Character developed.

Mr. I—, to disparage, in the least, the stainless character of your lovely wife. But, sir, in the eye of infinite holiness, the purest of our race are so defiled with guilt, that, agreeably to the decision of God himself, nothing can wash out those crimson stains, save the blood of his own and only begotten Son.'

“This was a language which, at that time, I did not understand. I was sensible that a great change had taken place in the kitchen. Things went on there much more systematically, and with greater effect. Mary had evidently become more sedate, industrious, and strictly attentive to the duties of her station.

"A short time after my return, having an appointment of considerable importance at eight o'clock in the morning, I ordered Mary to rap at my door precisely at seven, and have the breakfast on the table by the time I could get down. Accordingly, the next morning, when she knocked at my door, I instantly sprang out of bed, and looked at my watch. It wanted only a quarter of eight. Having hastily dressed myself, I ran down in a great passion, and found Mary waiting with the breakfast. Highly irritated, I said, You are a worthless baggage, and deserve the Penitentiary, for having so shamefully neglected my orders. It is at this moment all of eight o'clock.'

"In a meek and respectful manner she replied, 'I believe, Mr. Wilson, you are mistaken. The clock wanted ten minutes of seven when I knocked at your door; I was up at five.'

"Do you pretend to contradict me,' said I, in a rage; ' and to cloak over your neglect and laziness, with a lie? I thought you professed to have become very pious, but I see through all your hypocritical pretensions.'

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Upon this I rushed out of the room, leaving the breakfast untouched. All this time Mary stood with much sorrow depicted on her countenance, but without the least appearance of resentment or irritation. As I passed through the hall, the clock struck seven. I looked

up, and

The reparation a Christian makes.

saw the hands indicated the hour the bell announced. When in the street I looked at my watch-it was precisely where it was when I got out of bed. Raising it to my ear, I soon perceived that it must have stopped the evening before. I was too proud to go back for my breakfast, although I had ample time. I was too proud to do an act of justice to a servant whom I had injured. At dinner I was surprised to find Mary just as cheerful and respectful in her attention to me, as though nothing of an unpleasant nature had occurred. This rather provoked me, and I therefore resolved to try her temper. I seized upon every opportunity to irritate her. For a while she endured every indignity with becoming and truly Christian forbearance ; but at length her natural temper got the ascendency over her principles, and for a moment she spoke like the unregenerate Mary Maywood, in language full of irritation and violence. My object was now attained, and I thought no more of it. But in a few hours, Mary came into my room, and with a countenance expressive of the deepest emotions of sorrow and distress, said,

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Sir, I have come to ask you to pardon the rash and improper expressions I used to you this morning. I know my conduct was wholly unjustifiable. I have nothing to say in vindication of myself only, that I am a poor, weak, sinful creature.'

"This was so unexpected, and to me so unaccountable, that it completely unmanned me. I involuntarily burst into tears, and wept like a child. The guilt and iniquity of my past conduct rushed upon my mind, and stood before me, revealed in a new and horrible light. I had been trying for weeks to wound the feelings and disturb the peace of a quiet and faithful domestic; and yet all this time she had not shown the slightest symptom of resentment. But when at length, through the provocations that I had wantonly thrown in her way, she had been betrayed into a momentary exhibition of ill temper, she immediately had come with tears, and every mark of sorrow and humi

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The change of mind wro ght in Mr. Wilson.

6

lity, to beg my forgiveness. This appeared wonderful to me, and I could not but ask by what expedient she had been enabled to maintain such control over herself so long? By looking in my Bible,' said she, at the example, and endeavouring to follow the steps, of Him, who when he was reviled, reviled not again ; when he suffered he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.'

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She left the room. But this incident had aroused a train of reflections, that continued to course through my mind, to the exclusion of every other thought. My conscience had been touched by the finger of God. The course I had pursued in reference to Mary now appeared awfully wicked. I began to review my past life-to consider the principles upon which I had hitherto acted. I opened the long neglected word of God. My mind soon became thronged with convictions of sin and guilt, which took sleep from my eyes, and removed peace far off. I in vain sought, amid the engagements of business, and the gayeties of fashionable life, rest within. I never found it, until I found it in that blood of atonement which cleanseth from all sin. I am confident, that to the latest period of my existence, I shall regard Mary Maywood as the honoured instrument, under God, by which I was brought to a sense of my duty. Her conduct, from that time to the present, has been a pattern to all servants. Although we have felt toward her the greatest affection, and treated her with the utmost tenderness, yet has she never in the slightest instance taken advantage of this kind treatment, but uniformly, and with true Christian principle, walked in that humble and subordinate path which comports with her station. Yes, she is a pattern for all servants. She rises with the dawn, and thus redeems the time, having abundant leisure to read her Bible, and hold intercourse with her God, while others are in their beds. She is never idle, but seems to bear continually in mind that she is a steward, and that her time is one of those sacred trusts for which she will have to

The true interest of servants.

render an account. Her great anxiety seems to be to make herself useful. She is ever attentive to the directions she receives, so that she never needs telling the second time. She is strictly conscientious, and from principle, carefully avoids waste or extravagance in the use of any article intrusted to her, ever making our interest her own. Her whole history presents a most striking instance of the divine efficacy and transforming power of the religion of Jesus. And if servants understood their real interests, they would seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and then from happy experience they would find, as Mary did, all other things added thereunto."

The sickness of Mary.

CHAPTER IV.

THE CHRISTIAN'S END.

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort From the 23d Psalm.

me.

SEVERAL years had now elapsed, and I had passed through a variety of scenes in a distant part of the country. Still this narrative was as fresh in my memory as though I had heard it but yesterday. The events contained in it were such a practical illustration of the moral power of the Bible to transform the human character, and qualify man for all the duties of life, that I continued to turn to them with increased delight, and with new conviction of the divine source whence the Bible came. Business at length ren

dered it necessary that I should again visit the place in which the Wilson family resided. I immediately sought out my old friends, and, as formerly, met with a very cordial reception. It was just before the breakfast was brought on the table, that I called. Not seeing Mary in attendance, I made some inquiry in relation to her. No sooner had I mentioned her name, than I perceived a train of melancholy ideas had been started.

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"O!" said Mrs. Wilson, "

Mary is near her rest." Mr. Wilson could not refrain from raising his handkerchief to his eyes.

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Mary," said he, in a tone of voice indicating deep feeling, "a few months since caught a violent cold, and has gone into a hasty consumption. She is now on the