And thus by adding to
that little, daily littles (for whoso despiseth little things shall
fall by little and little), she had fallen into such a habit as
greedily to drink off her little cup brim-full almost of wine. Where
was then that discreet old woman, and that her earnest countermanding?
Would aught avail against a secret disease, if Thy healing hand, O
Lord, watched not over us? Father, mother, and governors absent,
Thou present, who createdst, who callest, who also by those set over
us, workest something towards the salvation of our souls, what didst
Thou then, O my God? how didst Thou cure her? how heal her? didst Thou
not out of another soul bring forth a hard and a sharp taunt, like a
lancet out of Thy secret store, and with one touch remove all that
foul stuff? For a maid-servant with whom she used to go to the cellar,
falling to words (as it happens) with her little mistress, when
alone with her, taunted her with this fault, with most bitter
insult, calling her wine-bibber. With which taunt she, stung to the
quick, saw the foulness of her fault, and instantly condemned and
forsook it.
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