4. No child is to game, or play for money, nor to be seen with those who are gaming.

5. Children are to go directly home from school.

Besides the usual instruction for boys and girls, in reading, &c., the girls are taught to read, knit, darn, and mend their own clothes.

The Service of the Church forms part of what is taught in these schools, and the children are trained to the repetition, in audible voices, of those parts wherein the whole congregation are required to join with, or follow the minister.

The same gentleman has a few sets of children, from about the age of 10 to 14, consisting of 12 in each set, on different days in the week, for one hour at a time, at a small room in the neighbourhood, to ground them in the Church Catechism, and afford them such other moral and religious instruction as they do not always receive at their schools.

He has also adopted a plan of reading three times a week to the adult poor of both sexes, which is carried on in a room hired for the purpose, that holds about fifty persons.

The first reading is on Sunday morning, before Service, and commences at half-past 9, and ends at a quarter past 10. The reading on Sunday evening, and that of the week-day, begins, in the summer season, at half-past 6, and in the winter at 6. Punctuality in attendance is required, that there may be no interruption after the reading is begun, when the door is closed.

The portion of time allotted for reading was thought sufficient, as more might exhaust the powers of the reader, and prove too much for the memories of the hearers.

The subjects selected for Sunday are such as are suited to the day; whilst those for the week-day (which are not always of so serious a cast) are cal culated to afford amusement as well as instruction.

Charity School Regulations.

351

As remarks, or animadversions, arise now and then out of the subjects read, which may seem as if intended to apply to some of the persons present, care is taken to have it well understood, that as nothing personal is meant, so should no offence be taken by any of the hearers.

The same person has also a lending library, consisting principally of The Cottager's Monthly Visitor, one number of which is delivered out to each person every other Monday, after the reading is over, to be kept for a fortnight, at the end of which it must be returned. The person who has had it, on signifying their wish, is allowed to keep it for a fortnight longer.

It would be ungrateful to omit acknowledging the pleasure and instruction derived from The Cottager's Monthly Visitor, which is one of the books. used at these readings.

Other books and tracts are also lent to the children of the above schools on the same principle.

The National School Magazine is written on the same principles as our "Visitor," but is intended more particularly for children; and, as its price is only one-penny, it comes more within their reach. In some Schools a great portion of the children take it in regularly every fortnight. In others they are allowed to take it in at half-price, the funds of the School paying the other half. In some Schools it is given as prizes.

A little reward of this sort given to those children, who have been most industrious and best behaved during the fortnight, might be of use as an encouragement. The little Magazine is on the supplemental list of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

BISHOPSGATE DISTRICT SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

THE first Annual Report of the Bishopsgate District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, contains much interesting information, and is written in an excellent spirit.

There are some annual subscriptions as low as 2s. 6d. and many of 5s. This is as it should be, for all should be invited to subscribe; and there are very few who are really anxious for the circulation of the Scriptures, who cannot afford to give something to increase their circulation.

MISFORTUNES OF SERVANTS WHILST WAITING AT DINNER.

(From the Footman's Directory.)

WE have received a hint from a "Herefordshire servant," not to forget the Footman's Directory. We therefore copy the following dinner-table disasters. It is, however, chiefly intended for footmen, many of whom are our readers. Those whom it does not concern may skip it.

William. As I was one day waiting at dinner, a gentleman called for some pudding: he was talking to the person on his left hand, and rather leaning, so that I could not put it down on that side without disturbing him; I therefore tried to put it before him on the right; whilst I was doing this, I hardly know how it happened, but the gentleman turned about in his chair, and struck his elbow into the pudding, and sent it tumbling on the floor. My master began scolding, which, together with the thoughts of the accident, quite upset me, so that I

Mistakes of Servants.

353

broke some glasses, and did many more awkward things, in my hurry and confusion.

James. What happened to me was worse than that. A gentleman having called for a glass of porter, I carried it to him; but he, being busily employed, talking to a lady on his left side, did not see me. I just touched his arm with the waiter, he turned quickly about, and threw the porter all over me, and sent the glass rolling on the floor; so you may think what a pretty plight I was in.

Butler. I really think you were both to blame. Just answer me one question, William, did you hand the plate of pudding with your right hand or your left?

William. With my left.

Butler. I thought so. You never ought to attempt to put any thing down before a person on the right side with your left hand, nor to put any thing, or offer it, on the left side, with your right handthis is back-handed, and is the cause of accidents; your elbow is in the way. You are generally to hand things on the left side of the person you are waiting on. But, observe, if, at any time, you find a person in deep conversation with any one on his left, if you have a plate in your hand you may put it down carefully before him, on his right side, with your right hand. I do not wish you to make a common practice of doing so, but sometimes you will find it necessary to take every advantage you possibly can in waiting; only be careful, and quick, and on the watch, and move with caution. As to your being flurried by the accidents, and by your master scolding you, that is not to be wondered at. I am sorry when any lady or gentleman does so, as it only makes things worse.

But you must always endeavour when you have a misfortune, to keep yourself as quiet and cool as

attempt to defend yourself; if it is not your fault, you can take another opportunity of proving it. Sometimes, when I have been putting a dish on the table, it has dropped in two, and I have found one part in my hand, whilst the other and its contents have been upon the table-cloth, or on the floor. This was the cook's fault, in not seeing that the dishes were perfect before they were sent up. Take care, however, always to keep firm hold of your dishes, let your hand go well under the bottom, for if you have but little hold, the weight of the dish will often break it.

As to you, James, I am surprised that you should ever attempt to push a gentleman's arm with the waiter, when you are serving the beer. If a person be talking to one on his left hand, and you are wanted at the same time to serve others, keep the waiter in your left hand, and take the glass out of it with the right hand, and put it down before him, then attend to others. Or, if he should be talking to a person on his right hand, you can put the glass before him with the left hand, having the waiter in your right. It is not, indeed, quite proper to take the glass off the waiter, and put it before any body; but, where there is not a sufficient number of servants to wait, you had better do this, than let the company be calling for things, and have no one to serve them.