THE FAITHFUL NURSE. oo

patiently toiled with me through the first elements of
education ; but the chief and most delightful study to
us both was the Bible. Before I could read, she told
me pleasant stories from its pages, and instilled into
my mind its sacred truths; and if there is now within
me any desire of right, or any proper notions of duty,
I owe them all, under God’s blessing, to her pious and
early instructions, As soon as I could speak, she
caught me to pray, and endeavoured above all things to
impress upon my mind that I was ever in the presence
of the all-seeing God, and that outward forms, without
the spirit of religion, were abomination in his sight.
QO how happily and quietly we lived together,—my
father’s visits to us alone interrupting and giving variety
and delight to our humble home.

“ My first grief was when, at the age of ten years,
after having been a year under my father’s instruction,
he was ordered to sea, and I was sent to a school about
six miles from our home; but I was to return every
Saturday and stay until Monday, and my nurse would
visit me during the week ; and so we became reconciled.
At that school I remained until I was thirteen years of
age, when it was broken up, and for a year I was again
under the instruction of my father; but on his again
being ordered to sea the other day, he placed me here
under the care of Mr. Harding, having, at the earnest
request of my kind nurse, obtained a home for her in
this neighbourhood, where she could often see me.