CHAPTER X.

Ar breakfast next morning, we endeavored to form a plan for the evening conversation, and Louisa's expression of a desire that old Thomas should be of the party, suggested the idea that it might not be impossible to have him; but his infirmities led us to fear he could not bear the fatigue of coming.

Oh! said Charles, there is the little cart and pony, and I should be glad to be the driver to fetch old Thomas.

It is no bad plan, Charles, and if your mother sees no reason to object, we will settle it so.

My sister was pleased with the proposal, and we had only to advise that he should be brought as early as possible, in order to let him have time to rest; and Louisa proposed that his grand-daughter Jane should come, to take care of him. Our arrangements were soon made; and whilst the young people devoted a few

hours to study, I again went forth to what I conceived to be my calling at the present period; and thinking it rather remarkable that Mrs. Bennet should have been the person to solicit more frequent meetings, I thought I might endeavor to learn on what particular ground she was induced to do it; for she had declared such complete satisfaction with her own plans, that I felt rather surprised. Undertaking to call at the gardener's, in order to engage the old man and Jane, I went that way.

Old Thomas thanked me for the honor I did him, as he said, but pleaded his age and infirmities, as an excuse for declining the invitation. I told him how easy we would endeavor to make it; and then he pleaded his want of knowledge how to behave in such a company of ladies and gentlemen; but in the end, when I urged that he might be a help to me in setting forth the duties of parents and children, he overcame his reluctance, and said, that if the Lord gave him strength he would try to meet my wishes.

We had just finished this business, when a fine-looking, modest girl, about sixteen, came rather abruptly into the room, but on seeing me, started, and immediately ran back.

I fear I have frightened that young woman; let her be called back, for I am going.—She was however too quickly out of sight to be recalled.

It's a pity, said old Thomas, for she's in great distress just now.

Is it in anything wherein I can help her?

No, sir; I think she'll get over it in time, by the blessing of God.

There was something in the appearance of the girl that had pleased me, and induced me to ask what was the nature of her distress.

She would be sorry to have it known, but this is the case-She is the eldest of her family; her mother is a quiet industrious woman, but her father is a man of bad character, violent, unruly-tempered, and given to bad company; he's a great gambler, especially a cockfighter, and this is the third time that he's brought himself to ruin. He hates this girl, though she's the only one of all the family that loves the Lord: he can't bear her religion, because it condemns him; though she behaves dutifully to him, and whenever she takes courage to warn him of his sin, does it like one who knows what's due to him as her father.

What would she be wanting with you now?

Oh! what she can do another time; it's only to put some money into my hand to pay over to her Christian friend, a young lady, who has been her instructor in religion ever since she was five years old.

What does she pay the money for?

She's bent on paying her father's debts, and she's kept the bailiffs out of the house by her promise to work it out, but she daren't let him know what she's about; and he hides himself to keep out of the way, and though he don't work, his idleness is better than gambling.

For the last three weeks she's been at work by four in the morning, till past twelve at night: her window's right opposite our back-room, where I sleep, and I've heard her sing her morning hymn while she's been at work by four o'clock. I'm sure my heart has sung with her. It comes so sweet across with the wind as it blows!

Why does she pay the money to the lady?

Because she always takes counsel of her; and she lodges it with her till she's got the money up: and one of her sorrows is, that it robs her of time just now

to attend her instructions, but this quickens her, I dare say, to get at liberty soon.

Will not her father's heart be moved towards her when he knows of this?

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No, not a bit; I believe he'd rather have owed it to anybody than her. You know, sir, what the Lord saith, I came not to give peace, but division: to set father against son, and mother against daughter;" and so it is Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but that is only when he reigns in the heart.

Has the young lady a school?

Yes; and the Lord makes her a blessing to all the young people under her instruction. She teaches them regularly-all Bible instruction.

Where is the school?

In the next market-town, about a mile and a half off. Now, sir, I think she could tell you something about the fifth commandment. I'm sure she's taught Martha to honor and succor her father and mother; and it must be a true principle of love to God, when such fruit is seen. Besides, she bears some persecution from her neighbors, that don't know her reasons, who call her covetous, and say, she's working herself to a skeleton from the love of money: but she bears it all.