heumatism, caught by
going to work too soon after her lying-in, I fear; for 'tis but a
bleak, coldish place, as you may see, sir, in winter, and sometimes
the snow lies so long under the hill, that I can hardly make myself
a path to get out and buy a few necessaries in the village; and we
are afraid to send out the children, for fear they should be lost
when the snow is deep. So, as I was saying, the poor soul was very
bad indeed, and for several weeks lost the use of all her limbs
except her hands; a merciful Providence spared her the use of these,
so that when she could not turn in her bed, she could contrive to
patch a rag or two for her family. She was always saying, had it not
been for the great goodness of God, she might have her hands lame
as well as her feet, or the palsy instead of the rheumatism, and
then she could have done nothing--but, nobody had so many mercies as
she had.

"I will not tell you what we suffered during the bitter weather,
sir, but my wife's faith and patience during that trying time, were
as good a lesson to me as any sermon I could hear, and yet Mr.
Jenkins gave us very comfortable ones too, that helped to keep up my
spirits."

"I fear, shepherd," said Mr. Johnson, "you have found this to be but
a bad world."

"Yes, sir," replied the shepherd, "but it is governed by a good God.
And though my trials have now and then been sharp, why then, sir, as
the saying is, if the pain be violent, it is seldom lasting, and if
he but moderate, why then we can bear it the longer, and when it is
quite taken away, ease is the more precious, and gratitude is
quickened by the remembrance; thus every way, and in every case, I
can always find out a reason for vindicating Providence."

"But," said Mr. Johnson, "how do you do to support yourself under
the pressure of actual want. Is not hunger a great weakener of your
faith?"

"Sir," replied the shepherd, "I endeavor to live upon the promises.
You, who abound in the good things of this world, are apt to set too
high a value on them. Suppose, sir, the king, seeing me at hard
work, were to say to me, that if I would patiently work on till
Christmas, a fine palace and a great estate should be the reward of
my labors. Do you think, sir, that a little hunger, or a little wet,
would make me flinch, when I was sure that a few months would put me
in possession! Should I not say to myself frequently--cheer up,
shepherd, 'tis but till Christmas! Now is there not mu