ive, but which, with all your digging, planting, watering,
dunging, and dressing, will, I trust, never thrive in this blessed
land of ours."

Mr. Fantom sneaked off to finish his work at home, and Mr. Trueman
staid to finish his in the prison. He passed the night with the
wretched convict; he prayed with him and for him, and read to him
the penitential psalms, and some portions of the gospel. But he was
too humble and too prudent a man to venture out of his depth by
arguments and consolations which he was not warranted to use; this
he left for the clergyman--but he pressed on William the great duty
of making the only amends now in his power to those whom he had led
astray. They then drew up the following paper, which Mr. Trueman got
printed, and gave away at the place of execution:

THE LAST WORDS, CONFESSION, AND DYING SPEECH OF WILLIAM WILSON,
WHO WAS EXECUTED AT CHELMSFORD, FOR MURDER.

"I was bred up in the fear of God, and lived with credit in many
sober families, in which I was a faithful servant; but being tempted
by a little higher wages, I left a good place to go and live with
Mr. Fantom, who, however, made good none of his fine promises, but
proved a hard master. Full of fine words and charitable speeches in
favor of the poor; but apt to oppress, overwork, and underpay them.
In his service I was not allowed time to go to church. This troubled
me at first, till I overheard my master say, that going to church
was a superstitious prejudice, and only meant for the vulgar. Upon
this I resolved to go no more, for I thought there could not be two
religions, one for the master and one for the servant. Finding my
master never prayed, I, too, left off praying; this gave Satan great
power over me, so that I from that time fell into almost every sin.
I was very uneasy at first, and my conscience gave me no rest; but I
was soon reconciled by overhearing my master and another gentleman
say, that death was only an eternal sleep, and hell and judgment
were but an invention of priests to keep the poor in order. I
mention this as a warning to all masters and mistresses to take care
what they converse about while servants are waiting at table. They
can not tell how many souls they have sent to perdition with such
loose talk. The crime for which I die is the natural consequence of
the principles I learned of my master. A rich man, indeed, who
throws off religion, may escape the gallows, because want does not
drive him to