t to find out books for themselves.[7] There is
a proneness in the heart to evil, which it is our duty to oppose,
and which I see you are promoting. Only look round your own kitchen;
I am ashamed to see it hung round with loose songs and ballads. I
grant, indeed, it would be better for young men and maids, and even
your daughters, not to be able to read at all, than to read such
stuff as this. But if, when they ask for bread, you will give them a
stone, nay worse, a serpent, yours is the blame." Then taking up a
penny-book which had a very loose title, she went on: "I do not
wonder, if you, who read such books as these, think it safer that
people should not read at all." The farmer grinned, and said, "It is
hard if a man of my substance may not divert himself; when a bit of
fun costs only a penny, and a man can spare that penny, there is no
harm done. When it is very hot, or very wet, and I come in to rest,
and have drunk my mug of cider, I like to take up a bit of a
jest-book, or a comical story, to make me laugh."

[7] It was this consideration chiefly, which stimulated the
conductors of the Cheap Repository to send forth that variety of
little books so peculiarly suited to the young. They considered
that by means of Sunday Schools, multitudes were now taught to
read, who would be exposed to be corrupted by all the ribaldry and
profaneness of loose songs, vicious stories, and especially by the
new influx of corruption arising from jacobinial and atheistical
pamphlets, and that it was a bounden duty to counteract such
temptations.

"O, Mr. Hoskins!" replied Mrs. Jones, "when you come in to rest from
a burning sun or shower, do you never think of Him whose sun it is
that is ripening your corn? or whose shower is filling the ear, or
causing the grass to grow? I could tell you of some books which
would strengthen such thoughts, whereas such as you read only serve
to put them out of your head."

Mrs. Jones having taken pains to let Mr. Hoskins know that all the
genteel and wealthy people had subscribed, he at last said, "Why, as
to the matter of that, I do not value a crown; only I think it may
be better bestowed; and I am afraid my own workmen will fly in my
face if once they are made scholars; and that they will think
themselves too good to work." "Now you talk soberly, and give your
reasons," said Mrs. Jones; "weak as they are, they deserve an
answer. Do you think that either man, woman, or child, ever did