fear from the dead."

Mrs. Adair led her pupil to the head of the bed.

"Look, my dear, how happy and composed she appears; as quiet and sound
as your little brother, when he is asleep."

By degrees, Isabella ventured to turn her eyes upon the corpse; "I am
not afraid, I am not afraid indeed," said she, almost gasping for
breath. At length her eyes were fixed upon the face of the deceased:
"She can't be dead--she must be asleep! But hush! I do not hear her
breathe! Where is Miss Jane's breath now, ma'am?" As she said this, she
timidly stretched forth her hand, and lightly touched the face of the
departed; then hastily starting back, cried; "must we all be so cold--as
cold as marble?"

"We must all be so, indeed! There is no warmth, my little girl, when the
soul is fled."

"But what is the soul, ma'am? and where is it?" asked Miss Bruce.

"Your question is beyond my power to answer. The vital spirit, which we
call the soul, is given by God, to direct us to do that which is right;
and, from childhood to the grave, is our faithful friend. My daughter,
whose lifeless remains you are now contemplating, was in all her ways
actuated by this spirit, to obedience, and to goodness; and in a state
of glory she will again exist, with a mind purified and exalted. What
would be the use of life, and of the wonderful powers with which we are
gifted, were we to lie down in the grave, as the beasts that perish?"

"But how will Miss Jane rise again, ma'am?" asked Miss Bruce. "It is in
the Bible, that at the last day we shall be 'raised in the twinkling of
an eye.' O, that I could behold Miss Jane rise now; then I should never
die!"

"We read," said Mrs. Adair, "that the seed is cast into the earth, and
rises up wheat, or any other grain: but we do not know how this comes to
pass. The seed, that looks so insignificant in our eyes, after it has
been in the earth the appointed time, gradually breaks forth in all its
glory. We likewise shall be put into the earth; no longer valued, but by
the remembrance of our worth; there we shall moulder and decay, and in
time be forgotten by all the inhabitants upon earth. But the season of
the resurrection will come: the soul will resume her influence; we shall
burst the fetters of the tomb, and appear before the Judge of nations,
to answer for our deeds upon earth. Be good, then, my dear young
friends; and, you will then neither have cause to fear death, or future
judgment. And now take your l