I. THE VILLAGE--THE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL--THE SUPERINTENDENT--A REVIVAL.

II. THE HISTORY OF JAMES.

III. HISTORY OF THOMAS.

IV. HISTORY OF GEORGE.

V. CONCLUSION--BENEFITS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

CHAPTER I.

THE VILLAGE--THE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL--THE SUPERINTENDENT--A REVIVAL.

M---- is a small village in the west of England, delightfully situated in
a wooded pleasant valley. Through it runs the parish road, which--as it
leads to the seashore, from whence the farmers of that and the
neighboring parishes bring great quantities of sand and seaweed as
manure--frequently presents, in the summer, a bustling scene. The village
is very scattered: on the right of the beautiful streamlet which flows
silently down the valley, and runs across the road just in the centre of
the village, stands an old mill; which for many a long year has been wont
to throw out its murmuring sound, as the water falls over its broad and
capacious wheel. On the other side of the stream, and just opposite the
old mill, a few yards from the road, stands a neat, commodious, and
well-built Methodist chapel, which, from the prominence of its situation,
and good proportions, has often attracted the eye of the passing
stranger.

It was about the period when my narrative commences that the chapel was
built. For many years the Methodists had preached in the village, and
there had been a small society under the care of an aged patriarch, whose
gray hairs and tottering frame bespoke the near approach of the last
enemy: soon he came, and suddenly removed that good man to "the palace of
angels and God." In consequence of the preaching-place being far out of
the way, and the place itself--an old barn--anything but inviting, there
had been for many years but little success.

In 18--, two or three zealous brethren from another part of the circuit
settled in the vicinity of M----, and steps were at once taken to get a
favorable site, and to raise subscriptions towards building a chapel as
speedily as possible. The neighboring "squire" was waited upon by two of
the new members, with whom he was personally acquainted; when, without
hesitation, he gave them the spot of ground on which the chapel now
stands. The chapel was soon built, and opened for divine worship; and
many of the old members, who had witnessed the introduction of Methodism
into the village, were constrained to exclaim, "What hath God wrought!"

The village, though small, was surrounded by