"do something ourselves. Shepherd," continued he, "if I were a king, and had it in my power to make "you a rich and a great man, with a word speak“ing, I would not do it. Those who are raised, by 66 some sudden stroke, much above the station in "which Divine Providence had placed them, sel"dom turn out very good, or very happy. I have "never had any great things in my power, but as "far as I have been able, I have been always glad to "assist the worthy. I have, however, never attemp❝ted or desired to set any poor man much above his "natural condition, but it is a pleasure to me to lend "him such assistance as may make that condition easy to himself, more and him in a way put which “shall call him to the performance of more duties ❝ than perhaps he could have performed without my "help, and of performing them in a better manner "to others, and with more comfort to himself."What rent do you pay for this cottage?"

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"It is in a sad tattered condition; is there not a "better to be had in the village?"

"That in which the poor clerk lived," said the clergyman, "is not only more tight and whole, "but has two decent chambers, and a very large "light kitchen." That will be very convenient," replied Mr. Johnson, " pray what is the rent? "I think," said the Shepherd, "poor neighbour "Wilson gave somewhat about four pounds a-year,

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or it might be guineas."-" Very well," said Mr. Johnson," and what will the clerk's place be worth, ❝ think you?"-About three pounds, was the an

swer,

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"Now," continued Mr. Johnson, my plan is, "that the Shepherd should take that house imme"diately; for as the poor man is dead, there will

be no need of waiting till quarter-day, if I make

up

還記

up the difference."-" True, sir," said Mr. Jen

kins, “and I am sure my wife's father, whom I expect to-morrow, will willingly assist a little to"wards buying some of the clerk's old goods. And "the sooner they remove the better, for poor Mary "caught that bad rheumatism by sleeping under a "leaky thatch." The Shepherd was too much moved to speak, and Mary could hardly sob out, "Oh, "sir! you are too good; indeed this house will do very well."" It may do very well for you and

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your children, Mary," said Mr. Johnson, gravely, "but it will not do for a school; the kitchen is nei"ther large nor light enough. Shepherd," continued "he, with your good Minister's leave, and kind "assistance, I propose to set up in this parish a Sunday school, and to make you the master. It "will not at all interfere with your weekly calling, " and it is the only lawful way in which you could he sabbath into a day of some little profit to family, by doing, as I hope, a great deal of

The rest of the The difference of

"good to the souls of others. "week you will work as usual. "rent between this house and the clerk's I shall pay "myself, for to put you into a better house at

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your own expence would be no great act of kind

ness.-As for honest Mary, who is not fit for hard "labour, or any out-of-door work, I propose to en"dow a small weekly school, of which she shall be "mistress, and employ her notable turn to good ac"count, by teaching ten or a dozen girls to knit, "sew, spin, card, or any other useful way of get

ting their bread; for all this I shall only pay "her the usual price, for I am not going to make you rich but useful."

"Not rich, sir?" cried the Shepherd; How can "I ever be thankful enough for such blessings; "And will my poor Mary have a dry thatch over her "head?

D 2

"head? and shall I be able to send for the doctor "when I am like to lose her? Indeed my cup runs

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over with blessings, I hope God will give me hu "mility."-Here he and Mary looked at each other and burst into tears. The gentlemen saw their distress, and kindly walked out upon the little green before the door, that these honest people might give vent to their feelings. As soon as they were alone they crept into one corner of the room, where they thought they could not be seen, and fell on their knees, devoutly blessing and praising God for his mercies. Never were more hearty prayers presented, than this grateful couple offered up for their benefactors. The warmth of their gratitude could only be equalled by the earnestness with which they besought the blessing of God cn the work in which they were going to engage.

The two gentlemen now left this happy family, and walked to the parsonage, where the evening was spent in a manner very edifying to Mr. Johnson, who the next day took all proper measures for putting the Shepherd in immediate possession of his now comfortable habitation. Mr. Jenkin's fatherin-law, the worthy gentleman who gave the Shepherd's wife the blankets, in the first part of this history, arrived at the parsonage before Mr. Johnson left it, and assisted in fitting up the clerk's cottage.

Mr. Johnson took his leave, promising to call on the worthy Minister and his new clerk once a year, in his summer's journey over the plain, as long as it should please God to spare his life. He had every reason to be satisfied with the objects of his bounty. The Shepherd's zeal and piety made him a blessing to the rising generation. The old resorted to his school for the benefit of hearing the young instructed; and the clergyman had the pleasure of seeing that he was rewarded for the protection he gave the

school,

school, by the great increase in his congregation. The Shepherd nor only exhorted both parents and children to the indispensible duty of a regular 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 lads

apprenticed at nearly the same time, to Mr. Willi_ ams, a shoemaker, in a small town in Oxfordshire: they were pretty near the same age, but of very different characters and dispositions.

Brown was eldest son of 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 half the day, when his father thought he was at school, with any boys he could meet with, who were as idle as himself; and never could 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 brothers, much younger than himself, were beginning to follow the plough, or to carry the corn to mill as soon as they were able to mount a cart-horse.

Jack, however, who was a lively boy, and did not naturally want either sense or good-nature, might have turned out well enough, if he had not

had