nd other friends, and I hope they will not be lost
upon me. The Bible is much dearer to me now than it once was, and I find
there simple directions for every duty. Formerly when I read my
Saviour's words, if I applied them at all, it was to somebody else
rather than myself; but now I begin to feel that I need his blessed
counsels more than anybody."

"I am thankful, Isabella, to hear you speak so of the Bible. May it be a
lamp unto the feet and a light unto the path, of us both; then our
footsteps will not slip, and we shall be faithful children, sisters, and
friends. Jesus Christ came to this world to save us from the power as
well as the punishment of sin; and his gospel must purify our hearts,
and correct our daily faults, or it will do us no good."

Isabella listened attentively to her sister's words. She felt their
value, for she saw how faithfully Mary practiced what she taught.

"Good night, dear sister," said Isabella: "may the humbling recollection
of to-day's failure strengthen me in my efforts to keep my resolution."

As week after week passed by, Isabella Gardner met new difficulties to
oppose her resolution; but though often cast down, she gained strength
every day.

Her trials at her day-school were very great, for her school-fellows did
not know how she was endeavoring to correct her great fault; and they
would often avoid her company in their walks and amusements, knowing how
she formerly made them unhappy by her caprices. She bore all this
patiently, and would leave her companions immediately when anything was
said or done that displeased her; and by going away by herself she was
prevented from making a hasty reply, and had time to reflect and gather
strength for future trials.

It was hard for Isabella to "cease to do evil," and harder still for her
to "learn to do well;" and it would fill a much larger book than this,
were I to tell you of all the difficulties she met with in trying to
"put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."

But God was near. He saw her efforts and her failures, and he saw that
his correcting hand must be stretched forth to finish the good work
which he had begun. He sent sickness upon her, and the lately blooming
Isabella was laid low upon the bed of pain. It was then she was called
upon to "let patience have its perfect work."

When Isabella heard her physician say that she would probably be ill for
a long time, she thought of her resolution, and feared that she w