Thomas had not long been a teacher, before a
vacancy occurred in the first class, to which he had formerly belonged as
a scholar, and he was at once nominated to it.
After continuing as a scholar for three, and a teacher for about two
years, he removed to a neighboring town, as an apprentice. Absent from
the parental roof,--placed in the midst of temptation, and surrounded by
many allurements,--Thomas soon became forgetful of his former
instructions, and his Sabbath-school engagements: instead of connecting
himself with the school, and being found on the form by the side of his
class, he might be seen ranging over the fields, and wandering through
lanes, in company with those whom he had chosen as his associates. One
thing is worthy of remark, and it shows the force of habit, and the power
of early associations: he was regular in his attendance at the Wesleyan
Chapel twice a day. This happened, perhaps, not more from choice than
from a partial restraint which he felt, from the knowledge, that if he
neglected this duty, it would come to the ears of his parents, and not
only grieve them, but bring down on him their displeasure.
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