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.

Some days after this Tommy became interested in the growing of corn, and Harry promising to get some seed from his father, Tommy got up early and, having dug very perseveringly in a corner of his garden to prepare the ground for the seed, asked Mr. Barlow if this was not very good of him.

“That,” said Mr. Barlow, “depends upon the use you intend to make of the corn when you have raised it.  Where,” he asked, “will be the great goodness in your sowing corn for your own eating?  That is no more than all the people round here continually do.  And if they did not do it, they would be obliged to fast.”

“But then,” said Tommy, “they are not gentlemen, as I am.”

“What,” answered Mr. Barlow, “must not gentlemen eat as well as others; and therefore, is it not for their interest to know how to procure food as well as other people?”

“Yes, sir,” answered Tommy; “but they can have other people to raise it for them.”

“How does that happen?”

“Why they pay other people to work for them, or buy bread when it is made.”

“Then they pay for it with money?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then they must have money before they can buy corn?”

“Certainly, sir.”

“But have all gentlemen money?”

Tommy hesitated some time, and at last said, “I believe not always, sir.”

“Why, then,” said Mr. Barlow, “if they have not money, they will find it difficult to procure corn, unless they raise it for themselves.”  And he proceeded to recount the History of the Two Brothers, Pizarro and Alonzo, the former of whom, setting out on a gold-hunting expedition, prevailed upon the latter to accompany him, and became dependent upon Alonzo, who, instead of taking gold-seeking implements, provided himself with the necessaries for stocking a farm.

III.—­Town Life and Country Life

This story was followed by others, describing life in different and distant parts of the world; and in addition to the knowledge they acquired in this way, Tommy and Harry, in their intercourse with their neighbours and in the cultivation of their gardens, learned a great deal.  Tommy in particular, growing much kinder towards the poor and towards dumb animals, as well as growing in physical well-being.