KING PIPPIN. 193

ordering the butler to give Pippin and his son some refresh-
ments, while she wrote a letter for them to take to Mr.
‘Teachwell, the schoolmaster.

The following day they set out for the next town; Pippin,
as they walked along, kept giving his son good advice as to his
conduct, particularly telling him to heware that improper pride
crept not into his heart at this unexpected good fortune ; as
that, said he, will spoil all, and make the intended advantage
turn to evil. They had not proceeded above a mile, when a
coach passed them, which presently stopped, and a gentleman
looking out of the window, asked if that little boy was not
named Peter Pippin? The father, with a low bow answered,
* Yes, sir.” “I thought so,” said Mr. Worthy, “from the
description Lady Bountiful gave me of him last night. It is
fortunate I overtook you on the road ; 1am going to take my
two sons to the same school ; and, as Peter is such a good boy,
he shall ride there in my carriage.” Pippin took leave of his
son with a pious blessing, and returned home ; while the latter
went forward with his new friends. Mr. Worthy, to amuse
the time, asked the boys to spell several words, which led to the
discovery that Pippin was the best scholar of the three. Ob-
serve,” said he to his sons, “how you have wasted your time.
Here, Pippin, is a shilling fur you. As for you, Charles and
William, you shall have neither plum-pudding nor mince-pies,
when you come home at the Christmas holidays, if you cannot
spell them in a proper manner. I will not encourage idleness.”
Peter soon gained the love of his school-fellows, and good-will
of his master; and Mr. Teachwell, in his letter to Lady
Bountiful, wrote highly as to his character and abilities. His
temper was so sweet, and his judgment so excellent, that the
rest of the boys fell into a habit of taking hisadvice when they
were in any doubt, or referring their disputes to him. He was

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