FIFTH READER.   69

1. In the city of Bath, not many years since, lived a barber who made a
practice of following his ordinary occupation on the Lord's day. As he
was on the way to his morning's employment, he happened to look into
some place of worship just as the minister was giving out his text
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." He listened long enough to
be convinced that he was constantly breaking the laws of God and man
by shaving and dressing his customers on the Lord's day. He became
uneasy, and went with a heavy heart to his Sabbath task.

2. At length he took courage, and opened his mind to his minister, who
advised him to give up Sabbath work, and worship God. He replied that
beggary would be the consequence. He bad a flourishing trade, but it
would almost all be lost. At length, after many a sleepless night spent in
weeping and praying, he was determined to cast all his care upon God, as
the more he reflected, the more his duty became apparent.

3. He discontinued his Sabbath work, went constantly and early to the
public services of religion, and soon enjoyed that satisfaction of mind
which is one of the rewards of doing our duty, and that peace which the
world can neither give nor take away. The consequences he foresaw
actually followed. His genteel customers left him, and he was nicknamed
"Puritan" or "Methodist." He was obliged to give up his fashionable shop,
and, in the course of years, became so reduced as to take a cellar under
the old market house and shave the poorer people.

4. One Saturday evening, between light and dark, a stranger from one of
the coaches, asking for a barber, was directed by the hostler to the cellar
opposite. Coming in hastily, he requested to be shaved quickly, while
they changed horses, as he did not like to violate the Sabbath.

This was touching the barber on a tender chord. He burst into tears;
asked the stranger to lend him a half penny to buy a candle, as it was not
light enough to shave him with safety. He did so, revolving in his mind
the extreme poverty to which the poor man must be reduced.

5. When shaved, he said, "There must be something extraordinary in
your history, which I have not now time to hear. Here is half a crown for
you. When I return, I will call and investigate your case. What is your
name?" "William Reed," said the astonished barber. "William Reed?"
echoed the stranger: "William Reed? by your dialect you are from the
West." "Yes, sir, from Kingston, near Taunton." "William Reed from
Kingston, near Taunton? What was your father's name?" "Thomas."
"Had he any brother?" "Yes, sir, one, after whom I was named; but he
went to the Indies, and, as we never heard from him, we supposed him to
be dead."

6. "Come along, follow me," said the stranger, "I am going to see a person
who says his name is William Reed, of Kingston, near Taunton. Come
and confront him. If you prove to be indeed he who you say you are, I
have glorious news for you. Your uncle is dead, and has left an immense
fortune, which I will put you in possession of when all legal doubts are
removed."

7. They went by the coach; saw the pretended William Reed, and proved
him to be an impostor. The stranger, who was a pious attorney, was
soon legally satisfied of the barber's identity, and told him that he had
advertised him in vain. Providence had now thrown him in his way in a
most extraordinary manner, and he had great pleasure in transferring a
great many thousand pounds to a worthy man, the rightful heir of the
property. Thus was man's extremity God's opportunity. Had the poor
barber possessed one half penny, or even had credit for a candle, he
might have remained unknown for years; but he trusted God, who never
said, "Seek ye my face," in vain.

DEFINITIONS.   2. Ap par'ent, clear, plain. 3. Gen teel, fashionable,
elegant. Re duced', brought to poverty. 4. Vio late, to break, to profane. 5.
In ves'ti gate, to inquire into with care. Dialect, a local form of speech. 6.
Con front', to face, to stand before. 7. At tor'ney (pro. at tur'ny), a
lawyer. Iden'tity, the condition of being the same as something claimed.
Trans ferring, making over the possession of. Ex trem'i ty, greatest need.
Op por tuni ty, favorable time.