Middle Life

IN the autumn of 1851, soon after our removal to the house in Filbert street, the first break for many years was made in our family circle, by my marriage on 11th mo., 5th, 1851, to Pvobert Pearsall Smith, son of J. Jay and Eacliel Pearsall Smith, of German town. Four years afterward my sister Sarah married on 5th mo., 2d, 1855, William H. Nicholson, of “Linden,” near Haddonfield, N. J., and on 10th mo., 31st, my sister Mary married Dr. James Carey Thomas, of Baltimore, Md. And in 1856, on the 26th of lltli mo., our only brother, James, married Mary W. Cope, daughter of Marmaduke C. and Sarah W. Cope, opposite to whom we were living. Thus in the short time of five years the whole brood had left the parent nest, and the dear father and mother, who had so lovingly and tenderly cared for us, were alone in their large house. But their interest in us continued just as great as ever, and there was plenty of visiting backward and forward, one or other of the children finding almost daily occasion for a call at the dear old home, or a seat at the hospitable table. And in time the grandclnldren also began to enjoy the charms of the same loving welcomes, and seldom allowed the dear grandpa and grandma to have any chance to grow lonely. He thus notes some of these events in his diary —

“12th month, 31s/, 1855. — Two years have passed since anything has been written in this memorandum; two years of continued mercy, calling for grateful thanks to a kind Providence, who has not taken His mercies entirely from His poor creature, but has at times been pleased to permit me to feel His excellent Presence, which is better than all hid treasures, and the knowledge of Him which is better than life. Two of our daughters have been married to young men who are Friends, and with whom we are satisfied; and we trust the Divine blessing may rest upon them, for it is that only which maketh truly rich. Our only and well-beloved son is engaged to be married to our dear young friend, Mary W. Cope, a connection which promises, under the blessing of Providence, much satisfaction. May our hearts be humbled in the dust before the Lord, for indeed we can say, ’ goodness and mercy have followed us all our days.’ What can we render unto the Lord for all of His mercies unto us His poor unworthy creatures!”

In 1855, the last daughter of the three had left the beloved home-nest, and we had all begun our independent lives, one at Germantown, one in Jersey, and one in Baltimore. From this time the letters and visits of our precious parents had to supply the place of the happy home intercourse, and most of the records left us of our father’s inner life are to be found in these letters to his absent daughters.

In a letter to my sister Mary and her husband, dated 12th month, 11th, 1855, our father refers to the loneliness of the house without his dauarhters, ‘’ Dear James and Mary. — The prospect of having a nice long visit from both of you looks very pleasant, and we trust you will be with us as soon as business matters will release the Doctor. We shall want Hannah and family, and William and Sally, and yourselves to stay with us all the time, so that we may have a bumper. You know we like things by wholesale. * * *

At our first ‘Reading Meeting,’ last 6th day evening, we missed our beloved daughters three. Hannah was not here, having failed to get the invitation. It made me feel a degree of loneliness which is new; and ever since thou left us, dear Mary, at seasons my heart feels very sad to remember that the happy days gone by may not be recalled. We must now ’ leave the things that are behind and press forward to those that are before, looking unto Jesns, the Author and Finisher of our faith.’ And earnest are my desires, my darling daughter, that thou and I, and indeed all of us without exception, may bear the impression t)f ‘holiness to the Lord,’ that our spirits may be moulded, some gradually, some more quickly, into the image of the Saviour. Let it be the earnest petition of our hearts that He will lay His hand upon us, and not spare anything, until He sees His own likeness in us. I can conceive nothing more lovely or desirable than to be a true and humble disciple of the Lord Jesus. Religion sweetens the disposition, makes us patient, loving, compassionate, willing to take the lowest place, careful to do nothing to the hurt of any; and makes us particularly careful to avoid evil speaking, a fault to which I am too prone.”

In 1855, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding-day, our mother was greeted with one of our father’s rhyming love letters, which has been preserved in a letter written to his oldest grand-child, on 10th month, 13th, 1855.

“My dear little grand-daughter, Gulielma Morris Smith. Almost everybody says thou looks very much like thy dear grandmother Whitall, so I will copy for thee a piece of poetry written to her when she had been married twenty-five years.

Twenty-five years, my sweet one, my precious,
Have passed since I called thee my own.
And though trials our pathway have clouded,
Yet happiness great we have known.

The vision revealed from dream-land,
Its fulfilment we surely have known,
Our children like olive plants round us,
In comely proportions have grown.

My wife, like the vine of the valley,

The sides of my house doth adorn,

While her husband, so poor and so faltering,

His thanks humbly now would return,

To the blessed and Heavenly Giver,
Of all that our hearts hold most dear,
May His Grace and His Presence be with us,
To keep and sustain in His fear.

If affliction and sorrow await us,
May our hearts then be staid upon God,
For He still is the unfailing refuge.
Of all who bow under His rod.

My darling, my sweet one, my precious.
How grateful thy love is to me,
I know that I’m very unworthy.
Thy loved one, thy dear one to be.

‘Tis precious to think of my darling,
Adorning my home with her love.
So gentle, so sweet, and so lovely,
A gift from my Father above.

Many years ago I dreamed that dear Stephen Grellett, (who died on sixth day, 11th month, 16th, 1855), told me to read the 128th Psalm, as being, in some little degree, applicable to my poor, unworthy self, and in the piece I send thee, allusion is made to this dream.

Now, my dear little grand-daughter, it is very pleasant to be at your house on a visit; and it quite amused me to see Mamma Whitall teaching thee thy letters, and I thought thou said cj o spelled Pig.

“We are expecting to have a nice visit from thee and mamma and papa to-morrow, only Papa Wliitall will not be at home, as he expects to visit Haverford to-morrow as one of a committee.

Farewell, my darling, I am thy truly affectionate gi-andfather,

J. M. Whitall.”

My sister Mary says she recollects perfectly the evening he wrote this rhyme and his great delight in doing it. Our mother had gone out somewhere, and Mary and he were in the parlor alone, and she says he would read the verses out to her with great enjoyment as fast as he wrote them, and she remembers his especial satisfaction in some of the lines which he would read over and over, and exclaim in his naive way, “Poll, that is good and no mistake, I know.” For in the utter simplicity of our ftither’s character, he felt just as free to enjoy his own productions as those of any one else, and had no false modesty about expressing this enjoyment. We often used to laugh at him and with him over his speeches to this effect, and it got to be quite a joke among us to say whenever we had occasion to refer to anything he had written, “That’s good I know.” I can see now the merriment that twinkled in his eyes whenever we said this, and can enjoy again, as I used to enjoy then, the rare simplicity and guilelessness of a character that could afford to be so utterly natural and free. It was not that he rated his rhymes as poems, or thought his letters valuable as essays, but for tlic purpose for which they were written, to express his love and please his loved ones, he knew they accomplished his object, and enjoyed knowing it.

During the year of 1856, in Ins loving fashion he sent us all a poem written in the style of Longfellow’s Hiawatha, which was puljlished about that time, and with which he was greatly pleased. Though of no especial poetical merit, they gave us great pleasure, and will interest the grandchildren, and I therefore insert them.

“To Daughter PIannah:

Hannah darling, our dear daughter,
‘Fearless child,’ we still shall call thee;
Driving in and driving out,
Spite of wind and spite of weather,
Rain not heeding, snow not minding.
Forward on thy journey yressing,
Leaving mother very tearful,
Leaving father very anxious.

He who for the sparrow careth,
He who guides us if we ask Him,
Will, my precious darling daughter,
Still sustain thee, still support thee,
If to Him with single purpose
“With an eye of faith thou lookest.
To His leadings, to His teachings.
Safely through life’s dangers pressing,
To the realms of endless peace;
To the shores of lasting peace;
Safely with thy Saviour landed
Thou shall surely come at last.

Precious child, we dearly love thee.
Like our own, thy precious children,
Much we love them, much admire them.
Greatly miss them when away.
May cares of life sit lightly on them,
And richest blessings rest upon them.

210 JOnX M. WHITALL.

When at last their moment cometh
To pass from earth and friends away
May the angel of the kingdom
Ever guide them, ever lead them
To the gate of Paradise,
There to meet and join their parents
In the song that never ceaseth,
In the land of peace and joy.
1st Month, 26th, 1856.”

To my sister Sarah, who had written to him uuJer
the name of Sawanissa, ho wrote:

“‘Sawanissa’ in her wigwam

By the Linden trees and meadows,
By the fiehls across the river,
In the hmd of ease and plenty,
Talks of crying, talks of singing
To her father, to her mother,
Chibiabos we shall call her.
Sweetest singer we shall think her
In the land of ease and plenty.

We received to-day a letter
From our daughter, Minneliaha,
From our darling, Laughing Watei-,
In the southern land and pleasant.
In the land of fruits and flowers.
Tells of storm, and tells of temi)est.
Of the ice and of the snow,
How the north wind iiowls about tl)em.
How the firelight shines upon them
‘In the lodge so warm and cosy.

Sawanissa in her girlhood,
In the days we still remember,
In the years not long ago,
Saw a youth of comely aspect,

Head erect, and brow uplifted,
Who with cunning art and magic,
Talked of love and talked of feeling,
Told of ease and told of plenty,
In the wigwam he was building.
In the fruitful land and pleasant.

Sawanissa, like all women,
Listened to the young man’s stories,
Listened to his wiles and cunning,
Loved his talking, loved his wooing.
Leaving home and all its treasures,
Forth she wandered with the stranger,
He was leading, she was following
To his lodge across the water
In the fruitful land and pleasant.

Chibiabos we shall call thee,
Darling singer, darling daughter.
Much we love thee, much we miss thee.
May the Lord in mercy bless thee,
Keep thee in His holy fear;
By His grace sustain and keep thee
In life’s trials, in life’s dangers.
And when at last the flower fadeth.
When the passing cloud has vanished
In the regions of the blessed.
In the land of faith and love,
May we meet to part no more.
1st Month, 23d, 1856.”

To my sister Mary he wrote:

‘’ Lazy daughter, we shall call thee,
Yenedeezee, Indians say;
Not to write unto thy father.
Not to write unto thy mother.
Forgetting sister, forgetting brother.
Forgetting all things left behind thee.

But the youth with raven tresses,
Themedea, the medicine man,
With his pouch of roots and simples,
With his skill and all his science,
“With his magic skill and knowledge,
Has beguiled thee, has entranced thee,
So that now our youngest daughter,
“When we call, she no more answers.

Peboan, the cloudy father
Of the ice and of the snow-flake,
Walks abroad in all his power,
Fiercely shakes his mantle on us,
Frowning, blows his breath upon us,
Hides the grass and hides the flowers.
Bids the waters flow no longer.

Is old Winter now upon you

In your pleasant southern city,

By the deep and quiet waters?

Does the fear of Shawondassy

Drive him north and keep him northward

In the land of storm and tempest,

In the land of frost and snow?

Write in haste and write in earnest,

Tell us cpiickly, tell us truly.

All about yourselves and doings,

How the Friends, and how the times are;

If the doctor has a patient

Or if patience has the doctor.

Daughters every one have left us.
Gone each one to cheer a stranger.
To the Northward, to the Eastward,
To the southern land so pleasant,
Leaving parents old and lonely.
Leaving them to mourn their loss.

Much we miss thee, darling daughter,
Greatly ruiss our Laughing Water;
Often sigh for Minnehaha.
Much desire that choicest blessings
May attend and fall upon thee,
So that on thy journey passing.
Dangers missing, falls escaping,
Being humble, being lowly,
Like the blessed Saviour meek;
Trusting in the Lord our Helper,
Looking to His grace for guidance,
May at last the haven enter
Where no trouble ever cometh,
“Where the light forever shineth,
Xot the sunlight nor the moonlight.
But the glory of the Father,
Doth those happy realms enlighten,
Tears and sorrow gone forever.
May we all our precious daughters,
Meet together round His throne.
There to thank and laud His mercy,
There to celebrate His praises.”

Letters from our father would often come to us in this poetical fashion, but only a few have been preserved. They were very precious to us, as the continually recurring tokens of his ever freshly springing love. My sister Sarah writes me the following:

“No man ever came nearer being idolized by his children than did our father. He had such a winsome way, if the epithet is not inappropriate to so strong a man, of showing his love, that it was perfectly irresistible. We girls knew that our father not only loved us more than any other girls — for all fathers love their own the best — but we knew that he had an especial and individual admiration for each one of us; that he thought we were superior. He had a good opinion of us, and he did not mind showing it. I do not think this made us conceited, for we knew it was only the resnll of his partial love; and besides, he never spared reproof when it was needed, and it was needed a great deal; but it made us love hiiu with perfect devotion. “VVe would sometimes, too, hear pleasant and complimentary things that he said about us to other people; and how our hearts did leap, not because of the compliment, but because he thought so of us. And after we were married and had left the dear old home, it was a ierfect joy to receive the warm welcome that always greeted our return; and also when we bade him farewell, to have him thank us most affectionately for coming, as if we had conferred a favor upon him. He not only possessed in an uncommon degree the overflowing affection of the heart, but he had the still more rare gift of manifesting it, and this clung to him till nearly the last of his life — longer than almost any other characteristic. I remember how stricken in heart I felt the first time I came to the house and received only a kiss, without the usual word-greeting, and how entirely I realized the change that had come over him when he allowed me to leave without his customary words, ‘Much obliged, dear daughter, for this visit,’ and without any messages of love to the absent ones.”

He kept up a very- vigorous correspondence with
his absent daughters, and many of his dear letters
have been preserved, but it would make this account
too lengthy to insert them all. One characteristic
strongly marked them. No matter how short they
were, nor what the special occasion of writing them, he
always found a way of saying something on the one
subject uppermost in his thoughts. A few extracts
will show this.

“rhiladelphia, M month, 22(7, 1856.

“Deak, darling daitjiiter Polly: — Thy nice, welcome letter of 21st inst., at hand. Daughter Hannah will take this in reply. Nell lodged with us last night. She is a darling, and reminds us of early days when you all were chattering about us, and enlivening our household. Truly, we are reminded that time flies, and that here we have no continuing city, and that it would be wise to seek one to come, eternal in the Heavens. May we, my precious child, set our affections on things above, whera Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, that, let the summons come when it may, we may be ready. That accident on the Camden ferry-boat was truly terrific.

“Mother and self design lodging with William and Sally to-night. We were there 5th day night. All well. How cold the weather continues. We live in hopes of juilder, warmer breezes, and that spring-time and harvest will still return. Please give dear love to son James C. T., and tell him to watch over thee, and see that thou acts the Friend in all things, and that he does also. People have names, and it is not needful to call them Mr. and Mrs.”

“Philadelphia, 11th month, loth, 1856.

“My Precious Polly: — We have had a pleasant visit from Dr. R. H. Thomas. He was acceptably engaged in ministering to very many among us. His lively, earnest faith in the Lord Jesus met a response in many hearts. Dost thou, my dear child, realize what great things the Lord Jesus has done for thee, and is still willing to do? Yes, is still willing and waiting to do for thee and for us all — even to bring us to His Father, and, blessed be His name and grace, to our Father. Oh, if we will only dilirjently, earnestly and honestly wait upon Him, He will remember His promises, *IIim that cometh to me I will in no wise “cast out,’ and ‘If ye ask anything in my name I will do it.’ Let us, then, in full assurance of faith in His promise, ask for new hearts, sanctified hearts, resigned and humble wills to His holy will. If we do this in sincerity, we shall no doubt make our calling and election sure, through the gre mercy of our God, who was ‘in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.’ ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but should have everlasting life.’ Here is a great boon offered to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, even eternal life. Shall we not then believe? If doubts assail, let us only pray the more earnestly to have them removed. I was once tempted to disbelieve in the Lord Jesus, but after earnest prayer to God, my doubts were all removed, and I was favored to settle down in an assurance of Hi?

Divinity, which, through His great mercy, is on the increase. Oh, the joy and peace there is in believing! May thou, my beloved Mary, and dear son, Dr. James, may you both earnestly, perseveringly strive after this blessed assurance. It is not necessary that we should live all our lives in bondage to the fear of death, but, coming boldly to the throne of grace, let us lay hold on eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us unto God, and make us ‘kings and priests’ unto Him — kings to rule over the lusts of the flesh, and priests to those around us to teach them the right way of the Lord.

“We do want to see you all, and to give darling Minnie Martha kiss right on her wide-open mouth.

“In much near and dear love, I am your affectionate father,

“J. M. Whitall.”

“Philadelphia, 2d month, 2ith, 1857.

“My dear Mary: — Thy letter of yesterday at hand. The baby will cry, and her mother will fuss and be uneasy, as always has been the case, and always will I expect.

“Thou art twenty-one years old this day. The return of our birthdays should remind us of the passing away of all our earthly delights, and we should resolve to live better in future than we have before; and to do this we have but one resort — to seek for help to our alone Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. I may be asked how we can seek Him. I know of no other way than to sit down and wait upon Him; earnestly turn our thoughts towards Him, imploring His pity and help, and endeavor to feel our own nothingness and unworthiness. if we can be favored to attain this humble stale, the Lord, our helper, will give us His favor, will lift up the light of His countenance upon us, and we shall feel strengthened with might in the inner man, and be enabled to run the way of His commandments with alacrity.

“Farewell, dear daughter. Love to the Dr. and kiss to Minnie, from thy affectionate father.

“J. M. Whitall.”

In the year 1856 our father bought a lot at Atlantic City, close to the beach, where he built a house which we called “Storm-tide,” because the storm waves dashed up against the fence at the foot of the garden, and here our parents spent the summer for about ten years, and made children and grandchildren always welcome; and our memories are full of many happy recollections of these summers spent all together at this sea-side home. Almost the youngest among rs was our father, who was generally ready in those days for a sail, or a row, or a crabbing expedition, and was always the life of our party, no matter who else might be along.

When we first occupied this cottage at Atlantic City, there was no Friends’ meeting held in the place. On the first Sabbath morning our parents told us we must all gather in the parlor at ten o’clock and hold a meeting, after the manner of Friends, fully believing in the promise of the dear Saviour, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This promise was wonderfully fulfilled in these meetings, which were held for many years, as long as the family remained at the cottage. Eliza P. Gurney, a beloved friend and a valued minister, of Burlington, N. J., soon after also built a cottage at Atlantic City, and became a constant attender of the meetings. Her presence and ministry gave great additional interest to them, and they grew so large that the parlor could not contain the company, and seats were placed on the piazzas. The windows, reaching to the floor, were thrown open, and the sound of the waves dashino; on the beach could be heard in the solemn stillness of the hour. Strangers of different denominations came to these meetinccs from week to week, and many were comforted and fed there. Our father soon felt that in addition to the First-day morning meetings he must hold a meeting on Fifth-day morning also, which he accordingly did, and as there was no other gathering for worship in the day-time in the middle of the week, ministers and members of other denominations would not unfrequently find their way to these meetings, and would be very much impressed with the solemnity of the scene, and moved by the sweetness and power of the ministry. One Sabbath day two gentlemen were sitting upon the beach at ten o’clock; one of them arose hastily, saying, “There is a meeting at Mr. Whitall’s cottage this morning, and he invited me to come.” His companion said, “You are not going?” “Yes, I am,” he replied. He came, and our father kindly seated him near himself. The meeting was a very solemn one, and Eliza P. Gurney preached with great directness and power. The stranger was much interested, and afterwards told his friend whom he left on the beach, that he never before had heard such an impressive sermon. Only a few days afterwards this gentleman, in stepping out of a car in Philadelphia, was injured by the wheels and died very shortly. And we cannot but hope that in that quiet parlor gathering, his soul had received a message from the Lord, which had been instrumental in preparing him for the solemn change.

After spending many summers at Atlantic City in this sea-side cottage, our father bought “The Cedars,” and “Storm-tide” was sold. The meetings were then transferred to the residence of E. P. G., and afterward to the Public School House, and were very large and deeply interesting gatherings. In 1872 a Meeting-house was built and a Friend’s meeting established during the summer months, which is still continued.

Some further extracts from the letters written during; these years are characteristic:

“Philadelphia, 5th month, Uh, 1858.

I had a touching adventure this noon, dear dangliter, which lias made nie sad ever since. It was raining quite fast as I was going down south Fourth St., when a little girl passed me with flowing ringlets and dressed about as darling Xelly would have been. My heart was immediately attracted, and noticing that she was out in the hard rain alone, I turned back and stopped the child, by asking where she lived? ‘With my mamma,’ was the reply. Where had she been? ‘To school.’ Where did her mamma live? ‘Gaskell street.’ Where was the school? ‘Prune street.’ I soon saw the little thing was lost, so taking her by the hand, we proceeded first to the school, then to Gaskell street. Her mother was not at home, but stands in a store in Chestnut street; poor thing, my heart yearned over the child, and for her mother, being obliged to leave her little darling for others to care for. Ah! how much of sorrow and grief is there in this fleeting, changing world; then how wise it is while time is afforded, to seek after God. ‘Draw nigh unto Him and He will draw nigh unto us.’ Let us dally wait upon Him and implore Him to pity our weakness, and for His dear Son’s sake give us daily supplies of His Heavenly Grace, that we may walk before Him with acceptance. Then, let the earth be removed and the mountains be cast into the midst of the sea, we may rely with safety on His Almighty arm of power. That our dear children may all be favored to know this, is my fervent desire.

Hannah and Sarah Smiley have gone to Lancaster to see the Judge in the case of the kidnapping woman. The Governor is disposed to pardon her if the Judge unites in that view.

The rain of to-day prevented our going to ‘Storm-tide;’ we will go fifth day next, perhaps. With dearest love and kisses to all, I am thy loving father, J. M. Whitall.”

“Philadelphia, Uth month, 2ith, 1858.

Dearest Sally. — Thine of several dates came safely to-day and was very welcome. A nice letter also from daughter Polly; she and hers are pretty well. Hannah and Robert are in earnest to work while it is day. May we all do this, for the night cometh.

Dear children, do not let us omit to improve the opportunity given us to secure our soul’s salvation, but in earnest look to the Lord Jesus for help. He is our almighty Helper and He sees our need of Plis aid, and pities our infirmities, and will help us, if we come to Him with full faith in His ability. He is the alone way to the Father; and wonderful indeed is the union of the Father and the Son; far above our capacity to scan or understand it. We only find from experience that when we draw nigh in Spirit to the Lord Jesus, and turn our hearts to Him in earnest, and wait upon Him, that He often in His great mercy and compassion brings us to a feeling sense of the presence of our reconciled Heavenly Father, Oh! what a privilege it is, worth laboring hard after. It is the pearl of great price! Dearest Sally, look for it, pray for it, and give no rest to thy spirit until thou find it. Dear Hannah seems to have in measure found it. Nothing would give me so much pleasure as to see my children all walking in the truth.

With many kisses to thy dear lambs, and to thyself, and dear love to son William, I am thy aflfectionate father,

J. M. Whit ALL.”

The mention of ‘’Hannah and Robert” in this last letter was in reference to the fact, that about this time both my husband and myself were brought to a knowledge of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, and experienced a change of heart through faith in Him. My brother James and my sisters Sarah and Mary not long after experienced the same change also, and our dear parents had the joy of seeing with their own eyes the answer to the daily prayers they had put up for us ever since our birth. Our father always told us that he had never doubted what the result would be, for he felt sure the Lord, whom he trusted, would not suffer him to be disappointed. He thus alludes to this in one of his letters to his daughter Mary after her conversion.

“I hope we are all thankful to our merciful, kind, Heavenly Father, who has indeed blessed us as a family, and particularly in giving us a good hope through grace. His own precious grace in His dear Son, of eternal life. I always trusted that in His love He would bring my children one after another into His covenant of life and peace; peace with Himself through our Lord Jesus Christ, whom to know is life eternal.”

Our parents’ religious teaching to us had always been of the simj)lest kind, and they had especially impressed upon us the power and efficacy of prayer. From the earliest time, as soon as we were able to repeat the words after them, they taught us every night before going to sleep to ask our Heavenly Father to take care of us and make us good. My sister Sarah says concerning this,” Our parents in teaching us to pray, put the words into a little form for us, knowing we needed help in forming the petition, and as this is the grand-children’s book, it w411 not be amiss to insert it, ‘Heavenly Father please to keep me while I sleep, and when I wake, make me good, for Jesus’ sake.’ This little prayer was the last thing said at night before the farewell kiss was given, and had to be said with great solemnity. So faithfully was this duty imjDressed upon us, and so effectually were we taught that our dependence was upon our Heavenly Father for all our blessings, that one night when for some reason I was put to bed and left in the dark without having first said my prayer, I felt as if I was cast alone into a dark, desert world, and was in real childish agony, until by the repetition of my little verse, I felt again sheltered under the wings of Divine love.

“Our father also endeavored to teach us the utmost reverence in the reading of the Bible, as well as in prayer; for although so full of animation and investing so many things with the charm of merriment, he always approached religious subjects with great reverence. As soon as we could read aloud, he taught us that when the Sacred Name was mentioned we must drop our voices to a tone of reverence; and he always felt pained at too frequent or too familiar a repetition of this solemn name in conversation.”

But more effectively than his words even, his life preached to us, for no one could live with him and not see that the spring and source of all he was and all he did was the inward hidden life of God in his soul. And even in the days of our ignorance, when we had no personal or experimental knowledge of this divine life, we still knew it was real, and could as soon have doubted our existence, as to have doubted our father’s experience. And we all feel that the prayers of our beloved parents were the blessed instrumentalities that brought about the results in the conversion at last of every one of their children.

The intense reverence of his character in all religious matters was very marked, and contrasted strongly with his carelessness of all forms and ceremonies, no matter how venerable, that were of mere worldly significance. It pained him to hear anything lightly spoken of that seemed to come directly from God’s hand. He invariably corrected us for complaining of the weather, or saying it was “bad,” and had a strong objection to the expressions, “Good-morning,” or “Good-evening,” always declaring that all days must necessarily be good. Nothing seemed to grieve him more than profane language, or ev“en to hear sacred words used in a free or light manner. When traveling in the cars or elsewhere, he rarely heard swearing without taking the first suitable opportunity, quietly to reprove the person; and at one time, when he could not find a private occasion, his impression of the sin was so strong, that he felt constrained to speak on the subject aloud, in the presence of the whole car full of people, to the entire quieting of the guilty parties. He was once taking the long stage drive from Camden to Millville, which in those days occupied a whole day over the sandy Jersey roads, and was obliged to sit most of the way beside the driver, who was very profane. Our father was much distressed, and prayed earnestly for wisdom to reprove him in such a way as not to displease him, and yet to produce the desired effect. Suddenly there flashed into his mind a story to the point, about a sea-captain and a Quaker, which he had heard many years before, and in the course of conversation he repeated it to the driver. It was in substance as follows: A Friend, wishing to go to England on a religious visit, applied to a certain sea-captain for a passage. The captain entirely refused to take him, although his vessel was the only one at that time sailing for the desired port. Repeated urgings on the part of the Friend produced no eff”ect, and at last he insisted on knowing the reason. “Well,” said the captain, “if you must know, it is because I am sure I cannot manage my crew if you are on board. I have always managed them by swearing, and I know you will not let me swear, and therefore they will do just as they please,” ‘’But if I promise never to say a word about thy swearing,” said the Friend, ‘’wilt thou not then be willing to take me?” After some demur the captain consented to take him on this condition, and they sailed in company. In a very short time a storm arose, and in the midst the captain came down into the cabin of his passenger and exclaimed excitedly, “There, I knew just how it would be! You won’t let me swear, and I can’t manage the sailors without it, and now this storm has come up and we shall all be lost, and it will be your fault.” “But,” remonstrated the Friend, “I have not said a word to thee on the subject, I have kept my promise faithfully, have I not?” “Oh, yes,” replied the captain, “you have kept still enough, but I have known all along how wicked you thought it, and somehow I just can’t do it, try as I may; and its all of no use, we shall certainly be lost.” The Friend then proposed to go on deck with the captain and see what could be done; and when there he called the sailors together, told them what the captain had said, and asked them if they would not agree to obey his orders if he gave them without oaths. The sailors agreed heartily, and the captain from that moment found himself able to control and manage his crew without the slightest difficulty, and without the necessity for a single oath, and declared at the end of the voyage that he had never had so little trouble. This story was told without comment of any kind, and the driver listened in silence, but swore no more that day. Years passed, when upon one occasion

the same driver came into our father’s place of business and asked him if he remembered that day on the stage, telling him that from that hour h,e had never uttered a single oath, and that shortly after Le had become a religious man.

During the last week of his life, when speech was difficult and he rarely spoke, except in reply to a question, he once again was faithful in this service for his dear Master. His nui’se, although most gentle and kind in all his ministratioiLS, on one occasion when an unusual difficulty had to be surmounted, made use of a profane expression. Our father roused himself to the effi3rt of reproving him, doing it very kindly, and in a few words, and the reproof was received in the same spirit in which it was given. This little incident, so characteristic of his life-long faithfulness in the performance of duty, and of his staunch devotion to the honor of his Master, was said by those present to be most touching, to witness.

During the year 1858 he began to speak occasionally in meetings, and continued to do so until disabled by illness in his latter days. “What lie had to say was short and to the point, and was always full of comfort and help. He never believed in multiplying words, where a few would do; and his very brevity made his sermons more definite and striking. The one great theme of all he said was the love of God in Christ, and the gifts this love had bestowed upon us. He used to dwell very frequently on the forgiveness of sins, and that the believer might knoio it, and might now and here enjoy peace with God. One of his favorite texts was 1 Jolm i. 9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He made it very clear to his hearers, that this was the statement of an incontrovertible feet, which ought to bring comfort to every sin-burdened heart, and we have often had different members of the meeting he attended, to tell us of the comfort this text and his comments on it had brought them. Another favorite subject was concerning that inward communion with the Lord, in which his own soul rejoiced, and to the enjoyment of which he longed to bring every other. Indeed I think he scarcely ever spoke without referring to this in some way, and it was so plainly a living reality with himself, that hearts could not fail to be made hungry for the same joy. The text with which he used most frequently to enforce this trath was the one we called, from his continual quoting it, “father’s text,” “Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you.” It was a real thing with him, this drawing nigh. unto God, and finding the divine response on the part of God drawing nigh unto him; and those who knew what a practical part it was of his every day life, did not wonder at his constant repetition of the text, although sometimes we would laugh at him lovingly, and tell him he would have to be called “the man with one text.” He was never what would be considered a great preacher, and his labors were mostly confined to his own meetino- and his Mission Schooh But his terse, forcible and very practical exhortations, will long live in the hearts of those who were so often helped by them.

The only notice of his speaking in meeting that we
find in his memoranda, is a few words, under date of
11th month, 4th, 1858. He writes:

“Several times during this last year I have spoken in our religious meetings, believing myself called upon to do so. Oh! that I may be preserved from offering strange fire on the Lord’s altar. This day I am fifty eight years old, and the ‘issues of life’ have felt very important. Earnest are my desires for a closer walk with my Heavenly Father; and I feel it in my heart to petition Him for a clean heart and a will resigned to all His dispensations. And oh, for true gratitude of soul to Him for all His mercies and continued favors. — Throughout the terrible panic that spread over this land last fall, prostrating many who had weathered other storms, it pleased Divine goodness to help our firm through with very little loss or difficulty. What can we render, or what can we say, except to ask our gracious Lord to accept our poor thanks for the sake of His dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The following extracts are from his letters written
during the year 1859:

‘’Philadelphia, 1st month, 28th, 1859.

‘’ My darling daughter Sally: — * * * How unexpectedly at last Samuel B. Morris passed away. I attended the large funeral; at the grave Thos. Evans ministered very acceptably. What a call this death is to be also ready, for at such a day or time as ye think not the Son of man cometh. I remembered at the house for my own instruction and comfort, that ’ it is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but of His mercy He saveth us, through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.’ I also remembered for my comfort, that ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but should have everlasting life.’ This belief on the Son of God is proved by an inward application of the heart to the Lord Jesus, asking Him to save us, waiting upon Him, and if I may so say, giving Him no rest until He hears us. It is my experience, my dear Sally, that if we go to the Lord Jesus in real earnest, draw nigh to Him in our hearts and minds, and not let any discouraging thoughts prevent us from waiting upon and looking toward Him, we shall not have to wait long. He will reveal His blessed presence to our souls, He will bring us to the throne of grace, and we shall feel that our sins are pardoned for His sake, and shall know and feel that we are, through His mercy, the children of God, His Spirit bearing witness within us that we are His children. Mayest thou, my precious child, strive after this. It is within thy reach. The Lord will draw nigh to them that seek Him. Farewell, darling; with dear love to all, I am thy affectionate father, J. M. Whitali,.”

“Philadelphia, 2cl month, Wh, 1859.

“Dearest Sally, — We received a nice letter from thee yesterday, with an addition by dear John Whitali. We attended the funeral yesterday of cousin Susan Whitali, whose very sudden removal startled us greatly. Truly we have many warnings to ’ make our calling and election sure,’ while we have opportunity, while we have our senses, and are not overwhelmed by the afflictions of the body, as was the case with cousin Susan. She was almost insensible from the first, and never revived.

‘’I was much struck with that passage in Romans viii. 1, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,’ This attainment may look very difficult, and indeed it would be but for the great love and pity of our Heavenly Father who has appointed a means by which we may come with boldness to His mercy-seat and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, through His dear Son our Saviour, Jesus Christ. ‘If any man sin,’ says the Apostle, ’ we have an advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous.’ If we commit sin in thought, word, or deed, and are convicted of it by the Holy Spirit, our only way is to go to Jesus, covered as we may be with confusion and shame for our weakness and sin — tell Him that we need His help and intercession, and earnestly ask Him to intercede for us and help us by His power to resist temptation in future. Oli, let us do this, having no confidence in ourselves, no dependence upon our own good works, but only on the mercy of God through his Son Christ Jesus. For ‘He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,’ John iii. 16-17. Blessed and encouraging language from our dear Saviour. If we do this we shall find to our joy a deliverance from the power of temptation; we shall know for ourselves that the Lord Jesus is our door into the kingdom of heaven; and if we are faithful daily to wait upon Him, to draw nigh to Him and ask Him to abide in us that we may abide in Him, and ask Him to give us his Holy Spirit according to His promise, (John xv. 26), an ability will be known to walk acceptably before our Heavenly Father; the fear of death will be removed, and we shall go on our way rejoicing in the mercy and favor of God. This, my precious Sally, is quite within the reach of us all. Then let us aim at it, trusting in the promises given to us in the holy Scriptures; and thus daily drawing nigh to the Fountain of purity, our hearts will become changed — be purified; we shall be renewed by the Holy Ghost, which is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ.

‘’Love to William and thyself from thy very afTectionate father, “John M. Whitall.”

“Pldladelphia, M month, 9th, 1859.

“My Dear Mary: — Thy nice, long letter was received to-day. We like to have all the particulars of the kitchen, in and out, and all about darling Minnie Marth, and would like to see her — doing mischief. We do feel as if we loved you all very dearly. Dear Sally in town at the dentist’s to-day. She and Hannah look towards going to Baltimore next 4th day; look out for them then.

“We had a sweet letter from Sally, telling us of the great favor of having found her Saviour. That is a blessed experience beyond all price, and all comes of the great mercy of our compassionate Heavenly Father, who would have all to repent, and return and live. Blessed be His holy name, He has appointed a means by which we may, even in this life, have a foretaste of the joys of Eternity. Our Lord Jesus declared that ’ this is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.’ And, praised be His name, if we draw nigh to Him with full purpose of heart, He will draw nigh to us; He will reveal Himself to us and bring us to the Father; we shall know the Father through His beloved Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; we shall have a taste of eternal life. ‘And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son,’ 1 John v. 11. Do not let us stop short, my dear daughter, until we know and understand this. Thou may be ready to ask — how can I obtain this great favor? I answer, we must be diligent daily to wait upon the Lord; twice every day make it a special business to draw nigh to Him, through and in the name of the Lord Jesus. My precious child, this is the way. The Lord Jesus says He is the ’ door; ‘He is the ’ way.” No naan cometh to the Father but by Him.’ If by sinning in any way, we feel condemned — guilty before God, our only resource is the Lord Jesus. We must go to Him ‘just as we are, without one plea, but that His precious blood was shed for us, for me,’ and plead that; humbling ourselves before the Lord, depending only on His pardoning grace, for the sake of His dear Son. Oh, if we do this, though our sins be as scarlet, they shall become white as wool; we shall feel ourselves forgiven and at peace. Blessed be the name of the Lord for providing such a way for the escape of His poor, lost creatures from eternal death. May we all make good use of the time allotted to us. Be sure, my precious child, not to omit drawing nigh to God and He will surely draw nigh to thee. Farewell. Love to thy dear husband and darling Minnie.

“Affectionately, thy father, J. M. Whitall.”

During- the fall of 1860, our father waited on Eliza Barclay, of England, and Eliza P. Gnrney, of Burlington, New Jersey, on a visit to the Friends of South Carolina, and several interesting letters describing their journey are preserved. Among other characteristic things he says, after describing the poor fare to be found in the neighborhoods they visited: “Some of our Friends can hardly eat the food, and E. B. lias lost flesh, but for my part, ‘stand up to the rack fodder or no fodder,’ is my motto in these parts, and I do very well, never was in better health,”

Greensboro, llth Month, 9th, 1860.

* * *” Now my precious children, I want you to be diligent in your day to lay up treasures in heaven, that at the last day you may appear before the just Judge with joy and not with grief. I know of no better way to do this, than to be daily and oftener than the day, diligent to wait upon the Lord. If we do this He will draw nigh to us and keep us from falling, for He is able to do this great thing for us, and is worthy to be waited upon, served and obeyed by us all. Please bear me on your hearts before the Lord. At times I present you and your little ones before my God. Oh, who can set forth His loving-kindness? Truly it passeth words to express.

Farewell, dear Ones, J. M. W.”

He gives a pleasant picture to our mother of their
party at their stopping-place in Greensboro:’

nth Month, 10, 1860.

“Nothing to do, dearest, this morning but to sit down and write to thee. By F. T. King, who left at 3 A. M., I sent a letter to be mailed from Baltimore, which thou may get 2d day. Dr. Beesley is improving, and we hope in a day or two he will be quite well and strong. Eliza P. Gurney is looking toward a meeting at the Female College First Day evening; we shall sally forth directly to look it up. I am sitting before a good fire in this hotel parlor. E. Barclay writing on my left and Dr. Beesley on my right. H. W. Beesley sewing in her chamber, and dear E. P. G- in hers. Our landlord has.just told me that the telegraph informs that at Charleston a conflict had commenced between the United States officers and the citizens, in relation to the public arms and stores of ammunition, &c., &c. We hope there is a mistake in this matter. The

Lord is our refuge and only hope, and a present Iielp in time of trouble. May we be found to rest ourselves here!”

In this passage we have a notice of the first threatenings of the civil war which was shortly to convulse the United States, and was to result in the emancipation of four million of slaves in one day by the Proclamation of Emancipation, issued by the President on 9th mo., 22d, 1862, and taking effect 1st mo., 1st, 1803. But this was as yet far off and undreamed of, by even the most enthusiastic advocates of universal liberty. And meanwhile the beginnina; of the struero-le was viewed with deepest concern by all peace-loving citizens.

Further notices of the progress of the struggle are
found in our father’s letters.

“Philadelphia, 1st month, Slst, 1861.

“My dear Daughter: — Thy last letter informed us that thy Doctor was in bed with a bad cold. We trust that by this time he is about again as usual. — Do please write and tell us — and about the dear children and thyself. We like to get letters very often from thee, for we are tenderly interested in thy welfare every way. Almost daily thy affghan adds to my comfort, and whenever put on, I try to get the right side out, for darling Minnie told me that there was a difference, that mamma intended one side to be out and the other in. D3ar little lamb, she often comes up before me as a very sweet child. And little Jack, too, with his broad face and pleasant smile, going with me to see Grandma in the morning. Dear fellow, tell him Grandpa remembers the ‘Bear.’ Many kisses to them both.

“Dear mother and self went on to N. Y. to see Eliza Barclay and party off. They started yesterday under very favorable circumstances, having fine weather, and all being in good health. We returned home last evening.

“These are trying times for men in business. No one can tell who will or will not pay his debts. We are hoping for an improvement, however, but must in the mean time put our trust in a merciful overruling Providence, who can and does bring good from seeming evil.

“It is easy to preach and hard to practice, but that we may be enabled to do the latter, in child-like dependence on our Heavenly Father, we must draw nigh to Him, with earnest hearts, feeling our deep need of His sustaining grace. If favored to do this, He will doubtless help us, for we are assured that He careth for His believing dependent creatures. ‘Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.’ 1 Peter v. 7. Blessed are they, who can lay hold in humble faith, upon the precious promises, given to us, of the superintending care, the merciful compassion of our God — who in giving His dear Son, gave us an earnest of His love. ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also, freely give us all things?’

“J. M. Whitall.”

‘’Philadelphia, 5lh month, 15fh, 1861.

“My precious daughter Mary: — Thee and thine come so freshly before me, that to hold a little converse with thee seems a necessity. How is my darling Min.? She often occupies my thoughts. She was very sweet and lovely when I was at your house. What a good hard squeeze, and how many kisses she would get if within my reach at this time. Please give them to her for me. And little Jack, or big Jack, whichever he is — I do want to see him prodigiously. He fairly captured my heart when last in Baltimore, he was so good and sweet. I praised him highly to grandmother, and thought, and still think him beautiful, and as fine a grandson as we have. Dear fellow, kiss him for me, and tell him grandfather loves him dearly.

‘’ Does your uncle G. C. yet see through the secession movement? I do not feel certain of Virginia — her interests are so with the Slave Cotton States, that there is a strong probability that she will eventually join them; and would it not be better that she should? The slave interest and the free are so very different, can it be possible they will ever permanently harmonize? — that is the difficulty which must some time or other break up the Union, and why not now? But whether this event takes place at this time or in the future it is important for us individually that our work should keep up with the day, for we are told that ’ the night cometh when no man can work.’ I know of no better way to see to this, than to follow the advice of the Apostle, ‘Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.’ Yes, this is the secret to all virtue, strength and spiritual advancement, because if the Lord draws nigh to us, (which He infallibly will if we are honest and earnest in drawing nigh unto Him), He will give us to love Him, and increase our desires to serve Him with a pure, honest, humble heart. He will give us faith in His dear Son, and pardon our sins for His sake — and this will He daily give us to feel, which is better than all the world can bestow. May this experience, dear daughter, be thine and also thy dear husband’s, is the sincere wish and prayer of thy affectionate father.

“J. M. Whitall.
“Love to all hands.”

The secession of the Southern States referred to in the above letter, took place in 1861, with results that are a matter of history, and need not be referred to here. Our father’s sympathies were always most emphatically on the side of freedom, and through all the war, he watched with the deepest interest to see what would be its effect on the curse of slavery. I remember one dream he had durinsr the course of it, that seemed to make an indelible impression on his mind. He thus records this in his Pi.eminiscences:

“In the year 1863, when the rebel army under the command of General Lee were approaching Harrisburg, Pa., there was great trepidation among many of the citizens of Philadelphia, lest this city should be taken. Great quantities of merchandize and gold and silver plate, &c., were .sent north to be out of the reach of the invaders. We had gone for the summer to Atlantic City, and ourr town house was shut up. About the first of seventh month while the enemy were approaching the Susquehanna River, I dreamed that the same cloud which stood between the Israelites and the Egyptians at the crossing of the Red Sea, now appeared between the rebel host and the city of Philadelphia. The impression on my mind as to the safety of the city was so strong that I told my wife and our friend Eliza P. Gurney that I felt sure Lee would never come to Philadelphia, unless it was as a prisoner. The Lord discomfited him at Gettysburg on the 4th of 7th month, when a battle of three days’ duration was fought between him and the Union troops under General Meade.”

I think from this time our flither had no doubt as to the final success of the North, and the ultimate deliverance of the slaves from bondage; and no one rejoiced more than he did on the day when the President issued the Proclamation of Emancipation to the four millions of slaves in the United States. His admiration and love for Abraham Lincoln was very great, and his loyalty to the Pepublican party in politics was always from this time unmoved. He would not so much as listen to anything said against them, and found it very hard to believe that a party whose President had done such a glorious deed for a down-trodden race, could do anything wrong or mean afterwards.

This year of 1861 was a very exciting year to our whole country. The strength of the southern army was greatly exaggerated, and grave fears at first filled many hearts. In a joint letter from our parents written to my sister Sarah, our mother says:

“We do feel in so much concern and sorrow of heart at the state of things around us, and at the intelligence just received from John S. Hilles, who, alas! knows it to be true, that all the bridges are burned and destroyed between the Susquehanna and Baltimore, and the telegraph wires cut. “VVe do seem mournfully cut off from all intercourse with poor dearest Mary. G. Cheston received a telegram this morning from Baltimore, at eight o’clock, which said, ‘AH well and things quiet,’ but it appears since that the rebels were going up the road destroying bridges, &c. I thought you had better know how tilings really were, that we might feel together and suffer together. What an inexpressible cotnfort that dear Mary knows where to go for refuge; and that she can look to her Heavenly Father as a loving child, and feel assured of His tender mercy and care, even though it may be amid the fires. My heart yearns towards her, and yet I cannot say that I really feel uneasy or distressed about her; there is a calm trust that she will be cared for.”

To this my father adds:

“I am writing to precious Polly, and will trust to the letter reaching her, though the prospect looks slim. ‘The righteous have a strong Tower into which he runneth and is safe.’ Let us, dear Sally, seek a more full and decided acquaintance with this strong tower. ‘Acquaint thyself with God and be at peace.’”

The danger to Baltimore, to which this letter refers, seemed so threatening, that our sister Mary and her family finally fled to Philadelphia for refuge. She has sent me the following account:

“During all this anxious time the faith of our parents never failed, and they wrote us such cheering letters, so filled with trust in the Lord, as to be of the greatest comfort to us. ‘Trust in the Lord and do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed ‘; had been the promise of God which they had given us when we were married, and they repeated it now with the assurance that ‘faithful was He who had promised.’”

“It was just after the 19th of 4th mo., 1861, when the Massachusetts troops were attacked in the streets of Baltimore, and the city was placed under martial law, and serious apprehensions were felt that the vicinity of Baltimore would become the battle-field of the nation. The bridges between Baltimore and Philadelphia were finally burned, and the telegraph wires cut, so that there was no communication, and reports were circulated through the streets of Philadelphia that Baltimore was in flames, and that no one could leave the city. Our parents were not a whit discouraged by this gloomy state of things, and our father over and over expressed his conviction that ‘all was well with Poll,’ and that before long the whole Baltimore family would be safe in Filbert Street. Meanwhile we in Baltimore were passing through a scene of great excitement, and there was quite an exodus from the city of all who could find any place of refuge. Our hearts longed for the shelter and safety of the dear old home, and we finally packed up hastily and started for Philadelphia. The burning of the bridges had cut off all railway communication, and we were thus compelled to take a roundabout and tedious journey, going by steamboat to Perryville, and from there by a slow train to Philadelphia. AVe were detained many hours on the way, and at last arrived at the dear Filbert Street home about midnight, a tired but thankful party. Our father was expecting us, and the moment he heard the ring at the door he sprang out of bed, exclaiming, ‘There they are,’ and raising the window called out to the weary travellers, ‘I’ll let you in, we are expecting you,’ and then ran down to open the door, and in a few minutes our hearts were comforted by our darling parents’ most lovino; welcome.”

The tlireatenecl danger to Baltimore passed off happily without any really serious results, and our sister and her family were soon able to return to their home there.

In the year 18G1 our father had a severe illness,
which at one time seemed likely to terminate fatally.
My sister Sarah was the only one of the daughters
who was able to assist in the nursing, and she has
given me the following account:

‘’ My mother wrote me of my father’s illness, and 1 at once went into the city to see him. When I entered his room and sat down by his bed, he looked so sweet and peaceful and so ready to be translated, that I was not sarprised when he told me he thought it doubtful whether he would recover — indeed, that he believed he would not. But he said he was entirely resigned to the will of the Lord, either to go and be received, through the mercy of his dear Saviour, into Heaven, or to stay and battle with life longer. He said he was not afraid of death, for he trusted entirely in Christ, and believed that all his sins had been forgiven for Jesus’ sake, and that he felt nothing but peace. He then spoke of the imperfections of his life, and said he had often transgressed, lately more particularly in thought; bat that he believed he was, through great mercy, washed and made clean. It seemed that he could not repeat too often that his trust was entirely in the Lord, and reiterated, ’ all dependence upon myself has been taken away, and I trust entirely to the love and mercy of my dear Saviour.’

‘’ On 7th day morning a joyous solemnity seemed to hover over him. He did not smile, but a look of ineffable peace rested upon his dear face. I fe*lt as in the presence of holy things. After sitting by him a little while, he told me that a few mornings before, as he was lying still, holding communion with his Heavenly Father, that, clear and distinct, almost like a voice, he had heard these words, ‘Heavenly host, behold a soul which I have redeemed.’ It came to him with so much sweetness and power as to bring him in spirit into the actual presence of unseen glories, and there he seemed to linger and be as one who had entirely done with the affairs of this life.

“It was at this time he spoke to me so earnestly about the duty and privilege of holding communion with the Lord, which has been noticed in another place. He spoke also of the comfort dear mother was to him, and said he felt it such a favor that she had been spared to nurse him, and he enlarged, as he often did, upon her excellencies and superiority, and said she had been such a ‘sweet companion’ to him, and that she was an ’ uncommon woman; ’ and then words seemed to fail him to express all he wanted to say, and he said emphatically, she is ‘just mother!

“He then spoke most affectionately to me, and said it
was such a comfort to see me, his ’ dear daughter,
seeking heavenly things, endeavoring to walk in the
way of holiness,’ and said I must teach Whitall and
Bessie early to love their Heavenly Father. He spoke
most warmly of William, too, and said how much he
had always esteemed him, and received him entirely as
his son, and confided in him, and that he hoped the
good feeling and love would always continue!

“During this sickness lie seemed to lose his hold on earthly interests, and although expressing himself as entirely resigned to the will of the Lord, yet he spoke very often of being tired of life. He seemed sometimes almost oppressed by the feeling, and as if a mighty weight of sadness settled upon him in view of it. It would to him then have been a boon to take flis:;ht from earth and revel in the presence of his beloved Saviour; and even when he was manifestly getting better, he seemed unable to come in spir-t back to life. One day, after he had recovered so far as to sit up a,nd be about his room, he wrote the following lines, and laid them on the table where mother and I could see them: —

Tired and weary, Life’s journey o’er,

I reach the dark waters, I linger no more;

I wait for my Pilot, I trust in His word;

The Lord sitteth King, sitteth King of the flood!

He strengthens my spirit, He gives me His peace,

All fears fly away and anxieties cease.

In the fountain He washed me, He made me all clean;

He gave me to trust Him, to love Him supreme.

He clothed me with beauty, His image impressed;

His righteousness shields me, in His robe I am dressed.

No works do I boast of, no works of my own;

In Jesus, my Saviour, in His love alone,

I boldly press forward to join the bright throng

Who are waiting to welcome and teach me their song.

“We felt so glad and happy to have him getting well that we could hardly enter into his feelings, and tried to cheer him with thoughts of more years spent in the service of his Master, and endeavored to win from him an acquiescence in the joy of it. But he only smiled, and appeared to keep his thoughts fixed on that far-off, happy land he had so surely thought he was about to enter.”

Returning strength, however, brought back his old interests, and from that time on to the day of the attack, which at one stroke took from him the spring of his power, he was foremost in the battle for the right, and strong to do what he saw to be the will of God.

“Philadelphia, 5th month, 17 th, 1862.

“Dearest Foley, Jr.: — Mumps, mumps, mumps, is the word hereaway. Sally Harlan took them at school, and had them three weeks ago. Franky went to Linden yesterday with his Grandmother, and he with blue-eyed Johnny and Sally H., had some rare fun, as mother told thee. Well to-day Franky has the mumps, and no mistake. Now for Johnny and Tim Tom, with the chits at Linden, guess we shall have a mumpy time. The heat of to-day makes us think of Atlantic. I must go down and fix up the flower beds — haven’t been there since last summer but once, with E. P. G.

“I have been to the Alms House with Elizabeth Comstock and companion. They had good service, and the visited were much pleased, and I hope benefited. Yesterday they went to Pennsylvania Hospital, in one of the sick wards a sick soldier attracted their attention, and called forth a prayer at his bedside, with which he expressed much satisfaction. Last night he passed from time to eternity. It was a little singular he had no friends or connections, and left in the steward’s hand 180 dollars. He was from Ireland.

“It seems long since holding communion in this way with thee, dear Polly, but often have you been the companion of my thoughts. Dear little Harry, I do want to give him a right hard kiss, and John M. Whitall Thomas, too, even if he has not yet got a new heart; but he must pray his heavenly Father to give him a new heart, and clean heart, and to make him a good boy — tell him to be right earnest in praying for this, and he will get a new heart. And darling Minnie, Oh, how I love her. She is one of the verv sweetest dearest grandchildren we have, and she prays to Heavenly Jesus for a new heart, and to be kept from doing wrong, and that she may be a great help to her dear father and mother. Oh, it is so nice to be good and feel at peace with heavenly Father, and that He loves us, and we love Him, and we so desire to please Him. I would say to her father and mother, that if they will be in right earnest to seek Heavenly Father, He will be found of them, and honor them with His presence, and bless them with His saving grace, and keep them from sin on the right hand and on the left hand, and be a guide to them in this life, and when they leave this world, He will for His dear Son’s sake, admit them to the joys of His heavenly kingdom. Oh, that we may all be diligent, and not permit the days to pass, without oflener than the morning, drawing nigh in prayer, fervent, earnest prayer to our Gracious God, who has given us a proof of His desire to save us in the gift of His beloved Son, to die for our sins, ’ the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us unto God.’ Then let us put on courage, and come to the throne of grace in full assurance that we shall be accepted in the Beloved, and although we may feel weak and poor, and it is needful we should, that ’ we may have the sentence of death in ourselves, and learn not to trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead,’ yet may we trust in the blessed promise, ‘I will in no wise cast out him that cometh to me.’

“Dear love to Margaret Cheston, who we rejoice to believe is getting better, and to G. C. and other dear friends. With many kisses to the darling children, I am your affectionate father,

J. M. W.

“First Day Morning, 18<A. — Blue-eyed Johnny has the mumps. This morning he came running in, shouting for joy that he had the mumps, and could therefore play with Franky. — So we go.”

‘’Philadelphia, 6th month, 12th, 1863.” Precious Folly : — There thou art away down there so far from us! Why did thou go? A pretty question to ask, thou wilt say to a daughter of mother Eve. — Curiosity brought me of course, if nothing better. But seriously, thou seems very far away, and our hearts often go out towards thee and thine, with tender feeling and desires for your welfare every way. It is related of Stephen

Girard that seeing a poor man in distress or trouble of some kind along the street, and the lookers on pitying him — Girard walked up and said, ‘How much do you pity him, I pity him five dollars,’ and handed over; so I say I pity thee twenty-five dollars, and thy good husband will please draw upon me at sight for that amount.

“Mother is telling thee all the family news, so I will quit by sending many kisses to the dear children, right on their ’ wide open’ mouths. We hope to have a good long visit from you all at home. Still with near affection, thy father. Love to the Doctor, &e., &c.

“J. M. W.”