A SISTER OF MERCY. 608

or ever despair of the success of their endeavours, let the children
be ever so obstinate, refractory, or to appearance insensible of
instruction. For if ever God in his providence touches the con-
sciences of such, the force of their education returns upon them,
and the early instruction of parents is not lost, though it may have
been many years laid asleep, but some time or other they may
find the benefit of it.

Thus it was with this poor man. However ignorant he was, or
divested of religion and Christian knowledge, he found he had
some to do with now more ignorant than himself, and that the
least part of the instruction of his good father that could now
come to his mind was of use to him,

Among the rest it occurred to him, he said, how his father used
to insist much upon the inexpressible value of the Bible, the privi-
lege and blessing of it to nations, families, and persons; but he
never entertained the least notion of the worth of it till now, when,
being to talk to heathens, savages, and barbarians, he wanted the
help of the written oracle for his assistance.

The young woman was very glad of it also for the present
occasion, though she had one, ind so had the youth, on board our
ship among their goods, which were not yet brought on shore.
And now having said so many things of this young woman, I
cannot omit telling one story more of her and myself, which has
something in it very informing and remarkable.

I have related to what extremity the poor young woman was
reduced ; how her mistress was starved to death, and did die on
board that unhappy ship we inet at sea; and how the whole ship's
company being reduced to the last extremity, the gentlewoman
and her son and this maid were first hardly used as to provisions,
and at last totally neglected and starved; that is to say, brought
to the last extremity of hunger.

One day being discoursing with her upon the extremities they
suffered, I asked her if she could describe by what she had felt
what it was to starve, and how it appeared. She told me she
believed she could, and she told her tale very distinctly thus :—

“First, sir,” said she, “we had for some days fared exceeding
hard, and suffered very great hunger; but now at last we were