did it touch my Mouth, than it became a hard
solid Body, and unfit for drinking. My Distress now grew
insupportable! I had destroyed, as I thought, my dear Husband, and my
favourite Servant; and I plainly perceived, that I should die for want
in the midst of so much Wealth. Ah, said I, why did I long for Riches!
Having enough already, why did I covet more? Thus terrified, I began
to rave, and beat my Breast, which awaked Sir _Charles_, who
kindly called me from this State of Inquietude, and composed my Mind."

This Scene I have often considered as a Lesson, instructing me, that a
Load of Riches bring, instead of Felicity, a Load of Troubles; and
that the only Source of Happiness is _Contentment_. Go,
therefore, you who have too much, and give it to those who are in
want; so shall you be happy yourselves, by making others happy. This
is a Precept from the Almighty, a Precept which must be regarded; for
_The Lord is about your Paths, and about your Bed, and spieth out
all your Ways_.

_An Anecdote, respecting_ TOM TWO-SHOES, _communicated by a
Gentleman, who is now writing the History of his Life._

It is generally known, that _Tom Two-Shoes_ went to Sea when he was
a very little Boy, and very poor; and that he returned a very great Man,
and very rich; but no one knows how he acquired so much Wealth but
myself, and a few Friends, who have perused the Papers from which I am
compiling the History of his Life.

After _Tom_ had been at Sea some Years, he was unfortunately cast
away, on that Part of the Coast of _Africa_ inhabited by the
_Hottentots_. Here he met with a strange Book, which the
_Hottentots_ did not understand, and which gave him some Account
of _Prester John's_ Country; and being a Lad of great Curiosity
and Resolution he determined to see it; accordingly he set out on the
Pursuit, attended by a young Lion, which he had tamed and made so fond
of him, that he followed him like a Dog, and obeyed all his Commands;
and indeed it was happy for him that he had such a Companion; for as
his Road lay through large Woods and Forests, that were full of wild
Beasts and without Inhabitants, he must have been soon starved or torn
in Pieces, had he not been both fed and protected by this noble
Animal.

[Illustration]

_Tom_ had provided himself with two Guns, a Sword, and as much
Powder and Ball as he could carry; with these Arms, and such a
Companion, it was mighty easy for him to get Food; for the Animals in
these