It was a house of sadness, but of composure,—­a house of Christian sorrow!  Trouble had entered it; but its inmates felt that the trouble came from a Father’s hand, and that they should have no more than He who knew them best, and loved them best, saw was for their good.  They felt their Saviour’s presence, and rested upon his words, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

But this sickness was not unto death:  God raised Isabella from her bed of pain to glorify him by the holy obedience of her life.  To the eye of man there was much yet to be done; but her heart was humbled, and her pride subdued; and He who knew all her weakness, saw that she would persevere, and that his chastisement had answered the purpose for which it had been sent.

As Isabella began to recover, the confinement to her room, and her extreme weakness, were rather more difficult to bear than her sickness.  She was, however, mild and very thoughtful, and she would sit sometimes for an hour in the easy chair, with her face covered with her hands.

One evening she asked her mother if she had seen her show a wrong spirit during the day.

“I have not,” said Mrs. Gardner.

“I am glad of it,” said Isabella:  “I have been trying to be faithful to myself, and I rejoice that one day has passed at the close of which my mother can give me a smile of approbation.  I have been looking back upon this long sickness, and I fear I have not improved as I ought:  I must begin in earnest now, relying upon divine assistance.”

It was a happy morning in Mr. Gardner’s family when Isabella once more took her usual seat at the breakfast table.  She was pale and thin:  the glow of health had left her cheeks; but there was an expression there that showed the better health of the soul.  The grateful child joined the family group at breakfast with a prayer that she might never again disturb its harmony.

But little time had passed before her school companions found that she was “renewed in the spirit of her mind.”  They found her ready to forgive those who injured her, willing to oblige others, and to be pleased herself.  They soon began to love her much; for her bright, active mind, made her a delightful companion; and it was not long before Isabella Gardner was one of the most pleasing and best-esteemed girls in school.

The beautiful summer had passed, and the solemn autumn.  The green fields had given their rich crops to the farmers, making glad their hearts with an abundance of good things.  In short, winter had come, and was nearly gone.

At the close of a cold day the family of Mr. Gardner were sitting by their comfortable fire.  “I have been thinking,” said little George, as he looked into the bright fire, “how good sister Isabella has grown lately.  She has not spoken a cross word to me since I can remember; and cousin Emily Gray says she would rather come to see her than anybody, now that she is so kind and obliging.”