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 grief threw her into a fever, from which with difficulty ſhe recovered, but never forgave herſelf for the part ſhe had acted. How, happy are you, Mary Sparks, ſaid the lady, in compariſon of the woman I have been deſcribing.

I am indeed, Madam replied, the widow; and I am very thankful that the wiſhes which I own my fretfulneſs has cauſed me ſometimes to utter in reſpect to poor Timothy, never came to paſs; and I can truely ſay I long ago repented of them; and ſince you and my maſter, and the good vicar were ſo kind as to talk to me, and I have gone to church and read my Bible I have had a deal more patience; I have conſidered that no one is without their troubles, and inſtead of ſcolding at my huſband, uſed to pray God to turn his heart, and latterly have thanked the Almighty ſincerely for doing ſo.

All this was very right, ſaid Mrs. Andrews, and I am heartily glad to hear it. You have nothing to do now but to reconcile yourſelf to the death of your huſband, to live a good life, prepare for your own latter end, and enjoy, with gratitude, the bleſſings which God has left you.

Mary followed the lady's advice, and paſſed the remainder of her days very comfortably; for her children were dutiful and ſober, and aſſiſted her greatly in old age.