be an offender against the laws, but not to be an informer
in support of them. _An informer by trade_ is commonly a knave. A
rash, malicious, or passionate informer is a firebrand; but honest
and prudent informers are almost as useful members of society as the
judges of the land. If you continue in your present mind on this
subject, do not you think that you will be answerable for the crimes
you might have prevented by informing, and thus become a sort of
accomplice of the villains who commit them."

"Well, madam," said the smith, "I now see plainly enough that there
is no shame in turning informer when my cause is good." "And your
_motive right_; always mind that," said Mrs. Jones. Next day the
smith attended, Crib was fined in the usual penalty, his light bread
was taken from him and given to the poor. The justices resolved
henceforward to inspect the bakers in their district; and all of
them, except Crib, and such as Crib, were glad of it; for honesty
never dreads a trial. Thus had Mrs. Jones the comfort of seeing how
useful people may be without expense; for if she could have given
the poor fifty pounds, she would not have done them so great, or so
lasting a benefit, as she did them in seeing their loaves restored
to their lawful weight: and the true light in which she had put the
business of _informing_ was of no small use, in giving the
neighborhood right views on that subject.

There were two shops in the parish; but Mrs. Sparks, at the Cross,
had not half so much custom as Wills, at the Sugarloaf, though she
sold her goods a penny in a shilling cheaper, and all agreed that
they were much better. Mrs. Jones asked Mrs. Sparks the reason,
"Madam," said the shopkeeper, "Mr. Wills will give longer trust.
Besides his wife keeps shop on a Sunday morning while I am at
church." Mrs. Jones now reminded Mr. Simpson to read the king's
proclamation against vice and immorality next Sunday at church; and
prevailed on the squire to fine any one who should keep open shop on
a Sunday. This he readily undertook: for while Sir John thought it
_good-natured_ to connive at breaking the laws, the squire fell into
the other extreme, of thinking that the zealous enforcing of penal
statutes would stand in the stead of all religious restraints. Mrs.
Jones proceeded to put the people in mind that a shopkeeper who
would sell on a Sunday, would be more likely to cheat them all the
week, than one who went to church.

She also labored har