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No. CXI.

Extract from an account of a Sunday
School, at Kirkstall near Leeds. By
Mrs. CARR.

ABOUT

BOUT three miles and a half from Leeds, near the remains of Kirkstall Abbey and on the banks of the river Aire, is a small hamlet consisting of ten or twelve families, all of them having a number of children. The fathers of these children are most of them employed at the forge, a neighbouring manufactory for cast iron: the mothers in general cannot read. There is no place of divine worship nearer than two miles; and Sunday was generally spent by the inhabitants, in sauntering through the woods, or about the ruins of the abbey. With a view to remedy this neglect of the Sabbath, a small school has been instituted there on Sundays. One of the cottagers, who has N

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himself seven children, and who has a roomy house, has been induced to act as master, for which he is very well qualified. A few benches and books constituted the whole of the original expense of the school. The master thinks himself amply rewarded by receiving a guinea at Christmas, together with a few clothes for himself and family. Such parents in the neighbourhood, as are induced to take advantage of the institution, and are from circumstances able to pay, are expected at Christmas to contribute a trifle towards firing. Every person willing to conform to the rules of the school, by regular attendance and decent behaviour, is invited to send his children. Neglect of attendance and want of obedience are faults for which, if persisted in, the children are discharged the school. Thirty children, from five to fourteen years of age (being an equal number of boys and girls) were there yesterday, Sunday April 17th, decent in their appearance and behaviour, and many of them already able to read very well. Children, under the age of five years,

are also permitted to come; and attend with great willingness, thereby acquiring habits of quiet attention, before they are capable of learning. Several of the elder inhabitants avail themselves of this opportunity to hear the Bible. The whole place has now a very different appearance on a Sunday; and the hedges and birds-nests escape on that day, at least, from the depredations consequent to total idleness. A few books are occasionally given, as rewards for regular attendance, and good behaviour. Some children come from so considerable a distance as two and three miles, and are remarkable for regular attendance. There are, at some seasons, above forty scholars thus instructed, with very little expense and no trouble. The school commenced in June, 1801. Convinced that time bestowed on these establishments is of much more consequence than the money they may cost, the institutors of this little school have made a point of visiting them as regularly, as distance well permits in winter; and, when on the spot in the summer months, at least once

every Sunday, hearing the children read, and themselves bestowing the trifling rewards.

OBSERVATIONS.

The above is deserving of notice and imitation, in every part of England. There is no mode, in which so much benefit may be conferred with so little expense and attention; whether we look to the education of the young, to the comfort, improvement, and religious habits of the old and middleaged, or to what is sadly neglected in many parts of England, the due observance of the Sabbath.

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18th April, 1803.

No. CXII.

Extract from an account of a school for poor Children, at Fincham. By Mr. CORSTON.

IN October 1802, a school was opened at Fincham, in the county of Norfolk, for the education of the children of that and the

adjoining parishes. They are instructed twice a day in reading, and eight of them in writing. The rest of their school time, being seven hours of the day, is employed in the platting of split-straw; for which, in addition to the advantage of education, they receive pay, according to the amount of their respective earnings.

There are at present in the school sixtyfour children. Four have left it to go into service, and seventeen have acquired a competent knowledge in the straw platt, and have returned home to their parents. The

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