The

ble solemnity on the present joyful occasion.

vy, and be very savoury for them.' Ay, whose employment it had been to gather but I have got no beer, master; the times flowers, and dress and adorn the horns of the are so hard that a poor man can't afford to ram; for the farmer did not wish to put au brew a drop of drink now as we used to do.' end to an old custom, if it was innocent.-Times are bad, and malt is very dear, His own children stood by the table, and he Tom, and yet both don't prevent you from gave them plenty of pudding, which they spending seven shillings in keeping holyday. carried to the children of the poor, with a Now send for a quart of ale as it is to be a little draught of cider to every one. feast; and you will even then be four shil- farmer, who never sat down without beglings richer than if you had gone to the pub-ging a blessing on his meal, did it with suitalic house. I would have you put by these four shillings, till you can add a couple to them; with this I would get a bushel of malt, and my wife should brew it, and you may take a pint of your own beer at home of a night, which will do you more good than a gallon at the Red Lion.' 'I have a great mind to take your advice, master, but I shall be made such fun of at the Lion! they will so laugh at me if I don't go !' Let those laugh that win, Tom.' But, master, I have got a friend to meet me there.' Then ask your friend to come and eat a bit of your discourse with a little knot of reapers, as by cold mutton at night, and here is sixpence for another pot, if you will promise to brew a small cask of your own.' Thank you, mnaster and so I will; and I won't go to the Lion. Come boy, bring the helm, and fetch the ladder.' And so Tom was upon the roof in a twinkling. The barn was thatched, the mutton bought, the beer brewed, the friend invited, and the holyday enjoyed.

The Sheep Shearing.

Dr. Shepherd practised one very useful method, which I dare say was not peculiar to himself; a method of which I doubt not other country clergymen have found the advantage. He was often on the watch to observe those seasons when a number of his parishioners were assembled together, not only at any season of festivity, but at their work. He has been known to turn a walk through a hay-field to good account; and has been found to do as much good by a few minutes

a Sunday's sermon. He commonly introdu ced his religious observations by some questions relating to their employment; he first gained their affections by his kindness, and then converted his influence over them to their soul's good. The interest he took in their worldly affairs opened their hearts to the reception of those divine truths which he was always earnest to impress upon them. By these methods too he got acquainted with their several characters, their spiritual Dr. Shepherd happened to say to farmer wants, their individual sins, dangers and White one day, that there was nothing that temptations, which enabled him to preach he disliked more than the manner in which with more knowledge and successful applicasheep-shearing and harvest-home were kept tion, than those ministers can do who are by some in his parish. What,' said the good unacquainted with the state of their congredoctor, just when we are blest with a pros-gations. It was a remark of Dr. Shepherd's, perous gathering in of these natural riches that a thorough acquaintance with human of our land, the fleece of our flocks; when nature was one of the most important speour barns are crowned with plenty, and we cies of knowledge a clergyman' could poshave, through the Divine blessing on our sess. honest labour, reaped the fruits of the earth in due season; is that very time to be set apart for ribaldry, and riot, and drunkenness? Do we thank God for his mercies, by making ourselves unworthy and unfit to enjoy them? When he crowns the year with his goodness, shall we affront him by our impiety? It is more than a common insult to bis providence; it is a worse than brutal return to Him who openeth his hand and filleth all things living with plenteousness.'

I thank you for the hint, sir,' said the farmer. I am resolved to rejoice though, and others shall rejoice with me: and we will have a merry night on't.'

So Mrs. White dressed a very plentiful supper of meat and pudding; and spread out two tables. The farmer sat at the head of one, consisting of some of his neighbours, and all his work-people. At the other sat his wife, with two long benches on each side of her. On these benches sat all the old and infirm poor, especially those who lived in the work-house, and had no day of festivity to look forward to in the whole year but this. On the grass, in the little court, sat the children of his labourers, and of the other poor,

The sheep-shearing feast, though orderly and decent, was yet hearty and cheerful. Dr. Shepherd dropped in with a good deal of company he had at his house, and they were much pleased. When the doctor saw how the aged and infirm poor were enjoying themselves, he was much moved; he shook the farmer by the hand, and said, ' But thou, when thou makest a feast, call the blind, and the lame, and the halt, they cannot recompense thee, but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.'

'Sir,' said the farmer, 'tis no great matter of expense; I kill a sheep of my own; potatoes are as plenty as blackberries, with people who have a little forethought. I save much more cider in the course of a year by never allowing any carousing in my kitchen, or drunkenness in my fields, than would supply many such feasts as these, so that I shall be never the poorer at Christmas. It is cheaper to make people happy, sir, than to make them drunk The doctor and the ladies condescended to walk from one table to the other, and heard many merry stories. but not one profane word, or one indecent song: so that he was not forced to the pain

ful necessity either of reproving them, or leaving them in anger. When all was over, they sung the sixty-fifth psalm, and the ladies all joined in it; and when they got home to the vicarage to tea, they declared they liked it better than any concert.

The Hard Winter.

In the famous cold winter of the year 1795, it was edifying to see how patiently farmer White bore that long and severe frost. Many of his sheep were frozen to death, but he thanked God that he had still many left. He

continued to find in-door work that his men might not be out of employ. The season being so bad, which some others pleaded as an excuse for turning off their workmen, he thought a fresh reason for keeping them Mrs. White was so considerate, that just at that time she lessened the number of her hogs, that she might have more whey and skim-milk to assist poor families. Nay, I have known her to live on boiled meat for a long while together, in a sickly season, because the pot liquor made such a supply of broth for the sick poor. As the spring came on, and things grew worse, she never had a cake, a pie, or a pudding in her house; notwithstanding she used to have plenty of these good things, and will again, I hope, when the present scarcity is over; though she says she will never use such white flour again, even if it should come down to five shillings a bushel.

of any public calamity is not to murmur at it, but put a hand to lessen it.

The farmer had many temptations to send his corn at an extravagant price to a certain seaport town, but as he knew that it was intended to export it against law, he would not be tempted to encourage unlawful gain; so he thrashed out a smali mow at a time, and sold it to the neighbouring poor far below the market-price. He served his own workmen first. This was the same to them as if he had raised their wages, and even better, as it was a benefit of which their families were sure to partake. If the poor in the next sold them at the same rate. For, said he, parish were more distressed than his own, he there is no distinction of parishes in heaven; and though charity begins at home, yet it ought not to end there.

He had been used in good times now and then to catch a hare or a partridge, as he was qualified; but he now resolved to give up that pleasure. So he parted from a couple of spaniels he had: for he said he could not or the milk, which so many men, women, bear that his dogs should be eating the meat,

and children wanted.

The White Loaf.

tor took a walk over to the farmer's, in order to settle further plans for the relief of the parish He was much surprised to meet Mrs. White's little maid Sally with a very small white loaf, which she had been buying at a shop. He said nothing to the girl, as he never thought it right to expose the faults of a mistress to her servants; but walked on, resolving to give Mrs. White a severe lecture for the first time in his life. He soon changed his mind, for on going into the kitchen, the first person he saw was Tom the thatcher, who had had a sad fall from a ladder; his arm, which was slipped out of his sleeve, was swelled in a frightful manner. Mrs. White was standing at the dresser making the little white loaf into a poultice, which she laid upon the swelling in a large clean old linen cloth.

One day, it was about the middle of last July, when things seemed to be at the dearest, and the rulers of the land had agreed to set the example of eating nothing but coarse bread, Dr. Shepherd read, before sermon in All the parish now began to murmur. Far- the church, their public declaration, which mer Jones was sure the frost had killed the the magistrates of the county sent him, and wheat. Farmer Wilson said the rye would which they had also signed themselves. Mrs. never come up. Brown, the maltster, in- White, of course, was at church, and com. sisted the barley was dead at the root. Butch-mended it mightily. Next morning the docer Jobbins said beef would be a shilling a pound. All declared there would not be a hop to brew with. The orchards were all blighted; there would not be apples enough to make a pie; and as to hay there would be none to be had for love nor money. I'll tell you what,' said farmer White, the season is dreadful; the crops unpromising just now; but 'tis too early to judge. Don't let us make things worse than they are. We ought to comfort the poor, and you are driving them to despair. Don't you know how how much God was displeased with the murmurs of his chosen people? And yet, when they were tired of manna he sent them quails; but all did not do. Nothing satisfies grumblers. We have a promise on our side, that there shall be seed-time and harvest-time to the end. Let us then hope for a good day, but provide against an evil one. Let us rather prevent the evil before it is come upon us, than sink under it when it comes. Grumbling cannot help us; activity can. Let us set about planting potatoes in every nook and corner, in case the corn should fail, which, however, I don't believe will be the case. Let us mend our management before we are driven to it by actual want. And if we allow our honest labourers to plant a few potatoes for their families in the headlands of our ploughed fields, or other waste bits of ground, it will do us no harm, and be a great help to them. The way to lighten the load

'I ask your pardon, my good Sarah,' said the doctor; I ought not, however appearances were against you, to have suspected that so humble and prudent a woman as you are, would be led either to indulge any daintiness of your own, or to fly in the face of your betters, by eating white bread while they are eating brown. Whenever I come here, I see it is not needful to be rich in order to be charitable. A bountiful rich man would have sent Tom to a surgeon, who would have done no more for him than you have done; for in those inflammations the most skilful surgeon could only apply a poul

tice. Your kindness in dressing the wound' at the school. This is a good custom, and yourself, will, I doubt not, perform the cure one of those little books shall be often read at at the expense of that threepenny loaf and a that time. little hog's lard. And I will take care that Tom shall have a good supply of rice from the subscription.' And he shan't want for skim-milk,' said Mrs. White; and was he the best lord in the land in the state he is in, a dish of good rice milk would be better for him than the richest meat.'

The Parish Meeting. On the tenth of August, the vestry held another meeting, to consult on the best method of further assisting the poor. The prospect of abundant crops now cheered every heart. Farmer White, who had a mind to

My good woman, I truly feel for you at this time of scarcity; and I am going to show my good will, as much by my advice as my subscription. It is my duty, as your friend and minister, to tell you, that one half of your present hardships is owing to bud management. I often meet your children without shoes and stockings, with great luncheons of the very whitest bread, and that three times a day. Half that quantity, and still less if it were coarse, put into a dish of them an excellent breakfast. Many too, of good onion or leek porridge, would make be a little jocular with his desponding neigh- the very poorest of you, eat your bread hot bours, said, Well, neighbour Jones, all the from the oven; this makes the difference of wheat was killed, I suppose! the barley is one loaf in five; I assure you 'tis what I canall dead at the root!' Farmer Jones looked not afford to do. Come, Mrs. White, you sheepish, and said, To be sure the crops ing in these matters myself; but I know that must assist me a little. I am not very knowhad turned out better than he thought.'Then,' said Dr. Shepherd, let us learn to the rich would be twice as charitable as they trust Providence another time; let our ex- are, if the poor made a better use of their perience of his past goodness strengthen our bounty. Mrs White, do give these poor women a little advice how to make their pitAmong other things, they agreed to sub-tance go further than it now does. When scribe for a large quantity of rice, which was you lived with me you were famous for mato be sold out to the poor at a very low price, king us nice cheap dishes, and I dare say you and Mrs. White was so kind as to undertake are not less notable, now you manage for the trouble of selling it. After their day's yourself.' work was over, all who wished to buy at these reduced rates, were ordered to come

faith.'

to the farm on the Tuesday evening. Dr. Shepherd dropped in at the same time, and when Mrs. White had done weighing her rice, the doctor spoke as follows:

Indeed, neighbours,' said Mrs. White, what the good doctor says is very true. A halfpenny worth of oatmeal, or groats, with a leek or onion, out of your own garden, which costs nothing, a bit of salt, and a little coarse bread, will breakfast your whole fam'My honest friends, it has pleased God, ily. It is a great mistake at any time to for some wise end, to visit this land with a think a bit of meat is so ruinous, and a great scarcity, to which we have been but little load of bread so cheap. A poor man gets accustomed. There are some idle, evil-min- seven or eight shillings a week; if he is ded people, who are on the watch for the careful he brings it home. I dare not say public distresses; not that they may humble how much of this goes for tea in the afterthemselves under the mighty hand of God noon, now sugar and butter are so dear, be(which is the true use to be made of all cause I should have you all upon me; but I troubles) but that they may benefit them- will say, that too much of this little goes even selves by disturbing the public peace. These for bread, from a mistaken notion that it is people, by riot and drunkenness, double the the hardest fare. This, at all times, but par evil which they pretend to cure. Riot will ticularly just now, is bad management. Dry complete our misfortunes; while peace, in- peas, to be sure, have been very dear lately; dustry, and good management, will go near but now they are plenty enough. I am certo cure them. Bread, to be sure, is uncom- tain then, that if a shilling or two of the sev monly dear. Among the various ways of en or eight was laid out for a bit of coarse making it cheaper, one is to reduce the qual- beef, a sheep's head, or any such thing, it ity of it, another to lessen the quantity we would be well bestowed. I would throw a consume. If we cannot get enough of coarse couple of pounds of this into the pot, with wheaten bread, let us make it of other two or three handfuls of gray peas, an onion, grain. Or let us mix one half of potatoes, and a little pepper. Then I would throw in and one half of wheat. This last is what I cabbage or turnip, and carrot; or any gar eat in my own family; it is pleasant and den stuff that was most plenty; let it stew wholesome. Our blessed Saviour ate barley two or three hours, and it will make a dish bread, you know, as we are told in the last fit for his majesty. The working men should month's Sunday reading of the Cheap Re- have the meat; the children don't want it: pository, which I hope you have all heard the soup will be thick and substantial, and as I desired the master of the Sunday-school requires no bread.' to read it just after evening service, when I know many of the parents are apt to call in

;

Rice Milk.

You who can get skim-milk, as all our workmen can, have a great advantage. A quart of this, and a quarter of a pound of the rice you have just bought, a little bit of

'Come, let us have it,' cried the docalspice, and brown sugar, will make a dainty she. tor. I shall write all down as soon as I get and cheap dish.' Bless your heart!' muttered Amy Grum- home, and I will favour any body with a ble, who looked as dirty as a cinderwench, copy of these receipts who will call at my with her face and fingers all daubed with house.' And I will do more, sir,' said Mrs. snuff; rice milk, indeed! it is very nice White, for I will put any of these women to be sure for those who can dress it, but in the way how to dress it the first time, if we have not a bit of coal; rice is no use to they are at a loss. But this is my dish: us without firing;' and yet,' said the doctor, I see your tea-kettle boiling twice every day, as I pass by the poor-house, and fresh butter at thirteen-pence a pound on your shelf.' 'O dear sir,' cried Amy, a few sticks serve to boil the tea-kettle. And a few more,' said the doctor, will boil the rice milk, and give twice the nourishment at a quarter of the expense.'

Rice Pudding.

Take two or three pickled herrings, put them into a stone jar, fill it up with potatoes, and a little water, and let it bake in the oven till it is done. I would give one hint more,' added she; I have taken to use nothing but potatoe starch; and though I say it, that should not say it, nobody's linen in a common way looks better than ours.'

·

The doctor now said, I am sorry for one hardship which many poor people labour under; I mean the difficulty of getting a little 'Pray, Sarah,' said the doctor, how did milk. I wish all farmer's wives were as conyou use to make that pudding my children siderate as you are, Mrs. hite. A little were so fond of? And I remember, when it milk is a great comfort to the poor, especialwas cold, we used to have it in the parlour ly when their children are sick; and I have for supper. Nothing more easy,' said Mrs. Known it answer to the seller as well as to White: I put half a pound of rice, two the buyer, to keep a cow or two on purpose quarts of skim-milk, and two ounces of to sell it out by the quart, instead of making brown sugar. Well,' said the doctor, and butter and cheese Seven or eight, how many will this dine? 'Sir,' said farmer White, I beg leave to sir,' Very well, and what will it cost? 'Why, sir, it did not cost you so much, be- say a word to the men, if you please, for all If you will your advice goes to the women If cause we baked it at home, and I used our drink less gin, you may get more meat. own milk; but it will not cost above seven-you abstain from the ale-house, you may, pence to those who pay for both. Here, too, many of you, get a little one-way beer at home' Ay, that we can farmer,' said poor Tom, the thatcher, who was now got well. Easter Monday for that-I say no more. A word to the wise.' The farmer smiled and went on: The number of public houses in

bread is saved.'

vour.'

Six

We are now

We will not

Pray, Sarah, let me put in a word,' said farmer White: I advise my men to raise each a large bed of parsnips. They are very nourishing, and very profitable. penny worth of seed, well sowed and trod many a parish, brings on more hunger and in, will produce more meals than four sacks rags, than all the taxes in it, heavy as they of potatoes; and what is material to you are. All the other evils put together hardly who have so little ground, it will not require make up the sum of that one. more than an eighth part of the ground which raising a fresh subscription for you. This the four sacks will take. Providence having will be our rule of giving. contrived by the very formation of this root give to sots, gamblers, and sabbath-breakers. that it shall occupy but a very small space. Those who do not set their young children Parsnips are very good the second day warm to work on week-days, and send them to ed in the frying pan, and a little rasher of school and church on Sundays, deserve little pork, or bacon, will give them a nice fla. favour. No man should keep a dog till he has more food than his family wants. If he feeds them at home, they rob his children; if he starves them, they rob his neighbors. We have heard in a neighbouring city, that some people carried back the subscription loaves, because they were too coarse; but we hope better things of you.' Here Betty Plane begged, with all humility, to put in a word. Certainly,' said the doctor, we will listen to all modest complaints, and try to redress them.' You are pleased to say, sir,' said she, that we might find much comfort from buying coarse bits of beef. And so we might, but you do not know, sir, that we could seldom get them, even when we had the money, How so, Betty?' and times were so bad.'

Dr. Shepherd now said, as a proof of the nourishing quality of parsnips, I was reading in a history book this very day, that the American Indians make a great part of their bread of parsnips, though Indian corn is so famous; it will make a little variety too.' A Cheap Stew.

'I remember,' said Mrs. White, a cheap dish, so nice that it makes my mouth water. I peel some raw potatoes, slice them thin, put the slices into a deep frying-pan, or pot with a little water, an onion, and a bit of pepper. Then I get a bone or two of a breast of mutton, or a little strip of salt pork and put into it. Cover it down close, keep in the steam, and let it stew for an hour.'

You really get me an appetite, Mrs. White, by your dainty receipts,' said the doctor. I am resolved to have this dish at my own table.' 'I could tell you another very good dish, and still cheaper,' answered VOL. 1.

31

Now, sir, if such kind gentlefolk were aware that this gravy and soup not only consume a great deal of meat, which, to be sure, those have a right to do who can pay for it; but that it takes away those coarse pieces which the poor would buy, if they bought at all. For, indeed, the rich have been very kind, and I don't know what we should have done without them.'

'I thank you for the hint, Betty,' said the doctor, and I assure you I will have no more gravy soup. My garden will supply me with soups that are both wholesomer and better; and I will answer for my lady at the great house, that she will do the same. I hope this will become a general rule, and then we shall expect that burchers will favour you in the prices of the coarse pieces, if we who are rich, buy nothing but the prime. In our gifts we shall prefer, as the farmer has told you, those who keep steadily to their work. Such as come to the vestry for a loaf, and do not come to church for the sermon, we shall mark; and prefer those who

come constantly whether there are any gifts or not. But there is one rule from which we never will depart. Those who have been seen aiding, or abetting any riot, any attack on butchers, bakers, wheat-mows, mills, or millers, we will not relieve; but with the quiet, contented, hard-working man, I will share my last morsel of bread. I shall only add, though it has pleased God to send us this visitation as a punishment, yet we may convert this short trial into a lasting bles sing, if we all turn over a new leaf. Pros perity had made most of us careless. The thoughtless profusion of some of the rich could only be exceeded by the idleness and bad management of some of the poor. Let us now at last adopt that good old maxim, every one mend one. And may God add bis blessing.'

The people now cheerfully departed with their rice, resolving as many of them as could get milk, to put one of Mrs. White's receipts in practice, and an excellent supper they had.

children were forced to run to corners now poor John having no corner to run to, ran to the ale-house, till that which was at first a refuge too soon became a pleasure.

THE HISTORY OF HESTER WILMOT. BEING THE SECOND PART OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.* HESTER WILMOT was born in the parish accident happens to them; and if Rebecca of Weston, of parents who maintained them had been as careful to keep her heart without selves by their labour; they were both of spot, or her life without blemish, as she was them ungodly, it is no wonder therefore they to keep her fire-irons free from either, she were unhappy. They lived badly together, would have been held up in this bistory, not and how could they do otherwise? for their as a warning, but a pattern, and in that case tempers were very different, and they had no her nicety would have come in for a part of religion to smooth down this difference, or to the praise. It was no fault in Rebecca, but teach them that they ought to bear with each a merit, that her oak table was so bright you others faults. Rebecca Wilmot was a proof could almost see to put your cap on in it; that people may have some right qualities, but it was no merit but a fault, that when and yet be but bad characters, and utterly John, her husband, laid down his cup of beer destitute of religion. She was clean, nota- upon it so as to leave a mark, she would fly ble, and industrious. Now I know some out into so terrible a passion that all the folks fancy that the poor who have these qualities need have no other, but this is a sad mistake, as I am sure every page in the Bible would show; and it is a pity people do not consult it oftener. They direct their Rebecca never wished her children to ploughing and sowing by the information of learn to read, because she said it would only the Almanac, why will they not consult the serve to make them lazy, and she herself had Bible for the direction of their hearts and done very well without it. She would keep lives? Rebecca was of a violent, ungov-poor Hester from church to stone the space ernable temper; and that very neatness under the stairs in fine patterns and flowers. which is in itself so pleasing, in her became I don't pretend to say there was any harm in a sin, for her affection to her husband and this little decoration, it looks pretty enough, children was quite lost in an over-anxious and it is better to let the children do that than desire to have her house reckoned the nicest do nothing. But still these are not things to in the parish. Rebecca was also a proof set one's heart upon; and besides Rebecca that a poor woman may be as vain as a rich only did it as a trap for praise; for she was one, for it was not so much the comfort of sulky and disappointed if any ladies happen. neatness, as the praise of neatness, which ed to call in and did not seem delighted with she coveted. A spot on her hearth, or a bit the flowers which she used to draw with a of rust on a brass candlestick, would throw burnt stick on the white-wash of the chimher into a violent passion. Now it is very ney corners. Besides all this finery was of right to keep the hearth clean and the can- ten done on a Sunday, and there is a great dlestick bright, but it is very wrong so to set deal of harm in doing right things at a wrong one's affections on a hearth or a candlestick, time, or in wasting much time on things as to make one's self unhappy if any trifling which are of no real use, or in doing any

* See page 177.