or gesture she might have injured the feelings of some person, or agreed in opinion with those who were blaming the absent; and would ask her preceptress with much earnestness, "Was that to the disadvantage of another?" so anxious was she always to do right. She carried this principle of fidelity into every thing.

She kept a journal of her progress in study, and the manner in which she spent her time. It proves her diligence, and the care with which she obeyed the regulations of the school. One of its rules was to spend two hours every evening in studying at home. On one occasion she writes with her usual integrity and simplicity, "I do not know whether to record it as a violation or not, but my studies are not hard enough to occupy me two hours."

By her journal, it appears that she was in the habit of early rising. Once she writes, "This morning it was so very cold that I was tempted to lie in bed. But thinking it a good opportunity to practise self-denial, I sprang up and was dressed by a quarter past six. My lessons were perfect to-day. I do not recollect any violations. I shall say nothing about

spring, the poet's season, until it comes. As yet the earth is covered with snow, and the buds think best to keep concealed a little longer in their winter retreats. It is well-for if they did but look forth, they would be frozen. I am glad that they have so much prudence about taking colds and consumptions. Would that every mortal had as much."

The handwriting of this journal, from its neatness and beauty, would scarcely seem to be the production of a child of ten years. Thus it also was with her books of poetical extracts, which show both her diligence and her advanced taste in selection. Notwithstanding this attention to her studies, she found time for other reading. She read with great rapidity. Her mother would sometimes. say, "Margaret, I fear you can scarcely have understood the book, you have finished so quickly." But she would convince her by a particular account of its contents, and by repeating from memory such passages as she most admired, that she had not carelessly perused it. She was accustomed to commit to writing her recollections of the sermons she

heard. Her mind was continually active and in search of improvement.

So anxious was she to keep up with her classes at school, that when she was indisposed, she obtained information of the daily lessons, and diligently learned them. During a period of confinement to the house, she felt it as a great obligation that Miss Draper occasionally came and heard her recitations. She thanked her with the utmost gratitude, and numbered it among the causes which called forth her affection to her instructress-an affection that was fully appreciated and returned. She cherished a deep sense of the worth of time. She had also a love of order, and used to devote particular hours to particular employments. She often wrote resolutions for the division of her time, and the regulation of her conduct. Papers like the following were sometimes found by her mother, though it was her wish rather to conceal than to display them.

"Rise at half past five. Take care of the rooms. Sew until two hours from that time. Practice on my piano one hour, then study one

hour. Work till three in the afternoon, then practice an hour, and study an hour, reserving time for exercise."

This was written during a vacation from school, and will show how desirous she was to mark by diligence that time which young people are apt to feel should be devoted entirely to recreation.

Her mind was disposed to receive and encourage religious impressions. A perusal of the memoirs of Miss Sophia Leece, a young lady distinguished for piety, and whose death was eminently happy, awakened her to great depth and tenderness of feeling at an early age. She mentions this emphatically in a letter, as "that beautiful book which her father had given her." She and her little sister would often read it in solitude, with serious meditation. Once after contemplating this example of early piety, she wrote on a leaf of the book the following short prayer.

"Oh, may my life be like hers; and when my early pilgrimage is over, may He who reigns for ever take me to his bosom."

Her love for her sister was a most tender

and absorbing sentiment. She not only delighted in being with her, and making her happy, but was anxious for her improvement. When absent from home, she thus expresses herself in letters to her parents.

"I am glad to hear that my little sister is so far advanced in her studies, and hope she will continue to improve. As soon as she can write, she must send me a letter. In the mean time, I wish my dear mother would write one for her to me. I hope she spent a pleasant birthday. Tell her she must try to be a very good girl, now that she is seven years old—one year older than she ever was before."

Margaret was in the habit of inscribing on the blank leaves of her books, with a pencil, some serious and appropriate sentiment. These were usually passages of Scripture. In some she wrote,

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth." In others, the chosen motto would be, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."

Her Polyglott Bible has written on its blank page the following selection.