O that will be a happy day!" continued Ned, getting up to
jump and clap his hands for joy.
"There is another thing I am very glad of," said he, sitting down again.
"Master is going to turn Tom Andrews away next week."
"You ought not to be glad of that, Ned. Tom is one of a large family;
and his father being very poor, it must be a great help to have one of
his children earning something."
"But he is ill-natured to me, and often plagues me very much. It was
only yesterday he broke the best hoe, by knocking stones about with it,
and then told master it was my doing. Besides, he is idle, and does not
mind what is said to him, and often gets into mischief."
"And do you think being turned away from Farmer Tomkyns's will help to
cure these faults?"
"No," answered Ned; "I do not suppose it will."
"On the contrary, is it not likely that he will grow more idle, and get
oftener into mischief, when he has no master to look after him, and
nothing to do all day long but play about the streets?"
"Why, yes, that is true. Still, it will serve him right to be turned
away. I have heard Mr. Harris, our rector, say that those who do wrong
ought to be punished."
"Pray, Ned," asked his grandmother, "can you tell me what is the use of
punishment?"
"The use of punishment!--" repeated Ned, thoughtfully.
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