chasing them as children do
bubbles of water, till they break, and we find them nothing but air.'

"Observing this inward recollection, I seldom disturbed him. He
was perfectly acquainted with the truth, and believed it. The
doctrines of religion were often the subject of our conversation, and
in every point of faith we entirely agreed: they only wanted to be
felt and applied to the heart. I remained in silence to my dear
husband, but not to my God: I was incessant in prayer, begging and
beseeching that the Lord himself would carry on what he had so
graciously begun--that he would every way suit himself to his
necessities, and give conviction or consolation, as he saw needful;
but when he spoke I endeavored to answer him from God's own word, as I
was able or assisted. Once he exclaimed, 'Draw me, and I will run
after thee;' at another time, 'Surely thou wilt not allow thy blessed
Son to plead in vain for me, an obstinate sinner.' This was a degree
of faith, and I endeavored to strengthen it. I said, 'My love, you
know the way to the Father, through Christ, the only Mediator. You say
right, he cannot plead in vain; fly to him; cast yourself at his feet;
trust in him; hear his own invitation, 'Come unto me, all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;' 'him that cometh
unto me I will in no wise cast out.' At another time these words broke
from his lips, 'Form me, train me, prepare me for thyself.' Here was a
breathing after sanctification; might not the promise be applied, 'I
will create a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within thee.'

"In the evening the physicians again attended, but could hardly
get a word from him. While they sat by the bedside I went out to the
gallery with Mrs. Grandidier; the apparent struggle she had to conceal
her distress, the compassion and sympathy in her countenance struck
me. I easily perceived she gave up hope, and, I began to suspect, not
from her own judgment alone; she advised me to send away my children
to a friend's house, and to send for a person who was capable of
assisting me, it being no longer proper for me to be alone. Thus far I
had not allowed any person to do the least thing about him but myself,
nor stirred from his bedside, except for a few minutes, to pour out my
soul into the bosom of my God. I hardly, if ever, prayed for his
recovery, being willing the rod should remain till it effected the
purpose for which it was sent, and then I be