The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other TalesMore, Hannah
General
The Shepherd of Salisbury Plain, and Other Tales
More, Hannah
Christian life -- Fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction; Short stories
James, on the other hand, when he was compelled, sorely against his
conscience, to carry home any goods on a Sunday morning, always got
up as soon as it was light, knelt down and prayed heartily to God to
forgive him a sin which it was not in his power to avoid; he took
care not to lose a moment by the way, but as he was taking his walk
with the utmost speed, to leave his shoes with the customers, he
spent his time in endeavoring to keep up good thoughts in his mind,
and praying that the day might come when his conscience might be
delivered from this grievous burden. He was now particularly
thankful that Mr. Thomas had formerly taught him so many psalms and
chapters, which he used to repeat in these walks with great
devotion.
He always got home before the rest of the family were up, dressed
himself very clean, and went twice to church; as he greatly disliked
the company and practices of his master's house, particularly on the
Sabbath-day; he preferred spending his evening alone, reading the
Bible, which I had forgot to say the worthy clergyman had given him
when he left his native village. Sunday evening, which is to some
people such a burden, was to James the highest holiday. He had
formerly learned a little how to sing a psalm of the clerk of his
own parish, and this was now become a very delightful part of his
evening exercise. And as Will Simpson, one of the journeymen, by
James's advice and example, was now beginning to be of a more
serious way of thinking, he often asked him to sit an hour with
him, when they read the Bible, and talked it over together in a
manner very pleasant and improving; and as Will was a famous singer,
a psalm or two sung together was a very innocent pleasure.
James's good manners and civility to the customers drew much
business to the shop; and his skill as a workman was so great, that
every one desired that his shoes might be made by James. Williams
grew so very idle and negligent, that he now totally neglected his
affairs, and to hard drinking added deep gaming. All James's care,
both of the shop and the accounts, could not keep things in any
tolerable order: he represented to his master that they were growing
worse and worse, and exhorted him, if he valued his credit as a
tradesman, his comfort as a husband and father, his character as a
master, and his soul as a Christian, to turn over a new leaf.
Williams swore a great oath, that he would not be restrained in his
pleasures to please a canting parish 'prentice, nor to humor a
parcel of squalling brats--that let people say what they would of
him, they should never say he was a _hypocrite_, and as long as they
could not call him that, he did not care what else they called him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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