his business as well when his master is out of sight, as when he is standing near him, and looking at him. "If I were a master," says he, "I should like my scholars to be obedient, and attentive; desirous to learn, and to improve, and to give me as little trouble as they could."

When he has any thing to learn, or to do, at school, that is very difficult, he often thinks within himself: 'My parents will be very glad when they hear that I have learned, or done, this hard task; and my master too will be pleased with me; and I shall feel very happy and comfortable when it is over. The sooner I go about it heartily, the sooner it will be done. My master would not have set me any thing to do, that he thought I could not do."

If at any time, his master reproves, or punishes him, (which very seldom happens,) he is troubled, but not angry he knows that it is through kindness to him, and to make him better, that his master does so. A tear sometimes starts into his eye; but he soon wipes it away, with a manly spirit. He feels, and says, that he is very sorry for having done wrong; and tries to do better another time.

When any of the scholars are praised for doing well, or have little rewards given to them, he does not feel sorry, but glad. "If I do well," says he, "I shall be commended too. If we all did well, we should all be praised; and we should have a happy school; and our master would have a great deal less trouble than he now has."-When any of the scholars are rude, or dirty, or ragged, or make improper answers to the master, or are punished for their bad behaviour, he does not laugh at them, nor despise them: he pities

them; and often thinks that if he had not been so well taught, and cared for, by his good parents, at home, he might have been as foolish, and as wicked, as the worst of his schoolfellows.

SECTION 2.

The diligent scholar continued.

WHEN the diligent scholar is desired by his master to teach any of the other scholars, he does it in a very pretty manner. He is gentle and patient with them; and takes great pains to make them understand what they are to do, or to learn; and teaches them just as he would like that people should teach him. If they will not mind him, he does not speak rudely to them, nor call them names, nor beat them; he tells the master of them, in order that he may reprove, or punish them, as he thinks proper.

Amongst his schoolfellows, he chooses none for his friends, but the good and the sensible; and he loves to be with them, and to keep them company. But he is civil to all and does what he can, that is proper and right, to oblige them; and to assist them, when they are in trouble, or in difficulty. Especially, he is kind to the youngest scholars; almost as if they were his own little brothers. He tells them what to do, and how to behave; and takes their part, when any rude boys, who are bigger than they, use them ill.

If any of his schoolfellows, or any other boys, tempt him to join with them in robbing orchards or gardens, or in telling lies, or in doing any other wrong actions, he is never ashamed, or afraid, to say to them: "No; I will not." When he sees any of his schoolfellows

steal, or fight, or hears them lie, and use bad words, he for them; and often begs them not to do

is very sorry so wickedly.

If any of the scholars have finer clothes than he has, he does not trouble himself about that: his parents, he knows, give him clothes, and every thing else, as good as they can afford; and he wants no better. He does not envy the scholars who are richer, or handsomer, or stronger, or wiser, than he is; nor despise those who are poor, or sickly, or lame, or deformed, or dull. He knows that the great and good God made them all; and that Christ died for them all and that we ought to behave as kindly to all persons as we wish that they should behave to us.

When school-time is over, he goes away, without making any noise, or disturbance. He does not play, or loiter, in the streets, or on the road. He goes home, as quickly as he can; he has so much to tell his parents, and to do for them. "My parents," says he,

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are very good to let me go to school, that I may learn writing, and accounts, and many useful things. They say, they have not time to teach me all they could wish me to learn; and they do not know how to teach me so well as my master does. But they do teach me a great deal. Before I went to school, they taught me to read, and almost every thing I knew; and now, whenever I am at home, they are almost always teaching me something about my work, and about my duty: and I think I could not take so much pains at school, as I do, if it were not to please them. I am sure I ought to do all I can to help and serve them. I often wish that I could do as much, in the mornings and evenings, and on the days that I do not go to school, as would make

D

up for all the time I am absent from my parents: and I almost think I could do it, if I were to get up very early in the morning, and be very industrious all day long, and every day.-O, when I go to service, or to some business, I shall often think of my dear, good parents; and how much I owe them: and I hope I shall be able to lay by something handsome for them!"

When his master tells him, or he hears, or reads, at school, any thing that is very good, or that he thinks his parents would like to know, he is sure to tell them : he likes to tell all the good he can.

But when any mention that;

thing bad happens, he does not like to unless it be to prevent some mischief to any body; or unless his master, or his parents, order him to do it: and then he tells it exactly as he thinks it was.

He is very kind to his brothers and sisters. He likes to teach the little ones; and to take care of them: and he endeavours to set them all a good example.

He never neglects his duty to God, either in the morning, or at night. He prays very earnestly to the Lord, to give him grace to learn, and to do, what he ought to do; and that he may grow up to be a good servant of the Lord, a good son, and a good and wise man: or, that if he should not live to be a man, he may, by the great mercy of God, through Christ, be made fit for Heaven, whilst he is young. Often in the day, he thinks of God, and of his great goodness, even when he is not reading about him, or praying to him. He loves to hear the Bible read, both when he is at home, and when he is at school; and he loves to read in it himself, and to learn sentences from it by heart; and he tries to practise, as much as he can, what he learns in it. He often thinks of the texts from Scripture,

and the hymns, which he has learned; and often says them to himself, when he is walking, or at his work, or lying on his bed. Especially, he wishes, and endeavours, to remember, and to keep, the great commandments of the Lord.

He will be thankful

His parents, and his brothers and sisters, and all his friends, love him ; and are very kind to him. His master too loves him, and commends him very much to all who make inquiries about him: and often speaks of him, and his good conduct, to the other scholars; and wishes them to take pattern by him, and to behave as he does. When he leaves school, he will often, I dare say, think of what he learned there; and try to remember it, and to improve himself in it. to his parents and to his master, who were so good to him, and took so much pains to teach him; and especially he will be thankful to God, who gave him so good parents, and so good a master. If he is to be a servant, or an apprentice, many people who have heard of his good character will wish to have him. "Where indeed," will they say, "could we find a boy, whom we should like so well to have in our families, and amongst our own children, and to do our business, as this one: who has been so dutiful and affectionate to his parents; so industrious, at home; and so diligent, at school?"

SECTION 3.

The happy family.

THE good father of the family, loves his children very dearly. He grudges no labour, nor toil, nor trouble, to provide for them; and to bring them up, and settle them in the world, decently and comfortably.