Page:Entertaining history of Sandford and Merton.pdf/13

 gave him a few pence. He went up to him, and told him that he would not give him pence, but ſilver; then pulling out his ſixpence, threw it on the ground, and bid him take it up; but, as the poor man was ſtooping for that purpoſe, he gave him a puſh, and the beggar fell upon his face, when he ſnatched up the ſix-pence, and ran away laughing.

His career of wickedneſs, was however, now at an end; for obſerving two men coming up to the beggar, he ran away as faſt as he could, over ſeveral fields. At laſt he came to a farmer's orchard, and as he was clambering over the fence, a large dog ſeized him. Being frightened, he roared out luſtily, which brought out the farmer, who called off his dog, but ſeized hold of the boy, ſaying, "So, my lad, I have caught you at laſt! You thought you might ſteal my apples when you pleaſed; but you are miſtaken, and you ſhall now ſuffer for all." So ſaying, the farmer did not let him go till he had given him a ſevere whipping.

He now began to be ſenſible, that puniſhment does not fail at laſt to overtake the wicked; but the meaſure of his miſ-