ives of her
companions in writing, and bring them to her; and Miss Jenny readily
promised to obey her commands.

In the evening our little company again met in their charming arbour;
where they were no sooner seated, with that calmness and content which
now always attended them, than the cries and sobs of a child, at a
little distance from their garden, disturbed their tranquility.

Miss Jenny, ever ready to relieve the distressed, ran immediately to
the place whence the sound seemed to come, and was followed by all her
companions: when, at a small distance from Mrs. Teachum's garden-wall,
over which from the terrace our young company looked, they saw, under a
large spreading tree, part of the branches of which shaded a seat at
the end of that terrace, a middle-aged woman beating a little girl, who
looked to be about eight years old, so severely, that it was no wonder
her cries had reached their arbour.

Miss Jenny could not forbear calling out to the woman, and begging her
to forbear: and little Polly Suckling cried as much as the girl, and
desired she might not be beat any more. The woman, in respect to them,
let the child go; but said, 'Indeed, young ladies, you don't know what
a naughty girl she is: for though you now see me correct her in this
manner, yet am I in all respects very kind to her, and never strike her
but for lying. I have tried all means, good and bad, to break her of
this vile fault; but hitherto all I have done has been in vain: nor
can I ever get one word of truth out of her mouth. But I am resolved to
break her of this horrid custom, or I cannot live with her: for though I
am but poor, yet I will breed up my child to be honest, both in word and
deed.'

Miss Jenny could not but approve of what the poor woman said. However,
they all joined in begging forgiveness for the girl this time, provided
she promised amendment for the future: and then our little society
returned to their arbour.

Miss Jenny could not help expressing her great detestation of all lying
whatsoever; when Miss Dolly Friendly, colouring, confessed she had often
been guilty of this fault, though she never scarcely did it but for her
friend.

Here Miss Jenny, interrupting her, said, that even that was no sort of
excuse for lying; besides that the habit of it on any occasion, even
with the appearance of a good intention, would but too likely lead to
the use of it on many others: and as she did not doubt, by Miss Dolly's
blushi