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boys, and, taking his hat off his head-it was a very greasy, dirty hat, he took out of it a red cotton pocket-handkerchief-the handkerchief was also very filthy, and out of it he unfolded some bread and cheese, which he began to eat.

'I wonder if it is jolly to be a beggar,' said Harry, as he watched the man eating. I should like to walk about all day, and eat bread and cheese by the roadside. Suppose we do!'

Hugh went across to where the man sat and stood near him.

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Is it jolly to be a tramp?' asked he, after a while.

'Eh, master?' said the man.

'Is it nice to be a beggar?' asked Hugh again. Is it jolly to be a tramp ?'

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Uncommon,' said the man, winking his eye. Oh, uncommon nice to be a beggar! Try it, young master-uncommon jolly, particularly when you ain't got nothing to eat. Oh, then, it just is jolly.'

I would rather have something to eat though,' said Harry gravely. 'What a funny man this is! I think I should like to be a beggar.'

'Let's be beggars,' said Hugh. 'Let's run away, and then Stumps may tell of us as much as he likes. Uncle Tom can't whip us.'

The man got up, for he had finished his bread and cheese; and as he walked away he looked back at the boys and laughed, and winked his eye again, and repeated

'Uncommon jolly!-very uncommon jolly! Try it, young masters; try it.'

'I don't like his face much,' said Harry, when the beggar was out of hearing; 'but he says it is very jolly, and he ought to know, because he is a tramp himself.'

'I vote we turn tramps,' said Hugh.

'Must we tear holes in our clothes?' asked Harry. That man's coat was full of holes.' Hugh thought for a moment. 'I think we had best, perhaps,' said he. Your jacket is old already, but your knickerbockers are much too good for a tramp. Here, wait a bit,' and Hugh took his clasp-knife from his pocket and cut a large round hole in the leg of his brother's trousers, so that the whole of Harry's knee came out of it.

'Oh dear!' said Harry; 'what ever will mamma say ?'

'You forget,' said Hugh, 'we are going to be tramps. She will not see it.'

'For always?' asked Harry. 'Yes, of course.'

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'I don't like being a tramp for always,' said Harry. 'I don't like not to see mamma again

ever.'

'Oh, we shall see her sometimes,' Hugh answered. 'Of course tramps see their mothers every now and then; but if we do not make off now Uncle Tom will catch us.'

If

At those words Harry set off running with his brother, without waiting to think any more whether he would be a tramp or no, or for how long he would wish to remain a beggar, without thinking at all, indeed; for if either of these silly little boys had thought seriously for a moment, they would not have acted in the way they did that morning. Now, Hugh and Harry, as we know, had done very wrong, but there is no doubt of what they ought to have done now. they had gone and told Uncle Tom all about the cherries and their own wickedness, they would have saved themselves a very great deal of pain and unhappiness. Even if they had got a whipping, it would have been better than all they brought upon themselves by running away from it. But I think myself, that if they had told Uncle Tom the truth, he would very likely have forgiven them, and not have flogged them after all; for papas, and mammas, and uncles are not

very fond of whipping little boys and girls, and would always be very glad of an excuse to forgive them. At least so I have found with the papas and mammas that I have known.

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TURNING BEGGAR BOYS.

UGH and Harry having torn their trousers as much as they thought fit for beggars, and having run until they were out of

breath, stopped to talk over what they

should do next. They sat down by the roadside, and straddled their legs very far apart, as they had seen the tramp do, and Hugh said

'Have you any money in your pocket, Harry? I have a shilling and a halfpenny. We shall have to get some breakfast.'

'I have not any at all,' Harry answered. 'I spent my threepence yesterday in sweets. What shall we do when your shilling is gone, Hugh?' 'Beg, of course!' said Hugh. What are we beggars for, unless we beg!'

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'But where can we get any breakfast? There

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