of to-day's failure strengthen me in my efforts to keep my resolution."

As week after week passed by, Isabella Gardner met new difficulties to
oppose her resolution; but though often cast down, she gained strength
every day.

Her trials at her day-school were very great, for her school-fellows did
not know how she was endeavoring to correct her great fault; and they
would often avoid her company in their walks and amusements, knowing how
she formerly made them unhappy by her caprices. She bore all this
patiently, and would leave her companions immediately when anything was
said or done that displeased her; and by going away by herself she was
prevented from making a hasty reply, and had time to reflect and gather
strength for future trials.

It was hard for Isabella to "cease to do evil," and harder still for her
to "learn to do well;" and it would fill a much larger book than this,
were I to tell you of all the difficulties she met with in trying to
"put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."

But God was near. He saw her efforts and her failures, and he saw that
his correcting hand must be stretched forth to finish the good work
which he had begun. He sent sickness upon her, and the lately blooming
Isabella was laid low upon the bed of pain. It was then she was called
upon to "let patience have its perfect work."

When Isabella heard her physician say that she would probably be ill for
a long time, she thought of her resolution, and feared that she would be
unable to keep it when there was so much pain to bear, and so much
medicine to be taken. Then the solemn thought came that death might be