Page:Saturday night.pdf/4

 harder work than any we do all the week; and, for my part, I have no notion of rowing in a boat for hours together, for the sake of rest & recreation, and to volunteer myself to the toil of a galley slave, after slaving hard all the week, as you called it. Besides, I shudder when I hear of those awful events which very frequently occur on the Sabbath day. It was but yesterday that I read in the paper of two parties who were launched into eternity while they were taking their pleasure on the water last Sunday. A bad preparation, surely, for such a change. Besides, you know it is not more than three years ago when a party of fifteen young men and women were every one drowned, and the minister of our town preached a most affecting discourse on the evil and danger of Sabbath-breaking. He handled his subject in such a manner, as made the tears tricle down from every eye; and, in some particular parts, the sighs and sobs of the congregation almost stopped the minister in his sermon. I shall not forget it the longest day I live. I have had enough of Sabbath-breaking ever since. And then, to say no more about the labour and the danger of such sport, it cannot be done without money; and a man spends as much in this way on a Sunday, as would almost keep his family half the week—besides coming home at night with weary bones, a guilty conscience, and an empty pocket into the bargain.

Wm. Well, I see 'tis of no use arguing with you. I shall go and see if they have spoken for the boat, and got all things ready; for we mean to start soon in the morning.

Rob. Nay, man, but stay a minute or two