mamma get her living?" faid fhe.

"She ufed

to graze here upon the common all day long," faid Jack. The lady was ftill more astonished; but the old man came out of his hut, and explained the whole affair to her, which furprized her very much; for though this lady had seen a great deal of the world, and had read a variety of books, it had never once entered into her head that a child might grow ftrong and vigorous by fucking a goat, inftead of eating pap. She therefore looked at Jack with amazement, admired his brown but animated face, and praifhis shape and activity. "Will you go with me, little boy?" faid fhe, "and I will take care of you, if you behave well." "No," faid Jack, "I must stay with daddy; he has taken care of for many years, and now I must take care of him; otherwife. I fhould like very well to go. with fuch a sweet, good-natured lady.” The lady was not difpleafed with Jack's anfwer, and putting her hand in her pocket, gave him half a crown, to buy him shoes and stockings, and purfued her journey.

me

Jack was not unacquainted with the use of money, as he had been often fent to the next village to purchafe bread and neceffaries; but he was totally unacquainted with the use of shoes and ftockings, which he had never worn in his

life, or felt the want of. The next day, however, the old man bade him run to town, and lay his money out as the lady had defired; for he had too much honour to think of difobeying her commands, or fuffering it to be expended for any other purpose. It was not long before Jack returned; but the old man was much furprized to fee him come back as bare as he went out. Heigh, Jack!" faid he, "where are the fhoes and ftockings which you were to purchase?" "Daddy, answered Jack, "I went to the shop, and just tried a pair for sport, but I found them fo cumbersome, that I could not walk, and I would not wear fuch things, even if the lady would give me another half crown for doing it; fo I laid the money out in a warm jacket for you, because the winter is coming on, and you feem to be more afraid of the cold than formerly." Many fuch inftances of conduct did Jack difplay; from which it was easy to perceive, that he had an excellent foul and generous temper. One failing, indeed, Jack was liable to; though a very good natured boy, he was a little too jealous of his honour. His daddy had taught him the use of his hands and legs, and Jack had fuch difpofitions for the art of boxing, that he could beat every boy in the neighbourhood, of his age and fize. Even if they were a head taller,

it made no difference to Jack, provided they said any thing to wound his honour; for otherwise he was the moft mild, pacific creature in the world. One day that he had been fent to the village, he returned with his eyes black, and his face fwelled to a frightful fize: it was even with difficulty that he was able to walk at all, fo fore was he with the pomelling he had received. "What have you been doing now, Jack?" said the old man." Only fighting with Dick the butcher." "You rogue, faid the old man, he is twice as big as you are, and the best fighter in all the country." "What does that fignify, said Jack, he called you an old beggarman, and then I ftruck him; and I will ftrike him again whenever he calls you fo, even if he should beat me to pieces; for you know daddy, that you are not a beggarman, but a foldier.”

In this manner lived little Jack, until he was twelve years old; at this time his poor old daddy fell fick and became incapable of moving about. Jack did every thing he could think of for the poor man; he made him broths, he fed him with his own hands, he watched whole nights by his bed-fide fupporting his head and helping him when he wanted to move. But it was all in vain; his poor daddy grew daily worse, and perceived it to be impoffible that he should re

cover.

cover. He one day therefore called little Jack to his bed-fide, and preffing his hand affectionately, told him that he was just going to die. Little Jack burst into a flood of tears at this information, but his daddy defired him to compofe himself, and attend to the laft advice he

fhould be able to give him. "I have lived, faid the old man, a great many years, in poverty, but I do not know that I have been worse off than if I had been rich. I have avoided, perhaps, many faults, and many uneafineffes, which I fhould have incurred had I been in another fituation; and though I have often wanted a meal and always fared hard, I have enjoyed as much health and life as ufually falls to the lot of my betters. I am now going to die; I feel it in every part; the breath will foon be

out

out of my body; then I fhall be put in the ground, and the worms will eat your poor old daddy." At this Jack renewed his tears and fobbings, for he was unable to reftrain them. But the old man faid; " Have patience, my child; though I fhould leave this world, as I have always been strictly honeft and endeavoured to do my duty, I do not doubt but God will pity me, and convey me to a better place; where I fhall be happier than I have ever been here. This is what I have always taught you, and this belief gives me the greateft comfort in my last moments. The only regret I feel, is for you, my dearest child, whom I leave unprovided for. But you are ftrong and vigorous, and almoft able to get your living. As foon as I am dead, you muft go to the next village and inform the people, that they may come and bury me. You must then endeavour to get into fervice, and work for your living; and, if you are strictly honest and sober, I do not doubt that you will find a livelihood, and that God, who is the common father of all, will protect and bless you. Adieu, my child, I grow fainter and fainter; never forget your poor old daddy, nor the example he has fet you; but in every fituation of life discharge your duty, and live like a foldier, and a Chriftian." When the old man had with difficulty uttered thefe laft in

ftructions,