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152 religious expression, that should indicate preparation in the mind of the departed.

"Surely," said she, "it is never too late to repent—to beg forgiveness."

"No, Miss;" replied John, who seemed to have religious notions of his own—"especially when there has been such a short account as this poor child had; but the work must be all between the creature and the Creator, and for my part, I don't place much dependance on what people say on a death-bed. I have lived a long life, Miss Jane, and many a one have I seen, and heard too, when sickness and distress were heavy upon them, and death staring them in the face, and they could not sin any more—they would seem to repent, and talk as beautiful as any saint; but if the Lord took his hand from them, and they got well again, they went right back into the old track. No, Miss Jane, it is the life—it is the life, we must look to. This child," he added, going to the bed, and laying his brown and shrivelled hand upon her fair young brow, now 'chill and changeless,' "this child was but sixteen, she told me so. The Lord only knows what temptations she has had; He it is, Miss Jane, that has put that in our hearts that makes us feel sorry for her now; and can you think that He is less pitiful than we are? I think she will be beaten with few stripes; but," he concluded solemnly, covering his face with his hands,—"we are poor ignorant creatures; it is all a mystery after this world; we know nothing about it."