CHEAP REPOSITORY, "The Shepherd of Salijhury Plain. PART IL Sold by. J, MARSHALL, (Printer tothe Cheap Repository) for Mora Religious Trafts,) No. 17. Queen-' tree, CheapEdcf and No. 4, Aldermary Church-Yard, .BoVLane'* and R. WHITE, Piccadilly, London By S. HAZARD, [Printer to the Cheap Repository) alfia#i : and by all Bookfellers, Newfmen and Hawkey £ a Town and Country, are at Allowance *wiH be wade to Shopkeepers ; with- thofe who are wifer and better, and that will keep us humble.' 4 Molly was now fo hungry, and found the potatoes fo goodj that fhe had no time to makf < 7 ) any more remarks • but was devour^ ing her dinner very heartily ; when the barking of the great dog drew her attention from her trencher to the door f and fpying the ftranger, fhe cried out* " look father, fee here, if yonder is not the good Gentleman !" Mr. John- fon finding himfelf difcoveyed, imme- diately walked in, and was heartily welcomed by the honeii Shepherd, who told his wife that this was the Gentle- man to whom they were ib much obliged. The good Woman began, as fome very neat people are rather too apt to do, with making many apologies that her houfe was not cleaner, and that things were not in fitter order to re- ceive fuch a Gentleman. Mr. John- Ion however, on looking round, could di! cover nothing but the moft perfect ncatnefs. The trenchers on which they were eating were almoft as white as their linen ; and notwithstanding the number and fmallnefs of the child- rcn 3 there was r*ot the leaft appearance of i of dirt or litter.. The furniture was very firnplc and poor, hardly indeed amounting to bare neceffaries. . It coiv lifted of four brown wooden chairs, which, by conftant rubbing, were be- come as bright as a looking glafs ; an iron pot and ketile ; a poor old grate which fcarcely held a handful of coals, and out of which the little fire that had. been in it appeared to have been taken, as Toon as it had anfwered the end for which it had been fighted, that of boiling their potatoes. Over the chimney flood an old fafh- ioned broad bright candleftick, and a ftill brighter fpit ; it was pretty clear that this laft was kept rather for orna- ment than ule. An old carved elbow chair, and a cheft of the fame date which flood- in the corner, we're confi- 4ered as the molt val Liable part of the Shepherd's goods, having been in his JO 7 o family for three generations. But all tfoefe were lightly efteemed by him, in comparifon of another poffeffion, which added to the above made up the whale of what he Ijad inherited from his father ; and which laft he would not have parted with, if no other could have been had, for a king's ranfom : this was a large old Bible, which lay on the window feat, neatly covered with brown cloth, varioufiy patched* This facred book was moft reverendly preferved from dog's ears, dirt, and every other injury, but fuch as time and much ufe had made it fuffer in fpite of care. On the clean white walls w r ere pafted a hymn on the Crucifixion of our Saviour, a print of the Prodigal Son, the Shepherd's Hymn, and a New Hi/lory of a True Book. After the firft falutations were over, Mr. Johnfon faid, that if they would go on quietly with their dinner he would fit down. Though a good deal afhamed, they thought it more refpett- ful to obey the Gentleman, who hav- ing caft his eye on their (lender pro yifions, gently rebuked the Shepherd for not having indulged himfelf, as ft was Sunday, with a morfel of Bacon to rclifh his Potatoes. The Shepherd faid M to j ifaid nothing, but poor Mary coloured, and hung down her head, faying, " in- deed, Sir, it is not my fault, I did beg my hufband to allow himfelf .a bit of meat to-day out of your honours bounty ; but he was too good to do it, and it is all for my fake." The Shepherd feemed unwilling to, come to au explanation, but Mr. Johnfon de- fired Mary to go on. So rfie continu- ed, " you rauft know, Sir, that both of us next to a fin, dread a debt, and indeed in fome cafes a debt is a fin ; but with all our care and pains we have never been able quite to pay off the DoBor's bill, for that bad fit of the Rheumatifm which I had laft winter. Now when you were pleafed to give my hufband that kind prefent the other day, I heartily defired him to buy a bit of meat for Sunday, as I faid be- fore, that he might have a little refresh- ment for himfelf out of your kindnefs. But anfwered he, Mary, it is never out of my mind long together that we ftill owe a few fhilling% to the Do&or* .{and thank God it is all we . di4 bwe owe in the world.) Now if I carry him this money direQiy it will not only ft ew him our honefty and our good will, but it will be an encouragement to him to come to you another time in cafe you fhould be taken once more in fuch a bad fit; for I muft own, add ed my poor hufband, that the thought of your being fo terribly ill without any help, is the only misfortune that I want courage to face/* Here the grateful woman's tears ran down fo faft that lhe could not go on. She wiped them with the corner of her apron, and humbly begged pardon fot making fo free, f Indeed, Sir," faid the Shepherd, f though my wife is full as unwilling to be in debt as my- felf, yet I could hardly prevail on her to confent to my paying this money juft then, becaufe {he faid it was hard I Ihould not have a tafte of the Gen- tleman's bounty myfelf. But for once, Sir, I would have my own way. For % you muft know, as I pafs beft /part of my time alone, tending my fheep, 'tis a great a great point with me^ Sir, to get com- fortable matter for my own thoughts ; fo that 'tis rather felf intereft in me to allow myfelf in no pleafures and no praftices that won't- bear thinking on over and over. For when one is a good deal alone you know, Sir, all one's ^bad deads do fo rufh in upon one, as I may fay, and fo torment one, that there is no true comfort to be had but in keep- ing clear of wrong doings, and falfe pleafures ; and that I fuppofe may be one reafon why fo many folks hate to flay a bit by themfelves. — But as I was faying— when I came to think the mat- ter over on the hill yonder, faid I to n-yfelf,- a good dinner is a good thing I grant, and yet it will be but cold comfort to me a w T e~ek after, to be able to fay — to be fure I had a nice fhoulder of mutton laft Sunday for dinner, .hanks to the good Gentleman,: but then I am in debt.— I had a rare dinner, that's certain, but the pleafure of that has long been over, and the debt ftill remains. I have fpent the crown, and now if my poor wife iho^ld be taken ( 13 ) s again, die flue mud, unlefs God work a miracle to prevent it, for I can get no help for her. This thought fettled all; and I fet off reftly and paid the crown to the Doc- tor with - as much chcerfulnefs as I fhould have felt on fitting down to the fatteft fhoulder of mutton that e.vct; was roatted. And if I was contented it tne time, think how much more hap.pv I have been at the remembrance ! O ^Sir, there are no pleasures worth the name hut fuch as bring no plague or penitence after them." , Mr. Johnfon was fatisfied with tli6 Shepherd's reafons ; and agreed, that, though a good dinner was not to be defpifed, yet it was not worthy to be compared with a contented Mind, which (as the Bible truly fays) is a continual Jeajl. " But come," faid the good Gen- tleman,. 6 ' what have we got in this brown mug ?" " As good water," faid the Shepherd, " as any in the king's domini- ons. I have heard of countries beyond Tea in which there is no wholefome B w T ate% ( U ) watery nay, I have been myfelf in a great town not far off where they arc obliged to buy all the water they get, while a good Providence fends to my very door a fpring as clear and fine as Jacob's well. When I am tempt- ed to repine that I have often no other drink, I call to mind, that it was nothing better than a cup of cold water which the woman of Samaria drew for the greateft gueft that ^ever vifited this .'world." " Very well," replied Mr. Johnfon ; € * but as your honefty has made you prefer a poor meal to being in debt, I will at leaft fend and get fomethmg for you to drink. I faw a little public-hoy fe juft by the church, as I came along. Let that little rofy- faced fellow fetch a mug of beer." So faying, he looked full at the Boy who did not offer to ftir ; but cait an eye at his father to know what he was to do. tc Sir," faid the Shepherd, u I hope we fhall not ap- pear ungrateful^ if we feem to re~ f *5 ) • fu-fe your favour; my little boy would, I am fure, fly to ferve you on any o- ther occafion. But, good Sir, it is Sunday, and fhould any of my famu ly be feen at a Public-houfe on a Sab- bath-day, it would be a much greater grief to me than to drink water all my life. I am often talking againlfc thefe doings to others, and if I fhoulct fay one thing and do another, you can't, think what an advantage it would give: many of my neighbours over me, who* would be glad enough to report that they caught the Shepherd's Son at the Ale-houfe, without explaining how~ it happened. Chriftians, you know* Sir, muft be doubly watchful, or they will not only bring difgrace on them- felves 5 but what is much worfe, on that holy name by which they are called." " Are you not a little too cautious my honeft friend ?" faid Mr. Johnfon. " I humbly afk your pardon, Sir," replied the Shepherd, " if I think that is impoffible. In my poor no- B 2 tion ( i»6 ) notion I no more under ft and how a man can be too cautious, than how he can be. too ftrong, or too healthy." u You are right indeed," faid Mr. johnfon, " as a general principle, but ih'is "itruck me as a very fmall thing." fc< \ Sir," faid the Shepherd, " I am afraid you will think me very bold, but you encourage me to fpeak out."- — " 'Tis what I wifh," faid the Gentleman.— * 6 Then, Sir," refumed the Shepherd, ^ I doubt, if where there is a temptation to do wrong any thing can be called iiriill ; that is, in fliort, if there is any fuch thing as a fmall wilful fin. A poor man like me is feldom called out to do great things, fo that it is not by a few great deeds his character can be judged by his neighbours, but by the little round of daily cuftoms he allows himfelf in."— While they were thus talking, the children who had Hood very quietly behind, and had not ftirred a foot, now began to fcamper about all at once, and in a moment ran to ( *7 > to the window-feat to pick up theij little, old hats. Mr. Johnfon look- ed furprifed at this disturbance • the Shepherd alked his pardon, telling him it was the found of the Church. Bell which had been the caufe of their, rude- nefs • for their Mother had brought them up with fuch a fear of being too late for Church, that it was but who B 3 could ( *8 ) could catch the firft ftroke of the bell, and he firft ready. He had al- ways taught them to think- that no- thing was more indecent than to get into Church ■ after it was begun ; for as the for vice opened with ah exhorta- tion to repentance, and a confeflion of lin, it looked very prefumptuous hot to be ready to join in it ; it looked as if people did not feel themfelves to be firmers. And though fuch as lived at a great diftance might plead difference of clocks as an excufe, yet thofe who lived within the found of the bell, could pretend neither ignorance nor miftake. Mary and her children fet forward. Mr. Johnfon and the Shepherd follow- ed, taking care to talk the whole way on fuch fubje&s as might fit them for the folemn duties of the place to which they were going. I have often been forty to obferve," faid Mr. Johnfon, M that many who are reckoned de- cent, good kind of people, and who would on no account negleft going - • " • -• to ( *l ) to churchy yet feem to care but little in what frame or temper of mind they go thither. They will talk of their worldly concerns till they get within the door, and then take them up again the very minute the fermon is over, which makes me ready to fear they lay too much ftrefs on the mere form of going to a place of warfhip. Now, for my part, I always find that it re- quires a little time to bring my mind into a ftate fit to do any common bufi- nefs well, much more this great and mdft neceffarv bufinefs of all." " Yesy Sir,'* faid the Shepherd, 46 and then I think too how bufy I fhould be in preparing my mind, if I was going into the prefence of a great gentleman, or a Lord, or the King } and fhall the King of Kings be treated with lefs refpeft ? Befides, one likes to fee peo- ple feel as if going to Church was a thing of choice and pleafure, as well - as a duty, and that they were as de- firous not to be the laft there, as they would be if they were going to a feaft > or a fair." After ( 20 ) After fervice, Mr. Jenkins the Cler- gyman, who was well acquainted with the charafter of Mr. Johnfon, and had a great refpea for him, accofted him with much civility; exprefFing his con- cern that he could not enjoy juft now fo much of his conversation as he wifhed, as he was obliged to vifit a fick perfon at a diftance, but hoped to have a little talk with him before he left the Village. As they walked along toge- ther, Mr. Johnfon made fuch inquiries about the Shepherd, as ferved to con- firm hjm i n t ] ie high opinion he enter- tained of his piety, good-fenfe, induf- try, and felf-denial. They parted, the Clergyman promifing to call in at the Cottage in his way home. The Shepherd, who took it for grant- ed that Mr. Johnfon was gone to the Parfonage, walked home with his wife and children, and was beginning in his ufual way to catechife andinftruahis family, when Mr. Johnfon came in, and infifted that the Shepherd fhould go on with his inftruaions, juft as if he ( 21 ) he were not there. This Gentleman who was very defirous of being ufeful to his own Servants and workmen in the way of religious inftruflion, was fonfe- times forry to find that though he took a good deal of pains, they did not now and then quite underftand him, for though his meaning was very good, his language was not always very plain; and though the things he faid were not hard to be underftood, yet the words were, efpecially to fuch as were very ignorant. And he now began to find out, that if people were ever fd wife and good, yet if they had not a fimple, agreeable, and familiar way of expreffing themfelves, fome of their plain hearers would not be much the better for them. For this reafon he was not above liftening to the plain, humble way in which this honeft man taught his family, for though he knew that he himfelf had many advantages over the Shepherd, had more learning, and could teach him many things, yet he was not too proud to learn even of fo poor a Man, in any point where ( 22 ) lie thought the Shepherd might have the advantage of him. This Gentleman was much pleafed with the knowledge and pietv he dif- fered in .the anfwers of 'the chil- dren ; and defired the Shepherd to tell him how he contrived to keep up a lenfe of divine things in his own mind and in that of his family with fo little leifure and fo little reading. « O as to that, Sir," faid the Shepherd, « we do not read much except m one book to be fure ■ but by hearty prayer for God s bleffing on the ule of that book, what little knowledge is needful feems to come of courfe, as it were. And my chief ftudy has been to bring the fruits of the Sunday reading into the week's bufinefs, and to keep up the lame lenfe of God in the heart, when the Bible is in the cupboard as when it is m the hand. In ffiort, to apply what I read m the book, to what I meet with m the Field," " I don't ( *3 ) s; I don't quite tinderftand you," faid Mr. Johnfon. u Sir," replied the Shepherd, " I have but a poor gift at conveying thefe things to others, though I have much comfort from them in my own mind ; but I am fure that the mo ft ignorant and hard working peo- ple, who are in earneft about their falvation, may help to keep up devout thoughts and good affe&io'ns during the week, though they have hardly any time to look at a book. — And it will help them to keep out bad thoughts too, which is no fmall mat- ter. But then they mull know the Bible ; they muft have read the word of God ; that is a kind of ftock in trade for a Chriilian to fet up with ; and it is this which makes me fo di- ligent in teaching it to my children ; and even in ftoring their memories with Pfalms and Chapters. This is a great help to a poor hard-working Man, who will hardly meet with any thing but what he may turn to lb me good account. If one lives in the fear and the love of God, almoft every thing thing one fees abroad will teach one to adore Ins power and goodnefs, and bring to mind fome texts of Scripture, which mail fill the heart with thank! tulneis and the mouth with praife. IV hen I look upwards the Heavens declare the glory of God; and mall I be nlent and ungrateful ? if I l 00 k round and fee the Vallies Handing thick with Corn, how can I help bkfiW that lower who giveth vie all tiling rtch.y to enjoy ? I may learn gratitude from tne beafts of the Field, for the Ox knoweth his Owner, and the Afs his Makers Crib, and fiiall a Chrif- tian not know, mall a Chriftian not eonfiaer what great things God has done for him ? I, who am a Shepherd, endeavour to fill my foul with a con- stant remembrance of that good Shep- herd, who Jeedeth me m green pa/lures, and maketk me to lie down be' fide the kill -waters, and whofe rod and Haff comfort me" ■ J w r " You are happy," f aid Mr. John- { °"> " 111 this retired life by which vou ( 2 5 ) you l efcape the corruptions of the world." f Sir," $ faid the -Shepherd, " I do not efcape the corruptions of my, own-evil nature. Even there on that wild -folitary hill, I can find out that, my heart is prone to evil thoughts* I fuppofe, Sir, that different ftates have different temptations. You great folks that live in the world, perhaps are expofed to fome, of which fuch a poor man as I am, know nothing. But to one who leads a lonely life like; me, evil thoughts are a chief befetting Sin ; and I can no more withstand thele without the grace of God, than a rich Gentleman can withftand the fnares of evil company, without the fame grace. And I feel that I ftand in need of God's help continually, and if he fhould give me up to my own evil heart I fhould be loft." < ; h Mr. Johnfon approved of the Shep- herd's ftnccntv, for he had- always ob* ferved that where there was no humi- lity, and no watchfulnefs again ft Sin, there was no religion, and he faid that £ the C 26 ) *e Man who did not feel himfelf to be a linner, in bis opinion, could. not be a chnilian. Juft as they were in this part of their dilcourfe, Mr. Jenkins, the Clergyman came ,n. After the ufual faluations, he fa.d, « Well Shepherd, I wifh you joy; I know you will be forry to gain any advantage by the death of a neigh- bour; but old Wilfon my Clerk, was u m u m ' and 1 truft fo wel1 Prepared, that there is no reafon to be forry for bis death. I have been to pray by bim, but he died while I ftaid. I have always intended you fliould luc- ceed to his place ; 'tis no great matter, but every little is fomething-" " No great matter, Sir," « cried the Shepherd, " indeed it is a great thing to me • it will more than pa V mv rent. faffed be God for all his good- nefs." Mary faid nothing, but lifted up her eyes full of tears in filent gra- titude. to " lam { 27 ) u 1 am glad of this little circum- ftance," faid Mr. Jenkins, " not only for your fake, but for the fake of the office itfelf. I fb heartily reverence every religious inftitution, that I would never have even the Amen added to the ex- cellent prayers of our Church, by vain or profane lips, and if it depended on me, there ihould be no fuch thing in the land as an idle, drunken, or irre- ligious Parifh-Clerk. Sorry I am to fay, that this matter is not always fuf~ ficiently attended to, and that I know fome of a very indifferent cha- racter." Mr. Johnfcm now inquired of the Clergyman whether there were many children in the Parifh. " More than you would expeft," replied he, " from the feeming fmallnefs of it, but there are fpme little Hamlets which you do inot fee." " I think," returned Mr, Johnfon, I recoiled that in the cort- verfation I had with the Shepherd on the hill yonder, he told me* you had e worth, think you ?" u About three pounds,'* was the anfwer. u Now," continued Mr. Johnfon, my plan is, that the Shepherd (hould take that houfe immediately j for as the poor Man is dead, there will be no need of waiting till quarter day, if I make up the difference." " True, Sir," faid Mr. Jenkins, " and I am lure my Wife's Father, whom I expeft to-morrow, will willingly affift a little towards buying fbme of the Clerk's old goods. And the fooner they, re- move the better, for poor Mary caught that bad rheumatifm by fleeping under a leaky thatch." The Shepherd was too much moved to fpeak, and Mary uld hardly fob out 5 " Oh! Sir, you are ( a* ) are too good, indeed this houfe will do very well.'* ff It may do very well for you and your children Mary," faid Mr. johnfon, gravely, " but it will not do for a School; the kitchen is neither large nor light enough. Shep- herd, " continued he, " with your good ■MinifterY leave, and kind affiftance, I propofc to fet up in this parifh a Sun- day School, and to make you the Maf- ter. It will not at all interfere with your weekly calling, and it is the only lawful way in which yon could turn the Sabbath into a day of feme little profit to your family, by doing, as I hope, a great deal of good to the Souls of others. The reft of the week you will work as ufual. The difference of rent between this houfe and the Clerk's I fliall pay myfelf, for to put you into a better houfe at your own expence would be no great aft- of kincinefs.— As for honeft Mary, who is not fit ■ for hard labour, or any out of-door work, I propofe to endow a final 1 weekly fchool, of which (he fh all be the Mif- trefs, and employ her notable turn .to goad good account, by teaching ten or a dozen girls, to knit. ..few,- fpin, c? rd, or any other ufeful way of getting their bread ; for all this I fhall only pay her the ,ufual price, for I am not gofeg to . make you rich but, ufeful." " Not rich, Sir?" cried the Shep- herd. « How can I ever be thank- ful enough for fuch bieffings? And Vill my poor Mary have a dry thatch over, her head? and mail I be able to fend for the, Dodor when I am like to lofe. her ? 'Indeed my cup runs over with bieffings, I hope God will give me humility." Here he and Mary looked at each other and purft into tears. The Gentlemen faw their dif- trels, and kindly walked out upon the little green before the door, that thefe honelt people might give vent to their -.eelings. As foon as they were alone they crept into one corner of the room, where they thought they could uot be leen, and fell . on their knees, de- voutly bleffing and praifing God for his „mereies, Never were heartier ■ - ' ' prayers prayers ^reiervted,- than this grateful couple offered up for their benefac- tors. The warmth of their gratitude could only be equalled by the earneit- nefs with which they befought the 1 blefs- ing of God on the work in which they were going to engage. The two Gentlemen now left this happy family, and walked to the Par- fonage, where the evening was fpent in a manner very edifying to Mr. John- fon, who the next day took all pro- per meaiures for putting the Shepherd in immediate poffeffion of his now com- fortable habitation. Mr: Jenkins's fa- ther-in-law, the worthy Gentleman who gave the Shepherd's' Wife the blank* ets, in the firft part of this hiftory, ar- rived at the Parfonage before Mr. Johnfon left it, and affiled in fitting up the Clerk's Cottage. Mr. johnfon took his leave, pro- riiifinb to call on the worthy Minilter and his new Clerk once a year, in his Summers journey over the Plain, as Ions ( 34 ) long as it fhould pleafe God to fpare his life. — We hope he will never fail to give us an account of thefe vifits which we fhall be glad to lay before our readers, if they fhould contain in- ftru&ion or amufement. F I N I S. I This Day' are PUBLISHED* J * Price an Halfpenny each, I rrt 1*' 5d * per 10 °'— 50 for is. 3d.- 25 for gd. 1 The Carpenter ; or, the Danger of Evil Company F A New Hiftory of a True Book, in Verfe J True Stories of Two Good Negroes I Huftandry Moralized, or Pleafarit Sunday Reading for a Farmer's Kitchen, Part I. * Wonderful Efcapes from Shipwreck The Apprentice's Monitor, or Indentures, in Verfe, to be hun» up in Shops Fable of the Old Man and the Bundle of Sticks Providential Detections of Murders, by H.Fielding, Efc. The RoguiQi Miller, or nothing got by Cheating, a 1 rue Ballad b The Market Woman, a True Tale, in Verfe \ Gin -*k>Pt or Peep at a Priforu in Verfe The Horfe Race, Prici One Penny each, 4s. 6d. per 100—50 for 2s. 6d.— 25 for is. 6d, Hiftory of Thomas White the Poftiiion The Two Shoemakers Life of Wm. Baker, with his Funeral Sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Gilpin |The Two Soldiers [Price i d. £ each, or 6s. od. per 100—50 for 3s. gd, 25 for 2S. 6d. Watts's Hymns for Children, complete, with Prayers Great allowance will be made to Sh pkeeperi and Haivhrs V ariety of entertaining Hiflories in Profe and Verfe, will continue to be publifhed Monthly, at the <:HEAP REPOSITORY -Some good Book, fit far Sunday Reading, will be fold every Month . As all thefc Books will be neatly printed in the fame Size t they will, if ditched together, foon make a valuable and cheap Volume* On the ifi of Jime was puUiJJted, The Beggarly Boy, a Parable.— The Shepherd of Blh d"" 7 Plain ' ^ Wiid Robe "' a On the ifl Jk/y, The good Mother's Legacy.— Daniel in the Lions' Den,— and e»he Newcaftle Collier, a Ballad. '., \ On tlie \fi of Aug-ufi , Hints on the prefers Scarcjiy.— The Happy Wa- terman. The Riot, a Ballad,— and tkt Plow- Boys Dream, a Baliad. . , : _ On the \jl cf September, ! No Pf F1 « 9d - -The Way to Pienfy,— a^'DaHje Andrews,— a Ballad; ' •/ / . • ■y-i ' On the ' tfi if Oilok'r, ■;• # : The Two Farmers, Part I .—The HanreiiK fie n« ; — and the Honeft Miller, a Ballad, ' . On the tfi of November, T r , The Parable of the Vineyard;^ The TwoTar^^, 4nd oihtr Pieces m ttfitdtar. Plan, m the fft %j every f Month. '""