lesson of vigilance and activity; and it is the best introduction for any useful conversation which the giver of the book may wish to introduce.

She found that among the numerous wants she met with, no small share was owing to bad management, or to imposition: she was struck with the small size of the loaves.Wheat was now not very dear, and she was sure a good deal of blame rested with the baker. She sent for a shilling loaf to the next great town, where the mayor often sent to the bakers' shops to see that the bread was proper weight. She weighed her town loaf against her country loaf, and found the latter two pounds lighter than it ought to be. This was not the sort of grievance to carry to sir John; but luckily the squire was also a magistrate, and it was quite in his way: for though he would not give, yet he would counsel, calculate, contrive, reprimand, and punish. He told her he could remedy the evil if some one would lodge an information against the baker; but that there was no act of justice which he found it so difficult to accomplish.

The Informer.

about it at once, as every body does who is in earnest. Her chief aim was the happiness of her poor neighbours in the next world; but she was also very desirous to promote their present comfort: and indeed the kindness she showed to their bodily wants gave her such an access to their houses and hearts, as made them better disposed to receive religious counsel and instruction. Mrs. Jones was much respected by all the rich persons in Weston, who had known her in her prosperity. Sir John was thoughtless, lavish, and indolent. The squire was over frugal, but active, sober, and not ill-natured. Sir John loved pleasure, the squire loved money. Sir John was one of those popular sort of people who get much praise, and yet do little good; who subscribe with equal readiness to a cricket match or a charity school; who take it for granted that the poor are to be indulged with bell-ringing and bonfires, and to be made drunk at Christmas; this sir John called being kind to them; but he thought it was folly to teach them, and madness to think of reforming them. He was, however, always ready to give his guinea; but I question whether he would have given up his hunting and his gaming to have cured She dropped in on the blacksmith. He every grievance in the land. He had that was at dinner. She inquired if his bread was sort of constitutional good nature which, if he good. Ay, good enough, mistress; for you had lived much within sight of misery, see it is as white as your cap, if we had but would have led him to be liberal: but he more of it. Here's a sixpenny loaf; you had that selfish love of ease, which prompt- might take it for a penny roll! He then ed him to give to undeserving objects, ra- heartily cursed Crib the baker, and said he ther than be at the pains to search out the ought to be hanged. Mrs. Jones now told deserving. He neither discriminated be- him what she had done; how she had detween the degrees of distress, nor the cha-tected the fraud, and assured him the evil racters of the distressed.-His idea of cha-shonld be redressed on the morrow, provirity was, that a rich man should occasion-ded he would appear and inform. I inally give a little of his superfluous wealth to form,' said he, with a shocking oath, hang the first object that occurred; but he had an informer! I scorn the office.'-'You are no conception that it was his duty so to hus- nice in the wrong place,' replied Mrs. Jones; band his wealth, and limit his expenses, as 'for you don't scorn to abuse the baker, nor to supply a regular fund for established to be in a passion, nor to swear, though you charity. And the utmost stretch of his be- scorn to redress a public injury, and to innevolence never led him to suspect that he crease your children's bread. Let me tell was called to abridge himself in the most you, there is nothing in which you ignorant idle article of indulgence, for a purpose for-people mistake more than in your notions eign to his own personal enjoyment. On the other hand, the squire would assist Mrs. Jones in any of her plans if it cost him nothing; so she showed her good sense by never asking sir John for advice, or the squire for subscriptions, and by this prudence gained the full support of both.

Mrs. Jones resolved to spend two or three days in a week in getting acquainted with the state of the parish, and she took care never to walk out without a few little good books in her pocket to give away. This, though a cheap, is a most important act of charity it has its various uses; it furnishes the poor with religious knowledge, which they have so few ways of obtaining; it counteracts the wicked designs of those who have taught us at least one lesson, by their zeal in the dispersion of wicked books-I mean the

about informers. Informing is a lawful way of obtaining redress; and though it is a mischievous and a hateful thing to go to a justice about every trifling matter, yet laying an information on important occasions, without malice, or bitterness of any kind, is what no honest man ought to be ashamed of. The shame is to commit the offence, not to inform against it. I, for my part, should perhaps do right, if I not only informed against Crib, for making light bread, but against you, for swearing at him.'

Well, but madam,' said the smith, a little softened, 'don't you think it a sin and a shame to turn informer?' 'So far from it, that when a man's motives are good,' said Mrs. Jones, and in clear cases as the present, I think it a duty and a virtue. If it is right that there should be laws, it must be

right that they should be put in execution; her found their circumstances far more combut how can this be, if people will not inform fortable at the year's end, while the rest the magistrates when they see the laws tempted, like some of their betters, by the broken! I hope I shall always be afraid to pleasure of putting off the evil day of paybe an offender against the laws, but not to ment, like them, at last found themselves be an informer in support of them.-An in- plunged in debt and distress. She took care former by trade is commonly a knave. A to make a good use of such instances in her rash, malicious, or passionate informer is a conversation with the poor, and, by persefirebrand; but honest and prudent infor- verance, she at length_brought them so mers are almost as useful members of socie- much to her way of thinking, that Wills ty as the judges of the land. If you continue found it to be his interest to alter his plan, in your present mind on this subject, do not and sell his goods on as good terms, and as you think that you will be answerable for the short credit, as Mrs. Sparks sold hers. crimes you might have prevented by inform- This completed Mrs. Jones's success; and ing, and thus become a sort of accomplice of she had the satisfaction of having put a stop the villains who commit them. to three or or four great evils in the parish 'Well, madam,' said the smith, I now of Weston, without spending a shilling in dosee plainly enough that there is no shame in ing it. turning informer when my cause is good.'Patty Smart and Jenny Rose were thought And your motive right; always mind that, to be the two best managers in the parish. said Mrs. Jones. Next day the smith at-They both told Mrs. Jones, that the poor tended, Crib was fined in the usual penalty, would get the coarse pieces of meat cheaper, his light bread was taken from him and gi- if the gentle-folks did not buy them for soups ven to the poor. The justices resolved and gravy. Mrs. Jones thought there was henceforward to inspect the bakers in their reason in this: so away she went to sir John, district; and all of them, except Crib, and the squire, the surgeon, the attorney, and such as Crib, were glad of it; for honesty the steward, the only persons in the parish never dreads a trial. Thus had Mrs. Jones who could afford to buy these costly things. the comfort of seeing how useful people may She told them, that if they would all be so be without expense; for if she could have good as to buy only prime pieces, which given the poor fifty pounds, she would not they could very well afford, the coarse and have done them so great, or so lasting a be- chcap joints would come more within the nefit, as she did them in seeing their loaves reach of the poor. Most of the gentry rearestored to their lawful weight: and the true dily consented. Sir John cared not what his light in which she had put the business of meat cost him, but told Mrs. Jones, in his informing was of no small use, in giving gay way, that he would eat any thing, or the neighbourhood right views on that sub-give any thing, so that she would not tease ject. him with long stories about the poor. The There were two shops in the parish; but squire said he should prefer vegetable soups, Mrs. Sparks, at the Cross, had not half so because they were cheaper, and the doctor much custom as Wills, at the Sugarloaf, preferred them because they were wholethough she sold her goods a penny in a shil- somer. The steward chose to imitate the ling cheaper, and all agreed that they were squire; and the attorney found it would be much better. Mrs. Jones asked Mrs. Sparks quite ungenteel to stand out. So gravy soups the reason. Madam,' said the shopkeeper, became very unfashionable in the parish of 'Mr. Wills will give longer trust. Besides Weston; and I am sure if rich people did this, his wife keeps shop on a Sunday morn- but think a little on this subject, they would ing while I am at church, Mrs. Jones now become as unfashionable in many other reminded Mr. Simpson to read the king's places.

proclamation against vice and immorality When wheat grew cheaper, Mrs. Jones next Sunday at church; and prevailed on was earnest with the poor women to bake the squire to fine any one who should keep large brown loaves at home, instead of buyopen shop on a Sunday. This he readily un- ing small white ones at the shop. Mrs. Bétdertook: for while sir John thought it good-ty had told her, that baking at home would natured to connive at breaking the laws, the be one step towards restoring the good old squire fell into the other extreme, of think-management. Only Betty Smart and Jenny ing that the zealous enforcing of penal sta-Rose baked at home in the whole parish; tutes would stand in the stead of all religious and who lived so well as they did? Yet the restraints. Mrs. Jones proceeded to put the people in mind that a shopkeeper who would sell on a Sunday, would be more likely to cheat them all the week, than one who went to church.

She also laboured hard to convince them how much they would lessen their distress, if they would contrive to deal with Mrs. Sparks for ready money, rather than with Wills on long credit; those who listened to

general objection seemed reasonable. They could not bake without yeast, which often could not be had, as no one brewed except the great folks and the public houses. Mrs. Jones found, however, that Patty and Jenny contrived to brew as well as to bake. She sent for these women; knowing that from them she could get truth and reason. How comes it,' said she to them, that you two are the only poor women in the parish who

THE WORKS OF HANNAH MORE.

can afford to brew a small cask of beer? | was obliged to suffer the house to be put Your husbands have no better wages than down as a nuisance. You would not believe other men.'-True, madam,' said Patty, how many poor families were able to brew 'but they never set foot in a public house. I a little cask, when the temptation of those will tell you the truth. When I first marri-ale-houses was taken out of their way. Mrs. ed, our John went to the Checquers every Jones, in her evening walks, had the pleanight, and I had my tea and fresh butter sure to see many an honest man drinking twice a-day at home. This slop, which con- his wholesome cup of beer by his own firesumed a deal of sugar, began to rake my side, his rosy children playing about his stomach sadly, as I had neither meat nor knees, his clean cheerful wife singing her milk; at last (I am ashamed to own it) I youngest baby to sleep, rocking the cradle began to take a drop of gin to quiet the pain, with her foot, while with her hands she was till in time I looked for my gin as regularly making a dumpling for her kind husband's At last the gin, the ale- supper. Some few, I am sorry to say, though as for my tea. house, and the tea began to make us both I don't chuse to name names, still preferred sick and poor, and I had like to have died getting drunk once a week at the Lion, and with my first child. Parson Simpson then drinking water at other times.-Thus Mrs. talked so finely to us on the subject of im-Jones, by a little exertion and perseverance, proper indulgences, that we resolved, by the added to the temporal comforts of a whole grace of God, to turn over a new leaf, and I parish, and diminished its immorality and promised John, if he would give up the Chec-extravagance in the same proportion. The good women, being now supplied quers, I would break the gin bottle, and never drink tea in the afternoon, except on with yeast from each other's brewings, Sundays, when he was at home to drink it would have baked; but two difficulties still with me. We have kept our word, and both remained. Many of them had no ovens ; for our eating and drinking, our health and our since the new bad management had crept consciences are better for it. Though meat in, many cottages have been built without is sadly dear, we can buy two pounds of fresh this convenience. Fuel also was scarce at meat for less than one pound of fresh butter, Weston. Mrs. Jones advised the building a and it gives five times the nourishment. And dear as malt is, I contrive to keep a drop of drink in the house for John, and John will make me drink half a pint with him every evening, and a pint a-day when

am a nurse.

Public Houses.

I

large parish oven.

Sir John subscribed to be rid of her importunity, and the squire, because he thought every improvement in economy would reduce the poor's rate. It was soon accomplished: and to this oven, at a certain hour, three times a week, the elder children carried their loaves which their mothers had made at home, and paid a halfpenny, or a penny according to their size, for the baking.

As one good deed, as well as one bad one, brings on another, this conversation set Mrs. Mrs. Jones found that no poor women in Jones on inquiring why so many ale-houses were allowed. She did not chuse to talk to Weston could buy a little milk, as the farsir John on this subject, who would only mers' wives did not care to rob their dairies. have said, 'let them enjoy themselves, poor This was a great distress, especially when fellows: if they get drunk now and then, they the children were sick. So Mrs. Jones adwork hard.' But those who have this false yised Mrs. Sparks, at the Cross, to keep a good-nature forget, that while the man is couple of cows, and sell out the milk by enjoying himself, as it is called, his wife and halfpenny worths. She did so, and found, children are ragged and starving. True that though this plan gave her some addiChristian good-nature never indulges one at tional trouble, she got full as much by it as the cost of many, but is kind to all. The if she had made cheese and butter. She squire, who was a friend to order, took up also sold rice at a cheap rate; so that, with the matter. He consulted Mr. Simpson. the help of the milk and the public oven, The Lion,' said he, 'is necessary. It stands a fine rice pudding was to be had for a trifle. by the road-side; travellers must have a resting place. As to the Checquers and the Bell, they do no good, but much harm.' Mr. Simpson had before made many attempts to get the Checquers put down; but, unluckily, it was sir John's own house, and kept by his late butler. Not that sir John valued the rent; but he had a false kindness, which made him support the cause of an old servant, though he knew he was a bad man, and kept a disorderly house. The squire, however, now took away the license from the Bell. And a fray happening soon after near the at the Checquers (which was church) in time of Divine service, sir John

Charity Schools for servants.

The girls' school, in the parish, was fallen into neglect; for though many would be subscribers, yet no one would look after it. I wish this was the case at Weston only: many schools have come to nothing, and many parishes are quite destitute of schools, because too many gentry neglect to make it a part of the duty of their grown up daughters to inspect the instruction of the poor. It was not in Mr. Simpson's way to see if girls were taught to work. The best clergyman cannot do every thing. This is ladies' busiMrs. Jones consulted her counellors, ness.

How

which the community may be best benefitted, includes the whole stock of instruction, which, unless in very extraordinary cases, I would wish to bestow.'

The

Mrs. Betty, and they went every Friday to the school, where they invited mothers, as well as daughters, to come, and learn to cut out to the best advantage. Mrs. Jones had not been bred to these things; but by means What have you got on the fire, madam?" of Mrs. Cowper's excellent cuttingout-book; said the squire; for your pot really smells she soon became mistress of the whole art. as savoury as if Sir John's French cook had She not only had the girls taught to make filled it.'Sir,' replied Mrs. Jones, I have and mend, but to wash and iron too. She lately got acquainted with Mrs. White, who also allowed the mother or eldest daughter has given us an account of her cheap dishes, of every family to come once a week, and and nice cookery, in one of the cheap Relearn how to dress one cheap dish. One Fri- pository little books, * Mrs. Betty and I day, which was cooking day, who should have made all her dishes, and very good pass by but the squire, with his gun and they are; and we have got several others of dogs. He looked into the school for the our own. Every Friday we come here and first time. Well, madam,' said he, what dress one. These good women see how it is good are you doing here? What are your done, and learn to dress it at their own girls learning and earning? Where are your houses. I take home part for my own dinmanufactures? Where is your spinning and ner, and what is left I give to each in turn. your carding?‘Sir,' said she, this is a I hope I have opened their eyes on a sad small parish, and you know ours is not a ma-mistake they had got into, that we think any nufacturing country; so that when these thing is good enough for the poor. Now, I girls are women, they will not be much em-do not think any thing good enough for the ployed in spinning. We must, in the kind poor which is not clean, wholesome, and of good we attempt to do, consult the local palatable, and what I myself would not genius of the place: I do not think it will cheerfully eat, if my circumstances requianswer to introduce spinning, for instance, red it.' in a country where it is quite new. Pray, Mrs. Betty,' said the squire, obever, we teach them a little of it, and still lige me with a basin of your soup.' more of knitting, that they may be able to squire found it so good after his walk, that get up a small piece of household linen once he was almost sorry he had promised to buy a year, and provide the family with the stock-no more legs of beef, and declared, that not ings, by employing the odds and ends of one sheep's head should ever go to his kentheir time in these ways. But there is ano-nel again. He begged his cook might have ther manufacture, which I am carrying on, the receipt, and Mrs. Jones wrote it out for and I know of none within my own reach her. She has also been so obliging as to fawhich is so valuable.'-'What can that be?' vour me with a copy of all her receipts. said the squire. To make good wives for And as I hate all monopoly, and see no reaworking men,' said she. Is not mine an son why such cheap, nourishing, and saexcellent staple commodity? I am teach-voury dishes should be confined to the paing these girls the arts of industry and good rish of Weston, I print them, that all other management. It is little encouragement to parishes may have the same advantage. an honest man to work hard all the week, if Not only the poor, but all persons with his wages are wasted by a slattern at home. small incomes may be glad of them. Most of these girls will probably become wives to the poor, or servants to the rich; to such the common arts of life are of great value: now, as there is little opportunity for learning these at the school house, I intend to propose that such gentry as have sober servants, shall allow one of these girls to come and work in their families one day in a week, when the house-keeper, the cook, the house-maid, or the laundry-maid, shall be required to instruct them in their several departments. This I conceive to be the best way of training good servants. They should serve this kind of regular apprenticeship to various sorts of labour. Girls who come out of charity-schools, where they have been employed in knitting, sewing, and reading, are not sufficiently prepared for hard and laborious employments. I do not in general ayprove of teaching charity children to write for the same reason. I confine within very strict limits my plan of educating the poor. A thorough knowledge of religion, and of some of those coarser arts of life by ceipts.

'Well, madam,' said Mr. Simpson, who came in soon after, which is best, to sit down and cry over our misfortunes, or to bestir ourselves to do our duty to the world?"

Sir,' replied Mrs. Jones, 1 thank you for the useful lesson you have given me. You have taught me that an excessive indulgence of sorrow, is not piety, but selfishness; that the best remedy for our own afflictions is to lessen the afflictions of others, and thus evidence our submission to the will of God, who, perhaps, sent these very trials to abate our own self-love, and to stimulate our exertions for the good of others. You have taught me that our time and talents are to be employed with zeal in God's service, if we wish for his favour here or hereafter; and that one great employment of those talents, which he requires, is the promotion of the present, and much more the future happiness of all around us.-You have

See the Way to Plenty, for a number of cheap re

taught me that much good may be done kind of beneficence. Above all, without with little money; and that the heart, the abating any thing of a just subordination, it head, and the hands are of some use, as well has brought the affluent to a nearer knowas the purse. I have also learned another ledge of the persons and characters of their lesson, which I hope not to forget, that Pro-indigent neighbours: it has literally brought vidence, in sending these extraordinary sea-the rich and poor to meet together; and Sons of scarcity and distress, which we have this I lock upon to be one of the essential lately twice experienced, has been pleased advantages attending Sunday schools also, to overrule these trying events to the general good; for it has not only excited the rich to an increased liberality, as to actual contribution, but it has led them to get more acquainted with the local wants of their poorer brethren, and to interest themselves in their comfort; it has led to improved modes of economy, and to a more feeling

where they are carried on upon true principles, and are sanctioned by the visits as well as supported by the contributions of the wealthy.'

May all who read this account of Mrs. Jones, and who are under the same circumstances, go and do likewise!

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

I PROMISED, in the Cure for Melancholy, trade, however ingenious he may be, to ask to give some account of the manner in which him if he cannot contrive to make me a pair Mrs. Jones set up her school. She did not of shoes. When I lived in London, I learnmuch fear being able to raise the money; ed to be much on my guard as to recombut money is of little use, unless some per-mendations. I found people often wanted sons of sense and piety can be found to di-to impose on me some one who was a burrect these institutions. Not that I would then to themselves.-Once, I remember, discourage those who set them up, even in when I undertook to get a matron for an hosthe most ordinary manner, and from mere pital, half my acquaintance had some one views of worldly policy. It is something to offer me. Mrs. Gibson sent me an old gained to rescue children from idling away cook, whom she herself had discharged for their Sabbath in the fields or the streets. It wasting her own provisions, yet she had the is no small thing to keep them from those conscience to recommend this woman to tricks to which a day of leisure tempts the take care of the provisions of a large comidle and the ignorant. It is something for munity, Mrs. Grey sent me a discarded them to be taught to read; it is much to be housekeeper, whose constitution had been taught to read the Bible, and much, indeed, ruined by sitting up with Mrs. Grey's gouty to be carried regularly to church. But all husband; but who she yet thought might this is not enough. To bring these institu-do well enough to undergo the fatigue of tions to answer their highest end, can only be effected by God's blessing on the best directed means, the choice of able teachers, and a diligent attention in some pious gentry to visit and inspect the schools.

On Recommendations.

Mrs. Jones had one talent that eminently qualified her to do good, namely, judgment; this, even in the gay part of her life, had kept her from many mistakes; but though she had sometimes been deceived herself, she was very careful not to deceive others, by recommending people to fill any office for which they were unfit, either through selfishness or false kindness. She used to say, there is always some one appropriate quality which every person must possess, in order to fit them for any particular employment-Even in this quality,' said she to Mr. Simpson the clergyman, I do not expect perfection; but if they are destitute of this, whatever good qualities they may possess besides, though they may do for some other employment, they will not do for this. If I want a pair of shoes, I go to a shoemaker; I do not go to a man of another

taking care of an hundred poor sick people. A third friend sent me a woman who had no merit but that of being very poor, and it would be charity to provide for her. The truth is, the lady was obliged to allow her a small pension till she could get her off her own hands, by turning her on those of others.'

'It is very true, madam,' said Mr. Simpson, the right way is always to prefer the good of the many to the good of one; if, indeed, it can be called doing good to any one to place them in a station in which they must feel unhappy, by not knowing how to discharge the duties of it. I will tell you how I manage. If the persons recommended are objects of charity, I privately subscribe to their wants; I pity and help them, but I never promote them to a station for which they are unfit, as I should by so doing hurt a whole community to help a distressed individual.'

Thus Mrs. Jones resolved that the first step towards setting up her school should be to provide a suitable mistress. The vestry were so earnest in recommending one woman, that she thought it worth looking into