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always attended with some inconvenience： it is an ill…natured disposition
which can take pleasure in giving trouble to any one。' 'Do hold your
tongue； James；' replied Will； 'I declare I have not patience to hear you
preach； you are so prodigiously wise； and prudent； and sober； you had
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better go indoors and sew with your mamma； for you talk just as if you
were a girl； and not in the least like a boy of spirit。' 'Like a girl！' resumed
James。 'Are girls then the only folk who have any sense； or good nature？
Or what proof does it shew of spirit to be fond of mischief； and giving
people trouble？ It is like a monkey of spirit indeed； but I cannot say； that
I see either spirit or sense in making the clean clothes fall into the dirt； or
mixing the corn and chaff； for the sake of making the poor servants do
them all over again： if these things are a sign of any spirit。 I am sure it
is of an evil one； and not at all such as I wish to possess； though I no more
want to sit still； or work with a needle； than you do； but I hope there are
other ways of showing my spirit； as you call it； than by doing mischief；
and being ill…natured。 I do not think my papa ever seems to be
effeminate； or want sufficient spirit； but he would scorn to give
unnecessary trouble to anybody： and so will Tom Vaulter； though no boy
in the world loves play better than he does； he plays at cricket the best of
any boy in the school； and I am sure none can beat him at tennis； and as
for skipping； I never saw a boy skip so well in all my life； and I am sure he
would beat you； with all your spirit； out and out twenty times； either at
running； or sliding； or swimming； or climbing a tree。 And yet he never
gives trouble to anybody for the sake of fun； he is one of the best…
tempered boys in the world； and whether it is like a girl or not； he always
does what he knows to be right and kind； and if that is being like girls；
why； with all my heart； I like girls well enough； and if they behave well I
do not see why you should speak so contemptuously of them。 My papa
always says that he loves girls just as well as boys； and none but foolish
and naughty boys despise and tease them。' Just as he said these words；
Simon and John entered the barn； and seeing Will stand idle； 'Come； come；
young gentleman；' said John； 'take up your flail and go to work； sir； to
work！ to work！ night will be here presently； and you have done nothing
yet。' Presently after the gentleman returned； and enforced John's advice
for him to mind his work。
After Master Will had continued his employment some little time； he
began to cry； saying； his arms ached ready to drop off； and his hand was so
sore he could not bear it。 'Then doubtless；' replied his father； 'you would
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prodigiously like； after you have been labouring all day； to have your work
to do over again； for the sake of diverting a foolish boy。 But go on；
William； I am determined that you shall； for one day； know what it is to
work hard； and thereby be taught to pity； and help； not add to the fatigue of
those who do。' The boy then went on with his business； though not
without making great complaints； and shedding many tears。 At length；
however； evening came； and the gentleman； his son； and the two men； all
went away； leaving Longtail and myself to enjoy our abundance。 We
passed another night in the sweetest undisturbed repose； and in the day
had nothing to alarm our fears。 In short； our situation was every way so
perfectly happy and desirable； that we thought； although our mother had
charged us not to return frequently to the same place； yet she could not
mean that we should not take up our abode in a spot so secure and
comfortable。 We therefore determined to continue where we were； till
we should find some cause for removing。 And happy had it been for us if
we had kept to this resolution； and remained contented when we had
everything requisite to make us so。 Instead of which； after we had thus；
free from care； passed our time about seven months； like fools as we were；
we began to grow weary of our retirement； and of eating nothing but the
same food； and agreed that we would again venture forth and seek for
some other lodging； at the same time resolving； in case we could find no
habitation that suited us； to return to the barn where we had enjoyed so
many days of plenty and repose。
Accordingly； one fine moonlight Monday night； after securing our
supper on the corn； we set forth； and travelled for some distance without
any further molestation than our own natural fears created。 At length we
came to a brick house； with about five or six windows in front； and made
our way into it through a small latticed window which gave air into the
pantry； but on our arrival here we had no opportunity of so much as
observing what it contained； for on our slipping down a cat instantly flew
at us； and by the greatest good luck in the world； there chanced to be a
hole in one of the boards of the floor close to the spot where we stood； into
which we both were happy enough to pop； before she could catch us。
Here we had time to reflect； and severely blame ourselves for not being
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satisfied with our state in the barn。 'When；' said I； addressing myself to
my brother； 'when shall we grow wise； and learn to know that certain evil
always attends every deviation from what is right。 When we disobeyed
the advice of our mother； and； tempted by cakes and other dainties；
frequently returned to the same dangerous place； how severely did we
suffer for it？ And now； by our own discontent； and not being satisfied
when so safely though more humbly lodged； into what trouble have we