without being opened; but if any suspicion arose, and she was forced
to uncork a bottle, by the few drops of distilled water lying at top
she even then escaped detection, and took care to get out of reach
before the bottle was opened a second time. She was too prudent ever
to go twice to the same house.

THE UPRIGHT MAGISTRATE.

There is hardly any petty mischief that is not connected with the
life of a poacher. Mr. Wilson was aware of this; he was not only a
pious clergyman, but an upright justice. He used to say, that people
who were really conscientious, must be so in small things as well
as in great ones, or they would destroy the effect of their own
precept, and their example would not be of general use. For this
reason he never would accept of a hare or a partridge from any
unqualified person in the parish: he did not content himself with
shuffling the thing off by asking questions, and pretending to take
it for granted in a general way that the game was fairly come at;
but he used to say, that by receiving the booty he connived at a
crime, made himself a sharer in it; and if he gave a present to the
man who brought it, he even tempted him to repeat the fault.

One day poor Jack Weston, an honest fellow in the neighborhood, whom
Mr. Wilson had kindly visited and relieved in a long sickness, from
which he was but just recovered, was brought before him as he was
sitting on the justice's bench; Jack was accused of having knocked
down a hare; and of all the birds in the air, who should the
informer be but black Giles the poacher? Mr. Wilson was grieved at
the charge; he had a great regard for Jack, but he had still a
greater regard for the law. The poor fellow pleaded guilty. He did
not deny the fact, but said he did not consider it as a crime, for
he did not think game was private property, and he owned he had a
strong temptation for doing what he had done, which he hoped would
plead his excuse. The justice desired to know what this temptation
was. "Sir," said the poor fellow, "you know I was given over this
spring in a bad fever. I had no friend in the world but you, sir.
Under God you saved my life by your charitable relief; and I trust
also you may have helped to save my soul by your prayers and your
good advice; for, by the grace of God, I have turned over a new leaf
since that sickness.

"I know I can never make you amends for all your goodness, but I
thought it would be some comfort to my full heart if