he justly thought that though an hypocrite may easily contrive to appear better than he really is to a stranger; and that no one should be too soon trusted, merely for having a few good words in his mouth; yet as he knew that "out of the abundance of the "heart the mouth speaketh;" he always accustomed himself to judge favourably of those who had a serious deportment and solid manner of speaking. It looks as if it proceeded from a good habit, said he, and though I may now and then be deceived by it, yet it has not often happened to me to be so. Whereas if a man accosts me with an idle, dissolute, vulgar, indecent, or prophane expression, I have never been deceived in him, but have generally on inquiry found his character to be as bad as his language gave me room to expect.

He entered into conversation with the Shepherd in the following manner :-"Yours is a troublesome "life, honest friend,” said he.-" To be sure, sir," replied the Shepherd, " 'tis not a very lazy life; but " 'tis not near so toilsome as that which my GREAT "MASTER led for my sake; and he had every state "and condition of life at his choice, and chose a hard one; while I only submit to the lot that is appoint"ed me."-" You are exposed to great cold and "heat," said the gentleman ;—“ true, sir," said the shepherd; "but then I am not exposed to great "temptations; and so throwing one thing against "another, God is pleased to contrive to make things "more equal than we poor, ignorant, short-sighted "creatures, are apt to think. David was happier "when he kept his father's sheep on such a plain as "this, and employed in singing some of his own

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psalms perhaps, than ever he was when he became

king of Israel and Judah. And I dare say we "should never have had some of the most beautiful "texts in all those fine Psalms, if he had not been a "shepherd>

shepherd, which enabled him to make so many fine comparisons and similitudes, as one may say, from country life, flocks of sheep, hills, and vallies, fields of corn, and fountains of water."

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"You think then," said the gentleman, "That a "laborious life is a happy one."" I do, sir, and more so especially, as it exposes a man to fewer "sins. If king Saul had continued a poor laborious man to the end of his days, he might have lived "happy and honest, and died a natural death in his "bed at last, which you know, sir, was more than ❝he did. But I speak with reverence, for it was "divine Providence overruled all that, you know, "sir and I do not presume to make comparisons. "Besides, sir, my employment has been particularly "honoured-Moses was a shepherd in the plains of "Midian. It was to shepherds keeping their flocks "by night,' that the angels appeared in Bet "lehem, to tell the best news, the gladdest tidings, "that ever were revealed to poor sinful men: often "and often has the thought warmed my poor heart "in the coldest night, and filled me with more joy ❝ and thankfulness than the best supper could have done."

Here the shepherd stopped, for he began to feel that he had made too free, and had talked too long. But Mr. Johnson was so well pleased with what he said, and with the chearfull contented manner in which he said it, that he desired him to go on freely, for that it was a pleasure to him to meet with a plain man, who, without any kind of learning but what he had got from the bible, was able to talk so well on a subject in which all men, bgih and low, rich and poor, are equally concerned.

"Indeed I am afraid I make too bold, sir, for it "better becomes me to listen to such a gentleman as you seem to be, than to talk in my poor way:

but

"but as I was saying, sir, I wonder all working

men do not derive as great joy and delight as I do "from thinking how God has honoured poverty! "Oh! sir, what great, or rich, or mighty men "have had such honour put on them, or their con"dition, as shepherds. tent-makers, fishermen, and carpenters have had? Besides, it seems as if God "honoured industry also. The way of duty is not "only the way of safety, but it is remarkable how many in the exercise of the common duties of "their calling, humbly and rightly performed, as

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we may suppose, have found honours, preferment, "and blessing; while it does nor occur to me that "the whole sacred volume presents a single instance "of a like blessing conferred on idleness. Rebekah,

Rachel, and Jethro's daughters, were diligently "employed in the lowest occupations of a country

life, when Providence, by means of those very "occupations, raised them up husbands so famous "in history, as Isaac, Jacob, and the prophet Mo66 ses. The shepherds were neither playing nor "sleeping, but watching their flocks,' when they "received the news of a Saviour's birth; and the "woman of Samaria, by the laborious office of "drawing water, was brought to the knowledge of "Him who gave her to drink of living water.” gentleman, I per

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My honest friend," said the "ceive you are weit acquainted with scripture.”"Yes, sir, pretty well, blessed be God! through <his mercy I learnt to read when I was a little boy;

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though reading was not so common when I was a "child, as I am told, through the goodness of Pro"vidence and generosity of the rich, it is likely to "become now-a-days. I believe there is no day for

the last thirty years, that I have not peeped at my bible. If we can't find time to read a chapter, I defy any man to say he can't find time to read a

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verse; and a single text, sir, well followed and put in practice every day, would make no bad figure at the year's end; three hundred and sixty"five texts, without the loss of a moment's time,. "would make a pretty stock, a little golden trea"sury, as one may say, from new-year's day to "new-year's day; and if children were brought up "to it, they would come to look for their text as naturally as they do for their breakfast. No labour“ing man, 'tis true, has so much leisure as a shep"herd, for while the flock is feeding, I am obliged "to be still, and at such times I can now and then tap a shoe for my children or myself, which is a great saving to us, and while I am doing that I "repeat a chapter or a psalm, which makes the time. pass pleasantly in this wild solitary place. I can say the best part of the New Testament by heart; I believe I should not say the best part, for every part is good, but I mean the greatest part. "have led but a lonely life, and have often had but "little to eat, but my bible has been meat, drink, "and company to me, as I may say, and when want "and trouble have come upon me, I don't know what I should have done indeed, sir, if I had not "had the promises of this book for my stay and support."

"

I

"You have had great difficulties then?" said Mr Johnson. 66 Why, as to that, sir, not more than "neighbours' fare; I have but little cause to com(6 plain, and much to be thankful; but I have had some little struggles, as I will leave you to judge. "I have a wife and eight children, whom I bred up "in that little cottage which you see under the hill "about half a mile off." What, that with the smoke "coming out of the chimney?" said the gentleman "O no, sir,” replied the shepherd, smiling, we "have seldom smoke in the evening, for we have

"little

"little to cook, and firing is very dear in these parts. "'Tis that cottage which you see on the left hand "of the church, near that little tuft of hawtorns. "What, that hovel with only one room above and "below, with scarcely any chimney? how is it pos"sible you can live there with such a family!“ O! "it is very possible and very certain too," cried the Shepherd. "How many better men have been worse lodged! how many good christians have perished "in prisons and dungeons, in comparison of which my cottage is a palace! The house is very well, "sir; and if the rain did not sometimes beat down "upon us through the thatch when we are a-bed, I "should not desire a better; for I have health, "peace, and liberty, and no man maketh me "afraid."

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"Well, I will certainly call on you before it be "long; but how can you contrive to lodge so many "children?"—We do the best we can, sir. My

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poor wife is a very sickly woman, or we should "always have done tolerably well. There are no "gentry in the parish, so that she has not met with "any great assistance in her sickness. The good "curate of the parish who lives in that pretty par"sonage in the valley, is very willing, but not very "able to assist us on these trying occasions, for he "has little enough for himself, and a large family "into the bargain. Yet he does what he can, and 66 more than many richer men do, and more than "he can well afford. Besides that, his prayers and "good advice we are always sure of, and we are "truly thankful for that, for a man must give, you "know, sir, according to what he hath, and not "according to what he hath not."

"I am afraid,” said Mr. Johnson, "that your "difficulties may sometimes lead you to repine."

"No,