“Forgiveness of injuries is a high duty, and patiently to bear injustice is one of the greatest Christian excellences.  God alone can give us the right temper of mind, but we must ourselves try to attain it.  Perhaps you may recollect what Peter says about suffering patiently for well-doing.  To be sure, those to whom he was preaching were suffering in a great cause; but the conquest of our faults is a great cause to us; and we may all apply his words to our own cases.  He was preaching to the Christians at Pontus, who were enduring persecution in the cause of Christ,—­’For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.’” 1 Pet. ii, 20.

Isabella, as usual, acknowledged her error, and said she would try to correct it.

“Do you know, Isabella,” said Mrs. Gardner, “that you have promised me this a great many times before?”

“Yes, mother.”

“And do you know that, by thus repeatedly breaking your promises, you add to the sins already committed?”

“Yes, mother.”

“And do you know, my child, the reason why you cannot keep your promises?”

“No, mother; I am sure I try to keep them; but before I think I get angry.”

“We are all weak and sinful creatures,” said Mrs. Gardner; “and without help from God we can do no good thing.  Even the apostle Paul found that when he would do good, evil was present with him:  so that the best persons require aid from above, to enable them to keep in the right path.  You must be convinced of your own weakness, Isabella, before you will feel the need of this assistance; and I should think your failures in your efforts to regulate your temper would be enough of it.

“This is the commencement of your new year.  On this day you begin another term of duty.  Think of all your faults; think particularly of that which now troubles you so much:  then go to God, and humbly confess to him your wickedness; seek the influence of the Holy Spirit; promise from this day to try and govern your temper, and promise it in his presence.  Ask God to help you to keep this resolution; pray that you may be gentle, kind, and forgiving; humble, and willing to be reproved; and that the beginning of your new year may be the beginning of a new life with you.

“I now leave you to think of these things, and commit you to Him who can alone make you perfect in every good work, with the earnest prayer that he may cleanse and purify your heart, and lead you into the path of life.”

Isabella turned to her mother, and large tears rolled down her cheeks as she said, “Mother, I feel the truth of what you say; I feel that I have been an ungrateful child; I have neglected my duty to you, to my father, sister, brothers, and friends; and I now see, for the first time, how greatly I have been offending God.  From him I will first seek forgiveness, through the atonement of Christ, and before him I will make a solemn resolution to try, from this day, to subdue my sinful temper.  I say, I will promise to try; I dare not promise to do it:  I fear I shall fall back many times; and perhaps before this day closes I shall have to repent of angry words and wicked feelings.”