could see you securing the friendship of your God. Remember, his vows are upon you, and you cannot, must not, go back. Farewell, beloved child. The Lord be with you continually." About the close of the month of September, she desired the physician then attending her to inform her, definitely and frankly, whether there was, in his opinion, any prospect of her recovery. His answer was in the negative. She received it, with some feeling, but with submission, and thanked him for his kindness in being so explicit. On the third of October, she was removed again to her residence in Boston; and proceeded immediately, to set her house in order, in preparation for death. She had an interview with the gentleman who has since, in compliance with the request then made, been appointed guardian to her children. She saw, or wrote to, the friends who have kindly undertaken the charge of their education. The following is an extract from one of her letters on this subject, dated October 20, 1823. "My dear M. How I have longed to see you. Your mother said you would be here, and I have expected it with great anxiety. She said you would take S. Will you be her mother? Will your husband be her father? Will you watch over this dear child?—Yes, you will, and I shall die easy on this point. God helps me to trust the promise, "Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them.” "My strength decays. I have scarcely any appetite. But my Savior lays under me his everlasting arm; and I trust that all is well, and will be well forever. Pray that I may have his presence, and that I may glorify him to the end. Farewell, beloved friend." During her illness, her pastor had frequent interviews with her. She at one time, about a fortnight after the first bleeding from her lungs, had some doubts and fears in regard to the genuineness of her religious experience. Her apprehension was, that she might never have been truly humbled for sin. But the feelings which this apprehension excited, were of such a character as to furnish to others, the most satisfactory evidence of her piety; as they clearly evinced a deep and practical conviction, that, without the light of God's countenance, there can be no real happiness. The cloud was, however, soon dissipated; and, from that time till her death, she was favored with uniform peace of mind. Her pastor, usually when other engagements did not prevent, made brief minutes, upon returning home from visiting her, of the conversation during the interview. A few of these, as a specimen, will be here inserted. "Tuesday, October 28, 1823.-Called on Mrs. Huntington about half past nine in the morning, found that she had failed considerably since my last visit. To an inquiry in relation to the state of her mind since Friday, she replied, "I think I have felt more of the presence of Christ than I did when I saw you last. I have not had 66 those strong views and joyful feelings, with which I have sometimes been favored. My mind is weak, and I cannot direct and fix my thoughts as I once could. But I think I have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hopes set before me in the precious Gospel; and He, who is the foundation of that hope, will never forsake me." Then, with a most interesting expression of countenance she said, "I trust we shall meet in heaven, and spend an eternity in praising our dear Redeemer." It was replied, we shall, if we give him our hearts, and continue faithful to him unto the end." "I feel," she answered "that I have been very, very unfaithful. But he is merciful, his blood cleanseth from all sin, and I trust he has blotted my sins from the book of his remembrance. Oh, what should we do without Christ?" "As much debtors," it was remarked, "to free grace at the end of our course as when we begin it." "More,” she replied, "far more; for we sin against greater light and love, after we are born again. Yes, it is all of free grace. If it were not what would become of me?" It was answered, "you would have perished, justly perished; but now, when you enter heaven, you will stand before the angels, a monument of God's justice as well as of his free grace, for he is just in justifying those that believe in Jesus." "Yes," she replied; "what a glorious plan! what a precious Savior! oh, that I could love him more! pray that I may love and glorify him forever." "On Friday October 31st, at nine o'clock A. M. found her more comfortable than on Tuesday last. She said, "my mind has generally been in a peaceful frame since I saw you. But I want to realize the presence and preciousness of Christ, more distinctly and constantly than my great weakness permits me to do." Some remarks were made respecting the provisions of the covenant of Grace as adapted to all our weaknesses. "The bible," it was said, "tells us that, he knoweth our frame, he remembereth that we are dust ;' 'a bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench;' we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."" She said, "glorious covenant! precious promises! I have given myself, soul and body, to Him in whom they are all yea and amen, and I do not fear. I desire to have him do with me as it shall please him." "Friday, November 7.-To the usual inquiry respecting the state of her mind, she said, Mrs. Graham accurately describes my feelings, when she says, "thus far has the Lord brought me throughthe wilderness, bearing, chastising, forgiving, restoring. I am near to Jordan's flood. May my blessed high priest, and ark of the covenant lead on my staggering steps the little further I have to go.' * See Life and Writings of Mrs. Isabella Graham, p. 161, third New York edition. I have had no rapturous views of the heaven to which I hope I am going, no longings to depart. But I have generally been enabled to feel a calm submission, and to realize the fullness and the preciousness of the Savior. I desire to feel perfect resignation to the will of God, because it is his will. O how sweet, to be willing to be just where, and just what God pleases; to rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth, and worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. This, in its perfection, is I think, a principal source of the happiness of heaven. Pray that God would enable me to feel thus while suffering from weakness and pain, and entering the dark valley." Frequently, during her sickness, she had expressed to her pastor, a desire that he would, if possible, be with her in her last moments. On Thursday December 4th, he was informed, about three o'clock in the afternoon, that she had failed greatly since morning, and would probably survive but a little longer. He immediately repaired to her residence and found her sleeping, but very restless and breathing with great difficulty. She continued in this state, except that respiration became constantly more difficult, through the afternoon and evening. About eleven o'clock the difficulty of breathing became so great, as to overcome the disposition to slumber. Intelligence, it was found, still remained. She was asked "if she knew that she was near her end." She answered by a sign in the affirmative. It was said, "I hope you feel the presence of the Savior sustaining and comforting you. She assented. "Your faith and hope in him are unshaken?" Her reply was in the affirmative.-A few minutes after, her sight failed; and, at twenty minutes past eleven, her spirit entered into rest. Her end was full of peace, Fitting her uniform piety serene, 'Twas rather the deep humble calm of faith, Of glory, bursting from a clouded course. From the Memoirs of Mrs. Huntington, by the Rev. B. B. Wisner, D. D., late pastor of the Old South Church in Boston, now Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. MISS CAROLINE ELIZABETH SMELT. MISS CAROLINE ELIZABETH SMELT, the subject of the following narrative, was born in the city of Augusta, in the state of Georgia, on the Lord's day morning, December 28th, 1800. Her ancestors, so far as is known, were respectable. Her father, Doctor Dennis Smelt, was born in Essex county, in the state of Virginia, on the 23d day of November, 1763. His father, the Rev. John Smelt, was a clergyman of the Episcopal church; he was born in England, educated at Oxford, and emigrated to America in early life, where he married a lady of Virginia, who gave birth to the Doctor. Doctor Smelt was educated at William and Mary College, in his native state. In the year 1786 he went to England, for the purpose of completing his medical studies; where he remained three years, and then returned to his native land. The state of Georgia, at that time, offered many attractions to young men of talents and enterprise. Accordingly, the Doctor determined on removing thither, and selected Augusta as the place of his future residence, where he settled in 1789. Here his medical skill and industrious attention to the duties of his profession, soon procured him a large share of public confidence, as well as an extensive and lucrative practice. In the year 1806, he was elected, by his fellow citizens, as a member to represent them in the Congress of the United States. After acting five years in this capacity, he retired from the service of his country, to repose in the bosom of his family. In the year 1798 he received in marriage the hand of Miss Mary Cooper, an amiable and accomplished young lady of Augusta. Miss Caroline was not the first child of her parents. A son, named John, was the first pledge of their wedded love. This son afforded his parents all that happiness, in prospect, which a promising infant could possibly furnish, during thirteen months. It pleased Him who "blessed little children," to take this interesting child from his earthly parents, at that early age, to be with himself. About four months after this bereavement, the hearts of these parents were gladdened by the birth of a daughter; and this daughter was Caroline Elizabeth. From early childhood, she discovered strong marks of an intelligent mind, blended with much meekness, modesty, and benevolence of disposition. At the age of eighteen months, she was uncommonly engaging and interesting. She could, even then, repeat many little prayers with such a distinct articulation as is not usual at that tender age. When only two years old, she could repeat a number of short instructive lessons, which she had committed to memory, and deliver them with such pathos, propriety of emphasis, and expression of countenance, as to surprise and gratify all who heard her. In her eighth year, she was called to experience a most afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence, in the death of a darling little sister, who was three years younger than herself. She was greatly grieved, but displayed much resignation to the will of God; and directed her sympathy and affectionate condolence, to the consolation of her afflicted mother. Mrs. Smelt had enjoyed but feeble health for several years, and her mind had been deeply exercised, in seeking to secure the best interests of her own soul. This bereavement laid her low in the valley of humiliation. She was visited by many pious friends and ministers of the gospel. When her mother was engaged in conversation with them, reading the Scriptures, or other religious works, little Caroline would give her whole attention to the subject, and she has since told her mother, that from that period she dated the first perceptible operations of divine grace upon her heart. For, said she," so clear was my comprehension of the plan of salvation through a Redeemer, that I understood it as well, and believed in it as firmly, at eight years of age, as I do now on my death bed." She also observed, "that it had often been a matter of astonishment to her, even at that early period, that she should have had such clear conceptions of a subject which caused so much investigation and doubt in the minds of older persons." She was always attentive to religious instruction, and at the age just mentioned particularly so. Her mother never asked her to retire with her, for the purpose of private prayer, without finding her ready and immediately willing to attend, let her little engagements be what they might. She would bow on her little knees, with so much sweet humility, and so silently and patiently engage in this solemn duty, as to afford her affectionate mother the greatest delight, particularly when she could see her, at the close of the duty, wiping the precious tears from her infantile cheeks. She was early distinguished for her love of truth; insomuch, that she was frequently called upon to decide little disputes in school; it being generally admitted by the contending parties, that Caroline Smelt would not tell a falsehood, even to screen herself from censure. Her friends have no recollection of her ever having deserved a reproof for deviating from strict veracity. She viewed falsehood as one of the most degrading and unprofitable vices, and a very high offence against Him who knoweth all things. Neither did she countenance or practice tale-bearing. So far did she carry this principle, as to suffer herself sometimes to be grossly imposed upon, rather than make a complaint, lest she might be called a tell-tale. To her relations she was affable and companionable, while yet a child; but her extreme diffidence, or timid modesty, prevented her from communicating her ideas on any subject, with freedom, except |