to my proposal, we shall be enabled, as we go on, to shed more light on the subject; and if you find the employment wearisome, we can desist whenever we please. I obtained, without the help of a master, when young, a superficial knowledge of the sacred tongue; which I shall be glad to increase for my own benefit, while I am helping you; though, indeed, the acquisition of the language is now so facilitated by Mr. Parkhurst's excellent grammar and lexicon, that the assistance of a master is by no means necessary to the student who is really desirous of attaining his proposed object. And therefore, since my time is much employed, as you know, in my business, you will be able to proceed with little, or even no help from me."-Pleased with the novelty of the proposal, my sister and I immediately went to work with my father's books: and thus our time was prevented from hanging heavily on our hands. And since the period when it pleased God to open my understanding to understand the Scriptures, and to reveal to my

1

Use of the Hebrew Language, in the 12th volume of his works. 1 See note D. in Appendix.

soul by his Spirit the great salvation which they display; I look back on the hours I employed in acquiring a little knowledge of the Hebrew tongue with a kind of satisfaction, which a recollection of those spent in the study of music, drawing, and the French language, by no means afford; for though the latter attainments may be of some small use to me in the present world, the former will be of advantage to me in preparing for the world to come.1—I am afraid I shall weary you with my detail of parental attentions (a subject of which I am never tired); or I would mention another scheme devised for the purpose of keeping our minds employed and of improving our hearts, without those timekilling and ensnaring amusements, which are now so fashionable; and of which, I am sorry to observe, that even professing parents do not see the evil.

1 See note E. in Appendix.

MRS. DORMER.

My dear Ann, I am so interested in your narrative, especially with a view to my own domestic charge, that I shall derive great pleasure from your further effusions of filial gratitude.

MISS NEWMAN.

My dear mother, knowing the importance of bodily exercise to the preservation of health, and that a variety of employments is essential to the amusement of young persons, used to take me and my sister with her, in her morning excursions to the neighbouring cottages. There our sensibilities were excited by the objects of distress which pressed on our attention, and the tenderness of our hearts was roused to exertion on their behalf. Our benevolent wishes were readily encouraged by our dear parents, in whom the needy and miserable always find a warm friend; and we were supplied with materials of clothing; and, like Dorcas of old, employed in making them up.

C

While we were

thus engaged, no opportunity was lost of kindling in our bosoms a sense of gratitude for the advantages we enjoyed, nor of infixing on our minds the only answer which can be given to the apostolic questions, Who maketh thee to differ from another? and, What hast thou that thou didst not receive?1 Often were our young minds disgusted at the expensive gratifications of the world; and made to abhor those means of dissipating money on vain or sensual amusements which are so common, while these scenes of misery were presented to our view, and improved by the wise and well-timed admonitions of our excellent parents.-I would proceed; but I shall fatigue you, Mrs. Dormer, with my narration.

MRS. DORMER.

You will not, indeed; do go on.

1 1 Cor. iv, 7.

of

MISS NEWMAN.

Thus, then, my dear madam, did our time insensibly slide on, till I was about twenty years age, and my dear sister Eliza about eighteen, At this period of my life it pleased God, in his great mercy, to afflict me with a fit of sickness, which threatened my life. My dear parents, whose prayers for the conversion of their children had before been incessant, were now more importunate on my behalf; and, doubtless, in answer their entreaties, some truly religious impressions were made on my heart. I began to think of the state of my soul; to feel its innate sinfulness; and to discover that a religious education, and a preservation from vicious practices, would not be sufficient to entitle me to a seat in heaven. Though accustomed to bend my knees morning and evening at my bed-side, I had never prayed till now, when I began to feel my need of Christ, and the necessity of a change of heart. My affectionate parents watched and cherished these hopeful symptoms with holy delight; but expressed their fear, lest, on my