brought her into relations of intimate acquaintance and friendship with some of the best men of her times.  I will venture to mention two of them:  her uncle, the late Theodore Frelinghuysen, one of the noblest men our country has produced, eminent alike as statesman, scholar, and Christian philanthropist; and the sainted Thomas H. Skinner, her former pastor.  Her sick-room—­if sick-room is the proper name—­in which, during the last seventeen years, she passed so much of her time, was tinged with no sort of gloom; it seemed to have two doors, one of them opening into the world, through which her family and friends passed in and out, learning lessons of patience and love and sweet contentment:  the other opening heavenward, and ever ajar to admit the messenger of her Lord, in whatever watch he should come to summon her home.  The place was like that upper chamber facing the sunrising, and whose name was Peace, in which Bunyan’s Pilgrim was lodged on the way to the celestial city.  How many pleasant and hallowed memories lead back to that room!”

[5] Old New Bedford friends.

[6] Fritz und Maria und Ich.  Von Mrs. Prentiss.  Deutsche autorisirte Ausgabe.  Von Marie Morgenstern.  Itzchoe, 1874.

[7] She gave me the pet-name of “Fanny” because she did not like mine, and there was an old joke about “John.”—­E.  A. W.

[8] The custom related to a pious salutation, with which two friends, or even strangers, greet each other, when meeting on the mountain highways and passes in certain districts of Tyrol. "Gelobt sei Jesu Christ!" cries one; "In Ewigkeit, Amen!" answers the other (i.e., “Praised be Jesus Christ!” “For evermore, Amen!”) The following lines are from Mrs. F.’s Poem: 

  “When the poor peasant, alpenstock in hand,
      Toils up the steep,
  And finds a friend upon the dizzy height
      Amid his sheep,

  “They do not greet each other as in our
      Kind English way,
  Ask not for health, nor wish in cheerful phrase
       prosperous day;

  “Infinite thoughts alone spring up in that
      Great solitude,
  Nothing seems worthy or significant
      But heavenly good;

  “So in this reverent and sacred form
      Their souls outpour,—­
  Blessed be Jesus Christ’s most holy name! 
      ‘For evermore!’”

[9] Rev. Asa Cummings, D.D., of Portland, for many years editor of the Christian Mirror; one of the weightiest, wisest and best men of his generation.

CHAPTER IX.

STEPPING HEAVENWARD.

1869.

I.

Death of Mrs. Stearns.  Her Character.  Dangerous Illness of Prof.  Smith.  Death at the Parsonage.  Letters.  A Visit to Vassar College.  Letters.  Getting ready for General Assembly.  “Gates Ajar.”