p, but he was so very weak that he fell down
again, which excited so much compassion in the merchant that he ordered
the servants to take him in and give him some meat and drink, and let
him help the cook to do any dirty work that she had to set him about.
People are too apt to reproach those who beg with being idle, but give
themselves no concern to put them in the way of getting business to do,
or considering whether they are able to do it, which is not charity.

"Think of this ye affluent,
And when the overplus of your fortunes disturb
Your minds, think how little stops the lash of penury,
And makes the wretched happy!"

I remember a circumstance of this sort, which Sir William Thompson told
my father with tears in his eyes, and it is so affecting that I shall
never forget it:

STORY

OF

SIR WILLIAM THOMPSON.

"When Sir William Thompson was in the plantation abroad, one of his
friends told him he had an indentured servant whom he had just bought,
that was his countryman and a lusty man; 'but he is so idle,' says he,
'that I cannot get him to work.' 'Aye,' says Sir William, 'let me see
him.' Accordingly they walked out together and found the man sitting on
a heap of stones. Upon this Sir William, after enquiring about his
country, asked why he did not go out to work. 'I am not able,' answered
the man. 'Not able?' says Sir William, 'I am sure you look very well;
give him a few stripes.' Upon this the planter struck him several times,
but the poor man still kept his seat.

"Then they left him to look over the plantation, exclaiming against his
obstinacy all the way they went; but how surprised were they, on their
return, to find the poor man fallen from off the place where he had been
sitting, and dead! 'The cruelty,' says Sir William, 'of my ordering the
poor man to be beaten while in the agonies of death lies always next my
heart. It is what I shall never forget, and will for ever prevent my
judging rashly of people who appear in distress. How do we know what our
children may come to? The Lord have mercy upon the poor, and defend them
from the proud, the inconsiderate, and the avaricious."

But we return to Whittington: who would have lived happy in this worthy
family had he not been bumped about by the cross cook, who must be
always roasting or basting, and when the spit was still employed her
hands upon poor Whittington! 'till Miss Alice, his master's daughter,
was