ERRATA. Page 40, last line but one,-for on, read in. 81, line 14, for modety, read modesty. -147, line 1, for Socity, read Society. CHAPTER L The Parents of Elizabeth. Ar the entrance of the village of Takely, in the county of Essex, lived the poor but industrious parents of Elizabeth: their cottage was remarkable for its extreme neatness; and the care and order visible in the small garden by which it was surrounded, had frequently attracted the notice, and gained the approbation, of their superiors. James Allen was a labourer on an adjoining farm, and Mary his wife was occasionally employed at the Great House. She had formerly filled an under situation in the family, with credit to herself, and satis faction to her employers, and from thence she had married. While in this service, her steady and conscientious discharge of the duties of her place, and her remarkably even and amiable temper, deservedly gained her a firm and useful friend in Mrs. West, the housekeeper, a decidedly pious woman, whose wholesome advice and consistent example were of incalculable benefit to Mary in after-life. The first year of Mary's marriage passed happily on, in peaceful industry, except that, though James was affectionate and steady, and avoided dissolute company, yet Mary could not prevail on him to accompany her to church, read his Bible, or join her in her humble attempts to bless and praise the Almighty Giver of all good for their many daily mercies: he did not, indeed, object to her doing so, but for himself, fully satisfied by his attention to what are called moral obligations, he seemed perfectly content to live thus, "without God in the world." Mrs. West, from whom Mary had no secrets, while she sympathised with her feelings of regret, yet advised patience and resignation, and a firm adherence to her own duties, leaving the event, in humble dependence, to the will of God. The birth of Elizabeth, while it entailed new cares on Mary, added greatly to her happiness for a time, until she observed, first with anxiety, and then with alarm, a serious change in the conduct of her husband. Hitherto, though void of religion, he had been kind, industrious, and sober; but of late he had become harsh in his temper, was frequently absent till a late hour in the evening, and would then return in a state of intoxication. Mary, though with the utmost gentleness, endeavoured to reason with him, but at such times he either sternly bade her be silent, or left her hastily: things went on in this painful manner for some weeks, when James was discharged from his employ, for intemperance and neglect: this greatly affected Mary, but she could only weep and pray, for now her husband left her for days together, seeming quite indifferent as to the manner in which his wife and infant were to subsist. Bad company had caused this sad change in James: two young men from a neighbouring village, (whom his master had |