induced to make a serious calculation, and to try a fair experiment, whether health, economy, and domestic comfort, and especially the welfare of their child, might not be successfully promoted by their pursuing a different course, which, at the same time, need not diminish the extent and success of their business. I would suggest habitual early rising, the free admission of air to every apartment, the mother's early attention to her babe, the daily superintendence of one of the superiors in the arrangements of the kitchen: a few minutes would serve if regularly devoted to that object. The little servant to be initiated in habits of cleanliness and regularity; the child to be nursed under the superintendence of its natural guardians, not altogether banished from their sight; the mother and aunt daily devoting, or at least on alternate days, an hour or more to exercise in the open air, accompanied by the child. The father also might be better employed, in taking his child out for air, than in reading the newspaper. If regularity, and a plan pervading all the movements of the family, relative to work, meals, and dress, and no more work undertaken than could be performed within the given time, were to be the course adopted, I venture to predict that my neighbours would find themselves the richer, the healthier, and the happier for the alteration in their mode of living.

I must add, as in former instances, that the great rectifier of social evils is true religion; and that if my neighbours were brought under its prevailing influence, it would prove the best regu

lator of their pursuits and pleasures, their time and engagements, their earnings and expenditure. They would find that "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," 1 Tim. iv. 8.

CHAPTER V.

No. 6. MR. WEST, THE BAKER.

No. 6, is occupied by Mr. James West, the baker, as honest and industrious a man as can be found in our parish, or the next to it. His wife is no less kind-hearted, than managing and cleanly. This is saying a great deal for her; but I am sure every one who has an opportunity of observing her house, her children, her manner of speaking on all occasions, and her constant readiness to do a good turn for the neighbours, will readily admit that it is no more than her due.

The very limited extent of the premises will not admit of the baking being conducted on an extensive scale. And, indeed, my neighbours are but beginners on their own account, and seem to be fully convinced of the wisdom of beginning on a humble scale, according to their means, rather than, by attempting at first to make a great show, to run the hazard of ruining themselves, and injuring others.

James West was for many years foreman to a considerable fancy bread and biscuit baker in

our town, and was much respected by his employer as a steady, industrious, and trustworthy servant. He had good wages, and saved money in that situation; and probably would not have left it, at least for some years to come, but for one disadvantageous circumstance connected with it, which he could neither overcome nor endure. Every situation in life has its inconveniences; and where things on the whole are satisfactory, it is seldom wise for persons to unsettle themselves, because all is not exactly to their mind. There may, however, be only one thing of which to complain, and yet that may be of such importance as to justify a relinquishment of all the

rest.

This must be the case, if the one objectionable circumstance be of such a nature as to involve transgression of the commands of God, or to deprive of the means of grace. "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark viii. 36.

It was the pressure of this all-important question that brought James West to the decision that he must leave Mr. Davis's employ. When first he entered it, that question had never given him any great concern. I believe he was quite satisfied with himself for his honesty and industry in attending to his master's business, his civility to the customers, and his quiet and inoffensive deportment among his work-fellows. Perhaps it never occurred to him, that all these good qualities might exist, and all this proper conduct might be pursued, without any regard to the will of God, and without any reference to the only way in which a sinner can be accepted and saved. Perhaps

he thought, as many thousands do think, that his honesty and civility constituted his righteousness; and that his diligence in business excused him from attention to religion, Certain it is, that he used to be seen in his dusty dress all Sunday morning, just as busy as any other day in the week, making cakes, and baking dinners for the neighbours. In the afternoon, when he had done work, he was hot and tired, and more inclined to take a nap than to attend a place of worship; and the evening, according to the custom of many persons in his rank and circumstances, he considered himself quite at liberty to spend in going abroad for air and recreation. Thus the whole sabbath was spent in neglect of the public ordinances of religion. Since "faith cometh by hearing," Rom. x. 17, and the blessing of God is promised to those who wait on Him, while things went on in this manner, it was not to be supposed that West and his family gained much religious improvement or consolation. They thought themselves Christians, and were very well satisfied; and so are thousands more upon no better grounds. Should the question be presented to them, What are your hopes for another world? the answer, in all probability, would be, "We pay our debts, and live in peace with our neighbours; and if we are not safe, what is to become of thousands?" This is very different from what the Bible says. It tells us of a broad way, that leads to destruction, and of the thousands that crowd along it; and of the strait gate and narrow way, that lead to life eternal, and that there are few who find it, Matt. vii. 13, 14. It tells us, too,