Page:Four interesting tales.pdf/8

8 later these doings must bring mo to the gallows, and all to satisfy your clamours.” His lamentations were answered by those of the whole family : and his wife having at length calmed tho agony of his mind, took up the loaf, and cutting it, gave four pieces to four poor starving children. The boy having thus happily performed his commission, returned home, and gave his master an account of every thing he had seen and heard. M. de Sallo, who was much moved, ordered the boy to call him at five in the morning. This humane gentleman arose at the time appointed, and taking the boy with him to show him the way, enquired in the neighbourhood the character of a man who lived in such a garret, with a wife and four children ; when he was told, that he was a very industrious good kind of a man; that he was a shoemaker, and a neat workman, but was over burdened with a family, and had a hard struggle to live in such bad times. Satisfied with this account, M. de Sallo ascended the shoe-maker's garret, and knocking at the door, it was opened by the poor man himsolf, who knowing him at first sight to he the person he bad robbed the evening before, fell at his feet, and implored his mercy, pleading the extreme distress of his family, and begging he would forgive his first crime. M. de Sallo desired him to make no noise, for he had not the least intention to hurt him. “ You have a good character, among your neighbours,” said he, “but must expect that your life will soon be cut short, if you are now so wicked as to continue the freedoms you took with me. Hold your hand, there are thirty louis to buy leather, husband it well and set your children a commendable example. To put you out of farther temptation to commit such ruinous and fatal actions, I will encourage your industry ; I hear you are a neat workman, you shall tako measure of me, and this boy, for two pair of shoes each,