The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-08-22
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS. .e
The circumstances which led to the forma-
ton of the Sunday School System, may be
rcckOned amongst the many proofs which the
history Of the 1SyOrld furnishes, that PrOvi-
dence has frequently caused the most n1agni-
fcent effects to spring from means the most
simple and by the steady persevering efforts
of an individual, the most important ends have
often been accomplished. With sensation
Iof delight, which none can conceive, but those
who have drank from the same perennial f0un-
tain, MIR. Robert Raikes, printer at Glouces-
ter, Eng. when ON the threshold of Eternity,
related the interesting story Of the origin oil
Sunday SCHOOLS. One day in the year i7sa,
he went into the suburbs Of his native city to
hire gardener. The man was from home,
and while Mr.. Raikcs awaited his return, he
was much disturbed by group Of noisy boys,
VINO infested the street. He asked the gar
dener's wife the cause Of these children being
so neglected and depraved. Her emphatic
reply was, Oh, Sir if you were here on a
Sunday, you would pity them indeed; zoe can
not read Oasr b. IL peace for thesn.'' This
answer operated with the force of electricity,
and called forth all the energies Of his beneyo-
lent soul. "Can nothing" he asked, "be
done for these poor children? Is there any
body near that will take them to school on a
Sunday!" He was informed that there was a
person in the neighbOurhood who would pro-
baby do it. Z" Al this important moment ito
use bis own hnguage) the word s'try," was
SO powerfully impressed upon his mind as to
decide him at once for action. He immedi-
ately went and entered into a treaty with the
school-mistress to take charge of certain
number of destitute children on the Sabbath
day, land this proved the grain of mustard seed
which has already produced great tree,
whose branches overshadow our own land,
and whose roots are extending to the most
Instant regions Of the earth. May its growth
ldvance with accelerated progress, till all the |
ons and daughters Of ignorance and vice shall |
ind refuge under its fostering shade!
Mr.. Raikes agreed to give this poor woman
me shilling for her days employment, and
e soon found three others who were willingl
Q dlndertake similar task. He now COM
his plan to the clergyman Of the
'arlssl, 1.-THE Rev. Thomas Stock who promise
g TO cooperate with him by visiting the
cnoois on Sunday afternoons. Mr.. Raikes
rintcd a little book which he distributed /
mongst them, and the Society for the promo
ION Of Christian Knowledge sent hin, num-
er Of Bibles and Testaments for similar p,,r-
ose. The effects produced on the conducts
me, cannot be better foid ths ~ /. ~, : s ~.
uare Of yrArn.o s;.;ss O ~ san - me lan-
rho declare that !. r. 49, NJ ',sp,,rnoou'
ute heaven ur,on smnd5vs =, .o,,,,s .;.0.s
what it ,,ses1 IS, =. - - ~, aas
ears fhe n,,s,har ~ ~ ~ = u an
Tanv N thess 9 ,.,S11 - uc.esSeu y ~:
,arc.lv ev.r 49, = 49," az Lslr parenls, nag
IA church; but now numbers Of them began
attend with regularity, and as many dis sol
fhe n,o.r;.s- i 'ss ' - eaally as O'CLOCK
M, Ra;Lss 49,.
r;nr;nss "a. Ssn 49, Sy Posssssea energy forl
,,s S-,,aa..o ~ cnarasscr INTO action,
-. Ra.clice ~ conducting n-ln letter
& $500 ~ ..enu aDOut TINS time' ne says,l
:, $3.50 o gov !ne pleasure oftenI
- a'sCOse Inf genus ana innate good
=: aiIong tnls Ittie msiitlfade. tits
p.an.s.llne y human nature. have often too,
e ~ sSr M = ssssasns thanks from pa
heir chiltren. n G ~ + Savs \; pessslve u
which aiwavs !; .t s' a1:, nlna
and gentlesf q. mar sssha y
doing ther, Hftle E;,.s s,s saos tne.
li;nr rs,ward. 'o a. distributing tri-
shss, 49,. anu insratiatng myself with
ana tol AN AN . evsr could have imagined; for
verv ,,,,,ch 3s;I s1 Inlstlesses, that they are
H. =. ~ q my aispleasure" Besides
thsir reI;s;o,,s snd instruction q the children
iCuiar IN anCutCAtlng habits nf ocr .