the very reverse of his new
companion. He was a modest, industrious, pious youth, and though so
poor, and the child of a laborer, was a much better scholar than
Jack, who was a wealthy farmer's son. His father had, it is true,
been able to give him but very little schooling, for he was obliged
to be put to work when quite a child. When very young, he used to
run of errands for Mr. Thomas, the curate of the parish; a very
kind-hearted young gentleman, who boarded next door to his father's
cottage. He used also to rub down and saddle his horse, and do any
other little job for him, in the most civil, obliging manner. All
this so recommended him to the clergyman, that he would often send
for him of an evening, after he had done his day's work in the
field, and condescend to teach him himself to write and cast
accounts, as well as to instruct him in the principles of his
religion. It was not merely out of kindness for the little
good-natured services James did him, that he showed him this favor,
but also for his readiness in the catechism, and his devout behavior
at church.

The first thing that drew the minister's attention to this boy, was
the following: he had frequently given him half-pence and pence for
holding his horse and carrying him to water before he was big enough
to be further useful to him. On Christmas day he was surprised to
see James at church, reading out of a handsome new prayer-book; he
wondered how he came by it, for he knew there was nobody in the
parish likely to have given it to him, for at that time there were
no Sunday Schools; and the father could not afford it, he was sure.

"Well, James," said he, as he saw him when they came out, "you made
a good figure at church to-day: it made you look like a man and a
Christian, not only to have so handsome a book, but to be so ready
in all parts of the service. How can you buy that book?" James owned
modestly that he had been a whole year saving up the money by single
half-pence, all of which had been of the minister's own giving, and
that in all that time he had not spent a single farthing on his own
diversions. "My dear boy," said the good Mr. Thomas, "I am much
mistaken if thou dost not turn out well in the world, for two
reasons:--first, from thy saving turn and self-denying temper; and
next, because thou didst devote the first eighteen-pence thou wast
ever worth in the world to so good a purpose."

James bowed and blushed, and from that time Mr. Th