Stories of ragged schools and ragged scholars

AUBURN UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES

Presented by

Dr. Robert Partin
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STORIES

RA&GED SCHOOLS,

RAGGED SCHOLARS.

REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER

^^tt)-|3ork :

PUBLISHED BY LANE & SCOTT,

FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH, 200 MULBERRY-STREET.

' JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER.
1850.

§

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

RALPH BROWN DRAUGHON LIBRARY

AUBURN UNIVERSITY ALABAMA 36849-

CO ,

I/O*?/
75-7/

'^ ^ EDITOR'S PREEACE.

This book was written and first printed in London.
In Great Britain only are ragged schools known,
as such.

There are many ragged children in the United
States of America ; but it is a cause of thankfulness
that their number is not great in proportion to that
of the children who have good clothing, together
with food and other blessings in abundance.

We hope that the favored and happy children of
our country will remember who hath caused them
to differ from the poor ragged children of England,
about whom they will read in this book.

Keaders should also be reminded of the excel-
lence of the Sabbath-school institution in being
capable of doing good in the midst of so much evil.

We desire that the characters of the good and self-
denying men who have established and sustained
ragged schools should be admired and imitated.

In order that our readers may have a better
knowledge of the enterprise of ragged-school in-
struction, we have considerably enlarged the ori-
ginal dimensions of this volume, by adding matter
from other reliable sources.

iVew?-For^, 1850.

CONTENTS,

CHAPTER I

Sunday-schools — T. Cranfield — John Pounds
— City Mission — Ragged Schools Page 7

CHAPTER n.

A Ragged School in Westminster — School of
Industry for Poor Children 28

CHAPTER in.
Ragged-school Children — The Benefits they

RECEIVED AND IMPARTED — HeNRY THE MaTCH-

SELLER — Happy James : or, the Death-bed of a
Ragged-school Boy — We are all wrong. .. 41

CHAPTER lY.

Ragged-school Memorials — Old Stable — Or-
ganization OF THE School — Death of James S.—
Three Children reformed — Conclusion.. 76

POETRY.
Ragged-School Boy — The Ragged-School.. . 101

RAGGED SCHOOLS AND RAGGED
SCHOLARS.

CHAPTER I.

Sunday-schools — Thomas Cranfield — John
PoTJNDS — The City Mission — Ragged Schools.

I HAVE some true stories to tell of
children who went to a ragged
school : but I wish to tell these sto-
ries in my own way; and I must
first write about other persons and
things.

It was a good day when Sunday-
schools were first thought of Since
then, large numbers of children, who
else would have grown up ignorant

8 RAOaED SCHOOLS

of God, have been taught to read his
holy word ; and many have believed
and obeyed the gospel, and been
saved from the wrath to come.

Yet it should be known that though
there are, in our country, so many
Sunday-schools, there are also tens
of thousands of poor children who
are in danger of growing up to be as
ignorant, as wretched, and as wicked
as heathens. How can this be ?

Ah, young reader, if you were to
pass through some parts of London,
and other large towns, you would
soon understand this. You would
see multitudes of men, and women,
and children, living in narrow lanes
and close courts, amidst filth which
it is painful to witness, and in the
practice of sin which it is shocking
to think of The houses in which

AND BAGGED SCHOLARS. 9

they dwell are mostly very old ; and
in them the people are crowded to-
gether, without any of the comforts
of life. In a single room are often
two or three famihes ; and in many
of the houses may sometimes be seen
fifty or sixty persons who have no
home besides these miserable places.
When they rest at night, they lie hud-
dled together on rags and straw;
and they pass most of their days in
drunkenness, gambling, quarreling,
and almost every kind of wicked-
ness.

Do you ask how such people ob-
tain a Uving? Indeed it would be
hard to say. It is to be feared that
most of them are thieves, and bring
up their children to be thieves also.
Many are beggars, ballad-singers,
and fortune-tellers, as they call

10 EAGGED SCHOOLS

themselves. Some are coiners of
base money, which they sell to oth-
ers as sinful as themselves, to pass
for good money. Very few indeed
of them are really honest and indus-
trious; for we maybe sure that hon-
est and industrious persons, though
poor, would not willingly live where
there is so much dirt, discomfort,
and roguery.

Now you may suppose that the
children who are brought up amidst
such scenes are sadly neglected, and
greatly to be pitied. They are early
taught to curse and swear, and He
and steal ; but they are kept in ig-
norance of all that is good. They
know nothing of the Bible ; they pay
no regard to the Sabbath ; they feel
no shame in being known as dishon-
est : if found out, and sent to prison

AND RAaaED SCHOLARS. 11

for stealing, as hundreds of them are
every year, they only become more
hardened, and boast of their crimes.
Poor children ! it is not uncommon
for them to be driven from their
wretched homes by their cruel par-
ents, to obtain their daily bread by
dishonesty ; and they are punished
when they return, if they have not
stolen enough.

It is sad even to see these chil-
dren as they roam the streets, they
are generally so ragged and filthy;
and it is distressing to hear them
speak, their language is so indecent
and profane: — they are altogether
like little savages, such as we might
expect to find in heathen lands ; but
who are a disgrace to a country
which is called Christian. It is plain
that such children as these are not

12 RAGGED SCHOOLS

often to be found in Sunday-
schools.

And yet, ignorant and vicious as
they are, they have souls, you know^,
as well as others — souls that must
either be saved or lost ! They have
minds capable of receiving instruc-
tion, and of being turned from the
love and practice of sin to usefulness
and holiness.

I am happy to say that, at differ-
ent times, and in different ways, the
gospel has been made known to
some of these poor children and their
parents, and that not a few have
been brought out of the darkness of
vice and misery. There once hved
a good man, whose name was Tho-
mas Cranfield, who delighted in this
holy employment. He hved in Lon-
don, and was grieved to see around

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 13

him so many going in the broad
road to destruction. He was not a
rich and great man ; but he had to
work hard for the support of his
family : yet this did not prevent him
from trying to be useful to others.
Among many other plans which the
dear Saviour whom he loved put
into his heart to undertake, was that
of Sunday-schools for the very worst
and the most neglected children he
could find.

There was one part of London
with which Cranfield became ac-
quainted, which was inhabited by
just such people as I have spoken
of Thieves, beggars, gipsies, and
poor, degraded, sinful women, were
to be met with in almost every
house. In the same room were
often found living together, men,

14 RAGGED SCHOOLS

women, children, pigs, dogs, and
even asses ; while in every part of
the wretched place were to be
heard most awful blasphemies. The
poor children were in a sad condi-
tion. Many of them had scarcely
enough rags to cover them; and
their matted hair and dirty faces
and hands proved that they were
very seldom either combed or
washed.

It was in this place that Thomas
Cranfield determined to have a
Sunday-school. He hired a room,
and Toci^fie it known that he was
willing to teach any children who
would come to him. Many chil-
dren went to this school; and
though at first they were very rude,
and the kind teacher was greatly
persecuted by the wicked people

AND RAGaED SCHOLARS. 15

of the place, much good was done.
The children, after awhile, became
more teachable, more cleanly, and
more modest, and, what is still
better, some of them learned the
way of salvation through the Lord
Jesus Christ, and lived and died
in the faith of the gospel. Other
persons too, besides children, were
converted and made holy, by the
blessing of God upon the teaching
of Thomas Cranfield; so that he
had great reason to be thankful
that it had been put into his mind
to visit and teach such ragged,
dirty, and vicious children.

Thomas Cranfield and his friends
afterwards opened Sunday-schools
in other parts of London, which
were crowded with poor, igno-
rant, and very degraded scholars;
2

16 RAGGED SCHOOLS

and the success which attended their
labours showed that there is a lovely
power in the gospel, accompanied
by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to
soften the hardest heart, and to bring
the most daring rebel to obey the
Saviour.

'•' This remedy did wisdom find
To heal diseases of the mind :
This sovereign balm, whose virtues can
Restore the ruin'd creatm-e, man.

" Where Satan reign'd in shades of night
The gospel strikes a heavenly light ;
Our lusts its wondrous power controls,
And calms the rage of angry souls.

" Lions atd beasts of savage name
Put on the nature of the lamb ;
Whilst the wide world esteem it strange.
Gaze, and admire, and hate the change."

While Thomas Cranfield, and oth-
ers like him, whose hearts God had
touched to pity and try to save poor

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 17

little heathens at home, were thus
employed in London, the same kind
of work was being done and carried
on elsewhere. And before we come to
our ragged-school children, I must tell
you a little about a poor man who lived
at Portsmouth. The name of this poor
man was John Pounds. By trade he
was a cobbler, or a mender of shoes ;
and he lived in a small wooden house
in one of the mean streets of that large
town. John Pounds was a cripple,
and had nothing to depend upon
but his own hard labor ; yet he was
very cheerful and very kind. He
was fond of animals, which he reared
in his little shop, where he might
often be seen hard at work, with a
canary bird on one shoulder and a
cat on the other : for he had quite " a
happy family " around him.

18 RAGGED SCHOOLS

But John Pounds did not bestow
all his affection upon beasts and
birds. He was very partial to chil-
dren. He had a little nephew, who,
like himself, was a cripple, whom he
took great care of, and in every way
treated with much kindness.

When this little boy was old
enough to begin learning to read,
his kind uncle undertook to teach
him ; and thinking that he might as
well have two scholars as one, and
that perhaps a companion would be
helpful and pleasant to his nephew,
John Pounds invited the child of a
very poor woman, who lived near,
to come to his shop, and learn his
letters. Then he got another and
another to come, until, after a time,
he had around him every day a
school of thirty or forty poor, dirty,

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 19

ragged children, who, but for kind
John Pounds, would never have
gone to any school, but must have
grown up ignorant, and, most likely,
very wicked.

John Pounds was not paid for
teaching these ragged, neglected
children, except by the pleasure he
took in the work. Indeed, it cost
him something sometimes to get a
scholar ; for he more than once fol-
lowed a Uttle, unwiUing, hungry fel-
low down the street, and tempted
him to return with him to his school,
by the promise of food. And so this
poor, but useful man went on, work-
ing hard at his trade and teaching
his scholars, both boys and girls, in
the small shed which served him for
a shop. And he was happier than
many rich men who know not what

20 KAGGEB SCHOOLS

to do with their time or their money.
He had found out the secret of true
pleasure, — he was doing good. His
pupils were happy too; for John
Pounds had such kind and merry
ways of teaching them, that they
quite enjoyed being at his school.
He might have had many more
scholars ; but his workshop was al-
ways well filled. When he had
room for more, he made it a practice
to choose the worst and the poorest
children he could find, in hopes of
doing the most good ; and it was re-
ally extraordinary how he gained
their affections, and got them to
mind what he said.

John Pounds took pains to teach
other things than mere spelling and
reading. He brought his ragged, and
ignorant, and vicious scholars to un-

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 21

derstand the value of honesty and
industry. He taught them to do
much for themselves which would
be helpful to them as they grew
older. Besides this, when they were
sick, he kindly nursed them; and
when they were not at their books,
he played with them. This kind
treatment, which the poor children
were not used to receive at their
miserable homes, softened their
hearts; and many whom he thus,
through several years, generously
cared for and taught, grew up to be
sober, honest, and industrious, when,
but for his help, and the blessing of
God upon it, they would have been
all their hves ignorant and wicked,
and very likely have come to a sad
and shameful end.
Poor John Pounds died in the be-

22 RAGGED SCHOOLS

ginning of the year 1839. He was
then an old man ; but he had kept
on his school almost to the last day
of his life, for he died suddenly.
The poor children wept and grieved
when their kind instructor was gone.
And well they might, for though
there were thousands of people in
that large town who were much
richer in money than the old cob-
bler, there was not one to whom
these children could look with such
confidence and love as to their hum-
ble but generous benefactor.

Well, John Pounds was dead, and
Thomas Cranfield died about a year
before him; but before this time,
many other persons had taken an
interest in the instruction and wel-
fare of the neglected children of
such ignorant and wicked parents

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 23

as you have here been reading about
— yes, and of those parents too. In
the year 1835, some good, zealous
Christians met together to think of
what could be done for the benefit
of great numbers of the people who
were living like heathens and sava-
ges, though in Christian Britain.
They plainly saw that churches and
chapels were useless to those who
would not enter them; and that
none of the means then made use of
for spreading abroad the knowledge
of God and his word, were just those
that were needed for the conversion
of such heathens at home. They
remembered that it is asked in the
Bible, " How shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him
of whom they have not heard ? and

24 KAGGED SCHOOLS

how shall they hear without a
preacher? and how shall they preach
except they be sent?" Rom. x, 14, 15.
And they believed that the blessing
of God would rest upon their prayers
and labors if they were to send
preachers, or missionaries, or Scrip-
ture readers, to these dark and dreary
parts of large cities, to talk to the
people in their own houses, and to
read to them the word of God. They
therefore formed a society, which is
caUed " The City Mission," for this
very purpose; and you will be
pleased to be told that nearly two
hundred pious missionaries are em-
ployed in London and its neighbor-
hood alone, in visiting from house
to house, and making known the
gospel to nearly half a milHon of
people, most of whom, it is to be

AND liAGGED SCHOLARS. 26

feared, were what the Bible calls
"ignorant" and " out of the way,"
Heb. V, 2. There are also many
Scripture readers, district visitors,
and tract distributers engaged in the
same good work. There is not room
here to tell you how much these
good men have had to endure of
persecution and suffering in their
holy employment; nor how much
pleasure they have had in seeing
poor, guilty, hardened sinners be-
come penitent, and in hearing them
ask, "What must we do to be saved?"
Many delightful histories might be
told of such persons, and the good
done through the mighty power and
grace of Christ. We must pass on,
however, to other matters.

While something has been done
to save the souls of parents and

26 KAGOED SCHOOLS

grown-up people in these miserably
wicked and filthy parts of London,
the children have not been forgotten.
Sunday-schools and evening schools
have been opened, to which the dir-
tiest and most neglected and de-
praved children are invited. They
go to these schools notwithstanding
their rags and filth, and with all the
open, boastful sinfulness which from
day. to day they learn from those
about them. Little cunning beggar-
boys and girls — young thieves — chil-
dren who could not be suffered to
mix for an hour with the children of
honest, industrious, sober, decent
parents — these are the kind of scho-
lars who, for the most part, attend
the schools called ragged schools. I
am sure it is not needful to say why
they are called by this name.

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 27

It is pleasant to think that, in this
way, many hundreds of children are
taught in these ragged schools what
perhaps they would never have
learned anywhere else, — the value
of a good character, the duty of hon-
esty, sobriety, and industry, the ad-
vantage of knowledge, and, above all,
the way of pardon, peace, and eter-
nal safety, through the Lord Jesus
Christ.

28 RAGGED SCHOOLS

CHAPTER II.

A Ragged School in Westminster— School of
Industry for Poor Children,

You have heard of Westminster,
have you not ? It is a city in itself,
though it forms now a part of Lon-
don. At one time London and
Westminster were a mile or two
apart, and between them were fields ;
but this was a great while ago. A
long street, called the Strand, has
taken the place of what was a plea-
sant country road ; and on each side
are other streets which cover the
ground once divided by hedge-rows
into green meadows.

There are many fine large build-
ings in Westminster. There are
Westminster Abbey, and Westmin-
ster Hall, the Queen's Palace, and

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 29

the Houses of Parliament, besides
very many large and stately houses be-
longing to the nobility of the country,
and whole streets of large shops
filled with rich goods of almost all
kinds. In Westminster, too, are
beautiful parks and grand squares ;
and scarcely any luxury is wanting
in this city that money can purchase,
for there is no city in England in
which so many of the rich and the
great live.

But other scenes may be wit-
nessed in Westminster; for in no
city in England can be found greater
poverty, wretchedness, and vice.
Behind the spacious streets, and
around the noble buildings, are
lanes, and rows, and courts, where
dwell hundreds and hundreds of
miserable creatures, in fearful igno-

30 RAGGED SCHOOLS

ranee and open sin, without God,
without hope in the world, and with-
out shame. It is not poverty, dear
young reader, that makes any person
either despicable or really pitiable.
O no ! there are many very poor
people in the world, who are " rich
in faith, and heirs of the kingdom
which God hath promised to them
that love him," James ii, 5. But
often, sin first causes poverty, and
then poverty leads to fresh crime.
When this is the case with a single
person or family, living apart from
others, it is very sad : but when al-
most a whole street or neighbor-
hood is filled with crowds of the
poor, the profane, and the hardened,
who care neither for the laws of God
nor of man — think how dreadful
must be its condition !

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 31

It was in such a neighborhood as
this, in the city of Westminster, that
a kind missionary was sent to teach
the ignorant and reclaim the wicked ;
and his labors were made useful to
many. But he well knew that if
the young continued to be neglected,
there could be but little hope of last-
ing improvement. For this reason,
though his time was much taken
up in visiting the parents in their
miserable apartments, reading to
them the Scriptures, and talking to
them about the great truths of the
gospel, he determined to attempt the
instruction of the children also, and
to gain their attention, respect, and
love. So he hired a room, and
made known that he would, every
Sunday afternoon, teach any children

who would come to him.
3

32 RAGGED SCHOOLS

On the first day, more than forty-
ragged boys and girls came to the
room. Very likely many of them
went only to make sport of the kind
missionary; and perhaps few of
them had any real desire to learn
what was good. It was well, how-
ever, that they were willing to put
themselves in the way of instruction.

It was mournful, as these poor chil-
dren flocked to the room until it was
well filled, to observe their neglected
condition. Some seemed to be half
starved ; others were suffering from
disease, their faces care-worn and
sorrowful. Many had scarcely any
garments to cover their shivering
bodies; and few of them had on
anything better than filthy rags.
Their skin was almost hidden by
dirt, and the hair of their headis was

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 33

matted together through neglect. It
was more mournful still to see and
hear how ignorant and wicked they
were. They could not read; they
knew nothing of God, of his word,
and his salvation. They had never
been taught to lift their hearts and
voices to their Maker and Redeemer
in praise and prayer. Their lan-
guage was full of cursing ; and their
manners were rough and rude. It
needed great patience, and great
love too, to begin the work of teach-
ing such children as these; and much
perseverance for carrying it on.

After a time, so many children
came to be taught, that it was need-
ful to have a larger place for teach-
ing. The teacher wished also to
have his ragged scholars on week-
days, as well as on Sundays. An

34 RAGaiD SCHOOLS

old stable was therefore obtained,
which, when repaired and fitted up,
made a good school-room ; and the
children were permitted to come
every evening for instruction. And
they were not taught in vain. You
will read, in the next chapter, of a
few children who learned there what
they would never have been taught
at home, or in the streets and lanes
of London; and many more were
rescued from wretchedness and ruin.
As year after year passed away, it
"Vfas seen how great a blessing the
ragged school had been made to the
neighborhood. The scholars in-
creased in number, and began to
look more cleanly and neat, though
still in poverty and rags. They be-
came, too, more decent in their be-
havior, and more honest in their

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 35

conduct Formerly, hundreds of
children were to be seen in the
streets, employing their hands in
mischief, and their tongues in swear-
ing, and taking the name of God in
vain. Now, they might often be
found in harmless groups, singing
the hymns which they had learned
at the ragged school.

At the end of ten years, many
hundreds of poor children had thus
been cared for ; and great numbers
of them had gone into situations,
had behaved well, and become good
andiiseful members of society, when
but for the ragged school they would,
almost certainly, have been rogues
and vagabonds. O yes, and many,
too, had in those ten years listened,
with gUstening eyes and full hearts,
to the story of Chrisf s love to poor

36 RAGGED SCHOOLS

sinners; and given themselves to
him as his wiUing servants forever.
Surely, then, ragged schools are good
things, and worth reading about.

Well, at the end of ten years, three
hundred children were receiving
daily instruction in this school ; and
though it was yet a ragged school,
and the children were ragged chil-
dren, it was a different sight from
what it at first had been; it was
now a pleasure to observe how ea-
ger the children were to learn, and
what a great improvement had taken
place in their behavior.

It was a great grief to all who
were interested in the Westminster
ragged school, that the poor children
who were taught there had no happy
homes, but were in great danger of for-
getting what they had learned that

AND BAGGED SCHOLARS. 37

was good, and of being drawn into
the same course of wickedness which
had brought ruin and misery to all
around them. They knew, too, that
many of the poor children had really
no homes, but were orphans, with-
out friends to care for them, or those
whose parents were likely quite to
desert them. Some of the children
had parents who had been sent out
of the country for breaking the laws.
It was, therefore, sad to think what
would become of the children as
they grew older. In order to save
such as these from temptation, and
destruction of body and soul, a refuge
was provided for fifty boys and fifty
girls, where they are trained for re-
spectable service, for being useful in
the world, instead of injurious, and
for eternal happiness in the world to

38 RAGGED SCHOOLS

come, instead of everlasting woe and
misery.

In this house of refuge, which is
also a school of industry, the children
are stripped of their old rags, and
neatly clothed in garments which
they are taught to make for them-
selves. They are made every day to
wash in a large bath ; so that they are al-
ways clean, and cleanhness promotes
good health. They have sufficient
plain food given to them ; and they
are, every day, taken to walk in the
park, which is near ; and this also is
good, both for the body and the mind.
Then, one part of the day they re-
ceive instruction in reading, writing,
and arithmetic; and at another part
of it they are taught useful trades, to
prepare them for a life of honest in-
dustry. Besides all this, the children's

AND BAGGED SCHOLARS. 39

souls are cared for. The great and
glorious truths of the Bible are made
known and explained to them ; and
they learn that "the grace of God
which bringeth salvation hath ap-
peared to all men ; teaching us, that
denying ungodliness and worldly
lusts, we should live soberly, right-
eously, and godly, in this present
world ; looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ ; who gave himself for us, that
he might redeem us from all iniquity,
and purify unto himself a peculiar
people, zealous of good works,"
Titus ii, 11-14.

"When we think of \vhat these
poor cliildren would have been, had
no one cared for their souls; how
much evil they might have done;

40 RAGGED SCHOOLS

how much misery they would have
suffered, — we may well rejoice that
so much has been done for them.
We may also be glad that many such
plans are now going on, which, with
the blessing of God, will do more
good than can well be imagined.
Would it not be better, young reader,
that the very neglected, ignorant,
and depraved children of every town
should receive good instruction and
training, than that they should go on
from bad to worse, doing mischief to
all around them, be punished again
and again by being sent to prison,
and at last end their days in disgrace
and sorrow, without hope of a better
world?

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 41

CHAPTER III.

Eagged-school Childeen — The Benefits thet
received and imparted.

HENRY THE MATCH-SELLER.

A LITTLE boy, whom we will call
Henry, had been for some time a
scholar in the ragged school. He
had a sad, wretched home. His pa-
rents were drunkards ; almost all the
money they could obtain was spent
upon themselves in the gin-shop;
and their poor children had scarcely
even rags to cover them, and often
were obliged to pass a whole day
without food. It is terrible to think
how much those children must have
suffered, and how cruelly they had
been driven to sly pilfering, or daring
thievery, by the wicked neglect of
their besotted father and mother.

42 RAGGED SCHOOLS

When Henry was admitted into the
school, one of his brothers had been
transported as a thief, and another,
younger than himself, was in prison
for having stolen to keep himself
from starvation.

I have said that Henry's home
was a wretched one ; let me describe
it : — There was but one room for the
whole family, which had to serve as
a sleeping-room at night, as well as
a living-room by day. In one cor-
ner of the divty, unswept floor, was
a scanty heap of shavings for a bed,
upon which they all huddled them-
selves together for rest, without
blanket, rug, or even rags to cover
them from the cold air. On the
mantel-shelf were two cups; and by
the fire-grate, in which was seldom
to be seen a handful of burning

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 43

coals, was an old tin kettle, without
a lid. Chairs there were none, nor
a table, nor cupboard for food. Alas !
seldom would such a convenience
have been of use, for even a day's
supply of dry bread alone was sel-
dom there.

Sin caused this want. Sometimes
the Almighty sees fit, in his provi-
dence, to afflict the industrious, and
sober, and godly with deep poverty.
Sickness may bring them low ; or
inability to obtain employment may
reduce them to great distress; or
dearness of provisions may, at times,
severely try their patience and their
faith. But in any such case, those
whom God has blessed with plenty,
may pity without blaming the suffer-
ers, and relieve withoutfear of causing
sin to be added to sin. And when the

44 RAGGED SCHOOLS

children of God are thus stricken with
poverty, they know that their heaven-
ly Father is still watching over and
caring for them; and that he will
not lay upon them more than he
will give strength to bear, if they
seek his help. They know, too, that
" allthings work together for good to
them that love God," and that the
"light affliction" of the Christian,
"which is but for a moment," is
made ta work for him " a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of
glory," Rom. viii, 28; 2 Cor. iv, 17.
But there was no such consolation
and hope for the parents of little
Henry. They brought upon them-
selves and their children all the
sufferings they endured from hun-
ger, cold, nakedness, and abject
want

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 45

Though Henry had such a home,
and such depraved parents, he was
far from being a dull, stupid, obsti-
nate, discontented, or badly disposed
child. He seemed to have been
preserved, in a great measure, from
the contagion of wickedness by
which he was surrounded; and
after he had been a httle time at the
ragged school, none of his school-
fellows were more cheerful, diligent,
and well-behaved; while, out of
school, he was the delight of his
playmates, on account of his good-
tempered and happy disposition. It
would have been a sad thing if such
a boy had been driven by want and
cruelty to the commission of crime.
Surely it was the sovereign mercy
of God that led him to the ragged
school, and there provided him with

46 RAGGED SCHOOLS

friends who were better to him than
his own neglectful parents.

It was a pleasure to see Uttle
Henry enter the school every day
with a cheerful step, and clean face
and hands. It was a good trait of
his character that he cared at all about
cleanUness; for we may be sure
he did not learn it of a mother who
cared for Httle else besides her own
wicked indulgence, and who was
far more fond of the gin-shop than
of her own room. Indeed, it was
not without some trouble that Henry
could keep himself clean; for he
had neither soap, towel, nor bowl to
use. But where there is a will, there
is generally a way ; and after rising
from his bed of shavings, the boy
used to take an old rag into the back
yard of the house, and well wash

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 47

himself with water from a cask
which stood in the corner. After
all, however, poor Henry was a pitia-
ble object. His clothes were deplo-
rably old and ragged, and he had
neither shoes nor stockings to his
feet.

Henry's cheerfulness and perse-
verance gained the good-will of his
teachers, who gave him, as a re-
ward for his conduct, a pair of shoes
and stockings — the first he ever re-
membered to have had. It was
very cold weather; the snow lay
thick on the ground ; and the poor
boy was overjoyed with the present.
The next day, however, he came to
school barefoot as usual, carrying the
shoes and stockings in his hand.
"How is this?" said his teacher.

" O, sir," he replied, " you see my
4

48 RAGGED SCHOOLS

feet are all over chilblains ; I could
not bear the shoes on, they hurt me
so much. But I would not leave
them at home ; for if I had, I should
not have seen them again. My
mother would part with them to get
money for drink. You know, sir,
my mother would have drunk me
before now if she could."

The teacher knew this to be true ;
and all he could do, at that time,
was to pity him and pray for him,
and give him good advice.

Amidst such discouragements,
which would have broken down the
spirits of many a stout man, Henry
still continued his diligent attention
to learning. No one knew, perhaps
his teacher could only guess, how
often he entered the school faint
with hunger from the neglect of his

HENKY SELLING MATCHES.

^^1^.

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 51

unnatural parents, and how much
ill usage besides he had to bear from
them in their drunken anger. At
last, the poor httle fellow ventured
to ask his teacher if he would lend
him threepence.

"And what would you do with
the money, Henry?" The boy re-
plied that he wished to earn his own
living; and he thought if he had
threepence to begin with he could
do it, and attend school too. He
should be sorry, he said, to do as his
poor brothers had done ; and he
wished to get his Uving honestly.

The threepence was lent to him ;
and with this small sum, the honest,
enterprising, and industrious boy be-
gan to trade directly. He bought a
dozen boxes of lucifer matches, and
offered them for sale. Ah, little did

62 EAGGED SCHOOLS

the passers by, to whom Henry of-
fered his trifling merchandise, know
what mighty struggles between hope
and fear were going on in the mind
of the ardent lad ! Little did they
who hstened favorably to his en-
treaties, and laid out a penny toward
diminishing his stock of goods, think
how beneficially they employed that
money, and how they were further-
ing the kind designs of His provi-
dence without whose permission not
even a sparrow falls to the ground,
who clothes the fields with verdure,
and takes care of all who trust in
him.

The matches were sold, and
Henry had gained threepence by his
adventure. Hungry as he was, he
did not waste it in luxuries; he
bought more matches, and continued

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 53

his trade. From time to time he
sold a fresh dozen of boxes, and
with the profit he made by them he
got food for his support, and was
sometimes enabled to feed a poor
hungry sister, who also went to the
ragged school, and who suffered
equally with himself from the neg-
lect and ill treatment of their pa-
rents.

For nearly two years did Henry
support himself, all the while regu-
larly attending the school, and yet
disposing of his matches. - "You
know," he said, when asked how he
contrived to live, "I can always
manage to make threepence, and
sometimes more. I spend one pen-
ny for breakfast, another for dinner,
and the same sum for supper : that
is better than my brothers did ; and

M BAGGED SCHOOLS

by and by, when I can read and
write well, I will get a situation."

Young reader, think of Henry and
his first threepence, and his penny-
worths of bread for breakfast, dinner,
and supper, when you are tempted
to spend pence on luxuries. Think,
and be thankful for your mercies,
and at the same time ask yourself,
" Can I not make a better use of
this money ?"

After a time, Henry could read
and write well, and he left off* match-
sellingHo seek a situation. During
the time he had been at the ragged
school, though surrounded by bad
examples, and perhaps often tempted
to steal, he had maintained the same
character for honesty which first in-
duced his teacher to lend him the
threepence. This character was

AND BAGGED SCHOLARS. 55

now of service to him ; and his per-
severance overcame many difficul-
ties w^hich lay in his path. He
became the errand-boy of a fish-
monger.

Years passed away, and* the Httle
match-selling boy became a young
man. His home was no longer in a
miserable, unfurnished, dirty room,
but in a comfortable, well-furnished
house. His ragged clothing had
long ago given place to the respect-
able garb of a young tradesman.
His character had become still fur-
ther improved. By the grace of God
he had been kept from the sins
which, practiced by hi§ parents, had
embittered the days^f his childhood,
and brought guilt, sorrow, and ruin
into his family. As he advanced in
age and knowledge, he became more

56 RAGGED SCHOOLS

and more useful to his employer,
who treated him with respect, ad-
vanced his wages, and made him
his confidential servant.

" The wages of sin is death."
Henry's mother died a victim to in-
temperance ; and for a time the wid-
owed husband seemed roused by
this event from his course of dissi-
pation. It was but for a time, how-
ever. Like " the dog to his vomit,"
and "the sow that was washed to
her wallowing in the mire," 2 Pet.
ii, 22 ; so the unhappy man returned
to his habits of self-indulgence and
drunkenness, and cruelly turned his
only daughter into the streets.

It was well for this poor girl that
she had received good instruction in
a ragged school, and that those in-
structions had been kept and fol-

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 57

lowed, as well as received. It was
weU, also, that she had a friend in
her brother Henry. It was not like-
ly that he who, when a ragged- ^
school boy, had often shared his
penny breakfast or dinner with his
hungry sister, would suffer her to
perish when God had blessed him
with prosperity. No; he received
the poor outcast with affection, and
paid for her lodgings until she ob-
tained the means for her own sup-
port? which, by honest industry, she
was soon enabled to do. From
that time, the brother and sister
might be seen every Sunday walk-
ing together to the house of God,
with thankful hearts that they had
been rescued from the depth of
wretchedness and vice, placed in
worldly comfort, and taught the way

^

58 RAGGED SCHOOLS

of everlasting life, by the instru-
mentality of a ragged school.

HAPPY JAMES : OR, THE DEATH-BED OF
A RAGGED-SCHOOL BOY.

In the corner of a room, such a
one as we described as the home of
httle Henry, and lying on a bundle
of straw, was a poor child who had
been for some time at the ragged
school. His school days, however,
were over. Nakedness and neglect
had been too much for his tender
frame ; a bad cough had settled on
his lungs; he had become weaker
and weaker, till no hope was left
that his hfe would much longer be
continued. Happy boy! he had
heard, at the ragged school, of the
love and power of the compassionate

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 59

Saviour; he had given himself to
him ; and he was not afraid to die.

His teacher called to see him.
Everything about him was truly mis-
erable. EQs mother, like the mother
of the young match-seller, was igno-
rant and wicked, addicted to drunk-
enness, and careless of her family.
His father was also a sadly profli-
gate man. Had these parents been
mindful of their duty to God, to their
children, and to themselves, their
circumstances might have been far
different; so true is it that '^godh-
ness is profitable unto all things,
having promise of the life that now
is, and of that which is to come,"
1 Tim. iv, 8. But they cared about
little besides the indulgence of their
own sinful inclinations. No wonder,
then, that they were wretched ; that

60 SAGGED SCHOOLS

the mother was ragged and dirty,
and the poor dying boy's worldly
comforts very few.

He was very glad to see his teach-
er. He said that he felt himself to be
dying; but he was happy, for he
was going to Jesus. He asked to
have the Bible once more read to
him, that he might hear about the
Saviour.

He had a brother and sister who
knew nothing of the pleasures of
youthful piety — who were ignorant
of God and his word. He called
them to him, and begged of them to
go to the school which had been
made such a blessing to himself,
and where they would learn about
€hrist, and the way to heaven. He
earnestly implored them to pray for
a new heart, which is the gift of

AND RAGGED^ SCHOLARS. 61

God's Holy Spirit, through the Lord
Jesus Christ.

^ The father and mother of the
dying boy were standing by. Their
hearts were touched: for they seemed
to be hearing his voice almost for
the last time ; and it must indeed be
a hard-hearted parent, who can look
on the death-bed of a child without
feehng. The little fellow turned his
eyes toward them with strong affec-
tion.— "Mother," he said, and his
voice was very weak and broken ;
yet how great was its power to
awaken the mother's sleeping con-
science ! — " Mother, will you give up
drinking, and go to the house of God,
and pray for a new heart ? Mother,
I want to meet you in heaven."

After a Httle while, he again turned
to his parents, — ^

62 EAGaED SCHOOLS

" Father, I shall soon leave you,
but I am going to my heavenly Fa-
ther. Will you give up swearing,
father; and read the Bible, and go
to a place of worship* on Sunday,
and seek a new heart ? Then I
shall meet you in heaven. Do, fa-
ther."

Ah! what a scene that was — a
dying child exhorting his careless
parents to prepare for following him,
and for meeting him in heaven ! The
father could not answer the child;
but stood wiping away the falling
tears with the sleeve of his tattered
jacket. The mother's heart, too,
was full of grief; but with sobs and
tears she promised for herself and
her husband that they would attend
to their dying son's request

There lav in the next room a little

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 63

girl who had been the school com-
panion of poor James — that was the
name of the dying boy. She also
was very ill. He wished to see her
once more ; and asked his mother to
carry him to her. This was done,
and he affectionately bade her fare-
well.

When he was brought back to his
bed of straw, he bethought himself
of a message to send to his grand-
mother, who had been kind to him,
but who was not then present.

" Tell grandmother," he said to his
teacher, " to give up buying things
on Sunday, and to read the big Tes-
tament you gave her."

In a few short hours, the soul of
little James had left its frail body,
which was soon afterward placed
in the grave : but his dying requests

64 RAGGED SCHOOLS

were not forgotten. From that time
the conduct of his parents became
greatly altered ; and it may be hoped
that, though young when called
away from earth, the ragged-school
boy had not hved in vain.

" Happy the children who are gone
To live with Jesus Christ in peace ;
Who stand around his glorious throne,
Bedeem'd by blood, and saved by grace !

" The Saviour whom they loved below,
Hath kindly wiped their tears away ;
No sin, no sorrow, there they know,
But dwell in one eternal day."

WE ARE ALL WRONG.

One day a little boy came to the
ragged school, to have his name put
down as a scholar. His dress was a
very old coat, which had been made,
most hkely, many years before, for a
man ; and now, when worn by the

ANU l{A(li)lCl» SOTIOLAHS. 07

hoy, its skirts dni<*'j»'etl nloi\«»' tlie
grouiul as he walktul. \\c luul no
slurt, no slices, no stookinj»s; ancl
instond oftrowsovH, an old divt\ a])ron
Avay lied roimd liiiu, outside tlioeoat.
The poor little fellow was covered
witli dirt iViuu head to ti»oi, plainly
sho^vi^^»»* that his home was one of
grtMit ne«»i(*et and diseon\lovt, as well
as ol' poverty.

The parents of this poor hoy were
not 8'enerally reekoned dishonest
people; hut they were wt^ll known
as luMn»»' very (*arelt\ss ahont their
lannly, and very prt»lli»>ate. Their
oeenpation was that of selln\«;' ve^'e-
tables and frnit in the streets; nnd
tla*y nvi«»ht luive obtained a eondort-
able livino- in this way. hnt tor thtMr
sad habits of drunkenness. As it
was, ahnost all they earned, they

68 RAGGED SCHOOLS

spent at the public-house, leaving
their children to wander in the
streets, and to obtain food for them-
selves as they could.

You may think what a wretched
home they had. A few shavings
served for a bed; an old basket,
turned bottom upwards, was the
only table, and two old saucepans
were the only seats that the room
contained. The parents themselves
were always dressed in tatters, and
covered with filth; and the neigh-
bors around them — though, alas!
many of them were very ignorant
and debased^^looked upon this fa-
mily with pity and contempt.

it was hard work, no doubt, to
make the son of such parents pay
any regard to cleanUness, and to
take any real pleasure in learning.

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 69

After a time, however, he was more
decent in appearance, and, in a few
months, was able to read. His
teacher then gave him, as a reward
and an encouragement, a New Tes-
tament ; and he was told to take it
home, and to read it to his parents, if
they would hke to listen to him. He
was to read to them the third chapter
of John.

The boy had soon an opportunity
of doing this; for, degraded as his
parents were, they were proud of the
success of their son, and pleased
with the gift he had brought from
school. They sat and listened, and
the child read : —

'' There was a man of the Phari-
sees named Nicodemus, a ruler of
the Jews : the same came to Jesus
by night, and said unto him. Rabbi,

70 BAGGED SCHOOLS

we know that thou art a teacher
come from God ; for no man can do
these miracles that thou doest, ex-
cept God be with him. Jesus an-
swered and said unto him, Verily,
verily, I say unto thee, Except a
man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God."

Neither the father nor mother of
the boy could read ; and most likely
they had never before heard this
chapter read to them. If they had,
they certainly had not listened to it
as they did at this time ; for, as soon
as the boy had read the third verse,
his father stopped him, and cried out,
"You are surely reading wrong.
* Except a man be born again !' — ^you
must have read it wrong." The lit-
tle reader was sure that those were
the very words ; but this did not sat-

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 71

isfy the father, who said that the
teacher must come to tell him
whether or not his son was right.

The teacher was glad to go to that
miserable abode on such an errand ;
and when he got there, he took the
Testament, and, beginning to read
at the same place, soon came to the
words, "Except a man be born
again."

Weil, this was just the same as his
son had read ; and the man could no
longer doubt that the exact words
were in the boclk; but this only in-
creased his difficulty. " How can a
man be born again ?" he asked.

The teacher then told him that the
new birth spoken of there meant a
changed heart ; that a person who
had passed through such a change
would no lonprer live for his own

72 RAGGED SCHOOL^

sinful pleasures, but for the glory of
God. He said that, instead of the
love of sin, new desires and affec-
tions would spring up in the heart ;
that there would be a love of holi-
ness, and a constant fear to <lo what
is forbidden by God. He said, also,
that this change of heart and affec-
tion would produce a change of con-
duct; that the man thus changed
would forsake the sins which he had
before loved, and become sober, hon-
est, industrious, and frugal, and
also in all things would adorn the
doctrine of God his Saviour. He
told him, lastly, that such a change
could only be wrought by the Holy
Spirit of God, through the mercy
of the Lord Jesus Christ, and on
account of what he had done and
suffered.

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 73

These words made a great impres-
sion on the mind of this poor sinful
and ignorant man. He exclaimed,
" We are all wrong !" The truth of
the gospel had touched his heart
with power ; and caused him to feel
what a wretch he had lived through
the whole of his life.

He looked around him, and saw
everything to convince him that his
own sins had brought him to ruin
and desolation even in this world ;
and he felt that they were hurrying
him on to eternal destruction. Like
the jailer whom we read of in the
Acts of the Apostles, his thought was,
"What must I do?" No doubt af-
ter this, he was shown the way of
salvation more clearly ; and his con-
duct gave great hope that he knew
by experience what it was to be

74 RAGGED SCHOOLS

born again. After several years, it
was found that the sins he had once
loved and followed had been forsa-
ken ; and that the word of God was
the rule of his life. His wife, too,
became an altered woman; no
longer neglectful of her children, and
caring for nothing but her own sin-
ful gratification, but desirous of learn-
ing the will of her Maker and Saviour,
and of doing it.

You may be sure that such a
change as this made a difference in
many other respects. The money
that they earned^ and which once
would have been squandered in sin,
was employed in making home de-
cent and happy. The children, as
well as themselves, were comfortably
clothed and fed; by degrees, their
abode was furnished with table and

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 75

chairs, bed and bedstead; while
cleanliness gave additional value to
every new comfort they enjoyed.
They were no longer " all wrong ;"
but had reason to hope, and others
had reason to hope for them, that
the gospel, which had brought such
a change to their dwelling, had also
been the power of God unto salva-
tion, because it was beheved and
obeyed. Do you not think, then,
that these persons were proof of
God's mercy; and that they had
great reason to be thankful for the
instructions received by their son at
the ragged school ?

76 RAGGED SCHOOLS

CHAPTER IV.

RAGGED-SCHOOL MEMORIALS— THE OLD STABLE.

ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL. DEATH

OF JAMES S.

It is upwards of ten years since we
first visited the back streets and
courts which He immediately behind
Westminster Abbey. Our object
was to make known the message of
God's mercy and love to the degraded
inhabitants of that neighborhood.
After taking a survey of the old brick
buildings, some of which seemed
nodding to their fall, we entered the
wretched dwellings. This, however,
required no small degree of moral
courage. While passing from house
to house, and room to room, we
found everything in keeping with

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 77

windows long since broken, and
street-doors wrenched from their
hinges. The filthy, dilapidated dwell-
ings sadly harmonized with the ruf-
fianly and besotted aspect of the
inhabitants, among whom employ-
ment too frequently means crime, and
amusement — debauchery and out-
rage. ' No one could go within the
precincts of such a place, without
perceiving that he had entered into a
colony of thieves and pickpockets.
Under the shadow of St. Stephens,
the seat of British Legislation^ were
these masses of the human family to
be found, who knew no rehgion, and
hterally owned no laws. At the
doors and windows of the houses,
and also at the ends of narrow courts,
were seen loitering groups of half-
dressed men and women, smoking,

78 RAG^GED SCHOOLS

swearing, and occasionally fighting.
The swarms of filthy, neglected
children, squatted in the mud, were
screaming forth language as profane
and obscene as that of their elders.
These were being trained, as their
fathers and mothers had been before
them, in that system of education of
which Newgate and Botany Bay are
the almost inevitable results.

One fine Sabbath afternoon, in
the month of April, when the streets
were unusually crowded, after hav-
ing provided a large room, we went
forth in company with a poor tinker,
(the only person in the neighborhood
who would render us any assist-
ance,) to gather together these poor
neglected and outcast children of the
streets.

After no small effort, forty were

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 79

taken to the room, all of whom looked
as wild as the deer taken from the
mountain, and penned up within the
hurdles, when approached by men ;
the matted hair, the mud-covered
face, hands, and feet, the ragged and
tattered clothes, that served as an
apology to cover their nakedness,
gave the group a very grotesque ap-
pearance, and would have been a
fine subject for the painter's pencil.

Little was done that afternoon be-
sides taking the names, and even in
this we had to encounter difficulties.
Beginning with the first bench, a boy
was asked, "What is your name?"
He answered, " They calls me Billy."
" Where do you five ?" " I lives in
that yer street down the way, at
Mother M— — 's rag-shop ; I have a

tother brother, but L am older thau
6

80 RAGGED SCHOOLS

he." The next boy was ten years
of age ; he said his name was Dick.
".Any other name besides Dick?"
"No, they calls me Dick; I sells
matches in the streets, and live in
that tother street next room to
Jimmy that sells oranges." Such is
a specimen of the answers given to
questions respecting names, age, and
residence !

Some interesting stories were told
them from the Scriptures, and at the
close of the afternoon each child had
a small card given him, containing a
short prayer. Attached to it was a
piece of pink tape, that it might be
hung over the mantel-shelf

This appeared to them more valu-
able than if it had been gold. Ac-
companied with the reward was an
invitation to c<5me again next Sab-

AND EAGGED SCHOLARS. 81

bath, which was heartily responded
to by each child. Next Sabbath a
large addition to our former num-
bers was congregated at the school-
room. The work of teaching was
commenced, amid difficulties only
known to those who engaged in it,
but by patience and perseverance
they were eventually overcome. For
the first time in the history of these
neglected outcasts, they found out
that some one loved them ; they had
hearts to feel it, and in return they
gave their best gifts — regular attend-
ance and orderly attention.

Though the room gave comfort-
able accommodation to eighty chil-
dren, it soon became "too strait."
A larger one was sought ; and, as a
substitute for a better, an old stable
was fitted up for the purpose.

82 RAGGED SCHOOLS

It was soon found that the children
lost much of what they gained on
the Sabbath, by having no other em-
ployment or amusement but that
afforded by vice and crime during
the other six days of the week. To
remedy this evil, when the old stable
was ready, the school was opened
every day. It was soon filled to
overflowing, for every child was
made welcome, however ragged or
destitute.

The first summer's instruction
had closed ; dark December had ar-
rived, with its cold nipping frosts,
which told powerfully on the half-
naked bodies and unshod feet of the
children. Their ankles and feet
were very often chapped and bleed-
ing; yet suffering as they did,
nothing would* keep them from the

4?*4f

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 83

school. Why ? Because the teacher
was kind, and the hand of kindness
was held out by all who met them
there.

Our hearts were often grieved to
witness them shivering in the cold,
and especially as we could render
them no assistance, for it was with
great difficulty that sufficient funds
were raised to carry on the school.
"We have seen many of the children
taken ill and die, through exposure
to the inclemency of the weather.

Poor James S ! We shall never

forget his death-bed scene. Cold
settled on his lungs, which ended in
rapid consumption. When we first
visited him, he was lying in the cor-
ner of a cheerless room, on a pallet
of dirty straw. The mother provided
a chair, the only one in the room,

84 RAGGED SCHOOLS

and it was broken. A large deal box
stood in the middle of the floor,
which served as a table. The mo-
ther was both dirty and ragged.
James said he w^s dying, and that he
was going to Jesus. He requested
us to read the Bible to him, that he
might learn more about the Saviour.
The next day that we visited the
little sufferer we found him much
worse. He had a brother and sister,
for whose welfare he showed much
anxiety. He first said to his brother,
" You must pray for a new heart ;"
and told his sister to go to school,
where she would learn about Christ
and the way to heaven. Then, fix-
ing his glazed eyes upon his father
and mother — for they were both in
the room, looking on their dying boy,
for the last time— poor Jamf53 isaid.

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 85

with a faltering voice, " O ! mother,
will you give up drinking, and go to
chapel, and pray for a new heart ? I
want to meet you in heaven; do,
mother." The mother's heart was
full — tears ran down her squalid
cheeks. We had often made the
same request to her, but our words
fell upon her ears like rain-drops on
the adamantine rock. But the voice
that now spoke broke open the well-
springs of her heart; like a voice
from the grave, it came from the Hps
of her own boy, which were soon to
be closed in death. The accusations
of a guilty conscience added force to
the request of the dying child, for
she knew that his disease "was the
effect of her own neglect, through
intemperate habits; and that, througl\
his short and sharp existence, from

86 RAGGED SCHOOLS

her he had experienced more of a
parent's negligence than a mother's
care.

When he had a Httle recovered —
for he was very feeble, and could
scarcely articulate— he told his father
he v^ould soon leave him, but he
was going to his heavenly Father.
Looking wistfully at him, he contin-
ued, " Will you give up swearing
and bad words, father, and read the
Bible, and go to a place of worship,
and pray to God to give you a new
heart, and I shall meet you in hea-
ven ?" The father could not answer
the child, but stood wiping away the
tears with the sleeve of his tattered
flannel jacket; but the mother an-
swered for him, and, kissing the
child, she said, " He will, James —
yes, he will !"

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 87

Poor little James knew that Mary,
in the next room, who had been his
school companion, was very ill of
the same complaint. He requested
his mother to cany him to see her,
for the last time. On seeing the
nttle girl, whom he kissed with
much tenderness, he said that Jesus
loved her, and then bade her farewell.

He was brought back, and laid on
his pallet of straw, but his work was
not yet done. He had a grandmo-
ther, who had treated him kindly
when in health, but was not then
present to hear, from his own lips,
his dying counsel, but we were re-
quested to convey to her the follow-
ing message : " Tell grandmother to
give up buying things on Sunday,
and read the big Testament you gave
her, and go to chapel."

88 EAQGED SCHOOLS

We closed this affecting scene by
offering up prayer to God in behalf of
the little sufferer. In one short hour
afterwards, the Saviour took home to
himself this — ^the first ripe fruit ga-
thered from our labors in the Old
Stable.

THREE CHILBREN REFORMED.

Before the Old Stable was opened,
we were in one of the lowest lodging-
houses in Westminster, sitting by the
bed-side of one who had spent some
years in a course of iniquity, point-
ing her dying eyes to Him who is
ready to receive all that come unto
Him that they may have life. While
the silent tear was stealing down the
palUd cheek of this dying, but we

AND RAGGED SCHOLAES. 89

trust repenting prodigal, the solemn
scene was interrupted by the sudden
entrance of four pohcemen ; two of
them kept the door, while the others
made a strict search under all the
beds that were in the room, six in
number; neither the chimney nor
cupboard escaped their scrutiny.
Having failed in the object of their
pursuit, we inquired the cause of
their visit; they informed us that a
man and woman, notorious for
begging-letter writing, had followed
up, that morning, one of these
epistles with so much importunity,
as to succeed in obtaining five pounds
from a gentleman, under the plea of
burying the apphcant's wife; unfor-
tunately, the pretended deceased
wife made her appearance — she was
seen by a servant of the gentleman

90 RAGGED SCHOOXS

leaving a public-house with a bottle
of rum. Information was given to
the poUce, and they were now in
close pursuit. This woman, who for
years had carried on a system of im-
position on the benevolent public, was
a widow, and a mother of two boys,
at that time of the respective ages of
seven and ten years. The man with
whom she lived had been a lawyer's
clerk; his love of strong drink, and
frequent visits to the same public-
house, had brought them together;
the man's former profession gave him
qualifications, of which few in his
position could boast, for the work of
imposition; his abilities raised him
to the highest dignity, for he was
styled by the fraternity king of the
beggars. We felt a deep solicitude
in the welfare of the boys, for they

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 91

were the very objects for whom the
Old Stable was opened. The worth-
less mother was spoken to ; she ad-
mitted that education was a good
thing, for whatever station in Hfe one
filled, it was very useful to be able to
read and write. It was at once
agreed that the boys should be sent to
school "However," said she, "it
is but right to let you know that if
Jack and myself should be sent to
the ^ downs'^ for a month, the boys
must go to the workhouse, She also
made an apology for their clothes, as
well she might, for the coat of the
eldest boy appeared as though it had
done faithful service to a man of no
ordinary stature before it came into
his possession. One sleeve had en-
tirely disappeared. We hinted that

* Tothill Fields Prison.

92 BAGGED SCHOOLS

buttons would look a little more re-
spectable than having the coat and
trowsers tied up with strings. "Bless
you," she exclaimed, " you know the
boys are so fond of tossing for but-
tons, that were I to put on wooden
ones they would cut them off." They
had not been long at school, before
it was found necessary to use some
means to secure their more regular
attendance ; the master complained
that after all his attempts he could
seldom see them in their places;
he had sent after them, but to little
purpose ; for if he had them in the
morning, he seldom saw them in
the afternoon. He once locked them
in the school during the dinner hour,
but on his return he found they had
made their escape through the roof
by removing some tiles. ^But what

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 93

could be expected of the poor boys ?
they had often to provide their own
food ; this they had no other means
of doing than by mud-larking, that
is, picking up coals by the river-side,
and disposing of them for a few
pence. About this time, Jack, the
pretended husband of the mother, by
a life of dissipation had brought on
a disease, which was fast hurrying
him to a premature grave. We vis-
ited him during his illness, until his
death. After the death of this man,
the mother of the boys commenced
a new mode of hving ; she opened a
wardrobe of widow's weeds, for the
purpose of lending them on hire for
the day, to those who preferred go-
ing out on begging excursions ; she
was also agent for the poor of the
neighborhood, and supphed children

94 RAGGED SCHOOLS

at ninepence a head to the professed
widows, who found it would answer
their purpose to take one or more
children, to excite the sympathies of
passers-by in the street. In this way
the mother of our young friends now
supported herself. We held out pro-
mises of rewards to such children as
were most regular in their attendance
at school, in the shape of clothing,
etc. This had the desired effect of
securing the attendance of these too-
much neglected youths ; the mother,
too, was now in a profession that
rendered her less liable to be sent to
the " downs," or the boys being re-
moved to the work-house ; which
gave them the opportunity of conti-
nuing at their classes, until they were
capable of going out into the world
to do something for their own sup-

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 95

port. They are now steady young
men; the eldest is a plasterer, and
the youngest a paper-stainer; both
contribute to the support of their
mother, whose habits of life are en-
tirely changed. She told us, with
much feehng, that her boys had
agreed together to give her what
support they could, on condition of
her becoming a member of a tem-
perance society. This she at once
agreed to do, and still continues a

member.

7

96 RAGGED SCHOOLS

CONCLIJSION.

You have now read a little about
ragged schools and ragged-school
children. It is only a small part of
what might be written : for there are
now many such schools ; and every
day furnishes new proofs of their
need and of their usefulness. But
enough has been written here to
make it plain that there is much ig-
norance and sin, as well as poverty,
even in our own land of gospel light
and knowledge.

And now, young reader, we think
there are two or three lessons that
you may learn from this little book.

You may see what reason you
have to be thankful. Do you not
remember the words of David, " The
lines are fallen to me in pleasant

AND BAGGED SCHOLARS. 97

places; yea, I have a goodly heri-
tage ?" Psa. xvi, 6. So may yon say.
How much fairer your lot, and great-
er your advantages, than if you had
been brought up in ignorance of
God, and of his great salvation ; and
had no better home than such as
have here been described to you!
Think who it is that has made you
thus to differ, and be thankful.

Have you no reason to be humble?
Do you prize your advantages quite
as much as you ought to do, or profit
by them quite so largely as you
might do? Think of the ragged-
school children, many of them with
cruel, neglectful parents, surrounded
with bad examples, exposed to
temptation; and yet, surmounting all
these things, learning with gratitude
and profit, and, at length, breaking

98 BAGGED SCHOOIiS

away from bad influences, and be-
coming good and useful, sober and
industrious. Think of this, not with
conceit of your superior advantages,
but with humility that they have not
always been improved.

Do you remember what the Lord
Jesus said about the cities where
many of his mighty works had been
done ? — " Woe unto thee, Chorazin !
woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the
mighty works which were done iri
you had been done in Tyre and
Sidon, they would have repented
long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I say unto you. It shall be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the
day of judgment, than for you."
Matt, xi, 21, 22. Now, will you ask
yourself, young friend, whether or
not these words apply to you? Sup-

*•.%

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 99

pose, after all, you should be found
among the neglecters and despisers
of the blessed Saviour ; do you not
think that at the day of judgment it
will be more tolerable for the igno-
rant children of whom you have
read, whose ears'the sounds of mercy
never reached, and who perished in
their sins — than for you ? Lay this
question, I pray you, to heart, and
think upon it with deep seriousness
and attention.

Then, think how mighty is the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the power of the Holy Spirit, to sub-
due the iniquities of men, and to
save their souls. Is it not a delight-
ful truth that Christ " is able to save
them to the uttermost that come
unto God by him?" Remember, too,
dear young reader, that if you would

100 RAGGED SCHOOLS.

be forever happy, it must be by the
same salvation w^hich is common to
all. Except you repent, you must
perish; and, Except you be born
again, you cannot see the kingdom
of God, Luke xiii^3 ; John iii, 3.

^^

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS.

101

THE RAGGED SCHOOL BOY.

LOST.

^T "WAS a night in December ; a drizzling rain

Had been dropping all day, was still dropping amaiii.

I pass'd by an alley : there shiver'd a child,

His clothes all in tatters, his features all wild,

His hair was bematted, his feet were unshod.

As cold and as wet as the pavement he trod.

He look'd in my face — such a look of despair !

The picture of sorrow, the victim of care.

No father, no mother, no home had the boy,

An outcast, a lost one, a stranger to joy ;

His bed was the alley, the cellar, the lane.

His pillow the door-step in cold and in rain ;

Untaught and uncared-for, unclothed and tinktiown,

Poor lost little fellow ! "will none the child own ?

102 RAGGED SCHOOLS

Yes, come to tlie " Ragged Scliool," open the door,
Look round : there 's a face we have met with hefore :
'Tis the same little fellow we saw yesternight,
His cheek is yet pale, but his young eye is bright,
His hair is unmatted, it curls on his brow ;
His arms, do they hang down in listlessness now ?
Just w^atch him a moment, there 's joy in his eyes,
As his hand, all unskill'd, at such new work he tries.
He is found — do not leave him an outcast again,
But give him a shelter from cold and from rain ;
Instruct him, and clothe him, and feed him awhile ;
He '11 pay you, o'erpay you, in gratitude's smile.
Point, point him to Jesus, the Friend of the poor,
And Jesus will bless both your basket and store.

THE RAGGED SCHOOL.

A SKETCH IN COURT. — BY A BAEEISTEK.

Hark ! heard ye liot that loud and startling shriek ?-

From yonder gallery's crowded rows it came ; —
'Twas long — 'twas fearful — and it seem'd to speak

A mother's anguish at her offspring's shame :
" Left to himself,"* to herd with folly's band,

'the child at home was taught no useful rule.
And no kind Christian took him by the hand,

To guide his footsteps to the " Ragge!d School."

* Proverbs xxix, 15.

AND RAGGED SCHOLARS. 103

Had he been there, he might have leam'd to bend

The knee in prayer— to shun the haunts of crime,
And gain the favor of that heavenly Eriend

Who reigns enthroned above the spheres sublime : —
Such might have been his lot ; for grace can change

The heart from folly's sway to wisdom's rule :
But some, perchance, may deem this doctrine strange.

And wondering ask, — What is a " Eagged School ?"

Neglected youths together brought to meet.

With tatter'd garments and " unwashen hands,"
Fresh from the mud of river-bank or street,

Eude as the heathen of benighted lands —
These all, in order, taught to go and come.

To prove obedient to their teacher's rule,
Speak when they 're told, and, when they're not, be
dumb, —

This is the pictm-e of a " Eagged School."
Where noble hearts, and honorable minds,

The lowest depths of infant misery readi-7-
Where beauty's form its purest pleasure finds,

The long-neglected little ones to teach —
Where kindness ever works, and seldom fails,

(E'en though the child be stubborn as a mule) —
Where patient love o'er waywardness prevails —

There go, and ye shall find a " Eagged School."

To curb the passions, and to mold the will ;

To guide the wandering, and bring back the lost ;
With Scripture truth the memory's stores to fill ;

And seek the soul to save, at any cost :

104 RAGGED SCHOOLS.

To heal the youth that haunt oiir public ways,
Foul as the crowds that throng'd Bethesda's pool; —

This is the effort of our modem days —
This is the glory of the "Eagged School."

The band of laborers now, though scant and small,

To see the first fruits, with delight begin ;
A time will come, when, in the sight of all,

The glorious harvest shall be gather'd in :
And thousands then, in heaven's unclouded calm,

ShaU bow to Him who doth all nations rule,
Strike the sweet harp, and wave the victor's palm.

And bless the Saviour for the " Eagged School."

Christians of Britain, if ye love your land,

Your land of freedom, by the Truth made free,
Give of your substance, that each youthful band

That truth may leam, and God's salvation see ;
Cleanse not the ^'■outside of the cup'"* alone;

Who does, is but a Pharisaic fool ; —
But, that its inward brightness may be shown,

Pray for a blessing on the " Eagged School."

* Matthew xitiii, 25.

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