in the battle; but on hearing her friend, Miss Nancy Spruce, exclaim, that she was hurt by a sly pinch from one of the girls, she flew on this sly pincher, as she called her, like an enraged lion on its prey: and not content merely to return the injury her friend had received, she struck with such force as felled her enemy to the ground. And now the little combatants, no longer distinguishing between friend and foe, fought, scratched, and tore, like so many furious cats, when they dart their claws at their rivals' hearts. In the midst of this confusion, appeared Mrs. Teachum, who had returned with the hope of seeing her little girls happily enjoying the repast she had provided for them: it was not however till after she had been standing near them some time, that either her presence or voice could recal them from the frenzy of their passion. But when, on a sudden, they all faced about, and saw her shame and fear of punishment instantly abated their rage. Each of the little girls shewed in her right hand, fast clenched, indubitable marks of her having mingled in the fray. One of them held a little lock of hair, torn from the head of her enemy; another grasped the shred of a cap, which, in aiming at her rival's hair, had deceived her hand; a third clenched the scrap of an apron; a fourth retained the fragment of a frock: in short, every one unfortunately held in her hand a proof of her having been engaged in the battle, while the ground was all strewed with rags and C tatters, torn from the backs of the little inveterate combatants. After standing for some time in astonishment at this disgraceful spectacle, Mrs. Teachum at length required Miss Jenny Peace, who appeared to be the only dispassionate person in the assembly, to tell her the whole truth, and to relate the cause of all this confusion. Miss Jenny felt herself obliged to obey the commands of her governess; though her good-nature led her to endeavour, as far as was consistent with truth, to mitigate rather than to increase Mrs. Teachum's displeasure. The guilty persons now began to excuse themselves as fast as tears and sobs would permit. One said, "Indeed, Madam, it was none of my fault, for I did not begin: but Miss Sukey Jennett, without any cause in the world, for I did nothing to provoke her, hit me a great slap in the face, which made my tooth bleed. The pain did indeed make me angry, and then, to be sure, I gave her a little tap; but it was only on her back, and I am sure it was the gentlest tap in the world, and could not possibly hurt her half so much as her great blow did me.” "I am surprised at you, Miss!" answered Miss Jennett: "how can you say so, when you know that you struck me first, and that yours was the great blow, and mine the gentle tap?" Such like defences they would all have made, though it was easy to perceive that every one had been equally culpable. This however is the nature of human creatures: until the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, it is never convinced of sin, but finds something still to allege even in behalf of the most atrocious crime. Blessed and happy, therefore, are they who early in life are brought to a knowledge of themselves. Mrs. Teachum soon silenced the whole party; and ordering them immediately into the house, she took the basket of apples, and followed them in. What the punishment was which Mrs. Teachum inflicted on these naughty children I did not hear; but, no doubt, it was of such a kind as they would not easily forget. The next day was Sunday; and in the evening calling them all to her, she represented unto them the exceeding sinfulness of their late conduct. She endeavoured to make them comprehend, that the action of which they had been guilty was not a mere hasty offence, into which, as some people would represent it, they had been led by accidental temptation; but that it was the natural effect of evil passions abiding in the heart, from whence, as from an evil spring, every sinful act proceeds. She then explained to them the means by which their hearts had become so corrupt and sinful. But as I have spoken on this subject before, instead of here repeating what Mrs. Teachum said upon it, I will proceed to inform you, that, when this pious woman had, as she hoped, made her pupils acquainted with the doctrines of the fall of man and of human depravity, she pointed out to them the cure of these evils. And this she did by relating what Christ had done for their salvation; assuring them, that whoever should be united by faith to this adorable Saviour, would receive into his heart the Holy Spirit of God; which Spirit, working by a secret and powerful influence, would regenerate the heart, refining and sanctifying it, till at length it would be completely restored unto the glorious image of God. Mrs. Teachum concluded this address to her young people by a solemn prayer; in which she confessed before God the sinful state of the human heart, and implored pardon for all around her, through the blood of Christ, together with those sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, without which, she professed her firm conviction, that no efforts on her part would in the smallest degree advance them in the attainment of any real virtue. After prayers, all the young ladies came humbly to ask and receive from their governess the pardon of their grievous offence; which she |