THE VILLAGE SUNDAY-SCHOOL:
With brief Sketches of
THREE OF ITS SCHOLARS.
BY JOHN C. SYMONS.
REVISED BY DANIEL P. KIDDER.
New York:
PUBLISHED BY LANE & SCOTT,
FOR THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION
OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
200 MULBERRY-STREET.
JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER.
1850.
PREFACE.
The writer of the following pages makes no pretension to authorship. Heis deeply conscious that many defects characterize his production; andhe hopes that they will be treated with the consideration which socandid an avowal merits, and which the fact demands.
The narratives are substantially true; but, for obvious reasons, thenames of persons and places are changed.
The reason why this little book is sent into the world is, the writerconsiders the details which it contains of an exceedingly encouragingcharacter, and calculated to support and strengthen the pious teacher inthe discharge of his important and sometimes discouraging duties.
The writer has felt the need of encouragement while laboring in theSabbath-school; and he has had that need supplied in no small measurefrom the consideration of the facts now before his readers. He hopesthat the effect which these facts have had upon his mind, will beproduced upon the minds of all who may peruse these pages. If such bethe case—if but one devoted, self-denying teacher deriveencouragement—his end will be more than answered.
With earnest prayer that the great Head of the Church will grant hisblessing upon this little work, the writer submits it to his reader.
CONTENTS
THE VILLAGE—THE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL—THE SUPERINTENDENT—A REVIVAL.
THE HISTORY OF JAMES.
HISTORY OF THOMAS.
HISTORY OF GEORGE.
CONCLUSION—BENEFITS OF SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
CHAPTER I.
THE VILLAGE—THE NEW SUNDAY-SCHOOL—THE SUPERINTENDENT—A REVIVAL.
M—— is a small village in the west of England, delightfully situatedin a wooded pleasant valley. Through it runs the parish road, which—asit leads to the seashore, from whence the farmers of that and theneighboring parishes bring great quantities of sand and seaweed asmanure—frequently presents, in the summer, a bustling scene. Thevillage is very scattered: on the right of the beautiful streamlet whichflows silently down the valley, and runs across the road just in thecentre of the village, stands an old mill; which for many a long yearhas been wont to throw out its murmuring sound, as the water falls overits broad and capacious wheel. On the other side of the stream, andjust opposite the old mill, a few yards from the road, stands a neat,commodious, and well-built Methodist chapel, which, from the prominenceof its situation, and good proportions, has often a