amined the furnaces where it is melted down, to difengage it from the drofs, with which it is mixed in the bowels of the earth, and whence it runs down in liquid torrents like fire. They beheld with equal pleasure the prodigious hammers, which, moved

by the force of water, mould it into maffy bars, for the fervice of man. While they were busy in examining thefe different proceffes, they were alarmed by a fudden noise of discord, which broke out on the other fide of the building; and the mafter enquiring into the caufe, was told, that it was only little Jack, who was fighting with Tom the collier. At this, the mafter cried

out, in a paffion, there is no peace to be expected in the furnace, while that little rascal is employed; fend him to me, and I will inftantly dif charge him. At this moment Jack appeared,

all

all covered with blood and dirt, and ftood before his angry judge in a modeft, but resolute posture. "Is this the reward," said his mafter, "you little audacious vagabond, of all my kindnefs? Can you never refrain a fingle instant from broils and fighting? But I am determined to bear it no longer; and therefore you shall never, from this hour, do a single stroke of work for me.” "Sir," replied Jack, with great humility, but yet with firmness, "I am extremely forry to have disobliged you, nor have I ever done it willingly fince I have been here; and if the other boys would only mind their business as well as I do, and not molest me, you would not have been offended now; for I defy them all to fay, that, fince I have been in the houfe, I lrave ever given any one the leaft provocation, or ever refused, to the utmost of my ftrength, to do whatever I have been ordered." "That's true, in good faith,", faid the foreman; I muft do little Jack the justice to fay, that there is not a more honest, sober, and induftrious lad about the place. Set him to what you will, he never fculks, never grumbles, never flights his work; and if it were not for a little paffion and fighting, I don't believe there would be his fellow in England." "Well," faid the mafter, a little mollified, "but what is the cause of all this fudden disturbance ?" "Sir," anfwer

ed

ed Jack, "it is Tom that has been abufing me, and telling me that my father was a beggarman and my mother a nanny-goat; and when I defired him to be quiet, he went baaing all about the house; and this I could not bear; for as to my poor father, he was an honeft foldier, and if I did fuck a goat, fhe was the best creature in the world, and I won't hear her abused while I have any strength in my body." At this harangue, the whole audience were scarcely able to refrain from laughing, and the master, with more composure, told Jack to mind his business, and threatened the other boys with punishment if they disturbed him.

But a lady who was in company feemed particularly interested about little Jack, and when she had heard his ftory, faid, this must certainly be the little boy who opened a gate feveral years paft for me upon Norcot Moor. I remember being struck with his appearance, and hearing him lament the lofs of the goat that nurfed him. I was very much affected with his history, and fince he deferves fo good a character, if you will part with him, I will instantly take him into my fervice. The mafter replied, that he should part with him with great fatisfaction to fuch an excellent mistress; that, indeed, the boy deserved all the commendations which had been given; but

fince the other lads had fuch an habit of plaguing, and Jack was of fo impatient a temper, he defpaired of ever compofing their animofities. Jack was then called, and informed of the lady's offer, which he inftantly accepted with the greatest readinefs, and received immediate directions to her house.

Jack was now in a new fphere of life. His face was washed, his hair combed, he was clothed afresh, and appeared a very smart active lad. His business was to help in the stable, to water the horses, to clean fhoes, to perform errands, and to do all the jobs of the family; and in the discharge of thefe fervices, he foon gave univerfal fatisfaction. He was indefatigable in doing what he was ordered, never grumbled, or appeared out of temper, and seemed fo quiet and inoffenfive in his manners, that every body wondered how he had acquired the character of being quarrelfome. In a fhort time, he became both the favourite and the drudge of the whole family; for, fpeak but kindly to him, and call him a little foldier, and Jack was at every one's difpofal. This was Jack's particular foible and vanity; at his leifure hours, he would divert him-.. felf by the hour together in poizing a dung-fork, charging with a broomstick, and standing centry at the ftable-door. Another propenfity of Jack's,

which now discovered itself, was an immoderate love of horfès. The inftant he was introduced into the stable, he attached himself so strongly to these animals, that you would have taken him for one of the fame fpecies, or at least a near relation. Jack was never tired with rubbing down and currying them; the coachman had fcarcely any business but to fit upon his box; all the operations of the stable were intrufted to little Jack, nor was it ever known that he neglected a single particular. But what 'gave him more pleasure than all the reft, was fometimes to accompany his mistress upon a little horse, which he managed with infinite dexterity..

Jack too discovered a great difpofition for all the useful and mechanic arts. He had ferved an apprenticeship already to the manufactory of iron, and of this he was almost as vain as being. a foldier. As he began to extend his knowledge of the world, he saw that nothing could be done: without iron. How would you plough the ground, faid Jack; how would you dig your garden; how would you even light a fire, dress a. dinner, shoe a horse, or do the least thing in the world, if we workmen at the forge did not take the trouble of preparing it for you? Thus Jack would fometimes expatiate upon the dignity and importance of his own profeffion to the great admiration of all the other fervants. These ideas naturally

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