bits!" exclaimed both the inhabitants of the cottage at once.
"Master Shirley, we have seen no rabbits."

"It is useless to deny the fact," said Josiah; "I saw them just now with
my own eyes, in thy son Roderick's arms."

"Saving your honour's presence, then your two little eyes must have seen
a great story!" cried Pat, colouring deeply. "I am a true-born Irishman!
and no thief, Master Shirley!"

At this moment the door opened, and Roderick entered, with the white doe
in his arms.

Lary started up, then sat down again, his face scarlet with agitation.
He turned his eyes from one to the other, and looked like a person just
awakened out of sleep, who as yet scarcely knew whether the objects that
met his eyes were real or imaginary; till, turning to his son, in a
voice trembling with passion, he said:--

"Roderick, if you have stolen the gentleman's rabbits, I will beat you
severely!"

"Hold, friend!" cried Josiah, stepping in between the enraged Irishman
and his son, "remember thy own offence, and calm this unreasonable
passion:" then turning to the boy, he said,--"Roderick, how came thee by
that rabbit?"

The boy boldly replied, "I found this, and some more with it (nice white
dears), feeding in the meadow, early this morning. Daddy says every
thing we find we may have, and I found these rabbits."

"My little fellow," said Josiah, as he took the animal out of his arms,
"never appropriate property that does not belong to thee, without first
diligently inquiring to whom it may appertain; for, though certainly it
is not so bad as stealing, it falls little short of the same crime."

Then earnestly entreating Lary to abstain from drink and bad company, he
took his leave, firmly persuaded in his own mind, that the Irishman was
the author of the mischief.

How often, following our own suspicions, do we condemn, on
circumstantial evidence, persons who may be perfectly guiltless of the
crimes laid to their charge. Yet, though the gardener and his son were
innocent of the faults they were accused of, had Lary staid at home,
instead of joining in a scene of riot and folly, he would not have
returned in a state which rendered him incapable of saying where he had
been, or what he had done, on the preceding evening.

After this circumstance, nothing happened to disturb the young Quaker's
peace; the Hopes returned to Eaton school; and, till after the Christmas
holydays commenced, Josiah and his little cousin enjoyed uninte