ry can never make them.-You also fay you should be proud of them.-Pride,. my love, would destroy the whole merit of «66 your work; and to and to tell your good deeds, "muft argue a very weak mind; nay, do you not recollect the immediate words of our Bleffed Saviour-Take heed that you "do not your alms before men to be seen of "them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in Heaven.” 66 This discourse brought them to the inn at Salt Hill, where Mr. Richardson ordered dinner. CHAP. II. Story of the little Muficians. THE dinner was fcarcely concluded when the found of a flagelet, accompanied by an "infantile voice finging the Children in the Wood, attracted both Charles and Mary's attention and jumping up, they ran to the window to see the performers. "What decent-looking children!" exclaimed Charles: "look at them, my dear "Sir; I do not think they are much older "than Mary and I." "They are indeed young," replied Mr. Richardfon," and their parents, if they "have any, very blameable to suffer them "to lead fo vagabond a life, as they are "both of an age to be rendered serviceable " ́in fome way or other." "Poor things," replied Mary, "perhaps "they are orphans; I have half a crown "in my pocket, may I not fend it down "to them ?" C 2 "If "If they are friendlefs," replied Mr. Richardfon," half a crown will be but of "little fervice to them; or if they lead "this life from a love of idleness, it is wrong to encourage it; but as you both. appear interested, fuppofe we fend for "them in and question them." The children expreffed their thanks, and Mr. Richardfon ringing the bell, defired the waiter to fend up the itinerant musicians. The waiter presently returned, introducing them; but the girl fhrank back, while the boy, holding her hand, modeftly advanced, faying, in a country dialect and low voice, "Don't be afraid, Patty, though they be gentry, they look main good "natured." "You play on the flagelet and fing," faid Mr. Richardfon; "give us a fpecimen "of what you can perform." The children hesitated for a moment, but Mr. Richardfon repeating his request with a smile, the boy made a bow, and obeyed; firft faying, "We ben't used to "cone before fuch gentry as your honour, "and "and Patty's fhame-faced, but I hope you "will excuse it ?" He then began to play on his ruftic flage-let, which his fifter accompanied with her voice. Very well," faid Mr. Richardfon; "but pray, young man, what age are you, " and where did you learn to play ?" "I am thirteen," returned the boy, bowing, "and fifter's ten, an pleafe you. I "learned to play from my father, who, "when his work was done, used to play a few tunes to my mother, who fate fpinning and finging to him, as fifter 66 "And where do your parents live?” The girl turned afide, and holding a corner of her little checked apron to her eyes, remained filent. They are both dead and buried, half. "a year back," replied the boy, with a figh;" and having no friends, we are ' obliged to go from houfe to houfe to play and fing, for a bit of bread, or a penny, which the farmers wives, God? "bless them, very readily give us, and lets "us fleep in their barns; which I think "main kind, and makes me very thankful 66 on Patty's account, because my mother "used to be careful of be, because she was fickly." "From what part do you come?" "If you are honeft you need not fear to declare the truth, which if you do, "we may affift you." "Indeed, Sir," anfwered the boy, "1 "don't fear to tell the truth on my own account, but on poor Patty's, whom I "could not bear to leave; befides, my "mother not a minute before he died, "as we both kiffed her cheeks, that were "even then as cold as any ftone, defired me to remember, that as I was the oldest "and strongest, 1 muft do all I could ·" for fbe." "Well, tell me," faid Mr. Richardfon, "what your father was, where he "lived, and how long you have gained a "livelihood in this manner? Again I bid. "you |