He then sent for him by the title of Mr. Whittington, who, poor boy, was then in the kitchen cleaning pots and spits. Being told he must come to his master, he made several excuses; but, being urged to go, he at length came to the door, and there stood bowing and scraping. He did not dare to enter until the merchant commanded him in, and ordered a chair to be immediately set for him; on which he, thinking they intended to make sport of him, fell on his knees, and with tears in his eyes besought them not to mock a poor simple fellow, who meant none of them any harm.

Mr. Fitzwarren, raising him up, said, "Indeed, Mr. Whittington, we are serious with you, for in estate at this instant you are an abler man than myself." He then gave him the vast riches, which amounted to three hundred thousand pounds-an immense sum in those days.

At length, being persuaded to believe, he fell upon his knees, and prayed Almighty God, who had vouchsafed to behold so poor a creature in the midst of his misery. He then turned to his master, and laid his riches at his feet; but he said:

"No, Mr. Whittington, God forbid I should take so much as a ducat from you; may it be a comfort to you!"

Whittington then turned to Miss Alice, but she also refused it; upon which he bowed low, and said to her, "Madam, whenever you please to make choice of a husband, I will make you the greatest fortune in the world." Upon this he began to distribute his bounty to his fellow-servants, giving even his mortal enemy the cook one hundred pounds for her portion. He also

distributed his bounty very plentifully to all the ship's

crew.

Upon this change the haberdashers, tailors, and seamstresses were set to work to make Mr. Whittington fine clothes, and all things answerable to his fortune. Being dressed, he appeared a very comely person, insomuch that Miss Alice began to cast her eyes upon him. Now, her father, seeing this, intended a match between them, looking upon him to be a fortunate man. He also took him to the Royal Exchange to see the customs of the merchants, where he was no sooner known, than they came to welcome him into their society.

Soon after this a match was proposed between him and his master's daughter, when he excused himself on account of the meanness of his birth; but that objection being removed by his present worth, it was soon agreed on, and the lord mayor and aldermen were invited to the wedding. After the honeymoon was over, his father-in-law asked him what employment he would follow. He replied, he should like that of a merchant. So they joined together in partnership, and both grew immensely rich.

Though fortune had thus bountifully smiled on the subject of our history, he was far from being proud. He was, on the contrary, very merry, which made his company and acquaintance courted by all. In a short time he was nominated Sheriff of London, in the year 1393, Sir John Hadley then being lord mayor.

Thus he grew in riches and fame, being greatly beloved by all, especially the poor, whose hunger he always supplied. In five years' time he was chosen lord mayor, in which office he behaved with such

justice and prudence, that he was chosen twice to the same position afterward.

He entertained King Henry V., after his conquest of France, and his queen at Guildhall, in such a very grand manner, that the king was pleased to say, "Never prince had such a subject," and conferred upon him the honor of knighthood. At this entertainment the king particularly praised the fire, which was made of choice wood, mixed with mace, cloves, and all other spices. On which Sir Richard said he would endeavor to make one still more agreeable to his majesty, and immediately tore and threw into the fire the king's bond for ten thousand marks due to the company of mercers; two thousand five hundred, to the Chambers of London; and to the staplers, goldsmiths, haberdashers, vintners, brewers, and bakers, three thousand marks each.

"All these," said Sir Richard, "with divers others, lent for the payment of your soldiers in France, I have taken in and discharged, to the amount of sixty thousand pounds sterling; can your majesty desire to see such another sight?" The king and nobles were struck dumb with surprise at his wealth and liberality.

Sir Richard spent the rest of his days honored by the rich and loved by the poor. He had by his wife two sons and two daughters, some of whose posterity are worthy citizens. He built many charitable houses, also a church in Vintry Ward, dedicated to St. Michael, adding to it a college, dedicated to St. Mary, with a yearly allowance for the poor scholars, near which he erected a hospital, and well endowed it. There he caused his father-in-law and mother-in-law to be buried, and left room for himself and wife when death

should call them. He built Newgate, a place for criminals. He gave large sums to Bartholomew's Hospital, and to many other charitable uses.

Dame Alice, his wife, died in the sixty-third year of her age, after which he would not marry, though he outlived her nearly twenty years. In the conclusion, he died, and was buried in the place aforesaid, leaving a good name to posterity.

THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD

A

GREAT many years ago there lived in the county of Norfolk a gentleman and his lady.

The gentleman was brave, kind, and of a noble spirit; and the lady was gentle, beautiful, and virtuous. They were very much loved by all who knew them; for they were always trying to do service to everybody who came near them, or who had anything at all to do with them.

This lady and gentleman lived together very happily for many years, for they loved each other most tenderly. They had two children, who were as yet very young; for the eldest, who was a boy, was about three years old, and the youngest, who was a girl, not quite two years old. The boy was very much like his father, and the girl was like her mother. By the end of this time the gentleman fell sick, and day after day he grew worse. His lady was so much grieved by his illness that she fell sick too. No physic, nor anything else, was of the least use to them, for their illness grew worse and worse; and they saw that they should soon be taken away from their two little babes, and be forced to leave them in the world without a father or mother.

They bore this cruel thought as well as they could; and trusted that after they were dead, their children would find some kind friend or another to bring them up. They talked to one another tenderly about them, and at last agreed to send for the gentleman's brother, and give their darlings into his care.