ty Mrs. Graham was dissuaded from going into the city to
attend on the sick: the fear of involving her children in the same
calamity, in the event of her being attacked by the fever, was the
chief reason of her acquiescing in their wish to prevent so hazardous
an undertaking. During the subsequent winter she was indefatigable in
her attentions to the poor, she exerted herself to procure work for
her widows, and occupied much of her time in cutting it out and
preparing it for them. The managers of the Widows' Society had each a
separate district; and Mrs. Graham, as first Directress, had a general
superintendence of the whole. She was so happy in the execution of her
trust, as to acquire the respect and confidence of the ladies who
acted with her, as well as the affections of the poor.

Her whole time was now at her command, and she devoted it very
faithfully to promote the benevolent object of the institution over
which she presided. The extent of her exertions, however, became
known, not from the information given by herself, but from the
observations of her fellow-laborers, and especially from the testimony
of the poor themselves. When she had been absent for some weeks, on a
visit to her friends in Boston, in the summer of 1800, her daughter,
Mrs. B----, was surprised at the frequent inquiries made after her by
persons with whom she was unacquainted: at length she asked some of
those inquirers what they knew about Mrs. Graham. They replied, "We
live in the suburbs of the city, where she used to visit, relieve, and
comfort the poor. We had missed her so long, that we were afraid she
had been sick; when she walked in our streets, it was customary with
us to come to the door and receive her blessing as she passed."

We next find letters to her female friend near Boston, who was
still in much spiritual darkness and despondency.

To Mrs. C----, near Boston.

"MARCH, 1799.

"MY EVER DEAR FRIEND--I have just read your letter, painful to
you to write, but to me as the mother's anguish which precedes her
joy. The day will soon break, and the shadows flee away; and the dear
Saviour whom you seek, will again comfort his returning prodigal.

"I will do what you desire me, and though I have the highest
opinion of our young Timothy, J.M., I will pass by him in this case,
and lay it before one of the aged Christians, Dr. R----rs or