is so remarkable that I beg you will never let him come to call upon me at my new place of abode."

"That you may be sure I never will,” replied she. "I find it is thought troublesome at these great schools for the friends of the children to visit them; But Mr. Hammond told me that you would dine with him every Sunday, and that you should call upon me in the evening; so I must be content to see you only once in a week."

Robert inwardly rejoiced to hear this; for his heart now began to be so filled with pride, that he was ashamed to own even his doting mother, and hoped to be considered by his new friends as entirely under the care of Mr. Hammond. Little did the shortsighted Susan think, when she encouraged him to despise and look down upon his brother, that she was teaching him a lesson against herself! But when bad and unnatural dispositions once take possession of the heart, they may be expected to spread and increase, till all who are connected with the unhappy being so infected share in the misery they produce.

Charles, who had not the least tincture of envy in his nature, sincerely rejoiced when he was told of this additional piece of good fortune to Robert; and, when the time for his leaving them came, took an affectionate farewell, begging him to make the most of the opportunity which Mr. Hammond's generosity afforded: "For," said he, "who knows but in time you may be able by your integrity and usefulness to make him amends for all his goodness. to you!"

"I hope," cried his mother, "he will mind his learning for my sake and his own, that he may get money and live like a gentleman, and not to qualify himself for a drudge to Mr. Hammond."

"O never fear that," replied Robert, "I shall always consider myself in the first place, and follow ed Cheusiness by which I can get the most.'

"Now I hope you are jesting," said Charles; "surely your heart must be full of gratitude to your excellent friend; I am sure mine is for your sake."

"Well," replied Robert laughing, "I then will take the benefits, and you shall pay the gratitude that is due for them, for you seem to have a stock sufficient for us both."

Charles was visibly hurt, but remained silent; and after many fond caresses from Susan, Robert departed. From this time they only saw him for a short time on a Sunday, and after a few months many successive weeks often elapsed without their seeing him at all; for he felt himself degraded by visiting his mother's poor lodgings, and dreaded that any of his school-fellows should trace him there, and find out how low her conditions was: so he made a thousand false excuses for not coming, assuring his mo ther that as soon as he had left school he would visit her often. Meantime Charles did all he could to make her comfortable; and as he was remarkably attentive to business, his master had shown him much kindness, and considerably raised his wages, which gave him some consequence with his mother; for he gave her every shilling that he got, except what furnished his necessary cloathing, and a few books, with which he delighted to employ his leisure hours.

His industry was, however, interrupted by a dangerous illness, from which he would have had little chance of recovering, had not his master humanely sent his own apothecary, a man of considerable skill, to attend him, and supplied his mother from time to time with money to procure the necessary nourishment to forward his cure, which was far from complete at the end of many weeks: yet this unfeeling woman pressed him to return to his work, though she was assured he could not do it without the greatest danger of a relapse. "But what then is

then is g

done?" said she. "I cannot possibly maintain him in idleness; no mother ever suffered more for a child than I have done for him in the last seven weeks; and now to be told that he must do nothing in return for all my toils, is really more than I can bear." "You are both unreasonable and cruel," said Mr. Stanley; "your son is as anxious to go to his business again, as you can possibly be; but to tell you my real opinion, I am fully persuaded that he will never again be fit to return to the same unhealthy employment."

"Then I wish he had died at once," cried the unnatural mother: "I always thought it a misfortune to have such a poor deformed child, but I did hope he would have been able to get his bread! I now see that he is to break my heart, and must himself come to the parish."

She then began to cry and lament in such a manner as filled Mr. Stanley with indignation at her, and pity for the poor boy, whose gentle and patient behaviour during a painful illness had gained his good opinion. The next time he visited him, he told him that he thought he could not return to his former Occupation with the least prospect of continued health; which was sad news to poor Charles, who lamented it more upon his mother's account than his own, and told Mr. Stanley how desirous he was to go on, as in a few years his wages would considerably increase, and he should by that means be enabled to support her under the increasing weight of years and infirmities. "I am certain," replied Mr. Stanley, "that you will suffer much if you go back to the manufactory; your delicate frame can ill bear bad air and close confinement; surely from what you have already felt you must yourself be desirous to quit it."

"I have suffered a good deal certainly," answered Charles; "but I would willingly endure much

more, to have the power of providing for my mother in sickness and old age! Think, sir, what a delight it would be to me, and what a blessing I might hope for from my Almighty Father in heaven!"

"You are an excellent young man," said Mr. Stanley; "the more I know of you, the less I am disposed to let you risk your life for one who I must say neither seems to deserve, nor to return your affection as she ought."

"Ah! sir," cried Charles," should that lessen my desire of doing my duty to her? If we love only those who love us, what reward have we? Does not our beloved Master command us to bless and do good even to those who curse, despise, and persecute us? How much more then am I bound to help and assist my mother, though she may not always be as kind as I could wish her to be!"

"Who infused this sense of religion so early into your heart?" said Mr. Stanley: "Who was your instructor?"

"I had a friend," replied Charles," a dear friend, who loved me; she put the Gospel into my hand, and laboured from time to time to make me understand it. She pointed out to my particular attention the character and conduct of our blessed Master; how pious, how gentle, how kind he was: I listened to her with delight; and since it has pleased the Almighty to call her away, I have a thousand times recollected her words, and seldom passed a day without reading some portion of that precious book."

After a pause of some length," I have been consid ring," said Mr. Stanley, "what to do for you; and can think of nothing better than your coming to live with me. I want a person whom I can trust, to make up medicines and attend in the shop. In such a situation you will live comfortably, and probably recover your health: I will give you twelve guin s for the first year; this will enable you to make a de

cent appearance; and if I find you attentive and useful, I will afterwards raise your wages, which will enable you to do something for your mother."

"Dear sir," exclaimed the grateful Charles, "I am more obliged than I can express by this kind offer: a greater temptation could hardly have been held out to me, for I should delight to take the humblest part in healing the sick, and to serve you would be the joy of my heart: but I cannot excuse myself from making one more trial of my old employment, which, could I pursue it, would bring in so much more money:-should my complaint return, I hope it will not then be too late to accept of the happy resource you have mentioned."

"I do not think it will," replied Mr. Stanley: "my shopman does not leave me till Christmas; and before that time I have little doubt but you will be convinced of the necessity of quitting your present Occupation."

Charles could hardly have made a greater sacrifice than this; but whenever duty opposed inclination, it was with him sure to gain the victory. The question he was anxious about, was not which would be most agreeable to himself at present, but which would most recommend him to the favour of Him who ordereth all things as pleaseth him best, both in this world and that which is to come.

The following week he returned to his work, taking every precaution which Mr. Stanley recommended with respect to diet and exercise for the benefit of his health; but after a trial of little more than a month he found himself quite incapable of going on; and being one evening seized with a fainting fit and carried out for air, his master met him, and bade them bring him into his house; where, after restoring him by a cordial, he expressed much concern at the return of his illness, and advised him immediately to consider of some new means of earning his