"O, Miss Layton! You are more like my mamma, than anybody else."Â Â Â Â Â p. 59.
"O, Miss Layton! You are more like my mamma, than anybody else."Â Â Â Â Â p. 59.
They rose from their knees, and Ella, throwing her arms around her teacher's neck, exclaimed, "O Miss Layton, you are more like my mamma than anybody else; nobody has ever prayed for me since she died, and I have so wanted somebody to help me to be good. You will help me now, won't you, dear Miss Layton?"
"I will do all I can, Ella," replied her teacher, returning the embrace, "but, my dear child, no one but God can really help you to be good. Promise me that you will every day ask him to help you."
"I will," said Ella, "and I will try to pray with my heart. But, Miss Layton, aunt Prudence says it is no use for such awicked child as I am to pray; she says God won't hear me, and I would have stopped, but I remembered mother told me always to pray, and I thought she knew best."
"Your mother was right, Ella," said Miss Layton, "for unless you pray, you will certainly never grow any better. Jesus said, 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.' But come, my dear, it is getting late; you may put on your bonnet now, and get your books together, and we will go home."
"I'm glad you go my way, Miss Layton, so I don't have to go alone," said Ella.
"Don't you like to walk alone, Ella?"
"No, ma'am, I always want somebody to talk to."
Miss Layton locked the school-house door, and taking Ella's hand they walked slowly homewards.
"How long is it since your mother died, Ella?" asked Miss Layton.
"A whole year, Miss Layton. Oh it seems such a long, long while, and I do want to see her so much!"
"Your mother must have been a very good woman, I think, Ella."
"O yes, Miss Layton, she was so,verygood! I never saw her do any thing wrong; but when I used to tell her so sometimes, she always said, no, she was not good, she was a miserable sinner."
"And she was quite right, Ella, for the best of mortals are in the sight of God but vile, polluted sinners. The Bible tells us 'they have all gone out of the way; there is none that doeth good, no not one.' But I trust your mother was a true Christian: one who loved God, and tried to serve him. She seems to have taken a great deal of pains with you, and I hope you remember her instructions. I hope you are a good girl at home, Ella."
Ella was wiping away her tears. Shenever could talk much of her mother without crying. "No, Miss Layton," said she, "aunt Prudence says I am the worst child she ever saw, and I know I'm very naughty; but it's no use to try to be good, for I can't do it. I used to be good when my mother was living, but I can't be good without her to help me."
"Ah, Ella, that is quite a mistake. Your mother could not make you good, if she were here, for she could have no power to change your heart, and make you hate the evil, and love the good. God alone can do that, and though your mother has been taken away from you, he is ever living, and ever present, and if you ask him for help—ask with your heart, and for Jesus' sake—he will hear and help you."
"But, Miss Layton, Iwasa pretty good girl when my mother was alive; even aunt Prudence says so."
"That may be so, but I think it was onlybecause you had not so many temptations to do wrong. Your mother probably knew better how to manage you, and keep you out of the way of temptation, than your aunt does; but you had the same wicked heart then that you have now, and if you behaved well only because you had no temptation to do otherwise, you were notreallyany better than you are now. God looks not merely at the outward conduct, but at theheart, at themotives, and unless you do right from a desire to serve and honour him, he can see nothing good in you. Ask him, my dear child, to give you right feelings, and right motives, and to help you to perform every duty from an earnest desire to please him."
"Youare waiting for me, are you, Ellie?" said Miss Layton, as she locked the school-room door, and turning to go, saw the little girl standing near, while her young companions were nearly all already out of sight.
"Yes, ma'am," replied Ella; "I would rather walk with you, if you will let me."
"Certainly, my dear child; I am always pleased to have your company. You have done well to-day, my dear little girl; your lessons were well recited, and your behaviour has been all that I could wish; and indeed, I might say almost as much of all the days since your bad day, which was nearly three weeks ago. I am very glad to be able to praise you."
Ella coloured with delight. "I have remembered what you said, Miss Layton," said she, "and as soon as I get home, I always take my books, and go away up stairs, where I can be quite alone, and study hard, until I am sure that I know my lessons perfectly, and it doesn't take nearly so long as I thought it would, and I have plenty of time to play afterwards. And I do think it is the best plan, Miss Layton; for sometimes we have company come in, in the evenings, and then I'm always so glad that my lessons are all done and out of the way."
"Yes, my dear, you will find, all through life, that it always is best to attend immediately to any duty you have to perform; you will never have cause to regret it. Duty first and pleasure after, is a very good motto for both children and grown up people."
"And I remember what you said aboutpraying with my heart," said Ella, "and when I kneel down to say my prayers, I say the words slowly, and try to think of the meaning, and to really want what I ask for; and so I find it easy to be good, and now I think I have found out how, and that I shall be good always."
"Ah, my child," replied her teacher, "beware of self confidence. The Bible says, 'Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall.' I don't like to hear you talk of it beingeasyto be good, for I fear if you think it so easy, you will trust in your own strength, and forget to ask help of God, and then you will besureto fall. Remember how sure Peter was, that he would never deny his Master, and yet how soon he committed that very sin.
"When we begin to trust in our own strength, God often leaves us to ourselves, and suffers us to fall, that we may learn that our own strength is perfect weakness.The Bible tells us that 'the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked,' and so true is this of the unrenewed heart, that we find it has naturally no love for what is good and holy, but, on the contrary, a constant inclination to that which is evil; so much so, that we cannot of ourselves resist any temptation to sin, or even so much as think a good thought; we are prone to do evil, and averse to what is good; our goodness is as the morning cloud and the early dew which vanisheth away. Our only safety, Ella, is in remembering our own weakness, and crying with David, 'Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.' You know Paul says, 'When I am weak, then am I strong,' no doubt meaning, when I feel my own weakness and look to God for strength, he strengthens me."
"Miss Layton," said Ella, "it is a great deal easier to be good at school than at home; for you praise me when I am good,and seem pleased to see me trying to do right, but aunt Prudence never does. She says people don't deserve to be praised for doing their duty, and no matter how hard I try to please her, she always finds something to scold me for."
"I think your aunt is partly right and partly wrong," said Miss Layton. "It certainly is true, in one sense, that people don't deserve praise for doing only what it is their duty to do, but none of us would have many blessings if we received only what we deserve, and I think it is right and best to give praise because it encourages people in trying to do well. But, Ella, though it is quite right that you should desire to please your aunt, and your undoubted duty to do so, for she stands to you in the place of your parents, whom God has commanded you to honour, yet your highest motive should ever be to please God; and, though your aunt may not notice your efforts,you may rest assured that not one of your struggles to conquer your temper, or overcome your habits of carelessness and indolence, remains unnoticed by him."
"Well, Miss Layton, I haven't been in a real passion for more than two weeks, and I'm nearly sure I never will get into such a fit of rage, as aunt Prudence calls it, again."
"Ah, Ella, don't be too confident," replied her teacher.
"Oh I'msureI won't, Miss Layton. I can't help getting alittleangry sometimes, but I'm certain almost that I never will get sodreadfullyangry as I used to, for I know it is so ugly, and so wicked."
Miss Layton shook her head doubtingly. "Time will show, Ella. Bad habits are not so easily got rid of. But good bye, child," she added, stooping and kissing the little girl's cheek, "you know you have to turn off here."
"Good bye, Miss Layton," said Ella, "I mean to have real good lessons to-morrow."
"Oh, Ella, how pretty your flowers are! won't you give me one?" exclaimed a little girl who overtook Ella just as she was passing down the lane which bounded that part of her aunt's grounds where her own little garden was situated. Ella was naturally a very generous child.
"Yes, a good many more than one, Lucy," said she, "if you will wait till I can get round to them, for you know the gate is round on the other side."
"Oh, I'm in a dreadful hurry, Ellie," replied Lucy, "Mother told me not to stop a minute, and I'm all out of breath with running. Can't you climb the fence?"
"Well, if you're in such averygreat hurry I suppose I must for once, though aunt Prudence wouldn't like it very much; but then she always scolds me, and I guess she might about as well scold for one thingas another," said Ella, and as she spoke, she threw her satchel of books over, and then climbed the fence. In a moment she was on the other side, and had gathered a handful of flowers and reached them through the fence to Lucy, who still stood on the outside. Lucy ran on, and Ella picked up her satchel and walked into the house.
Now it happened that Miss Prudence was in an unusually bad humour. Everything had seemed to go wrong with her that day. A neighbour's boy had left the garden gate open, and before it was noticed some pigs had got in and destroyed a great many of her choicest vegetables and flowers, and while she and Sallie, her maid, were engaged in chasing them out, the cakes in the oven had nearly burnt to a cinder; and, to crown all, Sallie, flurried by the scolding of her mistress, had let fall and broken a much valued dish of old-fashioned china. In consequence of thesevarious mishaps Miss Prudence was in one of her veryworsthumours, which is saying a good deal, as she was not at any time remarkably sweet-tempered.
"Your dress torn again, miss!" she exclaimed, the instant she caught sight of her niece. "You've been climbing fences again, hey?"
"I didn't know it was torn," said Ella, looking down. "Where, aunt Prudence? I don't see it."
"There! what do you call that?" said Miss Prudence, fiercely, taking hold of the skirt of Ella's dress, and showing a small slit torn in one of the breadths.
"Oh, that is only alittlehole, aunt Prudence," said Ella.
"Alittlehole? Yes, but I'd like to know if you aren'talwaystearing your clothes, and if you'd torn it all the way round, it would have been all the same to you."
Ella's temper was rising, more from thetone than the words her aunt had used, "I ain'talwaystearing my clothes," said she, angrily, "youknowI haven't torn one for a good while, and it's ever so long since I climbed a fence till to-day."
"How dare you contradict me, you impertinent little hussy!" said aunt Prudence, catching hold of her and shaking her violently, and boxing her ears, then pushing her from her with such violence as to throw her down.
"You're just the crossest woman in the world," exclaimed Ella,—now thoroughly roused as soon as she recovered her breath sufficiently to speak, "I don't care if Idotear my clothes! I don't care if I tear them all to pieces, and I shan't try to please you any more, for you're just as cross as you can be; you're always scolding me, and never praise me a bit when I try just as hard as I can to please you."
"Just walk right up stairs, and don't letme hear another word out of your mouth, or see your face again to-day," said aunt Prudence; "if I served you right I'd give you a good switching, and may be I'll do it yet; but just walk straight up stairs, and stay there; for not a mouthful of supper shall you have to-night."
"I won't!" said Ella, "I ain't going to be shut up in that hot room all the afternoon. I'll stay out of doors," and she ran out as she spoke.
"We'll soon see that," said aunt Prudence, "we'll soon see who's mistress," catching her by the arm and dragging her into the house. Ella resisted with all the strength of passion; but in vain; her aunt proved the stronger, and after a desperate battle succeeded in forcing her up stairs and into her own room, where she shut her in, and locked the door upon her, and then, putting the key in her pocket, walked down stairs; while Ella, mad with rage, assailedthe door with a shower of kicks and blows, in the vain attempt to regain her liberty, at the same time screaming at the top of her voice.
At length, completely exhausted by her own violence, she desisted, and sitting down on the floor, she laid her head on a chair, and cried herself to sleep.
When Ella waked, the moon was shining in at the window, everything about the house was perfectly still, and feeling frightened at the silence, and chilly from the night wind, which had been blowing on her, she crept into bed without undressing, and soon fell asleep again.
It was long past her usual rising hour, when she waked again with a confused feeling that something was wrong. She lay quiet a moment, trying to collect her thoughts. Suddenly, she remembered her lessons; she had not looked at them. Instantly springing from the bed, she hastilywashed her face, combed her hair, and smoothed her rumpled dress as well as she could, and then tried the door. It was fast; she was still a prisoner, and her satchel of books had been left in the hall below. What should she do? she tried the door again and again; she called aunt Prudence as loud as she could, but there was no answer, and sitting down on the floor, she cried bitterly.
In about half an hour, aunt Prudence came, and unlocking the door, ordered her niece to walk down stairs and eat her breakfast, which command Ella very gladly obeyed, as she was very hungry; but, troubled about her lessons, she hurried through her meal as fast as possible, and as soon as she had finished, requested permission of her aunt to leave the table, and get her books.
"No," replied Miss Prudence, sharply, "how often must I tell that it is very badmanners to leave the table until every one has finished? Just sit still and behave yourself; you'll not gain anything from me by that vulgar habit you have of eating so fast."
It was almost more than Ella could bear, to have to sit there and watch her aunt, who seemed to eat more slowly than she had ever known her to do before, when she knew that she had scarcely time to learn her lessons before the hour for school. At last, aunt Prudence pushed back her chair, and rose from the table; Ella rose too, and hurried into the hall to get her books.
"Come back here!" called out aunt Prudence. "What are you going to do?"
"I was just going to get my books, to learn my lessons."
"You'll do no such thing, till you've mended that dress. Get your thimble, and sit down here alongside of me, and darn it. If you will tear your clothes, I'm determinedyou shall mend them; and mind and do it well, or I'll make you pick every stitch of it out, and do it over."
Poor Ella was in despair. "O aunt Prudence," said she, bursting into tears, "I won't know my lessons, and Miss Layton will be so angry. Mayn't I learn them now, and mend my dress when I come home from school? Oh, dopleaselet me."
"No; I tell you, you shall mend itjust now. I don't care if Miss Laytonisangry. I only hope she'll give you a right good whipping, for if you had behaved yourself last night, you might have had plenty of time to learn your lessons."
Ella wiped away her tears, and commenced her work, for she knew that crying was of no use, and would only hinder her from doing her work quickly and well. She took a great deal of pains, and was very careful not to make a single long stitch, and at last it was done, and very nicelytoo, she thought, but when she showed it to her aunt, she was told that it was puckered a little, and must all come out again.
"I can't do it a bit better, and I won't," said Ella, throwing the dress on the floor.
"You shall," said her aunt. "Pick up that dress this minute, and do as I bid you."
Ella neither moved to obey, nor answered a word.
"Sallie," called out Miss Prudence to the servant girl, who was in the next room washing up the breakfast dishes, "bring me a switch, till I make this child mind me."
"Yes, ma'am," replied Sallie; and the next minute she appeared at the door with a switch, which she had just cut from the willow tree in the yard.
"Pick up that dress," said Miss Prudence again, flourishing the switch. Ella stood still, mute and obstinate. Aunt Prudenceseized her by the arm, and laid the switch over her shoulders with all her strength. Ella bore it without a word.
"Now, will you mind me?" again inquired her aunt, pausing for breath.
"No!" said Ella.
"You'll not go one step to school till you do," said her aunt.
"I don't care; I don't want to go, when I don't know my lessons."
"Then youshallgo! Just take your bonnet, and start this minute. I'll make you do something I bid you," said her aunt.
Ella obeyed, only too glad to get rid of doing her work over again; though she had spoken truly in saying that she did not care to go to school without knowing her lessons.
"The most high-tempered, obstinate child that ever breathed," said aunt Prudence, turning away from the window, where she had been standing to watch Ella out of the gate.
"Now," said Ella, talking to herself, as she had a habit of doing, as she walked slowly along: "I can't get to school in time, and I'll be sure to get a bad mark for attendance anyhow, so I may just as well walk a little slower, and get my spelling lesson as I go along."
Ella had a very retentive memory, and was quite a good speller for a child of her age, and as the lesson happened to be an easy one, she had learned it quite perfectly by the time she had reached the school-house door. The opening exercises were quite over when Ella entered the room. Miss Layton looked up as she came in, and motioned to her to come to her.
"How has it happened that you are so late this morning, my child?" said she.
"I couldn't help it, Miss Layton; aunt Prudence made me stay to mend my dress."
"That is a sufficient excuse," replied her teacher, "I am very glad, Ella, that I can always believe what you say."
"I couldn't have got here quite in time, Miss Layton," said Ella, "but I might have come a little sooner if I hadn't walked slowly, so as to learn my spelling lesson on the way."
Miss Layton looked surprised, but made no remark, as it was now time to call a class. Ella recited her spelling lesson perfectly, but made several mistakes in her geography, which would indeed have been a total failure, as she had not looked at her lesson, if it had not been the day for reviewing that study, so that the lesson was one which she had learned only a short time before, and had not entirely forgotten. Grammar was the lesson she dreaded most, as she had only lately commenced the study, and often found it difficult to understand and commit it to memory. But that was not to be recited until after recess, and she determined to spend her playtime in studying it.
Accordingly when the bell tapped for recess, she took her book in her hand and slipped away to a corner of the play-ground where, concealed by some bushes, she thought she might remain unnoticed by her companions. But Ella was a favourite with most of her school-fellows, and it was not long ere she was missed, and "Where's Ella?" "Where's Ella?" "Didn't she come out?" "Do you know where she went to?" were the questions which passed from mouth to mouth amongst a group of girls who were preparing to commence a game of romps.
"What's the matter? what are you all talking about?" asked Sallie Barnes, coming up to them.
"We're going to play 'Chickeny-crany-crow,' and we want Ella to be the old witch, but we can't find her; do you know where she is?"
"Yes," said Sallie, "I saw her go behindthose bushes. Come along girls, and let's see what she's about. Some mischief, I'll be bound."
Half a dozen girls started at once on a full run across the play-ground to the spot pointed out by Sallie.
"Why, Ellie, whatareyou doing here? why don't you come and play?" exclaimed Kate Townley pushing aside the bushes. "We want you this minute."
"I'm learning my grammar," replied Ella, without looking up from her book, "so don't talk to me, please, for I'm in a great hurry, because it comes right away after recess, you know."
"Getting your lesson! getting itnow, when it's almost time to say it! I wonder if this is the pattern good girl, that always learns her lessons just as soon as she gets home, and never allows herself a bit of play till she knows them perfectly!" said Sallie, in a mocking tone.
"I doalmostalways, Sallie, but I didn't last night, and so please go away, and let me learn it now."
"Oh ho, now I remember this pattern girl missed quite a number of questions in her geography, and if it had been that naughty girl Sallie Barnes, she would have been kept in. Ah, it's a fine thing to be a favourite, a very nice thing to be the teacher's pet!"
"It's no such thing," said Ella, angrily, "you know very well that Miss Layton doesn't pet me; she treats us all alike."
"You're right, Ellie, so she does, at least according to the way we behave," said Mary Young.
"What a shame of you to talk so, Sallie! you know Ellie didn't miss more than two, and Miss Layton doesn't keep us in for that much," said Kate.
"WellIsay she missed three or four," said Sallie, "and I'll be bound she'll missmore than that in the grammar, for I happen to know that it's pretty hard, and she'll be kept after school for that; and then I hope Miss Layton will give her as good a whipping as she did once before."
"She didn't; she never struck me in her life," said Ella.
"I know better; she did," said Sallie.
"That's a lie, and you know it is," said Ella, growing very angry.
"So I suppose you'll go and telldearMiss Layton, that Sallie Barnes has been telling lies about you."
"No, I'llnot," said Ella. "You know I won't, or you wouldn't dare to talk so. I don't tell lies nor tales either; I would not stoop to do anything so mean and wicked."
"So you mean to say I'm mean and wicked, a liar and a tell-tale! Never mind, miss, I'll pay you for your impudence, one of these days."
"I don't think your stories hang together very well, Sallie," said Mary Young. "First you say Miss Layton pets Ella, and then you say she whipped her for what I know she wouldn't whip any other scholar for."
Sallie was saved the necessity of replying, for at that instant the bell rang, and all hastened to the house.
"You have all recited very well excepting Ella," said Miss Layton, as she dismissed the grammar class to their seats. "Ella, you must learn this lesson over and recite it to me after school is dismissed."
"Ah, ha! I told you so!" whispered Sallie in Ella's ear.
Ella answered only with an angry look—it was against the rules to speak, but Sallie did not care for that, for though she would have been very ready to tell of Ella, she knew that Ella was much too honourable to tell tales of her. As soon as the othershad all gone, Ella took her book to Miss Layton, and this time she recited her lesson quite perfectly.
"You know it very well, now," said her teacher, handing the book back to her. "What is it, my dear?" she asked, seeing the child hesitate. "Had you something to say to me? Don't be afraid to tell me all that is in your heart. If you are in trouble, perhaps I can help you, and if you have done wrong, I will not judge you harshly," she added, drawing the little girl towards her.
Ella threw her arms round her teacher's neck, and hiding her face on her shoulder, burst into tears. Miss Layton stroked her hair, and talked soothingly to her. Her heart yearned over the little motherless child, who had no one to love her.
"O Miss Layton, I can never, never be good. It's no use to try," sobbed the poor child.
"What new difficulty have you found, my darling? you told me it was very easy last night."
"I'm afraid you will hate me, Miss Layton, if I tell you how wicked I have been last night and this morning."
"Hate you, my child! far from it. I will love you the better for acknowledging your faults. Tell me all about it, and perhaps I may be able to help you to do better."
Ella related all the occurrences of that morning and the previous evening, without attempting any palliation of her own conduct.
"I am very sorry, indeed, to hear all this, Ella," said Miss Layton. "You have really been very naughty. In the first place, you ought not to have climbed the fence; that was very wrong, because you knew that your aunt had forbidden it."
"But Lucy wanted the flowers, andcouldn't wait for me to go round to the gate. What could I do, Miss Layton?"
"It would have been much better to let Lucy go without the flowers than to disobey your aunt."
"But, Miss Layton, shealwaysscolds me! I canneverplease her, and I don't mean to try any more."
"O Ella, Ella! is this the end of all your good resolutions? Who is it that says, 'Honour thy father and thy mother?'"
"But aunt Prudence isn't my mother," said Ella.
"No, my dear, but she occupies the place of a parent to you, and the spirit of the command requires you to obey her."
"I can't please her, Miss Layton. I've tried and tried and tried, and what's the use of trying any more?"
"Ah, Ella, if you had a new heart, if you were a child of God, you would try to do right that you might pleasehim; andyou would not give up in despair, though no one else noticed your efforts, or looked upon you with approval. I am afraid, my child, that you love praise too well; that you 'love the praise of men more than the praise of God.'"
"I don'tliketo mind aunt Prudence! I wish Ididn'thave to!"
"'This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous.' There is the test, Ella; by your fruits you are to be known. God commands you to honour and obey your aunt, and if that command is grievous to you, does it not show that you are not one of his children?"
"I know I'm not, Miss Layton," said Ella, sadly. "I'm afraid Inevershall be a Christian, for I'm so very, very wicked, and I can't make myself any better, for I've tried so hard, and I only seem to grow more and more wicked, the more I try to be good."
"I am glad to hear you say so, Ella. I had much rather hear you talk in that way, than as you did last night, because I know that a sense of your own helplessness, of your own utter inability to make yourself any better, is the first step towards feeling your need of the Saviour; for as long as you think that there is any hope that you can heal yourself, you will not apply to the Great Physician. 'Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light!' That invitation is addressed to you, Ella, if you do, as I hope, feel your sins to be a burden."
"I'm afraid it doesn't mean me, Miss Layton, for I'm afraid I don'twantto be good. I feel just like giving it up and not trying any more."
"Then, Ella, pray to God togiveyou the desire; to make you want to be good. Jesus said, 'Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.'"
"Won't you pray for me, Miss Layton?"
"I do, dear child, and will," said Miss Layton, kissing her; "but you must pray for yourself; I cannot do the work for you—no one can; you must pray and repent and believe for yourself."
"O Miss Layton, I wish I could live with you!" exclaimed Ella, "for then I think I could be good."
Miss Layton smiled. "I am coming to live at your house, my dear; didn't you know it? didn't your aunt tell you?"
"Oh no, ma'am; but are you,really? Oh, I am so glad,soglad!" and Ella clapped her hands, and fairly danced up and down with delight.
"Yes; Mrs. Price is tired of boarding me, and your aunt has agreed to take me for the rest of the time that I shall be here."
"And when will you come, Miss Layton? Oh, do come soon!"
"To-morrow evening, my dear; but, Ella, I shall not like to live with you, if you are going to be such a naughty girl as you were last night and this morning."
"Oh no, indeed, I'll not; I should be ashamed to be so bad before you."
"And do you feel more respect forme—a weak, sinful mortal—than for the great God? more ashamed and afraid to do wrong in my presence, than in his?"
"O Miss Layton, I can't see him, and I forget that he sees me."
"Do you think that that excuse will avail you in the judgment-day, Ella? The Bible tells us, 'The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all they that forget God.' O Ella, when you are tempted to do wrong,remember these words: 'Thou God seest me;' and O my child, never, never dare to do in his presence, what you would be ashamed or afraid to do before any earthly being."
"I'm very sorry I was so naughty," said Ella, "and I'll tell aunt Prudence so, and ask her to forgive me, and I'll do as she bids me, and mend the dress over again if she says I must; though I'm sure I can't do it any better."
"Ask forgiveness of God too, Ella."
"Yes, ma'am, I will."
"I'm sorry I was so naughty and so impertinent to you last night and this morning, aunt Prudence," said Ella, coming up to her aunt, on her return from school. "Will you please to forgive me, and I'll try to mind you next time."
"Oh yes, it's all very well to say you're sorry now, but it'll be just the very samething again, the very next time you're in a bad humour."
"Shall I rip that darn out, and do it over now, aunt Prudence?"
"No; I've had bother enough with it already; let it alone."
"Justlook, Miss Layton, how Ella Clinton has torn my book," said Sallie Barnes, displaying her arithmetic, several leaves of which were missing.
"How do you know that it was Ella that did it?" asked Miss Layton.
"Why, because she hates me; and I heard her say, the other day, that she'd tear my books or do something to spite me, and when I came to school this morning, she was standing right beside my desk, and Abby Reed says she saw her turning my things over before I came, so I'msureshe must have done it."
"It does look like it, certainly," said Miss Layton, "but still I can hardly believeElla would do such a thing. Come here, Ella. Did you tear this? or do you know how it came to be torn."
"No, ma'am," said Ella, indignantly, "I didn't touch it, and I don't know anything about it."
"Did you go to Sallie's desk, and turn over her things, this morning before school commenced?"
"I didn't turn over the things, Miss Layton. I went to her desk, and looked in her pencil box to see if my slate-pencil was there, but I didn't touch anything else."
"What made you think of looking for your pencil in Sallie's box?"
Ella coloured, and remained silent.
"I want an answer, Ella," said Miss Layton. "You must have had some reason for supposing your pencil was there; what was it?"
"I thought may-be she had hidden it;because the other day I told her something she said was a lie, and she was very angry, and said she would pay me for it," replied Ella.
"And were your suspicions correct? did you find your pencil there?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Ella.
"If she did, she must have put it there first, for I never touched it," said Sallie.
"Hush, Sallie," said Miss Layton. "Ella, are you sure it wasyourpencil? slate pencils are very much alike, you may have been mistaken."
"No, ma'am, I know it was mine, because I had cut some letters on it," replied Ella.
"I wish you'd look inherdesk, Miss Layton," said Sallie, "and see if she hasn't got the leaves of my arithmetic hid there."
Miss Layton rose and went to Ella's desk, raised the lid and examined the contents, while the two girls stood looking on.Presently moving a pile of books, she found several leaves, which had been tucked away behind them, and which, on being compared with Sallie's book, proved to be evidently the missing portion; though one of them had been torn in half, and, from the stains of ink upon it, seemed to have been used for wiping a pen. "I told you so! I knew she'd done it!" exclaimed Sallie, exultingly; while Ella gazed at the leaves in her teacher's hand with an expression of unfeigned astonishment that did not escape Miss Layton's quick eye.
"And she's been using this leaf for a pen-wiper," continued Sallie, "she's always wanting a piece of paper to wipe her pen, because she's so careless she can never keep a pen-wiper."
"How do you account for this strong circumstantial evidence against you, Ella?" asked her teacher.
"I don't know, Miss Layton, I don'tknow atallhow they got there," said Ella, with a bewildered look. "I've been in the school-room ever since it was opened this morning, and I didn't see any body put them there."
"I believe you, Ella," said Miss Layton, "for whatever other faults you may have, I know you to be a perfectly truthful child."
"Oh yes, it's a fine thing to be the teacher'spet!" said Sallie, tossing her head. "You'd be ready enough to believe thatIhad done such a thing, because you don't likeme."
"Ishouldbe more ready to believe it of you, than of Ella, Sallie; because, andonlybecause, you have not established the same character for truth. I have more than once had great reason to doubtyourword, butneverElla's. A teacher soon discovers whose word she can trust and whose she cannot."
"It's just because she's your favourite," said Sallie, angrily.
"Go to your seat," said Miss Layton, "I will not allow such impertinence, and shall mark you for it in your weekly report. Can any of the rest of you throw any light upon this subject?" she inquired, turning to the other scholars.
"Miss Layton," said the girl who sat next to Sallie, "I think, perhaps Sallie tore her book herself, for I heard her say yesterday, that she would tear out those leaves because she couldn't do the sums."
The girl who kept the key and attended to the room, now came up, and told Miss Layton that Sallie had come to her to borrow the key on the previous evening, saying that she had forgotten her books, and must get them, or she should not know her lessons. "Yes, and I was going after the cows," said Charley Owen, "and I saw the school door open, and I thought may-be somebody was breaking in, so I ran and looked in at the door, and I saw Salliesitting by Ellie's desk a writing, and she tore a leaf out of a book, and wiped her pen on it, and then she looked at the book awhile, and then tore out some more leaves, and then she raised up the lid and put the ink in the desk, and I guess she put the leaves in too."
"It's all a lie," exclaimed Sallie; "there was nobody here when I was getting my books."
"I just peeped in at the door, and then I ran off, and she didn't see me," said Charley.
"The proof of your guilt is too plain to admit of a doubt," said Miss Layton, turning to the now abashed and confused Sallie. "You will of course remain with me after the rest are dismissed."
"Oh, how shall I talk to that hardened girl!" was the thought which many times presented itself to Miss Layton's mind, while engaged in the duties of the day; andmany a silent petition for assistance went up to Him who hath promised wisdom to them that ask it.
At length the hour had arrived, school was dismissed, and the children, always glad to be released from study and confinement, were not long in leaving the teacher alone with her refractory pupil. "Sallie," said Miss Layton, "you know that borrowing is against the rules, how then do you account for the fact of Ella's pencil having been found in your box?"
"What's the use of my answering? you won't believe me, if I do," said Sallie, angrily.
"You must speak more respectfully, Sallie," said Miss Layton, "or I shall feel obliged to inform your parents of your very bad behaviour. I wish you now to answer my question, and tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"I don't know anything about it," repliedSallie, "I didn't put it there, and if Ella Clinton found it in my box, she must have put it there herself."
"Well, Sallie,Icannot tell whether you are speaking the truth or not, but I want you to remember that God knows all about it; for the Bible tells us that 'all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do;' and the Psalmist says, 'O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest my down sitting, and mine uprising; thou understandest mythoughtafar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways, for there is not a word in my tongue, but lo! O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.' God, who is the searcher of the heart, knows all your motives, has seen all your actions, and heard all your words, and in his book of remembrance all these things are written, and for them all, he will call you to account in the day of judgment. Sallie, do you ever read the Bible?"
"I read it sometimes of a Sunday, when I can't find anything I like better."
"I am sorry, Sallie, to hear you speak so slightingly of God's word, which is the Book of books and the one which we should value above all others. But it seems you do read it occasionally—have you ever read the story of Ananias and Sapphira?"
"I don't remember," said Sallie, sulkily.
Miss Layton opened her Bible, and read aloud the story of that wicked man and woman whom God struck dead for telling a lie. As I suppose my little readers have all read this sad story, I shall not repeat it here; but if they have not read it, they will find it in the fifth chapter of Acts, and I hope they will get their Testaments, and read it now, and that they will take warning by the awful punishment of Ananias and Sapphira, and never, neverdareto tell a lie.
When Miss Layton had finished reading,she proceeded to talk to Sallie of the great wickedness of her conduct, the dreadful sin of lying, quoting a number of texts to show God's hatred of that sin, such as, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord," "The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment," "A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish," "All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone," and many others.
"Sallie," said she, "I do not think there is any sin which is mentioned more frequently in the Holy Scriptures, as being exceedingly hateful to God, than that of lying; and we are expressly told that no liar shall be allowed to enter the holy city, the New Jerusalem. 'For,' says the apostle John, 'without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoeverlovethandmaketha lie.'You would look with abhorrence upon a murderer—one who had dipped his hands in the blood of his fellow-man—and yet you see that liars are put in the same catalogue, as being no better than they. But have you not really been a murderer inheartthis day, Sallie? Have you not felt hatred to Ella, and a desire to do her harm? and is not that the very spirit of murder? 'Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer;' and was not that the very feeling that led Cain to kill his brother? You have to-day broken several of God's commandments; the sixth, which is: 'Thou shalt not kill,' for the Bible tells us that anger is a breach of that command; and the ninth, which is: 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.'
"Sallie, I should not be doing my duty, if I did not speak to you of the great wickedness of which you have been guilty; if I did not warn you of the necessity of repentance.'The soul that sinneth, it shall die,' says God. 'He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.' 'Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity: I will mock when your fear cometh.' But again, he tells us, 'I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but rather that he turn from his evil way and live. Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die, O house of Israel!' O Sallie, can you refuse to listen to these awful threatenings, or to accept of these gracious invitations? Would that I could persuade you to turn from your evil waysnow—now while you are young, and while you have health and strength and reason—for 'nowis the accepted time, andnowis the day of salvation,' and you can be sure of no time but the present."
Much more Miss Layton said to Sallie, but she went home that night with a sad heart, for she could not perceive that her words had made any impression.
When Miss Layton entered her school-room next morning, she found her pupils in quite a state of excitement. "O Miss Layton, Miss Layton!" they exclaimed on seeing her, "Sallie Barnes and her mother have been here getting Sallie's books, and they took them all away, and Mrs. Barnes says, Sallie shan't come to school to you another day, because you talked to her just as if she was the greatest sinner in the world, and she's just as good as other folks. And she's not going to have her abused; she won't let her stay where she's called a liar and a murderer. And Mrs. Barnes says, Sallie never told a lie in all her life, for she knows she'd get half killed if she did; her children are all brought up to speak the truth; and we all know thatthat's not so, for nobody believes a word that either Sallie or her mother says. Oh, she wasverymad, Miss Layton, and scolded away ever so long, and swore too; and she says she's going to give you a piece of her mind when she sees you."
"I am very sorry indeed to hear that any one would behave so wickedly," said Miss Layton, "but if Sallie is such a very bad girl, I am glad she is gone, for the Bible says, 'Evil communications corrupt good manners,' and I fear she might have made some of the rest of you as bad as herself. But if Sallie has such a wicked mother, there is great allowance to be made for her, poor girl! and you should feel very thankful that you have been blest with good mothers, who, instead of encouraging you in wickedness, try to teach you to do right."
"Ifyou'll excuse me, Miss Layton, I'll just leave Ella to entertain you, as I have an errand out, but I'll not be gone long," said Miss Prudence Clinton, one evening, soon after Miss Layton had taken up her quarters with her.
"Don't hurry onmyaccount, Miss Clinton; I have no doubt that Ellie and I can entertain each other very well, until you return," replied Miss Layton.
"Very well then, Ella, I shall expect you to do your best," said aunt Prudence, as she went out of the door.
"Will you take a walk with me, Ella?" asked Miss Layton.
"Oh yes, ma'am, I should love to, dearly!I'll get my bonnet in one minute!" exclaimed Ella, bounding out of the room. In less than the specified time she returned with her bonnet in her hand.
"Where shall we go, Ellie?" said Miss Layton; "the sun is nearly down, so we cannot take a very long walk before it will be getting dark."
"Will you come with me to see my mother's grave, Miss Layton? it isn't very far, and the grave-yard is very pretty; there are so many trees, and bushes, and flowers planted round the graves."
"Yes, Ellie, we will go there, if you wish it."
"I love to come here since mother died," said Ella, as they stood by Mrs. Clinton's grave. "Sometimes I sit down on the grass, and lay my head on the grave, and talk to mother, and it seems as if she could hear me; but Oh, I wish she could speak to me! Oh, if I could only put my arms roundher neck once more, and give her justonemore kiss!" and Ella burst into tears, and laid her face against the cold tomb-stone, while the tears fell like rain on the grass that covered her mother's breast. Miss Layton's tears were falling too.
"Your mother is not here, dear child," said she. "'Tis only the senseless body that lies there, but your mother lives in heaven."
"Yes, Iknowshe does, because she was so good, that I am sure God would take her there."
"You don't mean, my dear child, that God would save herbecauseshe was good?"
"Why, yes, Miss Layton; it's thegoodpeople that go to heaven, isn't it?"
"My dear Ella, there isnonethat doeth good and sinneth not; 'they areallgone out of the way; they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good—no, notone.'"
"But you said my mother was in heaven!"
"Yes, my dear, but notbecauseshe wasgood, but because Jesus died to save her. 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.' If we were able to save ourselves by our own good works, then Jesus need not have died. No, Ella, we cannot do anythingat alltomeritsalvation, but must accept it as God'sfree gift, 'not of works, lest any man should boast.' 'By their fruits ye shallknowthem;' it is not said they shall besavedby their fruits, but by them they are to beknown; they are theevidenceof their acceptance with God. 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved:' we are to be saved by faith, not by works; but unless we do good works, unless we love God's commandments and try to keep them, we have no reason to think we have anyfaith, for it must be a living faith that saves us, and the apostle James tells us that 'faith without works is dead.' Your mother professed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and she showed by her works that hers was not a dead faith, and therefore we may rest assured that she is in heaven; but if she had expected to be saved on account of her own good deeds, we could have had no such assurance concerning her."
"I think I understand it now, Miss Layton," said Ella, "and I remember that mother always seemed to think herself very wicked, though I don't think I ever saw her do anything wrong; but she said she was not afraid to die, because Jesus had died to save her."
"Yes, Ella, this is the experience of all true Christians. But come, it is time for us to be going; it is growing quite dark, and the stars are beginning to come out in the sky."
"How pretty the stars are! Miss Layton," said Ella, gazing up into the sky; "I love to look at them. Mother used to like to look at them too, and she told me that some of them were great large worlds, a great deal bigger than ours, and some were suns with worlds moving around them. Miss Layton, what is that white streak up in the sky, that they call the Milky-way? I asked aunt Prudence the other evening, and she said, 'Nonsense! go away, and don't bother me with such silly questions.' Doyouthink it's a silly question, Miss Layton?"
"No, my dear, not at all silly. The Milky-way is said to be composed of millions of stars, which, though they are very large indeed, are at such an immense distance from us as to appear very small, and though they are at great distances from each other, so much farther are they from our world, that they look to us as thoughthey were quite close together, and the rays of light coming from such a multitude of stars, mingle together, and cause that white appearance."
"How very great and wise God must be, to be able to take care of so many worlds at once!" said Ella.
"And remember, Ella, that he not only keeps all these worlds in their orbits, but takes the same care of each one of the innumerable beings which inhabit them, as though there was but thatonefor him to watch over and protect. You recollect that Jesus said, 'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall to the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.' Then we need not fear that we are too insignificant for God to notice, or that he will forget us, because he has so many creatures to care for."
"How strange," said Ella, "that Godcan see everything, and take care of everybody, when he has so many, soverymany people to watch!"
"There is another thing I want you to think of, Ella," said Miss Layton. "Our little world, compared with the millions of other worlds, is but as one leaf compared to all the leaves on all the trees of the forest, or as one grain of sand to all that are on the sea-shore; and yet the great God, who is the Creator and Ruler of all these mighty worlds, sent his own Son down to our little earth to suffer, and bleed and die to saveus, who are rebels against him our Creator and lawful sovereign. 'When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Whatamazinglove and condescension! With what wonder and astonishment must the angels have beheld it! And now, Ella,is it not strange that any of us should be guilty of suchbaseingratitude, as to refuse to love thispreciousSaviour, who has shown such wondrous love and condescension toward us? How canyourefuse to give him your heartnow—to forsake your sins and devote your life to his service? It is areasonableservice, a service he has a right to demand of each one of us. And it is adelightfulservice; his yokeiseasy, and his burden light."
Things now went on much more smoothly with Ella; Miss Layton's presence being a restraint upon her aunt as well as upon Ella. Miss Prudence still scolded, for she had indulged the habit so long that it had become second nature to her to do so, but not so continually as formerly, and Ella bore it more patiently.
"How do you get along with this child at school, Miss Layton?" asked aunt Prudence one day. "Don't you find herrather unmanageable sometimes? Mr. Burton used to make great complaints of her, and I frequently have much trouble with her myself."
"No, Miss Clinton, I have had very little trouble with Ella. She is always obedient, and though she is careless and quick-tempered, I find that when reasoned with kindly, she is always sorry for her faults and anxious to try to do better."
"Well, I don't see why it is that she behaves so much better for strangers than for her own aunt. I'm sure I've tried my best to make a good child of her, but wheneverIreprove her, instead of seeming sorry for her faults, she is very apt to fly into a passion. You've no idea how bad she can be, for she has behaved remarkably well—that is, forher—since you've been in the house. And yet I can't think it's altogether because you are a stranger, for she must have got pretty well acquainted withyou by this time, going to school to you every day, and she didn't mind showing out her badness to Mr. Burton just the same as to me."
"No, Miss Clinton, I don't think it is because I am a stranger; I think Ella is a very affectionate child, and can be very easily ruled by kindness."
"But you scold her, don't you?"
"I do not speak to her in an angry, impatient way. If you speak to a child in the loud, angry tones of passion, it rouses the same feelings inhisbreast, and instead of making him penitent on account of his misconduct, excites a feeling of rebellion against your authority. But if you speak mildly and kindly, in a way that shows him that you do it for his good, and not because his faults annoy and provoke you, you will generally find your admonitions have a very different effect."
"Well, I don't know; but I think whenchildren are bad, they ought to be scolded; and whipped too, sometimes."
"They certainly ought to bereproved, Miss Clinton, but notscolded; at least not inmysense of the word. Some people, I believe, includeallreproof under that head, but whenIspeak of scolding, I only mean loud and angry, or fretful and unreasonable fault-finding, andthat, I really believe, never benefitted anybody."
"And you don't whip, either, I suppose, for most folks think that's worse than scolding."
"Then, there I differ from most folks," said Miss Layton, smiling. "I don't pretend to be wiser than Solomon, who said, 'Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him;' and again, 'Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.' I think it issometimesnecessary to use the rod, thoughnot very often; but when all other means have failed to make a child obey, I do not hesitate to resort to that. But different dispositions require different management. Ella, I think, can be most easily ruled through her affections; and I had much rather have the management of such a child, than of one who requires severity. Only show her that you love her, Miss Clinton, as I have no doubt you do, and I think you will find her easily managed."
"Love her! to be sure I do. She's the only near relation I have in the world. There was quite a large family of us, but James and I were all that lived to grow up; I was the eldest, and he the youngest, and I thought the world and all of my brother; but I never wanted him to get married, for I couldn't bear to think he should ever care more for anybody else than he did for me. However, I think now it's just as well he did, for though Ella does plague me half todeath sometimes, I wouldn't be without her for a great deal."
"If you would just let Ella see, by your manner, that you do feel such a strong affection for her, I am quite sure you would find her much more manageable."
"Oh well, Miss Layton, people must act according to their dispositions; it never was my way to show my feelings, and I'm too old to alter my ways now."
"I think we should never consider ourselves too old to alter for the better," said Miss Layton, gently. "We are commanded to be 'kindly affectioned one toward another,' and parents are cautioned not to 'provoketheir children to anger, lest they be discouraged.'"
Miss Layton was an earnest Christian; one whose constant endeavour it was to glorify her Father in heaven by her daily walk, and to bring souls to Christ. She deeply felt her responsibility as a teacher;she remembered that she was making impressions on those young minds and hearts, not only for time, but for eternity; and she felt that, when she had done all in her power for the intellectual improvement of her pupils, she had performed but half her duty; for she considered the salvation of their souls of greater importance than anything else, and felt that her first duty was to lead them to the Saviour; and not only did she pray with, and for them, but she embraced every opportunity to converse with them on the importance of the 'one thing needful,' the necessity of repentance, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And her labours were not without fruit. One evening, Mary Young lingered behind her young companions, and when Miss Layton kindly inquired if she wished to speak to her, she burst into tears, exclaiming, "O Miss Layton, I am such a sinner! what shall I do?"
"'If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' 'Who his ownself bare our sins in his own body on the tree.' 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' These are the answers given you in God's own word, Mary."
"But are they meant forme, Miss Layton?"
"Surely, Mary; why not for you as well as for another?"
"Because I am so very wicked, and have put off repentance so long?"
"Jesus said, 'I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance,' and, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.'"
"But, O Miss Layton, I amsovile,sowicked, I've sinned against him so long andso often, that I'm notfitto come to him, I don'tdareto come."
"I would not have you think any better of yourself, Mary. You are just as vile and sinful as you have said—yes, even farmorewicked than you think—but it was just such as you that Jesus came to call. Just such ruined, helpless, undone sinners; and the more you feel your sinfulness, the more conscious you are of your lost and ruined condition, the more you feel your need of him, the more willing he is to receive you."
"But I amsowicked, my heart is so hard, and when I kneel down to pray, and remember what a holy God I am going to speak to, and that he sees my heart and knows how hard and full of sin it is, I am afraid to say one word. I don'tdareto pray, for it seems like mocking him."
"You might well be afraid to come, if you had to come in your own name, Mary,but even you may dare to come in the name of Jesus, since he tells us that it was just such sinners he came to seek and to save; and you need not fear to come, weak and helpless as you are, for does he not say, 'Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me, and heshallmake peace with me?' You have no strength to help yourself, you must just look to Jesus. Take hold of Christ."
"O Miss Layton,dareI come just as I am—with such a hard heart? Must I not wait till I feel my sinfulness more? I don't feel half so sorry for my sins as I ought to."
"Come just as you are, Mary; you will never grow any better by staying away; and do you expect to make yourself more acceptable to God by continuing longer in rebellion against him—by continuing to refuse to obey his command, 'My son, give me thine heart?'"
"But my heart is soveryhard, so unfeeling; it seems to me that I ought to feel more sorry for my sins."
"I don't deny, Mary, that you ought indeed to feel more sorrow on account of your sins, but that need not keep you from Christ; if you wait for more feeling, you will never get it. Comenow, just as you are. 'Nowis the accepted time,nowis the day of salvation.'"
"But it seems to me there never was such a sinner; will Jesus receive me?"
"He says, 'Look unto me and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.' He says, 'I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.' And again, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.' Do you doubt his word?"
"O Miss Layton, what must I do?"
"Just go and tell God what you have been telling me, that you are a lost, ruined,helpless, undone sinner, utterly unable to help yourself, or make yourself any better; cast yourself entirely upon his mercy, pleading for salvation only through the blood and merits of Jesus Christ. He will not reject you; you need not fear, for none ever came to him in the appointed way and was refused. 'I will inno wisecast out.' You have the word of him who cannot lie."
"When shall I do it, Miss Layton?"
"Now; this moment; the present only is yours."
They knelt down, and most earnestly did Miss Layton plead with God for her young friend, that he would pardon her sins, that he would wash them all away in the blood of the Saviour, that he would enable her to lay hold by faith upon Christ, and trust in him alone for salvation. And Mary prayed for herself, confessing in broken words, and with many sighs and tears, hergreat sinfulness, her entire helplessness, and pleading for mercy only for the sake of Christ.
From that day there was a marked change in Mary Young. An amiable girl she had always been, but now much more so; so willing to do a kindness to any one, ever ready to deny herself that she might give pleasure to others, and so conscientious, so afraid to do wrong, seeming ever to feel herself in the presence of God, so meek and humble, and with a heart so full of love to Jesus, ever striving to lead her young friends to a like precious faith. The language of her heart was,