T

THE HISTORY

OF

LITTLE JACK.

HERE was once a poor lame old man that lived in the midft of a wide unculti vated moor, in the north of England. He had formerly been a foldier, and had almost lost the ufe of one leg by a wound he had received in battle, when he was fighting against the enemies of his country. This poor man, when he found himfelf thus difabled, built a little hut of clay, which he covered with turf dug from the common. He had a little bit of ground which he made a fhift to cultivate with his own hands, and which fupplied him with potatoes and vegetables; befides this, he fometimes gained a few halfpence by opening a gate for travellers, which ftood near his house. He did not indeed get much, because few people paffed that way. What he earned was, however, enough to purchafe cloaths, and the few neceffaries he wanted. But though poor, he was ftrictly honeft, and never failed night and morning to addrefs his prayers to God; by which means he was refpected by all who knew him, much more than

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many who were fuperior to him in rank and fortune. This old man had one domeftic. his walks over the common, he one day found a little kid that had loft its mother, and was almost famished with hunger: he took it home to his cottage, fed it with the produce of his garden, and nurfed it till it grew ftrong and vigorous. Little Nan, (for that was the name he gave it) returned his cares with gratitude, and became as much attached to him as a dog. All day fhe browzed upon the herbage that grew around his hut, and at night repofed upon the fame bed of ftraw with her mafter. Frequently did she divert him with her innocent tricks and gambols. She would neftle her little head in his bofom, and eat out of his hand part of his fcanty allowance of bread, which he never failed to divide with his favourite. The old man often beheld her with filent joy, and, in the innocent effufions of his heart, would lift his hands to heaven, and thank the Deity, that, even in the midft of poverty and diftrefs, had raised him up one faithful friend.

One night, in the beginning of winter, the old man thought he heard the feeble cries and lamentations of a child. As he was naturally charitable, he arofe and ftruck a light, and, going out of his cottage, examined on every fide. It

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was not long before he difcerned an infant, which had probably been dropped by some strolling beggar or gypfy. The old man flood amazed at the fight, and knew not what to do. Shall I, faid he, who find it fo difficult to live at prefent, incumber myself with the care of an helpless infant, that will not for many years be capable of contributing to its own fubfiftence? And yet, added he, foftening with pity, can I deny affistance to an human being still more miferable than myself?-Will not that Providence which feeds the birds of the wood and the beafts of the field, and which has promised to bless all those that are kind and charitable, affift my feeble endeavours ?—At least, let me give it food and lodging for this night; for without I receive it into my cottage, the poor abandoned wretch must perish with cold before the morning. Saying this, he took it up in his arms, and perceived it was a fine healthy boy, though covered with rags; the little foundling too feemed to be fenfible of his kindnefs, and fmiling in his face, ftretched out his little arms, as if to embrace his benefactor.

When he had brought it into his hut, he began to be extremely embarrailed how to procure it food: but looking at Nan, he recollected that The had just lost her kid, and saw her udder diftended

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tended with milk: he, therefore, called her to him, and, presenting the child to the teat, was overjoyed to find, that it fucked as naturally as if it had really found a mother. The goat too seemed to receive pleasure from the efforts of

the child, and fubmitted without oppofition to discharge the duties of a nurse. Contented with

this experiment, the old man wrapped the child up as warmly as he could, and stretched himself out to reft, with the consciousness of having done. an humane action. Early the next morning he was awakened by the cries of the child for focd, which, with the affiftance of his faithful Nan, he fuckled as he had done the night before. And now the old man began to feel an intcreft in the child, which made him defer fome time longer the taking mcafures to be delivered. from its care. Who knows, faid he, but Providence, which has preserved this child in fo wonderful a manner, may have destined it to something equally wonderful in his future life, and may bless me as the humble agent of his decrees? At least, as he grows bigger, he will be a pleasure and comfort to me in this lonely cabin, and will affift in cutting turf for fuel, and cultivating the garden. From this time he became more and more attached to the little foundling; who, in a fhort time, learned to confider the old man as a parent, and delighted him with its innocent careffes. Gentle Nanny too, the goat, feemed to adopt him with equal tenderness as her offspring: fhe would ftretch herself out upon the ground, while he crawled upon his hands and knees towards her; and when he had fatisfied

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