to read the Bible, and much, indeed, to be carried regularly to church. But all this is not enough. To bring these inftitutions to answer their highest end, can only be effected by God's bleffing on the beft directed means, the choice of able teachers, and a diligent attention in fome pious gentry to vifit and infpect the

schools.

On Recommendations.

Mrs. Jones had one talent that eminently qualified her to do good, namely, judgment; this, even in the gay part of her life, had kept her from many mistakes; but though he had fometimes been deceived herself, fhe was very careful not to deceive others, by recommending people to fill any office for which they were unfit, either through selfishness or falfe kindness. She used to fay, there is always fome one appropriate quality which every perfon A A 4 muft

muft poffefs, in order to fit them for any particular employment. "Even in this "quality," faid fhe to Mr. Simpson the clergyman, "I do not expect perfection; "but if they are deftitute of this, what"ever good qualities they may poffefs be"fides, though they may do for fome "other employment, they will not do for "this. If I want a pair of fhoes, I go to "a fhoemaker; I do not go to a man of "another trade, however ingenious he 66 may be, to ask him if he cannot con“trive to make me a pair of fhoes. When "I lived in London, I learned to be much

on my guard as to recommendations. "I found people often wanted to impofe "on me fome one who was a burthen to "themselves. Once, I remember, when "I undertook to get a matron for an hof

pital, half my acquaintance had fome "one to offer me. Mrs. Gibson fent me "an old cook, whom. fhe herself had "discharged for wafting her own provi"fions,

7

"fions, yet he had the conscience to re"commend this woman to take care of

the provifions of a large community. "Mrs. Grey fent me a difcarded housekeeper, whofe conftitution had been ruined by fitting up with Mrs. Grey's "gouty husband; but who fhe yet thought

પ

might do well enough to undergo the

fatigue of taking care of an hundred poor "fick people. A third friend fent me a "woman who had no merit but that of

66.

being very poor, and it would be charity "to provide for her. The truth is, the

.

lady was obliged to allow her a small "penfion till fhe could get her off her "own hands, by turning her on those of "others."

"It is very true, madam," faid Mr. Simpfon, "the right way is always to prefer the good of the many to the good "of one; if, indeed, it can be called do"ing good to any one to place them "in a station in which they must feel un

66

happy, by not knowing how to discharge

"the

"the duties of it. I will tell

I will tell you how I

manage. If the perfons recommended are objects of charity, I privately fub"fcribe to their wants; I pity and help "them, but I never promote them to a "station for which they are unfit, as I "should by fo doing hurt a whole com"munity to help a diftreffed individual.”

Thus Mrs. Jones refolved, that the first ftep towards setting up her school should be to provide a fuitable mistress. The veftry were fo earnest in recommending one woman, that he thought it worth looking into. On inquiry, the found it was a scheme to take a large family off the parish; they never confidered that a very ignorant woman, with a family of young children, was, of all others, the most unfit for a fchool; all they confidered was, that the profits of the fchool might enable her to live without parish pay. Mrs. Jones refused another, though fhe could read well, and was decent in her conduct, becaufe fhe used to fend her children to the

fhop

fhop on Sundays.

And the objected to a third, a very fenfible woman, because she was fufpected of making an outward profeffion of religion a cloak for immoral conduct. Mrs. Jones knew he must not be too nice neither; fhe knew she must put up with many faults at last. "I know," faid fhe to Mr. Simpson, "the imperfection of every thing that is human.

..

As the

"miftrefs will have much to bear with "from the children, fo I expect to have "fomething to bear with in the mistress; "and fhe and I muft fubmit to our respective trials, by thinking how much "God has to bear with in us all. But there

are certain qualities which are indispens"able in certain fituations. There are, "in particular, three things which a school"mistress must not be without, good fenfe, "activity, and piety. Without the first she "will mislead others; without the second "she will neglect them; and without the "third, though fhe may civilize, yet she "will never christianize them.”

Mr.