“Christians do not sufficiently assist one another in their spiritual walk.  They are not enough in the habit of conversing familiarly and affectionately on the state of each others’ souls, and kindly encouraging each other to persevere and get near to heaven.  One degree of grace attained in this world, is worth more than every earthly enjoyment.”

“I ought to have mentioned that I found much of the true missionary spirit existing in New York.

“I began this letter some days ago, but a violent cold has prevented my finishing it.  I am very thankful that I am no farther north than Baltimore, for I feel confident the cold would soon destroy me.  I have not been out of the house since I arrived, and hardly out of my chamber.  My health is certainly better than when I left Boston, though I have a heavy cold and some cough.

“What can be done to excite a missionary spirit in this country?  I dare not engage in the subject till I am better.  It would take up my whole soul, and retard my recovery.  A little while, and we are in eternity; before we find ourselves there, let us do much for Christ.”

CHAPTER XIV.

FURTHER EXTRACTS FROM HER LETTERS.—­HER ILLNESS.—­HER HISTORY OF THE BURMAN MISSION.—­HER DEPARTURE FROM AMERICA WITH MR. AND MRS. WADE.

In a letter to a friend at Waterville, Mrs. Judson gives a full account of the reasons that determined her to pass the winter at the south.  She says:  “I had never fully counted the cost of a visit to my native country and beloved relatives.  I did not expect that a scene which I had anticipated as so joyous, was destined to give my health and constitution a shock which would require months to repair.

“During my passage from England my health was most perfect, not the least symptom of my original disorder remained.  But from the day of my arrival, the idea that I was once more on American ground banished all peace and quiet from my mind, and for the first four days and nights I never closed my eyes to sleep!  This circumstance, together with dwelling on the anticipated meeting with my friends, occasioned the most alarming apprehensions.

“I reached my father’s about a fortnight after my arrival in the country—­and had not then been able to procure a single night’s sleep.  The scene which ensued brought my feelings to a crisis, nature was quite exhausted, and I began to fear would sink.  To be concise, my health began to decline in a most alarming manner, and the pain in my side and cough returned.  I was kept in a state of constant excitement by daily meeting my old friends and acquaintances; and during the whole six weeks of my residence at my father’s, I had not one night’s quiet rest.  I felt the cold most severely, and found, as that increased, my cough increased.”