rwise might have
expressed at some few things you are going to hear. She was in
general very willing to learn, and sometimes to do as she was bid;
but still she was very subject to be giddy, (not to give it a
harsher name,) which often brought her into disgrace. She had
a brother about ten years old, who was so fond of mischief, he
often got a whipping. He went to school at Southampton. My young
mistress was no sooner well settled with me, than she wrote him
a letter, to acquaint him of it. I think I may as well give it
you, word for word, as I became acquainted with it as it lay by
my cage.

"My dear George,

"I have news to tell you, both good and bad; and I do not know
which to tell you first. But the bad news I think will do
better first, as, if that overcomes you, I may recover you by
telling you the good news. Your pretty rabbit is dead: I went
to give him his food yesterday morning, and found him dead.
You don't know how sorry I was, but it cannot be helped now.
Now for the good news: Mamma has bought me the prettiest
squirrel, his name is Scug; you will be quite delighted with
him. Mamma desires me to tell you, she hopes to see you next
Wednesday. Having nothing more to say, I must now conclude
this, from

"Your affectionate sister,

"Sarah Dixon."

I lived very happily this whole week, when Master George came
home, who, I suppose, thinking his sister had killed his rabbit,
he thought he would kill her squirrel, as will presently be made
known. He presented her with a chain of paper, which he said he
had made at school on purpose for her squirrel. She put it on me
directly, and presently Mrs. Dixon going out of the room, gave
him an opportunity of executing his wicked design. He ran to the
fire and lighted a piece of paper, which he held near my chain,
with a view (as he said) to find out a little hole, where the
padlock should go in. At last, while his sister was not looking,
he set fire to it, and alas! being filled with gunpowder, (which
his sister never had the least idea of,) it blew up with a violent
explosion, and singed me sadly. Sally burst into tears, and
catching up the inkhorn, which stood on the table, discharged its
contents in his face. The combined reports of the gunpowder, Sally
screaming, and George blubbering, soon brought Mrs. Dixon, who,
when she came into the room, stared with astonishment, as well she
might, at the confusion every thing was in. I all t