followed him down into the coal-pit, at a tender age, without excusing herself on account of her sex.

But though Mary's mind was naturally strong, and her constitution of body was very stout also, yet it was evident that she had now been led to exert herself beyond her strength. How lamentable is it that while so many people in the world are idle, and are contracting diseases both of body and mind, from the abundance of their riches, and from the want of exercise, there should be any bending, like Mary, under their work, hidden from observation! What a pity is it, I say, that the former should not employ a little of their time and money in endeavouring to find out these distressed objects!

Mary began, about this time, evidently to be afflicted with a disease common among the poor, the consequence of bad food and great bodily fatigue, joined with excessive grief.

When sincere Christians come (as Mary now did) into very trying circumstances, they may hope, notwithstanding any appearance to the contrary, to experience still, in one way or other, the peculiar blessings of Heaven; I do not expect that such persons will be free from pain, poverty, and sickness, or other worldly evils; for it is often quite the contrary; but then I believe that these very

afflictions will be made the means of increasing their trust in God, and of stirring them up to pray more frequently and fervently to him through Jesus Christ, for the gift of his Holy Spirit, the only true Comforter to the afflicted soul, and prove in the end, (I mean either here or hereafter.) to have worked together for their good. The calamities of Mary were now risen to such a height, that those who are not accustomed to view things in this light, might be ready to imagine that the Almighty had forsaken her.

It was at this period of her extremity, that it pleased God to raise up for her some kind friends in the following manner:

A lady of the same village heard of a servant's place, and advised Mary to apply for the situation. Accordingly the poor girl, with anxious heart, went to offer her services; she mentioned, with her usual honesty, the habits of her former life, and the state of her health also; it seemed much against her interest to do so, but it was right; for how can any of us hope for the blessing of God, or expect any true comfort in our minds, when we fall into affliction, if we fly to unfair means of rescuing ourselves out of it; and instead of trusting in God, trust to our own little frauds and crooked contrivances.

The answer made to Mary's application was unfavourable, and she walked very

quietly away, with a down-cast look, and with a mind quite broken down by this fresh addiction. The owners of the mansion happened, however, to observe her countenance, and the peculiar modesty of her manner, as she was taking her departure; for her patient and silent grief touched them far more sensibly than any loud complaints could have done, and they, therefore, determined to make some inquiries concerning her. The gentleman went himself on the same day to the colliery, where the master of the pit gave a favourable account of Mary, and the gentleman being satisfied of her good character, she was received into his service, in which she has now been living comfortably for the space of six years. Her health is recovered, her habits of diligence are still very great, and she is said to be of a remarkably modest, humble, and contented spirit.

Hence we see how amply Mary requited her parents for the care of her, in teaching her hymns in early life, and how necessary it is for parents, who would possess dutiful and affectionate children, to train them up in the fear of God.-"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."-Her meek submission to her parents was in cheerful obedience to that command of God, "Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in

the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee: this is the first commandment with promise;" and we find that God was not unmindful of his promise; for Mary was not permitted to sink under the load of grief and fatigue, which she endured, but was girded with strength, and encompassed about with songs of deliverance.