For the poor vagrant feat, while he complains, Nor from fad freedom fend to fadder chains. Alike, if folly or misfortune brought

Thofe laft of woes his evil days have wrought? Relieve with focial mercy, and with me, Folly's misfortune in the first degree.

Perhaps on fome inhofpitable fhore

The houfelefs wretch a widow'd parent bore;
Who then no more by golden profpects led,
Of the poor Indian begged a leafy bed.
Cold on Canadian hills, or Minden's plain,
Perhaps that parent mourn'd her foldier flain :
Bent o'er her babe, her eye diffolv'd in dew,
The big drops mingling with the milk he drew,
Gave the fad prefage of his future years,
The child of mifery baptiz'd in tears!

IN

N a pleafant village, at fome diftance from the metropolis, lived Lord and Lady Ruffel, who had brought up an orphan named William, from his. infancy, and had a ftranger to the family feen in what a tender manner he was treated, he would have fuppofed him to be their fon. This amiable couple had only one child living, a daughter, named Amelia who was nearly of the fame age with William, and the lady was pleafed to fee that the two children had fomething beyond a common attachment for each other.

William and Amelia were one fine fummer morning fauntering in the orchard with their little friend Charlotte, whofe parents lived in the neighbourhood.

Of these two little miffes, Amelia was the youngest, and not quite eight years of age. They were walking arm in arm, and humming over a pretty fong, then fashionable in the village collection of ballads. At the fame time William was walking before them at fome little distance, amufing himself with a fhepherd's pipe.

While Amelia and Charlotte were thus rambling about, they caft their eyes on fome beautiful apples that hung on a fine tree, from which all the fruit had been fuppofed to be gathered, but the branches had hidden fome from view, and in courfe had efcaped the notice of the gatherers. The beautiful vermillion, with which thefe apples were tinged, and which the leaves could not entirely hide, feemingly invited the hand to come and take them. William inftantly climbed the tree they were admiring, and threw down as many apples as he could reach, while the ladies below held their aprons to catch them as they fell.

Chance fo directed it, that two or three which were confidered as the fineft, fell into the apron of Charlotte, who was much pleased with this accidental diftribution, as she might with reafon have

been, had a premeditated preference been the caufe of it, for William was in reality the politest and prettiest little fellow in the village.

Charlotte, with joy and triumph in her eyes, thus addreffed herfelf to Amelia: "Only fee how fine and large my apples are, while yours are nothing to compare to them!" Amelia was very much difpleafed with thefe words, fhe hung down her head, and putting on a serious countenance, remained filent during the remainder of the walk. William, by an hundred affiduities, endeavoured to recover Amelia's cheerfulness, again to fpread a fmile on her clouded countenance, and make her renew her ufual pleasing prattle.

As foon as they arrived near home. Charlotte took her leave. Little William then addreffed his fifter, for by that tender name he always called her, and asked her why fhe feemed fo angry with him. “Certainly, said he, you cannot be angry at Charlotte having her fhare of the apples. You very well know that I always loved you beft, and therefore endeavoured to throw into your apron those apples, which by chance, fell into Charlotte's. You must be fenfible, that I could not afterwards take them from her. Befides, I thought you of too generous a difpofition to take notice of fuch trifles. Be affured, the first opportunity that shall offer I

Be affured, the firft opportunity that fhall offer, I will give you a convincing proof that I had no defign to vex you, whatever you may at prefent think of my intentions."

"Very pretty, indeed, Mr. William! replied Amelia with a look of uneafinefs and difdain. Pray who told you that I was vexed? Suppofe Mifs Charlotte's apples had been ten times finer than mine, would that be any confideration to me? You very well know, Sir, that I am no glutton; neither fhould I have taken notice of the preference you fhewed her, had it not been for that faucy creature's looks; I never wish to fee her more; and as for you, fall on your knees this inftant, or I never will forgive you while I live.

Little William could not think of fubmitting to fuch an indignity, as that would be confeffing a fault of which he was not guilty, and therefore " I am no now ftood more upright than before. ftoryteller, Mifs Amelia, faid he, and therefore it is very wrong in you not to believe what I fo pofitively affirm, for 1 certainly had no defign to vex

you.

"Very wrong in me, Sir! replied Amelia, That is very pretty indeed! But you need not thus affront me, becaufe Mifs Charlotte is your favourite!" So faying, and beftowing a contemptuous curtfey on him, fhe left him with an affected air of fcorn and contempt.

Q