r then put down the money, and drew out
of his great coat pocket a jar of candied fruits. "I have brought
something here," said he, "for the young folks. Won't you be so kind,
Sir John, as to let them come out one of these days, and take a mouthful
of the country air with us? I'd try, as well as I could, to entertain
and amuse them. I have two good stout nags, and would come for them
myself, and take them down in my four-wheeled chaise, which will carry
them very safely, I'll warrant it."

Sir John said, that he would certainly take an opportunity to pay him a
visit, and invited him to stay to dinner; but the farmer excused
himself, saying, he had a good deal of business to do in town, and
wished to get home before night. Sir John filled his pocket with cakes
for his children, thanked him for the present he had made to his, and
then took leave of him.

No sooner was the farmer gone, than Sophia, in the presence of her
brothers, acquainted her papa of the very rude reception they had given
the honest farmer. Sir John was exceedingly displeased at their conduct,
and much applauded Sophia for her different behaviour.

Sir John, being seated at breakfast with his children, opened the
farmer's jar of fruit, and he and his daughter ate some of them, which
they thought were very nice; but Robert and Arthur were neither of them
invited to a single taste. Their longing eyes were fixed upon them; but
their father, instead of taking any notice of them, continued conversing
with Sophia, whom he advised never to despise a person merely for the
plainness of his dress; "for," said he, "were we to behave politely to
those only who are finely clothed, we should appear to direct our
attention more to the dress than to the wearer. The most worthy people
are frequently found under the plainest dress, and of this we have an
example in Farmer Harris. It is this man who helps to clothe you, and
also to procure you a proper education, for the money that he and my
other tenants bring me, enables me to do these things."

Breakfast being finished, the remainder of the fruit was ordered to be
locked up; but Robert and his brother, whose longing eyes followed the
jar, clearly saw they were to have none of them. In this they were
confirmed by their father, who told them not to expect to taste any of
those fruits, either on that or any future day.

Robert endeavoured to excuse himself by saying, that it was not his
fault if the farmer did not sm