Page:Memoir of Elizabeth Jones, A Little Indian Girl (1838).djvu/26

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MEMOIR OF

not love the wicked things they do, only he loves them because he made them." Mr. S. told me she carried on quite a little argument, which far surpassed her years, which I cannot now remember. The testimony of her school-mistress is, that she was far beyond the generality of children, and her capacity for improvement equal to one who had seen twice her number of years.

Thus lived this happy and contented little girl; not only good herself, but endeavouring to make all around her happy and good also. I often thought, while she was with us, I had read of such children, but never knew such an one.

On the Sunday evening previous to giving up the charge of this dear Elizabeth, our hearts felt exceedingly sorrowful at the thought. It was one of those trials which only duty compelled us to acquiesce in; and our feelings were the more excited by her simple expressions of affection, and her telling me she hoped I should soon come back again. O how mysterious, how unexpected at times are the ways of Providence! but often most merciful when most severe. This should reconcile us to the otherwise depressing recollection, that on our return to the little garden, in the midst of the distant wilderness, we shall miss one of its fairest plants, one that we had fondly hoped would, under the genial influence of the Gospel, have