Plain Tales,
Printed for Vernor & Hood, 31 Poultry, April 1799.
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PLAIN TALES,
CHIEFLY INTENDED FOR
THE USE
OF
CHARITY SCHOOLS.
LONDON:
Printed for VERNOR and HOOD,
No. 31, Poultry.
1799.
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Plain Tales.
TALE I.
ukey Dawkins and PollyWood had been some time in thecharity-school. They had behavedvery well, and could do a good dealof work: they were regular in goingat the exact time, and so soon asschool hours were over, they wentstrait home to see what they could doto assist their mothers. As they werediligent, they sometimes got a sparehalf hour to take a walk in the fields.This was of great service to theirhealth, and helped to make themstrong, active, and cheerful. Oneevening, after they had been workingvery hard, their mothers gave them[Pg 4]leave to go. Out they set, as briskas larks; they tripped over the stilevery nimbly, and had soon gathereda handful of primroses and violets.Presently they heard a loud noise ata little distance, and away they ranto find out what it was. In a wood,not far off, they observed a man fellinga large tree, and around lay agreat number of chips. I wonder,said Sukey Dawkins, if any bodymakes use of these: how glad mymother would be to have some tolight her fires with; let us ask thecarpenter. Pray, said she, do youthink the person who owns these,would give me leave to take a fewhome to my mother?—Yes, said theman, I think he would: they belongto Mr. Ownoak, who is walking inthe next field, and you may ask him,if you will. O, said Polly Wood, donot let us go, I cannot abide to ask:her companion replied, what is thereto be ashamed of, I am not a going[Pg 5]to do any thing wrong; and, unlessI was, I do not see what reason Ihave to be ashamed. These chipsare of no use to this gentleman, and,perhaps, he does not think how usefulthey might be to others. Come,let us make haste: so she went upto Mr. Ownoak, and said—Pray, Sir,will you give me leave to take a fewof those chips home to light my mammy’sfire? Who is your mammy, mylittle girl, said he? Widow Dawkins,sir. Where does she live? In theWell-yard. How many children hasshe? Four, sir