"haviour; and never forget, that by your hasty imprudence you have long pro"tracted this meeting, and, but for the "goodness of God, might have forfeited 66 every claim to it."

Frank and Patty knelt before Mr. Williams, but each kept fast hold of the hand of their youthful protector until their uncle, pressing them in his arms, the voice of nature and affection forced them, in some mea. sure, to return his caresses.

The first surprise over, the day passed pleasantly but Patty did not fail to observe to her brother, when alone, that for her part she knew not how to think such a gentleman her relation, and that she should be ashamed to call him uncle.

"If he is not ashamed to own us, Patty,' answered Frank, "I think we may be

proud to call him so, and shew him the "same duty as a father; though I cannot "but hope he will not take us from hence, "for it would be the study of my life to "shew I was grateful."

"I am sure, answered Patty," I shall 66 never

S 3

"never forget Mr. Richardson's goodness, "or dear Miss Mary's kindness, in feeding "and clothing us--nay, even taking in our

poor dog Shock, who is grown as fat, "and seems as happy as we are."

"My only wish is," replied Frank, that ་་ my uncle had come home while our poor father and mother lived: but I hope they are in Heaven, Patty, and better off than even we are now."

CHAP

CHAP. XXI.

Adventures of Mr. Williams the Surgeon, and the Rajah Ali Saab.

In the evening, all being placed round a

chearful fire, Charles and Mary by the side of their father, and Frank and Patty by their uncle, Mr. Richardson said, addressing Mr. Williams, "You must either "have had some powerful reason, or great misfortune, that could estrange

you so many years from your family, and "I should rather fear the latter; for if I judge from your present conduct, you "would not willingly have deprived your"self of a correspondence with them."

"Indeed, Sir," replied Mr. Williams, you are perfectly right in your conjecture. Nothing but necessity could so long have separated me from a brother, "whom I ever tenderly loved; and if it "would not be wearying you, I would "relate the various events that occasioned " it."

« On

"On thecontrary," returned Mr. Richardson, "it would give me the highest pleasure, if not intruding too much on "you."

Mr. Williams bowed and answered, "A "friend like you, Sir, that will condescend "to hear, has a right to be informed of every particular."

Adventures of Mr. Williams, the Surgeon, and the Rajah Ali Saab.

"I must inform you, Sir, that the father "of these children and myself were left σε orphans, at the early age of twelve years; "on which event my brother was appren"ticed to a weaver at Exeter, and myself "taken by a Surgeon in the town, who "was my godfather. This gentleman "treated me with the tenderness of a pa"rent, and my education having been "hitherto neglected, took the utmost pains to instruct and improve me; so "that by the time I attained my eighteenth

year I was accounted a good scholar, and

"not an indifferent surgeon. My master, "Mr. Smith, was also kind, in number"less instances, to my brother: but he

was too liberal to be rich; and a tradesman failing, to whom he had advanced a large sum, he unavoidably became a bankrupt, having neither wife no "children, he determined to seek prefer"ment and fortune abroad, and for that દ purpose, engaged himself as surgeon to

a regiment bound to the East Indies. "Sorry as I was to leave my brother, I "could not abandon so good a master,

particularly as he was unfortunate, and ́ therefore entreated to accompany him as his assistant, which was readily grant"ed. We left my brother all the little things we could possibly spare, and, among others, the prayer-book and flagelet; my master, out of a trifling sum "he had advanced, also presented him "with four guineas, and promising not "to forget him when more was in our 66 power.

"We were tolerably quiet for the first "nine months after our arrival in India,

"but