pon if that could
be avoided, and she often refused to accept ministrations at times when
it seemed to others that they were necessary to her comfort. But even at
such times she would withhold no service for another. Whatever mention
the Recording Angel may make of this failing, it will be very brief
compared with what is written of the countless deeds of love and of
kindness for others with which she filled her days.

* * * * *

Fortunately, many letters to the family and other friends have been
kept. They are singularly like her; never diffuse, but with that rare
and happy characteristic of telling concretely and clearly what was of
most interest to those to whom they were written, and never letting
irrelevant generalities take the place of matters of importance. In
reading these letters consecutively we are struck by the naive and
unconscious way in which she reveals much of herself. They contain few
allusions to her own discomforts, but abound in sympathy for any that
have come to those to whom she is writing; they show how her happiness
never depended on anything that she might obtain for herself, while she
magnifies whatever others do for her. Social gatherings that brought old
friends and new together she enjoyed in a simple, whole-hearted way; she
cordially approved of fun and encouraged it by giving and taking it, but
never seemed to seek diversion. Her happiness came from what was close
at hand, especially in the simple every day gifts that are bestowed on
us all. Among her papers is found this "Line of Cheer:"

"_I love the air of hill and sea
That puts its crispness into me.
I love the smiling of the sky
That sets its twinkle in mine eye.
I love the vigor of the gale
That lends me strength where mine doth fail.
I love the golden light of day
That makes my jaded spirit gay.
I love the dark of night whose guest
I find myself when I would rest.
And gratitude doth hold me thrall
Unto the Giver of them all._"

A few sentences taken at random from the letters show that this
expressed what was in her mind: "The day has been beautiful. You know
this is the rainless season and the hills, as we came along, were all
brown, no green grass anywhere, but the trees are beautiful with very
full leafage, showing that the air is very moist.... I wish that you
could see 'The Springs' now it is so very beautiful.... I have some dear
little f