Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/52

 discourse, but suppose I did not seem satisfied, for she asked me if I was thinking of what she had been saying to me? "Yes, ma'am," said I, "but"—"But what?" said she. It was in vain she asked; I could not express myself—for I could not point out where the error lay, though I felt that the conduct she recommended was somewhat opposite to that uprightness and sincerity which my mother had so strictly enforced. I resolved, however, to exert myself to gain Mrs Jackson's good will, by diligence and attention; and thought, in spite of all the housekeeper said, that she must love me the better for being grateful to whoever was kind to me.

As our progress in every thing depends upon our diligence, and as even in childhood we soon learn what we resolve to learn, Mrs Jackson had little trouble in the task of teaching me. I soon worked at my needle as well as was possible for a child of my age; and she did not spare