It must be that you sit too much, and allow the cares of the schoolroom to worry you.

You must learn to take things easy, and to be more active and cheerful; you must take exercise whenever you can get it, and leave the most tiresome duties to me: they will only serve to exercise my patience, and, perhaps, try my temper a little.' So said my mother, as we sat at work one morning during the Easter holidays.

I assured her that my employments were not at all oppressive; that I was well; or, if there was anything amiss, it would be gone as soon as the trying months of spring were over: when summer came I should be as strong and hearty as she could wish to see me: but inwardly her observation startled me.

I knew my strength was declining, my appetite had failed, and I was grown listless and desponding;--and if, indeed, he could never care for me, and I could never see him more--if I was forbidden to minister to his happiness--forbidden, for ever, to taste the joys of love, to bless, and to be blessed--then, life must be a burden, and if my heavenly Father would call me away, I should be glad to rest.
But it would not do to die and leave my mother.

Selfish, unworthy daughter, to forget her for a moment! Was not her happiness committed in a great measure to my charge ?--and the welfare of our young pupils too?
Should I shrink from the work that God had set before me, because it was not fitted to my taste?
Did not He know best what I should do, and where I ought to labour ?--and should I long to quit His service before I had finished my task, and expect to enter into His rest without having laboured to earn it?
'No; by His help I will arise and address myself diligently to my appointed duty.