Imatges de pàgina
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ing that at the last day it will rise again, without spot or blemish, being made in the likeness of the Lamb, which is without blemish and without spot.

And now to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

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WHEN Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild returned from the old Gardener's, they found John ready with the cart, so, wishing Mrs. Goodriche a good evening and thanking her for her kindness, they returned home.

The next morning Mr. Fairchild got up early, and

went down to the village. Breakfast was ready, and Mrs. Fairchild and the children waiting at the table, when he came back. "Get your breakfast, my dear," said he to Mrs. Fairchild; " don't wait for me." So saying, he went into his study, and shut the door. Mrs. Fairchild, supposing that he had some letters to write, got her breakfast quietly; after which, she sent Lucy to ask her papa if he would not choose any breakfast. When Mr. Fairchild heard Lucy's voice at the study door, he came out, and followed her into the parlour.

When Mrs. Fairchild looked at her husband's face, she saw that something had grieved him very much. She was frightened and said, "My dear, I am sure something is the matter; what is it? Tell me the worst at once; pray do!"

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Indeed, my dear," said Mr. Fairchild, "I have heard something this morning which has shocked me dreadfully. I was not willing to tell you before you had breakfasted. I know what you will feel when you hear it."

"Do, do tell me," said Mrs. Fairchild, turning quite white.

"Poor Augusta Noble!" said Mr. Fairchild. "What, papa?" said Lucy and Emily and Henry, in one voice.

"She is dead," exclaimed Mr. Fairchild.

The children turned as pale as their mother; and poor Mrs. Fairchild would have dropped off her chair, if Betty, guessing what was the matter (for she had heard the news too, though she had not chosen to tell it), had not run in, and held her in her arms.

"Oh! poor Lady Noble! poor Lady Noble !" said Mrs. Fairchild as soon as she could speak : "poor Lady Noble !"

As soon as their mamma spoke, the children all together began to cry and sob, which affected Mr.

Fairchild so much, that he hastened into his study again, and shut the door.

Whilst the children were crying, and Betty holding Mrs. Fairchild, for she continued very faint and sick, Mrs. Barker came into the parlour. Mrs. Barker was a kind woman: and, as she lived by herself, was always at liberty to go amongst her neighbours in times of trouble. "Ah, Mrs. Fairchild!" she said, "I know what troubles you: we are all in grief through the whole village.'

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When Mrs. Fairchild saw Mrs. Barker, she began to shed tears, which did her much good; after which she was able to ask Mrs. Barker what was the cause of the poor child's death, "as," said she, "I never heard that she was ill."

"Ah! Mrs. Fairchild, the manner of her death is the worst part of the story, and that which must grieve her parents more than all. You know that poor Miss Augusta was always the darling of her mother, who brought her up in great pride, without fear of God or knowledge of religion: nay, Lady Noble would even mock at religion and religious people in her presence: and she chose a governess for her who had no more of God about her than herself."

"I never thought much of that Miss Beaumont," said Mrs. Fairchild.

"As Miss Augusta was brought up without the fear of God," continued Mrs. Barker, "she had of course, no notion of obedience to her parents, further than just striving to please them in their presence: she lived in the constant practice of disobeying them, and the governess continually concealed her disobedience from Lady Noble. And what is the consequence? The poor child has lost her life; and Miss Beaumont is turned out of doors in disgrace."

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But," said Mrs. Fairchild, "how did she lose

her life through disobedience to her parents? Pray tell me, Mrs. Barker."

"The story is so shocking I tremble to tell you," answered Mrs. Barker; "but you must know it sooner or later.-Miss Augusta had a custom of playing with fire, and carrying candles about, though Lady Noble had often warned her of the danger of this habit, and strictly charged her governess to prevent it. But it seems that the governess, being afraid of offending, had suffered her very often to be guilty of this piece of disobedience, without telling Lady Noble. And the night before last, when Lady Noble was playing at cards in the drawing-room, with some visitors, Miss Augusta took a candle off the hall table, and carried it up stairs to the governess's room. No one was there, and it is supposed that Miss Augusta was looking in the glass with the candle in her hand, when the flame caught her dress: but this is not known. Lady Noble's maid who was in an adjoining room, was alarmed by her dreadful screams, and, hastening to discover the cause, found poor Augusta in a blaze from head to foot. The unhappy young lady was so dreadfully burnt, that she never spoke afterwards, but died in agonies last night—a warning to all children how they presume to disobey their parents! 'The eye that mocketh at his father, and refuses to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.' (Prov. xxx. 17.)

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When Mrs. Fairchild and the children heard this dreadful story, they were very much grieved. Mrs. Barker stayed with them all day; and it was, indeed, a day of mourning through all the house. This was Wednesday; and on Saturday poor Miss Augusta was to be buried. Mr. Fairchild was invited to attend the funeral; and the children also were desired to go, as they had been sometimes the playfellows of poor

Miss Augusta. Mrs. Fairchild dressed them in white; and at four o'clock in the afternoon a coach covered with black cloth came to the door of Mr. Fairchild's house to take them to Sir Charles Noble's.

When Lucy and Emily and Henry got into the coach with their papa, they felt very sorrowful; and not one of them spoke one word all the while the coachman was driving to Sir Charles Noble's. When they came into the park, they saw a hearse, and a great many coaches and other carriages, standing at the door of the house, besides many persons on horseback in black clothes with white scarfs and hatbands. The hearse was hung with black, and so were several of the coaches; and at the top of the hearse were plumes of white feathers.- -Perhaps you may never have seen a hearse; in case you have not, I shall try to describe it to you. It is a long close coach, without windows, used for carrying the dead from their houses to their graves.

Sometimes black,

and sometimes white, plumes of feathers are fixed at the top of these hearses, according to the age of the person to be borne. Hearses are always painted or hung with black, and are in general drawn by black horses; so that they make a very dismal appearance.

When the children came near to Sir Charles's house, and saw all the people and carriages waiting to accompany their poor little playmate to her grave, they began to cry afresh. Mr. Fairchild himself looked very sad; and this verse presented itself to the minds of the children: "The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.' (Job vii. 8.)

When the coach came to the house-door, a footman came out dressed in black, and took them into the hall, where white gloves and scarfs were given to them, and they were led into the dining-room. There, upon a large table, covered with black cloth, was the coffin of poor Augusta, covered with white velvet, and

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