these familiar lines, from which he thought I would receive benefit:

"But drops of grief can ne'er repay

The debt of love I owe;

Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do."

My reply was that I had repeated them over and over. While he was talking, I felt that the Savior was far away and could not hear me; I was so inwardly absorbed and crushed that I could scarcely hear the voice of the preacher, who was speaking in his usual tone. Trying to arouse me from this death-like stupor, he said, "Daughter, will you take Jesus for your Prophet, Priest and King— your Prophet to teach you, your Priest to forgive you, and your King to rule you?" I told him that I would gladly do so. He asked me then to rise to my feet. "No," I said, "I must be saved to-night, and I cannot leave until the work is done, if I have to stay here until morning.' "But you have taken Jesus, have you not?" I answered, "Yes. He assisted me to rise to my feet. Before I had fairly stood, my burden rolled away, my heart opened, and heaven came down and filled and thrilled me until my whole being was tremulous with new life. The power of the Spirit was so great upon me that I was unable to

"

stand without support. Everybody around me appeared to be changed; the faces of some persons were radiant with light, while others looked very dark. All eyes, apparently, were upon me. Some said, "Shout;" others said, "Sing," but I could do nothing but laugh, wondering if heaven could be any better. young man, who claimed to be an unbeliever, and who apparently had been unmoved until this time, observing the change that had come over me, turned to mother and said, "I can never doubt again after seeing this.' Three days later he was converted.

A

On the way home that night my heart sang:

"Safe in the arms of Jesus,

Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o'ershadowed,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.

"Jesus, my heart's dear Refuge,
Jesus has died for me.

Firm on the Rock of Ages,

Ever my trust shall be."

I understood for the first time the song that the heavenly host sang over the Babe of Bethlehem, and felt that I could vie with them in singing, "Glory to God in the highest." The night was full of melody-all things seemed to be praising God. Even the whip-poor-will, with its doleful notes, that

had formerly brought such gloomy forebodings, now appeared to unite with me in singing praises to my King.

CHAPTER II

THE INWARD CONFLICT-TRIALS IN SCHOOL

On the Sunday afternoon following my conversion, I was alone in the house, sitting by the fire reading the Bible, when Satan brought some wicked thoughts into my mind. Frightened by them, I arose, hastened to a back room and dropped upon my knees in prayer. The adversary said, "You have lost your salvation; you were seven years seeking Christ, and it will be seven years more before you are restored to Him." Bewildered by the sudden attack of the enemy, and stung by his upbraiding words, with a humiliating sense of the long struggle in seeking salvation, and the thought of having to repeat it, my soul was filled, for a moment, with inexpressible agony. In this, my first conflict, the Lord, seeing my confusion quickly came to my relief, and in the realm of my soul struck the key-note of my first battle hymn:

"Are there no foes for me to face?

Must I not stem the flood?

Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?

"Since I must fight if I would reign,

Increase my courage, Lord;

23

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word."

I

Remembering that the Word says, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," said, "Get thee behind me, Satan," and again the dove of peace rested upon me, and I wept for joy. From this hour the warfare began, and trials and besetments awaited me every hand.

on

One of my sisters was very nervous, and often my presence annoyed her. I sought to please her in different ways, but did not succeed. Whenever I could have a little time to myself, the hymn-book and Bible were my constant companions. When I sang, she complained about the noise, and if she found me reading the Bible, she would want some work done. She had no idea how the devil was using her to put stumbling-blocks in my way. While the injustice of her complaints was evident to all, no sympathy was awakened for me in the hearts of the other members of the family. My father and mother were in the habit of giving way to her in almost everything. Mother had done it more to avoid contention, knowing that father would always take this sister's part, whether she was right or wrong. The gulf widened between us until it afforded me great relief when she was absent