Conscientious views.

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"But," said the far more conscientious Mary, employers have a right to assign us what food they think proper. They always supply us with that which is good, and enough of it. Now, I think, to take any other food is breaking the eighth commandment, Thou shalt not steal. What they have not given us is no more ours than that which is in our neighbour's, Mr. Palmer's, pantry."

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"I think you are quite too squeamish, Mary," replied. Ralph-"at this rate, you will deprive yourself of all comfort."

"Nothing can give me so much comfort," was her answer, as a clear conscience."

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Well," said Ralph-" I have a clear conscience." "Ah! be careful that it is not a seared conscience," answered Mary. “And now that I am speaking on this subject, I will just hint at one or two things which you perhaps do not think enough of-and one of these is, that your time, since Mr. Wilson pays you for it, is his, just as much as any thing else which he has bought with his money."

"Well," answered Ralph, “what have you to accuse me

of on this score?"

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Why," said Mary, "I think you often take much longer time to eat than is necessary, and when Mr. Wilson is absent, you frequently lie in bed till seven o'clock. Now, if you read your Bible more, I think you would be convinced that this was wrong.'

The door, which had been left ajar, was now closed, and I heard no more of the conversation. But the remarks of Mary, together with what I had before seen in her, so far interested me, that I felt a great desire to be made acquainted with her history. Having expressed this desire to Mrs. Wilson, she took the earliest opportunity to put me in the way of receiving this information from Mary herself.

25*

The interview.

CHAPTER II.

HOW MARY WAS BROUGHT TO CHRIST.

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

From the 19th Psalm.

ONE afternoon, while I was sitting in the parlour conversing with Mrs. Wilson, Mary came in. Mrs. Wilson immediately observed to Mary, that I wished to have some conversation with her, and then left the room.

I asked Mary to sit down, and then remarked, "That I felt a deep interest in every soul brought under the influence of sanctifying grace; but that I was constrained to look with intenser interest upon the washed and sanctified servant; inasmuch as those in that station were so frequently unmindful of their soul's best interest. That the purpose for which I wished to converse with her, therefore, was, to learn the manner in which her mind had been enlightened by divine truth.”

After a moment's hesitation, with much diffidence she replied in substance as follows: "I am not surprised that one who loves God, and knows the worth of the soul, should look with interest upon every instance of piety seen in the walks of life in which I am treading. I am well aware how rare those instances are. The great majority of servants live and act as though there were no judgment bar, before which they were one day to stand-no all-seeing God to take note of their doings. I was once among that number. It is owing entirely to the infinite mercy of God in Christ, that I am not now ranked with the thoughtless and impenitent.

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Early habits and views of Mary.

My mother was a widow. Having a large family, and being in straitened circumstances, it became necessary for me to go out to service. We lived in the country, and there, as you know, those who work in different families are regarded as HELP, rather than as servants.

"I resided with a number of families, but stayed at no place any length of time. My besetting sin was pride. I had embraced the absurd idea that I was handsome, and uncommonly smart. I, therefore, considered myself far superior to ordinary girls, and expected to be treated. in every family as a companion of the lady of the house. I thus got altogether above my business, and was ready to kindle into passion the moment any unpleasant work was put upon me, or I did not receive all the attention I thought myself entitled to. Few families, of course, wanted such help, and I soon lost my place. Or, if the family could put up with my sulky and pouting moods, I soon became exasperated with some occurrence, and left them of my own accord.

"After leaving a place where I had been at service, I never thought of seeking another until compelled to by absolute want. I used to go to my mother's, and stay, till having expended all my little earnings in some finery, or extravagant article of dress, I was forced to make another experiment at service. While running this course of folly, 'walking in a vain shadow, and disquieting myself in vain,' I entered Mr. Wilson's family, who were then residing in the neighbourhood of my mother. I had not been with them more than a week, before I became dissatisfied, and determined to leave them. I was ordered to roast a loin of veal. I placed it at the fire, and thought I would make an effort to have it done in such a way, that I should be commended for my superior skill. But in a short time the sound of a drum caught my ear. It was a general muster. I could not refrain from going out to see the parade and I had the vanity to suppose that my own person might thus attract the notice of some admiring eye. I

Rash determination.

Effect of kindness.

looked, and loitered, till the veal was entirely forgotten. When I returned, I found it almost completely spoiled. My inattention drew a sharp and irritating reproof upon me at dinner, from Mr. Wilson. This was enough. No matter whether innocent or guilty, I could not bear being found the least fault with. My temper was immediately up. My pride had been deeply wounded. I went directly to my chamber, put on my hat, and collected my things together, determining to leave the house that very hour, thereby showing a proper spirit of resentment. But upon examination,

I found that I had several articles of dress in the wash, which I could not well carry with me. I, therefore, upon a second thought, concluded that I would wait till the next morning.

“The next morning Mr. Wilson left home to be absent several weeks. Immediately after his departure, Mrs. Wilson came down into the kitchen. I thought her manner unusually kind and winning. She had always treated me well, but at this time she seemed so affectionate that I could not but love her. Before she went out, she took from her indispensable a dress handkerchief, and asked me if I would accept it. I thanked her and before the sound of her foot was lost upon my ear, my former determination was altered. I resolved I would not leave the family during the absence of Mr. Wilson. But,' said I to myself, 'the first moment he returns I will quit his house for ever. He shall know that I am not to be trampled upon like a worm.'

:

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"About a week after this, a minister, the Rev. Mr. Ibeing a connexion of the family, came to Mr. Wilson's, and upon their earnest solicitation consented to spend a few weeks with them. The first evening after his arrival I witnessed what I never had before-family prayer. The families with whom I had lived had been worldly people : and my mother, though a kind and clever woman, was herself a stranger to all sense of religion. I do not know that I ever saw a Bible in her house after I was old

First serious impression how made.

enough to read or understand it: and, although I sometimes went to church, I never thought of attending to what was said. Mr. I's prayer was very solemn, but most likely I should not have attended to it, had he not besought the blessing of God upon the absent head of the family. I cherished so much resentment toward Mr. Wilson, I could not bear to have him prayed for. But my attention was soon drawn to another topic. In language, the most devout, solemn, and affecting, Mr. I—————— implored God to pour down his blessing upon the domestics of this household, to enlighten their minds, sanctify their hearts, and make them servants of Christ, and sons and daughters of Jehovah. I marked and remembered these words. They produced the first serious impression I ever felt. I had very imperfect notions of the character of God, and was extremely ignorant of every thing contained in the Scriptures. The prayer of this man of God was still in my mind. Is it possible, thought I, that this stranger takes any interest in me? And yet how fervently he besought God to bless me. This dwelt upon my mind for some time, but at length I fell asleep. In the morning the impression was entirely gone.

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Family worship, however, was now set up, and never omitted. In the evening Mr. I usually read a chapter, and made such practical remarks as he thought would be useful. For several evenings he selected such portions as led him to dwell upon the character, attributes, and government of God. My mind had become partially enlightened, and my heart somewhat affected by these plain, familiar remarks, for he spoke in a way that riveted my attention. When alone, I at times trembled to think that a pure and holy God was continually looking upon all my doings.

"One Wednesday evening, after he had been with us about a week,-I shall never forget that evening-Mr. I— read a part of the second chapter of Romans, and in his remarks he spoke chiefly of the purity, excellence, and strictness of the divine law-the impossibility of our