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FABLE IV. Of the Town in Danger of a Siège. HERE was a Town in Danger of being befieged, and it was confulted which was the beft Way to fortify and fiengthen it, and many were the opinions of the Town folks concerning it.

A grave and skilful Mafon faid, there was nothing fo ftrong nor fo good as, Stone. A Carpenter faid, that Stone might do pretty well, but in his opinion, good trong Oak was much better.

A Currier being prefent, faid, Gentlemen, you may do as you pleafe, but if you have a mind to have the Town well fortified and fecure, take my word there is nothing like Leather:

MORA L.

'Tis too common for Men to confult their own private Ends, though whole Nation fuffer by it. Their own Profit and Emolument is all they aim at; notwithfianding they often unds themselves by betraying and undoing others."

The fame in VERSE.

A Town feard a Siege, and held Confultation,
Which was the beft Method of Fortification;
A grave kilful Mafon gave in his Opinion,
That nothing but Stone could fecure the Dominion.
A Carpenter faid, tho' that was well spoke,
Yet twas better by far to defend it with Oak.
A Currier (wifer than both thefe together,)

Said, Try what you pleafe, there's nothing like Leather,

MORAL.

Moft Men will be true to their own private Ends,
Tho falfe to the Country, Religion, and Friends:
The chief Thing is thought of, and that's their own Profit.
Which must be fecured, whatever comes of it:

But while this Self-Loye is a Nations Undoing,
Lo'n thofe who betray it, oft fink in the Ruin.

TABLE XVI.

Containing fome natural and entertaining STORIES.

STORY I. Of the Boys that went into the Water instead of being at School, or at Home.

LESSON I

THERE were several Boys that used to go into the Water,

instead of being at School, and they sometimes staid so long after School-time, that they used to frighten the Parents very much; and though they were told of it time after time, yet they would frequently go to wash themselves. One Day four of them, Smith, Brown, Jones, and Robinson, took it into their Heads to pay the Truant, and ginso the Water. They had not been song in before Smit was drowned: Brown's Fa ther followed him, and lashed him heartily while he was naked; and Jones and Robinson ran Home half-dressed, which plainly old where they had been. However they were both sent to Bed without any Supper, and told very plainly, that they should be well corrected at School the next Day.

LESSON II.

By this time the News of Smith's being drowned had reached their Master's Ear, and he came to know the truth of it, and found Smith's Father and Mother in tears for the loss of him; to whom he, gave very good advice, took his friendly leave, and went to see what was become of Brown, Jones, and Robinson, who all hung down their Heads upon seeing their Mas ter, but me so, when their Parents desired that he would correct them the next day; which he promised he would; though, says he, (by the bye,) it is rather your Duty to do it than mine; for I cannot answer for Things done out of the School.

Take you care to keep your Children in order at Home, and depend on it, I will do my Duty, and keep them in Awe of me at School: But, however, says he, as they have all been naughty, disobedient Boys, and might indeed have lost their Lives, I will certainly chastise them.

LESSON III

How Brown, Jones, and Robinson were served. Next day, Brown, Jones, and Robinson were sent to School, and in a short time were called up to their Master; and he first began with Brown : --- Pray, young Gentleman, says he, what is the reason you go into the Water without the consent of your Parents, and even when you should be at School? I won't do so any mcre, says Brown. That is nothing at all, says the Master, I cannot trust you. Pray can you swim No, Sir, says Brown. Not swim do you say! Why you might have been drowned as well as Smith. Take him up, says the Master. So he was taken, up and well whipt.

Well, says he to Jones, can you swim? - A little, Sir, said he. A little (says the Master,) Why you were in more danger than Brown, and might have been drowned had you ventured much farther - Take him up, says he.

Now Robinson could swim very well, and thought as Brown. and Jones were whipt because they could not swim, that he should escape. Well, Robinson, says the Master, can you swim?-Yes, Sir, says he, (very boldly,) any where over the River. You can swim, you say? Yes, Sir. Then pray, Sir, says his Master, if you can swim so well, what business had you in the Water, when you should have been at School? You don't want to learn to swim, you say. It is plain then you go in for idleness sake. Take him up, take him up, says he; so boy were all severely corrected for their disobedience and folly.

STORY LA Life truly painted, in the natural History of TOMMY and HARRY, divided into three Parts; by which Youth may see the Ways of Life in general, and arm themselves, against the common Temptations of it, and the Effects of bas Company.*

T

PART I.

LESSON I.

HERE was a Gentleman in the West of England, who married a very virtuous Lady, but having no Children for several Years, they were very discontented, and foolishly up braided each other, not duly considering that what God either -gives to, or withholds from us, is always best in the End.

Some Years after this they had a Son, and the Year fol lowing another; the name of the Elder was Henry, and the other was named Thomas, whom they loved even to an excess; for what ever Harry and Tommy's Fancies wished for, they had it; and as their Parents never contra icted them

*Having been both an Eye and Ear Witnefs of feveral Circumftances in Life, nearly parallel to the following fa&itious Narrative, I have added this to the original Copy; and it has been read by feveral eminent Clergymer. private Gentlemen, and School-Mafiers, who have very much approved of the fame, as a proper and fuitable Tale, by Way of Caution and Admonition for Parents as well as Children. And if but one Son or Daughter, or Appren tice. fhould reap benefit thereby, fo as to regulate their Lives, and behave in fuch a Manner, as may conduce to their own Happiness, the Comfort of their Parents and Friends, and the Good of Society, I fhall be very thankful and think myself amply fatisfied for my Trouble.

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themselves, (for fear they should cry) so neither would they allow any one to check them on any Account, for they loved them even to a Fault, and allowed them their Will and their Way in every Thing.

LESSON II.

Of the Character of Tommy and Harry.

Harry indeed was a sullen, perverse Boy from his Cradle, and having always had his Will, (as was said before,) he would go to School, or stay at Home, just as he pleased, or else he would cry and sob at a great rate; and for fear this should make poor Harry sick and out of Order, the fond Parents consent to let him do as his own fancy directs; so that he at last minds nothing but Play, hates his Book, and always cries when he is desired to read, or go to School.

In short, Harry is now seven Years of Age, and can scarce read a verse in the Bible, or a Sentence in any common Book; and now his over-fond Parents begin to see their own folly, and are afraid to tell each other what they think concerning him.

As for Tommy, he is quite of another Temper; for though he would now and then cry, and be naughty, yet he minded what his Parents said to him; he loved his Book and his School, and was so good-natured, pleasant, and mannerly, that all his Friends took notice of him; the Neighbours loved him, and every body praised him, because he was a sober, good-natured Child, aud very dutiful and obliging.

upon

LESSON III.

Of Tommy and Harry's Behaviour.

Boys,

Harry, indeed, minds nothing but idling and playing about the Streets with any sort of Boy and tis now very difficult to get him to School, nor can his Parents prevail him by any means to mind his Learning; and therefore it is agreed upon to put them both to some good Boarding-School; and accordingly their Father provided a Master, one that bore an extraordinary Character for his Ability, Care, and Sobriety, which it appeared he deserved by the Improvement that Tommy made under him, in the several Branches of Learning, to the satisfaction of his Parents.

* Though this Tale is now divided into Leffons (by Defire of several School-Ma fters) in order to make it the more useful, eafy, and agreeable to Children, yet it is the very fame as in the other Editions, and may be read from the Beginning to the End as one continued Story.