Mr. Editor,

DESCRIPTION OF A THEATRE,

BY A COUNTRY GIRL.

The following is no fictitious story; but literally taken from the lips of
the reporter, a country girl, who had come up to a place in town as ser-
vant, and, as an indulgence and for curiosity, was carried by her
mistress to see a play.
Yours, &c.

T.H.

"My mistress called me up, and said, " Mary, you have not been in London before, would you like to go and see a play?" A play, Ma'am; what is it?' "A very entertaining thing; and I'll take you some evening, next week, to Covent Garden." So my mistress took me with her when the evening came, and carried me to a place where a parcel of people were together; but I did not much like it, for there was a great squeezing, and I was afraid of the crowd; but my mistress said, "Take my arm, and I'll lead you thro'." So on we pressed; and we got into a place which my mistress said was a Pit; and I had but just sat down, when somebody over-head spat upon me; and presently after, threw down some orangepeel upon me. I thought this very strange, and heartily wished myself out again, for I did not like to be so pelted: but, by and by, they pulled up a great curtain; and there was a high stage, with men before it, that had great and little fiddles, that played a tune or two first; and when the curtain drew up they stopped; and on came a lady from the side, with a great swinging train, all silver, I dare say it did not cost less than five guineas; and she licked it about as if it had not been worth sixpence. She said something, but I could not well make out what it was about. Afterwards, there came some people, and they talked one to another; and then they went and knocked at the street door on one side, so hard; and there was no need for it, for they were let in directly. Then there was a gentleman and lady came out together, and they made me quite ashamed; for they looked so impudent, and courted one another before such a house full of people. I was so vexed with them, I could not keep my eyes upon them; so I thought I would look a little about me: and I turned my head to a place where my mistress said were Boxes, where the fine folks sat; and there I saw ladies (I declare, Ma'am, 'tis very true) with necks as bare as my hand; and I thought, within myself, why this is worse still than the courting upon the stage! Then there came another man, and he began to sing, and throw his hands about strangely; and whilst he was at it I was so frightened, for the people made such a noise, as if the house was going to tumble down, clapping and calling; and, what was strange, he only sung the louder, and seemed as if he liked it. Pray, Ma'am, don't you think it very odd, 3 E

that they should make a noise when he was singing to them? I am sure I could not tell one word he said. Presently after, there came a man in a patch-work coat, with a black face, and a great wooden sword; and he smacked the things about, and every thing he struck turned into something else; and he jumped through such holes, that you would think I was lying, Ma'am, if I was to tell you. Then all of a sudden there came a green field; and what vexed me, was a parcel of nasty gypsies; and they sat down, and made their pot boil. Don't you think, Ma'am, it was very foolish to take me to see, through all that squeezing, and to pay money for it, what I have seen in my own country so often for nothing? and I had been told, they ought not to be countenanced anywhere; but my wonder was, how that green field came there! At last, there came out of the sides what I thought was pretty enough: A parcel of little things, just like Master Jemmy, aud little Ninny; and they danced so pretty, and their feet went so pat to the music, and all dressed alike. Don't you think it odd, Ma'am, how they could get them all in a mind to dance together? That. I thought was entertaining: I should have liked some more of it. But, by and by, they dropped down the curtain that hung in the way before, and the people all got up, and began to go away; and so I found the play was over. My mistress said, "Take fast hold of my arm, Mary, and I'll get you out" but as soon as we had got a little way, will you believe it?-strange men began to take hold of my hand, and frightened me so; for I am sure, before we got to the coach, I was served so by twenty; and what with the fright, and the noise, and the heat, I got such a pain in my head for three days after." But, Mary, did not you remember the subject, or any thing they said? "Very little, Ma'am; only it seemed to me, as if all the people, and the lady herself, were trying how they could cheat her father."

I do not know whether most to admire the simplicity of the maid, or to condemn the corrupt tendency of these impure and immoral theatres. This much is certain, that the y are neither schools of wisdom nor of virtue; and that the most innocent part of their exhibitions are no better than childish follies.

THE TRIBUTE - MONEY.

AMONG the numerous miracles performed by our adorableSaviour, that of deriving the tribute-money from the mouth of a fish is peculiarly worthy of notice, not only because of the lesson which his example teaches us, of meekly submitting to the ordinances of man for the Lord's sake, but because of

that divine knowledge and power which it exhibits. "Go," said our Lord to Peter, "go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Peter, accustomed to fish with a net, was now to take merely a single hook, not a net, which might enclose many fishes; but a hook that could catch but one; nor was he to take many fishes successively, but that which should first bite; and in the mouth of that fish he should find a stater: a piece of money about the value of half a crown. Whence should this fish procure the stater? Probably, the money, previously lost at sea, was to be carried, just then, by the agitation of the waves into the fish's mouth. The whole is wonderful! How accurate the knowledge of Jesus, who direeted Peter to the precise spot, and at the precise moment, when this fish, thus charged with the tribute money, should readily be caught! What an argument is this of the supremacy of our Redeemer over all nature, even the fish of the sea! — and, at the same time, what a persuasive inducement does it afford, ever to rely, in the firmest manner, on his all-wise, all-powerful providence, to provide for us in the use of his appointed means, all things needful for life and godliness! We do not expect miracles, but this miracle shews us that Jesus is Lord of all; and encourages us to expect that he will supply all our need, and readily repay whatever we expend in the way of duty to God

or man.

REMARKABLE CONVERSION OF A DEIST.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.

THE energy of this eternal truth was most forcibly applied to the heart of the late Rev. W. Tennant, of America, on the following remarkable occasion: - In his neighbourhood resided a professed Deist, a man of considerable attainments as to worldly wisdom. He often, from whatever motive, attended the ministry of Mr. Tennant, whose powers as a preacher were of a superior kind: his skill in the Scriptures being deep, and his style rich, argumentative, and impressive. Learning once the intention of the Deist to attend divine service on the following Sabbath, Mr. Tennant most diligently prepared for the occasion, by meditating upon, and fixing in his mind every argument which might work a conviction. Thus prepared, he ascended the pulpit. "But who is Paul, or who is Apollos? Paul may plant, and Apollos may water; but it is God that giveth the increase." Praise and prayer be

ing concluded, the discourse began; but soon the preacher's memory was plunged into perfect oblivion; and not being in the custom of using notes, he in vain endeavoured to proceed: his mind was sealed up as to the subject of discourse; and he was under the painful necessity of confessing his inability, and concluded with prayer. The Spirit of God was now at work. The Deist was led to reflect upon the extraordinary case: he had, on former occasions, experienced and admired Mr. Tennant's powers of oratory. From his concluding prayer on this occasion, he found him in vigor of mind. To what could he trace the sudden dereliction of his powers, when entering upon such a discourse? Happy man! he was led to discover in it the finger of God! The joyful change soon reached Mr. Tennant, who, doubtless, was deeply humbled and grateful; for he ever afterwards spoke of his dumb sermon as the best he ever preached. CONDISCIPULUS,

To Professors of Religion.

THE HUMBLE PETITION OF THE DOOR-KEEPERS, PEW-OPENERS, &c.

OF CHURCHES, CHAPELS, AND MEETINGS

Sheweth,

WHERE THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED,

THAT your Petitioners are not dissatisfied with their situations, because esteemed menial, nor with the pecuniary reward so kindly bestowed by their benefactors; and they trust they are thankful to the God of all their mercies, in whose house they would rather be door-keepers than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.

Your Petitioners, nevertheless, humbly beg leave to state to the Professors of Religion, that their cause of complaint is the being debarred from enjoying the principal parts of public worship; and they trust, that it will not be doubted, that they are interested, equally with their brethren in a superior line of life, in the privileges of the house of God. They beg leave to remind you, that, by your irregular and late attendance at wor ship, your Petitioners are constantly prevented from uniting in prayer or praise, which they presunie are allowed to be the chief parts of Christian worship, as "preaching and hearing, though appointed means of edification, and to be performed in a devout manner, are not direct acts of worship:" that during these parts of worship they are constantly employed in admitting to their seats those who are not very anxious to be present before the beginning of prayer, provided they are “in time for the sermon."

Your Petitioners presume not to point out the inconveniences that must result from such a practice to the minister, or the disturbance occasioned to any part of the congregation; but they humbly be leave to state, that the interruptions which may be felt by individuals of the congregation only partially and occasionally, by the late attendance of some, entirely prevent your Petitioners from joining in the public devotion, not only for a single service or day, but constantly.

Your Petitioners most humbly presume, that the importance of their object, to be permitted to join without interruption in the worship of God in his house, will apologize for their earnestness, and the plainness with which they have stated their case; and they trust, that no offence will be taken, as it was far from their intention to offer any.

They, therefore, most humbly pray, that you will be pleased to take their case into your most serious consideration, and give them such relief as you may deem proper; and they flatter themselves, that you will not think it too much, to make such arrangements as may allow them an opportunity of joining with you to worship the great Master of assemblies; And your Petitioners will, &c.

THE WIDOW'S MITES.

[Inserted by particular Request.]

"THE sacred wealth of the temple was either in stuff or in coin for the one the Jews had a house; for the other a chest. At the concourse of all the males to the temple thrice a year, upon occasion of the solemn feasts, the oblations of both kinds were liberal. Our Saviour, as taking pleasure in the prospect, sets himself to view those offerings, whether for holy uses or charitable.

the eye

"Those things we delight in we love to behold: and the heart will go together. And can we think, O Saviour, that thy glory hath diminished aught of thy gracious respects to our beneficence? or that thine acceptance of our charity was confined to the earth? Even now, that thou sittest at the right hand of thy Father's glory, thou seest every hand that is stretched out to the relief of thy poor saints here below: and if Vanity have power to stir up our liberality, out of a conceit to be seen of men, how shall Faith encourage our bounty, in knowing that we are seen of thee, and accepted by thee? Alas! what are we the better for the notice of these perishing and impotent eyes, which can only view the outside of our actions? or for that waste wind of applause which vanisheth on the lips of the speaker? Thine eye, O Lord, is piercing