sometimes observing, that it was a great pity they hadnot learned to make a horse-shoe, instead of dancing and dressinghair.
And now an ambassador arrived from the English settlements, with anaccount that all the conditions of the treaty had been performed, anddemanding the restitution of the prisoners. The Tartar chief was toomuch a man of honour to delay an instant, and they were all restored;but before they set out, Jack laboured with indefatigable zeal tofinish a couple of saddles, and a dozen horseshoes, which he presentedto the Khan, with many expressions of gratitude. The Khan was charmedwith this proof of his affection, and in return made him a present ofa couple of fine horses, and several valuable skins of beasts. Jackarrived without any accident at the English settlements, and sellinghis skins and horses, found himself in possession of a moderate sum ofmoney. He now began to have a desire to return to England; and one ofthe officers, who had often been obliged to him during his captivity,procured him a discharge. He embarked, therefore, with all hisproperty, on board a ship which was returning home, and in a fewmonths was safely landed at Plymouth.
But Jack was too active and too prudent to give himself up toidleness. After considering various schemes of business, he determinedto take up his old trade of manufacturing iron; and for that purposemade a journey into the North, and found his old master alive, and asactive as ever. His master, who had always entertained an esteem forJack, welcomed him with great affection, and being in want of aforeman, he engaged him at very handsome wages for that place. Jackwas now indefatigable in filling his new office: inflexibly honestwhere the interests of his master were concerned, and at the same timehumane and obliging to the men who were under him, he gained theaffection of all about him. In a few years his master was sothoroughly convinced of his merit, that growing old himself, he tookJack into partnership, and committed the management of the wholebusiness to his care. He continued to exert the same qualities nowwhich he had done before, by which means he improved the business somuch, as to gain a considerable fortune, and become one of the mostrespectable manufacturers in the country. But with all his prosperity,he never discovered the least pride or haughtiness; on the contrary,he employed part of his fortune to purchase the moor where he hadformerly lived, and built himself a small but convenient house, uponthe very spot where his daddy's hut had formerly stood. Hither hewould sometimes retire from business, and cultivate his garden withhis own hands, for he hated idleness. To all his poor neighbours hewas kind and liberal, relieving them in their distress, and oftenentertaining them at his house, where he used to dine with them withthe greatest affability, and frequently relate his own story, in orderto prove that it is of very little consequence how a man comes intothe world provided he behaves well, and discharges his duty when he isin it.
We have thus brought Jack to an end of his toils and misfortunes; andthere is every reason to suppose that his happiness was lasting, forit was deserved. Throughout all his misfortunes, after he had reachedman's estate, he manifested a cheerful trust and confidence in thesupport and protection of Providence, and never gave way to murmuringsor useless complainings. It may be observed, that all his earlymishaps arose from an ungovernable temper: but that when time andexperience had moderated his temper, things went well with him, andeven matters, at first sight unfortunate, turned out advantageously.It was with him, as it will be with every one; a violent disposition,prone to anger, and unwilling to listen to reason, always brings a maninto misfortunes; for it is not only unreasonable but unchristian. Anuseful lesson may be thus learned from the HISTORY of LITTLE JACK; ifour conduct be sober and honest, if we firmly and steadily persevere,without yielding to weakness and lamentation, and, above all, if weplace our trust in God's Mercy through our Blessed Redeemer, andendeavour to discover and perform his will, we are _likely_ to obtaina comfortable condition here, _certain_ of enjoying a good consciencein the present life, and may entertain the best founded hopes ofperfect happiness in the future.
THE END.
* * * * *
GRIFFIN'S JUVENILE LIBRARY,
A SERIES OF MORAL, INSTRUCTIVE, AND AMUSING WORKS,
ADAPTED FOR THE PERUSAL OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
Embellished with Engravings,
Price 2s. 6d. each, neatly half-bound.
1. THE CHILDREN OF THE ABBEY, by Mrs Roche. Abridged.
2. ATHENIAN VASE; OR, THE SISTERS OF SEFTON HALL, a Moral Tale.
3. THE HISTORY OF SANDFORD AND MERTON, by THOMAS DAY, Esq.
4. TALES OF THE CASTLE, abridged from MADAME DE GENLIS.
5. TALES OF THE FAIRIES; OR THE NEW COURT OF OBERON, containing 13 choice Stories.
6. JANE SEATON; OR, THE CORNELIAN CROSS.
7. BIBLE STORIES; OR SACRED HISTORIES, selected by the Rev. W. SMITH, M. A.
8. THE LIFE AND SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON CRUSOE.
9. THE LEISURE OF A LADY, employed for the Amusement and Instruction of her Children.
10. TRUE STORIES from the History of Scotland, selected by the Rev. W. SMITH, M. A.
11. PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS, by Dr. SAMUEL JOHNSON.
12. THE LIFE AND HEROIC ACTIONS OF SIR WILLIAM WALLACE, THE SCOTTISH KNIGHT.
13. INDULGENCE, a Tale by the author of "THE VACATION."
14. THE HISTORY OF Mrs MURRAY AND HER CHILDREN, by Mr M'GAVIN, Author of "THE PROTESTANT."
15. THE ORACLE OF THE ARTS, OR ENTERTAINING EXPOUNDER OF THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE.
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