come it, but that you

doing so continually.

4. To. lay it open before God; to tell Him how very sorely it distresses you: that you cannot overhate yourself for it. Go on Say-" Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."s But if not, then ask Him to teach you to say, "Thy will be done." Then take it as His will, and that will change the nature of the trial: bear it submissively, until He sees fit to remove it from you.

There may be many cases in which the nurse that has been hired may be really very unsuitable, therefore it is better to speak to some friend about it and if it seems to them in the same light as to yourself, it is best to make a change as soon as possible.

We may receive the most helpful discipline to ourselves from the various characters of our attendants, if we resolve to do so; otherwise they will but fret us, and stir up the evil which is in us. We need not seek out those which will try us. On the contrary, it is far better for them and for us, that we should choose those who seem likely to suit us. In every character we shall find something not quite according to our liking; let us take this as wholesome discipline, and use it as such. Are you very impatient and impetuous by nature? Your attendant may be very valuable to you, and yet she may be a continual chastisement to you by reason of her slowness. It is very discouraging to her, and bad for you, that you should be constantly chiding

3 Matt. xxvi. 39. 42.

her for it, or trying to hurry her. Take it as a means of correcting the evil that is in you, and it will surely prove so: few things can so constantly remind you of your besetting sin, and warn you to correct it. Especially watch over your tone and manner, for your greatest danger is with your attendants. We are apt to give sad license to ourselves with servants and nurses; not merely forgetting how much we must try them and pain them, but also what an example we are setting to them, and how we are weakening, if not destroying, the influence that we might have, and ought to have, over them. What if they are slow, or obtuse, or wayward, or misunderstand us, or seem indifferent, or are forgetful, or selfish-not willing to be put out of their own ways? Let us ask ourselves, are we never so too? Have we never found any of the faults in ourselves that we complain of in them? Have we tried to the utmost, by example, and kindness, and gentle rebuke, and patience, and forbearance, to overcome their faults in them? Do we never try their tempers, and call out the evil which is in them? Have we asked God to teach us how to help them, and to bear with them, and to lead them aright? Do we ask this day by day, and whenever we come in contact with them? Many persons will speak sharply or impatiently to an attendant, who would not do so to an equal. Perhaps there is no check more wholesome than watching one's words and ways to servants, for they are with us when no one else is, and at the times

we are least on our guard; when only His eye seeth, and His ear heareth, who will call us to account for these, as well as all "things done in the body." "9 You will also be careful not to burden your attendant unnecessarily; not to ring your bell with unreasonable frequency, or when you can do without the thing you wish for: perhaps it is something which can wait until she next comes up-stairs. You will be careful never to disturb her rest at night unnecessarily, to consider her health and comfort; to allow her proper exercise in the open air, which those who attend closely on the sick especially need. If she has been up in the night, you will take care that she has rest in the day. You will always consider her time of meals, and not let it be needlessly interrupted. You will always try to show to her that you are satisfied and grateful to her—for those who wait on the sick need a great deal of patience. If she does not please you, it is best occasionally to speak decidedly, but very kindly to her; and not to be constantly making little complaints, and finding fault with each thing; for that is so discouraging, that you cannot expect her to do right. You will resolve also to resist all desires, which, though perhaps not wrong in themselves, may be very inconvenient cr expensive to your friends, but which they may not like to deny you. Remember, "Deny thyself; take up the Cross," are your Master's words to you.

D°

VI

Giving Trouble

O not distress yourself by thinking that you "merely give trouble." How often sick people say so! How much oftener they think so! and the thought is indeed a distressing one. It is a mercy if it proceeds no further; if it does not degenerate into thinking that our friends think the thoughts that we have had in our own minds—that they think us troublesome-that they are growing weary of us. These thoughts offer themselves to every sick person. It is right that you should constantly endeavour to bear in mind how great the trial is to those around. The more tenderly they love you, the greater it must be. Besides the

sorrow that your sickness causes to your friends, there is a peculiar sense of depression which pervades a household during sickness, especially if it be a short and dangerous one. Generally speaking, the habits of the family are broken in upon, and in some degree changed; one is missed from the accustomed place in the circle, and from all family meetings. When any of the family have been out of doors, still to find sickness meeting them on their return, gives a sadness to them; they can never take breath from it, as it were, for it is pressing on them still. Let not the thought of this depress you, but seek that it may make you

L

more loving, and gentle, and considerate, and thankful to all those about you; and let it live during the rest of your life in your grateful remembrance.

There are many ways in which you may avoid giving trouble, if you are really earnestly determined to do so, and are not merely indulging in morbid thoughts and words. You may be constantly avoiding it, without any appearance of doing so.

You will of course be careful, as much as possible, to let your hours and habits fall in with those around: taking your meals at the same time, when it is possible; making your free and leisure times those which will best suit other people. As little as possible shutting out the family from your room, or making a favour of receiving them, or showing that you feel them to be in the way. They come to you in kindness-receive them kindly and cheerfully.

Perhaps it may help you, when the fear of giving trouble distresses you, clearly to set these things before your mind:

1. Is it really a dislike of giving trouble, unmixed with other feelings? Is there no pride in it? Is there no feeling of disliking to receive all, and to give nothing? Is there no dislike of dependence, and striving for independence?

2. The message is to your friends as well as to yourself. You must not fear lest you should seem the messenger of evil tidings. And even supposing that they look upon it as an intrusion on