If my types were always characteristic of their object, and I sought to do justice to Anne, I might look among the cedars of Lebanon, or the palm-tree of the east for some fitting emblem of her elevated mind, destined to be changed hereafter into the whithersoever they could reach. Dear, likeness of Christ's glorious body and dear Anne S.! Short indeed was our made a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem permitted intercourse here; but it is -I am yet to learn that such a one is a soothing to my inmost spirit to know, that thing of earth whereon I must not set my as fervently as two poor creatures of dust affections: if words are to be taken in so could love, so fervently did we, by the literal a sense, as to bar all reference to grace of God, love one another. the spirit of their meaning-if all "things on the earth" are to be excluded from our affections, we must take heed lest we love our bibles too well, or value too highly those means of grace which necessarily consist of visible, audible, and tangible her superior attainments, and overshathings. The fact is that some individuals are of a cool temperament, their feelings not so easily drawn out, nor their sympathies so readily awakened as those of a different class. These are apt unconsciously to form a standard by their private interpretation of scripture; and to make the measure of their individual experience the rule for judging others. They consider as extravagant, fanciful, and enthusiastic, the fervency of attachment of which they are not themselves capable: and often check or at least ruffle, the flow of those kindly affections which form the richest sweetness of, perhaps a sea of bitters, in the lot of their more ardent friends. When I meet with these sage reprovers, I let them say what they please and make little reply, if any; for I well know that it would be an idle task to argue with a blind man on the comparative beauty of colours. They cannot make me angry; because when they tax me with a wilful excess, I recognize in them an unvoluntary defect, beyond my power to supply. Therefore I leave them to take the way that pleases them, and with renewed enjoyment pursue my own. Not one of these was my beloved Anne S. Never did the warm current of devoted affection more freely bound through the veins of an Irish heart than in hers. Throughout a lot of trial, such as few are called on to encounter, she was upheld by such experimental enjoyment of her Redeemer's love to her his chosen child, that, loving her brethren as she knew the Lord loved her, according to his own gracious commandment, her sanctified affections went forth like the sunbeams, glowing more ardently nearest the centre of their home, but warming and brightening dowing guardianship of those who clustered around her. But lowliness was the prevailing trait in my gifted friend: and often as I traced the passionate love of her warm heart for the land of her birth, I almost regretted that the shamrock was already dedicated to my precious dumb boy; and in my thought I likened her to another and more intrinsically valuable member of the same family. My young and happy days were passed much in the fields; and there I had, and still have, an especial favourite among the flowers that gem the grass. Though little esteemed, because little marked, the blossom of the White Clover may vie in beauty and in fragrance with many a proud tenant of our cultivated gardens. Often have I stooped to gather the elegant globe, as it rose from its cluster of green trefoil, and after inhaling the perfume of its united cups, I have drawn them one by one, from their stalk, to suck the abundant store of honey concealed in each recess. I could not point out an individual among the flowers combining so much of elegance and usefulness-so pleasant to the eye of taste, so prized by the hand that only seeks for profit: and withal so clad in lowliness, so quietly bending beneath the foot of pride, so calmly lifting up again its gentle head in undefiled simplicity to heaven. And in default of genuine shamrocks, I have seen the clover, as a trefoil, pressed to the lips of this dear exile of Erin, while every feature bespoke the deep and varying emotions recalled by that action. An exile she was-a willing though sorrowing exile; and I cannot retrace the briefest outline of her touching story without a struggle of feelings in which indignation would fain predominate. Who does not know how great have been the trials of Ireland's persecuted clergy? Few indeed know what they have been; but that they have been great, very great and bitter, none among us are ignorant. Anne was the eldest of a motherless family, every heart twining round the surviving parent with all the fondness of intense filial attachment-with all the reverence due to a devoted minister of the gospel of Christ. Their early years were those of prosperity in worldly things: and accomplishments of no common order were added to what the God of nature had given-what the God of grace had renewed and sanctified. In the fond father, as in a centre, all their earthly affections met: and his delight it was to point them to a higher aim. Happy, most happy for them, that so he did-it is now their richest solace under reiterated bereavements. I may not enter too fully into the hallowed precincts of such a home as theirs: It must suffice to say that the general distress fell heavily upon it but more in anticipation than in the immediate presence. With the foresight and self-devotion peculiar to her character, Anne marked the thickening cloud; she called her sisters around her; and together, in prayer, they decided on a plan which was not made known to their father until the very eve of its execution. It was, that all, save one in extremely delicate health, and another yet as a child among them, should become self-exiled from their pleasant home together; and by diligently using, for a time, the gifts acquired under very different circumstances, they should contribute to sustain in comparative comfort the diminished circle thus left around the domestic hearth. "Little," said Anne to me, "little did my darling father suspect the reason of my diligent study of botany; or, when he saw me delighted at the award of the medal won by my proficiency, that my joy arose from knowing that it added a feather in the scale of those poor accomplishments which were to augment my salary-devoted to his future comforts!" Under circumstances most touching, the event took place; and these heroic daughters together tore themselves from the home where they hoped to re-assemble in more prosperous days. I cannot dwell upon the scene; I saw it not, save in her vivid description; but I felt it to my heart's core. Anne's destination was England. Hither she came, and with earnest assiduity applied herself to the task of tuition. Her uncommon acquirements insured a handsome salary, and joyously did she calcu late on the service it would render to her father-how fondly she loved that father cannot be conceived even by this act of self-surrender-how agonizing was her trial, is known alone to Him, who in mysterious wisdom sent a stroke so sudden, that all the frantic haste that poor Anne could make to her distant home availed not to show her more than the mound that covered her father's new made grave. The blow upon her tender heart was mortal. The struggles of her renewed spirit to sustain the load were wonderful: but they availed not. Back she returned to her post; for though the beloved parent was gone, there were others now cast especially on her to provide for. It was soon after her return that, finding I was in her vicinity, and doing justice to the love which I bear her dear country, she left her card at my door, inscribed with her name, and the brief addition, "an Irishwoman." We soon met; and I could not but marvel at the strength of the mutual affection that seemed, even from the first moment, to unite us. To me she was a treasure: her simple, sweet, undeviating trust in the Lord Jesus, her quiet submission under the heavy afflicitions laid on her, the clear, realizing view which she took of spiritual things, and her habitual reference to the Lord's will in even the most minute matters-all rendered her a continual study to me, for my own humiliation and profit. In the excess of her love for dear Ireland I could fully sympathize: and in the cherished remembrance of scenes gone by, and loved ones lost, I found one who could indeed most deeply sympathize with me. The inexhaustible stores of her mind, her fine taste, accurate judgment, and delicate sense of honour, were beautiful to contemplate. Of the last she gave a touching proof: for when, smitten suddenly by a paralytic affection through the intenseness of her mental struggles, she expected instant or speedy death, she made a powerful effort to com pression she lifted her eyes to heaven, and they were stayed. And when I whispered, "It is but a little, a very little while, and you darling, will be rejoicing too before the throne where he now his," her whole countenance glowed with delight, as she repeated "A very, very little while." We parted, and the Lord only knows with what feelings of lingering affection the farewell was again and again renewed. She went: a stormy passage brought her to a quiet haven in her own sweet isle; and very soon was her soul at anchor in the calm and beauteous harbour of eternal rest. It was not expected: she was apparent mit to the flames all my letters and little | Immediately after we were left alone, notes. Often had I expressed to her my and while her thoughts still were evidentabhorrence of the want of principle and ly in heaven, she drew forth from a little feeling exhibited in the too-common prac- pocket book the dearest relic she possestice of exposing private letters, whether sed-a pair of bands, just as they had of the living or the dead; denouncing the been worn by her beloved parent in his former as base and treacherous-the lat- last ministrations; and a lock of silvery ter as doubly treacherous and doubly hair. Not one word accompanied the acbase. She laid it to heart: and even at tion; nor was it needed; her tears burst that awful moment collected her bewil-forth; but with a solemn awe-struck exdered faculties to secure, as she afterwards told me, my little billets from falling into any other hands. I know she dearly prized them, even as 1 now treasure her beautiful letters to me; and it was a striking evidence at once of delicacy and fidelity, which few, perhaps, would imitate, because not many possess that exquisite sense of which she was continually giving proofs. If I know of one among my many friends who could be capable of publishing to the world the unstudied effusions of epistolary intercourse, I should turn from that individual with a bitter regret that ever we became acquainted. The act of Anne S. was no more than strict integrity demanded, as she herself observed to me,-ly recovering, and all looked as bright as yet would every Christian have viewed the duty, and fulfilled it like her? I fear not. It pleased the Lord to raise her up from this attack, so far as to admit of her return to Ireland, with a fair prospect of ultimate recovery. Our parting interview cannot be effaced from my recollection. She was unable to attend the ordinances of God's house, and her affectionate pastor administered to her, four days before her departure hence, the comfortable institution of our dying Lord. I was the privileged partaker; and precious to my soul is the remembrance of that hour! As she lay upon the couch, her tall slender form, wrapped in the sable weeds of deepest mourning, her altered, but ever eloquent features wearing the expression of such perfect peace as I have rarely beheld on any countenance, her joined hands meekly resting on her bosom, pointing upwards, and the very tear that trembled on the lash of her closed eyes, withheld from falling, as though absorbed by a beam of holy joy, I felt that she was not a creature of earth-not destined long to sojourn among us: and though my heart selfishly ached at the prospect of my loss, I could not wish it otherwise. to the bereaved hearts of that orphaned family earthly things could look. Anne had supplied a mother's place to them: and to see her once more among them was almost like the return of a parent from the dead. But her gentle heart was broken: she had drunk the cup-she had fought the good fight, had finished her course, had kept the faith, and her crown was ready. She rose one morning, dressed herself, and then, overcome by fatigue, lay down on her bed, and was heard to say, "My heavenly Father's hour is come." After an interval, the word "Peace, peace," was softly and repeatedly breathed from lips on which the spirit of peace and law of kindness had ever dwelt. She fell asleep as it seemed: and a sleep it was, in Jesus, from which the body should no more awake till the voice of the Archangel calls it from the grave, a glorious thing, to be re-united to the rejoicing soul. I wander now along the paths where we have walked, recalling with melancholy delight her animated looks, her powerful thoughts, and the elegant language in which she clad them: or I sit in the very place where her countenance used to shine ered, no howling tempest let loose upon his path, no piercing thorns laid there to wound his feet: but the shadow of a quiet home held over him, and the smile of do upon my laborious, and somewhat painful that we best loved, and from which we hours, remembering the pang that often scarcely seem in reality to have been sepashot across her speaking features, betray-rated. I know not how this may affect ing the grief within, until I can rejoice, the individual whose days have glided disinterestedly, fully rejoice in the assur-pleasantly along, no precious ties dissevance that she sorrows no more, but follows in his heavenly pastures, the Lamb, whom so sweetly she followed in the path of suffering below. I cannot but miss her, while the bursting foliage of spring re-mestic love always ready to sweeten his stores to my pleasant haunts the aspect that we together delighted to behold: and I never shall be able to set my foot upon the fair pale flower profusely spread in the path. I must watch its growth: and when in its blooming prime it falls beneath the mower's scythe on some bright day, to be gathered into the storehouse for winter provision, I shall love it better still. For though "the grass withereth, the flower fadeth," it is but to place in more sublime contrast that which "shall stand for ever." And this peculiar species, lovely and pleasant in life, becomes more valuable when cut down; ministering nourishment to God's creatures. Even so, my beloved Anne S., who rendered many an hour delightful while the warm pulse of her affectionate heart sent life and animation through her frame, now when that quiet frame moulders in dust, yields food to my soul, while, contemplating her faith, her patience, her endurance and ever-in one word, a part and parcel of my glowing love, I behold the fruits of a real union with Christ, the living Vine, and long to follow her, even as she followed the Saviour here; that like her I may at last attain to the blessedness laid up in Him for all who believe. For He has said, "whosoever believeth in me hath eternal life;" and "the word of our God shall stand forever." CHAPTER XXIII. THE HAWTHORN. THERE are particular seasons when memory presents the images of days and things gone by with a reality most overpowering when a long succession of years is made to wear the aspect of a dream; and we awake again in the society needful portion of this life's bitters. I do know its touching power where all this has been reversed; where home, sweet, native home, has never been resisted, since the almost daily sight of such friends added brightness to its very sunshine; nor have those friends been met since home, dear home, was deserted. I know what it is, when years of varied trial have been so prolonged that the girl and the stripling of those times can show their daughters and their sons grown up almost to their own stature; and to indifferent eyes, a change has passed upon all, well nigh sufficient to destroy personal identity. But though the eye admits a change, the heart does not. Its language is, "This is the same, the very same, the youthful guest my father loved to welcome, the chosen companion of my brother's sportive hours, the associate of many a sunshiny day, the abetter of many a mirthful scheme own, my early HOME." Upon that English monosyllable, more perhaps has been said and sung, written and recited, than on any other word in the language; but when all is added up together, it falls far short in eloquent description, of what is contained in a single smile, in one look of cordial recognition, from an old, and dear, and long-lost friend of our early home. It seems strange that where all the dispensations of God's providence, however mysterious, and seemingly severe, are not only known and acknowledged, but felt to have been working together for good, and where no possible portion of unmixed and prolonged earthly happiness would bribe the believer to become again what he was in those by-gone years, their recollection should be still so very sweet, so very precious to the heart. Yet it is in full accordance with the spirit of our just and comprehensive form of thanksgiving, where we bless our heavenly Father, "for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings | ledged, in what we naturally abhor to of this life." Even in the days of spiritual think of. Did the body remain entire, we darkness and thankless alienation from could not, at this period of the world, God, his hand was over us for good: he strike a spade into the ground without incaused his sun to shine, and his rain to fall, vading the sanctuary of its ghastly inhabfor our enjoyment: and, in the eternal itants; and every populous place must, purposes of his saving mercy to the ob- after a few generations, be deserted from jects of redeeming love, as in the case of mere want of space wherein to deposit Cyrus, he girded us, although we did not them, with any regard to the common know him. I cannot think that there is feelings of decency and natural respect. anything displeasing to God, or injurious Terrible, indeed, and horrible would be to spiritual feeling, in thus cherishing the the penal sentence, if, in returning to the memory of the past: sure I am that it is dust, the body did not also become dust. calculated to stir us up to earnest, mutual Some, to be sure can so far afford and prayer, one for another; and when we contrive to evade the common doom, as to think on the many who are taken, the few brick up their departed friends in vaults, a who survive, the number of years that miserable exemption to the general rule. have slipped by unimproved, and the aw- At least, so I regard it; I prefer a sancful uncertainty of what remains, we can- tuary that is inviolable, because altogenot stifle the solemn call to "work while it ther undiscoverable, save to the eye of is called to-day: for the night cometh." God alone. His people "fall asleep," and then, if man interpose not, he "hides them," by a wonderful process, where great consummation of all things, in the exquisitely sublime words of Job, which the believer may confidently take up, "Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands." Yes I love to think that in object into the ground, I do especially commit them to the Lord, allowing him to work his wondrous and gracious will, unmaking what he made; re-uniting it with the element from which it was taken, and Night has indeed come-has fallen at noon-on some whose morning was as cloudless and as sweet as that of the love-none can find them again, until at the liest day in spring. It cannot be that I should now refrain from once more reverting to the dearest recollection of my heart, to one who was so truly a sharer in all its thoughts, its troubles and its joys, that when, as now, the picture, or rather the reality of those early days has been viv-putting the mortal remains of a precious idly held up to my sight, it seems a marvel to me that I should be enabled to acquiesce in the dispensation that so abruptly removed him. A long and anxious quest among the hawthorn hedges, even in the sunniest spots, sent me back unsuc-reserving to himself the glory of gathercessful. The flower of May had not ventured to expose its delicate and fragile clusters to so uncongenial an atmosphere; but though the disappointment saddened me, I am content that the flower of May should become a flower of June; and the simple chaplet long since chosen to com-cle, the resurrection of the body: the memorate the day of his birth, be transferred by a short delay, to honour the day of his death. ing again such particles as shall enter into the formation of the spiritual body, from what was the habitation of the soul during its former stage of existence. I sometimes think that very few do really and rightly believe in that splendid mira actual rising again of the body which is buried: the appearance of men in their bodies before the judgment-seat of Christ. It is too wonderful for us; we cannot attain unto it: but we are not therefore excused from believing it. I like not the indiscriminate application of that word:- where the sting of death is taken away, its character is changed. How beautiful is the expression used in This blossom-this cluster of flowers, reference to Stephen-" And when he each robed in delicate white, with a faint had thus spoken, he fell asleep." The blush of equally delicate rose-colour, and dissolution of the body, after the spirit studded with a perfect grove of graceful has left it, becomes needful; and there is stamens, breathing a fragrance deliciously mercy, seldom considered or acknow-in unison with its exquisite appearance |