The page my unapt heart has learn’d so newly
    In the dark lessons which afflictions teach—­
  Oh, it were vain to try to utter truly
    In the cold language of unapter speech.

  That hearts when thus their very depths are burning
    Alone should know their bitterness, is well;
  But, oh, my heart more joys than aches in learning
    Another lesson, would that words could tell.

  New depths of love in measure unsuspected,
    Ties closer than I knew, were round my heart;
  And half I thank the wrench that has detected
    How thoroughly and deeply dear thou art.

  And ’twas to tell thee this that I have taken
    The tuneless lyre I thought to use no more,
  Yet once at thy returning may it waken,
    Then sleep forever, silent as before.

  And not more narrow than the dome of ether
    Beams heaven’s unbounded, earth-embracing scroll;
  Then be it thine and ours to read together
    Of Him who loves not less than rules the whole.

  And not more slow than was the bark that bore thee
    To an untried and dimly-distant land—­
  Our hearts’ affections thither flew before thee,
    And now are ready waiting on the strand.

  —­8th Month, 1845.

10th Mo. 1st.  Much struck with the suitability of the expression, “under the yoke,” truly subjugated. not merely offering this or that, but being offered “a living sacrifice.”  Oh for a thorough work like this!  This is “when the yoke Is easy and the burden light.”  I know almost nothing of it by experience, but think it is “now nearer than when I first believed.”  For a day or two I have been given to desire it earnestly.

10th Mo. 12th.  Evening.  Many thoughts about faith in Christ.  But oh for the reality, the living essence of it!  We can be Christians, not because we believe that the blood of Christ cleanses from sin, but because we know the blood of Christ to cleanse us from sin.

About this date, in the diary of daily affairs, is the following:—­

“A conviction has come upon me that, in all respects, now is the time to reform, if ever, the course I am now pursuing.  Religion, the main thing, may it ever more be the main object; and then, as to moral, social, and other duty, oh, be my whole course reformed. ...  From this time forth may I nightly ask myself these five questions. 1.  Has my employment and economy of time been right? 2.  Has my aim been duty—­not pleasure? 3.  Have I been quiet and submissive? 4.  Have I looked on the things of others as my own? 5.  Have propensities or sentiments ruled?  I wish to give an answer, daily, to each; and now say for yesterday. 1.  Some wasted time before dinner. 2.  Pretty clear, 3.  No temptation. 4.  Pretty well. 5.  Pretty [well] except at meals.”

In this concise and simple manner are these questions answered, almost daily, throughout the year, until, “finding that daily records of employment are of little use, and that the intellectual and spiritual could not well be longer separated,” she discontinued the practice, and recorded in the same book “any thing in either line that seemed fit to reserve from oblivion.”