ssed with her calm, earnest tones, and as I listened,
conscience upbraided me with injustice and ingratitude.

"There is a period in every young girl's life, my dear Gabriella, when
she is in danger of becoming a vain and idle dreamer, when the
amusements of childhood have ceased to interest, and the shadow of
woman's destiny involves the pleasures of youth. The mind is occupied
with vague imaginings, the heart with restless cravings for unknown
blessings. With your vivid imagination and deep sensibility, your love
of reverie and abstraction, there is great danger of your yielding
unconsciously to habits the more fatal in their influence, because
apparently as innocent as they are insidious and pernicious. A life of
active industry and usefulness is the only safeguard from temptation and
sin."

Oh, how every true word she uttered ennobled her in my estimation, while
it humbled myself. Idler that I was in my Father's vineyard, I was
holding out my hands for the clustering grapes, whose purple juice is
for him who treadeth the wine-press.

"Were my own Edith physically strong," she added, "I would ask no nobler
vocation for her than the one suggested to you this day. I should
rejoice to see her passing through a discipline so chastening and
exalting. I should rejoice to see her exercising the faculties which God
has given her for the benefit of her kind. The possession of wealth does
not exempt one from the active duties of life, from self-sacrifice,
industry and patient continuance in well-doing. The little I have done
for you, all that I can do, is but a drop from the fountain, and were it
ten times more would never be missed. It is not that I would give less,
but I would require more. While I live, this shall ever be your home,
where you shall feel a mother's care, protection, and tenderness; but I
want you to form habits of self-reliance, independence, and usefulness,
which will remain your friends, though other friends should be taken
from you."

Dear, excellent Mrs. Linwood! how my proud, rebellious heart melted
before her! What resolutions I formed to be always governed by her
influence, and guided by her counsels! How vividly her image rises
before me, as she then looked, in her customary dress of pale, silver
gray, her plain yet graceful lace cap, simply parted hair, and calm,
benevolent countenance.

She was the most unpretending of human beings. She moved about the house
with a step as stilly as the falli