ve reserved this curious
experiment for the last, because it is the most wonderful of all that I
have to show, or that, perhaps, was ever exhibited to the present hour.
You see that swan, it is no more than a little image, without either
sense or life. If you have any doubt upon the subject, take it up in
your hands and examine it." Accordingly, several of the spectators took
it up in their hands, and, after having examined it, set it down upon
the water. "Now," continued he, "this swan, which to you appears totally
without sense or motion, is of so extraordinary a nature that he knows
me, his master, and will follow in any direction that I command." Saying
this, he took out a little piece of bread, and whistling to his bird,
ordered him to come to the side of the basin to be fed. Immediately, to
the great surprise of all the company, the swan turned about and swam to
the side of the basin. The man whistled again, and presently the swan
turned himself round and pursued the hand of his master to the other
side of the basin.

The spectators could hardly believe their eyes, and some of them got
little pieces of bread, and held them out, imagining that he would do
the same to them. But it was in vain they whistled and presented their
bread; the bird remained unmoved upon the water, and obeyed no orders
but those of his master.

When this exhibition had been repeated over and over again, to the
extreme delight and astonishment of all present, the company rose and
dispersed, and Mr Barlow and the little boys pursued their way home.

But Tommy's mind was so engaged with what he had seen, that for several
days he could think and talk of nothing else. He would give all that he
had in the world to find out this curious trick, and to be possessed of
such a swan. At length, as he was one day talking to Harry upon this
subject, Harry told him with a smile, that he believed he had found out
a method of doing it, and that, if he did not mistake, he would the next
day show him a swan that would come to be fed as well as the conjuror's.
Accordingly, Harry moulded a bit of wax into the shape of a swan, and
placed it upon a basin of water. He then presented to it a piece of
bread, and, to the inexpressible delight of Tommy, the swan pursued the
bread, just as he had seen before.

After he had several times diverted himself with this experiment, he
wanted to be informed of the composition of this wonderful swan. Harry
therefore showed