thrown away, but that you are
more capable of judging, than those unhappy children are, whose parents
have neglected to instruct them. And therefore, farther to enforce what
I say, remember, that repining at any accident that happens to you, is
an offence to that God to whom I have taught you daily to pray for all
the blessings you can receive, and to whom you are to return humble
thanks for every blessing."

'"I expect therefore, Jenny, that you now dry up your tears, and resume
your usual cheerfulness. I do not doubt but your obedience to me will
make you at least put on the appearance of cheerfulness in my sight. But
you will deceive yourself, if you think that is performing your duty;
for if you would obey me as you ought, you must try heartily to root
from your mind all sorrow and gloominess. You may depend upon it, this
command is in your power to obey; for you know I never require anything
of you that is impossible."

'After my mamma had made this speech, she went out to take a walk in the
garden, and left me to consider of what she had said.

'The moment I came to reflect seriously, I found it was indeed in my
power to root all melancholy from my heart, when I considered it was
necessary, in order to perform my duty to God, to obey the best of
mothers, and to make myself a blessing and a cheerful companion to her,
rather than a burden, and the cause of her uneasiness, by my foolish
melancholy.

'This little accident, as managed by my mamma, has been a lesson to me
in governing my passions ever since.

'It would be endless to repeat all the methods this good mother invented
for my instruction, amendment, and improvement. It is sufficient to
acquaint you, that she contrived that every new day should open to me
some new scene of knowledge; and no girl could be happier than I was
during her life. But, alas! when I was thirteen years of age, the scene
changed. My dear mamma was taken ill of a scarlet fever. I attended her
day and night whilst she lay ill, my eyes starting with tears to see her
in that condition; and yet I did not dare to give my sorrows vent, for
fear of increasing her pain.'

Here a trickling tear stole from Miss Jenny's eyes. She suppressed some
rising sobs that interrupted her speech, and was about to proceed in her
story, when, casting her eyes on her companions, she saw her sorrow had
such an effect upon them all, that there was not one of her hearers who
could refrain from shedding a sy