While they were at work, Tommy said, "Pray, Harry, did you ever hear the story of the men that were obliged to live six years upon that terrible cold country (I forget the name of it), where there is nothing but snow and ice, and scarcely any other animals, but great bears, that are ready to eat men
up?" Harry.—Yes, I have. T.—And did not the very thoughts of it frighten you dreadfully? H.—No; I cannot say they did. T.—Why, should you like to live in such a country? H.—No, certainly; I am very happy that I was born in such a country as this, where the weather is scarcely ever too hot or too cold; but a man must bear patiently whatever is his lot in this world. T.—That is true. But should you not cry, and be very much afflicted, if you were left upon such a country? H.—I should certainly be very sorry if I was left there alone, more especially as I am not big enough, or strong enough, to defend myself against such fierce animals; but the crying would do me no good; it would be better to do something, and endeavour to help myself. T.—Indeed I think it would; but what could you do? H.—Why, I should endeavour to build myself a house, if I could find myself materials. T.—And what materials is a house made of? I thought it had been impossible to make a house without having a great many people of different trades, such as carpenters and bricklayers. H.—You know there are houses of different
sizes. The houses that the poor people live in are very different from your father's house. T.—Yes, they are little, nasty, dirty, disagreeable places; I should not like to live in them at all. H.—And yet the poor are in general as strong and healthy as the rich. But if you could have no other, you would rather live in one of them than be exposed to the weather? T.—Yes, certainly. And how would you make one of them? H.—If I could get any wood, and had a hatchet, I would cut down some branches of trees, and stick them upright in the ground, near to each other. T.—And what then? H.—I would then get some other branches, but more full of small wood; and these I would interweave between them, just as we make hurdles to confine the sheep; and then, as that might not be warm enough to resist the wind and cold, I would cover them over, both within and without, with clay. T.—Clay! what is that? H.—It is a particular kind of earth, that sticks to your feet when you tread upon it, or to your hands when you touch it. T.—I declare I did not think it had been so easy to make a house. And do you think that people could really live in such houses? H.—Certainly they might, because many persons live in such houses here; and I have been told that in many parts of the world they have not any other. T.—Really, I should like to try to make a house; do you think, Harry, that you and I could make one? H.—Yes, if I had wood and clay enough, I think I could, and a small hatchet to sharpen the stakes and make them enter the ground.
Mr Barlow then came to call them in to read, and
told Tommy that, as he had been talking so much about good-nature to animals, he had looked him out a very pretty story upon the subject, and begged that he would read it well. "That I will," said Tommy; "for I begin to like reading extremely; and I think that I am happier too since I learned it, for now I can always divert myself." "Indeed," answered Mr Barlow, "most people find it so. When any one can read he will not find the knowledge any burthen to him, and it is his own fault if he is not constantly amused. This is an advantage, Tommy, which a gentleman, since you are so fond of the word, may more particularly enjoy, because he has so much time at his own disposal; and it is much better that he should distinguish himself by having more knowledge and improvement than others, than by fine clothes, or any such trifles, which any one may have that can purchase them as well as himself."
Tommy then read, with a clear and distinct voice, the following story of
"THE GOOD-NATURED LITTLE BOY."
"A little boy went out one morning to walk to a village about five miles from the place where he lived, and carried with him in a basket the provision that was to serve him the whole day. As he was walking along, a poor little half-starved dog came up to him, wagging his tail, and seeming to entreat him to take compassion on him. The little boy at first took no notice of him, but at length, remarking how lean and famished the creature
seemed to be, he said, 'This animal is certainly in very great necessity; if I give him part of my provision, I shall be obliged to go home hungry myself; however, as he seems to want it more than I do, he shall partake with me.' Saying this, he gave the dog part of what he had in the basket, who ate as if he had not tasted victuals for a fortnight.
"The little boy then went on a little farther, his dog still following him, and fawning upon him with the greatest gratitude and affection, when he saw a poor old horse lying upon the ground, and groaning as if he was very ill; he went up to him, and saw that he was almost starved, and so weak that he was unable to rise. 'I am very much afraid,' said the little boy, 'if I stay to assist this horse, that it will be dark before I can return; and I have heard that there are several thieves in the neighbourhood; however, I will try—it is doing a good action to attempt to relieve him; and God Almighty will take care of me.' He then went and gathered some grass, which he brought to the horse's mouth, who immediately began to eat with as much relish as if his chief disease was hunger. He then fetched some water in his hat, which the animal drank up, and seemed immediately to be so much refreshed that, after a few trials, he got up and began grazing.