Page 185 - Child's own book

lie improved the business so much3 as to gain a considerable
fortune, and became one of the most respectable manufacturers
in the country. But, with all this prosperity, he never dis­
covered the least pi ids or haughtiness; on the contrary , he
employed part of his fortune to purchase the moor where he
had formerly lived, and built himself a small but convenient
house upon tlie very spot Tvhcre his daddy’s hut bad formerly
stood. To all his poor neighbours he was kind and liberal,
relieving them in their distress, and often entertaining them at
his house, where he used to dine with them with the greatest
affability, and frequently relate his own story, in order to prove
that it is of very little consequence how a man comes into the
world, provided he behaves well and discharges his duty when
he is in it.

THE FISHERMAN AND THE GENIE.

Theue was a very ancient fisherman, so poor, that ho could
scarcely earn enough to maintain himself, his wife, and three
children. He went every day to fish betimes in the morning ;
and, imposed it as a law upon himself, not to cast his nets above
four times a day. He went one morning by moonlight, and,
coming to the sea-side, undressed himself, and cast in his nets.
As he drew them towards the shore, he found them very heavy,
and thought he had a good draught of fish, at which he rejoiced
within himself; but, in a moment after, perceiving that, instead
of fish, there was nothing in his nets but the carcass of an ass,
lie was much vexed. When the fisherman, distressed, in
having made such a sorry draught, had mended his nets, which
the carcass of the ass had broken in several places, he threw
them in a second tim e: and, when he drew them, found a great