To another who was mourning the death of a dear child, she writes:  “My whole heart goes out in unspeakable yearnings for you; not, dearest, that you may be delivered from your present trials; not only that you may be blessed with returning health, but that you may find something better, holier, stronger than philosophy to sustain you.  Philosophy may enable us to endure; this is its highest mission; it cannot give the peace of God which passeth all understanding.  This is what I covet for you.  And how can you doubt of immortality when you look on your beloved’s face?  Can you believe that the soul which looked out of those eyes can be quenched in endless night?  No; never!  As soon doubt existence itself.  It is this—­these central truths, the existence and the love of God, and the immortality of the soul, which rob death of its terrors and shed upon it the blessed light of a hope which triumphs over death itself.  Oh that you could make Christ your friend!  He is so near and dear to me that more than ever does he seem to be my link to the Father and to the life everlasting.”

As she complained only of weakness, Sarah’s friends hoped that, when the cool weather came on, she would regain her strength and be as well as usual.  But though she continued to move about the house, trying to make herself useful, there was very little perceptible change in her condition as the autumn passed and winter came on.  Thus she continued until the 12th of December, when she took a violent cold.  She was in the habit of airing her bed every night just before retiring, turning back the cover, and opening wide her window.  On that day it had rained, and the air was very damp, but she had her bed and window opened as usual, insisting that Florence Nightingale asserted that damp air never hurt anyone.  That night she coughed a great deal, but in answer to Angelina’s expressions of anxiety, said she felt no worse than usual.  But though she still went down to her meals, it was evident that she was weaker than she had been.  On Sunday, the 14th, company coming to tea, she preferred to remain in her room.  She never went down again.  Her breathing was much oppressed on Monday and her cough worse, but it was not until Tuesday evening, after having passed a distressing day, that she would consent to have a physician called.  Everything was done for her that could be thought of, and, as she grew worse, two other physicians were sent for.  But all in vain:  it was evident that the summons to “come up higher” had reached her yearning soul, and that a bright New Year was dawning for her in that unseen world which she was so well prepared to enter.

She lingered, suffering at times great agony from suffocation, until the afternoon of the 23d, when she was seized with the most severe paroxysm she had yet had.  Her family gathered about her bed, relieved her as far as it was possible, and saw her sink exhausted into an unconscious state, from which, two hours later, she crossed the threshold of Eternity.  Her “precious Nina” bent over her, caught the last breath, and exclaimed:  “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”