STORY

OF

SIR WILLIAM THOMPSON.


"When Sir William Thompson was in the plantation abroad, one of his
friends told him he had an indentured servant whom he had just bought,
that was his countryman and a lusty man; 'but he is so idle,' says he,
'that I cannot get him to work.' 'Aye,' says Sir William, 'let me see
him.' Accordingly they walked out together and found the man sitting on
a heap of stones. Upon this Sir William, after enquiring about his
country, asked why he did not go out to work. 'I am not able,' answered
the man. 'Not able?' says Sir William, 'I am sure you look very well;
give him a few stripes.' Upon this the planter struck him several times,
but the poor man still kept his seat.

"Then they left him to look over the plantation, exclaiming against his
obstinacy all the way they went; but how surprised were they, on their
return, to find the poor man fallen from off the place where he had been
sitting, and dead! 'The cruelty,' says Sir William, 'of my ordering the
poor man to be beaten while in the agonies of death lies always next my
heart. It is what I shall never forget, and will for ever prevent my
judging rashly of people who appear in distress. How do we know what our
children may come to? The Lord have mercy upon the poor, and defend them
from the proud, the inconsiderate, and the avaricious."

But we return to Whittington: who would have lived happy in this worthy