or, THE 
 
 BAD BOY REFORMED. 
 
 Published for the 
 
 ABVAXTAGE OF THE 
 
 RISING GENERATION. 
 
 ILL U ST RAT ED WITH WOGD-C V TS 
 
 mm 
 
 lUJinuimtPriTftfawMia 
 
 YORK ;: 
 Printed and Sold by J. Kendrew, 
 ■Coiliergate. 
 
 ■Mi 
 
O now, while health and vigour still 
 remain, 
 
 Toil, toil, my lads to purchase honest 
 gain. 
 
 Shun idleness! shun pleasure's tempt* 
 
 ittg snare/ 
 A youth of folly breeds an age of care. 
 
THE 
 
 SISTER'S GIFT; 
 
 OK, THE 
 
 BAD BOY REFORMED. 
 
 Published for the 
 
 ADVANTAGE OF THE 
 
 RISING GENERATION. 
 
 Printed by J. Kexdrew, Colliergate. 
 
» 
 
THE 
 
 ISTEITS GIFT, &c. 
 
 KITTY SOMERS and her brother 
 George, were the only children of Sir 
 William Somers. She was of the most 
 amiable disposition ; her mien was 
 graceful, her manners gentle ; and the 
 beauty of her person was only to be 
 outshone by the justness of her ideas, 
 and the brilliancy of her wit. Master 
 George, however, had not the happi- 
 ness to be held in so much esteem by 
 the young ladies and gentlemen with 
 whom he associated, he was so ill- 
 tempered, that he had always a plea- 
 sure in mortifying his school-fellows j 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 and had so little of the feelings of 
 
 j humanity, that he was frequently 
 guilty of such acts of cruelty as 
 
 I shocked the rest of his companions ; 
 
 I yet he did not wafrt sense, for he 
 could always construe his lesson or 
 
 I finish his theme before any other boy 
 in the class, but never assisted any of 
 them, in hopes of having the pleasure 
 of seeing them whipped all round. 
 Such are the faint outlines of the cha- 
 racter of the brother and sister, who 
 are the subject of this volumfe, and the 
 heighteningand colouring will besuffi- 
 ciently displayed by and by. 
 
 I Unfortunately for this young pair, 
 they lost their papa and mamma at a 
 very early period ; Sir William being 
 seized with a scarlet fever, the physi- 
 cians all gave him over for lost, and his 
 lady, that no duty or obligation might 
 be wanting on her part, would suffer 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 no nurse to attend upon him but her- 
 self. She unhappily forgot the deli- 
 cacy of her constitution, so that at 
 length, withlong watchings & fatigue, 
 she began to be very much indisposed ; 
 but what added to the distress of this 
 once happy family,she soon after caught 
 the feverish infection, which carried off 
 both her and her spouse in less than 
 half an hour of each other. 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 Sir William, by his will, had ap« 
 pointed Colonel Scar and Admiral 
 Fearnought, to be his executors and 
 joint guardians to his young children. 
 But upon the breaking out of the last 
 war, these two gallant officers, were 
 obliged to attend the calls of their 
 country, and fight for its liberties: and 
 Miss Kitty and Master George were 
 each of them sent to different board- 
 inff schools, under the care of other 
 preceptors. 
 
 At this time Miss Kitty was about 
 twelve, andMasterGeorgein the eighth 
 year of his age. Upon their taking 
 leave of each other when they were 
 sent to school, Miss Kitty said to him; 
 *< N v ow, my dear brother, for the first 
 " time we must be parted; we are but 
 €€ young, yet we have already wit- 
 c< nessed the greatest misfortune that 
 " could have befallen in the death 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 of our dear papa and mamma ; and 
 though I cannot mention their 
 names -without shedding tears, yet 
 I hope I shall never forget, that he, 
 who in his divine pleasure gave us 
 our being, has an absolute right 
 whenever he pleases to take it 
 back again. Nay, so short-sighted 
 are we, my dear little precious boy, 
 that many things, which for the pre- 
 sent moment we think the greatest 
 
< W ) 
 
 64 calamities that could possibly have 
 44 attended us, by the hidden opera- 
 44 tion of divine providence, turn out 
 sc to be the greatest blessings. How- 
 ic ever, l am confident, that an all- 
 sc wise God would create us for no 
 44 other purpose but to be happy, and 
 44 we have nothing else to do to make 
 44 ourselves completely so, but to be 
 44 virtuous." 
 
 George burst out a crying, and 
 could only say, 44 Farewell, my dear 
 44 sister; I shall see you again in the 
 44 whitsuntide vacation/* But he no 
 sooner saw his little galloway waiting 
 for him in the court-yard, than he 
 dried up his tears, mounted, clapped 
 to his spurs, and setoff a galloping as 
 merry as a Greek. 
 
 Miss Kitty went a few days after to 
 another school, along with Miss Polly 
 Scar,, and Miss Nancy Fearnought, 
 
C ii ) 
 
 where she soon became the admiration 
 and delight of every one that knew 
 her. But Master George, as we have 
 observed before, was 6 trite of another 
 cast ; there was not a bov in the school 
 for whom he had not a nick name ; 
 and he took a pleasure in setting hia 
 school-fellows together by tlie ears. 
 But this was not all, rather than not 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 gratify his inclination for mischief, he 
 would stick at nothing : he once threw 
 an ink bottle into Master Watkin's 
 bosom, and stained his shirt so abo« 
 minably, that the poor washerwoman 
 was never able to get it out. A thou- 
 sand other such tricks he daily prac- 
 tised, which for the sake of his repu- 
 tation, I will not mention ; but one 
 among the rest must not pass un«* 
 noticed. 
 
 It was customary on a play day, 
 when the young gentlemen went a 
 bird's nesting, out of a frolic to change 
 their coats. And once Master George 
 and Dicky Rook shy having made an 
 exchange for the afternoon, they went 
 to amuse themselves in the fields as 
 usual. But upon their return home 
 in the evening, coming by an honest 
 farmer's garden, George clambered 
 over the hedge, and pulled up about 
 
< 13 ) 
 
 two hundred cabbage plants that the 
 poor farmer had industriously put in 
 the ground for his future subsistence. 
 Dick Rooksby finding he staid longer 
 in the garden than he expected, look- 
 ed over the hedge, and seeing what he 
 was about, called to him, and asked 
 him if he was not ashamed to injure 
 the poor man of the house merely for 
 the sake of doing mischief? " If it 
 " was an orchard," added he, " and 
 u in the fruit season, I do not know 
 u whether I might not be as forward 
 V as you ; but where is the use of 
 c f destroying these things, since you 
 " cannot eat them when you have done! 
 u Fie, fie, you may do as you please, 
 " but I will stay no longer for you." 
 
 Master George followed some time 
 after, but as he was getting over the 
 hedge again, one of the farmer's men, 
 who was coming over the field at a 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 distance, observed him, and called out 
 to know what he had been doing 
 there ? Upon which George was ob- 
 liged to run as fast as he was able, 
 and indeed it was with great difficulty 
 that he got out of his clutches. 
 
 The next morning the farmer made 
 complaint to the master of the Aca- 
 demy, of the injury he had received, 
 and declared that theculprit wasdress- 
 ed in a sky-blue coat. Search was 
 immediately made, and as no other 
 boy had a sky-blue coat except Master 
 Rooksby, the unfortunate youth was 
 horsed and severely whipped, altho' 
 entirely innocent of the crime, and 
 blamable only in having put it in 
 Master George's power, by changing 
 coats, to be guilty of crimes, for which, 
 in all probability, he would not be 
 punished. 
 
 If Master George had had either 
 
spirit or generosity, he would never 
 have first injured the poor farmer, and 
 then see an innocent person suffer for 
 it ; no, he would have stood fortn, and 
 taken the blame upon himself. But 
 so far from this, he absolutely exulted 
 in seeing the distress of Master Rooks- 
 by, and was one of the first to assist 
 in horsing him and to render his pu* 
 nishment as severe as possible. 
 
 Master Rooksby, however, took the 
 rst Opportunity of clearing tip the 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 matter among his school-fellows ; he 
 summoned them together in a body, 
 and told them the plain truth of the 
 story; every one believed hinr, be- 
 cause he was never known to tell a 
 fib, and because there were very few 
 to whom Master George had not at 
 sometime or other done an ill turn, 
 they agreed that every one should set 
 down the injuries he had received in 
 writing, to shew them to the master, 
 and to solicit for his being expelled 
 the school. But Master Rooksby ob- 
 jected to this, and told them that he 
 thought a better punishment would 
 be, for every young gentleman in the 
 school to come to a resolution, never 
 more to speak to him, to play with 
 him, or to keep his company. This 
 was immediately agreed to, and Mas- 
 ter George had the mortification to 
 
( 17 ) 
 
 see himself the outcast of all his former 
 acquaintance. 
 
 When Whitsuntide arrived, accord- 
 ing to custom, the young gentlemen 
 were sent for home, and Master George 
 spent the holidays with his sister at 
 Colonel Scar's country seat. Now it 
 was that Miss Kitty had an opportu- 
 nity of observing the ill tendency of 
 her brother's mind and disposition, 
 
( 18 ) 
 
 and to apply those useful remedies, 
 which were afterwards of so much 
 eervice to him. 
 
 She frequently observed him catch- 
 ing poor innocent flies, through the 
 bodies of which he w r ould stick pins, 
 and then fasten them to a coach made 
 of a card ; and would thus take a 
 pleasure in seeing them drag it along 
 after them, till they were quite dead 
 with pain and fatigue. 
 
r 
 
 I (19 ) 
 
 I Sometimes he would amuse himself 
 J with tying an old tin-kettle or canis- 
 ter to the tail of any dog that was so 
 1 unhappy as to fall in his way ; and 
 then with a whip set them a running 
 and howling through the town, to the 
 great fright and mortification of the 
 poor tormented animal. 
 
 The farmers all round the neigh- 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 bourhood complained several times 
 that he abused their cattle, by stick- 
 ing a sharp nail at the end of a long 
 stick, with which he used to gore 
 them, till they were almost mad, or 
 laming them by terrible and repeated 
 blows upon the feet. 
 
 But what provoked the young ladies 
 most of all, was his taking Miss Scar's 
 favorite cat, and carrying her to the 
 top of the church tower, from whence, 
 after tying two bladders about her 
 neck he cruelly threw her over the 
 battlements, imagining that she would 
 fly down without being quite killed. 
 Though the poor creature was terribly 
 bruised with the fall, yet she made a 
 shift, with difficulty, to crawl home, 
 and staggering into the parlour, she 
 laid down at the feet of her indulgent 
 mistress, and looking her piteously in 
 the face, as if begging her to revenge 
 
X M ) 
 
 her death, expired in the utmost 
 agony. 
 
 Miss Kitty immediately imagined 
 who had been the author of this 
 cruelty ; and taking her brother aside, 
 she remonstrated with him to the 
 following effect : 
 
 " My dear brother/' said she, " it 
 ** is with great uneasiness of mind 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 u that I have observed your vicious 
 e€ disposition, which if not checked in 
 fS time, by a too frequent repetition of 
 i( your naughty tricks they may be- 
 €€ come habitual ; I am determined to 
 sc let you see them in such a light as 
 
 will chill you with horror. 
 " Can you imagine that those little 
 V insects which you so cruelly torment 
 " for mere sport, have no feeling, or 
 u that they are void of the sensation of 
 " pain ? — Suppose some great giant 
 €€ was to run a sword through your 
 " body, I dare say, you are sensible 
 €€ that it would give you unspeakable 
 " torment ; and is a common sword 
 " any more in your body, than a small 
 " pin in one of those little flies ? — I 
 i€ Believe me my dear, the smaller an 
 " animal is, the quicker and more 
 
 acute is its sensibility, because its 
 
( 2S ) 
 
 " organs are so much more delicate 
 " and tender. 
 
 " All your other frolics are equally 
 " cruel and imsupportahle. Do you 
 " love to be frightened? If you do 
 " not, what pleasure can you take in 
 " frightening so many faithful dogs as 
 u you do ; perhaps till they run mad 
 €C with fear ? — Suppose I was to prick 
 (i your sides full of holes with one of 
 " my needles, would not you think me 
 " very hard-hearted ? And are you 
 u not equally cruel, who for wanton 
 €€ amusement, ean gore all the cattle 
 " in the common fields U — And lastly, 
 " your brutality is attended by the 
 u most odious ingratitude r you have 
 " destroyed the favorite kitten of Miss 
 r ? Polly Scar ; wantonly sported away 
 iC the life of a little playful innocent 
 cc animal, although itsmistress is every 
 a day bestowing apples, oranges, and 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 u sweetmeats upon you.— -Is this the 
 f€ return for all her civilities towards 
 " you ? Fie, fie!" 
 
 Master George blushed and seemed 
 confounded, when Miss Kitty thus 
 continued her discourse: 
 
 u It is universally allowed, that you 
 " do not want sense, and therefore 
 " what I have now said, I would re- 
 11 commend to you to apply to your 
 (C own understanding. What I have 
 €C to add, I shall enforce by the priii* 
 u ciples of Christianity and virtue. You 
 u cannot suppose thatthe divine Being 
 " created these poor creatures merely 
 u to please the whim and caprice of 
 " mankind. He has breathed the 
 €< same spirit of life into thousands of 
 " animals, as that by which you exist; 
 " and though he has made man master 
 " of all, yet it is only in a limited 
 " sense. He has appointed certain 
 
" creatures for the support and sus- 
 u tenance of man, yet when we take 
 " the lives even of these, it ought to 
 " be with the greatest decency, and 
 f4 even with compunction. All noxi- 
 (( ous animals also, that is to say, such 
 u as we have a natural antipathy to 
 cc and shudder at the sight of, as 
 c< snakes, toads, serpents, fyc. may be 
 " destroyed from the laws of nature ; 
 M but shall we for the same reason 
 " kill a fly, worm, or such inoffensive 
 • c insects, as cannot in their conse- 
 quence do us any mischief? It is 
 not in our power to give life to any 
 thing, and therefore what right have 
 we to destroy an existence which 
 " we cannot restore? The man who, 
 " without remorse, can wantonly do 
 Ci these things, ou<rht to be banished 
 ' to the (leierts of Arabia, there to live 
 
 6< 
 
 cc 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 u among lions, wolves, and tygers, for 
 " he is not fit for society, 
 
 " You know very well, that our for- 
 " tune will be ample, and that you 
 " must figure in the great world as a 
 u gentleman : and the truest mode of 
 u gentility is a noble generosity of 
 " mind and a tender feeling for the 
 u distresses of our fellow-creatures, 
 u But if you still continue to torment 
 u every unhappy being that comes in 
 " your way, you will in time (for the 
 u transition is very easy) be led to 
 " exercise your cruelties upon your 
 " own species, and Negro- like, rejoice 
 *' in the blood of a parent or friend ! 
 
 — horrid thought ! Will your for- 
 k< tune then protect you from the cen- 
 <( sures^of the good and the virtuous! 
 (i And will you not be the outcast of 
 ** societv ? 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 " He who is not endowed with the 
 <4 delicate touch of compassion sinks 
 Xi even below the brutes themselves, 
 y ic for they are sometimes known to 
 (( help and assist each other. The 
 u heart that feels no anxiety for an- 
 " other's misfortunes, is destitute of 
 i€ the very grounds and principles of 
 " virtue. And the wretch who can- 
 €c not weep for the griefs of a friend, 
 €i is blind to his own interest, and 
 t€ will ultimately be punished for his 
 sx cruelty/' 
 
 Master George wept bitterly, and 
 declared to his sister, that she had 
 painted the enormity of his vice in 
 such striking colours that they shock- 
 ed him in the greatest degree, and 
 promised ever after to be as remark- 
 able for generosity, compassion, and 
 evew other virtue, as he had hitherto 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 been for cruelty, frowardness, and ill- 
 nature. It is with pleasure we can 
 add, that he faithfully kept his word, 
 and is now one of the best little 
 masters in the whole universe. 
 
MY MOTHER. 
 
 WHO fed me from her gentle breast, 
 'And hush'd me in her arms to rest, 
 And on my cheek sweet kisses prest ? 
 
 My Mother. 
 
 When sleep forsook my open eye, 
 
 Who was it sung sweet lullaby, 
 
 And rock'd me that I should not cry ? 
 
 My Mother. 
 
 Who sat and watch'd my infant head, 
 When sleeping on my cradle bed, 
 And tears of sweet affeetion shed ? 
 
 My Mother. 
 
 When pain and sickness made me cry, 
 Who gaz'd upon my heavy eye, 
 And wept for fear that I should die ? 
 
 My Mother. 
 
 Who dress'd my doll in clothes so gay, 
 And taught me pretty how to play, 
 And minded all I had to say ? 
 
 My Mother. 
 
( SO ; 
 
 Who ran to help me when I fell, 
 And would some pretty story tell, 
 Or kiss the place to make it veil ? 
 
 My Mother* 
 
 Who taught my infant lips to pray, 
 To love God's holy word, and day, 
 And walk in wisdom's pleasant way? 
 
 My Mother. 
 
 And can I ever cease to be 
 Affectionate and kind to thee, 
 Who wast so very kind to me ? 
 
 My Mother*. 
 
 t » 
 
 ! no ! the thought I cannot hear, 
 And, if God please my life to spare, 
 
 1 hope I shall reward thy care, 
 
 My Mother, 
 
 When thou art feeble, old, and gray, 
 My healthy arm shall be thy stay, 
 And I will soothe thy pains away, 
 
 Mv Mother. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 And when I see thee hang thy head, 
 'Twill be my turn to watch thy bed, 
 And tears of sweet affection shed, 
 
 My Mother, 
 
 For God, who lives above the skies, 
 Would look with vengeance in his eyes, 
 If I should ever dare despise, 
 
 My Mother, 
 
 Jc Kendrew, Printer^ Collicrgatty Yo.k> 
 
 3 3 T"7 *"! 
 
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 Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe 
 
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 The House that Jack Built 
 
 The World turned Upside Down 
 
 The Cries of London 
 
 Adventures of Old Mother, Hubbard and 
 
 her Dog, in Three Parts 
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