Page:Execution, or, The affecting history of Tom Bragwell.pdf/6

 to soothe them with promises they never mean to realize; and, if all will not do, to make them behave peaceably, and stay within doors on a winter’s evening, to frighten them with bugbears, which, as the children grow up, they learn to despise; and are thus led to conclude, that what their parents taught them as truth, was a system of deceit and falsehood altogether.

No Wonder, then, that this hopeful plant, nurtured in such a bed, after having arrived at sixteen years of age, vexed the spirit of his grey-headed parent, by refusing to settle at any employment. He had not been accustomed to put his hand to the smallest job as he grew up, and now that idle habits were formed, the old man found it was difficult to drive them from him.

In his attempts to instil religious principles, and give some idea of a Divine Being, he was not more successful; for although the promise of a new hat, or something fine, would at times make him put on a serious countenance, and even go to church, yet, no sooner was his father's back turned, than turned all into ridicule, and would say, "he used to mak me believe in ghosts and witches, and sic things, when a bairn; but let him trick me now gin he can."

, I found, was more fortunate with regard to his parents,—not that they were in better worldly circumstances,—for if there was any difference in this respect, it was in favour of, but father was a man of principle, and did not spare the rod when he saw occasion, nor had he reason in general to bribe his