GENEROSITY REWARDED.
Mrs. Clifford being particularly satisfied with the attention that her three children, Alfred, Robert, and Helen, had for some time past paid to their lessons, and to the instructions of their masters, told them that she would treat them with a charming walk in the wood, on the opposite side of the river; and that if they would carry some bread or biscuit with them, she thought they would have no difficulty in finding a house where they might procure some milk. So instead of returning home to drink tea, she would spend the whole afternoon and evening in rambling about with them.
This was charming news for the young folks, who took care not to give her the trouble of waiting for them, for they were all three ready at least half an hour before the time she had appointed for their departure. The moment Mrs. Clifford joined them in the hall, away they all went, with joyful hearts and cheerful faces, through the field and down the long lane, which led to the ferry.
“This is very pleasant, mother,” said Alfred: “I think I should never be tired of walking in the fields and woods; yet, I must own, I do long for winter, that we may purchase the magic lantern we are to have. I think, with the money grandpapa has given each of us, and what we had before in our purses, we shall be able to have a very large one.”
“O dear!” exclaimed Helen, “how delightful it will be to see it as often as we please, and to show it to our friends; and, mother, do you know that Robert is to be the person to show it; for, he says, he can talk just like the man who came to our house last year?”
“So I can,” answered Robert, “and I wish it were bought, that you might hear what a long story I shall tell you about the sun and the moon; and the King of Prussia and his huzzars; and the cat and the cook! I would rather have a magic lantern, than any thing in the whole world!”