ame experience. And
yet an experience of as perfect love and faith as is ever vouchsafed to
a soul on earth, is what I long for. At times my heart dies within me
when I realise how much I need. As you say, no doubt the mental strain I
had been passing through prepared the way for my break-down in health;
as I lay, as I thought, dying, I said so to myself. That strain is over;
I am in a sense at rest; but not satisfied. I have been too near to
Christ to be _happy_ in anything else; I don't mean by that, however,
that I never _try_ to be happy in other things--alas, I do.

As to the minor trials, no life is without them. But what mercies we get
every now and then! The other day three letters came to me by one mail,
each of which was important, and came from exactly the quarter where I
was troubled, and dispersed the trouble to a great degree. In fact I am
overwhelmed with mercies, and dreadfully stupid and unthankful for them.
I have had also some experiences of late of the smallness and meanness,
of which you have had specimens. One has to betake oneself to prayer to
get a sight of One, who is large-hearted and noble and good and true.
Oh, how narrow human narrowness must look to Him! I don't know how many
times I have smiled at your remark about Miss ----: "She seems to have
such a hard time to learn her lessons." I feel sorry for her in one
sense, but if she belongs to Christ, isn't He home enough for her? I
think it _always_ a very doubtful experiment to offer other people a
home with you; and equally doubtful whether such an offer is wisely
accepted. Being a saint does not, I am sorry to say, necessarily make
one an agreeable addition to the family circle as God has formed it;
if His hand _sends_ this new element into the house, of course one may
expect grace to bear it; but voluntarily to seek it argues either want
of experience or an immense power of self-sacrifice. I should prefer
Miss ----'s friends agreeing to give her an independent home, as far as
a boarding-house can furnish a home. And if it provides a place in which
to pray, as sweet a home may be found there as anywhere.

We go to town on the ninth of this month. Mr. Prentiss has been gone
some time, and has entered upon his new duties with great delight. I
must confess that if I were going to choose my work in life, I could
think of nothing more congenial than to train young Christians. It has
come over me lately that _all_ those whom he now instructs, ha