don't
know that goodness belongs to one sort of business more than to
another; and he who can be good in a state of great temptation,
provided the calling be lawful, and the temptations are not of his
own seeking, and he be diligent in prayer, maybe better than another
man for aught I know: and _all that belongs to us is, to do our duty
in that state of life in which it shall please God to call us_; and
to leave events in God's hand. Tom had rubbed up his catechism at
the hospital, and 'tis a pity that people don't look at their
catechism sometimes when they are grown up; for it is full as good
for men and women as it is for children; nay, better; for though the
answers contained in it are intended for children to _repeat_, yet
the duties enjoined in it are intended for men and woman to put in
_practice_. It is, if I may so speak, the very grammar of
Christianity and of our church, and they who understand every part
of their catechism thoroughly, will not be ignorant of any thing
which a plain Christian need know.

Tom now felt grieved that he was obliged to drive on Sundays. But
people who are in earnest and have their hearts in a thing, can find
helps in all cases. As soon as he had set down his company at their
stage, and had seen his horses fed, says Tom, a man who takes care
of his horses, will generally think it right to let them rest an
hour or two at least. In every town it is a chance but there may be
a church open during part of that time. If the prayers should be
over, I'll try hard for the sermon; and if I dare not stay to the
sermon it is a chance but I may catch the prayers; it is worth
trying for, however; and as I used to think nothing of making a
push, for the sake of getting an hour to gamble, I need not grudge
to take a little pains extraordinary to serve God. By this
watchfulness he soon got to know the hours of service at all the
towns on the road he traveled; and while the horses fed, Tom went to
church; and it became a favorite proverb with him, that _prayers and
provender hinder no man's journey_; and I beg leave to recommend
Tom's maxim to all travelers; whether master or servant, carrier or
coachman.

At first his companions wanted to laugh and make sport of this--but
when they saw that no lad on the road was up so early or worked so
hard as Tom, when they saw no chaise so neat, no glasses so bright,
no harness so tight, no driver so diligent, so clean, or so civil,
they found he was no su