Mr. Midshipman Easy

akes some very

a very unwi

time to call for assistance, which at first he would not, as he was afraid he should be pulled up to encounter the indignation of the farmer and his family. Jack was arranging his jaws for a halloo, when he felt the chain pulled up, and he slowly emerged from the water. At first he heard complaints of the weight of the bucket, at which J

you," s

im under the chin, and threw him over it headlong, and before the "Thank you" was fairly out of Jack's lips, down he went again like lightning to the bottom. Fortunately for Jack, he h

is wet hat once more on his head; "at all events, they c

l, from which she reeled off in a fit upon sundry heaps of dough waiting to

d the farmer's wife. "Here-where's Mary-where's John-D

al and very frightened, for two reasons; one, because he thought that hi

fforts she could not remove Susan from the bed of dough, where she lay senseless and heavy as lead. Mary answered to her mistress's loud appeal, and with her

had enough quite of helping Susan, and who con

o go wrong, this blessed day. First, there be all the apples stolen-then there be all the hives turned topsy-turvy in the garden-then there be Caesar with his flank opened by the bull-then th

John, nodding his hea

ke loose to-day. What is it, John? Have

-ya

ght the devil himself wouldn't have done that-we shall

etter now,-Susan,

am! the well

ong there, I suppose: w

o had become very impatient, had been looking up some time for the assistance which he expected would have come sooner; the round face of the farmer occasioned a p

; and what Jack said was true, for he was quite done up by hav

; "no end to mishaps this day. Well, we must get a Christian out of a w

ho were assembled round the sa

w there, h

ear," cr

vey. As soon as he was at the top, the men hauled him over the bricks

the farmer-"howsoever, he must not die for stealing a few apples;

e, when the farmer gave him a glass of brandy; this restored J

h Jack narrated all that had happened, "W

s Easy," r

e son of Mr Easy

es

oo-why didn't you say so when you were up in the apple-t

ave proved to you most incontestably that you had no more right to the apples than I had; but you would not listen to argument, and without discussion we can never arrive at truth. You send for your dog, who is ripped up by the

rove to me that the apples were not mine; but now, let's take your side of the question, and I don't see how you be much better off: you get up in a tree for a few apples, with plenty of money to buy them if y

ack; "but you forget that I, as a philo

osopher-we calls it petty larceny in the indictments: and as for your ri

mprehend the m

teal them, instead of asking for them, which I only can account for by the reason that they say, that 'stolen fruit be sweetest,' I've only to say that I shall give orders that you be not

leton taking his tea with his father and mother. Jack merely said that he had been so unfortunate as to upset a hive, and had been severely stung. He deferred the whole story till another opportunity. Dr Middleton prescribed for Jack, but on taking his hand f

of Captain Wilson was to request the aid of Mr Easy He had succeeded in obtaining his appointment to a sloop of war (for he was in the king's service), but was without the means of fitting himself out, without leaving his wife and family penniless. He therefore came to request Mr Easy to lend him a few hundred pounds, until he should be able, by his prize-money, to repay them. Mr Easy was not a man to refuse such a request, and always having plenty of spare cash at his banker's, he drew a cheque for

ut, as we before observed, he suffered so much pain, t

k was in bed; his eyes were so swollen with the stings of the bees that he could neither read nor otherwise amuse himself; and he preferred

o the drawing-room. He then detailed to his father the adventures

tion of their unjust possessions for the security of the remainder, is so powerful, that any one who opposes it must expect to pass the life of a martyr; but martyrs are always required p

og-been nearly killed by a bull-been stung to death by bees, and twice tumbled into a well. Now, if all that happens in two days, what must I expect to suffer in a whole year? It appears to be very unwise to attempt making further converts, for people on shore seem determined not to listen to reason or argument. But it has occurred to me, that although the whole earth has been so nefariously divided among the few, that the waters at least are the property of all. No man claims his share of the sea-

rst place, you must return to school; in

what is to prevent me? Was not I born my own master?-has any one a right to dictate to me as if I were not his equal? Have I not as much

or, as a father, have sacrificed his son. Like all philosophers, he preferred what he considered as

l, if you wish

question is, with whom? Now it has occurred to me, that Captain Wilson

ly, "but I should have liked to have felt his

urse, in the affirmative, and he promised

ather's horse, and rod

to sea, Mr B

ng for you," repli

leton. "I am going t

to sea, mother," said John. "To sea, John, to sea? no, no, dear

agreed, and says he wil

y!"-and Mrs Easy wept bitterly, a