"Extravagance frequently throws us "into unpleasant circumstances," faid Mr. Richardfon, coldly. " I feel it, Sir," replied Charles," and "cannot help, for a moment, placing my"felf in the fituation of that poor boy, "and thinking what I fhould feel to see my "dear Mary fuffer like his fifter." "The miferies to which they are exposed "are indeed dreadful," answered Mr. Richardfon," and cold and hunger among "the leaft; at present they appear inno"cent; but may not the companions they must neceffarily meet with in their "peregrinations, fuch as gypfies and other "vagabonds, work on their poverty and inexperience, and corrupt their hearts, though naturally honeft, until by degrees "they convert them to midnight robbers, " and barbarous affaffins ?" "Merciful goodness! how horrible!" cried Mary. "I wish, with all my heart, "1 was a woman." "What then, my dear girl?" returned Mr. Mr. Richardfon, in a voice of cheerful kindness. "Why then, Sir, I would fhelter them "from danger; they fhould never wan"der again." "Heaven forbid you fhould be pre"vented in fo praise-worthy a refolve. We "will inquire more particularly into their story, and if we find they have spoken "truth, I will advance to you, Charles, a "fum fufficient to apprentice the boy to "fome trade by which he may gain a living; and for the girl, Mary fhall place her at the village-fchool, near our coun"try-house, where they may occafionally fuperintend her improvement, until fhe " can be rendered useful in the family; "and you will both have the pleasure of contemplating, that, in all probability, you have preferved to fociety two worthy "members, who, but for your interfe"rence, might have proved a scourge to "their fellows, and a difgrace to human "nature" "What "What an enchanting thought!" ex"claimed Charles; "but for you, my "dear, Sir, we should not have enjoyed it; "for though they interested me at the mo"ment, I fhould foon have forgotten them." "And had it not been for you, papa,' faid Mary, "I fhould have fent them half "a crown, and thought myself very ge"nerous, when in reality it would have "done them no effential fervice; while, as you have fettled it, they are fafe from "danger; and if they are good, we shall "have the pleasure of thinking that we "have contributed towards making them "fo-Ah, if you had not queftioned them, ડે we should not have enjoyed this fatisfac❝tion." "A false pride, my dear children, frequently deprives us of the highest enjoy"ments; how erroneously do they judge, "who live only to gratify their own caprice; the funshine of their benevolence never extending farther than the shadow "of their own perfons. But it grows late; "we will difpofe of your new charge, and pursue our journey." Mr. Richardfon ordered the children to be fent up; when he informed them of the determination in their favour, and received in return every acknowledgment which the grateful fimplicity of their hearts could fuggest. He then gave them in charge to the waiter, defiring him to fend them by the first conveyance that paffed towards Acton, where he had lately hired a small house to retire occafionally with his children. CHAP. IV. Laudable Curiosity.-Arrival in London. MR. Richardfon proceeded no farther that night than his little villa at Acton, where, the enfuing morning early, Charles and Mary had the fatisfaction of seeing their new dependants arrive; and, in a few hours, by the fkill of the good old housekeeper, fo metamorphofed, that they were fcarcely to be recognized.-Charles could not cease obferving that he fhould never have thought his old coat could have been altered to fit Frank fo well; and Mary was never weary of admiring Patty; who dreffed in a neat brown gown, straw hat, and white tippet, charmed her fo highly, that fhe jumped round her in rapture, exclaiming, Mind, દ Patty, you are my own, own girl! What "a good father is mine, to let me have you! Ah, I hope I fhall never offend "him as long as I live!" If the pleasure of Charles and Mary was great |
