Hannah More

“ She will always be a weakly body; but, thank God, her soul prospers and is in good health. But I beg your pardon, Sir, for talking at this rate. Not at all, said Mr Johnson, I am much pleased with your story; you shall certainly see me in a few days; good night: so saying, he slipped a crown into his hand, and rode off. Surely, said the Shepherd, goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, as he gave the money to his wife when he got home at night. ”

“ His reason for visiting him on a Sunday was, chiefly because he supposed it to be the only day which the Shepherd's employment allowed him to pass way of thinking, Molly, said the father in whatever concerns bodily wants and bodily comforts, it is our duty to compare our own lot with the lot of them who are worse off, and this will keep me thankful; on the other hand, whenever we are tempted to set up our own wisdom or goodness, we must compare ourselves with those who are wiser and better, and that will keep us humble. ”

“ Yes Sir, pretty well, blessed be God! through his mercy I learned to read when I was a little boy though reading was not so common when I was a child as I am told, through the goodness of Providence, and the generosity of the rich, it is likely to become now a-days I believe there is no day this last thirty years that I have not peeped into my Bible. If we cannot find time to read a chapter, I defy any man to say he cannot find time to read a verse, and a single text, Sir, well followed and put in practice every day, would make no bad figure at the years end ”

“ No labouring man; it is true, has so much leisure as a shepherd, for while my flock is feeding, I am obliged to be still and at such times I can now and then tap a shoe for children or myself, which is a great saving to us; and while I am doing that I repeat a bit of a chapter, which makes the time pass pleasantly in this wild solitary place, I can say the best part of my Bible by heart ”

“ These scattered bits of wool the children pick out of the brambles, which I see have tore sad holes in Molly's apron to day: they carry this wool home, and when they have got a pretty parcel together, their mother cards it; for she can sit and card in the chimney corner, when she is not able to wash or work about the house. The biggest girl then spins it; it does very well for us without dying, for poor people must not stand upon the colour of their stockings. ”

“ No, Sir, thank God, replied the Shepherd. I get my shilling a day, and most of my children will be able to earn something; for we have only three under five years of age. Only? said the gentleman, that is a heavy burden. Not at all: God fits the back to it. Though my wife is not able to do any out-of-door work, yet she breeds up our children to such habits of industry, that our little maids, before never afford to get them without a little contrivance. I must shew you how we manage about the shoes, when you condescend to call at our cottage, Sir ”

“ My wife has got about again, and I do believe, under Providence, it was owing to these comforts; for the rheumatism, Sir, without blankets by night and flannels by day, is but a baddish job, especially to people who have little or no fire. ”

“ After this, our little boys knit it for themselves, when they are employed in keeping crows off the fields, and after they get home at night. As for the knitting the girls and their mother do, that is chiefly for sale, which helps to pay our rent. ”