Sophia. "Nearly all these reasons have been my excuse for not becoming a
Christian, but another has been, that I do not like to be noticed, and
made an object of remark. My father and mother and friends would be so
much pleased, they would be talking of it, and watching me, to see if my
piety was real, and I would feel as if I were too conspicuous a person.
Now if we would all at the same time resolve to consecrate ourselves to
the Lord, I think each particular case might not be so much noticed."

"But why should you dread it so much Sophy?" asked Emily.

"I hardly know _why_" she replied, "but I have always felt so since I
was quite a child, but since I have for the first time spoken of it, it
seems a much more foolish reason than I had before considered it."

Alice. "And I must confess that I am not always so careless and
thoughtless on this subject. When I am really possessing and enjoying
the pleasures I have longed for, there seems to be always something more
that I need to make me happy. Fanny Bedford, pious and good as she is,
seems always happier than I, and I have often wished that I was such a
Christian as she is."

"Who has not," exclaimed the other girls; and their praise of her was
warm and sincere.

"She is so consistent and religious, and yet so humble, and so full of
love to every one, that it is impossible not to love her and the
religion she loves so much. Annie, I have never wished so much that I
was a Christian, as when I have thought of her; how much I wish I was
like her." "There is Fanny in the hall, let us speak to her of what we
have been saying," said Sophia.

They agreed that they were willing she should know it all, and called to
her. She came and sat with them, and they related to her the
conversation which they had had together, to which she listened with
much interest, and a warm heart, and replied, "It is a great wonder to
me now, dear girls, that any should need to be _persuaded_ to accept of
Christ, and devote themselves to His service; yet it was once just the
same with me. I had all of your excuses and many more, and considered
them good reasons for not becoming a Christian. How true it is, that
'the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not,
lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them.' Could you
but once experience the blessedness of being children of God, you would
be surprised and ashamed that you have so long refused so precious a
p