"And good morning to you, Sally," answered Mrs. Dainty.

"I am come to ask a little bit of a favour of you," said Mrs. Wylde.

"I am sure," answered Mrs. Dainty, "that I shall be glad to do any thing for you, as far as it lies in my power."

"Well then," said Sally, "the thing I was come about was, to borrow your little mule for an hour or two this afternoon; I reckon your husband is not going to use it."

"No," replied Mary, "to be sure: but what has happened to take you out to-day?" "A little matter of business," answered Sally.

"But must it be done to-day?" said Mary.

"I suppose it may be a week," answered Sally, "since my brother over yonder sent for those potatoes; and I am willing to oblige him with them, for he is very well to do in the world: and us poor folks can't afford to lose a day's work to be travelling across the country on week days."

All this while William Dainty, who had

been reading in the chimney-corner, had kept quite silent; but now laying down his book, "Neighbour," said he, "I'll thank you to answer me one question-Where did those potatoes grow that you are going to take to your brother?"

Sally. Why, in the early border in our garden.

William. And how came they there? Sally. How came they there! why, my master planted them.

William. Ay, he planted them; but what made them grow there?

Sally. Why, what simple questions you ask! what makes any thing grow, but rain and sunshine?

William. And who sends rain and sunshine?

Sally. It is the Lord's doing, to be sure. But why do you stand catechising me here like a child of six- years old?

William. Well, I will only ask thee one more question-If God's mercy and goodness gave you these potatoes, and not only them, but every other good thing you have,

do

you think the return you ought to make. for his goodness is to break his laws? "No, surely," answered Sally. what are you driving at now?”

"But

"Why, my good neighbour," said William in a very kind manner, "it is only thisthat, since God is so kind and good to us, we ought to serve him, and love him, and strive to do our duty to him, in every way in our power. We ought to fear to offend him, and we ought to delight to honour him, and praise him, and pray to him; and we ought to keep his day holy, and honour his church, and his ministers, and word."

"And do you think," said Sally, "it is such a great sin for poor folks, who have their bread to get, to spend a few hours on a Sunday on an errand or so?"

"Neighbour," replied William, "I had rather take the word of God than the word of man; and God hath said, "Him that honoureth me, I will honour." Depend on it, if any one, for the sake of pleasing God, keeps himself on the Sabbath-day from business or play, and spends that day as he ought,

God will bless that man, and more than make up to him, in a thousand ways, all he may lose on his account."

"Well, I suppose," said Sally, turning short round, "I am not to have the mule; so good-bye to you."

D

CHAPTER VI.

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."Matt. xxii. 39.

THOUGH Sally Wylde could not have William Dainty's mule, she borrowed a stout jackass from one of her neighbours, who cared little whether it rested on any day of the week or not. And the potatoes were thrown in a small bag across the poor donkey, and John was set to ride before them, and his father and mother walked by his side. They set out before ten o'clock, and soon after twelve, they reached the pleasant village of Wrockwardine.

It was the time of service, and there was nobody idling and wandering about: so Tom Wylde said to his wife, "It is a good step yet to your brother's, and I am very dry; come along with me to yonder Tavern, and we'll have a draught. And do you,