STUDY XII. 401 



marble, but of living flefh and blood; fhe is not 

 a Greek, but a French-woman ; (he is not com- 

 forted, but infulted by her companions. Vifit her 

 humble abode, and foothe her anguifh. Do good 

 in this life, which is paffing away with the rapidity 

 of a torrent. Do good, not out of oftentation, and 

 by the hands of a flranger ; but for the fake of 

 Heaven, and with your own hand. The fruit of 

 virtue lofes it's flavour, when gathered by another, 

 and not yourfelf. Ah! if you would, in perfon, 

 fpeak an encouraging word to her, under that load 

 of depreffion ; if, by your fympathy, you raife her 

 in her own efteem, you will perceive how, under a 

 fenfe of your goodnefs, her forehead is overfpread 

 with a blufh, her eyes fuffufed with tears, her convul- 

 five lips move without fpeaking, and her heart, long 

 oppreifed with fliame, expand to the approach of 

 a comforter, as to the fentiment of the Deity. 



will merely that determined her to flop at the porch, as they 

 knew of nothing that fhould prevent her going in, adding, that 

 they had frequently urged her to accompany them, but in vain. 

 At laft, defirous of having the folution of this myflery, he ad* 

 dreffed himfelf to the young woman herfelf, whofe conduct ap- 

 peared to him fo very extraordinary. She appeared, at firft, 

 fomewhat difconcerted, but prefently collecting courage, " Sir," 

 faid fhe, " I had a lover who took advantage of my frailtv. I 

 *' became pregnant, and my lover falling fick, died, without 

 " making me his wife. It is my defire, that a voluntary exclu- 

 " fion from church for life fhould ferve as fome atonement for 

 u my fault, and as a warning to my companions," 



vol. in. d d You 



