in bed all the morning; nor did the mother or her
children ever go to church, except there was some new finery to be
shown, or a christening to be attended. The town's-people were
coming to the shop all the morning, for work which should have been
sent home the night before, had not the master been at the
ale-house. And what wounded James to the very soul was, that the
master expected the two apprentices to carry home shoes to the
country customers on the Sunday morning; which he wickedly thought
was a saving of time, as it prevented their hindering their work on
the Saturday. These shameful practices greatly afflicted poor
James; he begged his master with tears in his eyes, to excuse him,
but he only laughed at his squeamish conscience, as he called it.

Jack did not dislike this part of the business, and generally after
he had delivered his parcel, wasted good part of the day in nutting,
playing at fives, or dropping in at the public house: any thing was
better to Jack than going to church.

James, on the other hand, when he was compelled, sorely against his
conscience, to carry home any goods on a Sunday morning, always got
up as soon as it was light, knelt down and prayed heartily to God to
forgive him a sin which it was not in his power to avoid; he took
care not to lose a moment by the way, but as he was taking his walk
with the utmost speed, to leave his shoes with the customers, he
spent his time in endeavoring to keep up good thoughts in his mind,
and praying that the day might come when his conscience might be
delivered from this grievous burden. He was now particularly
thankful that Mr. Thomas had formerly taught him so many psalms and
chapters, which he used to repeat in these walks with great
devotion.

He always got home before the rest of the family were up, dressed
himself very clean, and went twice to church; as he greatly disliked
the company and practices of his master's house, particularly on the
Sabbath-day; he preferred spending his evening alone, reading the
Bible, which I had forgot to say the worthy clergyman had given him
when he left his native village. Sunday evening, which is to some
people such a burden, was to James the highest holiday. He had
formerly learned a little how to sing a psalm of the clerk of his
own parish, and this was now become a very delightful part of his
evening exercise. And as Will Simpson, one of the journeymen, by
James's advice and example, was now beginning to