nd
by Thy holy apostle has commanded Thy followers, that we should
bear one another's burdens (Gal. vi. 2), regard with Thy favour, we
beseech Thee, and aid with Thy blessing, our humble endeavour to
remove stumbling-blocks from before the feet of the blind, to
smooth their difficulties, and to strengthen their steps.

Prosper our efforts, we humbly beseech Thee, O Father, to their
worldly relief, and sanctify them, by Thy Spirit, to the increase
in us of humility, faith, thankfulness, and charity, and to the
growth in our afflicted brethren and sisters of patience and
resignation, of goodwill to those around them, and of love to all,
with all other graces that adorn the Christian life. Of Thy mercy,
O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one ever blessed Trinity in Unity,
hear our prayer, and accept and bless the work of our hands. O
prosper Thou our handiwork. Amen.

FOOTNOTE:

[6] The prayer is inserted at the end of this chapter.

CHAPTER X

TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS

"Boundless pity for those who are ignorant, misled, and out of the
right way."--KINGSLEY.

Bessie was now thirty-two years old, and during 1857, 1858, and part of
1859 she was probably at the height of her power, physical and mental.
The physical never amounted to very much. Her health was feeble. She was
liable to long fits of depression, to long attacks of headache and
prostration, to much suffering from nervous exhaustion. During the year
1857 the progress and development of her work, the encouragement and
offers of help which she received, stimulated her to unusual activity.
To a great extent she took her life into her own hands, and choosing a
confidential maid to accompany her, she visited blind men and women, the
institutions established for them, and her own friends, new and old, as
well as many influential persons to whom she had received introductions.
She made and carried out her own arrangements, and might fairly consider
herself emancipated from control. The only restriction placed upon her
by her parents and not yet removed was that she should not travel alone.
She submitted, but often wished to ascertain for herself, and by
experience, if the prohibition was necessary.

On one occasion, when travelling from Chichester to London, she sent her
maid into an adjacent carriage. She wished to try the experiment of
being alone in the train. At the last mome