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necessary ornaments. Her inconsiderateyoung mistress neglected to reprove her for this conduct,till at length she grew so bold as even to wear some articles of her dress on a visit she paid to an acquaintance. This liberty was discovered and justly resented. She was ordered to quit her service immediately, and given little reason to hope for a character to procure another. Elizabeth would now have suffered great uneasiness but for the circumstance of her having gained the regard of a young shoe-maker in the neighbourhood, whom she resolved to marry, and thus free herself from servitude of any kind. It happened rather unfortunately, that the young man had not actually declared his intentions, but Elizabeth nade no doubt he would, the first favourable opportunity. It was a custom adopted by Mr. Goodall, the clergyman of the parish, on the first of May to preach a sermon to young persons, and as she knew John would go to church, Elizabeth planned to go also, and trusted that on their walk back. together, the wished-for explanation would take place. Some time previous was spent in preparing new finery, and her last shilling was laid out in the purchase of a smart black feather to decorate her bonnet. Tricked out in her new attire, she watched for John from the little window of a cottage, where a kind hearted acquaintance had given her a lodging until she could find another service, and took care to step out at the instant he passed. During their walk to church she gave a plausible reason for her

sudden departure from her late place, for she had lost all regard to truth, and had long accustomed herself to represent circumstances just as was most convenient to her occasions. John listened with attention to her discourse, but said little in reply: she was however well pleased to observe he often cast an eye on her dress; and as the brisk air waved about her new feather, she could have no doubt of its meeting his notice. She was unusually gay, for she had been told that her lively manners had been often praised by John, and that most men chose partners with opposite dispositions to themselves, for John was a grave, thoughtful young man.

CHAP. XV.

The History of Mary Smith and Elizabeth Brown,
concluded.

As they came in sight of the church, John re

minded Elizabeth of the place they were going to, and that it was best to shut up all this idle talk, for that, for his part he found he could not forget in a minute any nonsense he might be hearing just before he got into church. Though the observation bore some reflection on Elizabeth's discourse, she would not seem offended, but acquiesced in the serious idea, and entered the church-doors with a grave and becoming deportment. They separated as usual, Elizabeth taking her seat with other female servants, and John on the opposite side. On this occasion she thought herself peculiarly fortunate, as she was close by the side of Mary Smith, whose person, as well as dress, presented in her opinion a contrast much in her own favour. Thus did her vanity obtain the conquest over her feelings of friendship.

The subject Mr. Goodall had chosen for the occasion, was the joyful expectation of our Lord and Saviour's appearance from heaven to change our vile body, and fashion it like unto his own glorious body. He was naturally led to consider the various reasons why our bodies, though so curiously wrought, as clearly to prove the wisdom and skill of an Almighty Maker, were notwithstanding to be accounted vile-As they were formed of the most perishable materials, even the dust of the earth, as they were the subjects of innumerable diseases, and at last of death. He dwelt too on the increase of vileness man himself had imposed on his mortal hody, by rendering it the habitation of sin; far though formed of dust, and therefore most probably not designed to continue for ever exactly in his original state, disease and death would have been unknown had man not sinned. The practical improvement the pious minister made of the sub-. ject, was to represent the extreme folly of caring for this vile body so much as was generally done, of seeking gratifications for that, to the neglect, if not to the injury of the immortal soul; and the support which the sincere Christian might draw under all his diseases and infirmities in the expected change; ending with a faithful address more particularly to the young and vain part of his congregation.

John and Elizabeth again met at the conclusion of the service, when, as nearly as I can recollect

from my informant, the following dialogue took place :

John-"Well, this to my thinking was a fine sermon, though to be sure it put one out of conceit with one's self, that is, with one's own beauty; for my part I always did think it nonsense to dress out as many do; and I thought while our parson was saying all that about dress, you must feel ashamed of that fly-flapper o' top of your head."

Elizabeth" I am not ashamed of good clothes I come honestly by them; and win gold and wear it, is said by people as wise as parson Goodall. I did not like the sermon much, but you are a better judge of sermons than I am, only some part of it was so dismal, 'twas just like opening the graves in the church-yard.”

John-" "Tis nothing to the purpose whether we like the sermons or not, but if they are according to the Bible, we ought to pray and strive to like them, and do accordingly. But I wanted to find a time, Betty, just to speak a bit about your dressing out: for do you know what the folks say?"

Elizabeth-"People will talk about what don't concern them. Nobody dare say I come dishonestly by my clothes, or sure if they do, you won't believe them.

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