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Life truly painted, in the natural History of Mater TOMMY, and HARRY. Divided into three LESSONS.

LESSON II. Life truly painted, &c.

There was a Gentleman in the Weft of England, who married a very virtuous Lady, but having no Children for feveral Years, they were very difcontent, and foolishly upbraided each other; not duly confidering that what God either 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 Excefs; for whatever Harry and Tommy's Fancies ftood to, they had it; and as they never contradicted them themselves, for fear they fhould cry; fo neither would they allow any one to check them on any Account: In short, their Parents loved them to a Fault, and fuffered them to have their Way and their Will in every Thing.

Now Harry was a fullen, perverfe Boy from his Cradle; and having had his Will, as was faid before, he would go to School or ftay at Home, juft as he pleased, or elfe he would cry and fob at a great Rate; and for fear this fhould make Harry fick, and out of order, the fond Parents confent to let him do as his own Fancy directed; fo that he now minds Nothing but play, hates his Book, and always cries when he is defired to read, or to go to School. In fhort, he is now feven Years of Age, and can scarce read a Word in the Primmer; and his over fond Parents now begin to fee their own

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Folly,

Folly, and are afraid to tell each other what they think concerning him.

As for Tommy, he was quite of another Temper; for though 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 behaved fo 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 fober good-natured Child, and very dutiful, and obliging.

Harry, however, minds Nothing but idling and playing about the Streets, with any Sort 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 BoardingSchool; and accordingly theirFather provides them a Mafter every Way capable, one that bore an extraordinary Character for his Ability, Care, and Sobriety; which appeared fo by the Improvement Tommy made under him, in feveral Branches of Learning, to the Satisfaction of his Parents.

As for Harry, tho' he behaved pretty well for fome Time, yet he fhew'd his fullen perverfe Temper, and made very little Improvement in his Learning; for he went on his old Way, and play'd only with rude wicked Boys like himself, which in a fhort Time learnt him to fwear and lie, and fome fay to steal; and he was very often angry, and would quarrel with his Brother Tommy, because he would not play with them; but Tommy told him plainly that he would never play at all, rather than play with fuch wicked fwearing Wretches; for, fays he, they will be your Ruin, Brother Harry, and you

know

know how it grieves poor Papa and Mamma. I don't care for that, fays naughty Harry, -O fie! O fie! Brother Harry, fays Tommy, how often have 'you been told, that don't care has brought many one to an ill End: I don't care for that, fays the little Churl: And thus he went on, as you will hear by and by, till don't care was his Ruin at last.

LESSON III. A farther Account of the Life of TOMMY and HARRY.

Tommy and Harry, being now grown up, they are taken from School; and it begins to be high Time to think how they can live in the World without their Parents.

Tommy, indeed, is a very good Boy, he always. counted Learning a fine Thing, and he still takes Delight in it, and pursues it; but Harry continues much the fame; he is now near fourteen 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 is: fpoken well of; but Tommy pities him, and gives him always good Advice, but to no Purpose; for he is bent upon being bad, and bad it feems he will be; nor can his Father, Mother, or Friends. make him better at prefent. In fhort, Tommy now is the Joy and Comfort of his Parents, but Harry grieves them fo much, that they know not as yet, how to proceed with him.

Many an Hour was spent, and all Friends con-fulted, to know the beft Method to fettle both these Lads in the World in an honest Way, and in fuch a Manner, that they may live well.

Now

Now the Gentleman had a Brother, (a Merchant) in London, and it was propofed to put Harry to his Uncle. The Uncle agrees to the Propofal, and Harry alfo confents to go to London, and feems fo well pleafed, that his Parents promise themselves great Comfort in his future Conduct.

About a Year after Harry was at London, Tommy went to fee him; and foon after a Tradefman of good Credit, that used to visit their Uncle, took a Fancy to Tommy, and Terms being agreed upon, he was foon bound Apprentice.

Harry went on pretty well for two Years: He would now and then indeed fhew his fullen perverfe Temper; but his Uncle and Aunt winked at many of his Faults, and forgave him, for the Sake of his worthy Parents, and hid his Faults, rather than breed Strife in the Family.. Now comes the Trial for Tommy and Harry: Their Mother is taken very ill, and is confined to her Bed; fhe often fpeaks of Tommy and Harry, but seems to have Harry most at Heart, for Fear he should not do well.

Not long after this a Letter comes to acquaint them of the Death of their Mother.

Harry's Uncle now talks to him again. You fee Harry, fays he, that you have loft your best Friend, but however, if you behave foberly, mind your Bufinefs, keep good Company, and good Hours, I will take Care of you, will be a good Friend to you, and make you a Man in the World. Harry, at first, feemed very much concerned (for he knew he was a tender Mother) and promised very fairly to mend his Way of Life, and be fober: But that which took a greater Effect upon Harry, was the prettyWay that his Brother Tommy addreffed him in: He talk'd so mild, and fo manly to his

Brother

Brother Harry, and gave him fuch good Advice, that he got the Good-will of his Uncle and Aunt, and furprized all that heard him.

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Harry after this went on pretty 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 Youths, that are bent only upon Mischief; 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 thousand Pounds; and, fay they, I would not not be check'd by my Uncle, nor all the Uncles in the World. I will not, fays the wicked unguarded Fool; for as foon as my Father dies I'll go away. That's right that's right, fay they, you are a Fool if you you don't I will, I will, fays he.

Good God! Behold the bad Effect of ill Counfel! But pray mark the End of that Fool, that follows it, rather than the Advice of his Friends.

LESSON IV. Of the happy Life of TOMMY, and the wretched End of HARRY.

Harry, by the bad Counsel of other wicked Youths, ftill goes on in Wickednefs, to fuch a Height, that his Uncle is obliged to fend Word to his Father, that he cannot keep him much longer. The Death of his Mother, and the bad Courle of Harry's Life, took fuch an Effect upon his Father, that he foon after fell ill, and died. He left Tommy the chief Part of his Fortune; and tho' Harry did not deferve a Shilling, yet fo tender was he, that he left him five hundred Pounds, hoping

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