satisfied with his behaviour, began to fear that he should at last be obliged to discharge him.

It happened one day that a large company of gentleman and ladies were introduced to see the works. The master attended them, and explained, with great politeness, every part of his manufacture. They viewed with astonishment the different methods by which that useful and necessary ore of iron is rendered fit for human use. They examined the furnaces where it is melted down, to disengage it from the dross 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 massy bars for the service of man. While they were busy in examining these different processes, they were alarmed by a sudden noise of discord which broke out on the other side of the building; and the master inquiring into the cause, was told, that it was only Little Jack, who was fighting with Tom the collier. At this the master cried out in a passion, “There is no peace to be expected in the furnace while that boy is employed; send him to me, and I will instantly discharge him.” At this moment Jack appeared, all covered with blood and dirt, and stood before his angry judge in a modest but resolute posture. “Is this the reward,” said his master, “you little audacious fellow, for all my kindness? Can you never refrain a single 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 Little Jack, with great humility, but yet with firmness, “I am extremely sorry to have disobliged you, nor have I ever done it willingly, since 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 say, that, since I have been in the house, I have ever given any one the least provocation, or ever refused, to the utmost of my strength, to do whatever I have been ordered.”—“Indeed that’s quite true,” said the foreman; “I must do Little Jack the justice to say, that there is not a more honest, sober, and industrious lad about the place. Set him to do what you will, he never sculks, never grumbles, never slights his work; and if it were not for a little passion and fighting, I don’t believe there would be his fellow in England.”—“Well,” said the master, a little mollified, “but what is the cause of all this sudden disturbance?”—“Sir,” answered Jack, “it is Tom that has been abusing me, and telling me that my father was a beggar-man, and my mother a nanny-goat; and, when I desired him to be quiet, he went baaing all about the house; and this I could not bear; for, as to my father, he was an honest soldier, and if I did suck a goat, she 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 seemed particularly interested about Little Jack, and when she had heard his story, said, “This must certainly be the little boy who opened a gate several years past for me upon Norcot Moor. I remember being struck with his appearance, and hearing him lament the loss of the goat that nursed him. I was very much affected then with his history, and since he deserves so good a character, if you will part with him, I will instantly take him into my service.” The master replied, that he should part with him with great satisfaction to such an excellent mistress; that, indeed, the boy deserved all the commendations which had been given; but since the other lads had such a habit of plaguing, and Jack was of so impatient a temper, he despaired of ever composing their animosities. Jack was then called, and informed of the lady’s offer, which he accepted with the greatest readiness, and received immediate directions to her house.

When the lady came home, she inquired concerning Jack, and found that he had arrived some time before her. She sent for him into the parlour, and kindly entered into conversation with him concerning his situation since she had first seen him upon the common. She was greatly pleased by the feeling manner in which he described the last moments of the old Soldier; she saw very clearly that the poor boy had an excellent disposition, a warm heart, and that what he had most to dread was his hastiness of temper. She, therefore, gently, yet very forcible, laid before him the evils which follow from a quarrelsome habit; how all persons come at last to dread the company of one who is apt to fall into disputes. She told him how people are always inclined to think him in the wrong against whom complaints are most frequently made, although perhaps he may have been on the right side in every instance. She pointed out to him how willing his master was to part with him; not because he was wrong in his disputes, but because he was in so many of them. “A quarrelsome boy,” said she, “is a nuisance in a family; there is no peace where he is, and every thing is kept in constant confusion and ill blood. You know, Jack, that it is your duty, as a Christian, to forgive others their trespasses against you; if, then, you fight upon every occasion, on which you may have suffered even real injury, you disobey your blessed Saviour, by violating one of his precepts. If any of your fellow-servants should do you any harm, forgive it according to the command of our Lord; if it should be often repeated, or be of a very heinous nature, come to me, and I shall see justice done between you and him. You know you cannot be a good judge in your own case, especially when your mind is filled with anger; therefore, I forbid you to take the matter into your own hands; you must not cause noise and riot in the family by coming to blows, even where the insult you may receive has been most unprovoked.”—Jack made very faithful promises of amendment; as indeed he might very sincerely do, for except when he was hurried away for the moment, he was ever ready to confess his failing.

Jack was now in a new sphere 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 shoes, to perform errands, and to do all the jobs of the family; and in the discharge of these services, he soon gave universal satisfaction. He was indefatigable in doing what he was ordered, never grumbled, nor appeared out of temper, and seemed so quiet and inoffensive in his manners, that every body wondered how he had acquired the character of being quarrelsome. In a short time he became both the favourite and the drudge of the whole family; for, speak but kindly him, and call him a little soldier, and Jack was at every one’s disposal. This was Jack’s particular foible and vanity: at his leisure hours he would divert himself by the hour together, in poizing a dung-fork, charging with a broom-stick, and standing sentry at the stable door. Another propensity of Jack’s, which now discovered itself, was an immoderate love of horses. The instant he was introduced into the stable, he attached himself so strongly to these animals, that you would have taken him for one of the same species, or at least a near relation. Jack