Tlie Agricultural Labourer. 
7m = 527 
se) the unmarried ploughman of eastern or central England Othcv means 
n now take at the end of his yearly term as much as 16/., "ai^gY'^fth**™" 
iving drawn weekly wages sufficient for his maintenance Bcnefirciubs. 
iring the whole year, surely such a man can and ought to save 
mething out of these ample earnings. 
The advantage of the Savings-bank over the Benefit Society 
obvious. Not only can the labourer choose with the former 
5 own time for the investment of his spare funds, but also, 
ider the Post-office system, he can draw his balance, when 
juired, in any part of the United Kingdom. On the other 
nd, the Benefit Society, by the regularity of its levies, offers a 
eater incentive to continued carefulness. 
But here, again, the hateful Poor Law steps between the man 
d his duty. With money in the Savings-bank he cannot, of 
urse, claim relief from the rate. Therefore so long as, owing 
an unwise and unjust administration of that law, he sees 
lers around him who, notwithstanding their improvidence, 
^ allowed to obtain out-door relief at their own homes on easy 
ms, I am afraid it is hopeless to endeavour to inculcate the 
ictrines of economy and providence. 
I will just allude very briefly to some of the other attempts Useful Country 
lich have successfully been made to improve the labourers' 
ladition. Clothing Clubs, Allotment Clubs, Village Clubs, 
'th reading-rooms and other means of social entertainment, and 
irial Clubs have all been more or less tried, and have all been 
Jmd in some degree useful. The object of Clothing Clubs is, by 
l! collection of small sums of money from the labourer's wife, and 
1 1 addition thereto of subscriptions from charitable neighbours, 
t form a small fund for the supply of warm clothing on the 
iproach of winter. This is generally provided at wholesale 
] ces from the tradesman who furnishes it. An odd shilling or 
tj, scraped together here and there, and sent by the children 
t the Sunday-school, or collected by some good Samaritan of 
t • district in her rounds among the poor, secures the advantages 
< this useful but unpretending institution. 
The Village Club is generally promoted partly with a social 
1 partly an educational object. It is intended to wean the 
1 ourer from the temptations of the public-house, and also to 
a)rd him rational amusement and opportunities of reading. 
• night-school, for those Avhose education has been neglected, 
i )ften held in connection with this institution during the long 
^ Iter evenings. 
The Burial Club affords the labourer the opportunity of 
' uring for himself and the other members of his family 
performance of the last ceremonies with decency and 
• orum. 
