the little tract, sent by the young ladies to this poor man, should be the beginning of a very great change in him; and thus the Lord often blesses a very small thing to the production of some mighty work.

As soon as Frank Downes was able to walk, he went to return his thanks to the minister for his kindness, and to consult him concerning his future mode of life. Frank Downes was most kindly received by the minister, who rejoiced to see so good a work begun and going on, as he hoped, in the heart of this poor man, who had hitherto been reckoned the worst character in the neighbourhood. The minister took this occasion to point out to him the necessity under which he lay, in order to prove his calling, of leaving all his evil habits, and of endeavouring to procure his livelihood in an honest way. Moreover, he brought forward to him this verse," A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit; every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire; wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Frank Downes promised the minister that he would never again have a hand in any thing unlawful; and I am happy to say, that grace was given him to enable him to keep this resolution; and, although it was some time before he could get into a regular and profitable way of business, yet he never fell again into his old evil courses, though he afterward confessed he had many temptations so to do. Thus the Almighty, who had so remarkably, and through such slender means, commenced this mighty work of restoring a wandering sinner to himself, failed not, by degrees, to bring his work to perfection.

It would take much more time than I have to spare to give an account of the happy change which took place in the house and family of Francis Downes after he became pious. How true are the words of the Holy Scriptures," Godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." What a valuable pennyworth was that which the ladies sent to Francis Downes! For, as I said before, it was certainly the means (under God) of bringing to pass this happy change in the heart and family of this poor man. We know that it is the Lord by whom these mighty events are brought to pass, but the Almighty is generally pleased to work by means, and blessed are those

whom he chooses to employ as instruments in his work of mercy.

It was more than three years from the time when my story first began, that the same two young ladies of whom I first spoke were walking one fine summer's evening on the borders of the common on which Frank Downes's house was situated. Since that period in which they were sitting in the arbour, they had had many troubles, and were at the present time in deep mourning for their father. They were, therefore, not now, as formerly, disposed to giggle and laugh at every thing they heard and saw, but were prepared, through the divine blessing on their afflictions, to receive better impressions. So they walked on till they came to Francis Downes's cottage. I have described the appearance of this place before its owners became pious, and I will now endeavour to picture it to my reader again, after that happy event had taken place. And, first, the thatch, which had been faulty in many places, was neatly repaired, and the rags and papers taken out of the window, and in their places were whole and clean panes of glass. The garden, too, which had looked like a wilderness, was now neatly laid out, and abounded with all manner of common fruits and vegetables; the little wicket, which had formerly scarce held together, though fastened by wisps of straw, was repaired, and standing upright; and the path which led from thence to the house door neatly laid with pebbles.

When the two ladies came up to the wicket, and looked over it into the garden, they expressed some surprise at the neat and thriving appearance of all about the house; and one said to the other, "Is not this the place whose wretched appearance we always remarked whenever we came this way?"-"Let us go in," replied the other, "and inquire into this extraordinary amendment; perhaps the house has changed its inhabitants." Accordingly, the two young ladies went up to the house, and, knocking at the door, it was presently opened by a decent looking woman, with one child in her arms, and another following her. The ladies looked at the cottager, and she at them, for a few moments before they recollected each other. At length, one of the sisters said, "Surely you cannot be the person who some time ago came begging to our house with a child in your arms-a person to whom I gave a book?”

"Indeed, indeed, ladies, I am," said the poor woman, smiling," and I have reason to remember that day to the longest hour I have to live." The poor woman then invited the young ladies to come into her neat kitchen, where, setting them each a chair, she told them what a wonderful work the book which they had sent her husband had, through the divine blessing. wrought in him; and how his heart had been changed, and his conduct to her so much amended; and from being the most miserable of women, she was now become one of the happiest; "for, ladies," said she, "when I was so ill used by my husband, and saw my poor child pining for want, I had no heart to set my house to rights, or mend or wash my clothes; and as to religion, I could not read, and knew nothing about it, nor was likely to know, for I never set my foot in a place of worship; and such was my ignorance, that, when I laid my eldest boy in the grave, I was quite without comfort respecting him, and was ready almost to lay myself on the cold earth by his side; but, now that it has pleased the Lord to change the heart of my husband, and to put it into his mind to teach me my duty to God, I am become quite another creature, and go about my work, as it were, with a new heart. I have even seen reason to rejoice in that which at one time brought me almost to despair; I mean the death of my little darling, inasmuch as I am now convinced that all is ordered and directed by our heavenly Father for the good of his people." Here the poor woman burst into tears, and they were tears of joy; and, as she wiped them away with her apron, she gave such a look to the ladies as spoke her feeling of the obligation she owed them.

I cannot describe what these ladies felt on this occasion; but they looked at each other, and one said to the other, "I now remember the words of that good old Iman who sold the tract to us,-Cast thy bread upon. the waters, and after many days thou shalt find it ;' but we can take no credit to ourselves on this occasion, we must give all the glory to God."

Now I do not pretend to say that every one who gives away a Bible or tract, or other good book, will always be made so sensible of the good he has been allowed to bring to pass as those ladies were, and perhaps it would not be well for him if it were; nevertheless, of this we are assured, that if we labour in disseminating the word VOL. XIII.-Q

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of God, and the principles of our religion, our work will not be without effect; for it is written in the prophet Isaiah, chap. lv., 10, 11, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it."

THE POTTERS' COMMON.

PART I.

Ir is no uncommon thing to hear working-people speaking to this purport:-"If such as we do not know our duty towards our God, where is the wonder? We have had no opportunities of instruction; we have had no book-learning; we have been slaves all our lives, and must remain such to the end of the chapter."

Excuses of this kind pass very well from one poor man to another, but I am much afraid that they will not stand good in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open; and, for this reason, that they are seldom founded in truth. What poor man is there who has learned all he might have learned of his duty towards God and his neighbour? and how few are there of us, whether poor or rich, who have not often said unto the Lord, "Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge of thy ways." Job, xxi., 14.

Let us be quite sure that our ignorance is not wilful, before we trust to it as our excuse in the last day. But in order to make my meaning plainer, I shall relate the history of a poor man, who used, like many others, to plead his humble station and manner of life as an excuse for his ignorance; though he was afterward brought to confess, that it would have been his own fault if he had not received as much knowledge as was necessary to salvation.

There is a certain common on the borders of Stafford where are many little huts (for these dwellings do not deserve the name of cottages), in the occupation of persons whose business it is to go about the country with asses laden with pottery.

These persons, for the most part, I am sorry to say, are little better than thieves and vagabonds. Many of them have no more notion of religion than the beasts