But the principal supporters of the Penny Banks are boys, and this is their most hopeful feature; for it is out of boys that men are made.  At Huddersfield many of the lads go in bands from the mills to the Penny Banks; emulation as well as example urging them on.  They save for various purposes—­one to buy a chest of tools, another a watch, a third a grammar or a dictionary.

One evening a boy presented himself to draw Ll 10.  According to the rules of the Penny Bank a week’s notice must be given before any sum exceeding 20s. can be withdrawn, and the cashier demurred to making the payment.  “Well,” said the boy, “the reason’s this—­mother can’t pay her rent; I’m goin’ to pay it, for, as long as I have owt, she shall hev’ it.”  In another case, a youth drew L20 to buy off his brother who had enlisted.  “Mother frets so,” said the lad, “that, she’ll break her heart if he isn’t bought off, and I cannot bear that.”

Thus these institutions give help and strength in many ways, and, besides enabling young people to keep out of debt and honestly to pay their way, furnish them with the means of performing kindly and generous acts in times of family trial and emergency.  It is an admirable feature of the Ragged Schools that almost every one of them has a Penny Bank connected with it for the purpose of training the scholars in good habits, which they most need; and it is a remarkable fact that in one year not less than L8,880 were deposited, in 25,637 sums, by the scholars connected with the Ragged School Union.  And when, this can be done by the poor boys of the ragged schools, what might not be accomplished by the highly-paid operatives and mechanics of England?

But another capital feature in the working of Penny Banks, as regards the cultivation of prudent habits among the people, is the circumstance that the example of boys and girls depositing their spare weekly pennies, has often the effect of drawing their parents after them.  A boy goes on for weeks paying his pence, and taking home his pass-book.  The book shows that he has a “leger folio” at the bank expressly devoted to him—­that his pennies are all duly entered, together with the respective dates of their deposits—­that these savings are not lying idle, but bear interest at 2-1/2 per cent. per annum—­and that he can have them restored to him at any time,—­if under 20s., without notice; and it above 20s., then after a week’s notice has been given.

The book is a little history in itself, and cannot fail to be interesting to the boy’s brothers and sisters, as well as to his parents.  They call him “good lad,” and they see he is a well-conducted lad.  The father, if he be a sensible man, naturally bethinks him that, if his boy can do so creditable a thing, worthy of praise, so might he himself.  Accordingly, on the next Saturday night, when the boy goes to deposit his threepence at the Penny Bank, the father often sends his shilling.