Society. Such opportunities afford the means of circulating a knowledge of
the truth to those whose hearts may be preparing to receive it; and if
such are only awakened to seek after the ways of holiness, although they
may never come to be of our number on earth, they will he found among the
number of the saints in heaven. The bathing-list this season already
amounts to 2500 persons, in which number there are many who are desirous
to inquire the way to Zion. It is much to be desired that the peculiar
advantages which Pyrmont affords for spreading in the different parts of
the Continent books illustrative of our religious principles should be
judiciously embraced, particularly as there appears such an openness to
receive them. I can truly say I have been thankful that my lot has been
here this summer, and I trust I have not flinched from doing what I
believed to be required of me.

In his letters to his brother, John Yeardley makes frequent mention of his
mother. In the Ninth Month he heard of her being seriously ill, and he
thus writes in reference to her state, in a letter elated the 29th of the
Ninth Month:--

The state of my dear mother's health is truly alarming; but as I have
received no further account from thee, I am flattering my poor panting
heart with a comfortable hope that she may have taken a turn for the
better, and will yet live to see the hour when we shall once more embrace
each other in my native land. If she should be taken away without my being
permitted to see her again, it would be a cup which I could not tell how
to drink. This brings poignantly to my remembrance one of the most trying
hours of my life, and yet the support then received was wonderful.

As I rode along the road in the course of this summer on a journey of
business, my dear mother was brought to my remembrance in such a very
remarkable manner, that I seemed to have a spiritual interview with her;
and she was brought so near to my feelings, that I thought it probable I
should never see her again until we met in eternity. I scarcely know how I
felt, but it was as if my spirit accompanied hers into the regions above.
I noted down the circumstance when I got home; for it had made such an
impression on my mind, that I should not then have been surprised to have
heard of her departure.[1]

The following instructive remarks occur in the Diary about this time:--

10 _mo_. 27.--My retirement and reading this morning has been more