138 THE HISTORY OF

and so dearly loved, gone almost to ruins.
There was no glass in the windows; the roof
was open-in many places, and one of the chim-
neys had fallen in.

Many sad thoughts passed in my mind as,
kneeling on the damp ground, I weeded the
strawberry-bed, just beneath the cottage-wall,
and tied up the rose bushes and honeysuckles
in the little plot of ground from which my mo-
ther used to gather nosegays, on a Sunday
morning, to dress the chimney piece and the
kitchen-window.

About mid-day the sun began to appear
through the fog: but, although it shone upon
me, it could not warm me; for all my limbs
were cold, and trembled with a mortal sickness.

At length, I became quite spent, and was
forced to desist from my work, I then reflect-
ed, that my lahour was not worth my wages,
and it seemed to me, that I did wrong in receiv-
ing from the farmer the hire of a stout healthy
person: and although I knew not by what
means I should be supported, yet I resclved to
go to Mrs. Flemming, and to tell her, honestly,
that I was unable to earn my bread, and that I
would not receive money which was not my
due. And although I had no prospect before
me but of starving, yet I trusted in God, that
he would not forget me.

Then I called to mind the words of the pro-
phet: Although the fig-tree shall not blossom,
neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of
the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no
meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold,