ge all
their lives; but I hope as many as hear of this will go on a better
plan, and I shall be ready to help any who are willing to help
themselves." This worthy magistrate went directly to Mrs. Sponge's
with proper officers; and he soon got to the bottom of many
iniquities. He not only made her refund poor Betty's money, but
committed her to prison for receiving stolen goods, and various
other offenses, which may, perhaps, make the subject of another
history.

Betty was now set up in trade to her heart's content. She had found
the benefit of leaving off spirits, and she resolved to drink them
no more. The first fruits of this resolution was, that in a
fortnight she bought her a pair of new shoes; and as there was now
no deduction for interest, or for gin, her earnings became
considerable. The lady made her a present of a gown and a hat, on
the easy condition that she should go to church. She accepted the
terms, at first rather as an act of obedience to the lady than from
a sense of higher duty. But she soon began to go from a better
motive. This constant attendance at church, joined to the
instructions of the lady, opened a new world to Betty. She now
heard, for the first time, that she was a sinner; that God had given
a law which was holy, just, and good; that she had broken this law,
had been a swearer, a Sabbath-breaker, and had lived _without God in
the world_. All this was sad news to Betty; she knew, indeed,
before, that there were sinners, but she thought they were only to
be found in the prisons, or at Botany Bay, or in those mournful
carts which she had sometimes followed with her barrow, with the
unthinking crowd, to Tyburn. She was deeply struck with the great
truths revealed in the Scripture, which were quite new to her; her
heart smote her, and she became anxious to _flee from the wrath to
come_. She was desirous of improvement, and said, "she would give up
all the profits of her barrow, and go into the hardest service,
rather than live in sin and ignorance."

"Betty," said the lady, "I am glad to see you so well disposed, and
will do what I can for you. Your present way of life, to be sure,
exposes you to much danger; but the trade is not unlawful in itself,
and we may please God in any calling, provided it be not a dishonest
one. In this great town there must be barrow-women to sell fruit. Do
you, then, instead of forsaking your business, set a good example to
those in it, and show them, that though