'can he have done you more +than all the rest whom you have prized so cheaply?' +'He it was,' replied the captain, 'who animated the +Christians to that desperate resistance which cost +me the lives of so many of my brave sailors. Three +times did we leap upon their deck, with a fury that +seemed irresistible, and three times did that youth +attack us with such cool determined opposition that +we were obliged to retreat ingloriously, leaving at +every charge twenty of our number behind. Therefore, +I repeat it, I will either have that price for +him, great as it may appear, or else I will gratify +my revenge by seeing him drudge for life in my +victorious galley.'</p> + +<p>"At this the Turk examined young Francisco with +new attention; and he who had hitherto fixed his +eyes upon the ground in sullen silence now lifted +them up; but scarcely had he beheld the person that +was talking to the captain when he uttered a loud +cry and repeated the name of <i>Hamet</i>. The Turk, +with equal emotion, surveyed him for a moment, +and then, catching him in his arms, embraced him +with the transports of a parent who unexpectedly +recovers a long-lost child. It is unnecessary to repeat +all that gratitude and affection inspired Hamet to +say, but when he heard that his ancient benefactor +was amongst the number of those unhappy Venetians +who stood before him, he hid his face for a +moment under his vest and seemed overwhelmed +with sorrow and astonishment, when, recollecting +himself, he raised his arms to heaven and blessed<!-- Page 156 --> +that Providence which had made him the instrument +of safety to his ancient benefactor. He then instantly +flew to that part of the market where Francisco +stood waiting for his fate with a manly, mute +despair. He called him his friend, his benefactor, +and every endearing name which friendship and +gratitude could inspire; and, ordering his chains to +be instantly taken off, he conducted him and his son +to a magnificent house, which belonged to him in the +city. As soon as they were alone, and had time for +an explanation of their mutual fortunes, Hamet told +the Venetians that, when he was set at liberty by +their generosity, and restored to his country, he had +accepted a command in the Turkish armies; and +that, having had the good fortune to distinguish +himself on several occasions, he had gradually been +promoted, through various offices, to the dignity of +Bashaw of Tunis. 'Since I have enjoyed this +post,' added he, 'there is nothing which I find in +it so agreeable as the power it gives me of alleviating +the misfortunes of those unhappy Christians who +are taken prisoners by our corsairs. Whenever a +ship arrives, which brings with it any of these sufferers, +I constantly visit the markets and redeem a +certain number of the captives, whom I restore to +liberty. And gracious Allah has shown that he +approves of these faint endeavours to discharge the +sacred duties of gratitude for my own redemption, +by putting it in my power to serve the best and +dearest of men.'</p> + +<p>"Ten days were Francisco and his son entertained +in the house of Hamet, during which time he put in +practice everything within his power to please and<!-- Page 157 --> +interest them, but when he found they were desirous +of returning home, he told them he would no longer +detain them from their country, but that they +should embark the next day in a ship that was setting +sail for Venice. Accordingly, on the morrow +he dismissed them, with many embraces and much +reluctance, and ordered a chosen party of his own +guards to conduct them on board their vessel. +When they arrived there, their joy and admiration +were considerably increased on finding that, by the +generosity of Hamet, not only the ship which had +been taken, but the whole crew were redeemed and +restored to freedom. Francisco and his son embarked, +and, after a favourable voyage, arrived +without accident in their own country, where they +lived many years respected and esteemed, continually +mindful of the vicissitudes of human affairs, +and attentive to discharge their duties to their +fellow-creatures."</p> + +<p>When this story was concluded, Mr Barlow and +his pupils went out to walk upon the high road, but +they had not gone far before they discovered three +men, who seemed each to lead a large and shaggy +beast by a string, followed by a crowd of boys and +women, whom the novelty of the sight had drawn +together. When they approached more near, Mr +Barlow discovered that the beasts were three tame +bears, led by as many Savoyards, who get their +living by exhibiting them. Upon the head of each of +these formidable animals was seated a monkey, who +grinned and chattered, and by his strange grimaces +excited the mirth of the whole assembly. Tommy, +who had never before seen one of these creatures,<!-- Page 158 --> +was very much surprised and entertained, but still +more so when he saw the animal rise upon his hind +legs at the word of command, and dance about in a +strange, uncouth manner, to the sound of music.</p> + +<p>After having satisfied themselves with this spectacle +they proceeded on their way, and Tommy +asked Mr Barlow whether a bear was an animal easily +tamed, and that did mischief in those places where +he was wild.</p> + +<p>"The bear," replied Mr Barlow, "is not an animal +quite so formidable or destructive as a lion or a tiger; +he is, however, sufficiently dangerous, and will frequently +devour women and children, and even men, +when he has an opportunity. These creatures are +generally found in cold countries, and it is observed +that the colder the climate is, the greater size and +fierceness do they attain to. There is a remarkable +account of one of these animals suddenly attacking a +soldier when on duty, but it was fortunate for the +poor fellow that the first blow he struck the bear +felled him to the ground, and the soldier immediately +plunged his sword into his heart, which of course +killed it. In those northern countries, which are +perpetually covered with snow and ice, a species of +bear is found, which is white in colour, and of +amazing strength as well as fierceness. These +animals are often seen clambering over the huge +pieces of ice that almost cover those seas, and preying +upon fish and other sea animals. I remember +reading an account of one that came unexpectedly +upon some sailors who were boiling their dinners on +the shore. This creature had two young ones with +her, and the sailors, as you may easily imagine, did<!-- Page 159 --> +not like such dangerous guests, but made their escape +immediately to the ship. The old bear then seized +upon the flesh which the sailors had left, and set it +before her cubs, reserving a very small portion for +herself; showing by this, that she took a much +greater interest in their welfare than her own. But +the sailors, enraged at the loss of their dinners, +levelled their muskets at the cubs, and, from the +ship, shot them both dead. They also wounded the +dam, who was fetching away another piece of flesh, +but not mortally, so that she was still able to move. +But it would have affected any one with pity, but a +brutal mind (says the relation), to see the behaviour +of this poor beast, all wounded as she was and bleeding, +to her young ones. Though she was sorely +hurt, and could but crawl to the place where they +lay, she carried the lump of flesh she had in her +mouth, as she had done the preceding ones, and laid +it down before them, and, when she observed that +they did not eat, she laid her paws first upon one, +and then upon the other, and endeavoured to raise +them up, all this while making the most pitiful +moans. When she found that they did not stir, she +went away to a little distance and then looked, back +and moaned, as if to entice them to her; but finding +them still immovable, she returned, and smelling +round them, began to lick their wounds. She then +went off a second time as before, and, after crawling +a few yards, turned back and moaned, as if to entreat +them not to desert their mother. But her cubs not +yet rising to follow her, she returned to them again, +and, with signs of inexpressible fondness, went round +first one and then the other, pawing them and moan<!-- Page 160 -->ing +all the time. Finding them at last cold and lifeless, +she raised her head towards the ship and began +to growl in an indignant manner, as if she were +denouncing vengeance against the murderers of her +young; but the sailors levelled their muskets again, +and wounded her in so many places that she dropped +down between her young ones; yet, even while she +was expiring, she seemed only sensible to their fate, +and died licking their wounds."</p> + +<p>"And is it possible," said Harry, "that men can +be so cruel towards poor unfortunate animals?" +"It is too true," answered Mr Barlow, "that men +are frequently guilty of every wanton and unnecessary +acts of barbarity, but in this case it is probable +that the fear of these animals contributed to render +the sailors more unpitying than they would otherwise +have been; they had often seen themselves in +danger of being devoured, and that inspired them +with a great degree of hatred against them, which +they took the opportunity of gratifying." "But +would it not be enough," answered Harry, "if they +carried arms to defend themselves when they were +attacked, without unnecessarily destroying other +creatures, who did not meddle with them?" "To +be sure it would," replied Mr Barlow, "and a +generous mind would at any time rather spare an +enemy than destroy him."</p> + +<p>While they were conversing in this manner, they +beheld a crowd of women and children running +away in the greatest trepidation, and, looking behind +them, saw that one of the bears had broken his +chain, and was running after them, growling all the +time in a very disagreeable manner. Mr Barlow,<!-- Page 161 --> +who had a good stick in his hand, and was a man of +an intrepid character, perceiving this, bade his +pupils remain quiet, and instantly ran up to the +bear, who stopped in the middle of his career, and +seemed inclined to attack Mr Barlow for his interference; +but this gentleman struck him two or +three blows, rating him at the same time in a loud +and severe tone of voice, and seizing the end of the +chain with equal boldness and dexterity, the animal +quietly submitted, and suffered himself to be taken +prisoner. Presently the keeper of the bear came up, +into whose hands Mr Barlow consigned him, charging +him for the future to be more careful in guarding +so dangerous a creature.</p> + +<p>While this was doing, the boys had remained +quiet spectators at a distance, but by accident the +monkey, who used to be perched upon the head of +the bear, and was shaken off when the beast broke +loose, came running that way, playing a thousand +antic grimaces as he passed. Tommy, who was determined +not to be outdone by Mr Barlow, ran very +resolutely up, and seized a string which was tied +round the loins of the animal; but he, not choosing +to be taken prisoner, instantly snapped at Tommy's +arm, and almost made his teeth meet in the fleshy +part of it. Yet Tommy, who was now greatly +improved in courage and the use of his limbs, +instead of letting his enemy escape, began thrashing +him very severely with the stick which he had in +his hand, till the monkey, seeing he had so resolute +an antagonist to deal with, desisted from opposition, +and suffered himself to be led captive like his friend +the bear.<!-- Page 162 --></p> + +<p>As they were returning home, Tommy asked Mr +Barlow whether he did not think it very dangerous +to meddle with such an <a name="tn_pg_171"></a><!--TN: "aminal" changed to "animal"-->animal when he was loose. +Mr Barlow told him it was not without danger, but +that it was much less so than most people would +imagine. "Most animals," said he, "are easily +awed by the appearance of intrepidity, while they +are invited to pursue by marks of fear and apprehension." +"That, I believe, is very true," answered +Harry; "for I have very often observed the behaviour +of dogs to each other. When two strange +dogs meet they generally approach with caution, as +if they were mutually afraid; but as sure as either of +them runs away, the other will pursue him with the +greatest insolence and fury." "This is not confined +to dogs," replied Mr Barlow; "almost all +wild beasts are subject to receive the sudden impression +of terror; and therefore men, who have +been obliged to travel without arms, through forests +that abound with dangerous animals, have frequently +escaped unhurt, by shouting aloud whenever +they met with any of them on their way; but +what I chiefly depended on was, the education which +the bear had received since he left his own country." +(Tommy laughed heartily at this idea, and Mr Barlow +went on.) "Whenever an animal is taught +anything that is not natural to him, this is properly +receiving an education. Did you ever observe colts +running about wild upon the common?" <i>Tommy.</i>—yes, +sir, very often. <i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And do you +think it would be an easy matter for any one to +mount upon their backs or ride them? <i>T.</i>—By no +means; I think that they would kick and prance to<!-- Page 163 --> +that degree that they would throw any person down. +<i>Mr B.</i>—And yet your little horse very frequently +takes you upon his back, and carries you very safely +between this and your father's house. <i>T.</i>—That is +because he is used to it. <i>Mr B.</i>—But he was not +always used to it; he was once a colt, and then he +ran about as wild and unrestrained as any of those +upon the common. <i>T.</i>—Yes, sir. <i>Mr B.</i>—How +came he then to be so altered as to submit to bear +you upon his back? <i>T.</i>—I do not know, unless it +was by feeding him. <i>Mr B.</i>—That is one method; +but that is not all; they first accustom the colt, who +naturally follows his mother, to come into the stable +with her; then they stroke him and feed him till he +gradually becomes gentle, and will suffer himself to +be handled; then they take an opportunity of putting +a halter upon his head, and accustom him to stand +quietly in the stable, and to be tied to the manger. +Thus they gradually proceed from one thing to another, +till they teach him to bear the bridle and the +saddle, and to be commanded by his rider. This +may very properly be called the <i>education</i> of an animal, +since by these means he is obliged to acquire +habits which he would never have learned had he +been left to himself. Now, I knew that the poor +bear had been frequently beaten and very ill-used, +in order to make him submit to be led about with a +string, and exhibited as a sight. I knew that he +had been accustomed to submit to man, and to +tremble at the sound of the human voice, and I +depended upon the force of these impressions for +making him submit without resistance to the authority +I assumed over him. You saw I was not<!-- Page 164 --> +deceived in my opinion, and by these means I probably +prevented the mischief that he might otherwise +have done to some of those women or children.</p> + +<p>As Mr Barlow was talking in this manner, he perceived +that Tommy's arm was bloody; and inquiring +into the reason, he heard the history of his adventure +with the monkey. Mr Barlow then looked at the +wound, which he found of no great consequence, and +told Tommy that he was sorry for his accident, and +imagined that he was now too courageous to be +daunted by a trifling hurt. Tommy assured him he +was, and proceeded to ask some questions concerning +the nature of the monkey, which Mr Barlow answered +in the following manner:—"The monkey is a very +extraordinary animal, which closely resembles a man +in his shape and appearance, as perhaps you may +have observed. He is always found to inhabit hot +countries, the forests of which, in many parts of the +world, are filled with innumerable bands of these +animals. He is extremely active, and his fore-legs +exactly resemble the arms of a man; so that he not +only uses them to walk upon, but frequently to climb +trees, to hang by the branches, and to take hold of +his food with. He supports himself upon almost +every species of wild fruit which is found in those +countries, so that it is necessary he should be continually +scrambling up and down the highest trees, +in order to procure himself a subsistence. Nor is he +contented always with the diet which he finds in the +forest where he makes his residence. Large bands +of these creatures will frequently sally out to plunder +the gardens in the neighbourhood, and many wonderful +stories are told of their ingenuity and contrivance."<!-- Page 165 --> +"What are these?" said Tommy. "It is +said," answered Mr Barlow, "that they proceed with +all the caution and regularity which could be found +in men themselves. Some of these animals are +placed as spies to give notice to the rest, in case any +human being should approach the garden; and, +should that happen, one of the sentinels informs them +by a peculiar chattering, and they all escape in an +instant." "I can easily believe that," answered +Harry, "for I have observed, that when a flock of +rooks alight upon a farmer's field of corn, two or +three of them always take their station upon the +highest tree they can find; and if any one approaches +they instantly give notice by their cawing, and all +the rest take wing directly and fly away." "But," +answered Mr Barlow, "the monkeys are said to be +yet more ingenious in their thefts; for they station +some of their body at a small distance from each +other, in a line that reaches quite from the forest +they inhabit to the particular garden they wish to +plunder. When this is done, several of them mount +the fairest fruit-trees, and, picking the fruit, throw it +down to their companions who stand below; these +again cast it to others at a little distance, and thus it +flies from hand to hand till it is safely deposited in +the woods or mountains whence they came. When +they are taken very young they are easily tamed, but +always retain a great disposition to mischief, as well +as to imitate everything they see done by men. +Many ridiculous stories are told of them in this +respect. I have heard of a monkey that resided in a +gentleman's family, and that frequently observed his +master undergo the operation of shaving. The imi<!-- Page 166 -->tative +animal one day took it into his head to turn +barber, and, seizing in one hand a cat that lived in +the same house, and a bottle of ink in the other, he +carried her up to the top of a very fine marble staircase. +The servants were all attracted by the screams +of the cat, who did not relish the operation which +was going forward; and, running out, were equally +surprised and diverted to see the monkey gravely +seated upon the landing-place of the stairs, and holding +the cat fast in one of his paws, while with the +other he continually applied ink to puss's face, rubbing +it all over, just as he had observed the barber +do to his master. Whenever the cat struggled to +escape, the monkey gave her a pat with his paw, +chattering all the time, and making the most ridiculous +grimaces; and when she was quiet, he applied +himself to his bottle, and continued the operation. +But I have heard a more tragic story of the imitative +genius of these animals. One of them lived in a +fortified town, and used frequently to run up and +down upon the ramparts, where he had observed the +gunner discharge the great guns that defended the +town. One day he got possession of the lighted +match with which the man used to perform his business, +and, applying it to the touch-hole of a gun, he +ran to the mouth of it to see the explosion; but +the cannon, which happened to be loaded, instantly +went off, and blew the poor monkey into a thousand +pieces."</p> + +<p>When they came back to Mr Barlow's they found +Master Merton's servant and horses waiting to +bring him home. When he arrived there he was +received with the greatest joy and tenderness by his<!-- Page 167 --> +parents; but though he gave them an account of +everything else that had happened, he did not say +a word about the money he had given to the farmer. +But the next day, being Sunday, Mr and Mrs +Merton and Tommy went together to the parish +church, which they had scarcely entered when a +general whisper ran through the whole congregation, +and all eyes were in an instant turned upon the +little boy. Mr and Mrs Merton were very much +astonished at this, but they forbore to inquire until +the end of the service; then as they were going out +of the church together, Mr Merton asked his son +what could be the reason of the general attention +which he excited at his entrance into church? +Tommy had no time to answer, for at that instant a +very decent-looking woman ran up and threw herself +at his feet, calling him her guardian angel and +preserver, and praying that heaven would shower +down upon his head all the blessings which he +deserved. It was some time before Mr and Mrs +Merton could understand the nature of this extraordinary +scene; but, when they at length understood +the secret of their son's generosity, they +seemed to be scarcely less affected than the woman +herself, and, shedding tears of transport and affection, +they embraced their son, without attending to +the crowd that surrounded them; but immediately +recollecting themselves, they took their leave of the +poor woman and hurried to their coach with such +sensations as it is more easy to conceive than to +describe.</p> + +<p>The summer had now completely passed away, and +the winter had set in with unusual severity; the<!-- Page 168 --> +water was all frozen into a solid mass of ice; the +earth was bare of food, and the little birds, that +used to chirp with gladness, seemed to lament in +silence the inclemency of the weather. As Tommy +was one day reading the Life of Napoleon Bonaparte, +particularly the famous anecdote of the fortress +of snow, in which Napoleon is described as +undertaking the siege, and giving directions to his +school-fellows how to make the attack, he was surprised +to find a pretty bird flying about the chamber +in which he was reading. He immediately went +down stairs and informed Mr Barlow of the circumstance, +who, after he had seen the bird, told him +that it was called a robin redbreast, and that it +was naturally more tame and disposed to cultivate +the society of men than any other species; "but at +present," added he, "the little fellow is in want of +food, because the earth is too hard to furnish him +any assistance, and hunger inspires him with this +unusual boldness." "Why then, sir," said Tommy, +"if you will give me leave, I will fetch a piece of +bread and feed him." "Do so," answered Mr +Barlow; "but first set the window open, that he +may see you do not intend to take him prisoner." +Tommy accordingly opened his window, and scattering +a few crumbs of bread about the room, had the +satisfaction of seeing his guest hop down and make +a very hearty meal; he then flew out of the room, +and settled upon a neighbouring tree, singing all the +time, as if to return thanks for the hospitality he +had met with.</p> + +<p>Tommy was greatly delighted with his new acquaintance, +and from this time never failed to set<!-- Page 169 --> +his window open every morning and scatter some +crumbs about the room, which the bird perceiving, +hopped fearlessly in, and regaled himself under the +protection of his benefactor. By degrees the intimacy +increased so much that little robin would +alight on Tommy's shoulder and whistle his notes +in that situation, or eat out of his hand—all which +gave Tommy so much satisfaction that he would +frequently call Mr Barlow and Harry to be witness +of his favourite's caresses; nor did he ever eat his +own meals without reserving a part for his little +friend.</p> + +<p>It however happened that one day Tommy went +upstairs after dinner, intending to feed his bird as +usual, but as soon as he opened the door of his +chamber he discovered a sight that pierced him to +the very heart. His little friend and innocent companion +lay dead upon the floor, and torn in pieces; +and a large cat, taking that opportunity to escape, +soon directed his suspicions towards the murderer. +Tommy instantly ran down with tears in his eyes to +relate the unfortunate death of his favourite to Mr +Barlow, and to demand vengeance against the wicked +cat that had occasioned it. Mr Barlow heard him +with great compassion, but asked what punishment +he wished to inflict upon the cat?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh sir! nothing can be too bad for that +cruel animal. I would have her killed as she killed +the poor bird.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But do you imagine that she did it +out of any particular malice to your bird, or merely +because she was hungry, and accustomed to catch +her prey in that manner?<!-- Page 170 --></p> + +<p>Tommy considered some time, but at last he +owned that he did not suspect the cat of having any +particular spite against his bird, and therefore he +supposed she had been impelled by hunger.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Have you never observed that it was +the property of that species to prey upon mice +<a name="tn_pg_179"></a><!--TN: "and and" changed to "and"-->and other little animals?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir, very often.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And have you ever corrected her for +so doing, or attempted to teach her other habits?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I cannot say I have. Indeed I have +seen little Harry, when she had caught a mouse and +was tormenting it, take it from her and give it +liberty; but I have never meddled with her myself.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Are you not then more to be blamed +than the cat herself? You have observed that it +was common to the whole species to destroy mice +and little birds, whenever they could surprise them; +yet you have taken no pains to secure your favourite +from the danger; on the contrary, by rendering him +tame, and accustoming him to be fed, you have exposed +him to a violent death, which he would probably +have avoided had he remained wild. Would +it not then be just, and more reasonable, to endeavour +to teach the cat that she must no longer prey +upon little birds, than to put her to death for what +you have never taught her was an offence?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But is that possible?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Very possible, I should imagine; but +we may at least try the experiment.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But why should such a mischievous +creature live at all?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Because, if you destroy every crea<!-- Page 171 -->ture +that preys upon others, you would perhaps leave +few alive.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Surely, sir, the poor bird which that +naughty cat has killed, was never guilty of such a +cruelty.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I will not answer for that. Let us +observe what they live upon in the fields; we shall +then be able to give a better account.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then went to the window and desired +Tommy to come to him, and observe a robin which +was then hopping upon the grass with something in +its mouth, and asked him what he thought it was.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I protest, sir, it is a large worm. And +now he has swallowed it! I should never have +thought that such a pretty bird could have been so +cruel.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Do you imagine that the bird is conscious +of all that is suffered by the insect?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—In him, then, it is not the same +cruelty which it would be in you, who are endowed +with reason and reflection. Nature has given him a +propensity for animal food, which he obeys in the +same manner as the sheep and ox when they feed +upon grass, or as the ass when he browses upon the +furze or thistles.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Why, then, perhaps the cat did not +know the cruelty she was guilty of in tearing that +poor bird to pieces?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—No more than the bird we have just +seen is conscious of his cruelty to the insect. The +natural food of cats consists in rats, mice, birds, and +such small animals as they can seize by violence or<!-- Page 172 --> +catch by craft. It was impossible she should know +the value you set upon your bird, and therefore she +had no more intention of offending you than had she +caught a mouse.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But if that is the case, should I have +another tame bird, she would kill it as she has done +this poor <a name="tn_pg_181"></a><!--TN: Period added after "fellow"-->fellow.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That, perhaps, may be prevented. I +have heard people that deal in birds affirm there is a +way of preventing cats from meddling with them.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh dear, sir, I should like to try it. +Will you not show me how to prevent the cat from +killing any more birds?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Most willingly; it is certainly better +to correct the faults of an animal than to destroy it. +Besides, I have a particular affection for this cat, +because I found her when she was a kitten, and have +bred her up so tame and gentle that she will follow +me about like a dog. She comes every morning to +my chamber-door and mews till she is let in; and +she sits upon the table at breakfast and dinner as +grave and polite as a visitor, without offering to +touch the meat. Indeed, before she was guilty of +this offence, I have often seen you stroke and caress +her with great affection; and puss, who is by no +means of an ungrateful temper, would always pur +and arch her tail, as if she was sensible of your +attention.</p> + +<p>In a few days after this conversation another +robin, suffering like the former from the inclemency +of the season, flew into the house, and commenced +acquaintance with Tommy. But he, who recollected +the mournful fate of his former bird, would not en<!-- Page 173 -->courage +it to any familiarity, till he had claimed the +promise of Mr Barlow, in order to preserve it from +danger. Mr Barlow, therefore, enticed the new +guest into a small wire-cage, and, as soon as he had +entered it, shut the door, in order to prevent his +escaping. He then took a small gridiron, such as is +used to broil meat upon, and, having almost heated +it red hot, placed it erect upon the ground, before +the cage in which the bird was confined. He then +contrived to entice the cat into the room, and observing +that she fixed her eye upon the bird, which she +destined to become her prey, he withdrew the two +little boys, in order to leave her unrestrained in her +operations. They did not retire far, but observed +her from the door fix her eyes upon the cage, and +begin to approach it in silence, bending her body to +the ground, and almost touching it as she crawled +along. When she judged herself within a proper +distance, she exerted all her agility in a violent +spring, which would probably have been fatal to the +bird, had not the gridiron, placed before the cage, +received the impression of her attack. Nor was the +disappointment the only punishment she was destined +to undergo; the bars of the gridiron had been so +thoroughly heated that, in rushing against them, she +felt herself burned in several parts of her body, and +retired from the field of battle mewing dreadfully and +full of pain; and such was the impression which this +adventure produced, that, from this time, she was +never again known to attempt to destroy birds.</p> + +<p>The coldness of the weather still continuing, all +the wild animals began to perceive the effects, +and, compelled by hunger, approached nearer to the<!-- Page 174 --> +habitations of man and the places they had been +accustomed to avoid. A multitude of hares—the +most timorous of all animals—were frequently seen +scudding about the garden in search of the scanty +vegetables which the severity of the season had +spared. In a short time they had devoured all the +green herbs which could be found, and, hunger still +oppressing them, they began to gnaw the very bark +of the trees for food. One day, as Tommy was walking +in the garden, he found that even the beloved +tree which he had planted with his own hands, and +from which he had promised himself so plentiful a +produce of fruit, had not escaped the general depredation, +but had been gnawed round at the root and +killed.</p> + +<p>Tommy, who could ill brook disappointment, was +so enraged to see his labours prove abortive, that he +ran with tears in his eyes to Mr Barlow, to demand +vengeance against the devouring hares. "Indeed," +said Mr Barlow, "I am sorry for what they have +done, but it is now too late to prevent it." "Yes," +answered Tommy, "but you may have all those +mischievous creatures shot, that they may do no +further damage." "A little while ago," replied Mr +Barlow, "you wanted to destroy the cat, because she +was cruel and preyed upon living animals, and now +you would murder all the hares, merely because they +are innocent, inoffensive animals that subsist upon +vegetables." Tommy looked a little foolish, but +said, "he did not want to hurt them for living upon +vegetables, but for destroying his tree." "But," +said Mr Barlow, "how can you expect the animal to +distinguish your trees from any other? You should<!-- Page 175 --> +therefore have fenced them round in such a manner +as might have prevented the hares from reaching +them; besides, in such extreme distress as animals +now suffer from the want of food, I think they may +be forgiven if they trespass a little more than +usual."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then took Tommy by the hand and +led him into a field at some distance, which belonged +to him, and which was sown with turnips. Scarcely +had they entered the field before a flock of larks rose +up in such innumerable quantities as almost darkened +the air. "See," said Mr Barlow, "these little +fellows are trespassing upon my turnips in such +numbers, that in a short time they will destroy every +bit of green about the field; yet I would not hurt them +on any account. Look round the whole extent of +the country, you will see nothing but a barren +waste, which presents no food either to bird or beast. +These little creatures, therefore, assemble in multitudes +here, where they find a scanty subsistence, and +though they do me some mischief, they are welcome +to what they can find. In the spring they will +enliven our walks by their agreeable <a name="tn_pg_184"></a><!--TN: Closing quote added after "songs."-->songs."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—How dreary and uncomfortable is this +season of winter; I wish it were always summer.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—In some countries it is so; but there +the inhabitants complain more of the intolerable heat +than you do of the cold. They would with pleasure +be relieved by the agreeable variety of cooler weather, +when they are panting under the violence of a scorching +sun.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Then I should like to live in a country +that was never either disagreeably hot or cold.<!-- Page 176 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Such a country is scarcely to be +found; or if it is, contains so small a portion of +the earth as to leave room for very few inhabitants.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Then I should think it would be so +crowded that one would hardly be able to stir, for +everybody would naturally wish to live there.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—There you are mistaken, for the inhabitants +of the finest climates are often less attached to +their own country than those of the worst. Custom +reconciles people to every kind of life, and makes +them equally satisfied with the place in which they +are born. There is a country called Lapland, which +extends a great deal further north than any part of +England, which is covered with <a name="tn_pg_185"></a><!--TN: "prepetual" changed to "perpetual"-->perpetual snows +during all the year, yet the inhabitants would not +exchange it for any other portion of the globe.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—How do they live in so disagreeable a +country?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If you ask Harry, he will tell you. +Being a farmer, it is his business to study the +different methods by which men find subsistence in +all the different parts of the earth.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I should like very much to hear, if Harry +will be so good as to tell me.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—You must know then, Master Tommy, +that in the greatest part of this country which is +called Lapland, the inhabitants neither sow nor +reap; they are totally unacquainted with the use of +corn, and know not how to make bread; they have +no trees which bear fruit, and scarcely any of the +herbs which grow in our gardens in England; nor +do they possess either sheep, goats, hogs, cows, or +beasts.<!-- Page 177 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That must be a disagreeable country +indeed! What then have they to live upon?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—They have a species of deer, which is +bigger than the largest stags which you may have +seen in the gentlemen's parks in England, and very +strong. These <a name="tn_pg_186"></a><!--TN: "aminals" changed to "animals"-->animals are called <i>reindeer</i>, and are +of so gentle a nature that they are easily tamed, and +taught to live together in herds, and to obey their +masters. In the short summer which they enjoy, +the Laplanders lead them out to pasture in the valleys, +where the grass grows very high and luxuriant. +In the winter, when the ground is all covered over +with snow, the deer have learned to scratch away +the snow, and find a sort of moss which grows +underneath it, and upon this they subsist. These +creatures afford not only food, but raiment, and +even houses to their masters. In the summer, the +Laplander milks his herds and lives upon the produce; +sometimes he lays by the milk in wooden vessels, +to serve him for food in winter. This is soon +frozen so hard that, when they would use it, they +are obliged to cut it in pieces with a hatchet. Sometimes +the winters are so severe that the poor deer +can scarcely find even moss, and then the master is +obliged to kill part of them and live upon the flesh. +Of the skins he makes warm garments for himself +and his family, and strews them thick upon the +ground, to sleep upon. Their houses are only poles +stuck slanting into the ground, and almost joined +at top, except a little hole which they leave to let +out the smoke. These poles are either covered with +the skins of animals, or coarse cloth, or sometimes +with turf and the bark of trees. There is a little hole<!-- Page 178 --> +left in one side, through which the family creep into +their tent, and they make a comfortable fire to warm +them, in the middle. People that are so easily contented +are totally ignorant of most of the things +that are thought so necessary here. The Laplanders +have neither gold, nor silver, nor carpets, +nor carved work in their houses; every man makes +for himself all that the real wants of life require, +and with his own hands performs everything +which is necessary to be done. Their food consists +either in frozen milk, or the flesh of the reindeer, or +that of the bear, which they frequently hunt and +kill. Instead of bread they strip off the bark of +firs, which are almost the only trees that grow upon +those dismal mountains, and, boiling the inward and +more tender skin, they eat it with their flesh. The +greatest happiness of these poor people is to live +free and unrestrained; therefore they do not long +remain fixed to any spot, but, taking down their +houses, they pack them up along with the little +furniture they possess, and load them upon sledges, +to carry and set them up in some other place.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Have you not said that they have neither +horses nor oxen? Do they then draw these sledges +themselves?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I thought I should <a name="tn_pg_187"></a><!--TN: "suprise" changed to "surprise"-->surprise you, Master +Tommy. The reindeer which I have described are +so tractable, that they are harnessed like horses, and +draw the sledges with their masters upon them +nearly thirty miles a-day. They set out with surprising +swiftness, and run along the snow, which is +frozen so hard in winter that it supports them like +a solid road. In this manner do the Laplanders<!-- Page 179 --> +perform their journeys, and change their places of +abode as often as is agreeable. In the spring they +lead their herds of deer to pasture upon the mountains; +in the winter they come down into the plains, +where they are better protected against the fury of +the winds; for the whole country is waste and desolate, +destitute of all the objects which you see here. +There are no towns, nor villages; no fields enclosed +or cultivated; no beaten roads; no inns for travellers +to sleep at; no shops to purchase the necessaries or +conveniences of life at; the face of the whole country +is barren and dismal; wherever you turn your eyes, +nothing is to be seen but lofty mountains, white +with snow, and covered with ice and fogs; scarcely +any trees are to be seen, except a few stunted firs +and birches. These mountains afford a retreat to +thousands of bears and wolves, which are continually +pouring down and prowling about to prey upon the +herds of deer, so that the Laplanders are continually +obliged to fight them in their own defence. To do +this, they fix large pieces of flat board, about four +or five feet long, to the bottom of their feet, and, +thus secured, they run along, without sinking into +the snow, so nimbly, that they can overtake the +wild animals in the chase. The bears they kill with +bows and arrows, which they make themselves. +Sometimes they find out the dens where they have +laid themselves up in winter, and then they attack +them with spears, and generally overcome them. +When a Laplander has killed a bear, he carries it +home in triumph, boils the flesh in an iron pot +(which is all the cooking they <a name="tn_pg_188"></a><!--TN: "are are" replaced with "are"-->are acquainted +with), and invites all his neighbours to the feast.<!-- Page 180 --> +This they account the greatest delicacy in the world, +and particularly the fat, which they melt over the +fire and drink; then, sitting round the flame, they +entertain each other with stories of their own exploits +in hunting or fishing, till the feast is over. +Though they live so barbarous a life, they are a +good-natured, sincere, and hospitable people. If a +stranger comes among them, they lodge and entertain +him in the best manner they are able, and +generally refuse all payment for their services, unless +it be a little bit of tobacco, which they are immoderately +fond of smoking.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Poor people! how I pity them, to live +such an unhappy life! I should think the fatigues +and hardships they undergo must kill them in a +very short space of time.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Have you then observed that those +who eat and drink the most, and undergo the least +fatigue, are the most free from disease?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Not always; for I remember that there +are two or three gentlemen who come to dine at my +father's, who eat an amazing quantity of meat, +besides drinking a great deal of wine, and these +poor gentlemen have lost the use of almost all their +limbs. Their legs are so swelled, that they are +almost as big as their bodies; their feet are so +tender that they cannot set them to the ground; +and their knees so stiff, that they cannot bend +them. When they arrive, they are obliged to be +helped out of their coaches by two or three people, +and they come hobbling in upon crutches. But I +never heard them talk about anything but eating +and drinking in all my life.<!-- Page 181 --> +<i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And did you ever observe that any of +the poor had lost the use of their limbs by the same +disease?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I cannot say I have.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Then, perhaps, the being confined to +a scanty diet, to hardship, and to exercise, may not +be so desperate as you imagine. This way of life is +even much less so than the intemperance in which +too many of the rich continually indulge themselves. +I remember lately reading a story on this subject, +which, if you please, you shall hear. Mr Barlow +then read the following</p> + + +<h3>"HISTORY OF A SURPRISING CURE OF THE GOUT."</h3> + +<p>"In one of the provinces of Italy there lived a +wealthy gentleman, who, having no taste either for +improving his mind or exercising his body, acquired +a habit of eating almost all day long. The whole +extent of his thoughts was, what he should eat for +dinner, and how he should procure the greatest delicacies. +Italy produces excellent wine, but these +were not enough for our epicure; he settled agents +in different parts of France and Spain, to buy up +all the most generous and costly wines of those +countries. He had correspondence with all the +maritime cities, that he might be constantly supplied +with every species of fish; every poulterer and fishmonger +in the town was under articles to let him +have his choice of rarities. He also employed a man +on purpose to give directions for his pastry and +desserts. As soon as he had breakfasted in the +morning, it was his constant practice to retire to his<!-- Page 182 --> +library (for he, too, had a library, although he never +opened a book). When he was there, he gravely +seated himself in an easy chair, and, tucking a +napkin under his chin, ordered his head cook to be +sent in to him. The head cook instantly appeared +attended by a couple of footmen, who carried each a +silver salver of prodigious size, on which were cups +containing sauces of every different flavour which +could be devised. The gentleman, with the greatest +solemnity, used to dip a bit of bread in each, and +taste it, giving his orders upon the subject with as +much earnestness and precision as if he had been +signing papers for the government of a kingdom. +When this important affair was thus concluded, he +would throw himself upon a couch, to repair the +fatigues of such an exertion, and refresh himself +against dinner. When that delightful hour arrived, +it is impossible to describe either the variety of fish, +flesh, and fowl which was set before him, or the +surprising greediness with which he ate of all; +stimulating his appetite with the highest sauces and +richest wines, till at length he was obliged to desist, +not from being satisfied, but from mere inability to +contain more.</p> + +<p>"This kind of life he had long pursued, but at last +became so corpulent that he could hardly move; his +belly appeared prominent like a mountain, his face +was bloated, and his legs, though swelled to the size +of columns, seemed unable to support the prodigious +weight of his body. Added to this, he was troubled +with continual indigestions and racking pains in +several of his limbs, which at length terminated in a +violent fit of the gout. The pains, indeed, at length<!-- Page 183 --> +abated, and this unfortunate epicure returned to all +his former habits of intemperance. The interval of +ease, however, was short, and the attacks of his +disease becoming more and more frequent, he was at +length deprived of the use of almost all his limbs.</p> + +<p>"In this unhappy state he determined to consult +a physician that lived in the same town, and had the +reputation of performing many surprising cures. +'Doctor,' said the gentleman to the physician, when +he arrived, 'you see the miserable state to which I am +reduced.' 'I do, indeed,' answered the physician, +'and I suppose you have contributed to it by +your intemperance.' 'As to intemperance,' replied +the gentleman, 'I believe few have less to answer +for than myself; I indeed love a moderate dinner +and supper, but I never was intoxicated with liquor +in my life.' 'Probably, then, you sleep too much?' +said the physician. 'As to sleep,' said the gentleman, +'I am in bed nearly twelve hours every night, +because I find the sharpness of the morning air +extremely injurious to my constitution; but I am so +troubled with a plaguy flatulency and heartburn, +that I am scarcely able to close my eyes all night; +or if I do, I find myself almost strangled with wind, +and awake in agonies.' 'That is a very alarming +symptom, indeed,' replied the doctor; 'I wonder so +many restless nights do not entirely wear you out.' +'They would, indeed,' answered the gentleman, 'if I +did not make shift to procure a little sleep two or +three times a-day, which enables me to hold out +a little longer.' 'As to exercise,' continued the +doctor, 'I fear you are not able to use a great deal.' +'Alas!' answered the sick man, 'while I was able, I<!-- Page 184 --> +never failed to go out in my carriage once or twice +a-week, but in my present situation I can no longer +bear the gentlest motion; besides disordering my +whole frame, it gives me such intolerable twitches +in my limbs, that you would imagine I was absolutely +falling to <a name="tn_pg_193"></a><!--TN: Single quote added after "pieces."-->pieces.' 'Your case,' answered +the physician, 'is indeed bad, but not quite desperate, +and if you could abridge the quantity of +your food and sleep, you would in a short time find +yourself much better.' 'Alas!' answered the sick +man, 'I find you little know the delicacy of my constitution, +or you would not put me upon a method +which will infallibly destroy me. When I rise in +the morning, I feel as if all the powers of life were +extinguished within me; my stomach is oppressed +with nausea, my head with aches and swimming, +and above all, I feel such an intolerable sinking in +my spirits, that, without the assistance of two or +three cordials, and some restorative soup, I am confident +I never could get through the morning. +Now, doctor, I have such confidence in your skill, +that there is no pill or potion you can order me +which I will not take with pleasure, but as to a +change in my diet, that is impossible.' 'That is,' +answered the physician, 'you wish for health without +being at the trouble of acquiring it, and imagine +that all the consequences of an ill-spent life are to +be washed away by a julep, or a decoction of senna. +But as I cannot cure you upon those terms, I will +not deceive you for an instant. Your case is out of +the power of medicine, and you can only be relieved +by your own exertions.' 'How hard is this,' +answered the gentleman, 'to be thus abandoned to<!-- Page 185 --> +despair even in the prime of life! Cruel and unfeeling +doctor, will you not attempt anything to procure +me ease?' 'Sir,' answered the physician, 'I have +already told you everything I know upon the subject. +I must, however, acquaint you, that I have a +brother physician who lives at Padua, a man of the +greatest learning and integrity, who is particularly +famous for curing the gout. If you think it worth +your while to consult him, I will give you a letter of +recommendation, for he never stirs from home, +even to attend a prince.'</p> + +<p>"Here the conversation ended; for the gentleman, +who did not like the trouble of the journey, +took his leave of the physician, and returned home +very much dispirited. In a little while he either +was, or fancied himself, worse; and as the idea of +the Paduan physician had never left his head, he at +last resolutely determined to set out upon the +journey. For this purpose he had a litter so contrived +that he could lie recumbent, or recline at his +ease, and eat his meals. The distance was not above +one day's tolerable journey, but the gentleman +wisely resolved to make four of it, for fear of over-fatiguing +himself. He had, besides, a loaded waggon +attending, filled with everything that constitutes +good eating; and two of his cooks went with him, +that nothing might be wanting to his accommodation +on the road.</p> + +<p>"After a wearisome journey he at length arrived +within sight of Padua, and eagerly inquiring after the +house of Doctor Ramozini, was soon directed to the +spot; then, having been helped out of his carriage +by half-a-dozen of his servants, he was shown into a<!-- Page 186 --> +neat but plain parlour, from which he had the +prospect of twenty or thirty people at dinner in a +spacious hall. In the middle of them was the +learned doctor himself, who with much complaisance +invited the company to eat heartily. 'My good +friend,' said the doctor to a pale-looking man on his +right hand, 'you must eat three slices more of this +roast-beef, or you will never lose your ague.' 'My +friend,' said he to another, 'drink off this glass of +porter; it is just arrived from England, and is a +specific for nervous fevers.' 'Do not stuff your +child so with macaroni,' added he, turning to a +woman, 'if you wish to cure him of the <a name="tn_pg_195"></a><!--TN: Comma changed to period after"scrofula"-->scrofula.' +'Good man,' said he to a fourth, 'how goes on the +ulcer in your leg?' 'Much better, indeed,' replied +the man, 'since I have lived at your honour's table.' +'Well,' replied the physician, 'in a fortnight you +will be perfectly cured, if you do but drink wine +enough.'</p> + +<p>"'Thank heaven!' said the gentleman, who had +heard all this with infinite pleasure, 'I have at last +met with a reasonable physician; he will not confine +me to bread and water, nor starve me under pretence +of curing me, like that confounded quack from +whose clutches I have so luckily escaped.'</p> + +<p>"At length the doctor dismissed his company, +who retired loading him with thanks and blessings. +He then approached the gentleman, and welcomed +him with the greatest politeness, who presented him +with his letters of recommendation, which, after the +physician had perused, he thus accosted him:—'Sir, +the letter of my learned friend has fully instructed +me in the particulars of your case; it is indeed a<!-- Page 187 --> +difficult one, but I think you have no reason to +despair of a perfect recovery. If,' added he, 'you +choose to put yourself under my care, I will employ +all the secrets of my art for your assistance. But +one condition is absolutely indispensable; you must +send away all your servants, and solemnly engage to +follow my prescriptions for at least a month; without +this compliance I would not undertake the cure even +of a monarch.' 'Doctor,' answered the gentleman, +'what I have seen of your profession does not, I +confess, much prejudice me in their favour; and I +should hesitate to agree to such a proposal from any +other individual.' 'Do as you like, sir,' answered +the physician; 'the employing me or not is entirely +voluntary on your part; but as I am above the +common mercenary views of gain, I never stake the +reputation of so noble an art without a rational +prospect of success; and what success can I hope +for in so obstinate a disorder, unless the patient will +consent to a fair experiment of what I can effect?' +'Indeed,' replied the gentleman, 'what you say is so +candid, and your whole behaviour so much interests +me in your favour, that I will immediately give you +proofs of the most unbounded confidence.'</p> + +<p>"He then sent for his servants and ordered them to +return home, and not to come near him till a whole +month was elapsed. When they were gone, the +physician asked him how he supported the journey? +'Why, really,' answered he, 'much better than I +could have expected. But I feel myself unusually +hungry; and therefore, with your permission, shall +beg to have the hour of supper a little hastened.' +'Most willingly,' answered the doctor; 'at eight<!-- Page 188 --> +o'clock everything shall be ready for your entertainment. +In the meantime you will permit me to visit +my patients.'</p> + +<p>"While the physician was absent, the gentleman +was pleasing his imagination with the thoughts of +the excellent supper he should make. 'Doubtless,' +said he to himself, 'if Signor Ramozini treats the +poor in such an hospitable manner, he will spare nothing +for the entertainment of a man of my importance. +I have heard there are delicious trouts and ortolans +in this part of Italy; I make no doubt but the doctor +keeps an excellent cook, and I shall have no reason +to repent the dismission of my servants.'</p> + +<p>"With these ideas he kept himself some time +amused; at length his appetite growing keener and +keener every instant, from fasting longer than ordinary, +he lost all patience, and, calling one of the +servants of the house, inquired for some little nice +thing to stay his stomach till the hour of supper. +'Sir,' said the servant, 'I would gladly oblige you; +but it is as much as my place is worth; my master +is the best and most generous of men, but so great is +his attention to his house patients, that he will not +suffer one of them to eat, unless in his presence. +However, sir, have patience; in two hours more the +supper will be ready, and then you may indemnify +yourself for all.'</p> + +<p>"Thus was the gentleman compelled to pass two +hours more without food—a degree of abstinence he +had not practised for almost twenty years. He complained +bitterly of the slowness of time, and was continually +inquiring what was the hour.</p> + +<p>"At length the doctor returned punctual to his<!-- Page 189 --> +time, and ordered the supper to be brought in. +Accordingly six dishes were set upon the table with +great solemnity, all under cover; and the gentleman +flattered himself he should now be rewarded for his +long abstinence. As they were sitting down to +table, the learned Ramozini thus accosted his guest:—'Before +you give a loose to your appetite, sir, +I must acquaint you that, as the most effectual +method of subduing this obstinate disease, all your +food and drink will be mixed up with such medicinal +substances as your case requires. They +will not be indeed discoverable by any of your +senses; but as their effects are equally strong and +certain, I must recommend to you to eat with moderation.'</p> + +<p>"Having said this, he ordered the dishes to be uncovered, +which, to the extreme astonishment of the +gentleman, contained nothing but olives, dried figs, +dates, some roasted apples, a few boiled eggs, and a +piece of hard cheese!</p> + +<p>"'Heaven and earth!' cried the gentleman, losing +all patience at this mortifying spectacle, 'is this the +entertainment you have prepared for me, with so +many speeches and prefaces? Do you imagine that +a person of my fortune can sup on such contemptible +fare as would hardly satisfy the wretched peasants +whom I saw at dinner in your hall?' 'Have +patience, my dear sir,' replied the physician; 'it is +the extreme anxiety I have for your welfare that +compels me to treat you with this apparent incivility. +Your blood is all in a ferment with the violent exercise +you have undergone; and were I rashly to indulge +your craving appetite, a fever or a pleurisy<!-- Page 190 --> +might be the consequence. But to-morrow I hope +you will be cooler, and then you may live in a style +more adapted to your quality.'</p> + +<p>"The gentleman began to comfort himself with +this reflection, and, as there was no help, he at last +determined to wait with patience another night. +He accordingly tasted a few of the dates and olives, +ate a piece of cheese with a slice of excellent bread, +and found himself more refreshed than he could have +imagined was possible from such a homely meal. +When he had nearly supped, he wanted something +to drink, and observing nothing but water upon the +table, desired one of the servants to bring him a +little wine. 'Not as you value the life of this illustrious +gentleman,' cried out the physician. 'Sir,' +added he, turning to his guest, 'it is with inexpressible +reluctance that I contradict you, but wine +would be at present a mortal poison; therefore, +please to content yourself, for one night only, with +a glass of this most excellent and refreshing mineral +water.'</p> + +<p>"The gentleman was again compelled to submit, +and drank the water with a variety of strange +grimaces. After the cloth was removed, Signor +Ramozini entertained the gentleman with some +agreeable and improving conversation for about an +hour, and then proposed to his patient that he +should retire to rest. This proposal the gentleman +gladly accepted, as he found himself fatigued with +his journey, and unusually disposed to sleep. The +doctor then retired, and ordered one of his servants +to show the gentleman to his chamber.</p> + +<p>"He was accordingly conducted into a neighbour<!-- Page 191 -->ing +room, where there was little to be seen but a +homely bed, without furniture, with nothing to +sleep upon but a mattress almost as hard as the +floor. At this the gentleman burst into a violent +passion again: 'Villain,' said he to the servant, 'it +is impossible your master should dare to confine me +to such a wretched dog-hole! Show me into another +room immediately!' 'Sir,' answered the servant, +with profound humility, 'I am heartily sorry the +chamber does not please you, but I am morally +certain I have not mistaken my master's order; and +I have too great a respect for you to think of +disobeying him in a point which concerns your +precious life.' Saying this he went out of the room, +and shutting the door on the outside, left the gentleman +to his meditations. They were not very agreeable +at first; however, as he saw no remedy, he +undressed himself and entered the wretched bed, +where he presently fell asleep while he was meditating +revenge upon the doctor and his whole family.</p> + +<p>"The gentleman slept so soundly that he did not +awake till morning; and then the physician came +into his room, and with the greatest tenderness and +civility inquired after his health. He had indeed +fallen asleep in very ill-humour; but his night's +rest had much composed his mind, and the effect of +this was increased by the extreme politeness of the +doctor, so that he answered with tolerable temper, +only making bitter complaints of the homeliness of +his accommodation.</p> + +<p>"'My dearest sir,' answered the physician, 'did I +not make a previous agreement with you that you +should submit to my management? Can you imagine<!-- Page 192 --> +that I have any other end in view than the +improvement of your health? It is not possible +that you should in everything perceive the reasons +of my conduct, which is founded upon the most +accurate theory and experience. However, in this +case, I must inform you that I have found out the +art of making my very beds medicinal; and this you +must confess, from the excellent night you have +passed. I cannot impart the same salutary virtues +to down or silk, and therefore, though very much +against my inclinations, I have been compelled to +lodge you in this homely manner. But now, if you +please, it is time to rise.'</p> + +<p>"Ramozini then rang for the servants, and the +gentleman suffered himself to be dressed. At breakfast +the gentleman expected to fare a little better, +but his relentless guardian would suffer him to taste +nothing but a slice of bread and a porringer of +water-gruel—all which he defended, very little to his +guest's satisfaction, upon the most unerring principles +of medical science.</p> + +<p>"After breakfast had been some time finished, Dr +Ramozini told his patient it was time to begin the +great work of restoring him to the use of his limbs. +He accordingly had him carried into a little room, +where he desired the gentleman to attempt to stand. +'That is impossible,' answered the patient, 'for I have +not been able to use a leg these three years.' 'Prop +yourself, then, upon your crutches, and lean against +the wall to support yourself,' answered the physician. +The gentleman did so, and the <a name="tn_pg_201"></a><!--TN: "docter" changed to "doctor"-->doctor went abruptly +out, and locked the door after him. He had not +been long in this situation before he felt the floor of<!-- Page 193 --> +the chamber, which he had not before perceived to be +composed of plates of iron, grow immoderately hot +under his feet. He called the doctor and his servants, +but to no purpose; he then began to utter +loud vociferations and menaces, but all was equally +ineffectual; he raved, he swore, he promised, he +entreated, but nobody came to his assistance, and +the heat grew more intense every instant. At +length necessity compelled him to hop upon one +leg in order to rest the other, and this he did with +greater agility than he could conceive was possible; +presently the other leg began to burn, and then he +hopped again upon the other. Thus he went on, +hopping about with this involuntary exercise, till he +had stretched every sinew and muscle more than he +had done for several years before, and thrown himself +into a profuse perspiration.</p> + +<p>"When the doctor was satisfied with the exertions +of his patient, he sent into the floor an easy chair +for him to rest upon, and suffered the floor to cool +as gradually as it had been heated. Then it was +that the sick man for the first time began to be +sensible of the real use and pleasure of repose; he +had earned it by fatigue, without which it can never +prove either salutary or agreeable.</p> + +<p>"At dinner the doctor appeared again to his +patient, and made him a thousand apologies for the +liberties he had taken with his person. These +excuses he received with a kind of sullen civility. +However, his anger was a little mitigated by the +smell of a roasted pullet, which was brought to table +and set before him. He now, from exercise and +abstinence, began to find a relish in his victuals<!-- Page 194 --> +which he had never done before, and the doctor permitted +him to mingle a little wine with his water. +These compliances, however, were so extremely +irksome to his temper, that the month seemed +to pass away as slowly as a year. When it was +expired, and his servants came to ask his orders, he +instantly threw himself into his carriage without +taking leave either of the doctor or his family. +When he came to reflect upon the treatment he +had received, his forced exercises, his involuntary +abstinence, and all the other mortifications he had +undergone, he could not conceive but it must be a +plot of the physician he had left behind, and full +of rage and indignation, drove directly to his house +in order to reproach him with it.</p> + +<p>"The physician happened to be at home, but +scarcely knew his patient again, though after so +short an absence. He had shrunk to half his former +bulk, his look and colour were mended, and he +had entirely thrown away his crutches. When he +had given vent to all that his anger could suggest, +the physician coolly answered in the following +manner:—'I know not, sir, what right you have +to make me these reproaches, since it was not by my +persuasion that you put yourself under the care +of Doctor Ramozini.' 'Yes, sir, but you gave me +a high character of his skill and integrity.' 'Has +he then deceived you in either, or do you find yourself +worse than when you put yourself under his +care?' 'I cannot say that,' answered the gentleman; +'I am, to be sure, surprisingly improved in my +digestion; I sleep better than ever I did before; I eat +with an appetite; and I can walk almost as well<!-- Page 195 --> +as ever I could in my life.' 'And do you seriously +come,' said the physician, 'to complain of a +man that has affected all these miracles for you +in so short a time, and, unless you are now wanting +to yourself, has given you a degree of life and health +which you had not the smallest reason to expect.'</p> + +<p>"The gentleman who had not sufficiently considered +all these advantages, began to look a little +confused, and the physician thus went on:—'All that +you have to complain of is, that you have been +involuntarily your own dupe, and cheated into +health and happiness. You went to Dr Ramozini, +and saw a parcel of miserable wretches comfortably +at dinner. That great and worthy man is the +father of all about him; he knows that most of the +diseases of the poor, originate in their want of food +and necessaries, and therefore benevolently assists +them with better diet and clothing. The rich, on +the contrary, are generally the victims of their own +sloth and intemperance, and, therefore, he finds it +necessary to use a contrary method of cure—exercise, +abstinence, and mortification. You, sir, have +indeed been treated like a child, but it has been for +your own advantage. Neither your bed, nor meat, +nor drink, has ever been medicated; all the wonderful +change that has been produced has been by giving +you better habits, and rousing the slumbering +powers of your own constitution. As to deception, +you have none to complain of, except what proceeded +from your own foolish imagination, which persuaded +you that a physician was to regulate his conduct by +the folly and intemperance of his patient. As to all +the rest, he only promised to exert all the secrets of<!-- Page 196 --> +his art for your cure; and this, I am witness he +has done so effectually, that, were you to reward him +with half your fortune, it would hardly be too much +for his deserts.'</p> + +<p>"The gentleman, who did not want either sense +or generosity, could not help feeling the force of +what was said. He therefore made a handsome +apology for his behaviour, and instantly despatched +a servant to Dr Ramozini, with a handsome present, +and a letter expressing the highest gratitude; and +so much satisfaction did he find in the amendment +of his health and spirits, that he never again relapsed +into his former habits of intemperance, but, +by constant exercise and uniform moderation, continued +free from any considerable disease to a very +comfortable old age."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Tommy, "this is a very diverting, +comical story; and I should like very much to +tell it to the gouty gentlemen that come to our +house." "That," answered Mr Barlow, "would +be highly improper, unless you were particularly +desired. Those gentlemen cannot be ignorant that +such unbounded indulgence of their appetites can +only tend to increase the disease; and therefore you +could teach them nothing new on the subject. But +it would appear highly improper for such a little +boy as you to take upon him to instruct others, +while he all the time wants so much instruction +himself." "Thus," continued Mr Barlow, "you +see by this story (which is applicable to half the rich +in most countries), that intemperance and excess +are fully as dangerous as want and hardships. As +to the Laplanders, whom you were in so much pain<!-- Page 197 --> +about, they are some of the healthiest people whom +the world produces. They generally live to an extremely +old age, free from all the common diseases +which we are acquainted with, and subject to no +other inconveniency than blindness, which is supposed +to arise from the continual prospect of snow, +and the constant smoke with which they are surrounded +in their huts."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;" class="newpg"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Lost in the Snow—Jack Smithers' Home—Talk about the Stars—Harry's +pursuit of The Will-o'-the-Wisp—Story of the Avalanche—Town and Country +compared—The Power of the Lever—The Balance—The Wheel and Axle—Arithmetic—Buying +a Horse—History of Agesilaus—History of Leonidas.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">Some</span> few days after this conversation, when the +snow had nearly disappeared, though the frost and +cold continued, the two little boys went out to take +a walk. Insensibly they wandered so far that they +scarcely knew their way, and therefore resolved to +return as speedily as possible; but unfortunately, +in passing through a wood, they entirely missed the +track, and lost themselves. To add to their distress, +the wind began to blow most bitterly from +the north, and a violent shower of snow coming on, +obliged them to seek the thickest shelter they could +find. They happened fortunately to be near an +aged oak, the inside of which gradually decaying, +was worn away by time, and afforded an ample +opening to shelter them from the storm. Into this +the two little boys crept safe, and endeavoured to +keep each other warm, while a violent shower of<!-- Page 198 --> +snow and sleet fell all around, and gradually covered +the earth. Tommy, who had been little used to +hardships, bore it for some time with fortitude, and +without uttering a complaint. At length hunger +and fear took entire <a name="tn_pg_207"></a><!--TN: "possesssion" changed to "possession"-->possession of his soul, and +turning to Harry, with watery eyes and a mournful +voice, he asked him what they should do? "Do?" +said Harry, "we must wait here, I think, till the +weather clears up a little, and then we will endeavour +to find the way home."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But what if the weather should not clear +up at all?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—In that case we must either endeavour to +find our way through the snow, or stay here, where +we are so conveniently sheltered.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But oh! what a dreadful thing it is to +be here all alone in this dreary wood! And then I +am so hungry and so cold; oh that we had but a +little fire to warm us!</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I have heard that shipwrecked persons, +when they have been cast away upon a desert coast, +have made a fire to warm themselves by rubbing +two pieces of wood together till they caught fire; or +here is a better thing; I have a large knife in my +pocket, and if I could but find a piece of flint, I +could easily strike fire with the back of it.</p> + +<p>Harry then searched about, and after some time +found a couple of flints, though not without much +difficulty, as the ground was nearly hidden with +snow. He then took the flints, and striking one +upon the other with all his force, he shivered them +into several pieces; out of those he chose the thinnest +and sharpest, and telling Tommy, with a smile,<!-- Page 199 --> +that he believed that would do, he struck it several +times against the back of his knife, and thus produced +several sparks of fire. "This," said Harry, +"will be sufficient to light a fire, if we can but find +something of a sufficiently combustible nature to +kindle from these sparks." He then collected the +driest leaves he could find, with little decayed pieces +of wood, and piling them into a heap, endeavoured +to kindle a blaze by the sparks which he continually +struck from his knife and the flint. But it was in +vain; the leaves were not of a sufficiently combustible +nature, and while he wearied himself in vain, +they were not at all the more advanced. Tommy, +who beheld the ill success of his friend, began to be +more and more terrified, and in despair asked Harry +again what they should do. Harry answered, that +as they had failed in their attempt to warm themselves, +the best thing they could do was to endeavour +to find their way home, more especially as the snow +had now ceased, and the sky was become much +clearer. This Tommy consented to, and with infinite +difficulty they began their march; for, as the +snow had completely covered every tract, and the +daylight began to fail, they wandered at random +through a vast and pathless wood. At every step +which Tommy took he sank almost to his knees in +snow. The wind was bleak and cold, and it was +with much difficulty that Harry could prevail upon +him to continue his journey. At length, however, +as they thus pursued their way with infinite toil, +they came to some lighted embers, which either +some labourers or some wandering passenger had +lately quitted, and which were yet unextinguished.<!-- Page 200 --> +"See," said Harry with joy, "see what a lucky +chance is this! here is a fire ready lighted for us, +which needs only the assistance of a little wood to +make it burn." Harry again collected all the dry +pieces he could find, and piled them upon the +embers, which in a few minutes began to blaze, and +diffused a cheerful <a name="tn_pg_209"></a><!--TN: "warmeth" changed to "warmth"-->warmth. Tommy then began to +warm and chafe his almost frozen limbs over the +fire with infinite delight. At length he could not +help observing to Harry, that he never could have +believed that a few dried sticks could have been of +so much consequence to him. "Ah!" answered +Harry, "Master Tommy, you have been brought up +in such a manner, that you never knew what it was +to want anything; but that is not the case with +thousands and millions of people. I have seen +hundreds of poor children that have neither bread +to eat, fire to warm, nor clothes to cover them. +Only think, then, what a disagreeable situation they +must be in; yet they are so accustomed to hardship +that they do not cry in a twelvemonth as much as +you have done within this quarter of an hour."</p> + +<p>"Why," answered Tommy, a little disconcerted +at the observation of his crying, "it cannot be expected +that gentlemen should be able to bear all +these inconveniences as well as the poor." "Why +not," answered Harry, "is not a gentleman as much +a man as the poor can be? and if he is a man, +should he not accustom himself to support everything +that his fellow-creatures do?"</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is very true; but he will have all +the conveniences of life provided for him; victuals +to eat, a good warm bed, and a fire to warm him.<!-- Page 201 --></p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—But he is not sure of having all these +things as long as he lives. Besides, I have often +observed the gentlemen and ladies in our neighbourhood +riding about in coaches, and covered from head +to foot, yet shaking with the least breath of air, as +if they all had agues, while the children of the poor +run about barefooted upon the ice, and divert themselves +with making snow-balls.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is indeed true; for I have seen my +mother's visitors sitting over the largest fire that +could be made, and complaining of cold, while the +labourers out of doors were stripped to their shirts +to work, and never minded it in the least.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Then I should think that exercise, by +which a person can warm himself when he pleases, +is an infinitely better thing than all these conveniences +you speak of; because, after all, they will not +hinder a person from being cold, but exercise will +warm him in an instant.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But then it is not proper for gentlemen +to do the same kind of work with the common +people.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—But is it not proper for a gentleman to +have his body stout and hardy?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—To be sure it is.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Why, then, he must sometimes labour +and use his limbs, or else he will never be able +to do it.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What! cannot a person be strong without +working?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—You can judge for yourself. You very +often have fine young gentlemen at your father's +house, and are any of them as strong as the sons of<!-- Page 202 --> +the farmers in the neighbourhood, who are always +used to handle a hoe, a spade, a fork, and other tools?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, I believe that is true, for I think +I am become stronger myself since I have learned +to divert myself in Mr Barlow's garden.</p> + +<p>As they were conversing in this manner, a little +boy came singing along, with a bundle of sticks at +his back; and as soon as Harry saw him, he recollected +him, and cried out, <a name="raggedboy">"As I am alive, here as I am is +Jack Smithers, the little ragged boy that you gave +the clothes to in the summer!</a> He lives, I dare say, +in the neighbourhood, and either he or his father +will now show us the way home."</p> + + +<div class="figcenter newpg"><img src="images/i004.jpg" +alt="" title="image" border="1" width="441" height="700"></div> +<div class="caption">"As I am alive, here is Jack Smithers, the little ragged +boy that you gave the clothes to in the summer!"<span class="alignright"><i><a href="#raggedboy">P. 202.</a></i></span></div> + + +<p class="newpg">Harry then spoke to the boy, and asked him if he +could show them the way out of the wood. "Yes, +surely I can," answered the boy; "but I never +should have thought of seeing Master Merton out so +late in such a tempestuous night as this; but, if you +will come with me to my father's cottage, you may +warm yourself at our fire, and father will run to Mr +Barlow to let him know you are safe."</p> + +<p>Tommy accepted the offer with joy, and the little +boy led them out of the wood, and in a few minutes +they came to a small cottage which stood by the +side of the road, which, when they entered, they saw +a middle-aged woman busy in spinning; the eldest +girl was cooking some broth over the fire; the father +was sitting in the chimney-corner, and reading a +book, while three or four ragged children were +tumbling upon the floor, and creeping between their +father's legs.</p> + +<p>"Daddy," said the little boy, as he came in, +"here is Master Merton, who was so good to us all<!-- Page 203 --> +in the summer; he has lost his way in the wood, +and is almost perished in the snow."</p> + +<p>The man upon this arose, and with much civility +desired the two little boys to seat themselves by the +fire, while the good woman ran to fetch her largest +faggot, which she threw upon the fire, and created a +cheerful blaze in an instant. "There, my dear little +master," said she, "you may at least refresh yourself +by our fire, and I wish I had anything to offer +you that you could eat; but I am afraid you would +never be able to bear such coarse brown bread as we +poor folks are obliged to eat." "Indeed," said +Tommy, "my good mother, I have fasted so long, +and I am so hungry, that I think I could eat anything." +"Well, then," answered the woman, "here +is a little bit of gammon of bacon which I will broil +for you upon the embers, and if you can make a +supper you are heartily welcome."</p> + +<p>While the good woman was thus preparing supper +the man had closed his book, and placed it with +great respect upon a shelf, which gave Tommy the +curiosity to ask him what he was reading about. +"Master," answered the man, "I was reading the +Book which teaches me my duty towards man, and +my obligations to God; I was reading the Gospel of +Jesus Christ, and teaching it to my children."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, I have heard of that good Book; +Mr Barlow has often read part of it to me, and +promised I should read it myself. That is the Book +they read at church; I have often heard Mr Barlow +read it to the people; and he always reads it so well +and so affectingly that everybody listens, and you +may hear even a pin drop upon the pavement.<!-- Page 204 --></p> + +<p><a name="tn_pg_215"></a><!--TN: New paragraph started at "The Man."--><i>The Man.</i>—Yes, master, Mr Barlow is a worthy +servant and follower of Jesus Christ himself; he is +the friend of all the poor in the neighbourhood; +he gives us food and medicines when we are ill, +and he employs us when we can find no work; but +what we are even more obliged to him for than the +giving us food and raiment, and life itself, he instructs +us in our duty, makes us ashamed of our +faults, and teaches us how we may be happy, not +only here, but in another world. I was once an +idle, abandoned man myself, given up to swearing +and drinking, neglecting my family, and taking no +thought for my poor wife and children; but since Mr +Barlow has taught me better things, and made me +acquainted with this blessed book, my life and +manners, I hope, are much amended, and I do my +duty better to my poor family.</p> + +<p>"That indeed you do, Robin," answered the +woman; "there is not now a better and kinder +husband in the world; you have not wasted an +idle penny or a moment's time these two years; and, +without that unfortunate fever, which prevented you +from working last harvest, we should have the greatest +reason to be <a name="tn_pg_215a"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "contented."-->contented."</p> + +<p>"Have we not the greatest reason now," answered +the man, "to be not only contented, but thankful +for all the blessings we enjoy? It is true that I, +and several of the children, were ill this year for +many weeks; but did we not all escape, through +the blessing of God, and the care of good Mr Barlow +and this worthy Master Sandford, who brought +us victuals so many days, with his own hands, when +we otherwise should perhaps have starved? Have I<!-- Page 205 --> +not had very good employment ever since; and do I +not now earn six shillings a-week, which is a very +comfortable thing, when many poor wretches as +good as I are starving, because they cannot find +employment?"</p> + +<p>"Six shillings a-week! six shillings a-week!" +answered Tommy in amazement; "and is that all +you and your wife and children have to live on for +a whole week!"</p> + +<p><i>The Man.</i>—Not all, master; my wife sometimes +earns a shilling or eighteenpence a-week by spinning, +and our eldest daughter begins to do something that +way, but not much.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That makes seven shillings and sixpence +a-week. Why, I have known my mother give more +than that to go to a place where outlandish people +sing. I have seen her and other ladies give a man a +guinea for dressing their hair; and I know a little +miss, whose father gives half-a-guinea a time to a +little Frenchman, who teaches her to jump and +caper about the room.</p> + +<p>"Master," replied the man, smiling, "these are +great gentlefolks that you are talking about; they +are very rich, and have a right to do what they +please with their own; it is the duty of us poor folks +to labour hard, take what we can get, and thank the +great and wise God that our condition is no worse."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What! and is it possible that you can +thank God for living in such a house as this, and +earning seven shillings and sixpence a-week?</p> + +<p><i>The Man.</i>—To be sure I can, master. Is it not +an act of His goodness that we have clothes and a +warm house to shelter us, and wholesome food to<!-- Page 206 --> +eat? It was but yesterday that two poor men came +by, who had been cast away in a storm, and lost +their ship and all they had. One of the poor men +had scarcely any clothes to cover him, and was +shaking all over with a violent ague; and the other +had his toes almost mortified by walking bare-footed +in the snow. Am I not a great deal better off than +these poor men, and perhaps than a thousand others, +who are at this time tossed about upon the waves, +or cast away, or wandering about the world, without +a shed to cover them from the weather; or imprisoned +for debt? Might I not have gone on in +committing bad actions, like many other unhappy +men, till I had been guilty of some notorious crime, +which might have brought me to a shameful end? +And ought not I to be grateful for all these blessings +which I possess without deserving them?</p> + +<p>Tommy, who had hitherto enjoyed all the good +things of this life, without reflecting from whom he +had received them, was very much struck with the +piety of this honest and contented man; but as he +was going to answer, the good woman, who had laid +a clean, though coarse, cloth upon the table, and +taken up her savoury supper in an earthen plate, +invited them to sit down; an invitation which both +the boys obeyed with the greatest pleasure, as they +had eaten nothing since the morning. In the meantime +the honest man of the house had taken his hat +and walked to Mr Barlow's, to inform him that his +two pupils were safe in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow had long suffered the greatest uneasiness +at their absence, and not contented with sending +after them on every side, was at that very time<!-- Page 207 --> +busy in the pursuit, so that the man met him about +half-way from his own house. As soon as Mr +Barlow heard the good news, he determined to +return with the man, and reached his house just as +Tommy Merton had finished one of the heartiest +meals he had ever made.</p> + +<p>The little boys rose up to meet Mr Barlow, and +thanked him for his kindness, and the pains he had +taken to look after them, expressing their concern for +the accident which had happened, and the uneasiness +which, without designing it, they had occasioned; but +he, with the greatest good-nature, advised them to be +more cautious for the future, and not to extend their +walks so far; then, thanking the worthy people of +the house, he offered to conduct them, and they all +three set out together in a very cold, but fine and +star-light evening.</p> + +<p>As they went home Mr Barlow renewed his +caution, and told them the dangers they had incurred. +"Many people," said he, "in your situation, +have been surprised by an unexpected storm, +and, losing their way, have perished with cold. +Sometimes, both men and beasts, not being able to +discern their accustomed track, have fallen into deep +pits filled up and covered with the snow, where they +have been found buried several feet deep, and frozen +to death." "And is it impossible," said Tommy, +"in such a case to escape?" "In general it is," +said Mr Barlow; "but there have been some extraordinary +instances of persons who have lived several +days in that condition, and yet have been taken out +alive; to-morrow you shall read a remarkable story +to that purpose."<!-- Page 208 --></p> + +<p>As they were walking on, Tommy looked up at +the sky, where all the stars glimmered with unusual +brightness, and said, "What an innumerable +number of stars is here! I think I never observed +so many before in all my life!" "Innumerable as +they appear to you," said Mr Barlow, "there are +persons that have not only counted all you now see, +but thousands more, which are at present invisible +to your eye." "How can that be?" inquired Tommy, +"for there is neither beginning nor end; they +are scattered so confusedly about the sky, that I +should think it as impossible to number them, as +the flakes of snow that fell to-day while we were in +the wood."</p> + +<p>At this Mr Barlow smiled, and said, that he +believed Harry could give him a different account, +although perhaps he could not number them all. +"Harry," said he, "cannot you show your companion +some of the constellations?" "Yes," answered +Harry, "I believe I remember some that +you have been so good as to teach me." "But +pray, sir," said Tommy, "what is a constellation?"</p> + +<p>"Those," answered Mr Barlow, "who first began +to observe the heavens as you do now, have observed +certain stars, remarkable either for their brightness +or position. To these they have given a particular +name that they might the more easily know them +again, and discourse of them to others; and these +particular clusters of stars, thus joined together and +named, they call <i>constellations</i>. But come, Harry, +you are a little farmer, and can certainly point out +to us Charles' Wain."</p> + +<p>Harry then looked up to the sky, and pointed out<!-- Page 209 --> +seven very bright stars towards the north. "You +are right," said Mr Barlow; "four of these stars +have put the common people in mind of the four +wheels of a waggon, and the three others of the +horses, therefore they have called them by this name. +Now, Tommy, look well at these, and see if you can +find any seven stars in the whole sky that resemble +them in their position."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I do not think I can.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Do you not think, then, that you can +find them again?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I will try, sir. Now, I will take my eye +off, and look another way. I protest I cannot find +them again. Oh! I believe, there they are. Pray, sir +(pointing with his finger), is not that Charles' Wain?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You are right; and, by remembering +these stars, you may very easily observe those +which are next to them, and learn their names too, +till you are acquainted with the whole face of the +heavens.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is indeed very clever and very surprising. +I will show my mother Charles' Wain the +first time I go home; I daresay she has never +observed it.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But look on the two stars which compose +the hinder wheel of the waggon, and raise your +eye up towards the top of the sky; do you not see a +very bright star, that seems to be almost, but not +quite, in a line with the two others?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; I see it <a name="tn_pg_220"></a><!--TN: Comma changed to a period after "plainly"-->plainly.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is called the Pole-star; it never +moves from its place, and by looking full at it, you +may always find the north.<!-- Page 210 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Then if I turn my face towards that star, +I always look to the north.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You are right.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Then I shall turn my back to the south.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You are right again; and now cannot +you find the east and the west?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Is it not the east where the sun rises?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Yes; but there is no sun to direct +you now.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Then, sir, I cannot find it out.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Do not you know, Harry?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I believe, sir, that if you turn your face +to the north, the east will be on the right hand, +and the west on the left.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Perfectly right.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is very clever indeed; so then, by +knowing the Pole-star, I can always find north, east, +west, and south. But you said that the Pole-star +never moves; do the other stars, then, move out of +their places?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is a question you may learn to +answer yourself, by observing the present appearance +of the heavens, and then examining whether +the stars change their places at any future time.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But, sir, I have thought that it would +be a good contrivance, in order to remember their +situation, if I were to draw them upon a bit of +paper.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But how would you do that?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I would make a mark upon the paper +for every star in Charles' Wain; and I would place +the marks just as I see the stars placed in the sky; +and I would entreat you to write the names for me;<!-- Page 211 --> +and this I would do till I was acquainted with all +the stars in the heavens.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That would be an excellent way, but +you see a paper is flat; is that the form of the sky?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No; the sky seems to rise from the earth +on every side, like the dome of a great church.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Then if you were to have some +round body, I should think it would correspond to +the different parts of the sky, and you might place +your stars with more exactness.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is true, indeed, sir; I wish I had +just such a globe.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Well, just such a globe I will endeavour +to procure you.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Sir, I am much obliged to you, indeed. +But of what use is it to know the stars?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Were there no other use, I should +think there would be a very great pleasure in observing +such a number of glorious glittering bodies as +are now above us. We sometimes run to see a +procession of coaches, or a few people in fine +clothes strutting about. We admire a large room +that is painted, and ornamented, and gilded; but +what is there in all these things to be compared with +the sight of these luminous bodies that adorn every +part of the sky?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That's true, indeed. My Lord Wimple's +great room that I have heard all the people admire +so much, is no more to be compared to it than the +shabbiest thing in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is indeed true; but there are +some, and those very important, uses to be derived +from an acquaintance with the stars. Harry, do you<!-- Page 212 --> +tell Master Merton the story of your being lost upon +the great moor.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—You must know, Master Tommy, that I +have an uncle who lives about three miles off, across +the great moor that we have sometimes walked upon. +Now, my father, as I am in general pretty well acquainted +with the roads, very often sends me with +messages to my uncle. One evening I went there so +late, that it was scarcely possible to get home again +before it was quite dark. It was at that time in the +month of October. My uncle wished me very much +to stay at his house all night, but that was not proper +for me to do, because my father had ordered me +to come back; so I set out as soon as I possibly +could, but just as I had reached the heath, the +evening grew extremely dark.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And were not you frightened to find +yourself all alone upon such a dismal place?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—No; I knew the worst that could happen +would be that I should stay there all night, and as +soon as ever the morning shone, I should have found +my way home. But, however, by the time that I had +reached the middle of the heath, there came on such +a violent tempest of wind, blowing full in my face, +accompanied with such a shower, that I found it impossible +to continue my way. So I quitted the +track, which is never very easy to find, and ran aside +to a holly-bush that was growing at some distance, +in order to seek a little shelter. Here, I lay, very +conveniently, till the storm was almost over; then I +rose and attempted to continue my way, but unfortunately +I missed the track, and lost myself.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That was a very dismal thing indeed.<!-- Page 213 --></p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I wandered about a great while, but still +to no purpose. I had not a single mark to direct +me, because the common is so extensive, and so +bare either of trees or houses, that one may walk for +miles and see nothing but heath and furze. Sometimes +I tore my legs in scrambling through great +thickets of furze; now and then I plumped into a +hole full of water, and should have been drowned if +I had not learned to swim; so that at last I was +going to give it up in despair, when, looking on one +side, I saw a light at a little distance, which seemed +to be a candle and lantern that somebody was carrying +across the moor.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Did not that give you very great comfort?</p> + +<p>"You shall hear," answered Harry, smiling. +"At first I was doubtful whether I should go up to +it; but I considered that it was not worth anybody's +pains to hurt a poor boy like me, and that no person +who was out on any ill design, would probably +choose to carry a light. So I determined boldly to +go up to it, and inquire the way."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And did the person with the candle and +lantern direct you?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I began walking up towards it, when immediately +the light, which I had first observed on +my right hand, moving slowly along by my side, +changed its direction, and went directly before me, +with about the same degree of swiftness. I thought +this very odd; but I still continued the chase, and +just as I thought I had approached very near, I +tumbled into another pit full of water.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That was unlucky indeed.<!-- Page 214 --></p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Well, I scrambled out, and very luckily +on the same side with the light, which I began to +follow again, but with as little success as ever. I +had now wandered many miles about the common; +I knew no more where I was than if I had been set +down upon an unknown country; I had no hopes +of finding my way home, unless I could reach +this wandering light; and, though I could not conceive +that the person who carried it could know of +my being so near, he seemed to act as if he was +determined to avoid me. However, I was resolved +to make one attempt, and therefore I began to run +as fast as I was able, hallooing out, at the same +time, to the person that I thought before me, to +entreat him to stop.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And did he?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Instead of that, the light, which had +before been moving along at a slow and easy pace, +now began to dance as it were before me, ten times +faster than before, so that instead of overtaking it, +I found myself farther and farther behind. Still, +however, I ran on, till I unwarily sunk up to the +middle in a large bog, out of which I at last scrambled +with a very great difficulty. Surprised at this, +and not conceiving that any human being could +pass over such a bog as this, I determined to pursue +it no longer. But now I was wet and weary; the +clouds had indeed rolled away, and the moon and +stars began to shine. I looked around me, and +could discern nothing but a wide, barren country, +without so much as a tree to shelter me, or any +animal in sight. I listened, in hopes of hearing a +sheepbell, or the barking of a dog; but nothing met<!-- Page 215 --> +my ear, except the shrill whistling of the wind, +which blew so cold that it chilled me to the very +heart. In this situation I stopped a while to consider +what I should do; and raising my eyes by +accident to the sky, the first object I beheld was +that very constellation of Charles' Wain, and above +it I discerned the Pole-star, glimmering, as it were, +from the very top of heaven. Instantly a thought +came into my mind; I considered, that when I had +been walking along the road which led towards my +uncle's house I had often observed the Pole-star full +before me; therefore it occurred to me, that if I +turned my back exactly upon it, and went straight +forward in a contrary direction, it must lead me +towards my father's house. As soon as I had +formed this resolution, I began to execute it. I +was persuaded I should now escape, and therefore, +forgetting my fatigue, I ran along as briskly as if I +had but then set out. Nor was I disappointed; for +though I could see no tracks, yet, taking the greatest +care always to go on in that direction, the moon +afforded me light enough to avoid the pits and bogs +which are found in various parts of that wild moor; +and when I had travelled, as I imagined, about +three miles, I heard the barking of a dog, which +gave me double vigour; and going a little farther, I +came to some enclosures at the skirts of the common, +which I knew, so that I then with ease found +my way home, after having almost despaired of +doing it.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, then, the knowledge of the Pole-star +was of very great use to you. I am determined +I will make myself acquainted with all the stars in<!-- Page 216 --> +the heavens. But did you ever find out what that +light was, which danced before you in so extraordinary +a manner?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—When I came home, my father told me +it was what the common people called a <a name="tn_pg_227"></a><!--TN: Hyphen added between "the" and "lantern"--><i>Jack-o'-the-lantern</i>; +and Mr Barlow has since informed me that +these things are only vapours, which rise out of the +earth in moist and fenny places, although they have +that bright appearance; and therefore told me that +many people, like me, who have taken them for a +lighted candle, have followed them, as I did, into +bogs and ditches.</p> + +<p>Just as Harry had finished his story, they arrived +at Mr Barlow's; and after sitting some time, and +talking over the accidents of the day, the little boys +retired to bed. Mr Barlow was sitting alone and +reading in his parlour, when, to his great surprise, +Tommy came running into the room, half undressed, +and bawling out, "Sir, sir, I have found it out! they +move! they move!" "What moves?" said Mr +Barlow. "Why, Charles' Wain moves," answered +Tommy; "I had a mind to take one peep at the +sky before I went to bed, and I see that all the seven +stars have moved from their places a great way +higher up the sky." "Well," said Mr Barlow, +"you are indeed right. You have done a vast deal +to-day, and to-morrow we will talk over these things +again."</p> + +<p>When the morrow came, Tommy put Mr Barlow +in mind of the story he had promised him about the +people buried in the snow. Mr Barlow looked him +out the book, but first said, "It is necessary to give +you some explanation. The country where this<!-- Page 217 --> +accident happened is a country full of rocks and +mountains, so excessively high that the snow never +melts upon their tops." "Never?" said Tommy; +"not even in the summer?" "Not even in the summer. +The valleys between these mountains are +inhabited by a brave and industrious people; the +sides of them, too, are cultivated, but the tops of the +highest mountains are so extremely cold that the ice +and snow never melt, but go on continually increasing. +During a great part of the winter the weather +is extremely cold, and the inhabitants confine themselves +within their houses, which they have the art +to render very comfortable. Almost all the roads +are then impassable, and snow and ice afford the +only prospect. But when the year begins to grow +warmer, the snow is frequently thawed upon the +sides of the mountains, and undermined by the +torrents of water, which pour down with irresistible +fury. Hence it frequently happens that such prodigious +masses of snow fall down as are sufficient to +bury beasts and houses, and even villages themselves, +beneath them.</p> + +<p>"It was in the neighbourhood of these prodigious +mountains, which are called the <i>Alps</i>, that, on the +19th of March 1755, a small cluster of houses was +entirely overwhelmed by two vast bodies of snow +that tumbled down upon them from a greater height. +All the inhabitants were then within doors, except +one Joseph Rochia, and his son, a lad of fifteen, +who were on the roof of their house clearing away +the snow, which had fallen for three days incessantly. +A priest going by to church advised them +to come down, having just before observed a body<!-- Page 218 --> +of snow tumbling from the mountain towards them. +The man descended with great precipitation, and +fled with his son he knew not whither; but scarcely +had he gone thirty or forty steps before his son, +who followed him, fell down; on which, looking +back, he saw his own and his neighbours' houses, in +which were twenty-two persons in all, covered with +a high mountain of snow. He lifted up his son, and +reflecting that his wife, his sister, two children, and +all his effects, were thus buried, he fainted away; +but, soon reviving, got safe to a friend's house at +some distance.</p> + +<p>"Five days after, Joseph, being perfectly recovered, +got upon the snow, with his son and two +of his wife's brothers, to try if he could find the +exact place where his house stood; but, after many +openings made in the snow, they could not discover +it. The month of April proving hot, and the snow +beginning to soften, he again used his utmost endeavours +to recover his effects, and to bury, as he +thought, the remains of his family. He made new +openings, and threw in earth to melt the snow, +which on the 24th of April was greatly diminished. +He broke through ice six English feet thick, with +iron bars, thrust down a long pole and touched the +ground; but evening coming on, he desisted.</p> + +<p>"The next day the brother of his wife, who had +heard of the misfortunes of the family, came to the +house where Joseph was, and after resting himself a +little, went with him to work upon the snow, where +they made another opening, which led them to the +house they searched for; but, finding no dead bodies +in its ruins, they sought for the stable, which was<!-- Page 219 --> +about two hundred and forty English feet distant, +which, having found, they heard the cry of 'Help, +my dear brother!' Being greatly surprised, as well +as encouraged by these words, they laboured with +all diligence till they had made a large opening, +through which the brother immediately went down, +where the sister, with an agonising and feeble voice, +told him 'I have always trusted in God and you, +that you would not forsake me.' The other brother +and the husband then went down, and found, still +alive, the wife, about forty-five, the sister, about +thirty-five, and the daughter, about thirteen years +old. These they raised on their shoulders to men +above, who pulled them up as if from the grave, and +carried them to a neighbouring house; they were +unable to walk, and so wasted that they appeared +like mere skeletons. They were immediately put to +bed, and gruel of rye-flour and a little butter was +given to recover them.</p> + +<p>"Some days after, the magistrate of the place +came to visit them, and found the wife still unable +to rise from bed, or use her feet from the intense +cold she had endured, and the uneasy posture she +had been in. The sister, whose legs had been +bathed with hot wine, could walk with some difficulty, +and the daughter needed no further remedies.</p> + +<p>"On the magistrate's interrogating the women, +they told him that, on the morning of the 19th of +March, they were in the stable with a boy of six +years old, and a girl of about thirteen. In the +same stable were six goats, one of which having +brought forth two dead kids the night before, they +went to carry her a small vessel of rye-flour gruel;<!-- Page 220 --> +there were also an ass, and five or six fowls. They +were sheltering themselves in a warm corner of the +stable till the church-bell should ring, intending to +attend the service. The wife related that, wanting +to go out of the stable to kindle a fire in the house +of her husband, who was clearing away the snow +from the top of it, she perceived a mass of snow +breaking down towards the east, upon which she +went back into the stable, shut the door, and told +her sister of it. In less than three minutes they +heard the roof break over their heads, and also a +part of the ceiling. The sister advised to get into +the rack and manger, which they did. The ass +was tied to the manger, but got loose by kicking and +struggling, and threw down the little vessel, which +they found, and afterwards used to hold the melted +snow, which served them for drink.</p> + +<p>"Very fortunately the manger was under the +main prop of the stable, and so resisted the weight of +the snow. Their first care was to know what they +had to eat. The sister said she had fifteen chestnuts +in her pockets; the children said they had breakfasted, +and should want no more that day. They +remembered there were thirty-six or forty cakes in a +place near the stable, and endeavoured to get at +them, but were not able for the snow. They called +often for help, but were heard by none. The sister +gave the chestnuts to the wife, and ate two herself, +and they drank some snow-water. The ass was +restless, and the goats kept bleating for some days, +after which they heard no more of them. Two of +the goats, however, being left alive and near the +manger, they felt them, and found that one of them<!-- Page 221 --> +was big, and would kid, as they recollected, about +the middle of April; the other gave milk, wherewith +they preserved their lives. During all this time they +saw not one ray of light, yet for about twenty days +they had some notice of night and day from the +crowing of the fowls, till they died.</p> + +<p>"The second day, being very hungry, they ate all +the chestnuts, and drank what milk the goat yielded, +being very near two quarts a-day at first, but it soon +decreased. The third day they attempted again, but +in vain, to get at the cakes; so resolved to take all +possible care to feed the goats; for just above the +manger was a hay-loft, where, through a hole, the +sister pulled down hay into the rack, and gave it to +the goats as long as she could reach it, and then, +when it was beyond her reach, the goats climbed +upon her shoulders and reached it themselves.</p> + +<p>"On the sixth day the boy sickened, and six days +after desired his mother, who all this time had held +him in her lap, to lay him at his length in the +manger. She did so, and taking him by the hand +felt it was very cold; she then put her hand to his +mouth, and finding that cold likewise, she gave him +a little milk; the boy then cried, 'Oh, my father is +in the snow! Oh father! father!' and then expired.</p> + +<p>"In the meanwhile the goat's milk diminished +daily, and, the fowls soon after dying, they could no +longer distinguish night from day; but according to +their reckoning, the time was near when the other +goat would kid; this she accordingly did soon, and +the young one dying, they had all the milk for their +own subsistence; so they found that the middle of +April was come. Whenever they called this goat, it<!-- Page 222 --> +would come and lick their faces and hands, and gave +them every day two quarts of milk, on which account +they still bear the poor creature a great affection.</p> + +<p>"This was the account which these poor people +gave to the magistrate of their preservation."</p> + +<p>"Dear heart!" said Tommy, when Mr Barlow +had finished this account, "what a number of +accidents people are subject to in this world." "It +is very true," answered Mr Barlow; "but as that is +the case, it is necessary to improve ourselves in every +manner, that we may be able to struggle against +them."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I begin to believe it is; for +when I was less than I am now, I remember I was +always fretful and hurting myself, though I had two +or three people constantly to take care of me. At +present I seem as if I was quite another thing; I do +not mind falling down and hurting myself, or cold, +or weariness, or scarcely anything which happens.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And which do you prefer; to be as +you are now, or as you were before?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—As I am now, a great deal, sir; for then +I always had something or another the matter with +me. Sometimes I had a little cold, and then I was +obliged to stay in for several days; sometimes a +little headache, and then I was forced to take physic; +sometimes the weather was too hot, then I must stay +within, and the same if it was too cold; I used to be +tired to death, if I did but walk a mile, and I was +always eating cake and <a name="tn_pg_233"></a><!--TN: "sweatmeats" changed to "sweetmeats"-->sweetmeats till I made myself +sick. At present I think I am ten times +stronger and healthier than ever I was in my life. +But what a terrible country that must be, where<!-- Page 223 --> +people are subject to be buried in that manner in the +snow! I wonder anybody will live there.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The people who inhabit that country +are of a different opinion, and prefer it to all the +countries in the world. They are great travellers, +and many of them follow different professions in all +the different countries of Europe; but it is the only +wish of almost all to return, before their death, to +the mountains where they were born and have passed +their youth.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I do not easily understand that. I have +seen a great many ladies and little misses at our +house, and whenever they were talking of the places +where they should like to live, I have always heard +them say that they hated the country of all things, +though they were born and bred there. I have +heard one say the country is odious, filthy, shocking, +and abominable; another, that it is impossible to +live anywhere but in London; and I remember once +seeing a strange lady, who wrote down her observations +in a book, and she said the country was all +full of barbarians, and that no person of elegance +(yes, that was her word) could bear it for a week.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And yet there are thousands who +bear to live in it all their lives, and have no desire +to change. Should you, Harry, like to leave the +country, and go to live in some town?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Indeed, sir, I should not, for then I must +leave everything I love in the world. I must leave +my father and mother, who have been so kind to +me; and you, too, sir, who have taken such pains to +improve me, and make me good. I am convinced +that I never shall find such friends again as long as<!-- Page 224 --> +I live; and what should anybody wish to live for +who has no friends? Besides, there is not a field +upon my father's farm that I do not prefer to every +town I ever saw in my life.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And have you ever been in any large +town?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Once I was in Exeter, but I did not +much like it; the houses seemed to me to stand so +thick and close, that I think our hog-sties would be +almost as agreeable places to live in; and then there +are little narrow alleys where the poor live; and the +houses are so high, that neither light nor air can +ever get to them, and the most of them appeared so +dirty and unhealthy, that it made my heart ache to +look at them. And then I walked along the streets, +and peeped into the shops—and what do you think +I saw?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Why, I saw great hulking fellows, as big +as our ploughmen and carters, with their heads all +frizzled and curled like one of our sheep's tails, that +did nothing but finger ribbons and caps for the +women! This diverted me so, that I could not help +laughing ready to split my sides. And then the +gentlewoman, at whose house I was, took me to a +place where there was a large room full of candles, +and a greater number of fine gentlemen and ladies, +all dressed out and showy, who were dancing about +as if they were mad. But at the door of this house +there were twenty or thirty ragged, half-starved +women and children, who stood shivering in the +rain, and begged for a bit of bread; but nobody +gave it to them, or took any notice of them. So<!-- Page 225 --> +then I could not help thinking that it would be a +great deal better if all the fine people would give +some of their money to the poor, that they might +have some clothes and victuals in their turn.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is indeed true. Had I been there +I should have relieved the poor people; for you +know I am very good-natured and generous; but it +is necessary for gentlemen to be fine and to dress +well.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—It may be so; but I never saw any great +good come of it, for my part. As I was walking +along the streets one day, and staring about, I met +two very fine and dressy young gentlemen, who +looked something as you did, Master Tommy, when +you first came here; so I turned off from the foot-way +to let them pass, for my father always taught +me to show civility to people in a higher station; but +that was not enough, it seems, for just as they +passed by me they gave me such a violent push, +that down I came into the kennel, and dirtied myself +all over from head to foot.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And did they not beg your pardon for +the accident?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Accident! it was no accident at all; for +they burst out into a fit of laughter, and called me a +little clodpole. Upon which I told them, if I was a +clodpole they had no business to insult me; and +then they came back, and one of them gave me a +kick, and the other a slap on the face; but I told +them that was too much for me to bear, so I struck +them again, and we all three began fighting.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What! both at once? That was a +cowardly trick.<!-- Page 226 --></p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I did not much mind that; but there +came up a fine smart fellow, in white stockings and +powdered hair, who it seems, was their servant, and +he was going to fall upon me too; but a man took +my part, and said, I should have fair play, so I +fought them both till they did not choose to have +any more; for, though they were so quarrelsome, +they could not fight worth a farthing; so I let them +go, and advised them not to meddle any more with +poor boys who did nothing to offend them.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And did you hear no more of these +young gentlemen?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—No; for I went home the next day, and +never was I better pleased in my life. When I +came to the top of the great hill, from which you +have a prospect of our house, I really thought I +should have cried with joy. The fields looked all +so pleasant, and the cattle that were feeding in them +so happy; then every step I took I met with somebody +or other I knew, or some little boy that I used +to play with. "Here is little Harry come back," +said one. "How do you do; how do you do?" +cried a second. Then a third shook hands with me; +and the very cattle, when I went to see them, +seemed all glad that I was come home again.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You see by this that it is very +possible for people to like the country, and be happy +in it. But as to the fine young ladies you talk of, +the truth is, that they neither love, nor would be +long contented in any place; their whole happiness +consists in idleness and finery; they have neither +learned to employ themselves in anything useful, +nor to improve their minds. As to every kind of<!-- Page 227 --> +natural exercise, they are brought up with too much +delicacy to be able to bear it, and from the improper +indulgences they meet with, they learn to tremble at +every trifling change of the seasons. With such +dispositions, it is no wonder they dislike the <i>country</i>, +where they find neither employment nor amusement. +They wish to go to <i>London</i>, because there they meet +with infinite numbers as idle and frivolous as themselves; +and these people mutually assist each other +to talk about trifles, and waste their time.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is true, sir, really; for, when we +have a great deal of company, I have often observed +that they never talked about anything but eating or +dressing, or men and women that are paid to make +faces at the playhouse, or a great room called +<i>Ranelagh</i>, where everybody goes to meet his friends.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I believe Harry will never go there +to meet his friends.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Indeed, sir, I do not know what Ranelagh +is; but all the friends I have are at home; and when +I sit by the fireside on a winter's night, and read to +my father and mother, and sister, as I sometimes +do, or when I talk with you and Master Tommy +upon improving subjects, I never desire any other +friends or conversation. But, pray sir, what is +Ranelagh?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Ranelagh is a very large round +room, to which, at particular times of the year, +great numbers of persons go in their carriages to +walk about for several hours.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—And does nobody go there that has not +several friends? <a name="tn_pg_238"></a><!--TN: Capitalized "because"-->Because Master Tommy said that +people went to Ranelagh to meet their friends.<!-- Page 228 --></p> + +<p>Mr Barlow smiled at this question, and answered, +"The room is generally so crowded, that people +have little opportunity for any kind of conversation. +They walk round the room in a circle, one after the +other, just like horses in a mill. When persons +meet that know each other, they perhaps smile and +bow, but are shoved forward, without having any +opportunity to stop. As to <i>friends</i>, few people go to +look for them there; and if they were to meet them, +few would take the trouble of speaking to them, +unless they were dressed in a fashionable manner, +and seemed to be of <a name="tn_pg_239"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "consequence."--><i>consequence</i>."</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—That is very extraordinary, indeed. Why, +sir, what can a man's dress have to do with friendship? +Should I love you a bit better if you were to +wear the finest clothes in the world; or should I +like my father the better if he were to put on a +laced coat like Squire Chase? On the contrary, +whenever I see people dressed very fine, I cannot +help thinking of the story you once read me of +Agesilaus, king of Sparta.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What is that story? Do let me hear it.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—To-morrow you shall hear it; at +present we have read and conversed enough; it +is better that you should go out and amuse yourselves.</p> + +<p>The little boys then went out, and returned to a +diversion they had been amusing themselves with +for several days, the making a prodigious snowball. +They had begun by making a small globe of snow +with their hands, which they turned over and over, +till, by continually collecting fresh matter, it grew +so large that they were unable to roll it any farther.<!-- Page 229 --> +Here Tommy observed that their labours must end, +"for it was impossible to turn it any longer." "No," +said Harry, "I know a remedy for that." So he +ran and fetched a couple of thick sticks about five +feet long, and giving one of them to Tommy, he +took the other himself. He then desired Tommy to +put the end of his stick under the mass, while he +did the same on his side, and then, lifting at the +other end, they rolled the heap forward with the +greatest ease.</p> + +<p>Tommy was extremely surprised at this, and +said, "How can this be? We are not a bit stronger +than we were before; and yet now we are able to +roll this snowball along with ease, which we could +not even stir before." "That is very true," answered +Harry, "but it is owing to these sticks. This +is the way that the labourers move the largest trees, +which, without this contrivance, they would not be +able to stir." "I am very much surprised at this," +said Tommy; "I never should have imagined that +the sticks would have given us more strength than +we had before."</p> + +<p>Just as he had said this, through a violent effort, +both their sticks broke short in the middle. "This +is no great loss," observed Tommy, "for the ends +will do just as well as the whole sticks."</p> + +<p>They then tried to shove the ball again with the +truncheons which remained in their hands; but, to +the new surprise of Tommy, they found they were +unable to stir it. "That is very curious indeed," +said Tommy; "I find that only long sticks are of +any use." "That," said Harry, "I could have told +you before, but I had a mind you should find it out<!-- Page 230 --> +yourself. The longer the stick is, provided it is +sufficiently strong, and you can manage it, the more +easily will you succeed." "This is really very +curious," replied Tommy; "but I see some of Mr +Barlow's labourers at work a little way off, let us go +to them, and desire them to cut us two longer sticks, +that we may try their effect."</p> + +<p>They then went up to the men who were at work, +but here a new subject of admiration presented itself +to Tommy's mind. There was a root of a prodigious +oak tree, so large and heavy, that half-a-dozen +horses would scarcely have been able to draw +it along; besides, it was so tough and knotty, that +the sharpest axe could hardly make any impression +upon it. This a couple of old men were attempting +to cleave in pieces, in order to make billets for Mr +Barlow's fire.</p> + +<p>Tommy, who thought their strength totally disproportionate +to such an undertaking, could not +help pitying them; and observing, that certainly Mr +Barlow "did not know what they were about, or he +would have prevented such poor weak old men from +fatiguing themselves about what they never could +perform." "Do you think so?" replied Harry; +"what would you then say, if you were to see me, +little as I am, perform this wonderful task, with the +assistance of one of these good people?" So he +took up a wooden mallet—an instrument which, +although much larger, resembles a hammer—and +began beating the root, which he did for some time, +without making the least impression. Tommy, who +imagined that, for this time, his friend Harry was +caught, began to smile, and told him, "that he<!-- Page 231 --> +would break a hundred mallets to pieces before he +made the least impression upon the wood."</p> + +<p>"Say you so?" answered Harry, smiling; "then +I believe I must try another method;" so he stooped +down, and picked up a small piece of rough iron, +about six inches long, which Tommy had not before +observed, as it lay upon the ground. This iron was +broad at the top, but gradually sloped all the way +down, till it came to a perfect edge at bottom. +Harry then took it up, and with a few blows drove +it a little way into the body of the root. The old +man and he then struck alternately with their +mallets upon the head of the iron, till the root began +to gape and crack on every side, and the iron was +totally buried in the wood.</p> + +<p>"There," said Harry, "this first wedge has done +its business very well; two or three more will finish +it." He then took up another larger wedge, and, +inserting the bottom of it between the wood and the +top of the former one, which was now completely +buried in the root, began to beat upon it as he had +done before. The root now cracked and split on +every side of the wedges, till a prodigious cleft appeared +quite down to the bottom. Thus did Harry +proceed, still continuing his blows, and inserting +new and larger wedges as fast as he had driven the +former down, till he had completely effected what he +had undertaken, and entirely separated the monstrous +mass of wood into two unequal parts.</p> + +<p>Harry then said, "here is a very large log, but I +think you and I can carry it in to mend the fire; and +I will show you something else that will surprise +you." So he took a pole of about ten feet long,<!-- Page 232 --> +and hung the log upon it by a piece of cord which +he found there; then he asked Tommy which end +of the pole he chose to carry. Tommy, who thought +it would be most convenient to have the weight near +him, chose that end of the pole near which the +weight was suspended, and put it upon his shoulder, +while Harry took the other end. But when Tommy +attempted to move, he found that he could hardly +bear the pressure; however, as he saw Harry walk +briskly away under his share of the load, he determined +not to complain.</p> + +<p>As they were walking in this manner, Mr Barlow +met them, and seeing poor Tommy labouring under +his burthen, asked him who had loaded him in that +manner. Tommy said it was Harry. Upon this, +Mr Barlow smiled, and said, "Well, Tommy, this is +the first time I ever saw your friend Harry attempt +to impose upon you; but he is making you carry +about three times the weight which he supports +<a name="tn_pg_243"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "himself."-->himself." Harry replied, "that Tommy had chosen +that himself; and that he should directly have +informed him of his mistake, but that he had been +so surprised at seeing the common effects of a lever, +that he wished to teach him some other facts +about it;" then shifting the ends of the pole, so +as to support that part which Tommy had done +before, he asked him, "if he found his shoulder +anything easier than before." "Indeed, I do," replied +Tommy, "but I cannot conceive how; for we +carry the same weight between us which we did +before, and just in the same manner." "Not quite +in the same manner," answered Mr Barlow; "for, if +you observe, the log is a great deal farther from your<!-- Page 233 --> +shoulder than from Harry's, by which means he now +supports just as much as you did before, and you, +on the contrary, as little as he did when I met you." +"This is very extraordinary indeed," said Tommy; +"I find there are a great many things which I +did not know, nor even my mamma, nor any of +the fine ladies that come to our house." "Well," +replied Mr Barlow, "if you have acquired so much +useful knowledge already, what may you expect to +do in a few years more?"</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then led Tommy into the house, and +showed him a stick of about four feet long, with a +scale hung at each end. "Now," said he, "if you +place this stick over the back of a chair, so that it +may rest exactly upon the middle, you see the two +scales will just balance each other. So, if I put +into each of them an equal weight, they will still +remain suspended. In this method we weigh every +thing which is bought, only, for the greater convenience, +the beam of the scale, which is the same +thing as this stick, is generally hung up to something +else by its middle. But let us now move the +stick, and see what will be the consequence." Mr +Barlow then pushed the stick along in such a manner, +that when it rested upon the back of the chair, +there were three feet of it on one side, and only one +on the other. That side which was longest instantly +came to the ground as heaviest. "You see," said +Mr Barlow, "if we would now balance them, we +must put a greater weight on the shortest side; so +he kept adding weights, till Tommy found that one +pound on the longest side would exactly balance +three on the shortest; for, as much as the longer<!-- Page 234 --> +side exceeded the shorter in length, so much did the +weight which was hung at that end require to +exceed that on the longest side."</p> + +<p>"This," said Mr Barlow, "is what they call a +<i>lever</i>, and all the sticks that you have been using +to-day are only levers of a different construction. +By these short trials, you may conceive the prodigious +advantage which they are of to men; for +thus can one man move a weight which half-a-dozen +could not be able to do with their hands +alone; thus may a little boy, like you, do more +than the strongest man could effect who did not +know these secrets. As to that instrument by +which you were so surprised that Harry could +cleave such a vast body of wood, it is called a +wedge, and is almost equally useful with the lever. +The whole force of it consists in its being gradually +narrower and narrower, till at last it ends in a thin +edge, capable of penetrating the smallest chink. +By this we are enabled to overthrow the largest +oaks, to cleave their roots, almost as hard as iron +itself, and even to split the solid rocks." "All +this," said Tommy, "is wonderful indeed; and I +need not ask the use of them, because I see it +plainly in the experiments I have made to-day."</p> + +<p>"One thing more," added Mr Barlow, "as we are +upon this subject, I will show you." So he led them +into the yard, to the bottom of his granary, where +stood a heavy sack of corn. "Now," said Mr +Barlow, "if you are so stout a fellow as you imagine, +take up this sack of corn, and carry it up the ladder +into the granary." "That," replied Tommy, laughing, +"is impossible; and I doubt, sir, whether you<!-- Page 235 --> +could do it yourself." "Well," said Mr Barlow, +"we will, at least try what is to be done." He then +led them up into the granary, and, showing them a +middle-sized wheel, with a handle fixed upon it, +desired the little boys to turn it round. They began +to turn it with some little difficulty, and Tommy +could hardly believe his eyes, when, presently after, +he saw the sack of corn, which he had despaired of +moving, mounted up into the granary, and safely +landed upon the floor. "You see," said Mr Barlow, +"here is another ingenious contrivance, by which +the weakest person may perform the work of the +strongest. This is called the <i>wheel</i> and <i>axle</i>. You +see this wheel, which is not very large, turns round +an axle which goes into it, and is much smaller; and +at every turn, the rope to which the weight is fixed +that you want to move, is twisted round the axle. +Now, just as much as the breadth of the whole wheel +is greater than that of the axle which it turns round, +so much greater is the weight that the person who +turns it can move, than he could do without it." +"Well," said Tommy, "I see it is a fine thing indeed +to acquire knowledge, for by these means one not +only increases one's understanding, but one's bodily +strength. But are there no more, sir, of these ingenious +contrivances, for I should like to understand +them all?" "Yes," answered Mr Barlow, "there +are more, and all of them you shall be perfectly +acquainted with in time; but for this purpose you +should be able to write, and comprehend something +of arithmetic."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What is arithmetic, sir?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is not so easy to make you<!-- Page 236 --> +understand at once; I will, however, try to explain +it. Do you see the grains of wheat which he +scattered in the window?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Can you count how many there are?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—There are just five-and-twenty of them.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Very well. Here is another parcel; +how many grains are there?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Just fourteen.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If there are fourteen grains in one +heap, and twenty-five in the other, how many grains +are there in all? or, how many do fourteen and +twenty-five make?</p> + +<p>Tommy was unable to answer, and Mr Barlow +proposed the same question to Harry, who answered, +that, together, they made thirty-nine. "Again," +said Mr Barlow, "I will put the two heaps together, +and then how many will there <a name="tn_pg_247"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "be?"-->be?"</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Thirty-nine.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Now, look, I have just taken away +nineteen from the number; how many, do you think, +remain?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I will count them.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And cannot you tell without counting? +How many are there, Harry?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Twenty, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—All this is properly the art of arithmetic, +which is the same as that of counting, only it +is done in a much shorter and easier way, without +the trouble of having the things always before you. +Thus, for instance, if you wanted to know how +many barley-corns were in this sack, you would +perhaps be a week in counting the whole number.<!-- Page 237 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, I believe I should.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If you understood arithmetic you +might do it in five minutes.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is extraordinary, indeed; I can +hardly conceive it possible.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—A bushel of corn weighs about fifty +pounds; this sack contains four bushels; so that +there are just two hundred pounds weight in all. +Now, every pound contains sixteen ounces, and sixteen +times two hundred makes thirty-two hundred +ounces. So that you have nothing to do but to +count the number of grains in a single ounce, and +there will be thirty-two hundred times that number +in the sack.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I declare this is curious indeed, and I +should like to learn arithmetic. Will Harry and +you teach me, sir?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You know we are always ready to +improve you. But before we leave this subject, I +must tell you a little story. "There was a gentleman +who was extremely fond of beautiful horses, and did +not grudge to give the highest prices for them. One +day a horse-courser came to him, and showed him one +so handsome, that he thought it superior to all he +had ever seen before. He mounted him, and found +his paces equally excellent; for, though he was full +of spirit, he was gentle and tractable as could be +wished. So many perfections delighted the gentleman, +and he eagerly demanded the price. The +horse-courser answered, that he would bate nothing +of two hundred guineas; the gentleman, although +he admired the horse, would not consent to give it, +and they were just on the point of parting. As the<!-- Page 238 --> +man was turning his back, the gentleman called out +to him, and said, 'Is there no possible way of our +agreeing, for I would give you anything in reason +for such a beautiful creature?' 'Why,' replied the +dealer, who was a shrewd fellow, and perfectly +understood calculation, 'If you do not like to give +me two hundred guineas, will you give me a farthing +for the first nail the horse has in his shoe, two +farthings for the second, four for the third, and so go +doubling throughout the whole twenty-four, for there +are no more than twenty-four nails in all his shoes?' +The gentleman gladly accepted the condition, and +ordered the horse to be led away to his stables."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—This fellow must have been a very great +blockhead, to ask two hundred guineas, and then to +take a few farthings for his horse.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The gentleman was of the same +opinion; "however, the horse-courser added:—'I do +not mean, sir, to tie you down to this last proposal, +which, upon consideration, you may like as little as +the first; all that I require is, that if you are dissatisfied +with your bargain, you will promise to pay +me down the two hundred guineas which I first +asked.' This the gentleman willingly agreed to, +and then called the steward to calculate the sum, +for he was too much of a gentleman to be able to do +it himself. The steward sat down with his pen and +ink, and, after some time, gravely wished his master +joy, and asked him, 'in what part of England the +estate was situated that he was going to purchase.' +'Are you mad?' replied the gentleman; 'it is not +an estate, but a horse, that I have just bargained +for; and here is the owner of him, to whom I am<!-- Page 239 --> +going to pay the money.' 'If there is any madness, +sir,' replied the steward, 'it certainly is not on my +side; the sum you have ordered me to calculate +comes just to seventeen thousand four hundred and +seventy-six pounds, besides some shillings and pence; +and surely no man in his senses would give this +price for a horse.' The gentleman was more surprised +than he had ever been before, to hear the +assertion of his steward; but when, upon examination, +he found it no more than the truth, he was very +glad to compound for his foolish agreement, by +giving the horse-courser the two hundred guineas, +and dismissing him."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—This is quite incredible, that a farthing +just doubled a few times, should amount to such a +prodigious sum; however, I am determined to learn +arithmetic, that I may not be imposed upon in this +manner, for I think a gentleman must look very +silly in such a situation.</p> + +<p>Thus had Tommy a new employment and diversion +for the winter nights—the learning arithmetic. +Almost every night did Mr Barlow, and Harry, and +he, amuse themselves with little questions that related +to numbers; by which means Tommy became, +in a short time, so expert, that he could add, subtract, +multiply, or divide almost any given sum, with +little trouble and great exactness. But he did not +for this forget the employment of observing the +heavens, for every night when the stars appeared +bright, and the sky was unclouded, Harry and he +observed the various figures and positions of the +constellations. Mr Barlow gave him a little paper +globe, as he had promised, and Tommy immediately<!-- Page 240 --> +marked out upon the top his first and favourite constellation +of Charles' Wain. A little while after +that, he observed on the other side of the Pole-star +another beautiful assemblage of stars, which was +always opposite to Charles' Wain; this, Mr Barlow +told him, was called <i>Cassiopeia's</i> Chair, and this, in a +short time, was added to the collection.</p> + +<p>One night as Tommy was looking up to the sky +in the southern part of the heavens, he observed so +remarkable a constellation that he could not help +particularly remarking it; four large and shining +stars composed the ends of the figure, which was +almost square, and full in the middle appeared three +more placed in a slanting line and very near each +other. This Tommy pointed out to Mr Barlow, and +begged to know the name. Mr Barlow answered +that the constellation was named <i>Orion</i>, and that +the three bright stars in the middle were called his +belt. Tommy was so delighted with the grandeur +and beauty of this glorious constellation, that he +could not help observing it, by intervals, all the +evening; and he was surprised to see that it seemed +to pass on in a right line drawn from east to west, +and that all the stars he had become acquainted +with moved every night in the same direction.</p> + +<p>But he did not forget to remind Harry one morning +of the history he had promised to tell him of +Agesilaus. Harry told it in the following manner:—</p> + + +<h3>"HISTORY OF AGESILAUS."</h3> + +<p>"The Spartans (as I have before told you, Master +Tommy) were a brave and hardy people, who des<!-- Page 241 -->pised +everything that tended to make them delicate +and luxurious. All their time was spent in such +exercises as made them strong and active, able to +bear fatigue, and to despise wounds and danger, for +they were situated in the midst of several other +nations that frequently had quarrels with each other, +and with them; and therefore it was necessary that +they should learn to defend themselves. Therefore +all the children were brought up alike, and the sons +of their kings themselves were as little indulged as +anybody else."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Stop, stop!—I don't exactly understand +that. I thought a king was a person that dressed +finer and had less to do than anybody else in the +world. I have often heard my mamma and the +ladies say that I looked like a prince when I had +fine clothes on; and therefore I thought that kings +and princes never did anything but walk about with +crowns upon their heads, and eat sweetmeats all +day long.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I do not know how that may be, but in +Sparta the great business of the kings (for they had +two) was to command them when they went out to +war, or when they were attacked at home—and that, +you know, they could not do without being brave +and hardy themselves. "Now it happened that the +Spartans had some dear friends and allies that lived +at a distance from them across the sea, who were +attacked by a great and numerous nation called the +Persians. So when the Spartans knew the danger +of their friends, they sent over to their assistance +Agesilaus, one of their kings, together with a few +thousands of his countrymen; and these they judged<!-- Page 242 --> +would be a match for all the forces that could be +brought against them by the Persians, though ever +so numerous. When the general of the Persians +saw the small number of his enemies, he imagined it +would be an easy matter to take them prisoners or to +destroy them. Besides, as he was immensely rich, +and possessed a number of palaces, furnished with +everything that was fine and costly, and had a great +quantity of gold and silver, and jewels, and slaves, he +could not conceive it possible that anybody could resist +him. He therefore raised a large army, several +times greater than that of the Spartans, and attacked +Agesilaus, who was not in the least afraid of him; +for the Spartans, joining their shields together, and +marching slowly along in even ranks, fell with so +much fury upon the Persians, that in an instant they +put them to flight."</p> + +<p>Here Tommy interrupted the story, to inquire +what a shield was. "Formerly," answered Mr +Barlow, "before men were acquainted with the pernicious +effects of gunpowder, they were accustomed +to combat close together with swords or long spears, +and for this reason they covered themselves in a +variety of ways, to defend their bodies from the +weapons of their enemies. The shield was worn +upon their left arm, and composed of boards fixed +together, and strengthened with the hides of animals, +and plates of iron, sufficiently long and broad to +cover almost the whole body of a man. When they +went out to battle, they placed themselves in even +rows or ranks, with their shields extended before +them, to secure them from the arrows and weapons +of their enemies. Upon their heads they wore a<!-- Page 243 --> +helmet, which was a cap of iron or steel, ornamented +with the waving feathers of birds or the tails of +horses. In this manner, with an even pace, marching +all at once, and extending their spears before +them, they went forward to meet their enemies." "I +declare," said Tommy, "that an army in full march, +in such array, must have been prodigiously fine; +and when I have accidentally met with soldiers myself, +I thought they made such a figure, walking +erect with their arms all glittering in the sun, that I +have sometimes thought I would be a soldier myself +whenever I grew big enough." "This soldier-spirit +of Tommy's brings to my recollection," said Mr +Barlow, "a circumstance that once occurred in the +French army, which I cannot help relating. After +an execution had taken place in Paris, of a nobleman +who had been convicted of treason (which was +no uncommon thing at that time), the commanding +officer of the regiment, who had been in attendance +during the tragic scene, ordered his men to their +usual place of exercise. While engaged in reviewing +the troops, his attention was drawn to a young man, +who had been for some time concealed behind a +tree; who, coming forward and falling upon his +knees, entreated the general, in an imploring manner, +to permit him to enter into his regiment, declaring +that he had, from a child, felt the most ardent +desire to be a soldier. The general gazed intently +upon him, and instantly recognised in the young +man the child of his own beloved brother, who had +been lost for many years, and was supposed to be +dead. But I interrupt—let Harry now go on with +his story."<!-- Page 244 --></p> + +<p>"When Pharnabazus (for that was the name of the +Persian general) observed that his troops were never +able to stand against the Spartans, he sent to +Agesilaus, and requested that they might have a +meeting, in order to treat about terms of peace. +This the Spartan consented to, and appointed the +time and place where he would wait for Pharnabazus. +When the day came, Agesilaus arrived first +at the place of meeting with the Spartans; but not +seeing Pharnabazus, he sat down upon the grass +with his soldiers, and, as it was the hour of the +army's making their repast, they pulled out their +provisions, which consisted of some coarse bread +and onions, and began eating very heartily. In the +middle of them sat King Agesilaus himself, in nowise +distinguished from the rest, neither by his +clothing nor his fare; nor was there in the whole +army an individual who more exposed himself to +every species of hardship, or discovered less nicety +than the king himself, by which means he was +beloved and reverenced by all the soldiers, who +were ashamed of appearing less brave or patient +than their general.</p> + +<p>"It was not long that the Spartans had thus +reposed before the first servants of Pharnabazus +arrived, who brought with them rich and costly +carpets, which they spread upon the ground for +their master to recline upon. Presently arrived +another troop, who began to erect a spacious tent, +with silken hangings, to screen him and his train +from the heat of the sun. After this came a company +of cooks and confectioners with a great +number of loaded horses, who carried upon their<!-- Page 245 --> +backs all the materials of an elegant entertainment. +Last of all <a name="tn_pg_256"></a><!--TN: "appeard" changed to "appeared"-->appeared Pharnabazus himself, glittering +with gold and jewels, and adorned with a long +purple robe, after the fashion of the East; he wore +bracelets upon his arms, and was mounted upon +a beautiful horse, that was as gaudily attired as +himself.</p> + +<p>"As he approached nearer, and beheld the simple +manners of the Spartan king and his soldiers, he +could not help scoffing at their poverty, and making +comparisons between their mean appearance and his +own magnificence. All that were with him seemed +to be infinitely diverted with the wit and acute remarks +of their general, except a single person, who +had served in the Grecian armies, and therefore was +better acquainted with the manners and discipline of +these people. This man was highly valued by +Pharnabazus for his understanding and honesty, +and, therefore, when he observed that he said +nothing, he insisted upon his declaring his sentiments, +as the rest had done. 'Since, then,' replied +he, 'you command me to speak my opinion, O +Pharnabazus, I must confess that the very circumstance +which is the cause of so much mirth to the +gentlemen that accompany you is the reason of my +fears. On our side, indeed, I see gold, and jewels, +and purple, in abundance, but when I look for men, +I can find nothing but barbers, cooks, confectioners, +fiddlers, dancers, and everything that is most unmanly +and unfit for war; on the Grecian side, I +discern none of the costly trifles, but I see iron that +forms their weapons, and composes impenetrable +arms. I see men who have been brought up to<!-- Page 246 --> +despise every hardship, and face every danger; who +are accustomed to observe their ranks, to obey their +leader, to take every advantage of their enemy, and +to fall dead in their places, rather than to turn their +backs. Were the contest about who should dress a +dinner, or curl hair with the greatest nicety, I should +not doubt that the Persians would gain the advantage; +but when it is necessary to contend in battle, +where the prize is won by hardiness and valour, I +cannot help dreading men, who are inured to +wounds, and labours, and suffering; nor can I ever +think that the Persian gold will be able to resist the +Grecian iron.'</p> + +<p>"Pharnabazus was so struck with the truth and +justness of these remarks, that, from that very hour +he determined to contend no more with such invincible +troops, but bent all his care towards making +peace with the Spartans, by which means he preserved +himself and country from destruction."</p> + +<p>"You see by this story," said Mr Barlow, "that +fine clothes are not always of the consequence you +<a name="tn_pg_257"></a><!--TN: "imagaine" changed to "imagine"-->imagine, since they are not able to give their wearers +either more strength or courage than they had before, +nor to preserve them from the attacks of those +whose appearance is more homely. But since you are +so little acquainted with the business of a soldier, +I must show you a little more clearly in what it +consists. Instead, therefore, of all this pageantry, +which seems so strongly to have acted upon your +mind, I must inform you that there is no human +being exposed to suffer a greater degree of hardship; +he is often obliged to march whole days in the most +violent heat, or cold, or rain, and frequently without<!-- Page 247 --> +victuals to eat, or clothes to cover him; and when he +stops at night, the most that he can expect is a +miserable canvas tent to shelter him, which is +penetrated in every part by the wet, and a little +straw to keep his body from the damp unwholesome +earth. Frequently he cannot meet with even this, +and is obliged to lie uncovered upon the ground, by +which means he contracts a thousand diseases, which +are more fatal than the cannon and weapons of the +enemy. Every hour he is exposed to engage in +combats at the hazard of losing his limbs, of being +crippled or mortally wounded. If he gain the victory, +he generally has only to begin again and fight +anew, till the war is over; if he be beaten, he may +probably lose his life upon the spot, or be taken +prisoner by the enemy, in which case he may languish +several months in a dreary prison, in want of +all the <a name="tn_pg_258"></a><!--TN: "ncessaries" changed to "necessaries"-->necessaries of life."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said Harry, "what a dreadful picture do +you draw of the fate of those brave men who suffer +so much to defend their country. Surely those who +employ them should take care of them when they +are sick, or wounded, or incapable of providing for +themselves."</p> + +<p>"So indeed," answered Mr Barlow, "they ought +to do; but rash and foolish men engage in wars +without either justice or reason, and when they are +over they think no more of the unhappy people who +have served them at so much loss to themselves."</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Why, sir, I have often thought, that, as all +wars consists in shedding blood and doing mischief +to our fellow-creatures they seldom can be just.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You are indeed right there. Of all<!-- Page 248 --> +the blood that has been shed since the beginning of +the world to the present day, but very little indeed +has been owing to any cause that had either justice +or common sense.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I then have thought (though I pity poor +soldiers extremely, and always give them something +if I have any money in my pocket) that they draw +these mischiefs upon themselves, because they endeavour +to kill and destroy other people, and, therefore, +if they suffer the same evils in return, they can +hardly complain.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—They cannot complain of the evils +to which they voluntarily expose themselves, but +they may justly complain of the ingratitude of the +people, for whom they fight, and who take no care of +them afterwards.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Indeed, sir, I think so. But I cannot +conceive why people must hire others to fight for +them. If it is necessary to fight, why not fight for +themselves? I should be ashamed to go to another +boy and say to him, "Pray go and venture your life +or limbs for me that I may stay at home and do nothing."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What if the French were to come here, +as they said they were about to do; would you go out +to fight them yourself?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I have heard my father say that it was +every man's duty to fight for his country, if it were +attacked; and if my father went out to fight, I would +go out with him. I would not willingly hurt anybody, +but if they attempt to hurt me or my countrymen, +we should do right to defend ourselves; should we +not, sir?<!-- Page 249 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—This is certainly a case where men +have a right to defend themselves; no man is bound +to yield his life or property to another that has no +right to take it. Among those Grecians, whom you +were talking of, every man was a soldier, and +always ready to defend his country whenever it was +attacked.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Pray, dear sir, read to Master Tommy +the story of Leonidas, which gave me so much +pleasure; I am sure he will like to hear it.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow accordingly read</p> + + +<h3>"THE HISTORY OF LEONIDAS, KING OF SPARTA."</h3> + +<p>"The king of Persia commanded a great extent of +territory, which was inhabited by many millions of +people, and not only abounded in all the necessaries +of life, but produced immense quantities of gold and +silver, and every other costly thing. Yet all this +did not satisfy the haughty mind of Xerxes, who, at +that time, possessed the empire of this country. He +considered that the Grecians, his neighbours, were +free, and refused to obey his imperious orders, +which he foolishly imagined all mankind should respect; +he therefore determined to make an expedition +with a mighty army into Greece, and to conquer +the country. For this reason he raised such a prodigious +army, that it was almost impossible to describe +it; the number of men that composed it seemed +sufficient to conquer the whole world, and all the +forces the Grecians were able to raise would scarcely +amount to a hundredth part. Nevertheless, the +Grecians held public councils to consult about their<!-- Page 250 --> +common safety, and they nobly determined that, +as they had hitherto lived free, so they would either +maintain their liberty, or bravely die in its defence.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time Xerxes was continually marching +forward, and at length entered the territory of +Greece. The Grecians had not yet been able to +assemble their troops or make their preparations, and +therefore they were struck with consternation at the +approach of such an army as attended Xerxes. +Leonidas was at that time king of Sparta, and when +he considered the state of affairs, he saw one method +alone by which the ruin of his country, and all Greece, +could be prevented. In order to enter the more +cultivated parts of this country, it was necessary for +the Persian army to march through a very rough +and mountainous district, called Thermopylæ. There +was only one narrow road through all these mountains, +which it was possible for only a very small +number of men to defend for some time against the +most numerous army. Leonidas perceived that, if +a small number of resolute men would undertake to +defend this passage, it would retard the march of +the whole Persian army, and give the Grecians time +to collect their troops; but who would undertake so +desperate an enterprise, where there was scarcely +any possibility of escaping alive? For this reason, +Leonidas <a name="tn_pg_261"></a><!--TN: "determinded" changed to "determined"-->determined to undertake the expedition +himself, with such of the Spartans as would voluntarily +attend him, and to sacrifice his own life for the +preservation of his country.</p> + +<p>"With this design he assembled the chief persons +of Sparta, and laid before them the necessity of defending +the pass of Thermopylæ. They were equally<!-- Page 251 --> +convinced of its importance, but knew not where to +find a man of such determined valour as to undertake +it. 'Then,' said Leonidas, 'since there is no +more worthy man ready to perform this service, I +myself will undertake it, with those who will voluntarily +accompany me.' They were struck with +admiration at his <a name="tn_pg_262"></a><!--TN: "prosposal" changed to "proposal"-->proposal, and praised the greatness +of his mind, but set before him the certain +destruction which must attend him. 'All this,' +said Leonidas, 'I have already considered; but I +am determined to go, with the appearance indeed of +defending the pass of Thermopylæ, but in reality to +die for the liberty of Greece.' Saying this, he instantly +went out of the assembly, and prepared for +the expedition, taking with him about three hundred +Spartans. Before he went, he embraced his wife, +who hung about him in tears, as being well acquainted +with the dangerous purposes of his march; +but he endeavoured to comfort her, and told her +that a short life was well sacrificed to the interests +of his country, and that Spartan women should be +more careful about the glory than the safety of their +husbands. He then kissed his infant children, and +charging his wife to educate them in the same principles +he had lived in, went out of his house, to put +himself at the head of those brave men who were to +accompany him.</p> + +<p>"As they marched through the city, all the inhabitants +attended them with praises and acclamations; +the young women sang songs of triumph, and +scattered flowers before them; the youths were +jealous of their glory, and lamented that such a +noble doom had not rather fallen upon themselves;<!-- Page 252 --> +while all their friends and relations seemed rather +to exult in the immortal honour they were going to +acquire, than to be dejected with the apprehensions +of their loss; and as they continued their +march through Greece, they were joined by various +bodies of their allies, so that their number amounted +to about six thousand when they took possession of +the straits of Thermopylæ.</p> + +<p>"In a short time Xerxes approached with his +innumerable army, which was composed of various +nations, and armed in a thousand different manners, +and, when he had seen the small number of +his enemies, he could not believe that they really +meant to oppose his passage; but when he was told +that this was surely their design, he sent out a small +detachment of his troops, and ordered them to take +those Grecians alive and bring them bound before +him. The Persian troops set out and attacked the +Grecians with considerable fury; but in an instant +they were routed, the greater part slain, and the +rest obliged to fly. Xerxes was enraged at this +misfortune, and ordered the combat to be renewed +with greater forces. The attack was renewed, but +always with the same success, although he sent the +bravest troops in his whole army. Thus was this +immense army stopped in its career, and the pride +of their monarch humbled by so inconsiderable a +body of Grecians, that they were not at first thought +worthy of a serious attack. At length, what Xerxes, +with all his troops was incapable of effecting, was +performed by the treachery of some of the Grecians +who inhabited that country. For a great reward +they undertook to lead a chosen body of the Persians<!-- Page 253 --> +across the mountains by a secret path, with which +they alone were acquainted. Accordingly, the Persians +set out in the night, and having passed +over the mountains in safety, encamped on the +other side.</p> + +<p>"As soon as day arose, Leonidas perceived that he +had been betrayed, and that he was surrounded by +the enemy; nevertheless, with the same undaunted +courage, he took all necessary measures and prepared +for the fate which he had long resolved to +meet. After praising and thanking the allies for the +bravery with which they had behaved, he sent them +all away to their respective countries; many of the +Spartans, too, he would have dismissed under various +pretences; but they, who were all determined +rather to perish with their king than to return, refused +to go. When he saw their resolution, he +consented that they should stay with him and share +in his fate. All day, therefore, he remained quiet in +his camp; but when evening approached, he ordered +his troops to take some refreshment, and, smiling, +told them 'to dine like men who were to sup in +another world.' They then completely armed +themselves, and waited for the middle of the night, +which Leonidas judged most proper for the design +he meditated. He saw that the Persians would never +imagine it possible that such an insignificant body of +men should think of attacking their numerous forces; +he was therefore determined, in the silence of the +night, to break into their camp, and endeavour, +amid the terror and confusion which would ensue, to +surprise Xerxes himself.</p> + +<p>"About midnight, therefore, this determined body<!-- Page 254 --> +of Grecians marched out with Leonidas at their +head. They soon broke into the Persian camp, and +put all to flight that dared to oppose them. It is +impossible to describe the terror and confusion which +ensued among so many thousands thus unexpectedly +surprised. Still the Grecians marched on in close +impenetrable order, overturning the tents, destroying +all that dared to resist, and driving that vast and +mighty army like frightened sheep before them. At +length they came even to the imperial tent of +Xerxes; and had he not quitted it at the first alarm, +he would there have ended at once his life and expedition. +The Grecians in an instant put all the +guards to flight, and rushing upon the imperial +pavilion, violently overturned it, and trampled under +their feet all the costly furniture and vessels of gold +which were used by the monarchs of Persia.</p> + +<p>"But now the morning began to appear, and the +Persians, who had discovered the small number of +their assailants, surrounded them on every side, and +without daring to come to a close engagement, +poured in their darts and other missive weapons. +The Grecians were wearied even with the toils of +conquest, and their body was already considerably +diminished; nevertheless, Leonidas, who was yet +alive, led on the intrepid few that yet remained to a +fresh attack; again he rushed upon the Persians, and +pierced their thickest battalions as often as he could +reach them. But valour itself was vain against such +inequality of numbers; at every charge the Grecian +ranks grew thinner and thinner, till at length they +were all destroyed, without a single man having +quitted his post or turned his back upon the enemy."<!-- Page 255 --></p> + +<p>"Really," said Tommy, when the history was +finished, "Leonidas was a brave man indeed. But +what became of Xerxes and his army after the death +of this valiant Spartan? was he able to overcome +the Grecians, or did they repulse him?" "You +are now able to read for yourself," replied Mr Barlow, +"and therefore, by examining the histories of +those countries, you may be informed of everything +you desire."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;" class="newpg"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The Constellations—Distance from the Earth—The Magnet and its Powers—The +Compass—The Greenlanders and their Customs—The Telescope—The +Magic Lantern—Story of the African Prince and the Telescope—Mr +Barlow's Poor Parishioners—His Annual Dinner—Tommy attempts Sledge +Driving—His mishap in the Pond—His Anger.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">And</span> now the frost had continued for several +weeks, and Tommy had taken advantage of the +evenings, which generally proved clear and star-light, +to improve his knowledge of the heavens. He +had already ornamented his paper globe with several +of the most remarkable constellations. Around the +Pole-star he had discovered Perseus and Andromeda, +and Cepheus and Cassiopeia's Chair. Between these +and the bright Orion, which rose every night and glittered +in the south, he discovered seven small stars +that were set in a cluster, and called the Pleiades. +Then, underneath Orion, he discovered another glittering +star, called Sirius, or the Dog-star. All these, +he continually observed, journeyed every night from +east to west, and then appeared the evening after in<!-- Page 256 --> +their former places. "How strange it is," observed +Tommy, one day to Mr Barlow, <a name="tn_pg_267"></a><!--TN: Quotation mark added before "that"-->"that all these stars +should be continually turning about the earth!"</p> + +<p>"How do you know," replied Mr Barlow, "that +they turn at all?"</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Because I see them move every night.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But how are you sure that it is the +stars which move every night, and not the earth +itself?</p> + +<p>Tommy considered, and said, "But then I should +see the earth move, and the stars stand still."</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—What, did you never ride in a coach?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir, very often.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And did you then see that the coach +moved, as you sat still, and went along a level road?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir; I protest I have often thought +that the houses and trees, and all the country, glided +swiftly along by the windows of the coach.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And did you never sail in a boat?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, I have; and I protest I have observed +the same thing; for I remember I have often +thought the shore was running away from the boat, +instead of the boat from the shore.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If that is the case, it is possible, even +though the earth should move, instead of the stars, +that you might only see what you do at present, and +imagine that the earth you are upon was at rest.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But is it not more likely that such little +things as the stars and the sun should move, than +such a large thing as the earth?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And how do you know that the +stars and sun are so small?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I see them to be so, sir. The stars are<!-- Page 257 --> +so small, that they are hardly to be seen at all; and +the sun itself, which is much bigger, does not seem +bigger than a small round table.</p> + +<p>The day after this conversation, as the weather +was bright and clear, Mr Barlow went out to walk +with Harry and Tommy. As by this time Tommy +was inured to fatigue, and able to walk many miles, +they continued their excursion over the hills, till at +last they came in sight of the sea. As they were +diverting themselves with the immense prospect of +water that was before them, Mr Barlow perceived +something floating at a distance, so small as to be +scarcely discernible by the eye. He pointed it out +to Tommy, who with some difficulty was able to distinguish +it, and asked him what he thought it was.</p> + +<p>Tommy answered that he imagined it to be some +little fishing-boat, but could not well tell, on account +of the distance.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If you do not then see a ship, what +is it you do see? or what does that object appear to +your eyes?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—All that I can see is no more than a +little dusky speck, which seems to grow bigger and +bigger.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And what is the reason it grows bigger +and bigger?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Because it comes nearer and nearer to +me.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—What, then, does the same thing +sometimes appear small and sometimes great?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; it seems small when it is at +a great distance; for I have observed even houses +and churches when you are at some miles' distance,<!-- Page 258 --> +seem to the eye very small indeed; and now I observe +that the vessel is sailing towards us, and it is +not, as I imagined, a little fishing-boat, but a ship +with a mast, for I begin to distinguish the sails.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow walked on a little while by the side of +the sea, and presently Tommy called out again: +"I protest I was mistaken again; for it is not a +vessel with one mast, as I thought a little while ago, +but a fine large ship with three great masts, and all +her sails before the wind. I believe she must either +be a large merchantman or else a frigate."</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Will you then take notice of what +you have now been saying? What was first only a +little dusky speck became a vessel with one mast, +and now this vessel with one mast plainly appears a +ship of a very large size, with all her masts and +sails, and rigging complete. Yet all these three appearances +are only the same object at different distances +from your eye.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; that is all very true indeed.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Why, then, if the ship, which is now, +full in sight, were to tack about again, and sail +away from us as fast as she approached just now +what do you think would happen?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—It would grow less and less every +minute, till it appeared a speck again.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You said, I think, that the sun was +a very small body, not bigger than a round table?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Supposing, then, the sun were to be +removed to a much greater distance than it is now, +what would happen? Would it appear the same to +your eyes?<!-- Page 259 --></p> + +<p>Tommy considered some time, and then said, "If +the ship grows less and less, till at last it appears a +mere speck, by going farther and farther, I should +think the sun would do the same."</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—There you are perfectly right; therefore, +if the sun were to depart farther and farther +from us, at last it would appear no bigger than one +of those twinkling stars that you see at so great a +distance above your head.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That I perfectly comprehend.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But if, on the contrary, one of those +twinkling stars were to approach nearer and nearer +to where you stand, what do think would happen? +Would it still appear of the same size?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir. The ship, as it came nearer to +us, appeared every moment larger, and therefore I +think the star must do the same.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Might it not then appear as big as +the sun now does, just as the sun would dwindle +away to the size of a star, were it to be removed to a +still greater distance?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed I think it might.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—What, then, do you imagine must +happen, could the sun approach a great deal nearer +to us? Would its size remain the same?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No; I plainly see that it must appear +bigger and bigger the nearer it comes.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If that is the case, it is not so very +certain that the earth we inhabit is bigger than the +sun and stars. They are at a very great distance +from us; therefore, if anybody could go from the +earth towards the sun, how do you think the earth +would appear to him as he journeyed on?<!-- Page 260 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Really I can hardly tell.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—No! Why, is it not the same thing, +whether an object goes from you, or you from the +object? Is there any difference between the ship +sailing away from us, and our walking away from +the ship?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Did you not say that if the sun +could be removed farther from our eyes, it would +appear less?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—To be sure it would.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Why, then, if the earth were to sink +down from under our feet, lower and lower, what +would happen? Would it have the same appearance?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir; I think it must appear less and +less, like the ship that is sailing away.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Very right, indeed; but now attend +to what I asked you just now. If a person could +rise slowly into the air, and mount still higher and +higher towards the sun, what would happen?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Why the same as if the earth were to +sink from under us; it would appear less and less.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Might not the earth then at least appear +as small as the sun or moon does?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I can hardly conceive that, and yet I see +it would appear less and less the farther we went.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Do you remember what happened to +you when you left the island of Jamaica?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, I do. One of the blacks held me +upon the deck, and then I looked towards the island, +and I thought that it began to move away from the +ship, though in reality it was the ship moving away<!-- Page 261 --> +from the land; and then, as the ship continued +sailing along the water, the island appeared less and +less. First, I lost sight of the trees and houses that +stood on the shore; and then I could only see the +highest mountains; and then I could scarcely see +the mountains themselves; and at last the whole +island appeared only like a dark mist above the +water; and then the mist itself disappeared, and I +could see nothing but a vast extent of water all +round, and the sky above.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And must not this be exactly the +case if you could rise up into the air, higher and +higher, and look down upon the earth?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed it must.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Now, then, you will be able to +answer the question I asked you a little while ago: +Could a person travel straight forward from the +earth to the sun, how would they both appear to him +as he went forward?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—The earth would appear less and less as +he went from it, and the sun bigger and bigger.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Why, then, perhaps it would happen +at last that the sun appeared bigger than the earth.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed it might.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Then you see that you must no +longer talk of the earth's being large and the sun +small, since that may only happen because you are +nearer the one and at a great distance from the +other; at least, you may now be convinced that +both the sun and stars must be immensely bigger +than you would at first sight guess them to be.</p> + +<p>As they were returning home they happened to +pass through a small town on their way, and saw a<!-- Page 262 --> +crowd of people going into a house, which gave Mr +Barlow the curiosity to inquire the reason. They +were told that there was a wonderful person there +who performed a variety of strange and diverting +experiments. On Tommy's expressing a great desire +to see these curious exhibitions, Mr Barlow took +them both in, and they all seated themselves among +the audience.</p> + +<p>Presently the performer began his exhibitions, +which very much diverted Tommy, and surprised +the spectators. At length after a variety of curious +tricks upon the cards, the conjuror desired them to +observe a large basin of water, with the figure of a +little swan floating upon the surface. "Gentlemen," +said the man, "I have reserved this curious experiment +for the last, because it is the most wonderful +of all that I have to show, or that, perhaps, was +ever exhibited to the present hour. You see that +swan, it is no more than a little image, without +either sense or life. If you have any doubt upon the +subject, take it up in your hands and examine it." +Accordingly, several of the spectators took it up in +their hands, and, after having examined it, set it +down upon the water. "Now," continued he, "this +swan, which to you appears totally without sense +or motion, is of so extraordinary a nature that he +knows me, his master, and will follow in any +direction that I command." Saying this, he took +out a little piece of bread, and whistling to his bird, +ordered him to come to the side of the basin to be +fed. Immediately, to the great surprise of all the +company, the swan turned about and swam to the +side of the basin. The man whistled again, and<!-- Page 263 --> +presently the swan turned himself round and pursued +the hand of his master to the other side of the +basin.</p> + +<p>The spectators could hardly believe their eyes, +and some of them got little pieces of bread, and +held them out, imagining that he would do the +same to them. But it was in vain they whistled +and presented their bread; the bird remained unmoved +upon the water, and obeyed no orders but +those of his master.</p> + +<p>When this exhibition had been repeated over and +over again, to the extreme delight and astonishment +of all present, the company rose and dispersed, and +Mr Barlow and the little boys pursued their way +home.</p> + +<p>But Tommy's mind was so engaged with what +he had seen, that for several days he could think and +talk of nothing else. He would give all that he had +in the world to find out this curious trick, and to be +possessed of such a swan. At length, as he was one +day talking to Harry upon this subject, Harry told +him with a smile, that he believed he had found out +a method of doing it, and that, if he did not mistake, +he would the next day show him a swan that +would come to be fed as well as the conjuror's. +Accordingly, Harry moulded a bit of wax into the +shape of a swan, and placed it upon a basin of water. +He then presented to it a piece of bread, and, to the +inexpressible delight of Tommy, the swan pursued +the bread, just as he had seen before.</p> + +<p>After he had several times diverted himself with +this experiment, he wanted to be informed of the +composition of this wonderful swan. Harry there<!-- Page 264 -->fore +showed him, within the body of the bird, a large +needle, which lay across it from one end to the +other. In the bread with which the swan was fed, +he also showed him concealed a small bar of iron. +Tommy could not comprehend all this, although he +saw it before his eyes; but Mr Barlow, who was +present, taking up the bar of iron, and putting down +several needles upon the table, Tommy was infinitely +surprised to see the needles all jump up, one after another, +at the approach of the bar, and shoot towards +it, as if they had been possessed of life and sense. +They then hung all about the bar so firmly, that, +though it was lifted into the air, they all remained +suspended, nor ever quitted their hold. Mr Barlow +then placed a key upon the table, and putting the +iron near it, the key attached itself as firmly to the +bar as the needles had done before. All this appeared +so surprising to Tommy, that he begged an +explanation of it from Mr Barlow. That gentleman +told him, "that there was a stone often found in +iron mines, that was called the <i>loadstone</i>. This stone +is naturally possessed of the surprising power of +drawing to itself all pieces of iron that are not too +large, nor placed at too great a distance. But what +is equally extraordinary is, that iron itself, after +having been rubbed upon the loadstone, acquires the +same virtue as the stone itself, of attracting other +iron. For this purpose they take small bars of iron, +and rub them carefully upon the loadstone, and +when they have acquired this very extraordinary +power, they call them <i>magnets</i>. When Harry had +seen the exhibition of the swan, upon revolving it +over in his mind, he began to suspect that it was<!-- Page 265 --> +performed entirely by the power of magnetism. +Upon his talking to me about the affair, I confirmed +him in his opinion, and furnished him with a small +magnet to put into the bread, and a large needle to +conceal in the body of the bird. So this is the explanation +of the feat which so much puzzled you a +few days past."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow had scarcely done speaking, when +Tommy observed another curious property of the +swan, which he had not found out before. This +bird, when left to itself, constantly rested in one +particular direction, and that direction was full north +and south.</p> + +<p>Tommy inquired the reason of this, and Mr Barlow +gave him this additional explanation: "The persons +who first discovered the wonderful powers of +the loadstone, in communicating its virtues to iron, +diverted themselves, as we do now, in touching +needles and small pieces of iron, which they made to +float upon water, and attracted them about with +other pieces of iron. But it was not long before +they found out, as you do now, another surprising +property of this wonderful stone; they observed, +that when a needle had once been touched by the +loadstone, if it was left to float upon the water without +restraint, it would invariably turn itself towards +the north. In a short time they improved the discovery +farther, and contrived to suspend the middle +of the needle upon a point, so loosely that it could +move about in every direction; this they covered +with a glass case, and by this means they always had +it in their power to find out all the quarters of the +heavens and earth."<!-- Page 266 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Was this discovery of any great use?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Before this time they had no other +method of finding their way along the sea, but by +observing the stars. They knew, by experience, in +what part of the sky certain stars appeared at every +season of the year, and this enabled them to discover +east, west, north, and south. But when they set out +from their own country by sea, they knew in which +direction the place was situated which they were +going to. If it lay to the east, they had only to keep +the head of the ship turned full to that quarter of +the heavens, and they would arrive at the place they +were going to; and this they were enabled to do by +observing the stars. But frequently the weather was +thick, and the stars no longer appeared, and then +they were left to wander about the pathless ocean +without the smallest track to guide them in their +course.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Poor people! they must be in a dreadful +situation indeed, tossed about on such an immense +place as the sea, in the middle of a dark night, and +not able even to guess at their situation.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—For this reason they seldom dared to +venture out of sight of the shore, for fear of losing +their way, by which means all their voyages were +long and tedious; for they were obliged to make +them several times as long as they would have done, +could they have taken the straight and nearest way. +But soon after the discovery of this admirable property +of the loadstone, they found that the needle, +which had been thus prepared, was capable of showing +them the different points of the heavens, even in +the darkest night. This enabled them to sail with<!-- Page 267 --> +greater security, and to venture boldly upon the immense +ocean, which they had always feared before.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—How extraordinary that a little stone +should enable people to cross the sea, and to find +their way from one country to another! But I +wonder why they take all these pains.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That you need not wonder at, when +you consider that one country frequently produces +what another does not; and therefore, by exchanging +their different commodities, the people of both +may live more conveniently than they did before.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—But does not almost every country produce +all that is necessary to support the inhabitants +of it? and therefore they might live, I should think, +even though they received nothing from any other +country.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—So might your father live, perhaps, +upon the productions of his own farm, but he sometimes +sells his cattle to purchase clothes; sometimes +his corn to purchase cattle. Then he frequently +exchanges with his neighbours one kind of grain for +another, and thus their mutual conveniency is +better promoted than if each were to confine himself +to the produce of his own land. At the same time, +it is true, that every country which is inhabited by +men, contains within itself all that is necessary for +their subsistence, and what they bring from other +countries is frequently more hurtful than salutary +to them.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I have heard you say that even in Greenland, +the coldest and most uncomfortable country +in the world, the inhabitants procure themselves +necessaries, and live contented.<!-- Page 268 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What! is there a part of the world still +colder than Lapland?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Greenland is still farther north, and +therefore colder and more barren. The ground is +there covered with eternal snows, which never melt, +even in the summer. There are scarcely any animals +to be found, excepting bears, that live by preying +upon fish. There are no trees growing upon any part +of the country, so that the inhabitants have nothing +to build their houses with, excepting the planks and +trees which the sea washes away from other countries +and leaves upon their coast. With these they erect +large cabins, where several families live together. +The sides of these huts are composed of earth and +stones, and the top secured with turf; in a short +time the whole is so cemented with frost, that it is +impenetrable to the weather during the whole winter. +Along the sides of the building are made several +partitions, in each of which a Greenlander lives with +his family. Each of these families have a small +lamp continually burning before them, by means of +which they cook their food, and light themselves, +and, what is equally necessary in so cold a country, +keep up agreeable warmth throughout their apartment. +They have a few deer, which sometimes +visit them in the summer, and which the Greenlanders +kill whenever they can catch them; but they +are almost entirely destitute of all the vegetables +which serve as nourishment to man, so that they +are obliged to be continually upon the sea, in order +to catch fish for their maintenance.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What a dreadful life that must be in a +country which is so cold!<!-- Page 269 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—In consequence of that extreme cold, +those northern seas are full of such immense +quantities of ice, that they are sometimes almost +covered with them. Huge pieces come floating +down, which are not only as big as the largest +houses, but even resemble small mountains. These +are sometimes dashed against each other by the +winds, with such immense force, that they would +crush the strongest ship to pieces, and with a noise +that exceeds the report of a cannon. Upon these +pieces of ice are frequently seen white bears of an +enormous size, which have either fallen asleep upon +them, and so been carried away, or have straggled +over those ice hills in search of fish.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And is it possible that the inhabitants +of such a country can find enough in it for all their +necessities?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The necessities of life are very few, +and are therefore to be found even in the most +rugged climates, if men are not wanting to themselves, +or deficient in industry. In plentiful countries +like this, and in most of the more temperate +climates, great numbers are maintained in idleness, +and imagine that they were only born to live upon +the labour of others; but, in such a country as +Greenland is described to be, it requires continual +exertion to procure the simplest support of human +life; and therefore no one can live at all who will +not employ himself in the same manner as his neighbours.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—You said that these people had neither +flesh nor corn; do they then clothe themselves with +the skins of fish, as well as live upon them?<!-- Page 270 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—There is in those seas a peculiar +species of animal called a <i>seal</i>. He is nine or ten +feet long, and has two small feet before, on which he +is able to walk a little upon the shore, for he frequently +comes out of the sea, and sleeps, or +amuses himself upon the land or ice. His body is +very large, and full of oil, and behind he has two +legs which resemble fins, with which he swims in the +water. This animal is the constant prey of the +Greenlander, and furnishes him with all he wants. +The flesh he eats, the fat serves him to feed his +lamp, which is almost as necessary as food itself in +that cold climate. With the skin he makes clothes +that are impenetrable to the water, or lines the inside +of his hut to keep out the weather. As this +animal is so necessary to the existence of a Greenlander, +it is his greatest glory to chase and take +him. For this purpose he places himself in a small +narrow boat, the top of which is covered over with +the skins of seals, and closes round the middle of the +fisher so tight as entirely to exclude the water. He +has a long oar, or paddle, broad at both ends, which +he dips first on one side, then on the other, and rows +along with incredible swiftness over the roughest seas. +He carries with him a harpoon, which is a kind of +lance or javelin, tied to a long thong, at the end of +which is fixed a bladder, or some other light thing that +sinks with difficulty. When the fisherman is thus +prepared, he skims lightly along the waters, till he +perceives at a distance one of these animals floating +upon the surface. The Greenlander then approaches +him as softly as he is able, and, if possible, contrives +that the animal shall have the wind and sun in his<!-- Page 271 --> +eyes. When he is sufficiently near he throws his +harpoon, and generally wounds the creature, in +which case he instantly hurries away, and carries +with him the thong and bladder. But it is not +long before he is compelled to rise again to the surface +of the water to breathe; and then the Greenlander, +who has been pursuing him all the time, +attacks him anew, and dispatches him with a shorter +lance, which he has brought with him for that purpose. +He then ties his prey to his boat, and tows it +after him to his family, who receive it with joy, and +dress it for their supper. Although these poor +people live a life of such continual fatigue, and are +obliged to earn their food with so much hardship, +they are generous and hospitable in the management +of it, for there is not a person present but is invited +to partake of the feast; and a Greenlander would +think himself dishonoured for life, if he should +be thought capable of wishing to keep it all to himself.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I think it seems as if the less people had +the more generous they are with it.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is not unfrequently the case, +and should be a lesson to many of our rich at home, +who imagine that they have nothing to do with their +fortune but to throw it away upon their pleasures, +while there are so many thousands in want of the +common necessaries of life.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But, pray, sir, have you no more particulars +to tell me about these Greenlanders? for I +think it is the most curious account I ever heard in +my life.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—There is another very curious par<!-- Page 272 -->ticular +indeed to be mentioned of these countries; +in these seas is found the largest animal in the +world, an immense fish, which is called the whale.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh dear! I have heard of that extraordinary +animal. And pray, sir, do the Greenlanders +ever catch them?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The whale is of such a prodigious +size, that he sometimes reaches seventy or eighty, or +even more than a hundred feet in length. He is +from ten to above twenty feet in height, and every +way large in proportion. When he swims along the +seas, he appears rather like a large vessel floating +upon the waters than a fish. He has two holes in +his head, through which he blows out water to a +great height in the air, immense fins, and a tail +with which he almost raises a tempest when he +lashes the sea with it. Would you not believe that +such an animal was the most dreadful of the whole +brute creation?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I should! I should think +that such a fish would overset whole ships, and +devour the sailors.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Far from it; it is one of the most +innocent in respect to man that the ocean produces, +nor does he ever do him the least hurt, unless by +<a name="tn_pg_283"></a><!--TN: "accidently" changed to "accidentally"-->accidentally overturning vessels with his enormous +bulk. The food he lives upon is chiefly small fish, +and particularly herrings. These fish are bred in +such prodigious shoals amid the ice of those northern +climates, that the sea is absolutely covered with +them for miles together. Then it is that the hungry +whale pursues them, and thins their numbers, by +swallowing thousands of them in their course.<!-- Page 273 --></p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—What numbers indeed must such a prodigious +fish devour of these small animals!</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The whale, in his turn, falls a prey +to the cruelty and avarice of man. Some indeed +are caught by the Greenlanders, who have a sufficient +excuse for persecuting him with continual +attacks, in their total want of vegetables, and every +species of food which the earth affords. But the +Europeans, who are too nice and squeamish to eat +his flesh, send out great numbers of ships, every +year, to destroy the poor whale, merely for the sake +of the oil which his body contains, and the elastic +bones which are known by the name of whalebone, +and applied to several purposes. When those who +go upon this dangerous expedition discern a whale +floating at a distance, they instantly send out a +large boat to pursue him. Some of the men row +along as gently as possible, while the person that is +appointed to attack the fish stands upon the forepart +of the boat, holding in his hand a sharp +harpoon, with which he is prepared to wound his +prey. This is fastened to a long cord which lies +ready coiled up in the boat, so that they may let it +out in an instant, when the fish is struck; for such +is his prodigious force, that, should the least impediment +occur to stop the rope in its passage, he would +instantly draw the boat after him down to the +bottom of the sea. In order to prevent these dangerous +accidents, a man stands constantly ready to +divide the rope with a hatchet, in case it should +happen to tangle; and another is continually pouring +water over it for fear the swiftness of the motion +should make it take fire. The poor whale, being<!-- Page 274 --> +thus wounded, darts away with inconceivable rapidity, +and generally plunges to the bottom of the +sea. The men have a prodigious quantity of cord +ready to let out, and when their store is exhausted +there are generally other boats ready to supply +more. Thus is the poor animal overpowered and +killed, in spite of his immense bulk and irresistible +strength; for, gradually wearied with his own efforts +and the loss of blood, he soon relaxes in his speed, +and rises again to the top of the water. Then it is +that the fishers, who have pursued him all the time +with the hopes of such an opportunity, approach +him anew, and attack him with fresh harpoons, till +in the end his strength is entirely exhausted, the +waves themselves are tinged with a bloody colour +from his innumerable wounds, and he writhes himself +about in strong convulsions and unutterable +pain. Then the conflict is soon at an end; in a +short time he breathes his last, and turning upon his +back, floats like some large vessel upon the surface +of the sea. The fishers then approach, and cut +off the fins and other valuable parts, which they +stow on board their ships; the fat, or blubber, as it +is often called, is received into large hogsheads, +and when boiled, to purify it, composes the common +oil, which is applied to so many useful purposes. +The remains of this vast body are left a prey to +other fish and to the Greenlanders, who carefully +collect every fragment which they can find, and +apply it to their own use. Sometimes they go to +pursue the whale themselves, but when they do, it is +in large numbers, and they attack him nearly in the +same manner as the Europeans do, only, as they are<!-- Page 275 --> +not so well supplied with cord, they fix the skins of +seals, which they have inflated with air, to the end +of the thongs which are tied to their harpoons, and +this serves both to weary out the fish, who drags +them with him under the water, and to discover him +the instant he approaches to the surface.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I <a name="tn_pg_286"></a><!--TN: "connot" changed to "cannot"-->cannot help pitying the poor whale +that is thus persecuted for the sake of his spoils. +Why cannot man let this poor beast live unmolested +in the midst of the snows and ice in which he was +born?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You ought to know enough of the +world to be sensible that the desire of gain will +tempt men upon every expedition. However, in +this case you must consider that the whale himself +is continually supported by murdering thousands of +herrings and other small fish; so that, were they +possessed of reason, they would welcome the Europeans, +who came to destroy their enemies, as friends +and benefactors.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But pray, sir, how do the little boys +amuse themselves in such a dismal country? Do +their fathers take them out a-fishing with them?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—When the men come home all +covered with wet and icicles, and sit down comfortably +in their huts to feast upon the prey, their +common conversation is about the dangers and +accidents they have met with in their expedition. A +Greenlander relates how he bounded over the waves +to surprise the monstrous seal; how he pierced the +animal with his harpoon, who had nearly dragged +the boat with him under the water; how he +attacked him again in closer combat; how the<!-- Page 276 --> +beast, enraged with his wounds, rushed upon him +in order to destroy him with his teeth; and how, in +the end, by courage and perseverance, he triumphed +over his adversary, and brought it safe to land. +All this will he relate with the vehemence and +interest which people naturally feel for things which +concern them nearly; he stands in the midst of his +countrymen, and describes every minute circumstance +of his adventures; the little children gather +round, and greedily catch the relation; they feel +themselves interested in every circumstance; they +hear, and wish to share in the toils and glory of +their fathers. When they are a little bigger they +exercise themselves in small skiffs, with which they +learn to overcome the waves. Nothing can be more +dangerous, or require greater dexterity than the +management of a Greenlander's boat. The least +thing will overset it, and then, the man who cannot +disengage himself from the boat, which is fastened +to his middle, sinks down below the waves, and is +inevitably drowned, if he cannot regain his balance. +The only hope of doing this, is placed in the proper +application of his oar, and, therefore, the dexterous +management of this implement forms the early +study of the young Greenlanders. In their sportive +parties they row about in a thousand different +manners. They dive under their boats, and +then set them to rights with their paddle; they +learn to glide over the roughest billows, and face +the greatest dangers with intrepidity, till in the end +they acquire sufficient strength and address to fish +for themselves, and to be admitted into the class of +men.<!-- Page 277 --></p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Pray, sir, is this the country where men +travel about upon sledges that are drawn by dogs?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Upon sledges drawn by dogs! that must +be droll indeed. I had no idea that dogs could ever +draw carriages.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The country you are speaking of is +called Kamtschatka; it is indeed a cold and dreary +country, but very distant from Greenland. The inhabitants +there train up large dogs, which they +harness to a sledge, upon which the master sits, and +so performs his journey along the snow and ice. +All the summer the Kamtschatkans turn their dogs +loose to shift for themselves, and prey upon the remains +of fish which they find upon the shore or the +banks of the rivers (for fish is the common food of +all the inhabitants); in the winter they assemble +their dogs and use them for the purposes I have +mentioned. They have no reins to govern the dogs, +or stop them in their course, but the driver sits +upon his sledge, and keeps himself as steady as he +is able, holding in his hand a short stick, which he +throws at the dogs if they displease him, and catches +again with great dexterity as he passes. This way +of travelling is not without danger, for the temper +of the dogs is such, that when they descend hills +and slippery places, and pass through woods where +the driver is exposed to wound himself with the +branches and stumps, they always quicken their +pace. The same is observed in case their master +should fall off, which they instantly discover by the +sudden lightness of the carriage, for then they set +off at such a rate that it is difficult to overtake them. +The only way which the Kamtschatcan finds, is to<!-- Page 278 --> +throw himself at his length upon the ground, and +lay hold on the empty sledge, suffering himself to be +thus dragged along the earth, till the dogs, through +weariness, abate their speed. <a name="journeys">Frequently in their +journeys these travellers are surprised by unexpected +storms of wind and snow, which render it impracticable +to proceed farther.</a> How ill would an +European fare, to be thus abandoned, at the distance +perhaps of a hundred miles or more, from any +habitable place, exposed, without shelter, in the +midst of extensive plains, and unable to procure +either wood or fire. But the hardy native of these +cold climates, inured from his infancy to support +difficulties, and almost superior to the elements, +seeks the shelter of the first forest he can find; then, +wrapping himself round in his warm fur garment, +he sits with his legs under him, and, thus bundled +up, suffers himself to be covered round with snow, +except a small hole which he leaves for the convenience +of breathing. In this manner he lies, with his +dogs around him, who assist in keeping him warm, +sometimes for several days, till the storm is past, +and the roads again become passable, so that he may +be able to pursue his journey again.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter newpg"><img src="images/i005.jpg" +alt="" title="Frontispiece" border="1" width="436" height="700"></div> +<div class="caption">"Frequently in their journeys these travellers are surprised +by unexpected storms of wind and snow, which render it +impracticable to proceed farther."<span class="alignright"><i><a href="#journeys">P. 278.</a></i></span></div> + +<p class="newpg"><i>Tommy.</i>—I could not have conceived it possible +that men should be able to struggle with so many +hardships. But do not the poor people who inhabit +these cold climates quit them, whenever they can +find an opportunity, and come to settle in those that +are warmer?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Not in the least. When they hear +that there are no seals to be caught in other +countries, they say that they must be wretched in<!-- Page 279 -->deed, +and much inferior to their own. Besides, they +have in general so great a contempt for all Europeans, +that they have no inclination to visit the countries +which they inhabit.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—How can that be? How can a parcel of +wretched ignorant savages despise men that are +so much superior to themselves?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—This is not what they are quite so +well convinced of. The Greenlanders, for instance, +see that the Europeans who visit them are much +inferior to themselves in the art of managing a boat +or catching seals; in short, in everything which +they find most useful to support life. For this +reason, they consider them all with very great +contempt, and look upon them as little better than +barbarians.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is very impertinent indeed; and I +should like to convince them of their folly.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Why, do not you look upon yourself +as much superior to your black servants; and have +I not often heard you express great contempt for +them?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I do not despise them now, so much as I +used to do. Besides, sir, I only think myself something +better, because I have been brought up like a +gentleman.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—A gentleman! I have never exactly +understood what a gentleman is, according to your +notions.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Why, sir, when a person is not brought +up to work, and has several people to wait upon +him, like my father and mother, then he is a gentleman.<!-- Page 280 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And then he has a right to despise +others, has he?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I do not say that, sir, neither. But he +is, however, superior to them.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Superior, in what? In the art of +cultivating the ground to raise food, and making +clothes or houses?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir, not that; for gentlemen never +plough the ground or build <a name="tn_pg_293"></a><!--TN: Question mark changed to a period after "houses"-->houses.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Is he then superior in knowledge? +Were you, who have been brought up a gentleman, +superior to all the rest of the world when you came +here?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—To be sure, sir; when I came here I +did not know so much as I do now.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If then you, when you knew nothing, +and could do nothing, thought yourself superior to +all the rest of the world, why should you wonder, +that men who really excel others in those things +which they see absolutely necessary, should have +the same good opinion of themselves? Were you +to be in Greenland, for instance, how would you +prove your own superiority and importance?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I would tell them that I had always +been well brought up at home.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That they would not believe. They +would say that they saw you were totally unable to +do anything useful—to guide a boat; to swim the +seas; to procure yourself the least sustenance—so +that you would perish with hunger, if they did not +charitably afford you now and then a bit of whale +or seal; and, as to your being a gentleman, they +would not understand the word, nor would they<!-- Page 281 --> +comprehend why one man, who is naturally as good +as his fellow-creature, should submit to the caprice +of another, and obey him.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I begin to think that I am +not so much better than others, as I used to do.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—The more you encourage that +thought the more likely you are to acquire real +superiority and excellence, for great and generous +minds are less exposed to that ridiculous vanity +than weak and childish ones.</p> + +<p>A few evenings after this conversation, when the +night was remarkably clear, Mr Barlow called his +two pupils into the garden, where there was a long +hollow tube suspended upon a frame. Mr Barlow +then placed Tommy upon a chair, and bade him +look through it, which he had scarcely done when +he cried out, "What an extraordinary sight is +this!" "What is the matter?" said Mr Barlow. +"I see," replied Tommy, "what I should take for +the moon were it not a great many times bigger, +and so near to me that I can almost touch it." +"What you see," answered Mr Barlow, smiling, "is +the moon itself. This glass has indeed the power +of making it appear to your eye as it would do +could you approach a great deal nearer; but still it +is nothing but the moon; and from this single +experiment you may judge of the different size +which the sun and all the other heavenly bodies +would appear to have, if you could advance a great +deal nearer to them."</p> + +<p>Tommy was delighted with this new spectacle. +The moon, he said, viewed in this manner, was the +most glorious sight he had ever seen in his life.<!-- Page 282 --> +"And I protest," added he, "it seems to be shaded +in such a manner, that it almost resembles land and +water." "What you say," answered Mr Barlow, +"is by no means unreasonable. The moon is a +very large body, and may be, for ought we know, +inhabited like the earth."</p> + +<p>Tommy was more and more astonished at the introduction +of all these new ideas; but what he was +particularly inquisitive about was, to know the +reason of this extraordinary change in the appearance +of objects, only by looking through a hollow +tube with a bit of glass fixed into it. "All this," +replied Mr Barlow, "I will, if you desire it, one day +explain to you; but it is rather too long and difficult +to undertake it at the present moment. When +you are a little farther advanced in some of the +things which you are now studying, you will comprehend +me better. However, before we retire to-night, +I will show you something more, which will +perhaps equally surprise you."</p> + +<p>They then returned to the house, and Mr Barlow, +who had prepared everything for his intended exhibition, +led Tommy into a room, where he observed +nothing but a lantern upon the floor, and a white +sheet hung up against the wall. Tommy laughed, +and said he did not see anything very curious in all +that. "Well," said Mr Barlow, "perhaps I may +surprise you yet, before I have done; let us at least +light up the lantern, that you may see a little +clearer."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then lighted a lamp which was within +the lantern, and extinguished all the other candles; +and Tommy was instantly struck with astonishment<!-- Page 283 --> +to see a gigantic figure of a man, leading along a +large bear, appear upon the wall, and glide slowly +along the sheet. As he was admiring this wonderful +sight, a large monkey, dressed up in the habit of a +man, appeared and followed the bear; after him +came an old woman trundling a barrow of fruit, and +then two boys (who, however, were as big as men) +that seemed to be fighting as they passed.</p> + +<p>Tommy could hardly find words to express his +pleasure and admiration, and he entreated Mr Barlow +in the most earnest manner to explain to him +the reason of all these wonderful sights. "At +present," said Mr Barlow, "you are not sufficiently +advanced to comprehend the explanation. However, +thus much I will inform you, that both the +wonderful tube which showed you the moon so much +larger than you ever saw it before, and this curious +exhibition of to-night, and a variety of others, which +I will hereafter show you, if you desire it, depend +entirely upon such a little bit of glass as this." Mr +Barlow then put into his hand a small round piece +of glass, which resembled the figure of a globe on +both sides. "It is by looking through such pieces of +glass as <a name="tn_pg_296"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "this,"-->this," said he, "and by arranging them in a +particular manner, that we are enabled to perform +all these wonders." "Well," said Tommy, "I +never could have believed, that simply looking +through a bit of glass could have made such a difference +in the appearance of things." "And yet," +said Mr Barlow, "looking at a thing through water +alone, is capable of producing the greatest change, +as I will immediately prove to you." Mr Barlow +then took a small earthen basin, and, putting a half-<!-- Page 284 -->crown +at the bottom, desired Tommy gradually to +go back, still looking at the basin, till he could distinguish +the piece of money no longer. Tommy +accordingly retired, and presently cried out, that, +"he had totally lost sight of the money." "Then," +said Mr Barlow, "I will enable you to see it, merely +by putting water into it." So he gradually poured +water into the basin, till, to the new astonishment of +Tommy, he found that he could plainly see the half-crown, +which was before invisible.</p> + +<p>Tommy was wonderfully delighted with all these +experiments, and declared that from this day forward, +he would never rest till he had made himself +acquainted with everything curious in every branch +of knowledge.</p> + +<p>"I remember reading a story," said Mr Barlow, +"where a telescope (for that is the name of the glass +which brings distant objects so much nearer to the +eye) was used to a very excellent purpose indeed." +"Pray, how was that?" said Tommy.</p> + +<p>"In some part of Africa," said Mr Barlow, "there +was a prince who was attacked by one of his most +powerful neighbours, and almost driven out of his dominions. +He had done everything he could do to +defend himself with the greatest bravery, but was +overpowered by the numbers of his enemy, and defeated +in several battles. At length he was reduced +to a very small number of brave men, who still accompanied +him, and had taken possession of a steep +and difficult hill, which he determined to defend to +the last extremity, while the enemy was in possession +of all the country round. While he lay with his +little army in this disagreeable situation, he was<!-- Page 285 --> +visited by a European, whom he had formerly received +and treated with the greatest kindness. To +this man the unfortunate prince made his complaints, +telling him that he was exposed every +instant to be attacked by his stronger foe; and +though he had taken his resolution he expected +nothing but to be cut off with all his army.</p> + +<p>"The European happened to have with him one +of these curious glasses, which had not long been +invented in Europe, and was totally unknown in +that part of the globe; and he told the prince, his +friend, that he would soon inform him of what his +enemy was doing, and then he might take his own +measures with the greater confidence. So he produced +his glass, and after having adjusted it, turned +it towards the enemy's camp, which he observed +some time with great attention, and then told his +friend that he might at least be easy for the present, +for the enemy's general was at that instant thinking +only of a great feast, which he was giving to the +officers of his army. 'How is it possible,' replied +the prince, 'that you can pretend to discover so +accurately what is done in yonder camp? My eyes, +I think, are at least as good as yours; and yet the +distance is so great, that I can discover nothing +distinctly.' The European then desired his friend +to look through the telescope, which he had no +sooner done, than he rose in great trepidation, and +was going to mount his horse; for the spectacle was +so new to him, that he imagined the enemy was +close to him, and that nothing remained but to stand +upon his defence. The European could not help +smiling at this mistake; and after he had with some<!-- Page 286 --> +difficulty removed his panic, by explaining the +wonderful powers of the glass, he prevailed upon +him to be quiet.</p> + +<p>"But the unexpected terror which this telescope +had excited inspired him with a sudden thought, +which he determined to improve to the advantage of +the besieged prince. Acquainting him therefore with +his intention, he desired him to draw out all his men +in their military array, and to let them descend the +mountain slowly, clashing their arms and waving +their swords as they marched. He then mounted a +horse, and rode to the enemy's camp, where he no +sooner arrived than he desired to be instantly introduced +to the general. He found him sitting in his +tent carousing in the midst of his officers, and not +at all thinking of an engagement. When he approached +he thus accosted him; 'I am come, great +warrior, as a friend, to acquaint you with a circumstance +that is absolutely necessary to the safety of +yourself and army.' 'What is that?' said the +general, with some surprise. 'At this instant,' +replied the European, 'while you are indulging +yourself in festivity, the enemy, who has lately been +reinforced with a large body of his most valiant +troops, is advancing to attack you, and even now +has almost penetrated to your camp.' 'I have +here,' added he, 'a wonderful glass, the composition +of which is only known in Europe, and if you will +condescend to look through it for a moment, it will +convince you that all I say is truth.' Saying this, +he directed his eye to the telescope, which the +general had no sooner looked into than he was +struck with consternation and affright. He saw<!-- Page 287 --> +the prince, whom he had long considered as lying at +his mercy, advancing with his army in excellent +order, and, as he imagined, close to his camp. He +could even discern the menacing air of the soldiers, +and the brandishing of their swords as they moved. +His officers, who thronged round him to know the +cause of his sudden fright, had no sooner peeped +into the wonderful glass than they were all affected +in the same manner. Their heads had been already +disturbed by their intemperance, and therefore, +without waiting to consult, they rushed in a panic +out of their tents, mounted their swiftest horses, and +fled away, without staying to see the consequences. +The rest of the army, who had seen the consternation +of their leaders, and had heard that the enemy +was advancing to destroy them, were struck with an +equal panic, and instantly followed the example, so +that the whole plain was covered with men and +horses, that made all possible haste towards their +own country, without thinking of resistance. Thus +was an immense army dispersed in an instant, and +the besieged prince delivered from his danger by the +address and superior knowledge of a single man."</p> + +<p>"Thus you see," added Mr Barlow, "of how much +use a superiority of knowledge is frequently capable +of making individuals. But a still more famous +instance is that of Archimedes, one of the most celebrated +mathematicians of his time. He, when the +city of <a name="tn_pg_300"></a><!--TN: "Syracse" changed to "Syracuse"-->Syracuse was besieged by the Romans, defended +it for a long time by the surprising machines +he invented, in such a manner that they began to +despair of taking it." "Do pray," said Tommy, +"tell me that story." "No," answered Mr Barlow,<!-- Page 288 --> +"it is now time to retire, and you may at any time +read the particulars of this extraordinary siege in +'Plutarch's life of Marcellus.'"</p> + +<p>And now the time approached when Mr Barlow +was accustomed to invite greater part of the poor of +his parish to an annual dinner. He had a large +hall, which was almost filled with men, women, and +children, a cheerful fire blazed in the chimney, and +a prodigious table was placed in the middle for the +company to dine upon. Mr Barlow himself received +his guests, and conversed with them about the +state of their families and their affairs. Those that +were industrious, and brought their children up to +labour, instructing them in the knowledge of their +duty, and preserving them from bad impressions, +were sure to meet with his encouragement and commendations. +Those that had been ill he assisted +with such little necessaries as tended to alleviate +their pains, and diffuse a gleam of cheerfulness over +their sufferings. "How hard," he would say, "is +the lot of the poor when they are afflicted with sickness! +How intolerable do <i>we</i> find the least bodily +disorder, even though we possess every convenience +that can mitigate its violence! Not all the dainties +which can be collected from all the elements, the +warmth of downy beds and silken couches, the +attendance of obsequious dependants, are capable of +making us bear with common patience the most +common disease; how pitiable, then, must be the +state of a fellow-creature, who is at once tortured by +bodily suffering, and destitute of every circumstance +which can alleviate it; who sees around him a +family that are not only incapable of assisting their<!-- Page 289 --> +parents, but destined to want the common necessaries +of life, the moment he intermits his daily +labours! How indispensable, then, is the obligation +which should continually impel the rich to +exert themselves in assisting their fellow-creatures, +and rendering that condition of life which we all +avoid less dreadful to those who must support it +always!"</p> + +<p>Acting from such principles as these, Mr Barlow +was the common friend of all the species. Whatever +his fortune would allow him to perform he +never refused to all who stood in need of his assistance. +But there is yet a duty which he thought +of more importance than the mere distribution of +property to the needy—the encouragement of industry +and virtue among the poor, and giving them +juster notions of morals and religion. "If we have +a dog," he would say, "we refuse neither pains nor +expense to train him up to hunting; if we have a +horse, we send him to an experienced rider to be +bitted; but our own species seems to be the only +animal which is entirely exempted from our care." +When he rode about the country he used to consider +with admiration the splendid stables which the +great construct for the reception of their horses, +their ice-houses, temples, hermitages, grottoes, and +all the apparatus of modern vanity. "All this," he +would say, "is an unequivocal proof the gentleman +loves himself, and grudges no expense that can +gratify his vanity; but I would now wish to see +what he has done for his fellow-creatures; what are +the proofs that he has given of public spirit or +humanity, the wrongs which he has redressed, the<!-- Page 290 --> +miseries he has alleviated, the abuses which he has +endeavoured to remove!"</p> + +<p>When he was told of the stubbornness and ingratitude +of the poor, he used to say, "that he +believed it without difficulty, for they were men in +common with their superiors, and therefore must +share in some of their vices; but if the interests of +humanity were half so dear to us as the smallest +article that pleases our palate or flatters our vanity, +we should not so easily abandon them in disgust."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow happened once to be in company with a +lady with whom he was upon a footing of intimacy, +who was talking in this manner. "Nobody," she +said, "had greater feeling than herself, or was +more desirous of assisting her fellow-creatures. +When she first came into the country she had +endeavoured to relieve all the misery she heard of; +she had given victuals to one, physic to a second, +and clothes to a third; but she had met with such +ill-behaviour and ingratitude in return, that she +had long been obliged to resign all her charitable +intentions, and abandon the poor to their fate." +All the company assented to a doctrine that was so +very conformable to their own practice and inclinations, +and agreed that nothing could be more injudicious +than any attempts to be charitable.</p> + +<p>Some little time after this conversation cards +were produced, and the lady, who had been so +eloquent against the poor, sat down to whist, at +which she played for several hours with equal ignorance +and ill-fortune. When the party was over she +was complaining to Mr Barlow of her losses, and +added that she scarcely ever in her life had sat<!-- Page 291 --> +down to cards with better success. "I wonder, +<a name="tn_pg_304"></a><!--TN: Quotation mark added after "madam,"-->madam," replied Mr Barlow, "you do not then give +up entirely." "Alas!" answered the lady, "I have +often made this resolution, but I never had the +courage to keep it." "Indeed, madam," said Mr +Barlow, "it is impossible you can be deficient in +courage, and therefore you wrong your own character." +"You do me too much honour," said the +lady, "by your good opinion; but whoever has +given you this information is deceived." "I had it +only from yourself, madam." "From me, sir? +When did I ever give you such a character of myself?" +"Just now, madam, when you declared +that, upon the bad success of half-a-dozen experiments, +you had resolved never more to be charitable, +and had kept the resolution ever since. I can +hardly conceive that your love of cards is so much +greater than that of your duty and religion, and +therefore, my dear madam, I must repeat it, that +you certainly undervalue your own fortitude."</p> + +<p>Such were the opinions of Mr Barlow in respect to +the poor; and therefore, instead of widening the +distance which fortune has placed between one part +of mankind and another, he was continually intent +upon bringing the two classes nearer together. +Poverty has in itself so many hardships and disagreeable +circumstances, that we need not increase +their number by unnecessary pride and insolence. +The distinctions of rank may indeed be necessary to +the government of a populous country, but it is for +the good of the whole, not of individuals, that they +can have any just claim to be admitted, and therefore +a good man will insist upon them no more than<!-- Page 292 --> +is absolutely necessary for that purpose. On the contrary, +whatever may he his rank or importance, he +will plainly prove, by the courtesy and benevolence +of his manners, that he laments the necessity of his +own elevation, and, instead of wishing to mount +still higher, would willingly descend nearer to an +equality with his fellow-creatures.</p> + +<p>Tommy was very much diverted with the ceremonies +of this festal day. He had lost a great part +of his West Indian pride during his residence with +Mr Barlow, and had contracted many acquaintances +among the families of the poor. After the example +of Mr Barlow, he condescended to go about from +one to the other, and make inquiries about their +families; nor was he a little gratified with the +extreme respect with which he found himself treated, +both on the account of Mr Barlow and the reputation +of his own liberality.</p> + +<p>Thus did the morning pass away in the most +agreeable and auspicious manner; but after dinner +an unexpected incident occurred, which clouded all +the merriment of the unfortunate Tommy Merton.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow happened to have a large Newfoundland +dog, equally famous for his good-nature and +his love of the water. With this dog Tommy had +been long forming an acquaintance, and he used to +divert himself with throwing sticks into the water, +which Cæsar would instantly bring out in his mouth, +however great might be the distance. Tommy had +been fired with the description of the Kamtschatkan +dogs, and their method of drawing sledges, and +meditated an enterprise of this nature on Cæsar. +This very day, finding himself unusually at leisure,<!-- Page 293 --> +he chose for the execution of his project. He therefore +furnished himself with some rope and a kitchen +chair, which he destined for his vehicle instead of a +sledge. He then inveigled Cæsar into a large yard +behind the house, and, extending the chair flat upon +the ground, fastened him to it with great care and +ingenuity. Cæsar, who did not understand the new +purpose to which he was going to be applied, suffered +himself to be harnessed without opposition, and +Tommy mounted triumphantly his seat, with a whip +in his hand, and began his operations. A crowd of +little boys, the sons of the labourers within, now +gathered round the young gentleman, and by their +admiration very much increased his ardour to distinguish +himself. Tommy began to use the common +expressions which he had heard coachmen practise to +their horses, and smacked his whip with all the confidence +of an experienced charioteer. Cæsar, meanwhile, +who did not comprehend this language, began +to be a little impatient, and expressed his uneasiness +by making several bounds and rearing up like a +restive horse. This added very much to the diversion +of the spectators, and Tommy, who considered +his honour as materially concerned in achieving the +adventure, began to be a little more warm; and proceeding +from one experiment to another, at length +applied a pretty severe lash to the hinderpart of his +steed. This Cæsar resented so much that he instantly +set off at three-quarters speed, and dragged +the chair with the driver upon it at a prodigious rate. +Tommy now looked round with an infinite air of +triumph, and kept his seat with surprising address +and firmness.<!-- Page 294 --></p> + +<p>Unfortunately there happened to be, at no great +distance, a large horse-pond, which went shelving +down to the depth of three or four feet. Hither, by +a kind of natural instinct, the affrighted Cæsar ran, +when he found he could not disengage himself from +his tormentor; while Tommy, who now began to +repent of his success, endeavoured to pacify and +restrain him. But all his expostulations were vain, +for Cæsar precipitately rushed into the pond, and in +an instant plunged into the middle with his charioteer +behind him. The crowd of spectators had +now a fresh subject of diversion, and all their respect +for Master Tommy could not hinder them from +bursting into shouts of derision. The unfortunate +hero was equally discomposed at the unmannerly +exultation of his attendants, and at his own ticklish +situation. But he did not long wait for the catastrophe +of his adventure; for, after a little floundering +in the pond, Cæsar, by a vigorous exertion, overturned +the chair, and Tommy came roughly into +the water. To add to his misfortune, the pond was +at that time neither ice nor water; for a sudden +thaw had commenced the day before, accompanied +by a copious fall of snow. Tommy, therefore, as +soon as he had recovered his footing, floundered on +through mud and water and pieces of floating ice, +like some amphibious animal to the shore; sometimes +his feet slipped, and down he tumbled, and +then he struggled up again, shaking the water from +his hair and clothes. Now his feet stuck fast in the +mud, and now, by a desperate effort, he disengaged +himself with the loss of both his shoes; thus labouring +on, with infinite pain and difficulty he reached<!-- Page 295 --> +the land. The whole troop of spectators were now +incapable of stifling their laughter, which broke +forth in such redoubled peals, that the unfortunate +hero was irritated to an extreme degree of rage, so +that, forgetting his own sufferings and necessities, +as soon as he had struggled to the shore, he fell +upon them in a fury, and dealt his blows so liberally +on every side, that he put the whole company to +flight. Tommy was now in the situation of a warrior +that pursues a routed army. Dismay and terror +scattered all his little associates a hundred different +ways, while passion and revenge animated him to +the pursuit, and made him forgetful of the wetness +of his clothes, and the uncomfortableness of his +situation. Whatever unfortunate boy came within +his reach was sure to be unmercifully cuffed and +pommelled; for, in the fury with which he felt himself +inspired, he did not wait to consider the exact +rules of justice.</p> + +<p>While Tommy was thus revenging the affronts +he imagined he had received, and chasing the vanquished +about the court, the unusual noise and uproar +which ensued reached the ears of Mr Barlow, +and brought him to the door. He could hardly help +laughing at the rueful figure of his friend, with the +water dropping from every part of his body in copious +streams, and at the rage which seemed to animate +him in spite of his disaster. It was with some +difficulty that Tommy could compose himself enough +to give Mr Barlow an account of his misfortunes, +which, when he had heard, he immediately led him +into the house, and advised him to undress and go +to bed. He then brought him some warm diluting<!-- Page 296 --> +liquors, by which means he avoided all the bad +effects which might otherwise have arisen from so +complete a drenching.</p> + +<p>The next day Mr Barlow laughed at Tommy in +his usual good-natured manner, and asked him if he +intended to ride out in the Kamtschatkan manner; +adding, however, that he should be afraid to attend +him, as he had the habit of beating his companions. +Tommy was a little confounded at this insinuation, +but replied, "that he should not have been so provoked +if they had not laughed at his misfortunes, and +he thought it very hard to be wetted and ridiculed +both." "But," replied Mr Barlow, "did their noise +or laughter do you any great damage, that you endeavoured +to return it so roughly?" Tommy answered, +"that he must own it did not do him any +hurt, or give him any pain." "Why, then," said +Mr Barlow, "I do not see the justice of your returning +it in that manner." "But," said Tommy, "it +is so provoking to be laughed at!" "There are +two ways of remedying that," replied Mr Barlow, +"either not doing such things as will expose you to +ridicule, or by learning to bear it with a little more +patience." "But," said Tommy, "I do not think +that anybody can bear it with patience." "All the +world," said Mr Barlow, "are not quite so passionate +as you are. It is not long ago that you were +speaking of the poor Greenlanders with great contempt, +and fancying them much inferior to yourself; +yet those poor <i>barbarians</i>, as you called them, that +live upon fish, and are not brought up like gentlemen's +sons, are capable of giving you a lesson that +would be of the greatest service if you would but<!-- Page 297 --> +observe it." "What is that, sir?" inquired Tommy. +"They are brought up to so much moderation and +self-command," said Mr Barlow, "that they never +give way to those sudden impulses of passion that +are common among the Europeans; and when they +observe their violent gestures, their angry words, +their countenances inflamed with wrath, they feel +for them the greatest contempt, and say they must +have been very badly educated. As to themselves, +if any person think himself ill-used by another, +without putting himself into any passion upon the +occasion, he defies his foe to meet him at a particular +time, before all their mutual acquaintance."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But then I suppose they fight; and +that is being as passionate as I was.</p> + +<p><i>Mr <a name="tn_pg_310"></a><!--TN: Period added after "Barlow"-->Barlow.</i>—I am sorry that you, who pretend +to have been so well brought up, should have +recourse to the example of the Greenlanders, in +order to justify your own conduct; but in this +case you are mistaken, for the barbarians are a +great deal wiser than young gentlemen. The person +who thinks himself injured does indeed challenge +his antagonist, but it is to a very different sort of +combat from what you imagine. Both parties +appear at the appointed time, and each surrounded +with a company of his particular friends. The +place where they assemble is generally the middle +of one of their large huts, that all the persons of +their society may be impartial spectators of their +contest. When they are thus convened, the champion, +who by agreement is to begin, steps forward +into the middle of the circle, and entertains them +with a song or speech, which he has before medi<!-- Page 298 -->tated. +In this performance he generally contrives +to throw all the ridicule he is able upon his antagonist, +and his satire is applauded by his own party, +and excites universal merriment among the audience. +When he has sung or declaimed himself out +of breath, it is the turn of his rival to begin, who +goes on in the same manner, answering all the satire +that has been thrown upon him, and endeavouring +to win the laughter over to his own side. In this +manner do the combatants go on, alternately reciting +their compositions against each other, till the +memory or invention of one of them fails, and he is +obliged to yield the victory to his rival. After this +public spectacle of their ingenuity, the two champions +generally forget all their animosities, and are +cordially reconciled. "This," added Mr Barlow, +"appears to me to be a much better method of +answering ridicule, than by giving way to passion +and resentment, and beating those that displease +us; and one of these honest Greenlanders would be +as much ashamed of such a sudden transport of +anger as a Kamtschatkan traveller would be of +managing his dogs as ill as you did yesterday."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;" class="newpg"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Tommy and Harry visit Home—The Fashionable Guests—Miss Simmons +takes notice of Harry—Harry's Troubles—Master Compton and Mash—Estrangement +of Tommy—Visit to the Theatre—Misbehaviour there—Card +Playing—The Ball—Harry Dancing a Minuet—Story of Sir Philip Sidney—Master +Mash insults Harry—The Fight in the Drawing-room—The Bull-baiting—Tommy +strikes Harry—Master Mash's Combat with Harry—Tommy's +Narrow Escape from the Bull—The Grateful Black.</p></div> + + +<p><span class="firstwords">And</span> now the time arrived when Tommy was by +appointment to go home and spend some time<!-- Page 299 --> +with his parents. Mr Barlow had been long afraid +of this visit, as he knew he would meet a great deal +of company there, who would give him impressions +of a very different nature from what he had with +much assiduity been labouring to excite. However, +the visit was unavoidable, and Mr Merton sent so +pressing an invitation for Harry to accompany his +friend, after having obtained the consent of his +father, that Mr Barlow, with much regret, took leave +of both his pupils. Harry, from the experience +he had <a name="tn_pg_312"></a><!--TN: "formely" changed to "formerly"-->formerly acquired of polite life, had no great +inclination for the expedition; however, his temper +was too easy and obliging to raise any objections, +and the real affection he now entertained for Master +Merton rendered him less averse than he would +otherwise have been.</p> + +<p>When they arrived at Mr Merton's, they were +introduced into a crowded drawing-room, full of +the most elegant company which that part of the +country afforded, among whom were several young +gentlemen and ladies of different ages, who had +been purposely invited to spend their holidays +with Master Merton. As soon as Master Merton +entered, every tongue was let loose in his praise; +"he was grown, he was improved, he was such a +charming boy;" his eyes, his hair, his teeth, his +every feature was the admiration of all the ladies. +Thrice did he make the circle, in order to receive +the congratulations of the company, and to be +introduced to the young ladies.</p> + +<p>As to Harry, he had the good fortune to be taken +notice of by nobody except Mr Merton, who received +him with great cordiality. A lady, however,<!-- Page 300 --> +who sat by Mrs Merton, asked her in a whisper, +which was loud enough to be heard all over the +room, whether that was the little <i>ploughboy</i> whom +she had heard Mr Barlow was attempting to breed +up like a gentleman. Mrs Merton answered it was. +"I protest," said the lady, "I should have thought +so by his plebeian look and vulgar air. But I wonder, +my dear madam, that you will suffer your son, +who, without flattery, is one of the most accomplished +children I ever saw in my life, with quite the +air of fashion, to keep such company. Are you not +afraid that Master Merton should insensibly contract +bad habits, and a grovelling way of thinking? For +my own part, as I think a good education is a thing +of the utmost consequence in life, I have spared +no pains to give my dear Matilda every possible +advantage." "Indeed," replied Mrs Merton, "one +may see the excellence of her education in everything +Miss Matilda does. She plays most divinely +upon the <a name="tn_pg_313"></a><!--TN: "harpsicord" changed to "harpsichord"-->harpsichord, talks French even better than +she does English, and draws in the style of a master. +Indeed, I think that last figure of the <i>naked +Gladiator</i> the finest thing I ever saw in my life!"</p> + +<p>While this conversation was going on in one part +of the room, a young lady, observing that nobody +seemed to take the least notice of Harry, advanced +towards him with the greatest affability, and began +to enter into conversation with him. This young +lady's name was Simmons. Her father and mother +had been two of the most respectable people in the +country, according to the old style of English gentry, +but, he having died while she was young, the care of +her had devolved upon an uncle, who was a man of<!-- Page 301 --> +sense and benevolence, but a very great humorist. +This gentleman had such peculiar ideas of female +character, that he waged war with most of the +polite and modern accomplishments. As one of the +first blessings of life, according to his notions, was +health, he endeavoured to prevent that sickly delicacy, +which is considered as so great an ornament +in fashionable life by a more robust and hardy +education. His niece was accustomed, from her +earliest years, to plunge into the cold bath at every +season of the year, to rise by candle-light in winter, +to ride a dozen miles upon a trotting horse, or to +walk as many, even with the hazard of being splashed, +or soiling her clothes. By this mode of education +Miss Sukey (for so she had the misfortune to be +named) acquired an excellent character, accompanied, +however, with some dispositions which disqualified +her almost as much as Harry for fashionable life. +She was acquainted with all the best authors in our +language; nor was she ignorant of those in French, +although she could not speak a word of the language. +Her uncle, who was a man of sense and knowledge, +had besides instructed her in several parts of knowledge +which rarely fall to the lot of ladies, such as +the established laws of nature, and a small degree +of geometry. She was, besides, brought up to every +species of household employment, which is now +exploded by ladies of every rank and station as mean +and vulgar, and taught to believe that domestic +economy is a point of the utmost consequence to +every woman who intends to be a wife or mother. +As to music, though Miss Simmons had a very +agreeable voice, and could sing several simple songs<!-- Page 302 --> +in a very pleasing manner, she was entirely ignorant +of it. Her uncle used to say, that human life is not +long enough to throw away so much time upon the +science of <i>making a noise</i>. Nor would he permit her +to learn French, although he understood it himself; +women, he thought, are not birds of passage, that +are to be eternally changing their place of abode. +"I have never seen any good," would he say, "from +the importation of foreign manners; every virtue +may be learned and practised at home, and it is only +because we do not choose to have either virtue or +religion among us that so many adventurers are +yearly sent out to smuggle foreign graces. As to +various languages, I do not see the necessity of them +for a woman. My niece is to marry an Englishman, +and to live in England. To what purpose, then, +should I labour to take off the difficulty of conversing +with foreigners, and to promote her intercourse +with barbers, valets, dancing-masters, and adventurers +of every description, that are continually doing +us the honour to come among us? As to the +French nation, I know and esteem it on many +accounts, but I am very doubtful whether the +English will ever gain much by adopting either their +manners or their government, and when respectable +foreigners choose to visit us, I see no reason why +they should not take the trouble of learning the +language of the country."</p> + +<p>Such had been the education of Miss Simmons, +who was the only one of all the genteel company at +Mr Merton's that thought Harry deserving the least +attention. This young lady, who possessed an uncommon +degree of natural benevolence of character,<!-- Page 303 --> +came up to him in such a manner as set him +perfectly at his ease. Harry was destitute of the +artificial graces of society, but he possessed that +natural politeness and good nature, without which +all <a name="tn_pg_316"></a><!--TN: "artifical" changed to "artificial"-->artificial graces are the most disgusting things in +the world. Harry had an understanding naturally +strong; and Mr Barlow, while he had with the +greatest care preserved him from all false impressions +had taken great pains in cultivating the faculties of +his mind. Harry, indeed, never said any of those +brilliant things which render a boy the darling of the +ladies; he had not that vivacity, or rather impertinence, +which frequently passes for wit with superficial +people; but he paid the greatest attention to +what was said to him, and made the most judicious +observations upon subjects he understood. For this +reason, Miss Simmons, although much older and +more improved, received great satisfaction from +conversing with him, and thought little Harry +infinitely more agreeable and judicious than any of +the smart young gentlemen she had hitherto seen +at Mr Merton's.</p> + +<p>But now the company was summoned to the +important business of dinner. Harry could not help +sighing when he reflected on what he had to undergo; +however, he determined to bear it with all +imaginable fortitude, for the sake of his friend +Tommy. The dinner indeed was, if possible, more +dreadful than anything he had before undergone—so +many fine gentlemen and fine ladies; so many +powdered servants to stand behind their chairs; such +an apparatus of dishes which Harry had never tasted +before, and which almost made him sick when he<!-- Page 304 --> +did taste; so many removes; such pomp and solemnity +about what seemed the easiest thing in the world—that +Harry could not help envying the condition +of his father's labourers, who, when they are hungry, +can sit at their ease under a hedge, and make a dinner +without plates, table-cloths, or compliments!</p> + +<p>In the mean time his friend Tommy was received +amid the circle of the ladies, and attended to as a +prodigy of wit and ingenuity. Harry could not help +being surprised at this. His affection for his friend +was totally unmixed with the meanness of jealousy, +and he received the sincerest pleasure from every +improvement which Tommy had made; however, he +had never discovered in him any of those surprising +talents; and, when he could catch anything that +Tommy said, it appeared to him rather inferior +<a name="tn_pg_317"></a><!--TN: "to to" changed to "to"-->to his usual method of conversation. However, +as so many fine ladies were of a different opinion, +he took it for granted that he must be mistaken.</p> + +<p>But if Harry's opinion of his friend's abilities was +not much improved by this exhibition, it was not so +with Tommy. The repeated assurances which he +received that he was indeed a little <i>prodigy</i>, began +to convince him that he really was so. When he +considered the company he came from, he found +that infinite injustice had been done to his merit; +for at Mr Barlow's he was frequently contradicted, +and obliged to give a reason for what he said; but +here, in order to be admired, he had nothing to do +but to talk; whether he had any meaning or not, +his auditors always found either wit or sense, or a +most entertaining sprightliness in all he said. Nor +was Mrs Merton herself deficient in bestowing marks<!-- Page 305 --> +of admiration upon her son. To see him before, +improved in health, in understanding, in virtue, had +given her a pleasurable sensation, for she was by no +means destitute of good dispositions; but to see +him shine with such transcendant brightness, before +such excellent judges, and in so polite a company, +inspired her with raptures she had never felt before. +Indeed, in consequence of this success, the young +gentleman's volubility improved so much that, before +dinner was over, he seemed disposed to engross +the whole conversation to himself; and Mr Merton, +who did not quite relish the sallies of his son so +much as his wife, was once or twice obliged to interpose +and check him in his career. This Mrs Merton +thought very hard; and all the ladies, after they had +retired into the drawing-room, agreed, that his +father would certainly spoil his temper by such +improper contradiction.</p> + +<p>As to little Harry, he had not the good fortune to +please the greater number of the ladies. They +observed that he was awkward and ungenteel, and +had a heavy, clownish look; he was also silent and +reserved, and had not said a single agreeable thing; +if Mr Barlow chose to keep a school for carters and +threshers, nobody would hinder him, but it was not +proper to introduce such vulgar people to the sons +of persons of fashion. It was therefore agreed that +Mr Barlow ought either to send little Harry home to +his friends, or to be no more honoured with the +company of Master Merton. Indeed, one of the +ladies hinted, that Mr Barlow himself was but "an +odd kind of man, who never went to assemblies, and +played upon no kind of instrument."<!-- Page 306 --></p> + +<p>"Why," answered Mrs Merton, "to tell the +truth, I was not over fond of the scheme. Mr +Barlow, to be sure, though a very good, is a very +odd kind of man. However, as he is so disinterested, +and would never receive the least present +from us, I doubt whether we could with propriety +insist upon his turning little Sandford out of the +house." "If that is the case, madam," answered +Mrs Compton (for that was the name of the lady), +"I think it would be infinitely better to remove +Master Merton, and place him in some polite +seminary, where he might acquire a knowledge +of the world, and make genteel connections. This +will always be the greatest advantage to a young +gentleman, and will prove of the most essential +service to him in life; for, though a person has all +the merit in the world, without such acquaintance +it will never push him forward, or enable him to +make a figure. This is the plan which I have +always pursued with Augustus and Matilda; I think +I may say not entirely without success, for they +have both the good fortune to have formed the +most brilliant acquaintances. As to Augustus, he +is so intimate with young Lord Squander, who you +know is possessed of the greatest parliamentary +interest, that I think that his fortune is as good as +made."</p> + +<p>Miss Simmons, who was present at this refined +and wise conversation, could not help looking with +so much significance at this mention of Lord +Squander, that Mrs Compton coloured a little, and +asked with some warmth, whether she knew anything +of that young nobleman.<!-- Page 307 --></p> + +<p>"Why, madam," answered the young lady, "what +I know is very little; but if you desire me to inform +you, it is my duty to speak the truth." "Oh, to be +sure, miss," replied Mrs Compton, a little angrily, +"we all know that your <i>judgment</i> and <i>knowledge</i> of +the world are superior to what anybody else can +boast; and therefore I shall be infinitely obliged to +you for any <i>information</i> you may be pleased to give." +"Indeed, madam," answered the young lady, "I +have very little of either to boast, nor am I personally +acquainted with the nobleman you are talking +of; but I have a cousin, a very good boy, who is at +the same public school with his lordship, and he has +given me such a character of him as does not much +prepossess me in his favour." "And what may this +wise cousin of yours have said of his lordship?" +"<i>Only</i>, madam, that he is one of the worst boys in +the whole school; that he has neither genius nor application +for anything that becomes his rank and +situation; that he has no taste for anything but +gaming, horse-racing, and the most contemptible +amusements; that, though his allowance is large, he +is continually running in debt with everybody that +will trust him; and that he has broken his word so +often that nobody has the least confidence in what +he says. Added to this, I have heard that he is so +haughty, tyrannical, and overbearing, that nobody +can long preserve his friendship without the meanest +flattery and subservience to all his vicious inclinations; +and, to finish all, that he is of so ungrateful a +temper, that he was never known to do an act of +kindness to any one, or to care about anything but +himself."<!-- Page 308 --></p> + +<p>Here Miss Matilda could not help interposing with +warmth. She said, "that his lordship had nothing +in his character or manners that did not perfectly +become a nobleman of the most elevated soul. +Little grovelling minds, indeed, which are always +envious of their superiors, might give a disagreeable +turn to the generous openness of this young nobleman's +temper. That, as to gaming and running in +debt, they were so essential to a man of fashion, that +nobody who was not born in the city, and oppressed +by city prejudices, would think of making the least +objection to them." She then made a panegyric +upon his lordship's person, his elegant taste and +dress, his new phaeton, his entertaining conversation, +his extraordinary performance upon the violin; +and concluded that, with such abilities and accomplishments, +she did not doubt of one day seeing him +at the head of the nation.</p> + +<p>Miss Simmons had no desire of pushing the conversation +any farther; and the rest of the company +coming in to tea, the disquisition about Lord +Squander finished.</p> + +<p>After tea, several of the young ladies were desired +to amuse the company with music and singing; +among the rest Miss Simmons sang a little Scotch +song, called Lochaber, in so artless, but sweet and +pathetic a manner, that little Harry listened almost +with tears in his eyes, though several of the young +ladies, by their significant looks and gestures, treated +it with ineffable contempt.</p> + +<p>After this, Miss Matilda, who was allowed to be a +perfect mistress of music, played and sang several +celebrated Italian airs; but as these were in a lan<!-- Page 309 -->guage +totally unintelligible to Harry, he received +very little pleasure, though all the rest of the company +were in raptures. She then proceeded to play +several pieces of music, which were allowed by all +connoisseurs to require infinite skill to execute. +The audience seemed all delighted, and either felt +or pretended to feel inexpressible pleasure; even +Tommy himself, who did not know one note from +another, had caught so much of the general enthusiasm, +that he applauded as loud as the rest of the +company. But Harry, whose temper was not quite +so pliable, could not conceal the intolerable weariness +that overpowered his senses during this long exhibition. +He gaped, he yawned, he stretched, he even +pinched himself, in order to keep his attention alive, +but all in vain; the more Miss Matilda exercised her +skill in playing pieces of the most difficult execution, +the more did Harry's propensity to drowsiness +increase. At length the lateness of the hour, which +much exceeded Harry's time of going to bed, conspiring +with the opiate charms of music, he could resist +no longer, but insensibly fell back upon his chair +fast asleep. This unfortunate accident was soon remarked +by the rest of the company, and confirmed +them very much in the opinion they had conceived +of Harry's vulgarity; while he, in the meantime, enjoyed +the most placid slumber, which was not dissipated +till Miss Matilda had desisted from playing.</p> + +<p>Thus was the first day passed at Mr Merton's, +very little to the satisfaction of Harry; the next, +and the next after, were only repetitions of the same +scene. The little gentry, whose tastes and manners +were totally different from his, had now imbibed a<!-- Page 310 --> +perfect contempt for Harry, and it was with great +difficulty that they condescended to treat him even +with common civility. In this <i>laudable</i> behaviour +they were very much confirmed by Master Compton +and Master Mash. Master Compton was reckoned +a very genteel boy, though all his gentility consisted +in a pair of buckles so big that they almost crippled +him; in a slender emaciated figure, and a look of +consummate impudence. He had almost finished +his education at a public school, where he had +learned every vice and folly which is commonly +taught at such places, without the least improvement +either of his character or his understanding. +Master Mash was the son of a neighbouring gentleman, +who had considerably impaired his fortune by +an inordinate love of horse-racing. Having been +from his infancy accustomed to no other conversation +than about winning and losing money, he +had acquired the idea that, to bet successfully, was +the summit of all human ambition. He had been +almost brought up in the stable, and therefore had +imbibed the greatest interest about horses; not from +any real affection for that noble animal, but merely +because he considered them as engines for the winning +of money. He too was now improving his +talents by a public education, and longed impatiently +for the time when he should be set free from all +restraint, and allowed to display the superiority of +his genius at Ascot and Newmarket.</p> + +<p>These two young gentlemen had conceived the +most violent dislike to Harry, and lost no occasion +of saying or doing everything they had in their +power to mortify him. To Tommy, they were in<!-- Page 311 --> +the contrary extreme, and omitted no opportunity +of rendering themselves agreeable to him. Nor was it +long before their forward vivacious manners, accompanied +with a knowledge of many of those gay scenes, +which acted forcibly upon Tommy's imagination, +began to render their conversation highly agreeable. +They talked to him about public diversions, +about celebrated actresses, about parties of pleasure, +and parties of mischief. Tommy began to feel himself +introduced to a new train of ideas, and a wider +range of conduct; he began to long for the time +when he should share in the glories of robbing +orchards, or insulting passengers with impunity; +but when he heard that little boys, scarcely bigger +than himself, had often joined in the glorious project +of forming open rebellions against their masters, or +of disturbing a whole audience at a playhouse, he +panted for the time when he might have a chance of +sharing in the fame of such achievements. By +degrees he lost all regard for Mr Barlow, and all +affection for his friend Harry. At first, indeed, he +was shocked at hearing Mr Barlow mentioned with +disrespect, but becoming by degrees more callous to +every good impression he at last took infinite pleasure +in seeing Master Mash (who, though destitute of +either wit or genius, had a great taste for mimicry) +take off the <i>parson</i> in the middle of his <i>sermon</i>.</p> + +<p>Harry perceived and lamented this change in the +manners of his friend; he sometimes took the liberty +of remonstrating with him upon the subject, but +was only answered with a contemptuous sneer; and +Master Mash, who happened once to be present, told +him that he was a <i>monstrous bore</i>.<!-- Page 312 --></p> + +<p>It happened that, while Harry was at Mr Merton's, +there was a troop of strolling players at a +neighbouring town. In order to divert the young +gentry, Mr Merton contrived that they should +make a party to see a play. They went accordingly, +and Harry with the rest. Tommy, who now no +longer condescended to take any notice of his friend +Harry, was seated between his two new acquaintances, +who had become his inseparable companions. +These young gentlemen first began to give specimens +of their <i>politeness</i> by throwing nuts and orange-peel +upon the stage; and Tommy, who was resolved to +profit by such an <i>excellent</i> example, threw nuts and +orange-peel with infinite satisfaction.</p> + +<p>As soon as the curtain drew up, and the actors +appeared, all the rest of the audience observed a +decent silence; but Mash and Compton, who were +now determined to prove the <i>superiority</i> of their +manners, began to talk so loud, and make so much +noise, that it was impossible for any one near them +to hear a word of the play. This also seemed +amazingly <i>fine</i> to Tommy; and he too talked and +laughed as loud as the rest.</p> + +<p>The subject of their conversation was, the +audience and the performers; neither of whom these +polite young gentlemen found bearable. The <i>company</i> +was chiefly composed of the tradesmen of the +town, and the inhabitants of the neighbouring +country; this was a sufficient reason for these +refined young gentlemen to speak of them with the +most insufferable contempt. Every circumstance +of their dress and appearance was criticised with +such a minuteness of attention, that Harry, who sat<!-- Page 313 --> +near, and very much against his inclination was +witness to all that passed, began to imagine that his +companions, instead of being brought up like the +sons of gentlemen, had only studied under barbers +and tailors; such amazing knowledge did they display +in the history of buckles, buttons, and dressing +of hair. As to the poor <i>performers</i>, they found +them totally undeserving of mercy; they were so +shockingly awkward, so ill-dressed, so low-lived, +and such detestable creatures, that it was impossible +to bear them with any patience.</p> + +<p>Master Mash, who prided himself upon being a +young gentleman of great spirit, was of opinion that +they should <i>kick up a riot</i>, and demolish all the +scenery. Tommy, indeed, did not very well understand +what the expression meant; but he was so +intimately persuaded of the merit and genius of his +companions, that he agreed that it would be the +most proper thing in the world; and the proposal +was accordingly made to the rest of the young +gentlemen.</p> + +<p>But Harry, who had been silent all the time, +could not help remonstrating at what appeared to +him the greatest injustice and cruelty. "These +poor people," said he, "are doing all they can to +entertain us; is it not very unkind to treat them in +return with scorn and contempt? If they could act +better, even as well as those fine people you talk of +in London, would they not willingly do it? and +therefore, why should we be angry with them for +what they cannot help? And, as to cutting the +scenes to pieces, or doing the house any damage, +have we any more right to attempt it, than they<!-- Page 314 --> +would have to come into your father's dining-room, +and break the dishes to pieces, because they did not +like the dinner? While we are here, let us behave +with good manners, and, if we do not like their acting, +it is our own faults if ever we come to see them +again."</p> + +<p>This method of reasoning was not much relished +by those to whom it was addressed; and it is uncertain +how far they might have proceeded, had not +a decent, plain-looking man, who had been long disturbed +with the noise of these young gentry, at +length taken the liberty of expostulating with them +upon the subject. This freedom, or <i>impertinence</i>, as +it was termed by Master Mash, was answered by +him with so much rudeness, that the man, who was +a neighbouring farmer, was obliged to reply in a +higher strain. Thus did the altercation increase +every minute, till Master Mash, who thought it an +unpardonable affront that any one in an inferior +station should presume to think or feel for himself, +so far lost all command of his temper as to call the +man a <i>blackguard</i>, and strike him upon the face. +But the farmer, who possessed great strength, and +equal resolution, very deliberately laid hold of the +young gentleman who had offered him the insult, +and, without the smallest exertion, laid him sprawling +upon the ground, at his full length under the +benches, and setting his feet upon his body, told +him that, "since he did not know how to <i>sit</i> quiet +at a play, he would have the honour of teaching him +to <i>lie</i>; and that if he offered to stir, he would trample +him to pieces;" a threat which was very evident he +could find no difficulty in executing.<!-- Page 315 --></p> + +<p>This unexpected incident struck a universal damp +over the spirits of the little gentry; and even Master +Mash himself so far forgot his dignity, as to supplicate +in a very submissive manner for a release; +in this he was joined by all his companions, and +Harry among the rest.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the farmer, "I should never have +thought that a parcel of young gentlemen, as you +call yourselves, would come into public to behave +with so much rudeness; I am sure that there is ne'er +a ploughboy at my house but what would have +shown more sense and manners; but, since you are +sorry for what has happened, I am very willing to +make an end of the affair; more especially for the +sake of this little master here, who has behaved with +so much propriety, that I am sure he is a better +gentleman than any of you, though he is not dressed +so much like a monkey or a barber." With these +words he suffered the crestfallen Mash to rise; who +crept from his place of confinement, with looks infinitely +more expressive of mildness than he had +brought with him; nor was the lesson lost upon the +others, for they behaved with the greatest decency +during the rest of the exhibition.</p> + +<p>However, Master Mash's courage began to rise as +he went home, and found himself farther from his +formidable farmer; for he assured his companions, +"that, if he had not been so vulgar a fellow, he +would certainly call him out and pistol him."</p> + +<p>The next day at dinner Mr Merton and the ladies, +who had not accompanied the young gentlemen to +the play, nor had yet heard of the misfortune which +had ensued, were very inquisitive about the preced<!-- Page 316 -->ing +night's entertainment. The young people agreed +that the performers were detestable, but that the +play was a charming piece, full of wit and sentiment, +and extremely improving. This play was +called <i>The Marriage of Figaro</i>, and Master Compton +had informed them that it was amazingly admired +by all the people of fashion in London.</p> + +<p>But Mr Merton, who had observed that Harry +was totally silent, at length insisted upon knowing +his opinion upon the subject, "Why, sir," answered +Harry, "I am very little judge of these +matters, for I never saw a play before in my life, and +therefore I cannot tell whether it was acted well or +ill; but as to the play itself, it seemed to me to be full +of nothing but cheating and dissimulation; and the +people that come in and out do nothing but impose +upon each other, and lie, and trick, and deceive. +Were you or any gentlemen to have such a parcel of +servants, you would think them fit for nothing in +the world; and therefore I could not help wondering, +while the play was acting, that people would +throw away so much of their time upon sights that +can do them no good, and send their children and +their relations to learn fraud and insincerity." Mr +Merton smiled at the honest bluntness of Harry; +but several of the ladies, who had just been expressing +an extravagant admiration of this piece, seemed +to be not a little mortified; however, as they could +not contradict the charges which Harry had brought +against it, they thought it most prudent to be silent.</p> + +<p>In the evening it was proposed that all the little +gentry should divert themselves with cards, and +they accordingly sat down to a game which is called<!-- Page 317 --> +Commerce. But Harry, who was totally ignorant +of this accomplishment, desired to be excused; however, +his friend Miss Simmons offered to teach him +the game, which, she assured him, was so easy, +that in three minutes he would be able to play as +well as the rest. Harry, however, still continued to +refuse; and at last confessed to Miss Simmons, that +he had expended all his money the day before, and +therefore was unable to furnish the stake which the +rest deposited. "Don't let that disturb you," said +she; "I will put down for you with a great deal of +pleasure." "Madam," answered Harry, "I am +very much obliged to you, I am sure; but Mr Barlow +has always forbidden me either to receive or borrow +money of anybody, for fear, in the one case, I +should become mercenary, or in the other, dishonest; +and therefore, though there is nobody here +whom I esteem more than yourself, I am obliged to +refuse your offer." "Well," replied Miss Simmons, +"that need not disturb you; for you shall play +upon my account, and that you may do without any +violation of your principles."</p> + +<p>Thus was Harry, though with some reluctance, +induced to sit down to cards with the rest. The +game, indeed, he found no difficulty in learning; +but he could not help remarking, with wonder, the +extreme solicitude which appeared in the face of all +the players at every change of fortune. Even the +young ladies, all but Miss Simmons, seemed to be +equally sensible of the passion of gaining money +with the rest; and some of them behaved with a +degree of asperity which quite astonished him. +After several changes of fortune, it happened that<!-- Page 318 --> +Miss Simmons and Harry were the only remaining +players; all the rest, by the laws of the game, had +forfeited all pretensions to the stake, the property +of which was clearly vested in these two, and one +more deal was wanting to decide it. But Harry, +with great politeness, rose from the table, and told +Miss Simmons, that, as he only played upon her +account, he was no longer wanted, and that the +whole undoubtedly belonged to her. Miss Simmons +refused to take it; and when she found that Harry +was not to be induced to play any more, she at last +proposed to him to divide what was left. This also +Harry declined, alleging that he had not the least +title to any part. But Miss Simmons, who began +to be uneasy at the remarks which this extraordinary +contest occasioned, told Harry that he would +oblige her by taking his share of the money, and +laying it out in any manner for her that he judged +best. "On this condition," answered Harry, "I +will take it; and I think I know a method of +laying it out, which you will not entirely disapprove."</p> + +<p>The next day, as soon as breakfast was over, +Harry disappeared; nor was he come back when the +company were assembled at dinner. At length he +came in, with a glow of health and exercise upon +his face, and that disorder of dress which is produced +by a long journey. The young ladies eyed him with +great contempt, which seemed a little to disconcert +him; but Mr Merton speaking to him with great +good-humour, and making room for him to sit +down, Harry soon recovered from his confusion.</p> + +<p>In the evening, after a long conversation among<!-- Page 319 --> +the young people, about public diversions and plays, +and actors, and dancers, they happened to mention +the name of a celebrated performer, who at this time +engaged the whole attention of the town. Master +Compton, after expatiating with great enthusiasm +upon the subject, added, "that nothing was so fashionable +as to make great presents to this person, in +order to show the taste and elegance of the giver." +He then proposed that, as so many young gentlemen +and ladies were here assembled, they should set an +example, which would do them infinite honour, and +probably be followed throughout the kingdom, of +making a little collection among themselves to buy a +piece of plate, or a gold snuff-box, or some other +trifle, to be presented in their name. He added, +"that though he could ill-spare the money (having +just laid out six guineas upon a new pair of buckles), +he would contribute a guinea to so excellent a purpose, +and that Masters Mash and Merton would do +the same."</p> + +<p>This proposal was universally approved of by all +the company, and all but Harry promised to contribute +in proportion to their finances. This Master +Mash observing, said, "Well, farmer, and what will +you subscribe?" Harry answered, "that on this +occasion he must beg to be excused, for he had +nothing to give." "Here is a pretty fellow!" +answered Mash; "last night we saw him pocket +thirty shillings of our money, which he cheated us +out of at Commerce, and now the little stingy +wretch will not contribute half-a-crown, while we are +giving away whole guineas." Upon this Miss +Matilda said, in an ironical manner, "that Master<!-- Page 320 --> +Harry had always an excellent reason to give for his +conduct; and she did not doubt but he could prove +to the satisfaction of them all, that it was more +liberal to keep his money in his pocket than to give +it away."</p> + +<p>Harry, who was a little nettled at these reflections, +answered, "that though he was not bound to give +any reason, he thought he had a very good one to +give; and that was, that he saw no generosity in +thus bestowing money. According to your own +account," added he, "the person you have been +talking of gains more than fifty poor families in the +country have to maintain themselves; and therefore, +if I had any money to give away, I should certainly +give it to those that want it most."</p> + +<p>With these words Harry went out of the room, and +the rest of the gentry, after abusing him very liberally, +sat down to cards. But Miss Simmons, who +imagined that there was more in Harry's conduct +than he had explained, excused herself from cards, +and took an opportunity of talking to him upon the +subject. After speaking to him with great good-nature, +she asked him, whether it might not have +been better to have contributed something along +with the rest, than to have offended them by so free +an exposition of his sentiments, even though he did +not approve of the scheme. "Indeed, madam," said +Harry, "this is what I would gladly have done, but it +was totally out of my power." "How can that be, +Harry? did you not the other night win nearly +thirty shillings?" "That, madam, all belonged to +you; and I have already disposed of it in your name, +in a manner that I hope you will not disapprove."<!-- Page 321 --> +"How is that?" inquired the young lady with some +surprise. "Madam," said Harry, "there was a +young woman who lived with my father as a servant, +and always behaved with the greatest honesty and +carefulness. This young woman had an aged father +and mother, who for a great while were able to +maintain themselves by their labour; but at last the +poor old man became too weak to do a day's work, +and his wife was afflicted with a disease they call the +palsy. Now, when this good young woman saw that +her parents were in such great distress, she left her +place and went to live with them, on purpose to +take care of them; and she works very hard, whenever +she can get work, and fares very hard in order +to maintain her parents; and though we assist them +all we can, I know that sometimes they can hardly +get food and clothes; therefore, madam, as you +were so kind to say I should dispose of this money +for you, I ran over this morning to these poor +people, and gave them all the money in your name, +and I hope you will not be displeased at the use I +have put it to." "Indeed," answered the young +lady, "I am much obliged to you for the good +opinion you have of me, and the application of it does +me a great deal of honour; I am only sorry you did +not give it in your own name." "That," replied +Harry, "I had not any right to do; it would have +been attributing to myself what did not belong to me, +and equally inconsistent with truth and honesty."</p> + +<p>In this manner did the time pass away at Mr +Merton's; while Harry received very little satisfaction +from his visit, except in conversing with Miss +Simmons. The affability and good sense of this<!-- Page 322 --> +young lady had entirely gained his confidence; while +all the other young ladies were continually intent +upon displaying their talents and importance, she +alone was simple and unaffected. But what <a name="tn_pg_335"></a><!--TN: "digusted" changed to "disgusted"-->disgusted +Harry more than ever was, that his refined companions +seemed to consider themselves, and a few +of their acquaintance, as the only beings of any +consequence in the world. The most trifling inconvenience, +the being a little too hot, a little too +cold, the walking a few hundred yards, the waiting a +few minutes for their dinner, the having a trifling +cold, or a little headache, were misfortunes so +feelingly lamented, that he would have imagined they +were the most tender of the human species, had +he not observed that they considered the sufferings +of all below them with a profound indifference. If +the misfortunes of the poor were mentioned, he +heard of nothing but the insolence and ingratitude +of that class of people, which seemed to be a sufficient +excuse for the want of common humanity. +"Surely," said Harry to himself, "there cannot be +so much difference between one human being and +another; or if there is, I should think that part of +them the most valuable who cultivate the ground, +and provide necessaries for all the rest; not those +who understand nothing but dress, walking with +their toes out, staring modest people out of countenance, +and jabbering a few words of a foreign language."</p> + +<p>But now the attention of all the younger part of +the company was fixed upon making preparations +for a ball, which Mrs Merton had determined to give +in honour of Master Tommy's return. The whole<!-- Page 323 --> +house was now full of milliners, mantua-makers, and +dancing-masters; and all the young ladies were +employed in giving directions about their clothes, or +in practising the steps of different dances. Harry +now, for the first time, began to comprehend the +infinite importance of dress—even the elderly ladies +seemed to be as much interested about the affair as +their daughters; and, instead of the lessons of +conduct and wisdom which he expected to hear, +nothing seemed to employ their attention a moment +but French trimmings, gauzes, and Italian flowers. +Miss Simmons alone appeared to consider the approaching +solemnity with perfect indifference. Harry +had never heard a single word drop from her that +expressed either interest or impatience; but he had +for some days observed her employed in her room +with more than common assiduity. At length, on +the very day that was destined for this important +exhibition, she came to him with a benevolent smile, +and spoke to him thus: "I was so much pleased with +the account you gave me the other day of that poor +young woman's duty and affection towards her +parents, that I have for some time employed myself +in preparing for them a little present, which I shall +be obliged to you, Master Harry, to convey to them. +I have, unfortunately, never learned either to +embroider or to paint artificial flowers, but my good +uncle has taught me that the best employment I can +make of my hands is to assist those who cannot +assist themselves." Saying this, she put into his +hands a parcel that contained some linen and other +necessaries for the poor old people, and bade him +tell them not to forget to call upon her uncle when<!-- Page 324 --> +she was returned home, as he was always happy to +assist the deserving and industrious poor. Harry +received her present with gratitude, and almost with +tears of joy; and, looking up in her face, imagined +that he saw the features of one of those angels which +he had read of in the Scriptures; so much does real +disinterested benevolence improve the expression of +the human countenance.</p> + +<p>But all the rest of the young gentry were employed +in cares of a very different nature—the dressing +their hair and adorning their persons. Tommy +himself had now completely resumed his natural +character, and thrown aside all that he had learned +during his residence with Mr Barlow; he had contracted +an infinite fondness for all those scenes of +dissipation which his new friends daily described to +him, and began to be convinced that one of the most +important things in life is a fashionable dress. In +this <i>most rational</i> sentiment he had been confirmed +by almost all the ladies with whom he had conversed +since his return home. The distinctions of character, +relative to virtue and understanding, which had +been with so much pains inculcated upon his mind, +seemed here to be entirely unheeded. No one took +the trouble of examining the real principles or +motives from which any human being acted, while +the most minute attention was continually given to +what regarded merely the outside. He observed +that the omission of every duty towards our fellow-creatures +was not only excused, but even to a certain +degree admired, provided it was joined with a certain +fashionable appearance; while the most perfect probity +or integrity was mentioned with coldness or dis<!-- Page 325 -->gust, +and frequently with open ridicule if unconnected +with a brilliant appearance. As to all the +common virtues of life—such as industry, economy, +a punctuality in discharging our obligations or keeping +our word—these were qualities which were +treated as fit for none but the vulgar. Mr Barlow, +he found, had been utterly mistaken in all the principles +which he had ever inculcated. "The human +species," Mr Barlow used to say, "can only be supplied +with food and necessaries by a constant assiduity +in cultivating the earth and providing for their +mutual wants. It is by labour that everything is +produced; without labour, these fertile fields, which +are now adorned with all the luxuriance of plenty, +would be converted into barren heaths, or impenetrable +thickets; these meadows, now the support of +a thousand herds of cattle, would be covered with +stagnated waters, that would not only render them +uninhabitable by beasts, but corrupt the air with +pestilential vapours; and even these innumerable +flocks of sheep that feed along the hills, would disappear +immediately on the cessation of that cultivation, +which can alone support them, and secure their +existence."</p> + +<p>But, however true might be these principles, they +were so totally inconsistent with the conduct and +opinion of Tommy's new friends, that it was not +possible for him long to remember their force. He +had been nearly a month with a few young ladies +and gentlemen of his own rank, and instead of their +being brought up to produce anything useful, he +found that the great object of all their knowledge +and education was only to waste, to consume, to<!-- Page 326 --> +destroy, to dissipate what was produced by others; +he even found that this inability to assist either +themselves or others seemed to be a merit upon +which every one valued himself extremely; so that +an individual, who could not exist without having +two attendants to wait upon him, was superior to +him that had only one, but was obliged in turn to +yield to another who required four. And, indeed, +this new system seemed much more easy than the +old one; for, instead of giving himself any trouble +about his manners or understanding, he might with +safety indulge all his caprices, give way to all his +passions, be humoursome, haughty, unjust, and +selfish to the extreme. He might be ungrateful to +his friends, disobedient to his parents, a glutton, an +ignorant blockhead, in short, everything which to +plain sense appears most frivolous or contemptible, +without incurring the least imputation, provided his +hair hung fashionably about his ears, his buckles +were sufficiently large, and his politeness to the +ladies unimpeached.</p> + +<p>Once, indeed, Harry had thrown him into a disagreeable +train of thinking, by asking him, with +great simplicity, what sort of a figure these young +gentlemen would have made in the army of Leonidas, +or these young ladies upon a desert island, +where they would be obliged to shift for themselves. +But Tommy had lately learned that nothing spoils +the face more than intense reflection; and therefore, +as he could not easily resolve the question, he wisely +determined to forget it.</p> + +<p>And now the important evening of the ball approached; +the largest room in the house was lighted<!-- Page 327 --> +up for the dancers, and all the little company assembled. +Tommy was that day dressed in an unusual +style of elegance, and had submitted, without +murmuring, to be under the hands of a hair-dresser +for two hours! But what gave him the greatest +satisfaction of all, was an immense pair of new +buckles which Mrs Merton had sent for on purpose +to grace the person of her son.</p> + +<p>Several minuets were first danced, to the great +admiration of the company; and, among the rest, +Tommy, who had been practising ever since he had +been at home, had the honour of exhibiting with +Miss Matilda. He indeed began with a certain +degree of diffidence, but was soon inspired with a +proper degree of confidence by the applauses which +resounded on every side. "What an elegant little +creature!" cried one lady. "What a shape is +there!" said a second; "I protest he puts me in +mind of Vestris himself." "Indeed," said a third, +"Mrs Merton is a most happy mother to be possessed +of such a son, who wants nothing but an +introduction to the world, to be one of the most +elegant creatures in England, and the most accomplished."</p> + +<p>As soon as Tommy had finished his dance, he +led his partner to a seat with a grace that surprised +all the company anew, and then, with the +sweetest condescension imaginable, he went from one +lady to another, to receive the praises which they +liberally poured out, as if it was the greatest action +in the world to draw one foot behind another, and +to walk on tiptoe.</p> + +<p>Harry, in the mean time, had shrouded himself<!-- Page 328 --> +in the most obscure part of the room, and was +silently gazing upon the scene that passed. He +knew that his company would give no pleasure +among the elegant figures that engrossed the foremost +seats, and felt not the least inclination for +such an honour. In this situation he was observed +by Master Compton, who, at the same instant, +formed a scheme of mortifying Miss Simmons, +whom he did not like, and of exposing Harry to the +general ridicule. He therefore proposed it to Mash, +who had partly officiated as master of the ceremonies, +and who, with all the readiness of officious +malice, agreed to assist him; Master Mash therefore, +went up to Miss Simmons, and, with all the +solemnity of respect, invited her out to dance, +which she, although indifferent about the matter, +accepted without hesitation. In the meantime, +Master Compton went up to Harry with the same +hypocritical civility, and in Miss Simmons' name +invited him to dance a minuet. It was in vain +that Harry assured him he knew nothing about the +matter; his perfidious friend told him that it was an +indispensable duty for him to stand up; that Miss +Simmons would never forgive him if he should +refuse; that it would be sufficient if he could just +describe the figure, without embarrassing himself +about the steps. In the mean time, he pointed out +Miss Simmons, who was advancing towards the +upper end of the room, and, taking advantage of his +confusion and embarrassment, led him forward, and +placed him by the young lady's side. Harry was +not yet acquainted with the sublime science of imposing +upon unwary simplicity, and therefore never<!-- Page 329 --> +doubted that the message had come from his friend; +and as nothing could be more repugnant to his +character than the want of compliance, he thought +it necessary at least to go and expostulate with her +upon the subject. This was his intention when he +suffered himself to be led up the room; but his +tormentors did not give him time, for they placed +him by the side of the young lady, and instantly +called to the music to begin. Miss Simmons, in her +turn, was equally surprised at the partner which +was provided for her; she had never imagined +minuet dancing to be one of Harry's accomplishments, +and therefore instantly suspected that it was +a concerted scheme to mortify her. However, in +this she was determined they should be disappointed, +as she was destitute of all pride, and had +the sincerest regard for Harry. As soon, therefore, +as the music struck up, the young lady began her +reverence, which Harry, who found he was now +completely caught, and had no time for explanation, +imitated as well as he was able, but in such a +manner as set the whole room in a titter. Harry, +however, arming himself with all the fortitude he +possessed, performed his part as well as could be +expected from a person that had never learned a +single step of dancing. By keeping his eye fixed +upon his partner, he made a shift at least to preserve +something of the figure, although he was +terribly deficient in the steps and graces of the +dance. But his partner, who was scarcely less +embarrassed than himself, and wished to shorten +the exhibition, after crossing once, presented him +with her hand. Harry had unfortunately not re<!-- Page 330 -->marked +the nature of this manœuvre with perfect +accuracy, and therefore, imagining that one hand +was just as good as the other, he offered the young +lady his left instead of his right hand. At this +incident a universal peal of merriment, which they +no longer laboured to conceal, burst from almost +all the company, and Miss Simmons, wishing at any +rate to close the scene, presented her partner with +both her hands, and abruptly finished the dance. +The unfortunate couple then retreated to the lower +end of the room, <a name="tn_pg_343"></a><!--TN: Changed "admist" to "amidst"-->amidst the jests and sneers of their +companions, particularly Mash and Compton, who +assumed unusual importance upon the credit of +such a brilliant invention.</p> + +<p>When they were seated, Miss Simmons could not +help asking Harry, with some displeasure, why he +had thus exposed himself and her, by attempting +what he was totally ignorant of, and added, "that, +though there was no disgrace in not being able to +dance, it was very great folly to attempt it without +having learned a single step." "Indeed, madam," +answered Harry, "I never should have thought of +trying to do what I knew I was totally ignorant of; +but Master Compton came to me, and told me that +you particularly desired me to dance with you, and +led me to the other end of the room; and I only +came to speak to you, and to inform you that I +knew nothing about the matter, for fear you should +think me uncivil; and then the music began to play, +and you to dance, so that I had no opportunity of +speaking; and I thought it better to do the best +I could than to stand still, or leave you there." +Miss Simmons instantly recovered her former good<!-- Page 331 -->-humour, +and said, "Well, Harry, we are not the +first, nor shall be the last by hundreds, who have +made a ridiculous figure in a ball-room, without so +good an excuse. But I am sorry to see so malicious +a disposition in these young gentlemen, and that all +their knowledge of polite life has not taught them a +little better manners."</p> + +<p>"Why madam," answered Harry, "since you are +so good as to talk to me upon the subject, I must +confess that I have been very much surprised at +many things I have seen at Mr Merton's. All these +young gentlemen and ladies are continually talking +about genteel life and manners, and yet they are +frequently doing things which surprise me. Mr +Barlow has always told me that politeness consisted +in a disposition to oblige everybody around us, and +to say or do nothing which can give them disagreeable +impressions. Yet I continually see these young +gentlemen striving to do and say things, for no +other reason than to give pain; for, not to go any +farther than the present instance, what motive can +Masters Compton and Mash have had but to mortify +you by giving you such a partner? you, madam, +too, who are so kind and good to everybody, that I +should think it impossible not to love you."</p> + +<p>"Harry," answered the young lady, "what you +say about politeness is perfectly just. I have heard +my uncle and many sensible people say the same; +but, in order to acquire this species of it, both goodness +of heart and a just way of thinking are required; +and therefore many people content themselves +with aping what they can pick up in the dress, +or gestures, or cant expressions of the higher classes;<!-- Page 332 --> +just like the poor ass, which, dressed in the skin of a +lion, was taken for the lion himself, till his unfortunate +braying exposed the cheat." "Pray, madam, +what is that story?" said Harry.</p> + +<p>"It is a trifling one that I have read," answered +Miss Simmons, "of somebody who, having procured +a lion's skin, fastened it round the body of an ass, +and then turned him loose, to the great affright of +the neighbourhood. Those who saw him first, imagined +that a monstrous lion had invaded the +country, and fled with precipitation. Even the very +cattle caught the panic and were scattered by +hundreds over the plains. In the meantime the +victorious ass pranced and capered along the fields, +and diverted himself with running after the fugitives. +But at length, in the gaiety of his heart, he broke +into such a discordant braying, as surprised those +that were nearest, and expected to hear a very different +noise from under the terrible skin. At length +a resolute fellow ventured by degrees nearer to this +object of their terror, and discovering the cheat that +had been practised upon them, divested the poor ass +of all his borrowed spoils, and drove him away with +his cudgel."</p> + +<p>"This story," continued Miss Simmons, "is continually +coming into my mind, when I see anybody +imagine himself of great importance, because he has +adopted some particular mode of dress, or the grimaces +of those that call themselves fashionable people. +Nor do I ever see Master Mash or Compton without +thinking of the lion's skin, and expecting every +moment to hear them bray."</p> + +<p>Harry laughed very heartily at this story; but<!-- Page 333 --> +now their attention was called towards the company, +who had ranged themselves by pairs for country-dancing. +Miss Simmons, who was very fond of this +exercise, then asked Harry if he had never practised +any of these dances. Harry said, "it had happened +to him three or four times at home, and that he +believed he should not be puzzled about any of the +figures." "Well, then," said the young lady, "to +show how little I regard their intended mortification, +I will stand up and you shall be my partner." So +they rose and placed themselves at the bottom of +the whole company according to the laws of dancing, +which appoint that place for those who come last.</p> + +<p>And now the music began to strike up in a more +joyous strain; the little dancers exerted themselves +with all their activity, and the exercise diffused a +glow of health and cheerfulness over the faces of the +most pale and languid. Harry exerted himself here +with much better success than he had lately done in +the minuet. He had great command over all his +limbs, and was very well versed in every play that +gives address to the body, so that he found no difficulty +in practising all the varied figures of the +dances, particularly with the assistance of Miss +Simmons, who explained to him everything that +appeared embarrassing.</p> + +<p>But now, by the continuance of the dance, all who +were at first at the upper end had descended to the +bottom, where, by the laws of the diversion, they +ought to have waited quietly till their companions, +becoming in their turn uppermost, had danced down +to their former places. But when Miss Simmons +and Harry expected to have had their just share of<!-- Page 334 --> +the exercise, they found that almost all their companions +had deserted them and retired to their places. +Harry could not help wondering at this behaviour; +but Miss Simmons told him with a smile, that it was +only of a piece with the rest, and she had often +remarked it at country assemblies, where all the +gentry of a county were gathered together. "This +is frequently the way," added she, "that those who +think themselves superior to the rest of the world +choose to show their importance." "This is a very +bad way indeed," replied Harry; "people may choose +whether they will dance or practise any particular +diversion, but, if they do, they ought to submit to +the laws of it without repining; and I have always +observed among the little boys whom I am acquainted +with, that wherever this disposition prevails, it is the +greatest proof of a bad and contemptible temper." +"I am afraid," replied Miss Simmons, "that your +observations will hold universally true, and that +those who expect so much for themselves, without +being willing to consider their fellow-creatures in +turn, in whatever station they are found, are always +the most mean, ignorant, and despicable of the +species."</p> + +<p>"I remember," said Harry, "reading a story of a +great man called Sir Philip Sydney. This gentleman +was reckoned not only the bravest but the +politest person in all England. It happened that +he was sent over the sea to assist some of our allies +against their enemies. After having distinguished +himself in such a manner as gained him the love and +esteem of all the army, this excellent man one day +received a shot which broke his thigh, as he was<!-- Page 335 --> +bravely fighting at the head of his men. Sir Philip +Sydney felt that he was mortally wounded, and +was obliged to turn his horse's head, and retire to +his tent, in order to have his wound examined. By +the time that he had reached his tent, he not only +felt great agonies from his wound, but the heat of +the weather, and the fever which the pain produced, +had excited an intolerable thirst, so that he +prayed his attendants to fetch him a little water. +With infinite difficulty some water was procured and +brought to him, but, just as he was raising the cup +to his lips, he chanced to see a poor English soldier, +who had been mortally wounded in the same +engagement, and lay upon the ground faint and +bleeding, and ready to expire. The poor man was +suffering, like his general, from the pain of a consuming +thirst, and therefore, though respect prevented +him from asking for any, he turned his dying +eyes upon the water with an eagerness which sufficiently +explained his sufferings. Upon this the excellent +and noble gentleman took the cup, which he had +not yet tasted, from his lips, and gave it to his +attendants, ordering them to carry it to the wounded +soldier, and only saying, 'this poor man wants it +still more than I do.'"</p> + +<p>"This story," added Harry, "was always a particular +favourite with Mr Barlow, and he has often +pointed it out to me as an example not only of the +greatest virtue and humanity, but also of that +elevated method of thinking which constitutes the +true gentleman. 'For what is it,' I have heard +him say, 'that gives a superiority of manners, but +the inclination to sacrifice our own pleasures and<!-- Page 336 --> +interests to the well-being of others?' An ordinary +person might have pitied the poor soldier, or even +have assisted him, when he had first taken care of +himself; but who, in such a dreadful extremity as +the brave Sydney was reduced to, would be capable +of even forgetting his own sufferings to relieve +another, who had not acquired the generous habit +of always slighting his own gratifications for the +sake of his fellow-creatures?"</p> + +<p>As Harry was conversing in this manner, the +little company had left off dancing, and were refreshing +themselves with a variety of cakes and +agreeable liquors, which had been provided for the +occasion. Tommy Merton and the other young +gentleman were now distinguishing themselves by +their attendance upon the ladies, whom they were +supplying with everything they chose to have, but +no one thought it worth his while to wait upon Miss +Simmons. When Harry observed this, he ran to +the table, and upon a large waiter brought her +cakes and lemonade, which he presented, if not with +a better grace, with a more sincere desire to oblige +than any of the rest. But, as he was stooping +down to offer her the choice, Master Mash unluckily +passed that way, and, elated by the success of his +late piece of ill-nature, determined to attempt a +second still more brutal than the first. For this +reason, just as Miss Simmons was helping herself +to some wine and water, Mash, pretending to +stumble, pushed Harry in such a manner that the +greater part of the contents of the glasses was discharged +full into her bosom. The young lady +coloured at the insult, and Harry, who instantly<!-- Page 337 --> +perceived that it had been done on purpose, being +no longer able to contain his indignation, seized a +glass that was only half-emptied, and discharged the +contents full into the face of the aggressor. Mash, +who was a boy of violent passion, exasperated at this +retaliation, which he so well deserved, instantly +caught up a drinking glass, and flung it full at the +head of Harry. Happy was it for him that it only +grazed his head without taking the full effect; it, +however, laid bare a considerable gash, and Harry +was in an instant covered with his own blood, the +sight of which provoked him the more, and made +him forget both the place and the company where +he was, so that, flying upon Mash with all the fury +of just revenge, a dreadful combat ensued, which put +the whole room in a consternation.</p> + +<p>But Mr Merton soon appeared, and with some +difficulty separated the enraged champions. He +then inquired into the subject of the contest, which +Master Mash endeavoured to explain away as an +accident. But Harry persisted in his account with +so much firmness, in which he was corroborated by +Miss Simmons, that Mr Merton readily perceived +the truth. Mash, however, apologised for himself +in the best manner that he was able, by saying, that +he only meant to play Master Harry an innocent +trick, but that he had undesignedly injured Miss +Simmons.</p> + +<p>Whatever Mr Merton felt, he did not say a great +deal; he, however, endeavoured to pacify the enraged +combatants, and ordered assistance to Harry to +bind up the wound, and clean him from the blood +which had now disfigured him from head to foot.<!-- Page 338 --></p> + +<p>Mrs Merton, in the mean time, who was sitting +at the upper end of the room amidst the other ladies, +had seen the fray, and been informed that it was +owing to Harry's throwing a glass of lemonade in +Master Mash's face. This gave Mrs Compton an +opportunity of indulging herself again in long invectives +against Harry, his breeding, family, and +manners. "She never," she said, "had liked the +boy, and now he had justified all her forebodings +upon the subject. Such a little vulgar wretch could +never have been witness to anything but scenes of +riot and ill-manners; and now he was brawling and +fighting in a gentleman's house, just as he would do +at one of the public houses to which he was used to +go with his father."</p> + +<p>While she was in the midst of this eloquent harangue +Mr Merton came up, and gave a more unprejudiced +narrative of the affair. He acquitted Harry +of all blame, and said that it was impossible, even +for the mildest temper in the world, to act otherwise +upon such unmerited provocation. This account +seemed wonderfully to turn the scale in Harry's +favour; though Miss Simmons was no great favourite +with the young ladies, yet the spirit and gallantry +which he had discovered in her cause began to act +very forcibly on their minds. One of the young +ladies observed, "that if Master Harry was better +dressed he would certainly be a very pretty boy;" +another said, "she had always thought he had a +look above his station;" and a third remarked "that, +considering he had never learned to dance, he had +by no means a vulgar look."</p> + +<p>This untoward accident having thus been amicably<!-- Page 339 --> +settled, the diversions of the evening went forward. +But Harry, who had now lost all taste for genteel +company, took the first opportunity of retiring to +bed, where he soon fell asleep, and forgot both the +mortification and bruises he had received. In the +mean time the little company below found means to +entertain themselves till past midnight, and then +retired to their chambers.</p> + +<p>The next morning they rose later than usual; and, +as several of the young gentlemen, who had been +invited to the preceding evening's diversion, were +not to return till after dinner, they agreed to take a +walk into the country. Harry went with them as +usual, though Master Mash, by his misrepresentations, +had prejudiced Tommy and all the rest against +him. But Harry, who was conscious of his own +innocence, and began to feel the pride of injured +friendship, disdained to give an explanation of his +behaviour, since his friend was not sufficiently interested +about the matter to demand one.</p> + +<p>While they were walking slowly along the common +they discovered at a distance a prodigious crowd of +people, all moving forward in the same direction. +This attracted the curiosity of the little troop, and +on inquiry they found there was going to be a bull-baiting. +Instantly an eager desire seized upon all +the little gentry to see the diversion. One obstacle +alone presented itself, which was, that their parents, +and particularly Mrs Merton, had made them promise +that they would avoid every species of danger. +This objection was, however, removed by Master +Billy Lyddall, who remarked, "that there could be +no danger in the sight, as the bull was to be tied<!-- Page 340 --> +fast, and could therefore do them no harm; besides," +added he, smiling, "what occasion have they to +know that we have been at all? I hope we are not +such simpletons as to accuse ourselves, or such telltales +as to inform against one another?" "No! +no! no!" was the universal exclamation from all +but Harry, who had remained profoundly silent on +the occasion. "Master Harry has not said a word," +said one of the little folks; "sure he will not tell of +us." "Indeed," said Harry, "I don't wish to tell of +you; but if I am asked where we have been, how can +I help telling?" "What!" answered Master Lyddall, +"can't you say that we have been walking +along the road, or across the common, without +mentioning anything further?" "No," said Harry, +"that would not be speaking truth; besides, bull-baiting +is a very cruel and dangerous diversion, and +therefore none of us should go to see it, particularly +Master Merton, whose mother loves him so much, +and is so careful about him."</p> + +<p>This speech was not received with much approbation +by those to whom it was addressed. "A +pretty fellow," said one, "to give himself these airs, +and pretend to be wiser than every one else!"</p> + +<p>"What!" said Master Compton, "does this beggar's +brat think that he is to govern gentlemen's sons, +because Master Merton is so good as to keep company +with him?" "If I were Master Merton," said +a third, "I'd soon send the little impertinent jackanapes +home to his own blackguard family." And +Master Mash, who was the biggest and strongest +boy in the whole company, came up to Harry, and +grinning in his face, said, "So all the return that<!-- Page 341 --> +you make to Master Merton for his goodness to you +is to be a spy and an informer, is it, you little dirty +blackguard?"</p> + +<p>Harry, who had long perceived and lamented the +coolness of Master Merton towards him, was now +much more grieved to see that his friend was not +only silent, but seemed to take an ill-natured +pleasure in these insults, than at the insults themselves +which were offered to him. However, as soon +as the crowd of tormentors which surrounded him +would give him leave to speak, he coolly answered, +"that he was as little a spy and informer as any of +them; and, as to begging, he thanked God he +wanted as little of them as they did of him;" "besides," +added he, "were I even reduced so low as +that, I should know better how to employ my time +than to ask charity of any one here."</p> + +<p>This sarcastic answer, and the reflections that +were made upon it, had such an effect upon the too +irritable temper of Master Merton, that, in an instant, +forgetting his former obligations and affection +to Harry, he strutted up to him, and clenching his +fist, asked him, "whether he meant to insult him?"</p> + +<p>"Well done, Master Merton!" echoed through the +whole society; "thrash him heartily for his impudence." +"No, Master Tommy," answered Harry; +"it is you and your friends here that insult me."</p> + +<p>"What!" answered Tommy, "are you a person of +such consequence that you must not be spoken to? +You are a prodigious fine gentleman, indeed." "I +always thought you one till now," answered Harry.</p> + +<p>"How, you rascal!" said Tommy; "do you say +that I am not a gentleman? Take that!" and im<!-- Page 342 -->mediately +struck Harry upon the face with his fist. +His fortitude was not proof against this treatment; +he turned his face away, and only said, in a low +tone of voice, "Master Tommy, Master Tommy, I +never should have thought it possible you could have +treated me in this unworthy manner;" then, covering +his face with both his hands, he burst into an +agony of crying.</p> + +<p>But the little troop of gentlemen, who were vastly +delighted with the mortification which Harry had received, +and had formed a very different opinion of his +prowess, from the patience which he had hitherto exerted, +began to gather round and repeat their persecutions. +<i>Coward</i>, and <i>blackguard</i>, and <i>tell-tale</i> echoed +in a chorus through the circle; and some, more forward +than the rest, seized him by the hair, in order +that he might hold up his head and show his <i>pretty +face</i>.</p> + +<p>But Harry, who now began to recollect himself, +wiped his tears with his hand, and, looking up, asked +them with a firm tone of voice and a steady countenance, +why they meddled with him; then, swinging +round, he disengaged himself at once from all who +had taken hold of him. The greatest part of the +company gave back at this question, and seemed disposed +to leave him unmolested; but Master Mash, +who was the most quarrelsome and impertinent boy +present, advanced, and looking at Harry with a contemptuous +sneer, said, "this is the way we always +treat such little blackguards as you, and if you have +not had enough to satisfy you, we'll willingly give you +some more." "As to all your nicknames and nonsense," +answered Harry, "I don't think it worth my<!-- Page 343 --> +while to resent them; but though I have suffered +Master Merton to strike me, there's not another in the +company shall do it, or, if he chooses to try, he shall +soon find whether or not I am a coward."</p> + +<p>Master Mash made no answer to this, but by a slap +of the face, which Harry returned by a punch of his +fist, which had almost overset his antagonist, in spite +of his superiority of size and strength. This unexpected +check from a boy, so much less than himself, +might probably have cooled the courage of Mash, had +he not been ashamed of yielding to one whom he had +treated with so much unmerited contempt. Summoning, +therefore, all his resolution, he flew at Harry +like a fury, and as he had often been engaged in +quarrels like this, he struck him with so much force, +that, with the first blow he aimed, he felled him to the +ground. Harry, foiled in this manner, but not dismayed, +rose in an instant, and attacked his adversary +with redoubled vigour, at the very moment when he +thought himself sure of the victory. A second time +did Mash, after a short but severe contest, close with +his undaunted enemy, and, by dint of superior +strength, roughly hurled him to the ground.</p> + +<p>The little troop of spectators, who had mistaken +Harry's patient fortitude for cowardice, began now to +entertain the sincerest respect for his courage, and +gathered round the combatants in silence. A second +time did Harry rise and attack his stronger adversary +with the cool intrepidity of a veteran combatant. +The battle now began to grow more dreadful and more +violent. Mash had superior strength and dexterity, +and greater habitude of fighting; his blows were +aimed with equal skill and force, and each appeared<!-- Page 344 --> +sufficient to crush an enemy so much inferior in size, +in strength, in years; but Harry possessed a body +hardened to support pain and hardship; a greater degree +of activity; a cool, unyielding courage, which +nothing could disturb or daunt. Four times had he +been now thrown down by the irresistible strength of +his foe; four times had he risen stronger from his fall, +covered with dirt and blood, and panting with fatigue, +but still unconquered. At length, from the duration +of the combat, and his own violent exertions, the +strength of Mash began to fail; enraged and disappointed +at the obstinate resistance he had met with, +he began to lose all command of his temper, and strike +at random; his breath grew short, his efforts were +more laborious, and his knees seemed scarcely able to +sustain his weight; but actuated by rage and shame, +he rushed with all his might upon Harry, as if determined +to crush him with one last effort. Harry +prudently stepped back, and contented himself with +parrying the blows that were aimed at him, till, seeing +that his antagonist was almost exhausted by his +own impetuosity, he darted at him with all his force, +and by one successful blow levelled him with the +ground.</p> + +<p>An involuntary shout of triumph now burst from +the little assembly of spectators; for such is the temper +of human beings, that they are more inclined to +consider superiority of force than justice; and the very +same boys, who just before were loading Harry with +taunts and outrages, were now ready to congratulate +him upon his victory. He, however, when he found +his antagonist no longer capable of resistance, kindly +assisted him to rise, and told him "he was very sorry<!-- Page 345 --> +for what had happened;" but Mash, oppressed at once +with the pain of his bruises, and the disgrace of his +defeat, observed an obstinate silence.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment their attention was engaged +by a new and sudden spectacle. A bull of the +largest size and greatest beauty was led across the +plain, adorned with ribbons of various colours. +The majestic animal suffered himself to be led along, +an unresisting prey, till he arrived at the spot which +was destined for the theatre of his persecutions. +Here he was fastened to an iron ring, which had +been strongly let into the ground, and whose force +they imagined would be sufficient to restrain him, +even in the midst of his most violent exertions. An +innumerable crowd of men, of women, of children, +then surrounded the place, waiting with eager curiosity +for the inhuman sport which they expected. The +little party which had accompanied Master Merton +were now no longer to be restrained; their friends, +their parents, admonition, duty, promises, were all +forgotten in an instant, and, solely intent upon +gratifying their curiosity, they mingled with the +surrounding multitude.</p> + +<p>Harry, although reluctantly, followed them at a +distance; neither the ill-usage he had received, nor +the pain of his wounds, could make him unmindful +of Master Merton or careless of his safety. He +knew too well the dreadful accidents which frequently +attend these barbarous sports, to be able to +quit his friend till he had once more seen him in a +place of safety.</p> + +<p>And now the noble animal, that was to be thus +wantonly tormented, was fastened to the ring by a<!-- Page 346 --> +strongly-twisted cord, which, though it confined and +cramped his exertions, did not entirely restrain them. +Although possessed of almost irresistible strength, +he seemed unwilling to exert it, and looked round +upon the infinite multitude of his enemies with +a gentleness that ought to have disarmed their +animosity.</p> + +<p>Presently a dog of the largest size and most +ferocious courage was let loose, who, as soon as he +beheld the bull, uttered a savage yell, and rushed +upon him with all the rage of inveterate animosity. +The bull suffered him to approach with the coolness +of deliberate courage, but just as the dog was +springing up to seize him, he rushed forward to meet +his foe, and putting his head to the ground, canted +him into the air several yards; and had not the +spectators run and caught him upon their backs +and hands, he would have been crushed to pieces in +the fall. The same fate attended another, and +another dog, which were let loose successively; the +one was killed upon the spot, while the other, who +had a leg broken in the fall, crawled howling and +limping away. The bull, in the meanwhile, behaved +with all the calmness and intrepidity of an experienced +warrior; without violence, without passion, he +waited every attack of his enemies, and then severely +punished them for their rashness.</p> + +<p>While this was transacting, to the diversion not +only of the rude and illiterate populace, but to that +of the little gentry with Master Merton, a poor, half-naked +Black came up, and humbly implored their +charity. He had served, he told them, on board an +English vessel, and even showed them the scars of<!-- Page 347 --> +several wounds he had received; but now he was discharged, +and without friends, and without assistance, +he could scarcely find food to support his wretched life, +or clothes to cover him from the wintry wind.</p> + +<p>Some of the young gentry, who, from a bad education, +had been little taught to feel or pity the distress +of others, were base enough to attempt to jest upon +his dusky colour and foreign accent; but Master +Merton, who, though lately much corrupted and +changed from what he had been with Mr Barlow, +preserved a great degree of generosity, put his hand +into his pocket in order to relieve him, but unfortunately +found nothing to give. The foolish profusion +which he had lately learned from the young gentlemen +at his father's house, had made him waste in +cards, in playthings, in trifles, all his stock of money, +and now he found himself unable to relieve that distress +which he pitied.</p> + +<p>Thus repulsed on every side, and unassisted, the +unfortunate Black approached the place where Harry +stood, holding out the tattered remains of his hat, +and imploring charity. Harry had not much to give, +but he took sixpence out of his pocket, which was all +his riches, and gave it with the kindest look of compassion, +saying, "Here, poor man, this is all I have; +if I had more, it should be at your service." He had +no time to add more, for at that instant three fierce +dogs rushed upon the bull at once, and by their joint +attacks rendered him almost mad. The calm deliberate +courage which he had hitherto shown was now +changed into rage and desperation: he roared with +pain and fury; flashes of fire seemed to come from +his angry eyes, and his mouth was covered with<!-- Page 348 --> +foam and blood. He <a name="tn_pg_361"></a><!--TN: "huried" changed to "hurried"-->hurried round the stake with +incessant toil and rage, first aiming at one, then +at another of the persecuting dogs that harassed him +on every side, growling and baying incessantly, and +biting him in every part. At length, with a furious +effort that he made, he trampled one of his foes beneath +his feet, and gored a second to that degree that +his bowels came through the wound, and at the same +moment the cord, which had hitherto confined him, +snapped asunder, and let him loose upon the affrighted +multitude.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to conceive the terror and dismay +which instantly seized the crowd of spectators. +Those who before had been hallooing with joy, and +encouraging the fury of the dogs with shouts and +acclamations, were now scattered over the plain, +and fled from the fury of the animal whom they had +been so basely tormenting. The enraged bull meanwhile +rushed like lightning over the plain, trampling +some, goring others, and taking ample vengeance +for the injuries he had received. Presently he +rushed with headlong fury towards the spot where +Master Merton and his associates stood; all fled +with wild affright, but with a speed that was not equal +to that of the pursuer. Shrieks, and outcries, and +lamentations were heard on every side; and those +who, a few minutes before, had despised the good +advice of Harry, would now have given the world to +be safe in the houses of their parents. Harry alone +seemed to preserve his presence of mind; he neither +cried out nor ran, but, when the dreadful animal +approached, leaped nimbly aside, and the bull passed +on, without embarrassing himself about his escape.<!-- Page 349 --></p> + +<p>Not so fortunate was Master Merton; he happened +to be the last of the little troop of fliers, and full in +the way which the bull had taken. And now his +destruction appeared certain; for as he ran, whether +through fear or the inequality of the ground, his +foot slipped, and down he tumbled in the very path +of the enraged pursuing animal. All who saw imagined +his fate inevitable; and it would certainly +have proved so, had not Harry, with a courage and +presence of mind above his years, suddenly seized a +prong which one of the fugitives had dropped, and at +the very moment when the bull was stooping to gore +his defenceless friend, advanced and wounded him in +the flank. The bull in an instant turned short, and +with redoubled rage made at his new assailant; and +it is probable that, notwithstanding his intrepidity, +Harry would have paid the price of his assistance to +his friend with his own life, had not an unexpected +succour arrived; for <a name="bull">in that instant the grateful Black +rushed on like lightning to assist him, and assailing +the bull with a weighty stick that he held in his hand, +compelled him to turn his rage upon a new object.</a> +The bull, indeed, attacked him with all the impetuosity +of revenge; but the Black jumped nimbly aside +and eluded his fury. Not contented with this, he +wheeled round his fierce antagonist, and seizing him +by the tail, began to batter his sides with an unexpected +storm of blows. In vain did the enraged animal +bellow and writhe himself about in all the convulsions +of madness; his intrepid foe, without ever +quitting his hold, suffered himself to be dragged about +the field, still continuing his discipline, till the creature +was almost spent with the fatigue of his own violent<!-- Page 350 --> +agitations. And now some of the boldest of the spectators, +taking courage, approached to his assistance, +and throwing a well-twisted rope over his head, they at +length, by the dint of superior numbers, completely +mastered the furious animal, and bound him to a tree.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, several of Mr Merton's servants, +who had been sent out after the young gentlemen, +approached and took up their young master, who, +though without a wound, was almost dead with fear +and agitation. But Harry, after seeing that his friend +was perfectly safe, and in the hands of his own family, +invited the Black to accompany him, and instead of +returning to Mr Merton's, took the way which led to +his father's house.</p> + +<p>While these scenes were passing, Mrs Merton, +though ignorant of the danger of her son, was not +undisturbed at home. Some accounts had been +brought of Harry's combat, which served to make her +uneasy, and to influence her still more against him. +Mrs Compton too, and Miss Matilda, who had conceived +a violent dislike to Harry, were busy to inflame +her by their malicious representations.</p> + +<p>While she was in these dispositions, Mr Merton +happened to enter, and was at once attacked by all +the ladies upon the subject of this improper connection. +He endeavoured for a long time to remove their +prejudices by reason; but when he found that to be +impossible, he contented himself with telling his wife, +that a little time would perhaps decide which were +the most proper companions for their son; and that +till Harry had done something to render himself unworthy +of their notice, he never could consent to their +treating him with coldness or neglect.<!-- Page 351 --></p> + +<p>At this moment, a female servant burst into the +room, with all the wildness of affright, and cried out +with a voice that was scarcely articulate, "Oh, madam, +madam; such an accident! poor dear Master +Tommy."</p> + +<p>"What of him, for pity's sake?" cried out Mrs +Merton, with an impatience and concern that sufficiently +marked her feelings. "Nay, madam," answered +the servant, "he is not much hurt, they say; but +little Sandford has taken him to a bull-baiting, and +the bull has gored him, and William and John are +bringing him home in their arms."</p> + +<p>These words were scarcely delivered when Mrs Merton +uttered a violent shriek, and was instantly seized +with an hysteric fit; and while the ladies were all employed +in assisting her, and restoring her senses, Mr +Merton, who, though much alarmed, was more composed, +walked precipitately out to learn the truth of +this imperfect narration.</p> + +<p>He had not proceeded far before he met the crowd +of children and servants, one of whom carried Tommy +Merton in his arms. As soon as he was convinced +that his son had received no other damage than a violent +fright, he began to inquire into the circumstances +of the affair; but before he had time to receive any +information, Mrs Merton, who had recovered from her +fainting, came running wildly from the house. When +she saw that her son was safe, she caught him in her +arms, and began to utter all the incoherent expressions +of a mother's fondness. It was with difficulty +that her husband could prevail upon her to moderate +her transports till they were within. Then she gave +a loose to her feelings in all their violence, and for a<!-- Page 352 --> +considerable time was incapable of attending to anything +but the joy of his miraculous preservation.</p> + +<p>At length, however, she became more composed, and +observing that all the company were present, except +Harry Sandford, she exclaimed, with sudden indignation, +"So I see that little abominable wretch has not +had the impudence to follow you in; and I almost +wish that the bull had gored him, as he deserved." +"What little wretch do you mean, mamma?" said +Tommy. "Whom can I mean," cried Mrs Merton, +"but that vile Harry Sandford, whom your father is +so fond of, and who had nearly cost you your life, by +leading you into danger?" "He! mamma," said +Tommy; "he lead me into danger! He did all he +could to persuade me not to go, and I was a very +naughty boy, indeed, not to take his advice."</p> + +<p>Mrs Merton stood amazed at this information, for +her prejudices had operated so powerfully upon her +mind, that she had implicitly believed the guilt of +Harry upon the imperfect evidence of the maid. +"Who was it, then," said Mr Merton, "could be so +imprudent?" "Indeed, papa," answered Tommy, +"we were all to blame, all but Harry, who advised +and begged us not to go, and particularly me, because +he said it would give you so much uneasiness +when you knew it, and that it was so dangerous a +diversion."</p> + +<p>Mrs Merton looked confused at her mistake, but +Mrs Compton observed, that she supposed "Harry +was afraid of the danger, and therefore, had wisely +kept out of the way." "Oh, no, indeed, madam," +answered one of the little boys, "Harry is no coward, +though we thought him so at first, when he let Master<!-- Page 353 --> +Tommy strike him, but he fought Master Mash in the +bravest manner I ever saw; and though Master Mash +fought very well, yet Harry had the advantage; and +I saw him follow us at a little distance, and keep his +eye upon Master Merton all the time, till the bull +broke loose, and then I was so frightened that I do +not know what became of him." "So this is the +little boy," said Mr Merton, "whom you were for +driving from the society of your children. But let us +hear more of this story, for as yet I know neither the +particulars of his danger nor his escape." Upon this +one of the servants, who, from some little distance, +had seen the whole affair, was called in and examined. +He gave them an exact account of all of Tommy's +misfortune; of Harry's bravery; of the unexpected +succour of the poor Black; and filled the whole room +with admiration, that such an action, so noble, so intrepid, +so fortunate, should have been achieved by +such a child.</p> + +<p>Mrs Merton was now silent with shame at reflecting +upon her own unjust prejudices, and the ease with +which she had become the enemy of a boy who had +saved the life of her darling son, and who appeared as +much superior in character to all the young gentlemen +at her house as they exceeded him in rank and fortune. +The young ladies now forgot their former objections +to his person and manners, and—such is the +effect of genuine virtue—all the company conspired +to extol the conduct of Harry to the skies.</p> + +<p>But Mr Merton, who had appeared more delighted +than all the rest with the relations of Harry's intrepidity, +now cast his eyes round the room and seemed +to be looking for his little friend; but when he could<!-- Page 354 --> +not find him, he said, with some concern, "Where +can be our little deliverer? Sure he can have met +with no accident, that he has not returned with the +rest!" "No," said one of the servants; "as to that, +Harry Sandford is safe enough, for I saw him go +towards his own home in company with the Black." +"Alas!" answered Mr Merton, "surely he must have +received some unworthy treatment, that could make +him thus abruptly desert us all. And now I recollect +I heard one of the young gentlemen mention a blow +that Harry had received. Surely, Tommy, you could +not have been so basely ungrateful as to strike the +best and noblest of your friends!" Tommy, at this, +hung down his head, his face was covered with a +burning blush, and the tears began silently to trickle +down his cheeks.</p> + +<p>Mrs Merton remarked the anguish and confusion +of her child, and catching him in her arms, was +going to clasp him to her bosom, with the most endearing +expressions, but Mr Merton, hastily interrupting +her, said, "It is not now a time to give way +to fondness for a child, who, I fear, has acted the +basest and vilest part that can disgrace a human +being, and who, if what I suspect be true, can be +only a dishonour to his parents." At this, Tommy +could no longer contain himself, but burst into such +a violent transport of crying, that Mrs Merton, who +seemed to feel the severity of Mr Merton's conduct +with still more poignancy than her son, caught her +darling up in her arms and carried him abruptly +out of the room, accompanied by most of the ladies, +who pitied Tommy's abasement, and agreed that +there was no crime he could have been guilty of<!-- Page 355 --> +which was not amply atoned for by such charming +sensibility.</p> + +<p>But Mr Merton, who now felt all the painful interest +of a tender father, and considered this as the +critical moment which was to give his son the impression +of worth or baseness for life, was determined +to examine this affair to the utmost. He, therefore, +took the first opportunity of drawing the little boy +aside who had mentioned Master Merton's striking +Harry, and questioned him upon the subject. But +he, who had no particular interest in disguising the +truth, related the circumstances nearly as they had +happened; and though he a little softened the matter +in Tommy's favour, yet, without intending it, he +held up such a picture of his violence and injustice, +as wounded his father to the soul.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;" class="newpg"> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Arrival of Mr Barlow—Story of Polemo—Tommy's repentance—Story of +Sophron and Tigranes—Tommy as an Arabian Horseman—His Mishap—Tommy's +intrepidity—The Poor Highlander's story—Tommy's Sorrow for his +conduct to Harry—Conclusion of the Story of Sophron and Tigranes—Tommy's +resolution to study nothing but "reason and philosophy"—Visits +Harry and begs his forgiveness—The Grateful Black's Story—Tommy takes +up his abode at Farmer Sandford's—The Grateful Black's account of himself—Mr +Merton's visit to the Farm—The unexpected present—Conclusion.</p></div> + + +<p><a name="tn_pg_368"></a><!--TN: "While" rendered in smallcaps as first word in a chapter--><span class="firstwords">While</span> Mr Merton was occupied by these uneasy +feelings, he was agreeably surprised by a visit from +Mr Barlow, who came <a name="tn_pg_368a"></a><!--TN: "accidently" changed to "accidentally"-->accidentally to see him, with a +perfect ignorance of all the great events which had +so recently happened.</p> + +<p>Mr Merton received this worthy man with the sin<!-- Page 356 -->cerest +cordiality; but there was such a gloom diffused +over all his manners that Mr Barlow began to suspect +that all was not right with Tommy, and therefore +purposely inquired after him, to give his father an +opportunity of speaking. This Mr Merton did not +fail to do; and taking Mr Barlow affectionately by +the hand, he said, "Oh, my dear Sir, I begin to fear +that all my hopes are at an end in that boy, and all +your kind endeavours thrown away. He has just +behaved in such a manner as shows him to be radically +corrupted, and insensible of every principle but +pride." He then related to Mr Barlow every incident +of Tommy's behaviour; making the severest reflections +upon his insolence and ingratitude, and blaming +his own supineness, that had not earlier checked these +boisterous passions, that now burst forth with such +a degree of fury that threatened ruin to his hopes.</p> + +<p>"Indeed," answered Mr Barlow, "I am very sorry +to hear this account of my little friend; yet I do not +see it in quite so serious a light as yourself; and +though I cannot deny the dangers that may arise +from a character so susceptible of false impressions, +and so violent, at the same time, yet I do not think the +corruption either so great or so general as you seem to +suspect. Do we not see, even in the most trifling +habits of body or speech, that a long and continual +attention is required, if we would wish to change +them, and yet our perseverance is, in the end, generally +successful; why, then, should we imagine that +those of the mind are less obstinate, or subject to different +laws? Or why should we rashly abandon ourselves +to despair, from the first experiments that do +not succeed according to our wishes?"<!-- Page 357 --></p> + +<p>"Indeed," answered Mr Merton, "what you say is +perfectly consistent with the general benevolence of +your character, and most consolatory to the tenderness +of a father. Yet I know too well the general +weakness of parents in respect to the faults of their +children not to be upon my guard against the delusions +of my own mind. And when I consider the +abrupt transition of my son into everything that is +most inconsistent with goodness,—how lightly, how +instantaneously he seems to have forgotten everything +he had learned with you,—I cannot help forming the +most painful and melancholy presages of the future."</p> + +<p>"Alas, sir," answered Mr Barlow, "what is the +general malady of human nature but this very instability +which now appears in your son? Do you imagine +that half the vices of men arise from real +depravity of heart? On the contrary, I am convinced +that human nature is infinitely more weak than +wicked, and that the greater part of all bad conduct +springs rather from want of firmness than from any +settled propensity to evil."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," replied Mr Merton, "what you say is +highly reasonable; nor did I ever expect that a boy so +long indulged and spoiled should be exempt from failings. +But what particularly hurts me is to see him +proceed to such disagreeable extremities without any +adequate temptation—extremities that, I fear, imply +a defect of goodness and generosity—virtues which I +always thought he had possessed in a very great degree."</p> + +<p>"Neither," answered Mr Barlow, "am I at all convinced +that your son is deficient in either. But you +are to consider the prevalence of example, and the<!-- Page 358 --> +circle to which you have lately introduced him. If +it is so difficult even for persons of a more mature +age and experience to resist the impressions of those +with whom they constantly associate, how can you +expect it from your son? To be armed against the +prejudices of the world, and to distinguish real merit +from the splendid vices which pass current in what is +called society, is one of the most difficult of human +sciences. Nor do I know a single character, however +excellent, that would not candidly confess he has +often made a wrong election, and paid that homage +to a brilliant outside which is only due to real merit."</p> + +<p>"You comfort me very much," said Mr Merton, +"but such ungovernable passion, such violence and +<a name="tn_pg_371"></a><!--TN: Quotation mark moved to after the dash-->impetuosity——"</p> + +<p>"Are indeed very formidable," replied Mr Barlow, +"yet, when they are properly directed, frequently +produce the noblest effects. You have, I doubt not, +read the story of Polemo, who, from a debauched +young man, became a celebrated philosopher, and a +model of virtue, only by attending a single moral +lecture."</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Mr Merton, "I am ashamed to confess +that the various employments and amusements +in which I have passed the greater part of my life +have not afforded me as much leisure for reading as +I could wish. You will therefore oblige me very +much by repeating the story you allude to."</p> + + +<h3>"THE STORY OF POLEMO."</h3> + +<p>"Polemo (said Mr Barlow) was a young man of +Athens, and although he was brought up with the<!-- Page 359 --> +most tender solicitude and care by his mother, and +at one time promised fair to be of a studious and virtuous +turn of mind, as he appeared very fond of reading, +and much attached to literary pursuits, and +would frequently retire into the fields, and for hours +sit upon the stump of a tree, with his book before +him,—still, after a few years, he became so distinguished +by his excesses, that he was the aversion of +all the discreeter part of the city. He led a life of intemperance +and dissipation, and was constantly surrounded +by a set of loose young men who imitated +and encouraged his vices; and when they had totally +drowned the little reason they possessed in copious +draughts of wine, they were accustomed to sally out, +and practise every species of absurd and licentious +frolic.</p> + +<p>"One morning they were thus wandering about, +after having spent the night as usual, when they beheld +a great concourse of people that were listening +to the discourse of a celebrated philosopher named +Xenocrates. The greater part of the young men, who +still retained some sense of shame, were so struck +with this spectacle, that they turned out of the way; +but Polemo, who was more daring and abandoned +than the rest, pressed forward into the midst of the +audience. His figure was too remarkable not to attract +universal notice; for his head was crowned with +flowers, his robe hung negligently about him, and his +whole body was reeking with perfumes; besides, his +look and manner were such as very little qualified +him for such a company. Many of the audience were +so displeased at this interruption, that they were +ready to treat the young man with great severity;<!-- Page 360 --> +but the venerable philosopher prevailed upon them +not to molest the intruder, and calmly continued his +discourse, which happened to be upon the dignity and +advantages of temperance.</p> + +<p>"As the sage proceeded in his oration, he descanted +upon this subject, with so much force and eloquence +that the young man became more composed and attentive, +as it were in spite of himself. Presently the +philosopher grew still more animated in his representation +of the shameful slavery which attends the +giving way to our passions, and the sublime happiness +of reducing them all to order; and then the +countenance of Polemo began to change, and the expression +of it to be softened; he cast his eyes in +mournful silence upon the ground, as if in deep repentance +for his own contemptible conduct. Still the +aged speaker increased in vehemence; he seemed to +be animated with the sacred genius of the art which he +professed, and to exercise an irresistible power over +the minds of his hearers. He drew the portrait of an +ingenious and modest young man who had been +bred up to virtuous toils and manly hardiness; he +painted him triumphant over all his passions, and +trampling upon human fears and weakness: 'Should +his country be invaded, you see him fly to its defence, +and ready to pour forth all his blood; calm and composed +he appears, with a terrible beauty, in the front +of danger; the ornament and bulwark of his country; +the thickest squadrons are penetrated by his resistless +valour, and he points the path of victory to his +admiring followers. Should he fall in battle, how +glorious is his lot; to be cut off in the honourable discharge +of his duty; to be wept by all the brave and<!-- Page 361 --> +virtuous, and to survive in the eternal records of +fame?'</p> + +<p>"While Xenocrates was thus discoursing, Polemo +seemed to be transported with a sacred enthusiasm; his +eyes flashed fire, his countenance glowed with martial +indignation, and the whole expression of his person +was changed. Presently the philosopher, who had remarked +the effect of his discourse, painted in no less +glowing colours the life and manners of an effeminate +young man; 'Unhappy youth,' said he, 'what +word shall I find equal to thy abasement? Thou art +the reproach of thy parents, the disgrace of thy +country, the scorn or pity of every generous mind. +How is nature dishonoured in thy person, and all her +choicest gifts abortive! That strength which would +have rendered thee the glory of thy city and the terror +of her foes, is basely thrown away on luxury and +intemperance; thy youth and beauty are wasted in +riot, and prematurely blasted by disease. Instead of +the eye of fire, the port of intrepidity, the step of +modest firmness, a squalid paleness sits upon thy +face, a bloated corpulency enfeebles thy limbs, and +presents a picture of human nature in its most abject +state. But hark! the trumpet sounds; a savage +band of unrelenting enemies has surrounded the city, +and are preparing to scatter flames and ruin through +the whole! The virtuous youth, that have been educated +to nobler cares, arm with generous emulation, +and fly to its defence. How lovely do they appear, +dressed in resplendent arms, and moving slowly on in +close impenetrable phalanx! They are animated by +every motive which can give energy to a human +breast, and lift it up to the sublimest achievements.<!-- Page 362 --> +Their hoary sires, their venerable magistrates, the +beauteous forms of trembling virgins, attend them to +the war, with prayers and acclamations. Go forth, +ye generous bands, secure to meet the rewards of victory +or the repose of honourable death! Go forth, +ye generous bands, but unaccompanied by the wretch +I have described! His feeble arm refuses to bear the +ponderous shield; the pointed spear sinks feebly from +his grasp; he trembles at the noise and tumult of the +war, and flies like the hunted hart to lurk in shades +and darkness. Behold him roused from his midnight +orgies, reeking with wine and odours, and crowned +with flowers, the only trophies of his warfare; he +hurries with trembling steps across the city; his +voice, his gait, his whole deportment, proclaim the +abject slave of intemperance, and stamp indelible +infamy upon his name.'</p> + +<p>"While Xenocrates was thus discoursing, Polemo +listened with fixed attention. The former animation +of his countenance gave way to a visible dejection; +presently his lips trembled and his cheeks grew pale; +he was lost in melancholy recollection, and a silent +tear was observed to trickle down. But when the +philosopher described a character so like his own, +shame seemed to take entire possession of his soul; +and, rousing as from a long and painful lethargy, +he softly raised his hand to his head, and tore away +the chaplets of flowers, the monuments of his effeminacy +and disgrace; he seemed intent to compose his +dress into a more decent form, and wrapped his robe +about him, which before hung loosely waving with an +air of studied effeminacy. But when Xenocrates had +finished his discourse, Polemo approached him with<!-- Page 363 --> +all the humility of conscious guilt, and begged to become +his disciple, telling him that he had that day +gained the most glorious conquest that had ever +been achieved by reason and philosophy, by inspiring +with the love of virtue a mind that had been hitherto +plunged in folly and sensuality. Xenocrates embraced +the young man, and admitted him among his +disciples. Nor had he ever reason to repent of his +facility; for Polemo, from that hour, abandoned all +his former companions and vices, and by his uncommon +ardour for improvement, very soon became +celebrated for virtue and wisdom, as he had before +been for every contrary quality."</p> + +<p>"Thus," added Mr Barlow, "you see how little +reason there is to despair of youth, even in the most +disadvantageous circumstances. It has been justly +observed, that few know all they are capable of: the +seeds of different qualities frequently lie concealed in +the character, and only wait for an opportunity of +exerting themselves; and it is the great business of +education to apply such motives to the imagination +as may stimulate it to laudable exertions. For thus +the same activity of mind, the same impetuosity of +temper, which, by being improperly applied, would +only form a wild, ungovernable character, may produce +the steadiest virtues, and prove a blessing both +to the individual and his country."</p> + +<p>"I am infinitely obliged to you for this story," said +Mr Merton; "and as my son will certainly find a +<i>Xenocrates</i> in you, I wish that you may have reason to +think him in some degree a <i>Polemo</i>. But since you +are so kind as to present me these agreeable hopes, +do not leave the work unfinished, but tell me what you<!-- Page 364 --> +think the best method of treating him in his present +critical situation." "That," said Mr Barlow, "must +depend, I think, upon the workings of his own mind. +He has always appeared to me generous and humane, +and to have a fund of natural goodness amid all the +faults which spring up too luxuriantly in his character. +It is impossible that he should not be at present +possessed with the keenest shame for his own +behaviour. It will be your first part to take advantage +of these sentiments, and instead of a fleeting and +transitory sensation, to change them into fixed and +active principles. Do not at present say much to +him upon the subject. Let us both be attentive to +the silent workings of his mind, and regulate our +behaviour accordingly."</p> + +<p>This conversation being finished, Mr Merton introduced +Mr Barlow to the company in the other room. +Mrs Merton, who now began to be a little staggered +in some of the opinions she had been most fond of, received +him with uncommon civility, and all the rest +of the company treated him with the greatest respect. +But Tommy, who had lately been the oracle and admiration +of all this brilliant circle, appeared to have lost +all his vivacity; he, indeed, advanced to meet Mr Barlow +with a look of tenderness and gratitude, and made +the most respectful answers to all his inquiries; but +his eyes were involuntarily turned to the ground, and +silent melancholy and dejection were visible in his face.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow remarked, with the greatest pleasure, +these signs of humility and contrition, and pointed +them out to Mr Merton the first time he had an opportunity +of speaking to him without being overheard; +adding, "that, unless he was much deceived,<!-- Page 365 --> +Tommy would soon give ample proofs of the natural +goodness of his character, and reconcile himself to all +his friends." Mr Merton heard this observation with +the greatest pleasure, and now began to entertain +some hopes of seeing it accomplished.</p> + +<p>After the dinner was over most of the young gentlemen +went away to their respective homes. Tommy +seemed to have lost much of the enthusiasm which he +had lately felt for his polite and accomplished friends; +he even appeared to feel a secret joy at their departure, +and answered with a visible coldness at professions +of regard and repeated invitations. Even Mrs +Compton herself, and Miss Matilda, who were also +departing, found him as insensible as the rest; though +they did not spare the most extravagant praises and +the warmest professions of regard.</p> + +<p>And now, the ceremonies of taking leave being +over, and most of the visitors departed, a sudden +solitude seemed to have taken possession of the house, +which was lately the seat of noise, and bustle, and +festivity. Mr and Mrs Merton and Mr Barlow were +left alone with Miss Simmons and Tommy, and one +or two others of the smaller gentry who had not yet +returned to their friends.</p> + +<p>As Mr Barlow was not fond of cards, Mr Merton +proposed, after the tea-table was removed, that Miss +Simmons, who was famous for reading well, should +entertain the company with some little tale or history +adapted to the comprehension even of the youngest. +Miss Simmons excused herself with the greatest modesty; +but on Mrs Merton's joining in the request, she +instantly complied, and fetching down a book, read +the following story of<!-- Page 366 --></p> + + +<h3>"SOPHRON AND TIGRANES."</h3> + +<p>"Sophron and Tigranes were the children of two +neighbouring shepherds that fed their flocks in that +part of Asia which borders upon Mount Lebanon. +They were accustomed to each other from earliest +infancy; and the continual habit of conversing at +length produced a tender and intimate friendship.</p> + +<p>"Sophron was larger and more robust of the two; +his look was firm but modest, his countenance placid, +and his eyes were such as inspired confidence and attachment. +He excelled most of the youth of the +neighbourhood in every species of violent exercise—such +as wrestling, boxing, and whirling heavyweights; +but his triumphs were constantly mixed with so much +humanity and courtesy, that even those who found +themselves vanquished could feel no envy towards +their conqueror.</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, Tigranes was of a character +totally different. His body was less strong than that +of Sophron, but excellently proportioned and adapted +to every species of fatigue; his countenance was full +of fire, but displeased by an excess of confidence; and +his eyes sparkled with sense and meaning, but bore +too great an expression of uncontrolled fierceness.</p> + +<p>"Nor were these two youths less different in the +application of their faculties than in the nature of +them; for Tigranes seemed to be possessed by a restless +spirit of commanding all his equals, while Sophron, +contented with the enjoyment of tranquillity, +desired nothing more than to avoid oppression.</p> + +<p>"Still, as they assisted their parents in leading +every morning their flocks to pasture, they entertained<!-- Page 367 --> +each other with rural sports; or, while reposing +under the shade of arching rocks during the heat of +the day, conversed with all the ease of childish friendship. +Their observations were not many; they were +chiefly drawn from the objects of nature which surrounded +them, or from the simple mode of life to +which they had been witness; but even here the diversity +of their characters was sufficiently expressed.</p> + +<p>"'See,' said Tigranes, one day, as he cast his eyes +upwards to the cliffs of a neighbouring rock, 'that +eagle which riseth into the immense regions of air, till +he absolutely soars beyond the reach of sight; were I +a bird, I should choose to resemble him, that I might +traverse the clouds with a rapidity of a whirlwind, +and dart like lightning upon my prey.' 'That eagle,' +answered Sophron, 'is the emblem of violence and +injustice; he is the enemy of every bird, and even of +every beast, that is weaker than himself; were I to +choose, I should prefer the life of yonder swan, that +moves so smoothly and inoffensively along the river; +he is strong enough to defend himself from injury, +without opposing others, and therefore he is neither +feared nor insulted by other animals.'</p> + +<p>"While Sophron was yet speaking, the eagle, who +had been hovering in the air, darted suddenly down +at some distance, and seizing a lamb, was bearing it +away in his cruel talons; when, almost in the same +instant, a shepherd, who had been watching all his +motions from a neighbouring hill, let fly an arrow with +so unerring an aim, that it pierced the body of the +bird, and brought him headlong to the ground, writhing +in the agonies of death.</p> + +<p>"'This,' said Sophron, 'I have often heard, is the<!-- Page 368 --> +fate of ambitious people; while they are endeavouring +to mount beyond their fellows they are stopped by +some unforeseen misfortune.' 'For my part,' said +Tigranes, 'I had rather perish in the sky than enjoy +an age of life, basely chained down and grovelling +upon the surface of the earth.' 'What we either +may enjoy,' answered Sophron, 'is in the hand of +Heaven; but may I rather creep during life than +mount to commit injustice, and oppress the innocent.'</p> + +<p>"In this manner passed the early years of the two +friends. As they grew up to manhood the difference +of their tempers became more visible, and gradually +alienated them from each other. Tigranes began to +despise the uniform labours of the shepherd and the +humble occupations of the country; his sheep were +neglected, and frequently wandered over the plains +without a leader to guard them in the day, or bring +them back at night; and the greater part of his time +was employed in climbing rocks, or in traversing the +forest, to seek for eagles' nests, or in piercing with his +arrows the different wild animals which inhabit the +woods. If he heard the horn of the hunter, or the +cry of the hound, it was impossible to restrain his +eagerness; he regarded neither the summer's sun nor +the winter's frost while he was pursuing his game; +the thickest woods, the steepest mountains, the +deepest rivers, were unable to stop him in his career, +and he triumphed over every danger and difficulty, +with such invincible courage as made him at once an +object of terror and admiration to all the youth in +the neighbourhood. His friend Sophron alone beheld +his exploits neither with terror nor admiration. Of<!-- Page 369 --> +all his comrades, Sophron was the only one whom +Tigranes still continued to respect; for he knew that, +with a gentleness of temper which scarcely anything +could exasperate, he possessed the firmest courage +and a degree of bodily strength which rendered that +courage invincible. He affected, indeed, to despise +the virtuous moderation of his friend, and ridiculed +it with some of his looser comrades as an abject pusillanimity; +but he felt himself humbled whenever +he was in his company as before a superior being, +and therefore gradually estranged himself from his +society.</p> + +<p>"Sophron, on the contrary, entertained the sincerest +regard for his friend; but he knew his defects, +and trembled for the consequences which the violence +and ambition of his character might one day +produce. Whenever Tigranes abandoned his flocks, +or left his rustic tasks undone, Sophron had the +goodness to supply whatever he had omitted. Such +was the vigour of his constitution, that he was indefatigable +in every labour, nor did he ever exert his +force more willingly than in performing these voluntary +duties to his absent friend. Whenever he met +with Tigranes he accosted him in the gentlest manner, +and endeavoured to win him back to his former +habits and manners. He represented to him the +injury he did his parents, and the disquietude he +occasioned in their minds by thus abandoning the +duties of his profession. He sometimes, but with the +greatest mildness, hinted at the coldness with which +Tigranes treated him, and reminded his friend of +the pleasing intercourse of their childhood. But all +his remonstrances were vain; Tigranes heard him<!-- Page 370 --> +at first with coolness, then with impatience or contempt, +and at last avoided him altogether.</p> + +<p>"Sophron had a lamb which he had formerly saved +from the devouring jaws of a wolf, who had already +bitten him in several places, and destroyed his dam. +The tenderness with which this benevolent young +man had nursed and fed him during his infancy, had +so attached him to his master, that he seemed to +prefer his society to that of his own species. Wherever +Sophron went, the faithful lamb accompanied +him like his dogs, lay down beside him when he +reposed, and followed close behind when he drove the +rest of the flock to pasture. Sophron was equally +attached to his dumb companion: he often diverted +himself with his innocent gambols, fed him with the +choicest herbs out of his hands, and when he slept at +nights the lamb was sure to repose beside him.</p> + +<p>"It happened about this time that Tigranes, as he +was one day exploring the woods, discovered the den +of a she-wolf, in which she had left her young ones +while she went out to search for prey. By a caprice +that was natural to his temper, he chose out the +largest of the whelps, carried it home to his house, +and brought it up as if it had been a useful and +harmless animal. While it was yet but young it was +incapable of doing mischief; but as it increased in +age and strength, it began to show signs of a bloody +and untameable disposition, and made all the neighbouring +shepherds tremble for the safety of their +flocks. But as the courage and fierceness of Tigranes +had now rendered him formidable to all his associates, +and the violence of his temper made him impatient +of all opposition, they did not speak to him on the<!-- Page 371 --> +subject; and as to his own parents, he had long +learned to treat them with indifference and contempt. +Sophron alone, who was not to be awed by fear, observing +the just apprehensions of the neighbourhood, +undertook the task of expostulating with his friend, +and endeavoured to prevail upon him to part with a +beast so justly odious, and which might in the end +prove fatal whenever his natural rage should break +out into open acts of slaughter. Tigranes heard him +with a sneer of derision, and only answered, that 'if +a parcel of miserable rustics diverted themselves with +keeping sheep, he, who had a more elevated soul, +might surely entertain a nobler animal for his diversion.' +'But should that nobler animal prove a +public mischief,' coolly replied Sophron, 'you must +expect that he will be treated as a public enemy.' +'Woe be to the man,' answered Tigranes, brandishing +his javelin, and sternly frowning, 'that shall +dare to meddle with anything that belongs to me.' +Saying this, he turned his back upon Sophron, and +left him with disdain.</p> + +<p>"It was not long before the very event took place +which had been so long foreseen. The wolf of Tigranes, +either impelled by the accidental taste of +blood, or by the natural fierceness of his own temper, +fell one day upon the sheep, with such an unexpected +degree of fury that he slaughtered thirty of them before +it was possible to prevent him. Sophron happened +at that time to be within view; he ran with +amazing swiftness to the place, and found the savage +bathed in blood, tearing the carcass of a lamb he had +just slain. At the approach of the daring youth the +wolf began to utter a dismal cry, and, quitting his<!-- Page 372 --> +prey, seemed to prepare himself for slaughter of another +kind. Sophron was entirely unarmed, and the +size and fury of the beast, which rushed forward to +attack him, might well have excused him had he declined +the combat. But he, consulting only his native +courage, wrapped his shepherd's cloak around his left +arm, to resist the first onset of his enemy, and, with +a determined look and nimble pace, advanced towards +his threatening adversary. In an instant the wolf +sprang upon him, with a horrid yell; but Sophron +nimbly eluded his attack, and suddenly throwing his +vigorous arms about the body of his adversary, compelled +him to struggle for his own safety. It was +then that he uttered cries more dreadful than before; +and as he writhed about in all the agitations of pain +and madness, he gnashed his terrible teeth with impotent +attempts to bite, while the blood and foam +which issued from his jaws rendered his figure still +more horrible than before. But Sophron, with undaunted +courage, still maintained his hold, and grasping +him with irresistible strength, prevented him +from using either his teeth or claws in his own defence. +It was not long before the struggles and violence of +the wolf grew perceptibly weaker from fatigue, and +he seemed to wish to decline a further combat with +so formidable a foe, could he have found means to +escape. Sophron then collected all his strength, and, +seizing his fainting adversary by the neck and throat, +grasped him still tighter in his terrible hands, till the +beast, incapable either of disengaging himself or +breathing, yielded up the contest and his life together.</p> + +<p>"It was almost in this moment that Tigranes passed +that way, and unexpectedly was witness to the tri<!-- Page 373 -->umphs +of Sophron, and the miserable end of his +favourite. Inflamed with pride and indignation, Tigranes +uttered dreadful imprecations against his +friend, who in vain attempted to explain the transaction, +and rushing upon him with all the madness of +inveterate hate, aimed a javelin at his bosom. Sophron +was calm as he was brave; he saw the necessity +of defending his own life against the attacks of a perfidious +friend, and, with a nimble spring, at once +eluded the weapon and closed with his antagonist. +The combat was then more equal, for each was reduced +to depend upon his own strength and activity. They +struggled for some time with all the efforts which disappointed +rage could inspire on the one side, and a +virtuous indignation on the other. At length the +fortune, or rather the force and coolness of Sophron, +prevailed over the blind impetuous fury of Tigranes; +he at once exerted his whole remaining strength, with +such success that he hurled his adversary to the +ground, where he lay, bleeding, vanquished, and unable +to rise. 'Thou scarcely,' said Sophron, 'deservest +thy life from my hands, who couldst so wantonly +and unjustly attempt to deprive me of mine; +however, I will rather remember thy early merits than +my recent injuries.' 'No,' replied the raging Tigranes, +'load me not with thy odious benefits; but +rather rid me of a life which I abhor, since thou hast +robbed me of my honour.' 'I will never hurt thee,' +replied Sophron, 'but in my own just defence; live +to make a better use of life, and to have juster ideas +of honour.' Saying this, he assisted Tigranes to rise, +but finding his temper full of implacable resentment, +he turned another way, and left him to go home alone.<!-- Page 374 --></p> + +<p>"It was not long after this event that a company of +soldiers marched across the plains where Sophron +was feeding his flocks, and halted to refresh themselves +under the shade of some spreading trees. The +officer who commanded them was struck with +the comely figure and expressive countenance of +Sophron. He called the young man to him, and endeavoured +to inflame him with a military ardour, by +setting before him the glory which might be acquired +by arms, and ridiculing the obscurity of a country +life. When he thought he had sufficiently excited his +admiration, he proposed to him that he should enrol +himself in his company; and promised him every +encouragement which he thought most likely to engage +the passions of a young man. Sophron thanked +him, with humility, for his offers, but told him he had +an aged father, who was now become incapable of +maintaining himself, and therefore that he could accept +of no offers, however advantageous they might +appear, which would interfere with the discharge of +this duty. The officer replied, and ridiculed the +scruples of the young man; but, finding him inflexible +in his resolution, he at last turned from him with +an air of contempt, and called his men to follow him, +muttering, as he went, reflections on the stupidity +and cowardice of Sophron.</p> + +<p>"The party had not proceeded far, before, by ill +fortune, they came to the place where Sophron's +favourite lamb was feeding; and as the animal had +not yet learned to dread the cruelty of the human +species, it advanced towards them with all the confidence +of unsuspicious innocence. 'This is a lucky +accident,' cried one of the soldiers, with a brutal sa<!-- Page 375 -->tisfaction; +'fortune was not willing we should go without +a supper, and has therefore sent us a present.' 'A +happy exchange,' answered a second; 'a fat sheep for +a lubberly shepherd; and the coward will no doubt +think himself happy to sleep in a whole skin at so +small an expense.' Saying this, he took the lamb, +and bore it away in triumph, uttering a thousand +threats and execrations against the master if he should +dare to reclaim it.</p> + +<p>"Sophron was not so far removed to escape the +sight of the indignity that was offered him. He followed +the troop, with so much swiftness that it was +not long before he overtook the soldier who was bearing +away his friend, and from his load marched rather +behind the rest. When Sophron approached him, he +accosted him in the gentlest manner, and besought +him, in words that might have touched any one but +a savage, to restore his favourite; he even offered, +when he found that nothing else would avail, to purchase +back his own property with something of greater +value; but the barbarous soldier, inured to scenes of +misery, and little accustomed to yield to human entreaties, +only laughed at his complaints, and loaded +him with additional insults. At length he began to +be tired with his importunities, and drawing his +sword, and waving it before the eyes of Sophron, +threatened, that if he did not depart immediately he +would use him as he intended to do the lamb. 'And +do you think,' answered Sophron, 'that while I have +an arm to lift, or a drop of blood in my veins, I will +suffer you, or any man, to rob me of what I value +more than life?' The soldier, exasperated at such an +insolent reply, as he termed it, aimed a blow at<!-- Page 376 --> +Sophron with his sword, which he turned aside with +a stick he held in his hand, so that it glanced inoffensively +down; and before he could recover the use of +his weapon, Sophron, who was infinitely stronger, +closed in with him, wrested it out of his hands, and +hurled him roughly to the ground. Some of the comrades +of the vanquished soldier came in an instant to +his assistance, and without inquiring into the merits +of the cause, drew their swords, and began to assail +the undaunted young man; but he, brandishing the +weapon which he had just seized, appeared ready to +defend himself, with so much strength and courage +that they did not choose to come too near.</p> + +<p>"While they were thus engaged, the officer, who +had turned back at the first noise of the fray, approached, +and ordering his men to desist, inquired +into the occasion of the contest. Sophron then +recounted, with so much modesty and respect, the +indignities and insults he had received, and the unprovoked +attack of the soldier, which had obliged him +to defend his own life, that the officer, who had a real +respect for courage, was charmed with the behaviour +of the young man. He therefore reproved his men +for their disorderly manners, praised the intrepidity +of Sophron, and ordered his lamb to be restored to +him, with which he joyfully departed.</p> + +<p>"Sophron was scarcely out of sight, when Tigranes, +who was then by accident returning from the chase, +met the same party upon their march. Their military +attire and glittering arms instantly struck his +mind with admiration. He stopped to gaze upon +them as they passed; and the officer, who remarked +the martial air and well-proportioned limbs of Ti<!-- Page 377 -->granes, +entered into conversation with him, and made +him the same proposals which he had before done to +Sophron. Such incentives were irresistible to a vain +and ambitious mind; the young man in an instant +forgot his friends, his country, and his parents, and +marched away with all the pleasure that strong presumption +and aspiring hopes could raise. Nor was it +long before he had an opportunity of signalizing his +intrepidity.</p> + +<p>"Asia was at that time overrun by numerous +bands of savage warriors, under different and independent +chiefs. That country, which has in +every age been celebrated for the mildness of the +climate and the fertility of the soil, seems to be +destined to groan under all the horrors of eternal +servitude. Whether these effects are merely produced +by fortune, or whether the natural advantages +it enjoys have a necessary tendency to soften +the minds of the inhabitants to sloth and effeminacy, +it is certain that the people of Asia have, in +general, been the unresisting prey of every invader. +At this time several fierce and barbarous nations +had broken in upon its territory, and, after covering +its fertile plains with carnage and desolation, were +contending with each other for the superiority.</p> + +<p>"Under the most enterprising of these rival chiefs +was Tigranes now enrolled; and in the very first +engagement at which he was present, he gave such +uncommon proofs of valour, that he was distinguished +by the general with marks of particular +regard, and became the admiration of all his comrades. +Under the banners of this adventurous +warrior did Tigranes toil with various fortunes dur<!-- Page 378 -->ing +the space of many years; sometimes victorious in +the fight, sometimes baffled; at one time crowned +with conquest and glory, at another beset with dangers, +covered with wounds, and hunted like a wild +beast through rocks and forests; yet still the native +courage of his temper sustained his spirits, and kept +him firm in the profession which he had chosen. At +length, in a decisive battle, in which the chieftain, +under whom Tigranes had enlisted, contended with +the most powerful of his rivals, he had the honour of +retrieving the victory when his own party seemed +totally routed; and, after having penetrated the +thickest squadrons of the enemy, to kill their general +with his own hand. From this moment he seemed +to be in possession of all that his ambition could +desire. He was appointed general of all the troops +under the chief himself, whose repeated victories +had rendered him equal in power to the most celebrated +monarchs. Nor did his fortune stop even +here; for, after a number of successive battles, in +which his party were generally victorious by his experience +and intrepidity, he was, on the unexpected +death of the chief, unanimously chosen by the whole +nation to succeed him.</p> + +<p>"In the mean time Sophron, free from envy, +avarice, or ambition, pursued the natural impulse of +his character, and contented himself with a life of +virtuous obscurity; he passed his time in rural +labours, in watching his flocks, and in attending +with all the duty of an affectionate child upon his +aged parents. Every morning he rose with the sun, +and spreading his innocent arms to heaven, thanked +that Being who created all nature for the continuance<!-- Page 379 --> +of life and health, and all the blessings he +enjoyed. His piety and virtue were rewarded with +everything which a temperate and rational mind can +ask. All his rural labours succeeded in the most +ample manner; his flock was the fairest, the most +healthy and numerous of the district; he was loved +and esteemed by the youth of the neighbourhood, and +equally respected by the aged, who pointed him out as +the example of every virtue to their families; but, what +was more dear than all the rest to such a mind as +Sophron's, was to see himself the joy, the comfort, and +support of his parents, who frequently embraced him +with tears, and supplicated the Deity to reward such +duty and affection with all His choicest blessings.</p> + +<p>"Nor was his humanity confined to his own species; +the innocent inhabitants of the forest were safe from +the pursuit of Sophron; and all that lived under his +protection were sure to meet with distinguished tenderness. +'It is enough,' said Sophron, 'that the +innocent sheep supplies me with his fleece to form +my winter garments, and defend me from the cold; +I will not bereave him of his little life, nor stop his +harmless gambols on the green, to gratify a guilty +sensuality. It is surely enough that the stately +heifer affords me copious streams of pure and wholesome +food; I will not arm my hand against her innocent +existence; I will not pollute myself with her +blood, nor tear her warm and panting flesh with a +cruelty that we abhor even in savage beasts. More +wholesome, more adapted to human life, are the +spontaneous fruits which liberal nature produces for +the sustenance of man, or which the earth affords to +recompense his labours.'"<!-- Page 380 --></p> + +<p>Here the interest and concern which had been +long visible in Tommy's face, could no longer be +repressed, and tears began to trickle down his +cheeks. "What is the matter, my darling?" said +his mother: "what is there in the account of this +young man so deeply interests and affects you?" +"Alas! mamma," said Tommy, "it reminds of poor +Harry Sandford; just such another good young man +will he be when he is as old as Sophron; and I—and +I," added he, sobbing, "am just such another +worthless, ungrateful wretch as Tigranes." "But Tigranes," +said Mrs Merton, "you see, became a great +and powerful man; while Sophron remained only a +poor and ignorant shepherd." "What does that +signify, mamma?" said Tommy: "for my part, I +begin to find that it is not always the greatest people +that are the best or happiest; and as to ignorance, I +cannot think that Sophron, who understood his duty +so well to his parents and to God, and to all the +world, could be called ignorant; and very likely he +could read and write better than Tigranes, in spite +of all his pomp and grandeur; for I am sure there is +not one of the young gentlemen that went home to-day +can read as well as Harry Sandford, or has half +his understanding." Mr Merton could hardly help +smiling at Tommy's conjecture about Sophron's +reading; but he felt the greatest pleasure at seeing +such a change in his sentiments; and, looking at +him with more cordiality than he had done before, +he told him that he was very happy to find him so +sensible of his faults, and hoped he would be equally +ready to amend them.</p> + +<p>Miss Simmons then continued her narrative.<!-- Page 381 --></p> + +<p>"If Sophron ever permitted himself to shed the +blood of living creatures, it was those ferocious +animals that wage continual war with every other +species. Amid the mountains which he inhabited, +there were rugged cliffs and inaccessible caverns, which +afforded retreat to wolves, and bears, and tigers. +Sometimes, amid the storms and snows of winter, +they felt themselves pinched by hunger, and fell with +irresistible fury upon the nearest flocks and herds. +Not only sheep and oxen were slaughtered in these +dreadful and unexpected attacks, but even the shepherds +themselves were frequently the victims of their +rage. If there was time to assemble for their defence, +the boldest of the youth would frequently seize their +arms and give battle to the invaders. In this warfare, +which was equally just and honourable, Sophron +was always foremost; his unequalled strength and +courage made all the youth adopt him as their leader, +and march with confidence under his command; and +so successful were his expeditions, that he always +returned loaded with the skins of vanquished enemies; +and by his vigilance and intrepidity he at length +either killed or drove away most of the beasts from +which any danger was to be feared.</p> + +<p>"It happened one day that Sophron had been chasing +a wolf which had made some depredations upon +the flocks, and, in the ardour of his pursuits, was +separated from all his companions. He was too well +acquainted with the roughest parts of the neighbouring +mountains, and too indifferent to danger, to be +disturbed at this circumstance; he therefore followed +his flying foe with so much impetuosity that he +completely lost every track and mark with which he<!-- Page 382 --> +was acquainted. As it is difficult, in a wild and +uncultivated district, to find the path again when +once it is lost, Sophron only wandered the farther +from his home the more he endeavoured to return. +He found himself bewildered and entangled in a +dreary wilderness, where he was every instant stopped +by torrents that tumbled from the neighbouring cliffs, +or in danger of slipping down the precipices of an +immense height. He was alone in the midst of a +gloomy forest, where human industry had never +penetrated, nor the woodman's axe been heard since +the moment of its creation; to add to his distress, the +setting sun disappeared in the west, and the shades +of night gathered gradually round, accompanied with +the roar of savage beasts. Sophron found himself +beset with terrors, but his soul was incapable of fear; +he poised his javelin in his hand, and forced his +way through every opposition, till at length, with +infinite difficulty, he disengaged himself from the +forest just as the last glimmer of light was yet visible +in the skies. But it was in vain that he had thus +escaped; he cast his eyes around, but could discern +nothing but an immense tract of country, rough with +rocks, and overhung with forests, but destitute of +every mark of cultivation or inhabitants; he, however, +pursued his way along the side of the mountain +till he descended into a pleasant valley, free from +trees, and watered by a winding stream. Here he +was going to repose for the remainder of the night, +under the crag of an impending rock, when a rising +gleam of light darted suddenly into the skies from a +considerable distance, and attracted his curiosity. +Sophron looked towards the quarter whence it came,<!-- Page 383 --> +and plainly discerned that it was a fire kindled either +by some benighted traveller like himself, or by some +less innocent wanderers of the dark. He determined +to approach the light, but knowing the unsettled +state of all the neighbouring districts, he thought it +prudent to advance with caution; he therefore made +a considerable circuit, and by clambering along the +higher grounds discovered a hanging wood, under +whose thick covert he approached without being discovered, +within a little distance of the fire. He then +perceived that a party of soldiers were reposing round +a flaming pile of wood, and carousing at their ease; +all about was strewn the plunder which they had +accumulated in their march, and in the midst was +seated a venerable old man, accompanied by a beautiful +young woman.</p> + +<p>"Sophron easily comprehended, by the dejection of +their countenances, and the tears which trickled down +the maiden's cheeks, as well as by the insolence with +which they were treated, that they were prisoners. +The virtuous indignation of his temper was instantly +excited, and he determined to attempt their deliverance; +but this, in spite of all his intrepidity, he perceived +was no easy matter to accomplish; he was +alone, and weakly armed; his enemies, though not +numerous, too many for him to flatter himself with +any rational hope of success by open force; and, +should he make a fruitless effort, he might rashly +throw his life away, and only aggravate the distresses +he sought to cure. With this consideration he restrained +his natural impetuosity, and at length determined +to attempt by stratagem what he thought could +scarcely be performed by force. He therefore silently<!-- Page 384 --> +withdrew, and skirted the side of the wood which had +concealed him, carefully remarking every circumstance +of the way, till he had ascended a mountain +which immediately fronted the camp of the soldiers, +at no considerable distance. He happened to have +by his side a kind of battle-axe which they use in the +chase of bears; with this he applied himself to lopping +the branches of trees, collecting at the same time all +the fallen ones he could find, till, in a short time, he +had reared several piles of wood upon the most conspicuous +part of the mountain, and full in view of the +soldiers. He then easily kindled a blaze by rubbing +two decayed branches together, and in an instant all +the piles were blazing with so many streams of light, +that the neighbouring hills and forests were illuminated +with the gleam. Sophron knew the nature of +man, always prone to sudden impressions of fear and +terror, more particularly amid the obscurity of the +night, and promised himself the amplest success from +his stratagem.</p> + +<p>"In the meantime he hastened back with all the +speed he could use, till he reached the very wood where +he had lurked before; he then raised his voice, which +was naturally loud and clear, and shouted several +times successively with all his exertion. A hundred +echoes from the neighbouring cliffs and caverns returned +the sound, with a reverberation that made it +appear like the noise of a mighty squadron. The +soldiers, who had been alarmed by the sudden blaze +of so many fires, which they attributed to a numerous +band of troops, were now impressed with such a panic +that they fled in confusion; they imagined themselves +surrounded by their enemies, who were bursting in<!-- Page 385 --> +on every side, and fled with so much precipitation +that they were dispersed in an instant, and left the +prisoners to themselves.</p> + +<p>"Sophron, who saw from a little distance all their +motions, did not wait for them to be undeceived, but +running to the spot they had abandoned, explained +in a few words to the trembling and amazed captives +the nature of his stratagem, and exhorted them to fly +with all the swiftness they were able to exert. Few +entreaties were necessary to prevail upon them to +comply; they therefore arose and followed Sophron, +who led them a considerable way up into the mountains, +and when he thought them out of the immediate +danger of pursuit, they sheltered themselves in +a rocky cavern, and determined there to wait for the +light of the morning.</p> + +<p>"When they were thus in a place of safety, the +venerable old man seized the hand of Sophron, and +bedewing it with tears, gave way to the strong emotions +of gratitude which overwhelmed his mind. +'Generous youth,' said he, 'I know not by what extraordinary +fortune you have thus been able to effect +our deliverance, when we imagined ourselves out of +the reach of human succour; but if the uniform gratitude +and affection of two human beings, who perhaps +are not entirely unworthy your regard, can be any +recompense for such a distinguished act of virtue, +you may command our lives, and employ them in +your service.'</p> + +<p>"'Father,' answered Sophron, 'you infinitely over-rate +the merits of the service which chance has enabled +me to perform. I am but little acquainted +with my fellow-creatures, as having always inhabited<!-- Page 386 --> +these mountains; but I cannot conceive that any +other man, who had been witness to your distress, +would have refused to attempt your rescue; and as to +all the rest, the obscurity of the night, and peculiarity +of the situation, rendered it a work of little difficulty +or danger.' Sophron then recounted to his new +friends the accident which had brought him to that +unfrequented spot, and made him an unperceived +witness of their captivity; he also explained the nature +of the stratagem by which, alone and unsupported, +he had been enabled to disperse their enemies. +He added that, 'if he appeared to have any little +merit in their eyes, he should be amply recompensed +by being admitted to their friendship and confidence.'</p> + +<p>"With these mutual professions of esteem they +thought it prudent to terminate a conversation, +which, however agreeable, was not entirely free from +danger, as some of their late oppressors might happen +to distinguish their voices, and thus directed to their +lurking place, exact a severe revenge for the terrors +they had undergone.</p> + +<p>"With the first ray of morning the three companions +arose, and Sophron, leading them along the +skirts of the mountains where bushes and brushwood +concealed them from observation, and still +following the windings of a river as a guide, they at +length came to a cultivated spot, though deserted by +its inhabitants from the fear of the party they had +lately escaped. Here they made a slight and hasty +repast upon some coarse provisions which they found, +and instantly struck again into the woods, which +they judged safer than the plain. But Sophron +fortunately recollected that he had formerly visited<!-- Page 387 --> +this village with his father, while yet a child, and +before the country had suffered the rage of barbarous +invasions. It was a long day's march from home, +but, by exerting all their strength, they at length arrived, +through rough and secret paths, at the hospitable +cottage where Sophron and his parents dwelt. +Here they were joyfully received, as the long absence +of the young man had much alarmed his parents, and +made all the hamlet anxious concerning his safety. +That night they comfortably reposed in a place of +safety, and the next morning, after a plentiful but +coarse repast, the father of Sophron again congratulated +his guests upon their fortunate escape, and entreated +them to let him hear the history of their +misfortunes.</p> + +<p>"'I can refuse nothing,' said the venerable stranger, +'to persons to whom I am under such extraordinary +obligations, although the history of my life is +short and simple, and contains little worthy to be recited. +My name is <i>Chares</i>; and I was born in one of +the maritime cities of Asia, of opulent parents, who +died while I was yet a youth. The loss of my parents, +to whom I was most affectionately attached, made so +strong an impression upon my mind that I determined +to seek relief in travel, and for that purpose +sold my paternal estate, the price of which I converted +into money and jewels, as being most portable. +My father had been a man distinguished for his +knowledge and abilities, and from him I <a name="tn_pg_400"></a><!--TN: "inbibed" changed to "imbibed"-->imbibed an +early desire of improvement, which has always been +my greatest comfort and support.</p> + +<p>"'The first place, therefore, which I visited was +Egypt, a country renowned in every age for its in<!-- Page 388 -->vention +of all the arts which contribute to support or +adorn human life. There I resided several years, giving +up my time to the study of philosophy, and to the +conversation of the many eminent men who resorted +thither from all the regions of the world. This +country is one immense plain, divided by the Nile, +which is one of the noblest rivers in the world, and +pours its tide along the middle of its territory. Every +year, at a particular season, the stream begins gradually +to swell with such an increase of waters, that at +length it rises over its banks, and the whole extent of +Egypt becomes an immense lake, where buildings, +temples, and cities appear as floating upon the inundation. +Nor is this event a subject of dread to the +inhabitants; on the contrary, the overflowing of their +river is a day of public rejoicing to all the natives, +which they celebrate with songs and dances, and every +symptom of extravagant joy. Nor is this to be wondered +at, when you are informed that this inundation +renders the soil which it covers the most abundant in +the world. Whatever land is covered by the waters, +receives such an increase of fertility, as never to disappoint +the hopes of the industrious husbandman. +The instant the waters have retired the farmer returns +to his fields and begins the operation of agriculture. +These labours are not very difficult in a soft and +yielding slime, such as the river leaves behind it. +The seeds are sown, and vegetate with inconceivable +rapidity, and, in a few weeks, an abundant harvest of +every kind of grain covers the land. For this reason +all the necessaries of life are easily procured by the +innumerable multitudes which inhabit the country. +Nor is the climate less favourable than the soil; for<!-- Page 389 --> +here an eternal spring and summer seem to have fixed +their abode. No frost nor snow is ever known to chill +the atmosphere, which is always perfumed with the +smell of aromatic plants that grow on every side, and +bring on a pleasing forgetfulness of human care. +But, alas! these blessings, great as they may appear, +produce the effect of curses upon the inhabitants. +The ease and plenty which they enjoy, enervate their +manners, and destroy all vigour both of body and +mind. No one here is inflamed with the sacred love +of his country, or of public liberty; no one is inured +to arms, or taught to prefer his honour to his life;—the +great business of existence is an inglorious indolence, +a lethargy of mind, and a continual suspense +from all exertion. The very children catch the contagion +from their parents; they are instructed in +every effeminate art—to dance in soft unmanly attitudes; +to modulate their voices by musical instruments, +and to adjust the floating drapery of their +dress. These are the arts in which both sexes are +instructed from their infancy; but no one is taught +to wield the arms of men, to tame the noble steeds in +which the country abounds, to observe his rank in war, +or to bear the indispensable hardships of a military +life. Hence this celebrated country, which has been +in every age the admiration of mankind, is destined +to the most degrading servitude. A few thousand +disciplined troops are sufficient to hold the many +millions it contains in bondage, under which they +groan, without ever conceiving the design of vindicating +their natural rights by arms.'——</p> + +<p>"'Unhappy people,' exclaimed Sophron, 'how useless +to them are all the blessings of their climate!<!-- Page 390 --> +How much rather would I inhabit the stormy top of +Lebanon, amid eternal snows and barrenness, than +wallow in the vile sensuality of such a country, or +breathe an air infected by its vices!'</p> + +<p>"Chares was charmed with the generous indignation +of Sophron, and thus continued: 'I was of the +same opinion with yourself, and therefore determined +to leave a country which all its natural advantages +could not render agreeable, when I became acquainted +with the manners of its inhabitants. But before I +quitted that part of the globe, my curiosity led me to +visit the neighbouring tribes of Arabia—a nation +bordering upon the Egyptians, but as different in +spirits and manners as the hardy shepherds of these +mountains from the effeminate natives of the plains. +Egypt is bounded on one side by the sea; on every +other it is surrounded by immense plains or gentle +eminences, which, being beyond the fertilizing inundations +of the Nile, have been, beyond all memory, +converted into waste and barren sands by the excessive +heat of the sun. I therefore made preparations +for my journey, and hired a guide, who was to furnish +me with beasts of burden, and accompany me across +those dreary deserts. We accordingly began our +march, mounted upon camels, which are found +much more useful than horses in such a burning +climate.'"——</p> + +<p>"Indeed," said Tommy here to Mr Barlow, "I am +sorry to interrupt the story; but I shall be much obliged +to you, sir, if you will inform me what kind of +an animal a camel is?"</p> + +<p>"The camel," answered Mr Barlow, "is chiefly +found in those burning climates which you have<!-- Page 391 --> +heard described. His height is very great, rising to +fourteen or fifteen feet, reckoning to the top of his +head; his legs are long and slender, his body not +large, and his neck of an amazing length. This animal +is found in no part of the world that we are +acquainted with, wild or free; but the whole race is +enslaved by man, and brought up to drudgery from +the first moment of their existence. As soon as he is +born, they seize him, and force him to recline upon +the ground, with his legs doubled up under his belly. +To keep him in this attitude, they extend a piece of +canvass over his body, and fix it to the ground by laying +heavy weights upon the edge. In this manner +he is tutored to obedience, and taught to kneel down +at the orders of his master, and receive the burthens +which he is destined to transport. In his temper he +is gentle and tractable, and his patience in bearing +thirst and hunger is superior to that of any animal +we are acquainted with. He is driven across the +burning desert, loaded with the merchandise of those +countries, and frequently does not even find water to +quench his thirst for several days. As to his food, it +is nothing but a few herbs, which are found in the +least barren parts of the deserts, and prickly bushes, +upon which he browses as a delicacy; sometimes he +does not find even these for many days, yet pursues +his journey with a degree of patience which is hardly +credible."</p> + +<p>"'—We mounted our camels,' continued Chares, +'and soon had reached the confines of the fertile +plains of Egypt. The way, as we proceeded, grew +sensibly more dreary and disagreeable, yet was sometimes +varied with little tufts of trees and scanty<!-- Page 392 --> +patches of herbage; but these at length entirely disappeared, +and nothing was seen on every side but an +immense extent of barren sands, destitute of vegetation, +and parched by the continual heat of the sun. +No sound was heard to interrupt the dreary silence +that reigned around; no traces of inhabitants perceivable, +and the gloomy uniformity of the prospect +inspired the soul with melancholy. In the meantime +the sun seemed to shoot down perpendicular rays +upon our heads, without a cloud to mitigate his +violence. I felt a burning fever take possession of my +body. My tongue was scorched with intolerable heat, +and it was in vain I endeavoured to moisten my +mouth with repeated draughts of water. At night we +came to a little rising ground, at the foot of which we +perceived some aquatic herbs and a small quantity of +muddy water, of which our camels took prodigious +draughts; here we spread our tents and encamped +for the night. With the morning we pursued our +journey; but had not proceeded far before we saw a +cloud of dust that seemed to rise along the desert; +and as we approached nearer, we easily distinguished +the glitter of arms that reflected the rising sun. This +was a band of the Arabians that had discovered us, +and came to know our intentions. As they advanced +they spurred their horses, which are the most fleet +and excellent in the world, and bounded along the +desert with the lightness of an antelope; at the +same time they brandished their lances, and seemed +prepared alike for war or peace; but when they saw +that we had neither the intention nor the power to +commit hostilities, they stopped their coursers at the +distance of a few paces from us, and he that appeared<!-- Page 393 --> +the chief advanced, and, with a firm but mild tone of +voice, inquired into the reason of our coming. It was +then that I took the liberty of addressing him in his +own language, to which I had for some time applied +myself before my journey. I explained to him my +curiosity, which led me to observe in person the manners +of a people who are celebrated over the whole +world for having preserved their native simplicity unaltered, +and their liberty unviolated, amidst the revolutions +which agitate all the neighbouring nations. +I then offered him the loading of my camel, which I +had brought, not as being worthy his acceptance, +but as a slight testimony of my regard, and concluded +with remarking, that the fidelity of the Arabians in +observing their engagements was unimpeached in a +single instance; and therefore, relying upon the integrity +of my own intentions, I had come a painful +journey, unarmed, and almost alone, to put myself +into their power, and demand the sacred rights of +<a name="tn_pg_406"></a><!--TN: Single quote removed after "hospitality."-->hospitality.</p> + +<p>"'While I was thus speaking, he looked at me +with penetration that seemed to read into my very +soul; and, when I had finished, he extended his arm +with a smile of benevolence, and welcomed me to +their tribe, telling me, at the same time, that they +admitted me as their guest, and received me with +the arms of friendship; that their method of life, like +their manners, was coarse and simple, but that I +might consider myself as safer in their tents, and +more removed from violence or treachery, than in +the crowded cities which I had left. The rest of the +squadron then approached, and all saluted me as a +friend and brother. We then struck off across the<!-- Page 394 --> +desert, and, after a few hours' march, approached the +encampment where they had left their wives and +<a name="tn_pg_407"></a><!--TN: Single quote removed after "children"-->children.</p> + +<p>"'This people is the most singular, and, in many +respects, the most admirable of all that inhabit this +globe of earth. All other nations are subject to +revolutions and the various turns of fortune; sometimes +they wage successful wars; sometimes they +improve in the arts of peace; now they are great +and reverenced by their neighbours; and now, insulted +and despised, they suffer all the miseries of +servitude. The Arabians alone have never been +known to vary in the smallest circumstance, either +of their internal policy or external situation. They +inhabit a climate which would be intolerable to the +rest of the human species for its burning heat, and +a soil which refuses to furnish any of the necessaries +of life. Hence they neither plough the earth, nor +sow, nor depend upon corn for their subsistence, nor +are acquainted with any of the mechanic arts; they +live chiefly upon the milk of their herds and flocks, +and sometimes eat their flesh. These burning +deserts are stretched out to an immense extent on +every side, and these they consider as their common +country, without having any fixed or permanent +abode. Arid and barren as are these wilds in +general, there are various spots which are more +productive than the rest; here are found supplies +of water, and some appearances of vegetation; and +here the Arabians encamp till they have exhausted +the spontaneous products of the soil. Besides, +they vary their place of residence with the different +seasons of the year. When they are in perfect<!-- Page 395 --> +friendship with their neighbours, they advance to +the very edges of the desert, and find more ample +supplies of moisture and herbage. If they are attacked +or molested, the whole tribe is in motion +in an instant, and seeks a refuge in their impenetrable +recesses. Other nations are involved in various +pursuits of war, or government, or commerce; +they have made a thousand inventions of luxury +necessary to their welfare, and the enjoyment of +these they call <i>happiness</i>. The Arab is ignorant of +all these things, or, if he knows them, he despises +their possession. All his wants, his passions, his +desires, terminate in one object, and that object is +the preservation of his liberty. For this purpose +he contents himself with a bare sufficiency of the +coarsest and simplest food; and the small quantity +of clothing which he requires in such a climate, is +fabricated by the women of the tribe, who milk the +cattle and prepare the food of their husbands, and +require no other pleasures than the pleasing interest +of domestic cares. They have a breed of horses +superior to any in the rest of the globe for gentleness, +patience, and unrivalled swiftness; this is a +particular passion and pride of the Arabian tribes. +These horses are necessary to them in their warlike +expeditions, and in their courses along the deserts. +If they are attacked, they mount their steeds, who +bear them with the rapidity of a tempest to avenge +their injuries; or, should they be overmatched in +fight, they soon transport them beyond the possibility +of pursuit. For this reason the proudest +monarchs and greatest conquerors have in vain +attempted to subdue them. Troops accustomed to<!-- Page 396 --> +the plenty of a cultivated country, are little able to +pursue these winged warriors over the whole extent +of their sandy wastes. Oppressed with heat, fainting +for want of water, and spent with the various +difficulties of the way, the most numerous armies +have been destroyed in such attempts; and those +that survived the obstacles of nature were easily +overcome by the repeated attacks of the valiant +<a name="tn_pg_409"></a><!--TN: Single quote removed after "natives"-->natives.</p> + +<p>"'While I was in this country I was myself witness +to an embassy that was sent from the neighbouring +prince, who imagined that the fame of his exploits +had struck the Arabians with terror, and disposed +them to submission. The ambassador was introduced +to the chief of the tribe, a venerable old man, +undistinguished by any mark of ostentation from the +rest, who received him sitting cross-legged at the +door of his tent. He then began to speak, and, in a +long and studied harangue, described the power of +his master, the invincible courage of his armies, the +vast profusion of arms, of warlike engines, and military +stores, and concluded with a demand that the +Arabians should submit to acknowledge him as their +lord, and pay a yearly <a name="tn_pg_409a"></a><!--TN: Single quote removed after "tribute."-->tribute.</p> + +<p>"'At this proud speech the younger part of the +tribe began to frown with indignation, and clash +their weapons in token of defiance; but the chief +himself, with a calm and manly composure, made +this reply: 'I expected, from the maturity of your +age, and the gravity of your countenance, to have +heard a rational discourse, befitting you to propose +and us to hear. When you dwelt so long upon the +power of your master, I also imagined that he had<!-- Page 397 --> +sent to us to propose a league of friendship and alliance, +such as might become equals, and bind man +more closely to his fellows. In this case the +Arabians, although they neither want the assistance, +nor fear the attacks of any king or nation, would +gladly have consented, because it has been always +their favourite maxim, neither to leave injuries +unpunished, nor to be outdone in kindness and hospitality. +But since you have come thus far to deliver +a message which must needs be disagreeable to the +ears of free-born men, who acknowledge no superior +upon earth, you may thus report the sentiments of the +Arabians to him that sent you. You may tell him +that, as to the land which we inhabit, it is neither the +gift of him nor any of his forefathers; we hold it from +our ancestors, who received it in turn from theirs, by +the common laws of nature, which has adapted particular +countries and soils, not only to man, but to +all the various animals which she has produced. If, +therefore, your king imagines that he has a right to +retain the country which he and his people now inhabit, +by the same tenure do the Arabians hold the +sovereignty of these barren sands, where the bones +of our ancestors have been buried, even from the first +foundation of the world. But you have described to +us, in pompous language, the extraordinary power +and riches of your king; according to you, he not +only commands numerous and well-appointed troops +of warlike men, furnished with every species of +military stores, but he also possesses immense heaps +of gold, silver, and other precious commodities, and +his country affords him an inexhaustible supply of +corn, and oil, and wine, and all the other conveni<!-- Page 398 -->ences +of life. If, therefore, these representations be +false, you must appear a vain and despicable babbler, +who, being induced by no sufficient reason, have +come hither of your own accord to amuse us—a +plain and simple race of men—with specious tales +and fables; but, if your words be true, your king +must be equally unjust and foolish, who, already +possessing all these advantages, doth still insatiably +grasp after more; and, enjoying so many good things +with ease and security to himself, will rather put +them to all the hazard than repress the vain desires +of his own intolerable avarice. As to the tribute which +you have demanded, what you have already seen of +the Arabians and their country affords you a sufficient +answer. You see that we have neither cities, +nor fields, nor rivers, nor wine, nor oil; gold and +silver are equally unknown among us; and the Arabians, +abandoning all these things to other men, +have, at the same time, delivered themselves from +the necessity of being slaves, which is the general +law by which all mortals retain their possession. +We have, therefore, nothing which we can send as a +tribute but the sand of these our deserts, and the +arrows and lances with which we have hitherto defended +them from all invaders. If these are treasures +worthy of his acceptance, he may lead his +conquering troops to take possession of our country. +But he will find men who are not softened by luxury, or +vanquished by their own vices; men who prize their +liberty at a dearer rate than all other mortals do their +riches or their lives, and to whom dishonour is more +formidable than wounds and death. If he can vanquish +such men, it will, however, become his prudence<!-- Page 399 --> +to reflect whether he can vanquish the obstacles which +nature herself has opposed to his ambition. If he +should attempt to pass our deserts, he will have to +struggle with famine and consuming thirst, from which +no enemy has hitherto escaped, even when he has failed +to perish by the arrows of the <a name="tn_pg_412"></a><!--TN: Additional single quote added after "Arabians.'"-->Arabians.''——</p> + +<p>"'Happy and generous people,' exclaimed Sophron, +'how well do they deserve the liberty they enjoy! +With such sentiments they need not fear the attack +of kings or conquerors. It is the vices of men, and +not the weakness of their nature, that basely enslave +them to their equals; and he that prizes liberty beyond +a few contemptible pleasures of his senses may +be certain that no human force can ever bereave him +of so great a good.'</p> + +<p>"'Such sentiments,' replied Chares, 'convince me +that I have not made a false estimate of the inhabitants +of these mountainous districts. It is for this +reason that I have been so particular in the description +of Egypt and Arabia. I wished to know whether +the general spirit of indolence and pusillanimity had +infected the hardy inhabitants of Lebanon; but from +the generous enthusiasm which animates your <a name="tn_pg_412a"></a><!--TN: "contenance" changed to "countenance"-->countenance +at the recital of noble actions, as well as from +what I have experienced you are capable of attempting, +I trust that these solitary scenes are uninfected +with the vices that have deluged the rest of Asia, and +bent its inhabitants to the <a name="tn_pg_412b"></a><!--TN: Double quote followed by a single quote reversed after "yoke"-->yoke'"——</p> + +<p>Here the impatience of Tommy, which had been +increasing a considerable time, could no longer be restrained, +and he could not help interrupting the story, +by addressing Mr Barlow thus: "Sir, will you give +me leave to ask you a <a name="tn_pg_412c"></a><!--TN: Single quote changed to a double quote after "question?"-->question?<!-- Page 400 -->"</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—As many as you choose.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—In all these stories which I have heard, it +seems as if those nations that have little or nothing +are more good-natured, and better and braver than +those that have a great deal.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—This is indeed sometimes the case.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But, then, why should it not be the case +here, as well as in other places? Are all the poor in +this country better than the rich?</p> + +<p>"It should seem," answered Mr Barlow, smiling, +"as if you were of that opinion."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Why so, sir?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Because, whatever you want to have +done, I observe that you always address yourself to +the poor, and not to the rich.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; but that is a different case. +The poor are used to do many things which the rich +never do.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Are these things useful or not useful?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Why, to be sure, many of them are extremely +useful; for, since I have acquired so much +knowledge, I find they cultivate the ground, to raise +corn; and build houses; and hammer iron, which is +so necessary to make everything we use; besides feeding +cattle, and dressing our victuals, and washing our +clothes, and, in short, doing everything which is necessary +to be done.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—What! do the poor do all these +things?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, indeed, or else they never would be +done. For it would be a very ungenteel thing to labour +at a forge like a blacksmith, or hold the plough +like the farmer, or build a house like a bricklayer.<!-- Page 401 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And did not you build a house in +my garden some little time ago?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; but that was only for my +amusement; it was not intended for anybody to +live in.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—So you still think it is the first qualification +of a gentleman never to do anything useful; +and he that does anything with that design, ceases +to be a gentleman?</p> + +<p>Tommy looked a little ashamed at this; but he +said it was not so much his own opinion as that of +the other young ladies and gentlemen with whom +he had conversed.</p> + +<p>"But," replied Mr Barlow, "you asked just now +which were the best—the rich or the poor? But if +the poor provide food and clothing, and houses, and +everything else, not only for themselves but for all +the rich, while the rich do nothing at all, it must +appear that the poor are better than the <a name="tn_pg_414"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "rich."-->rich."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; but then the poor do not act in +that manner out of kindness, but because they are +obliged to it.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That, indeed, is a better argument +than you sometimes use. But tell me which set of +people would you prefer; those that are always +doing useful things because they are obliged to it, or +those who never do anything useful at all?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I hardly know what to say; +but, when I asked the question, I did not so much +mean the doing useful things. But now I think of +it, the rich do a great deal of good by buying the +things of the poor, and giving them money in return.<!-- Page 402 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—What is money?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Money, sir; money is——I believe, little +pieces of silver and gold, with a head upon them.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And what is the use of those little +pieces of silver and gold?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, I do not know that they are of +any use; but everybody has agreed to take them; and +therefore you may buy with them whatever you want.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Then, according to your last account, +the goodness of the rich consists in taking from the +poor houses, clothes, and food, and giving them in +return little bits of silver and gold, which are really +good for nothing.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; but then the poor can take +these pieces of money and purchase everything which +they want.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You mean, that if a poor man has +money in his pocket, he can always exchange it for +clothes, or food, or any other necessary?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, I do, sir.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But whom must he buy them of? for +according to your account, the rich never produce +any of these things; therefore the poor, if they want +to purchase them, can only do so of each other.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But, sir, I cannot think that is always +the case; for I have been along with my mamma to +shops, where there were fine powdered gentlemen and +ladies that sold things to other people, and livery-servants, +and young ladies that played on the harpsichord, +like Miss Matilda.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But, my good little friend, do you imagine +that these fine powdered gentlemen and ladies +made the things which they sold?<!-- Page 403 --></p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That, sir, I cannot tell, but I should +rather imagine not; for all the fine people I have +ever seen are too much afraid of spoiling their clothes +to work.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—All that they do, then, is to employ +poorer persons to work for them, while they only sell +what is produced by their labour. So that still you +see we reach no farther than this; the rich do nothing +and produce nothing, and the poor everything that is +really useful. Were there a whole nation of rich +people, they would all be starved, like the Spaniard +in the story, because no one would condescend to +produce anything; and this would happen in spite of +all their money, unless they had neighbours who were +poorer to supply them. But a nation that was poor +might be industrious, and gradually supply themselves +with all they wanted; and then it would be of little +consequence whether they had pieces of metal with +heads upon them or not. But this conversation has +lasted long enough at present; and, as you are now +going to bed, I daresay Miss Simmons will be so good +as to defer the remainder of her story until to-morrow.</p> + +<p>The next day Tommy rose before his father and +mother; and, as his imagination had been forcibly +acted on by the description he had heard of the Arabian +horsemen, he desired his little horse might be +saddled, and that William, his father's man, would +attend him upon a ride. Unfortunately for Tommy, +his vivacity was greater than his reason, and his taste +for imitation was continually leading him into some +mischief or misfortune. He had no sooner been introduced +into the acquaintance of genteel life, than<!-- Page 404 --> +he threw aside all his former habits, and longed to +distinguish himself as a most accomplished young +gentleman. He was now, in turn, sickened and disgusted +with fashionable affectation; and his mind, at +leisure for fresh impressions, was ready to catch at +the first new object which occurred. The idea, therefore, +which presented itself to his mind, as soon as +he opened his eyes, was that of being an Arabian +horseman. Nothing, he imagined, could equal the +pleasure of guiding a fiery steed over those immense +and desolate wastes which he had heard described. In +the meantime, as the country where he wished to +exhibit was at too great a distance, he thought he +might excite some applause even upon the common +before his father's house.</p> + +<p>Full of this idea he rose, put on his boots, and +summoned William to attend him. William had been +too much accustomed to humour all his caprices to +make any difficulty of obeying him; and as he had +often ridden out with his young master before, he did +not foresee the least possible inconvenience. But the +maternal care of Mrs Merton had made it an indispensable +condition with her son, that he should never +presume to ride with spurs; and she had strictly enjoined +all the servants never to supply him with those +dangerous accoutrements. Tommy had long murmured +in secret at this prohibition, which seemed +to imply a distrust of his abilities in horsemanship, +which sensibly wounded his pride. But since he had +taken it into his head to emulate the Arabs themselves, +and perhaps excel them in their own art, he considered +it as no longer possible to endure the disgrace. +But, as he was no stranger to the strict injunction<!-- Page 405 --> +which had been given to all the servants, he did not +dare to make the experiment of soliciting their assistance.</p> + +<p>While he was in this embarrassment a new and +sudden expedient presented itself to his fertile genius, +which he instantly resolved to adopt. Tommy went +to his mamma's maid, and without difficulty, obtained +from her a couple of the largest-sized pins, which he +thrust through the leather of his boots, and, thus +accoutred, he mounted his horse without suspicion or +observation.</p> + +<p>Tommy had not ridden far before he began to give +vent to his reigning passion, and asked William if he +had ever seen an Arabian on horseback. The answer +of William sufficiently proved his ignorance, which +Tommy kindly undertook to remove by giving him a +detail of all the particulars he had heard the preceding +night; but, unfortunately, the eloquence of Tommy +precipitated him into a dangerous experiment; for, +just as he was describing their rapid flight across the +deserts, the interest of his subject so transported him +that he closed his legs upon his little horse, and +pricked him in so sensible a manner, that the pony, +who was not deficient in spirit, resented the attack, +and set off with him at a prodigious rate.</p> + +<p>William, when he saw his master thus burst forth, +was at a loss whether to consider it an accident or +only an oratorical grace; but seeing the horse hurrying +along the roughest part of the common, while +Tommy tugged in vain to restrain his efforts, he +thought it necessary to endeavour to overtake him, +and therefore pursued him with all the speed he +could use. But the pony, whose blood seemed to be<!-- Page 406 --> +only the more inflamed by the violence of his own exertions, +ran the faster when he heard the trampling +of another horse behind him.</p> + +<p>In this manner did Tommy scamper over the common, +while William pursued in vain; for, just as the +servant thought he had reached his master, his horse +would push forward with such rapidity as left his +pursuer far behind. Tommy kept his seat with infinite +address; but he now began seriously to repent +of his own ungovernable ambition, and would, with +the greatest pleasure, have exchanged his own spirited +steed for the dullest ass in England.</p> + +<p>The race had now endured a considerable time, and +seemed to be no nearer to a conclusion, when, on a +sudden, the pony turned short, upon an attempt of his +master to stop him, and rushed precipitately into a +large bog or quagmire, which was full before him; +here he made him a momentary halt, and Tommy +wisely embraced the opportunity of letting himself +slide off upon a soft and yielding bed of mire. The +servant now came up to Tommy and rescued him +from his disagreeable situation, where, however, he +had received no other damage than that of daubing +himself all over.</p> + +<p>William had been at first very much frightened at +the danger of his master; but when he saw that he +had so luckily escaped all hurt, he could not help +asking him, with a smile, whether this too was a +stroke of Arabian horsemanship? Tommy was a +little provoked at this reflection upon his horsemanship; +but, as he had now lost something of his irritability +by repeated mortification, he wisely repressed +his passion, and desired William to catch his horse,<!-- Page 407 --> +while he returned homewards on foot to warm himself. +The servant, therefore, endeavoured to approach +the pony, who, as if contented with the triumph he +had obtained over his rider, was quietly feeding at a +little distance; but the instant William approached, +he set off again at a violent rate, and seemed disposed +to lead him a second chase not inferior to the first.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Tommy walked pensively along +the common, reflecting on the various accidents which +had befallen him, and the repeated disappointments +he had found in all his attempts to distinguish himself. +While he was thus engaged, he overtook a poor +and ragged figure, the singularity of whose appearance +engaged his attention. It was a man of middle +age, in a dress he had never seen before, with two +poor children that seemed with difficulty to keep up +with him, while he carried a third in his arms, whose +pale emaciated looks sufficiently declared disease and +pain. The man had upon his head a coarse blue +bonnet instead of a hat; he was wrapped round by a +tattered kind of garment, striped with various colours, +and at his side hung down a long and formidable +sword.</p> + +<p>Tommy surveyed him with such an earnest observation, +that at length the man took notice of it, and, +bowing to him with the greatest civility, ventured to +ask him if he had met with any accident, that he appeared +in a disorder which suited so little with his +quality. Tommy was not a little pleased with the +discernment of the man, who could distinguish his +importance in spite of the dirtiness of his clothes, and +therefore mildly answered, "No, friend, there is not +much the matter. I have a little obstinate horse that<!-- Page 408 --> +ran away with me, and after trying in vain to throw +me down, he plunged into the middle of that great +bog there, and so I jumped off for fear of being swallowed +up, otherwise I should soon have made him +submit, for I am used to such things, and don't mind +them in the least."</p> + +<p>Here the child that the man was carrying began to +cry bitterly, and the father endeavoured to pacify +him, but in vain. "Poor thing," said Tommy, "he +seems to be unwell; I am heartily sorry for him!" +"Alas! master," answered the man, "he is not well, +indeed; he has now a violent ague fit upon him, and +I have not had a morsel of bread to give him or any +of the rest since yesterday noon."</p> + +<p>Tommy was naturally generous, and now his mind +was unusually softened by the remembrance of his +own recent distresses; he therefore pulled a shilling +out of his pocket and gave it to the man, saying, +"Here, my honest friend, here is something to buy +your child some food, and I sincerely wish he may +soon recover." "God bless your sweet face!" said +the man; "you are the best friend I have seen this +many a day; but for this kind assistance we might +have been all lost." He then, with many bows and +thanks, struck across the common into a different +path, and Tommy went forward, feeling a greater +pleasure at this little act of humanity than he had +long been acquainted with among all the fine acquaintance +he had lately contracted.</p> + +<p>But he had walked a very little way with these reflections +before he met with a new adventure. A +flock of sheep was running, with all the precipitation +which fear could inspire, from the pursuit of a large<!-- Page 409 --> +dog; and just as Tommy approached, the dog had +overtaken a lamb, and seemed disposed to devour it. +Tommy was naturally an enemy to all cruelty, and +therefore, running towards the dog with more alacrity +than prudence, he endeavoured to drive him from his +prey; but the animal, who probably despised the +diminutive size of his adversary, after growling a +little while and showing his teeth, when he found that +this was not sufficient to deter him from intermeddling, +entirely quitted the sheep, and making a sudden +spring, seized upon the skirt of Tommy's coat, +which he shook with every expression of rage. +Tommy behaved with more intrepidity than could +have been expected, for he neither cried out nor attempted +to run, but made his utmost efforts to disengage +himself from his enemy. But, as the contest +was so unequal, it is probable he would have been +severely bitten, had not the honest stranger, whom +he had relieved, come running up to his assistance, +and seeing the danger of his benefactor, laid the dog +dead at his feet by a furious stroke of his broadsword.</p> + +<p>Tommy, thus delivered from impending danger, +expressed his gratitude to the stranger in the most +affectionate manner, and desired him to accompany +him to his father's house, where he and his wearied +children should receive whatever refreshment they +wished. He then turned his eyes to the lamb, which +had been the cause of the contest, and lay panting +upon the ground bleeding and wounded, but not +to death, and remarked, with astonishment, upon +his fleece the well-known characters of H.S., accompanied +with a cross. "As I live," said Tommy, +"I believe this is the very lamb which Harry used<!-- Page 410 --> +to be so fond of, and which would sometimes follow +him to Mr Barlow's. I am the luckiest fellow in +the world, to have come in time to deliver him, +and now, perhaps, Harry may forgive me all the +ill-usage he has met <a name="tn_pg_423"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "with."-->with." Saying this, he took +the lamb up and kissed it with the greatest tenderness; +nay, he would have even borne it home in +his arms had it not been rather too heavy for +his strength; but the honest stranger, with a grateful +officiousness, offered his services, and prevailed +on Tommy to let him carry it, while he delivered +his child to the biggest of his brothers.</p> + +<p>When Tommy had now arrived within a little distance +of his home he met his father and Mr Barlow, +who had left the house to enjoy the morning air, +before breakfast. They were surprised to see him +in such an equipage, for the dirt, which had bespattered +him from head to foot, began to dry in various +places, and gave him the appearance of a farmer's +clay-built wall in the act of hardening. But Tommy +without giving them time to make inquiries, ran +affectionately up to Mr Barlow, and taking him +by the hand, said, "Oh, sir! here is the luckiest +accident in the world! poor Harry Sandford's favourite +lamb would have been killed by a great mischievous +dog, if I had not happened to come by and +save his life!" "And who is this honest man," said +Mr Merton, "whom you have picked up on the common? +He seems to be in distress, and his famished +children are scarcely able to drag themselves along."</p> + +<p>"Poor man!" answered Tommy, "I am very much +obliged to him; for, when I went to save Harry's +lamb, the dog attacked me, and would have hurt me<!-- Page 411 --> +very much if he had not come to my assistance and +killed him with his great sword. So I have brought +him with me that he might refresh himself with his +poor children, one of which has a terrible ague; for +I knew, papa, that though I had not behaved well +of late, you would not be against my doing an act +of charity." "I am, on the contrary, very glad," +said Mr Merton, "to see you have so much gratitude +in your temper. But what is the reason that I see +you thus disfigured with dirt? Surely you must +have been riding, and your horse has thrown you? +And so it is, for here is William following with both +the horses in a foam."</p> + +<p>William at that moment appeared, and, trotting +up to his master, began to make excuses for his +own share in the business. "Indeed, sir," said he, +"I did not think there was the least harm in going +out with Master Tommy, and we were riding along as +quietly as possible, and master was giving me a long +account of the Arabs, who, he said, lived in the +finest country in the world, which does not produce +anything to eat or drink, or wear, and yet they never +want to come upon the parish, but ride upon the +most mettled horses in the world, fit to start for any +plate in England. And just as he was giving me +this account, Punch took it into his head to run +away, and while I was endeavouring to catch him, +he jumped into a quagmire, and shot Master Tommy +off in the middle of it." "No," said Tommy, "there +you mistake; I believe I could manage a much +more spirited horse than Punch, but I thought it +prudent to throw myself off for fear of his plunging +deeper into the mire." "But how is this?" said Mr<!-- Page 412 --> +Merton, "the pony used to be the quietest of horses; +what can have given him this sudden impulse to run +away? Surely, William, you were not so imprudent +as to trust your master with spurs?" "No, sir," +answered William, "not I; and I can take my oath +he had no spurs on when he first set out."</p> + +<p>Mr Merton was convinced there was some mystery +in this transaction, and, looking at his son to find it +out, he at length discovered the ingenious contrivance +of Tommy to supply the place of spurs, and +could hardly preserve his gravity at the sight. He, +however, mildly set before him his imprudence, which +might have been attended with the most fatal consequences—the +fracture of his limbs, or even the loss +of his life—and desired him for the future to be +more cautious. They then returned to the house, and +Mr Merton ordered his servants to supply his guests +with plenty of the most nourishing food.</p> + +<p>After breakfast they sent for the unhappy stranger +into the parlour, whose countenance now bespoke +satisfaction and gratitude; and Mr Merton, who, by +his dress and accent, discovered him to be an inhabitant +of Scotland, desired to know by what accident he +had thus wandered so far from home with these poor +helpless children, and had been reduced to so much +misery.</p> + +<p>"Alas! your honour," answered the man, "I should +ill deserve the favours you have shown me if I attempted +to conceal anything from such worthy benefactors. +My tale, however, is simple and uninteresting, +and I fear there can be nothing in the story of +my distress the least deserving of your attention."</p> + +<p>"Surely," said Mr Merton, with the most benevo<!-- Page 413 -->lent +courtesy, "there must be something in the distress +of every honest man which ought to interest his +fellow-creatures; and if you will acquaint us with all +the circumstances of your situation, it may perhaps +be within our power, as it certainly is in our inclinations, +to do you further service."</p> + +<p>The man then bowed to the company with an air +of dignity which surprised them all, and thus began: +"I was born in that part of our island which is called +the North of Scotland. The country there, partly +from the barrenness of the soil, and the inclemency +of the season, and partly from other causes which I +will not now enumerate, is unfavourable to the existence +of its inhabitants. More than half of the year +our mountains are covered with continual snows, +which prohibit the use of agriculture, or blast the +expectations of a harvest; yet the race of men which +inhabit these dreary wilds are perhaps not more +undeserving the smiles of fortune than many of their +happier neighbours. Accustomed to a life of toil and +hardship, their bodies are braced by the incessant difficulties +they have to encounter, and their minds remain +untainted by the example of their more luxurious +neighbours; they are bred up from infancy with +a deference and respect for their parents, and with a +mutual spirit of endearment towards their equals, +which I have not remarked in happier climates. +These circumstances expand and elevate the mind, +and attach the Highlanders to their native mountains +with a warmth of affection which is scarcely known in +the midst of polished cities and cultivated countries. +Every man there is more or less acquainted with the +history of his clan, and the martial exploits which<!-- Page 414 --> +they have performed. In the winter season we sit +around the blazing light of our fires, and commemorate +the glorious actions of our ancestors; the children +catch the sound, and consider themselves as interested +in supporting the honour of a nation which +is yet unsullied in the annals of the world, and resolve +to transmit it equally pure to their posterity.</p> + +<p>"With these impressions, which were the earliest +I can remember, you cannot wonder, gentlemen, that +I should have early imbibed a spirit of enterprise and +a love of arms. My father was indeed poor, but he +had been himself a soldier, and therefore did not so +strenuously oppose my growing inclination; he, indeed, +set before me the little chance I should have of +promotion, and the innumerable difficulties of my intended +profession. But what were difficulties to a +youth brought up to subsist upon a handful of oatmeal, +to drink the waters of the stream, and to sleep +shrouded in my plaid, beneath the arch of an impending +rock! I see, gentlemen," continued the +Highlander, "that you appear surprised to hear a +man, who has so little to recommend him, express +himself in rather loftier language than you are accustomed +to among your peasantry here. But you +should remember that a certain degree of education +is more general in Scotland than where you live, and +that, wanting almost all the gifts of fortune, we cannot +afford to suffer those of nature to remain uncultivated. +When, therefore, my father saw that the +determined bent of my temper was towards a military +life, he thought it vain to oppose my inclinations. +He even, perhaps, involuntarily cherished them, by +explaining to me, during the long leisure of our dreary<!-- Page 415 --> +winter, some books which treated of military sciences +and ancient history. From these I imbibed an early +love of truth and honour, which I hope has not +abandoned me since, and by teaching me what brave +and virtuous men have suffered in every age and +country, they have, perhaps, prevented me from entirely +sinking under my misfortunes.</p> + +<p>"One night, in the autumn of the year, as we were +seated round the embers of our fire, we heard a +knocking at the door. My father rose, and a man of +a majestic presence came in, and requested permission +to pass the night in our cottage. He told us he +was an English officer, who had long been stationed +in the Highlands, but now, upon the breaking out of +war, he had been sent for in haste to London, +whence he was to embark for America as soon as he +could be joined by his regiment. 'This,' said he, +'has been the reason of my travelling later than +prudence permits, in a mountainous country, with +which I am imperfectly acquainted. I have unfortunately +lost my way, and but for your kindness,' +added he, smiling, 'I must here begin my campaign, +and pass the night upon a bed of heath amid the +mountains.' My father rose, and received the officer +with all the courtesy he was able (for in Scotland +every man thinks himself honoured by being permitted +to exercise his hospitality); he told him his +accommodations were mean and poor, but what he +had was heartily at his service. He then sent me to +look after his visitor's horse, and set before him some +milk and oaten bread, which were all the dainties we +possessed; our guest, however, seemed to feed upon +it with an appetite as keen as if he had been educated<!-- Page 416 --> +in the Highlands; and what I could not help remarking +with astonishment, although his air and +manners proved that he could be no stranger to a +more delicate way of living, not a single word fell +from him that intimated he had ever been used to +better fare.</p> + +<p>"During the evening our guest entertained us with +various accounts of the dangers he had already +escaped, and the service he had seen. He particularly +described the manners of the savage tribes he +was going to encounter in America, and the nature +of their warfare. All this, accompanied with the +tone and look of a man who was familiar with great +events, and had borne a considerable share in all he +related, so inflamed my military ardour, that I was +no longer capable of repressing it. The stranger perceived +it, and looking at me with an air of tenderness +and compassion, asked if that young man was intended +for the service. My colour rose, and my +heart immediately swelled at the question; the look +and manner of our guest had strangely interested me +in his favour, and the natural grace and simplicity +with which he related his own exploits, put me in +mind of the great men in other times. Could I but +march under the banner of such a leader I thought +nothing would be too arduous to be achieved. I saw +before me a long perspective of combats, difficulties, +and dangers; something, however, whispered to my +mind that I should be successful in the end, and +support the reputation of our name and clan. Full +of these ideas I sprang forwards at the question, and +told the officer that the darling passion of my life +would be to bear arms under a chief like him; and<!-- Page 417 --> +that, if he would suffer me to enlist under his command, +I should be ready to justify his kindness by +patiently supporting every hardship, and facing every +danger. 'Young man,' replied he, with a look of +kind concern, 'there is not an officer in the army +that would not be proud of such a recruit; but I +should ill betray the hospitality I have received from +your parents, if I suffered you to be deceived in your +opinion of the military profession.' He then set +before me, in the strongest language, all the hardships +which would be my lot; the dangers of the +field, the pestilence of camps, the slow consuming +languor of hospitals, the insolence of command, the +mortification and subordination, and the uncertainty +that the exertions of even a long life would ever lead +to the least promotion. 'All <a name="tn_pg_430"></a><!--TN: Single quote added after "this,"-->this,' replied I, trembling +with fear that my father should take advantage +of these too just representations to refuse his consent, +'I knew before; but I feel an irresistible impulse +within me which compels me to the field. The +die is cast for life or death, and I will abide by the +chance that now occurs. If you, sir, refuse me, I +will, however, enlist with the first officer that will +accept me; for I will no longer wear out life amid +the solitude of these surrounding mountains, without +either a chance of meriting applause or distinguishing +my name.'</p> + +<p>"The officer then desisted from his opposition, +and, turning to my parents, asked them if it were +with their consent that I was going to enlist. My +mother burst into tears, and my sisters hung about +me weeping; my father replied with a deep sigh, 'I +have long experienced that it is in vain to oppose the<!-- Page 418 --> +decrees of Providence. Could my persuasions have +availed, he would have remained contented in these +mountains; but that is now impossible, at least till +he has purchased wisdom at the price of his blood. +If, therefore, sir, you do not despise his youth and +mien, take him with you, and let him have the +advantage of your example. I have been a soldier +myself; and I can assure you, with truth, that I +have never seen an officer under whom I would more +gladly march than yourself.' Our guest made a +polite reply to my father, and instantly agreed to +receive me. He then pulled out a purse, and offering +it to my father, said, 'The common price of a +recruit is now five guineas; but so well am I satisfied +with the appearance of your son, and the confidence +you repose in me, that I must insist upon your accepting +what is contained in this purse; you will +dispose of it as you please for your mutual advantage. +Before I depart to-morrow I will give such directions +as may enable him to join the regiment, which is +now preparing to march.' He then requested that +he might retire to rest, and my father would have +resigned the only bed he had in the house to his +guest, but he absolutely refused, and said, 'Would +you shame me in the eyes of my new recruit? What +is a soldier good for that cannot sleep without a bed? +The time will soon arrive when I shall think a comfortable +roof and a little straw an enviable luxury.' +I therefore raised him as convenient a couch as I was +able to make with heath and straw, and wrapping +himself up in his riding-coat, he threw himself down +upon it and slept till morning. With the first dawn +of day he rose and departed, having first given me<!-- Page 419 --> +the directions which were necessary to enable me to +join the regiment. But before he went, my father, +who was equally charmed with his generosity and +manners, pressed him to take back part of the money +he had given us; this, however, he absolutely refused, +and left us, full of esteem and admiration.</p> + +<p>"I will not, gentlemen, repeat the affecting scene +I had to undergo in taking leave of my family and +friends. It pierced me to the very heart; and then, +for the first time, I almost repented of being so near +the accomplishment of my wishes. I was, however, +engaged, and determined to fulfil my engagement; I +therefore tore myself from my family, having with +difficulty prevailed upon my father to accept of part +of the money I had received for my enrolment. I +will not trespass upon your time to describe the +various emotions which I felt from the crowd of new +sensations that entered my mind during our march. +I arrived without any accident in London, the splendid +capital of this kingdom; but I could not there +restrain my astonishment to see an immense people +talking of wounds, of death, of battles, sieges, and +conquests, in the midst of feasts, and balls, and +puppet-shows, and calmly devoting thousands of their +fellow-creatures to perish by famine or the sword, +while they considered the loss of a dinner, or the +endurance of a shower, as an exertion too great for +human fortitude.</p> + +<p>"I soon embarked, and arrived, without any other +accident than a horrible sickness, at the place of our +destination in America. Here I joined my gallant +officer, Colonel Simmons, who had performed the +voyage in another ship."—(Miss Simmons, who was<!-- Page 420 --> +present at this narration, seemed to be much interested +at this mention of her own name; she, however, +did not express her feelings, and the stranger +proceeded with his story.)—"The gentleman was, +with justice, the most beloved, and the most deserving +to be so, of any officer I have ever known. +Inflexible in everything that concerned the honour of +the service, he never pardoned wilful misbehaviour, +because he knew that it was incompatible with +military discipline; yet, when obliged to punish, he +did it with such reluctance that he seemed to suffer +almost as much as the criminal himself. But, if his +reason imposed this just and necessary severity, his +heart had taught him another lesson in respect to +private distresses of his men; he visited them in their +sickness, relieved their miseries, and was a niggard +of nothing but human blood. But I ought to correct +myself in that expression, for he was rashly lavish +of his own, and to that we owe his untimely loss.</p> + +<p>"I had not been long in America before the colonel, +who was perfectly acquainted with the language and +manners of the savage tribes that border upon the +British colonies, was sent on an embassy to one of +their nations, for the purpose of soliciting their alliance +with Britain. It may not, perhaps, be uninteresting +to you, gentlemen, and to this my honourable +little master, to hear some account of a people +whose manners and customs are so much the reverse +of what you see at home. As my worthy officer, +therefore, contented with my assiduity and improvement +in military knowledge, permitted me to have +the honour of attending him, I will describe some of +the most curious facts which I was witness to.<!-- Page 421 --></p> + +<p>"You have, doubtless, heard many accounts of +the surprising increase of the English colonies in +America; and when we reflect that it is scarcely a +hundred years since some of them were established, +it must be confessed that they have made rapid improvements +in clearing the ground of woods and +bringing it to cultivation. Yet, much as they have +already done, the country is yet an immense forest, +except immediately on the coasts. The forests +extend on every side to a distance that no human +sagacity or observation has been able to determine; +they abound in every species of tree which you see in +England, to which may be added a great variety +more which are unknown with us. Under their +shade is generally found a rich luxurious herbage, +which serves for pasture to a thousand herds of +animals. Here are seen elks (a kind of deer of the +largest size), and buffaloes (a species of wild ox), by +thousands, and even horses, which, having been originally +brought over by the Spaniards, have escaped +from their settlements and multiplied in the woods."</p> + +<p>"Dear!" said Tommy, "that must be a fine country, +indeed, where horses run wild; why, a man +might have one for nothing." "And yet," said Mr +Merton, "it would be but of little use for a person +to have a wild horse, who is not able to manage a +tame one."</p> + +<p>Tommy made no answer to his father; and the man +proceeded. "But the greatest curiosity of all this +country is, in my opinion, the various tribes or nations +which inhabit it. Bred up from their infancy to a +life of equal hardiness with the wild animals, they are +almost as robust in their constitutions. These vari<!-- Page 422 -->ous +tribes inhabit little villages, which generally are +seated upon the banks of rivers; and, though they +cultivate small portions of land around their towns, +they seek the greater part of their subsistence from +the chase. In their persons they are rather tall and +slender, but admirably well-proportioned and active, +and their colour is a pale red, exactly resembling +copper. Thus accustomed to roam about the woods, +and brave the inclemencies of the weather, as well as +continually exposed to the attacks of their enemies +they acquire a degree of courage and fortitude which +can scarcely be conceived. It is nothing to them to +pass whole days without food; to be whole nights +upon the bare damp ground, and to swim the widest +rivers in the depth of winter. Money, indeed, and +the greatest part of what we call the conveniences of +life, they are unacquainted with; nor can they conceive +that one man should serve another merely because +he has a few pieces of shining metal; they +imagine that the only distinctions arise from superior +courage and bodily perfections, and therefore these +alone are able to engage their esteem. A celebrated +traveller relates that, on one occasion, while he was +engaged in finishing a drawing, he was suddenly interrupted +by three of these curious-looking persons +entering the room in which he was. At first he feared +that they intended to attack him; but he soon found +that he was mistaken, for, upon their seeing the representation +of themselves upon a sheet which he had +taken the day before, and which one of them took up, +they immediately burst into a loud fit of laughter, +while one of them offered to purchase it by giving +some fruit in exchange.<!-- Page 423 --></p> + +<p>"But if their manners are gentle in peace, they are +more dreadful, when provoked, than all the wildest +animals of the forest. Bred up from infancy to suffer +no restraint, and to give an unbounded loose to the +indulgence of their passions, they know not what it +is to forgive those who have injured them. They love +their tribe with a degree of affection that is totally +unknown in every other country; for they are ready +to suffer every hardship and danger in its defence. +They scruple not in the least to experience wounds, +and pain, and even death itself, as often as the interest +of the country to which they are so much attached +is concerned; but the same attachment renders them +implacable and unforgiving to all their enemies. In +short, they seem to have all the virtues and the vices +of the ancient Spartans.</p> + +<p>"To one of these tribes, called the Ottigamies, was +Colonel Simmons sent ambassador, accompanied by +a few more officers, and some private men, among +whom I had the honour to be included. We pursued +our march for several days, through forests which +seemed to be of equal duration with the world itself. +Sometimes we were shrouded in such obscurity, from +the thickness of the covert, that we could scarcely see +the light of heaven; sometimes we emerged into spacious +meadows, bare of trees, and covered with the +most luxuriant herbage, on which were feeding immense +herds of buffaloes. These, as soon as they +snuffed the approach of men, which they are capable +of doing even at a considerable distance, ran with +precipitation into the surrounding woods; many, however, +fell beneath our attack, and served us for food +during our journey. At length we came to a wide<!-- Page 424 --> +and rapid river, upon whose banks we found a party of +friendly savages, with some of whom we embarked +upon canoes made of the bark of trees, to proceed to +the country of the Ottigamies.</p> + +<p>"After three days' incessant rowing we entered a +spacious lake, upon whose banks were encamped a +considerable portion of the nation we sought. As we +approached the shore they saluted us with a volley of +balls from their muskets, which whistled just above +our heads, without producing mischief. I and several +of the soldiers instantly seized our arms, imagining it +to be a hostile attack; but our leader quieted our apprehensions +by informing us that this was only a friendly +salute with which a nation of warriors received and +welcomed their allies. We landed, and were instantly +conducted to the assembly of the chiefs, who were +sitting upon the ground, without external pomp or +ceremony, with their arms beside them; but there was +in their countenances and eyes an expression of ferocious +grandeur which would have daunted the boldest +European. Yes, gentlemen, I have seen the greatest +and most powerful men in my own country; I have +seen them adorned with every external circumstance +of dress, of pomp, and equipage, to inspire respect, +but never did I see anything which so completely awed +the soul as the angry scowl and fiery glance of a +savage American.</p> + +<p>"As soon as our leader entered the circle, he produced +the calumet, or pipe of peace. This is the +universal mark of friendship and alliance among all +the barbarous nations of America, and he that bears +it is considered with so much respect that his person +is always safe. This calumet is nothing but a long<!-- Page 425 --> +and slender pipe, ornamented with the most lively +and beautiful feathers, which are ingeniously fixed +along the tube; the bowl is composed of a peculiar +kind of reddish marble, and filled with scented herbs +and tobacco.</p> + +<p>"Colonel Simmons lighted his pipe with great +solemnity, and turning the bowl first towards the +heavens, then to the earth, then in a circle round +him, he began to smoke. In the mean time the +whole assembly sat with mute attention, waiting to +hear his proposals; for, though we call them savages, +yet in some respects they well deserve to be imitated +by more refined nations; in all their meetings and +assemblies the greatest order and regularity prevail; +whoever rises to speak is sure of being patiently +heard to the end without the least interruption.</p> + +<p>"Our leader then began to harangue them in their +own language, with which he was well acquainted. +I did not understand what passed, but it was afterwards +explained to me that he set before their eyes +the injuries they had mutually received from the +French and the tribes in their alliance. He told +them that their great father (for so these people call +the King of Britain) had taken up the hatchet of war, +and was sending an innumerable band of warriors to +punish the insults of his enemies. He told them +that he had ordered him to visit the Ottigamies, his +dutiful children, and smoke with them the pipe of +peace. He invited their young men to join the warriors +that came from beyond the ocean, and who were +marching to bury the bones of their brethren, who +had been killed by their mutual foes. When he had +concluded, he flung upon the ground a curious string<!-- Page 426 --> +of shells, which is called the belt of <i>Wampum</i>. This +is a necessary circumstance in all the treaties made +with these tribes. Whoever comes as an ambassador +brings one with him to present to the people whose +friendship is solicited, and, if the belt is accepted the +proposed alliance is considered as entered into.</p> + +<p>"As soon as our leader had finished, a chief of a +stature superior to the common race of men, and of +a most determined look, jumped into the middle of +the assembly, and, taking up the belt, cried out in +their language, 'Let us march, my brethren, with +the young men of our great father! Let us dig up +the hatchet of war and revenge the bones of our countrymen; +they lie unburied, and cry to us for vengeance! +We will not be deaf to their cries; we will +shake off all delays; we will approve ourselves worthy +of our ancestors; we will drink the blood of our +enemies, and spread a feast of carnage for the fowls +of the air and the wild beasts of the forest!' This +resolution was universally approved by the whole +nation, who consented to the war with a ferocious +joy. The assembly was then dissolved, and the chiefs +prepared for their intended march according to the +manners of their country.</p> + +<p>"All the savage tribes that inhabit America are accustomed +to very little clothing. Inured to the inclemencies +of the weather, and being in the constant +exercise of all their limbs, they cannot bear the restraint +and confinement of a European dress. The +greater part of their bodies, therefore, is naked; and +this they paint in various fashions, to give additional +terror to their looks.</p> + +<p>"When the chiefs were thus prepared they came<!-- Page 427 --> +from their tents; and the last solemnity I was witness +to, was dancing the dance of war and singing the +song of death. But what words can convey an +adequate idea of the furious movements and expressions +which animated them through the whole of this +performance! Every man was armed with a kind +of hatchet, which is their usual weapon in battle, +and called a <i>tomahawk</i>. This he held in his hand, +and brandished through the whole of the dreadful +spectacle. As they went on, their faces kindled into +an expression of anger that would daunt the boldest +spectator; their gestures seemed to be inspired by +frantic rage and animosity; they moved their bodies +with the most violent agitations, and it was easy to +see they represented all the circumstances of a real +combat. They seemed to be engaged in close or distant +battle, and brandished their weapons with so +much fury, that you would have imagined they were +going every instant to hew each other to pieces. Nor +would it have been possible, even for the performers +themselves of this terrific dance, to have avoided +mutual wounds and slaughter, had they not been +endued with that extraordinary activity which is peculiar +to savage nations. By intervals they increased +the horrid solemnity of the exhibition by uttering yells +that would have pierced a European ear with horror. +I have seen rage and fury under various forms and +in different parts of the globe, but I must confess that +everything I have seen elsewhere is feeble and contemptible, +when compared with this day's spectacle. +When the whole was finished, they entertained us at +a public festival in their cabins, and, when we departed, +dismissed us with these expressive wishes;<!-- Page 428 --> +they prayed that the Great Spirit would favour us +with a prosperous voyage; that he would give us an +unclouded sky and smooth waters by day, and that +we might lie down at night on a beaver blanket, enjoying +uninterrupted sleep and pleasant dreams; +and that we might find continual protection under +the great pipe of peace. I have been thus particular +(said the Highlander) in describing the circumstances +of this embassy, because you have not disdained to +hear the story of my adventures; and I thought that +this description of a people so totally unlike all you +have been accustomed to in Europe might not prove +entirely uninteresting."</p> + +<p>"We are much obliged to you," said Mr Barlow, +"for all these curious particulars, which are perfectly +conformable to all I have heard and read upon the +subject. Nor can I consider, without a certain degree +of admiration, the savage grandeur of man in his +most simple state. The passion for revenge, which +marks the character of all uncivilised nations, is certainly +to be condemned. But it is one of the constant +prejudices of their education; and many of those that +call themselves refined, have more to blush at in that +respect than they are aware of. Few, I am afraid, +even in the most refined state of society, have arrived +at that sublime generosity which is able to forgive +the injuries of his fellow-creatures, when it has the +power to repay them, and I see many around me that +are disgraced by the vices of uncivilised Americans, +without a claim to their virtues."</p> + +<p>"I will not fatigue your ears," continued the Highlander, +"with the recital of all the events I was +engaged in during the progress of the war. The de<!-- Page 429 -->scription +of blood and carnage is always disagreeable +to a humane mind; and, though the perversity of +mankind may sometimes render war a necessary evil, +the remembrance of its mischiefs is always painful. +I will only mention one event, continually lamented +in the annals of this country, because it is connected +with the untimely fate of my noble friend and gallant +leader.</p> + +<p>"It was determined by those who governed that +we should march through the woods upon a distant +expedition against the French. The conduct of this +enterprise was given to a brave but rash commander, +totally unacquainted with the people he had to oppose, +and unskilled in the nature of a savage war. We +therefore began our march through the same trackless +wilds I have described, and proceeded for several +days without any other difficulties than the nature of +the country itself produced, and without seeing the +face of an enemy. It was in vain that officers of the +greatest experience, and particularly my worthy +colonel, suggested to our commander the necessity of +using every precaution against a dangerous and insidious +foe.</p> + +<p>"War is not managed, amid the forests of America, +in the same manner as it is conducted upon the plains +of Europe. The temper of the people there conspires +with the nature of the country to render it a continual +scene of stratagems and surprise. Unencumbered +with tents or baggage, or numerous trains of artillery, +the hostile warriors set out in small and chosen +parties, with nothing but their arms, and are continually +upon the watch to deceive their enemies. +Long experience has taught them a degree of sagacity<!-- Page 430 --> +in traversing the woods which to us is inconceivable. +Neither the widest rivers nor the most extensive forests +can retard them for an instant. A march of a +thousand miles is scarcely to them a greater difficulty +than the passage of a European army between two +neighbouring towns. The woods themselves afford +them a continual supply of provisions in the various +animals which they kill by the chase. When they +are near their enemies they frequently lurk all day in +thickets, for fear of a discovery, and pursue their +march by night. Hundreds of them sometimes pursue +their course in the same line, treading only in each +other's steps, and the last of the party carefully covers +over the impressions which his fellows have made. +When they are thus upon the point of accomplishing +their purpose the very necessities of nature are unheeded; +they cease to fire upon the beasts of the forest, +lest it should alarm the foe; they feed upon the +roots or the bark of trees, or pass successive days in +a perfect abstinence from food. All this our colonel +represented to the general, and conjured him, with +the strongest entreaties, not to hazard the safety of +our army by an incautious progress. He advised +him to send out numerous detachments to beat the +bushes and examine the woods; and offered himself +to secure the march of the army. But presumption +is always blind; our general was unacquainted with +any other than European warfare, and could not conceive +that naked savages would dare to attack an army +of two thousand disciplined troops.</p> + +<p>"One morning, the way before us appeared more +intricate and obscure than common; the forests did +not, as usual, consist of lofty trees, which afford a<!-- Page 431 --> +tolerably clear prospect between their trunks, but were +composed of creeping bushes and impervious thickets. +The army marched as usual, with the vain ostentation +of military discipline, but totally unprepared for the +dreadful scene which followed. At length we entered +a gloomy valley, surrounded on every side by the +thickest shade, and rendered swampy by the overflowings +of a little rivulet. In this situation it was impossible +to continue our march without disordering +our ranks; and part of the army extended itself beyond +the rest, while another part of the line involuntarily +fell behind.</p> + +<p>"In the moment while the officers were employed +in rectifying the disorder of their men, a sudden noise +of musketry was heard in front, which stretched about +twenty of our men upon the field. The soldiers instinctively +fired towards the part whence they were +attacked, and instantly fell back in disorder. But it +was equally vain to retreat or go forward, for it now +appeared that we were completely hemmed in. On +every side resounded the fatal peals of scattering fire, +that thinned our ranks and extended our bravest comrades +on the earth. Figure to yourself a shoal of +fishes, enclosed within the net, that circle in vain the +fatal labyrinth in which they are involved; or rather, +conceive what I have myself been witness to—a herd +of deer, surrounded on every side by a band of active +and unpitying hunters, who press and gall them on +every side, and exterminate them at leisure in their +flight; just such was the situation of our unfortunate +countrymen. After a few unavailing discharges, +which never annoyed a secret enemy that scattered +death unseen, the ranks were broken and all subor<!-- Page 432 -->dination +lost. The ground was covered with gasping +wretches, and stained with blood; the woods resounded +with cries and groans, and fruitless attempts +of our gallant officers to rally their men, and check +the progress of the enemy. By intervals was heard, +more shrill, more dreadful than all the rest, the dismal +yell of the victorious savages, who now, emboldened +by their success, began to leave the covert and +hew down those who fled, with unrelenting cruelty. +As to myself, the description which our colonel had +given me of their method of attack, and the precautions +to be used against it, rendered me perhaps less +disturbed than I should otherwise have been. I remarked +that those who stood and those who fled were +exposed to equal danger; those who kept their ranks +and endeavoured to repel the enemy, exposed their +persons to their fire, and were successively shot down, +as happened to most of our unfortunate officers, while +those who fled frequently rushed headlong upon the +very death they sought to avoid.</p> + +<p>"Pierced to the heart at the sight of such a carnage +of my gallant comrades, I grew indifferent to life, and +abandoned myself to despair; but it was a despair +that neither impaired my exertions nor robbed me of +the faculties of my mind. 'Imitate me,' I cried, 'my +gallant countrymen, and we shall yet be safe.' I then +directly ran to the nearest tree, and sheltered myself +behind its stem—convinced that this precaution alone +could secure me from the incessant volleys which +darted on every side. A small number of Highlanders +followed my example; and, thus secured, we began +to fire with more success at the enemy, who now exposed +themselves with less reserve. This check<!-- Page 433 --> +seemed to astonish and confound them; and had not +the panic been so general, it is possible that this successful +effort might have changed the fortune of the +fight; for, in another quarter, the provincial troops +that accompanied us behaved with the greatest bravery, +and, though deserted by the European forces, +effected their own retreat.</p> + +<p>"But it was now too late to hope for victory or +even safety; the ranks were broken on every side, +the greater part of our officers slain or wounded, and +our unfortunate general himself had expiated with +his life his fatal rashness. I cast my eyes around, +and saw nothing but images of death, and horror, and +frantic rage. Yet even then the safety of my noble +colonel was dearer to me than my own. I sought +him for some time in vain, amid the various scenes +of carnage which surrounded me. At length I discovered +him at a distance, almost deserted by his men, +yet still attempting to renew the fight, and heedless +of the wounds which covered him. Transported +with grief and passion, I immediately darted forward +to offer him my feeble support; but, in the very instant +of my arrival, he received a straggling ball in +his bosom, and, tottering to a tree, supported his +fainting limbs against the trunk. Just in that moment +three of our savage enemies observed his situation, +and marked him for their prey; they raised +their hideous yell, and darted upon him with the +speed and fierceness of wolves. Fury then took possession +of my soul; had I possessed a thousand lives, +I should have held them cheap in the balance. I +fired with so unerring an aim that I stretched the +foremost on the earth; the second received the point<!-- Page 434 --> +of my bayonet in his breast, and fell in the pangs of +death; the third, daunted with the fate of his companions, +turned his steps another way.</p> + +<p>"Just then a horse, that had lost his rider, was +galloping along the wood; I bounded across the +path, and, seizing him by the bridle, instantly led +him to my leader, and conjured him to preserve his +glorious life. He thanked me in the most affectionate +manner for my friendship, but bade me preserve +my own life. 'As to myself,' said he, 'I do not wish +to survive my country's dishonour; and even had I +such a wish, the wounds I have received would render +all escape impossible.' 'If that is your <a name="tn_pg_447"></a><!--TN: Comma moved to within the single quote after "resolution"-->resolution,' +said I, 'we will die together; for I swear by +the eternal majesty of my Creator that I will not +leave you.' When he saw me thus resolved, he consented +to use my assistance, and with infinite difficulty +I seated him upon the horse, which, holding by the +reins, as I was then light and active, I guided along +the wood with no inconsiderable speed.</p> + +<p>"Fortunately for me, we were not observed by any +of our savage enemies, so that, flying through the +thickest part of the forest, we left the danger behind, +and were soon removed beyond the sight or hearing +of the battle. 'Courage,' said I, 'my noble leader! +you are now almost in safety; and I trust you will +yet preserve a life so necessary to your friends and +country.' He answered me with the kindest expressions, +but with a feeble voice, 'Campbell, I have +consented to fly, more for the sake of preserving your +life than from any hopes of my own; but since we +are at a distance from yonder dreadful scene, permit +me to alight; I have consumed my small remaining<!-- Page 435 --> +forces in the way, and now I am faint from loss of +blood.' He sunk down at this, and would have fallen, +but I received him in my arms; I bore him to +the next thicket, and, strewing grass and leaves upon +the ground, endeavoured to prepare him a bed. He +thanked me again with gratitude and tenderness, and +grasped my hand as he lay in the very agonies of +death, for such it was, although I believed he had only +fainted, and long tried every ineffectual method to +restore departed life. Thus was I deprived of the +noblest officer and kindest friend that ever deserved +the attachment of a soldier. Twenty years have now +rolled over me since that inauspicious day, yet it +lives for ever in my remembrance, and never shall be +blotted from my soul. (The Highlander then turned +away to hide a tear, which did not misbecome his +manly countenance; the company seemed all to +share his griefs, but Miss Simmons above the rest. +However, as the natural gentleness of her temper +was sufficiently known, no one suspected that she +had any particular interest in the relation.)</p> + +<p>"I sat till night <a name="tn_pg_448"></a><!--TN: "continned" changed to "continued"-->(continued the stranger) supporting +the breathless body of my colonel, and vainly +hoping he might return to life. At length I perceived +that his noble soul was fled for ever. My own +wounds grew stiff and painful, and exhausted nature +required a supply of food; I therefore arose, and +finding a spring that trickled down a hill at no great +distance, I refreshed myself by a copious draught, +and washed the clotted blood away from the hurts I +had received. I then crushed some leaves, which +the inhabitants of that country imagine salutary, +and bound them on with bandages which I tore from<!-- Page 436 --> +my linen; I also found a few wild fruits, which past experience +had taught me were innocent, and with them +I allayed the pains of hunger. I then returned to +the thicket, and, creeping into the thickest part, +endeavoured to compose myself to rest.</p> + +<p>"Strange, gentlemen, as it may appear, neither +the forlorn nature of my situation, nor the dangers +with which I was beset, were sufficient to keep me +awake; my wearied and exhausted body seemed to +triumph over all the agitations of my mind, and I +sunk into a sleep as deep and profound as that of +death itself. I awoke next morning with the first +rays of the sun, but, more composed, I better understood +the difficulties in which I was involved, and the +uncertainty of my escape. I was in the midst of an +immense desert, totally destitute of human assistance +or support. Should I meet with any of my fellow-creatures, +I could expect nothing but implacable +cruelty; and even if I escaped their vigilance, what +method of finding subsistence, or of measuring back, +without a guide, the long and tedious march I had +trodden? Hope, however, and the vigour of my constitution, +still supported me. I reflected that it is +the common lot of man to struggle with misfortunes; +that it is cowardice to yield to evils, when present, +the representation of which had not deterred me +from voluntarily embracing the profession of a soldier; +and that the providence of Heaven was as capable +of protecting me in the forests of America as upon +my native mountains. I therefore determined to +struggle till the last with the difficulties which surrounded +me, and to meet my fortune like a man. +Yet, as I still by intervals heard the dismal cries of<!-- Page 437 --> +the enemy, and saw their fires at a distance, I lay +close till night in the obscurity of my thicket. +When all was dark and still, I ventured abroad, and +laid in my scanty provisions of fruits and herbs, and +drank again at the spring. The pain of my wounds +now began to abate a little, though I suffered extremely +from the cold, as I did not dare to kindle a +fire, from the fear of discovering myself by its light.</p> + +<p>"Three nights and days did I lead this solitary life, +in continual dread of the savage parties which scoured +all the woods in pursuit of stragglers, and often +passed so near my place of retreat that I gave myself +over for lost. At length, on the fourth evening, +fancying myself a little restored, and that the activity +of the enemy might be abated, I ventured out and +pursued my march. I scarcely need describe the +various difficulties and dangers to which I was exposed +in such a journey; however, I still had with +me my musket, and as my ammunition was not quite +exhausted, I depended upon the woods themselves to +supply me with food. I travelled the greater part of +the night, involving myself still deeper in these inextricable +forests, for I was afraid to pursue the direction +of our former march, as I imagined the savages +were dispersed along the country in pursuit of the +fugitives. I therefore took a direction as nearly as I +could judge parallel to the English settlements, and +inclining to the south. In this manner I forced my +way along the woods all night, and with the morning +had reason to think that I had advanced a considerable +distance.</p> + +<p>"My wounds began now to pain me afresh with +this exertion, and compelled me to allow myself some<!-- Page 438 --> +repose. I chose out the thickest covert I could find, +and, shrouding myself as well as I was able, was soon +overpowered by sleep. I did not awake till the sun +had gained the meridian, and, creeping from my retreat, +beheld, with some degree of terror, an enormous +rattlesnake that was coiled up full in my way, and +seemed determined to oppose my passage. This animal +is frequent in the southern colonies, and is the +most poisonous of all the reptiles that haunt the +woods. He is in length from two to six feet, beautifully +variegated with different colours, but the most +remarkable circumstance attending him is a natural +noise that he produces with every motion of his tail, +and which, too, occasions his name. I soon destroyed +my hissing foe, and, taking courage for the +first time to kindle a fire, I roasted him upon the +embers, and made the most delicious meal I ever remember +upon his flesh."</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Tommy, "is it possible to eat +snakes? I thought they had been all over poison." +"Master," replied the Highlander, "the want of food +will reconcile us to many meats which we should +scarcely think eatable. Nothing has surprised me +more than to see the poor, in various countries, complaining +of the scarcity of food, yet throwing away +every year thousands of the carcases of horses, which +are full as wholesome and nourishing as beef, and are +in many countries preferred to it; but, in general, +every animal may be eaten, and affords a salutary +food. As to snakes, the poison of them is contained +in the hollow of their teeth. When they bite, they +instil their venom into the wound, which mixes with +the blood, and, without a timely remedy, destroys<!-- Page 439 --> +the sufferer; but if you cut off the head, the rest of +the body is not only wholesome but palatable, and I +have known it eaten as a delicacy by many inhabitants +of the colonies.</p> + +<p>"Thus refreshed, therefore, I pursued my march +through the same thick, gloomy country, without +meeting the least appearance of a human creature, +and at night I cut, with a hatchet that I had about +me, some boughs, with which I erected a temporary +shelter. The next day, as I was pursuing my march, +I saw a deer bound by me, upon whose shoulders was +fixed a fierce and destructive animal resembling a +tiger. This creature, which is about the size of a +moderate dog, ascends the trees and hides himself +among the branches till a deer, or any other animal +that he can master, passes within his reach. He +then darts himself with a sudden spring full upon +the neck or shoulder of the unfortunate animal, which +he continues tearing with so much violence that he +soon despatches him. This was actually the case +with the poor deer that passed me; for he had not +run a hundred yards before he fell down in the +agonies of death, and his destroyer began to regale +himself upon the prey. I instantly saw that this was +a lucky opportunity of supplying myself with food for +several days. I therefore ran towards the animal, +and by a violent shout made him abandon his victim +and retire growling into the woods. I then kindled +a fire with leaves and sticks, and, cutting off a large +slice of venison, I plentifully refreshed myself for my +journey. I then packed up as much of the most +fleshy parts of the body as I could conveniently +carry, and abandoned the rest to wild beasts.<!-- Page 440 --></p> + +<p>"In this manner did I march for several days without +wanting food, or seeing any probable end of my fatigues. +At length I found a lofty mountain before me, +which I determined to ascend, imagining that such +an elevation might enable me to make some useful discoveries +in respect to the nature of the country I had +to traverse, and perhaps present me with some appearances +of cultivation or inhabitants. I therefore +ascended with infinite fatigue a rough and stony +ascent of several miles, in which I was frequently +obliged to clamber up pointed rocks, and work my +way along the edge of dangerous precipices. I, however, +arrived without any accident at the top, which +was entirely bare of trees, and, looking round me, I +beheld a wild and desert country, extending to a +prodigious distance. Far as my eye could reach I +discovered nothing but forests on every side but one; +there the country seemed to be more open, though +equally uncultivated, and I saw meadows and savannahs +opening one beyond another, bounded at length +by a spacious river, whose end and beginning were +equally concealed from my eye. I was now so weary +of this solitary kind of life, that I began to consider +the inhabitants themselves with less apprehension; +besides, I thought myself out of danger of meeting +with the hostile tribes; and all these people, unless +irritated by injuries or stimulated by revenge, are +perhaps less strangers to the rights of hospitality than +any civilised nation. I therefore reflected, that by +directing my course to the river, and following the +direction of its waters, I should have the greatest +probability of meeting with some of my fellow-creatures, +as the natives build their villages near lakes<!-- Page 441 --> +and streams, and choose their banks as a residence +when they are employed in hunting. I therefore +descended the mountain, and entered the level district +which I saw before me; and then marched along an +open champaign country for several hours, covered +over with a species of rank grass, and beheld numerous +herds of buffaloes grazing all around.</p> + +<p>"It was here that an accident befel me, which I +will relate for its singularity, both in respect to the +dangers I incurred and my method of escape. As I +was thus journeying on, I discovered a prodigious light +that seemed to efface the sun itself, and streak the +skies with an angry kind of illumination. I looked +round me to discover the cause of this strange appearance, +and beheld, with equal horror and astonishment, +that the whole country behind was in flames. In order +to explain this event, I must observe, that all the +plains in America produce a rank, luxuriant vegetation, +the juices of which are exhausted by the heat of +the summer's sun; it is then as inflammable as straw +or fodder, and when a casual spark of fire communicates +with it, the flame frequently drives before the +wind for miles together, and consumes everything it +meets. This was actually the case at present; far as +my eye could reach, the country was all in flames, a +powerful wind added fresh fury to the fire, and drove +it on with a degree of swiftness which precluded all +possibility of flight. I must confess that I was struck +with horror at the sudden approach of a death so new, +so dreadful, so unexpected! I saw it was in vain to +fly, the flaming line extended for several miles on every +side, and advanced with such velocity that I considered +my fate as inevitable. I looked round me with<!-- Page 442 --> +a kind of mute despair, and began to envy the fate of +my comrades who had fallen by honourable wounds +in battle. Already did the conflagration scorch me +in its approach, accompanied by clouds of smoke that +almost suffocated me with their baneful vapour. In +this extremity Providence presented to my mind an +instantaneous thought, which perhaps was the only +possible method of escape. I considered that nothing +could stop the conflagration but an actual want of +matter to continue it, and therefore by setting fire to +the vegetables before me, I might follow my own path +in safety. (I hope, gentlemen, that during the course +of a long life, you will never have occasion to experience +the pleasure which the first glance of this expedient +afforded to my mind.) I saw myself snatched, +beyond expectation, from a strange and painful death, +and instantly pulled out, with a trembling hand, the +flint and steel upon which my preservation was to depend. +I struck a light, and presently kindled the +driest grass before me; the conflagration spread along +the country, the wind drove it on with inconceivable +fury, and I saw the path of my deliverance open before +my eyes. In a few seconds a considerable vacancy +was burnt before me, which I traversed with +the speed of a man that flies from instant death. My +feet were scorched with the glowing soil, and several +times had I been nearly suffocated with the drift of +the pursuing smoke, but every step I made convinced +me of the certainty of my escape, and in a little time I +stopped to consider at leisure the conflagration I had +avoided, which, after proceeding to the point whence +I set out, was extinguished as I had foreseen, and delivered +me from all apprehension."<!-- Page 443 --></p> + +<p>"I declare," said Tommy, "this is the most extraordinary +thing I ever heard, and yet I can easily conceive +it, for once I saw some men set fire to the heath +and furzes upon the common, and they burnt so furiously +that I was quite afraid to come near the flame."</p> + +<p>"I pursued my way," continued the Highlander, +"over the smoking soil, which I had rendered bare +to a considerable extent, and lodged at night, as usual, +under some boughs which I stuck up to defend me. +In the morning I set out again, and soon arrived at +a spacious lake, upon whose banks I could plainly discern +the signs of an American encampment. I hesitated +some time whether I should again conceal myself +in the woods or deliver myself up to their mercy. But +I considered that it was impossible long to continue +this wandering life, and that in the end I must have +recourse to some of these savage tribes for assistance. +What, therefore, must be done at last, it was fruitless +to delay. I had every reason to imagine that the +people before me must either be favourable to Great +Britain, or at least indifferent to the war; and in +either case, from the experience I possessed of the +manners of the natives, I did not think I had much +to fear. I therefore determined to hazard everything +upon the probability of a favourable reception, and, +collecting all my resolution, I marched boldly forward, +and soon arrived at the encampment.</p> + +<p>"As soon as I entered the village the women and +children gathered round me, with the curiosity natural +to mankind at the sight of an unaccustomed +object. I formed a favourable conjecture from this +apparent ignorance of Europeans, and walking on +with a composed step and steady countenance, I at<!-- Page 444 --> +length entered into one of the largest cabins I could +find. When I was within, I saw a venerable old man +whom I took to be a chief from his appearance, sitting +at his ease upon the ground, and smoking. I saluted +him with all the courtesy I was able, and placed myself +upon the ground, at some little distance, waiting +with inward anxiety, but external composure, for him +to begin the conversation. After he had eyed me for +some time with fixed attention, but without either +sternness or anger, he took the pipe from his mouth +and presented it to me. I received it with infinite +satisfaction; for, as I have before remarked, this is +always with the American tribes the firmest pledge of +peace and a friendly reception.</p> + +<p>"When we had thus been seated for some time in +mutual contemplation of each other, he asked me in +a dialect which I understood tolerably well, to eat. I +did not think it prudent to refuse any offered civility, +and therefore accepted the offer; and in a little time, +a young woman who was in the back part of the hut, +set before me some broiled fish and parched maize. +After I had eaten, my friendly host inquired into my +country and the reasons of my visit. I was just enough +acquainted with the language he spoke to be able to +understand him, and to give an intelligible though +imperfect answer. I therefore explained to him, as +well as I was able, that I had crossed the great water +with the warriors of the king of Britain; that we had +been compelled to take up the hatchet against the +French and their allies, and that we had actually set +out upon an expedition against their colonies, but +that we had been surprised by a lurking party in the +woods; that, in the confusion of the fight, I had been<!-- Page 445 --> +separated from the rest, and had wandered several +days through the woods in search of my comrades; +and that now, seeing the tents of my brethren, the +red men, I had come to visit them, and smoke the +pipe of peace in their company. All this I with some +difficulty explained to my entertainer, who listened to +me with great attention, and then bade me welcome +in the name of his nation, which he told me was called +the <i>Saukies</i>; he added, 'that their young men were +dispersed through the woods, hunting the deer and +buffalo, but they would soon return loaded with provisions, +and in the meantime I might share his cabin +and such provisions as he could command.' I thanked +him for his offer, and remained several days in his hut, +always entertained with the same hospitality, until the +return of the young men from hunting. They came at +last in several boats, along the lake, bringing with +them a considerable quantity of wild beasts, which +they had killed. I was received by all the tribe with +the same hospitality I had experienced from the old +chief; and as it was necessary to gain their friendship +as much as possible, I joined them in all their hunting +and fishing parties, and soon acquired a considerable +degree of skill in both.</p> + +<p>"Hunting itself has something cruel in the practice; +it is a species of war which we wage with brute +animals for their spoils; but if ever it can be considered +as excusable, it is in these savage nations, who +have recourse to it for their subsistence. They are +active, bold, and dexterous in all these exercises, to +such a degree, that none of the wild animals they +attack have the smallest chance of escape. Their +parties generally consist of almost all the youth of<!-- Page 446 --> +their nation, who go in a body to particular districts +where they know game is plentiful. Their common +method is, when they are arrived at a spot which +abounds in deer or buffaloes, to disperse themselves +through the woods; and then, alarming the beasts in +the neighbourhood, they drive them with shouts +<a name="tn_pg_459"></a><!--TN: "and and" changed to "and"-->and dogs towards some common place, which was +always in the middle of all their parties. When they +have thus roused their prey, the various squadrons +gradually advance towards the centre, till they unite in +a circle, and enclose a prodigious number of frightened +animals; they then attack them either with fire-arms +or arrows, and shoot them down successively. By +these means they are sure, in a single day, to destroy +a prodigious number of different beasts. But it sometimes +happens that, while they are engaged in the +chase of other animals, they become a prey themselves +to their enemies, who take this method of surprising +them in the woods, and gratifying their resentment. +This was actually the case with my friends the Saukies, +and produced a surprising event, the consequence of +which was my return to the English colonies in +safety.</p> + +<p>"The Saukies had been long at war with the Iroquese, +a powerful tribe of North Americans, in the +interest of the French. The Iroquese had received +intelligence of the situation of the Saukies' encampment, +and determined to surprise them. For this +purpose a thousand warriors set out by a secret march +through the woods, and travelled with silence and +celerity, which are peculiar to all these nations. When +they had nearly approached the hunting-grounds of +their enemies, they happened to be discovered upon<!-- Page 447 --> +their march by four warriors of another nation, who +instantly suspected their design, and, running with +greater diligence than it was possible so large a body +could make, arrived at the encampment of the Saukies, +and informed them of the near approach of their enemies. +A great council was instantly assembled to +deliberate upon the choice of proper measures for +their defence. As they were encumbered with their +families, it was impracticable to retreat with safety, +and it seemed equally difficult to resist so large a +force with inferior numbers.</p> + +<p>"While they were in this uncertainty, I considered +the nature of their situation, and had the good fortune +to find out a resource, which, being communicated +to my friend and chief, and adopted by the +nation, was the means of their safety. I observed +that the passage to the Saukie camp, for the Iroquese, +lay along a narrow slip of land which extended for +nearly a mile between two lakes. I therefore advised +the Saukies to cast up a strong barrier at the end of +the passage, which I showed them how to strengthen +with ditches, palisades, and some of the improvements +of the European fortification. Their number +of warriors amounted to about four hundred; these I +divided into equal parts, and, leaving one to defend +the lines, I placed the other in ambuscade along the +neighbouring woods. Scarcely were these dispositions +finished before the Iroquese appeared, and, +imagining they were rushing upon an unguarded foe, +entered the defile without hesitation. As soon as +the whole body was thus imprudently engaged, the +other party of the Saukies started from their hiding-places, +and, running to the entrance of the strait,<!-- Page 448 --> +threw up in an instant another fortification, and had +the satisfaction to see the whole force of their +enemies thus circumvented and caught in a trap. +The Iroquese soon perceived the difficulty and danger +of escape; they, however, behaved with that extraordinary +composure which is the peculiar characteristic +of this people on every occasion. The lakes were at +that time frozen over, yet not so hard as to permit +them to effect a passage over the ice; and though a +thaw succeeded in a short time, it was equally impracticable +to pass by swimming or on rafts. Three days, +therefore, the Iroquese remained quiet in this disagreeable +situation, and, as if they had nothing to apprehend, +diverted themselves all this time with fishing. +On the fourth morning they judged the ice sufficiently +dissolved to effect their escape; and therefore, +cutting down some trees which grew upon the strait, +they formed them into rafts, and embarked their +whole force. But this could not be done without +the knowledge of the Saukies, who despatched a considerable +body of warriors to oppose their landing. +It is unnecessary to relate all the horrid particulars +of the engagement which ensued; I will only mention, +that the Iroquese at length effected their landing +with the loss of half their number, and retreated +precipitately to their own country, leaving behind +them all the furs and skins which they had taken in +their hunting. The share I had had in this success +gained me the friendship of all the nation, and, at my +desire, they sent some of their young men to guide +me through the woods to the English settlements, and +they took their leave of me with every expression +of esteem, and a considerable present of valuable furs.<!-- Page 449 --></p> + +<p>"These, gentlemen (with the exception of one +adventure, when I was attacked by three desperate-looking +fellows, two of whom I killed, and the other +fled), are the most important and interesting events of +my life; and as I have already trespassed too long upon +your patience, I shall now hasten to draw my story +to a conclusion. After this I was employed in various +parts of America and the West Indies during the +rest of the war. I suffered <a name="tn_pg_462"></a><!--TN: "harships" changed to "hardships"-->hardships and difficulties innumerable, +and acquired, as my father had foretold, a +little wisdom at the price of a considerable quantity of +blood. When the war was ended, I found myself +nearly in the same situation as I began, except the +present of my friendly Americans, which I turned +into money and remitted to England. I therefore +now began to feel my military enthusiasm abated, +and, having permission to leave the service, I embraced +that opportunity of returning to my country, +fully determined to spend the remainder of my life +amid my family and friends. I found my father and +mother still living, who received me in the fondest +manner. I then employed the little fund I had +acquired to stock a farm, which I hired in the neighbourhood, +and where I imagined my care and industry +would be sufficient to insure us all a comfortable +subsistence. Some little time after, I married a +virtuous and industrious young woman, the mother +of the unfortunate children who are so much indebted +to your bounty. For some time I made a shift to +succeed tolerably well, but at length, the distresses +of my country increasing, I found myself involved +in the deepest poverty. Several years of uncommon +severity destroyed my cattle (which is the chief sup<!-- Page 450 -->port +of the Highlanders), and rotted away the scanty +crops, which were to supply us with food, upon the +ground. I cannot accuse myself of either voluntary +unthriftiness or neglect of my business, but there are +some situations in which it seems impossible for +human exertion to stem the torrent of misfortune. +But wherefore should I give pain to such kind and +worthy benefactors, by a detail of all the miseries +which I and many of my poor countrymen have endured? +I will therefore only mention that, after +having suffered, I think, every distress which human +nature is equal to support—after having seen my +tender parents, and last, my dear unfortunate wife, +perish by the hardships of our situation—I took the +resolution of abandoning for ever a country which +seemed incapable of supporting its inhabitants. I +thought that the milder climate and more fertile soil +of America might, perhaps, enable a wretched wanderer, +who asked no more than food for his starving +children, to drag on, a little longer, a miserable life. +With this idea I sold the remainder of my stock, +and, after having paid my landlord, I found I had +just enough to transport myself and family into eternal +banishment. I reached a seaport town, and +embarked with my children on board a ship that was +setting sail for Philadelphia. But the same ill-fortune +seemed still to accompany my steps; for a +dreadful storm arose, which, after having tossed our +vessel during several days, wrecked us at length upon +the coast. All the crew indeed escaped, and with an +infinite difficulty I saved these dear but miserable +infants who now accompany me; but when I reflect +on my situation, in a distant country, without re<!-- Page 451 -->sources, +friends, or hopes, I am almost inclined to +think that we might all have been happier in the +bosom of the ocean."</p> + +<p>Here the Highlander finished his story, and all the +company were affected by the recital of his distresses. +They all endeavoured to comfort him with the kindest +expressions and promises of assistance; but Miss Simmons, +after she had with some difficulty composed +herself enough to speak, asked the man if his name +was not <i>Andrew Campbell</i>? The Highlander answered, +with some surprise, it was. "Then," said she, "you +will find that you have a friend, whom, as yet, you +are not acquainted with, who has both the ability and +the will to serve you. That friend," added she, seeing +all the company astonished, "is no other than my +uncle. That Colonel Simmons, whom you have described +with so much feeling and affection, was +brother to my father, and consequently uncle to myself. +It is no wonder that the memory of such a man +should be venerated by his relations. I have often +heard my uncle speak of his untimely death as the +greatest misfortune which ever happened to our +family; and I have often seen him read, with tears in +his eyes, many of his brother's letters, in which he +speaks with the greatest affection of his faithful +Highlander, Andrew Campbell."</p> + +<p>At these words the poor Highlander, unable to repress +the strong emotions of his mind, sprang forward +in a sudden transport of joy, and, without consideration +of circumstances, caught Miss Simmons in his +arms, exclaiming at the same time, "Praised be to God +for this happy and unexpected meeting! Blessed be +my shipwreck itself, that has given me an opportunity<!-- Page 452 --> +of seeing, before I die, some of the blood of my dear +and worthy colonel!" and, perceiving Miss Simmons +confused at this abrupt and unexpected salutation, he +added, in the most respectful manner, "Pardon me, +my honoured young lady, for the improper liberty I +have taken; but I was not master of myself to find, +at a time when I thought myself the most forlorn and +miserable of the human race, that I was in company +with the nearest relation of the man, whom, after my +own father, I have always loved and reverenced most." +Miss Simmons answered with the greatest affability +that she freely excused the warmth of his affection, +and that she would that very day acquaint her uncle +with this extraordinary event, who, she did not doubt, +would come over with the greatest expedition to see +a person whom he knew so well by name, and who +could inform him of so many particulars of her uncle.</p> + +<p>And now, the company being separated, Tommy, +who had listened with silent attention to the story of +the Highlander, took an opportunity of following Mr +Barlow, who was walking out; and when he perceived +they were alone, he looked at him as if he had some +weighty matter to disclose, but was unable to give it +utterance. Mr Barlow, therefore, turned towards +him with the greatest kindness, and taking him tenderly +by the hand, inquired what he wished. "Indeed," +answered Tommy, almost crying, "I am +scarcely able to tell you. But I have been a very bad +and ungrateful boy, and I am afraid you no longer +have the same affection for me."</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If you are sensible of your faults, my +little friend, that is a very great step towards amending +them. Let me therefore know what it is, the recollec<!-- Page 453 -->tion +of which distresses you so much; and if it is +in my power to assist in making you easy, there is +nothing, I am sure, which I shall be inclined to refuse +you.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh sir! your speaking to me with so +much goodness hurts me a great deal more than if +you were to be very angry; for when people are +angry and passionate, one does not so much mind +what they say; but when you speak with so much +kindness, it seems to pierce me to the very heart, +because I know I have not deserved it.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But if you are sensible of having +committed any faults, you may resolve to behave +so well for the future that you may deserve everybody's +friendship and esteem; few people are so perfect +as not to err sometimes, and if you are convinced +of your errors, you will be more cautious how you +give way to them a second time.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I am very happy to hear you +say so. I will, then, tell you everything which lies so +heavy upon my mind. You must know then, sir, +that although I have lived so long with you, and during +all that time you have taken so much pains +to improve me in everything, and teach me to act +well to everybody, I had no sooner quitted your sight +than I became, I think, a worse boy than ever I was +before.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But why do you judge so severely of +yourself as to think you were become worse than ever. +Perhaps you have been a little thoughtless and giddy; +and these are faults which I cannot with truth say +you were ever free from.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir; what I have been guilty of is in<!-- Page 454 -->finitely +worse than ever. I have always been very +giddy and very thoughtless, but I never imagined I +could have been the most insolent and ungrateful +boy in the world.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—You frighten me, my little friend. +Is it possible you can have committed actions that deserve +so harsh a name?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—You shall judge yourself, sir, for, now I +have begun, I am determined to tell you all. You +know, sir, that when I first came to you, I had a +high opinion of myself for being born a gentleman, +and a very great contempt for everybody in an inferior +station.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I must confess you have always had +some tendency to both these follies.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; but you have so often laughed +at me upon the subject, and shown me the folly of +people's imagining themselves better than others, +without any merit of their own, that I was grown a +little wiser. Besides, I have so often observed, that +those I despised could do a variety of things which +I was ignorant of, while those who are vain of being +gentlemen can do nothing useful or ingenious; so +that I had begun to be ashamed of my folly. But +since I came home I have kept company with a great +many fine young gentlemen and ladies, who thought +themselves superior to all the rest of the world, and +used to despise every one else; and they have made +me forget everything I learned before.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Perhaps, then, I was mistaken when +I taught you that the greatest merit any person +could have is to be good and useful. These fine +young gentlemen and ladies may be wiser, and have<!-- Page 455 --> +given you better lessons; if that is the case, you will +have great reason to rejoice that you have changed +so much for the better.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir, no; I never thought them either +good or wise, for they know nothing but how to dress +their hair and buckle their shoes; but they persuaded +me that it was necessary to be polite, and talked to +me so often upon the subject, that I could not help +believing them.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I am glad to hear that; it is necessary +for everybody to be polite; they therefore, I +suppose, instructed you to be more obliging and civil +in your manners than ever you were before. Instead +of doing you any hurt, this will be the greatest improvement +you can receive.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—No, sir, quite the contrary. Instead of +teaching me to be civil and obliging, they have made +me ruder and worse behaved than ever I was before.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If that is the case, I fear these fine +young gentlemen and ladies undertook to teach you +more than they understood themselves.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Indeed, sir, I am of the same opinion +myself. But I did not think so then, and therefore +I did whatever I observed them do, and talked in the +same manner as I heard them talk. They used to +be always laughing at Harry Sandford, and I grew so +foolish that I did not choose to keep company with +him any longer.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That was a pity, because I am convinced +he really loves you. However, it is of no +great consequence, for he has employment enough at +home; and however ingenious you may be, I do not +think that he will learn how to manage his land, or<!-- Page 456 --> +raise food, from your conversation. It will therefore +be better for him to converse with farmers, and leave +you to the society of gentlemen. Indeed, this I +know has always been his taste; and had not your +father pressed him very much to accompany you +home, he would have liked much better to have +avoided the visit. However, I will inform him that +you have gained other friends, and advise him for +the future to avoid your company.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh, sir! I did not think you could be so +cruel. I love Harry Sandford better than any other +boy in the world; and I shall never be happy till he +forgives me all my bad behaviour, and converses with +me again as he used to do.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But then, perhaps, you may lose the +acquaintance of all those polite young gentlemen +and ladies.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—I care very little about that, sir. But +I fear I have behaved so ill that he never will be +able to forgive me, and love me as he did formerly.</p> + +<p>Tommy then went on, and repeated with great +exactness the story of his insolence and ingratitude, +which had so great an effect upon him, that he burst +into tears, and cried a considerable time. He then +concluded with asking Mr Barlow if he thought +Harry would be ever able to forgive him?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I cannot conceal from you, my little +friend, that you have acted very ill indeed in this +affair. However, if you are really ashamed of all +your past conduct, and determined to act better, +I do not doubt that so generous and good-natured a +boy as Harry is, will forgive you all.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh, sir! I should be the happiest creature<!-- Page 457 --> +in the world. Will you be so kind as to bring him +here to day? and you shall see how I will behave.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Softly, Tommy, softly. What is +Harry to come here for? Have you not insulted and +abused him without reason; and at last proceeded +so far as to strike him, only because he was giving +you the best advice, and endeavouring to preserve +you from danger? Can you imagine that any human +being will come to you in return for such treatment, +at least till you have convinced him that you are +ashamed of your passion and injustice, and that he +may expect better usage for the future?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What, then, must I do, sir?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—If you want any future connection +with Harry Sandford, it is your business to go to him +and tell him so.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—What, sir! go to a farmer's, to expose +myself before all his family?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Just now you told me you were ready +to do everything, and yet you cannot take the trouble +of visiting your friend at his own house. You then +imagine that a person does not expose himself by +acting wrong, but by acknowledging and amending +his faults?</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—But what would everybody say if a +young gentleman like me was to go and beg pardon +of a farmer's son?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—They would probably say that you +have more sense and gratitude than they expected. +However, you are to act as you please. With the sentiments +you still seem to entertain, Harry will certainly +be a very unfit companion, and you will do much better +to cultivate the new acquaintance you have made.<!-- Page 458 --></p> + +<p>Mr Barlow was then going away, but Tommy burst +again into tears, and begged him not to go; upon +which Mr Barlow said, "I do not want to leave you, +Tommy, but our conversation is now at an end. +You have asked my advice, which I have given you +freely. I have told you how you ought to act, if you +would preserve the esteem of any good or sensible +friend, or prevail upon Harry to excuse your past behaviour. +But as you do not approve of what I suggested, +you must follow your own opinion."</p> + +<p>"Pray sir, pray sir," said Tommy, sobbing, "do not +go. I have used Harry Sandford in the most barbarous +manner; my father is angry with me, and, if you +desert me, I shall have no friend left in the world."</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That will be your own fault, and +therefore you will not deserve to be pitied. Is it not +in your own power to preserve all your friends by an +honest confession of your faults? Your father will +be pleased, Harry Sandford will heartily forgive you, +and I shall retain the same good opinion of your +character which I have long had.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—And is it really possible, sir, that you +should have a good opinion of me after all I have +told you about myself?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I have always thought you a little +vain and careless, I confess, but at the same time I +imagined you had both good sense and generosity in +your character; I depended upon <i>first</i> to make you +see your faults, and upon the <i>second</i> to correct them.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Dear sir, I am very much obliged to +you; but you have always been extremely kind and +friendly to me.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—And therefore I told your father<!-- Page 459 --> +yesterday, who is very much hurt at your quarrel with +Harry, that though a sudden passion might have +transported you too far, yet, when you came to consider +the matter coolly, you would perceive your faults +and acknowledge them; were you not to behave in +this manner, I owned I could say nothing in your +favour. And I was very much confirmed in this +opinion, when I saw the courage you exerted in the +rescue of Harry's lamb, and the compassion you felt +for the poor Highlander. "A boy," said I, "who +has so many excellent dispositions, can never persist +in bad behaviour. He may do wrong by accident, +but he will be ashamed of his errors, and endeavour +to repair them by a frank and generous acknowledgment. +This has always been the conduct of really +great and elevated minds, while mean and grovelling +ones alone imagine that it is necessary to persist in +faults they have once committed."</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Oh, sir! I will go directly and entreat +Harry to forgive me; I am convinced that all you say +is right. But will you not go with me? Do pray, +sir, be so good.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Gently, gently, my young friend, you +are always for doing everything in an instant. I am +very glad you have taken a resolution which will do +you so much credit, and give so much satisfaction to +your own mind; but, before you execute it, I think +it will be necessary to speak to your father and +mother upon the subject; and, in the mean time, I +will go and pay a visit to farmer Sandford, and bring +you an account of Harry.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Do, sir, be so good; and tell Harry, if +you please, that there is nothing I desire so much as<!-- Page 460 --> +to see him, and that nothing shall ever make me +behave ill again. I have heard too, sir, that there +was a poor Black came begging to us, who saved +Harry from the bull; if I could but find him out, I +would be good to him as long as I live.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow commended Tommy very much for +dispositions so full of gratitude and goodness; and, +taking leave of him, went to communicate the conversation +he had just had to Mr Merton. That +gentleman felt the sincerest pleasure at the account, +and entreated Mr Barlow to go directly to prepare +Harry to receive his son. "That little boy," observed +he, "has the noblest mind that ever adorned a human +being; nor shall I ever be happy till I see my son +acknowledging all his faults, and entreating forgiveness; +for, with the virtues that I have discovered in +his soul, he appears to me a more eligible friend and +companion than noblemen or princes."</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow therefore set out on foot, though Mr +Merton would have sent his carriage and servants to +attend him, and soon arrived at Mr Sandford's farm. +It was a pleasant spot, situated upon the gentle declivity +of a hill, at the foot of which winded along a +swift and clear little stream. The house itself was +small, but warm and convenient, furnished with the +greatest simplicity, but managed with perfect neatness. +As Mr Barlow approached, he saw the owner +himself guiding a plough through one of his own +fields, and Harry, who had now resumed the farmer, +directed the horses. But when he saw Mr Barlow +coming across the field, he stopped his team, and, +letting fall his whip, sprang forward to meet him with +all the unaffected eagerness of joy. As soon as<!-- Page 461 --> +Harry had saluted Mr Barlow, and inquired after his +health, he asked with the greatest kindness after +Tommy; "for I fancy, sir," said he, "by the way +which I see you come, you have been at Mr Merton's +house." "Indeed I have," replied Mr Barlow, "but +I am very sorry to find that Tommy and you are not +upon as good terms as you formerly were."</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Indeed, sir, I am very sorry for it myself. +But I do not know that I have given Master Merton +any reason to change his sentiments about me; and +though I do not think he has treated me as well as +he ought to do, I have the greatest desire to hear +that he is well.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That you might have known yourself +had you not left Mr Merton's house so suddenly, +without taking leave of any one, even your friend Mr +Merton, who has always treated you with so much +kindness.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Indeed, sir, I should be very unhappy if +you think I have done wrong; but be so good as to +tell me how I could have acted otherwise. I am very +sorry to appear to accuse Master Merton, neither do +I bear any resentment against him for what he has +done; but since you speak to me upon the subject, I +shall be obliged to tell the truth.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Well, Harry, let me hear it; you +know I shall be the last person to condemn you, if +you do not deserve it.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I know your constant kindness to me, sir, +and I always confide in it; however, I am not sensible +that I am in fault. You know, sir, that it was +with unwillingness I went to Mr Merton's, for I +thought there would be fine gentlemen and ladies<!-- Page 462 --> +there, who would ridicule my dress and manners; and, +though Master Merton has been always very friendly +in his behaviour towards me, I could not help thinking +that he might grow ashamed of my company at +his own house.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Do you wonder at that, Harry, considering +the difference there is in your rank and fortune?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—No, sir, I cannot say I do, for I generally +observe that those who are rich will scarcely treat the +poor with common civility. But, in this particular +case, I did not see any reason for it; I never desired +Master Merton to admit me to his company, or invite +me to his house, because I knew that I was born, and +in a very inferior station. You were so good as to +take me to your house, and if I was then much in his +company, it was because he seemed to desire it himself, +and I always endeavoured to treat him with the +greatest respect.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is indeed true, Harry; in all +your little plays and studies I have never observed +anything but the greatest mildness and good nature +on your part.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I hope, sir, it has never been otherwise. +But though I had the greatest affection for Master +Merton, I never desired to go home with him. What +sort of a figure could a poor boy like me make at a +gentleman's table, among little masters and misses +that powder their hair, and wear buckles as big as our +horses carry upon their harness? If I attempted to +speak, I was always laughed at; or if I did anything, +I was sure to hear something about clowns and rustics! +And yet, I think, though they were all gentlemen and<!-- Page 463 --> +ladies, you would not much have approved of their +conversation, for it was about nothing but plays, and +dress, and trifles of that nature. I never heard one +of them mention a single word about saying their +prayers, or being dutiful to their parents, or doing +any good to the poor.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Well, Harry, but if you did not like +their conversation, you surely might have borne it +with patience for a little while: and then I heard +something about your being quarrelsome.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Oh, sir! I hope not. I was, to be sure, +once a little passionate, but that I could not help, and +I hope you will forgive me. There was a modest, +sensible young lady, who was the only person that +treated me with any kindness, and a bold, forward, +ill-natured boy affronted her in the grossest manner, +only because she took notice of me. Could I help +taking her part? Have you not told me, too, sir, +that every person, though he should avoid quarrels, +has a right to defend himself when he is attacked?</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Well, Harry, I do not much blame +you, from the circumstances I have heard of that +affair; but why did you leave Mr Merton's family so +abruptly, without speaking to anybody, or thanking +Mr Merton himself for the civilities he had shown you? +Was that right?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Oh dear, sir, I have cried about it several +times, for I think it must appear very rude and ungrateful +to Mr Merton. But as to Master Tommy, I +did not leave him while I thought I could be of any +use. He treated me, I must say, in a very unworthy +manner; he joined with all the other fine little gentlemen +in abusing me, only because I endeavoured to<!-- Page 464 --> +persuade them not to go to a bull-baiting; and then +at last he struck me. I did not strike him again, because +I loved him so much in spite of all his unkindness; +nor did I leave him till I saw he was quite safe +in the hands of his own servants; and then, how +could I go back to his house after what he had done +to me? I did not choose to complain of him to Mr +Merton; and how could I behave to him as I had +done before, without being guilty of meanness and +falsehood? And therefore I thought it better to go +home and desire you to speak, to Mr Merton, and entreat +him to forgive my rudeness.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Well, Harry, I can inform you that +Mr Merton is perfectly satisfied on that account. But +there is one circumstance you have not mentioned, +my little friend, and that is your saving Tommy's life +from the fury of the enraged bull.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—As to that, sir, I hope I should have done +the same for any human creature. But I believe that +neither of us would have escaped, if it had not been +for the poor courageous Black that came to our assistance.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—I see, Harry, that you are a boy of a +noble and generous spirit, and I highly approve of +everything you have done; but are you determined to +forsake Tommy Merton for ever, because he has once +behaved ill?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—I, sir! no, I am sure. But though I am +poor, I do not desire the acquaintance of anybody that +despises me. Let him keep company with his gentlemen +and ladies, I am satisfied with companions in my +own station. But surely, sir, it is not <i>I</i> that forsake +him, but <i>he</i> that has cast me off.<!-- Page 465 --></p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—But if he is sorry for what he has done, +and only desires to acknowledge his faults and obtain +your pardon?</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Oh dear, sir, I should forget everything in +an instant. I knew Master Tommy was always a +little passionate and headstrong, but he is at the same +time generous and good-natured; nor would he, I am +sure, have treated me so ill if he had not been encouraged +to it by the other young gentlemen.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—Well, Harry, I believe your friend is +thoroughly sensible of his faults, and that you will +have little to fear for the future. He is impatient till +he sees you, and asks your forgiveness.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—Oh, sir, I should forgive him if he had +beaten me a hundred times. But though I cannot +leave the horses now, if you will be so kind to wait a +little, I daresay my father will let me go when he +leaves off ploughing.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—No, Harry, there is no occasion for +that. Tommy has indeed used you ill, and ought to +acknowledge it, otherwise he will not deserve to be +trusted again. He will call upon you, and tell you +all he feels on the occasion. In the mean time I was +desired, both by him and Mr Merton, to inquire after +the poor negro that served you so materially, and +saved you from the bull.</p> + +<p><i>Harry.</i>—He is at our house, sir, for I invited him +home with me; and when my father heard how well +he had behaved, he made him up a little bed over the +stable, and gives him victuals every day, and the poor +man seems very thankful and industrious, and says +he would gladly do any kind of work to earn his subsistence.<!-- Page 466 --></p> + +<p>Mr Barlow then took his leave of Harry, and after +having spoken to his father, returned to Mr Merton's.</p> + +<p>During Mr Barlow's absence Mr Simmons had +arrived there to fetch away his niece; but when he +had heard the story of the Highlander, he perfectly +recollected his name and character, and was touched +with the sincerest compassion for his sufferings. On +conversing with the poor man he found that he was +extremely well acquainted with agriculture, as well as +truly industrious, and therefore instantly proposed to +settle him in a small farm of his own which happened +to be vacant. The poor man received this unexpected +change in his fortune with tears of joy, and every +mark of unaffected gratitude; and Mr Merton, who +never wanted generosity, insisted upon having a share +in his establishment. He was proposing to supply +him with the necessary implements of agriculture, +and a couple of horses, to begin the culture of his +land, just at the moment when Mr Barlow entered, +who, when he had heard with the sincerest pleasure +the improvement of the poor man's circumstances, +begged permission to share in so benevolent an action. +"I have an excellent milch-cow," said he, "which I +can very well spare, whose milk will speedily recruit +the strength of these poor children; and I have half-a-dozen +ewes and a ram, which I hope, under Mr +Campbell's management, will soon increase to a +numerous flock." The poor Highlander seemed almost +frantic with such a profusion of unexpected blessings, +and said "that he wished nothing more than to +pass the remainder of his days in such a generous +nation, and to be enabled to show, at least, the sentiments +which such undeserved generosity had excited."<!-- Page 467 --></p> + +<p>At night Mr Merton, who was desirous by every +method to support the good impressions which had +now taken possession of Tommy's mind, proposed +that Miss Simmons should favour them with the conclusion +of the story which she had begun the night +before. The young lady instantly complied, and then +read them</p> + + +<p><i>The Conclusion of the Story of Sophron and Tigranes.</i></p> + +<p><a name="tn_pg_480"></a><!--TN: Quote added before "The"-->"The venerable Chares continued his narration thus: +<a name="tn_pg_480a"></a><!--TN: Quote removed before "'I"-->'I passed several months among the Arabians, delighted +with the simplicity of their life and the innocence +of their manners; and would to heaven,' added +he, with a sigh, 'that I had accepted their friendly +invitations, and never quitted the silence of their +hospitable deserts! How many scenes should I have +avoided which fill these aged eyes with tears, and +pierce my soul with horror as often as I recollect +them! I should not have been witness to such a +waste of human blood, nor traced the gradual ruin +of my country. I should not have seen our towns +involved in flames, nor our helpless children the captives +of fell barbarians. But it is in vain for human +beings to repine at the just decrees of Providence, +which have consigned every people to misery and servitude +that abandon virtue, and attach themselves to +the pursuit of pleasure.</p> + +<p>"'I left Arabia, with a heart penetrated with gratitude +and admiration for its virtuous and benevolent +inhabitants. They dismissed me with every mark of +kindness and hospitality, guided me over their dreary +deserts, and at parting presented me with one of those<!-- Page 468 --> +beautiful horses which are the admiration of all the +surrounding nations. I will not trouble you with an +account of the different countries which I wandered +over in search of wisdom and experience. At length +I returned to my native city, determined to pass the +rest of my life in obscurity and retirement; for the +result of all my observations was, that he is happiest +who passes his time in innocent employments and +the observation of nature. I had seen the princes +and nobles of the earth repining in the midst of their +splendid enjoyments, disgusted with the empty pageantry +of their situation, and wishing in vain for the +humble tranquillity of private life. I had visited +many of the principal cities in several countries +where I had travelled, but I had uniformly observed, +that the miseries and crimes of mankind increased +with their numbers. I therefore determined to avoid +the general contagion by fixing my abode in some +sequestered spot, at a distance from the passions and +pursuits of my fellow-creatures.</p> + +<p>"'Having therefore collected the remainder of my +effects, and with them purchased a little farm and +vineyard in a beautiful and solitary spot near the sea, +I soon afterwards married a virtuous young woman, +and in her society enjoyed, for several years, as great +a degree of tranquillity as generally falls to the lot of +man. I did not disdain to exercise with my own +hands the different employments of agriculture; for +I thought man was dishonoured by that indolence +which renders him a burthen to his fellow-creatures, +not by that industry which is necessary to the support +of his species. I therefore sometimes guided the +plough with my own hands, sometimes laboured in a<!-- Page 469 --> +little garden, which supplied us with excellent fruits +and herbs; I likewise tended the cattle, whose patient +labour enabled us to subdue the soil, and considered +myself as only repaying part of the obligations I had +received. My wife, too, exercised herself in domestic +cares; she milked the sheep and goats, and chiefly +prepared the food of the family.</p> + +<p>"'Amidst my other employments I did not entirely +forget the study of philosophy, which had charmed +me so much in my early youth. I frequently observed, +with admiration, the wisdom and contrivance +which were displayed in all the productions of nature, +and the perfection of all her works. I used to walk +amid the coolness and stillness of the evening, feeding +my mind with pleasing meditations upon the +power and wisdom which have originally produced +and still support this frame of things. I turned my +eyes upon the earth, and saw it covered with innumerable +animals, that sported upon its surface, and +found, each according to his nature, subsistence +adapted to his wants. I saw the air and water themselves +teeming with life and peopled with innumerable +swarms of insects. I saw that, throughout the whole +extent of creation, as far as I was capable of observing +it, nothing was waste or desolate—everything +was replete with life and adapted to support it. +These reflections continually excited in my mind new +gratitude and veneration for that mysterious Being, +whose goodness presides over such an infinite variety +of beings. I endeavoured to elevate my thoughts to +contemplate His nature and qualities; I however +found my faculties too bounded to comprehend the +infinite perfections of His nature; I therefore con<!-- Page 470 -->tented +myself with imperfectly tracing Him in His +works, and adoring Him as the common friend and +parent of all His creatures.</p> + +<p>"'Nor did I confine myself to these speculations, +however sublime and consolatory to the human +heart. Destined as we are to inhabit this globe of +earth, it is our interest to be acquainted with its +nature, and the properties of its productions. For +this reason, I particularly examined all the vegetables +which are capable of becoming the food of man, or of +the various animals which contribute to his support. +I studied their qualities, the soil in which they delighted, +and the improvements which might be made +in every species. I sometimes wandered among the +neighbouring mountains, and wherever the fall of +rocks, or the repeated violence of torrents had borne +away the soil, I considered with silent admiration the +various substances which we call by the common +name of <i>earth</i>. These I used to collect and mingle +with the mould of my own garden, by which means +I frequently made useful discoveries in fertilising the +soil and increasing the quantity of food.</p> + +<p>"'I also considered the qualities of the air, which +surrounds and sustains all living animals; I particularly +remarked the noxious or salutary effects it is +able to produce upon their constitutions; and, by these +means, was frequently enabled to give useful counsels +to all the neighbourhood. A large tract of ground +had been formerly deluged by the sea; and the waters, +finding no convenient vent, spread themselves all +around, and converted a large extent of soil into a +filthy marsh. Every year, when the heat of summer +prevailed, the atmosphere was filled with putrid ex<!-- Page 471 -->halations, +which produced fevers and pestilential disorders +among the inhabitants. Touched with compassion +for the evils which they endured, I persuaded +them to undertake the task of draining the soil and +letting off the superfluous waters. This I instructed +them to do with such success that, in a short time, an +unwholesome desert became covered with the most +luxuriant harvests, and was deprived of all its noxious +influence. By thus rendering my services useful to +my fellow-creatures, I received the purest reward +which can attend the increase of knowledge—the consciousness +of performing my duty, and humbly imitating +that Being, whose goodness is as general and +unbounded as his power.</p> + +<p>"'Amidst these tranquil and innocent employments +my life flowed gently away like a clear and even +stream. I was a stranger to avarice or ambition, +and to all the cares which agitate the bulk of mortals. +Alternate labour and study preserved the vigour both +of body and mind; our wants were few and easily +gratified; we chiefly subsisted upon the liberal returns +of the earth, and seldom polluted our table with the +bodies of slaughtered animals. One only child, the +unfortunate girl who owes her preservation to the +courage of this young man, was granted to our +prayers; but in her we found enough to exercise all +the affections of our minds; we hung with ecstasy +upon her innocent smiles, and remarked her opening +graces with all the partiality of parental fondness. +As she grew up, her mother instructed her in all the +arts and employments of her sex; while I, who already +saw the tempest gathering, which has since burst with +such fatal fury upon my country, thought it necessary<!-- Page 472 --> +to arm her mind with all the firmness which education +can bestow. For this reason I endeavoured to +give both her mind and body a degree of vigour which +is seldom found in the female sex.</p> + +<p>"'As soon as Selene (for that was her name) was +sufficiently advanced in strength to be capable of the +lighter labours of husbandry and gardening, I employed +her as my constant companion, and she soon +acquired a dexterity in all the rustic employments, +which I considered with equal pleasure and admiration. +If women are in general feeble both in body +and mind, it arises less from nature than from education; +<i>we</i> encourage a vicious indolence and inactivity +which we falsely call delicacy; instead of hardening +their minds by the severer principles of reason and +philosophy, we breed them to useless arts, which terminate +in vanity and sensuality. In most of the +countries which I had visited, they are taught nothing +of a higher nature than a few modulations of the voice, +or useless postures of the body; their time is consumed +in sloth or trifles, and trifles become the only pursuit +capable of interesting them. <i>We</i> seem to forget that +it is upon the qualities of the female sex that our own +domestic comforts and the education of our children +must depend. And what are the comforts or the education +which a race of beings, corrupted from their +infancy, and unacquainted with all the duties of life, +are fitted to bestow? To touch a musical instrument +with useless skill, to exhibit their natural or affected +graces to the eyes of indolent and debauched young +men, to dissipate their husbands' patrimony in riotous +and unnecessary expenses—these are the only arts +cultivated by women in most of the polished nations<!-- Page 473 --> +I had seen; and the consequences are uniformly such +as may be expected to proceed from such polluted +sources—private misery and public servitude.</p> + +<p>"'But Selene's education was regulated by different +views, and conducted upon severer principles—if that +can be called <i>severity</i> which opens the mind to a sense +of moral and religious duties, and most effectually +arms it against the inevitable evils of life. With the +rising sun she left her bed, and accompanied me to +the garden or the vineyard. Her little hands were +employed in shortening the luxurious shoots of fruitful +trees that supplied our table with wholesome and +delicious fruits, or in supporting the branches of such +as sunk beneath their load. Sometimes <a name="tn_pg_486"></a><!--TN: "he" changed to "she"-->she collected +water from a clear and constant rill that rolled along +the valley, and recruited the force of plants that were +exhausted by the sun. With what delight did I view +her innocent cheerfulness and assiduity! With +what pleasure did she receive the praises which I +gave to her skill and industry; or hear the lessons of +wisdom and the examples of virtuous women, which +I used to read to her at evening, out of the writings +of celebrated philosophers which I had collected in +my travels.</p> + +<p>"'But such a life was too unchecquered with misfortune +to last. The first stroke which attacked and +almost destroyed my hopes of good was the untimely +loss of my dear and virtuous wife. The pestilential +heats of autumn overpowered her tender frame, and +raised a consuming fever in her veins; for some time +she struggled against the disease, but at length her +pure and innocent spirit forsook this earth for ever, +and left me comfortless and forlorn to mourn her loss!<!-- Page 474 --></p> + +<p>"'I will not, my worthy hosts, attempt to describe +the inexpressible distress which seized my soul at seeing +myself thus deserted. There are some philosophers +who aspire to triumph over human feelings, +and consider all tender affections as disgraceful weaknesses; +for my part, I have never pretended to that +degree in insensibility. I have, indeed, opposed as +criminal that habitual acquiescence in sorrow which +renders us unfit for the discharge of our duties; but +while I have endeavoured to <i>act</i>, I have never blushed +at <i>feeling</i>, like a man. Even now, that time has mitigated +the keenness of the smart, I feel the habitual +anguish of an incurable wound. But let me rather +hasten to relate the few remaining events of a uniform +unvaried life than detain you with a useless repetition +of my sorrows.</p> + +<p>"'Scarcely had time afforded me a feeble comfort, +when the recollection of past misfortunes was almost +extinguished by the new ones which overwhelmed my +country. The fertile plains of Syria abounded in all +the necessaries and conveniences of life; the vine +seemed to grow spontaneously in every valley, and +offer its luxuriant produce to every hand; the industrious +insect which spins the wonderful substance +called <i>silk</i> out of its bowels, though lately introduced +into that part of Asia, seemed to receive new vigour +from the mildness of the climate; corn and oil, the +noblest fruits and the most salubrious herbs, were +found in the garden of every peasant; and the herds +of cattle and horses, which wandered over our luxuriant +pastures, equalled or surpassed all I had observed +in other countries. But this profusion of blessings, +instead of being attended with any beneficial effects,<!-- Page 475 --> +produced nothing but a foolish taste for frivolous employment +and sensuality; feasts, and dances, and +music, and tricks of players, and exhibitions of buffoons, +were more attended to than all the serious and +important cares of life. Every young man was a +critic in the science of adjusting the folds of his robe, +or of giving a studied negligence to his hair; every +young woman was instructed in every art that serves +to consume time or endanger modesty. Repeat to +them an idle tale, the tricks of a gamester, or the adventures +of a singing-girl, and every audience listened +with mute attention to the wonderful narration; but +tell them of the situation of their country, the +wretched state of their civil and military discipline, +or of the numerous and warlike tribes of barbarians +which surround them, and every auditor would steal +away in silence, and leave the uninteresting theme.</p> + +<p>"'In such a state of things, it was not long to be +expected that my countrymen would be permitted to +hold the riches they abused, and wanted firmness to +defend. A warlike tribe of barbarians burst forth +from the northern mountains of Asia, and spread +themselves over our fertile plains, which they laid +waste like a consuming tempest. After a few ineffectual +skirmishes, which only served to expose +their weakness to the contempt of their enemies, they +yielded without opposition to the invader; in this, +indeed, more wise than to irritate him by a fruitless +resistance; and thus, in a few weeks, the leader of +an obscure tribe of barbarians saw himself become a +powerful monarch, and possessor of one of the richest +provinces of Asia.</p> + +<p>"'I was sitting one evening at the door of my<!-- Page 476 --> +cottage, gazing upon the fading glory of the setting +sun, when a man, of a majestic appearance, but with +something ferocious in his look, attended by several +others, passed by. As he approached my little garden, +he seemed to view it with satisfaction, and to +unbend the habitual sternness of his look; I asked +him if he would enter in and taste the fruits with his +companions. He accepted my offer, and, entering +into a shady arbour, I brought him the most palatable +fruits I could find, with milk and other rustic +fare, such as my farm afforded. He seemed pleased +with his entertainment, and, when he was departing, +thanked me with great affability, and bade me +ask a favour in return, 'which,' added he, with a +certain degree of conscious pride, 'you can scarcely +make too great either for my gratitude or <a name="tn_pg_489"></a><!--TN: Comma changed to a period after "power"-->power.' +'If,' answered I (for I began to suspect that it was +Arsaces, the leader of these barbarians), 'your power +is indeed equal to every boon, give peace and liberty +to my country!' 'The first,' said he, 'I have already +given; and, as to the second, it is impossible; their +vices and effeminacy render them incapable of enjoying +it. Men that have neither virtue, temperance, +nor valour, can never want a master, even though +Arsaces were to withdraw his conquering troops.' +'But ask again,' added he, 'something for thyself, +and let the favour be worthy me to bestow.' +'Heaven,' answered I with a smile, 'has already +given everything I can want, when it gave the earth +fertility, and me the power to labour. All, therefore, +that I request, O mighty conqueror, is, that you will +please to order your men to step aside from the newly +cultivated ground, and not destroy my vegetables.'<!-- Page 477 --> +'By heaven!' said Arsaces, turning to his companions, +'there is something elevated in the tranquillity +and composure of this man's mind; and, was +I not <i>Arsaces</i>, I should be with pleasure <i>Chares</i>.' He +then departed, but ordered me to attend him the next +day at the camp, and gave strict orders that none of +the soldiers should molest or injure my humble residence.</p> + +<p>"'I attended the great Arsaces at the time he had +appointed, and traversed the encampment of his troop +with admiration and regret. This people was a tribe +of that mighty empire which is called <i>Scythia</i>, whose +inhabitants have so often issued from their deserts +for the conquest and destruction of their neighbours.</p> + +<p>"'This country extends to an unknown length behind +the most fertile districts of Europe and Asia. The +climate is cold in winter, and the earth for several +months covered with snow; but in summer it feels the +enlivening influence of the sun, and for that reason +is possessed of an amazing degree of fertility. But +as the inhabitants live remote from the sea, and possess +few navigable rivers, they are little acquainted +with agriculture, or the arts of life. Instead of trusting +to the increase of their fields for food, they raise +prodigious herds of cattle and horses in the luxuriant +pastures which everywhere abound. The Scythians, +like the Arabians, wander over these immense spaces +without a fixed or permanent residence. By the side +of lakes and rivers, where the verdure is most constant, +and the vegetation stronger, they generally encamp, +until the heats of the summer compel them to ascend +the mountains, and seek a cooler residence. Their +houses are composed of slender poles covered with<!-- Page 478 --> +skins, or a coarse cloth, and therefore easily erected, +or taken down and stowed in waggons, for the convenience +of transporting them in their marches. Their +diet is answerable to the poverty of their habitations. +They milk their herds, and, above all, their mares, +and preserve the produce in large bottles for months +together. This sour and homely mess is to them the +greatest dainty, and composes the chief of their +nourishment; to this they add the flesh of their cattle +and horses, which they kill when afflicted with disease, +but rarely in health.</p> + +<p>"'This is the simple and uniform life of all the +Scythians; but this simplicity renders them formidable +to all their neighbours, and irresistible in war. +Unsoftened by ease or luxury, unacquainted with the +artificial wants of life, these nations pass their lives +in manly exercises and rustic employments; but +horsemanship is the greatest pride and passion of +their souls; nor is there an individual who does not +at least possess several of these noble animals, which, +though small in size, are admirably adapted for the +fatigues of war and the chase, and endowed with incomparable +swiftness. As to the Scythians themselves, +they excel all other nations, unless it be the +Arabs, in their courage and address in riding; without +a saddle, or even a bridle, their young men will vault +upon an unbacked courser, and keep their seats, in +spite of all his violent efforts, till they have rendered +him tame and obedient to their will. In their military +expeditions they neither regard the obstacles of +nature nor the inclemency of the season; and their +horses are accustomed to traverse rocks and mountains +with a facility that is incredible. If they reach<!-- Page 479 --> +a river, instead of waiting for the tedious assistance +of boats and bridges, the warrior divests himself of +his clothes and arms, which he places in a bundle +upon the horse's back, and then, plunging into the +stream, conducts him over by the bridle. Even in +the midst of winter, when the hatred of other nations +gives way to the inclemencies of the season, the Scythian +follows his military labours, and rejoices to see +the earth thick covered with frost and snow, because +it affords him a solid path in his excursions; neither +the severest cold nor the most violent storms can check +his ardour. Wrapped up in the thick furs of animals, +the patient horseman pursues his march, while all his +food for weeks together is comprised in a little bag of +seeds or corn. Javelins, and bows and arrows, are +the arms which these people are taught from their infancy +to use with surprising dexterity; and, no less +dangerous when they fly than when they charge the +enemy in front, they are accustomed to shoot with an +unerring aim at their pursuers, and turn the fortune +of the battle. Such men are scarcely to be conquered +by the efforts of the most powerful nations or sovereigns; +and therefore the proudest conquerors of the +world have failed in their attempts to subdue them.</p> + +<p>"'Darius, one of the greatest kings which the vast +empire of Persia ever obeyed, once attempted the +exploit, and had nearly perished in the attempt. +He advanced with a powerful army, but ill prepared +for such an expedition, into the Scythian wastes. +The inhabitants, well acquainted with the most +effectual methods of defence, transported their families +and herds into the interior parts of the country, and +mounting their fleetest horses, seemed to fly before<!-- Page 480 --> +the monarch, who, infatuated with pride and confidence, +pursued the chase for several days, until he +found himself in the midst of solitary deserts, totally +destitute of all that human wants require, where his +army could neither advance nor retire without equal +danger of perishing by thirst and famine. When the +Scythian horsemen saw him thus involved, they began +to check their speed; instead of flying, as usual, +they hemmed him in on every side, and harassed the +army with continual attacks. It was then they sent +a present to the Persian king, the mysterious meaning +of which increased the terrors of his situation. +A Scythian, mounted upon a fiery steed, entered the +camp at full speed, and, regardless of danger or opposition, +penetrated even to the royal tent, where +Darius was holding a council with his nobles. While +they were all amazed at this extraordinary boldness, +the man leaped lightly from his horse, and placing a +little bundle upon the ground, vaulted up again with +inconceivable agility, and retired with the same +happy expedition. The curiosity of the monarch +made him instantly order the packet to be examined, +which contained only a mouse, a bird, a fish, and a +bundle of arrows. Silence and astonishment for +some time seized the assembly, till at length the +king observed, that he thought the present which the +Scythians had sent could signify nothing but their +submission to his arms. 'The <a name="tn_pg_493"></a><!--TN: Single quote added after "mouse,"-->mouse,' said he, +'must represent the earth, because he resides in +holes which he digs in the soil; the fish inhabits the +water, and the bird resides in the air. By sending +me, therefore, all these various animals, they mean +to signify that they resign their air, their waters, and<!-- Page 481 --> +their earth to my dominion. Nor is the bundle of +arrows more difficult to be explained; these constitute +their principal defence, and, by sending them +to an enemy, they can intimate nothing but terror +and submission.' All who were present applauded +this discourse of the monarch, excepting Gobrias, a +man of singular wisdom and experience, who, when +he was pressed to declare his sentiments, spoke to +him thus:—'It is with the greatest reluctance, O +king, that I find myself compelled to explain these +presents of our enemies in a very different manner. +That the Scythians, who have hitherto shown no +marks either of fear or submission, should, on a +sudden, feel so great a terror of the Persian arms, I +cannot easily believe, more especially when I consider +that our army is very much reduced by the +distress it has suffered, and environed on every side +by the enemy, whose boldness visibly increases with +our necessities. What, therefore, I should infer from +this extraordinary present is this: they intimate that +unless, like the mouse, you can dig your passage +through the earth, or skim the air like the bird, or +glide through waters with the fish, you shall certainly +perish by the Scythian arrows.' Such was +the sentiment of Gobrias, and all the assembly was +struck with the evident truth of his interpretation, +and the king himself began to perceive and repent +his rashness; instead, therefore, of advancing farther +into deserts which afforded no subsistence, he resolved +to attempt a retreat. This, however, he was +not able to effect without the loss of the greatest +part of his troops, who perished by thirst and famine, +and the continued attacks of the enemy.<!-- Page 482 --></p> + +<p>"'Nor was the expedition of Lysimachus, another +powerful king, against this people, less memorable or +less unfortunate. His army was defeated, and he +himself taken prisoner; but, instead of meeting with +that cruelty which we are accustomed to expect +from barbarians, he experienced the greatest moderation +and humanity from his conquerors. The general +of the Scythians invited his captive to a solemn +festival, in which he took care to assemble every +circumstance of luxury and magnificence which prevailed +in polished nations. The most exquisite meats +were served up to table, and the most generous wines +sparkled in golden bowls of the exactest workmanship. +Lysimachus was equally delighted with the +elegance of the repast and the politeness of the entertainer; +but he was extremely surprised that, instead +of sharing in the feast or even sitting down at table, +the Scythian leader reposed in the corner of a tent, +upon the bare ground, and satisfied his hunger with +the most coarse and ordinary fare, prepared with all +the simplicity of his country's manners. When the +entertainment was finished, he asked Lysimachus +which method of life appeared to him the most agreeable. +Lysimachus could not conceal his preference +of the more refined and luxurious dainties, or his dislike +of the Scythian diet. 'If therefore,' replied his +generous host, 'you feel so great a contempt for what +this country produces, and so strong a preference for +the productions of your own, what but madness, O +king, can have tempted you to come so far in order +to subdue men that live in a manner you despise? +Is it not much greater wisdom to be contented with +those advantages which you prize so highly, than to<!-- Page 483 --> +expose them to a certain hazard, for the chance of +acquiring what would afford no pleasure or satisfaction? +But let this lesson be sufficient to teach you +moderation. A country which produces nothing but +iron, is not easily conquered; nor are men, who +have been from their infancy inured to every hardship, +to be vanquished by curled and perfumed soldiers, +who cannot live without baths, and music, and +daily feasts. Be contented, therefore, for the future, +to number the Scythians among your friends; and +rather pray that the gods may keep them in ignorance +of the superiority of your method of living, lest +a desire of tasting it should tempt them to desert +their own country and invade yours.' With this +discourse he generously restored Lysimachus to +liberty, and suffered him to lead back the shattered +remains of his numerous army.</p> + +<p>"'Such was the nation which had invaded Syria, +and easily triumphed over the efforts of an effeminate +and unwarlike people. As I passed through the +camp, I was astonished at the order and regularity +which prevailed among these barbarians. Some +were exercising their horses in the mimic representation +of a battle; part fled with incredible speed, +while the rest pursued, and darted blunted javelins +at their antagonists. Yet even those who fled would +frequently turn upon their pursuers and make them +repent their rashness. Some, while their horses +were running in full speed, would vault from off their +backs to others that accompanied them; some would +gallop by a mark erected for their arrows, and, when +they had passed it a considerable way, turn themselves +round upon their horses and transfix it with<!-- Page 484 --> +an unerring aim. I saw many who vaulted upon +their horses, and placed themselves between two +naked swords, which would have given them certain +death, had they swerved ever so little from the just +direction. In another part of the camp I observed +the children, who imitated all the actions of their +fathers, bended little bows adapted to their strength, +or guided horses of an inferior stature along the +plain. Their women were indeed inferior to the +Syrians in beauty and elegance, but seemed to be of +a more robust constitution, and more adapted to +produce and educate warriors. I saw no gold, no +jewels, no vain and costly apparel; but all seemed +busy in domestic cares, preparing the food of their +families, or tending upon their infants.</p> + +<p>"'At length I reached the royal tent, which +scarcely differed from the rest in its structure or +simplicity; and was immediately introduced to the +great Arsaces. He received me with a courtesy +which had nothing of the barbarian in it; seated me +familiarly by his side, and entered into a long conversation +with me upon the laws, and manners, and +customs of the different nations I had seen. I was +surprised at the vigour and penetration which I discovered +in this untutored warrior's mind. Unbiassed +by the mass of prejudices which we acquire in cities, +even from our earliest childhood, unencumbered by +forms and ceremonies which contract the understanding +while they pretend to improve the manners, +he seemed to possess a certain energy of soul which +never missed the mark; nature in him had produced +the same effects that study and philosophy do in +others. But, what amazed me more than all, was to<!-- Page 485 --> +find this Scythian chief as well acquainted with the +state and consequence of <i>our</i> manners, as if he had +passed his life in Greece or Syria, instead of the +plains and forests of his own domain. He entertained +a rooted contempt for all the arts which +softened the body and mind, under the pretence of +adding to the elegancies of life; these, he said, were +more efficacious agents to reduce men to slavery, +than the swords and arrows of their enemies.</p> + +<p>"'One day I remember that some of our principal +men, judging of the mind of their conqueror by their +own, brought to him a celebrated dancer; who, at +that time, engaged the whole attention of our city, +and seemed to interest it much more than the loss +of liberty. This man, who did not doubt that he +should enchant the soul of a Scythian barbarian, by +the same arts which had enraptured his refined +audiences at home, exerted himself with an agility +that extorted the loudest applause from all the spectators +but Arsaces. At length one of our countrymen +took the liberty of asking the monarch what he +thought of this extraordinary performance? 'I +think,' replied he, coldly, 'that it would gain him +great credit among a nation of monkeys.' Another +time he was present at the exhibitions of a celebrated +musician, who was reputed to possess unrivalled skill +in playing soft and melting tunes upon the lyre. All +the audience seemed to feel the influence of his art, +by their inarticulate murmurs of admiration, and the +languishing postures of their bodies. When the exhibition +was finished, the musician advanced, amid +the united plaudits of the audience, as if to receive +the just tribute of approbation from Arsaces; but he,<!-- Page 486 --> +with a stern look, said to him, 'Friend, I permit thee +to play every night before the Syrians; but if thy +lyre is ever heard to sound in the presence of my +Scythians, I denounce certain death for the offence.' +Another time an officious glutton of our city introduced +to him, with great solemnity, two men, +whose talents he assured him were unequalled in +their different professions. The one, he said, adjusted +hair with such dexterity, that he could give an +artificial beauty to every countenance; and the other +possessed such unrivalled skill in cooking a repast, +that even the soberest guest was tempted to commit +intemperance. 'My soldiers,' replied Arsaces, 'are +accustomed to adjust their locks with the point of their +arrows, nor does our nation consider a bloated paunch +and an unwieldy shape as any accomplishment in +warriors; all therefore, that I can do for these gentlemen +is, to depute one of them to comb my horse's +tail, and the other to feed the hogs of the army.'</p> + +<p>"'After I had conversed some time with this barbarian +chief, who heard me with the greatest attention, +the hour of refreshment for the army approached, +and I was preparing to retire; but the general +stopped me with a smile, and told me, I had already +entertained him with the greatest hospitality, and +that therefore it was just that I should stay and taste +the Scythian food. A bit of dried flesh, which I afterwards +found was that of a horse, some sour coagulated +milk, with an infusion of certain herbs, thickened +with a coarse kind of flour, were then brought in and +placed upon the ground. I had learned, during my +travels in different countries, to discard the false +antipathies which so many nations entertain against<!-- Page 487 --> +the diet as well as manners of each other. Whatever +is adapted to support life is proper for the food +of man; habit will reconcile us to any kind of food; +and he that can accustom himself to be the most +easily contented, is happiest and best prepared for +performing the duties of life. I therefore placed +myself by the side of Arsaces, and fed without any +visible repugnance upon the diet, which would have +excited abhorrence in the minds of all my countrymen. +With them it was a work of the greatest +importance to settle the formalities of a meal; to +contrive a new and poignant sauce, to combine +contrary flavours in a pickle, to stimulate the jaded +appetite to new exertions, till reason and everything +human sank under the undigested mass of food, +were reckoned the highest efforts of genius; even +the magistrate did not blush to display a greater +knowledge of cookery than of the laws; the debates +of the senate itself were often suspended by the fear +of losing a repast; and many of our generals prided +themselves more on the arrangement of their tables, +than the martial evolutions of their troops.</p> + +<p>"'After we had eaten some time, Arsaces asked me +what I thought of the Scythian method of living? +'To speak my sentiments,' said I, 'it is more formidable +to your enemies than agreeable to your friends.' +He smiled at my sincerity, and I departed; but from +this hour he distinguished me with marks of peculiar +favour, and admitted me to all his councils.</p> + +<p>"'This envied mark of distinction gave me no +other pleasure than as it sometimes enabled me to +be useful to my unhappy countrymen, and mitigate +the rigour of their conquerors. Indeed, while the<!-- Page 488 --> +great Arsaces lived, his love of justice and order was +so great, that even the conquered were safe from all +oppression; the peasant pursued his useful labours +unterrified by the march of armies, or, unsolicited, +brought the produce of his fields to a voluntary market; +merchants from all the neighbouring nations +crowded to our ports, attracted by the order and +justice which were enforced in every part of Arsaces' +dominions; and even the vanquished themselves, defended +from oppression and protected in their possessions, +considered the success of the Scythians +rather as a salutary revolution than as a barbarian +conquest.</p> + +<p>"'Such was the pleasing prospect of affairs, when +an unexpected disease, the consequence of unremitted +exertions, put an end to the glorious life of our conqueror; +and with him perished all hopes of safety +or happiness of the Syrians. His authority alone +was capable of restraining so many needy chieftains, +so many victorious barbarians; the spirit of rapine +and plunder so long represt, began now to spread +through all the army; every officer was an independent +tyrant, that ruled with despotic authority, and +punished as rebellion the least opposition to his will. +The fields were now ravaged, the cities plundered, +the industrious peasants driven away like herds of +cattle, to labour for the caprice of unfeeling masters, +or sold in distant regions as slaves. Now it was that +the miserable and harassed Syrians began to find that +the riches which they so much esteemed, were but +the causes of their ruin, instead of being instrumental +to their safety. The poor, accustomed to hardship, +have little to fear amid the vicissitudes of life; the<!-- Page 489 --> +brave can always find a refuge in their own valour; +but all the bitterness of existence is reserved for +those who have neither courage to defend what they +most value, nor fortitude to bear the loss.</p> + +<p>"'To increase the weight of our misfortunes, new +tribes of barbarians, attracted by the success of their +countrymen, issued from their deserts, and hastened +to share the spoil. But rapine admits not faith or +partnership; and it was not long before the vanquished +beheld their conquerors animated by implacable +rage against each other, and suffering in turn +the violence and cruelties they had inflicted.</p> + +<p>"'At length one of the principal officers of Arsaces, +who is said originally to have descended from the +mountain which you inhabit, was raised to empire by +the successful efforts of his soldiers. He has already +attacked and destroyed all his competitors, and assembled +under his banners the remainder of their +forces. <i>Tigranes</i> (for thus he is named) possesses all +the courage and activity of Arsaces, but he is destitute +of his generosity and clemency. His ambition +is vast and boundless; he grasps at universal empire, +and rejoices to scatter ruin and destruction in +his way; he has already subjected all the maritime +cities that derive their origin from Greece, together +with the fertile plains of Syria. These mountains, +inhabited by a bold and hardy race of men, now present +a barrier to his enterprising spirit; and I am +assured he already meditates the conquest. His +soldiers are drawn together from every part, and +nothing can escape their fury. In vain did I think +myself safe in the humble obscurity of my cottage, +and the reputed favour of the great Arsaces. Yester<!-- Page 490 -->day, +a lawless band, not contented with destroying +my harvest and plundering my little property, +seized my daughter and me, and dragged us away in +chains. What farther injuries, what farther insults +we might have suffered, it is impossible to determine, +since Heaven was pleased to effect our deliverance +when we had least reason to expect it.'</p> + +<p>"Such was the history of Chares, which Sophron +and his family listened to with fixed attention. When +he had finished, the father of Sophron again embraced +the venerable stranger, and assured him of +all the safety which their mountains could bestow. +'But,' added he, 'if so imminent a danger is near, +it behoves us to consult for the general safety; let +us assemble all our friends and neighbours, that they +may consider whether life is of more consequence +than liberty; and if they determine to retain that freedom +which they have received from their ancestors, by +what means it maybe best defended.' Sophron then +immediately went out, and ascending a neighbouring +rock, thus shouted out, in a voice that echoed over +the neighbouring valleys: 'Arm, O ye inhabitants +of Lebanon, and instantly meet in council; for a +powerful invader is near, and threatens you with death +or slavery!' This sound was instantly repeated by +all who heard it; so that in a short time the intelligence +was dispersed to the very confines of the country.</p> + +<p>"It was not long before a numerous assembly was +convened. The aged appeared with all the majestic +dignity of wisdom and experience; their countenances, +indeed, indicated the ravages of time, but +temperance and exercise had preserved them from +the loathsome diseases which grow on luxury and<!-- Page 491 --> +indolence. They were attended by their sons in all +the pride of youth and vigour, who rushed along in +arms, and seemed to breathe deliberate rage and unconquerable +opposition. When they were all assembled +on a spacious plain, Sophron rose, and with a +becoming modesty, recited the adventures of the +preceding night, and the alarming intelligence he +had just received. He had scarcely finished before a +general cry of indignation burst unanimously from +the whole assembly. When it had a little subsided, +a venerable old man, whose beard, white as the snow +upon the summits of the mountains, reaching down +to his middle, slowly arose, and leaning upon his +staff, spoke thus:—'Ninety years have I tended my +flocks amid these mountains, and during all that +time I have never seen a human being who was +bold enough to propose to the inhabitants of Lebanon +that they should fear death more than infamy, or +submit to the vassals of a tyrant.' At this a second +cry, which seemed to rend the very heavens, was +raised, and farther deliberation judged unnecessary, +except upon the most effectual means of defence. +For this purpose the aged and most experienced retired +to a little distance to consult. They were not +long in their deliberations; it was unanimously +agreed that all who were able to bear arms should be +embodied, and wait for the approach of the enemy, +within the boundaries of their own mountains. The +nature of the country, always rough, and in many +parts inaccessible, would afford them, they thought, +sufficient advantages even against the more numerous +and better disciplined troops of the invader; and, by +the common consent of all, Sophron was named the<!-- Page 492 --> +general of his country, and invested with supreme +authority for its defence.</p> + +<p>"When these measures had been resolved upon, +the assembly dispersed, and Sophron was left alone +with Chares. It was then the stranger thus accosted +him with a deep sigh:—'Did success, O virtuous +Sophron, depend entirely upon the justice of the +cause, or upon the courage and zeal of its defenders, +I should have little doubt concerning the event of the +present contest, for I can truly say, that in all the +various countries I have visited, my eyes have never +seen a more martial race than I have this day beheld +assembled; nor can I doubt that their sentiments +correspond to their appearance; all, therefore, +that can be effected by patience, activity, and dauntless +courage, will be achieved by your countrymen in +defence of their liberty; but war, unfortunately, is a +trade where long experience frequently confers advantages +which no intrepidity can balance. The +troops which are now approaching have been for +years inured to the practice of slaughter; they join +to a courage which defies every danger, a knowledge +of every fraud and subtility which can confound or +baffle an adversary. In bodily strength, in numbers, +your countrymen are superior; even in courage, and +the contempt of danger, they are probably not inferior +to their enemies; but such are the fatal effects +of military skill and discipline, that I dread the event +of a combat with such an army and such a leader.'</p> + +<p>"'Alas!' answered Sophron, 'how well do the +mature reflections of your wisdom accord with my +presaging fears! I know that my countrymen will +perform everything that can be effected by men in<!-- Page 493 --> +their situation, and that thousands will generously sacrifice +their lives rather than abandon the cause they +have undertaken to defend; yet, when I consider +the superior advantage of our enemies, my fears are +no less active than your own. This consolation, however, +remains, that I shall either see my country victorious, +or avoid the miseries which will attend her ruin.'</p> + +<p>"'Hear me, then,' replied Chares. 'The virtues +of your friends, my own obligations to yourself, and +the desire I feel to oppose the career of mad ambition, +conspire to wrest from me a dreadful secret, +which I have hitherto buried in my own bosom, and +had determined to conceal from the knowledge of +mankind. I have already told you that much of my +life has been dedicated to the acquisition of knowledge, +and the investigation of the laws of nature. +Not contented with viewing the appearance of things +as they strike our senses, I have endeavoured to penetrate +into the deeper recesses of nature, and to discover +those secrets which are concealed from the +greater part of mankind. For this purpose I have +tried innumerable experiments concerning the manner +in which bodies act upon each other; I have +submitted the plants, the stones, the minerals, +which surround us, to the violence of all-consuming +fires; I have examined their structure, and the different +principles which compose them, with the +patient labour and perseverance of a long life. In +the course of these inquiries I have made many +curious and important discoveries, but one above the +rest, which I will now impart under the promise of +eternal and inviolable secrecy. Know, then, that I +have found out an easy and expeditious combination<!-- Page 494 --> +of common materials, the effect of which is equal or +superior to the most potent and destructive agents in +nature. Neither the proudest city can maintain its +walls, nor the strongest castle its bulwarks, against +the irresistible attacks of this extraordinary composition. +Increase but the quantity, and the very rocks +and mountains will be torn asunder with a violence +that equals that of earthquakes. Whole armies, +proud of their triumphs, may be in an instant scattered +and destroyed like the summer's dust before +the whirlwind; and, what increases the prodigy, a +single man may securely give death to thousands. +This composition I have hitherto concealed, in pity +to the miseries of mankind; but since there appears +no other method of preserving the virtuous inhabitants +of these mountains from slavery and ruin, I +am determined to employ it in their defence. Give +orders, therefore, that a certain number of your +countrymen provide me with the ingredients that I +shall indicate, and expect the amplest success from +your own valour, assisted by such powerful auxiliaries.'</p> + +<p>"Sophron said everything to Chares which such +an unexpected mark of confidence deserved, and instantly +received his orders, and prepared to execute +them with the greatest alacrity. Chares, meanwhile, +was indefatigable in the execution of his project; and +it was not long before he had prepared a sufficient +quantity to provide for the common defence.</p> + +<p>"Tigranes now approached with the rage and confidence +of a lion that invades a flock of domestic +animals. He had long forgotten all the ties which +attach men to the place of their birth; and neither +time nor distance had been able to extinguish the<!-- Page 495 --> +hatred he had conceived to Sophron. Scarcely did +he deign to send an ambassador before his army; +he, however, despatched one with an imperious message, +requiring all the inhabitants of Lebanon to +submit to his victorious arms, or threatening them +with the worst extremities of war.</p> + +<p>"When the ambassador returned, and reported the +fixed determination of Sophron and his countrymen, +he was inflamed with rage, and ordered his army to +advance to the attack. They marched without opposition +till they entered the mountainous districts, +where all the bravest inhabitants were ranged in +arms to meet the invader. Then arose the noise of +arms; then man encountered man, and wounds and +death were seen on every side. The troops of +Tigranes advanced in close array with long protended +spears; the inhabitants of Lebanon were +more lightly armed, and, with invincible courage, +endeavoured to break the formidable battalion of +their enemies. They rushed with fury upon the +dreadful range of weapons, and, even wounded and +dying, endeavoured to beat down their points, and +open a way to their companions.</p> + +<p>"Sophron was seen conspicuous in every part of +the field, encouraging his companions with his voice, +and more by his actions. Wherever he turned his +steps he was followed by the bravest youth of his +party, and there the efforts and the slaughter were +always greatest. Five times, covered with blood and +dust, he made a desperate charge upon the troops +of Tigranes, and five times did he force his bravest +soldiers to give ground. At length the superiority of +discipline and experience began to prevail over the<!-- Page 496 --> +generous but more unequal efforts of the defenders. +The veterans of Tigranes perceived their advantage, +and pressed the enemy with redoubled vigour.</p> + +<p>"This was the decisive moment which Chares had +foreseen and provided for; in an instant the bands +of Lebanon retreated, by the orders of Sophron, with +a precipitation bordering upon flight. Tigranes, +supposing himself certain of victory, orders his +troops to advance, and decide the fortune of the +battle; but while they are rashly preparing to obey, +a sudden noise is heard that equals the loudest thunders; +the earth itself trembles with a convulsive +motion under their feet, then bursts asunder with a +violence that nothing can resist! Hundreds are in +an instant swallowed up, or dashed against rocks, +and miserably destroyed! Meanwhile all nature +seems to be convulsed around; the rocks themselves +are torn from their solid base, and, with their enormous +fragments, crush whole bands of miserable +wretches beneath! Clouds of smoke obscure the +field of battle, and veil the combatants in a dreadful +shade, which is from time to time dispelled by +flashes of destructive fire! Such a succession of +horrors daunted even the most brave; scarcely could +the troops of Lebanon, who had been prepared to +expect some extraordinary interposition, maintain +their post, or behold the spectacle of their enemy's +ruin; but the bands of Tigranes were struck with +the wildest consternation, and fled with trembling +steps over the field. And now these prodigies were +succeeded by an awful interval of quiet; the peals +of bursting thunder were no longer heard, the lightnings +ceased to flash, the mists that darkened the<!-- Page 497 --> +scene were rolled away, and discovered the various +fortunes of the fight, when the voice of Sophron +was heard, <a name="tn_pg_510"></a><!--TN: "exorting" changed to "exhorting"-->exhorting his companions to pursue the +fugitives and complete their victory. They rushed +forward like angry lions to the chase, but all resistance +was at an end; and Sophron, who now perceived +that the enemy was irretrievably broken, +checked the ardour of his men, and entreated them +to spare the vanquished. They obeyed his voice; +and, after having chased them beyond the utmost +boundaries of Lebanon, returned in triumph amid +the praises and acclamations of their joyful families, +whom they had preserved from slavery by their valour. +They then examined the field of battle, and collecting +all who had any remains of life, they treated +them with the greatest humanity, binding up their +wounds, and administering to all their necessities.</p> + +<p>"Among the thickest dead was found the breathless +body of Tigranes, miserably shattered and disfigured, +but still exhibiting evident marks of passion and +ferocity. Sophron could not behold, without compassion, +the friend of his early years, and the companion +of his youthful sports. 'Unhappy man,' +said he, 'thou hast at length paid the price of thy +ungovernable ambition! How much better would it +have been to have tended thy flocks upon the mountains, +than to have blazed an angry meteor, and +set for ever amid the curses of thy country.' He +then covered the body with a military vest, and +ordered it to be honourably burned upon a mighty +funeral-pile which was prepared for all the dead.</p> + +<p>"The next day an immense quantity of spoil was +collected, that had been abandoned by the troops of<!-- Page 498 --> +Tigranes in their flight. The simple inhabitants of +Lebanon, the greater part of whom had never been +beyond the limits of their mountains, were astonished +at such a display of luxury and magnificence. Already +the secret poison of sensuality and avarice +began to inflame their hearts, as they gazed on costly +hangings, enriched with gold and silver, on Persian +carpets, and drinking-vessels of the most exquisite +workmanship; already had they begun to differ about +the division of these splendid trifles, when Sophron, +who marked the growing mischief, and remembered +the fatal effects which Chares had described in his +travels, rose, and proposed to his countrymen that +the arms of their conquered enemies should be carefully +preserved for the public defence, but that all +the rest of the spoil should be consumed upon the +funeral-pile prepared for the dead, lest the simplicity +of the inhabitants of Lebanon should be corrupted, and +the happy equality and union, which had hitherto prevailed +among them, be interrupted. This proposal +was instantly applauded by all the older and wiser +part of the assembly, who rejoiced in seeing the evils +averted which they had so much reason to apprehend; +nor did those of a different character dare to express +their sentiments, or attempt any open opposition.</p> + +<p>"From this time Sophron was universally honoured +by all as the most virtuous and valiant of his nation. +He passed the rest of his life in peace and tranquillity, +contented with the exercise of the same rural employments +which had engaged his childhood. Chares, +whose virtues and knowledge were equally admirable, +was presented, at the public expense, with a small +but fertile tract of land, sufficient to supply him with<!-- Page 499 --> +all the comforts of life. This the grateful inhabitants +of the mountains continually cultivated for him as a +memorial of the signal assistance he had afforded +them; and here, contented with the enjoyment of +security and freedom, he passed the remaining part +of his life in the contemplation of nature and the +delightful intercourse of virtuous friendship."</p> + +<p>When Miss Simmons had finished, Tommy expressed +his astonishment at the latter part of the +story. "Is it possible," said he, "there can be +anything of so extraordinary a nature as to burst the +very rocks asunder, and destroy an army at once?" +"Have you, then, never heard the explosion of a gun, +or are you ignorant of the destructive effects of the +powder with which they charge it?" said Mr Barlow.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—Yes, sir; but that is nothing to what +Chares did in the story.</p> + +<p><i>Mr Barlow.</i>—That is only because it is used in +very inconsiderable portions; but were you to increase +the quantity, it would be capable of effecting +everything which you heard Miss Simmons describe. +When nations are at war with each other, it is now +universally the agent of destruction. They have +large tubes of iron, called <i>cannons</i>, into which they +ram a considerable <a name="tn_pg_512"></a><!--TN: "quanity" changed to "quantity"-->quantity of powder, together with +a large iron ball, as big as you are able to lift. They +then set fire to the powder, which explodes with so +much violence, that the ball flies out and destroys +not only every living thing it meets with, but even +demolishes the strongest walls that can be raised. +Sometimes it is buried in considerable quantities in +the earth, and then they contrive to inflame it, and +to escape in time. When the fire communicates<!-- Page 500 --> +with the mass, it is all inflamed in an instant, and +produces the horrible effects you have heard described. +As such are the irresistible effects of gunpowder, +it is no wonder that even a victorious army +should be stopped in their progress by such a dreadful +and unexpected event.</p> + +<p><i>Tommy.</i>—That is true, indeed; and I declare +Chares was a very good and sensible man. Had it +not been for him, these brave inhabitants of Lebanon +must have been enslaved. I now plainly perceive +that a man may be of much more consequence by +improving his mind in various kinds of knowledge, +even though he is poor, than by all the finery and +magnificence he can acquire. I wish, with all my +heart, that Mr Barlow had been so good as to read +this story to the young gentlemen and ladies that +were lately here; I think it would have made a +great impression upon their minds, and would have +prevented their feeling so much contempt for poor +Harry, who is better and wiser than them all, though +he does not powder his hair or dress so genteelly.</p> + +<p>"Tommy," said Mr Merton, with a kind of contemptuous +smile, "why should you believe that the +hearing of a single story would change the characters +of all your late friends, when neither the good instructions +you have been so long receiving from Mr Barlow, +nor the intimacy you have had with Harry, +were sufficient to restrain your impetuous temper, or +prevent you from treating him in the shameful manner +you have done?"</p> + +<p>Tommy appeared very much abashed with his +father's rebuke. He hung down his head in silence +a considerable time; at length he faintly said, "Oh,<!-- Page 501 --> +sir, I have indeed acted very ill; I have rendered +myself unworthy the affection of all my best friends; +but do not, pray do not give me up entirely. You +shall see how I will behave for the future; and if +ever I am guilty of the same faults again, I consent +that you shall abandon me for ever." Saying this, +he silently stole out of the room, as if intent upon +some extraordinary resolution. His father observed +his motions, and smiling, said to Mr Barlow, "What +can this <a name="tn_pg_514"></a><!--TN: "protend" changed to "portend"-->portend? This boy is changeable as a +weathercock; every blast whirls him round and +round upon his centre, nor will he ever fix, I fear, in +any direction." "At least," replied Mr Barlow, "you +have the greatest reason to rejoice in his present impressions, +which are good and estimable; and I fear it +is the lot of most human beings to exhaust almost every +species of error before they fix in truth and virtue."</p> + +<p>Tommy now entered the room, but with a remarkable +change in his dress and manner. He had +combed the powder out of his hair, and demolished +the elegance of his curls; he had divested his +dress of every appearance of finery; and even his +massy and ponderous buckles, so long the delight of +his heart and the wonder of his female friends, were +taken from his shoes, and replaced by a pair of the +plainest form and appearance. In this habiliment +he appeared so totally changed from what he was, +that even his mother, who had lately become a little +sparing of her observations, could not help exclaiming, +"What, in the name of wonder, has the boy +been doing now? Why, Tommy, I protest you have +made yourself a perfect fright, and you look more +like a ploughboy than a young gentleman."<!-- Page 502 --></p> + +<p>"Mamma," answered Tommy, gravely, "I am +now only what I ought always to have been. Had I +been contented with this dress before, I never should +have imitated such a parcel of coxcombs as you have +lately had at your house, nor pretended to admire Miss +Matilda's music, which, I own, tired me as much as +Harry, and had almost set me asleep; nor should I +have exposed myself at the play and the ball; and, +what is worst of all, I should have avoided all my +shameful behaviour to Harry at the bull-baiting. +But from this time I shall apply myself to the study +of nothing but reason and philosophy, and therefore +I have bid adieu to dress and finery for ever."</p> + +<p>It was with great difficulty that the gentlemen +could refrain from laughing at Tommy's harangue, +delivered with infinite seriousness and solemnity; +they, however, concealed their emotions, and encouraged +him to persevere in such a laudable resolution; +but as the night was now pretty far advanced, +the whole family retired to bed.</p> + +<p>The next morning early, Tommy arose, and +dressed himself with his newly-adopted simplicity, +and, as soon as breakfast was over, prevailed with +Mr Barlow to accompany him to Harry Sandford's; +but he did not forget to take with him the lamb, +which he had caressed and fed with constant assiduity +ever since he had so valiantly rescued him from +his devouring enemy. As they approached the +house, the first object which Tommy distinguished +was his little friend at some distance, who was driving +his father's sheep along the common. At this +sight his impetuosity could no longer be restrained, +and, springing forward with all his speed, he arrived<!-- Page 503 --> +in an instant panting and out of breath, and incapable +of speaking. Harry, who knew his friend, and plainly +perceived the disposition with which he approached, +met him with open arms, so that the reconciliation +was begun and completed in a moment; and Mr Barlow, +who now arrived with the lamb, had the pleasure +of seeing his little pupils mutually giving and receiving +every unaffected mark of the warmest affection.</p> + +<p>"Harry," said Mr Barlow, "I bring you a little +friend who is sincerely penitent for his offences, and +comes to own the faults he has committed." "That +I am indeed," said Tommy, a little recovered, and +able to speak; "but I have behaved so ill, and been +such an ungrateful fellow, that I am afraid Harry +will never be able to forgive me." "Indeed, indeed," +said Harry, "there you do me the greatest injustice, +for I have already forgotten everything but your +former kindness and affection." "And I," answered +Tommy, "will never forget how ill, how ungratefully +I have used you, nor the goodness with which you +now receive me." Tommy then recollected his lamb, +and presented it to his friend, while Mr Barlow told +him the story of its rescue, and the heroism exerted +in its defence. Harry seemed to receive equal +pleasure from the restoration of his favourite, and +the affection Tommy had shown in its preservation; +and, taking him by the hand, he led him into a small +but neat and convenient house, where he was most +cordially welcomed by Harry's family.</p> + +<p>In a corner of the chimney sat the honest Black, +who had performed so signal a service at the bull-baiting. +"Alas!" said Tommy, "there is another +instance of my negligence and ingratitude; I now<!-- Page 504 --> +see that one fault brings on another without end." +Then advancing to the Black, he took him kindly by +the hand, and thanked him for the preservation of +his life. "Little master," replied he, "you are +extremely welcome to all I have done; I would at +any time risk my own safety to preserve one of my +fellow-creatures; and if I have been of any use, I +have been amply repaid by the kindness of this little +boy, your friend, and all his worthy family." "That +is not enough," said Tommy, "and you shall soon +find what it is to oblige a person like——(here a +stroke of presumption was just coming out of +Tommy's mouth, but, recollecting himself, he added) +a person like my father." And now he addressed +himself to Harry's mother, a venerable, decent +woman of middle age, and his two sisters, plain, +modest, healthy-looking girls, a little older than their +brother. All these he treated with so much cordiality +and attention that all the company were delighted +with him; so easy is it for those who possess rank +and fortune to gain the goodwill of their fellow-creatures, +and so inexcusable is that surly pride which +renders many of them deservedly odious.</p> + +<p>When dinner was ready he sat down with the +rest; and as it was the custom here for everybody +to wait upon himself, Tommy insisted upon their +suffering him to conform to the established method. +The food, indeed, was not very delicate, but it was +wholesome, clean, and served up hot to table,—an +advantage which is not always found in elegant +apartments. Tommy ate with a considerable appetite, +and seemed to enjoy his new situation as much +as if he had never experienced any other. After the<!-- Page 505 --> +dinner was removed, he thought he might with propriety +gratify the curiosity he felt to converse with +the Black upon fighting bulls, for nothing had more +astonished him than the account he had heard of his +courage, and the ease with which he had subdued so +terrible an animal. "My friend," said he, "I suppose +in your own country you have been very much +used to bull-baitings, otherwise you would never have +dared to encounter such a fierce creature. I must +confess, though I can tame most animals, I never +was more frightened in my life than when I saw him +break loose; and without your assistance, I do not +know what would have become of me."</p> + +<p>"Master," replied the Black, "it is not in my own +country that I have learned to manage these animals. +There I have been accustomed to several kinds of +hunting much more dangerous than this; and considering +how much you white people despise us +blacks, I own I was very much surprised to see so +many hundreds of you running away from such an +insignificant enemy as a poor tame bull."</p> + +<p>Tommy blushed a little at the remembrance of the +prejudices he had formerly entertained concerning +blacks and his own superiority; but not choosing now +to enter upon the subject, he asked the man where then +he had acquired so much dexterity in taming them?</p> + +<p>"I will tell you, master," replied the Black. +"When I lived a slave among the Spaniards at +Buenos Ayres, it used to be a common employment +of the people to go into the woods to hunt cattle +down for their subsistence. The hunter mounts his +fleetest horse, and takes with him a strong cord of a +considerable length; when he sees one of the wild<!-- Page 506 --> +kind which he destines for his prey, he pursues it at +full speed, and never fails to overtake it by the +superior swiftness of his horse. While he is thus +employed, he holds the cord ready, at the end of +which a sliding noose is formed, and when he is at a +convenient distance, throws it from him with such a +certain hand, that the beast is entangled by one of his +legs, after which it is impossible for him to escape.</p> + +<p>"That you may form a more clear idea of what a +man is capable of executing with courage and address, +I will relate a most extraordinary incident to which +I was witness during my residence in that part of the +world. A certain man, a native of the country, had +committed some offence, for which he was condemned +to labour several years in the galleys. He found +means to speak to the governor of the town, and besought +him to change the nature of his punishment. +'I have been brought up,' said he, 'a warrior, and +fear dishonour, but not death. Instead of consuming +my strength and spirits in such an ignominious +employment, let me have an opportunity of achieving +something worthy to be beheld, or of perishing like a +brave man in the attempt. In a few days a solemn +feast is to be celebrated, at which you will not fail to +be present, attended by all your people. I will there, +in the presence of the whole city, encounter the +fiercest bull you can procure. I desire no assistance +but my horse, no weapons but this cord; yet, thus +prepared, I will meet his fury, and take him by the +head, the horns, the feet, as you shall direct. I will +then throw him down, bridle him, saddle him, and +vault upon his back; in this situation you shall turn +out two more of the fiercest bulls you can find, and I<!-- Page 507 --> +will attack them both, and put them all to death with +my dagger the instant you shall command.' The governor +consented to this brave man's request, more from +curiosity to see so extraordinary a spectacle, than +from the opinion it would be attended with success.</p> + +<p>"When the appointed day arrived the inhabitants +of the city assembled, and took their seats in a vast +building which surrounded a considerable open space +destined for this amazing combat. The brave +American then appeared alone on horseback, armed +with nothing but his cord; and after riding round the +place and saluting the company, he waited intrepidly +for his enemy. Presently an enormous bull was let +loose, who, as soon as he beheld the man, attacked +him with all his fury. The American avoided his +shock with infinite dexterity, and galloped round the +bull, who, in his turn, betook himself to flight. The +valiant horseman pursued his flying enemy; and +while he was thus engaged, he desired the governor +to direct where he would have him seized. He replied +it was a matter of indifference to him; and the +American, instantly throwing his noose, which he +held ready all the time, caught the bull in his flight +by one of his hinder legs; then, galloping two or +three times round the animal, he so enveloped him +in the snare, that, after a few violent efforts to disengage +himself, he fell to the earth. He then leaped +lightly from his horse; and the animal who had been +perfectly trained up to this kind of combat, stood +still, and kept the cord extended; while his master advanced +to the bull, and put him to death in an instant, +by stabbing him with his dagger behind the horns.</p> + +<p>"All the assembly uttered a shout of admiration;<!-- Page 508 --> +but the conqueror told them, that what they had +seen was nothing; and, disentangling his cord from +the slaughtered beast, he composedly mounted his +horse, and waited for a new and more formidable +enemy. Presently the gate of the torillo was opened, +and a bull, much more furious than the last, rushed +out, whom he was ordered to bridle and saddle, according +to his engagement."</p> + +<p>"I protest," said Tommy, "this is the most wonderful +story I ever heard. I do not believe all the +fine gentleman I have ever seen, put together, would +dare to attack such a bull."</p> + +<p>"Master," replied the Black, "the talents of mankind +are various; and nature has, in every country, +furnished the human species with all the qualities +necessary for their preservation. In this country, and +many others which I have seen, there are thousands +who live, like birds in cages, upon the food provided +by others, without doing anything for themselves. +But they should be contented with the happiness +they enjoy (if such a life can be called happiness), +and not despise their fellow-creatures, without whose +continual assistance they could not exist an instant."</p> + +<p>"Very true, indeed," answered Tommy; "you seem +to be a very honest sensible man, though a negro; and +since I have given myself up to the improvement of my +mind, I entertain the same opinions. But let us hear +how this brave man succeeded in his next attempt."</p> + +<p>"When the champion perceived this second enemy +approach, he waited for him with the same intrepidity +he had discovered before, and avoided his formidable +shock by making his horse wheel nimbly round the +bull. When he had thus baffled his fury, and put<!-- Page 509 --> +his enemy to flight, he chased him some time, as he +had done the former, till he drove him near to the +middle of the enclosed space, where a strong post +had been firmly fixed into the ground. As soon as +he approached the spot he threw the unerring noose, +and, catching the bull by the horns, entangled him +as he had done before, and dragged him with some +difficulty to the stake. To this he bound him down +so closely, that it became impossible for the creature +either to resist or stir. Leaping then from his horse, +who remained immovable as before, he took a saddle, +which had been left there on purpose, and girded it +firmly on the back of the bull; through his nostrils +he thrust an iron ring, to which was fixed a cord, +which he brought over his neck as a bridle; and then +arming his hand with a short spike, he nimbly vaulted +upon the back of this new and terrible courser.</p> + +<p>"The creature all this time did not cease to bellow +with every expression of rage, which had not the +least effect upon the mind of this valiant man; on +the contrary, coolly taking a knife, he cut the cord +which bound him to the stake, and restored him to +perfect liberty. The creature, thus disengaged, exerted +every effort of strength and fury to throw his +rider, who kept his seat undaunted in spite of all his +violent agitation. The gates of the torillo were then +thrown open, and two other furious bulls rushed out, +and seemed ready to attack the man; but at the instant +they perceived the manner in which he was +mounted, their rage gave way to terror, and they fled +precipitately away. The other bull followed his companions, +and bore his rider several times round the +amphitheatre in this extraordinary chase. This spec<!-- Page 510 -->tacle +had already lasted some time, to the admiration +of all present, when the governor ordered the man to +complete the business by putting all the bulls to death. +He, instantly drawing his knife, plunged it behind the +horns of the bull on which he rode, who immediately +dropped down dead; while the conqueror, disengaging +himself as he fell, stood upright by the slaughtered animal. +He then mounted his horse again, who had been +placed in safety at some little distance; and, pursuing +the chase as before, with his fatal noose, despatched +both the surviving animals without the least difficulty."</p> + +<p>Tommy expressed the greatest admiration at this +recital; and now, as the evening began to advance, +Mr Barlow invited him to return. But Tommy, instead +of complying, took him by the hand, thanked +him for all his kindness and attention, but declared his +resolution of staying some time with his friend Harry. +"The more I consider my own behaviour," said he +"the more I feel myself ashamed of my folly and ingratitude; +but you have taught me, my dear sir, that +all I have in my power is to acknowledge them, which +I most willingly do before all this good family, and entreat +Harry to think that the impressions I now feel +are such as I shall never forget." Harry embraced +his friend, and assured him once more of his being +perfectly reconciled; and all the family stood mute +with admiration at the condescension of the young +gentleman, who was not ashamed of acknowledging +his faults even to his inferiors.</p> + +<p>Mr Barlow approved of Tommy's design, and took +upon him to answer for the consent of Mr Merton to +his staying some time with Harry; then, taking his +leave of all the company, he departed.<!-- Page 511 --></p> + +<p>But Tommy began now to enter upon a course of +life which was very little consistent with his former +habits. He supped with great cheerfulness, and even +found himself happy with the rustic fare which was +set before him, accompanied, as it was, with unaffected +civility and a hearty welcome. He went to +bed early, and slept very soundly all night; however, +when Harry came to call him the next morning at +five, as he had made him promise to do, he found a +considerable difficulty in rousing himself at the summons. +Conscious pride, however, and the newly-acquired +dignity of his character, supported him; he +recollected that he should disgrace himself in the eyes +of his father, of Mr Barlow, and of all the family with +which he now was, if he appeared incapable of acting +up to his own declarations; he therefore made a noble +effort, leaped out of bed, dressed himself, and followed +Harry. Not contented with this, he accompanied +him in all his rustic employments; and as no kind of +country exercise was entirely new to him since his residence +with Mr Barlow, he acquitted himself with a degree +of dexterity that gained him new commendations.</p> + +<p>Thus did he pass the first day of his visit, with +some little difficulty indeed, but without deviating +from his resolution; the second, he found his change +of life infinitely more tolerable, and in a very little space +of time he was almost reconciled to his new situation. +The additional exercise he used improved his health +and strength, and added so considerably to his appetite +that he began to think the table of farmer +Sandford exceeded all that he had ever tried before.</p> + +<p>By thus practising the common useful occupations +of life, he began to feel a more tender interest in the<!-- Page 512 --> +common concerns of his fellow-creatures. He now +found, from his own experience, that Mr Barlow had +not deceived him in the various representations he +had made of the utility of the lower classes, and +consequently of the humanity which is due to +them when they discharge their duty. Nor did that +gentleman abandon his little friend in this important +trial; he visited him frequently, pointed out everything +that was curious or interesting about the farm, +and encouraged him to persevere by his praises.</p> + +<p>"You are now," said Mr Barlow, one day, "beginning +to practise those virtues which have rendered the +great men of other times so justly famous. It is not +by sloth, nor finery, nor the mean indulgence of our +appetites, that greatness of character, or even reputation, +is to be acquired. He that would excel others +in virtue or knowledge, must first excel them in +temperance and application. You cannot imagine +that men, fit to command an army, or to give laws to +a state, were ever formed by an idle and effeminate +education. When the Roman people, oppressed by +their enemies, were looking out for a leader able to +defend them, and change the fortune of the war, +where did they seek for this extraordinary man? It +was neither at banquets, nor in splendid palaces, nor +amid the gay, the elegant, or the dissipated; they +turned their steps towards a poor and solitary +cottage, such as the meanest of your late companions +would consider with contempt; there they found +<i>Cincinnatus</i> (whose virtues and abilities were allowed +to excel all the rest of his citizens) turning up the +soil with a pair of oxen, and holding the plough himself. +This great man had been inured to arms and the<!-- Page 513 --> +management of public affairs even from his infancy; +he had repeatedly led the Roman legions to victory, +yet, in the hour of peace, or when his country did not +require his services, he deemed no employment more +honourable than to labour for his own subsistence.</p> + +<p>"What would all your late friends have said, to see +the greatest men in England, and the bravest officers +of the army, crowding round the house of one of +those obscure farmers you have been accustomed to +despise, and entreating him in the most respectful +language to leave his fields and accept of the highest +dignity in the government or army? Yet this was +actually the state of things at Rome; and it was +characters like these, with all the train of severe and +rugged virtues, which elevated that people above all +the other nations of the world. And tell me, my +little friend, since chance, not merit, too frequently +allots the situation in which men are to act, had you +rather, in a high station, appear to all mankind +unworthy of the advantages you enjoy, or, in a low +one, seem equal to the most exalted employments by +your virtues and abilities?"</p> + +<p>Such were the conversations which Mr Barlow frequently +held with Tommy, and which never failed to +inspire him with new resolution to persevere. Nor +could he help being frequently affected by the comparison +of Harry's behaviour with his own. No +cloud seemed ever to shade the features of his friend, +or alter the uniform sweetness of his temper; even the +repeated provocations he had received were either totally +obliterated or had made no disagreeable impressions. +After discharging the necessary duties of the day, he +gave up the rest of his time to the amusement of <a name="tn_pg_526"></a><!--TN: "Tom my" changed to "Tommy"-->Tom<!-- Page 514 -->my +with so much zeal and affection that he could not +help loving him a thousand times better than before.</p> + +<p>During the evening, too, Tommy frequently conversed +with the honest negro concerning the most remarkable +circumstances of the country where he was +born. One night that he seemed peculiarly inquisitive, +the Black gave him the following account of himself:—</p> + +<p>"I was born," said he, "in the neighbourhood of +the river Gambia in Africa. In <i>this</i> country people +are astonished at my colour, and start at the sight +of a black man, as if he did not belong to their +species; but <i>there</i> everybody resembles me, and when +the first white men landed upon our coast, we were +as much surprised with their appearance as you can +be with ours. In some parts of the world I have +seen men of a yellow hue, in others of a copper +colour; and all have the foolish vanity to despise +their fellow-creatures as infinitely inferior to themselves. +There, indeed, they entertain these conceits +from ignorance, but in this country, where the natives +pretend to superior reason, I have often wondered +they could be influenced by such a prejudice. Is a +black horse thought to be inferior to a white one in +speed, in strength, or courage? Is a white cow +thought to give more milk, or a white dog to have a +more acute scent in pursuing the game? On the contrary, +I have generally found, in almost every +country, that a pale colour in animals is considered +as a mark of weakness and inferiority. Why then +should a certain race of men imagine themselves +superior to the rest, for the very circumstance they +despise in other animals?</p> + +<p>"But, in the country where I was born, it is not<!-- Page 515 --> +only <i>man</i> that differs from what we see here, but +every other circumstance. <i>Here</i>, for a considerable +part of the year you are chilled by frosts and snows, +and scarcely behold the presence of the sun, during +that gloomy season which is called the winter. With +us, the sun is always present, pouring out light and +heat, and scorching us with his fiercest beams. In +my country we know no difference between the +length of nights and days; all are of equal length +throughout the year, and present not that continual +variety which you see here; we have neither ice, nor +frost, nor snow; the trees never lose their leaves, +and we have fruits in every season of the year. During +several months, indeed, we are scorched by +unremitting heats, which parch the ground, dry up +the rivers, and afflict both men and animals with intolerable +thirst. In that season you may behold +lions, tigers, elephants, and a variety of other ferocious +animals, driven from their dark abodes in the +midst of impenetrable forests, down to the lower +grounds and the sides of rivers; every night we hear +their savage yells, their cries of rage, and think ourselves +scarcely safe in our cottages. In this country +you have reduced all other animals to subjection, +and have nothing to fear, except from each other. +You even shelter yourselves from the injuries of the +weather, in mansions that seem calculated to last +for ever, in impenetrable houses of brick and stone, +that would have scarcely anything to fear from the +whole animal creation; but, with us, a few reeds +twisted together, and perhaps daubed over with +slime or mud, compose the whole of our dwelling. +Yet the innocent negro would sleep as happy and<!-- Page 516 --> +contented as you do in your palaces, provided you +do not drag him by fraud and violence away, and +force him to endure all the excesses of your cruelty.</p> + +<p>"It was in one of these cottages that I first remembered +anything of myself. A few stakes set in +the ground, and interwoven with dry leaves, covered +at top with the spreading leaves of the palm, +composed our dwelling. Our furniture consisted of +three or four earthen pipkins, in which our food was +dressed; a few mats woven with a silky kind of grass +to serve as beds; the instruments with which my +mother turned the ground, and the javelin, arrows, +and lines which my father used in fishing or the chase. +In this country, and many others where I have been, +I observe that nobody thinks himself happy till he +has got together a thousand things which he does +not want, and can never use; you live in houses +so big that they are fit to contain an army; you +cover yourselves with superfluous clothes that restrain +all the motions of your bodies; when you want +to eat, you must have meat enough served up to +nourish a whole village; yet I have seen poor +famished wretches starving at your gate, while the +master had before him at least a hundred times as +much as he could consume. We negroes, whom +you treat as savages, have different manners and +different opinions. The first thing that I can remember +of myself, was the running naked about +such a cottage as I have described, with four of my +little brothers and sisters. I have observed your +children here with astonishment; as soon as they +are born, it seems to be the business of all about +them to render them weak, helpless, and unable to<!-- Page 517 --> +use any of their limbs; the little negro, on the contrary +is scarcely born before he learns to crawl about +upon the ground. Unrestrained by bandages or +ligatures, he comes as soon and as easily to the perfect +use of all his organs as any of the beasts which surround +him; before your children here are taught to venture +themselves upon their feet, he has the perfect use +of his, and can follow his mother in her daily labours.</p> + +<p>"This, I remember, was my own case. Sometimes +I used to go with my mother to the field, where all +the women of the village were assembled to plant +rice for their subsistence. The joyful songs which +they used to sing, amid their toils, delighted my infant +ear, and when their daily task was done, they +danced together under the shade of spreading palms. +In this manner did they raise the simple food which +was sufficient for themselves and their children; +yams, a root resembling your potato, Indian corn, +and, above all, rice: to this were added the fruits +which nature spontaneously produced in our woods, +and the produce of the chase and fishing. Yet with +this we are as much contented as you are with all +your splendid tables, and enjoy a greater share of +health and strength. As soon as the fiery heat of +the sun declined, you might behold the master of +every cottage reposing before his own door, and feasting +upon his mess of roots or fruits, with all his +family around him. If a traveller or stranger happened +to come from a distant country, he was welcome +to enter into every house, and share the provisions of +the family; no door was barred against his entrance, +no surly servant insulted him for his poverty; he entered +wherever he pleased, set himself down with the<!-- Page 518 --> +family, and then pursued his journey, or reposed himself +in quiet till the next morning. In each of our +towns there is generally a large building, where the +elder part of the society are accustomed to meet in +the shade of the evening, and converse upon a variety +of subjects. The young and vigorous divert themselves +with dances and other pastimes, and the children +of different ages amuse themselves with a thousand +sports and gambols adapted to their age; some +aim their little arrows at marks, or dart their light +and blunted javelins at each other, to form themselves +for the exercises of war and the chase; others +wrestle naked upon the sand, or run in sportive races +with a degree of activity which I have never seen +among the Europeans, who pretend to be our masters.</p> + +<p>"I have described to you the building of our +houses; simple as they are, they answer every purpose +of human life, and every man is his own architect. +A hundred or two of these edifices compose +our towns, which are generally surrounded by lofty +hedges of thorns, to secure us from the midnight +attacks of wild beasts, with only a single entrance, +which is carefully closed at night"——</p> + +<p>"You talk," said Tommy, "of wild beasts; pray, +have you many in your country?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, master," said the Black, "we have them of +many sorts, equally dreadful and ferocious. First, +we have the <i>lion</i>, which I daresay you have heard of, +and perhaps seen. He is bigger than the largest +mastiff, and infinitely stronger and more fierce; his +paws alone are such that, with a single blow, he is +able to knock down a man, and almost every other +animal; but these paws are armed with claws so<!-- Page 519 --> +sharp and dreadful that nothing can resist their violence. +When he roars, every beast of the forest betakes +himself to flight, and even the boldest hunter +can scarcely hear it without dismay. Sometimes the +most valiant of our youth assemble in bands, arm +themselves with arrows and javelins, and go to the +chase of these destructive animals. When they have +found his retreat, they generally make a circle round, +uttering shouts and cries, and clashing their arms, to +rouse him to resistance. The lion, meanwhile, looks +round upon his assailants with indifference or contempt; +neither their number, nor their horrid shouts, +nor the glitter of their radiant arms, can daunt him +for an instant. At length he begins to lash his sides +with his long and nervous tail—a certain sign of rising +rage—his eyes sparkle with destructive fires; and +if the number of the hunters is very great, he perhaps +moves slowly on. But this he is not permitted +to do; a javelin thrown at him from behind wounds +him in the flank, and compels him to turn. Then +you behold him roused to fury and desperation: +neither wounds, nor streaming blood, nor a triple +row of barbed spears, can prevent him from springing +upon the daring Black who has wounded him. +Should he reach him in the attack, it is certain +death; but generally the hunter, who is at once contending +for glory and his own life, and is inured to +danger, avoids him by a nimble leap; and all his companions +hasten to his assistance. Thus is the lion +pressed and wounded on every side; his rage is ineffectual, +and only exhausts his strength the faster; +a hundred wounds are pouring out his blood at once; +and at length he bites the ground in the agonies of<!-- Page 520 --> +death, and yields the victory, though unconquered. +When he is dead, he is carried back in triumph by +the hunters, as a trophy of their courage. All the +village rushes out at once; the young, the old, women +and children, uttering joyful shouts, and praising the +valour of their champions. The elders admire his +prodigious size, his mighty limbs, his dreadful fangs, +and perhaps repeat tales of their own exploits; the +women seem to tremble at their fierce enemy, even in +his death, while the men compel their children to approach +the monster and tinge their little weapons in +his blood. All utter joyful exclamations, and feasts +are made in every house, to which the victors are +invited as the principal guests. These are intended +at once to reward those who have performed so gallant +an achievement, and to encourage a spirit of enterprise +in the rest of the nation."</p> + +<p>"What a dreadful kind of hunting must this be!" +said Tommy; "but I suppose if any one meets a +lion alone, it is impossible to resist him."</p> + +<p>"Not always," answered the Black: "I will tell +you what I once was witness to myself. My father +was reckoned not only the most skilful hunter, but +one of the bravest of our tribe; innumerable are the +wild beasts which have fallen beneath his arm. +One evening, when the inhabitants of the whole +village were assembled at their sports and dances, a +monstrous lion, allured, I suppose, by the smell of +human flesh, burst unexpectedly upon them, without +warning them of his approach by roaring, as he +commonly does. As they were unarmed, and unprepared +for defence, all but my father instantly fled, +trembling, to their huts; but he, who had never yet<!-- Page 521 --> +turned his back upon any beast of the forest, drew +from his side a kind of knife or dagger, which he +constantly wore, and, placing one knee and one hand +upon the ground, waited the approach of his terrible +foe. The lion instantly rushed upon him with a fury +not to be described; but my father received him upon +the point of his weapon with so steady and so composed +an aim, that he buried it several inches in his +belly. The beast attacked him a second time, and a +second time received a dreadful wound, not, however +without laying bare one of my father's sides +with a sudden stroke of his claws. The rest of the +village then rushed in, and had soon despatched the +lion with innumerable wounds.</p> + +<p>"This exploit appeared so extraordinary that it +spread my father's fame throughout the whole +country, and gave him the name of the <i>undaunted +hunter</i>, as an honourable distinction from the neighbourhood. +Under such a parent it was not long +before I was taught every species of the chase. At +first my father only suffered me to pursue stags and +other feeble animals, or took me in his canoe to fish. +Soon, however, I was intrusted with a bow and +arrows, and placed with many other children and +young men to defend our rice-fields from the depredations +of the <i>river-horse</i>. Rice (it is necessary to +observe) is a plant that requires great moisture in +the soil; all our plantations, therefore, are made by +the side of rivers, in the soft fertile soil which is +overflowed in the rainy season. But when the grain is +almost ripe, we are forced to defend it from a variety +of hurtful animals, that would otherwise deprive us +of the fruits of our labours; among these one of the<!-- Page 522 --> +principal is the animal I have mentioned. His size +and bulk are immense, being twice the bigness of the +largest ox which I have seen in this country: he has +four legs, which are short and thick; a head of a +monstrous magnitude, and jaws that are armed with +teeth of a prodigious size and strength; besides two +prominent tusks, which threaten destruction to all +assailants.</p> + +<p>"But this animal, though so large and strong, is +chiefly an inhabitant of the river, where he lives upon +fish and water-roots. It is sometimes a curious but +a dreadful sight, when a boat is gliding over a smooth +part of the stream of unusual depth and clearness, to +look down and behold this monstrous creature +travelling along the bottom several yards below the +surface. Whenever this happens, the boatman instantly +paddles another way; for such is the strength +of the creature, that he is able to overset a bark of +moderate size by rising under it, or to tear out a +plank with his fangs, and expose those who are in it +to the dangers of an unexpected shipwreck. All the +day he chiefly hides himself in the water, and preys +upon fish; but during the gloom of night he issues +from the river, and invades the fields of standing +corn, which he would soon lay desolate, were he not +driven back by the shouts and cries of those who are +stationed to defend them.</p> + +<p>"At this work I had assisted several successive +nights, till we were almost wearied with watching. +At length one of the most enterprising of our young +men proposed that we should no longer content ourselves +with driving back the enemy, but boldly attack +him, and punish him for his temerity. With this<!-- Page 523 --> +purpose we concealed ourselves in a convenient spot, +till we had seen one of the river-horses issue from +the water, and advance a considerable way into our +plantations; then we rushed from our hiding-place +with furious shouts and cries, and endeavoured to +intercept his return; but the beast, confiding in his +superior strength, advanced slowly on, snarling +horribly, and gnashing his dreadful tusks; and in +this manner he opened his way through the thickest +of our battalions. In vain we poured upon him on +every side our darts and arrows, and every missive +weapon; so well defended was he in an impenetrable +hide, that every weapon either rebounded as from a +wall, or glanced aside without in the least annoying. +At length one of the boldest of our youth advanced +unguardedly upon him, and endeavoured to wound +him from a shorter distance; but the furious beast +rushed upon him with an unexpected degree of +swiftness, ripped up his body with a single stroke of +his enormous tusk, and then, seizing him in his furious +jaws, lifted up his mangled body as if in triumph, and +crushed him into a bleeding and promiscuous mass.</p> + +<p>"Fear instantly seized upon our company; all +involuntarily retreated, and seemed inclined to quit +the unequal combat; all but myself, who, inflamed +with grief and rage for the loss of my companion, +determined either to revenge his death or perish in +the attempt. Seeing, therefore, that it was in vain +to attack the animal in the usual manner, I chose +the sharpest arrow, and fitted it to the bowstring; +then, with a cool unterrified aim, observing him moving +nimbly into the river, <a name="glaring">I discharged it full at his +broad and glaring eye-ball with such success, that the<!-- Page 524 --> +barbed point penetrated even to his brain</a>, and the +monster fell expiring to the ground.</p> + + +<div class="figcenter newpg"><img src="images/i006.jpg" +alt="" title="image6" border="1" width="439" height="700"></div> +<div class="caption">"I discharged it full at his broad and glaring eye-ball with +such success, that the barbed point penetrated even to his +brain."<span class="alignright"><i><a href="#glaring">P. 523.</a></i></span></div> + +<p class="newpg">"This action, magnified beyond its deserts, gained +me universal applause throughout the hamlet; I was +from that time looked upon as one of the most valiant +and fortunate of our youth. The immense body of +the monster which I had slain was cut to pieces, and +borne in triumph to the village. All the young +women received me with songs of joy and congratulations; +the young men adopted me as their leader +in every hazardous expedition; and the elders applauded +me with such expressions of esteem as filled +my ignorant heart with vanity and exultation.</p> + +<p>"But what was more agreeable to me than all the +rest, my father received me with transport, and, +pressing me to his bosom with tears of joy, told me +that now he could die with pleasure, since I had +exceeded his most sanguine expectations. 'I,' said +he, 'have not lived inactive or inglorious; I have +transfixed the tiger with my shafts; I have, though +alone, attacked the lion in his rage, the terror of the +woods, the fiercest of animals; even the elephant has +been compelled to turn his back and fly before my +javelin; but never, in the pride of my youth and +strength, did I achieve such an exploit as this.' He +then went into his cabin and brought forth the bow +and fatal arrows which he was accustomed to use in +the chase. 'Take them, take them,' said he, 'my +son, and rescue my weaker arm from a burthen which +it is no longer destined to sustain. Age is now creeping +on; my blood begins to cool, my sinews slacken, +and I am no longer equal to the task of supporting +the glories of our race. That care shall now be<!-- Page 525 --> +thine; and with a firmer hand shalt thou henceforth +use these weapons against the beasts of the forest and +the enemies of our country.'"</p> + +<p>Such was the account which the negro gave to +Tommy, in different conversations, of his birth and +education. His curiosity was gratified with the +recital, and his heart expanded in the same proportion +that his knowledge improved. He reflected, +with shame and contempt, upon the ridiculous prejudices +he had once entertained; he learned to consider +all men as his brethren and equals; and the foolish +distinctions which pride had formerly suggested +were gradually obliterated from his mind. Such a +change in his sentiments rendered him more mild, more +obliging, more engaging than ever; he became the delight +of all the family; and Harry, although he had always +loved him, now knew no limits to his affection.</p> + +<p>One day Tommy was <a name="tn_pg_540"></a><!--TN: "suprised" changed to "surprised"-->surprised by an unexpected +visit from his father, who met him with open arms, +and told him that he was now come to take him back +to his own house. "I have heard," said he, "such +an account of your present behaviour, that the past +is entirely forgotten; and I begin to glory in owning +you for a son." He then embraced him with the +transports of an affectionate father, who indulges the +strongest sentiments of his heart, but sentiments he +had long been forced to restrain.</p> + +<p>Tommy returned his father's caresses with genuine +warmth, but with a degree of respect and humility he +had once been little accustomed to use. "I will accompany +you home, sir," said he, "with the greatest +readiness; for I wish to see my mother, and hope to +give her some satisfaction by my future behaviour. You<!-- Page 526 --> +have both had too much to complain of in the past, and +I am unworthy of such affectionate parents." He then +turned his face aside and shed a tear of real virtue and +gratitude, which he instantly wiped away, as unworthy +the composure and fortitude of his new character.</p> + +<p>"But, sir," added he, "I hope you will not object +to my detaining you a little longer, while I return my +acknowledgments to all the family, and take my leave +of Harry." "Surely," said Mr Merton, "you can +entertain no doubt on that subject; and to give you +every opportunity of discharging all your duties to a +family to which you owe so much, I intend to take a +dinner with Mr Sandford, whom I now see coming +home, and then to return with you in the evening."</p> + +<p>At this instant, farmer Sandford approached, and +very respectfully saluting Mr Merton, invited him to +walk in. But Mr Merton, after returning his civility, +drew him aside, as if he had some private business to +communicate. When they were alone, he made him +every acknowledgment that gratitude could suggest, +"but words," added Mr Merton, "are very insufficient +to return the favours I have received, for it is to your +excellent family, together with the virtuous Mr Barlow, +that I owe the preservation of my son. Let me +therefore entreat you to accept of what this pocket-book +contains, as a slight proof of my sentiments, and +lay it out in whatever manner you please for the +advantage of your family."</p> + +<p>Mr Sandford, who was a man both of sense and +humour, took the book, and examining the inside, +found that it contained bank-notes to the amount of +some hundred pounds. He then carefully shut it up +again, and, returning it to Mr Merton, told him that<!-- Page 527 --> +he was infinitely obliged to him for the generosity +which prompted him to such a princely act; but, as +to the present itself, he must not be offended if he declined +it. Mr Merton, still more astonished at such +disinterestedness, pressed him with every argument +he could think of; he desired him to consider the state +of his family; his daughters unprovided for, his son +himself, with dispositions that might adorn a throne, +brought up to labour, and his own advancing age, +which demanded ease and respite, and an increase of +the conveniences of life.</p> + +<p>"And what," replied the honest farmer, "is it but +these conveniences of life that are the ruin of all the +nation? When I was a young man, Master Merton +(and that is near forty years ago), people in my +condition thought of nothing but doing their duty to +God and man, and labouring hard; this brought down +a blessing upon their heads, and made them thrive in +all their worldly concerns. When I was a boy, +farmers did not lie droning in bed, as they do now, +till six or seven; my father, I believe, was as good a +judge of business as any in the neighbourhood, and +turned as straight a furrow as any ploughman in +the county of Devon; that silver cup which I intend +to have the honour of drinking your health out of to-day +at dinner—that very cup was won by him at the +great ploughing-match near Axminster. Well, my +father used to say that a farmer was not worth a +farthing that was not in the field by four; and my poor +dear mother, too, the best-tempered woman in the +world, she always began milking exactly at five; and if +a single soul was to be found in bed after four in the +summer, you might have heard her from one end of<!-- Page 528 --> +the farm to the other. I would not disparage anybody, +or anything, my good sir; but those were times +indeed; the women then knew something about the +management of a house; it really was quite a pleasure +to hear my poor mother lecture the servants; and the +men were men indeed. Pray, did you ever hear the +story of father's being at Truro, and throwing the +famous Cornish wrestler, <i>squinting Dick</i> the <a name="tn_pg_543"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "miner?"-->miner?"</p> + +<p>Mr Merton began to be convinced that, whatever +other qualities good Mr Sandford might have, he did +not excel in brevity, and therefore endeavoured in +still stronger terms to overcome the delicacy of the +farmer, and prevail upon him to accept his present.</p> + +<p>But the good farmer pursued his point thus: +"Thank you, thank you, my dear sir, a thousand +times for your goodwill; but, as to the money, I +must beg your pardon if I persist in refusing it. +Formerly, sir, as I was saying, we were all happy +and healthy, and our affairs prospered, because we +never thought about the conveniences of life; now, I +hear of nothing else. One neighbour (for I will not +mention names) brings his son up to go a-shooting +with gentlemen; another sends his to market upon a +blood-horse with a plated bridle; and then the girls—the +girls; there is fine work indeed!—they must +have their hats and feathers and riding habits; their +heads as big as bushels, and even their hind-quarters +stuck out with cork or pasteboard; but scarcely one +of them can milk a cow, or churn, or bake, or do +any one thing that is necessary in a family; so that, +unless the government will send them all to this +new settlement, which I have heard so much of, and +bring us a cargo of plain, honest housewives, who<!-- Page 529 --> +have never been at boarding-schools, I cannot conceive +how we farmers are to get wives."</p> + +<p>Mr Merton laughed very heartily at this sally, +and told him that he would venture to assert it was +not so at <i>his</i> house. "Not quite so bad indeed," +said the farmer; "my wife was bred up under a +notable mother, and though she must have her tea +every afternoon, is, in the main, a very good sort of +woman. She has brought her daughters up a little +better than usual, but I can assure you she and I +have had many a good argument on the subject. +Not but she approves their milking, spinning, and +making themselves useful, but she would fain have +them genteel, Master Merton; all women now are +mad after gentility; and, when once <i>gentility</i> begins, +there is an end of <a name="tn_pg_544"></a><!--TN: Comma changed to a period after "industry"--><i>industry</i>. Now, were they to hear +of such a sum as you have generously offered, there +would be no peace in the house. My wenches instead +of <i>Deb</i> and <i>Kate</i>, would be <i>Miss Deborah</i> and +<i>Miss Catherine</i>; in a little time they must be sent to +boarding-school to learn French and music, and +wriggling about the room; and when they come +back, who must boil the pot, or make the pudding, +or sweep the house, or serve the pigs? Did you +ever hear of Miss Juliana, or Miss Harriet, or Miss +Carolina, doing such vulgar <a name="tn_pg_544a"></a><!--TN: Quote added after "things?"-->things?"</p> + +<p>Mr Merton was very much struck with the honest +farmer's method of expressing himself, and could not +help internally allowing the truth of his representations; +yet he still pressed him to accept his present, +and reminded him of the improvement of his farm.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, again and again," replied the farmer; +"but the whole generation of the Sandfords have<!-- Page 530 --> +been brought up to labour with their own hands for +these hundred years; and during all that time there +has not been a dishonest person, a gentleman, or a +madman amongst us. And shall I be the first to break +the customs of the family, and perhaps bring down +a curse on all our heads? What could I have more +if I were a lord or a macaroni, as I think you call +them? I have plenty of victuals and work, good +firing, clothes, warm house, a little for the poor, +and, between you and I, something perhaps in a +corner to set my children off with if they behave +well. Ah! neighbour, neighbour, if you did but +know the pleasure of holding plough after a good +team of horses, and then going tired to bed, perhaps +you'd wish to have been brought up a farmer too. +But, in one word, as well as a thousand, I shall +never forget the extraordinary kindness of your offer; +but if you would not ruin a whole family of innocent +people that love you, e'en consent to leave us as we are."</p> + +<p>Mr Merton then seeing the fixed determination of the +farmer, and feeling the justice of his coarse but strong +morality, was obliged, however reluctantly, to desist; +and Mrs Sandford coming to invite them to dinner, he +entered the house, and paid his respects to the family.</p> + +<p>After the cloth was removed, and Mr Sandford +had twice or thrice replenished his silver mug, the +only piece of finery in his house, little Harry came +running in, with so much alacrity and heedlessness +that he tore Miss Deborah's best apron, and he +had nearly precipitated Miss Catherine's new cap +into the fire, for which the young ladies and his +mother rebuked him with some acrimony. But +Harry, after begging pardon with his usual good-<!-- Page 531 -->humour, +cried, "Father, father, here is the prettiest +team of horses, all matched, and of a colour, with +new harness, the most complete I ever saw in my +life; and they have stopped at our back-door, and +the man says they are brought for you!" Farmer +Sandford was just then in the middle of his history +of the ploughing-match at Axminster; but the relation +of his son had such an involuntary effect upon +him, that he started up, overset the liquor and the +table, and making a hasty apology to Mr Merton, ran +out to see these wonderful horses.</p> + +<p>Presently he returned, in equal admiration, with +his son. "Master Merton," said he, "I did not +think you had been so good a judge of a horse. I +suppose they are a new purchase, which you want to +have my opinion upon; and I can assure you they are +the true Suffolk sorrels—the first breed of working-horses +in the kingdom; and these are some of the +best of their kind." "Such as they are," answered +Mr Merton, "they are yours; and I cannot think, +after the obligations I am under to your family, that +you will do me so great a displeasure as to refuse."</p> + +<p>Mr Sandford stood for some time in mute astonishment; +but at length he was beginning the civilest +speech he could think of, to refuse so great a present, +when Tommy, coming up, took him by the hand, and +begged him not to deny to his father and himself the +first favour they had ever asked. "Besides," said +he, "this present is less to yourself than to little +Harry; and surely, after having lived so long in your +family, you will not turn me out with disgrace, as if +I had misbehaved." Here Harry himself interposed, +and, considering less the value of the present than the<!-- Page 532 --> +feelings and intentions of the giver, he took his father +by the hand, and besought him to oblige Master Merton +and his father. "Were it any one else, I would not +say a word," added he; "but I know the generosity of +Mr Merton and the goodness of Master Tommy so well, +that they will receive more pleasure from giving, than +you from taking the horses, though I must confess +they are such as would do credit to anybody; and they +beat farmer Knowles all to nothing, which have long +been reckoned the best team in all the country."</p> + +<p>This last reflection, joined with all that had preceded, +overcame the delicacy of Mr Sandford; and he at length +consented to order the horses to be led into his stable.</p> + +<p>And now Mr Merton, having made the most affectionate +acknowledgments to all this worthy and +happy family, among whom he did not forget the +honest Black, whom he promised to provide for, +summoned his son to accompany him home. Tommy +arose, and with the sincerest gratitude bade adieu to +Harry and all the rest. "I shall not be long without +you," said he to Harry; "to your example I owe +most of the little good that I can boast: you have +taught me how much better it is to be useful than +rich or fine; how much more amiable to be good than +to be great. Should I ever be tempted to relapse, +even for an instant, into any of my former habits, I +will return hither for instruction, and I hope you will +again receive me." Saying this, he shook his friend +Harry affectionately by the hand, and, with watery +eyes, accompanied his father home.</p> + + +<h2>THE END.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 15%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;"> +<h2>Transcriber's Note</h2> +<div style="margin-left:10%;margin-right:10%"> +<p>Illustrations were interleaved between pages in the original text. In this +version, they have been moved close to the relevant section of the text.</p> +<p>Inconsistent hyphenation for bare-footed" / "barefooted", "fire-side" / +"fireside", and "good-will" / "goodwill" has been retained. Page numbers +are documented in the source code.</p> + +Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made: +</div> +<div style="margin-left:20%;margin-right:20%"> + +<ul> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_14">"off" changed to "of"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_24">"the the" changed to "the"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_29">Period added after "fury"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_37">Single quote added after "returns"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_42">"thefore" changed to "therefore"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_43">"several their" changed to "several of their"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_66">Quote added before "and"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_67">Single quote removed after "me."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_77">Quote removed before "this"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_79">Comma and closing quote added after "But"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_83">Single quote removed after "labour;"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_101">"happend" changed to "happened"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_105">Period added after "Harry"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_108">End quote added after "leg."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_114">Quote added after "up?"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_121">"bcause" changed to "because"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_136">Single quote added after "appearance."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_137">"fondness" changed to "Fondness"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_140">Single quote moved to after the dash</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_140a">Period added after "slavery"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_144">Period changed to comma after "inconvenience"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_144a">"elasped" changed to "elapsed"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_152">Quote added after "cider?"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_156">"suprised" changed to "surprised"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_158">Quote added after "distress."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_171">"aminal" changed to "animal"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_179">"and and" changed to "and"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_181">Period added after "fellow"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_184">Closing quote added after "songs."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_185">"prepetual" changed to "perpetual"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_186">"aminals" changed to "animals"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_187">"suprise" changed to "surprise"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_188">"are are" replaced with "are"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_193">Single quote added after "pieces."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_195">Comma changed to period after "scrofula"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_201">"docter" changed to "doctor"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_207">"possesssion" changed to "possession"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_209">"warmeth" changed to "warmth"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_215">New paragraph started at "The Man."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_215a">Quote added after "contented."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_220">Comma changed to a period after "plainly"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_227">Hyphen added between "the" and "lantern"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_233">"sweatmeats" changed to "sweetmeats"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_238">Capitalized "because"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_239">Quote added after "consequence."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_243">Quote added after "himself."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_247">Quote added after "be?"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_256">"appeard" changed to "appeared"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_257">"imagaine" changed to "imagine"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_258">"ncessaries" changed to "necessaries"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_261">"determinded" changed to "determined"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_262">"prosposal" changed to "proposal"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_267">Quotation mark added before "that"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_283">"accidently" changed to "accidentally"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_286">"connot" changed to "cannot"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_293">Question mark changed to a period after "houses"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_296">Quote added after "this,"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_300">"Syracse" changed to "Syracuse"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_304">Quotation mark added after "madam,"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_310">Period added after "Barlow"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_312">"formely" changed to "formerly"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_313">"harpsicord" changed to "harpsichord"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_316">"artifical" changed to "artificial"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_317">"to to" changed to "to"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_335">"digusted" changed to "disgusted"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_343">Changed "admist" to "amidst"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_361">"huried" changed to "hurried"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_368">"accidently" changed to "accidentally"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_368a">"While" rendered in smallcaps as first word in a chapter</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_371">Quotation mark moved to after the dash</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_400">"inbibed" changed to "imbibed"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_406">Single quote removed after "hospitality."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_407">Single quote removed after "children"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_409">Single quote removed after "natives"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_409a">Single quote removed after "tribute."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_412">Additional single quote added after "Arabians.'"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_412a">"contenance" changed to "countenance"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_412b"> Double quote followed by a single quote reversed after "yoke"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_412c">Single quote changed to a double quote after "question?"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_414">Quote added after "rich."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_423">Quote added after "with."</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_430">Single quote added after "this,"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_447">Comma moved to within the single quote after "resolution"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_448">"continned" changed to "continued"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_459">"and and" changed to "and"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_462">"harships" changed to "hardships"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_480">Quote added before "The"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_480a">Quote removed before "'I"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_486">"he" changed to "she"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_489">Comma changed to a period after "power"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_493">Single quote added after "mouse,"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_510">"exorting" changed to "exhorting"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_512">"quanity" changed to "quantity"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_514">"protend" changed to "portend"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_526">"Tom my" changed to "Tommy"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_540">"suprised" changed to "surprised"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_543">Quote added after "miner?"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_544">Comma changed to a period after "industry"</a></li> +<li><a href="#tn_pg_544a">Quote added after "things?"</a></li> +</ul> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The History of Sandford and Merton, by Thomas Day + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HISTORY OF SANDFORD AND MERTON *** + +***** This file should be named 30274-h.htm or 30274-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/2/7/30274/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Linda Hamilton and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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