of my fretfulness."

"I will do anything for you but that, Isabella," said Mary; "but it is
my constant prayer that my Saviour may grant me the temper of mind that
becometh his disciple, and that I may 'sin not with my lips' against
him."

Isabella became rapidly worse, and the sorrowful countenance of her
father, and the anxious tenderness of her mother, showed how dear their
erring child was to their hearts.

Edward would come home early from school to know how his sister was, and
to see if there was anything he could do for her; and the merry voice of
little George was still, and no one heard the sound of his ball or top.

It was a house of sadness, but of composure,--a house of Christian
sorrow! Trouble had entered it; but its inmates felt that the trouble
came from a Father's hand, and that they should have no more than He who
knew them best, and loved them best, saw was for their good. They felt
their Saviour's presence, and rested upon his words, "My grace is
sufficient for thee."

But this sickness was not unto death: God raised Isabella from her bed
of pain to glorify him by the holy obedience of her life. To the eye of
man there was much yet to be done; but her heart was humbled, and her
pride subdued; and He who knew all her weakness, saw that she would
persevere, and that his chastisement had answered the purpose for which
it had been sent.

As Isabella began to recover, the confinement to her room, and her