THE FOUNDRYMAN. tries in the books; then he closed them for the week, and locked them up. Thomas was now told to come into the counting-house. When he and the foreman were alone, the latter expressed himself in the following manner: 66 Now, Thomas," he said, "I have a proposition or two to make to you. You are poorly, and want nursing. On account of your evil ways you have but little at home that will prove to your comfort. Your poor wife would, no doubt, do what she could, but she has not the means, for you have destroyed or pawned nearly every comfortable piece of furniture. Now, what I have to propose is, that you let me take or send these fourteen shillings to your wife, and you come along to my house, and be there until Monday morning. My wife and the servant will do their best to nurse you up, and by Monday morning I think they will be able to get you round again. Are you agreeable?" Thomas was overwhelmed with this kind offer of the foreman. He felt himself too poorly, and he knew that his own home would afford him but few of the comforts that were required to repair his wasted and deranged energies, so he at once complied with the kind offer. Soon after, he and his friend were seen walking towards the residence of the latter. When the foreman had conducted him to his own home, he went to Thomas's wife and delivered the fourteen shillings, and told her all about it. Although it was a small sum in comparison to what her husband could earn, yet it was very much more than what she had received of his wages for many a month. She was glad enough to receive the money, for she sadly wanted it for her own necessities and the necessities of her children; but she was more pleased still to hear of the foreman's kindness to her husband, and thanked him with tears in her eyes. Mr. Bonning, for that was the foreman's name, returned home and took tea. Thomas also took tea, and ate a little, and afterwards felt refreshed. Early in the evening a warm bath was prepared for him, and after using it he went to bed. And what a bed it was so clean, so comfortable, and forming quite a contrast to his own miserable bed-clothes and bed-room. Then there was clean and comfortable wearing linen also found him linen which Mr. Bonning himself was accustomed to wear. Indeed, everything was very superior to anything that Thomas had been used to. Yet, for all this, the foreman's salary was not so very much more than Thomas's would have been had THE FOUNDRYMAN. he been diligent in the performance of his duties. Oh, no; but the difference in the two consisted in this-one had a regard for godliness, which has the promise of the life which now is, as well as of the life which is to come, and the other had not. Herein we discern the difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. How we see that religion is the best for both worlds! Next morning Mr. Bonning and his family attended public worship, and in the evening he induced Thomas to accompany him there, when Mr. Bonning put him in his own pew. The sermon was founded upon these words,-" Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish." The nature and effects of true repentance, and the influences and consequences of impeni tence, were the topics mainly touched on by the minister. The truth came with power to the soul of the poor inebriate. It drew tears from his eyes, and he felt like one condemned. He knew that what the minister said was right, and therefore he knew that he was wrong. He sorrowed after a godly sort. That night angels in heaven rejoiced over the repentant sinner! The next morning Thomas Drew went to the foundry at the usual time. For the first time he had made his appearance there on Monday for a long, very long period: it was noticed by all as something very unusual. The master complimented the foreman upon the success which had attended his benevolent efforts, and hoped it would prove the beginning of better days. Although his confidence in the matter was not very strong, for he knew not the power of God which had been exerted on his servant's mind. Thomas returned to his own home in the evening. His anticipations respecting it were not very sanguine. He knew it would afford a strong contrast to the home which he had enjoyed since Saturday afternoon. However, he was in a measure pleasingly disappointed.. It is true that, so far as the furniture was concerned, it was just as he had expected. But it is likewise true that there was quite a comfortable supply of plain but substantial food; there was enough and to spare. His wife had laid out part of the fourteen shillings to the best advantage in food, but she had done her best in the preparation of it. Thomas was really surprised how far a little money would go if properly expended in making one comfortable. He had no idea of the matter before. Almost weekly he had squandered a pound in strong drink, a pound which, if it had THE FOUNDRYMAN. been properly expended, would have amazingly contributed to his comfort, but which, as he had spent it, made him miserable and lazy, his home comfortless, and his wife and children haggard and wretched. After he had partaken of the evening meal, he asked his wife whether she had a Bible in the house. "No," she replied, "but I can borrow one." "If I had the money I would buy one," he said, "for they are to be had for tenpence a piece. "Oh," his wife replied, "I have four or five shillings of the money Mr. Bonning gave me on Saturday night;" and she put the money into his hand. Without hesitation Thomas went to the bible depot, and bought one. turned, and when his wife was ready, she and some of the elder children sat down, and he read three or four chapters aloud out of one of the gospels. Afterwards they all knelt down, and the father and husband prayed. Though the sentences of that prayer were broken, and many of them inatticulate, yet it was such that it was acceptable to God. He re Again, the next morning, Thomas was at his work. Again, the next Sunday, he was found in the sanctuary. Again, the next Monday morning he was in his place. And so it continued. Old things passed away, behold all things became new! The fondest hopes of Mr. Bonning were realised. The master was glad of the change, although he knew not whence it came. The other mechanics were compelled to admit that Thomas had become a very different man. After a while he found peace through the blood of the Lamb. He progressed in wisdom's ways. He experienced the advantages of true piety, and before long he witnessed the good confession before many witnesses. Where is Thomas Drew now? He is still at the foundry. He still retains the pre-eminence as a mechanic in his own department, and generally takes his three pounds a-week. He now has a residence worthy of the name of a home, and equal in comfort to what Mr. Bonning's was, when that gentleman took him to his own home and nursed him. The best of it too is, he can now call it his own, because with his savings he purchased it. On Sundays he goes up to the house of God with his wife and family. He is a teacher in the Sunday school, and during the time not so employed, he is diligent at home in training his own children in wisdom's ways. His own works praise him, and he is respected by all who know him. POETRY. Reader, the religion of Jesus, which was the salvation of Thomas Drew may also save you. It has a regard not only for the souls of men, but for their bodies. Its mission is to man,to man as he is, body, soul, and spirit. Like its great Author, it is perpetually going about doing good. In its march it scatters on every hand the seeds of domestic comfort, and true political elevation, and real and permanent civilization and refinement. Examine its claims, become acquainted with its facts, precepts, doctrines, promises, and results. Submit yourselves to its liberal, genial, and loving influences, and it will produce those pleasing fruits in you, and for you, that it did in this mechanic, and, like him, you will be in possession of the pearl of great price, which you will find of priceless value, both now, henceforth, and for ever! Poetry. QUESTIONS FOR THE INTEMPERATE. CAN you, my friend, once bear to think Can drowsy drink for you procure Break off your sins by righteousness His precious blood for you was spilt, ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS. Anecdotes and Selections. THE PARTING HOUR.-The hour is coming, and it is a fearful and solemn hour, even to the wisest and the best, the hour is coming, when we must bid adieu to the scenes which please us, to the families we love, to the friends we esteem. Whether we think or whether we think not, that body which is now warm and active with life, shall be cold and motionless in death, the countenance must be pale, the eye must be closed, the voice must be silenced, the senses must be destroyed, the whole appearance must be changed by the remorseless hand of our last enemy. We may banish the remembrance of the weakness of our human nature, we may tremble at the prospect of dissolution; but our reluctance to reflect upon it, and our attempts to drive it from our recollection, are in vain. We know that we are sentenced to die, and though we sometimes succeed in casting off for a season the conviction of this unwelcome truth, we never can entirely remove it. The reflection haunts us still, it haunts us in solitude, it follows us into society, it lies down with us at night, it awakens with us at morning. The irrevocable doom has passed upon us, and too well do we know it, "Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return." Seeing these things are so, and no man can deny them, ought not every man to be in readiness for the great change which will pass upon him when life's last hour shall come? But how? There is "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt only one way. be saved." LOOKING FROM SELF TO CHRIST.-Legh Richmond was greatly blessed in having a pious mother, from whom he seems to have inherited much of that sweetness of temper, which, enriched by heavenly grace, made his character so eminently beautiful. But all that he owed to her he richly repaid. When, in after life, she was subject now and then to doubts and fears, he wrote to her:-"The believer is never more happy nor secure than when at the same moment he feels his own vileness, he feels also his Saviour's excellence. "I the chief cf sinners am, is the burden of his song. You look at yourself too much, and at the infinite price paid for you too little. For conviction of sin it is true, you may look at your own heart; but for comfort in your Saviour alone. Thus the wounded Israelites were to look only at the brazen serpent for recovery. The graces of the Spirit, such as love, patience, goodness, and faith, are good things for others to judge us by. But it is Christ believed in, rested upon, loved and followed, that will speak peace to ourselves. By looking unto Him |