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FABLE IV. Of the Town in Danger of a Siege. HERE was a Town in Danger of being befieged, and it was confulted which was the best Way to fortify and ftrengthen it; and many were the Opinions of the Town's Folks concerning it.

A grave skilful Mason faid, there was Nothing fo ftrong nor lo good as Stone. A Carpenter said that Stone might do pretty well; but, in his Opinion, good strong Oak was much better.

L.

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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. M O RA 'Tis too common for Men to confult their own private Ends, though a whole Nation juffer by it. Their own Profit and Employment is all they arm at, notwithstanding they often Ruin themselves, by betraying and undoing others.

THE SAME IN VERSE.

A Town fear'd a Siege, and held Consultation,
Which was the best Method of Fortification;

A grave skilful Mafon gave in his Opinion,

That nothing but Stone could fecure the Dominion.
A Carpenter faid, tho' that was well spoke,

Y t'twas better by far to defend it with Oak.

A Currier (wiser than both these together)

Seid, try what you please, there's nothing like Leather.

MORA L.

Most Men will be true to their own private Ends,
Tho' falle to their Country, Religion, and Friends;
The chef Thng is thought of, & that's their own Proft,
Which ruft be cur'd, whatever comes of it.
but while this Self-love is a Nation's undoing,
Ev'n those who betray it, oft sink in the Ruin.

Of the Boys that went into the Water, instead of being atSchool, or at Home

STORY I. LESSON I.

HERE were feveral Boys that used to go into the water, instead

THER

of being at School, & ftaid so long after School-time, that they frightened their Parents very much; 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 play the Truant, and go into the Water. They had not been long in, before Smith was drowned. Brown's Father followed him, and lafhed him heartily while he was naked; and Jones and Robinson ran Home half dreffed, which plainly told where they had been.-They were both fent to Bed without any Surper, and told plainly, they fhould be well corrected at School.

By this Time the News of Smith's being drowned had reached their Mafter'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 leave, and went to fee what was become of Brown, Jones, and Robinfon, who all hung down their Heads upon feeing their Mafter; but more fo when their Parents defired he would correct them the next Day; which he promised he would; though, fays he, (by the bye) it is rather your Duty to do it than mine, for I cannot answer for Things done out of School.

Take you Care to keep your Children in Order at Home, and I will do my Duty, and keep them in awe of me at School; but, however, fays he, as they have all been naughty difobedient Boys, and might have loft their Lives, I will certainly chastise them.

How Brown, Jones, and Robinson were served.

Next Day, Brown, Jones, and Robinson, were sent to School, and in a fhort time were called up to their Master; and he first began with Brown. Pray, young Gentleman, lays he, what is the rea fon you go into the Water without the Confent of your Parents, and even when you should be at School? I won't do fo any more, fays Brown; that is Nothing at all, says the Mafter, I cannot trust you. Pray can you (wim? No, Sir, fays Brown. Not swim, do you fay! Why you might have been drowned as well as Smith. Take him up. So he was taken up, and well whipt.-Well, fays be, to Jones, can you swim? A little, Sir, faid he; a little! (fays the Maf ter) why you were in more danger than Brown, and might have been drowned, had you ventured much farther. Take him up.

Now Robinson could swim very well, &thought, as Brown and Jones were whipt because they could not fwim, that he should efcape. Well, Robinfon, fays the Mafter, can you fwim? Yes, Sir, fays he, any where over the River. You can swim, you say? Yes Sir. Then pray, Sir, faid his Master, if you can iwim fo well, what Business had you in the Water, when you should have been at School? You don't want to learn to swim you fay, you then go in for Idlenefs' fake, Take him up; fo they were all whipt for their difobedience and tolly.

STORY II.

Life truly painted in the natural Hiftory of TOMMY, and HARRY, divided into three Parts; by which Youth may fee the Ways of Life in general, and arm themselves againft the Common Temptations of it, and the effects of bad Company.

PART I.-LESSON

I.

HERE was a Gentleman in the Weft of England, who

Years, they were discontented, and foolishly upbraided each other,, not duly confidering that what God gives to, or with-holds from us, is always beft in the End.

Some Years after this, they had a Son, and the Year following another; the Name of the Elder was Henry, and the other was named Thomas, whom they loved even to an Excels; for whatever Harry and Tommy's Fancies ftood to they had it, and as their Parents never contradicted them themselves, (for fear they should cry) fo 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 Characters of Tommy and Harry.

Harry indeed was a fullen peverfe Boy, from his Cradle, and having always had his Will, (as was faid before) he would go to School, or stay at Home, juft as he pleased, or else he would cry and fob at a great rate; and for fear this should make poor Harry fick and out of Order, the fond Parents confented to let him do as his own Fancy directed; fo that he at laft minds nothing but Play, hates his Book, and always cries when he is defired to read, or go to school.

In short, Harry is now Seven Years of Age, and can scarcely 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 was quite of another Temper, for tho' he would now and then cry and be naughty, yet he minded what his Parents faid to him; he loved his Book and his School, and was fo good natured, pleasant, and mannerly, that all his Friends took Notice of him, because he was a fober, good-natured Child, and very dutiful and obliging.

I. ES SON III.

Of Tommy and Harry's Behaviour.

Harry, indeed, minds nothing but idling and playing about the Streets with any fort of Boys, and 'tis now very difficult to get him to School, nor can his Parents prevail upon him by any Means to mind his Learning; and therefore it is agreed upon to put them both to fome 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 feveral Branches of Learning, to the fatisfaction of his Parents. As for Harry, though he behaved pretty well for fome time, yet he fhewed his fullen perverfe Temper, and made very little improvement in his Learning; for he went on in his old way, and played only with rude wicked Boys like himself, who, in a short time, learned him to fwear and lie, (and fome fay to steal) and he was often angry, and would quarrel with his Brother Tommy, because he would not play with them, but Tommy told him plainly he would never play at all, rather than play with fuch wicked fwearing Boys; for, fays he, they will be your ruin, Brother Harry, and you know it grieves poor Papa and Mama. I don't care for that, fays naughty Harry.-O fie! fie! Brother Harry, fays Tommy, how often have you been told, that Don't care, has brought many a one to an evil End. I don't care for that neither, fays the little Churl: and thus he went on (as you willfoon hear) till Don't care was his Ruin at last.

PART II-LESSON I.

A further Account of TOMMY and HARRY.
OMMY and Harry being now grown up, they are taken from

may live in the world without their parents.

Tommy indeed was a very good boy, he always counted learning a fine thing, and he still takes a great delight and pursues it. But Harry continues much the fame, for he is near 14 years of age, and is no other than a wicked boy, and a great over-grown dunce,,

He hates his Brother Tommy, because he loves his Book, and s spoken well of; but Tommy pities him, and gives him always good advice, but to no purpose, for he is bent upon being bad, In short, Tommy is now the Joy and Comfort of his Parents, but Harry grieves them so much, that they know not how to proceed with him, and there is but one Way left, by which they have any Hopes to fave him, and make them all happy.

The Gentleman had a Brother, (a reputable Tradefman in London) and it was proposed to put Harry to his Uncle. The Uncle agrees to the Proposal: Harry also seems well pleafed at it: and now his Parents promise themselves great Comfort in their own and his future Happiness.

LESSON II. Of Harry's Behaviour at his Uncle's.

About a year after Harry was at London, Tommy went to sim, and behaved fo well, the time he was there, that a merchant, that used to visit his Uncle, took a great fancy to him, and barely for his learning and good behaviour, took him apprentice.

Harry went on pretty well for two years: he would indeed now and then fhew his fullen perverse temper, but his Uncle and Aunt winked at his follies, hid his faults, and forgave him, for the fake of his worthy Parents.

Now comes the trial of Tommy and Harry: their Mother is taken very ill, and is confined to her bed; the often speaks of Tommy and Harry, but feems to have Harry most at heart, for fear he fhould not do well.

Not long after this, a letter comes to acquaint them of the death of their Mother, and now Harry's Uncle talks to him again very fedately and tenderly.

You fee, Harry, fays he, that you have loft your best friend, but, notwithstanding, if you will behave foberly, mind your bufinefs, and keep good company, 1 will take care of you, and make you a inan in the world.

LESSON III. Of Harry's Behaviour after bis Mother's Death.

Harry, upon the news of his Mother's death, feemed much concerned, and promised very fairly to mend his way of life, and be fober; but that which had a greater effect upon Harry, was the pretty way in which his Brother Tommy addreffed him. He talked in fo

gave him and manly a manner to his Brother Harry, and

and Aunt,

advice, that he got the good will of his Uncle furprised all that heard him.

Harry after this goes on "Tetty well for fome months, and then gets into his old way again. He has now quite forgot the death of his Mother, and, in fhort, has taken up with fuch idle wicked companions, as are bent caly upon mifchief, and are never forry but when they do good: They give him bad advice, and tell him, when his Father is dead, he will have a good fortune, and say they,