bject to make sport at. Tom indeed was very
careful in looking after the linch-pins; in never giving his horses
too much water when they were hot; nor, whatever was his haste,
would he ever gallop them up hill, strike them across the head, or
when tired, cut and slash them, or gallop them over the stones, as
soon as he got into town, as some foolish fellows do. What helped to
cure Tom of these bad practices, was the remark he met with in the
Bible, that _a good man is merciful to his beast_. He was much moved
one day on reading the Prophet Jonah, to observe what compassion the
great God of heaven and earth had for poor beasts; for one of the
reasons there given why the Almighty was unwilling to destroy the
great city of Nineveh was, _because there was much cattle in it_.
After this, Tom never could bear to see a wanton stroke inflicted.
Doth God care for horses, said he, and shall man be cruel to them?

Tom soon grew rich for one in his station; for every gentleman on
the road would be driven by no other lad if _careful Tom_ was to be
had. Being diligent, he _got_ a great deal of money; being frugal,
he _spent_ but little; and having no vices, he _wasted_ none, he
soon found out that there was some meaning in that text which says,
that _godliness hath the promise of the life that now is, as well as
that which is to come_: for the same principles which make a man
sober and honest, have also a natural tendency to make him healthy
and rich; while a drunkard and spendthrift can hardly escape being
sick and a beggar. Vice is the parent of misery in both worlds.

After a few years, Tom begged a holiday, and made a visit to his
native village; his good character had got thither before him. He
found his father was dead, but during his long illness Tom had
supplied him with money, and by allowing him a trifle every week,
had had the honest satisfaction of keeping him from the parish.
Farmer Hodges was still living, but being grown old and infirm, he
was desirous to retire from business. He retained a great regard for
his old servant, Tom; and finding he was worth money, and knowing he
knew something of country business, he offered to let him a small
farm at an easy rate, and promised his assistance in the management
for the first year, with the loan of a small sum of money, that he
might set out with a pretty stock. Tom thanked him with tears in his
eyes, went back and took a handsome leave of his master, who made
him a presen