Weekly Penny Club. WEEKLY PENNY CLUB. 57 To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle. SIR, As, possibly, many of your readers, who are inclined to do good, are not acquainted with an institution well calculated to promote the present and future interests of the poor, it being one also which it is in any one's power to form, I shall trouble you with a few remarks upon the institution to which I allude. The institution I mean, is "A Weekly Penny Club," for the benefit of poor children attending the daily and Sunday schools. The club is founded upon that principle which refuses to extend its advantages to those who do not themselves contribute something towards the fund. This principle may always be acted upon, except in those cases of sickness and old age for which no previous provision has been made. The children deposit a penny each week, for which they receive in return, at the end of the year, an increase, equal to more than double the amount of the deposit. This increase arises from three sources: the donations of honorary members, the placing at interest the subscriptions as they arise, and the circumstance of being enabled to buy the articles at a cheaper rate and of a better quality, so that the child in return for the 4s. 4d. deposited by weekly payments of a penny, receives at the end of the year not much less than the value of TEN SHILLINGS in articles of clothing. The weekly penny can be spared by the poorest parent, and is applied usefully for the benefit of the child. A weekly penny, even if expended in clothing of prime necessity, would purchase but little, and that little of an inferior quality at the greatest price; but when deposited in the funds of the Penny Club it will purchase almost a suit for the child at the lowest price, consisting of the best articles. Thus are the children taught the uses of economy. Thus children are taught cleanly, neat, and industrious habits. It may fairly be concluded that A Weekly Penny Club for the benefit of poor children attending the daily and Sunday Schools, as holding out a reward to the children for good conduct while at school, as restraining vanity and profusion in dress, as promoting health, cleanliness, neatness, order, punctuality; as teaching economy and forecast-is conducive to the religious and moral improvement of the poorer classes, is calculated to form the rising generation into useful and happy members of society, and to promote their present and future welfare as creatures and as Christians. I am, Sir, ONE WHO WOULD HELP THE POOR, BY TEACHING THEM TO HELP THEMSELVES. Rules of a Weekly Penny Club. Each child shall bring one penny on every Monday, or make the payment good on the Monday following, but should the child neglect to pay regularly more than six times in the year, such child will be excluded the club. Donations, or a subscription of a penny a week, will be gratefully received from any ladies or gentlemen who will allow themselves to become honorary members of the club, or will give donations to it. At the end of every twelve months, the sums collected from honorary and benefiting members, shall be laid out in such useful articles of clothing, as the honorary members shall think proper. No child shall be admitted under five years of age. If any child shall withdraw from the club, or be excluded through neglect of payment, the money Hymn before the Sacrament. 59 subscribed shall be forfeited for the benefit of the existing members. If any child shall be absent from the day school seven times within the year without leave, such child shall be excluded the club, and forfeit the money for the benefit of the existing members. No child shall be admitted into the club, but such as belong to the day or Sunday Schools. A day shall be appointed, about the middle of the month of November, when the ladies who conduct the institution, the children of the club, and their parents shall attend, when also the parents and children shall make choice of such articles as are provided, to the amount of the subscription, which articles they shall return in about a fortnight, made up in a suitable manner; at which time, if properly done, they shall be distributed by the younger lady subscribers, to the several poor children of the club. HYMN IN TIMES OF DISTRESS AND O GOD, that madest earth and sky, the darkness and the day, The cross our Master bore for us, for Him we fain would bear, Bishop Heber. BEFORE THE SACRAMENT. BREAD of the world, in mercy broken! Look on the heart by sorrow broken, Bishop Heber. YOUNG SERVANT'S FRIENDLY IN- It We have received a little work, with the above title, by Mrs. Copley (late Mrs. Hewlett), the author of "Cottage Comforts, &c." It is written in question and answer, and contains much useful advice. has already been published in different numbers of the "Gleaner" for 1826. Persons of all ranks of life may be benefited by the following remarks. Question. What are those principles and habits which we all should cultivate? Answer. The first is integrity, uprightness, or honesty: never on any account, either forcibly or secretly, to take from another person any thing, however small, that is his property. Truth, and sincerity, this will prevent us from harbouring for a moment, any wish to deceive or mislead our neighbour. Sobriety, or strict moderation in the use of our daily supplies. Prudence,-which teaches what is proper to be done, and what to be avoided. It also suggests the best means, manner, order, season and method of doing and leaving undone. It will also shew itself in our choice of companions, and in steadiness, decency, and propriety towards those with whom we associate. This is especially needful to young females. It will be seen in the strict modesty that should regulate both their dress, and their manners. Young Servant's Friendly Instructor. 61 Good temper, or a constant willingness to serve and please those with whom we are connected; to bear with failings, and pass over injuries; to receive reproof with meekness, and submit to circumstances with serenity and cheerfulness. Industry. An idle person is always a useless and contemptible being, wherever he may be found. Regularity; for, without this, a vast deal of activity may be spent to no good purpose: things might almost as well be left undone, as not done at the right time. Perseverance, or a steady going on in the discharge of duty; for, if one day be spent in bustle; and another in idleness, no great advancement will be made in what is really useful. Forecast, or Good management; for without a constant habit of looking forward, to consider what will be wanted—and when,—we shall be liable to a continual return of wants, which we are not prepared to meet. Contentment; or a disposition to be satisfied with our lot in life, and to make the best of our circumstances whatever they may be. Without this, no person in the world can be happy, for the highest lot in life, as well as the lowest, is, after all, but a mixed portion. A spirit of subordination; that is, a willingness to acknowledge the authority and to comply with the wishes of those under whom you are placed. Without this, all must be confusion and contention in families, as well as in larger societies. Teachableness; always to be willing to be taught; laying aside all self-conceit. Be attentive, and ready to improve by what you hear and see. A youth who is desirous of gaining information, on every proper subject, and learning to perform every useful service, is sure to make himself valuable to his employers, and bids fair to rise to respectability, and perhaps to independance. |