,transcribed from the #aith ,century ,religious ,tract ,society edition by ,david ,price1 email ccx#jgdpglaf4org ,picture3 ,pamphlet cover ,no4 #ahg4 ,,the ,,irish ,,peasant2 ,,or ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,peter ,,lacy1 ,,and ,,his ,,wife ,,susan ,picture3 ,peter ,lacy and the ,minister 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,printed for ,,the ,,religious ,,tract ,,society1 ,instituted #agii ,,and ,,sold ,,at ,,their ,,depository1 #ef1 ,,paternoster-,,row2 ,,by ,j4 ,,nisbet1 #ba1 ,,berners-,,street1 ,,oxford-,,street2 ,,and ,,by ,,other ,,booksellers4 ,,chap4 ,i4 ,,it was on a dull1 cold evening that ,peter ,lacy1 a poor labourer1 having finished the clump of turf which he had engaged to do1 put on his ragged coat1 and walked up to the door of his employer to receive his wages4 8,i have no silver at present10 said the gentleman1 8but come next ,monday1 and you shall be paid40 ,it was three miles to his home1 and1 on his way1 he passed the cabin of a poor man whom he knew very well4 ,there was a little garden before it1 and every thing looked clean and decent4 ,it was true the family who lived there were very poor1 and met with many crosses2 but1 let what would happen1 ,michael ,connor and his wife were always cheerful1 and were never heard to complain1 because they were sure that nothing happens by chance1 having read in the ,bible1 that not even a sparrow falleth to the ground without the knowledge of ,god4 8,there now10 said ,lacy to himself1 8there's the comfort of a quiet wife6 ,mary ,connor is always good tempered and mild2 while my ,susan is for making bad worse1 by her crying and scolding at every hand's turn4 ,a dry morsel with a quiet house1 is better than plenty of provision with grumbling40 ,lacy did not know that ,solomon had said nearly the same3 for ,lacy never read the ,bible2 and as for going to prayers1 he left it to those who had a better coat than his to put on4 8,well neighbour10 said ,connor1 8how does the world jog with you80 8,it's all on three legs10 said ,lacy1 8for 'tis money makes the mare to go1 and money ,i have none40 8,i wish ,i could help you10 said ,connor1 8but ,i got my week's wages yesterday1 and lent them to ,wilson1 whose wife is sick in bed3 he was to pay me to-day1 but went home without thinking of it2 however1 walk in and rest yourself40 ,mary welcomed her husband with smiles1 and had made the room very neat against his return4 ,the table was scoured as clean as sand and water could make it2 the hearth was nicely swept1 and the dinner was over the fire4 8,come sit down10 said the good-natured ,connor1 8eat an egg1 and ,mary shall put a bit of bacon on the gridiron that we bought the other day40 8,no1 no10 replied ,lacy1 8keep it for your dinner to-morrow1 you will have but a poor meal at best40 ,mary understood what he meant3 she hung down her head for a minute2 but then looking cheerful again1 she said1 8,if you have not got the money1 my dear1 we must do the best we can--while ,god sends us health1 and thankful hearts1 we need not complain at the want of a meal's meat40 8,you are a good woman1 ,mrs4 ,connor10 said ,lacy2 8my ,susan will give me no such comfort40 8,perhaps10 said ,mary1 8you do not encourage her to do so40 8,encourage10 replied ,lacy2 8,i don't know what you mean by that--,i work hard all the week1 never spending a farthing at the public house on ,saturdays1 and on ,sundays we have a snug1 piping hot dinner1 and a glass of punch into the bargain40 8,and how do you pass the evening80 asked ,connor4 8,oh1 very well10 says ,lacy2 8,susan1 perhaps1 puts on her cloak1 and goes to ,nancy ,dillon1 while her good man and ,i smoke a pipe quietly together40 8,do you never go to prayers80 said ,mary4 8,to be sure ,i do1 now and then10 replied ,lacy1 8and ,susan goes whenever she gets a new riband to her old hat1 to make her look decent4 ,indeed she went twice1 to my certain knowledge1 the day that his ,honour's housekeeper gave her the new stuff gown40 ,mary shook her head1 and ,lacy was displeased4 8,may be10 said he1 8you think we are not religious1 as you call it2 but ,i'll be bound we're as good ,christians as those that make such a fuss about it4 ,i learned the ten commandments when ,i was a boy1 and remember them well enough to keep them now40 8,and do you think keeping the commandments in the sort of way you talk of1 will bring you to heaven80 said ,connor4 8,indeed ,i do10 replied ,lacy1 8what else should bring me there80 8,and are you sure10 said ,connor1 8that you keep the commandments1 and never break one of them80 8,it's myself that thinks so10 said ,lacy1 8and ,i defy you1 or any one else1 to say to the contrary40 8,i will show you presently10 said ,connor1 taking down a neat ,bible4 8,no thank you10 said ,lacy1 8,i could have enough of that if ,i liked it2 but ,i am not fond of preaching3 it's poor feeding for those who want bread40 8,isn't the ,bible said to be the bread of life80 cried ,mary4 8,it may be so10 said he1 8but ,i can't live on a book40 8,ah1 neighbour1 if you would but learn to look up to ,god60 said ,mary4 8,pho60 replied ,lacy1 rising1 and throwing his spade over his shoulder1 8,connor1 with all your talk1 you are worse off than me--how will you feed those four hungry little ones to-morrow80 8,we don't fret ourselves much about that10 said ,mary1 for 8,he that feedeth the young ravens1 has promised that he will not suffer the children of his servants to cry for food in vain40 8,and if they do10 added ,connor1 8we can fast3 the ,son of ,god knew hunger and thirst for many days1 and shall we grumble if he lets us feel them for one80 ,lacy could not think of any answer beyond 8good night40 ,as he walked home his temper got worse3 he wondered why ,connor should cant like a preacher2 and he thought ,mary's content was all pretence2 but as it made her so quiet1 he wished his ,susan could learn it4 ,people often bring on a quarrel by seeming to expect one4 ,when ,susan saw him she ran with joyful looks saying1 8,oh1 ,peter6 ,i've got the nicest plan for to-morrow6--,but1 how sulky you are6 ,what is the matter8--,where is the tea8 ,why1 you look as black as that cloud40 8,aye1 wife10 he replied1 8,i am the cloud1 and you are the thunder--there's neither tea1 nor potatoes1 nor money to buy them40 8,no money8--,where are your wages80 8,the gentleman hadn't silver or brass in his company10 said ,lacy1 8so now begin to scold40 8,there1 there10 screamed ,susan1 8you are always picking a quarrel with me1 because you find me so easy with you4 ,no wages6 no tea6--and you to be sent home without a penny in your pocket40 ,she went on in this way for a long time2 then looking at a parcel which lay carefully folded up1 on a chair1 her voice grew very sad1 and she whined out1--8,there6 ,i've been working my poor fingers to the bone this live-long day6 and ,i've turned my gown from top to bottom1 till it looks as good as new2 and ,i was going to ask ,nancy ,dillon to drink tea1 and walk out among the neighbours1 and all--but ,i am an unhappy creature1 and you are a wicked1 bad man to do so40 ,when1 just as her voice was lost with crying and scolding1 the door opened1 and ,connor came in4 8,i ask pardon10 said he1 8for coming in so smart to ye3 but ,i ran all the way1 to ask ye to come and dine with us to-morrow--,wilson brought the money1 and we shall have a bit of meat for you40 ,susan dried her eyes1 unfolded her stuff gown1 and smiled4 8,thank you kindly10 said ,lacy1 8but you have so many of your own40 8,never mind10 replied ,connor--8the more the merrier2 come early1 and go to prayers with us40 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 ,,how pleasant is the ,sabbath6 and how good is ,god1 who not only allows1 but demands for the humblest of his creatures1 a day of rest--the poor horse who dragged the heavy plough all the week1 now crops the grass at his ease1 or draws a mouthful of hay from the crib4 ,the patient ass who drew many a basket of turf to the town1 now rambles by the side of the road1 and feeds on the thistles in the hedge4 ,i hope there are no children so cruel as to teaze and torment him4 8,god is the ,maker of all creatures10 said ,michael ,connor to his little boys1 8and he will punish those who wantonly hurt even the poor ass40 ,peter ,lacy came1 with his wife1 in good time for the morning prayers4 ,susan looked very smart1 and held up her head2 but ,mary did not seem a bit less happy than she did4 ,mary had no gay stuff gown1 but one of plain blue check2 with a black bonnet1 which looked new because it was carefully kept1 and not tossed about and dirtied4 ,she learned from her ,bible that pride is hateful to ,god1 and that the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is what ,he loves1 and fitter for a ,christian woman than the plaiting the hair1 and putting on of rich apparel4 8,indeed it is melancholy10 she would often say1 8to behold a poor body1 made from the dust of the earth1 and returning to it again1 pampered and puffed up1 as if it was a great thing in the sight of ,god2 while the immortal soul is left neglected2 and1 if found unprepared to meet the ,judge at the last day1 together with the naked1 shivering body1 will be sentenced to be cast into the lake of eternal fire40 ,they soon set out for prayers1 and the two eldest boys went with them4 ,lacy could not help observing how devoutly ,connor and ,mary joined in the whole service3 he looked and wondered2 he could not feel as they did1 nor pray like them1 but he wished to do so2 nor was he disappointed in the end3--,god1 who sees the heart of man1 and knows all his thoughts1 will answer the humble prayers of a soul that begins to feel his own sinfulness1 and the want of a ,saviour2 the effect of the ,holy ,spirit's influence on those that seek ,him4 ,all this time ,susan was looking about her2 but though there was not so smart a gown in that place1 very few minded the pattern4 ,in his sermon1 the clergyman spoke like a father to his children4 ,among other things1 he told them in particular1 8how sinful and how ignorant they were by nature1 and how useless all endeavours of their own to please ,god must be1 unless they come to ,him by his ,son10 7,john xiv4 #f47 through whose blood alone they could be cleansed from all sin1 and clothed in the wedding garment of the ,saviour's righteousness4--,that they must be taught of ,god to feel the plague of their own hearts1 and loathe sin4 ,that being brought to a sense of their lost state1 and to an entire dependence upon the merits of their ,saviour1 and upon them alone1 for pardon1 they should1 seeking the blessing humbly in ,god's appointed way1 receive the gift of a new heart2 their former inclinations and sinful ways being exchanged for godly desires and holy pursuits1 and they should become 8new creatures40 ,for1 8if any man be in ,christ1 he is a new creature3 old things are passed away2 behold1 all things are become new40 #b ,cor4 v4 #ag4 ,he spoke also of what followed upon this great change1 of the fruits of this conversion from sin unto righteousness1 how the true ,christian was full of tenderness to his fellow-creatures1 8and loved his neighbour as himself40 ,he showed that they could not any longer allow themselves to give way to their passions2 in particular1 he mentioned the evil nature of anger1 which ,christians must entirely forsake2 and that provoking to anger was a thing equally bad4 ,it was a discourse that went to ,lacy's very heart3 he would have given the world to have understood it better2 and as for his wife1 she1 for once1 forgot her gown while she listened to the sermon4 ,lacy and ,susan asked no questions till after dinner1 when ,connor had very devoutly returned thanks to ,god for all the good things he sent them4 ,at last he said1 8,connor1 did you understand the sermon80 8,yes1 through ,god's blessing1 ,i trust ,i did10 replied ,connor4 8,now ,i listened all through10 said ,lacy1 8but could make out very little of what he meant1 except when he spoke about anger1 and such other evil passions10 looking at ,susan4 8,and of provoking to anger10 said ,susan1 looking at him4 8,but did you not understand what he said about loving one another80 asked ,mary4 8,why1 yes1 ,i think so10 replied ,lacy2 8but what did he mean by our coming to ,christ to be cleansed and clothed80 8,he meant10 answered ,connor1 8as the ,bible shows1 that nothing could wash away our sins but the blood that was shed on the cross for us--and that renouncing all dependence upon our own works1 we must take for the garment of salvation1 the righteousness of ,christ1 which alone can make us fit to appear before ,god40 8,i suppose10 said ,susan1 8there were some very wicked people there1 and the clergyman meant it for them40 8,aye10 said ,connor1 8and for the very best people there too2--there are none in the world fit to enter heaven without being so cleansed and so clothed40 8,that is odd60 exclaimed ,lacy1 8for supposing that you and ,i1 and the two wives1 are all sinners1 sure the little boys cannot be sinners80 8,oh1 yes we are1 indeed80 said little ,william1 shaking his head sorrowfully1 8,peter and ,i are bad boys3 ,i told a lie twice2 and ,peter pulled an apple that father told him not to touch40 8,poor dears60 said ,susan2 8and do you think such little trifles will keep you out of heaven80 8,all sin will do so10 said ,connor2 8a small penknife will destroy life1 as well as a great sword2 they knew it was wrong1 yet they did it1 and that was sin4 ,little as they are1 they already feel the want of pardon for their sin1 through the ,lord ,jesus ,christ40 ,lacy felt somewhat alarmed4 8,if this be true10 thought he1 8what a vile sinner am ,i60 ,he leaned his head on his hand1 for some time2 then striking the table1 he exclaimed1 8,i shall never understand all this40 8,good neighbour1 it cannot be learned without the grace of ,god to teach us40 8,how may a body get that grace80 said ,lacy4 8,by praying for it10 replied ,mary2 8we should often say1 #8,lord teach us to pray4' ,our ,saviour says1 #8,him that cometh unto me1 ,i will in no wise cast out4' #8,ask and ye shall receive1 that your joy may be full2' #8seek and ye shall find1 knock and it shall be opened unto you4'0 8,and will praying teach me every thing10 said ,lacy4 8,the ,holy ,spirit will teach you10 replied ,connor1 8to understand what you read in the ,bible1 and hear on the ,sabbath4 ,when we read the ,scriptures let our prayer be1 #8,lord1 open thou mine eyes1 that ,i may behold wondrous things out of thy law4'0 8,well1 if ,i had time1 ,i would read the ,bible10 said ,lacy4 8,cannot you read it1 as ,i do1 of an evening after work1 and on ,sundays80 8,no10 said ,lacy1 8,i am too tired at night to bother myself with book learning2 and ,sunday is the only day ,i have for making merry40 ,thus does ,satan try to smother the first sparks of conviction in our hearts1 and make us unwilling to strive for a blessing4 ,lacy and ,susan thought themselves excellent ,christians for having been to prayers2 and in the labour of the week they soon forgot the warning voice of the clergyman and of ,connor4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,,the next ,sunday at breakfast1 ,lacy said1 8,will you go to prayers1 ,susan80 8,yes10 said ,susan1 8,i think ,i will40 8,so will ,i10 replied ,lacy1 8but don't it look like rain80 8,to be sure the clouds are blackish10 answered ,susan2 8but perhaps it may clear up40 ,lacy yawned1 stretched himself1 lighted his pipe1 and fell into a fit of thinking4 ,an hour after1 he said1 looking out at the door1 8',tis too late now40 8,that is your fault10 said ,susan1 8,i was willing to go40 ,lacy was about making a sharp reply1 but recollecting what the clergyman had said about provoking one another to anger1 he held his tongue2 and when ,susan went out of the room he felt as proud as if he had killed a lion2 for nothing is so pleasant as thinking we have been enabled to overcome a bad inclination4 8,i think10 said he1 8,i shall get very good now1 after this1 by myself40 ,susan now came back with her gown1 and hung it before the fire1 for the weather had been damp4 8,keep your nasty pipe out of the way10 said she to her husband1 8or my gown will be spoiled40 8,what a fuss you make about your gown10 replied he2 8it would be well if you thought as much of washing my shirt40 8,no matter10 said she1 8,i say you shan't smoke my gown40 8,and ,i say ,i'll do as ,i like1 wife10 replied he4 8,tobacco won't hurt your gown--look here10 and he was so mischievous as to let some of the ashes fall on it4 ,susan cried out1 snatched his pipe1 broke it1 and threw the pieces at him4 ,this was too much for ,lacy's patience1 though he was not often passionate3 he seized the gown1 and running to the door1 tossed it into the mud that lay in the front of the house4 ,much altercation here ensued--,lacy ran out of the house4 8,ah60 thought he1 8if we had gone to prayers this would not have happened40 ,he felt ashamed of having taken such a revenge on his wife1 after provoking her as he did2 but he was too stubborn to go back and be friends with her4 ,he walked on towards ,connor's cabin1 and as he passed the door he plainly heard the sobs of a woman within4 ,such a sound was very strange in that happy and quiet place--he stopped at the door1 and heard ,mary sob out--8,i know1 ,i know1 he will protect them3--preserve them--but my life--my husband60 ,she could say no more1 and ,lacy entered4 ,there1 on his humble bed1 lay poor ,connor6 death was pictured in his face2 his cheeks were pale1 his lips blue1 his eyes hollow3 he looked now on his wife and children1 and seemed full of grief1 but then he looked up to heaven1 and was comforted4 ,mary sat beside him3 her apron was drenched in her tears2 she tried to hide her sorrow and to quiet her sobs1 but she could not3 her eyes were searching about every where1 as if for some comfort2 but when she saw the altered face of her husband1 she almost went distracted1 and could only1 like him1 look up to ,god in humble submission4 ,william sat on his low stool with his little sister on his lap1 ,peter was crying by his mother's knee1 and the baby was asleep in the cradle4 ,william was the first who saw ,lacy1 and trying to speak he burst into sobs and cries4 ,his father turned slowly his eyes towards him1 and saw ,lacy2 a look of satisfaction appeared on his countenance1 and then ,mary saw him too4 ,her grief broke out again1 8,oh1 neighbour1 neighbour1 he is dying60 she exclaimed4 ,lacy could not speak a word1 but he shook her by the hand1 and then leaned over ,connor4 8,lacy10 said the poor man1 in a weak voice1 8you wonder to see me thus--you left me well and hearty lost night1 but a carriage was run away with1 and the horses went over me2 ,i am dying40 8,let me go for a doctor10 cried ,lacy4 8,he has been here--there is no hope40 ,connor spoke these words calmly1 but they seemed to cut ,mary to the heart4 8,no hope1 no hope10 she repeated2 8he must die40 8,don't die1 father10 said little ,peter1 in a piteous voice4 8,oh1 father1 father1 surely you are not going to leave us60 sobbed ,william2 8who will teach us the ,bible1 or show us the way to heaven any more80 8,i wish ,i could1 ,o ,lord teach me60 exclaimed ,lacy1 and he groaned4 8,god grant that prayer60 cried the pious ,connor4 8,i know he hears it1 and ,i trust his ,holy ,spirit will lead you to ,jesus1 my friend1 and teach you to lead others there40 8,he cannot10 said ,lacy1 in an agony1 8,i am too vile1 too sinful1 too wicked1 he cannot40 8,he will10 replied ,connor fervently1 8if you are now sensible of sin1 and feel the need of a ,saviour1 you will find him2 and your dying hour will be as peaceful as mine40 ,lacy was quite overcome3 he sat down1 covered his face1 and wept4 ,even ,mary spared a look of kindness from her dying husband to the awakened sinner4 ,the clergyman had been sent for1 and now came in3 he looked with concern on poor ,connor1 who forgot his own sufferings1 and pointing to ,lacy1 said1 8,comfort him10 then whispered ,mary to send for ,susan4 ,the clergyman touched ,lacy's shoulder1 and said1 8,my friend1 raise yourself1 and behold the instructive scene--the death-bed of a ,christian40 ,he obeyed1 and came near the bed with those who had arrived to visit their dying neighbour2 for ,connor was loved1 or at least respected by all who knew him4 8,sir10 said ,connor to the clergyman1 8,i trust that my sins1 which are many and great1 are forgiven40 8,the blood of ,christ cleanseth from all sin10 replied the clergyman1 8only believe1 and thou shalt see the glory of ,god40 8,it is so10 cried ,connor1 8,i feel it1 ,i leave my wife and children2 but my ,saviour ,i cannot leave2 to him ,i cling40 8,and he will support you10 replied the clergyman1 8through the dark valley of the shadow of death4 ,this is no late death-bed repentance2 you1 my brother1 sought the ,lord and he was found of you3 you came to ,jesus for help1 when health and strength were your own1 and he will not leave nor forsake you now in your distress40 8,yet ,i cannot help feeling some anxiety10 said ,connor1 8when ,i remember that the years ,i passed in sinful blindness of heart1 are far more than the days in which ,i strove to walk with ,god40 8,it is the gracious promise of our ,god10 replied the ,clergyman1 8to his believing people1 that their sins and iniquities he will remember no more40 ,susan now came in1 but was too much shocked to speak4 8,my dear10 said ,connor to ,mary1 8cherish that poor couple1 and with ,god's help strive to assist them in their way to heaven40 ,he was now going apace3 they all kneeled down and joined the clergyman in prayers for the dying man4 ,connor uttered some faint sounds--,mary bent to hear them2 his words were1 8,i know that my ,redeemer liveth10 and they were his last4 ,the poor widow arose3 dreadful was the struggle between the repinings of nature and pious resignation1 but the latter prevailed3 she raised her clasped hands and said1 8,the ,lord gave1 and the ,lord hath taken away1 blessed be the name of the ,lord60 ,susan looked at her3 she recollected her own sinful passion and resentment on her late trifling loss2 she condemned herself1 she knew that she could never make her own peace with ,god1 and for the first time in her life she felt the want of a ,mediator4 ,the good clergyman pointed to the corpse1 and said1 8,there is a lesson never to be forgotten3 he was of the world3 he was in darkness1 until it pleased ,god by the light of his ,holy ,spirit to take away that darkness1 and direct him to the only sure refuge1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,from that first dawn it has shone more and more unto the perfect day4 ,he grew in grace1 and prayed to be strengthened and confirmed in it4 8,for him death had no terrors1 but appeared the gate of life3 the grave only seemed to him like a dark passage1 and he looked beyond it to everlasting light and glory in heaven4 8,who can behold the mild countenance of our departed brother1 and not exclaim1 #8,let me die the death of the righteous1 and let my last end be like his6'0 ,oh1 ,reader1 may you thus live--thus die666 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,london3 ,printed for ,the ,,religious ,,tract ,,society2 and sold at their ,depository1 #ef1 ,paternoster-row2 by ,j4 ,,nisbet1 #ba1 ,berners-street2 and by other ,booksellers4 ,price #ds4 per #ajj ,considerable ,allowance to ,subscribers and ,booksellers4