Litchfield enquirer., 1843-05-18
this dancing, and company, and dress, shall

Oh mamma, don't, of all thlngS-you shall see. indeed, Twill learn my Bible les son, and any thing that you wish. Only, mamma" added the child, after pause, ." it do we'll to-day, wont you go with me on Monday, and just look ut that trimming, and then, you know, you can do as you think best"
 We'll, child, will sec-perhaps will"
 From the above conversation, the reader may divine the general tlain of thoughts of the fair and sprightly young creature, and the general course of her history for years to come. By the time that the dancin school course was over, Isabella had formed whole circle of acquaintances, some of them iD fa- miles wholly given to show and fashion, Acquaintances of the other sex, more flatter- ing, and more dangerous, were also drawn about her, by her uncommon lovliness and vivacity. Invitation succeeded to invitation, and each time il became increasingly diff cult to draw any line ofdemarkation, or give any reason why, having been here, she 1 should not also be there. Before her course, as school girl was fairly finished, Isabella was, to all intents and purposes, fully initia- ted into all the forms of fasionable life. Nor was this all. By the daughters intimacy in certain families, the mother was also drawn into the same intimacy. True, they were, as she perceived far from religious-but they were rich and stood high in society; and Mrs. Selden, argued that it was well some. times to seek such acquaintances, or how else should Christians exert any influence over the world; and she did not notice one un- fortunate circumstance in her own case, which was that the influence was all upon one side. She very readily imbibed the fash. ionable taste and preferences of her new as- sociates, but it would have required close scrutiny 10 perceive any corresponding ac- quisiton of religious taste and preference on their part from her.
 At seventeen, Isabella was a creature, who in person and manners, might have satisfied the most fastidious eye and taste. With a quick sense of fpropriety, gentle and amia- ble disposition, and sufficient information for all the ordinary exchanges of socieiy-what more was there wanting? Yet with all this, she was creature as entirely of this life, as if religion had taught no other. After the simple forms of the nursery were dropped, { she had ceased to pray ,and when she emerged from the instructions of the Sabbath school, she had ceased to read the Bible. The fiat. teries and attention of the other sex, the pre- paration for various scenes of amusement, with attention to a few slight domestic tasks, and little light reading, filled up the whole of her time. Without any moral purpose, or high object in life, or any serious thought as to another, she was floating on, as many another lovely and gifted ono is, to an eter- nal scene.
 And there was one thing in her case which made even her religious associations peculi- arly unfortunate. Her mother always re- cognized the fact, that the favorite amusc. ments of her daughter were inceGsistent with l Q religious profession.
 For professor ofreligion to mingle in balls and other amusement 0fthe sort, she always held to be improper and unsuitable--she nev- CT allowed herself to do #, and severely crit. icised any other religious persons who did it. Of course, her daughter felt that becoming religious involved the sacrifice of the very things which she enjoyed most in life, and was inwardly and resolutely determined to put off this sacrifice to the latest possible pe- riod.
 Thus had Christian mother introduced her daughter to set of associations and amusemen,s, which she herself held to be in- consistent with serious attention to religion, and which formed strong and effectpal bar rier against any influence of religio us truth on the mind.
 At many successive times, Isabella's pas tor had endeavorcd to draw this engaging young creature within a circle of religious influences. Those of her own age in his 1 flock, had often been drawn around him, to listen with tenderness and interest 10 his in structions; and in many heart the dawn of an eternal lite began to glow. But Isabella was still unmoved. The world had been made too attractive, and heavenly things too unreal, and she could not sacrifice the one to the other. Her mother multiplied serious counsels and approximations, and often regret ted among her Christian friends that Isabel la appeared so entirely gived up to the world. In times of peculiar seriousness she attended prayer.meetings, and wept, and prayed for l the conversion of her child-but still the in- terposition on which she had grounded her hopes of that child's salvation came not. | "Your cousin, Emily Clark, has lately l joined the church," said her mother to her on one occasion, after some little serious conversation surely, my daughter, it is time for you to be thinking on these things" "CouSin Emily could become a christian much easier than can," replied Isabella. "She has nothing to give up, compared to | what have"
 "I do not understand you, my child," said her mother.
 "Why, you know she has pever been al- lowed to mingle in any sort of gaiety. She has not thought of it-l believe has never desired it. All her amusements and pursuits are such as she could go on with just as we'll after making profession of religion as be- fore, Now you know, mother, it is not so | with me- I cannot become a christian without sacrificing the very things enjoy most"
 Mrs. Selden sighed, and was silent.
  A few weeks after this, and the closed