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not even taught to read. Industry is good and needful as far as it goes; but avails little, if proper, religious principles be wanting. There was not a Sunday school in the village where this poor family lived, or they might have done better.

Now Sarah, even when very young, had a shocking temper. She was always the terror of her brothers and sisters. If any one had offended her, she was never content without revenging herself, either by beating them, or doing some more secret hurt. She was also sadly given to lying; and no lie was too gross for her to make, if she wanted to revenge herself on any one, and bring them into disgrace. Many a time has she come haine from working in the fields, with her clothes torn, and her face scratched with fighting. Such a shocking temper was sure with age to gain strength : and her mother had often said, that she was afraid her temper would bring her to some disgraceful end. If Sarah thought it would vex any one, who had offended her, she did not scruple to injure her own person. Once she had nearly carried this too far. She had been bled for some illness; and her mother having displeased her, she went upstairs and took the bandage from her arm, bent on hleeding herself to death. Her mother

happily went into her room, and found her just on the point of fainting through loss of blood.

Her youth was thus spent in giving way to her bad tempers, instead of checking them. At the age of fifteen, she went into a farmer's service, where she was clean and active in her work, but her strong passions and loose morals led her astray, and she fell into disgrace, and at the age of seventeen became a mother. She was now brought to her parish, and to her mother's house. StiN her temper was untamed. Before her poor child was three months old, she was going to beat it; and when her mother tried to prevent her, she threatened to kill it, and held it up by one arm and 'was going to throw it down stairs, when some of her sisters came and caught hold of it. She could not forgive or forget this restraint, and she set off a-begging; but she soon came back, and leaving the child with her mother, went into service again.

After going on very loosely, she married William Grizzle, who had a sad life with her: and from his sudden death, it was strongly suspected she had poisoned him. She then married William Hurst, a shoemaker, who had been a bad man, and had nearly killed his former wife by his cruel conduct. It was not to be wondered at therefore, that he and Sarah should go on ill together.

It was in the autumn of 1818, that Sarah's mother went to see her, and if possible, to end her days with her daugh. ter. The poor old woman soon saw there would be no peace. Sarah said one day to her mother ; “Well, I don't think I shall be satisfied, till I have killed somebody." This affected the old woman so much, that she soon after went back to her home. At this very time, Sarah had got the arsenic, with which she afterwards poisoned her hus. band.

It was on Christmas-day, 1818, after she had been to church, that she made three cakes, into one of which she put the arsenic. This she gave to her hus. band, and he soon after died. Sarah was taken up; she made a full confession; and was hanged at Aylesbury. She was almost insensible as she went to the place where she was to be hanged, and was obliged to be supported to the platform. Thus was the awful life of Sarah Hurst ended by an awful death.

Oh! my young readers, beware how you indulge tempers. Some have worse tempers than others, and more to strive against! but the grace of God can turn the lion into the lamb. There is no saying where any sin will stop. There

fore leave off contention before it be meddled with. Beg the lowly Jesus to give you his own spirit, for he is meek and lowly in heart. Thus will you find rest to your souls, and be spared the sorrows into which those fall, who follow the devices and desires of their own wicked hearts.

THE WORKHOUSE CHILDREN.

A true Story. Near our parish church stands a large workhouse. A few of the children in its with others out of the parish, come to my house on Sunday evenings, and repeat texts of Scripture. They have thus got to know the great truths of the Gospel; and the children of the work. house meet morning and evening to sing a hymn and to pray. The master of the house has told me, that they often sing hymns for hours together, while at work, wbich he is delighted to hear.

One of the best of these children is gone to service; and another, I believe, is gone to heaven. Of the latter I will give you some account, as it will shew you the care and love of God to a fatherless child.

Her name was Harriet Harries. Her father had been dead for many years; her mother had left her; and she had

been sent to the workhouse for a morsel

Whilst she has been joining others in singing the verse of a hymn

What friend have I in heaven or earth,

What friend to trust but thee?
My father's dead, my mother's dead :

My God remember me; I have seen the tear swell in her eye, and stream down her face. Yet she could say with David, “when my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up."

On February 19, I missed Harriet from her place amongst her little friends; and found that she was confined to her bed with a bad cough. When I came to the side of her bed, she said,

“Sir, will you pray for me?"
“What shall I pray for?"
“ For God to take me home.”
“ Have you offended God ?”.
“Yes, very often.”

“ You would not wish to die, without obtaining the pardon of your sins ?"

« No."

“How can you get your sins pardoned ?"

“Through Jesus Christ, who died for our sins."

“Do you think that Jesus Christ is able to pardon you?”.

“ Yes, I am sure he is.”

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