h more by conduct than profession; to avoid "religious
_cant_;" to be prudent and circumspect; to have discretion, wisdom and
meekness. So she passed through life; the faithful friend, the patient,
wise mother, the meek, tender wife, the succorer of all in distress.
Everyone felt free to go to her with their troubles; a reverse of
circumstances, a sick child, a bad servant, or turn of sickness, all
called forth her ready aid, and her wise, far-seeing judgment. And even
in the last months of her life, when, worn out with service and pain,
she was slowly going down to the gates of death, her children and
grandchildren were cut off suddenly by scarlet fever, she bowed
resignedly to the Hand which had sent "sorrow upon sorrow." And when she
who had been as a tower of strength to all around her, was reduced to
the weakness of childhood by intense suffering, the survivors clung yet
more closely to her, as if they could _not_ let her go. So as physical
strength declined, she actually grew stronger and brighter in mental and
moral power. The deep and painful tribulations which characterized her
later years, but refined and purified the gold of her nature.

CHAPTER XIII.

COLLATERAL GOOD WORKS.

It must be remembered that Mrs. Fry's goodness was many-sided. Her
charity did not expend itself wholly on prisons and lunatic asylums. It
is right that, once in a while, characters of such superlative
excellence should appear in our midst. Right, because otherwise the
light of charity would grow dim, the distinguishing graces of
Christianity, flat and selfish, and individual faith be obscured in the
lapse of years, or the follies and fashions of modern life. Such saints
were Elizabeth of Hungary, around whose name legend and story have
gathered, crowning her memory with beauty; Catherine of Sienna, who was
honored by the whole Christian Church of the fourteenth century, and
canonized for her goodness; and Sarah Martin, the humble dressmaker of
Yarmouth, who, in later times, has proved how possible it is to render
distinguished service in the cause of humanity by small and lowly
beginnings, ultimately branching out into unexpected and remarkable
ramifications. One can almost number such saints of modern life on the
fingers; but for all that, their examples have stimulated a host of
lesser lights who still keep alive the savor of Christianity in our
midst; and towering above all her contemporaries in the grandeur of her
deeds a