him. Light again beamed upon the future, and hope grew strong in proportion to the period during which the evident improvement in her health was experienced.

It was the privilege of Mrs. Ellis, during every period of her long-continued illness, to share the affectionate sympathy of many excellent Christian friends, not only in the immediate neighborhood of her abode, but in different parts of the United Kingdom; and the pressure of her affliction was greatly alleviated by the many practical manifestations she received of the sincerity and strength of their regard. Much of the anxiety of Mrs. Ellis arose from the circumstances of her beloved children, who were, in consequence of her own illness and the engagements of Mrs. Ellis, which allowed him but a very short period of the year for the enjoyment of their society, almost deprived of the benefits and pleasures of a home. But in the commencement of 1830, Mr. Ellis's mind was relieved of much anxiety respecting her children, by the disinterested regard of two excellent ladies in Dublin, who proposed to her to receive her eldest daughter as an inmate of their dwelling, and to superintend her education. Mrs. U, of the same city, kindly invited the youngest to her dwelling, and generously proposed that the child of the afflicted Missionary should pursue her education with her own daughters, two of whom were nearly of the same age. The proposals were gratefully accepted, and in the month of March Mrs. Ellis parted with her beloved children, who proceeded to the residences of their friends in the metropolis of Ireland, where the eldest remained two and the youngest three years. During this period, every attention that prudence, affection, and a sacred regard to their highest

interests could dictate, was unceasingly manifested towards them, and it is hoped with decisive and permanent benefit.

Throughout the spring of 1830, Mrs. Ellis's health, by the Divine blessing, continued, with slight occasional interruptions, to improve. A change of air was recommended, with a view to further recovery; and as, in the opinion of her medical attendant, her strength was equal to the effort, Mrs. Ellis in the middle of April was removed to London, where she was received with ardent affection by her beloved relatives and friends, who had by sympathy shared her joys and sorrows in the prospect of recovery, and the subsequent alarming distress, which she had experienced during the three years that had ipsed since she left them.

The following extract of a letter to her eldest daughter, written immediately after her arrival in London, shews in a pleasing manner how constantly she desired the spiritual benefit of her beloved children, and how promptly she availed herself of every suitable occasion for urging upon their attention, with all affection and earnestness, the necessity of seeking the blessings of salvation.

"My dear Mary,

66

'London, April 15, 1830.

"You will be surprised to see this dated from London; but you will be pleased to find that I have continued to improve in health, so as to be strong enough to bear the journey. I arrived here on Wednesday morning, and, after a day's rest, am as well as I was when I left Nailsworth. Mrs. J- has lately been plunged in severe affliction by the sudden death of her daughter Mary. The dear child left her parents on

the Monday, and returned to school; on the following Friday, while employed in writing her copy, she complained of head-ache;-her governess kindly told her to go up stairs, and lie down on the bed; which she did. In about a quarter of an hour afterwards, her governess went up to see how she was, and was greatly shocked to find that she had ceased to breathe. What

a solemn warning is this, my dear Mary, to us! How sudden the transition from time to eternity; and how powerfully it warns us not to put off till to-morrow what may and what ought to be done to-day. How impressively it enforces the important admonitions, Prepare to meet thy God; and, 'Be ye also ready, for in an hour ye think not, the Son of man cometh.' Perhaps your dear papa told you of the death of Mary Jwhen he wrote to you; if so, I need not urge upon your attention the necessity of self-examination, meditation, and prayer; yet the subject of personal preparation for death is of such infinite moment, that we cannot think of it too frequently. May you, my beloved child, be taught, so to number your days, as to apply your heart unto wisdom. May He who keepeth Israel, who'neither slumbereth nor sleepeth,' guide, direct, and keep you in all your ways, and allow us the unspeakable happiness of seeing you walking in his fear and keeping his commandments."

In the society of endeared relatives and friends, Mrs. Elis spent the season of sacred festivities in the metropolis, connected with the annual meetings of the Institutions of piety and benevolence in our land. One or two it was her happiness to attend, as well as the more regular ordinances of public worship; and the hallowed joy which she derived from being present at the meeting of the London Missionary Society was

almost more than she was able to sustain. It is scarcely possible to conceive of her almost ecstatic feelings in sharing the rich privileges to which she was now restored. Under date of May 5th, she thus

wrote

us.

"How thankful ought we to be to our heavenly Father for his goodness to us, in his interposition on the behalf of our dear children. O may we testify our gratitude by the devotion of every power to Him who causeth his loving-kindness continually to pass before I heard two excellent sermons on Sabbath last, by Mr. Tidman :-in the morning from, "It was well it was in thine heart," &c.; and in the evening from, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," &c., a most faithful discourse. I felt it, indeed, a privilege to be aldowed once more, after fifteen years' absence and illness, to unite with some of my dear friends in the worship of God, in one of his sanctuaries in this highly favored city; yet I could not help contrasting (as we walked the few steps home) the noise and bustle which prevailed, with the quietness of a Sabbath evening in the Society Islands."

CHAPTER IX.

A residence by the sea-side recommended to Mrs. Ellis.-Visit to Brighton.Injurious and painful effects of the journey.-Kindness of her medical at tendant and friends.-Alarming and distressing illness.-Seeming near approach of death.-Views and feelings in relation to eternity.-Partial recovery. Return to London.-Remarkable and gracious support under eircumstances of unusual suffering.-Strength of maternal solicitude for the spiritual welfare of her children.-Extracts of letters to her daughters.Abounding gratitude for domestic enjoyments.-Extracts of letters from the South Sea Islands.-Last letters to her daughters.-Seeming amendment.Sudden appearance of alarming symptoms.-Insensibility.-Death.—Interment.

SHORTLY after Mrs. Ellis's arrival in London, a visit. to the sea-side was recommended; and, anxious to avail herself of every means for improving her health, which her increasing strength enabled her to employ, she undertook, in the end of May, a journey to Brigh ton, hoping that the effect of the sea air for a few weeks would, by the blessing of the Lord, accelerate her recovery. The motion of the coach proved exceedingly distressing; and the immediate effect of the journey was a return of many of the symptoms from which she had been free for a considerable time.

On reaching Brighton, Mrs. Ellis was welcomed with the most cordial affection by many sincere Christian friends, who strove as much as possible to relieve her of every anxiety, and contribute to her comfort, while the soothing attentions and judicious treatment