of abridging their luobour on a Saturday. 429 



he required it, without injury to any of the parties. To the 

 common labourer the introduction of such a system would be 

 of very great importance. Instead of having, as at present, 

 often to wait for his wages until a considerable time past six 

 o'clock, which prevents him from going to market until late 

 at night, or upon the following morning ; forced often to 

 purchase inferior articles without any reduction in price ; he 

 would arrive at home in time to enable his wife to provide to 

 most advantage the provisions for the ensuing week. Then, 

 if not inclined to visit any other place, having received a 

 refreshing beverage, the consciousness of the sweet cessation 

 from toil which he will enjoy upon the following day causing 

 him to forget his former fatigue, he might go out into his 

 little garden, " with his wee things toddling around him," 

 and doing what they can to promote the general weal ; and 

 there nobly exert himself to have every thing in the highest 

 order and perfection ; while he would experience a delight in 

 viewing the beneficial effects of his labour, which the tippler 

 at the alehouse, who neglects his home, even in the brightest 

 moments of his insane enjoyment never can experience. It 

 is quite astonishing what even a tired man will accomplish, 

 when he reflects that himself and family will derive the sole 

 benefit of his labours. Why, then, stifle this spirit, apparently 

 of selfishness, but in reality founded on the noblest principles, 

 the desire of being independent of the charity of others, by 

 depriving the labourer of time, the possession of which to 

 him would be of so much importance ? Much do we hear at 

 present about the better observance of the Sabbath, by pre- 

 venting all sorts of labouring and trafficking upon it; but, when 

 we examine the subject, we shall find that, in a great many 

 instances, the practice is followed, not from the volition of the 

 parties concerned, but that it is purely the result of necessity. 

 Not to enter into a discussion upon this subject, one desire 

 must predominate in the minds of all who wish well to the 

 labouring population ; namely, that all of them may at least 

 have the means of abstaining from bodily toil upon a day set 

 apart as a period of sacred rest. If once the practice became 

 prevalent, of allowing the poor man to work on Sunday, he 

 would soon receive no more remuneration for working seven 

 days, than at present he does for six. On the other hand, if 

 the practice were to work only five days, the remuneration 

 would still be the same. The rich man can make a Sunday 

 of rest whenever he chooses; the Sabbath has, with much 

 propriety, been styled " the poor man's day," and little need 

 has he to be deprived of any of his privileges. Enable the 

 poor man to perform his necessary duties on the Saturday, 



