One was a Presbyterian, Mrs. Hoffman an Episcopalian. Those barriers, of which such a thundering use has been made by sectarians to separate the children of God, fell down between these two friends at the cry of affliction, and were consumed on the altar of Christian love. Arm in arm, and heart to heart, they visited the abodes of distress, dispensing temporal aid from the purse of charity, and spiritual comfort from the word of life. has already entered into rest; the other must shortly follow. Amidst many comforts, and many afflictions, the life of Mrs. Hoffman has been a life of faith and resignation; her end will be peace; and then she will join her beloved and attached friend, in singing the praises of that Divine Redeemer, whose footsteps on earth they humbly endeavored in his strength to follow. 'Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.' At each annual meeting, Mrs. Graham usually made an address to the society, with a report of the proceedings of the managers through the preceding year. In April, 1800, she stated that "again the pestilence had evacuated the city; again every source of industry was dried up ; even the streams of benevolence from the country failed. Those storehouses from which relief was issued to thousands in former calamities, now disap pointed their hopes, and those spared by the pestilence were ready to perish by the famine. Such widows as had no friends in the country under whose roof they might for a time seek shelter, were shut up to the only relief within their power, even to that society which had formerly saved them in many a straight. They came, were received with tenderness, assisted with food, advice, and medicine. Four of the society's board, at the risk of their lives, remained in the city, steady in the exercise of their office. One hundred and forty-two widows, with four hundred and six children, under twelve years of age, by far the greater part under six, have, from time to time, during the winter, been visited and relieved. Widow is a word of sorrow in the best of circumstances; but a widow left poor, destitute, friendless, surrounded with a number of small children, shivering with cold, pale with want, looking in her face with eyes pleading for bread which she has not to give, nor any probable prospect of procuring her situation is neither to be described, nor conceived. Many such scenes were witnessed during the last winter; and though none could restore the father, and the husband, the hearts of the mourners were soothed by the managers: whilst they dispensed the relief provided for them by their Father, and their Husband, God.” 66 In In her address for the year 1804, she says, April last, it was reported that there were on the managers' books two hundred and one widows with numerous families of small children. Of this number, five had been ill all winter, several had had severe fits of illness, and forty-six were women of broken constitutions; who, could it be afforded, would require assistance all summer. At the last anniversary, we reported that Mrs. Hoffman and myself had visited twenty-seven new made widows; previous to the meeting, young, healthy, nice women. Of these women, few had been accustomed to do more than make, mend, wash, and cook for their husbands and families. Oh, how changed the scene! Ye blessed agents of their Father, God; ye managers, who have supplied their want, and soothed their spirits, ye can tell-and their pale visages and dejected countenances witness to the truth of your report. That such evils exist, is painful to humanity; but since they do exist, can there be a more delicate pleasure than to be instrumental in alleviating them? Seven years has this society been the darling of providence. From a feeble plant, it is become a large tree with spreading branches, under which many find shelter and sustenance." The winter of 1804-5, was unusually severe : the river Hudson was shut by frost as early as November; fuel was consequently scarce and dear; and the poor suffered greatly. Mrs. Graham visited those parts of the city poorer class of sufferers dwelt ;* in upwards of where the *The following notice of these scenes appeared in one of the periodical publications of the day. WHEN sorrow shrunk before the piercing wind, And famine, shelterless, in suffering pin'd; When sickness droop'd in solitary pain, Yet there are some, who sorrow's vigils keep, Glides through the wind, and braves the chilling storm, I know thee now-I know that angel frame- ALBERT. two hundred families, she either found a bible their property, or gave them one; praying with them in their affliction. She requested a friend to write, first one religious tract, and then another, suited to the peculiar situation of those afflicted people. One was called "A Donation to Poor Widows with Small Children," the other, "A Second Visit to Poor Widows with Small Children." And lest it might be said, it was cheap to give advice, she usually gave a small sum of money along with the tracts she distributed. There was at this time neither a Bible nor Tract Society in New York. Mrs. Hoffman accompanied her in many of her excursions. In the course of their visits, they discovered a French family from St. Domingo in such extremity of distress, as made them judge it necessary to report their case to the Honorable Dewitt Clinton, then Mayor of the city. The situation of this family being made public, three hundred dollars were voluntarily contributed for their relief. Roused by this incident, a public meeting was called at the Tontine Coffee-House, and committees from the different wards were appointed to aid the Corporation, in ascertaining and supplying the immediate wants of the suffering poor. The zeal of Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Hoffman paved the way for this public-spirited exertion, which, probably, was the means of saving the lives of some of the destitute and friendless. In the month of August, 1805, Mrs. Graham |