threw it into the cart with other sheep and lambs.  Isaac came up to them in season to witness this operation, and his heart swelled with indignation.  He sprang into the cart, exclaiming, “That’s my lamb, and you shan’t have it!” The men tried to push him aside; but he pulled out a rusty jack-knife, which he had bought of a pedlar for two-pence, and cut the rope that bound the poor lamb.  A British officer rode up, and seeing a little boy struggling so resolutely with the soldiers, he inquired what was the matter.  “They’ve stolen my lamb!” exclaimed Isaac; “and they shan’t have it.  It’s my lamb!”

“Is it your lamb, my brave little fellow?” said the officer.  “Well, they shan’t have it.  You’ll make a fine soldier one of these days.”

So Isaac lifted his lamb from the cart, and trudged off victorious.  He had always been a whig; and after this adventure, he became more decided than ever in his politics.  He often used to boast that he would rather have a paper continental dollar, than a golden English guinea.  The family amused themselves by exciting his zeal, and Polly made him believe he was such a famous whig, that the British would certainly carry him off to prison.  He generally thought he was fully capable of defending himself; but when he saw four soldiers approaching the house one day, he concluded the force was rather too strong for him, and hastened to hide himself in the woods.

His temper partook of the general strength and vehemence of his character.  Having put a small quantity of gunpowder on the stove of the school-house, it exploded, and did some injury to the master.  One of the boys, who was afraid of being suspected of the mischief, in order to screen himself, cried out, “Isaac Hopper did it!”—­and Isaac was punished accordingly.  Going home from school, he seized the informer as they were passing through a wood, tied him up to a tree, and gave him a tremendous thrashing.  The boy threatened to tell of it; but he assured him that he would certainly kill him if he did; so he never ventured to disclose it.

In general, his conscience reproved him as soon as he had done anything wrong, and he hastened to make atonement.  A poor boy, who attended the same school, usually brought a very scanty dinner.  One day, the spirit of mischief led Isaac to spoil the poor child’s provisions by filling his little pail with sand.  When the boy opened it, all eagerness to eat his dinner, the tears came into his eyes; for he was very hungry.  This touched Isaac’s heart instantly.  “Oh, never mind, Billy,” said he.  “I did it for fun; but I’m sorry I did it..  Come, you shall have half of my dinner.”  It proved a lucky joke for Billy; for from that day henceforth, Isaac always helped him plentifully from his own stock of provisions.