Jesus" I often called her "my stand-by." Her work was done, and well done. O that I may also finish my work, so that it may bring at last upon me the plaudit which, no doubt, will be given to dear Hannah Murray, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." GENESIS, XXviii., 20-22. "O God of Bethel! by whose hand Thy people still are fed; Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led; "Our vows, our prayers, we now present, Before Thy throne of grace; Of their succeeding race. "Through each perplexing scene of life 66 And raiment fit provide. "O spread Thy covering wings around And at our Father's loved abode Our soul's arrive in peace. "Such blessings from Thy gracious hand And Thou shalt be our chosen God, The above my dear husband, my dear mother, and the worthy Dr. Morison, now a glorified trio, I united with in singing the evening previous to Morison's sailing for China. This hymn we also sung at Dingwall, at parting with my dear mother and sisters-in law, in the year 1801. Only two of the latter company remain on earth, Miss Bethune and myself, and only one (the writer) is left of the former. Oh! of how many companies who joined in praises and prayers am I the only one left! Well, my time will come. I too shall share their joys "when grace has well refined my heart." "Cheered by this hope, with patient mind, I'll wait Heaven's high decree; Till the appointed period come When death shall set me free." Amen. The last verses my beloved husband wrote: "What joy that promised grace imparts— I'll write my laws within their hearts; "I loathe my heart in native guile, Would cherish that would make me vile; And mould-O mould me to Thy love. 'I never can enjoy sweet peace Till, every Grace holds her sole triumphant reign. "Oh how I long to feel the shower, Sweet signal of Thy Spirit's power; "My heart is panting with desire "Low in the dust, abased in shame, Without a single lawful claim, I mourn my guilt, yet loudly plead, "Now be Thy hour of mercy, Lord; My hope rests wholly in Thy Word. Thy Word of promise swelling high, Sabbath, September 22, 1839. This day I have returned to my own little sanctuary, and again heard a most faithful discourse from my young pastor, Mr. Mines, from the third verse of the second chapter of Hebrews. Unexpectedly he gave notice "that a benevolent individual of the congregation proposed taking an infant class on the Sabbath, at her own house, of children between three and seven or eight." Thus I am committed, and I cheerfully enter on the work, trusting that He who inspired the wish may strengthen me, and give grace to fulfill my duty in it. O Thou Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, look upon the lambs who shall assemble under the roof of Thine aged handmaid to receive instruction on Thy holy day. Open the eyes of their understanding to the Scriptures they will be taught, and fulfill Thy gracious promise by them, that "out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou wilt perfect praise." O permit me to labor for Thee as long as Thou continuest me on earth. May my last days be my best days, my most useful days; and let me live and die for the cause of that blessed Master whose goodness and mercy have followed me all my life, and who has promised that I shall dwell in his house forever. My prayer is before Thee, O my God; hear Thou it, and answer it for the Redeemer's sake. Amen. Sabbath, September 29, 1839. This day I was privileged to begin my infant Sabbath class. I had only three children-Alexander Husted, Julia Dales Mines, and John Flavel Mines, the children of my pastor. O Lord, bless the little instruction given; lay richly to my hand what I shall teach these lambs; and may they, if spared to maturity, teach others, when the head of Thy handmaid is laid in the dust. Give me bodily strength to continue the work, if it be Thy holy will; and let me die in the harness, and the praise shall be Thine. Amen. Thursday, November 29, 1839-Thanksgiving Day. This day I have cause of mourning as well as rejoicing. On the one hand, God has permitted me to see the completion of the Orphan Asylum, and to see the chapel opened for religious worship on Tuesday, the 19th instant. Rev. Mr. Richmond read the Episcopal morning service. My son preached from 1 Samuel, ii., 19; a hymn of his composing was sung. Rev. Mr. Van Aken, of Bloomingdale Church, made the long prayer, and the Rev. Dr. Bangs, of the Methodist, pronounced the benediction. All went off well. A very respectable audience attended, and the chapel was more than full. All the children-upward of one hundred and seventy-attended, from the infant in arms; not one sick in the house. Many congratulated me, and asked me if I was not very happy. My answer to all was, "Yes, brimful of happiness." Oh who am I, and what is all my father's house, that the Lord should honor me as he has done? Not one good thing that I desired for this favorite institution has He denied me. For a small moment He hid, as it were, His face; but He has graciously removed the cloud, and it is a time of great prosperity with us. But oh how different are my feelings this day from that day when I said I was brimful of happiness; now I am brimful of sorrow. The very best friend I I had, except my own family, now lies a corpse. went through so much fatigue arranging for the opening of the chapel, and some other society business, that I was completely exhausted in body and mind. My dear friend, Mr. Ward, has for some time been failing in health, and I promised myself much pleasure in spending a good deal of time with him this winter, but on Monday I received a note from Mrs. Francis saying that he was dangerously ill, and yesterday, at half past 11 o'clock, his happy spirit winged its way to the mansions prepared for him by his beloved Master, whom he so faithfully served during the last nine or ten years. The Lord Jesus, when |
