me up to my own evil heart I should be lost."

Mr. Johnson approved of the shepherd's sincerity, for he had always observed that where there was no humility, and no watchfulness against sin, there was no religion, and he said that the man who did not feel himself to be a sinner, in his opinion, could not be a Christian.

Just as they were in this part of their discourse, Mr. Jenkins, the clergyman came in. After the usual salutations, Mr. Johnson inquired of the minister whether there were many children in the parish. "More than you would expect," replied he, "from the seeming smallness of it, but there are some little hamlets which you do not see." "I think," returned Mr. Johnson, "I recollect that in the conversation I had with the shepherd on the hill yonder, he told me you had no Sunday school." "I am sorry to say we have none," said the minister; "I do what I can to remedy this misfortune by public catechising; but having two or three churches to serve, I cannot give so much time as I

wish to private instruction; and having a large family of my own, and no assistance from others, I have never been able to establish a school."

"There is an excellent institution in London," said Mr. Johnson, "called the Sunday School Union, which kindly gives books and other helps, on the application of such pious ministers as stand in need of their aid, and which I am sure would have assisted you; but I think we shall be able to do something ourselves.-Shepherd," continued he, "if I were a king, and had it in my power to make you a rich and great man, with a word speaking, I would not do it. Those who are raised by some sudden stroke, much above the station in which divine providence has placed them, seldom 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 attempted 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 more easy to himself, and to put him in a way 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.— What rent do you pay for this cottage?" "Fifty shillings a year, sir."

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

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"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, or it might be guineas.”—“ Very well,” said Mr. Johnson. "Now my plan is, that the shepherd should take that house immediately; for as the poor man is dead, there will be no

need of waiting till quarter day, if I make up the difference." "True, sir," said Mr. Jenkins, "and I am sure my wife's father, whom I expect to-morrow, will willingly as

F

sist a little towards 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 your children Mary," said Mr. Johnson, gravely, "but it will not do for a school; the kitchen is neither 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 mas

your

ter. It will not at all interfere with weekly calling; and it is the only lawful way in which you could turn the Sabbath into a day of some little profit to your family, by doing as I hope, a great deal of good to the souls of others. The rest of the week you will work as usual. The difference of rent between this house and the clerk's I shall pay myself; for to put you into a better house at your own expense would be no great

act of kindness.-As for honest Mary, who is not fit for hard labour, or any out-of-door work, I propose to endow a small weekly school, of which she shall be the mistress, and employ her notable turn to good account, by teaching ten or a dozen girls to knit, sew, spin, card, or any other useful way of getting 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? and shall I be able to send for the doctor when I am like to lose her? Indeed my cup runs over with blessings. I hope God will give me humility." 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