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diff --git a/30274-0.txt b/30274-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7fbda2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30274-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14278 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30274 *** + +[Illustration: "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." _P. 349._] + + + + + THE HISTORY + + OF + + SANDFORD AND MERTON. + + + BY THOMAS DAY. + + + =Six Coloured Engravings on Steel.= + + + =Philadelphia:= + J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. + MDCCCLXVIII. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +CHAPTER I. + PAGE + 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, 1 + + +CHAPTER II. + + 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, 47 + + +CHAPTER III. + + 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, 95 + + +CHAPTER IV. + + 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, 185 + + +CHAPTER V. + + 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, 197 + + +CHAPTER VI. + + 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, 255 + + +CHAPTER VII. + + 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, 298 + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + 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, 355 + + + + + THE HISTORY + + OF + + SANDFORD AND MERTON. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + 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. + + +In 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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. Harry, who, though young, 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. + +[Illustration: "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." _P. 6._] + +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." + +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. + +Harry was now in a new scene of life. He was carried through costly +apartments, where everything 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 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 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." + +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. + +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." + +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 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." + +"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?" "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." + +"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 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. + +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." + +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, 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." + +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." + +As Mr Merton said this with a certain degree of 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. + +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 therefore 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." + +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. + +"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 myself +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, 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 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." + +"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?" + +"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; 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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Certainly not. That were to debase his heart, and sanction abuses, +instead of reforming them." + +"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 had stamped +all these particulars with the mark of extreme vulgarity?" + +"Were he to act otherwise, he must forfeit all pretensions either to +honesty or skill." + +"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?" + +"I think so, indeed." + +"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?" + +"No, certainly; he should arraign these pernicious habitudes by every +means within his power--by precept, by example." + +"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 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?" + +"There cannot be a doubt upon the subject." + +"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? + +"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 +indulgences, 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. + +"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 fury. Should he be despised, or neglected by 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, 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." + +"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?" + +"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 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 companions, 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." + +"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--" + +"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 +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." + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 +wrong; and be sure to read it in such a manner as to show that you +understand it." + +Harry then took up the book, and read as follows:-- + + +"THE FLIES AND THE ANTS." + +"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 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 returns.'" + +"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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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, they are not above +taking the bread that other people have been working hard for." At this +Tommy cried still more bitterly than before. + +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. + +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:-- + + +"THE GENTLEMAN AND THE BASKET-MAKER." + +"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 himself. 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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, and +the poor basket-maker was obliged to run out almost naked to save his +life. + +"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.' + +"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; 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.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 several of their choicest roots; while to the rich man they +gave 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +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 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." + +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?" + +_Harry._--Why, Mr Barlow taught me my letters, and then spelling; and +then, by putting syllables together, I learnt to read. _Tommy._--And +could not you show me my letters? _Harry._--Yes, very willingly. + +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,-- + + +"THE HISTORY OF THE TWO DOGS." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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." + +"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 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:-- + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.'" + +"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, 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." + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + 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. + + +In this manner did Mr Barlow begin the education of Tommy Merton, who +had naturally very good dispositions, although he had been suffered to +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. + +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 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. + +The next day Mr Barlow desired Harry, when they were all together in the +arbour, to read the following story of + + +"ANDROCLES AND THE LION." + +"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 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.' + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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 I was angry; and they never dared strike me again, +because they were slaves." + +"And pray, young man," said Mr Barlow, "how came these people to be +slaves?" + +_Tommy._--Because my father bought them with his money. _Mr Barlow._--So +then people that are bought with money are slaves, are they? _T._--Yes. +_Mr B._--And those that buy them have a right to kick them, and beat +them, and do as they please with them? _T._--Yes. _Mr B._--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. _Mr B._--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? _T._--Yes, sir. _Mr B._--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?" _T._--No, but you won't, sir, because I +was born a gentleman. _Mr B._--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. _Mr +B._--Then if you were no longer to have a fine house, nor fine 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? _T._--No, sir, that would not be right +neither, that anybody should use me ill. _Mr B._--Then one person should +not use another ill? _T._--No, sir. _Mr B._--To make a slave of anybody +is to use him ill, is it not? _T._--I think so. _Mr B._--Then no one +ought to make a slave of you? _T._--No, indeed, sir. _Mr B._--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. _T._--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. _Mr B._--Then you will be a +very good boy. But let us now continue our story. + +"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. + +"Androcles, who was naturally of a resolute disposition, acquired +courage, from this circumstance, to examine his monstrous guest, who +gave him sufficient 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Androcles then related to the assembly every circumstance of his +adventures in the woods, and 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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 you say to him?" +said Mr Barlow. _Harry._--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? _Mr B._--And what answer did he +make you? _H._--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. _Mr +B._--And what answer did you make; any? _H._--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. _Mr +B._--And did he strike you? _H._--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. _Mr B._--It is not uncommon for those who are most cruel to be +at the same time most cowardly; but what did you? _H._--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. + +"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 little confused, "I should not have attempted +to beat him, only he would not bring me my ball." _Mr B._--And what +right had you to oblige him to bring your ball? _T._--Sir, he was a +little ragged boy, and I am a gentleman. _Mr B._--So then, every +gentleman has a right to command little ragged boys? _T._--To be sure, +sir. _Mr B._--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." _Mr B._--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? +_T._--Indeed, sir, I did not; I neither gave him anything nor offered +him anything. _Mr B._--Probably you had nothing to give him? _T._--Yes I +had, though; I had all this money (pulling out several shillings). _Mr +B._--Perhaps the boy was as rich as you. _T._--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. _Mr B._--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. + +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." _Tommy._--And why cannot you have your belly +full of victuals? _Little boy._--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. + +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." + +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. + +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?" _Tommy._--Why, sir, I did +it because the little boy said he was very hungry, and had seven +brothers and sisters, and that his father was ill, and could not work. +_Mr B._--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?" _T._--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; "and here is a little story you may read upon +this very subject:-- + + +"THE STORY OF CYRUS." + +"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. _Cyrus._--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 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 me. + +"'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.'" + +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 of, instead of upon my back; but I never will put such +frippery on again as long as I have breath in my body." + +"What is the matter?" said Mr Barlow, who perceived that some +unfortunate accident had happened in consequence of Tommy's present. + +"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." + +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 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. + +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." + +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." + +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 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 +these poor hares do nobody any harm, excepting the farmers, by eating a +little of their corn sometimes." + +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." + +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." + +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 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. + +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." _Tommy._--I wish I had had a pistol or a sword! +_Harry._--Why, what would you have done with it? _T._--I would have +killed that good-for-nothing man who treated you so cruelly. _H._--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. _T._--But how could you bear to be so severely +whipped, without crying out? _H._--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. _T._--Well, I +should have thought a great deal. _H._--Oh! it's nothing to what the +young Spartans used to suffer. _T._--Who were they? _H._--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. _T._--What, and had +they no coaches to ride in, nor sweetmeats, nor wine, nor anybody to +wait upon them? _H._--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. + +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 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?" _Tommy._--Why, it is not fit +for a gentleman to carry things himself. _Harry._--Why, what hurt does +it do him, if he is but strong enough? _T._--I do not know; but I +believe it is that he may not look like the common people. _H._--Then he +should not have hands, or feet, or ears, or mouth, because the common +people have the same. _T._--No, no; he must have all these, because they +are useful. _H._--And is it not useful to be able to do things for +ourselves? _T._--Yes; but gentlemen have others to do what they want for +them. _H._--Then I should think it must be a bad thing to be a +gentleman. _T._--Why so? _H._--Because, if all were gentlemen, nobody +would do anything, and then we should be all starved. _T._--Starved! +_H._--Yes; why, you could not live, could you, without bread? _T._--No; +I know that very well. _H._--And bread is made of a plant that grows in +the earth, and it is called wheat. _T._--Why, then, I would gather it +and eat it. _H._--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. _T._--No, certainly; but how comes bread then? _H._--Why, they +send the corn to the mill. _T._--What is a mill? _H._--What! did you +never see a mill? _T._--No, never; but I should like to see one, that I +may know how they make bread. _H._--There is one at a little distance; +and if you ask Mr Barlow, he will go with you, for he knows the miller +very well. _T._--That I will, for I should like to see them make bread. + +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." + +The Squire considered Harry with a countenance in which shame and +humiliation seemed yet to struggle with his natural insolence; but at +length, 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. + +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. + +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 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 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." + +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." _Tommy._--Why not? does not corn grow in the +ground of itself? _Harry._--Corn grows in the ground, but then first it +is necessary to plough the ground, to break it to pieces. _T._--What is +ploughing? _H._--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? _T._--Yes, I +have; and is that ploughing? _H._--It is; and there is a sharp iron +underneath, which runs into the ground and turns it up all the way it +goes. _T._--Well, and what then? _H._--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. +_T._--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? _H._--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. + +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." + +"What then," answered Mr Barlow; "must not 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. +_Tommy._--Why, sir, they pay other people to work for them, or buy bread +when it is made, as much as they want. _Mr B._--Then they pay for it +with money? _T._--Yes, sir. _Mr B._--Then they must have money before +they can buy corn? _T._--Certainly, sir. _Mr B._--But have all gentlemen +money? Tommy hesitated some time at this question; at last he said, "I +believe not always, sir." _Mr B._--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." "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 + + +"THE TWO BROTHERS." + +"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 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. + +"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, 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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.' + +"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 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. + +"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 refused, telling him that he could +raise food enough to maintain himself, and was in no want of gold." + +"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?" _Tommy._--I believe so, sir. _Mr B._--Why, are there not +countries in the world where there are no inhabitants, and where no corn +is raised? _T._--Certainly, sir; this country, which the two brothers +went to, was such a place. _Mr B._--And there are many other such +countries in the world. _T._--But then a man need not go to them; he may +stay at home. _Mr B._--Then he must not pass the seas in a ship. +_T._--Why so, sir? _Mr B._--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? _T._--And +have such accidents sometimes happened? _Mr B._--Yes, several; there +was, in particular, one Selkirk, who was shipwrecked, and obliged to +live several years upon a desert island. _T._--That was very +extraordinary indeed; and how did he get victuals? _Mr B._--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. _T._--And did not such a hard disagreeable way of life kill +him at last? _Mr B._--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. _T._--Where is Spitzbergen, +sir? _Mr B._--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. _T._--This +must be a very curious story indeed; I would give anything to be able to +see it. _Mr B._--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 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. + + + _Extracts from a Narrative of the Extraordinary Adventures of Four + Russian Sailors, who were cast away on the Desert Island of East + Spitzbergen._ + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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 +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. + +"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 consumed 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 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. + +"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 themselves from their assaults, for +some of these creatures even ventured to enter the outer room of the +hut, in order to devour them. 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." + +[Illustration: "Some of these creatures even ventured to enter the outer +room of the hut, in order to devour them." + +_P. 86._] + +"Sure," exclaimed Tommy, "such a life as that must have been miserable +and dreadful indeed." "Why so?" said Mr Barlow. _Tommy._--Because, being +always in danger of being devoured by wild beasts, those men must have +been always unhappy. _Mr B._--And yet they never were devoured. +_T._--No, sir; because they made weapons to defend themselves. _Mr +B._--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. _T._--I do not exactly understand you, sir. _Mr +B._--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? _T._--Yes, sir. _Mr B._--But Harry was not unhappy. _T._--That is +very true, sir. _Mr B._--And yet he was in more danger of being bitten +than yourself, because he took hold of it. _T._--Indeed he did. _Mr +B._--But he knew that by boldly seizing it, and flinging it away, he +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. _T._--Indeed, sir, that is true; and, were such an accident to +happen again, I think I should have courage enough to do the same. _Mr +B._--Should you then be as unhappy now as you were the first time? +_T._--By no means, because I have a great deal more courage. _Mr +B._--Why, then, persons that have courage are not so unhappy as those +that are cowardly when they are exposed to danger. _T._--Certainly not, +sir. _Mr B._--And that must be equally true in every kind of danger. +_T._--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. _Mr B._--Why, then, if she had possessed +as much courage, perhaps she would have laughed too. _T._--Indeed, I +believe she might; for I have sometimes seen her laugh at herself, when +it was over, for being so cowardly. _Mr B._--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. _T._--Indeed, I believe so. _Mr +B._--Let us now continue. + +"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 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 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 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----" + +_Tommy._--Pray, sir, stop. What! are there countries in the world where +it is night continually for several months together? _Mr +Barlow._--Indeed there are. _T._--How can that be? _Mr B._--How happens +it that there is night at all? _T._--How happens it! It must be so, must +it not? _Mr B._--That is only saying that you do not know the reason. +But do you observe no difference here between night and day? _T._--Yes, +sir, it is light in the day and dark in the night. _Mr B._--But why is +it dark in the night? _T._--Really I do not know. _Mr B._--What! does +the sun shine every night? _T._--No, sir, certainly not. _Mr B._--Then +it only shines on some nights, and not on others. _T._--It never shines +at all in the night. _Mr B._--And does it in the day? _T._--Yes, sir. +_Mr B._--Every day? _T._--Every day, I believe, only sometimes the +clouds prevent you from seeing it. _Mr B._--And what becomes of it in +the night? _T._--It goes away, so that we cannot see it. _Mr B._--So, +then, when you can see the sun, it is never night. _T._--No, sir. _Mr +B._--But when the sun goes away the night comes on. _T._--Yes, sir. _Mr +B._--And when the sun comes again what happens? _T._--Then it is day +again; for I have seen the day break, and the sun always rises presently +after. _Mr B._--Then if the sun were not to rise for several months +together, what would happen? _T._--Sure, it would always remain night, +and be dark. _Mr B._--That is exactly the case with the countries we +are reading about. + +"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 +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 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. + +"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 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." + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + 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. + + +Here 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 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. + +"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." _Mr B._--And +what do you imagine is the reason of that? _T._--Because they are wild. +_Mr B._--And what is a fowl's being wild? _T._--When he will not let you +come near him. _Mr B._--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. _T._--Indeed, sir, I cannot tell, unless it is +because they are naturally so. _Mr B._--But if they were naturally so, +this fowl could not be fond of Harry. _T._--That is because he is so +good to it. _Mr B._--Very likely. Then it is not natural for an animal +to run away from a person that is good to him? _T._--No, sir; I believe +not. _Mr B._--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? +_T._--Yes. _Mr B._--And then you say he is wild, do you not? _T._--Yes, +sir. _Mr B._--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. _T._--Indeed I would, sir. _Mr B._--And yet you do not call +yourself a wild animal? Tommy laughed heartily at this, and said No. +"Therefore," said 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." _T._--And did it not bite him? _H._--No; +he sometimes used to give it a pat with his spoon, if it ate too fast; +but it never hurt him. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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 +leg." _Tommy._--No, sir; but you told me that feeding animals was the +way to make them love me; and so I wanted to feed the pig. _Mr B._--But +it was not my fault that you attempted it in a wrong manner. The animal +did not know your intentions, and therefore, when you seized 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. _T._--But, sir, I thought +Harry had mentioned a little boy that used to feed a snake without +receiving any hurt from it. _Mr B._--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. _T._--Pray, sir, what is this curious +story? But first tell me, if you please, what an elephant is? + +"An elephant," said Mr Barlow, "is the largest land animal that we are +acquainted with. It is 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." + +"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." _T._--How is that, sir? _Mr B._--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 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. _T._--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, 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." + +"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." + +"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 +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." + +Tommy thanked Mr Barlow for these two stories, and promised for the +future to use more discretion in his kindness to animals. + +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. + +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 up?" _Harry._--Yes, I have. _T._--And did not the very +thoughts of it frighten you dreadfully? _H._--No; I cannot say they did. +_T._--Why, should you like to live in such a country? _H._--No, +certainly; I am very happy that I was born in such a country as this, +where the weather is scarcely ever too hot or too cold; but a man must +bear patiently whatever is his lot in this world. _T._--That is true. +But should you not cry, and be very much afflicted, if you were left +upon such a country? _H._--I should certainly be very sorry if I was +left there alone, more especially as I am not big enough, or strong +enough, to defend myself against such fierce animals; but the crying +would do me no good; it would be better to do something, and endeavour +to help myself. _T._--Indeed I think it would; but what could you do? +_H._--Why, I should endeavour to build myself a house, if I could find +myself materials. _T._--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. +_H._--You know there are houses of different sizes. The houses that the +poor people live in are very different from your father's house. +_T._--Yes, they are little, nasty, dirty, disagreeable places; I should +not like to live in them at all. _H._--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? +_T._--Yes, certainly. And how would you make one of them? _H._--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. +_T._--And what then? _H._--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. _T._--Clay! what is that? _H._--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. _T._--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? _H._--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. _T._--Really, I should like +to try to make a house; do you think, Harry, that you and I could make +one? _H._--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. + +Mr Barlow then came to call them in to read, and 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." + +Tommy then read, with a clear and distinct voice, the following story of + + +"THE GOOD-NATURED LITTLE BOY." + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"But he had not gone much more than half-way before the night shut in +extremely dark, without either moon or stars to light him. 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.' + +"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 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.' + +"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 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.' + +"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." + +"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 +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." + +Harry read the following story of + + +"THE ILL-NATURED BOY." + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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.' + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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?' '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.' + +"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 repent and mend your manners, you will +meet with a severe punishment for your bad behaviour.' + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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 misfortunes; 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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." _Mr B._--Very right; the more knowledge he +acquires the better. _T._--And therefore Harry and I are going to build +a house. _Mr B._--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." _Mr B._--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." _Mr B._--And if no ship should come, what +then? _T._--Why, then, we must stay there all our lives, I am afraid. +_Mr B._--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? _T._--The first +thing we want, sir, is wood and a hatchet. _Mr B._--Wood you shall have +in plenty; but did you ever use a hatchet? _T._--No, sir. _Mr B._--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. + +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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +But this employment did not make Tommy unmindful of the story which Mr +Barlow had promised him; it was to this purport:-- + + +"THE STORY OF THE GRATEFUL TURK." + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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.' + +"'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.' + +"'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?' + +"'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.' + +"The Venetian was affected with this appearance 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 +appearance.' 'Name them! name them!' cried the impatient Hamet; 'place +death before me in every horrid shape, and if I shrink----' + +"'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.' + +"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 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!' + +"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. + +"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----' + +"'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.' + +"'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! 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 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.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 an adequate idea of the father's feelings, when, on recovering +his senses, he found his darling miraculously preserved, and safe within +his arms? + +"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.' + +"'Gracious heavens!' cried the merchant, 'sure I should know that +voice?--It is----' 'Yes,' exclaimed the son, throwing himself into the +arms of his deliverer, 'it is my Hamet!' + +"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 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. + +"'I bless God for that captivity,' answered Hamet, 'since it has given +me an opportunity of showing that I was not altogether undeserving of +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----'" + +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 composure, told him not to mind +it, for it could easily be repaired, and they would build it stronger +the next time. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + 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. + + +Some time had now elapsed since the seeds of the wheat were sown, and +they began to shoot so 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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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 that is planted in it flourishes and +produces with the greatest abundance." + +"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 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." _T._--And does it never devour men? _Mr +B._--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. _T._--This +must be a dreadful animal to meet with; is it possible for a man to +defend himself against it? _Mr B._--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 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." + +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." + +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 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." + +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 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." + +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?" _The Woman._--Yes, indeed it +is. _Tommy._--And pray how is it made? _The Woman._--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. _Tommy._--And is +this juice cider? _The Woman._--You shall taste, little master, as you +seem so curious. + +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 +cider?" _The Woman._--Nothing at all. _Tommy._--How, then, should it +become cider? for I am sure what you gave me at first is not cider. _The +Woman._--Why, we put the juice into a large cask, and let it stand in +some warm place, where it soon begins to ferment. _Tommy._--Ferment! +pray, what is that? _The Woman._--You shall see. + +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. _Tommy._--And is this what you call fermentation? _The +Woman._--Yes, master. _Tommy._--And what is the reason of it? _The +Woman._--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. +_Tommy._--What! is wine made of apples, then? _The Woman._--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. _Tommy._--I declare +this is very curious indeed. Then cider is nothing but wine made of +apples? + +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. + +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." + +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 _Tosset_. +"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 all you have, and proceed to +sell it by auction for the discharge of the debt." + +"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." + +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 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." + +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?" + +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 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!" + +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. + +Mr and Mrs Merton were extremely 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," 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. +_Tommy._--No, sir, a great deal more--a great many guineas. _Mr +Merton._--Let us however see. _T._--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." +_T._--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." _Mr M._--That I very much doubt. _T._--But, sir, if you please, +you may let me have this money, and I will pay you again by degrees. _Mr +M._--How will you ever be able to pay me such a sum? _T._--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. _Mr +M._--But what can such a child as you want with all this money? +_T._--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. + +Mr Merton was extremely struck with the earnestness 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. + +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 +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 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." + +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 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. + +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:-- + + +"CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE GRATEFUL TURK." + +"When Hamet had thus finished his story, the Venetian was astonished at +the virtue and elevation 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.' + +"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. + +"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 excellent +disposition, he was generally beloved and esteemed. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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.' + +"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 +_Hamet_. 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 +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.' + +"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 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." + +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, 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. + +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. + +"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 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 moaning 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." + +"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." + +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, 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. + +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. + +As they were returning home, Tommy asked Mr Barlow whether he did not +think it very dangerous to meddle with such an 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?" _Tommy._--yes, sir, very often. _Mr Barlow._--And do you think +it would be an easy matter for any one to mount upon their backs or ride +them? _T._--By no means; I think that they would kick and prance to +that degree that they would throw any person down. _Mr B._--And yet your +little horse very frequently takes you upon his back, and carries you +very safely between this and your father's house. _T._--That is because +he is used to it. _Mr B._--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. _T._--Yes, sir. _Mr B._--How came he then to be so +altered as to submit to bear you upon his back? _T._--I do not know, +unless it was by feeding him. _Mr B._--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 _education_ 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 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. + +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." "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 +imitative 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." + +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 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. + +The summer had now completely passed away, and the winter had set in +with unusual severity; the 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. + +Tommy was greatly delighted with his new acquaintance, and from this +time never failed to set 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. + +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? + +_Tommy._--Oh sir! nothing can be too bad for that cruel animal. I would +have her killed as she killed the poor bird. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +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. + +_Mr Barlow._--Have you never observed that it was the property of that +species to prey upon mice and other little animals? + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir, very often. + +_Mr Barlow._--And have you ever corrected her for so doing, or attempted +to teach her other habits? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--But is that possible? + +_Mr Barlow._--Very possible, I should imagine; but we may at least try +the experiment. + +_Tommy._--But why should such a mischievous creature live at all? + +_Mr Barlow._--Because, if you destroy every creature that preys upon +others, you would perhaps leave few alive. + +_Tommy._--Surely, sir, the poor bird which that naughty cat has killed, +was never guilty of such a cruelty. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--Do you imagine that the bird is conscious of all that is +suffered by the insect? + +_Tommy._--No, sir. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Why, then, perhaps the cat did not know the cruelty she was +guilty of in tearing that poor bird to pieces? + +_Mr Barlow._--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 +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. + +_Tommy._--But if that is the case, should I have another tame bird, she +would kill it as she has done this poor fellow. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Oh dear, sir, I should like to try it. Will you not show me +how to prevent the cat from killing any more birds? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +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 encourage 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. + +The coldness of the weather still continuing, all the wild animals began +to perceive the effects, and, compelled by hunger, approached nearer to +the 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. + +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 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." + +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 songs." + +_Tommy._--How dreary and uncomfortable is this season of winter; I wish +it were always summer. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Then I should like to live in a country that was never either +disagreeably hot or cold. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 perpetual snows during all +the year, yet the inhabitants would not exchange it for any other +portion of the globe. + +_Tommy._--How do they live in so disagreeable a country? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--I should like very much to hear, if Harry will be so good as +to tell me. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--That must be a disagreeable country indeed! What then have +they to live upon? + +_Harry._--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 animals are called _reindeer_, 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 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. + +_Tommy._--Have you not said that they have neither horses nor oxen? Do +they then draw these sledges themselves? + +_Harry._--I thought I should 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 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 are acquainted with), and +invites all his neighbours to the feast. 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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--Have you then observed that those who eat and drink the +most, and undergo the least fatigue, are the most free from disease? + +_Tommy._--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. _Mr Barlow._--And did you ever observe that +any of the poor had lost the use of their limbs by the same disease? + +_Tommy._--I cannot say I have. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 + + +"HISTORY OF A SURPRISING CURE OF THE GOUT." + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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 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 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.' + +"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. + +"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 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 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.' + +"'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.' + +"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 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.' + +"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 o'clock everything shall be ready for your +entertainment. In the meantime you will permit me to visit my patients.' + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"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. + +"At length the doctor returned punctual to his 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.' + +"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! + +"'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 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.' + +"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.' + +"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. + +"He was accordingly conducted into a neighbouring 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. + +"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. + +"'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 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.' + +"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. + +"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 doctor went abruptly out, and locked the door after him. He had +not been long in this situation before he felt the floor of 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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.' + +"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 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.' + +"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." + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + 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. + + +Some 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 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 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." + +_Tommy._--But what if the weather should not clear up at all? + +_Harry._--In that case we must either endeavour to find our way through +the snow, or stay here, where we are so conveniently sheltered. + +_Tommy._--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! + +_Harry._--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. + +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, 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. "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 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." + +"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?" + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--But then it is not proper for gentlemen to do the same kind of +work with the common people. + +_Harry._--But is it not proper for a gentleman to have his body stout +and hardy? + +_Tommy._--To be sure it is. + +_Harry._--Why, then, he must sometimes labour and use his limbs, or else +he will never be able to do it. + +_Tommy._--What! cannot a person be strong without working? + +_Harry._--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 the farmers in the neighbourhood, who are always used to handle +a hoe, a spade, a fork, and other tools? + +_Tommy._--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. + +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, "As I am alive, here as I am is Jack +Smithers, the little ragged boy that you gave the clothes to in the +summer! He lives, I dare say, in the neighbourhood, and either he or his +father will now show us the way home." + +[Illustration: "As I am alive, here is Jack Smithers, the little ragged +boy that you gave the clothes to in the summer!" + +_P. 202._] + +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." + +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. + +"Daddy," said the little boy, as he came in, "here is Master Merton, who +was so good to us all in the summer; he has lost his way in the wood, +and is almost perished in the snow." + +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." + +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." + +_Tommy._--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. + +_The Man._--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. + +"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 contented." + +"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 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?" + +"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!" + +_The Man._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +"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." + +_Tommy._--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? + +_The Man._--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 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? + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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?" + +"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 _constellations_. But come, Harry, you are a little +farmer, and can certainly point out to us Charles' Wain." + +Harry then looked up to the sky, and pointed out 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." + +_Tommy._--Indeed, sir, I do not think I can. + +_Mr Barlow._--Do you not think, then, that you can find them again? + +_Tommy._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; I see it plainly. + +_Mr Barlow._--That is called the Pole-star; it never moves from its +place, and by looking full at it, you may always find the north. + +_Tommy._--Then if I turn my face towards that star, I always look to the +north. + +_Mr Barlow._--You are right. + +_Tommy._--Then I shall turn my back to the south. + +_Mr Barlow._--You are right again; and now cannot you find the east and +the west? + +_Tommy._--Is it not the east where the sun rises? + +_Mr Barlow._--Yes; but there is no sun to direct you now. + +_Tommy._--Then, sir, I cannot find it out. + +_Mr Barlow._--Do not you know, Harry? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--Perfectly right. + +_Tommy._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--But how would you do that? + +_Tommy._--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; and this I +would do till I was acquainted with all the stars in the heavens. + +_Mr Barlow._--That would be an excellent way, but you see a paper is +flat; is that the form of the sky? + +_Tommy._--No; the sky seems to rise from the earth on every side, like +the dome of a great church. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--That is true, indeed, sir; I wish I had just such a globe. + +_Mr Barlow._--Well, just such a globe I will endeavour to procure you. + +_Tommy._--Sir, I am much obliged to you, indeed. But of what use is it +to know the stars? + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 tell Master Merton the story of your being lost upon the +great moor. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--And were not you frightened to find yourself all alone upon +such a dismal place? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--That was a very dismal thing indeed. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--Did not that give you very great comfort? + +"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." + +_Tommy._--And did the person with the candle and lantern direct you? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--That was unlucky indeed. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--And did he? + +_Harry._--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 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. + +_Tommy._--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 the heavens. But did you ever find out what that light was, +which danced before you in so extraordinary a manner? + +_Harry._--When I came home, my father told me it was what the common +people called a _Jack-o'-the-lantern_; 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. + +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." + +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 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. + +"It was in the neighbourhood of these prodigious mountains, which are +called the _Alps_, 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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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; 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"This was the account which these poor people gave to the magistrate of +their preservation." + +"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." + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--And which do you prefer; to be as you are now, or as you +were before? + +_Tommy._--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 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 people are subject to be buried +in that manner in the snow! I wonder anybody will live there. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Harry._--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 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. + +_Tommy._--And have you ever been in any large town? + +_Harry._--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? + +_Tommy._--What? + +_Harry._--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 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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--And did they not beg your pardon for the accident? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--What! both at once? That was a cowardly trick. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--And did you hear no more of these young gentlemen? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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 _country_, where they find neither +employment nor amusement. They wish to go to _London_, 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. + +_Tommy._--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 _Ranelagh_, where everybody goes to +meet his friends. + +_Mr Barlow._--I believe Harry will never go there to meet his friends. + +_Harry._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--And does nobody go there that has not several friends? Because +Master Tommy said that people went to Ranelagh to meet their friends. + +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 _friends_, 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 _consequence_." + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--What is that story? Do let me hear it. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +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. 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. + +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." + +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." + +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 +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." + +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. + +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 +would break a hundred mallets to pieces before he made the least +impression upon the wood." + +"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. + +"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. + +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, 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. + +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 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 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?" + +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 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." + +"This," said Mr Barlow, "is what they call a _lever_, 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." + +"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 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 _wheel_ and _axle_. 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." + +_Tommy._--What is arithmetic, sir? + +_Mr Barlow._--That is not so easy to make you understand at once; I +will, however, try to explain it. Do you see the grains of wheat which +he scattered in the window? + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir. + +_Mr Barlow._--Can you count how many there are? + +_Tommy._--There are just five-and-twenty of them. + +_Mr Barlow._--Very well. Here is another parcel; how many grains are +there? + +_Tommy._--Just fourteen. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +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 be?" + +_Tommy._--Thirty-nine. + +_Mr Barlow._--Now, look, I have just taken away nineteen from the +number; how many, do you think, remain? + +_Tommy._--I will count them. + +_Mr Barlow._--And cannot you tell without counting? How many are there, +Harry? + +_Harry._--Twenty, sir. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Indeed, I believe I should. + +_Mr Barlow._--If you understood arithmetic you might do it in five +minutes. + +_Tommy._--That is extraordinary, indeed; I can hardly conceive it +possible. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--I declare this is curious indeed, and I should like to learn +arithmetic. Will Harry and you teach me, sir? + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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." + +_Tommy._--This fellow must have been a very great blockhead, to ask two +hundred guineas, and then to take a few farthings for his horse. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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." + +_Tommy._--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. + +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 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 _Cassiopeia's_ Chair, and +this, in a short time, was added to the collection. + +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 _Orion_, 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. + +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:-- + + +"HISTORY OF AGESILAUS." + +"The Spartans (as I have before told you, Master Tommy) were a brave and +hardy people, who despised 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." + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Harry._--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 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." + +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 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." + +"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. + +"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 backs all the +materials of an elegant entertainment. Last of all 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. + +"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 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.' + +"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." + +"You see by this story," said Mr Barlow, "that fine clothes are not +always of the consequence you 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 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 necessaries of +life." + +"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." + +"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." + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--You are indeed right there. Of all 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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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." + +_Tommy._--What if the French were to come here, as they said they were +about to do; would you go out to fight them yourself? + +_Harry._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +Mr Barlow accordingly read + + +"THE HISTORY OF LEONIDAS, KING OF SPARTA." + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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 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. + +"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; 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. + +"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 +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. + +"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. + +"About midnight, therefore, this determined body 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. + +"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." + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + 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. + + +And 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 their former places. "How +strange it is," observed Tommy, one day to Mr Barlow, "that all these +stars should be continually turning about the earth!" + +"How do you know," replied Mr Barlow, "that they turn at all?" + +_Tommy._--Because I see them move every night. + +_Mr Barlow._--But how are you sure that it is the stars which move every +night, and not the earth itself? + +Tommy considered, and said, "But then I should see the earth move, and +the stars stand still." + +_Mr Barlow._--What, did you never ride in a coach? + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir, very often. + +_Mr Barlow._--And did you then see that the coach moved, as you sat +still, and went along a level road? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--And did you never sail in a boat? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--And how do you know that the stars and sun are so small? + +_Tommy._--I see them to be so, sir. The stars are 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. + +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. + +Tommy answered that he imagined it to be some little fishing-boat, but +could not well tell, on account of the distance. + +_Mr Barlow._--If you do not then see a ship, what is it you do see? or +what does that object appear to your eyes? + +_Tommy._--All that I can see is no more than a little dusky speck, which +seems to grow bigger and bigger. + +_Mr Barlow._--And what is the reason it grows bigger and bigger? + +_Tommy._--Because it comes nearer and nearer to me. + +_Mr Barlow._--What, then, does the same thing sometimes appear small and +sometimes great? + +_Tommy._--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, 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. + +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." + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; that is all very true indeed. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--It would grow less and less every minute, till it appeared a +speck again. + +_Mr Barlow._--You said, I think, that the sun was a very small body, not +bigger than a round table? + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +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." + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--That I perfectly comprehend. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--No, sir. The ship, as it came nearer to us, appeared every +moment larger, and therefore I think the star must do the same. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Indeed I think it might. + +_Mr Barlow._--What, then, do you imagine must happen, could the sun +approach a great deal nearer to us? Would its size remain the same? + +_Tommy._--No; I plainly see that it must appear bigger and bigger the +nearer it comes. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Really I can hardly tell. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--No, sir. + +_Mr Barlow._--Did you not say that if the sun could be removed farther +from our eyes, it would appear less? + +_Tommy._--To be sure it would. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--No, sir; I think it must appear less and less, like the ship +that is sailing away. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Why the same as if the earth were to sink from under us; it +would appear less and less. + +_Mr Barlow._--Might not the earth then at least appear as small as the +sun or moon does? + +_Tommy._--I can hardly conceive that, and yet I see it would appear less +and less the farther we went. + +_Mr Barlow._--Do you remember what happened to you when you left the +island of Jamaica? + +_Tommy._--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 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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Indeed it must. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--The earth would appear less and less as he went from it, and +the sun bigger and bigger. + +_Mr Barlow._--Why, then, perhaps it would happen at last that the sun +appeared bigger than the earth. + +_Tommy._--Indeed it might. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +As they were returning home they happened to pass through a small town +on their way, and saw a 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. + +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 presently the swan +turned himself round and pursued the hand of his master to the other +side of the basin. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +After he had several times diverted himself with this experiment, he +wanted to be informed of the composition of this wonderful swan. Harry +therefore 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 _loadstone_. +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 _magnets_. When Harry had seen the exhibition of the swan, upon +revolving it over in his mind, he began to suspect that it was +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." + +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. + +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." + +_Tommy._--Was this discovery of any great use? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 +greater security, and to venture boldly upon the immense ocean, which +they had always feared before. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Tommy._--What! is there a part of the world still colder than Lapland? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--What a dreadful life that must be in a country which is so +cold! + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--And is it possible that the inhabitants of such a country can +find enough in it for all their necessities? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--There is in those seas a peculiar species of animal called +a _seal_. 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 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. + +_Tommy._--I think it seems as if the less people had the more generous +they are with it. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--There is another very curious particular 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. + +_Tommy._--Oh dear! I have heard of that extraordinary animal. And pray, +sir, do the Greenlanders ever catch them? + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Indeed, sir, I should! I should think that such a fish would +overset whole ships, and devour the sailors. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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. + +_Harry._--What numbers indeed must such a prodigious fish devour of +these small animals! + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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 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. + +_Harry._--I 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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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. + +_Harry._--Pray, sir, is this the country where men travel about upon +sledges that are drawn by dogs? + +_Tommy._--Upon sledges drawn by dogs! that must be droll indeed. I had +no idea that dogs could ever draw carriages. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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. Frequently in their +journeys these travellers are surprised by unexpected storms of wind and +snow, which render it impracticable to proceed farther. 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. + +[Illustration: "Frequently in their journeys these travellers are +surprised by unexpected storms of wind and snow, which render it +impracticable to proceed farther." _P. 278._] + +_Tommy._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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 +indeed, 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. + +_Tommy._--How can that be? How can a parcel of wretched ignorant savages +despise men that are so much superior to themselves? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--That is very impertinent indeed; and I should like to convince +them of their folly. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--A gentleman! I have never exactly understood what a +gentleman is, according to your notions. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--And then he has a right to despise others, has he? + +_Tommy._--I do not say that, sir, neither. But he is, however, superior +to them. + +_Mr Barlow._--Superior, in what? In the art of cultivating the ground to +raise food, and making clothes or houses? + +_Tommy._--No, sir, not that; for gentlemen never plough the ground or +build houses. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--To be sure, sir; when I came here I did not know so much as I +do now. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--I would tell them that I had always been well brought up at +home. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 comprehend why one man, who is +naturally as good as his fellow-creature, should submit to the caprice +of another, and obey him. + +_Tommy._--Indeed, sir, I begin to think that I am not so much better +than others, as I used to do. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +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." + +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. "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." + +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." + +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." + +Mr Barlow then lighted a lamp which was within the lantern, and +extinguished all the other candles; and Tommy was instantly struck with +astonishment 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. + +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 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-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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 difficulty removed his panic, by explaining the +wonderful powers of the glass, he prevailed upon him to be quiet. + +"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 +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." + +"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 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, "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.'" + +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 _we_ 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 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!" + +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 miseries he has +alleviated, the abuses which he has endeavoured to remove!" + +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." + +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. + +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 down to cards with +better success. "I wonder, 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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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 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. + +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 liquors, by which means he +avoided all the bad effects which might otherwise have arisen from so +complete a drenching. + +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 _barbarians_, 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 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." + +_Tommy._--But then I suppose they fight; and that is being as passionate +as I was. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 meditated. 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." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + 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. + + +And now the time arrived when Tommy was by appointment to go home and +spend some time 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 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. + +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. + +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, 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 +_ploughboy_ 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 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 _naked Gladiator_ the finest +thing I ever saw in my life!" + +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 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 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 _making a noise_. 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." + +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, 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 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. + +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 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! + +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 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. + +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 _prodigy_, 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 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. + +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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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 _judgment_ and _knowledge_ of the world are superior to what +anybody else can boast; and therefore I shall be infinitely obliged to +you for any _information_ 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?" "_Only_, 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 language 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. + +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 perfect +contempt for Harry, and it was with great difficulty that they +condescended to treat him even with common civility. In this _laudable_ +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. + +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 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 _parson_ in the middle of +his _sermon_. + +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 _monstrous +bore_. + +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 +_politeness_ by throwing nuts and orange-peel upon the stage; and Tommy, +who was resolved to profit by such an _excellent_ example, threw nuts +and orange-peel with infinite satisfaction. + +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 _superiority_ 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 _fine_ +to Tommy; and he too talked and laughed as loud as the rest. + +The subject of their conversation was, the audience and the performers; +neither of whom these polite young gentlemen found bearable. The +_company_ 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 +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 _performers_, +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. + +Master Mash, who prided himself upon being a young gentleman of great +spirit, was of opinion that they should _kick up a riot_, 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. + +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 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." + +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 +_impertinence_, 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 +_blackguard_, 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 _sit_ quiet at a play, he would have +the honour of teaching him to _lie_; 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. + +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. + +"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. + +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." + +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 preceding 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 _The Marriage +of Figaro_, and Master Compton had informed them that it was amazingly +admired by all the people of fashion in London. + +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. + +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 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." + +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 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." + +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. + +In the evening, after a long conversation among 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." + +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 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." + +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." + +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." "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." + +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 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 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." + +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 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 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. + +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 _most rational_ 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 disgust, 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." + +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 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. + +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. + +And now the important evening of the ball approached; the largest room +in the house was lighted 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. + +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." + +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. + +Harry, in the mean time, had shrouded himself 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 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 remarked the nature of this manoeuvre 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, amidst the jests and +sneers of their companions, particularly Mash and Compton, who assumed +unusual importance upon the credit of such a brilliant invention. + +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-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." + +"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." + +"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; 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. + +"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." + +"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." + +Harry laughed very heartily at this story; but 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +"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 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.'" + +"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 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?" + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +This untoward accident having thus been amicably 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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!" + +"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 you make to Master Merton for his goodness to you is to +be a spy and an informer, is it, you little dirty blackguard?" + +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." + +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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"How, you rascal!" said Tommy; "do you say that I am not a gentleman? +Take that!" and immediately 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. + +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. _Coward_, and +_blackguard_, and _tell-tale_ 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 _pretty face_. + +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 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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +And now the noble animal, that was to be thus wantonly tormented, was +fastened to the ring by a 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 foam and +blood. He 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. + +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. + +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 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. 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +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. + +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 considerable time was incapable of +attending to anything but the joy of his miraculous preservation. + +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." + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 which was not amply atoned for by such charming sensibility. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + 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. + + +While Mr Merton was occupied by these uneasy feelings, he was agreeably +surprised by a visit from Mr Barlow, who came accidentally to see him, +with a perfect ignorance of all the great events which had so recently +happened. + +Mr Merton received this worthy man with the sincerest 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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"You comfort me very much," said Mr Merton, "but such ungovernable +passion, such violence and impetuosity----" + +"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." + +"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." + + +"THE STORY OF POLEMO." + +"Polemo (said Mr Barlow) was a young man of Athens, and although he was +brought up with the 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. + +"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; 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. + +"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 virtuous, and to survive in the eternal records of fame?' + +"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. 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.' + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"I am infinitely obliged to you for this story," said Mr Merton; "and as +my son will certainly find a _Xenocrates_ in you, I wish that you may +have reason to think him in some degree a _Polemo_. But since you are so +kind as to present me these agreeable hopes, do not leave the work +unfinished, but tell me what you 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." + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 + + +"SOPHRON AND TIGRANES." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Still, as they assisted their parents in leading every morning their +flocks to pasture, they entertained 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. + +"'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.' + +"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. + +"'This,' said Sophron, 'I have often heard, is the 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.' + +"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 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. + +"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 at +first with coolness, then with impatience or contempt, and at last +avoided him altogether. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"It was almost in this moment that Tigranes passed that way, and +unexpectedly was witness to the triumphs 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. + +"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. + +"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 +satisfaction; '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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 +Tigranes, 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. + +"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. + +"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 during 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. + +"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 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. + +"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.'" + +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. + +Miss Simmons then continued her narrative. + +"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. + +"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 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, 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 on every side, and fled with so +much precipitation that they were dispersed in an instant, and left the +prisoners to themselves. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"'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 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.' + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"'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 _Chares_; 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 +imbibed an early desire of improvement, which has always been my +greatest comfort and support. + +"'The first place, therefore, which I visited was Egypt, a country +renowned in every age for its invention 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 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.'---- + +"'Unhappy people,' exclaimed Sophron, 'how useless to them are all the +blessings of their climate! 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!' + +"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.'"---- + +"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?" + +"The camel," answered Mr Barlow, "is chiefly found in those burning +climates which you have 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." + +"'--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 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 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 +hospitality. + +"'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 desert, and, after a few hours' march, approached +the encampment where they had left their wives and children. + +"'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 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 _happiness_. 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 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 natives. + +"'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 tribute. + +"'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 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 conveniences 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 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 Arabians.''---- + +"'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.' + +"'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 +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 yoke'"---- + +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 question?" + +_Mr Barlow._--As many as you choose. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--This is indeed sometimes the case. + +_Tommy._--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? + +"It should seem," answered Mr Barlow, smiling, "as if you were of that +opinion." + +_Tommy._--Why so, sir? + +_Mr Barlow._--Because, whatever you want to have done, I observe that +you always address yourself to the poor, and not to the rich. + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; but that is a different case. The poor are used to +do many things which the rich never do. + +_Mr Barlow._--Are these things useful or not useful? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--What! do the poor do all these things? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--And did not you build a house in my garden some little +time ago? + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; but that was only for my amusement; it was not +intended for anybody to live in. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +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. + +"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 rich." + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; but then the poor do not act in that manner out of +kindness, but because they are obliged to it. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--What is money? + +_Tommy._--Money, sir; money is----I believe, little pieces of silver and +gold, with a head upon them. + +_Mr Barlow._--And what is the use of those little pieces of silver and +gold? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; but then the poor can take these pieces of money and +purchase everything which they want. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--Indeed, I do, sir. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--But, my good little friend, do you imagine that these fine +powdered gentlemen and ladies made the things which they sold? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +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 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. + +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 which had been given to all the servants, he did not +dare to make the experiment of soliciting their assistance. + +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. + +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. + +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 only the more inflamed by the +violence of his own exertions, ran the faster when he heard the +trampling of another horse behind him. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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." + +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. + +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 +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. + +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 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 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. + +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." + +"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 +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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"Surely," said Mr Merton, with the most benevolent 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." + +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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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 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.' + +"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 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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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 various 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 of shells, which is called the belt of +_Wampum_. 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"When the chiefs were thus prepared they came 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 _tomahawk_. 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; 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." + +"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." + +"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 description 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 subordination 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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.) + +"I sat till night (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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"My wounds began now to pain me afresh with this exertion, and compelled +me to allow myself some 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." + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 +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. + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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 _Saukies_; 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. + +"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 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 +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. + +"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 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. + +"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, 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. + +"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 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 support 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 resources, friends, or hopes, I am almost inclined to +think that we might all have been happier in the bosom of the ocean." + +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 _Andrew Campbell_? 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." + +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 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. + +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." + +_Mr Barlow._--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 recollection 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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--No, sir; what I have been guilty of is infinitely 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. + +_Mr Barlow._--You frighten me, my little friend. Is it possible you can +have committed actions that deserve so harsh a name? + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--I must confess you have always had some tendency to both +these follies. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--If that is the case, I fear these fine young gentlemen and +ladies undertook to teach you more than they understood themselves. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--But then, perhaps, you may lose the acquaintance of all +those polite young gentlemen and ladies. + +_Tommy._--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. + +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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Oh, sir! I should be the happiest creature in the world. Will +you be so kind as to bring him here to day? and you shall see how I will +behave. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--What, then, must I do, sir? + +_Mr Barlow._--If you want any future connection with Harry Sandford, it +is your business to go to him and tell him so. + +_Tommy._--What, sir! go to a farmer's, to expose myself before all his +family? + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Tommy._--But what would everybody say if a young gentleman like me was +to go and beg pardon of a farmer's son? + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +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." + +"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." + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--And is it really possible, sir, that you should have a good +opinion of me after all I have told you about myself? + +_Mr Barlow._--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 _first_ to make you see +your faults, and upon the _second_ to correct them. + +_Tommy._--Dear sir, I am very much obliged to you; but you have always +been extremely kind and friendly to me. + +_Mr Barlow._--And therefore I told your father 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." + +_Tommy._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Tommy._--Do, sir, be so good; and tell Harry, if you please, that there +is nothing I desire so much as 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. + +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." + +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 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." + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--Well, Harry, let me hear it; you know I shall be the last +person to condemn you, if you do not deserve it. + +_Harry._--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 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. + +_Mr Barlow._--Do you wonder at that, Harry, considering the difference +there is in your rank and fortune? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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 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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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? + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Harry._--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 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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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? + +_Harry._--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_ that forsake him, but _he_ that +has cast me off. + +_Mr Barlow._--But if he is sorry for what he has done, and only desires +to acknowledge his faults and obtain your pardon? + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +_Mr Barlow._--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. + +_Harry._--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. + +Mr Barlow then took his leave of Harry, and after having spoken to his +father, returned to Mr Merton's. + +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." + +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 + + +_The Conclusion of the Story of Sophron and Tigranes._ + +"The venerable Chares continued his narration thus: '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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 contented myself with imperfectly tracing Him in His works, +and adoring Him as the common friend and parent of all His creatures. + +"'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 +_earth_. 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. + +"'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 exhalations, 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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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; _we_ +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. _We_ 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 I had seen; and the +consequences are uniformly such as may be expected to proceed from such +polluted sources--private misery and public servitude. + +"'But Selene's education was regulated by different views, and conducted +upon severer principles--if that can be called _severity_ 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 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. + +"'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! + +"'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 _act_, I have never blushed at _feeling_, 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. + +"'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 +_silk_ 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, +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. + +"'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. + +"'I was sitting one evening at the door of my 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 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.' '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 _Arsaces_, +I should be with pleasure _Chares_.' 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. + +"'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 _Scythia_, +whose inhabitants have so often issued from their deserts for the +conquest and destruction of their neighbours. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 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 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 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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 find this Scythian +chief as well acquainted with the state and consequence of _our_ +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. + +"'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, 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.' + +"'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 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. + +"'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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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 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. + +"'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. + +"'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. _Tigranes_ (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. Yesterday, 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.' + +"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. + +"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 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 general of his country, and invested with supreme authority for its +defence. + +"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.' + +"'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 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.' + +"'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 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.' + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 generous but more unequal efforts of the defenders. +The veterans of Tigranes perceived their advantage, and pressed the +enemy with redoubled vigour. + +"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 scene were rolled away, and +discovered the various fortunes of the fight, when the voice of Sophron +was heard, 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. + +"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. + +"The next day an immense quantity of spoil was collected, that had been +abandoned by the troops of 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. + +"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 +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." + +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. + +_Tommy._--Yes, sir; but that is nothing to what Chares did in the story. + +_Mr Barlow._--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 _cannons_, into which +they ram a considerable 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 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. + +_Tommy._--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. + +"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?" + +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, 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 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." + +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." + +"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." + +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. + +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 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. + +"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. + +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 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. + +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 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." + +"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." + +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? + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"All the assembly uttered a shout of admiration; 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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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. + +"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 spectacle 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +By thus practising the common useful occupations of life, he began to +feel a more tender interest in the 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. + +"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 +_Cincinnatus_ (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 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. + +"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?" + +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 +Tommy with so much zeal and affection that he could not help loving him +a thousand times better than before. + +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:-- + +"I was born," said he, "in the neighbourhood of the river Gambia in +Africa. In _this_ 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 _there_ 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? + +"But, in the country where I was born, it is not only _man_ that +differs from what we see here, but every other circumstance. _Here_, 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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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"---- + +"You talk," said Tommy, "of wild beasts; pray, have you many in your +country?" + +"Yes, master," said the Black, "we have them of many sorts, equally +dreadful and ferocious. First, we have the _lion_, 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 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 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." + +"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." + +"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 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. + +"This exploit appeared so extraordinary that it spread my father's fame +throughout the whole country, and gave him the name of the _undaunted +hunter_, 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 _river-horse_. +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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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, I +discharged it full at his broad and glaring eye-ball with such success, +that the barbed point penetrated even to his brain, and the monster +fell expiring to the ground. + +[Illustration: "I discharged it full at his broad and glaring eye-ball +with such success, that the barbed point penetrated even to his brain." +_P. 523._] + +"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. + +"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 thine; and with a firmer hand shalt +thou henceforth use these weapons against the beasts of the forest and +the enemies of our country.'" + +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. + +One day Tommy was 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. + +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 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. + +"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." + +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." + +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 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. + +"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 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, _squinting Dick_ the +miner?" + +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. + +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 have never been at boarding-schools, I +cannot conceive how we farmers are to get wives." + +Mr Merton laughed very heartily at this sally, and told him that he +would venture to assert it was not so at _his_ 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 +_gentility_ begins, there is an end of _industry_. 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 _Deb_ and _Kate_, would be +_Miss Deborah_ and _Miss Catherine_; 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 +things?" + +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. + +"Thank you, again and again," replied the farmer; "but the whole +generation of the Sandfords have 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." + +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. + +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-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. + +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." + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + + +THE END. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE + +Illustrations were interleaved between pages in the original text. In +this version, they have been moved close to the relevant section of the +text. + +Inconsistent hyphenation for bare-footed" / "barefooted", "fire-side" / +"fireside", and "good-will" / "goodwill" has been retained. Page numbers +are documented in the source of the associated HTML version. + + +Here is a list of the minor typographical corrections made: + + - "off" changed to "of" on Page 7 + - "the the" changed to "the" on Page 17 + - Period added after "fury" on Page 22 + - Single quote added after "returns" on Page 30 + - "thefore" changed to "therefore" on Page 35 + - "several their" changed to "several of their" on Page 36 + - Quote added before "and" on Page 59 + - Single quote removed after "me." on Page 60 + - Quote removed before "this" on Page 70 + - Comma and closing quote added after "But" on Page 72 + - Single quote removed after "labour;" on Page 76 + - "happend" changed to "happened" on Page 92 + - Period added after "Harry" on Page 96 + - End quote added after "leg." on Page 99 + - Quote added after "up?" on Page 105 + - "bcause" changed to "because" on Page 112 + - Single quote added after "appearance." on Page 127 + - "fondness" changed to "Fondness" on Page 128 + - Single quote moved to after the dash on Page 131 + - 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Comma changed to a period after "plainly" on Page 209 + - Hyphen added between "the" and "lantern" on Page 216 + - "sweatmeats" changed to "sweetmeats" on Page 222 + - Capitalized "because" on Page 227 + - Quote added after "consequence." on Page 228 + - Quote added after "himself." on Page 232 + - Quote added after "be?" on Page 236 + - "appeard" changed to "appeared" on Page 245 + - "imagaine" changed to "imagine" on Page 246 + - "ncessaries" changed to "necessaries" on Page 247 + - "determinded" changed to "determined" on Page 250 + - "prosposal" changed to "proposal" on Page 251 + - Quotation mark added before "that" on Page 256 + - "accidently" changed to "accidentally" on Page 272 + - "connot" changed to "cannot" on Page 275 + - Question mark changed to a period after "houses" on Page + 280 + - Quote added after "this," on Page 283 + - "Syracse" changed to "Syracuse" on Page 287 + - Quotation mark added after "madam," on Page 291 + - Period added after "Barlow" on Page 297 + - "formely" changed to "formerly" on Page 299 + - "harpsicord" changed to "harpsichord" on Page 300 + - "artifical" changed to "artificial" on Page 303 + - "to to" changed to "to" on Page 304 + - "digusted" changed to "disgusted" on Page 322 + - Changed "admist" to "amidst" on Page 330 + - "huried" changed to "hurried" on Page 348 + - "accidently" changed to "accidentally" on Page 355 + - "While" rendered in smallcaps as first word in a chapter + on Page 355 + - Quotation mark moved to after the dash on Page 358 + - "inbibed" changed to "imbibed" on Page 387 + - Single quote removed after "hospitality." on Page 393 + - Single quote removed after "children" on Page 394 + - Single quote removed after "natives" on Page 396 + - Single quote removed after "tribute." on Page 396 + - Additional single quote added after "Arabians.'" on Page + 399 + - "contenance" changed to "countenance" on Page 399 + - Double quote followed by a single quote reversed after + "yoke" on Page 399 + - Single quote changed to a double quote after "question?" + on Page 399 + - Quote added after "rich." on Page 401 + - Quote added after "with." on Page 410 + - Single quote added after "this," on Page 417 + - Comma moved to within the single quote after "resolution" + on Page 434 + - "continned" changed to "continued" on Page 435 + - "and and" changed to "and" on Page 446 + - "harships" changed to "hardships" on Page 449 + - Quote added before "The" on Page 467 + - Quote removed before "'I" on Page 467 + - "he" changed to "she" on Page 473 + - Comma changed to a period after "power" on Page 476 + - Single quote added after "mouse," on Page 480 + - "exorting" changed to "exhorting" on Page 497 + - "quanity" changed to "quantity" on Page 499 + - "protend" changed to "portend" on Page 501 + - "Tom my" changed to "Tommy" on Page 513 + - "suprised" changed to "surprised" on Page 525 + - Quote added after "miner?" on Page 528 + - Comma changed to a period after "industry" on Page 529 + - Quote added after "things?" on Page 529 + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The History of Sandford and Merton, by Thomas Day + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30274 *** |