66 THE APPRENTICE. 



one of the very few who had been kind to him in his 

 boyhood. 



' Where think you have I sitten down to write 

 you ? In my grandmother's room, and before the very 

 table at which I once used to read (in happier days) a 

 chapter in the big old Bible and sing a psalm every night 

 and morning. I cannot tell you how I feel. The re- 

 membrance of the innocence arid happiness of the days 

 that are gone has softened my heart, indifferent as it has 

 become to the pure feelings of devotion. I have done 

 reading just now the three last chapters of the Gospel of 

 St John, and with the history of the sufferings of our 

 Saviour I was never more affected. I feel my soul raised 

 above the things of this world in the contemplation of the 

 truly God-like patience with which, in His human nature, 

 He bore the terrible evils which were inflicted on Him, 

 and His resignation to the will of His Heavenly Father. 



' Oh that I could fix the present mood, and render 

 it permanent. What a world of happiness dwells in the 

 bosom of the devout man ; amid all the storms of adver- 

 sity he has a fortress and a God. His hopes repose on 

 that Providence who has the disposal of all events ; not 

 knowing himself what is good or evil of the things of 

 this life, he does his duty, and trusts to his Father for the 

 rest. How far different is God from man ! If we ask 

 His favour He will not withhold it. " To the poor He is 

 a friend, and He will not hide His face from the needy." 

 I find we must love Him before we can truly love one 

 another. I see this love as the master principle as the 

 purifier of the heart; it warms our affections to our 

 friends, makes us grateful to our benefactors and forgiv- 

 ing to our enemies. Oh, my dear Miller, bear with me 

 now as you have often done before. I am weak as a child. 



