they were found to be in a sad condition. His wife, indeed, was the
less to be pitied, as she had contributed her full share to the
common ruin. James, however, did pity her, and by his skill in
accounts, his known honesty, and the trust the creditors put in his
word, things came to be settled rather better than Mrs. Williams had
expected.

Both Brown and James were now within a month or two of being out of
their time. The creditors, as we said before, employed James to
settle his late master's accounts, which he did in a manner so
creditable to his abilities, and his honesty, that they proposed to
him to take the shop himself. He assured them it was utterly out of
his power for want of money. As the creditors had not the least fear
of being repaid, if it should please God to spare his life, they
generously agreed among themselves to advance him a small sum of
money without any security but his bond; for this he was to pay a
very reasonable interest, and to return the whole in a given number
of years. James shed tears of gratitude at this testimony to his
character, and could hardly be prevailed on to accept their
kindness, so great was his dread of being in debt.

He took the remainder of the lease from his mistress; and in
settling affairs with her, took care to make every thing as
advantageous to her as possible. He never once allowed himself to
think how unkind she had been to him; he only saw in her the needy
widow of his deceased master, and the distressed mother of an infant
family; and was heartily sorry it was not in his power to contribute
to their support; it was not only James's duty, but his delight, to
return good for evil--for he was a Christian.

James Stock was now, by the blessing of God, on his own earnest
endeavors, master of a considerable shop, and was respected by the
whole town for his prudence, honesty, and piety. How he behaved in
his new station, and also what befell his comrade Brown, must be
the subject of another book; and I hope my readers will look forward
with some impatience for some further account of this worthy young
man. In the mean time, other apprentices will do well to follow so
praiseworthy an example, and to remember that the respectable master
of a large shop, and of a profitable business, was raised to that
creditable situation, without money, friends, or connections, from
the low beginning of a parish apprentice, by sobriety, industry, the
fear of God, and an obedience