Twelve o’clock.  Another year is gone.”

XVII.

THE MOTHER IN ISRAEL.

  “THE HOARY HEAD IS A CROWN OF GLORY, IF IT BE FOUND
  IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”—­Prov. xvi. 31.

There are some countenances which even in advanced life are singularly beautiful; lit up with a heavenly lustre which rivals the freshness and bloom of youth.  Such was the countenance of my venerated mother, on the eve of threescore years.  Her expressive features discovered the rich adornment of her soul.  It was the outbeaming of hidden glory within;—­the reflection of beauty caught by constant and secret communion with God;—­the bright halo of love, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.  Though in the middle period of life the subject of frequent and severe attacks of pain in the head, which, for the time, greatly enfeebled her, she had, by the blessing of God upon the use of suitable means in connection with her abstemious habits, overcome the force of disease, and recovered a degree of strength and vigour which was remarkable.  Her step was light and active; her gait erect; and as, in consequence of the removal of her children into active life, she was now, to a great extent, freed from domestic duties, she might often be seen in the streets of the city hasting upon her errands of mercy.  The care of three classes, two of which were large, together with her numerous engagements in every department of usefulness, which the church opened out to her, furnished her with continual employment, and hence, at this period, her diary is a detail rather of Christian activity than of inward experience.

“1839.—­The Covenant-service was a solemn season; yet I did not feel so much sensible comfort as firmness of purpose to consecrate myself to God; seeing how greatly it concerned my interest, and what condescension it implied, on the part of God, to accept of one so unworthy.—­Entered upon subscriptions for the new chapel.—­Poor Fanny McD. has a second time been severely burnt.  I saw her this morning; she was just able to say ‘yes,’ when asked, if she was happy.  About twelve she expired.  I am thankful I had the opportunity of commending her soul to God.  It was good to go to the house of mourning.  For ten years I have collected, or given her, the amount of her rent; and for one year provided a woman to wait upon her.—­As I was going to Fanny’s funeral, I was accosted by a young woman, who seemed to know me:  but of whom I had no recollection, until she told me that she had formerly met with me, but had wandered from God, and was now made willing to return.  The next day being my class, I invited her to come.  She did so; and said, that as she was going out the day before, she was strongly impressed to pray for a blessing, and thought within herself, ‘Why should I?  I am not going to chapel.’  She concluded that our meeting was providential.  God grant she may again get into the right way.—­A