One day, as Miss Lydia was walking in the fields with her Mamma, her sisters, and Fanny, she saw a little girl standing near the hedge, and crying very sadly. The voice of distress was never heard without attention by Miss Lydia; she ran up to the girl, followed by Fanny, and asked her what was the matter?

Girl.

Oh! dear, what shall I do! my eggs are almost all broken! and my mother will be so angry, I am afraid to go home!

Lydia.

Do not cry, I dare say your mother will not be very angry: my Mamma would not, I am sure.

Girl (still sobbing.)

Yes, Miss; but my mother will, and beat me severely too. I was to have sold them for a shilling, and carried back some butter and a loaf.

Lydia.

I dare say you did not break them on purpose: how did it happen?

Girl.

My mother put two dozen of eggs into this little basket, and wrapped them nicely up in straw, and bade me go directly to town with them, and not stop at all. She told me I must sell them for a shilling, and bring back a loaf and some butter. I walked straight on till I came to this field, and then the blackberries looked so nice in the hedge, that I longed to get some; and I thought there could be no harm in stepping to the hedge and gathering a few. I set my basket down because I wanted to reach a very fine bough that grew in the back part of the hedge; but while I was plucking the fruit, a great over-grown dog came and ran his nose into my basket, overturned all the eggs, and broke a dozen of them; and now I cannot buy the bread and the butter. My mother wants them for her tea, and I do not know what she will do to me.

Mrs. Lively and Lydia’s elder sisters had now walked up to them, and Mrs. Lively having overheard the girl’s discourse, said, I am sorry to see you in such trouble; but you now find the consequence of not minding your mother. Little girls are apt to think they know as well as their parents; but they generally find themselves mistaken, and sometimes get into a great deal of distress by fancying so; as you have done. Your mother bade you go directly to town and stop nowhere, because she knew if you got to play, or gave your attention to any thing but your eggs, a great many accidents might happen to break them; and if you had done as she bade you, it is probable your eggs would have been safe. Your mother, therefore, will have great reason to be angry, when she knows how the accident happened.

Girl.

Yes, Madam, that is what will make her so angry; she would have forgiven me a great deal sooner if it had happened any other way. A boy, who came by just now, advised me to say, as I was getting over a stile the bar gave way, and I tumbled down, and that so my eggs got broken; but I never did tell her a lie in my life, and I should be very unwilling to begin now.

Lady.

Your mother has at least been very kind to you in instilling such good principles into you.

Girl.

Yes, Madam, she always taught me to be honest, and never tell a lie upon any account whatever; and if she were to find out that I deceived her, she would punish me ten times more than she will now.

Lady.

Be assured you can never escape trouble and sorrow by being wicked; you have already done one fault, and you feel how unhappy it has made you; but, if you were to tell a lie, you would become a great deal more naughty, and consequently be a great deal more unhappy. And though you were not found out, I dare say your mother has taught you that God always sees you; and if you try to save yourself by wicked means, you put yourself quite out of the way of his blessing and protection. Now, you are so good a girl, I dare say you will find your mother kinder to you than you expect. Dry up your tears, and take this shilling; give me the eggs that remain, go and buy your butter and bread, and then your mother will not be disappointed; and as you are so good a girl, whenever your mother has any eggs or chickens, you may bring them to me, and I will give you your price for them; only remember to call at the first white house as you come into town.

The poor girl received the shilling with equal joy and gratitude; and when she was gone, Miss Lydia’s Mamma observed to her, that persons often find a present reward in doing their duty: If this little girl, said she, had taken the boy’s advice, and determined to tell her mother a falsity, she would probably have turned back directly, and been in another field when we came here, so that we should have known nothing of her distress, and her story would, perhaps, not have been so well told as to escape detection. I hope now the amends I have made for her loss will abate the severity of her mother’s anger; and when the whole of her conduct is known, she must, I think, receive her praises.

Just as she had done speaking, a beautiful insect flew by Miss Lydia. Look, Mamma, said she, that fly is just like the picture in my book; is it not? We will look, my dear, said her Mamma: and taking out of her pocket the Rational Dame, she found the little creature under the title of Dragon Fly; and little Lydia read the description of it, and had afterwards a full opportunity of admiring it, as it rested upon a leaf.

I am sure, said Lydia, I am much obliged to Mrs. Teachwell for writing so useful a book; it has taught me a great many things. And me likewise, said her Mamma; we will never walk out without it; for the best use we can make of our walks, is to acquaint ourselves with the works of God; which in the fields and lanes are continually before us. And I wish Mrs. Teachwell would give us some little system of plants, with their nature and uses, fit for such young folk as you; for I again say, you cannot be too well acquainted with the works of God, who made you, and made the little insects, and the slender flower which your eye almost overlooks. God, my child, has spread before you two volumes, which are each his work, and demand and deserve your most attentive consideration, and most curious study; the Book of Revelation—I mean the Bible, wherein you learn the way to eternal life; and the Book of Nature, which is every where spread open before you, and which instructs you every where in the wisdom and goodness of God. Let no opportunity slip then of acquainting yourself with those wonders; and the more you learn of “What great things God has done for you;” may your heart feel more grateful to Him, and more ready to obey Him, and to do every thing He commands.