The honest collier finding that he had but little employment above ground, for his second daughter, Mary, took her, when she was nine years old, to work with him in the coal-pit; together with one of his boys, who was then no more than seven years of age. These two children readily put their strength to the basket, dragging the coals, from the workmen, to the mouth of the pit. By their joint labours, they did the duty of one of those men, who are commonly called "the drawers ;" and they cleared not less than seven shillings a week for their parents. As the father had an eye to them during the hours of labour, and they had a prudent and tender mother to look after them at home; there is no reason to suppose, that at the time of which we are now speaking, they were ever much overworked. All the family were getting forward by the help of these little creatures; and their worldly comforts were increasing on every side.

But, alas! in the midst of this cheerful and contented diligence, one day, while the good man was fixing a basket, in order to its being wound up, and the children were standing near him in the coal-pit; some stones tumbled from the top of the pit, one of which fell on his head, and killed him on the spot.

His wife, on hearing the news of his death, together with the description of the sad accident which gave occasion to it, received such a shock, that her mind was not able to bear up under it: she became disordered in her understanding; nor did she, to the end of her life, recover her senses. Being now rendered extremely helpless, she was separated from her children, by the parish officers; who continued to take the charge of her for the space of five years. A short time after the

father's death, the eldest daughter married, and left home two of the brothers, of the ages of nine and seven, were bound apprentices by the parish; which also took the charge of two others, one three years old, the other an infant, until they should be sufficiently grown up to be bound also.

Mary, the girl of whom we are giving the history, having been already trained to industry, was by no means disposed to seek any unnecessary help from the parish. Being now between eleven and twelve years of age, she determined, like a little independent woman, to maintain herself, by her usual work in the coal-pit; where she was generally able, after this time, to earn at least a shilling a day: and three or four years afterwards, she earned not less than two shillings. And now I would ask my young readers, what they think was the manner in which she employed all this fruit of `her industry. Do you imagine that she laid it out in vanity of dress, in nice eating and drinking, or in any other needless expense? or do you suppose that she indulged herself in idleness, on one or two days in the week, because she had earned during the four or five working days, enough for herself to live upon ? No; I trust you will have formed no such expectation : I hope you will be well aware what Mary did with her money, by having already reflected what you would have done, in the like case. In the first place, at sixteen years of age, she released the parish from the burthen of maintaining her mother; and took this poor, disordered, helpless parent home, to live with her. She then relieved the parish from the charge of one of her brothers; and continued to provide for him, until he died. She afterwards undertook the maintenance of

one of her other brothers; who remained with her during sixteen weeks' illness: at the end of which period, she followed him to the grave, burying him at her own expense. After about seven years, the mother died also; and was buried, in like manner, by this dutiful child, without any assistance from the parish.

If any body should inquire, how it could be possible for so young a person to support all these relations; they being also occasionally very burthensome, through sickness the answer is, that in these extraordinary calls upon her, she used to betake herself to extraordinary labour; sometimes earning not less than three shillings and sixpence in the four and twenty hours, by taking, what is called, "a double turn," in the coal-pits.

It must be mentioned to the honour of the colliers, among whom Mary worked, that they always behaved well to her. After the death of her father, she is even said to have received protection from them, and assistance also; her fatigue being sometimes lessened, through their kindness in lending her a helping hand.

SECTION 8.

Continuation of the Lancashire collier girl.

THOUGH Mary's mind was naturally strong, and her constitution of body was also very strong; yet, after the death of her mother, she began to be bowed down, in some measure, by the afflictions and labours which she had endured. It was evident that she had been led to exert herself beyond her strength. How lamentable is it, that while so many people in the world are idle, there

should be any, bending, like Mary, under their work, hidden in coal-pits, or, from some cause or other, removed from observation! At first she was not aware that she laboured under any disorder; for she had seldom experienced ill health, while her relations were alive. It seems probable that her attention to them, and the comfort which she derived from the reflection of affording them support, had served both to keep up her spirits, and to prevent her constitution from breaking down.

When sincere Christians come, as Mary now did, into very trying circumstances, they may still hope to experience, in one way or other, the blessing of Heaven. Their very afflictions will be made the means of increasing their trust in God; and will prove, in the end, (either here or hereafter,) to have been designed entirely for their good. The calamities of Mary were now risen to such a height, that some people might be ready to imagine the Almighty had forsaken her. Let us here number up her afflictions. She had seen with her own eyes the dreadful death of her father; she had, for a long time, witnessed the affecting condition of her mother, who used to follow her about the house, without knowing the kind hand by which she was supported ; she had attended the long sickness, and the death, of her two brothers: and now having fallen sick herself, being both weak in her body, and enfeebled in her mind, she was dwelling all alone, in a little comfortless habitation; having been deprived by death of every one of those dear relations, the sight of whom had many a time cheered her spirits, while the idea of supplying them with a comfortable subsistence, used to sweeten her toil,

In this distressing situation, it pleased God to raise up for her some kind friends. A lady of the same village heard that a servant's place was vacant in a neighbouring family; and advised Mary, feeble as she was, to present herself as a candidate to fill this easy and comfortable situation. Accordingly, the poor girl, with an anxious heart, went to offer her services. She mentioned, with her usual honesty, what had been her former employment, and what was the state of her health also: it seemed undoubtedly much against her interest to do so; but it was perfectly right. How can any of us hope for the blessing of God, or expect any true comfort in our minds, when we fall into affliction, if we fly to unfair means of getting out of it; and instead of trusting in God, trust to our own little frauds, and crooked contrivances?

The answer made to Mary's application was unfavourable for it was thought, and, indeed, it was gently hinted to her, that a young woman hitherto so much exposed as she had been, was not likely to prove a good servant, in a sober, private family.

Mary felt very keenly this unhappy suspicion against her character; but what could she do? She walked quietly away, with a downcast look, and with a mind quite broken down by this fresh affliction. The owners of the mansion observed her countenance, and the modesty of her manner, as she was taking her leave. Her patient and silent grief moved them, far more than any loud complaints could have done: and they, therefore, determined to make some inquiries concerning her. The gentleman went himself, on the same day, to the colliery; where the master of the pit replied to his