thes, and leave
him to his unnatural mother. "Why," said he, "should I work
over-hours, and wear out my strength for this wicked woman?" But
soon he checked this thought, by reflecting on the patience and
long-suffering of God with rebellious sinners. This cured his anger
in a moment, and he mildly reasoned with her on her folly and
blindness in opposing the good of her child.

One of the neighbors who stood by said, "What a fine thing it was
for the boy! but some people were born to be lucky. She wished Mr.
Stock would take a fancy to _her_ child, he should have him soon
enough." Mrs. Williams now began to be frightened lest Mr. Stock
should take the woman at her word, and sullenly consented to let the
boy go, from envy and malice, not from prudence and gratitude; and
Tommy was sent to school that very night, his mother crying and
roaring instead of thanking God for such a blessing.

And here I can not forbear telling a very good-natured thing of Will
Simpson, one of the workmen. By the by, it was that very young
fellow who was reformed by Stock's good example, when he was an
apprentice, and who used to sing psalms with him on a Sunday
evening, when they got out of the way of Williams's junketing. Will
coming home early one evening was surprised to find his master at
work by himself, long after the usual time. He begged so heartily to
know the reason, that Stock owned the truth. Will was so struck with
this piece of kindness, that he snatched up a last, crying out,
"Well, master, you shall not work by yourself, however; we will go
snacks in maintaining Tommy: it shall never be said that Will
Simpson was idling about when his master was working for charity."
This made the hour pass cheerfully, and doubled the profits.

In a year or two Mr. Stock, by God's blessing on his labors, became
quite clear of the world. He now paid off his creditors, but he
never forgot his obligation to them, and found many opportunities of
showing kindness to them, and to their children after them. He now
cast about for a proper wife, and as he was thought a prosperous
man, and was very well looking besides, most of the smart girls of
the place, with their tawdry finery, used to be often parading
before the shop, and would even go to church in order to put
themselves in his way. But Mr. Stock when he went to church, had
other things in his head; and if ever he thought about these gay
damsels at all, it was with concern in seeing them so im