Page:Sarah Sheppard - L. E. L.pdf/96

 heart died within me to think what account I should render of the talents committed to my charge. But God tempers justice with mercy: a new life rose up within me. I said, ‘Surely the Saviour of the world will be mine also!’ I repented me of my worldly delusions, and strove to fix my thoughts above. Had I earlier made religion the guide of my way, I might now be fulfilling the duties I have neglected, and looking forward in patience of faith. But it is too late. I am perishing as a leaf to which spring has denied her life.***I am one-and-twenty to morrow. Would, Oh God! my years had been so spent as to be a worthier offering! But Thy fear is the beginning of wisdom; and in that fear is my trust, that a broken and contrite spirit Thou wilt not despise!" It seems almost an injustice to L. E. L. to attempt, by detached extracts, necessarily few and brief, to give an idea of the rich variety of her talents as displayed in her prose works. From each, however, as we proceed, after a general analysis, we will give a passage or two, by way of commending the volumes themselves to the attention of those who may be yet unacquainted with some of the most thoughtful and beautiful works in our language.