and family came

ABOUT the summer of 1817, Mr. F to reside at C- -House, near Luss, Dunbartonshire. Mr. F was proprietor of a place in a beautiful part of Ireland, near Larne, in the county of Antrim, and in the vicinity of the Giant's Causeway. Of the three daughters of Mr. F. Jane, the second, was a lovely, interesting young person, though the three sisters were all pleasing, accomplished, and well educated. They were enthusiastic admirers of the scenery of Loch Lomond, and used, with their mother, who was in delicate health, to row about on that beautiful lake, while Jane, who drew extremely well, would, on those occasions, employ her pencil in sketching. Her eldest sister, Catherine, excelled in music, and especially in singing. They devoted, besides, a considerable portion of their time daily to reading aloud, and were well informed. Mrs. F, from the state of her health, seldom went out in the evening, but her daughters were soon welcome guests in most of the houses in the neighbourhood. They were frequent visitors at Sir J C's, at

Rossdhu. The impression made by Jane on all there is still remembered. Her prepossessing exterior, good sense, cultivated mind, amiable disposition, and warmth of heart, rendered her an acquisition in whatever society she happened to be placed. She could not fail to attract the observation of Lady Cthough at that time there were perceptible in her no signs of interest in religion beyond an ordinary respect for it. She with her family weekly attended at the parish church, and how much this church-going was a matter of mere form with the subject of this sketch, may be inferred from the following anecdote:"Have you remarked," she one day asked her friends at Rossdhu, "that picturesque old woman, who on Sundays sits on the pulpit stairs?" They replied that they had. "Oh," said Jane F, "she is such a fine-looking old woman; I cannot take my eyes off her all the time of the sermon; and I am painting her likeness from memory. I can carry away each Sunday an impression of her features sufficient to employ my pencil during the week."

The future husband of Jane F- and her eldest brother were partners in the civil service in Ceylon, and there lived together. When her marriage to Mr. C S▬▬ was contemplated, her parents were at first opposed to it, chiefly because they could not resolve to part with their daughter for the term of years Mr. S- had still to remain in India.

At length, however, they gave their consent to the union; and it was in the prospect of this event, and of quitting her native country, that she first felt any anxiety on the concerns of her soul. The question arose in her mind, "whether, on being separated from wonted ordinances, spiritual advantages, and religious friends, her religion would stand?" This led to another inquiry, "whether she had ANY religion at all?" Severe was the mental conflict that ensued; and after a careful scrutiny and search into her own views, motives, and feelings, she was forced to confess that she had none. It was about this time that her intimacy with Lady C commenced. She met her Ladyship at a dinner party. On leaving the diningroom the ladies went to walk round the garden. Lady C and Jane F having separated from the rest, in her own sweet and engaging manner Lady C― introduced the subject of religion, and her young companion opened to her all her mind. After this she called frequently at Rossdhu to converse with her alone on the subject that now entirely engrossed her thoughts; and as these interviews were the principal means of leading this interesting inquirer into the light of the gospel, they originated an ardent and lifelong attachment. "The last visit she paid at Rossdhu, as she came to take leave, is still fresh," says our informant, on my memory as when it happened. It was on a bright autumnal morning, and I well remember her light, elegant form, as she glided along the avenue, after she had bidden farewell to her friend and adviser. She agreed to correspond; she hoped to meet us again in the course of four or five years, as Mr. Sthen expected to be home not to return; but we

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never saw her again." Her voyage to India was pleasant and propitious in company with Sir Edward and Lady B- The two years of Mrs. C. S's married life were spent in Ceylon, and in uninterrupted happiness. Her religion was not opposed by her husband, but on the contrary, it would appear, exerted a salutary influence in leading him also to seek the way heavenwards.

In one of her letters she thus detailed her experience to her friend on Loch Lomond :-"I possess great earthly happiness. I hear of my beloved family being in excellent health, and I have one of the kindest and most indulgent husbands that ever lived. But all these blessings, instead of raising my heart in thankfulness to the Giver of all good, and leading me to devote myself more to his service, seem only to bind my thoughts more firmly to this world, and I am often made to fear that I shall be deprived of some of those great mercies I am so unworthy of

but

possessing. Yet no contrition seems to accompany the knowledge of my own sinfulness, and I have generally a gaiety and happiness of heart which should only be produced by the hope of daily advancing in meetness for the kingdom of heaven. When my prayers are cold and wandering I cannot deplore it as I ought, nor do I ask with sufficient earnestness for assistance to pray better; at the same time I certainly do often feel the indescribable happiness of being able to trust in 'One mighty to save,' and that it is not for our sakes that our prayers are accepted by God. I think I am gaining rather more knowledge of my own sinfulness and of the waywardness of my heart; as I said before, it is unaccompanied by sorrow for my offences, and does not diminish that lightness of mind which is certainly gaining on me." And God may have seen what she herself suspected, and in order to bring the roaming spirit back into its quiet rest, he sent "the windy storm and the tempest." Six weeks after these lines were written, Mr. S- one morning felt slightly unwell. This did not, however, deter him from taking his accustomed cold bath at noon; immediately after which he became worse, violent symptoms of cholera appearing, which terminated in his death, in the space of two or three hours. The effect of so sudden a blow on such a mind and disposition as Mrs. S- L's may be imagined; her state for some time after (by her own account) seemed bordering on distraction, and she might have sunk under the weight of woe, but for the Christian kindness of the Rev. Mr. M- -, missionary belonging to the Church Missionary Society, who went to her directly, and had her carried away from the scene of death, after the funeral, to his own house. There, through the sympathy of that excellent missionary and his truly Christian wife, Mrs. S. became more composed, and her mind gradually, in some measure, recovered from the shock. For a period, however, she could not join even the family circle; her affliction for long was extreme, and if for a time, from any accidental cause, or during sleep, her mind was diverted from a sense of her bereavement, when brought again to her recollection, the remembrance of her loss occasioned the most acute mental anguish. To use her own words, "it brought such a rush of agony."

"I have often," she says, in another letter to Lady C——, "intended writing to you. In the time of my deepest affliction, you were one of the very few my heart seemed to turn to; feeling that you would understand where consolation can alone be found. I have, indeed, been in a strong fire of affliction since I last wrote to you. Oh that the fire had consumed more of the dross. Then I was at the height of earthly hap

piness. The fall was sudden and violent; and, unless upheld by an Almighty arm, I must have perished in my affliction. On the first shock I was left to my own strength, and the mind wandered under the acuteness of the anguish. It seemed as if I could not pray; yet even the first look to Him whose compassions fail not, was answered; and in a way I could not have conceived before. I was made to experience my own inability to have so much as one thought, except by the help of God and his wondrous power to shed into the soul the richest spiritual consolations in the midst of nature's woe. Oh! the deep, keen, almost overpowering views then given me of the vastness of eternity; and great, in proportion, was the consolation when, by the tender mercy of God, there came back on the mind the transporting conviction that the soul, which seemed the dearer part of my own, has entered on an eternity of blessedness-that as surely as Christ died and rose again, even those also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him and the evidence that his state was such was so abundant, as to raise my soul in wonder and gratitude. My earthly, backsliding heart had been so satisfied with present happiness, as to be comparatively forgetful of spiritual; but now I remember, with indescribable comfort, these last seven or eight months in particular, the gradual, the beautiful change, that often made me exclaim to myself, I may have more of religion on my lips, but he has infinitely more of it in his heart.' The sting of my many omissions, in regard to his spiritual welfare, I thought at first could never be extraeted; but my compassionate God has been pleased long to remove it, and even to change it into an additional motive of gratitude to Him who did it all himself, and who did not allow my sinfulness to come in the way of the great work of his salvation."

:

Then, after mentioning Mr. M's providential visit to her dying husband, and her sojourn in the house of the missionary and his "truly Christian wife," she concludes:- "My voyage was such as to keep faith in constant exercise; many dangers, but a powerful, protecting God appearing through all. I may humbly say, Hitherto hath the Lord helped me.' I am continually made to feel my weakness. Were I trying to look to earth, in any shape, for comfort, the heart would yet entirely sink under sorrow. But blessed be our faithful God, who will never leave nor forsake us; who can give us faith to rest on his promises, and who can show the blessed termination, when those sundered on earth shall unite for ever in praising redeeming love. My dear Lady C- I have given you a letter filled about myself, but I know you will join with me in praising

THE ENGLISH MONTHLY TRACT SOCIETY, 27, RED LION SQUARE

Your letter was,

the mercy and love of our Saviour God. indeed, most comfortable to me. I received one from you at Baddagama, written when you thought me in the midst of earthly happiness. I was struck by your saying in it, 'If we cannot give our hearts to God, let us pray that he will take them-by any means take them.' You had little idea then that it required my best earthly treasure to be taken to heaven, before I could feel that my all was there.”

After seven months Mrs. C- returned to England, and on reaching home, chiefly resided with her husband's mother in Ireland. A year was spent at her father's seat in Antrim, previously to its being sold, circumstances having led Mr. Fto dispose of his property in Ireland, and to resolve to settle with his family in Canada. After mentioning these particulars to Lady C, Mrs. Swrote: "I cannot help telling of the change I see in my beloved mother, for a change there certainly is; and though she does not speak much on the subject of religion, it is, I do trust, wrought by Him from whom comes every good and perfect gift, and who alone can turn our rebellious hearts in any degree towards Himself. Her great sweetness struck me on first going over, and a degree of calmness unusual with her; also a lower estimate of earthly things; and as I remained, I saw there was more reading of the Bible, and desire for prayer, and taking pleasure in religious books, such as Newton's Cardiphonia, &c., &c., and many other little evidences that raised the heart in gratitude to our Saviour God, who by His Spirit seemed to have begun what, I trust, He will surely carry on."

Not long after the settlement of her family in Canada, Mrs. C. S― received intelligence of the death of her mother, but she had also the consolation of hearing that she died in Christ, in the hope of a glorious immortality. She continued to reside with her mother-in-law, Mrs. S in Ireland, till the death of that lady. Soon after, being informed of the dangerous illness of her father, she without hesitation resolved at once to go to him. Her letters at this time breathed the sweet resignation manifested by her in every change during the course of her eventful life. We subjoin a short extract from one, addressed to Lady C, after her arrival in Canada, in 1836, and dated, Cottage of the Falls, Upper Canada :"

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"A letter received from my dearest father just before sailing, mentioning his health as quite restored again, led me to be too sanguine, and made the blow the heavier when I heard the morning after my arrival that I was not again to see him in this life; but, as usual, I found our condescending God most near when most