the pleasure of seeing that he was rewarded for the protection he gave the school, by the great increase in his congregation. The shepherd not only exhorted both parents and children to the indispensable duty of a regu

lar attendance at church, but by his pious counsels he drew them thither, and by his plain and prudent instructions enabled them to understand, and of course to delight in the public worship of God.

THE TWO SHOEMAKERS.

JACK BROWN and JAMES STOCK, were two | Jack, however, notwithstanding his idlelads apprenticed at nearly the same time, to Mr. Williams, a shoemaker, in a small town in Oxfordshire: they were pretty near the same age, but of very different characters and dispositions.

ness, picked up a little reading and writing, but never would learn to cast an account: that was too much labour. His mother was desirous he should continue at school, not so much for the sake of his learning, which she had not sense enough to value, but to save her darling from the fatigue of labour: for if he had not gone to school, she knew he must have gone to work, and she thought the former was the least tiresome of the two. Indeed this foolish woman had such an opinion of his genius, that she used, from a child, to think he was too wise for any thing but a parson, and hoped she should live to see him one She did not wish to see her son a minister because she loved either learning or piety, but because she thought it would make Jack a gentleman, and set him above his brothers.

Brown was eldest son to a farmer in good circumstances, who gave the usual apprentice fee with him. Being a wild giddy boy, whom his father could not well manage or instruct in farming, he thought it better to send him out to learn a trade at a distance, than to let him idle about at home; for Jack always preferred bird's-nesting and marbles to any other employment; he would trifle away the day, when his father thought he was at school, with any boys he could meet with, who were as idle as himself; and he could never be prevailed upon to do, or to learn any thing, while a game at taw could be had for love or money. All this time, his little Farmer Brown still hoped, that though brothers, much younger than himself, were Jack was likely to make but an idle and ig beginning to follow the plough, or to carry norant farmer, yet he might make no bad the corn to the mill as soon as they were able tradesman, when he should be removed from to mount a cart-horse. the indulgences of a father's house, and from Jack, however, who was a lively boy, and a silly mother, whose fondness kept him back did not naturally want either sense or good-in every thing. This woman was enraged nature, might have turned out well enough, when she found that so fine a scholar, as she if he had not had the misfortune to be his took Jack to be, was to be put apprentice to mother's favourite. She concealed and for- a shoemaker. The farmer, however, for the gave all his faults. To be sure he was a little first time in his life, would have his own way, wild, she would say, but he would not make But being a worldly man, and too apt to the worse man for that, for Jack had a good mind only what is falsely called the main spirit of his own, and she would not have it chance; instead of being careful to look out broke, and so make a mope of the boy. The for a sober, prudent, and religious master for farmer, for a quiet life, as it is called, gave his son, he left all that to accident, as if it up all these points to his wife, and, with them, had been a thing of little or no consequence. gave up the future virtue and happiness of This is a very common fault; and fathers who his child. He was a laborious and industrious are guilty of it, are in a great measure anman, but had no religion; he thought only swerable for the future sins and errors of of the gains and advantages of the present their children, when they come out into the day, and never took the future into the ac- world, and set up for themselves. If a man count. His wife managed him entirely, and gives his son a good education, a good examas she was really notable, he did not trouble ple, and a good master, it is indeed possible bis head about any thing farther. If she had that the son may not turn out well, but it been careless in her dairy, he would have does not often happen; and when it does, stormed and sworn; but as she only ruined the father has no blame resting on him; and one child by indulgence, and almost broke it is a great point towards a man's comfort the hearts of the rest by unkindness, he gave to have his conscience quiet in that respect, himself little concern about the matter The however God may think fit to overrule cheese, certainly was good, and that indeed events.

is a great point; but she was neglectful of The farmer, however, took care to desire her children, and a tyrant to her servants. his friends to inquire for a shoemaker who Her husband's substance, indeed, was not had good business, and was a good workman; wasted, but his happiness was not consulted. and the mother did not forget to put in her His house, it is true, was not dirty, but it was word, and desired that it might be one who the abode of fury, ill-temper and covetous- was not too strict; for Jack had been brought ness. And the farmer, though he did not up tenderly, was a meek boy, and could not care for liquor, was too often driven to the bear to be contradicted in any thing. And public-house in an evening, because his own this is the common notion of meekness among was neither quiet nor comfortable. The people who do not take up their notions on mother was always scolding, and the children rational and Christian grounds. were always crying.

Mr. Williams was recommended to the

farmer as being the best shoemaker in the town in which he lived, and far from a strict master; and, without farther inquiries, to Mr. Williams he went.

As

give him sixpence. This he constantly sa-
ved till it became a little sum, with which he
bought shoes and stockings; well knowing
that his poor father, with a large family and
low wages, could not buy them for him.
to what little money he earned himself by his
daily labour in the field, he constantly car-
ried it to his mother every Saturday night,
to buy bread for the family, which was a
pretty help to them.

James Stock, who was the son of an honest labourer in the next village, was bound out by the parish in consideration of his father having so numerous a family, that he was not able to put him out himself. James was in every thing the very reverse of his new companion. He was a modest, industrious, pious As James was not overstout in his make, youth; and though so poor, and the child of his father thankfully accepted the offer of the a labourer, was a much better scholar than parish officers to bind out his son to a trade. Jack, who was a wealthy farmer's son.-His This good man, however, had not, like farfather had, it is true, been able to give him mer Brown, the liberty of chusing a master but very little schooling for he was obliged for his son; or he would carefully have into be put to work when quite a child. When quired if he was a proper man to have the very young he used to run of errands for Mr. care of youth; but Williams the shoemaker Thomas, the curate of the parish; a very was already fixed on, by those who were to kind-hearted young gentleman, who boarded put the boy out, who told him if he wanted a next door to his father's cottage. He used master it must be him or none; for the overalso to rub down and saddle his horse, and do seers had a better opinion of Williams than any other little job for him, in the most civil, he deserved, and thought it would be the obliging manner. All this so recommended making of the boy to go to him. The father him to the clergyman, that he would often knew that beggars must not be choosers, so send for him of an evening, after he had done he fitted out James for his new place, havhis day's work in the field, and condescend-ing indeed little to give him besides his blessed to teach him himself to write and cast ac-ing. counts, as well as to instruct him in the principles of his religion. It was not merely out of kindness for the little good-natured services James did him, that he showed him this favour, but also for his readiness in the catechism, and his devout behaviour at church.

The first thing that drew the minister's attention to this boy, was the following: he had frequently given him half-pence and pence for holding his horse and carrying him to water before he was big enough to be further useful to him. On Christmas day he was surprised to see James at church, reading out of a handsome new prayer-book; he wondered how he came by it, for he knew there was nobody in the parish likely to have given it to him, for at that time there was no Sunday schools; and the father could not afford it, he was sure.

Well James,' said he, as he saw him when they came out, you made a good figure at church to-day: it made you look like a man and a Christian, not only to have so handsome a book, but to be so ready in all parts of the service. How came you by that book? James owned modestly, that he had been a whole year saving up the money by single half-pence, all of which had been of the minister's own giving, and that in all that time he had not spent a single farthing on his own diversions. My dear boy,' said the good Mr. Thomas, I am much mistake" if thou dost not turn out well in the world, for two reasons-first, from thy saving turn and self-denying temper; and next, because thou didst devote the first eighteen-pence thou wast ever worth in the world to so good a purpose.'

James bowed and blushed, and from that time Mr. Thomas began to take more notice of him, and to instruct him as I said above. As James soon grew able to do him more considerable service, he would now and then VOL. 1.

27

The worthy Mr. Thomas, however, kindly gave him an old coat and waistcoat, which his mother, who was a neat and notable woman, contrived to make up for him herself without a fa thing expense, and when it was turned and made fit for his size, it made him a very handsome suit for Sundays, and lasted him a couple of years.

And here let me stop to remark what a pity it is, that poor women so seldom are able or willing to do these sort of little handy jobs themselves; and that they do not oftener bring up their daughters to be more useful in family work. They are great losers by it every way; not only as they are disqualifying their girls from making good wives hereafter. but they are losers in point of present advantage; for gentry could much oftener afford to give a poor boy a jacket or a waistcoat, if it was not for the expense of making it, which adds very much to the cost. To my certain knowledge, many poor women would often get an old coat, or a bit of coarse new cloth given to them to fit out a boy, if the mothers or sisters were known to be able to cut out to advantage, and to make it up decently themselves. But half a crown for the making a bit of kersey, which costs but a few shillings, is more than many very charitable gentry can afford to give-so they often give nothing at all, when they see the mothers so little able to turn it to advantage. It is hoped they will take this hint kindly, as it is meant for their good.

But to return to our two young shoe-makers They were both now settled at Mr. Williams's, who, as he was known to be a good workman, had plenty of business-He had sometimes two or three journeymen, but no apprentices but Jack and James.

Jack, who, with all his faults, was a keen. smart boy, took to learn the trade quick enough, but the difficulty was to make him

not a very hard or severe master, was neither a sober nor a steady man-so far from it. that he spent much more time at the Grayhound than at home. There was no order either in his shop or family. He left the chief care of the business to his two young apprentices; and being but a worldly man, he was at first disposed to show favour to Jack, much more than to James, because he had more money, and his father was better in the world than the father of poor James.

At first, therefore, he was disposed to censider James as a sort of drudge; who was to do all the menial work of the family, and he did not care how little he taught him of his trade. With Mrs. Williams the matter was still worse; she constantly called him away from the business of his trade to wash the house, nurse the child, turn the spit, or run of errands. And here I must remark, that though parish apprentices are bound in duty to be submissive to both master and mistress, and always to make themselves as useful as they can in a family, and to be civil and humble; yet on the other hand, it is the duty of masters always to remember, that if they are paid for instructing them in their trade, they ought conscientiously to instruct them in it, and not to employ them the greater part of their time in such housebold or other drudgery, as to deprive them of the opportunity of acquiring their trade. This practice is not the less unjust because it is common.

stick two hours together to his work. At every noise he heard in the street down went the work-the last one way, the upper leather another; the sole dropped on the ground, and the thread he dragged after him, all the way up the street. If a blind fiddler, a ballad singer, a mountebank, a dancing bear, or a drum were heard at a distance-out ran Jack-nothing could stop him, and not a stitch more could he be prevailed on to do that day. Every duty, every promise was forgotten for the present pleasure-he could not resist the smallest temptation-he never stopped for a moment to consider whether a thing was right or wrong, but whether he liked or disliked it. And as his ill-judging mother took care to send him privately a good supply of pocket-money, that deadly bane to all youthful virtue, he had generally a few pence ready to spend, and to indulge in the present diversion whatever it was. And what was still worse even than spending his money, he spent his time too, or rather his master's time. Of this he was continually reminded by James, to whom he always answered, what have you to complain about? It is nothing to you or any one else; I spend nobody's money but my own.' That may be,' replied the other, but you cannot say it is your own time that you spend.' He insisted upon it that it was; but James fetched down their indentures, and there showed him that he had solemnly bound himself by that instrument, not to waste his master's property. Now,' quoth James, thy own time is a very valuable part of thy master's Mr. Williams soon found out that his faproperty. To this he replied, every one's vourite Jack would be of little use to him in time was his own, and he should not sit mo- the shop; for though he worked well enough, ping all day over his last-for his part, he he did not care how little he did. Nor could thanked God, he was no parish 'prentice.' he be of the least use to his master in ke pJames did not resent this piece of foolishing an account, or writing out a bill upon impertinence, as some silly lads would have done; nor fly out into a violent passion for even at this early age, he had begun to learn of Him who was meek and lowly of heart; and therefore when he was reviled, he reviled not again. On the contrary he was so very kind and gentle, that even Jack, vain and idle as he was, could not help loving him, though he took care never to follow his advice.

Jack's fondness, for his boyish and silly diversions in the street, soon produced the effects which might naturally be expected; and the same idleness which led him to fly out into the town at the sound of a fiddle or the sight of a puppet-show, soon led him to those places to which all these fiddles and shows naturally lead; I mean the alehouse. The acquaintance picked up in the street was carried on at the Grayhound; and the idle pastimes of the boy soon led to the destructive vices of the man.

As he was not an ill-tempered youth, nor naturally much given to drink, a sober and prudent master, who had been steady in his management and regular in his own conduct, who would have recommended good advice by a good example, might have made something of Jack. But I am sorry to say, that Mr. Williams, though a good workman, and

occasion, for, as he never could be made to learn to cypher, he did not know add tion from multiplication.

One day one of the customers called at the shop in a great hurry, and desired his bill might be made out that minute. Mr. Williams, having taken a cup too much, made several attempts to put down a clear account, but the more he tried, the less he found himself able to do it. James, who was sitting at his last, rose up, and with great modesty, asked his master if he would please to give him leave to make out the bill, saying, that though but a poor scholar, he would do his best, rather than keep the gentleman waiting. Williams gladly accepted his offer, and confused as his head was with liquor, be yet was able to observe with what neatness, despatch, and exactness, the account was drawn out From that time he no longer considered James as a drudge, but as one fitted for the higher departments of the trade, and he was now regularly employed to manage the accoun's, with which all the customers were so well pleased, that it contributed greatly to raise him in his master's esteem: for there were now never any of those blunders or false charges for which the shop had before been so famous.

James went on in a regular course of in

dustry, and soon became the best workman | which is to some people such a burden, was Mr. Williams had; but there were many to James the highest holiday. He had forthings in the family which he greatly disap- merly learnt a little how to sing a psalm of proved. Some of the journeymen used to the clerk of his own parish, and this was now swear, drink, and sing very licentious songs. become a very delightful part of his evening All these things were a great grief to his so- exercise. And as Will Simpson, one of the ber mind: he complained to his master, who journeymen, by James's advice and examonly laughed at him; and indeed, as Wil- ple, was now beginning to be of a more seriliams did the same himself, he put it out of ous way of thinking, he often asked him to his power to correct his servants, if he had sit an hour with him, when they read the Bibeen so disposed. James however, used al- ble, and talked it over together in a manner ways to reprove them with great mildness very pleasant and improving; and as Will indeed, but with great seriousness also. This, was a famous singer, a psalm or two sung tobut still more his own excellent example, gether, was a very innocent pleasure. produced at length very good effects on such of the men as were not quite hardened in sin.

James's good manners and civility to the customers drew much business to the shop; and his skill as a workman was so great, that What grieved him most, was the manner every one desired that his shoes might be in which the Sunday was spent. The mas- made by James. Williams grew so very ter lay in bed all the morning; nor did the idle and negligent, that he now totally negmother or her children ever go to church, lected his affairs, and to hard drinking added except there was some new finery to be deep gaming All James's care, both of the shown, or a christening to be attended. The shop and the accounts, could not keep things town's people were coming to the shop all in any tolerable order he represented to the morning, for work which should have his master that they were growing worse and heen sent home the night before, had not the worse, and exhorted him, if he valued his master been at the alehouse. And what credit as a tradesman, his comfort as a huswounded James to the very soul was, that band and father, his character as a master, the master expected the two apprentices to and his soul as a Christian to turn over a new carry home shoes to the country customers leaf. Williams swore a great oath, that he on the Sunday morning; which he wickedly would not be restrained in his pleasures to thought was a saving of time, as it prevented please a canting parish 'prentice, nor to hutheir hindering their work on the Saturday. These shameful practices greatly afflicted poor James; he begged his master with tears in his eyes, to excuse him, but he only laughed at his squeamish conscience, as he called it.

Jack did not dislike this part of the business, and generally after he had delivered his parcel wasted good part of the day in nutting, playing at fives, or dropping in at the public-house: any thing was better to Jack than going to church.

James on the other hand, when he was compelled, sorely against his conscience, to carry home any goods on a Sunday morning, always got up as soon as it was light, knelt down, and prayed heartily to God to forgive him a sin which it was not in his power to avoid; he took care not to lose a moment by the way, but as he was taking his walk with the ut:nost speed, to leave his shoes with the customers, he spent his time in endeavouring to keep up good thoughts in his mind, and praying that the day might come when his conscience might be delivered from this grievous burthen. He was now particularly thankful, that Mr. Thomas had formerly taught him so many psalins and chapters, which he used to repeat in these walks with great devotion.

He always got home before the rest of the family was up, dressed himself very clean, and went twice to church; as he greatly dis liked the company and practices of his master's house, particularly on the Sabbath-day, he preferred spending his evening alone, reading his Bible, which I had forgot to say the worthy clergyman had given him when he left bis native village. Sunday evening,

mour a parcel of squalling brats--that let people say what they would of him, they should never say he was a hypocrite, and as long as they could not call him that, he did not care what else they called him.

In a violent passion he immediately went to the Grayhound, where he now spent, not only every evening, which he had long done, but good part of the day and night also.His wife was very dressy, extravagant, and fond of company, and wasted at home as fast as her husband spent abroad, so that all the neighbours said, if it had not been for James, his master must have been a bankrupt long ago, but they were sure he couid not hold it much longer.

As Jack Brown sung a good song, and played many diverting tricks, Williams liked his company; and often allowed him to. make one at the Grayhound, where he would laugh heartily at his stories; so that every one thought Jack was much the greater favourite so he was as a companion in frolic, and foolery, and pleasure, as it is called; but he would not trust him with an inch of leather or sixpence in money: No, no--when business was to be done, or trust was to be reposed, James was the man: the idle and the drunken never trust one another, if they have common sense. They like to laugh, and sing, and riot, and drink together, but when they want a friend, a counsellor, a helper, in business or in trouble, they go farther afield; and Williams, while he would drink with Jack, would trust James with untold gold; and even was foolishly tempted to neglect his business the more from knowing that he had one at home who was taking care of it.

In spite of all James's care and diligence, however, things were growing worse and worse the more James saved, the more his master and mistress spent. One morning, just as the shop was opened, and James had set every body to their respective work, and he himself was settling the business for the day, he found that his master was not yet come from the Grayhound. As this was now become a common case, he only grieved but did not wonder at it. While he was indul ging sad thoughts on what would be the end of all this, in ran the tapster from the Grayhound out of breath, and with a look of terror and dismay, desired James would step over to the public-house with him that moment, for that his master wanted him

James went immediately, surprised at this unusual message. When he got into the kitchen of the public house, which he now entered for the first time in his life, though it was just opposite the house in which he lived, he was shocked at the beastly disgusting appearance of every thing he beheld. There was a ta ble covered with tankards, punch-bowls, broken glasses, pipes, and dirty greasy packs of cards, and all over wet with liquor; the floor was strewed with broken earthen cups, odd cards, and an EO table which had been shivered to pieces in a quarrel; behind the table stood a crowd of dirty fellows, with matted locks, hollow eyes, and faces smeared with tobacco; James made his way after the tapster, through this wretched looking crew, to a settle which stood in the chimney corner. Not a word was uttered, but the silent horror seemed to denote something more than a mere common drunken bout.

frightened to speak.

O wretched boy!" said he, I fear I shall have the ruin of thy soul, as well as my own to answer for. Stop short!-Take warning-now in the days of tby youth. O James, James, thou dost not pray for me. Death is dreadful to the wicked-O the sting of death to a guilty conscience! Here he lifted up his ghastly eyes in speechless horror, grasped hard at the hand of James; gave a deep hollow groan, and closed his eyes, never to open them but in an awful eternity.

This was death in all its horrors! the gay companions of his sinful pleasures, could not stand the sight; all slunk away like guilty thieves from their late favourite friend - no one was left to assist him, but his two apprentices. Brown was not so hardened but that he shed many tears for his unhappy master; and even made some hasty resolutions of amendment, which were too soon forgotten.

While Brown stepped home to call the workmen to come and assist in removing their poor master, James staid alone with the corpse, and employed those awful moments in indulging the most serious thoughts, and praying heartily to God. that so terrible a lesson might not be thrown away upon him; but that he might be enabled to live in a constant state of preparation for death.The resolutions he made at this moment, as they were not made in his own strength, but in an humble reliance on God's gracious help, were of use to him as long as he lived; and if ever he was for a moment tempted to say, or do a wrong thing, the remembrance of his poor dying master's last agonies, and the dreadful words he uttered, always operated as an instant check upon him.

When Williams was buried, and his affairs came to be inquired into, they were found to be in a sad condition. His wife, indeed, was the less to be pitied, as she had contributed her full share to the common ruin. James, however, did pity her, and by his skill in accounts, his known honesty, and the trust the creditors put in his word, things came to be settled rather better than Mrs. Williams expected.

What was the dismay of James, when he saw his miserable master stretched out on the settle, in all the agonies of death! He had fallen into a fit; after having drunk hard best part of the night, and seemed to have but a few minutes to live. In his frightful countenance, was displayed the dreadful picture of sin and death, for he struggled at once under the guilt of intoxication, and the pangs of a dying man. He recovered his senses for a few moments, and called out to ask if his faithful servant was come.James went up to him, took him by his cold hand, but was too much moved to speak.Oh! James, James,' cried he in a broken voice, • pray for me, comfort me.' James spoke kindly to him, but was too honest to give him false comfort, as is too often done by mistaken friends in these dreadful moments. James,' said he, I have been a bad master to you-you would have saved me, soul and body, but I would not let you-I have ruined my wife, my children, and my own soul. Take warning, oh, take warning by my miserable end,' said he to his stupified companions; but none were able to attend to him but James, who bid him lift up his heart to God, and prayed heartily for him himself. Oh!' said the dying man, it is too late, too late for me-but you have still time,' said he to the half-drunken terrified crew around him. Where is Jack?' Jacking in debt. Brown came forward, but was too much He took the remainder of the lease from

Both Brown and James were now within a month or two of being out of their time. The creditors, as was said before, employed James to settle his late master's accounts, which he did in a manner so creditable to his abilities, and his honesty, that they proposed to him to take the shop himself. He assured them it was utterly out of his power for want of money. As the creditors had not the least fear of being repaid, if it should please God to spare his life, they generously agreed among themselves to advance him a small sum of money without any security but his bond; for this he was to pay a very reasonable interest, and to return the whole in a given number of years. James shed tears of gratitude at this testimony to his character. and could hardly be prevailed on to accept their kindness, so great was his dread of be