CHAPTER XXV. 



MY dear Jane will well remember the times when, 

 on a Sunday morning, I had fixed upon' spending 

 the day at home, and of my calling it a "Red night- 

 cap day," because it was set apart for contemplation, 

 and for this purpose I walked undisturbed in the 

 garden alone, and, thus employed, it was always a 

 welcome and a happy, though a short, day to me ; 

 and yet this was not without its alloy, for when 

 your mother led you forth all clean and neat with 

 her to church, I felt grieved at my not making one 

 of the party ; but you know the first cause which 

 prevented me, and that was owing to my not being 

 able to sit in the cold church with my hat off, with- 

 out my suffering for it when I did so. I often wished 

 that the different congregations would leave off this 

 foolish custom, and follow the good sense and the 

 example of the Quakers in this respect. This, 

 however, though it was the beginning, was not 

 the sole cause or objection I had to attending 

 regularly at church, for I did not like to hippocrise, 

 that is indeed wicked folly, for u God knows the 

 secrets of our hearts, and our desires are not hid 

 from Him." I knew of nothing I had to petition 

 for, and had only to pour out my thanks for His 

 numerous blessings, which I hoped I would do 

 better when alone, than when I was surrounded 

 by a congregation, for I never could be religious 

 at church. I could not believe in the miracles 



