few brief years of sin and folly they sink under a diseased frame, and are consigned to a premature grave."

Cabmen sometimes harbour doubts in regard to the sincerity of religious professors, in consequence of being required to drive them to their respective places of worship on the Sabbath. A member of the fraternity once told a piece of his experience. He formerly drew part of his income from a lady who was regularly driven to church on Sundays, but being accused by conscience, it was proposed that the driver should put up his horse and attend worship as well as the lady. To this the cabman objected, saying, that his attending church after driving there to earn money would amount to a mockery of sacred things, and he thought their conduct was also sheer mockery who employed such as himself to do what they would consider sinful if done by themselves. This view of the question so far troubled the lady that she resolved for the future to walk instead of riding. She even called on the cabman to explain her purpose, in the meantime begging of him to cease Sunday work, and in case of his compliance, promised to recommend him to the notice of friends. 66 So, sir," the narrator finished by say

ing, "both of us keep the Sabbath."

Cab and omnibus men have their prejudices, and do not care to associate with one another, though an outsider might not easily decide which stood first in social order, the cab or the omnibus profession. Probably the omnibus-men should be in better circumstances than others, seeing their wages are not so precarious, and do not depend on the caprice of the weather. Yet the omnibus-man is taught by his surroundings to be carelessly improvident. Working an excessive number of hours, the man tastes little of domestic comfort. His world is in the street, and in that world he passes nearly all his time. His wages equal those of an ordinary mechanic, but to him they are less, because what he receives is expended to disadvantage. There is no nine hours' movement for him; he would thank any social reformer who would undertake to reduce his labour to twelve hours a day, seven days a week, with proper times for meals allowed. As it is, he must pay a high price for indifferent dinners, and through the constant wear and tear of Sabbathless weeks he grows prematurely old. This is not right. this wearing out of human flesh and blood, as though human beings were of commercial value only. Free trade when allowed to extend its empire to human flesh and blood is pushed beyond the allowable limit. In their eagerness to push their way through a hard world, men may so recklessly sacrifice life and health as to warrant legislative interference.

Agents of the London City Mission who follow these men to their every-day avocations become well acquainted with their prejudices and habits, and one of their number may frequently be observed in the yard of any one of the London railway termini. Though perhaps not recognised by all, the visitor will be known to the majority of the men on duty as he gathers a group around him, with whom he converses in familiar strains on the pressing subject of religion. It is necessary that a man filling this arduous office shall be one of even temper and of a ready utterance. Thus, a sour-dispositioned man comes up whose prejudices against Christianity have been taken from religious "fares."

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One such is offered a tract, which he refuses with an oath. To return railing for railing would ruin the best endeavours, but to behave so as meekly to condemn unseemly conduct is to advance in the esteem of all the men. You blackguard," one will exclaim to a rough-spoken comrade; "how dare you use such language to one who comes civilly to us to do us good. You shall not insult him." "Go and sell your tracts for waste paper, it's all they're good for," cries another. Still the distributor must remain unruffled, and as he stoops to recover a paper from the mud, he is rewarded; for says a man," Please to let me have it. I know 'tis God's truth; and though I am not a religious man, I hope I shall be. Don't be hurt, sir, at that man's conduct. He's a fool and don't know any better." Even in uncanny encounters substantial advantage is gained, and offenders who have once been made to feel the stings of shame are not likely to lightly repeat the offence. "Bring me a piece of bread-and-cheese to-morrow instead of a tract," said a surly fellow. "If you don't keep a civil tongue in your head, we'll inform the police, and you'll lose your number," was the ready reply of others. So do the worst attributes of one draw forth the sympathy of his companions. It should also be remembered that tract distribution among these men is considered a good expenditure of seedsowing, since they have time at their disposal for reading what is given them while waiting on the stands. To pass from stand to stand scattering the seeds of Scripture truth is to gain favour with the men. They shew an eagerness to possess the tracts on account of the eagerness they create at home. "Have you seen the tract man to-day," a cabman's wife will enquire on her husband's coming home late at night. Then on a Saturday evening, or on a Sabbath morning, youngsters who have learned to read in the Sunday school will be disappointed if their father's great-coat does not contain a paper-a "British Workman,” or a picture tract.

The roughest and perhaps the most unpromising characters in London are the unlicensed drivers-odd men whom any master may employ, if need arise, for one day. But even these may be subjects of misfortune, and misfortune begets careless habits. In general the London men are said to be less favourably situated than their own class in the provinces, as the London masters are more exacting than others. Rough, unfeeling men, who are ever ready to sacrifice their own honour and the comfort of others for money are of their number, if they do not constitute the majority of the whole class. Oppressed and ill-treated, strangers to sympathy, and too often never tasting of the comforts of home, looked upon suspiciously by the public, and constantly reminded by their employers that it will be time to begin resting at death, they are disciplined in a rough school-a school in which the graces of humanity cannot grow until Christianity comes, and with quiet force expels all meanness from the heart wherein it asserts its own gentle reign.

A good work is in progress among this class, and many are the trophies won from their ranks. Those who are appointed to evangelise among them become valued advisers; and drivers, while passing along the street, will notice their benefactor by a friendly nod. Only the lowest and most depraved are rough and uncivil, and missionary zeal

among them is aided by the hope that even these will not remain so. Happily, examples of good effected are too numerous to give in detail. Only from individual instances can the public gather news of what is being done. Look into a home situated in a certain mews, the master of which is a sincere convert. When first met with, that man's faith was the creed of Romanism. His inclinations towards "the old religion." as he was disposed to style the papacy, were strong, and having as a young man served a family of distinction, and travelled upon the Continent, his prejudices were further strengthened. After a course of teaching in Bible truth, the man renounced Rome's deeply-rooted errors, and for a time trouble of soul interfered with his nightly rest. Here then was a man brought from native darkness into the border-land of light by means of another speaking to him while he waited for custom on a certain cab-stand. This man, as a small proprietor, owned three vehicles, and now in turn he had a question to put to his adviser, "What do you think of Sunday trading, sir?" Sunday trading is of course condemned, and, thrown into a state of unrest by some friendly advice, he ceased himself from driving on the Sabbath as he had hitherto done, though still allowing others to go out in his service. But an accusing conscience continued to speak until Sunday work was abolished, and the man, on giving evidence of a complete change of heart, became a church communicant.

In another house is a man who also drives his own cab. On one occasion he fell from his box while intoxicated-he was a notorious drunkard-and injuring his knee was carried to the hospital, where a true friend found him, talked to him of religion, and affectionately advised him to relinquish Sunday work. These words spoken in sickness bore fruit. The patient became a sober man, worked no more than six days a week, and as the head of a now happy home, went regularly to the house of God.

Every wellwisher of this in some respects unfortunate class will seek to promote the abolishing of Sunday labour. To eyes educated in street observation, the difference between those who profit by Sabbath rest, and those who perhaps enjoy no more than three or four days of such rest in a year, is plainly discernible. The six-day men carry a more hopeful expression, go about their work with greater cheerfulness, and are better clothed. Their homes also rejoice in possessing more comfort than the rooms of others who are so ceaselessly at work that they seldom see their children except when those children are in bed. Many masters are said to care less for a man than for a horse, and regarding men and cattle from a mere commercial stand-point, they are more anxious about the health of the animal than about that of the human chattel. This condition of affairs naturally ensures to the public a comparatively bad service, and hence the public would directly benefit by a reformation. To overwork horses as these men are overworked would ensure death in a brief period, hence these poor fellows complain, with some show of reason, of every man's hand being against them when subjected to treatment which no prudent farmer would mete out to his cattle. If symptoms of improvement already appear, scant thanks are due either to the masters or to the legislature. Other friends are abroad to whom probably the men themselves would point as to

their truest benefactors. Considering what human nature is, who can be surprised when drivers show a disposition to take revenge on the public on account of hardships endured. Let it be remembered that the cabman's calling is often the last resort of men overtaken by misfortune, and sometimes a formerly prosperous but now bankrupt tradesman is compelled to join their ranks.

Look into the home of a certain water-man, whose duties confine him to one stand. Time was when he showed a fanatical adherence to Mormonism, and, lacking victims of a better quality, the magnates of Mormonism in the neighbourhood elected the water-man one of their elders. He did what lay in his power to weaken the influence of Christianity, and to win converts among the healthy and the sick to his adopted faith. One day, while attending at the bedside of a sick comrade, he heard one read the parable of the Prodigal Son, and the words touched his heart. He had lived like a prodigal, and no better food was provided by Mormonism than the husks which others rejected. At best it was a swinish system, degrading to moral beings. Time passed, and anon the late adherent of a grovelling profession repented of his error with tears and alarm. He was directed into the good old way from which he had turned aside, and becoming changed in heart, was the means of reclaiming to Christ and purity several dupes of the repelling superstition which once enthralled him. To crown all, he assisted the district missionary he had lately opposed, and worked with the zeal of a converted opponent.

On the average, cabmen are as intelligent as other uneducated persons. Overworked, and often unkindly treated, numbers have found reason to be thankful for an agency which brings under their notice in the street the best things both of time and of eternity. Many men being abroad until midnight, and working seven days a week, have literally no other opportunity of reading and of listening to religious advice than the streets afford. When once whetted, their desire for knowledge is akin to that of more favoured mortals. They, in common with the omnibus-men, look out eagerly for the tracts and periodicals which are given away, and while the distribution is going on, one who is rapidly passing will take the trouble to stop, and call out for a copy. These

are read at leisure on the stands, and when taken home, extend their influence to the women and children.

These men reveal to us a phase of London life sometimes novel, and always interesting, as true life proverbially is. A man is observed with a worn volume half-hidden beneath the cushion of his box, and in reply to "Are you fond of reading, my man, on the stand?" he says, "Oh yes; I never come out without my Bible. I find time to read it to myself and others. I know that the Lord is my Saviour, and I dare not hold back from persuading others to come to him." A small discovery like this does more to refresh the spirit of hard-working missionaries than any encomiums the public can bestow.*

*Having once given a twopenny Testament to a cabman, I was greatly surprised years after to find it drawn from his breast pocket as a precious treasure, for which he thanked me heartily. I had forgotten the man and the present, but he had not. I found him a believer, but in much soul distress, and had a long talk with him.

C. H. S.

Another man is observed to be moved by some sudden joy, amounting even to an ecstasy of delight. Has some good-natured" fare" been treating him handsomely, or has a valuable treasure been discovered in his cab? The secret of his satisfaction is summed up in what is to him the grand fact of having found "a six-day master," and words fail to convey a proper impression of his gratitude. He has lately contracted a taste for religion, and now he will be able to accompany his family to a place of worship, like other people. The Sabbath will dawn upon him laden with rich blessings, the sweeter because long withheld, though his by heavenly privilege and right. It is well-nigh equivalent to giving such men another life when we give them the Sabbath. Not that there are not plenty on the stands ready enough to work on the Sabbath. A "seven-day" man was once heard bragging of what he could earn on the Sabbath; but, answered another, who immediately stepped up, "My coat is better than yours. I got it with six-days work. You can't keep out of rags."

It is believed that as a body cabmen are fast improving, and naturally the improvement is more visible among the "six day" men than among those who labour on the Sabbath. They have reason, too, for working more heartily, and for showing better spirits than their more unfortunate comrades. They serve better masters, most of the employers who honour the Sabbath being of a more respectable type than others. Many of them are Christian men. The extension of the six-day system has also tended to decrease drunkenness among the drivers. Any endeavours to benefit cabmen are sure to be popular with the public, as obliging members of this genus are sure to be popular favourites. They may frequently be made the subjects of banter in comic prints, but if well used they will not be found such bad creatures as certain cynics would represent. Give them a chance to live respectably, and allow them to taste of domestic comfort, and they will not disappoint us any more than others will disappoint us whom we may desire to benefit.* Then of the immediate good arising from abolishing Sabbath labour we have abundant proof for encouragement. No longer a bond-slave, the man breathes more freely, and is a more favoured being in all respects than he was before. Nothing is more depressing to the spirits and more degrading to the moral nature than Sabbath labour; and the intellect suffers no less than the physical frame. One poor fellow, after a season of heavy toil, relieved by no Sabbath rest, confessed to becoming confused so as to forget, on reaching the mews, whether he had just returned home, or was about to start on a journey. Colney Hatch Asylum is also another unchallengable witness to the baneful effects arising from working seven days without relief. Let us give a hearing to the men who can give us a word on this subject. Said one honest fellow, "Why, sir, last Sunday I could have earned fourteen shillings, but I would not put my horse in the cab, for I begin to see it is all wrong, and I never mean to drive again on Sundays, if I could earn double the money; for I have a soul to be saved as well as the

* Personally I have found cabmen the most obliging and most honest of any class of men I have ever dealt with.-C. H. S.