Hawkins. I told you I should get it. Poor Bentley!

Lively. Why how could you get it?

Hawkins. I put my bottle and bason close to the cage, so that when he went to take out his squirrel, down they came, and broke to pieces. I went up and demanded payment, which he not being able to give me, I took his squirrel, which he held on his hand all the time we talked.

Lively. Upon my word, I think you did wrong.

Hawkins. What! are you one of those fools who are afraid of doing wrong. However, you see I have got something by doing wrong.——

"And you shall get something more by doing wrong," cried a voice. Hawkins turned round, and saw his master, who had been standing at the window ever since they began to talk. "Give me that squirrel," continued Mr.Clarkson. Hawkins held me out to him with great reluctance. Mr.Clarkson then carried me into the school-room, and calling for Bentley, gave me to him, telling him, loud enough for Hawkins to hear him, that Hawkins would get much more by doing wrong, than he would by doing right, for he should get a very hearty flogging that afternoon. He likewise commended Lively for not agreeing with Hawkins. Bentley then carried me to his room again, packed me up, (in my cage,) and sent me by the stage to his sister, who lived at Stamford in Lincolnshire, and was very intimate with Miss Huntley. My reception was a very good one. Louisa Bentley was very fond of me, and always took care I should have plenty of food. She had invited a party of young ladies to see her that very afternoon: their names were, Miss Wilson, Miss Clark, Miss Smith, Miss Newman, and Miss Huntley.

When these young ladies were all seated, their conversation was as follows.

Miss Bentley. O,Miss Huntley, I had such a present made me to-day. My good brother always sends me some present from school, between the holidays; but this last, is the best he ever sent me. Only look, what a pretty squirrel! What makes you sigh, Miss Huntley?

Miss Huntley. Your squirrel puts me in mind of one I had lately. Young Eaton came to drink tea with us before he went to school, when he let the squirrel out, and it jumped out of the window.

Miss Clark. Were you not very angry?

Miss Newman. I am sure I should have been very angry indeed; and, I think, not without a cause.

Miss Smith. He is always doing mischief, I think. It was but on Friday, when he came to see us, that he killed my canary bird, by putting a shot in the place where the seeds were, which stuck in its throat, and it died in a few minutes.

Miss Clark. And what did he say, when he saw he had killed it?

Miss Smith. He only laughed, and said he did not know it could not eat shot.

Miss Wilson. Perhaps he took it for an ostrich, and thought it could eat lead and iron. I do not wonder at it; for, in my opinion, he is foolish enough to think any thing.

Miss Huntley. I have been looking at your squirrel, Miss Bentley, for some time; will you be kind enough to tell me where you got it? O,Iremember, you said your brother sent it you, so it cannot be the same; but every mark on it is exactly like mine.

Miss Bentley. Suppose I write to him, and ask him where he got it. I assure you, if it is yours, you shall have it. I dare say my brother got it fairly.

Miss Huntley. My dear Louisa, I would not take it from you on any account: I only wish to know that it has not died a violent death.

Miss Newman. Poor creature! I hope it has not. I would much rather see any favourite bird or squirrel die, than that they should escape.

Miss Clark. My brother never sends me such presents. Yes, once, indeed, to do him justice, he sent me a present you would not guess, if you were to try from morning till night. He goes to school about two miles off, and the week before last, he sent me, in the baker's cart, an ugly monkey: such a great creature. He began clambering over the chairs and tables; so I sent it back, with a letter, in which I told him, monkeys were not presents for young ladies, and that he could better take care of his brother than I could. Don't you think I was pretty severe upon him, Miss Newman?

Miss Newman. Yes, indeed, I think you was. But, my dear girl, you forget that you was just as severe upon yourself; for as you are brother and sister, the monkey cannot be brother to one of you, without being brother to the other.

Miss Clark. Miss Newman, I assure you I don't understand such usage: I did not come here to be called names. I think my question was not uncivil.

Miss Newman. And I think I answered you as civilly as I could, Miss Smith, do you think I could have given a more civil answer?

Miss Smith. No, indeed, I do not.

Miss Clark. Well, ladies, I see you are all against me, so I had better take my leave. Here Mrs. Bentley entering, put a stop to Miss Clark's resolution, by proposing a game at forfeits, for she readily consented to be of the party. I took the opportunity to fall asleep, and when I awoke, the following letter was lying by my cage.

I am so much obliged to you for your present, that I cannot express my thanks: I believe I shall best be able to do that when I see you. I had some young ladies to see me yesterday, among them was Miss Huntley, who has begged me to write to satisfy her curiosity. She would, therefore, take it as a favour, if you would tell me where you got it; as it is very like one she had, which made its escape. O,my dear brother, I wish you was at home. I have so many things to say to you, I don't know how to say them in letter; for, let people say what they will, it is easier to talk than to write a letter; so must conclude this, from