that you shall, for one day, know what
it is to work hard, and thereby be taught to pity, and help, not add to
the fatigue of those who do.' The boy then went on with his business,
though not without making great complaints, and shedding many tears. At
length, however, evening came; and the gentleman, his son, and the two
men, all went away, leaving Longtail and myself to enjoy our abundance.
We passed another night in the sweetest undisturbed repose, and in the
day had nothing to alarm our fears. In short, our situation was every
way so perfectly happy and desirable, that we thought, although our
mother had charged us not to return frequently to the same place, yet
she could not mean that we should not take up our abode in a spot so
secure and comfortable. We therefore determined to continue where we
were, till we should find some cause for removing. And happy had it been
for us if we had kept to this resolution, and remained contented when we
had everything requisite to make us so. Instead of which, after we had
thus, free from care, passed our time about seven months, like fools as
we were, we began to grow weary of our retirement, and of eating nothing
but the same food; and agreed that we would again venture forth and seek
for some other lodging, at the same time resolving, in case we could
find no habitation that suited us, to return to the barn where we had
enjoyed so many days of plenty and repose.

Accordingly, one fine moonlight Monday night, after securing our supper
on the corn, we set forth, and travelled for some distance without any
further molestation than our own natural fears created. At length we
came to a brick house, with about five or six windows in front, and made
our way into it through a small latticed window which gave air into
the pantry; but on our arrival here we had no opportunity of so much as
observing what it contained, for on our slipping down a cat instantly
flew at us, and by the greatest good luck in the world, there chanced to
be a hole in one of the boards of the floor close to the spot where we
stood, into which we both were happy enough to pop, before she could
catch us. Here we had time to reflect, and severely blame ourselves
for not being satisfied with our state in the barn. 'When,' said I,
addressing myself to my brother, 'when shall we grow wise, and learn
to know that certain evil always attends every deviation from what is
right. When we disobeyed the advice of our mother