macy, she was uniformly respectful, always keeping her place with propriety. She was as careful of her master's interest as though the house had been her own, and never thought it a trouble to visit the poor and to prepare things for their comfort. She was much attached to the ministry of the Rev. W. Whitelock, during his residence at Kendal, and as long as she was able, she was never absent from Church; no weather kept her at home, and she fully carried out the views of her master and mistress, in preparing everything beforehand, to set herself at liberty for the duties of the Sabbath day. She was a person of few words, and always approached religious subjects with reverence; she loved her Bible and read it daily, and during her last illness, she imparted with much feeling the consolation she derived from its contents; she showed that she was deeply versed in them, that through the Holy Spirit they had been indeed food to her soul; and she dwelt with peculiar comfort on the hopes of a glorious resurrection through her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She was respectable, yet frugal in her dress, and her personal economy enabled her to be liberal to the poor during her life, and to save out of her wages, which were always moderate, a considerable sum of money; and with the hope that it may encourage others to put by part of their earnings, and to prove how much good such humble individuals may do with their means, we subjoin a list of the legacies bequeathed by Agnes Mitchell, in addition to those left to her relations and friends : British and Foreign Bible Society. Society for Promoting Female Education in the East Church Pastoral Aid Society. Irish Society of London London Missionary Society 19 19 19 19 10 0 . Besides the above, a sum of £60 left in trust, the interest of which is to be divided annually amongst eight poor women, residents in Kendal. HOW TO BE USEFUL. The best way to do good, is to be good. EVENINGS WITH THE EDITOR. EVENING THE SEVENTH. Emm. WORKING MEN! Augustus. What can we have to say about them? Aug. We ought to have a great deal to say. They are rapidly rising in power, and therefore in importance; and many people think that the present extraordinary supplies of gold will quite revolutionize society. Ed. How so, Mr. Economist ? Aug. In two ways, it seems to me. First, in Australia the gold gets chiefly into the hands of working men. The peasant that here was half starved, at the diggings finds some nuggets and makes a fortune. It is not so easy for gentlemen to do this. A recent number of the "Household Words " gives a woeful account of the misfortunes and wretchedness of a gentleman and his wife, herself a baronet's daughter, who had emigrated under the excitement of the gold-fever. Emm. You mean the account of Canvas Town. It was shocking! Aug. In the next place, if gold become so plentiful, it will gradually lose in value, and those people who have settled money incomes, will not be able to make their income go as far as it used to do. If the things they have to purchase become twice as dear, their income will be diminished by one-half. Emm. Well, and working men will have to give twice as much for things, too. Aug. But you forget that work must be done, and those who do it will be paid; and if they have to pay twice as much for things, they will ask correspondingly higher wages. Ed. You infer, then, that LABOUR will rise in value, and therefore the LABOURER in importance. Aug. I think so; and I think it must be so already in Australia. All the accounts we have point to the social exaltation of the workman, and to his independence. In the excavations for gold, it is not education, birth, or refinement which amasses riches; but the strong arm, the patient toil and the power of great physical endurance. The rudest man will be likely to get the most gold; and gold will make him a master, where poverty had rendered him a slave. What is now a fact in Australia, may be a prophecy of our own country. Emm. Well, this may all be true, and you may be a clever prophet; but what have we to do with all this, Augustus? Aug. To do with it; why, you know that what we say goes forth to the public, and that some thousands of minds receive our impressions, and listen to our counsels. Mrs. M. Augustus! Augustus! don't be so conceited. Aug. It is true, however. And so we can lay it down as a very important principle-and Mr. Editor can get it printed in small, clear type-that the duty of promoting the social, moral and spiritual welfare of the working classes has risen up into new and most solemn urgency. If these classes are to acquire increased power, and to gain such influence in society as they never yet have possessed, how perilous for themselves and others will it be, if, ignorant, depraved and irreligious, they jump from pinching frugality into reckless opulence! Mrs. M. Is anything being done in their direction? Aug. On the whole, many things. There is a well-planned scheme, for example, which much pleases me. I refer to the WORKING MEN'S EDUCATIONAL UNION. Mrs. M. What is its object? Aug. The leading feature of its operations is, the publication of popular, cheap and portable diagrams, in order to promote and encourage Lecturing to a class of persons, chiefly adult operatives, who may be thereby instructed, edified and elevated in the best sense of the word; at the same time that some amusement is provided for them. In addition to diagrams, the society intends, if it obtain funds sufficient, to supply lanterns, dissolv ing views, models, specimens and apparatus. It also encourages the formation of libraries, and mutual instruction classes. Mrs. M. Is it succeeding? Ed. Very well indeed; except that its operations are impeded by want of funds. It has published several sets of diagrams which have sold very well; such as those on Nineveh, Physiology, Paganism, Astronomy. Aug. I ought to mention that these are sold to subscribers at a large reduction from the published price. Emm. Are the diagrams large ? Aug. They are each, four feet by three in area; printed on cloth and coloured. A subscriber can get them at a price which renders the cost of each about 1s. 6d. Mrs. M. How cheap! Aug. Yes; look at this (unrolling a diagram) it shows well at a distance, and by candle-light. Ed. Not the least interesting feature is it, of this society, that these diagrams are coloured by young girls, who thus obtain a decent livelihood. Aug. And then the Union publishes books for the assistance of lecturers. Ed. Here is one, LECTURES ON THE CATACOMBS OF ROME.* It contains the substance of three popular lectures, delivered to working men by the author, Mr. B. Scott, to whose untiring zeal the Union owes its existence. The lectures are illustrated by twenty-one coloured diagrams, for which subscribers pay one guinea and a half. The desire of the writer has been to direct attention to the primitive condition of Christianity, particularly as exemplified by the inscriptions and works of early art in the Museums of Europe. These have not been easily accessible. They have been buried in ponderous folios, or locked up in dead languages, or hidden in antiquarian cabinets. Dr. Maitland's "Church in the Catacombs" has brought many of these to light, and Mr. Scott has availed himself of the information therein given. Emm. Will working men appreciate these kind exertions for their welfare; will the pipe and the beer-shop be abandoned for the lecture-room? Ed. Yes, Emmy, I feel sure they will. Working men are frequently driven out of their miserable homes by the unhappy character of their domestic life; slatternly wives, crying children, dirty rooms, and cheerless firesides, are in too strong contrast with the smiling bar-maid, the roasting fire and brilliant gaslight of the tap-room, and the uproarious mirth of brother topers. I have seen many a poor man's home, and many a poor man's wife and children; and I have never wondered much that working men went elsewhere for a little enjoyment. Mrs. M. But are not these men very selfish to go elsewhere for their own comfort when their wives have to stay at home, however wretched it is, and among the children, however unendurable they are ? Ed. Possibly they are. But the true state of the case is this, the wife might make home much pleasanter if she chose. The husband may not know how to teach his wife, if she cannot manage herself. Besides, his frequent sojournings at the public house are debasing, and must speedily tell upon his finer feelings. If, however, he could be got to interesting lectures, his mind would be cultivated and his heart reached. To these lectures, also, he could bring his family; and they would all find present entertainment, and topics of subsequent conversation. Aug. I believe working men are to be reached by kind efforts much more readily, and influenced much more successfully, than people are aware. Emm. Becoming oracular, Augustus! Ed. He is speaking truly, at any rate. Here is a small book, close to my elbow, which looks as if it lay there purposely to * London: Longman and Co. take part in our present discussion. It is called THE WORKING MAN'S TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV JOSEPH BROWN,* and is written by a working man. This Mr. Brown has long distinguished himself by his unobtrusive but zealous and untiring devotion to the poor. His experience of the poor was so accurately exhibited, in certain practical suggestions which he made, as to obtain for him the commendation of both houses of Parliament. A few years ago he was appointed to the Rectory of Christ-church, Blackfriars, a parish which he found in the most deplorable, irreligious state. Vice, poverty and parochial squabbles, had for years made this locality notorious for evil. Here however, Mr. Brown, with fearless industry, set to work; and by his personal kindness and benevolent schemes, succeeded not only in effecting salutary reforms, but in doing what was much more difficult, winning the attachment of the working classes, and causing them to regard him with respect and esteem. The proof of this was furnished by the Testimonial they gave him, and to commemorate this event, one of the working men drew up this simple narrative. Mrs. M. I think that if the upper classes came into more personal contact with the working people, and if that personal contact were without affected condescension, but simply that of man to man, our poorer brethren would recognise the kind intention, and be disposed-to use one of their own phrases-to fraternize with us. Emm. Mr. Brown seems to know how to set about his ministerial work; which the hero of a little book I have in my hand certainly did not know. It is very short, but contains some good hints for young ministers, and indeed for any one who visits the poor. Mrs. M. But you have not acquainted us with the title. Emm. CHRISTIAN INCOME AND EXPENDITURE,† a title badly chosen. The story is translated from the German, and is meant to show how freely we ought to communicate to others those spiritual blessings which we ourselves have received so freely. The young minister is desirous to give, but at first he does not give freely. He wants to be repaid by admiration; or, he wants to extort from the fears of the unconverted a reception for the Gospel, to make them take it, rather than to hold it out to them lovingly. His disappointments are very painful; but he learns in the end the full and blessed meaning of the text which afterwards became the motto of his life: " Freely ye have received; freely give." * London: Allingham, 22, Blackfriars Road. † Edinburgh: Constable and Co. |