asure, the
morning Josiah took his leave. "Your folly has deprived you of the
friendship of an excellent and upright youth, whose good counsels
might have benefitted you through life."

"I hate Joe Shirley, Papa," replied George, with the greatest assurance;
"and never will attend to a word he says; a meddling impertinent fellow!
What business can he have to trouble his head with us?"

"Go! go! unworthy as you are to be called my sons," said Mr. Hope; "I
am glad your poor Mamma did not live to witness your depravity;--and
you, George, whom she loved so well, that she expired with you in her
arms!--it would have broken her heart to have seen you now. Go, cruel
and unfeeling as you are, I no longer wonder at the good Josiah
renouncing your acquaintance; but the time may come, when you will
bitterly lament not taking his advice." So saying, Mr. Hope set them
their accustomary tasks, and left the room.

His father's reproofs, instead of softening the heart of George, only
enraged his haughty spirit more violently against the unoffending
Josiah; and he was determined to annoy him every opportunity which
chance should afford him: nor was it long before he was enabled to
put his designs into execution.

One day, after Mr. Hope had dismissed his sons from their morning
studies, William inquired of his brother, where they should play.

"Not in the garden, William," replied George; "I have not forgotten
the stripes I received yesterday for treading down the flowers. I
hate flowers! We cannot steal a handful of green gooseberries without
spoiling the flowers."

"But we need not confine ourselves to the garden, George. We can play at
football on the lawn; or shoot arrows at a mark, in the court-yard."

"I am tired of these games," said George. "Let us climb over the pales
into the Quaker's meadow, and chase the geese."

"With all my heart," replied William; "but if Mrs. Shirley should see
us, and tell Papa, you know how our diversion would end."

"Why surely, Will, you are not such a coward, as to be afraid of the old
woman. If she catches us, she will only talk to us about cruelty and
such stuff, in her methodistical way. Come, let us play in their meadow,
if it is only to spite that sly-faced hypocrite, Josiah."

"It will certainly be good sport," replied William, "to see the geese
waddle and scream, flapping their wide wings, which look exactly like
young broadbrim's hat."

George laughed heartily at this sally. "Ye