eemed
to swallow up every other; yet even to this she bowed with trusting
piety, remembering, in the words of Job, that "the Lord gave, and the
Lord hath taken away."

Long before the days of their adversity, Mary wrote the following
verses--I do not think they have much poetical merit, but they have
sincerity in them, and there is one line which shows, I think, that Mary,
young as she was, already watched her heart, lest that fatal pride should
invade it; that sin by which, we are told, Satan fell from his high
place, and which, on earth, is sure to lead to selfishness and impiety.

ON ENTERING CHURCH.

Again within thy walls I stand,
Again I bend the knee;
In mercy, God, so bend my heart,
And turn my soul to Thee.
Teach me by thy Almighty power,
To choose the "better part,"
And send, above all gifts, thy grace,
To sanctify my heart.

ON LEAVING CHURCH.

For any measure of thy love
This day vouchsafed to me,
Accept the tribute of my heart--
My gratitude to Thee.
_Yet pride may lurk in humble guise_;
May I no vain thought own,
If something whispers one short prayer
Has reached Thy heavenly throne.

The offer of dresses far more suitable to their former than their present
station, was a temptation Harriet did not resist. So that while the
elder sister accepted also the invitation to spend a month at Mrs.
Somerton's beautiful house, Mary wrote a grateful letter to that lady,
thanking her for her proffered kindness, but saying that she felt her
duty was to remain at home, and tend her blind father, more especially as
Harriet would be absent.

Although Mary could not avoid touching on their recent misfortunes, her
letter was not a complaining one: on the contrary, it was distinguished
by that Christian humility of spirit which is very nearly akin to
cheerfulness--that humility which, while it bends the heart meekly to the
chastising hand of God, teaches it also to look around, even in
affliction, for means of executing His will. As the time drew near for
Harriet to depart on the promised visit, it was remarkable that she did
not improve either in amiability of temper, or assiduousness of attention
to her father.

The truth was, she was too much occupied with her own arrangements, to
have much thought for the comfort of others; thus selfishness was the
first-fruit of her pride and vanity. Mr. Mannering always found the easy
cha