demn their best
actions, and approve of their worst. It will be always time enough
to judge unfavorably, and let us give others credit as long as we
can, and then we in our turn, may expect a favorable judgment from
others, and remember who has said, _Judge not, that ye be not
judged_.

Hester was no more proud of what she had done for her father, than
she was humbled by the meanness of her garb: and notwithstanding
Betty Stiles, one of the girls whose finery had been taken away,
sneered at her, Hester never offered to clear herself, by exposing
her father, though she thought it right, secretly to inform Mrs.
Jones of what had passed. When the examination of the girls began,
Betty Stiles was asked some questions on the fourth and fifth
commandments, which she answered very well. Hester was asked nearly
the same questions, and though she answered them no better than
Betty had done, they were all surprised to see Mrs. Jones rise up,
and give a handsome Bible to Hester, while she gave nothing to
Betty. This girl cried out rather pertly, "Madam, it is very hard
that I have no book: I was as perfect as Hester." "I have often told
you," said Mrs. Jones, "that religion is not a thing of the tongue
but of the heart. That girl gives me the best proof that she has
learned the fourth commandment to good purpose, who persists in
keeping holy the Sabbath day, though commanded to break it, by a
parent whom she loves. And that girl best proves that she keeps the
fifth, who gives up her own comfort, and clothing, and credit, to
_honor and obey her father and mother_, even though they are not
such as she could wish. Betty Stiles, though she could answer the
questions so readily, went abroad last Sunday when she should have
been at school, and refused to nurse her sick mother, when she could
not help herself. Is this having learned those two commandments to
any good purpose?"

Farmer Hoskins, who stood by, whispered Mrs. Jones, "Well, madam,
now you have convinced even me of the benefit of a religious
instruction; now I see there is a meaning to it. I thought it was in
at one ear and out at the other, and that a song was as well as a
psalm, but now I have found the proof of the pudding is in the
eating. I see your scholars must _do_ what they _hear_, and _obey_
what they _learn_. Why at this rate, they will all be better
servants for being really godly, and so I will add a pudding to next
year's feast."

The pleasure Hester felt in