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but he was so much hurt that he was obliged to sit down again.

The truth of the matter was soon told by Charles, and as soon believed by all the people present who knew him: for he had the character of being an honest boy, and Ned was known to be a thief and a liar.

So nobody pitied Ned for the pain he felt. "He deserves it," says one. "Why did he meddle with what was not his own?" said another. "He is not much hurt, I will answer for it," said a third. Charles was the only person who said nothing; he helped Ned away to a bank. "Oh, come here," said the orange man, calling him ; come here, my honest lad! what! you got that black eye in keeping my oranges, did you? You are a stout little fellow," said he, taking him by the hand, and leading him into the midst of the people.

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Men, women, and children had gathered round, and all the children fixed their eyes upon Charles, and wished to be in his place.

The orange man took Charles's hat off his head, and filled it with fine oranges. "There,

my little friend," said he, "take them, and God bless you with them! If I could but afford it, you should have all that is in my basket."

Then the people, and especially the children, shouted for joy; but as soon as there was silence, Charles said to the orange man, "Thank you, Sir, but I cannot take your oranges, only that one I earned; take the rest back again; I thank you as much as if I had them." Saying these words, Charles offered to pour the oranges

back into the basket; but the man would not let him.

"Then," said Charles, "if they are honestly mine I may give them away;" so he emptied the hat among the children, his companions. "Divide them amongst you," said he, and without waiting for their thanks, he ran home. The children ran after him, clapping their hands and thanking him.

The little thief came limping after. Nobody praised him; nobody thanked him; he had no oranges to eat, nor had he any to give away. Ned went home crying, and saying to himself, "All this was for one orange; it was not worth while."

No; it is never worth while to do wrong.
MISS EDGEWORTH.

Children, when you read this, think about it -which would you rather have been, the honest boy or the thief?

EXPLANATIONS.

Panniers are baskets, which are used to carry such articles as eggs, oranges, &c. to market. One basket hangs on one side of a horse, and another basket hangs on the other side; they are fastened together by a leather strap which goes across the horse's back over the saddle.

Public house. When people are travelling, that is, riding or walking a great distance, far from their own homes or their friends' houses, they are obliged to buy their food, and pay for the use of beds at houses where they stop for this purpose. These houses have a painted

board placed near them, to show people that they may stop there if they wish, and get what they want.

The man, who is master of such a house, is the Landlord. The mistress of the house is the Landlady. This is a public house-it is sometimes called a Tavern, and sometimes an Inn.

HISTORY OF LITTLE JACK.

THERE was once a poor old lame man, who had been a soldier, and had almost lost the use of one leg, so he was not able to do much work. He built himself a little hut, and made a garden, where he planted potatoes, beans, and such other vegetables as he wanted to eat.

All the

money he got was given to him by people for opening a gate near his hut. People riding in coaches do not like to have the coachmen leave horses to open a gate; they are willing to give any body a few cents to do it for them.

The money which the poor man got in this way was enough to buy him clothes, and such other things as he wanted. This poor man was very honest, so every body respected him; he was pious too, he prayed to God every night and morning; he thought of God often, and he tried to please God.

This old man had one domestic. In his walks, he one day found a little kid that had lost its mother, and was almost famished with hunger He took it home, and fed it, and nursed it, sc that it grew very large and strong. He called

the goat Nan. Nan loved her master; she ran after him like a little dog, and ate the grass which grew round his door. She often played very prettily, so that she amused her master with her innocent tricks. The old man would lift up his eyes, and thank God, that he had given him this faithful creature.

One cold night in the beginning of winter, the old man thought he heard a child cry; he got up and struck a light, went out at the door and looked all about; he soon found a little baby lying on the ground. The old man knew not what to do "I can hardly take care of myself," said he, "what shall I do with a poor infant ? If I leave it here, the little creature will die before morning-I will take it in and give it some food, and take care of it till tomorrow."-Saying this he took up the little boy, who was only covered with a few rags. infant smiled and stretched out his arms to hug the old man.

The

When he had brought it into the hut, he called his goat Nan; her own little kid was just dead, and she had milk to spare. Nan was quite willing to nurse the little boy; he sucked till he had enough, and then fell asleep. The old man took the child to his bosom, and went to rest. He felt happy because he had done a good action. Early the next morning he waked, and gave the infant some of Nan's milk-" Who knows," said the old man, "but this child may live to be a man, and that God will make him good and happy. When he grows bigger he will be a pleasure and a comfort to me, he will

learn to be useful-to fetch my wood, and dig in the garden."

The little boy grew fast, and loved the old man dearly, and he loved the goat too. She would lie down, and little Jack would crawl on his hands and knees close to her, and go to sleep in her bosom. In a short time Jack could walk, and he soon learned to talk a little. called the old man called " his mammy.

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He

Daddy," and the goat he Mammy."-He used to run about after

At night the old man would take Jack upon his knee, and talk to him while their supper was boiling over the fire. When Jack grew bigger he opened the gate for his daddy, and learned to get the breakfast and dinner. The old man used to tell Jack stories, and amuse him very much.

Jack was delighted when his daddy shouldered his crutch instead of a gun, and gave the word of command. "To the right-to the left -present-fire-march-halt." Jack learned all this, as soon as he could speak; and before he was six years old he could present a broomstick, which his daddy had given him, with as good a grace as any little soldier.

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"Never

The old man taught him to be good. tell a lie," said he, even if you should be killed for speaking truth; soldiers never tell lies," (the old man meant true soldiers, or good soldiers.) Jack held up his head, marched across the floor, and promised his daddy, that he would always speak truth.

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