, fullest, truest, strongest,
With your life-blood you must write."

So did the sweet singer herself write from her own experience.

Her hymns, which are very numerous, no less than seventy being in common
use, have been the means not only of arresting the undecided and helping
the saint, but of consoling the suffering and the doubting. So many of
her poems were the expressions of a bright faith and simple trust
shining out through storm and cloud, that others, storm-tossed and
beclouded, catch the rays and are cheered thereby.

Although many of the poems are in a plaintive minor tone there are
occasional bursts of more cheerful strain, as in the lines on "A Merrie
Christmas," which appeared in the _Sunday at Home_.

"A Merrie Christmas to you!
For we serve the Lord with mirth.
And we carol forth glad tidings
Of our holy Saviour's birth.

So we keep the olden greeting,
With its meaning deep and true,
And wish a Merrie Christmas
And a Happy New Year to you.

Oh, yes! 'a Merrie Christmas,'
With blithest song and smile,
Bright with the thought of Him who dwelt
On earth a little while,

That we might dwell for ever
Where never falls a tear:
So 'a Merrie Christmas' to you,
And a Happy, Happy Year!"

The beautiful and aptly chosen titles alone in many cases are most
suggestive and refreshing. Yes, Frances R. Havergal's power of giving
expression to holy aspiration and Christian loyalty and heartfelt praise
will live as long as English Hymnology lives.

VII.

"SEEING THE KING."

We come now to describe the closing months of this devoted life. Her
sister recalls that the New Year's greeting given to her on January 1,
1879. was, "'He crowneth the year with His goodness,' and He crowneth me
'with loving-kindness and tender mercies.' You, dear Marie, are one of
my mercies; and I do hope He will let me do something for you up
in heaven."

The following subjects of prayer for 1878-79, found in her Bible, will
not only illustrate her method of petition, but will be helpful to other
Christians longing to excel in supplication.

"I have greatly enjoyed the regular praying of the Lord's Prayer, and
take a petition each morning in the week. Intercession for others I
generally make at evening. I take the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the
same way and find this helpful."

_GENERAL_.

MORNIN