ittle fledglings came to the home-nest, to be
cared for, trained up, and fitted for their peculiar niches in life. But
in 1815, a new sorrow came to the fireside; the angel reaper Death cut
down the little Elizabeth, the seventh child, nearly five years of age,
and the special darling of the band. Her illness was very short,
scarcely lasting a week; but even during that illness her docile,
intelligent spirit exhibited itself in new and more endearing phases.
Death was only anticipated during the last few hours of life, and when
the fatal issue appeared but too certain the parents sat in agonized
silence, watching the darling whom they could not save. Mrs. Fry begged
earnestly of the Great Disposer of life and death that he would spare
the child, if consonant with His holy will; but when the end came, and
the child had passed "through the pearly gates into the city" she
uttered an audible thanksgiving that she was at last where neither sin,
sorrow, nor death could have any dominion. No words can do justice to
this event like her own, written in her journal at that time. The pages
recall all a mother's love and yearning tenderness, together with a
Christian's strong confidence:--

It has pleased Almighty and Infinite Wisdom to take from us our
most dear and tenderly-beloved child little Betsy, between four
and five years old. In receiving her, as well as giving her back
again, we have, I believe, been enabled to bless the Sacred Name.
She was a very precious child, of much wisdom for her years, and, I
can hardly help believing, much grace; liable to the frailty of
childhood, at times she would differ with the little ones and
rather loved her own way, but she was very easy to lead though not
one to be driven. She had most tender affections, a good
understanding for her years, and a remarkably staid and solid mind.
Her love was very strong, and her little attentions great to those
she loved, and remarkable in her kindness to servants, poor people,
and all animals; she had much feeling for them; but what was more,
the bent of her mind was remarkably toward serious things. It was a
subject she loved to dwell upon: she would often talk of "Almighty
God," and almost everything that had connection with Him. On Third
Day, after some suffering of body from great sickness, she appeared
wonderfully relieved ... and, began by telling me how many