a sweetness of disposition, and a winning gentleness of manner, which rendered her in a measure superior to the unfavourable influences of her position, and which threw around her a dignity and an attraction, which at once commanded the respect and won the affection of all who knew her. But the wonder and the charm of her early years was the extraordinary piety which marked and sanctified them. This was both her armour and her ornament. The precise period at which Divine grace took possession of her heart, and the human agency, if indeed any were employed, by which this grace effected its conquest in the soul, it would seem impossible to define. But with the first dawn of intelligence, and with the first expansion of feeling, both the judgment and the heart would appear to have been taken captive by its silent yet resistless power. The child of parents yet unconverted, moving in a circle the centre of which was the world, and compelled to be a spectator of, and sometimes a participator in, scenes sadly dissipative of all religious feeling, she yet exhibited an early development of Christianity in some of its strongest and most interesting features, which excited the wonder, while it could not fail to secure the respect, of all around her. An incident in her history when but two years of age, will illustrate the especial care with which the providence of God watched over this dear child of His loveits relation may likewise serve as a cautionary hint to mothers. The hall-door being left open one day, a strolling beggar woman presented herself with a view of soliciting charity. Elizabeth, whose natural disposition was remarkably benevolent— for she was often known to part with all her pence to objects of charity-ran to the door, and gave her a penny. Observing the child young and unprotected, the woman with the promise of supplying her bountifully with oranges, seized upon the unsuspecting little creature, and folding her beneath her cloak, bore her quickly away. Elizabeth was soon missed from the side of her watchful mother, and an anxious but fruitless search was made for her in the house and gardens. On the loss being known, information was brought that a wandering mendicant was seen rapidly passing through the town with a respectable dressed child in her arms. Pursuit was instantly made, and on finding herself discovered, the wretched woman dropped her prey and fled. Justice, however, soon overtook her, for she was immediately after wards committed to gaol for the commission of a similar crime. The reader, especially if a mother, may form some idea of the joy of her parents when their lost child was once more restored to their fond embrace. Simple as this incident may appear, does it not in some degree illustrate the holy joy which the recovery of a lost sinner creates in the minds of pure and heavenly intelligences ? What joy must fill the Father's mind, what satisfaction the Saviour's soul, what gladness the Spirit's heart, what ecstasy the bosoms of angels and glorified spirits, and what new-born melody, all heaven itself, when a sinner is brought to repentance and faith, when a soul is converted and saved, when the "prey is taken from the mighty," and Christ has another captive won. "It was meet that we should make merry, and 1 Isa. xlix. 24. be glad," exclaims the joyful Father, "for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." O who would not thus be an object of joy to the hearts of saints and of angels, of Christ and of God? And yet if thou, my reader, art a sinner saved by grace, if the tear of godly sorrow for sin has ever stood in thine eye, if thou hast been brought to the great trust of a poor sinner-even a crucified Saviour-then thou hast filled heaven with more gladness than when all the sons of God sang together over this world's newborn creation. Ah! and ten thousand worlds like this. "Who can describe the joys that rise To see an heir of glory born? 1 Luke xv. 32. |