istian truth and
life, which enliven its pages, have led some to prize it more than any
other of her writings.

And here it may not be out of place to insert the following letter
of her husband, written several months after her death. It gives her
matured views on certain points relating to the Christian life, about
which there has been no little difference of opinion:

NEW YORK, _April 16, 1879._

MY DEAR FRIEND:--Many thanks for your kind words about Urbane and
His Friends. So far at least as the aim and spirit of the book are
concerned, no praise could exceed its merits. It was written with
a single desire to honor Christ by aiding and cheering some of His
disciples on their way heavenward. At that time, as you know, there
was a good deal of discussion about "the Higher Christian Life" and
"Holiness through Faith." She herself had felt some of the difficulties
connected with the subject, and was anxious to reach out a helping hand
to others similarly perplexed. I do not think her mind was specially
adapted to the didactic style, nor was it much to her taste. When
writing in that style her pen did not seem to be entirely at ease, or to
move quite at its own sweet will. Careful statement and nice theological
distinctions were not her forte. And yet her mental grasp of Christian
doctrine in its vital substance was very firm, and her power of
observing, as well as depicting, the most delicate and varying
phenomena of the spiritual life was like an instinct. A purer or more
whole-hearted love of "the truth as it is in Jesus," I never witnessed
in any human being. At the same time she was very modest and distrustful
of her own judgment when opposed to that of others whom she regarded as
experienced Christians. I wish you could enjoy a tithe of the happiness
that was mine during the winter and spring of 1873-4, as, evening after
evening, she talked over with me the various points discussed in her
book, and then read to me what she had written. Those were golden hours
indeed--hours in which was fulfilled the saying that is written--_And
it came to pass that while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus
Himself drew near_. As I look back to the Sabbath evenings passed with
her in such converse, they seem to me radiant still with the glory of
the risen Christ. Nor am I able to imagine what else than His presence
could have rendered them, at the time, so soothing and blissful.

You refer to her fondness for the mystics.