onsole
me--amongst them was the clergyman of the parish, who begged me to be
resigned, and told me that it was good to be afflicted. I bowed my head,
but I could not help thinking how easy it must be for those who feel no
affliction, to bid others to be resigned, and to talk of the benefit
resulting from sorrow; perhaps I should have paid more attention to his
discourse than I did, provided he had been a person for whom it was
possible to entertain much respect, but his own heart was known to be set
on the things of this world.

"Within a little time he had an opportunity, in his own case, of
practising resignation, and of realising the benefit of being afflicted.
A merchant, to whom he had entrusted all his fortune, in the hope of a
large interest, became suddenly a bankrupt, with scarcely any assets. I
will not say that it was owing to this misfortune that the divine died
within less than a month after its occurrence, but such was the fact.
Amongst those who most frequently visited me was my friend the surgeon;
he did not confine himself to the common topics of consolation, but
endeavoured to impress upon me the necessity of rousing myself, advising
me to occupy my mind with some pursuit, particularly recommending
agriculture; but agriculture possessed no interest for me, nor, indeed,
any pursuit within my reach; my hopes of happiness had been blighted, and
what cared I for anything; so at last he thought it best to leave me to
myself, hoping that time would bring with it consolation; and I remained
solitary in my house, waited upon by a male and a female servant. Oh,
what dreary moments I passed! My only amusement--and it was a sad
one--was to look at the things which once belonged to my beloved, and
which were now in my possession. Oh, how fondly would I dwell upon them!
There were some books; I cared not for books, but these had belonged to
my beloved. Oh, how fondly did I dwell on them! Then there was her hat
and bonnet--oh, me, how fondly did I gaze upon them! and after looking at
her things for hours, I would sit and ruminate on the happiness I had
lost. How I execrated the moment I had gone to the fair to sell horses!
'Would that I had never been at Horncastle to sell horses!' I would say;
'I might at this moment have been enjoying the company of my beloved,
leading a happy, quiet, easy life, but for that fatal expedition;' that
thought worked on my brain, till my brain seemed to turn round.

"One day