THE FAITHFUL HELPMATE. composed their little library. This was a double triumph of love, but also a doubly difficult task ; for although he had learned to read in his childhood, he had, from want of exercising the power, gradually lost it, and it was with labour that he regained it. Ardently devoted to village sports- tip-cat, trap - ball, bell-ringing, and dancing -it must have been a trial to John to sit, even in so well-ordered a home, listening to words which he felt were a reproach on his own conduct, or endeavouring to get through his task of reading, while the summer evenings were tempting him abroad, and the shouts and loud laughter of his comrades on the village-green were resounding in his ears. Soon he began, however, to show a wonderful alteration in his demeanour ; going to Church, and joining devoutly in the Service; but he was become superstitious, not religious, adoring, not his Maker, but the visible Church and the things within it, its altar, priest, clerk, and vestments. And after church-time, thinking he had done enough within the sacred edifice, by " singing and saying," he would be seen among the gayest and most bois- terous on the green, with bat and ball, although he was now accounted an unusually pious man, his neighbours wondering much to see such " a great and famous alteration in his life and manners." Marvellous was his self-gratulation and pride of heart when he discovered the impression made by his newly - adopted piety ; nor was it until a fierce íi 9
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