"And could you not show me my letters?" asked Tommy.

"Very willingly," was Harry's reply. And the lessons proceeded so well
that Tommy, who learned the whole alphabet at the very first lesson, at
the end of two months was able to read aloud to Mr. Barlow "The History
of the Two Dogs," which shows how vain it is to expect courage in those
who lead a life of indolence and repose, and that constant exercise and
proper discipline are frequently able to change contemptible characters
into good ones.

Later, Harry read the story of Androcles and the Lion, and asked how it
was that one person should be the servant of another and bear so much
ill-treatment.

"As to that," said Tommy, "some folks are born gentlemen, and then they
must command others; and some are born servants, and they must do as
they are bid." And he recalled how the black men and women in Jamaica
had to wait upon him, and how he used to beat them when he was angry.
But when Mr. Barlow asked him how these people came to be slaves, he
could only say that his father had bought them, and that he was born a
gentleman.

"Then," said Mr. Barlow, "if you were no longer to have a fine house,
nor fine clothes, nor a great deal of money, somebody that had all these
things might make you a slave, and use you ill, and do whatever he liked
with you."

Seeing that he could not but admit this, Tommy became convinced that no
one should make a slave, of another, and decided that for the future he
would never use their black William ill.