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saved his life when he was just sinking; the remembrance of all this made his heart heavy. He said nothing; but as he trotted barefoot after the asses, he heard his father and brothers laugh at having outwitted the godly ones; and he grieved to think how poor Tom would suffer for his wickedness, yet fear kept him silent; they called him a sulky dog, and lashed the asses till they bled.

In the mean time Tom Price kept up his spirits as well as he could. He worked hard all day, and prayed heartily night and morning. It is true, said he to himself, I am not guilty of this sin; but let this accusation set me on examining myself, and truly repenting of all my other sins; for I find enough to repent of, though I thank God I did not steal the widow's ap ples.

door, among which were Giles and his boys, who had already taken care to spread the news that Tom Price was the thief. Most people were unwilling to believe it. His character was very good, but appearances were strongly against him. Mr. Wilson, who had staid to christen a child, now came in. He was much concerned that Tom Price, the best boy in his school, should stand accused of such a crime. He sent for the boy, examined, and cross-examined him. No marks of guilt appeared. him.-No But still though he pleaded not guilty, there lay the red-streaks in his father's window. All the idle fellows in the place, who were most likely to have committed such a theft themselves, were the very people who fell with vengeance on poor Tom. The wicked seldom give any quarter. 'This is one of your sanctified ones!' cried they. This was all the good that Sunday-schools did! At length Sunday came, and Tom went to For their parts they never saw any good come school as usual. As soon as he walked in there by religion. Sunday was the only day for a was a great deal of whispering and laughing little pastime, and if poor boys must be shut up among the worst of the boys; and he overheard with their godly books, when they ought to be them say, 'Who would have thought it? This out taking a little pleasure, it was no wonder is master's favourite!-This is parson Wilson's they made themselves amends by such tricks.' sober Tommy! We shan't have Tommy thrown Another said he should like to see parson Wil-in our teeth again if we go to get a bird's nest, son's righteous one well whipped. A third hoped he would be clapped in the stocks for a young hypocrite as he was; while old Giles, who thought the only way to avoid suspicion was by being more violent than the rest, declared, that he hoped the young dog would be transported for life.'

or gather a few nuts on a Sunday.' 'Your de mure ones are always hypocrites,' says another. The still sow sucks all the milk,' says a third.

Giles's family had always kept clear of the school. Dick, indeed, had sometimes wished to go; not that he had much sense of sin, or deMr. Wilson was too wise and too just to pro-sire after goodness, but he thought if he could ceed against Tom without full proof-He declared the crime was a very heavy one, and he feared that heavy must be the punishment. Tom, who knew his own innocence, earnestly prayed to God that it might be made to appear as clear as the noon-day; and very fervent were his secret devotions on that night.

Black Giles passed his night in a very different manner. He set off as soon as it was dark, with his sons and their jack-asses, laden with their stolen goods. As such a cry was raised about the apples, he did not think it safe to keep them longer at home, but resolved to go and sell them at the next town; borrowing without leave a lame colt out of the moor to assist in carrying off his booty.

once read, he might rise in the world, and not be forced to drive asses all his life. Through this whole Saturday night he could not sleep. He longed to know what would be done to Tom. He began to wish to go to school, but he had not courage; sin is very cowardly. So on the Sunday morning he went and sat himself down under the church wall. Mr. Wilson passed by. It was not his way to reject the most wicked, till he had tried every means to bring them over; and even then he pitied and prayed for them. He had, indeed, long left off talking to Giles's sons; but seeing Dick sitting by himself, he once more spoke to him, desired him to leave off his vagabond life, and go with him into the school. The boy hung down his head, but made no anGiles and his eldest sons had rare sport all the swer. He did not, however, either rise up and way in thinking, that while they were enjoying run away, or look sulky, as he used to do. The the profit of their plunder, Tom Price would be minister desired him once more to go. Sir,' whipt round the market place at least, if not said the boy, 'I can't go; I am so big I am sent beyond sea. But the younger boy Dick, ashamed.' The bigger you are the less time who had naturally a tender heart, though hard- you have to lose.' But, sir, I can't read.' 'Then • I should be ened by his long familiarity with sin, could not it is high time you should learn.' help crying, when he thought that Tom Price ashamed to begin to learn my letters.' might, perhaps, be transported for a crime which shame is not in beginning to learn them, but in he himself had helped to commit. He had had being contented never to know them.'—' But, no compuction about the robbery, for he had not sir, I am so ragged! God looks at the heart, been instructed in the great principles of truth and not at the coat.' 'But, sir, I have no shoes and justice; nor would he therefore, perhaps, and stockings.' 'So much the worse. have had much remorse about accusing an in-member who gave you both-(Here Dick conocent boy. But though utterly devoid of prin- loured.) It is bad to want shoes and stockings, ciple, he had some remains of natural feeling but still if you can drive your asses a dozen and of gratitude. Tom Price had often given miles without them, you may certainly walk a him a bit of his own bread and cheese; and once, hundred yards to school without them.' when Dick was like to be drowned, Tom had Sir, the good boys will hate me, and won't speak jumped into the pond with his clothes on, and to me.'- Good boys hate nobedy; and as to not

•The

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. But,

speaking to you, to be sure they will not keep,
your company while you go on in your present
evil courses, but as soon as they see you wish to
reform, they will help you, and pity you, and
teach you; and so come along.'-Here Mr. Wil-
son took this dirty boy by the hand, and gently
pulled him forward, kindly talking to him all
the way, in the most condescending manner.

How the whole school stared to see Dick Giles
come in! No one however, dared to say what
he thought. The business went on, and Dick
slunk into a corner, partly to hide his rags, and
partly to hide his sin; for last Sunday's trans-
action sat heavy on his heart, not because he
had stolen the apples, but because Tom Price
had been accused. This, I say, made him slink
behind. Poor boy! he little thought there was
ONE saw him who sees all things, and from
whose eye no hole nor corner can hide the sin-
ner: for he is about our bed, and about our
path, and spieth out all our ways.'

Master. I will put the case. Some wicked boy has robbed widow Brown's orchard. (Here the eyes of every one were turned on poor Tom Price, except those of Dick Giles, who fixed his on the ground.) I accuse no one, continued the master, Tom Price is a good boy, and was not missing at the time of the robbery; these are two reasons why I presume that he is innocent; but whoever it was, you allow that by stealing these apples he broke the eighth commandment? Boy. Yes, master.

Master. On what day were these apples stolen ?

Boy. On Sunday.

Master. What is the fourth commandment?
Boy. Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath-day
Master. Does that person keep holy the Sab.
bath-day who loiters in an orchard on Sunday,
when he should be at church, and steals apples
when he ought to be saying his prayers?
Boy. No, master.

Master. What command does he break?
Boy. The fourth.

It was the custom in that school, and an ex-
cellent custom it is, for the master, who was a
good and wise man, to mark down in his pocket-
book all the events of the week, that he might
turn them to some account in his Sunday even-
ing instructions; such as any useful story in the
newspaper, any account of boys being drowned
as they were out in a pleasure boat on Sundays,
any sudden death in the parish, or any other re-
markable visitation of Providence; insomuch,
that many young people in the place, who did
not belong to the school, and many parents also,
used to drop in for an hour on a Sunday even-
ing, when they were sure to hear something
profitable. The minister greatly approved this
practice, and often called in himself, which was
a great support to the master, and encourage-ther.
ment to the people who attended.

The master had taken a deep concern in the
story of widow Brown's apple tree. He could
not believe Tom Price was guilty, nor dared he
pronounce him innocent; but he resolved to turn
the instructions of the present evening to this
subject. He began thus: 'My dear boys, how-
ever light some of you may make of robbing an
orchard, yet I have often told you there is no
such thing as a little sin, if it be wilful or habi-
tual. I wish now to explain to you, also, that
there is hardly such a thing as a single solitary
sin. You know I teach you not merely to re-
peat the commandments as an exercise for your
memory, but as a rule for your conduct. If
you
were to come here only to learn to read and spell
on a Sunday, I should think that was not em-
ploying God's day for God's work; but I teach
you to read that you may, by this means, come
so to understand the Bible and the Catechism,
as to make every text in the one, and every
question and answer in the other, to be so fixed
in your hearts, that they may bring forth in you
the fruits of good living.'

Master. How many commandments are there?
Boy. Ten.

Master. How many commandments did that
boy break who stole widow Brown's apples?
Boy. Only one, master; the eighth.
Muster. What is the eighth?

Boy. Thou shalt not steal.

Master. Suppose this boy had parents who had sent him to church, and that he had dis obeyed them by not going, would that be keep. ing the fifth commandment?

Boy. No, master; for the fifth commandment says, Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mo

This was the only part of the case in which poor Dick Giles's heart did not smite him; he knew he had disobeyed no father; for his father; alas! was still wickeder than himself, and had brought him up to commit the sin. But what a wretched comfort was this! The master went on.

Master. Suppose this boy earnestly coveted this fruit, though it belonged to another person; would that be right?

Boy. No, master; for the tenth command: ment says, thou shalt not covet.

Master. Very well. Here are four of God's positive commands already broken. Now do you think thieves ever scruple to use wicked words?

Boy. I am afraid not, master.

Here Dick Giles was not so hardened but that he remembered how many curses had passed between him and his father while they were filling the bags, and he was afraid to look up. The master went on.

I will now go one step further. If the thief, to all his other sins, has added that of accusing the innocent to save himself, if he should break the ninth commandment, by bearing false witness against a harmless neighbour, then six commandments are broken for an apple! But if it be otherwise, if Tom Price should be found guilty, it is not his good character shall save him. I shall shed tears over him, but punish him I must, and that severely. No, that you shan't,' roared

Master. And you are very eure that this was out Dick Giles, who sprung from his hiding

R

TAWNEY RACHEL;

OR, THE FORTUNE TELLER :

WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF DREAMS, OMENS, AND CONJURORS.

TAWNEY RACHEL was the wife of poaching | honest people, let them trade in what they will. Giles. There seemed to be a conspiracy in Giles's whole family to maintain themselves by tricks and pilfering. Regular labour and honest industry did not suit their idle habits. They had a sort of genius at finding out every unlawful means to support a vagabond life. Rachel travelled the country with a basket on her arm. She pretended to get her bread by selling laces, cabbage-nets, ballads, and history books, and used to buy old rags and rabbit skins. Many honest people trade in these things, and I am sure I do not mean to say a word against

of really foretelling things, because she had no power of seeing into futurity: but she had the art sometimes to bring them about according as she foretold them. So she got that credit for her wisdom which really belonged to her wickedness.

cellar door, and on no pretence to open it in less than forty-eight hours. If,' added she, 'you closely follow these directions, then, by the power of my art, you will find the basin conveyed to the very stone under which the money lies hid, and a fine treasure it be!" Mrs. Jenkins, who firmly believed every word the woman said, did exactly as she was told, and Rachel took her leave with a handsome reward.

When farmer Jenkins came home he desired his wife to draw him a cup of cider; this she

Rachel was also a famous interpreter of dreams, and could distinguish exactly between the fate of any two persons who happened to have a mole on the right or the left cheek. She had a cunning way of getting herself off when any of her prophecies failed. When she ex-put off so long that he began to be displeased. plained a dream according to the natural appearance of things, and it did not come to pass; then she would get out of that scrape by saying, that this sort of dreams went by contraries. Now of two very opposite things, the chance always is that one of them may turn out to be true; so in either case she kept up the cheat.

to that name, when she insisted that the cellar door might be kept locked till she had time to get out of the reach of all pursuit.

At last she begged he would be so good as to drink a little beer instead. He insisted on knowing the reason, and when at last he grew angry, she told him all that had passed; and owned that as the pot of gold happened to be in the ci der cellar, she did not dare open the door, as she was sure it would break the charm. • And it Rachel, in one of her rambles, stopped at the would be a pity you know,' said she, 'to lose a house of farmer Jenkins. She contrived to call good fortune for the sake of a draught of cider." when she knew the master of the house was The farmer, who was not so easily imposed from home, which indeed was her usual way. upon, suspected a trick. He demanded the key, She knocked at the door; the maids being in and went and opened the cellar door; there he the field haymaking, Mrs. Jenkins went to open found the basin, and in it five round pieces of it herself. Rachel asked her if she would please tin covered with powder. Mrs. Jenkins burst to let her light her pipe? This was a common out a-crying; but the farmer thought of nothing pretence, when she could find no other way of but of getting a warrant to apprehend the cungetting into a house. While she was filling herning woman. Indeed she well proved her claim pipe, she looked at Mrs. Jenkins, and said, she could tell her some good fortune. The farmer's wife, who was a very inoffensive, but a weak and superstitious woman, was curious to know Poor Sally Evans! I am sure she rued the what she meant. Rachel then looked about day that ever she listened to a fortune-teller. carefully, and shutting the door with a myste- Sally was as harmless a girl as ever churned a rious air, asked her if she was sure nobody would pound of butter; but Sally was credulous, ignohear them. This appearance of mystery was rant and superstitious. She delighted in dream at once delightful and terrifying to Mrs. Jen- books, and had consulted all the cunning women kins, who, with trembling agitation, bid the in the country to tell her whether the two moles cunning woman speak out. Then,' said Ra- on her cheek denoted that she was to have two chel in a solemn whisper,' there is to my certain husbands, or two children. If she picked up an knowledge a pot of money hid under one of the old horse-shoe going to church, she was sure stones in your cellar.'-'Indeed!" said Mrs. that would be a lucky week. She never made Jenkins, it is impossible, for now I think of it, a black pudding without borrowing one of the I dreamt last night I was in prison for debt.' parson's old wigs to hang in the chimney, firmly • Did you really said Rachel; 'that is quite believing there was no other means to preserve surprising. Did you dream this before twelve them from burning. She would never go to bed o'clock or after ?'-'O it was this morning, just on Midsummer eve without sticking up in her before I awoke.'-' Then I am sure it is true, room the well-known plant called Midsummerfor morning dreams always go by contraries," men, as the bending of the leaves to the right cried Rachel. 'How lucky it was you dreamt or to the left, would not fail to tell her whether it so late.'-Mrs. Jenkins could hardly contain Jacob, of whom we shall speak presently, was her joy, and asked how the money was to be true or false. She would rather go five miles There is but one way,' said Rachel; about than pass near a church-yard at night. I must go into the cellar. I know by my art Every seventh year she would not eat beans beunder which stone it lies, but I must not tell.' cause they grew downward in the pod, instead Then they both went down into the cellar, but of upward; and, though a very neat girl, she Rachel refused to point at the stone unless Mrs. would rather have gone with her gown open Jenkins would put five pieces of gold into a ba- than have taken a pin from an old woman, for sin and do as she directed. The simple woman, fear of being bewitched. Poor Sally had so mainstead of turning her out of doors for a cheat,ny unlucky days in her calender, that a large did as she was bid. She put the guineas into a basin which she gave into Rachel's hand. Rachel strewed some white powder over the gold, muttered some barbarous words, and pretended to perform the black art. She then told Mrs. Jenkins to put the basin quietly down within the cellar; teling her that if she offered to look into it, or even to speak a word, the charm would be broken She also directed her to lock the

come at.

portion of her time became of little use, because on these days she did not dare set about any new work. And she would have refused the best offer in the country if made to her on a Friday, which she thought so unlucky a day that she often said what a pity it was that there were any Friday in the week. Sally had twenty pounds left her by her grandmother. She had long been courted by Jacob, a sober tad, with

whom she lived fellow servant at a creditable farmer's. Honest Jacob, like his namesake of old, thought it little to wait seven years to get this damsel to wife, because of the love he bore her, for Sally had promised to marry him when he could match her twenty pounds with another

of his own.

Now there was one Robert, a rambling idle young gardener, who, instead of sitting down steadily in one place, used to roam about the country, and do odd jobs where he could get them. No one understood any thing about him, except that he was a down-looking fellow, who came nobody knew whence, and got his bread nobody knew how, and never had a penny in his pocket. Robert, who was now in the neighbourhood, happened to hear of Sally Evans and her twenty pounds. He immediately conceived a long desire for the latter. So he went to his old friend Rachel the fortune-teller, told her all he had heard of Sally, and promised if she could bring about a marriage between them, she should go shares in the money.

it.

It

But true it is, it certainly cured me. must be the sixpence you know, for I am sure I did nothing else for my ague, except indeed taking some bitter stuff every three hours which the doctor called bark. To be sure I lost my ague soon after I took it, but I am certain it was owing to the crooked sixpence, and not to the bark. And so, good woman, you may come in, if you will, for there is not a soul in the house but me.' This was the very thing Rachel wanted to know, and very glad she was to learn it.

While Sally was above stairs untying her glove, Rachel slipped in to the parlour, took a small silver cup from the beaufet, and clapped it into her pocket. Sally ran down, lamenting that she had lost her sixpence, which she verily believed was owing to her having put it into a left glove, instead of a right one. Rachel comforted her by saying, that if she gave her two plain ones instead, the charm would work just as well. Simple Sally thought herself happy to be let off so easily, never calculating that a smooth shilling was worth two crooked sixpences. But this skill was a part of the black art in which Rachel excelled. She took the money and began to examine the lines of Sally's left hand. She bit her withered lip, shook her | head, and bade her poor dupe beware of a young No, indeed,' cried man who had black hair. Sally, all in a fright, 'you mean black eyes, for our Jacob has got brown hair, 'tis his eyes that That is the very thing I was goare black.'

Rachel undertook the business. She set off to the farm-house, and fell to singing one of her most enticing songs just under the dairy window. Sally was so struck with the pretty tune, which was unhappily used, as is too often the case, to set off some very loose words, that she jumped up, dropped the skimming dish into the cream and ran out to buy the song. While she stooped down to rummage the basket for those songs which had the most tragical pictures (for Sally had a tender heart, and delighted in what-ing to say,' muttered Rachel, I meant eyes, ever was mournful) Rachel looked stedfastly in though I said hair, for I know his hair is as her face, and told her she knew by art that she brown as a chesnut, and his eyes as black as a was born to good fortune, but advised her not sloe.' 'So they are, sure enough,' cried Sally, to throw herself away. These two moles on how in the world could you know that?" forvour cheek,' added she, 'show you are in some getting that she herself had just told her so. danger.' 'Do they denote husbands or chil- And it is thus that these hags pick out of the dren?' cried Sally, starting up, and letting fall credulous all which they afterwards pretend to the song of the Children in the Wood-Hus- reveal to them. O, I know a pretty deal more bands,' muttered Rachel-'Alas! poor Jacob!' than that,' said Rachel, but you must beware said Sally, mournfully, then he will die first, of this man.' Why so,' cried Sally, with great won't he?" 'Mum for that,' quoth the fortune quickness: 'Because,' answered Rachel, 'you teller, 'I will say no more.' Sally was impa- are fated to marry a man worth a hundred of tient, but the more curiosity she discovered, the him, who has blue eyes, light hair, and a stoop No, indeed, but I can't,' more mystery Rachel affected. At last, she in the shoulders.' said, ' if you will cross my hand with a piece of said Sally; I have promised Jacob, and Jacob I will marry.' By the power silver, I will tell your fortune. 'You cannot, child,' returned of my art I can do this three ways; first by Rachel in a solemn tone;' it is out of your powcards, next by the lines on your hand, or by er, you are fated to marry the gray eyes and turning a cup of tea grounds; which will you light hair.' Nay, indeed,' said Sally, sighing have?' 'O, all! all! cried Sally, looking up deeply, if I am fated, I must; I know there's with reverence to this sun-burnt oracle of wis- no resisting one's fate.' This is a co nmon cant dom, who was possessed of no less than three with poor deluded girls, who are not aware that different ways of diving into the secrets of futu- they themselves make their fate by their folly, rity. Alas! persons of better sense than Sally and then complain there is no resisting it. have been so taken in; the more is the pity. 'What can I do?' said Sally. I will tell you 'You must take a walk The poor girl said she would run up stairs to that, too,' said Rachel. her little box where she kept her money tied up in a bit of an old glove, and would bring down a bright queen Ann's sixpence very crooked. 'I am sure,' added she, 'it is a lucky one, for it cured me of a very bad ague last spring, by only laying it nine nights under my pillow without speaking a word. But then you must know what gave the virtue to this sixpence was, that it had belonged to three young men of the name of John; I am sure I had work enough to get

next Sunday afternoon to the church-yard, and
the first man you meet in a blue coat, with a
large posy of pinks and southern-wood in his
bosom, sitting on the church-yard wall, about
'Provided,'
seven o'clock, he will be the man.'
said Sally, much disturbed, 'that he has grey
eyes and stoops.' 'O, to be sure,' said Rachel,
'But if I
otherwise it is not the right man.'
should mistake,' said Sally, for two men may
happen to have a coat and eyes of the same co-