it. Before he went down he made the following prayer: O LORD, thou knowest I am a poor weak boy, and it is not in man to direct his steps; look upon me, give me spiritual wisdom to walk wisely in thy way. Honour me by making me useful in this house. May I order myself lowly and reverently to all my betters.' He added much more, which is not

now to our purpose.

Greatly was Michael surprised to see a very ragged set of men and women beset the door, about nine o'clock, and clamour who should get in first; and also, to see Farmer Moss open his wainscoat desk, and take out his bag of money and pay each their weekly wages. Michael said nothing to his master, he was to order himself lowly and reverently; he said nothing of him, because he was to keep his tongue from evil-speaking. He was just running out of the room, when his master called out "Hark ye, lad, take the mare and carry a cheese to ***; turn to the right when you get out of the village, go straight by the turnpike, you can't miss; ask for Mrs. Foster, tell her the cheese is tenpence the pound, and it weighs eleven pounds and a half." "Sir,' said Michael (colouring up till he was as red as scarlet), 'am I-am I to go to-day?" "Go

66

directly, and you may be back for church, 'tis but two miles and three quarters." Michael did not know what he ought to do; at last he took his Bible, and he found three texts: first Servants, obey your masters in all things! next, "Remember the sabbath-day to keep i holy!" and then, “We ought to obey God ra ther than man." He sighed, and said, 'Wha shall I do?' He was in the passage: his mas ter heard him, and coming out saw the boy look ing very odd; on which he said, "What ails thed lad?" Sir,' said Michael, 'I don't know wha to do.' "Didn't I tell thee turn to the right

6

"Yes, Sir, but'-"But what? turning over the book for?" and Mr. Walker both told know what to do, always to

me,

What is the lad

"Sir, my father

when I did'nt

/ act as the Bible.

2 "And what has the Bible to do with the road

to ***, boy?"

Sir,

"

Sir, says, Remember the sabbath-day to keep it holy! and it says, Ser= vants, obey your masters in all things!" And the boy stood pointing to the text with his fore= finger, trembling and blushing. Humph"," said the farmer whistling, this comes of Sunday-schools.-Hoh there, Jam. A smart lively boy appeared. "Go you you to*** to Mrs Foster's: take the cheese; say 'tis lenpence the pound, and weighs eleven pounds and a half"

Yes, Sir.' "Take the mare, d'ye hear." "Yes, Sir.' "Be sure you come back to church."

While this passed between Jem and his Master, Michael's thoughts travelled to P. If we regard iniquity in our hearts the LORD will not hear," was a favourite text with Mr. Walker. The very Sunday before Michael left P. he preached on it, and said, in the close of his termon, "One truth I wish to impress on your ninds: if you profane the Sabbath, and then nter this church to worship, such worship is

offence unto GOD." Turn to the 58th chaper of Isaiah and the 13th and 14th verses, "If hou turn away thy foot, &c." I never shall forget that day and I hope never to forget the

Sermon."

The farmer as he drew than usual, said, "you now, the bell tolls; any

near, looking graver

may go to church of the folk will tell

you where to sit. Michael bowed and went out. When he came into the churchyard he found it very full. As it was a fine warm day; and the people were an odd mixture, some well dressed, other's sha bby and smart, and some scarcely decent, one small group attracted Michael's attention; they stood apart from the ongregation near the wall; and those outside seemed to watch sharply to see if the clergy

man was coming. Michael's first thought was, that they were waiting to catch a smile, as he had been used to do from Mr. Walker; till hearing the pattering of the hoofs of horses, the whole company dispersed, and he was surprised to see a mark on the ground as if they had been at marbles; and so indeed they had! Michael hastened into church, and going through the porch saw many farmers sitting, and his master among them: they were talking very loud, and he heard one say, "I never saw a finer heifer;" another, "That piece of land is desperate wet, however." He passed on; and as he stood waiting to be put into a seat, several fellows ran out of the belfry as hard as they could, and in their nailed shoes clattered into the gallery, laughing and whispering loud till the clergyman began to read.

He was a very fine-looking young man with a genteel countenance and manner: he read the service with more than common attention; and when the prayers were over a psalm was sung, in the gallery, by some of the young men. Michael was surprised to observe, that the young men who sung were whispering almost all the time of service, that none of them brought a prayer-book, and that the singing was all with them; few people joined in the

responses, though the congregation was large; there seemed to be no Sunday-school, and very few children in proportion to the size of the village. Michael fixed himself with great attention to hear the sermon, and joined Mr. P. very devoutly when he uttered that beautiful collect, “Grant that we may read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest." The text was "Judge not, that ye be not judged." Michael prayed that he might not judge any one, and lifted his eyes to the preacher. Mr. P. warned the people, in a very florid manner, not to suspect their neighbours of evil; to avoid fancying themselves better than their neighbours; to be kind to one another; and to live in good fellowship with one another; and that such a life would be pleasing to GoD and secure our eternal salvation. Michael wondered, because he always had been taught that our salvation was the gift of God through Jesus Christ; and he was greatly surprised to hear such a gentleman, who had ended every prayer with "through Jesus Christ our Lord," talk of living in kindness with one another as the way of salvation. About twenty minutes ended the sermon. The farmer went up to ask Mr. P. if he wouldn't come in. He thanked him, but said he was going to dine with Sir Robert, and would call another time. As he mounted his