SUSAN GRAY. 113

on high, in that my solitary and deserted situa-
tion, as I can never forget. 1 felt that what I
had but now done, in flying the temptations
held out to me by the Captain, had not been
done in my own strength, but in the power and
strength of God; and such a consolatory, such
a delightful sense of the immediate presence of
God shone upon my mind, that I clasped my
hands, and lifted up my eyes, in speechless
gratitude to heaven.

At that moment, the clouds rolled away from
the face of the moon, and I saw my path be-
fore me, stretching towards a hill, upon which
wasachurch. I could just see the taper spire
rising above some small trees. Being greatly
refreshed and encouraged, I arose, and walked
on.

This was no other than the church now be-
fore me: but I did not recollect my native vil-
lage again, for although it is so near to Ludlow,
yet I never had chanced to visit it since I was
taken from the workhouse by my poor aunt;
and then, being but six years old, I had but a
very faint remembrance of it.

I was glad, however, to see the church, and
I walked on towards it till I came to the en-
trance of the village. I knocked at the first
house I came to; this happening to be a lodg-
ing-house, and the good woman not being gone
to bed, although it was then after midnight,
she very kindly took me in—very kindly, in-
deed; for the figure 1 made was by no means
a very creditable one; for I had neither hat
nor cloak, my apron and handkerchief were

K 3