d you shall see whom I will
be revenged on. I believe you remember my supple jack, a very pretty
little cane, which my father gave me. You see it is now all in pieces.
It was farmer Robinson's son, who lives in yonder thatched cottage, that
reduced it to this worthless state."

Stephen very coolly asked him what induced the farmer's son to break it.
"I was walking very peaceably along," replied Philip, "and was playing
with my cane, by twisting it round my body. By some accident or other
one of the two ends got out of my hand when I was opposite the gate just
by the wooden bridge, and where the little miscreant had put down a
pitcher full of water, which he was carrying home from the well. It so
happened that my cane, in springing, overset the pitcher, but did not
break it. He came up close to me, and began to call me names; when I
assured him I did not intend any harm,--what I had done was by accident,
and I was very sorry for it. Without paying any regard to what I said,
he instantly seized my supple jack, and twisted it here as you see; but
I will make him heartily repent it."

"To be sure," said Stephen, "he is a very wicked boy, and he is already
very properly punished for it, since nobody likes him, nor will do any
thing for him. He finds it very difficult to get any companion to play
with him, and, if he attempts to intrude himself into their company,
they will all instantly leave him. To consider this properly, I think,
should be sufficient revenge for you."

"All this is true," replied Philip, "but he has broken my cane. It was a
present from my papa, and a very pretty cane you know it was. My father
will perhaps ask me what has become of it; and, as he will suppose I
have carelessly lost his present, he will probably be angry with me; of
which this little saucy fellow will be the cause. I offered to fill his
pitcher again, having knocked it down by accident--I will be revenged."

"My dear friend," said Stephen, "I think you will act better in not
minding him, as your contempt will be the best punishment you can
inflict upon him. He is not upon a level with you, and you may be
assured that he will always be able to do more mischief to you than you
would choose to do him. And now I think of it, I will tell you what
happened to him not long since.

"Very unluckily for him, he chanced to see a bee hovering about a
flower, which he caught, and was going to pull off its wings, out of
sport, when the animal foun