unsel,
and she was deeply interested in their spiritual progress. She wrote to
one of them, January 6, 1872:

Your letter has filled my heart with joy. What a Friend and Saviour we
have, and how He comes to meet us on the sea, if we attempt to walk
there in faith! I trust your path now will be the ever brightening
one that shall shine more and more unto the perfect day. Holiness and
usefulness go hand in hand, and you will have new work to do for the
Lord; praying work especially. _Pray for me_, for one thing; I need a
great deal of grace and strength just now. And pray for all the souls
that are struggling toward the light. O that everybody lived only for
Christ!

A few weeks later, writing to the same friend, she thus refers to the
"fiery trials" through which she was passing:

This season of temptation came right on the heels, if I may use such
an expression, of great spiritual illumination. Of all the years of my
life, 1869-70 was the brightest, and it seems as if Satan could not
endure the sight of so much love and joy, and so took me in hand. I
have not liked to say much about this to young people, lest it should
discourage them; but I hope you will not allow it to affect you in that
way, for you must remember that no two souls are dealt with exactly
alike, and that the fact that many are looking up to me may have made it
necessary for our dear Lord to let Satan harass and trouble me as he has
done. No, let us not be discouraged, either you or I, but rejoice that
we are called of our God and Saviour to give Him all we have and all we
are.... If we spent more time in thanking God for what He _has_ done for
us, He would do more.

Malignant scarlet fever and other diseases, had invaded and isolated the
household mentioned in the following letter. Their gratitude to Mrs.
Prentiss was most touching; it was as if she had been to them an angel
from heaven. The story of her visits and loving sympathy became a part
of their family history.

_To Mrs. Humphrey, New York, Jan. 26, 1872._

I came home half frozen from my early walk this morning, to get warm not
only at the fire, but at your letter, which I found awaiting me. I am
glad if you got anything out of your visit here. I rather think you and
I shall "rattle on" together after we get to heaven.... You say, "How
skilfully God does fashion our crosses for us!" Yes, He does. And for
my part, I don't want to rest and be happy without crosses--for I can't
_do_ witho