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ful to me at first, but now I trust I shall be enabled to suffer whatever the Lord sees to

be good for me.'

You will be enabled, Jessy, be assured, if you firmly put your trust in God,-none ever trusted him in vain.' The doctor then sat thoughtfully for a little. When he rose to go away, he said, 'We do not think it good to delay in such cases as yours, Jessy, but I shall see you to-morrow morning. I know now that you are ready when it is thought proper.'

He then went away, and when Jessy heard his last step as he left the room, all her power to act firmly seemed to go with him, and she sunk down in her bed, and wept bitterly. Every painful thing came before her, -the dreadful operation,--lameness for life. She never would be able to go to service,she must always remain in her mother's house, all the thoughts of happier days, when she might get a situation in some pious family, and escape from scenes of drunkenness, and swearing, and confusion,-all must be given up forever! At last a voice seemed

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to whisper in Jessy's heart, Is this the way you suffer the will of your Lord?" She became calm, and said to herself, And is this the way I trust to his promise, that he will make all things work together for my good?' She remembered that God had said in his word, Call on me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.' And how am I to understand this? thought Jessy. Am I now to expect that God will deliver me from what I fear? No, that would be a miracle,-and miracles were wrought, not to convince believers, but unbelievers. God will deliver me from such trouble as prevents my soul from loving and trusting him. He will prove to me, that he

can enable me to bear whatever he inflicts, and still to love, and still to believe, that he has no pleasure in my afflictions, but sends them for my good. Nay, more, to believe, that in all these afflictions my Lord is afflicted with me; and while he thus delivers me from all the bitterness of the trials he sees necessary to send, he will, by giving me to feel his power to support under, and sweeten

them all, enable me to show forth the glory of his supporting grace and love. When Jessy was enabled to think thus, her mind became calm, and a sweet and heavenly peace was shed abroad in her heart. While in this happy state of mind, she heard some one approaching her bed, and supposing it was her mother, she turned away her face for a moment, to implore strength for the trying scene she expected, when she should inform her of the truth. On turning round again, however, not her mother, but her good school-mistress stood by her bed, her looks full of kindness and compassion. Jessy's heart filled. She had not seen her mistress since before she met with her accident :

'O mistress!' said she, bursting into tears, I thought you had forgotten me.' The mistress could not herself keep from tears. No, Jessy! I have thought the same

of you.

I never heard what had happened to you till yesterday.'

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And have you heard every thing, mistress?' asked Jessy. Do you know what is before me?'

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Yes, Jessy,' replied the mistress, her liptrembling as she spoke, the nurse has told me all. I hope the Lord has prepared you for it, better than I was prepared to hear of it.'

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Yes, mistress, the Lord has wonderfully reconciled me to his will in this trial. You

know, mistress, how much evil I have to look forward to, if I live after it. You know the kind of home I must now spend the rest of my days in.'

Jessy could scarcely say this for weeping, and the mistress could not answer, but having drawn near her, took her hand in hers, and just wept with her. Jessy threw her arms round her kind friend's neck, and said, sobbing, 'O mistress! you will not think this looks like resignation to the will of God, but, indeed, though my heart is full, and I cannot help crying this way, yet I feel happy; but seeing you, puts me in mind of so many things.'

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My dear Jessy,' said the mistress, do not let youself forebode evil. The Lord reigns. All hearts are in his hands. He makes all things work together for good to

those who love him. Surely, after all he has done for you, Jessy, you may trust him now. Was your home any better when he put it into the heart of your mother to bring you where he was to meet you with instruction, and lead you to himself? Has he not continued to guide and bless you amidst all the disadvantages of that home? and now is he not teaching you, that it is upon himself, who brought his salvation near to you, when you thought not on him, that you must rely? He is teaching you, that you must not say within your heart, I will go to this situation, or to that situation, where I may have a good example and be kept in God's ways; but I will go to that Lord whom I have taken for my master, and my guide, and my portion, and I will wait on him, and look on whatever situation his providence places me in, as the very best for me.'

Yes, yes, dear mistress,' replied Jessy, Every word you say makes my heart cling closer to him. I will not fear the future.'

After this, Jessy had a long conversation with her mistress, during which she fully

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