The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-05-20


strange lady had been brought to the
place in a low condition of health. L
made it convenient very soon to call up
on her. Her name was E.. The
house in which II found her was of the
most humble descriptbn. Init there was
nothing but a trunk or two, a few chairs
and the bed upon which she lay. She
had no relations nearher, nor any faml-
ly except one little son who waited upon
her, and gave to her such necessarles as
a few kind ladies in the vicinity supplied
her with. After | had taken my seat
by her side and commenced conversation
with her, glow of unwonted delight
and gratefulness beamed upon her pale
countenance, as soon as che knew that
was minister of tb 8ospel. She gave
me to understand that the religion of
Jesus had, for many years, been her COM
fort and stay, but owirg-,o the oircum-
stances in which she had lived for some
months past, she had been cut off from
its cheering influences, except as derived
from her Bible, and solitary access to the
throne of grace. This interview seemed
greatly to revive her dropping faith, and
for the time being to dispel the gloomi-
SIS that reigned around her.
/ was soon convinced that some great
reverses must have overtaken her. Her
language and mode of presenting her
ideas evineed an education of no ordina-
ry kind, and her manners, notwithstanding
her extreme feeblen ess, showed refine
ment which could have been acquired on
ly by intercourse with polished society.
was never able to learn much of her
former history. | know not that she
ever disclosed it to any one in the place
where she ended her days. All that J
ever gathered with certainty was that
she had been twice married. Her second
husband had professed to be minister of
the Gospel. She had accompanied him
to the South. Her health had failed.
He proved to be hypocrite. After
squandering her property he forsook her,
and left her in poverty among strangers.
The little son, whom L have mentioned,
was of her first marriage. Her disease
was consumption, that insidious destroy
er which carries to the unseen world so
many from Northern latitudes.
No one who has been in the habit of
visiting the afflicted can have failed to
notice the different effects produced upon
sufferers by affliction. Some, whom we
cannot but regard as the children of God,
do little else than murmur and complain
of their sufferings. They are like rebel
lious children under the chastizement Of
wise and kind parent. Others kiss the
rod and justify him who has appointed
it. A beloved follower of the Lamb,
who was among the first fruits of my
ministry, once said to me, while under
burning fever:
"I thank the Lord that he notices me
so much as to aflict me- Such ones
glorify God in the fires
There was a melancholy pleasure in
visiting Mrs. E.. l never heard a
murmuring word from her lips. With
her all was right, because appointed by
her Heavenly Father. Much has been
said and written upon the sublime. Say
ings and actions have been produced to
exemplify its effects. But what instance
ever equalled that of frail mortal meet
ing the King of Terrors in calmness and
disarming him of his sting?
1t was so ordered that not long before
her death, beloved brother in the min
istry, then connected with the Indian
Missions, was spending few days with
me. He had, previous to entering the
ministry, graduated in the medical de-
partment of the University of Penn
sylvania. He accompanied me on
one of my calls upon this suffering
servant of the Lord. | mentioned to
her that he was a physician, as well
as a minister. After profitable inter-
view and prayer with her, when about to
leave, she remarked to him that she would
feel grateful to him if he would make
known to her, as nearly as he could, the
length of time she might probably live.
After some deliberation, with great ten
derness he replied,
"My opinion is, Mrs. E., that you
cannot survive more than two weeks at
farthest."
Her calm and submissive countenance
seemed to reply, 1t is all right. The
Lords will be done.
After we had walked with silent and
pensive steps some distance, my friend
remarked that he had witnessed so many
dissections of persons in her disease, that
he could never lsok upon one in her con-
dition without imagining that he could
see the lungs as they then were.
q am satisfied" said he, "that the
portion of that lady's lungs which now