of a gentleman, who has been obliged to leave the country, in consequence of his own extravagance, and imprudence.  His beautiful mansion is sinking in ruins; and loathsome reptiles are its only occupants.  Such is earthly grandeur; and such the man, that makes not God his refuge.  The grounds are delightful; but for want of proper cultivation, begin to show evident marks of the curse:—­thorns and thistles springing up in abundance.  Molly accompanied me back with the grey pony; and, as she walked by my side, I warned her to flee from the wrath to come.—­Walked to Pannal; here I found need of watchfulness, and courage; all—­in nature’s night; blessed with earthly good; but destitute of heavenly peace.  I prayed with the family each evening; and spoke to each member, with the exception of Mr. ——­, on the need of preparation for another world; but my efforts were feeble.  My happiest hours have been spent in retirement, and solitary walks; one of which, was extremely delightful.  The picturesqueness of the scenery, combined with smiling heavens, conspired to raise my mind to Him, whose forming hand has adorned all nature, and has raised my soul from death to life.  The scene vividly called to remembrance my beloved cousin Ann; with whom on this very spot, I had passed some of the happiest moments of my life.  I felt what I cannot put into words.  On my return to York, I found Eliza, bathing her face after the application of leeches; and Mary, putting John to bed, in the measles.  Such is life!  It is the Lord, and to His will, I would patiently submit.”

XI.

A DYING SCENE.

  “PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS
  SAINTS.”—­Psalm cxvi. 15.

How solemn, and instructive, is the scene of death!  What a satire upon the pride, pomp, and vanity of the world! and yet, when relieved by the cheering experience of divine truth, what a blessed confirmation of all that the Bible tells us!  The utterances of the dying Saint, come home to our hearts with peculiar force.  It is as if the spirit of the departing, having reached the boundary of time, and looking forth on the unclouded scene beyond, shouted back to its companions yet enveloped with the mists and gloom of earth:  “It is all true, you have only to follow on a little further, and the glorious prospect will burst upon you.”  Mrs. Lyth seems to have carefully treasured the last words of those, who, within the circle of her acquaintance, died in the Lord; and in the case of particular friends, these notices sometimes extend to several pages:  as if she delighted to linger on the borders of another world, and to catch a momentary glimpse of its happiness, and the distant sound of the harpers, harping with their harps.  An example occurs in the course of the following extracts.