[Illustration: JAMES, THOMAS, AND GEORGE.] THE VILLAGE SUNDAY-SCHOOL: With brief Sketches of THREE OF ITS SCHOLARS. BY JOHN C. SYMONS. REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER. New York: PUBLISHED BY LANE & SCOTT, FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY-STREET. JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER. 1850. PREFACE. The writer of the following pages makes no pretension to authorship. He is deeply conscious that many defects characterize his production; and he hopes that they will be treated with the consideration which so candid an avowal merits, and which the fact demands. The narratives are substantially true; but, for obvious reasons, the names of persons and places are changed. The reason why this little book is sent into the world is, the writer considers the details which it contains of an exceedingly encouraging character, and calculated to support and strengthen the pious teacher in the discharge of his important and sometimes discouraging duties. The writer has felt the need of encouragement while laboring in the Sabbath-school; and he has had that need supplied in no small measure from the consideration of the facts now before his readers. He hopes that the effect which these facts have had upon his mind, will be produced upon the minds of all who may peruse these pages. If such be the case--if but one devoted, self-denying teacher derive encouragement--his end will be more than answered. With earnest prayer that the great Head of the Church will grant his blessing upon this little work, the writer submits it to his reader. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE VILLAGE--THE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL--THE SUPERINTENDENT--A REVIVAL. II. THE HISTORY OF JAMES. III. HISTORY OF THOMAS. IV. HISTORY OF GEORGE. V. CONCLUSION--BENEFITS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. CHAPTER I. THE VILLAGE--THE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL--THE SUPERINTENDENT--A REVIVAL. M---- is a small village in the west of England, delightfully situated in a wooded pleasant valley. Through it runs the parish road, which--as it leads to the seashore, from whence the farmers of that and the neighboring parishes bring great quantities of sand and seaweed as manure--frequently presents, in the summer, a bustling scene. The village is very scattered: on the right of the beautiful streamlet which flows silently down the valley, and runs across the road just in the centre of the village, stands an old mill; which for many a long year has been wont to throw out its murmuring sound, as the water falls over its broad and capacious wheel. On the other side of the stream, and just opposite the old mill, a few yards from the road, stands a neat, commodious, and well-built Methodist chapel, which, from the prominence of its situation, and good proportions, has often attracted the eye of the passing stranger.