90 THE HISTORY OF

though I might, perhaps, be belied. And, on
this occasion, (said Susan,) 1 cannot help re-
marking how very careful people should be
how they credit tales that go abroad; for many
a poor girl has, I fear, been made desperate by
worthy people denying her their notice and
countenance upon a slight suspicion.

The next day was Sunday, a day abounding
in mercies to me. I arose with a mind full of
discontented thoughts and worldly grief. The
pleasures of the world appeared in a tempting
and inviting form to me. I was then in bloom-
ing health, and imagined that I had a long life
before me. I thought that the duties required
of me were too hard for me. My mind was
darkened, and I could not look through the
veil of flesh to the happiness of a future world.
My eye could not see, nor my ear hear, neither
could my carnal heart conceive the things
which God hath prepared for them that love
him. But O! how greatly is my God to be
praised, who, in this season of difficulty and
distress, still watched over me, and preserved
me from being led away by the error of my
ways! How wonderfully, from time to time,
did he support me with strength, leading me
through perils and difficulties, on which I can-
not look back without crying out, O! how
has thy strength been made perfect in weak-
ness! (2 Cor. xii. 9.)

This day, my mistress going to town, I went
to the village church alone. My way lay
through the coppice, and, as [ was rather too
soon, I walked slowly on, meditating, as I went,