But she could not do it; and, sad and restless, she walked in her
father's garden, and seated herself on a little bench beneath a shady
tree. Everything around was pleasant; the flowers seemed to send up
their gratitude to Heaven in sweetness, and the little birds in songs of
joy. All spoke peace and love, and Isabella could find nothing there
like discontent or sorrow. The cause of her present troubled feelings
was to be found within.

Isabella Gardner was in the habit of indulging in a fretful and peevish
temper. She was often "hasty in her spirit to be angry;" forgetting that
the wise Solomon says, "Anger resteth in the bosom of fools;" and that a
greater than Solomon had commanded her to forgive, as she would be
forgiven.

Her disrespect and ill-humor toward her parents had caused her many
unhappy days and sleepless nights; and often had the day closed on
faults unrepented of, and sins unforgiven. It was but the afternoon
before that she had spoken in a high angry tone to her eldest sister,
Mary, and parted in displeasure from her brother Edward, because he
would not leave his studies to go into the garden with her. Thus had the
"sun gone down upon her wrath;" and we cannot be surprised that when it
rose in the morning she was unhappy.

Isabella had a generous temper; and after she had been unkind or unjust,
she was frequently sorry, and determined to be so no more; but her
regret was forgotten as soon as she was again tempted; and at the age
of thirteen she had gained no victory over the sinful habit of indulging
in an angry temper.

Isabella had kind and indulgent parents;--parents who looked with