it so
wicked a piece of mischief. I should not at all wonder if it was one of
Pat Lary's mad frolics; I hear he was intoxicated at the fair last
night, and broke several windows in his way home."

"That may be," returned Josiah; "but, as I never offended Patrick Lary
in my life, it would be very cruel to suspect him without a cause."

"True, Master Shirley; but you are too fond of gardening yourself, and
you have heard the old proverb, I suppose, that 'two of a trade seldom
agree.' Besides, he is such a swearing, drinking fellow."

"Daniel Simpson," returned Josiah, scarcely able to conceal the contempt
he felt towards him, "I have heard thee swear, and, if I am not greatly
mistaken, it is not long since I saw thee disguised in liquor. Is it
not, therefore, as easy for me to suspect _thee_?"

Simpson was confounded at this speech, and, had Josiah looked up in his
face, he certainly would have detected the real author of the mischief,
by the crimson glow which flushed the swarthy countenance of the wicked
groom; who, regaining his accustomed assurance, said, in a more
confidential tone--

"_I never injured you_, Master Shirley; but, if you will give me a
shilling or two to pay me for my trouble, I warrant you I would soon
bring the culprit to justice, if he is to be found within a few miles of
the place."

The face of Josiah Shirley glowed with indignation, as, turning his eyes
on the sordid wretch, he sternly replied--

"Daniel Simpson, I will spare thee so great a crime. That heart must be
hard indeed, that, for the sake of a few paltry pieces of silver, would
yield up an erring fellow-creature. Go! I neither want such advice or
assistance."

As Josiah finished speaking, his foot struck against something in the
path, and, on stooping to pick it up, it proved to be the poor
Irishman's hatchet.

The young Quaker, with his natural humanity, strove to hide this
convincing proof of Lary's guilt from the troublesome groom; but he saw
with grief, by the look of triumph which passed over the other's face,
that he had made the same discovery, as the name of Lary was too plainly
marked on the handle to need any close inspection.

"There!" cried Simpson, "I knew it was Lary: who besides him would think
of doing such a rascally job as this?"

"I am sure, if Lary had not been disguised in liquor," said Josiah, "he
never would have committed so base an action. Daniel Simpson, at times
we are all prone to do ill; and as