was never intended for covetous people to set them by and keep up their price, in order to dispose of them on the Sabbath, much less to add fish of other kinds to them. Notwithstanding, I say he had heeded none of this, his kind minister called on him once more, to try what effect worldly motives might have. He recommended him before it was too late, to submit to the wishes of those, who would rather be his friends than enemies, if they saw him give up his Sunday dealings, and attend his church; and that if he did not, most likely the neighbourhood would encourage others in his business on the week days. This sort of reasoning had the desired effect. Shallow has left off screaming his mackerel in the ears of his best week-day customers, while assembled at the meeting: for he never suffered his voice to be heard by any of Mr. Goodall's congregation, because he said, he should think it wrong to disturb people at church; where he says, he intends as he shall now have time, to go himself. If he tarries long under the hearing of faithful preaching, most likely a blessing will be vouchsafed him; and then he will account the hallowing of the Sabbath-day one of his dearest privileges, as well as first duties." "Blessed is the minister who thus labours amongst his people in private, as well as publie, dispensing the word of truth; and happy the people who are in such a case !" exclaimed I. "In general, I remark an air of chearfulness in the countenances of those I meet at church, but that is an exception," pointing to an elderly man working in a little garden, in front of a very respectable looking cottage we were in sight of. "I don't wish, Mr. Peach, to encourage you in the renewal of your gossiping spirit; but I should much like to be informed, how it happens that an apparently religious person should wear so melancholy an aspect." "Ah, poor man," replied Humphrey, "I pity his condition, which he will be willing enough to tell you, if you introduce yourself to his acquaintance: only stop a moment at his garden gate, and he'll ask you to walk in." "But won't he deem me impertinent," said I. "People in our rank in life," returned Humphrey, "always love to talk of ourselves and our own affairs, especially if we have any evils to complain of." "I fear the last propensity is too often found among my own," replied I; "but I will wait at the gate of this melancholy stranger, and hope to obtain his confidence. CHAP. XVIII. The Retired Publican. As Humphrey Peach supposed, I had not stood many moments at the garden-gate, before the master invited me in to take a nearer survey. I could without flattery compliment him on the general neatness and taste of all I saw. This urged him to wish for my seeing more, and I was request→ ed to follow him into his well-furnished cottage, and take a little refreshment if agreeable. As I seldom refuse a kindness offered with such seeming sincerity, I accepted it on the present occasion, especially as I thought it would afford me a better opportunity for the gratification of my curiosity. As the master re-entered, bearing in his hand his loaf of bread and plate of cheese, he heaved a sigh as he said, "My servant is out on an errand, and I am a widower, so I fetch and carry for myself." In order to dissipate his gloom, I ventured on a little raillery on the construction which might be I placed on the latter part of his observation; but seeing in a moment it did not meet his humour, I turned my style into condolence on so heavy an affliction, as the loss of an affectionate wife. "This affliction," replied he, "comes immediately from the hand of God, therefore it sits lighter upon me, than those the hand of man has inflicted." "Yet," returned I, "this is a nice distinction, for all our trials are permitted by Divine Providence, and man is an instrument appointed to work its will. Where our afflictions are the effects of our own misconduct the case is different, being aggravated by self-condemnation." "That is my case," replied the man of sorrow, " and therefore I shall go mourning to my grave." "I am a little surprised," resumed I, "to hear you speak so despondently, considering as I do from observing your constant attendance at church, that you have religious views and in general they dissipate our griefs." "Sir," replied he, "I have heard such a great character of you from good Mr. Peach, that, if you have no objection, I will tell you the causes of my sorrow, that I may have your prayers:"-"and my sympathy added I.” My father," said he, was a gardener, and respected by all who knew : him I was his only child, and he brought me up to the same business. I lived under his roof till I was twenty-five years of age, and was very soberminded, though not impressed with the serious instructions I was always hearing from both my parents, as well as the minister I heard preach every Sunday. But though my heart was not affected, my head was informed, and I was pretty well convinced in my mind of the truth of religion, and purposed like Felix to attend to it at the convenient season. When I was about twenty-five years of age, I married a servant at one of the gentlemen's houses where I worked, and she being respected by the family, they offered to serve me in setting me up in business. There happened to be a public-house to be disposed of just at that time, and both my wife and I thought it a most desirable business, and ventured to disclose our wishes to the gentleman to be set up in it. Well, our wishes were granted, though much against my father's mind, who did not like the calling, not, as he said, because he thought it an unlawful one, but because it exposed people who held it to great temptations. Soon after my entering on my new business, my、 father died suddenly. Now, he was quite a scholar in his way, and I found a great many memorandums of sermons he had heard, and good thoughts of his own amongst the rest, there was a paper directed to me, which he doubtless intended to give me. It was called on the outside-' Directions to James, how to conduct his public |