d their little
progeny. The innocent thorn-bush, against which you yesterday so loudly
exclaimed, is of infinite service to the inhabitants of the air; it
takes from those that are rich only what they can very well spare, in
order to satisfy the wants of the poor. Have you now any wish to cut
those bushes down, which you will perhaps no longer consider as
robbers?"

Gregory shook his head, and said he would not cut the bushes down for
the world. Mr. Stanhope applauded his son for so saying; and, after
enjoying the sweets of the morning, they retired home to breakfast,
leaving the bushes to flourish in peace, since they made so generous a
use of their conquests.

My young friends will hence be convinced of the impropriety of
cherishing too hastily prejudices against any persons or things, since,
however forbidding or useless they may at first sight appear, a more
familiar acquaintance with them may discover those accomplishments or
perfections which prejudice at first obscured from their observation.

[Illustration]

POOR CRAZY SAMUEL, AND THE MISCHIEVOUS

BOYS.

[Illustration]

In the city of Bristol lived a crazy person, whose name was Samuel.
Whenever he went out he always put four or five wigs on his head at
once, and as many muffs upon each of his arms. Though he had
unfortunately lost his senses, yet he was not mischievous, unless wicked
boys played tricks with him, and put him in a passion.

Whenever he appeared in the streets, all the idle boys would surround
him, crying, "Samuel! Samuel! how do you sell your wigs and your muffs?"
Some idle boys were of such mischievous dispositions as to throw dirt
and stones at him. Though the unfortunate man generally bore all this
treatment very quietly, yet he would sometimes turn about in his own
defence, and throw among the rabble that followed him any thing that
came in his way.

A contest of this nature happened one day near the house of Mr. Denton,
who, hearing a noise in the street, went to the window, and, with much
regret, saw his son Joseph concerned in the fray. Displeased at the
sight, he shut down the sash, and went into another room.

When they were at dinner, Mr. Denton asked his son who the man was, with
whom he and other boys in the street seemed to be so pleasingly engaged.
Joseph said it was the crazy man, whom they called Samuel. On his father
asking him what had occasioned that misfortune, he replied, that it was
said to be in conseq