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 1838. 
 
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 MIDDLETOWN: 
 
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 1838. 
 
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 Mr. Aimwell was a very rich gentleman 
 who lived in London. He had two son? ; the 
 eldest whose name was Charles, was a very 
 good boy ; he was kind and affectionate to 
 his parents, and obliging and mannerly to 
 every one. His brother Thomas was quite a 
 different character; his temper was irritable, 
 and he was mischievous in a high degree. 
 His parents tried every reasonable method to 
 soften his manners and curb his fiery temper; 
 but every means proved abortive. 
 
 Thomas had naturally a good disposition, 
 but his proneness to mischief seemed interwo- 
 ven with his very nature. Charles often ex- 
 postulated with his refractory brother on his 
 course of conduct, but Thomas would only 
 laugh at his sedate brother, and call him his 
 a2 
 
 
father's chaplain, and tell him he ought to 
 become a priest and wear a long black coat 
 and wig, and then he would attend to his 
 wise counsels. 
 
 One day as the two brothers were walking 
 in the fields they espied a poor old woman 
 walking deliberately along with a pail of milk 
 upon her head. Thomas stepped behind her 
 unperceived and gave her a push, when down 
 came the pail of milk, and it was all spilled. 
 The poor woman burst into tears and told 
 Charles, her poor children would have no food 
 for the remainder of the day. "I will see to 
 that, my good woman,'' replied Charles, and 
 told her to wipe away her tears, for her chil- 
 dren should not starve while he had a penny 
 in his purse; and so saying he slipped into 
 her hand a half crown, and begged her to 
 show him the way to her cottage. She point- 
 ed him to a little hut at no great distance, 
 which was so nearly surrounded with shrub- 
 bery, that there was scarcely any thing visible 
 but the curling smoke which issued from the 
 little stone chimney. The old Lady wiped 
 
<** 
 
 5 
 
 her eyes and ejaculated, God bless you my 
 son, took up her empty pail and departed. 
 
 Thomas had all this time stood by like an 
 image of stone. " You will pay dear for this, 
 Thomas," said Charles \ " I will instantly go 
 and tell our excellent Papa: how dare you 
 thus afflict that poor old Lady whose chil- 
 dren, perhaps are near dying with hunger. 
 O! Thomas our teachers tell us to be good 
 to the poor; and have you not read in your 
 Bible that it is more blessed to give than to 
 receive : and that if the wicked oppress the 
 poor, and they cry at all unto the Lord he will 
 surely hear their cry and hurl vengeance on 
 their oppressors. " Charles," said Thomas, 
 " you are very severe, I did not think much 
 harm ; I knew not what she had in her pail, 
 and these poor folk?- are often so lazy that one 
 cannot endure the sight of them. I have 
 often heard Papa say that if poor people were 
 more neat and industrious they would be en- 
 titled to more pity." " Well, Thomas, that 
 may be true, but it does not justify your con- 
 duct Be they neat and industrious, or filthy 
 a3 
 
6 
 
 and lazy, you ought not in any instance to 
 insult the poor. But let us return to our 
 Papa. I shall tell him about you, any way." 
 The two brothers walked towards home, 
 arm in arm, Charles all the while saying good 
 things to his brother. Thomas said he ho- 
 ped his Papa would not be very angry. Our 
 Papa is a very good Papa, said Charles, and 
 it grieves me very much that you should of- 
 fend him ; but let us hasten our pace, I fear 
 the poor woman's children are crying for 
 bread, and I mean to ask Papa's permission 
 to carry them some — what say you brother, 
 will you accompany me. " I must first ob- 
 tain Papa's forgivness," replied Thomas, « for 
 I must confess, Charles, I feel some sorrow 
 for having insulted the poor." Charles em- 
 braced his brother fondly, while the tears 
 stood in his eyes; he exclaimed I hope Papa 
 will forgive you, Thomas. The children pur- 
 sued their way till they arrived at the garden 
 gate, when their Papa, who had been walking 
 in the garden run to meet them with the 
 greatest affection. "How now my sons," 
 
said he, " you have been absent much longer 
 than usual; has any thing happened to you of 
 a disagreeable nature ? Charles you have 
 been weeping, what is the matter ? Come in 
 my children, your mother has been anxious- 
 ly awaiting your return ■ " Charles sighed, 
 but followed his good father into the hall, and 
 while dinner was preparing, he interrogated 
 the children about the adventures of the walk. 
 Thomas hung his head, but Charles animated 
 by a sense of conscious innocence, began 
 their little narrative. While he was relating 
 it the color often came and went from his 
 Papa's face ; and when he had finished his 
 undisguised tale, his Papa took him in his 
 arms, and embracing him, said "my dear 
 Charles, you are the glory and honor of my 
 declining years : continue to walk persever- 
 ingly in the paths of virtue and benevolence, 
 and all your future life will be crowned with 
 blessedness, and your end will be peace. 
 
 " But how shall I punish your brother for 
 this misdemeanor." "It will be best to for- 
 give him, Papa," replied Charles: « my bro- 
 
 
8 
 
 ther says he is sorry he insulted the poor old 
 woman, and if you will give me a basket of 
 provision. I will carry it to her this afternoon, 
 and he will accompany me and ask her tor- 
 g,veness." A tear glistened in the eye ot 
 Mr. Aimwell, as he viewed the benevolent 
 countenance of his excellent child, and look- 
 ing towards Thomas, he saw him in great 
 agitation. At length he arose from his seat 
 ami fell on his knees before his father and im- 
 plored his forgiveness. His Papa raised him 
 from his kneeling posture, and said, "I freely 
 forgive you Thomas, but you have offended a 
 Befns who is a Father to the poor as well as 
 the rich-it is your heavenly Father that you 
 have grievously offended, and you must seek 
 His pardon and not offend any more. Con- 
 sider, my son, that God made all men equal, 
 but sin has introduced into our world poverty, 
 d.sease and death. Some are made rich by 
 unlawful gains which is very displeasing to 
 their Creator ; but they flourish for awhile like 
 the green bay tree ; they tyrannize over the 
 poor and needy, and trample them beneath 
 
 III1M 
 
9 
 
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 their feet; they have riches but not by right 
 and the fear of God is not in them. There 
 are others that are left rich by their ancestors, 
 and never know the pinching hand of want, 
 and if such are enlightened with the spirit of 
 benevolence, and the duty they owe to the 
 Supreme Being, they become fathers to the 
 poor, and thus fulfil his will." 
 
 With such discourse did the father of these 
 two youthentertain his family ; and after they 
 had dined he ordered a servant to fill a large 
 basket with provisions of almost all kinds and 
 bear it before his sons to the cottage. Tho- 
 mas had by this time recovered his usual spir- 
 its and they tripped joyfully over the fields, 
 and through the dales 'till at length they dis- 
 covered the curling smoke from the little 
 stone chimney. The cottage was situated at 
 the foot of a hill, and they discovered a little 
 foot path winding around it. They entered 
 the foot path and were soon at the door. 
 There was a little fence about it which enclo- 
 sed a garden of herbs, and though every thing 
 about it bespoke the poverty of its inhabitants, 
 
10 
 
 yet every thing was in the neatest order. The 
 servant knocked at the door and was bid 
 come in by a feeble voice. He raised the 
 latch and discovered a little girl sitting by a 
 cradle that contained a sleeping infant. She 
 was chanting her lullaby, but when the stran- 
 ger entered she arose and curtisied. My 
 mama is not at home she accented. When 
 will she be in my pretty lass said the servant. 
 About night she replied ; she has gone to town 
 to get bread. Are you not hungry my poor 
 girl replied the servant. I am hungry to be- 
 sure but J feel sorrow for my little sister. My 
 mother went this morning for a pail of milk to 
 one of her neighbors a great way off, who is 
 very kind to my poor mother; as she was 
 coming home she met a naughty boy who 
 overturned it and my poor little sister has had 
 nothing to eat the whole day. Charles look- 
 ed at Thomas — his eyes were suffused with 
 tears. " Heaven help you my poor child," said 
 the servant, " here is food enough :" and he 
 began to unload his basket, and sit on a little 
 wooden table before him all the provision he 
 
11 
 
 had brought from his benevolent master. 
 The little girl seemed astonished at such pro- 
 fusion, but°eagerly satisfied her appetite. In 
 the mean time the two boys s^&d looking on. 
 Charles' countenance shone with the bright- 
 ness of true benevolence, mixed with sorrow 
 for his brothers' fault. Thomas eyed the lit- 
 tie girl as she eat her food, and seemed to 
 wonder at her voracious appetite. The ser- 
 vant waited till she had finished her meal, and 
 then presented her with a bottle of milk for 
 the babe, and ordered her to awaken it with- 
 out delay, and give it some nourishment. She 
 obeyed without hesitation. In a short time 
 the door opened, and the poor woman ap- 
 peared with her little sack of bread and some 
 other small notions, which she procured with 
 the half crown which the benevolent Charles 
 had given her in the morning. She looked 
 about her with a bewildered astonishment. 
 But casting her eye upon Charles, she soon 
 recognized her young benefactor, and in al- 
 most inarticulate accents repeated her thanks 
 Thomas went to the poor woman and kindly 
 
 MMmmsu 
 
12 
 
 taking her hand, eaid good matron will you 
 forgive me for spilling your milk. I am heart- 
 ily sorry for it, my papa has forgiven me, and 
 sent us hither ™&h this provision, and will 
 come in a few days himself. The poor wo- 
 man burst into tears, and putting her arms 
 around the penitent child's neck, freely said 
 I forgive you my son, and may heaven also* 
 And I hope from this time your heart will be 
 enlarged towards your poor fellow mortals, 
 and that you will ever consider that poverty 
 itself is sufficiently excruciating without the 
 taunts and insults of the rich. I have seen 
 better days, but when your father arrives, 1 
 shall make him acquainted with my little his- 
 tory. Good dame replied the servant, the day 
 is fast hastening to its close, we must hasten 
 towards home ; can I render you any further 
 service? She told him he might bring her a 
 pail of water from a neighboring spring, and 
 break her some fuel as she was very weary 
 from her long walk to town. The servant 
 cheerfully complied with her desire, and when 
 he had made a fire upon her hearth and he 
 
13 
 
 helped her fill her small teakettle, he took his 
 leave rejoicing that he had added to the com- 
 forts of one who appeared to be a worthy ob- 
 ject of benevolence. The children had a long 
 way to walk, but they were cheered by the 
 company of their good servant, who chatted 
 with them all the way, telling them stories he 
 had learned in his boyish days. Shall I tell 
 you one of them. 
 
 "When I was a small boy," said he, 
 " I used to keep my father's sheep ; it was 
 a delightful employment to attend the lit- 
 tle lambs, keep them from all harm, and see 
 that they were comfortably fed, and their 
 sports were very amusing as they gamboled 
 over the plain in search of the best food, 
 There was a very wicked little boy that lived 
 in the neigborhood, that took great delight in 
 frightening my poor sheep. I often complain- 
 ed to his father of his conduct and he received 
 many stripes, and much of every kind ol pun- 
 ishment usual for such incorrigible offenders, 
 but all in vain ; the poor boy grew more and 
 more hardened in his sins. He would be all 
 day long skulking about the neighborhood in 
 
u 
 
 search of mischief. One day as I was by the 
 way side with my flock feeding by my side, I 
 saw coming up the road a very aged man 
 with crutches in his hands, he appeared very 
 lame and walked with weary and unsteady 
 Steps. I pitied the poor old man, and thought 
 to myself when he comes up with me, I will 
 give him a part of my dinner, for my mother 
 had plentifully furnished my basket with cold 
 victuals. I turned to look at my sheep for a 
 few moments, and my ears were saluted by a 
 loud scream, I looked behind me and beheld 
 the poor old man lying flat upon the ground, 
 and upon the other side of the road, I beheld 
 little Alfred the name of the wicked boy, 
 scrambling to get over the hedge. I flew to 
 the stranger's assistance, he lay groaning 
 with pain and affright. I tried to raise him 
 from the ground, but he could not help him- 
 self at all. I soon discovered his leg was bro- 
 ken. I halloed for help with all my might, 
 and I soon saw two men running to my assit- 
 ance. By this time I had an opportunity to 
 look about me, and I discovered Alfred hang 
 dangling from the hedge. 
 
n 
 
 In his haste to clamber over the hedge, his 
 foot got entangled among the bushes and 
 thorns, and he could not disengage himself— 
 he was senseless, pale and bloody. One of the 
 men immediately went for a conveyance, the 
 other assisted me in recovering poor Alfred 
 from his perilous situation. The man return- 
 ed with a carriage and a bed in it, on which 
 we laid the old gentleman and the senseless 
 Alfred, and carried them both into the town. 
 The old gentleman was placed in the alms- 
 house where he slowly recovered, and Al- 
 fred was carried to his father's cottage. He 
 recovered his senses, but he had broken his 
 ancle, and was very sick a long time. He 
 confessed to his father that he had tripped the 
 old man's crutches from under him, which 
 
 caused his fall. 
 
 Thus you see my pretty children sin in this 
 instance, met with a speedy punishment, and 
 proves the words of the inspired penman to 
 be true that s tho' hand join in hand the wick- 
 ed shall not go unpunished.' " They had by 
 this time reached their father's door, and re- 
 

 16 
 
 ceived a cordial welcome from their expect- 
 an parents. Thomas from this time became 
 hatful and more sedate in his behavior 
 and his happy parents rejo.ced m the refer 
 mation of their son. The next week Mr Atm 
 well set out on horseback for the cottage at- 
 tended by his servant. They armed .n the 
 fore part of the day and found the good wo- 
 ln at home. She welcomed the stranger to 
 her lowly dwelling, but when she found hat 
 
 her gueL was the father of the good h le 
 Charles, she was quite overjoyed. MrA.m 
 W ell told her he called to enqu.re into her his- 
 Tory, and to find out if he could be serv.ceable 
 o her in any way. I can give you my histo- 
 ry , a d the poor woman in a very few words. 
 I\ was born of poor but respectable parents. 
 They were obliged to put me out to serv.ce 
 very young, but they had given me , a £.ooa ed- 
 ucation, and taught me the fear ofG«LThn 
 was of great use to me, » great famd es 
 where I lived, as the servants of great folks 
 L apt to lead very dissolute lives in conse- 
 quence of too great indulgence. In my 16th 
 
17 
 
 year one of my fellow servants whose name 
 was Goodwill solicited my hand in marriage. 
 I could have no reasonable objection to him, 
 he was sober and steady minded, and though 
 not strictly religious, was a pattern of virtue 
 and sobriety. We were married and our good 
 master made us a nuptial present of this little 
 cottage and garden, and was our liberal friend 
 till his death, which happened soon after. My 
 poor husband worked early and late to sup- 
 port me and these two sweet babes, till at 
 length he fell sick and died. Since then I 
 have done what I could, but if it had not been 
 for the charity of some good people of my ac- 
 quaintance, I could not possibly have held out 
 to keep my children so long with myself." 
 Saying this she wept. " Dry up your tears my 
 good woman" said Mr. Aimwell, « to-morrow I 
 shall send for you and the poor children. I 
 have a neat little cottage at the bottom of my 
 garden which shall become yours. I shall see 
 you suffer for nothing in my life time, and I 
 shall remember you in my will." Mr. Aimwell 
 was as good as his word, the cottage was fit- 
 
13 
 
 ted up for her reception, and the very next 
 day the widow with the small remains of her 
 property, took possession of it. 
 
 Charles and Thomas were her daily visit- 
 ers, rejoicing in the benevolence of their good 
 papa and cheering the presence of the lonely 
 widow by their innocent pastimes, and a thou- 
 sand little acts of charity. 
 
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