STORIES

AND CATECHISINGS

IN ILLUSTRATION

OF THE COLLECTS;

OR,

THE SAINTS' DAY EVENINGS WITH THE FORLEY BOYS.

EDITED BY

THE REV. WILLIAM JACKSON, M.A., OXON.

BLIC

LONDON:

JOHN AND CHARLES MOZLEY, PATERNOSTER ROW;

AND J. H. PARKER, OXFORD.

138. d. 282.

IN ILLUSTRATION OF THE COLLECTS;

OR THE SAINTS' DAY EVENINGS WITH THE FORLEY BOYS.

St. Andrew's Day.

COLLECT.

Almighty God, who didst give such grace unto Thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of Thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed Him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by Thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil Thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

BEFORE beginning a second year with the Forley boys, I must inform my readers of several changes which took place in the parish at its commencement. For many months Mr Walton had found his health declining, and that he could not attend to his duties with the same energy and strength as had been his wont. His voice was failing him, and those who sat at the west end of the Church complained that they could not hear him; and although, as we have seen, Miss Walton generally relieved him from attendance in the school-room on Sunday, the exertion of teaching the girls at his own house was more than he had strength for, together with the duties in the Church. But although this Sunday class, the singing lessons, the evening schools, and other things, had been trying him for some time, he would not give them up; for he could not be happy to feel that any means of good was neglected, as long as it was possible to carry it on. Many an No. 68.

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anxious conversation he and his sister had on this subject. At length, after Mr Walton had been laid up for a fortnight with a severe attack in his throat, which left his voice painfully affected, he decided that it was necessary for the parish that he should have the assistance of a curate, and before St. Andrew's Day, a gentleman of the name of Mr Spencer was fixed in comfortable cottage lodgings, as curate of Forley. This involved other changes, for the medical man insisted upon Mr Walton's resting his voice as much as possible, and upon his giving up all teaching of children on Sundays for a considerable time.

It was perhaps a week after Mr Spencer's arrival that he and Mr and Miss Walton were sitting together talking over parish arrangements, some of which must now be imparted to my readers.

"Well!' said Mr Walton, with a sigh, since I am ordered to be idle, I suppose I must be, but it seems strange to me to let others take my work.'

You must not consider it your work now, but mine,' replied Mr Spencer, smiling. 'You say, I think, that the evening schools are carried on at this house, twice a week.'

'Yes, and Miss Walton always helped me,' returned Mr Walton. I suppose you won't be sorry

for a little assistance too.'

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'No, I shall be very glad of it,' answered Mr Spencer. Indeed, I think I hardly could teach the number who attend without it, and I know Miss Walton would be sorry to give up her work.'

'You judge quite rightly,' said Miss Walton. "I would much rather continue to help in every way I can.'

'Let us now fix about the Sunday arrangements,' said Mr Walton, after a few moments' silence. 'You say you would rather not have a class of girls, Mr Spencer?