Page:Young cottager, or, An account of Jane Seymour, the daughter of ignorant and irreligiuos parents.pdf/4

 dent, I knew nothing of her mind. I had comparatively overlooked her. I have often been very sorry for it since.

I was young myself in the ministry, and younger in Christian experience.

I was then quite a learner, and had much to learn. And what am I now?—A learner still, and if I had learned any thing, it is this, That I have every day more and more yet to learn.

Of this I am certain, that my young scholar soon became my teacher. I first saw what true religion could accomplish in witnessing her experience of it. The Lord once called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of his disciples,' as an emblem and illustration of his doctrine. But the Lord did more in the case of little Jane. He not only called, as a child to show, by a similitude, what conversion means but he also called her by his grace to be a vesse of mercy, and a living witness of that Almighty power and love by which her own heart was converted to God.

It was about fifteen months from the first period of her attendance on my Saturday school, whe I missed her customary place. Two or thre weeks had passed without my making any particular inquiry respecting her. I was at length informed that she was not well. However, apprehending no peculiar cause for alarm, near two months passed without mention of her name being made.

At length a poor old woman in the village whose religious disposition I had good hopes, can and said to me, sir, have you not missed Ja Sat your house on Saturday afternoon