so that she still continued for some time to discharge her accustomed duties in the church, until increasing weakness compelled her to relinquish, one by one, her visiting district for the Benevolent Society; her collecting books for various Institutions; the Visitation of the school; the Treasurership of the Poor Clothing Society; the Presidency of the Sewing meeting; and last, and to her the most painful of all—­her Class; for like her Lord, having loved her own, which were in the world, she loved them to the end.  This unavoidable cessation from her “more abundant” labours, and the life of passive suffering she was now called to endure, perhaps more than anything else, was sometimes a source of painful reflection, and became an occasion of powerful temptation.  She could not, however, be inactive; much of her time passed in reading and prayer.  Her pen and her knitting-needle were in constant requisition, and a fine day, or a little renewal of strength, often induced her, at the peril of her own health, to visit an unconverted neighbour, or an afflicted friend.  The sudden removal of her daughter was acutely felt, and elicited several efforts of her muse, two of which are here given.

  “1857.—­Gone! gone! gone!  The empty chair I see,
          But ah! no smile, as once, alights on me. 
          In what bright region doth thy spirit rest? 
          Since all are living, thou art surely blest. 
          I ask no more, the veil will soon remove,
          And I shall come to dwell with thee above.

“Just before I awoke, I dreamed I was reading; and it was written, ’He will receive thee to Himself, and give unto thee a kingdom.’  It was repeated thrice.”

  LONE MUSING.

  Doth her spirit hover near! 
    Doth she ever watch o’er me? 
  Am I still to her as dear
    As when in flesh she cared for me? 
  If she now, with wistful eyes,
    Strives, unseen, to draw me higher;
  Let me wisdom doubly prize,
    More and more to heaven aspire. 
  Lo! the Spirit and the Bride
    Lovingly invite me on,—­
  Seek my wandering heart to guide
    To the Father, through the Son. 
  I will answer to the call;
    Thou my portion, I Thy child;
  Here in self-abasement fall,
    Trusting in Thy mercy mild.

“I am glad to hear that in Haxby the Lord has been giving ’showers of blessing.’  Mr. McOwan has given twenty-nine notes on trial.  I am the Lord’s prisoner; looking up, yet I feel my lonely position.—­It was suggested, ‘I am thy salvation.’  I paused and asked, from what?  From the world, sin, self, and thy deadly foes.  ‘I am thy salvation,’ from all thy inward evils; pride, unbelief, love of the creature, from every thing contrary to love.  This salvation is all mine, through Christ, by faith.—­Rose a little after six; very feeble; nearly read through the book of Ezra, and saw how God helps the good in times of difficulty.  I feel depressed:  Lord,