family.

[8] "Your precious lamb was very near my heart; few knew so well as I
did all you suffered for and with her, for few have been over just the
ground I have. But that is little to the purpose; what I was going to
say is this,--'God never makes a mistake.' You know and feel it, I am
sure, but when we are broken down with grief, we like to hear simple
words, oft repeated. On this anniversary of my child's death, I feel
drawn to you. It was a great blow to us because it came to hearts
already sore with sorrow for our boy, and because it came so like a
thunderclap, and because she suffered so. Your baby's death brought it
all back."--_From the Letter to Mrs. W._

[9] "I must tell you what a busy day I had yesterday, being chaplain,
marketer, mother, author, and consoler from early morning till nine at
night.... A letter came from Cincinnati from the editor of the hymn-book
of the Y.M.C.A., saying he had some of my hymns in it, and had stopped
the press in order to have two more, which he wanted 'right away.' I was
exactly in the mood; it was our little Bessie's anniversary, she had
been in heaven _eighteen_ years; think what she has already gained by
my one year of suffering! and I wanted to spend it for others, not for
myself."--_Letter to her Husband, May 20_.

[10] Nidworth, and His Three Magic Wands, published by Roberts Brothers.

CHAPTER XII.

THE TRIAL OF FAITH.

1871-1872.

I.

Two Years of Suffering. Its Nature and Causes. Spiritual Conflicts.
Ill-health. Faith a Gift to be won by Prayer. Death-bed of Dr. Skinner.
Visit to Philadelphia. "Daily Food." How to read the Bible so as to love
it more. Letters of Sympathy and Counsel. "Prayer for Holiness brings
Suffering." Perils of human Friendship.

If in the life of Mrs. Prentiss the year 1870 was marked with a white
stone as one of great happiness, the two following years were marked by
unusual and very acute suffering. Perhaps something of this was, sooner
or later, to have been looked for in the experience of one whose
organization, both physical and mental, was so intensely sensitive.
Tragical elements are latent in every human life, especially in the life
of woman. And the finer qualities of her nature, her vast capacity of
loving and of self-sacrifice, her peculiar cares and trials, as well as
outward events, are always tending to bring these elements into action.
What scenes surpassing fable, scenes both bright and sad, belong to
the