The Parent's Assistant

a nasce, conv

k crows, so cr

ldren of all ages in the celebrated city of Naples. Their manner of living and their numerous

y often seen about the arsenals, or wherever carpenters are at work, employed in gathering up the chips and pieces of wood; o

nce they proceed with their baskets into the heart of the city, where in several places they form a sort of little market, sitting round with their stock of

nce. Others again endeavour to turn a few pence by buying a small matter of fruit, of pressed honey, cakes, and comfits, and then, like li

and a knife, will carry about a water-melon, or a half roasted gourd, collect a troup of child

piece of copper; and the Lilliputian tradesmen act with no less caution as the e

elt amongst these little merchants in their daily intercourse with each other. The fair dealer is

boys originally equal in birth, fortune and capacity, but different in their education, and consequently in their habits and conduct. Francisco was the son of an honest gardener, who, from the time he co

always heard his father speak the truth, and saw that he dealt fairly with everybody. In all his childish traffic, Francisco, imitating his

of whatever he wanted to dispose of; to get as much money as possible from customers by taking advantage of their ignorance or of their confidence. He often repeated his favourite proverb-"The buyer has need of a hundred eyes; the seller has need but of one." [302] And he took frequent opportunities of explaining the meaning of

bread," he would say. "Look here; I work but five min

ed to count, the hours and days which were wasted in waiting

and to lounge or sleep away his time in a fishing-boat, acquired habits of idle

and quick enough, but he is always in mischief. Scarcely a day has passed for this fortn

, and knows no better,

ow he is a child, how will he know w

y!" cried the fisherman: "a few grapes more o

said the gardener; "and I tell you again, the boy will not do we

he fisherman, carelessly. "Whenever he casts my nets, they nev

her, and to which he most willingly trusted, because it gave him

ned home after the preceding conversation with the garden

, and older by six m

ll sell them for me. Venture a small fish, as the proverb says, to catch a great one. [303b] I was too late with them a

miss selling a melon for his father by turning the bruised side to the customer, who was just laying down the money for it, and who was a ra

and will sell my fish cleverly, I'll be bound. As to the rest, let

likely to buy it, especially to those upon whom he thought he could impose. He positively asserted to all who looked at his fish, that they were just fresh out of the water. Good judges of men and fish knew that he said what was false, and pass

ht to-day?"

hour ago," said Piedro, w

pert at reckoning the Italian money, he was no match for the cunning Piedro, who cheated him not only as to the freshnes

e ass was laden with large panniers, which were filled with the stalks and leaves of cauliflowers, cabbages, broccoli, lettuces, etc.-all the refuse o

the ass. The panniers were indeed not only filled to the top, but piled

," said Francisco. "The poor fellow, however, shall have a little

l filled panniers, truly!' This is your morning's work, I presume, and you'll make another journe

ave done enough, but before I th

ter your fashion. Look here," producing the money he had received for the fish; "all this w

to beg, or borrow eit

"but by using my wits; not as you did yesterday, when, like a novice, you sho

k it still," s

father?" a

ther," sai

f the fish to-day that my father could not sell yesterday in the market-got it off for fresh just out of the river-got twice as much as the market price for it; and from whom, think you? Why, from the

He will buy no more fish from you, because he will be afraid of your cheating him; but he will be ready enough t

not make a market; if he buys no more from me, what c

e them all in the same m

epeating his father's proverb, "'Venture a small fish to catch a large one.'" [3

id Francisco, "that all these people will

are a great many of them, enough to last me all th

observed Francisco,

, all joined against me, and would buy none of our fish-what then? Are there no trades but that of a fisherman? In Naples, are there not a hundred ways of making money for a smart l

children would find out in time if they were c

sell chips and sticks in the wood-market-hand about the lemonade to t

you'll find, as my father says, that a good character is the best fortune to set up

hand. Ay, stroke the long ears of your ass, and look as wise as you please. It's better to be lucky than wise, as my father says. Good morning to you. When I am fou

honest Francisco, you would not fi

wronged anyone, all were willing to serve him-at least, as much as they could without loss to themselves: so that after the market was over, his panniers were regularly filled by the gardeners a

eration of his zeal, fidelity and inexperience, pardon him for not being a good judge of fish. Though he had simplicity enough to be easily cheated once, he had too much sense to be twice made a dupe. The next time he met Piedro in the market, he happened to be in company with several English gentlemen's servants, and he pointed Piedro out to them all as an arrant knave. They heard his cry of "Fresh fish! fresh fish!

s as heavy as when I left home and look at 'em yourself, they really are fine fresh fish to-day and yet, because that revengefu

n they were not; and he that was duped then, is not ready to be

eated Piedro; "they are fresh to-day. I

father said to you once-the sca

t the other side of this; you will tell me if it is not as good as it looks. Name your price; I know you have but one, and that an honest one; and as to the rest, I am able and willing to pay for what I b

nch. "I hope he will like these; but if you could some day come as far as Resina (it is a village but a few miles out of town

and all the time we stay in Naples (may it not be so long as I fear it will!), with my master's leave, which he never refuses me to anything that's proper, I'll deal with you for all our fruit, as sure as my name's Arthur, and with none

distinction, was invited to take up his residence, during his stay in Italy, at the Count de F.'s villa, which was in the environs of Naples-an easy walk from Resina. Francisco had the pleasure of seeing his father's vineyard often full

to tend the vines, "I am to thank you and your honesty, it seems, for our having our ha

gh, when I see you and mother going

wn. Here; this vine, this fig-tree, and a melon a week next summer shall be yours. With these make a fine figure amongst the little Neapolitan me

it shall be by those means, and no other, or

ular instance of bad or good luck occurred; but he felt, as persons usually do, the natural consequences of his own actions. He pursued hi

utwit all the world," said a man [309] who knew the w

very bad humour, in consequence of these reproaches, and of his not having found customers for his goods, he espied his smart son Piedro at a little merchant's fruit-board devouring a fine gourd with prodigious greediness. "Where, glutton, do you find money to p

got for the fish yesterday, and that I mea

ith my money. Am I to lose my customers by your tricks, and then find you here eating my all? You are a rogue, and eve

ating did the boy no good; it was vengeance not punishment. Piedro saw that his father was in a passion, and knew that he was beaten because he was fo

e might cheat every customer he could in the way of trade, should be afterwards scrupulously

contrary, he was hardened to the sense of shame by the loss of reputation. All the little merchants were spectators of thi

trade of selling fish failed him, he could readily engage in some other; but he now found, to his mortification,

ve him credit, or even trade with him for ready money. "If you would cheat your own father,

rgains, shoved him out of his way whenever he met him. All the food or clothes that he had at home seemed to be given to him grudgingly, and with suc

lly what his father had said of him in the market-place, would be soon forgotten; but month

ce heard to say, that he would, with all his heart, give ten thousand pounds

e was sorry his knavery had been detected, but he still thought it clever to cheat, and was secretly persuaded that, if he had cheated successfully, he should have been happy. "But I know I am not happy now," said he to himself one morning, as he sat alone disconsolate by the sea-shore, dressed in tattered garments,

d to see Piedro seated in this melancholy posture. Touched with compassion, Francisco approached him softly; his footsteps were not heard upon the sands, and Piedro did not pe

ery good, I hope," said Franc

ro. "I was very hungry, and that's what I am now, without anybody's caring anything abo

d acknowledges it, will scarcely be in fault again.' Yes, take as many figs as you will," continued h

"shall not I get you into a scrape by taking s

if they were not my own?" said Francisc

question; it was only from fear of gett

ybody to do that, I hope," s

ied Piedro, in an insinuating tone,

sco, smiling; "I wish I could do more for you. You seem, indeed, to have b

o show my face without being gibed at by one or t'other. If you would but take me along with you amongst them,

seem your friend, if I

equal divisions. "To be sure I would rather you would be than seem a friend to me; but I thought that was too much to ask at first, though I have a notion, notwithstandin

ancisco, drawing back alarmed

a supplicating tone; "can't you have thought

ssed; for he pitied Piedro, and he scarcely knew how to point out to him that somet

hesitated from merely mercenary motives. "You s

sent; but I will do what, perhaps, you will like as well," said he, taking half the fruit out of his basket; "you are heartily welcome to this; try and sell it in the children

cisco," cried Piedro, seizing his plentiful

ything that is not true,"

give no room for scandal. If I could get them to

o. "Adieu, I wish you well with all my heart; but I mus