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ce。〃
〃Then I think this spot will do very well。〃
〃I'll just mark out the trees which are to stand； Mr。 Seagrave； and those which are to be cut down； so as to leave about four feet of stump standing。〃
As soon as they had planned the building； the axes and saw were in full use； and tree after tree fell one upon the other。 They worked hard till dinner…time； and were not sorry at the prospect of sitting down to a rich mess of turtle…soup。
〃My dear William； and you too； Mr。 Seagrave； how very warm you are！〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃you must not work so hard。〃
〃Cutting down trees is very warm work； mother；〃 replied William； 〃and hard work will never hurt any one； especially when he dines off turtle…soup。 Why； Tommy； what's the matter with you？〃
〃Tommy and I are at variance；〃 replied Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃I had my thimble this morning； and had commenced my sewing； when I was called out by Juno； and Caroline went with me； and Tommy was left in the house。 When I came back I found him outside； and on going back to my work； there was no thimble to be found； I asked him if he had touched it； and his answer was that he would look for it。 He did look； and said he could not find it； I have asked him several times if he took it away； and his only answer is that he will find it by and by。〃
〃Tommy； did you take the thimble？〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； gravely。
〃I'll find it by and by； papa。〃
〃That's not an answer。 Did you take the thimble？〃
〃I'll find it by and by； papa；〃 said Tommy； whimpering。
〃That's all the answer he will give me；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Well； then； he shall have no dinner till the thimble makes its appearance；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。
Master Tommy began to cry at this intelligence。 Juno appeared with the turtle…soup； and Tommy cried louder when they had said grace and commenced their dinner。 They were all very hungry； and William sent his plate for another portion； which he had not commenced long before he put his finger in his mouth and pulled out something。
〃Why； mother； here's the thimble in my soup；〃 cried William。
〃No wonder he said he would find it by and by；〃 said Ready； smiling； 〃he meant to have fished it up； I suppose； from what was left of the soup after dinner。 Well； Mrs。 Seagrave； I don't mean to say that Tommy is a good boy； but still； although be would not tell where the thimble was； he has not told a falsehood about it。〃
〃No； he has not；〃 replied William。 〃I think； now that the thimble is found； if he begs pardon； papa will forgive him。〃
〃Tommy； come here；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。 〃Tell me why you put that thimble into the soup？〃
〃I wanted to taste the soup。 I wanted to fill the thimble； the soup burnt my fingers； and I let the thimble drop in。〃
〃Well； a thimbleful wasn't much； at all events；〃 observed Ready。 〃And why didn't you tell your mamma where the thimble was？〃
〃I was afraid mamma throw all the soup away； and then I get none for dinner。〃
〃Oh！ that was it； was it？ Well； sir； I said you should have no dinner till the thimble was found； so； as it is found； you may have your dinner； but if you ever refuse to answer a question again； I shall punish you more severely。〃
Tommy was glad the lecture was over； and more glad to get his turtle…soup； he finished one plate； and； as he asked for another； he said； 〃Tommy won't put thimble in again； put tin pot in next time。〃
After dinner they went to their work again； and did not come in again till sunset。
〃The clouds are gathering fast； sir；〃 observed Ready； 〃we shall have rain to…night。〃
〃I fear we shall； but we must expect it now； Ready。〃
〃Yes； sir； and by and by we shall have it for days together。〃
〃Ready；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃if you are not too tired； perhaps you will go on with your history。〃
〃Certainly； ma'am； if you wish it；〃 replied Ready。 〃When I left off； I was on board of the collier； bound to London。 We had a very fair wind； and a quick passage。 I was very sick until we arrived in the Nore； and then I recovered； and； as you may suppose； was astonished at the busy scene； and the quantity of vessels which were going up and down the river。 But I did not like my captain； he was very severe and brutal to the men； and the apprentice who was on board told me to run away； and get into another vessel； and not to bind myself apprentice to this captain； or I should be beat all day long； and be treated as bad as he was。 I knew this was the case； as the captain kicked and cuffed him twenty times a day。 The men said that he did not do so to me； for fear I should refuse to be his apprentice； but that； as soon as my indentures were signed； he would treat me in the same way。
〃Well； I made up my mind that I would not remain in the collier； and； as the captain had gone on shore； I had plenty of time to look about me。 There was a large ship； which was ready to sail； lying in the stream； I spoke to two boys who were at the stairs in her boat； and they told me that they were very comfortable on board； and that the captain wanted two or three apprentices。 I went on board with them； and offered myself。 The captain asked me a great many questions； and I told him the truth； and why I did not like to remain in the collier。 He agreed to take me； and I went on shore with him； signed my indentures； and received from him a sufficient supply of clothes； and； two days afterwards； we sailed for Bombay and China。〃
〃But you wrote to your mother； Ready； did you not？〃 said William。
〃Yes； I did； for the captain desired me to do so； and he put a few lines at the bottom to comfort her； but； unfortunately； the letter； which was sent on shore by the cook； never arrived。 Whether he dropped it； or forgot it till after the ship sailed； and then tore it up； I do not know； but； as I found out afterwards； it never did get to her hands。〃
〃It was not your fault that the letter did not arrive safe；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃No； madam； that was not my fault； the fault had been committed before。〃
〃Don't dwell any more upon that portion of your history； Ready； but tell us what took place after you sailed for the East Indies。〃
〃Be it so； if you please。 I certainly was very smart and active for my age； and soon became a great favourite on board； especially with the lady passengers； because I was such a little fellow。 We arrived safely at Bombay； where our passengers went on shore； and in three weeks afterwards we sailed down the straits for China。 It was war time； and we were very often chased by French privateers； but as we had a good crew and plenty of guns； none of them ventured to attack us； and we got safe to Macao； where we unloaded our cargo and took in teas。 We had to wait some time for a convoy； and then sailed for England。 When we were off the Isle of France； the convoy was dispersed in a gale； and three days afterwards； a French frigate bore down upon us； and after exchanging a few broadsides； we were compelled to haul down our colours。 A lieutenant was sent on board with forty men to take charge of us； for we were a very rich prize to them。 The captain and most of the crew were taken on board of the frigate； but ten Lascars and the boys were left in the Indiaman； to assist in taking her into the Isle of France； which was at that