Page images
PDF
EPUB

So, what his heart found right to do, he resolved to do quickly; and he set out at first as he meant to go on. The Sunday was truly a day of rest, at Mr. Stock's. He would not allow a pair of shoes to be given out on that day, to oblige the best customer he had. And what did he lose by it? Why, nothing. For, when people were once used to it, they liked Saturday night just as well. But, had it been otherwise, he would have given up his gains to his conscience.

Shewing 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 behaviour 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, brought them to adopt one very pretty method, which was, on a Sunday evening to divert themselves with writing out half-a-dozen 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.

He

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 texts, which happened to be the 6th of Ephesians. He shewed 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.

66

How Mr. Stock got out of debt.

Stock's behaviour was very regular, and he was much beloved 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.

"Exa

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 shews 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. mine yourselves 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:

• See Romans vii.

[ocr errors]

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 beggar-boy 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. And so they have sent us back to this place, which is daddy's parish.'

66

[ocr errors]

"And where do you live here?" said Mr. Stock. "O, sir, we are all put into the parish poor-house." "And does your mother do any thing to help to maintain you?" No, sir, 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 prayers too." "And can you say your catechism?" I have almost forgotten it all, sir, though I remember something about honouring 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 favourite of all children:

66

"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

« PreviousContinue »