And now of late, she heard with much surprise,
Novels there were that made a compromise
Betwixt amusement and religion: these
Might charm the worldly, whom the stories please,
And please the serious, whom the sense would charm, 370
And thus, indulging, be secured from harm—
A happy thought, when from the foe we take
His arms, and use them for religion’s sake.
Her Bible she perused by day, by night;
It was her task—she said ’twas her delight;