The History of Little Jack, a Foundling

by Thomas Day

Jack was enabled thus to support his spirits with fortitude by the recollection of the old Soldier’s last advice, “to act on all occasions as became a soldier and a Christian.” He felt a full reliance upon the goodness of Providence; he knew that God was infinitely wiser, and better acquainted with what was befitting each individual, than he could be himself. He looked back to the manner in which he had been supported in the solitary island, and remembered the mercy of God in freeing him from thence. He, therefore, strengthened his mind by prayer for the future, and by thanksgiving for the protection he had hitherto enjoyed.

The Tartars, among whom Jack was now to reside, constitute several different tribes or nations, which inhabit an immense extent of country, both in Europe and Asia. Their country is in general open and uncultivated, without cities or towns, such as we see in these countries. The inhabitants themselves are a bold and hardy race of men, that live in small tents, and change their place of abode with the different seasons of the year. All their property consists in herds of cattle, which they drive along with them from place to place, and upon whose milk and flesh they subsist. They are particularly fond of horses, of which they have a small but excellent breed, hardy and indefatigable for the purposes of war; and they excel in the management of them, beyond what it is easy to conceive. Immense herds of these animals wander loose about the deserts, but marked with the particular mark of the person or tribe to which they belong. When they want any of these animals for use, a certain number of their young men jump upon their horses with nothing but a halter to guide them, each carrying in his hand a pole, with a noose of cord at the end. When they come in sight of the herd they pursue the horse they wish to take at full speed, come up with him in spite of his swiftness, and never fail to throw the noose about his neck as he runs. They are frequently known to jump upon young horses that have passed their whole life in the desert, and, with only a girth around the animal’s body to hold by, maintain their seat in spite of all his violent exertions, until they have wearied him out, and reduced him to perfect obedience. Such was the nation with whom it was the lot of Jack now to reside; nor was it long before he had an opportunity of shewing his talents.

It happened that a favourite horse of the chief was taken with a violent fever, and seemed to be in immediate danger of death. The Khan, for so he is called among the Tartars, seeing his horse grow hourly worse, at length applied to the Europeans to know if they could suggest any thing for his recovery. All the officers were profoundly ignorant of farriery; but when the application was made to Jack, he desired to see the horse, and with great gravity began to feel his pulse, by passing his hand within the animal’s fore-leg, which gave the Tartars a very high idea of his ingenuity. Finding the animal in a high fever, he proposed to the Khan to let him blood, which he had learned to do very dexterously in England. He obtained permission to do as he pleased, and having by great good luck a lancet with him, he let him blood in the neck. After this operation, he covered him up, and gave him a warm potion made out of such ingredients as he could procure upon the spot, and left him quiet. In a few hours the horse began to mend, and, to the great joy of the Khan, perfectly recovered in a few days. This cure, so opportunely performed, raised the reputation of Jack so high, that every body came to consult him about their horses, and in a short time he was the universal farrier of the tribe. The Khan himself conceived so great an affection for him, that he gave him an excellent horse to ride upon, and attend him in his hunting parties; and Jack, who excelled in the art of horsemanship, managed him so well, as to gain the esteem of the whole nation.

The Tartars, though they are excellent horsemen, have no idea of managing their horses, unless by violence; but Jack in a short time, by continual care and attention, made his horse so docile and obedient to every motion of his hand and leg, that the Tartars themselves would gaze upon him with admiration, and allow themselves to be outdone. Not contented with this, he procured some iron, and made his horse shoes in the European taste; this also was matter of astonishment to all the Tartars, who are accustomed to ride their horses unshod. He next observed that the Tartar saddles were all prodigiously large and heavy, raising the horseman up to a great distance from the back of his horse. Jack set himself to work, and was not long before he had completed something like an English hunting saddle, on which he paraded before the Khan. All mankind seem to have a passion for novelty; and the Khan was so delighted with this effort of Jack’s ingenuity, that after paying him the highest compliments, he intimated a desire of having such a saddle for himself. As Jack was the most obliging creature in the world, and spared no labour to serve his friends; he went to work again, and in a short time completed a saddle still more elegant for the Khan. These exertions gained him the favour and esteem both of the Khan and all the tribe; so that Jack was an universal favourite, and loaded with presents; while all the rest of the officers, who had never learned to make a saddle or a horse-shoe, were treated with contempt and indifference. Jack, indeed, behaved with the greatest generosity to his countrymen, and divided with them all the mutton and venison which were given him; but he could not help sometimes observing, that it was a great pity they had not learned to make a horse-shoe, instead of dancing and dressing hair.

And now an ambassador arrived from the English settlements, with an account that all the conditions of the treaty had been performed, and demanding the restitution of the prisoners. The Tartar chief was too much a man of honour to delay an instant, and they were all restored; but before they set out, Jack laboured with indefatigable zeal to finish a couple of saddles, and a dozen horseshoes, which he presented to the Khan, with many expressions of gratitude. The Khan was charmed with this proof of his affection, and in return made him a present of a couple of fine horses, and several valuable skins of beasts. Jack arrived without any accident at the English settlements, and selling his skins and horses, found himself in possession of a moderate sum of money. He now began to have a desire to return to England; and one of the officers, who had often been obliged to him during his captivity, procured him a discharge. He embarked, therefore, with all his property, on board a ship which was returning home, and in a few months was safely landed at Plymouth.

But Jack was too active and too prudent to give himself up to idleness. After considering various schemes of business, he determined to take up his old trade of manufacturing iron; and for that purpose made a journey into the North, and found his old master alive, and as active as ever. His master, who had always entertained an esteem for Jack, welcomed him with great affection, and being in want of a foreman, he engaged him at very handsome wages for that place. Jack was now indefatigable in filling his new office: inflexibly honest where the interests of his master were concerned, and at the same time humane and obliging to the men who were under him, he gained the affection of all about him. In a few years his master was so thoroughly convinced of his merit, that growing old himself, he took Jack into partnership, and committed the management of the whole business to his care. He continued to exert the same qualities now which he had done before, by which means he improved the business so much, as to gain a considerable fortune, and become one of the most respectable manufacturers in the country. But with all his prosperity, he never discovered the least pride or haughtiness; on the contrary, he employed part of his fortune to purchase the moor where he had formerly lived, and built himself a small but convenient house, upon the very spot where his daddy’s hut had formerly stood. Hither he would sometimes retire from business, and cultivate his garden with his own hands, for he hated idleness. To all his poor neighbours he was kind and liberal, relieving them in their distress, and often entertaining them at his house, where he used to dine with them with the greatest affability, and frequently relate his own story, in order to prove that it is of very little consequence how a man comes into the world provided he behaves well, and discharges his duty when he is in it.

We have thus brought Jack to an end of his toils and misfortunes; and there is every reason to suppose that his happiness was lasting, for it was deserved. Throughout all his misfortunes, after he had reached man’s estate, he manifested a cheerful trust and confidence in the support and protection of Providence, and never gave way to murmurings or useless complainings. It may be observed, that all his early mishaps arose from an ungovernable temper: but that when time and experience had moderated his temper, things went well with him, and even matters, at first sight unfortunate, turned out advantageously. It was with him, as it will be with every one; a violent disposition, prone to anger, and unwilling to listen to reason, always brings a man into misfortunes; for it is not only unreasonable but unchristian. An useful lesson may be thus learned from the History of Little Jack; if our conduct be sober and honest, if we firmly and steadily persevere, without yielding to weakness and lamentation, and, above all, if we place our trust in God’s Mercy through our Blessed Redeemer, and endeavour to discover and perform his will, we are likely to obtain a comfortable condition here, certain of enjoying a good conscience in the present life, and may entertain the best founded hopes of perfect happiness in the future.

THE END.