ot far off, where they are obliged
to buy all the water which they get, while a good Providence sends
to my very door a spring as clear and fine as Jacob's well. When I
am tempted to repine that I have often no other drink, I call to
mind that it was nothing better than a cup of cold water which the
woman at the well of Sychar drew for the greatest guest that ever
visited this world."

"Very well," replied Mr. Johnson; "but as your honesty has made you
prefer a poor meal to being in debt, I will at least send and get
something for you to drink. I saw a little public house just by the
church, as I came along. Let that little rosy-faced fellow fetch a
mug of beer." So saying, he looked full at the boy, who did not
offer to stir; but cast an eye at his father to know what he was to
do. "Sir," said the shepherd, "I hope we shall not appear ungrateful
if we seem to refuse your favor; my little boy would, I am sure, fly
to serve you on any other occasion. But, good sir, it is Sunday; and
should any of my family be seen at a public house on a Sabbath-day,
it would be a much greater grief to me than to drink water all my
life. I am often talking against these doing to others; and if I
should say one thing and do another, you can't think what an
advantage it would give many of my neighbors over me, who would be
glad enough to report that they had caught the shepherd's son at the
alehouse without explaining how it happened. Christians, you know,
sir, must be doubly watchful; or they will not only bring disgrace
on themselves, but what is much worse, on that holy name by which
they are called."

"Are you not a little too cautious, my honest friend?" said Mr.
Johnson. "I humbly ask your pardon, sir," replied the shepherd, "if
I think that is impossible. In my poor notion, I no more understand
how a man can be too cautious, than how he can be too strong, or too
healthy."

"You are right indeed," said Mr. Johnson, "as a general principle,
but this struck me as a very small thing." "Sir," said the shepherd,
"I am afraid you will think me very bold, but you encourage me to
speak out." "'Tis what I wish," said the gentleman. "Then, sir,"
resumed the shepherd, "I doubt if, where there is a frequent
temptation to do wrong, any fault can be called small; that is, in
short, if there is any such thing as a small willful sin. A poor man
like me is seldom called out to do great things, so that it is not
by a few striking deeds his charact