chat; he is a good boy, and
has learnt much that will bring peace to his mind, while he lives on
this earth, and in the world to come it will cause him to see the face
of Him who sits on the throne. For my own part, I will teach all your
sons. At the same time, said she to them: You must still give heed to
all that Christiana can teach you, but more than all, you must read the
Book of God's Word, which sent your dear sire on his way to the land of
bliss.

By the time that Christiana and the rest had been in this place a week,
a man, Mr. Brisk by name, came to woo Mercy, with the wish to wed her.
Now Mercy was fair to look on and her mind was at all times set on work
and the care of those round her. She would knit hose for the poor, and
give to all those things of which they stood in need.

She will make me a good house wife, thought Brisk.

Mercy one day said to those of the house: Will you tell me what you
think of Mr. Brisk?

They then told her that the young man would seem to have a great sense
of the love of God, but that they had fears it did not reach his soul,
which they thought did cleave too much to this world.

Nay then, said Mercy, I will look no more on him, for I will not have a
clog to my soul.

Prudence:--If you go on as you have set out, and work so hard for the
poor, he will soon cool.

So the next time he came, he found her at her work.

What, still at it? said he.

Mercy:--Yes.

Mr. Brisk:--How much can you earn in the day.

Mercy:--I work at these things for the good of those for whom I do them;
and more than this, to do the will of Him who was slain on the cross for
me.

With that his face fell, and he came no more to see her.

Prudence:--Did I not tell you that Mr. Brisk would soon flee from you?
Yea, he may seem to love Mercy, but Mercy and he should not tread the
same road of life side by side.

Now Matthew, the son of Christiana, fell sick, so they sent to Mr. Skill
to cure him. Then said he: Tell me what he eats.

Christiana:--Well, there is no food here but what is good.

Mr. Skill:--This boy has in him a crude mass of food, which if I do not
use the means to get rid of, he will die.

Samuel said to Christiana, What was it that you saw Matthew pick up and
eat when we came from the gate which is at the head of this way?

Christiana:--It was some of the fruit that grows there; I chid him for
it.

Skill:--I felt sure that it was some bad food; now that fruit hurts more
t