The History of Little Jack a Foundling Read online

he had a strong propensity to imitate what he saw,he not only acquired the power of reading words, but of tracing allthe letters which composed them on the sand.

  When the old man found Jack so ready in learning what was proposed tohim, he did not stop here, but carried his instructions further. Hecovered a smooth board with a thin coat of loose fine sand in an evenmanner; so that letters might be easily formed upon it by the finger,but still more so, and with greater exactness, with the end of asharp-pointed stick. Upon this Jack soon learned to write; for, as hewas very eager to improve, as soon as he had covered the board withletters, he smoothed the sand and began again. The old man, wishing toteach his young scholar as much as he could, looked about through thecommon and the fields for a slate; and was at last so fortunate as tofind one. This he carefully rubbed until it became quite smooth, andthen made a slate pencil of a piece which he had broken off. When theslate was finished, he began to teach Jack how to write more neatlyand to make figures; and it was surprising how quickly the poor littlefellow learned. As the old man knew but little of accounts he was notable to give much assistance in them, but the little he did know hesoon taught Jack. Thus, without books or paper, which the poor oldsoldier could not buy, Jack was enabled to read, write, and do somelittle matter in accounts. Indeed it is quite wonderful how personsoverlook the means which are in their power. We have just seen how theold man made a smooth board covered with sand, and then a slate whichhe had found lying upon the highway, answer all the purposes whichexpensive books and papers could.

  About this time, the poor goat, which had nursed Jack so faithfully,grew ill and died. He tended her with the greatest affection andassiduity during her illness, brought her the freshest herbs for food,and would frequently support her head for hours together upon hislittle bosom. But it was all in vain; he lost his poor mammy, as heused to call her, and was for some time inconsolable; for Jack, thoughhis knowledge was bounded, had an uncommon degree of gratitude andaffection in his temper. He was not able to talk so finely about love,tenderness, and sensibility, as many other little boys that haveenjoyed greater advantages of education; but he felt the reality ofthem in his heart, and found it so natural to love every thing thatloved him that he never even suspected it was possible to dootherwise. The poor goat was buried in the old man's garden, andthither Little Jack would often come and call upon his poor mammy Nan,and ask her why she had left him. One day, as he was thus employed, alady happened to come by in a carriage, and overheard him before hewas aware. Jack ran in an instant to open the gate; but the ladystopped and asked him who he was bemoaning and calling upon, sopitifully. Jack answered that it was his poor mammy, that was buriedin the garden. The lady thought it very odd to hear of such a burialplace, and therefore proceeded to question him.--"How did your mammyget her living?" said she. "She used to graze here upon the common allday long," said Jack. The lady was still more astonished; but the oldman came out of his hut, and explained the whole affair to her, whichsurprised her very much; for though this lady had seen a great deal ofthe world, and had read a variety of books, it had never once enteredinto her head, that a child might grow strong and vigorous by suckinga goat instead of eating pap. She therefore looked at Jack withamazement, admired his brown but animated face, and praised his shapeand activity. "Will you go with me, little boy?" said she, "I willtake great care of you, if you behave well."--"No," said Jack, "I muststay with my daddy; he has taken care of me for many years, and now Imust take care of him; otherwise I should like very well to go withsuch a sweet, good-natured lady."--The lady was not displeased withJack's answer, and putting her hand in her pocket, gave him half acrown, to buy him shoes and stockings, and pursued her journey.

  Jack was not unacquainted with the use of money, as he had often beensent to the next village to purchase bread and necessaries; but he wastotally unacquainted with the use of shoes and stockings, which he hadnever worn in his life, nor felt the want of. The next day, however,the old man bade him run to town and lay his money out as the lady haddesired; for he had too much honour to think of disobeying hercommands, or suffering it to be expended for any other purpose. It wasnot long before Jack returned; but the old man was much surprised tosee him come back as bare as he went out.--"Hey, Jack!" saidhe, "where are the shoes and stockings which you were topurchase?"--"Daddy," answered Jack, "I went to the shop, and justtried on a pair for sport, but I thought with myself how unfair itwould be that I should lay out all the money upon my own wants,without taking any care of yours; now you know, that your old jacketis almost worn out, and that you very much want another; so I laid mymoney out in a warm new jacket for you, because the winter is comingon, and you seem to be more afraid of the cold than formerly." Manysuch instances of conduct did Jack display; from which it was easy toperceive, that he had a generous temper. One failing, indeed, Jack wasliable to; though a very good-natured boy, he was too jealous of hishonour. His daddy had taught him the use of his hands and legs, andJack had such a disposition for the art of boxing, that he could beatevery boy in the neighbourhood of his age and size.

  In this manner lived Little Jack, until he was twelve years old; atthis time his poor old daddy fell sick, and became incapable of movingabout. Jack did every thing he could think of for the poor man; hemade his broths, he fed him with his own hands, he watched wholenights by his bed side, supporting his head, and helping him when hewanted to move. But it was all in vain; his poor daddy grew dailyworse, and perceived it to be impossible that he should recover. Heone day, therefore, called Little Jack to his bedside, and pressinghis hand affectionately, told him that he was just going to die.Little Jack burst into a flood of tears at this information; but hisdaddy desired him to compose himself, and attend to the last advice heshould be able to give him. "I have lived," said the old man, "a greatmany years in poverty, but I do not know that I have been worse offthan if I had been rich. I have avoided perhaps many faults and manyuneasinesses, which I should have incurred had I been in anothersituation; and though I have often wanted a meal, and always faredhard, I have enjoyed as much health and life as usually fall to thelot of my betters. I am now going to die; I feel it in every part; thebreath will soon be out of my body; then I shall be put in the ground,and the worms will eat your poor old daddy." At this Jack renewed histears and sobbings, for he was unable to restrain them. But the oldman said, "Have patience, my child; though I shall soon leave thisworld, I humbly hope that God will pity me, and convey me to a betterplace, where I shall be happier than I have ever been here. This iswhat I have always taught you, and this belief gives me the greatestcomfort in my last moments. The only regret I feel, is for you, mydearest child, whom I leave unprovided for. But you are strong andvigorous, and almost able to get your living. As soon as I am dead,you must go to the next village, and inform the people, that they maycome and bury me. You must than endeavour to get into service, andwork for your living; and if you are strictly honest, and sober, I donot doubt but you will find a livelihood, and that God, who is thecommon father of all, if you serve and love him truly, will protectand bless you.--Adieu, my child, I grow fainter and fainter; neverforget your poor old daddy, nor the example he has set you; but inevery situation of life, discharge your duty, and live like a soldierand a Christian." When the old man had with difficulty uttered theselast instructions, his voice entirely failed him, his limbs grew coldand stiff, and in a few minutes he expired without a groan. LittleJack, who hung crying over his daddy, called upon him in vain, in vainendeavoured to revive him. At length he pulled off his clothes, wentinto his daddy's bed, and endeavoured for many hours to animate himwith the warmth of his own body; but finding all his endeavoursfruitless, he concluded that he was indeed dead, and therefore,weeping bitterly, he drest himself and went to the village as he hadbeen ordered.

  The poor little boy was thus left entirely destitute, and knew notwhat to do, but one of the farmers, who had been acquainted with himbefore, offered to take him into his house, and give him his victualsfor a few months, till he could
find a service. Jack thankfullyaccepted the offer, and served him faithfully for several months;during which time he learnt to milk, to drive the plough, and neverrefused any kind of work he was able to perform. But, by ill luck,this good-natured farmer contracted a fever, by overheating himself inthe harvest, and died in the beginning of winter. His wife wastherefore obliged to discharge her servants, and Jack was again turnedloose upon the world, with only his clothes, and a shilling in hispocket, which his kind mistress had made him a present of. He was verysorry for the loss of his master; but he was now grown bigger andstronger, and thought he should easily find employment. He thereforeset out upon his travels, walking all day, and inquiring at everyfarm-house for work. But in this attempt he was unfortunate, fornobody chose to employ a stranger; and though he lived