Agnes was truly happy, and devoutly thankful: never did she appear so dear, so precious to me; again I could hope she might be spared to me for many years, and that when she did go hence, I should shortly follow: but, in general, the dark ideas of the tomb were banished altogether; or if they came, it was invested with the glory of the resurrection.

One day Agnes had taken rather an unusually long walk, to see one of her poor pensioners; I was that morning engaged in the library writing some letters, but promised to set out to meet her on her return. I did so, and when we met, observed she looked flushed and fatigued: she said she had rather over-calculated her strength, as she had found the distance more considerable than she had anticipated. We reached home slowly, and when I arrived there, I found she was very unwell: I instantly became alarmed, and sent for a doctor; he treated the complaint at first very lightly, but the next day looked more grave, and said there were some symptoms of fever. Immediately I took the alarm; my late presentiment occurred to me, and my heart sunk within me. I galloped off to

Truro, for the best physician in the town. I was afraid no speed would equal mine; and I knew the importance of the early treatment of the disease. In the few hours I had been away, she had become worse; and when I presented myself by the bedside of my idolized wife, she did not know me; delirium had come on. I almost raved, myself.

CHAPTER XIV.

"When faith and love, which parted from thee never,
Had ripened thy just soul to dwell with God,
Meekly thou didst resign this earthly load

Of death, called life, which us from life doth sever!"

MILTON.

EVERY possible means were tried to abate the violence of the disorder, but with little success; my mother and myself watched by the bedside unceasingly. I seemed threatened with too great a weight of calamity to be able to contemplate. While there was any thing to be done, it relieved me. I applied leeches to her dear temples myself; and did every thing that it was possible to do. She sank at length (after a restless wandering night) into a doze; we watched her with breathless interest. When she awoke, my eyes were gladdened by per

ceiving she knew me, and that her recollection had returned. "My dearest husband," she said, "I must say what I have to say, while there is time, for I feel that it will be short." 66 Stop Agnes!" said I, "do not break my heart by so saying; you will recover, you must recover, I cannot bear to part with you; I have stormed heaven by my prayers for your precious life-believe that you will yet live to bless me; and it shall be so! "If you really love me, John," said she solemnly, talk not so wildly, so impiously, recollect your high calling, your christian principles;" now is the time for their exercise, now is the time to test their reality. Our good and gracious Father has vouchsafed us several years of almost unalloyed happiness together; murmur not, nor wonder that he sees fit now to interrupt it!"

I listened in silence to her sweet and solemn words; and while she proceeded, some faint gleam of the celestial spirit that animated her, shed its influence on my chastened heart.

"We ought not to have expected," she proceeded, "that this earth would have long continued so much like heaven let us bow in deep thankfulness for

:

such a large share of past blessings; and, O John, I charge you to pray for grace and submission to bear the stroke, I feel is about to be inflicted on you. Then think, oh! think of the unspeakable mercy, of my not having a God to seek! for has He not long been my shield and exceeding great reward!' Has not my soul fled for refuge to that hope set before me in the gospel?' and have I not felt the peace that has proceeded from faith in the great atonement ?-Verily now is the time to know the unspeakable value of these truths. My soul feels a sacred peace, a divine trust, an humble assurance of the Divine favour; I am even willing to leave you, my dear, my very dear husband! and only think of the grace vouchsafed, which enables me to feel this willingness to leave, though but for a time, my heart's cherished friend, my dearer self!"

She ceased speaking, and seemed engaged in mental prayer; a beautiful serenity overspread her expressive features. I tried likewise to pray as she had desired me, for strength to bear what I felt was inevitable; for I knew it would be useless to supplicate for her life: her spirit seemed so ripe for