"a little cold, or a little wet, would make me flinch, “ when I was sure that a few months would put me « in possession? Should I not say to myself frequent"ly-chear up Shepherd, 'tis but till Christmas! "now is there not much less difference between this “supposed day and Christmas, when I should take "possession of the estate and palace, than there is "between time and eternity, when I am sure of en"tering on a kingdom not made with hands? There "is some comparison between a moment and a thou« sand years, because a thousand years are made up " of moments, all time being made up of the same "sort of stuff, as I may say; while there is no sort " of comparison between the longest portion of time "and eternity. You know, sir, there is no way of "measuring two things, one of which has length and « breadth, which shows it must have an end some“where, and another thing, which being eternal, is "without end and without measure.”

"But," said Mr. Johnson, "is not the fear of ❝ death sometimes too strong for your faith ?”

"Blessed be God, sir,” replied the Shepherd, "the dark passage through the valley of the shadow "of death is made safe by the power of Him who "conquered death. I know, indeed, we shall go

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as naked out of this world as we came into it, but an "humble penitent will not be found naked in the other world, sir. My bible tells me of garments of praise “and robes of righteousness. And is it not a support, "sir, under any of the petty difficulties and distresses here, to be assured by the word of Him who cannot lie, that those who were in white robes came out of great tribulation? But, sir, I beg

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your pardon for being so talkative. Indeed you "great folks can hardly imagine how it raises and "clears a poor man's heart, when such as you con"descend to talk familiarly to him on religious sub

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"jects. It seem to be a practical comment on that "text which says, the rich and poor meet together, "the Lord is the maker of them all. And so far from creating disrespect, sir, and that nonsensical wick"ed notion about equality, it rather prevents it. But "to return to my wife. One Sunday afternoon "when she was at the worst, as I was coming out of "church, for I went one part of the day, and my eld"est daughter the other, so my poor wife was never "left alone; as I was coming out of church, I say, "Mr. Jenkins, the minister, called out to me, and "asked me how my wife did, saying he had been kept from coming to see her by the deep fall of "snow, and indeed from the parsonage-house to my

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hovel it was quite impassable. I gave him all the "particulars he asked, and I am afraid a good many "more, for my heart was quite full. He kindly gave me a shilling, and said he would certainly try to

pick out his way and come and see her in a day or 66 two.

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"While he was talking to me, a plain farmer-look. ing gentleman in boots, who stood by, listened to "all I said, but seemed to take no notice. It was "Mr. Jenkins's wife's father, who was come to pass "the Christmas-holidays at the parsonage-house. I "had always heard him spoken of as a plain frugal man, who lived close himself, but was remarked to give away more than any of his show-away neigh

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46

"bours.

"Well! I went home with great spirits at this sea"sonable and unexpected supply; for we had tap"ped our last sixpence, and there was little work to "be had on account of the weather. I told my wife "I had not come back empty-handed. No, I dare say not,' says she, you have been serving a mas"ter who filleth the hungry with good things, though "he sendeth the rich empty away.'-True, Mary,

6

« 1, we

"says I, we seldom fail to get good spiritual food from "Mr. Jenkins, but to-day he has kindly supplied our "bodily wants. She was more thankful when I "shewed her the shilling, than, I dare say, some of

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your great people are when they get a hundred "pounds."

Mr. Johnson's heart smote him when he heard such a value set upon a shilling; surely, said he to himself, I will never waste another; but he said nothing to the Shepherd, who thus pursued his story:

"Next morning before I went out, I sent part of "the money to buy a little ale and brown sugar to

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put into her water-gruel; which you know, sir, "made it nice and nourishing. I went out to cleave "wood in a farm-yard, for there was no standing out

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on the plain, after such snow as had fallen in the "night. I went with a lighter heart than usual, be<6 cause I had left my poor wife a little better; and "comfortably supplied for this day, and I now re"solved more than ever to trust God for the supplies "of the next. When I came back at night, my wife "fell a crying as soon as she saw me. This, I own, "I thought but a bad return for the blessings she had "so lately received, and so I told her.-' O', said "she, it is too much, we are too rich; I am now

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frightened, not lest we should have no portion in "this world, but for fear we should have our whole

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portion in it. Look here, John!' So saying, she "uncovered the bed whereon she lay, and shewed 66 me two warm, thick, new blankets. I could not "believe my own eyes, sir, because when I went out "in the morning, I had left her with no other cover

ing than our little old, thin, blue rug. I was still 63 more amazed when she put half a crown into my "hand, telling me she had had a visit from Mr. "Jenkins, and Mr. Jones, the latter of whom had "bestowed all these good things upon us.

Thus,

*sir, have our lives been crowned with mercies.—

My wife got about again, and I do believe, under "Providence, it was owing to these comforts; for "the rheumatism, sir, without blankets by night and "flannel by day, is but a baddish job, especially to "people who have little or no fire. She will always "be a weakly body; but thank God her soul pros

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pers and is in health. But I beg your pardon, sir, "for talking on at this rate."—"Not at all, not at

all," said Mr. Johnson; "I am much pleased "with your story, you shall certainly see me in a "few days. Good night. So saying, he slipped a crown into his hand and rode off. Surely, said the Shepherd, goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, as he gave the money to his wife when he got home at night.

As to Mr. Johnson, he found abundant matter for his thoughts during the rest of his journey. On the whole he was more disposed to envy than to pity the Shepherd. I have seldom seen, said he, so happy a man. It is a sort of happiness which the world could not give, and which I plainly see, it has not been able to take away. This must be the true spirit of religion. I see more and more, that true goodness is not merely a thing of words and opinions, but a living principle brought into every common action of a man's life. What else could have supported this poor couple under every bitter trial of want and sickness? No, my honest Shepherd, I do not pity, but I respect and even honour thee; and I will visit thy poor hovel on my return to Salisbury with as much pleasure as I am now going to the house of my friend.

If Mr. Johnson keeps his word in sending me the account of his visit to the Shepherd's cottage, I shall be very glad to entertain my readers with it.

VOL. III.

C

PART

PART II.

I AM willing to hope that my readers will not be sorry to hear some farther particulars of their old acquaintance the Shepherd of Salisbury Plain. They will call to mind that at the end of the first part, he was returning home full of gratitude for the favours he had received from Mr. Johnson, whom he left pursuing his journey, after having promised to make a visit to the Shepherd's cottage.

Mr. Johnson, after having passed some time with his friend, set out on his return to Salisbury, and on the Saturday evening reached a very small inn, a mile or two, distant from the Shepherd's village; for he never travelled on a Sunday without such a reason as he might be able to produce at the day of judgment. He went the next morning to the church nearest the house where he had passed the night; and after taking such refreshment as he could get at that house, he walked on to find out the Shepherd's cottage. His reason for visiting him on a Sunday was chiefly, because he supposed it to be the only day which the Shepherd's employment allowed him to pass at home with his family; and as Mr. Johnson had been struck with his talk, he thought it would be neither unpleasant nor unprofitable to observe how a man who carried such an appearance of piety spent his Sunday; for though he was so low in the world, this gentleman was not above entering very closely into his character, of which he thought he should be able to form a better judgment, by seeing whether his practice at home kept pace with his professions

abroad;