66 Foachim the Mimic.

“© Why, who taught you to do that, young Maf-
ter?” faid he.

Joachim was no great talker at any time, and
he now merely faid, “© Nobody,” and {miled.

“© Well, you muft draw my boat fome day, for
me to hang up; and now here’s a luck penny for
you, for you certainly are a capital hand for fuch
a youngfter.”’

Joachim was greatly pleafed with the penny, for
it was a curious old one, with a hole through it ;
and he told his Mother all about it; but though it
may feem ftrange, he never mentioned the bottle
and the Genie to her at all. That appeared to
him to be a quite private affair of his own.

He altered very much, however, by degrees.
He had been till then rather a dull, filent boy:
now he talked much more, was more amufing,
was always endeavouring to draw, and after being
at church would try to read the prayers like the
parfon. His Mother was delighted. She began
to think her fon would grow up a good {cholar
after all, and being now well off, owing to the
King’s kindnefs, fhe refolved on fending little Jo-
achim to fchool.

To fchool, accordingly, he went; and here, my
little readers, there was a great change for him.
Hitherto he had lived very much alone with his
Mother, and being quiet, and fomewhat dull by
nature, he had never till quite lately had many
acquaintances of his own age.

Now, however, he found himfelf among great