people have not fresh water every day; they keep water in barrels. After the water has been standing many weeks it does not taste well; the people who have no better water to drink are glad to stop when they come to an island, and get some fresh water. The people of India, who once owned the places which the English have taken, would not allow the English to keep them, if they did not keep soldiers, who would shoot the Hindus, (that is the name of the people of Hindostan― the part of India to which the English go,) if they were not quiet. Jack's regiment had been at sea several weeks, when the ship stopped at the Comoro Islands. These are some little islands near to Africa. The inhabitants are black. The ship stayed at the island several days. Some of the officers went on shore to shoot some birds; one of the officers took Jack along with him. This officer shot a large bird that was flying in the air; the bird fell into such a deep place that the officer thought he could not get it, but Jack set off in search of it. Instead of going straight to the spot he was obliged to go a long way round, and unluckily lost himself. Night came on and he was forced to lie down under a tree. The next morning he rose as soon as he could see, and tried all day to find his way back to the ship; he lay under the trees for three nights, and wandered about alone for three days. During all this time he had no other food than such berries as he could find. On the third day he came in sight of water, but the place was very far from his ship; there was neither ship nor boat to be seen. Jack did not know what to do; he thought he would try to find the people of the island, but he was afraid of them. He knew that white men are sometimes very cruel to negroes; that they make slaves of them, and beat them very much if they try to go away. Jack thought if he got among the blacks, they might like to have a white slave, and that they would keep him as long as he lived and make him work hard. He hid himself among the trees, and used to go down to the water side several times in a day to see if any ships sailed by. One day as he was watching he saw a ship; it came nearer and nearer, and Jack at last was so happy as to make himself heard by the sanors. They came in a little boat to the shore; they were Englishmen. Jack was rejoiced to see them, and when he had told them how he happened to be alone in that strange place, they took him with them to the boat, and carried him to the ship. The ship was going to India. Jack arrived almost as soon as his own ship. His fellow soldiers thought they had lost him, but they were rejoiced to see him safe once more. Jack behaved very well. His captain was so well pleased with him that he made him a sergeant. After some time, the army was ordered to march a long way. They were obliged to travel through a very hot country, and suffered so much from heat and fatigue, that many of, the soldiers died. At length they came to the country of the Tartars. The Tartars are the best horsemen in the world; they go riding about in companies, doing pretty much as they please to those whom they meet. The English army met a large number of these Tartars, so many, that they were forced to do as the Tartars chose. The Tartars obliged the English to give up their arms, and to give up also a number of their men. Among the men who went with the Tartars was Jack. The Tartars have many oxen, cows, sheep, and horses. They drive these animals about from one place to another; they do not live long in one place like the people of other countries. They love horses very much indeed. Among the great men of the Tartars is one called the kan. The kan, or chief of those Tartars, among whom Jack lived, had some beautiful horses; one of them had a dreadful fever, and the people were afraid he would die. When Jack was a servant part of his business was the care of horses, and he remembered to have seen a horse which was sick like the kan's horse. Jack went to see the kan's sick horse; he begged his servants to let him try if he could not cure the horse, and they asked their master, who consented. Jack prepared a dose for the poor animal, caused him to be bled, and left him quiet. In a few hours the horse grew better, and in a short time he was quite well. The kan was much pleased with Jack for curing his fine horse, and gave him an excellent horse to ride upon. Jack managed this horse very well; he used to ride him with the Tartars when they went on hunting parties. After a while, a messenger was sent to the kan from the English, to tell him he must send back his English prisoners. He thought it best to do so. The Tartars gave Jack a large quantity of the skins of animals, and several horses. He took these things with him to the town where the English were, and sold them, and saved the money which he got for them. His regiment was gone to another place, and one of the officers got leave for Jack to go home to England; he went on board a ship, and in a few months was safe in his native land. My little friends, do you want to know more of Jack; no more was written in his history. It is very likely that Jack was good and happy as long as he lived. Good children make good men. Those who begin well often do well all their lives. You will say Jack was a good boy. How was he good? What were his virtues! and what were his faults? Some of you can answer; and some of you have not been taught to think, and speak enough, to tell Jack's virtues, or to notice his faults. Jack was grateful-he loved his daddy, who was good to him. Jack was affectionate-he loved every body that was not unkind to him. Jack was industrious-he always minded his work. Jack was honest-he always spoke truth. Jack was frugal; he did not waste his money. Gratitude, love, honesty, good-nature, and frugality, are virtues. Ingratitude, hatred, dishonesty, ill-nature, extravagance, or wastefulness, are vices. He Jack had faults. He was hasty, or revengeful, as when he struck Dick, the butcher. did wrong to mock the young Frenchman; that was contempt, and derision. But Jack confessed his faults and was sorry for them. Imitate his good example, and avoid his faults. EXPLANATIONS. Native country.—The country where one is born. Persons born in Africa are natives of Africa-Persons born in New York are natives of New York, &c. Sergeant.-An officer of the army. To recruit. To go about to find new soldiers. The sergeant engaged in recruiting is gaily dressed he has with him a drummer, and a fifer. When the people see them all, and hear the music, numbers of persons erowd around them. The sergeant asks if there is any body there disposed to be a soldier, willing to go with him and fight for his country; he offers money, and a cockade to be placed in the hat of those who choose to become soldiers. Those who say they will go, march off with the sergeant-they enlist-they are called volunteers, because they go willingly. Voluntary-means willing. A Involuntary-means without choosing. man speaks voluntarily; he coughs involunta |