256 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



rated from his father when very young, he 

 had become careless and indifferent about reli- 

 gion ; for Q. soldier's life is rather unfavourable 

 to religious improvement 5 but that his excellent 

 wife had perceived this, and with prudent cau- 

 tion had gently led him to think ; her good sense 

 and admirable example awakened his mind, and 

 while he taught her the English language, she 

 taught him in return the principles, the humility, 

 and the practice of Christianity. 



Still long she nursed him ; tender thoughts meantime 

 Were interchanged, and hopes and views sublime. 

 To her he came to die, and every day 

 She took some portion of the dread away ; 

 With him she prayed, to him her Bible read, 

 Soothed the faint heart, and held the aching head ; 

 She came with smiles the hour of pain to cheer ; 

 Apart she sighed; alone, she shed the tear ; 

 Then, as if breaking from a cloud, she gave 

 Fresh light, and gilt the prospect of the grave. 



5f/i. I was rather naughty yesterday, I did 

 not walk out; and my uncle reproached me for 

 it this morning. ft If you shut yourself up every 

 cold day, Bertha, you will never become more 

 hardy than the stove plants from your own 

 country, which would certainly be more orna- 

 mental, and more valuable, if they could be re- 

 conciled to our climate^ and made to grow here 

 in the open ground. And you, too, would be 

 happier as well as stronger, if you were able to 

 enjoy the out of door pleasures of winter as well 

 as those of the fire-side," 



