Showing how Mr. Stock behaved to his Apprentices.

When he got up in the world so far as to have apprentices, he thought himself as accountable for their behavior as if they had been his children. He was very kind to them, and had a cheerful, merry way of talking to them; so that the lads, who had seen too much of swearing, reprobate masters, were very fond of him. They were never afraid of speaking to him they told him all their little troubles, and considered their master as their best friend; for they said they would do any thing for a good word and a kind look. As he did not swear at them when they had been guilty of a fault, they did not lie to him to conceal it, and thereby make one fault two. But though he was very kind, he was very watchful also; for he did not think neglect any part of kindness. He brought them to adopt one very pretty method, which was, on a Sunday evening to divert themselves with writing out half-adozen texts of Scripture in a neat copy-book with gilt covers. You may have the same at any of the stationers; they do not cost above fourpence, and will last nearly a year.

When the boys carried him their books, he justly commended him whose texts were written in the fairest hand. "And now, my boys," said he, "let us see which of you will learn your texts best in the course of the week; he who does this shall choose for next Sunday." Thus the boys soon got many psalms and chapters by heart, almost without knowing how they came by them. He taught them how to make a practical use of what they learnt; "for," said he, "it will answer little purpose to learn texts, if we do not try to live up to them." One of the boys being apt to play in his absence, and to run back again to his work when he heard his master's step, he brought him to a sense of his fault by the last Sunday's text, which happened to be the 6th of Ephesians. He showed him what was meant by "being obedient to his master in singleness of heart as unto Christ," and explained to him with so much kindness what it was "not to work with eye-service as men-pleasers, but doing the will of God from the heart," that the lad said he should never forget it; and it did more towards curing him of idleness than the soundest horse-whipping would have done.

How Mr. Stock got out of Debt.

Stock's behavior was very regular, and he was much be loved for his kind and peaceable temper. He had also a good reputation for skill in his trade, and his industry was talked of through the whole town, so that he had soon more work than he could possibly do. He paid all his dealers to the very day, and took care to carry his interest money to the creditors the moment it became due. In two or three years he was able to begin to pay off a small part of the principal. His reason for being so eager to pay money as soon as it became due was this:-he had observed tradesmen, and especially his old master, put off the day of payment as long as they could, even though they had the means of paying in their power. This deceived them; for, having money in their pockets, they forgot it belonged to the creditor, and not to themselves, and so got to fancy they were rich, when they were really poor. This false notion led them to indulge in idle expenses; whereas, if they had paid regularly, they would have had this one temptation the less. A young tradesman, when he is going to spend money, should at least ask himself, "whether this money is his own, or his creditors'." This little question might help to prevent many a bankruptcy.

A true Christian always goes heartily to work, to find out what is his besetting sin; and when he has found it (which he easily may, if he looks sharp), against this sin he watches narrowly. Now, I know it is the fashion among some folks (and a bad fashion it is) to fancy that good people have no sin; but this only shows their ignorance. It is not true. That good man St. Paul knew better.* And when men do not own their sins, it is not because there is no sin in their hearts, but because they are not anxious to search for it, nor humble to confess it, nor penitent to mourn over it. But this was not the case with James Stock. "Examine your

selves truly," said he, "is no bad part of the catechism." He began to be afraid that his desire of living creditably, and without being a burden to any one, might, under the mask of honesty and independence, lead him into pride and covetousness. He feared that the bias of his heart lay that way. So, instead of being proud of his sobriety; instead of bragging that he never spent his money idly, nor went to the

ale-house; instead of boasting how hard he worked, and how he denied himself,-he strove in secret, that even these good qualities might not grow out of a wrong root. The following event was of use to him in the way of indulging any disposition to covetousness :

One evening, as he was standing at the door of his shop, a poor, dirty boy, without stockings and shoes, came up and asked him for a bit of broken victuals, for he had eaten nothing all day. In spite of his dirt and rags, he was a very pretty, lively, civil-spoken boy, and Mr. Stock could not help thinking he knew something of his face. He fetched him out a good piece of bread and cheese, and, while the boy was devouring it, asked him if he had no parents, and why he went about in that vagabond manner. "Daddy has been dead some years," said the boy; "he died in a fit over at the Greyhound. Mammy says he used to live at this shop, and then we did not want for clothes nor victuals neither." Stock was melted almost to tears on finding that this beggarboy was Tommy Williams, the son of his old master. He blessed God, on comparing his own happy condition with that of this poor destitute child, but he was not proud at the comparison; and while he was thankful for his own prosperity, he pitied the helpless boy. "Where have you been living of late?" said he to him, "for I understood you all went home to your mother's friends." "So we did, sir," said the boy, "but they are grown tired of maintaining us, because they said that mammy spent all the money which should have gone to buy victuals for us, on snuff and drams. they have sent us back to this place, which is daddy's parish." "And where do you live here?" said Mr. Stock. we are all put into the parish poor-house.” mother do any thing to help to maintain you?" for mammy says she was not brought up to work like poor folks, and she would rather starve than spin or knit; so she lies a-bed all the morning, and sends us about to pick up what we can, a bit of victuals or a few halfpence." "And have you any money in your pocket now?" Yes, sir, I have got three halfpence, which I have begged to-day." "Then, as you were so very hungry, how came you not to buy a roll at that baker's over the way?" "Because, sir, I was going to lay it out in tea for mammy, for I never lay out a farthing for myself. Indeed, mammy says she will have her tea twice a-day, if we beg or starve for it." "Can you read, my boy?" said Mr. Stock. "A little, sir, and say my "And can you say your catechism?" "I

prayers too."

And so

"O, sir, "And does your

"No, sir,

have almost forgotten it all, sir, though I remember something about 'honoring my father and mother,' and that makes me still carry the halfpence home to mammy, instead of buying cakes." "Who taught you these good things?" "One Jemmy Stock, sir, who was a parish 'prentice to my daddy. He taught me one question out of the catechism every night, and always made me say my prayers to him before I went to bed. He told me I should go to the wicked place if I did not fear God; so I am still afraid to tell lies like the other boys. Poor Jemmy gave me a piece of gingerbread every time I learnt well; but I have no friend now: Jemmy was very good to me, though mammy did nothing but beat him."

Mr. Stock was too much moved to carry on the discourse; he did not make himself known to the boy, but took him over to the baker's shop: as they walked along, he could not help repeating aloud a verse or two of that beautiful hymn, so deservedly the favorite of all children :

"Not more than others I deserve,

Yet God hath given me more;
For I have food while others starve,
Or beg from door to door."

The little boy looked up in his face, saying, "Why, sir, that's the very hymn which Jemmy Stock gave me a penny for learning Stock made no answer, but put a couple of threepenny loaves into his hand to carry home, and told him to call on him again at such a time in the following week.

How Mr. Stock contrived to be charitable without any Expense.

Stock had abundant subject for meditation that night. He was puzzled what to do with the boy. While he was carrying on his trade upon borrowed money, he did not think it right to give any part of that money to assist the idle, or even to help the distressed. "I must be just," said he, "before I am generous." Still he could not bear to see this fine boy given up to certain ruin. He did not think it safe to take him into his shop in his present ignorant, unprincipled state. At last he hit upon this thought: "I work for myself twelve hours in the day. Why shall I not work one hour or two for this boy in the evening? It will be but for a year, and I shall then have more right to do what I please. My money will then be my own; I shall have paid my debts."

So he began to put his resolution in practice that very night, sticking to his old notion of not putting off till to-mor

row what should be done to-day; and it was thought he owed much of his success in life, as well as his growth in goodness, to this little saying "I am young and healthy," said he;

one hour's work more will do me no harm; I will set aside all I get by these over-hours, and put the boy to school. I have not only no right to punish this child for the sins of his father, but I consider that though God hated those sins, he has made them be instrumental to my advancement."

Tommy Williams called at the time appointed. In the mean time, Mr. Stock's maid had made him a neat little suit of clothes out of an old coat of her master's. She had also knit him a pair of stockings; and Mr. Stock made him sit down in the shop, while he himself fitted him with a pair of new shoes. The maid having washed and dressed him, Mr. Stock took him by the hand, and walked along with him to the parish poor-house, to find his mother. They found her dressed in ragged, filthy finery, standing at the door, where she passed most of her time, quarrelling with half-a-dozen women as idle and dirty as herself. When she saw Tommy so neat and well dressed, she fell a-crying for joy. She said, "it put her in mind of old times, for Tommy always used to be dressed like a gentleman." "So much the worse," said Mr. Stock; "if you had not begun by making him look like a gentleman, you needed not have ended by making him look like a beggar." "O Jem!" said she (for though it was four years since she had seen him, she soon recollected him), "fine times for you! set a beggar on horseback—you know the proverb. I shall beat Tommy well for finding you out, and exposing me to you."

Instead of entering into any dispute with this bad woman, or praising himself at her expense; instead of putting her in mind of her past ill behavior to him, or reproaching her with the bad use she had made of her prosperity, he mildly said to her,

‚—“ Mrs. Williams, I am sorry for your misfortunes; I am come to relieve you of part of your burden. I will take Tommy off your hands. I will give him a year's board and schooling, and by that time I shall see what he is fit for. 1 will promise nothing; but if the boy turns out well, I will never forsake him. I shall make but one bargain with you, which is, that he must not come to this place to hear all this railing and swearing, nor shall he keep company with these pilfering, idle children. You are welcome to go and see him when you please, but here he must not come.'

The foolish woman burst out a-crying, saying, "she should lose her poor dear Tommy forever. Mr. Stock might give