Mr. Fitzwarren then told the men to open the great treasure they had brought with them, saying, “There is nothing more now for Mr. Whittington to do but to put it in some place of safety.”

Poor Dick hardly knew how to behave himself for joy.  He begged his master to take what part of it he pleased, since he owed it all to his kindness.  “No, no,” answered Mr. Fitzwarren, “this all belongs to you; and I have no doubt that you will use it well.”

Dick next begged his mistress, and then Miss Alice, to accept a part of his good fortune, but they would not, and at the same time told him what great joy they felt at his great success.  But he was far too kind-hearted to keep it all to himself; so he made a present to the captain, the mate, and the rest of Mr. Fitzwarren’s servants; and even to his old enemy, the cross cook.

After this Mr. Fitzwarren advised him to send for a tailor and get himself dressed like a gentleman, and told him he was welcome to live in his house till he could provide himself with a better.

When Whittington’s face was washed, his hair curled, and he was dressed in a smart suit of clothes, he was just as handsome and fine a young man as any who visited at Mr. Fitzwarren’s, and so thought fair Alice Fitzwarren, who had once been so kind to him and looked upon him with pity.  And now she felt he was quite fit to be her sweetheart, and none the less, no doubt, because Whittington was always thinking what he could do to please her, and making her the prettiest presents that could be.

Mr. Fitzwarren soon saw which way the wind blew, and ere long proposed to join them in marriage, and to this they both readily agreed.  A day for the wedding was soon fixed; and they were attended to church by the Lord Mayor, the court of aldermen, the sheriffs, and a great number of the richest merchants in London, whom they afterwards treated with a magnificent feast.

History tells us that Mr. Whittington and his lady lived in great splendour, and were very happy.  They had several children.  He was Sheriff, and thrice Lord Mayor of London, and received the honour of knighthood from Henry V.

After the King’s conquest of France, Sir Richard Whittington entertained him and the Queen at dinner at the Mansion House in so sumptuous a manner that the King said, “Never had Prince such a subject!” To which Sir Richard replied, “Never had subject such a Prince.”

THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG

An old woman was sweeping her house, and she found a little crooked sixpence.  “What,” said she, “shall I do with this little sixpence?  I will go to market, and buy a little pig.”

So she bought a little pig; but as she was coming home, she came to a stile, and the piggy would not go over the stile.

[Illustration:  The old woman and her pig]

She went a little further, and she met a dog.  So she said to him, “Dog! dog! bite pig; piggy won’t go over the stile; and I shan’t get home till midnight.”  But the dog wouldn’t.