e,
embracing his knees and kissing his feet. The husband, who did not know
what had happened, imagined that his wife had lost her senses; and the
little children, who had before been skulking about the room, ran up to
their mother, pulling her by the gown, and hiding their faces in her
bosom. But the woman, at the sight of them, seemed to recollect herself,
and cried out, "Little wretches, who must all have been starved without
the assistance of this little angel; why do you not join with me in
thanking him?" At this the husband said, "Surely, Mary, you must have
lost your senses. What can this young gentleman do for us or to prevent
our wretched babes from perishing?" "Oh, William," said the woman, "I am
not mad, though I may appear so; but look here, William, look what
Providence has sent us by the hands of this little angel, and then
wonder not that I should be wild." Saying this, she held up the money,
and at the sight her husband looked as wild and astonished as she. But
Tommy went up to the man, and, taking him by the hand, said, "My good
friend, you are very welcome to this; I freely give it you; and I hope
it will enable you to pay what you owe, and to preserve these poor
little children." But the man, who had before appeared to bear his
misfortunes with silent dignity, now burst into tears and sobbed like
his wife and children; but Tommy, who now began to be pained with this
excess of gratitude, went silently out of the house, followed by Harry;
and, before the poor family perceived what had become of him, was out of
sight.

When he came back to Mr Barlow's that gentleman received him with the
greatest affection, and when he had inquired after the health of Mr and
Mrs Merton, asked Tommy whether he had forgotten the story of the
grateful Turk. Tommy told him he had not, and should now be very glad to
hear the remainder; which Mr Barlow gave him to read, and was as
follows:--

"CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE GRATEFUL TURK."

"When Hamet had thus finished his story, the Venetian was astonished at
the virtue and elevation of his mind; and after saying everything that
his gratitude and admiration suggested, he concluded with pressing him
to accept the half of his fortune, and to settle in Venice for the
remainder of his life. This offer Hamet refused with the greatest
respect, but with a generous disdain; and told his friend that, in what
he had done, he had only discharged a debt of gratitude and friendsh