usehold. Everything wore the aspect of
neatness and propriety. On each side of the fire-place stood an old
oaken chair, where the venerable parents rested their weary limbs after
the day's labour was over. On a shelf in one corner lay two Bibles, with
a few religious books and tracts. The little room had two windows; a
lovely prospect of hills, woods, and fields appeared through one; the
other was more than half obscured by the branches of a vine which was
trained across it; between its leaves the sun shone, and cast a cheerful
light over the whole place.

"This," thought I, "is a fit residence for piety, peace, and contentment.
May I learn a fresh lesson for advancement in each, through the blessing
of God, on this visit!"

"Sir," said the daughter, "we are not worthy that you should come under
our roof. We take it very kind that you should travel so far to see us."

"My Master," I replied, "came a great deal farther to visit us poor
sinners. He left the bosom of his Father, laid aside his glory, and came
down to this lower world on a visit of mercy and love; and ought not we,
if we profess to follow Him, to bear each other's infirmities, and go
about doing good as He did?"

The old man now entered, and joined his wife and daughter in giving me a
cordial welcome. Our conversation soon turned to the loss they had so
lately sustained. The pious and sensible disposition of the daughter was
peculiarly manifested, as well in what she said to her parents as in what
she more immediately addressed to myself. I had now a further
opportunity of remarking the good sense and agreeable manner which
accompanied her expressions of devotedness to God and love to Christ, for
the great mercies which He had bestowed upon her. During her residence
in different gentlemen's families where she had been in service, she had
acquired a superior behaviour and address; but sincere piety rendered her
very humble and unassuming in manner and conversation. She seemed
anxious to improve the opportunity of my visit to the best purpose for
her own and her parents' sake; yet there was nothing of unbecoming
forwardness, no self-sufficiency or conceitedness in her conduct. She
united the firmness and solicitude of the Christian with the modesty of
the female and the dutifulness of the daughter. It was impossible to be
in her company, and not observe how truly her temper and conversation
adorned the principles which she professed.

I soon