ault without sorrow, and often thanked his master
for the wholesome lesson he then gave him, and he was the better for
it all his life.

Mrs. Stock often carried poor Brown a dish of tea, or a basin of
good broth herself. He was quite a cripple, and never able to walk
out as long as he lived. Mr. Stock, Will Simpson, and Tommy Williams
laid their heads together, and contrived a sort of barrow on which
he was often carried to church by some of his poor neighbors, of
which Tommy was always one; and he requited their kindness, by
reading a good book to them whenever they would call in; and he
spent his time in teaching their children to sing psalms or say the
catechism.

It was no small joy to him thus to be enabled to go to church.
Whenever he was carried by the Grayhound, he was much moved, and
used to put up a prayer full of repentance for the past, and praise
for the present.

PART V.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN JAMES STOCK AND WILL SIMPSON, THE SHOEMAKERS, AS
THEY SAT AT WORK, ON THE DUTY OF CARRYING RELIGION INTO OUR COMMON
BUSINESS.

James Stock, and his journeyman Will Simpson, as I informed my
readers in the second part, had resolved to work together one hour
every evening, in order to pay for Tommy Williams's schooling. This
circumstance brought them to be a good deal together when the rest
of the men were gone home. Now it happened that Mr. Stock had a
pleasant way of endeavoring to turn all common events to some use;
and he thought it right on the present occasion to make the only
return in his power to Will Simpson for his great kindness. For,
said he, if Will gives up so much of his time to help to provide for
this poor boy, it is the least I can do to try to turn part of that
time to the purpose of promoting Will's spiritual good. Now as the
bent of Stock's own mind was religion, it was easy to him to lead
their talk to something profitable. He always took especial care,
however, that the subject should be introduced properly, cheerfully,
and without constraint. As he well knew that great good may be
sometimes done by a prudent attention in seizing proper
opportunities, so he knew that the cause of piety had been sometimes
hurt by forcing serious subjects where there was clearly no
disposition to receive them. I say he had found out that two things
were necessary to the promoting of religion among his friends; a
warm zeal to be always on the watch for occasions, and a cool
judgment to distinguish which wa