UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 113 



see dying. I will give you a part of it ; if you 

 take it all by force, I cannot resist you. All 

 I can do is to advise you not to enter on this 

 lawless life why do you not apply to the clergy- 

 man of the parish ? try every honest means 

 before you attempt to live by violence but if 

 once you stain your character, nothing can re- 

 store it. Return to your homes I promise 

 never to betray you,, unless you renew such con- 

 duct take this money and perhaps to-morrow 

 may bring you employment or assistance."* 

 ' And here,' said my little girl> ' here, take this 

 bread to your little children, it was my supper 

 but I can do without it. J 



"The man was touched by this action of the 

 child, his voice faultered as he thanked me for 

 the small sum I had put into his hand, and with 

 his companion went away quietly. They followed 

 my advice, and applied next day to the village 

 pastor, who had but lately returned from an ab- 

 sence occasioned by ill health ; and who as yet 

 had known nothing about me. He soon found 

 his way to our cottage sympathized with equal 

 delicacy and kindness in our affliction, and re- 

 quested as a favour, the permission of sometimes 

 visiting us. The friendship of Mr. Benson, who 

 is an example of the virtues and graces of piety 

 and benevolence blended together, has been our 

 greatest source of pleasure ever since the sad 

 occasion of his visit ; and I may say, that I owed 



L3 



