ection be necessary to
salvation, I shall never be saved; my heart is a very hotbed for
sinful thoughts, and when I decide on an action I scarcely remember to
look to my Redeemer for direction. I know not how to pray; I cannot
bend my life to the grand end of doing good; I go on constantly
seeking my own pleasure, pursuing the gratification of my own desires.
I forget God, and will not God forget me? And, meantime, I know the
greatness of Jehovah; I acknowledge the perfection of His word; I
adore the purity of the Christian faith; my theory is right, my
practice horribly wrong."

The Christmas holidays came, and she and Anne returned to the parsonage,
and to that happy home circle in which alone their natures expanded;
amongst all other people they shrivelled up more or less. Indeed, there
were only one or two strangers who could be admitted among the sisters
without producing the same result. Emily and Anne were bound up in their
lives and interests like twins. The former from reserve, the latter from
timidity, avoided all friendships and intimacies beyond their family.
Emily was impervious to influence; she never came in contact with public
opinion, and her own decision of what was right and fitting was a law for
her conduct and appearance, with which she allowed no one to interfere.
Her love was poured out on Anne, as Charlotte's was on her. But the
affection among all the three was stronger than either death or life.

"E." was eagerly welcomed by Charlotte, freely admitted by Emily, and
kindly received by Anne, whenever she could visit them; and this
Christmas she had promised to do so, but her coming had to be delayed on
account of a little domestic accident detailed in the following letter:--

"Dec. 29, 1837.

"I am sure you will have thought me very remiss in not sending my
promised letter long before now; but I have a sufficient and very
melancholy excuse in an accident that befell our old faithful Tabby, a
few days after my return home. She was gone out into the village on
some errand, when, as she was descending the steep street, her foot
slipped on the ice, and she fell; it was dark, and no one saw her
mischance, till after a time her groans attracted the attention of a
passer-by. She was lifted up and carried into the druggist's near;
and, after the examination, it was discovered that she had completely
shattered and dislocated one leg.