his temporal calling, or whether, without excluding before the time, and it seems very long and tedious that purpose, it is likewise a system for operating to have to walk backward and forward, with noupon the mind and character of man himself. If thing to look at but just the dreary heath, and the it be the first, then it is easy to understand why, in canal, and the school- house by the side of the lock, a country which labours under religious divisions, || and the low tower of Horsell church a little furwe should not seek to encumber our education, as ther back. However, they do not seem to mind it it were, by mixing religion as essentially a part of much ; they feel in their pockets, to be sure that it; but if it be, upon the contrary, so far from their ticket is all safe ; they look at their luggage being true that such is the case, that it is one of to see that none of it is mixed or lost; they the subtlest and most mischievous delusions that watch for the train, and wonder it is not yet in ever went forth for the ruin of man, then, upon the sight; and they think how soon they shall get to other hand, it is surely equally true that religion their journey's end and finish their business, or must be included in the matter of education.' join, perhaps, some friend whom they have not

seen for a long time. And as the time draws nearer WOKING-COMMON;

the scene gets more and more animated and amus

ing; carriage after carriage, and gig after gig drives OR, THE RAILWAY-STATION.

up, and there is such a bustle, the passengers getI HAVE had lately to travel several times by the

ing down and paying their fare, and then hurrying railway; and while I stopped for the train at the in, and rushing to the place where the tickets are station, and saw the people coming in and prepar delivered ; one says, "Are we too late ?" another ing for their passage, I could not help remarking cries, “Is the train come up ?" all seem to have but various things, which might, I thought, if put to one object-to be in time-to secure a place, not to gether, and properly applied, make up a kind of

be left behind on this dreary common. Meanwhile parable. Perhaps some of you have never been by

the man at the station keeps on delivering his the railroad, or ever seen a railway-station : let

tickets with the greatest coolness and composureme tell you what sort of place it is. The nearest

some for the first class, some for the second, some station to this village is the one on Woking Com

for the third. The meaning of this is, that there are mon, which is called the Woking-station; it is a

different sorts of carriages in which the passenmost dreary spnt, with nothing but wild heath all

gers are conveyed: the first class is fitted up with round it; there is the station-house on one side of cushions and elbows, and shuts up with glass winthe railroad, where you go in and get your ticket; dows; the second has a covering overhead, but and then on the other side is a place, covered at | has a hard seat, and no windows at the sides, so top and open in front, where you have to wait till || that in cold weather it is rather uncomfortable ; the the train comes up, and it is time to get in. There

third class has no covering overhead, and you are is, besides, a place for coals, and an engine for pump

exposed, not only to the cold wind and rain, but ing water into the boiler, and several out-houses,

to the smoke and the ashes, which fly into your and heaps of broken wheels and trucks, and rub eyes, and make it very unpleasant : still, for all bish of various descriptions; and there is a court ll this, there is not so very much difference-none at yard, fenced all round, which the coaches, and flys, || all in the speed; first class and third class, rich and different vehicles drive into, to set down and || and poor, all go the same pace, and get set down take up the passengers as they go or return. But || at last in the same terminus when the journey is the great thing to be observed, is the railway itself, ll over, which, after all, is the great point. But now which runs out in almost a straight line, as far as the time is up; the train is visible in the disthe eye can reach, both one way and the other.

tance; the bell is rung, the warning bell; the You would wonder at first what could be the use of passengers are all expectation all ready to jump those great bars of iron fixed upon the ground, and ||

Il in as soon as it arrives ; but it is not come up yet ; running such an immense way along ; but you soon || it is still a good way off; all you can see yet is a find out the meaning of this, when you see how || wisp of white smoke, which keeps moving nearer light and easy those great carriages run along || and nearer, and by degrees you can hear a distant upon them, and how an enormous train of goods, || rumble of the wheels; and then, as it draws nearer, and hundreds of passengers, are drawn along upon you hear the hard panting of the steam-engine in them, with much less effort and strain than one of | front, which seems to snort and roar, as if it were our stage-coaches, that you see going by on the a great living monster, which was drawing all the road. Well, then, you must understand, that there train after it, or rather as if the whole thing was are regular times every day for the trains to pass

an enormous serpent, of which the engine was the by and call at the station; it is all fixed and settled, head, the carriage the body, and the trucks at the and set down on a sheet of paper, so that there can end the tail. But now the panting noise has ceased; be no mistake; every body can find out, if he will the train rushes by, as if it was not going to stop ; but give himself the trouble to look, exactly when do not be afraid; it stops just where it ought; the train starts, and how much it will cost, and all

the passengers get in; there is plenty of room-no about it; so all you have to do is, to be at the sta

fear of that only you be in time, and they engage tion in time, and pay for your ticket, and then to find room for you; so in they all get, the firstcross the railway, and walk up and down till the

class passengers in the first-class carriages, and train comes up. Now, this train, of course, does the others in the open seats that are appointed for not always come up quite to a minute, though it is them; the doors are opened and shut; the luggage generally most wonderfully exact; besides, there is all taken up; the active attendant sees that all is a difference in people's watches; so passengers | is right; the station-man gives the signal to prosometimes come as much as a quarter of an hour || ceed; the stoker answers with that shrill whistle i Gladstone.

which the engine-monster seems to hear, and at once the train is in motion again; the hissing ceases, | comforts of God's grace, while others are exposed the panting recommences, the smoke rushes out of to the buffetings of Satan and the fierce storms of the chimney, the windows are drawn up, the sta temptation. But what matters it? they are on their tion is deserted, and the train flies along at the rate way home; and all these afflictions will be forgotof twenty-five miles an hour at the least.

ten, and the tear wiped from every eye as soon as So far, now, I think, you who have had practice they get to the grand terminus. Meanwhile their in interpreting parables, will have no difficulty in Saviour is their guide, the breath of the Holy perceiving the resemblance which I wish to point Spirit is carrying them along; they have left the out between these operations at the railway-station, Il world behind them; each moment is drawing them and the great business of the Christian in securing nearer and nearer to their journey's end; already his passage to eternity by that one way which is the course is almost finished; and if they look set forth to him in holy Scripture. I need hardly | out, they can see the spires and turrets of the explain to you the similarity there is between the eternal city shining bright before them in the disanxious railway-traveller and the earnest awakened | tance. So far, then, we have seen nothing but rebeliever ; how eagerly he inquires the way to hea. semblances : but now I must conclude, by menven; how diligently he follows after it; he presses tioning one point of difference, and that a very towards the mark; he forgets the things behind, striking one : it is this namely, that I never, in and reaches forth to the things before; the king all the times that I have been at the station, saw a dom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent ll single instance of a person being too late, so as to take it by force. Need I remind you how the tra- | be left behind. I do not say that this never has vellers on the way to Zion are also furnished with happened; on the contrary, I have heard of several a chart, which explains to them the time, and the cases of it. I have beard of people coming up to the cost, and all the circumstances of the journey that is station, and just knocking at the door as the shrill before them? They have the word of God, the holy whistle was sounding and the wheels were moving ; Bible, to which, if they will but attend and follow I have heard, too, of some being seen beckoning its directions, they will never be left behind. To with the hand to the train to stop for them, and them, likewise, the place of their present sojourn thereby exciting the laughter of those within, as ing is a mere railway-station, as uninviting and un though it were possible for the train to stop when interesting to them as Woking Common can be to once it was set in motion : but all I can say is, I the railway-passengers ; they care not for it; they never myself saw any such case; and I have been do not attach themselves to it; their hearts are reminded of the text, which says, “ the children of fixed on that better land to which they trust to this world are in their generation wiser than the Christ for bringing them in bis good time; they children of light.” People know, that to be too look forward; it seems long to wait. “ How long, late is an inconvenience and a loss, and thereO Lord, how long ?” why tarry the wheels of his fore they generally take care to be in time; there chariot ? they have a desire to depart and to be may be an accident now and then, but it is very with Christ, which is far better. The Christian, I seldom; they take care to guard against it. There too, who begins early, and seeks the Lord betimes, is, indeed, a refreshment-house very near, which has none of that hurry and trepidation which those often, I doubt not, detains passengers to the very are liable to who come in late, who have been | latest moment; but the meat is left untasted, wasting their time, and lingering behind, and not the glass is set down half emptied, if it is found pressing on, as they ought to have been doing. How that the time will not admit of its being finished. different is the calm assurance of the confirmed O what a lesson is this for us! for poor perishing believer, who is patiently waiting the time of his sinners, who are scattered about tbe roads and departure, from the hurried, distracted mind of the lanes of this world, far, very far, from the way of late comer, with his doubts and his fears, his beat- || life, with no notion of pushing forward; letting any ing heart, his tottering feet! Oh, it is good to be | trifle, any little indulgence detain them; taking no in time, it is not wise to trifle with our souls; 1 heed to the time, to the call, to the blessedness of the very chance of being too late is too dreadful that | being in time, and the danger and the misery of any one should run the risk of it. And is there being too late! There are other opportunities yet room for all ? Yes: here, too, the likeness holds remaining for the disappointed railway-traveller ; good ; there is room for all; room enough in the an hour or two of Woking Common, and another great plan of salvation set forth in Christ Jesus; train will come and take him on with his journey; room enough in God's affections; room enough in but for the tardy pilgrim, the time once lost is lost heaven ; "in my Father's house are many man for ever ; he will never have a second chance; and sions :" only be in time ; only come and plead by 1| dreary indeed is the prospect before him, when faith the merits of your Saviour, as your only title he comes too late, and finds the gate shut, and the for admission, and fear not, but you will be admit- | time gone by, and all hope of salvation for ever ted, your place will be secured. Believers, in fled. deed, will not be all alike in this world, on their way to their journey's end ; some will be better lodged, better treated, surrounded with more com

CHARITABLE BEQUESTS. forts than others. In temporal and spiritual things To the Editor of the Englishman's Magazine. there will be a difference; some will receive the good things of this life, while others will have but SIR, I beg leave to draw the attention of a very moderate share of them; some will live in your readers to a subject which, though of rest, and peace, and security, while others will be immense importance, has not of late suffiexposed to many hardships, and struggles, and ciently obtained the attention of Englishmen storms of adversity; some will be enjoying the -I allude to the subject of charitable be

quests. At the present day these bequests | trust, for the use and benefit of ten poor gentle. are either lamentably rare, or else are devoted | women, who were never married, and should be of to purposes of very questionable utility. Of

the religion practised in the Church of England, course there are exceptions; and as an instance

who should retire from the noise and hurry of of this, I would mention the following para

the world into a religious house ; a Protestant

retirement to be provided for them, where they graph, which I lately copied from a provincial

should be obliged to continue for life ; and she dinewspaper :

rected that if any person elected into that society “The will of Mrs. Maria Weybridge, late of Stam- | by the trustees (whom she constituted and appointford-hill, which was proved at Doctors' Commons ed perpetual electors) should withdraw herself from on the 13th of last month, by the two executors, the house, or should marry, or behave herself unMr. T. W. Browne and the Rev. T. Ferris, contains suitably to the rules and design of the foundation, the following charitable bequests :- The Society the trustees should remove her, and fill her place for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 10001. ; the with another gentlewoman. Church Missionary Society, 10001. ; the British and And she directed her trustees to purchase a conForeign Bible Society, 10001.; the Prayer-book and venient habitation for the said poor gentlewomen, Homily Society, 10001.; the Deaf and Dumb Asy- | where they might all live together under one roof, lum, 10001. ; the Asylum for the Blind, 10001. ; the and make a small congregation, once at least every London Orphan Asylum, 10001. ; the Clergymen's || day, at prayers, such as her trustees should think Widows' Society, 10001.; the Clergy Orphan School, || proper for their ease and circumstances; and she 10001. ; the Poor Pious Clergymen's Society, 10001. ; || appointed 101. per annum to be paid to a reader, the Female Orphan Asylum, 10001.; the York Hos- || who should be appointed by her trustees. pital, Westminster, 5001.; the Aged Pilgrims' So. The maiden gentlewomen adınitted are appointed ciety, Camberwell, 5001.; the Moravian Missionary

Camberwell 5002the Moravian Missionary || by the trustees, on petition, stating the age, place Society, 5001."

of abode, and means of the petitioner; that she has

lived in the communion of the Church of England, And yet no one can doubt that this well

is of sober life and conversation, and of respectable intentioned and munificent lady will, by two

, by ww. l character. Proof is required that she is above the at least of these bequests, have done evil

age of fifty years. rather than good, by aiding the progress of || principles sadly subversive of true religion :

Munificent Bequest. still her intentions were no doubt of the purest, || Stanton-upon-Wye, Herefordshire. and her desire to do God service. The be- || George Jarvis, Esq., gave by his will, in 1790, quest is a noble one; and might, had it been || 30,0001., to be invested in government securities, in directed into proper channels, have promoted

trust, to apply the yearly produce thereof in money, the end it had in view. How far the agents of pro

of ll provision, physic, or clothes, to the poor of this the Bible Society and of the Moravian Mis

' Il parish of Bredwardine and Litten. sionary Society are likely to accomplish this

Cow Charity. end, one need not now inquire. After read

Bebington, Cheshire. ing this paragraph, a little book fell in my |

William Hulme, of Poulton, A.D. 1620, gave three way, called Remarkable Charities, - a title | cows to be disposed of by the minister and churchwhich, however appropriate, would not have || wardens, to the poorest and godliest parishioners, been chosen, unless the bequests which it re- || at eight groats a year, and this hire to be employed cords had now been of very rare occurrence. for the increase of parish cows. Christopher SmallAnd yet, charities like these should not be | shall gave three cows for the same purpose, A.D. remarkable in a wealthy age like ours. Nor 1625, and John Briscow, of Poulton, gave 21. 10s. would they be so, if a genuine spirit of cha

for the buying of a parish cow A.D. 1661. rity were excited, and the proper mode of

of These extracts from the table of benefactions in

the parish church are the only record of the founits exercise pointed out. With these obser- ||

dation of a charity which has been of much service vations, I will make a few extracts from the

ne to the industrious poor. An account-book probook in question, in hope that they who have ll duced by the rector, and extending back as far as it in their power may go and do likewise ; || 1692, contains regular entries of the names of perat any rate, the facts adduced will serve to | sons who have received the benefit of the charity. disabuse the minds of your humbler readers At that time their number was twenty-nine; in of an impression which I find the papists, in 1744, thirty-one ; in 1760, twenty-two; in 1780, their popular publications, are anxious to pro- |sixteen; in 1800, ten, and in 1830 it was reduced duce, that we owe all our parochial charities to 5; in 1835 it had risen to eight. to a period prior to the Reformation. I re

Each individual contributes 5s. a year for the use main, Sir, your wellwisher,

W.

of his cow, and these contributions, with occasional additions from small fines imposed by the magis

trates, are the only sources of income to the charity. Bequest to provide an Asylum for Maiden Gentlewomen

On the 25th of April in every year the cows are in their Old Age.

exhibited for the inspection of the rector and York, Masons' Hospital.

churchwardens, and every person is required to Mary Wandesford, of the city of York, spinster | find security for proper care and attention being by will, November 4, 1725, gave all her lands | paid to the cow with which he is entrusted. Each &c., to the Archbishop of York and others, in cow is branded on one horn with the initial letter

of the parish, and on the other with those of the || In the month of January, a distribution is made rector.

by the rector to all parishioners of the parish. Stimulant to Learning.

Each person receives a twopenny loaf, a piece of Little Ouseburn, Yorkshire.

cheese, and a pint of ale if married, and half a The sum of two shillings and sixpence yearly is

pint if single. paid from Dorothy Sutton's legacy, for a reward to

Lord Wharton's Charity. the child who is found to repeat the Catechism the Philip Lord Wharton, by indenture, 12th July, best on examination in the church at Easter, in conveyed premises in the city of York to Sir Ed. pursuance of Mrs. Sutton's will, and which direc ward Harley and others, upon trust, that the rents tion is duly complied with.

and profits should be employed for the buying of Cliffe Pypard, Wilts.

English Bibles and Catechisms, to be distributed In the last will and testament of Thomas Spack

yearly to and amongst poor children who can read.

And by further instruction in writing, dated 24th man, is as follows: “ June 5th, 1675. I do charge my lands with

| April 1693, he ordered that 1050 Bibles, with the

singing-psalms bound up therewith, should be yeartwenty-one shillings by the year, and to continue for ever, viz. one shilling to the minister of the

| ly provided, of the English translation published

by authority, in a large duodecimo, each Bible not parish, to mind him of his duty in catechising the children ; twenty shillings to the poor of the parish |

exceeding 2s. 6d. in price, or as near thereabouts yearly, to be given them at the church, viz. five

as could be bought : that the like number of Cateshillings on St. Thomas's day, five shillings on the

chisms should be yearly provided : that an inscripAnnunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, five

tion by a stamp should be on the outside cover of shillings on St. John the Baptist's, and five shil

each book, with these words, “By the will of Philip lings on St. Matthew's day. My will is, that

Lord Wharton :" that there should be a printed

paper pasted inside the Bibles, to this effect: twenty poor people do receive threepence a piece,

is These reading.psalms, in the English transla. and that they be at the church at the beginning

tion, in the Bible, are to be learnt without book by of prayers, or else to have no share; if the number be not twenty, then the remains to be given to

the child to whom this book is given, namely, 1st, those that are best deserving, and if they can let

| 15th, 25th, 37th, 101st, 113th, 145th.” them sing the 15th Psalm. Now, if the minister

Reconciliation of Enemies. be a good man, he will be careful to see this my

London, St. Clement's, Eastcheap will performed, for the honour of the Church, that

Robert Halliday, by bis will dated 6th May, 1491, at this day is almost destitute."

gave estates in the parish of St. Leonard's, EastEncouragement for Female Servants.

cheap, the rents to be applied to various purposes; Maidenhead, Berks.

and, amongst others, 5s. either to the churchwarDame Ann Pocock, by will dated 21st July, 1816, dens, to make an entertainment among such perbequeathed for the benefit of ten single women sons of the said parish of St. Clement who should servants, not under the age of 25 years, who should

be at variance with each other, on the week prehave lived seven years in one service in the town

ceding Easter, to induce such persons to be better of Maidenhead or its vicinity, and be therein at the neighbourhood, and to beget brotherly love amongst time of applying for this bequest, 101. each, to be

them; or if none should be found in the said pa. given for the first time within one year after her || rish, then to make an entertainment with the 5s. decease, for the encouragement of religious good || amongst the honest parishioners. conduct, virtue and morality; and to be afterwards

I shall probably send you a few additional given at the end of every two years after the dis

extracts for a future number of your Magatribution, as above directed, and for ever. No

zine; at present I shall conclude with a bewoman to have the bequest more than once. The distribution takes place on the 6th of July every

I quest made to supply the poor with fish during alternate year, and public notice is previously

Lent, fish being the food recommended by the given in the churches.

Homily on fasting to be eaten at that season.

This provision appears to have been made Boundary Custom.

chiefly for the sake of the fisheries, though I Clifton Reynes, Buckinghamshire.

remember Tertullian mentions fish as the food It is stated in the parliamentary returns in 1786, || best suited to days of abstinence. that some land, then let at 121. per annum, was given by Sir Hugh Kite for the poor of this parish.

Clavering, Essex. And it appears, from a book in the custody of the John Thake, by will dated 13th June, 1537, minis ster, dated 1821, compiled by an antiquary for II gave to Richard Cockerell and his heirs his house a history of the county, that the rector holds a and lands called Valence, upon condition that they close of pasture-ground called Kites, which had should for ever yearly, on Friday the first week in been formerly given to support a lamp burning in Lent, give to the poor people of Clavering one the church of Clifton Reynes, but which was sub barrel of white herrings, and a cade of red her. ject to a charge of finding one small loaf, a piece rings, always to be given by the oversight of the of cheese, and a pint of ale to every married per churchwardens, and the tenants and occupiers of son, and half a pint to every unmarried person, the lordship and parsonage of Clavering. resident in Clifton, on the feast of St. Stephen, when they walked the parish boundaries in Roga

Similar bequests were made to Felsted, tion-week. The close was annexed to the rectory

Essex, Margate, Kent, and Farnham Royal, in the 12th Elizabeth.

Bucks (1664).