Viewing page 15 of 102

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

24

returned without a handsome supply of fish for her master's table.

7 About the hundred and second year of her age, her sight gradually recovered a little, so that she could see objects moving before her. She retained her hearing to the end of her life, and before she died, her hair become perfectly white.

8. The honest, love of truth, veneration for the holy scriptures, attention to religious worship, temperance, and industry of this poor slave, should be a lesson to us; and if we admire her character, if we ourselves wish to become good, let us attend to the good spirit, the spirit of Christ in our hearts, which reproves us, and makes us feel unhappy when we do wrong; but when we mind its reproofs, and humbly endeavour to do, what we know is right, gives us that peace of mind which the world cannot give, neither can it take away.

THE GENEROURS NEGRO.

1. JOSEPH RACHEL, a respectable negro resided in the island of Barbadoes. He was a trader, and dealt chiefly in the retail way. In his business he conducted himself so fairly and complaisantly, that, in a town filled with little pedling shops, his door were thronged with customers. Almost all dealt with him and ever found him remarkable honest and obliging.

2. If any one knew not where to obtain an article, Josepf would endeavour to procure it, without making any advantage for himself. In short, his character was so fair, his manners so generous, that the best people showed him a regard which they often deny to men of their own colour, because they are not blessed with the like goodness of heart.

3. In 1756 a fire happened, which burned down a great part of the town, and ruined many of the inhabitants. Joseph lived in a quarter that escaped the destruction, and expressed his thankfulness by softening 

25

the distress of his neighbours. Among those who had lost their property by this heavy misfortune, was a man to whose family Joseph, in the early part of his life, owed some obligations.

4. This many by too great hospitality, and excess very common in the West Indies, had involved himself in difficulties, before the fire happened; and his estate lying in houses, that event entirely ruined him. Amidst the cries of misery and want, which excited Joseph's compassion, this man's unfortunate situation claimed particular notice. The generous, the open temper of the sufferer, the obligations that Joseph owed to his family, were special and powerful motives for acting towards him the part of a friend.

5. Joseph has his bond for sixty pounds sterling. "Unfortunate man," said he, "this debt shall never come against thee. I sincerely wish thou couldst settle all they other affairs as easily. But how am I sure that I shall keep in this mind? May not the love of gain, especially when, but length of time, they misfortune shall become familiar to me, return with too strong a current and bear down my fellow feeling before it? But for this I have a remedy. Never shalt thou apply for the assistance of any friend against my avarice."

6.  He arose, ordered a large account that the man had with him, to be drawn out: and in a whim, that might have called up a smile on the face of charity, filled his pipe, sat down again, twisted the bond and lighted his pipe with it. While the account was drawing out, he continued smoking, in a state of mind that a monarch might envy. When it was finished, he went in search of his friend, with the discharged account, and the mutilated bond in his hand.

7. On meeting him, he presented the paper to him with this address: "Sir, I am sensibly affected with your misfortunes; the obligations I have received from your family, give me a relation to every branch of it. I know that your inability to pay what you owe, gives you more uneasiness than the loss of your own substance.

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-06-19 13:52:43