A

CURE FOR MELANCHOLY*;

SHEWING THE WAY TO DO MUCH GOOD WITH
LITTLE MONEY.

MRS. JONES was the widow of a great merchant, She was liberal to the poor, as far as giving them money went; but as she was too much taken up with the world, she did not spare so much of her time and thoughts about doing good as she ought; so that her money was often ill-bestowed. In the late troubles, Mr. Jones, who had lived in an expensive manner, failed; and he took his misfortunes so much to heart, that he fell sick and died. Mrs. Jones retired, on a very narrow income, to the small village of Weston, where she seldom went out, except to church. Though a pious woman, she was too apt to indulge her sorrow; and though she did not neglect to read and pray, yet she gave up a great part of her time to melancholy thoughts, and grew quite inactive. well knew how sinful it would be for her to seek a remedy for her grief in worldly pleasures, which is a way many people take to cure afflictions; but she was not aware how wrong it was to weep away that time which might have been better spent in drying the tears of others.

She

This was first Printed under the Title of THE COTTAGE COOK.

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It was happy for her, that Mr. Simpson, the vioar of Weston, was a pious man. One Sunday he happened to preach on the good Samaritan. It was a charity sermon, and there was a collection at the door. He called on Mrs. Jones after church, and found her in tears. She told him she had been much moved by his discourse, and she wept because she had so little to give to the plate; for though she felt very keenly for the poor in these dear times, yet she could not assist them. "Indeed, sir," added she, "I never so much regretted the loss of my fortune as this afternoon, when you bade us go and do like"wise."You do not," replied Mr. Simpson, "ter into the spirit of our Saviour's parable, if you "think you cannot go and do likewise without being "rich. In the case of the Samaritan, you may ob"serve, that charity was bestowed more by kindness, "and care, and medicine, than by money. You, "madam, were as much concerned in the duties in"culcated in my sermon as Sir John with his great "estate; and to speak plainly, I have been some"times surprised that you should not put yourself in "the way of being more useful."

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en

"Sir," said Mrs. Jones, "I am grown shy of the

poor since I have nothing to give them."-" Nothing! Madam?" replied the clergyman; " Da "you call your time, your talents, your kind offices, nothing? Doing good does not so much depend 66 on the riches as on the heart and the will. The "servant who improved his two talents was equally "commended by his Lord with him who had ten: "and it was not poverty, but selfish indolence, which "drew down so severe a condemnation on him who "had only one. It is by our conformity to Christ, that "we must prove ourselves Christians. You, Madam, "are not called upon to work miracles, nor to preach "the gospel, yet you may, in your measure and degree, resemble your Saviour by going about and

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doing good A plain Christian, who has sense and leisure, by his pious exertions and prudent zeal, may in a subordinate way, be helping on the cause of religion, as well as of charity, and greatly pro"mote, by his exertions and example, the labours of "the parish minister. The generality, it is true, "have but an under-part to act; but to all God "assigns some part, and he will require of all whose "lot is not very laborious, that they not only work " out their own salvation, but that they promote the cause of religion, and the comfort and salvation of "others.

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"To those who would undervalue works of mercy "as evidences of piety, I would suggest a serious "attention to the solemn appeal which the Saviour "of the world makes, in that awful representation of "the day of judgment, contained in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, both to those who have neglected, and to those who have performed such "works; performed them, I mean, on right principles. With what a gracious condescension does "he promise to accept the smallest kindness done to "his suffering members for his sake. You, Madam, "I will venture to say, might do more good than the "richest man in the parish could do by merely giv❝ing his money. Instead of sitting here, brooding "over your misfortunes, which are past remedy, "bestir yourself to find out ways of doing much good "with little money; or even without any money at "all. You have lately studied economy for your"self; instruct your poor neighbours in that imporThey want it almost as much as they "want money. You have influence with the few "rich persons in the parish; exert that influence. "Betty, my house-keeper, shall assist you in any "thing in which she can be useful. Try this for one

"tant art.

year, and if you then tell me that "better shewn your love to God and

you should have man, and been

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a happier woman, had you continued gloomy and "inactive, I shall be much surprised, and shall con"sent to your resuming your present way of life."

The sermon and this discourse together made so deep an impression on Mrs. Jones, that she formed a new plan of life, and set about it at once, as every body does who is in earnest. Her chief aim was the happiness of her poor neighbours in the next world; but she was also very desirous to promote their present comfort and indeed the kindness she shewed to their bodily wants gave her such an access to their houses and hearts, as made them better disposed to receive religious counsel and instruction. Mrs. Jones was much respected by all the rich persons in Weston, who had known her in her prosperity. Sir John was thoughtless, lavish, and indolent. The Squire was over-frugal, but active, sober, and not ill-natured. Sir John loved pleasure, the Squire loved inoney. Sir John was one of those popular sort of people who get much praise, and yet do little good; who subscribe with equal readiness to a cricket match or a charity school; who take it for granted that the poor are to be indulged with bell-ringing and bon-fires, and to be made drunk at Christmas; this Sir John called being kind to them; but he thought it was folly to teach them, and madness to think of reform ́ing them. He was, however, always ready to give his guinea; but I question whether he would have given up his hunting and his gaming to have cured every grievance in the land. He had that sort of constitutional good nature which, if he had lived much within sight of misery, would have led him to be liberal but he had that selfish love of ease, which prompted him to give to undeserving objects, rather than be at the pains to search out the deserving. He neither discriminated between the degrees of distress, nor the characters of the distressed. His