SEC 
 
 N D PART 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SHEPHERD 
 
 » 
 
 ■ • 
 
 O F 
 
 SALISBURY- PL AIR 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 SOLD BY WILLIAM WATSON, AND SO-N 
 
 No, 7, Cafe l Street, 
 Printers to the Cheap Repofttory for Religious and Moral Tr^s , 
 And by the Booksellers, Chap.^eh and Hawum, 
 
 in Town and Country 
 
 ^ Great Allowance to Shopkeepers, Chapmen *B<3 Hawker* 
 
 Price O^k Pknhy 
 
THE 
 
 Shepherd of Salifbiiry Plain. 
 
 P A R T II. 
 
 IT AM willing to hope that my reefers will 
 L be forry to hear fome farther panicu- 
 lars of tfjejr old acquaintance the Shepherd of 
 Sahfbury Plain. I hey will call to mind thac 
 at the end of the- fidV part, he returning 
 home lull of gratitude for the favours he had 
 received from Mr, Johnfcn, whom we left 
 purfuing his journey, after having promued 
 to make a vifii the Shepherd's Cottage. 
 
 Mr. iohnfon, afrer having pasted fome 
 time with his f iend, fat out on bis return to 
 Sahibury, and on the Saturdav evening reach- 
 es a very fma i inn, a mile or two diftant 
 from the SfrepfierH's Village; tor he nev.?r 
 traveiled on a Suaday. He went the next 
 'tn M'nmg to the Church n'earei! the houfe 
 where he had paffed die night ; and alter. ta- 
 king fuch refrefhtnent as L^e. could get at that 
 ho ife, he walked on to find out -the Shep- 
 herd's cottage, His reafon for viiiung him 
 on a Sunday was chiefly, becaufe he. rap] 
 fed it to be the only day which fhe She^v 
 herd's employment allowed 'him to pais jft 
 home with his family, and as Mr. jolmibn 
 had been ft ruck with his talk, he rhoiyht it 
 
 A % would 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 would be neither unpleafant nor unprofitable 
 to obferve how a Man who carried fuch an 
 appearance of piety, fpent his Sunday ; for 
 though he was lo low in the world, this Gen- 
 tleman was not above entering very clofely 
 Into his character, of which he thought he 
 fhould be able to form a better judgrfient, by 
 feeing whether his practice at home kept 
 pace with his profeffions abroad. For it is not 
 ib much by obferving how people ralk, €S 
 how they live, that 'we ought to judge of 
 their characters. 
 
 Afrer a ple.ifant walk Mr. Johnfon got 
 within fight of the cottage, to which he was 
 direfled by the clump of hawthorns and the 
 broken chimney. He wifhed to take the fa- 
 mily by furprife ; and walking gently up to 
 the houfe, he flood awhile to liften. The 
 door being half open, he faw the Shepherd, 
 (who looked To refpeCtahie in his Sunday 
 Coat that he fhould hardly have known him) 
 his Wife, and their numerous young family, 
 drawing round their little table, which was 
 covered with a clean though very coarfe cloth. 
 There flood on it a large diih of potatoes, a 
 brown pitcher, and a piece of a coarfe loaf. 
 The wife and children flood in filent attenti- 
 on, while the Snepherd with uplifted hands 
 and eyes, devoutly begged the bleffing of hea- 
 ven on their homely fare. Mr. Johnfon 
 could not help fighing to refled that he had 
 ibmttimes feen better dinners eaten with lefs 
 appearance of thankfulness. 
 
L 5 I 
 
 The Shepherd and his wife then fat down 
 with great fcedfiingpli.eerfulne.fs-, hut the chil- 
 dren flood; and while the '-'mother was . helj?? 
 ing them, little fr ih coloured Molly who 
 had picked the wool from the bafhes with fo 
 much delight, cried out, "Father, I vvifh I 
 was big enough to fay grace, 1 am fure 1 
 fhould fay it very heartily to clay tor I was 
 thinking what mud poor people do who have 
 no fait to their potatoes, and do but tcok, 
 our difh is quite f\ ■ M .'— " That is the true 
 way of thinking, Molly," faiti the Father; 
 " in whatever concerns bodily wants and bo- 
 dily comforts, it is our duty to compare our 
 own lot with 'the lot of thofe who are worfe 
 off, and this will keep us thankful ; On the 
 other hand, whenever we are templed to fet 
 up our own wifdom or goodnefs, we muft 
 compare ourfelves with thofe who are wifer 
 and better, and tint will, keep us humble." 
 Molly was now fo hungry, and found the po- 
 tatoes fo good, that me had no time to make 
 any more remarks ; but was devouring her 
 dinner very heartily, when the harking of the 
 great dog drew her attention from her tren- 
 cher to the door, and spying the it ranger, ;he 
 cried out, " look father, fee here, if yon- 
 der is not the good Gentleman." Mr. john- 
 fon finding himfelf difcovrred, immensely 
 walked in, ana was hear till welcomed by the 
 honen Shepherd, who told his wife t lat nis 
 wh die Gentleman to whom they were fo 
 much obliged. 
 
 A 3 The 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 The good Woman began, as forre very 
 near geople are rather too apt to do, with 
 making many apologies that her houfc was 
 pot cleaner, and that things were not in fitter 
 older to receive fuch a gentleman Mr, Jphri- 
 foii however, on looking round, could dilco- 
 ver nothing but the moft perfecl neatnefs. 
 1 he trenchers on which they were eating were 
 almoft as whbe as their linen; and notwithstand- 
 ing the number and fmallnels of the children, 
 there wa^ not the lead appearance of dirt or 
 litter The furniture. was very llmple ?nd 
 poor, hardly indeed amounting to bare ne- 
 eeflarfes. It confined of tour brown wooden 
 chairs, which, by conftant rubbing wore be- 
 come as bright as a looking glafs ; an iron 
 pot and ketife ; a poor old grate which fcarce- 
 ly held a handful of coals, and out of which 
 she little fire that had been in it. appeared to 
 have been taken, as icon as it had anlwered 
 *he end for which it had been lighted, that 
 oi feiHng their p. tuoes. Over the chimney 
 flood an oJd iaihioned broad bright candle- 
 Kick, andaftili brighter f pit ; it wfe pretty 
 clear that this lafl was kept rather tor orpfc 
 mmt than ufe. An old carved elbow chair, 
 and a chef! of the fame date which flood in 
 ihe corner, were conhdered the moft valu- 
 able part of the Shepherd's goods, having 
 been in the iamilv for three generations, But 
 all thefe were lightly efleemed by him m 
 comcarifon of another pofleflion, which ad- 
 ded to the above made up the whole ot what 
 
' ( ? P . ; % 
 
 he had inherited from his father ; and which 
 la ft 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 win- 
 dow feat, neatly covered with brown cloth, 
 varioufly patched. This facred book was moft 
 reverendly preferred from dog's ears, dirt, 
 and every other injury, but fuch as time and 
 muehufe had made it fuffer in fpite of care, 
 On the clean white walls was pafted, a hymn 
 on the Crucifixion of our Saviour, a print of 
 the Prodigal Son, the Shepherd's Hymn, and 
 a New Hijlory of a true Book. 
 
 After the lirft fal illations were over, Mr. 
 Johnfon faid, that if they would go on qtU- 
 etly with their. dinner he wouid fit down. 
 Though a good dea^ alhamed, they thougot 
 it more reipedtful to obey the Gentleman, 
 who havittgcaft his eyes on iheirllender pro* 
 vifions, gently rebuked the Shepherd for not 
 having indulged h-imfdf, as 'it wm Sunday, 
 withamorfel of Bacon to retifli bis Potatoes. 
 The Shepherd lakl nothing, but poof 'vJary 
 coloured and hung down her head, laying, 
 "indeed, fir, it is not my fault, I did beg 
 my 'hulband to allow himfelf a bit of meat to 
 dav out of your honour's .bounty; but he 
 was too good to do it, and it is ail for my 
 fake." Ihe Shepherd feemed unwilling to 
 come to an explanation, but Mr Johnlon de- 
 filed Mary to go on. So (lie continued, " you 
 m u ft know Sir, that both of us next to a fin, 
 dread a debt, and indeed in fome cales a debt 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 is a fin ; but with a!! our care and pains we 
 have never been able quite to pay off the 
 Doctor's bill, for that bad tit of the Rheu- 
 maiifm 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 before, that he might have a little re- 
 freshment 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 
 fhillings to the Dodor,' (and thank God it is 
 all we did owe in the world.) Now if I car- 
 ry him this mone\ di redly it will not only 
 fhew him our honefty and our good will ; but 
 it will be an encouragement to him to come 
 to you another time in cafe you (hould be ta- 
 ken once more in fuch a bad fit ; for I muft 
 own, added my poor hufband, that the thought 
 of your beingYo terribly ill without any help, 
 is the only misfortune that I want courage to 
 
 Here the grateful woman's tears ran down 
 fo faft that fhe could not go on. She wiped 
 them with the corner of her apron, and hum- 
 blv begged pardon for making fo free. " In- 
 deed Sir, " laid the Shepherd, " though my 
 wife is full as unwilling to be in debt as my- 
 felf, yet I could hardly prevail on her to con- 
 
 caufe fhe feM it was hard 1 fhould not have a 
 tare ot the Gentleman's boun.ty myfeii But 
 for once, Sir, I would have my own way. 
 
 fac 
 
 money jufi: then, be- 
 
 For 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 For you muft know, as 1 pafs beft part oi 
 my time alone, tending my fheep, 'tis a great 
 point with me, Sir, to get comfortable mat- 
 ter for my own thoughts ; fo that 'tis rather 
 felf imereft in me to allow my fell in no plea- 
 fares and no pra&ice* that won't bear think- 
 ing on over and over. For when one is a good 
 deal alone you know, Sir, all one's bad deeds 
 do rufh in upon one, as I may fay, and fo 
 torment one, that there is no true comfort to 
 be had but in keeping clear of wrong doings, 
 and falfe pleafures ; and that I fuppofc may 
 be one reafon why fo many folks hate to fl ay 
 a bit by themfelves.— But as I was faying™ 
 when I came to think the matter over on the 
 hill vonder, faid 1 to m>fclf, a good dinner 
 is a good thing I grant, and yet it will be but 
 cold comfort to me a week after, to be able 
 to fay — to be fure 1 had a nice (boulder of 
 mutton left Sunday for dinner, thanks to the 
 good Gentleman, but then 1 am in debt.— I 
 Harare dinner, that's certain, buttheplea- 
 fure of that has long been over, and the debt 
 flill remains. I have fpent the crown, and 
 now if my poor wife fhould be taken in one 
 of thofe fits again, die (he muft, unlefs God 
 work a miracle io prevent it, for I can get no 
 help for her. This thought feitled all ; and 
 1 fet off dfreSly and paid the crown to the 
 Do&or with as much chearful'nefa as I fhould 
 have felt on fitting down to the fattefl flioul- 
 der of mutton that ever was roafted And 
 if I was contented at the time, think how 
 
 A c much 
 
( io ) 
 
 much more happy I have been at the remem- 
 brance ! G Sir, there arc no phafure- worth 
 the name but fueh as bring no plague or pe- 
 nitence after them." 
 
 Mr. Johnfon was fatisfied with the Shep- 
 herd's reafons; and agreed that though a 
 good dinner was not to be defpifed, yet it 
 was not worthy to-be compared with a content- 
 ed Mind which (as the Bible trui'v fays) is a 
 continual fcaji. " But come, laid the good 
 Gentleman, what have yuu got in this brown 
 mu??" M As good water, laid the Shepherd, 
 as any in the king s dominions. I have heard 
 of countries bejond fea in which there is no 
 wholefbme water; nay, 1 have been myfelf 
 in a great town not far off where they are o- 
 bliged to buy all the water they get, while a » 
 good Providence fends to my very dour a 
 Id ring as fine and clear a° Jacob's well. Whefi 
 l/am tempted to repine thai i hiv.- often no 
 other drink, 1 cail to mind, that it was no- 
 thing better than a cup of coki water which 
 the woman of Samaria drew for the ^reateft 
 g&eff thai ever vifited this world. 5 ' 
 
 <s Very well, replied Mr. Johnfon ; but a5 " 
 ioiir honefly has made \ou prefer a poor 
 rnea' to being in debt, 1 will a? lead flhd and 
 get fo me tli"in.| for yon to drink. I law a Hitle 
 public nctfle juft by the cherch, c.s I came a- 
 fonfe; Let that' little n-fy faced fellow fetch. 
 
 t n e t< o \ v. j i v ' ei * 
 
 ■ ! ; xi r A l ill l- at 
 h'lVt fill} {tn 
 
 eye at bib father to know what he was to do. 
 
 ^* Sir: 
 
( ii 3 . 
 
 " Sir, faid the Shepherd, I hope we (hail 
 not appear ungrateful, if we feein to refufe 
 your favour ; my little boy would, I am fare, 
 fly to ierve you on any other occafion. But* 
 good Sir, it is Sunday, and fhould any of my 
 tamiiy 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, 1 am of- 
 ten talking againft thefe doings to others, and 
 if I mould 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, Chrifiians you 
 know, Sir,. muft be doubly watchful, or they 
 will not only bring difgrace on themfelves, 
 but what is much worfe, on that holy name 
 by which they are called. 5 ' 
 
 " Are you not a little too cautious, my. 
 honeft friend," faid Mr. johnfon. V i hum- 
 bly afk your pardon, Sir, replied the Shep- 
 herd, if I think that is impofiible. In my 
 poor notion I no more underfiand how a man- 
 can be too cautious, than how he can be too 
 ftrong or too healthy." 
 
 " You are right indeed, faid Mr. Johnfon, 
 as a general principle, but this'-firuck me as. 
 a very fmalj thfm , ' Si*, fdM the Shepherd, 
 I am ai raid you will think me very bold, but 
 you encourage me to fpeak out."—'' - Tis 
 what ! wiflii faid the gentleman." " Then* 
 Sir, refumed the Shepherd, i doubt, if where 
 
 there 
 
( *2 ) 
 
 there is a temptation to do wrong, any thing 
 can be called final] ; thai is, in fhort, it there 
 is any fuch thing as a fmali wilful fin. A poor 
 man like me is feldom called out to do great 
 things, fo that t is not by a few great deeds 
 bis charatfer can be judged by his neighbours, 
 but by the little round of daily cuftoms he 
 allows himfeif in. — While they were thus talk- 
 ing, the children who had flood very quietly 
 behind, and had not A ir red a foot, now ^ be- 
 gan to fcamper about all at once, and in a 
 moment ran to the window-feat to pick up 
 their little old hats. Mr. Johnibn looked fur- 
 prifed at this diflyrbance ; the Shepherd afked 
 his pardon, telling him it was the found of 
 the Church Bell which had been the caufe of 
 their rudenefs ; for their Mother had brought 
 them up with fuch a fear of being too late 
 for Church, that it was but who could catch 
 the fir ft firoke of the bell, and be firft 
 ready. He had always taught them to 
 think that nothing was more indecent than to 
 get into Church after it was begun ; for as the 
 iervice opened with an exhortation to repen- 
 tance, and a confeffion of fin, it looked very 
 prefumptueus not to be ready to join in it ; 
 it looked as if people did not feel themfelves 
 to be fipners. And though fuch as lived at a 
 great diflarce might plead difference of clocks 
 as an escufe, yet thofe who lived within the 
 found oi the bell, could neither pretend ig- 
 norance nor miilakeJ' 
 
 Mary and her children fet forward. Mr. 
 fc&afon and the Shepherd iollowed, taking 
 i care 
 
 £ - 
 
t n ) . 
 
 care to talk the whole way on fuch fubjefts 
 as might fit them for ?he folemn dutiesof the 
 place to which they were going. **■! have 
 often been forry to obferve,faid,Mr.Johnfon, 
 that many who are reckoned decent, good 
 kind of people,and who would on no account 
 negleft going to church, yet feem to care 
 but little in what frame or temper of mind 
 they go thither. 1 hey will talk of their 
 worldlyconcerns till they get within the door, 
 and then take then 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 worfhip. Now 
 for my part, I always find that it requires a 
 little time to bring my mind into a ftate fit 
 to do any common bufinefs well, much more 
 this great and mod neceffary bufmefsof all." 
 %i Yes Sir, faid the Shepherd, and then I 
 think too how bufy J fhould be in preparing 
 my mind, if 1 was going into the prefence 
 ot a great gentleman, or a lord, or the King; 
 and (hall the king of kings be treated with 
 lefs refpedt ? Befides one likes to fee people 
 feel as if going to Church was a thing of 
 choice and pleafure, as well as a duty and 
 that they were as defirous not to be the laft 
 there, as they would be if they were going 
 to a feaft or a fair." 
 
 After fervice, Mr Jenkins theOergyman, 
 who was well acquainted with thechara&er 
 of Mr Johnfon, and had a great refpefl for 
 \\irn, accofted him with much civility ; ex- 
 
 pre/fing 
 
1/ 
 
 ( H ) 
 
 "prcffing his concern that he could not enjoy 
 jufl now fo much of his converfation as he 
 wifhed, as he was obliged to vifit a ftck pef- 
 fon at adiftance, but hoped to have a little 
 talk with him before he left the village. As 
 they walked along together, Mr. Johnfon 
 made fuch enquiries about the Shepherd, as 
 ferved to confirm him in the high opinion he 
 entertained of his piety, good fenfe, induftry 
 and ielf denial. They parted, the ( lergy- 
 man promifing to call in at the Colt age in his 
 
 way home. * 
 
 The Shepherd, who took it for granted 
 that Mr. johnfon was gone to the Parf nage, 
 walked home with his wife, and children, and 
 was beginning in his ufual way to catechize 
 and inftrua his family, when Mr. Johnfon 
 came in, and infilled that the Shepherd fhouid 
 Jo on with his inflrucftions, juft as if he were 
 not there. This Gentleman who was very 
 defirous of being ufeful to his own Servants 
 and work- men in the way of religious induc- 
 tion, was lometimes forrv to find that though 
 he' took a .good deal of pains, they did not 
 now and then quite underfland him, for 
 though his meaning was very good, his lan- 
 guage was not always very plain; and 
 though ihetLwgs he laid were not hard to be 
 understood, yet t)jj$ ywords wfere, efpeciaHy to 
 fuch as were very ignorant. And he now be- 
 gran to find out that if people were ever fo 
 wife and good, yet if they had not a fimpie, 
 aareeabte and iamiUar way of exprefiing 
 
 ° them- 
 
themfelves, fome of their plain hearers won! 
 not be much the better for them. For th 
 reafon he was not above lillening to the plain, 
 humble way in which this honeft man taught 
 his family, for though he knew that he him- 
 felf had many advantages ever the Shepherd, 
 had more learning and could teach him many 
 things, yet he was not too pioM to learn even 
 of fo poor a man, in any point where he 
 thought the Shepherd might have the advan- 
 tage of him. 
 
 This Gentleman was much pleafed with 
 the knowledge and piety he difcovered in the 
 anfwers of the children;' and defired the Shep- 
 herd to tell him how he contrived to keep up 
 a feme of divine tilings in his own mind and 
 in that of his family with fo little Ieifure and 
 fo little reading. " O as to that, Sir, faid 
 the Shepherd, we do not read much except in 
 one book to befure; but by hearty prayer 
 tor God's bleffing on the uie of that book,, 
 what little knowledge is needful feems to 
 come ofcourle, as it were. And my chief 
 ftudy has been to bring the fruits of the Sun- 
 day reading into the week's. buhnefs, and to 
 keep up the fame fenfe of God in the heart, 
 when the Bible is in the cupboard as when it 
 .is in the hand. In fhort, to apply what I 
 read in the bool^to what I meet with in the 
 Field"- 
 
 " I don't quite underfland you, faid Mr a 
 johnfon" " Sir, replied the" Shepherd, I 
 have but a poor gift at convening thefe things 
 
 $ to 
 
// 
 
 I ' ( 16 ) 
 
 fj toothers, though I have much comfort from 
 I them in my own mind; but 1 am fure that 
 the mod ignorant and hard working people, 
 who are in earneft about their falvation, may 
 help to keep up devout thoughts and good 
 affections 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 matter. But then they 
 " mufl know the Bible ; they muft have read 
 the word of God; that is a kind of flock in 
 trade for a Chriftian (o-fet up with ; and ft is 
 this which makes me fo diligent in teaching 
 it to my children ; and even in fo ftoring their 
 ! memories wuh Pfalms and Chapters lhis 
 I is a great help to a poor hard working Man, 
 who will hardly meet with any thing but 
 1 what he mav turn to fume good account. It 
 ' one lives in the fear and love of God, almoft 
 ! every thing one fees abroad will teach one to 
 1 adore his power and goodnefs, and bring to 
 < mind fome texts of Scripture, which mail fill 
 the heart with thankfulnefs, and the mouth 
 I with praife. When 1 look upwards the 
 ! Heavens declare the glory of God; and 
 fhali oe blent and ungrateful ? if I look 
 round and fee the Vallies Handing thick with 
 Corn, how can 1 he p bSeffmg that power who 
 jri-Oetb me all things richly to enjoy ? I may 
 iearn gratitude from the beans of the Field, 
 for the Oxknoweih his Owner, and the Ah his 
 Mafiei 's Crib, and mail a ChriiUan not know, 
 fhall a Chriftian not conlider what great things 
 
God has done for him ? I, who am a Shep- 
 herd, endeavour to fill my foul with a conftant 
 remembrance of that good Shepherd, who 
 fcedeih me in green pajiures , and waketh me to 
 lie down bejide the jhli waters, and whoje rod 
 end ftaff comfort me. 
 
 !" You are happy, faid Mr. Jchnfon, in 
 this retired life by which you efcape the cor- 
 ruptions of the world." " Sir, faid the Shep- 
 herd, 1 do not efcape the corruptions of my 
 own evil nature. Even there on that wild fo- 
 litary hil!, I can find out that my heart is 
 prone to evil thoughts. I fuppofe, Sir, that 
 different flates have different temptations. 
 You great folks that live in the world, per- 
 haps are expo fed to fome,of which fuch a poor 
 man as 1 am, know nothing. But to one 
 who leads a lonely life like me, evil thoughts 
 are a chief befeting Sin ; and I can no more 
 withfiand thefe without the grace of God, than 
 a rich Gentleman can withfiand the fnares of 
 evil company, without the fame grace. And 
 I feel that J ftand in need of God's help conti- 
 nually, and if he ftiould give me up to my 
 own heart I fhould be loft. 
 
 Mr. Johnfon approved of the Shepherd's 
 fmcerity, for he had always obferved that 
 where there was no humility, and no watch- 
 fulnefs againfi. Sin, there was no religion, and 
 he faid that the Man who did not feel him felt 
 to be a fmner, in his opinion, could not be 
 a chriftian. 
 
 juft 
 
( 18 ) 
 
 Juft as they were in this part of their dif- 
 courfe, Mr. Jenkins, the Clergyman, came 
 in. After thq ufual fahitations, he faid, 
 " Wei 1 'Shepherd, I wifh you joy ; I know 
 you will be forry to gain any advantages by 
 the neath of a neighbour ; but old Wilfon 
 my Clerk, was fo infirm, and I truft fo well 
 prepared, that there is no reafon to be forry 
 for his death. I have been to pray by him, 
 but he died while 1 ftaid. I have always in- 
 tended you fhould fucceed to his place; 'tis 
 no great matter, but every little is fomething." 
 
 " Mo great matter, Sir cried the Shepherd,' 
 indeed it is a tfreat thins to Me ; it will more 
 than pay my rent. Bleued be God for all his 
 goodnefs." Mary faid nothing, but lifted up 
 her eyes full of tears infilent grethuue. 
 
 I am glad of this little circumstance, fai 1 
 Mr. Jenkins, not only for your fake, but for 
 the office itfeif. I fo heartily reverence every 
 religious inftitution, that 1 would never have 
 even iht Amen added to the excellent prat ers 
 of our Church, by vain or profane t|p ; and 
 if it depended on me, there fnould be no 
 fuch thing in the land as an idle, drunken, or 
 irreligious Parifh-Cierk. Sorry i am to fay 
 that this matter i§ not always fuificientiy at- 
 tended to, and that I know fome of a very 
 indifferent character. 
 
 Mr. John fori now inquired of the clergyman 
 Whether there were many children in the Pa- 
 ri ill. "More than yap would expecl,replied he, 
 from the fcemme fmallnefs of it, but there 
 
 are 
 
• ( 19 } 
 
 are fome tittle Hamlets which you do not fee." 
 " I think, returned Mr. Johnlbn, 1 recollect 
 that in tire converfation 1 had with the Shep- 
 herd on the hill yonder, he told me you had 
 no Sunday School/' " 1 am forry to fay we 
 have none, faid the Minifler ; I do what I 
 can to remedy this misfortune by public cate- 
 chifing ; but having two or three Churches to 
 ferve, I cannot give fo much time as I wifh, 
 to private inflriidtion ; and having a large 
 family of rny own, and no affiftance ironi 
 others, i have never been able to eftablifh a 
 School.^ ;iV;^:- : -" ' . > ' g| 
 
 6i There is an excellent infiitution in Lon- 
 don, faid Mr. |chnion, called the Sunday • 
 School Society, which kindly gives books and 
 other helps, on the application of fuch pious 
 Miniflers as fiand in need of their aid, and 
 which I am fre would have affifled you; but 
 I think we fliail be able ;odo fom'?thing our- 
 felves.— Shepherd continued he, if 1 was a 
 King, and had it in my power to make you a 
 rich and a great Man, with a word fpeaking, I 
 would not do it, Thofe who are raifed by 
 fome fudden froke, much above the fiation 
 in which divine, providence had placed them* 
 feidom turn out very good, or very happy, 
 I have never had any great things in my pow- 
 er, but as far as I have been, abie, i have 
 been always glad to affift the worthy. I. have 
 hovyever never attempted or denred to fet any 
 poor Man much above his natural' condition, 
 but it is a pleafure to me to lead him fuch 
 
 JuiUince* 
 
HI »■ !■ Ml M I ai III HIH lll—W III Ml IIH II 1 1 1 WIIIW IMIimmjlJPWIIf—l 
 
 ( ■ ^J' -1 
 
 fcffifiBfKfc, as may make that condition more 
 eafy to himfelf, and to put him in a way 
 which fhail call him to toe performance of 
 more duties than perhaps he could have per- 
 formed without my help, and of performing 
 them in a better manner. What Rent do you 
 pay for this Cottage ? 
 
 " Fifty Shillings a Year, Sir." 
 
 It is in a fad tattered condition, is there 
 not a better to be had in the Village. '* 
 
 '* That in which the poor Clerk lived, faid 
 the Clergyman, is not- only more tight and 
 whole, but has two decent chambers, and a 
 very large light kitchen." — " That will be 
 very - convenient, replied Mr, Johnfon, pray 
 what is the rent?" I think, faid the 
 Shepherd, poor neighbour Wilfon gave fome- 
 what about four pounds a year, or it might 
 be guineas." — " Very well, faid Mr. John- 
 fon, and what will the Clerk's place be worth, 
 think you ?" " About three pounds," was the 
 anfwer. 
 
 " i\ow, continued Mr. John fori, my plan 
 is, that the Shepherd fhould take that houfe 
 immediately ; 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 fure my 
 Wife's Father, whom I expeft to-morrow, 
 will willingly aflift a little towards buying 
 forne of the Clerk's old goods. And the 
 foo jr they remove the better, for poor Mary 
 caught that bad rheumatifm by deeping under 
 
( Zl ) 
 
 a leaky thatch." The Shepherd was too muck 
 moved to fpeak, and Mmry could hardly fob 
 out, "oh Sir, you are too good, indeed this 
 houfe wi'l do very well." " 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. Shepherd, continued he, with 
 your good Mmifters leave, and kind aflift- 
 ance, i propofe to let up in this parifh a Sun- 
 day School, and to make you the Mailer. It 
 will not at all interfere with your weekly cal- 
 ling, and its the only lawful way m which 
 you could turn the Sabbath into a da} of 'onie 
 ■little profit to your family, by doirg, is I 
 hope, a great -deal of good to the Souls ql o- 
 thers. The reft of the week you will work 
 as ufual. The difference of rent between this 
 houfe and the Clerk's I ihall pay myfelf, fo|r 
 to put you into a better houfe at your own 
 -expence would be no great ad of kindnefs.* — - 
 As for honeft Mary, who is not fit for hard 
 labour, or any out of door work, I propofe 
 to endow a fmali weekly fchoo:, of which 
 fhe (hall be the Miftrefs, and employ her no- 
 table turn to good account, by teaching ten 
 or a dozen girls to knit, few, fptn, card, or 
 any other ufeful way of getting their bread ; 
 for all this I dial! only pay her the ufual price, 
 for I am not going to make you rich, but ufe- 
 ful." 
 
 '* Not rich, Sir ?" cried the Shepherd. 
 How can 1 ever be thankful enough fur fuch 
 
 bleliin^s* 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 bleffings ? And will my poor Mary have 
 a dry thatch over her head ? and rhali 1 be 
 able to fend for a do&or when I am like to 
 loofe her ? Indeed my cap runs over with 
 bleffings, I hope God will give me humility." 
 Here he and Masy looked at each other and 
 burft into tears. The Gentlemen faw their 
 diftrefs and kindly walked out upon the little 
 green before the door, that thefe honeft peo- 
 ple 'mighj give vent to their feelings, As 
 Joan as tbey were atone rhey crept into one 
 corner of theroon\ w here they could not be 
 feen and tell on thtii knees, devoutly praif- 
 ing God fo 1 " his mercies. Never wtre heavi- 
 er pravers pretenied, than this grateful couple 
 offered up to \heir benefadors. The warmth 
 of their grttitufi& could only be equalled by 
 the earneftnefs with which they beiought the 
 bleffing of God on the work in which they 
 'Were going to engage. 
 
 The two Gentlemen now left this happy 
 family, and walked to the parfonage, where 
 the evening was fpent in a manner very edi- 
 fying to Mr. Johnfon, who the next da) took 
 all proper meafures for putting the Shepherd 
 in immediate poffeffion of his now comfort- 
 able habitation. Mr. Jenkins's father-in-law, 
 the worthy Gentleman who gave the Shep- 
 herd's Wife the blankets, in thefirft part of 
 this hiftory, arrived at the Parfonage before 
 Mr, johnfon left it, and abided in fitting up 
 " be Clerk's Cottage. 
 
 Mr. Johtifow 
 
Mr. Johnfon took his leave, promifing t© 
 gallon the worthy Minifler ^rd hi neu ! ;k 
 ©nee a year, in his Summer's joarney over the 
 P|2in, as long as itlhould preafe God tofpare 
 nis life,— -We hope he will never fail to give 
 us an account ot thefe vifits which we fhall 
 be glad to lay before our readers t they 
 ftould contain inftruftion or amulemenr. 
 
 FIN I & 
 
I 
 I 
 I 
 
 5 
 
 JUST PUBLISHED, AND SOLD BT 
 
 WILLIAM WATSON and SON 
 Mo. 7, Capel-Street. 
 
 The T wo Wealthy Farmers ift Part Price id 
 
 Ritto 2d Part - 1 J 
 
 Ditto, 3d Part, and a #ew Song on an oldbtory 1 
 Ditto, 4th Part, and aPoctical Tale - * 
 Ditto, 5th Part - 
 Ditto, 6th Part 
 Ditto, 7'h Part 
 Two Shoe makers, 1 ft Part 
 Ditto, 2d Part - . - 
 Ditto, 3d Part - - t - " 
 Ditto, 4th Part, and Tarn the Carpet 
 Dialogue between James Stock and William 
 
 Simpion " n ^ 
 
 Shepherd of Salifcury Plain, ift Part 
 
 Ditto, 2d Part - - " 
 HiftoryofTom White the Poftihon, ift Part, 
 
 Ditto, 2d Part - - . 
 
 HKlery of Mary Wood the Houie-maid 
 The Biftory of Charles Jones the Foot man 
 Beggarly Boy 
 
 Good Mothers Legacy - 
 Hiftory of John Doyle 
 Two Soldiers - 
 Life of William Baker - ; 
 The G*:mefter, and the Story of finful bally, 
 The Pilgrims, an Allegory 
 Farley the Porter, an Allegory 
 Path to Riches and Happinefs 
 The General RdurrecYion 
 The Two Srtes 
 The happy Waterman 
 Hdftandry Moralized 
 The Carpenter 
 
 The Apprentice's Monitor - 
 The tforfe Race - 
 The Dram Shop ? 
 
 1 
 1 
 
 I 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 1 
 
 oh 
 
 oh 
 
 oA 
 
 oh 
 
 Oh 
 
 oh 
 
 oh 
 
 oh