Page:The Cottagers of Glenburnie - Hamilton (1808).djvu/95

 I learned a great deal from the comments of this good lady, upon what I read to her; and as all her instructions were given with a view to strengthen me in the performance of duty, I have reason to be thankful for such an opportunity of improvement. During the five years that she lived, I continued to be her reader every winter; for it was only in winter that she was ever left alone by my lady, who, when in the country, lived a very domestic life. She had all this time but one drawback on her happiness—the want of children; but at length this blessing also was granted; and in the sixth year of her marriage, she produced a daughter. The joy of this event was clouded by the death of her good aunt, who expired after a short illness, before Lady Harriot was six weeks old. Her death was the death of the righteous, full of faith, and hope, and joy. She saw that it would be a loss to my lady, whose only fault was an extreme indolence of