und new ones, who talked to me with grateful
enthusiasm of "Stepping Heavenward," "More Love to Thee, O Christ," and
other of her writings. In truth, my feelings about her, while I was
at Monmouth Beach, were quite peculiar and excite my wonder still. I
scarcely know how to describe them. They were at times very intense,
and, I had almost said, awe-struck, seemed bathed in a sweet Sabbath
stillness, and to belong rather to the other world than to this of time
and sense. How do you explain this? Was my spirit, perhaps, touched in
some mysterious way by the coming event? Certainly, had I been warned
that she was so soon to leave me, I could hardly have passed those days
of absence in a mood better attuned to that in which I now think of her
as forever at home with the Lord.

The following are two of her last letters:

_To Mrs. Condict, Kauinfels, July 22, 1878._

To begin with the most important part of your letter. I reply that
neither Mr. Prentiss or myself have ever had any sympathy with Second
Adventists. All the talk about it seems to us mere speculation and
probable doom to disappointment. I do not see that it is as powerful a
stimulant to holiness as the uncertainty of life is. Christ may come any
day; but He may not come for ages; but we must and _shall_ die in the
merest fragment of an age, and see Him as He is. It will be a day
of unspeakable joy, when we meet Him here or there. I shrink from
unprofitable discussion of points that, after all, can only be tested by
time and events. I do not think our expecting Christ will bring Him a
minute sooner, for the early church expected Him, yet He came not. There
has been so much wildness in theories on this subject that I am sore
when I hear new ones advanced; none of these theories have proved to be
correct, and I do not imagine any of them will.

I have been busy indoors, upholstering not only curtains and couches,
but ever so many boxes, as our bureaus are shallow and our closets
small. I made one for A. large enough for her to get into, and she uses
it as she would a room, suspending objects from the sides and keeping
all her artistic implements in it. I began my Bible-reading last
Thursday, the hottest day we have had; but there was a good attendance.
My G. met with an accident from the circular saw which alarmed and
distressed me so that his father had to hartshorn and fan me, while
the girls did what they could for G. till the doctor could be got from
Factory