Aldridge was calling upon the Almighty, in a similar awful manner, as she had done on the preceding night, when she was suddenly struck to the ground, and instantly deprived of her speech and the use of her limbs. Her husband, saying she had then got what she had so often prayed for, with the assistance of the policeman and others, conveyed her home, where she still remains, with very little appearance of recovery. V.

PENNY SAVINGS' WORKING BANK.

THE fund raised in St. Andrew's, Holborn, from the pennies paid by the school-children, appears, by the Fourth Annual Report, to have been the means of great good and the benefit to the children, from the habits of industry and care which they learn, will be of far more value to them than any present gain. It is quite wonderful to see the difference between a good manager among the poor, and a bad one. The one, in fact, escapes all the miseries of poverty,-the other endures them throughout the whole of his life :-he is constantly beset with difficulties, and constantly tempted to crime. Parents should consider, that, by their manner of bringing up their children, and by the example which they set them, much of their children's future peace and happiness depend. We give the following extracts from the "Report."

"Those who have superintended this bank, know how powerfully it acts as a means of encouraging regularity, and in forming the children to habits of self-denial. Any system, indeed, which converts into clothing, money, which, if not worse applied, would probably have been wasted in sweetmeats and toys, must be in the highest degree beneficial, especially when not merely money is saved, but industrious habits formed, and emulation excited throughout the school.

"The committee beg earnestly to claim for this charity the support of all who are desirous of doing good both to the minds and bodies of their poorer brethren.

"The money of the subscribers is, in fact, spent in making a present of clothing to the industrious and frugal

1835.] PENNY SAVINGS' WORKING BANK.

103

poor, in proportion to their own exertions for themselves. A comparatively small sum, thus applied, calls into action those dispositions of the mind, which it is most desirable should be cultivated, and is also the means of saving and judiciously applying money, which would probably, but for this institution, have been spent, and leave no trace behind.

"In the Parochial School, where the children are clothed, the weekly payments have been made to obtain clothing against the time of leaving the school, or for brothers and sisters at home, or the parents themselves. The work is made at their respective homes, and nothing can be more gratifying than the effects which have thence resulted.

"In many cases the money paid into the bank has been earned by the children themselves, as teachers in the school, or as employed by private families out of school hours. Some children have thus clothed younger brothers and sisters entirely by their own exertions: and others have experienced not less happiness in presenting their parents with the produce of their own labour, a real help, and the most gratifying of all gifts.

Number of depositors.......

253

workers

90

As it may be interesting to some persons, we add the list of articles made in 1834.

The Penny Magazine mentions that the Southam Selfsupporting Dispensary has an additional fund for the loan of linen, &c. The poor often suffer much in cases of illness or accident, from the want of a change of bedlinen." Cottage Comforts" suggests that "Hessen's wrappering" makes very good sheets. On inquiry, this appears to be the article used in shops for wrappers of bales of silks, &c. Though brown and coarse, it is soft, warm, said to improve much by washing, and appears likely to be very durable-probably it would be cheaper in London, or wholesale, for penny Clubs, &c.

The

width is good-two breadths for large sheets; three specimens have been seen, sevenpence halfpenny, coarse -ninepence, very good-elevenpence halfpenny, superior. Good calico sheeting, at the same place, would be eightpence-none worth having, less than sevenpence halfpenny. The Hessens would probably wear out two pair of calico.

BOYS KNITTING.

It is suggested that in all schools, boys as well as girls should learn to knit stockings, and make them to order, or for general sale, after the supply for themselves, if time served. Though dearer than wove stockings, they are much in request, and in many places cannot be had, as the school children only make them for themselves. Sent by a Correspondent.

A CHEAP LAMP.

THE following lamp is easily made, and often preferred to rush candles. Fill a tea-cup with any kind of melted

1835.]

PRIVATE SECURITIES.

105

grease that is free from salt; cut a round of paper, about the size of a penny piece; fold it in several creases, so as to bring the middle to a point, which twirl up in your fingers, so that it shall stand upright, and lay the outside part in a flat round, about the size of a wafer (in shape it will somewhat resemble a candlestick); when the cup of grease is cold, place this standing on the middle, and on the part which stands upright, and which is to serve as a wick, drop a little oil or tallow-grease. It will burn ten hours, but if wanted to work by, some grease must be occasionally supplied, so as to keep it to the top of the cup. Cottage Comforts.

P.

MR. EDITOR,

PRIVATE SECURITIES.

OBSERVING Some observations on Savings' Banks in your useful work, I beg leave to offer the following statement of facts relative to the consequence of trusting the hard earnings of the industrious poor to private securities.

of

The object, S. P., is between eighty and ninety years age, and has therefore little reason to expect advantage from any protracted division of the assets: both himself and his late wife are well known in this place and immediate neighbourhood, as honest and industrious people, and his hard case has excited general commiseration.

S. P. rented cows for a long series of years in a neighbouring village, and, by strict frugality and industry, brought up a large, and, from illness and other causes, an expensive family. In spite of these drawbacks, and the great increase of rent, he contrived to accumulate a little property, part of which was vested in two lifehold cottages, and the remainder was placed in the hands of a very respectable tradesman, who, for many years, paid him good and regular interest. At length, worn out by hard labour, the old man and his wife gave up the dairy, and retired to live on their hard earnings, which sufficed to support themselves, and afford a little assistance to such of their children as required it.

The old woman died; and the old man, on applying for his interest money for funeral expences, found difficulty in obtaining it. From unavoidable and unforeseen

misfortunes, the tradesman became involved, and, finally, died insolvent; and the poor old man, but for the small sum arising from the rent of his cottages, and the charitable contributions of those who have long known him, would have been thrown on the parish, as his children are unable to support him, though they have done their utmost to assist him. E.

The Close of Sarum, Jan. 1835.

USEFUL HINTS.

Protection of Blossoms.-It has been stated that blossoms and fruit, till out of danger, have been protected by a board ten or twelve inches wide, placed horizontally upon brackets, near the top of fruit walls. Nets made of coarse woollen yarn, with the meshes only large enough, when stretched out, to admit the point of a finger, have also been recommended.

White, or American Blight, in orchards, may, it is said, be cured, by cleaning the decayed parts, and applying linseed oil with a brush.

Draining.-Sir J. Sinclair, speaking of the culture of fruit, says, "No excellence of culture or management can make up for the want of a dry and sound bottom; hence the necessity of draining thoroughly wherever moisture is suspected.'

To choose Fish.-If stale, their gills are palish, their flesh soft and clammy, their eyes dull and sunk; when fresh, the gills are of a lively shining redness, eyes bright and full, and the flesh stiff.

Snails. To destroy these in gardens, slacked lime, or sifted coal-ashes, spread on the surface, or laid in rows in various places, are found useful.

Thistles. Should be stifled in the bud, by mowing them down before they are ripe.

Orchards. In Scotland (where it is peculiarly necessary on account of the variable climate,) it is a rule in the management of orchards, to plant a considerable number of very different sorts, both of early and late kinds. For at one time the blossom of a particular variety may be de