Indeed, my child, you would then bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave."

Elizabeth was touched at the bare possibility of such baseness; but she thought her grandmother was unnecessarily fearful, and that it was merely the apprehensions of affection, mixed, perhaps, with the imbecilities of age, which made her depict the world in colours so gloomy: besides she was resolved to uphold her integrity, and never be drawn aside from the path of rectitude. Ah! how little did she know of herself-of her own heart! or how weak are the best resolves of mortals, if unaided by divine strength; Elizabeth, like our first mother Eve, wished to taste of the tree of knowledge, not understanding "that where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

Eager, however, as she was to enter upon a new scene, she could not part from her grandmother and sister, without shedding many tears. The first separation was a trial to each. After embracing with much affection, and Elizabeth promising not to neglect to read her Bible, and to practise her writing as much as she could, by sending a letter at every convenient opportunity, they parted. In pursuance

of our history, it will be necessary that we also leave, for a time, the worthy inhabitants of the village, and accompany Elizabeth into the gay and busy scenes which awaited her.

Much did she find to excite her astonishment in the course of her journey. Every town they passed through, supplied food for observation; but when she entered the great metropolis, that crowded mart of business and of fashion, her very faculties seemed chained up in a state of surprise and wonder. The bustle of the public streets-the people hurrying along, eagerly intent upon some object of pursuit, presented such a contrast to the quietness of the scene she had lately left, that she could not help imagining some matter of high national importance had drawn together, as into one focus, the inhabitants of other cities, to form this vast and busy multitude. She looked up in the face of her mistress, and was greatly astonished to perceive there no indication of surprise. She scarcely believed it possible, that what had such a powerful effect upon her feelings, should be contemplated with such apathy and indifference. As the carriage drove on, a lengthened line of buildings seemed opening in

perspective; while, on either hand, streets were branching out, far and wide, of which the eye could perceive no end. By the time they arrived at the place of their destination, fatigued with gazing, and almost deafened with the din, she earnestly hoped this extraordinary confusion would shortly be hushed to something more nearly allied to tranquillity and peace. Elizabeth was soon domesticated in the nursery; and as she was fond of children, and of a cheerful and winning deportment, she easily engaged their affections. She wrote her grandmother and sister an account of the wonders she had seen, and with much simplicity expressed her astonishment, that though so many days had passed, yet the same bustle seemed to prevail. Her fellow servants told her, it was always so: but she could not give credence to this. She was not so simple as to expect a great city could be like a little country village, or even a market town; but that it was always thus bustling and noisy, seemed a thing impossible. If she went out into the streets, in vain she waited for a clearer path; she was still surrounded by an immense

throng, through which she with difficulty made her way. Such was the impression which the first few days' residence in London made upon the mind of Elizabeth. She soon, however, became familiarized to the scene.

A

CHAPTER VII.

"Is this the rugged path, the steep ascent,
That virtue points to? Can a life thus spent
Lead to the bliss she promises the wise,

Detach the soul from earth, and speed her to the skies."

Cowper.

THE family with whom Elizabeth was now situated were considered very moral, and, by some persons, even religious characters. Their religion, however, was not of a sufficiently active or extensive kind; it passed not the precinct of their own apartments. It might indeed be said never to have passed the privacy of their own hearts, could one imagine it had ever found an entrance there. Their servants

were permitted to attend church once, on the Sabbath, in their turn, but were accustomed to receive at home, neither exhortation nor advice. Every thing was regulated with due attentions to times and seasons; and this, as regards domestic, and other arrangements of a like sort, is well: but religion is adapted to any