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18

MR. LOVELY RELIEVING A POOR FAMILY.

"When he first came into the house, he gave half-a-crown each, to three of the poor children.

"In came the honest man from his day labour, when he beheld his wife and children surrounding Mr. Lovely as in an ecstasy, and the old woman in tears, and on her knees, blessing God for such unexpected mercies-while he himself stood motionless, with his eyes lifted up, and his hands clasped together."

C. Whittingham, College House, Chiswick.

only a day-labourer, the spinning of the children, and the parish scanty allowance of eighteen pence a week, to the poor old widow.

Mer. Oh! this was charming! and I will warrant he relieved them liberally. Did he take you with him on this errand?

Loveg. Sir, he would go nowhere without me. He is become astonishingly affectionate and it was, I think, one of the most impressive scenes I ever beheld. When he first came into the house and saw their poverty, he gave to three of the poor children, who were then at home, a half crown each; and as he was entirely unknown to them, he asked the question, as though he was ignorant of it himself, how they came to be driven out of their little farm, after the husband's death; and a dreadful story it was: for it appeared, that while the mere loan of a few pounds, during the hours of their calamity might have kept them up, the miser's hard hand of oppression completely threw them down. After Mr. Lovely had heard their tale, he stifled his grief, called me out, and gave vent to the feelings of his mind; while he wept plentifully over the miseries of the family his uncle had brought to ruin. After he had consulted with me on the most eligible way for their relief, he returned. He then told them who he was, and that he was now possessed of all his great uncle's property: that he was quite grieved at heart on account of what had past, and was now determined to wipe the tear from the widow's eye, while he should esteem it a call in providence, to superintend the good of the family, as a father and a friend and then a second time he began to weep. Immediately he took ten guineas out of his pocket for their present wants, and promised them twelve shillings a week, with an engagement to pay their rent, till he could provide better for them in some little farm, that might

belong to him, as soon as there was a vacancy, provided they proved industrious, and worthy of his attention. Mer. Sir, could you stand all this?

Loveg. Indeed, Sir, I could not; being quite overcome by it, I was obliged to leave the house a second time and while I was giving way to my feelings, in came the honest man from his day-labour. He was not only much surprised to see me so affected at the door of the cottage; but when he came in, he had to behold his wife and children, surrounding Mr. Lovely as in an ecstasy, and the poor widow in tears, and on her knees, blessing God for such unexpected mercies. He wondered for awhile what could be the cause. At one time he thought that some cruel bailiff had entered the house, on account of a few trifling debts which had remained on account of his wife's father, but when he began to hear the true story, who Mr. Lovely was, and on what errand he came, with his eyes lifted up, and his hands clasped together, he stood quite motionless. Just then I returned into the house-I never saw such a scene in all my life.

Wor. This I call the luxury of doing good. It may easily be decided who felt the greatest happiness; the old miser in grasping after this money, or the nephew in giving it away.

Loveg. Ah, Sir, but his most delightful conduct towards the man, his great uncle sent to gaol, poor Isaac Careful, because he would not resign the property settled on his wife and children, was if possible, more affecting and noble.

Miss Wor. O dear Sir! do let us hear it.

Loveg. Why, madam, the anxiety of his mind on that occasion was beyond all expression. The day after the funeral, he ordered two post-chaises; he and Mrs. Lovely went in one chaise, I and Mr. Justice in the other,

to the county gaol, ten miles from Grediton. Mr. Justice was directed to enter into conversation with him, while Mr. and Mrs. Lovely sat by, as entire strangers. After he had heard but a part of the story, he criedO Mr. Justice! let me hear no more: he must be discharged immediately. The man cried, What can all this mean? Why, replied Mr. Justice, it means that Mr. Lovely, who possesses the late Mr. Greedy's fortune, will have you discharged directly, that you may see your wife and family before sunset.

Mrs. Wor. Oh, what delightful tidings to a poor prisoner, confined at a distance from his wife and family! surely he must have been quite overcome by it,

Loveg. For a while it entirely overset him. For he immediately fixed his eyes on Mr. Lovely, and almost directly afterwards, quite fainted away with surprise and joy, and it was some time before he recovered. Mr. Lovely next gave the keeper ten pounds, to be distributed among the most necessitous of the prisoners begging, at the same time, that I might be permitted to drop among them a word of exhortation for their general good. This office I performed with a considerable degree of difficulty, being so much affected at the scene which was before me; nor were most of my miserable hearers less affected than ourselves and while I was offering up a concluding prayer, especially for the poor man who was the object of such providential mercy from the kind hand of Mr. Lovely, spiritualizing it at the same time, that every poor prisoner might seek for the gracious, and delivering mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life, it is amazing how many tears were shed among them.

Wor. Nothing melts and conquers like love!

Loveg. That has been proved to us by the love of Christ. But oh! to see the countenance of the poor prisoner, just brought again to the enjoyment of his li

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