settle him in
a small farm of his own which happened to be vacant. The poor man
received this unexpected change in his fortune with tears of joy, and
every mark of unaffected gratitude; and Mr Merton, who never wanted
generosity, insisted upon having a share in his establishment. He was
proposing to supply him with the necessary implements of agriculture,
and a couple of horses, to begin the culture of his land, just at the
moment when Mr Barlow entered, who, when he had heard with the sincerest
pleasure the improvement of the poor man's circumstances, begged
permission to share in so benevolent an action. "I have an excellent
milch-cow," said he, "which I can very well spare, whose milk will
speedily recruit the strength of these poor children; and I have
half-a-dozen ewes and a ram, which I hope, under Mr Campbell's
management, will soon increase to a numerous flock." The poor Highlander
seemed almost frantic with such a profusion of unexpected blessings, and
said "that he wished nothing more than to pass the remainder of his days
in such a generous nation, and to be enabled to show, at least, the
sentiments which such undeserved generosity had excited."

At night Mr Merton, who was desirous by every method to support the good
impressions which had now taken possession of Tommy's mind, proposed
that Miss Simmons should favour them with the conclusion of the story
which she had begun the night before. The young lady instantly complied,
and then read them

_The Conclusion of the Story of Sophron and Tigranes._

"The venerable Chares continued his narration thus: 'I passed several
months among the Arabians, delighted with the simplicity of their life
and the innocence of their manners; and would to heaven,' added he, with
a sigh, 'that I had accepted their friendly invitations, and never
quitted the silence of their hospitable deserts! How many scenes should
I have avoided which fill these aged eyes with tears, and pierce my soul
with horror as often as I recollect them! I should not have been witness
to such a waste of human blood, nor traced the gradual ruin of my
country. I should not have seen our towns involved in flames, nor our
helpless children the captives of fell barbarians. But it is in vain for
human beings to repine at the just decrees of Providence, which have
consigned every people to misery and servitude that abandon virtue, and
attach themselves to the pursuit of pleasure.

"'I left Arabia, with a