first permit Miss Caroline to partake of these
mean amusements, yet she at last wanted to share in the diversion; but
they told her that the ground might be damp, which would infallibly
stain her shoes, and hurt her silk slip. They had discovered her
intention in thus bringing them together, which was only to show her
fine clothes, and they were therefore resolved to mortify her vanity.

Miss Caroline was of course under the necessity of being solitary and
inactive, while her companions sported on the grass, without fear of
incommoding themselves. The pleasure she had lately taken in viewing her
fine slip and shoes was, at this moment, but a poor compensation for
the mirth and merriment she thereby lost.

On one side of the meadow grew a fine grove of trees, which resounded
with the various notes of innumerable birds, and which seemed to invite
every one that passed that way to retire thither, and partake of the
indulgences of the shade. The little maidens entered this grove, jumping
and sporting, without fearing any injury to their clothes. Miss Caroline
would have followed them, but they advised her not, telling her, that
the bushes would certainly tear her fine trimmings. She plainly saw that
her friends, who were joyously sporting among the trees, were making
themselves merry at her expense, and therefore grew peevish and
ill-humoured.

The youngest of her visitors, however, had some sort of compassion on
her. She had just discovered a corner, where a quantity of fine wild
strawberries grew, when she called to Miss Caroline, and invited her to
eat part of them. This she readily attempted; but no sooner had she
entered the grove, than she was obliged to call out for help. Hereupon
the children all gathered to the spot, and found poor Caroline fastened
by the gauze of her hat to a branch of white-thorn, from which she could
not disengage herself. They immediately took out the pins that fastened
her hat; but, to add to her misfortunes, as her hair, which had been
frizzed with so much labour, was also entangled with the branch of
white-thorn, it cost her almost a whole lock before she could be set at
liberty. Thus, in an instant, was all the boasted superstructure of her
head-dress put into a state of confusion.

After what had passed, it cannot be difficult to suppose in what manner
her playmates viewed this accident. Instead of consolation, of which
Caroline stood in much need, they could not refrain laughing at t