Samuel, however, knew the art of returning good for evil. He remained with his brother as journeyman for three years after his apprenticeship had expired, and then gave him all his savings, a hundred pounds, to free him from the consequences of an imprudent speculation. At the age of twenty-five he was taken into partnership, and though then pennyless, with up-hill work before him, his prospects were excellent, for he had good health, good spirits, and good principles; an industrious hand to work, a clear head to plan, and a warm and feeling heart. He had sufficient good sense to know that his fortune would be most surely advanced by slow degrees; he never "despised the day of small things, and when obstacles were in his way, remembered the valuable maxim, that what man has done, man may do."" The retail business became a wholesale one; and when at the end of twenty years the elder brother retired from the firm, the small shop had increased into extensive premises both at Kingswood and Bristol, and not only were the shops in the neighbouring villages, but those of the surrounding counties, supplied with provisions by him. An old man, at Kingswood, told his biographer, that he could remember the time when three men and two horses had been sufficient to conduct the business at Kingswood, for which in after years, a hundred men and three hundred horses were necessary. It will give some idea of the enormous trade which Mr. Budgett carried on, when we say that of one article alone, loaf sugar, he sold one hundred and twenty five tons in a week.

But it is not to our purpose to dwell upon what Samuel Budgett had; we leave that part of our subject for the more delightful task of pointing out what he did, and what he was. During his apprenticeship he was so fearful that, in the hurry and turmoil of his daily occupations, he should forget or overlook the higher purposes of life, that on the Sunday, after the morning's service, he would often seek a solitary spot, that he might think over and arrange in his own mind, the sermon to which he had been listening; and every Sunday, without exception, he learned by heart some passage of a holy writer, either in verse or prose, on which he might meditate during any stray moments of leisure that he might have in the course of the week. This habit may be acquired by every one who knows how to read, and none would neglect the opportunities which the day of rest affords for storing their minds with texts of scripture, verses of hymns, or with some pious and pithy sentence of our old divines, if they had ever experienced the delight which the recollection of them gives, in weary hours of watchfulness and sickness, when the thoughts, diverted from the

pleasures and interests of the world, would dwell on richer sources of consolation. The good influence of the habit on the character of the youthful merchant, may be traced in his subsequent history.

His elder brother was a warm advocate for the education of the poor, and had for some years before Samuel went to live with him, established a Sunday School, at Kingswood, a place then notorious for its vice and profligacy. Samuel began to teach in it as soon as his apprenticeship commenced, and not making the excuse, as he advanced in life, that he needed rest from the week's labour, he continued to perform his duties as a teacher until his last, illness, when his class consisted of forty young women. All his children

and many of his workmen, were induced, by his advice and example, to lend their aid in this important work. He was also a local · preacher. The Sunday was to him a day of peace and happiness. He mentions one exception to it. In a memorandum found after his death, he says "I have spent a joyless and unprofitable Sabbath, and no wonder, for I did not rise 'till half-past five o'clock."

His benevolence was judicious, for it was under the control of religious principle. In his private charities, he always endeavoured to help the poor to help themselves, believing that money given in a random manner does more harm than good, by encouraging laziness, a sin of great magnitude in his sight. Want of space prevents our giving more than a few specimens of the kind deeds that are recorded in the history of his life. When men were in distress for want of employment, he would frequently present them with a horse to enable them to be carters or carriers. The widows and fatherless in the neighbourhood were his peculiar care, and no sooner did he know that any deserving woman, in narrow circumstances, had lost her husband, than he went to her offering her £25. to set her up in business, or a horse and a £5. note. A poor and industrious man wished to seek his fortune in America; he gave him £50; he gave a tinman, a brother of one of his servants, £15. to help him to stock a small shop, and £30. to the rest of his family, who wished to emigrate. Finding that a man reduced in circumstances by severe domestic affliction, had incurred debts that there was no possibility of his paying, he repaired to his creditors, paid half his debts, and induced them to cancel the remainder. Having discharged a dishonest labourer from his employ, he gave him a horse and cart, that he might earn his livelihood by carting coals from Kingswood to Bristol. He knew that no one would take him into service without a character; he would not keep a thief upon his premises, yet he dared not "cause his brother to offend," by leaving him to buffet against the temptations of desti

tution. In the winter of 1846, when bread was very dear, he engaged one hundred and fifty additional labourers at small wages, adding gifts of money at the end of the week, to supply the necessities of those who had families.

One anecdote more we must relate, as it brings forward a trait in his character more indicative of the true Christian than even benevolence. Just after he had entered into business, a dismissed servant, in a spirit of revenge, went to the creditors of the firm, and gave such a bad account of the state of affairs, that they immediately demanded payment and nearly ruined the brothers. "Some time after," says the author of the "Successful Merchant,” “he heard that

- and his family were in a state of great destitution. Mr. Budgett went to see them. The house was in a miserable state; the garden was desolate; neither meat nor bread seemed within the door, and two fine boys were lying in bed, because they had no clothes. Mr. Budgett at once ordered meat from the butcher, bread from the baker, sent groceries, a tailor to clothe the children, hired a man to till the garden, and gave them an allowance of twelve shillings a week, until the father of the family should find employment. But he had no 'push,' and found no employment. He soon applied to be taken back. Mr. Budgett consented, but only on condition that he should have a salary far below what he had enjoyed before, and that he should look out for another situation. Every week he set down to the credit of the man, in a private ledger, some twelve shillings, which he thought was about the difference between what he was paying him, and what his services would be worth, should prove worthy of confidence. He did all he could to make him trustworthy, and became a teetotaller to induce him to follow his example. At length, however, both his confidence and his patience had gone; he called into his private office, and told him they must part. But, Mr. I will give your family £50, in weekly payments, while you are seeking employment, and I am assured of it. Give, Sir, I do not regard it as a gift; my remuneration has not been just.' The merchant looked up from his desk, pointed to the door, and said, 'O, very well, Mr. that is enongh.' The man begged forgiveness for his impertinence; and for a very long time Mr. Budgett allowed his family twelve shillings a week."

he

S. L.

(To be continued.)

Every study into which you throw your soul, in which you gain truth and exercise your faculties, is a preparation for your future course.-DR. CHANNING.

LIGHT-HOUSES:

THE EDDYSTONE AND BELL ROCKS.

MOST of those who have visited the sea coast, must have observed some high building, like a kind of slender tower, showing a bright light as soon as the first shades of evening darken the scene. If they ask what this tower is-they are told that it is a Light-house. These are beautiful buildings to think of, for they are built to do good, to guard unknown travellers, as well as the poor fishermen, from danger. We can fancy how the fisherman's wife watches for her husband's return during the long dark winter evening, and puts her feeble candle in the window, hoping that he may see its glimmering ray. It requires a much brighter light than her candle, to penetrate the autumnal fog. What the wife would wish to do for her one traveller, those who have set up the light-house endeavour to do for all who may be in need, and are within the reach of its influence. To those who have only seen these buildings in safe places, it may seem to have been an easy work to erect them; but where they have been the most wanted, on account of the number of shipwrecks, it was a work of great difficulty, requiring the greatest skill and patience, and the names of some men who have thus laboured to do good, deserve to be remembered among the benefactors of their

race.

About fourteen miles from Plymouth, in Devonshire, are the famous Eddystone rocks, which lie nearly in the way of ships coasting along the British Channel, so that many rich vessels returning homeward have been lost there during the night. At high water these rocks are entirely covered by the sea, which often beats with the utmost fury on that point of the coast. Although it was long wished that, if possible, a light-house should be built there, it was not till the year 1696 that any one was found with skill and daring enough to execute the task. Henry Winstanley, who undertook to build this light-house, was employed on the work more than four years. Even in the summer season, the weather was at times so unfavourable, that during ten or fourteen successive days, the sea would so rage about these rocks as to mount high above the works which had been begun, and make it impossible for the builders to approach. At length, however, the light-house was completed in 1700;—but it was not destined to a long duration. In November, 1703, Mr. Winstanley was warned by his friends, when he was about to proceed to the light-house to inspect some repairs, that it was not in a safe state, but he was too bold, and despised the caution. On the night of the 26th of November, there was an unusu

ally terrific storm, from which many parts of England suffered When the height of the tempest was passed, many persons looked eagerly for the light-house alas! it had disappeared,—it was swallowed up in the waves! Winstanley, his workpeople, his lightkeepers, all had been swept away; and a homeward-bound vessel, the Winchelsea," deprived of the warning light, struck upon these fatal rocks, with the loss of many lives.

Was it then a hopeless task to build on these sea-girt rocks? Not so; after three more years, the difficult task was again undertaken, and John Rudyerd, a London shopkeeper, was the next bold man who planned the work. Rudyerd's light-house was three years in building, and was finished in 1709. The entrance door was eight feet above the highest part of the rock, and therefore a strong iron ladder was used to ascend into the building. Four rooms, one above another, and the lantern with a balcony, completed the edifice, which was built in a circle. Excepting a foundation of granite, it was built of wood, and it was 92 feet high. For many years this lighthouse was attended by two persons only, whose duty it was to watch four hours alternately, to snuff and renew the candles, which were then used to light it. A third person was afterwards added, as a safeguard in case of the illness of one. It is said that while this work was in progress, a French ship seized the men employed on it, and carried them off as prisoners to France, the French and English being at that time at war. But when the King of France, Louis XIV., heard of this, he expressed his anger, and desired that the prisoners should be immediately released, and sent back to their work with presents, for that the Eddystone lighthouse was a work for the benefit of all mankind.

The

For forty-six years Rudyerd's light-house had withstood the force of the storms; at the end of that time it was destroyed, but by an enemy, against which prudence might have guarded its inmates, -by fire. The light-keepers were rescued by some fishermen, after they had crept into a hole of the rock for safety, but one of them afterwards died from having swallowed a piece of melted lead. ingenuity of man was again required to put up a guard on this dangerous spot, and another brave spirit soon answered to the call. John Smeaton, the son of an attorney, in Yorkshire, was the next successful architect of this difficult work. Like both his predecessors in the undertaking, Smeaton was devoted to the arduous duty of an engineer by the force of natural talent, improved by patient assiduity. "His playthings had been not the toys of children, but the tools men work with; and his greatest amusement was to observe artificers at work, and to ask them questions." In the spring