woman he can call his own. A whole park full of tame or timid-eyed animals to torment at his will would not serve him so well to glut his lust of torture: they could not feel as one woman does: they could not throw out the keen retort which whets the edge of hatred. I've nothing to say again' her piety, my dear; but I know very well I shouldn't like her to cook my victual. When a man comes in hungry an' tired, piety won't feed him, I reckon. Hard carrots 'ull lie heavy on his stomach, piety or no piety. I called in one day when she was dishin' up Mr. Tryan's dinner, an' I could see the potatoes was as watery as watery. It's right enough to be speritial—I'm no enemy to that; but I like my potatoes mealy. I don't see as anybody 'ull go to heaven the sooner for not digestin' their dinnerprovidin' they don't die sooner, as mayhap Mr. Tryan will, poor dear man.—Mrs. Linnet. I'd rether given ten shillin' an' help a man to stand on his own legs, nor pay half-a-crown to buy him a parish crutch; it's the ruination on him if he once goes to the parish. I've see'd many a time, if you help a man wi' a present in a neeborly way, it sweetens his blood— he thinks it kind on you; but the parish shillins turn it sour-he niver thinks 'em enough.-Mr. Jerome. Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning; but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he's sure of losing.—Mr. Dempster. Don't let us rejoice in punishment, even when the hand of God alone inflicts it. The best of us are but poor wretches just saved from shipwreck : can we feel anything but awe and pity when we see a fellow-passenger swallowed by the waves ?—Mr. Tryan. As long as we set up our own will and our own wisdom against God's, we make that wall between us and his love which I have spoken of just now. But as soon as we lay ourselves entirely at his feet, we have enough light given us to guide our own steps; as the foot-soldier who hears nothing of the councils that determine the course of the great battle he is in, hears plainly enough the word of command which he must himself obey. Mr. Tryan. -0 My mind showed me it was just such as I-the helpless who feel themselves helpless-that God specially invites to come to him, and offers all the riches of his salvation: not forgiveness only; forgiveness would be worth little if it left us under the powers of our evil passions; but strength-that strength which enables us to conquer sin.—Mr. Tryan. -0 It has always seemed to me before as if I could see behind people's words, as one sees behind a screen; but in Mr. Tryan it is his very soul that speaks.Janet Dempster. END OF JANET'S REPENTANCE.' |