received a prize as the reward
of his important services, but also received the public
acknowledgments of an illustrious society for having contributed
to the happiness of their country.

THE HISTORY OF TOM WHITE,

THE POST BOY.

PART I.

Tom White was one of the best drivers of a post-chaise on the Bath
road. Tom was the son of an honest laborer at a little village in
Wiltshire; he was an active, industrious boy, and as soon as he was
old enough he left his father, who was burdened with a numerous
family, and went to live with Farmer Hodges, a sober, worthy man in
the same village. He drove the wagon all the week; and on Sundays,
though he was now grown up, the farmer required him to attend the
Sunday School, carried on under the inspection of Dr. Shepherd, the
worthy vicar, and always made him read his Bible in the evening
after he had served his cattle; and would have turned him out of his
service if he had ever gone to the ale-house for his own pleasure.

Tom, by carrying some wagon loads of faggots to the Bear inn, at
Devizes, made many acquaintances in the stable-yard. He soon learned
to compare his own carter's frock, and shoes thick set with nails,
with the smart red jackets, and tight boots of the post-boys, and
grew ashamed of his own homely dress; he was resolved to drive a
chaise, to get money, and to see the world. Foolish fellow! he never
considered that, though it is true, a wagoner works hard all day,
yet he gets a quiet evening at home, and undisturbed rest at night.
However, as there must be chaise-boys as well as plow-boys, there
was no great harm in the change. The evil company to which it
exposed him was the chief mischief. He left Farmer Hodges, though
not without sorrow, at quitting so kind a master, and got himself
hired at the Black Bear.

Notwithstanding the temptations to which he was now exposed, Tom's
good education stood by him for some time. At first he was
frightened to hear the oaths and wicked words which are too often
uttered in a stable-yard. However, though he thought it very wrong,
he had not the courage to reprove it, and the next step to being
easy at seeing others sin is to sin ourselves. By degrees he began
to think it manly, and a mark of spirit in others to swear; though
the force of good habits was so strong that at first, when he
ventured to swear himself, it was with fear, and in a low voice. But
he was soon laughed out of his sheepishness, as they call