connexion with an irreligious man; and each of the servants referred to has, in some way or other, disgraced that profession which they never ought to have made. The father is dead; and the mother, instead of realizing the fond expectations she once cherished, has to mourn that her ill-directed efforts have produced actual injury to the cause she was endeavouring to promote.

My neighbour, Mrs. Sims, was a favourite servant of Mrs. Robinson, and was treated by her with a confidence which she did not deserve. While her unsuspecting mistress regarded her as a paragon of piety and fidelity, and permitted the frequent visits of her suitor, because he professed to be pleased with the privilege of coming to family worship, rumours were afloat in the neighbourhood that there were other and more powerful attractions; and that Fanny was in the habit of making free with the pantry, the strong beer barrel, and the decanter, for his entertainment. More than once Mrs. Robinson received a hint on the subject, but by an excessive stretch of charity she satisfied herself that one who professed so much could not act so unworthily; forgetting how little stress had been laid in her instructions on the practical part of religion, and that, in fact, Fanny had been taught little more than to utter religious phrases. However it might be, Fanny contrived to keep in her mistress's good graces until she married away. Her husband, Sims, the tailor, is quite an every-day sort of character, taking the tinge of those with whom he associates, and having no very distinguishing features of his While he visited Fanny at Mr. Robinson's,

own.

he conformed to the habits of the family, and frequented public worship; after they were married, he continued to accompany his wife, and treated with civility any religious acquaintances who happened to call on her. He was generally well thought of, but never, I believe, took any decided step in religion. What he might have done, and what he might have been by this time, if his wife, who possesses much more native energy of character than himself, had constantly exhibited to his view religion in a consistent and attractive form, must remain a question.

The connexions of Mrs. Sims helped forward her husband in his business, and her activity and gumption kept his house in order, and promoted his worldly interests; but her domineering spirit destroyed his comfort, and he saw so much treachery practised upon others, that at last he was led to suspect there was no sincerity towards himself; and, from one circumstance and another, they have for years led a very unhappy life together.

As family cares increased, religious observances declined. For very trifling causes Fanny could absent herself from the sanctuary for weeks together. Her husband had then no stimulus to go, and soon sunk into habits of indifference, sloth, and indolence. The minister on whom they had been used to attend called again and again to admonish them on their sad declensions. Old Mrs. Robinson also called to expostulate with Fanny; but she had always some plausible excuse ready. She could not admit that her love of good things had abated, but pleaded illness in herself or her children, or the misconduct of her

husband, or any thing rather than taking blame to herself. Her friends hoped the best, and wished that her circumstances were more favourable.

Instead, however, of improvement, matters became worse and worse. Fanny's temper was more violent and turbulent than ever. Her husband was often driven to the public-house. The house of God was altogether deserted by both; business was in a great degree neglected; and even the spirit of household industry and cleanliness declined. The change seemed almost as unaccountable as it was painful, except to those who knew something of the history and character of the religious profession that had been made, and of the vice by which its abandonment had been accelerated.

Fanny Sims, in the house of her mistress, when such unwarrantable confidence was reposed in her, acquired a ruinous habit of self-indulgence in the use of stimulating drinks. When she became mistress of her own house, the propensity remained, but was somewhat checked by the inconvenience of gratifying it at her own expense; and for a time she was content to share her husband's pint of beer; but some opportunity of occasional indulgence, or some circumstance of indisposition or vexation, aroused the slumbering tiger within. She suffered herself secretly to indulge the wretched habit, and secretly to provide the means of doing so. Suspicion had more than once fallen on the family of Sims, of dishonesty to the master, by whom himself, his wife, and his eldest son were employed. At length, the matter

was scrutinized, and Mrs. Sims was convicted of having embezzled property to a considerable amount. The master forbore to prosecute, but dismissed the family from his employment. Mrs. Sims gave a different version of the story, and described herself as a cruelly injured woman. Her husband, it is generally believed, was not aware of her proceedings; he, however, shared in her punishment, and his mind became increasingly imbittered against her; and, what is still worse, hardened in his aversion to that religion of which she had been so unworthy a professor.

Meanwhile, the children are growing up, as the children of inconsistent professors usually do, far worse than those who have lived in total ignorance. The boys are continually fighting and making a scuffle in the neighbourhood; and one of them has been actually imprisoned for making a disturbance in that very place of worship to which his mother formerly professed so much attachment. The girls are giddy, vain, and indiscreet, and are already found mingling in the society of those who will almost infallibly lead them into mischief and ruin. They are the more endangered by the present occupation of their parents, who, being thrown out of regular employ, have opened their house as a beer-shop, and laid out the little garden for a low kind of gambling.

This, it may be supposed, is a great annoyance to the landlord of the Rose and Crown, and he has made several efforts to get rid of his tenants, but hitherto without success. The magistrates, too, have interfered, and put a stop to the skittleplaying; but some other game has since been

adopted, which is so contrived as to elude the letter of the law, though not in itself less mischievous. It is said, that they will certainly be displaced next quarter; if so, I hope the house will be occupied by some more desirable neighbours. Meanwhile, it is grievous to see men in the prime of life wasting their time, injuring their health, consuming their property, and robbing their families, by drinking and gambling; youths dropping in to catch the demoralizing infection; and even the little children of the family learning to imitate the actions, and listening to the profane and polluting discourse of the drunkard and gambler: above all, to see the mug and the glass handed to them, by her who once professed to love such very different pleasures and pursuits; to see her join in the coarse joke, and laugh at the rude familiarity by which her daughters are insulted. One shudders to think of her condition. Familiar as she is with those sacred truths which are the appointed means of turning the sinner from his sins, and directing his feet in the way of life, what new means can be tried? If the word of God, which is as a hammer to break the rock in pieces, has been struck and struck till it leaves no impression, from what other instrument can success be hoped for? Such characters appear almost beyond the reach of reproof and expostulation; but the things that are impossible with men are possible with God. The case, discouraging and desperate as it is, is not beyond the reach of Divine agency. Means must still be tried, and efforts made to reach the slumbering conscience;