received it, he asked his master's leave to go and see his mother; and he took the money with him, and gave it to his mother :- -it was not much; but it was all he had to give!

A boy, about seven years old, was detected in robbing a till in a shop, at Gloucester. A kind gentleman hearing of this very sad thing, and thinking that if the boy were better taught, he would not do so wickedly again, took him into one of the Sunday schools, which he had set up. The boy behaved very well there; and learned to read, and to say his catechism. Soon after he had left school, he went to sea. During all the time of his service, which was several years, he allowed his poor mother one half of his wages; and it was regularly paid to her. When he came home, he went to work; and behaved with great regularity and sobriety. He called to see the gentleman, who had taken him into his school; and thanked him for his kindness.

tress:

A poor youth, in the parish of Ednam, in Scotland, was very much deformed; and quite unable to earn his own livelihood. When he had lost his father, who was a day labourer, his mother cried out in great dis"Oh, William, who will maintain you now?" "Dear mother," said he, "that Divine Being who created me in this helpless state, will not suffer me to perish for want." And he said very truly for though he had no legs nor knees, and could not raise one of his arms to his breast, and had an impediment in his speech, he was healthy, cheerful, and contented; he had taught himself to read and write; he met with friends who were kind to him; and his younger brother, who was servant to a respectable farmer at Ednam, did all he could to assist him.

SECTION 10.

ONE of the greatest services that we can do, at all times and in all places, to our companions, friends, and neighbours, is, to set them a good example." I have heard," said a clergyman in one of his sermons, "of a little knot of cottages, the inhabitants of which were amongst the most regular and orderly in the whole parish. Their good behaviour was said to be owing chiefly to an excellent man, a day-labourer, who had long lived among them; and whose example was like a good book, always open before them. From it they learned, that industry and frugality turn poverty into plenty.; that contentment, rather than riches, produces happiness; that frequenting the alehouse is dishonesty to families; and that the love of God turns every thing into a blessing. All this they learned chiefly from a good example, which brought instruction closer to the heart, than any words could have done."

An old man, who had led a life of great industry and piety, being on his death-bed, sent for his children and grandchildren, and said to them: "My dear children, attend to my last wish, and my dying request. Let no quarrels, or disputes, arise amongst you, after my decease; but let each strive to show proofs of affection to his brother, or sister. Do not suffer yourselves to be tempted by any thing to become proud, for by that you may ruin your souls: but pray to the Lord to grant you humble hearts, and lowly minds. If you follow this advice of your father, my joy will be complete, when I shall see you again in eternal bliss; and be able to

say to our Saviour: Behold, Lord, thy poor, unworthy servant; and the children whom thou hast given me !""

Truly honest and religious people not only will not steal; but if they accidentally find any thing, that belongs to another, they will not keep it, if they can possibly discover the owner.-An officer, riding in the streets of Pekin, in China, dropped his purse. A poor man, who was a Christian, saw it fall, took it up, and ran after the officer to give it to him; but did not overtake him till he had reached his house. The officer, who was a heathen, asked him, rather rudely, what he wanted. "To restore the purse, which have lost," said the Christian. The officer on seeing his purse, was much surprised, and pleased; but he could not help inquiring why the poor man had brought it to him, the customs of that country allowing people to keep what they find. "I am a Christian," said the poor man ; "and my religion obliges me to do it."

you

Two poor soldiers, of the ninth regiment of foot, quartered in Dublin, in the year 1807, found a banknote for the sum of one hundred pounds. They immediately carried it to their officer; and desired he would advise them what they should do to find out the owner. An advertisement was, on his recommendation, put in the newspaper; and the next day, the person by whom the note had been dropped, came to claim it. The soldiers, hearing that he was a clerk in one of the banks, and in straitened circumstances, were, with great difficulty, prevailed upon to accept from him a small present; saying they were sufficiently rewarded, in having been the means of saving a poor man from extreme distress.

B 5

CHAPTER II.

NARRATIONS.

SECTION 1.

The Sunday scholar.

"ONE day," said a very benevolent gentleman

as I was going to church, I overtook a soldier just entering the church-door; this was on a week-day. As I passed him, I said it gave me pleasure to see that he was going to a place of divine worship." "Ah! sir,"

66

said he, “I may thank you for that." "Me!" said I; "I do not know that I ever saw you before." Sir," said he, "when I was a little boy, I was indebted

to you for my first instruction in my duty. I used to meet you, at the morning service, in the cathedral; and was one of your Sunday scholars. My father, when he left this city, took me into Berkshire; and put me apprentice to a shoemaker. I used often to think of you. At length, I went to London; and was there drawn to serve as a militia-man, in the Westminster militia. I came to Gloucester last night, with a deserter and I took the opportunity of coming this morning, to visit the old spot; and in the hope of once more seeing you."

He then told me his name; and brought himself to my recollection by a curious circumstance, which hap

* Robert Raikes, Esq. of Gloucester, the institutor of Sunday schools.

pened whilst he was at school. His father was a journeyman currier; a most vile, profligate man. After the boy had been some time at school, he came one day, and told me, that his father was wonderfully changed; and that he had left off going to the alehouse on a Sunday. It happened soon after that I met the man in the street, and said to him: "My friend, it gives me great pleasure to hear that you have left off going to the alehouse on Sundays; your boy tells me that you now stay at home, and never get tipsy." "Sir," said he, “I may thank you for it." "Nay," said I, "I do not recollect that I ever spoke to you before." "No, sir," said he; "but the good instructions you give my boy, he brings home to me: and it is that, sir, which has induced me to reform life."

my

SECTION 2.

Honesty rewarded.

In a small town about five miles from Petersburgh, lived a poor, old German woman. A little cottage was her only possession; and the visits of a few shipmasters, on their way to Petersburgh, her only livelihood.

Several Dutch shipmasters having one evening supped at her house, she found, when they were gone, a sealed bag of money under the table. Her surprise, at this unexpected discovery, was naturally very great. Some one of the company just gone, had certainly forgotten it but they had sailed over to Cronstadt, and they were perhaps at sea, the wind being fair; and there was

:

no hope of their returning. The good woman put the bag in her cupboard, to keep it till it should be called for. However, nobody called for it. Full SEVEN YEARS