the stable."

Dicky now thought that his parent's resentment had subsided, and, upon
the latter's calling to him to come, he sprang across the room with
the greatest alertness; but how suddenly was his smile cast down when
Mr, Random, taking his hand, ordered him to wish his young friends
much mirth and a good appetite, while he was going to be punished for
his misconduct. At once were all their little hands put out to prevent
Mr. Random's resolution of taking him away, but all their petitions
were in vain. Richard was forced into an empty cellar, and left with
no other companion than a glimmering rushlight. Here he was told he
might do as much mischief as he pleased. The iron bars kept him from
getting out on one side, and the door was padlocked on the other. In
this dilemma he marched round and round, crying, with his little
candle, and saw stuck on the walls the following lines:

"Empty caves and commons wild
Best befit a thoughtless child,
A solid wall, an earthen floor,
Prison lights, a padlock'd door,
Where's no plaything which he may
Turn to harm by random play,
For in such sport too oft is found
A penny-toy will cost a pound.
Be wise and merry;---play, but think;
For danger stands on folly's brink."

After having been kept in confinement nearly half an hour, Mr. Random
could no longer resist the pressing solicitations of his son's guests,
who declined partaking of the supper till Richard was returned to
them.

Having learned the above lines by heart, he repeated them to his young
company, and, on his promising to remember their contents, he was
permitted to sit down to table.

The rest of the evening was spent in innocent cheerfulness, and for
some time after little Random played with more caution.

We must omit many of the less important neglects of young Random, such
as letting the toast fall in handling it, shooting his arrow through
the window, riding a long stick where it might throw persons down,
leaving things in the way at dark, etc., and proceed to relate a
good-natured fancy of his which tended more than any of the preceding
events, to show him the folly of taking any step without first looking
to what it might lead.

In Mr. Random's garden was a fine tall pear-tree, and that year a very
fine pear grew on the topmost twig. His mother and sister had several
times wished for the luscious fruit, but it seemed to bid defiance to
every attack that was not aided by a tall la