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determined to find some person to attend her: but this was more easily proposed than accomplished, and when Margaret heard of it, she shook her head, and replied, "I'm sure, Sir, you are very kind and good, I'm perfectly sensible of that, but I'm really afraid as it would be a difficult matter to suit me. I have always been used to live so very clean, and my poor husband was such delightsome company, that it is no easy matter to fill up his place. I have a sister who is in great weakness, she has a daughter coming seventeen in August, who has never been out. While her father was alive they wanted for nothing, but he died last year of the scarlet fever; how they have maintained themselves since I can't say. My niece is a good girl, and I should be very glad to have her here, but you know, Sir, this is not a place in which she could earn much, she has been bred to the mantua making, and I should be sorry to bring her here to her hurt." Well, you can only ask her, and if you find she makes any hesitation, leave it." This conversation had passed between Margaret and Mr. Lascelles some months since, and he saw in the same pew on Easter Sunday a very decent looking woman sitting by Margaret, and a young girl, apparently the age of her niece, and

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hope the poor Such was the

he thought to himself, I do old woman has succeeded. case, Mary Humphries and her daughter were indeed arrived, and on the following morning, when Mr. Lascelles called to see Margaret, he found them sitting at their work-table, in all the enjoyment of decent life. Esther Humphries had obtained a little work, and was performing with her accustomed neatness, the orders with which some neighbours had favoured her. Mr. Lascelles was very much pleased with the conversation of the mother, and the silent industry of the daughter.

There is no situation, however humble, that entirely excludes enjoyment; the pursuit of the silent duties of life, when those duties are under the Divine blessing, brings pleasure and satisfaction in the performance. We must be careful not to attribute the thorny path, exclusively to God, but remember; "The transgressors make paths for themselves, and walk in the light of their own guilt, and sin usually makes this a painful path; whereas the path of the righteous is as the shining light, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." The husband had been coachman in a great family, and Esther was his only child; she used to linger about the coach-house and stables, while

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the fond father would listen to her entreaties, and let her ride with him on the coach-box, till he drew near the door of the mansion when some of the goodnatured servants would carefully place the little Esther on firm ground. This indulgence had been granted so often, that it was at last noticed by the young ladies of the family, and when Esther, who was in her sixth year, after one of her rides was returning to her mother, she was met by the youngest daughter, who putting her hand on the infant's head, said, Well, little one, have you had a ride?" Esther's pleading face was covered with blushes, as she replied, "Yes, Ma'am." She was that sort of child, whom we sometimes see, without any pretensions to beauty, yet with such a stamp of artlessness, and all the innocence of infancy so fresh upon her, that she made her way immediately, and the whole conversation during the morning ride turned upon Esther, and her fond father: it was settled among themselves, that if her parents would consent, she should form one of a little school newly established, where she would not only learn to read, work, and write, but be trained for future life, according to the natural inclination of her mind. Esther had a most useful active

mother, who had recommended herself by kindness in nursing, and performing other offices for her neighbours; the mistress of the school had among others shared her friendly attentions. Now though we are not about to prove, that gratitude is a prevailing principle; yet we have observed, that those I who water shall be watered again, and these attentions on the part of Mary Humphries, had prepared the schoolmistress to take peculiar interest in the improvement of her daughter. The continuance of the child at school, during a series of years, had so completed her education as a work woman, that she executed every thing she undertook with uncommon neatness and ability. Never was a doll dressed so prettily as Esther's, every little slip was turned to some use by the assistance of her needle, and so well done, that it at length attracted the attention of her young mistresses, and it was settled that she should be apprenticed to a mantuamaker: not indeed one of the fashionables, but a neat orderly woman in the neighbourhood, whom they were accustomed to employ. She acquired from this instructress the art of fitting her young ladies, and was continually employed by them till circumstances removed them;

and this happened about the time Margaret Beal sent for her sister.

Before Joseph's departure for his father's dwelling, Michael determined to call on Mr. Jennings, and as he drew near Sizors, Miss Jennings perceived him; she was walking under the shade of her parasol, round a neat little garden in front of the house, in her small lace cap, and certainly had she appeared suitably to the station assigned her by providence, we must have owned she was a fine looking young woman. As it was, we could not help being sorry that the father and the mother laboured early and late to provide for the idleness and vanity of their numerous family. At Mrs. Finch's, Jerima's eye was on every part of the establishment; but here, to have known the price of butter, or how many cheeses were made in a week, would have been deemed a vulgarity to which they could not stoop.

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Michael bowed very coolly as he passed the young lady, and inquired of a dirty, slavish servant, if her master was at home? The girl said, "Yes," and Miss Jennings turning her steps towards the house, was about to lead him to her father. He however declined this favour, and said he would wait, as his business was private. The

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