y, as if they had just happened. Mrs. Prentiss was fond
of meeting him: and after her departure he delighted to recall his talks
with her and to tell where he had seen her creeping through fences,
laden with rustic trophies, as she and her daughter came home from their
tramps in the fields and over the hills.

[9] The following is an extract from a letter of Mrs. M. giving an
account of the interview: It was of her I thought, as an hour before
sunset, on that day, I passed through the grounds to the door of her
beautiful home. I thought of her as I had seen her busy at work among
her flowers on the morning of the day when the fatal illness began,
wearing a straw hat, with broad brim to protect her from the heat of the
sun. Several of her family were standing around her, and the pleasant
picture we saw as we drove by the lovely lawn is fresh and green in
my memory now. Once, after this, I had seen her, at our last precious
Bible-reading (though little thought we then it would be our last), when
she so earnestly urged us to be true "witnesses" for our Master and Lord
and gently bade us God-speed, "_encouraging_" us also, as she expressed
it, "by the particular desire of my husband to-day," in the heavenward
path. I knew that she was not quite well, and as I entered the house was
invited to her chamber.

I found her attired as usual, but reclining on the bed, apparently only
for quiet rest. Her greeting was warm, her eyes bright, she was very
cheerful, and, I think, was not then suffering from pain. To my
inquiries after her health, she replied, that she had been at first
prostrated by the heat of the sun, remaining at work in it too long,
with no idea of danger from the exposure; "but now," she said, "I do not
think much is the matter with me"--though afterwards she added, "The
doctor has said something to my husband which has alarmed him about
me, and he is anxious, but I can not perceive any reason for this." We
talked of many familiar things, even of home-like methods of cookery,
and she kindly sent for a small manuscript receipt-book of her own to
lend me, looking it over and turning down the leaves at some particular
receipts which she approved, and "those were my mother's," she said
of several. She spoke of her engagements and the guests she loved to
entertain, adding that she thought God had given this pleasant home,
surrounded by such beautiful things in nature, that others too might
be made happy in enjoying the