Writings, generally induced me to go through the whole of my task. One day as I was sitting at the gate with my Bible in my hand, a neighboring farmer, coming to see my father, asked me if I could read the Bible already? I answered, yes; and he desired me to let him hear me. I began at the place where the book was open, read fluently, and afterwards told him, that if he pleased, he should hear the tenth chapter of Nehemiah. At this he seemed still more amazed, and, wishing to be convinced, bade me read. After listening till he found I could really pronounce the uncouth Hebrew names so much better and more easily than he supposed to be within the power of so young a child, he patted my head, gave me a penny, and said I was an uncommon boy. It would be hard to say whether his praise or his gift was most flattering to me. Soon after, my father's apprentice, the kind-hearted Dick, who came backward and forward to my father on his affairs, brought me the two delightful histories I have above-mentioned, which were among those then called Chapman's Books. It was scarcely possible for anything to have been more grateful to me than this present. Parismus and Parismenes, with all the adventures detailed in the Seven Champions of Christendom, were soon as familiar to me as my catechism, or the daily prayers I repeated kneeling before my father. Oh, how I loved poor Dick!

My father was an excellent pedestrian, and would often walk to London and back again, more than sixty miles, in the same day. Sometimes he dined at home, and went to London in the afternoon, and even then, I rather think, though I cannot be certain, that he made a point of sleeping in his own house.

One afternoon, he was desirous of going to town at a later hour than usual, and therefore, for expedition's sake, he borrowed a light grey horse of a neighbor, on condition that it should be returned that evening. He then mounted, and placed me behind him. trusting to my courage and good sense

for finding my way home with the horse. I know not how far he took me, except that we passed over some part of Ascot Heath, if not all of it; and about an hour before it was dark, he alighted, left me on horseback, and carefully gave me such directions as he supposed I could not mistake. In this he conjectured rightly; I began to trot away, anxious to get home before it was too dark; but unluckily for me, some time after we had parted, with no human being in sight, nor any likelihood of meeting one, the horse stumbled among some ruts, and threw my hat off. To have lost my hat would have been a terrible misfortune; I therefore ventured to alight and pick it up. Then it was that I perceived my distress. I found every attempt I made to remount wholly ineffectual, and all I could do was to endeavor to drag the sluggish animal along, and cry bitterly. Twilight was fast approaching, and I alone on the heath (I knew not how far from home), and never expecting to reach that desired place that evening. At length, however, the white railing of the race course on Ascot Heath came in sight, and I conceived hopes of remounting. Accordingly, I with great difficulty prevailed on my grey nag to stand tolerably nigh the railing, on which I clambered, and with almost unspeakable joy I found myself once more seated on his back. I had another piece of good fortune; for, before I had gone far, a neighbor happened to be passing, who, seeing a child so circumstanced, came up, asked me some questions, heard the story I had to tell, and conveyed me safe not only to the village, but to his own house, where he gave me something comfortable to eat and drink, sent the horse to its right owner, and put me into the charge of some one, who took me home.

My father was very fond, and not a little vain, of me. He delighted to show how much I was superior to other children, and this propensity had sometimes a good effect. One evening when it was quite dark, day-light having entirely disappeared,

and the night being cloudy, he was boasting to a neighbor of my courage; and his companion seeming rather to doubt, my father replied, he would put it immediately to the proof. "Tom," said he, "you must go to the house of Farmer such(I well remember the walk, but not the name of the person)," and ask whether he goes to London to-morrow." I was startled, but durst not dispute his authority, it was too great over me, besides that my vanity to prove my valor was not a little excited accordingly, I took my hat and immediately obeyed.

a-one

The house I was sent to, as far as I can remember, must have been between a quarter and half a mile distant; and the road that led to it, was by the side of the ledge on the left hand of the common. However, I knew the way well enough, and proceeded; but 'it was with many stops, starts, and fears. It may be proper to observe here, that although I could not have been without courage, yet I was really, when a child, exceedingly apprehensive, and full of superstition. When I saw magpies, it denoted good or ill luck according, as they did or did not cross me. When walking, I pored for pins or rusty nails; which, if they lay in certain directions, foreboded some misfortune.

Many such whims possessed my brain; I was therefore not at all free from notions of this kind, on the present occasion. However, I went forward on my errand, humming, whistling, and looking as carefully as I could; now and then making a false step, which helped to relieve me, for it obliged me to attend to the road. When I came to the farm-house, I delivered my message. "Bless me, child," cried the people within, "have you come this dark night all alone?" "Oh yes," I said, assuming an air of self-consequence. "And who sent you?" "My father wanted to know," I replied equivocally. One of them then offered to take me home, but of this I would by no means admit. My whole little stock of vanity was roused, and I hastily scampered out of the house,

ng than my journey thither. At last I to be rid of my fears, and inwardly not a success. "Did you hear or see anybody, 66 as you went or came back?" "No," ark; not but I thought once or twice, I did d me." In fact, it was my father and his ollowed me at a little distance. This, my sing me for my courage, some time after

came one night to Yussouf's tent,
old one outcast and in dread,
e life the bow of power is bent,
d hath not where to lay his head;

e for shelter and for food,

called through all our tribes The Good.""

mine," said Yussouf, "but no more

od's; come in, and be at peace;

thou partake of all my store
who buildeth over these

s glorious roof of night and day,
e door none ever yet heard 'Nay.""

entertained his guest that night,
g him ere day, said: "Here is gold;
horse is saddled for thy flight;
re the prving day grow bold."

One day,

In the reign of Haroon al Rusheed. poor porter called Hinbad. excessively hot, he was employed to from one end of the town to the other. and having still a great way to go, where a refreshing breeze blew on his f was sprinkled with rose-water. As he better place to rest and recruit himself, and sat upon it, near a large mansion.

e

same on

our own Sinbad

iow.