This page has been validated.

23

do with it?' and that was very true; but to let the child stay, and die with hunger, was impossible; so I resolved to take it, let what would happen; and I set out to return to my own home, with the babe in my arms. On my way I was weary enough; but I never met with any body that took compassion on me or my burden, so I walked on; but I fell sick, as you may see by my looks, and spent the little money I had left, and then I sold my elothes and every thing I could spare. All went except these poor rags; yet still I thought if I could but get home I should do very well. I am used to hard work, and I could even do for this little ereature, who has nobody in the world but me to put a morsel of bread into its poor mouth; so I can't bear to let it starve."

As she said this, she pressed the child to her bosom, and her tears dropped upon it, whilst she repeated, "if I was but able to work, or I could but get enough to keep it till I reach my home."

"Poor babe!" said Walden, "poor, yet happy creature, who, in losing her who gave thee birth, found a second mother! eyes that dropt tears of pity on thy lot, and a heart that loves thee! No, thou shall not from hard necessity be deserted!"

Walden then wrote upon a leaf of his poeket-book the name of the woman, and that of the village where she informed him she lived with her family; and giving her a small sum of money, promised that he would remit the same to her every year.

The woman, on holding the gold in her hand, whieh had never contained so much before, exelaimed, "Oh! this is too mueh, worthy sir and being desired to keep it, she added, "we shall now be rich, indeed; my own little ones, and this one, and their grandmother, we shall all be rich!"

"Good ereature!" exclaimed Walden with emotion, "you are rich, indeed, in a heart to which all other riches are dross! your humanity to this orphan will be better rewarded; but if this were my last erown you should have it. Hasten away, or I may be tempted to take the ehild, to have the pleasure of bringing it up, that it may love me as it will you." On hearing this, the woman hastily pressed the infant to her bosom, and giving Walden a farewell benedietion, pursued her journey with alacrity.


——

JACK EASY.

Jack Easy came to a good fortune at the death of his father, and mounted his hobby without its ever having been properly broken in; he galloped over the plains of Fancy, went off in a full eanter to the road of Dissipation, and leaped over all