About a week after the visit to the school, Lydia, from her window, saw Sally lugging something under her arm, which seemed more than she could manage, when the little girl came to the gate, she stopped and looked in, but modesty prevented her from ringing. Miss Lydia, went down to see what she wanted: but how surprised was she to see that Sally’s load was a little lamb, not many days old. It had been given to Sally by a farmer, whose little boy and girl went to school to her mother, because the dam was dead; and she had adorned its neck with a wreath of field flowers, and brought it as a present to Miss Lydia; accordingly when Lydia came to the gate, she, in a very pretty manner, begged her acceptance of it, and told her it must be fed two or three times a-day with warm milk. Nobody can express the delight of Miss Lydia, upon finding herself mistress of the lamb. Her joy, however, did not make her forget to thank Sally with great good-nature and civility for the gift; nor did it prevent her recollecting that her mother had thought it proper to offer her a present for the May garland, she, therefore, begged her to stay till she showed the lamb to her Mamma; and taking it up, tottered into the house; she soon returned with half a crown, which, she took great pains to persuade Sally to accept, but to no purpose: she said, her mother would be very angry with her if she took any thing; that the lamb had cost her nothing, and she had been strictly charged to take nothing for it.

Then, said Miss Lydia, at least let me give you some fruit and some cake; and taking the little girl by the hand, seated her upon a bench, and ran to fetch her a piece of cake; then, with her Mamma’s leave she gathered for her some strawberries and cherries. Sally thanked her very prettily, and begged leave to carry them home to divide with her brother; thus having given the little lamb a kiss, and again told Miss Lydia it must be fed with warm milk, and be taken into the house at night, she went away.

You may believe that the greatest part of Lydia’s employment was to feed and tend the little lamb, whose baaing would indeed have excited tenderness even in a heart of less sensibility than Lydia’s.

The pleasure she had in the lamb, naturally led her to think and talk of the little giver. Lydia observed to her Mamma, that although Sally was a poor girl, and had never gone into company, yet she always behaved in a very pretty manner, and spoke gently and civilly, and made charming courtesies.

My dear, said her mamma, when people have a modest opinion of themselves, and wish to behave with respect and civility, they seldom do any thing that is improper.

A fear of offending will make them gentle and reserved in their behaviour; and a person who tries to speak in an obliging manner is not often at a loss for language. It is conceit and forwardness which make people disgusting; and conceit and forwardness are as disagreeable in a little girl or boy, if their parents are rich as if they were poor. Nothing can make children agreeable, but being humble and tractable, and behaving in an obliging, respectful manner to every body; for as children, whoever their parents be, can know very little, and are unable to say any thing worth hearing, they should, therefore, think every body of more consequence than themselves, and be very much obliged to any body who takes notice of them. I am sure, said Lydia, I think myself so. You always appear to think so, my dear, said her Mamma; our friends are very kind to you, and will continue so while you behave as properly as you do; but whenever children begin to argue with grown people, speak pertly to them, like Miss Smart, or pretend to know better than they do, what is right and proper, they become very ridiculous and very disagreeable. What pleases you in Sally, and what will equally please in yourself is, that she seems to have no wish nor will but to oblige you, and to do what she thinks may please you, and show her respect to you.