is much less than what she really receives. All her children's
clothes are given to her, and she receives many a bag of meal and
load of coal without knowing from whence it comes. In fact, her
condition is more comfortable in every way than it was, and, in
fact, so is mine. The lesson of patience I learned from Mrs.
Partridge in my first, and in many subsequent interviews, impressed
itself deeply upon my mind, and caused me to look at and value the
good I had, rather than fret over the few occurrences that were not
altogether to my wishes. I saw, too, how the small trouble to me had
been the means of working out a great good to her. My need of a
washerwoman, about which I had been so annoyed, and the temporary
want of a seamstress which I had experienced--light things as they
should have been--led me to search about for aid, and,
providentially, to fall upon Mrs. Partridge, who needed just what it
was in my power to do for her.

Whenever I find myself falling into my old habit, which I am sorry
to say is too frequently the case, I turn my thoughts to this poor
woman, who is still toiling on under heavy life-burdens, yet with
meekness and patience, and bowing my head in shame, say--

"If _she_ is thankful for the good she has, how deep should be _my_
gratitude!"






I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT!