Foachim the Mimic. 79,

There was a great fufs among the Coufins at
the notion of Joachim having talked to a Genie ;
and, to tell you the truth, this was all they thought
about, and foon after took their leave. The heart
of Joachim’s Mother was at reft, however: for
though fhe knew how hard her fon would find it
to alter what had become a habit of life, fhe knew
that he was a good and pious boy, and fhe faw
that he was fully alive to his error.

“Oh Mother,” faid he, during the courfe of
that evening, “ how plain I fee it all now! The
boy that ftutters is a model of obedience and ten-
dernefs ; I ought to have dwelt upon and imitated
that, and, oh! I thought only of his ftuttering.
The boy that walks fo clumfily, as well as the
great fellow that lifps, are fuch induftrious lads,
and fo advanced in learning, that the mafter thinks
both will be diftinguifhed hereafter ; and I, who
—(oh, my poor mother, I muft confefs to you)—
hated to labour at any thing, and have got the boys
to do my leffons for me ;—I, inftead of imitating
their induftry, loft all my time in ridiculing their
defects. —W hat fhall—what fhall I do!” '

The next morning poor Joachim faid his prayers
more humbly than he had ever before done in his
life ; and, kiffing his mother, went to fchool. The
firft thing he did on arriving was to go up to the
big boy, who had beaten him, and beg him to fhake
hands.

The big boy was pleafed, and a grim file
lightened up his face. ‘ But, old fellow,” faid