f intimate acquaintance and
friendship with some of the best men of her times. I will venture to
mention two of them: her uncle, the late Theodore Frelinghuysen, one of
the noblest men our country has produced, eminent alike as statesman,
scholar, and Christian philanthropist; and the sainted Thomas H.
Skinner, her former pastor. Her sick-room--if sick-room is the proper
name--in which, during the last seventeen years, she passed so much of
her time, was tinged with no sort of gloom; it seemed to have two doors,
one of them opening into the world, through which her family and friends
passed in and out, learning lessons of patience and love and sweet
contentment: the other opening heavenward, and ever ajar to admit the
messenger of her Lord, in whatever watch he should come to summon her
home. The place was like that upper chamber facing the sunrising, and
whose name was _Peace_, in which Bunyan's Pilgrim was lodged on the way
to the celestial city. How many pleasant and hallowed memories lead back
to that room!"

[5] Old New Bedford friends.

[6] Fritz und Maria und Ich. Von Mrs. Prentiss. Deutsche autorisirte
Ausgabe. Von Marie Morgenstern. Itzchoe, 1874.

[7] She gave me the pet-name of "Fanny" because she did not like mine,
and there was an old joke about "John."--E. A. W.

[8] The custom related to a pious salutation, with which two _friends_,
or even _strangers_, greet each other, when meeting on the mountain
highways and passes in certain districts of Tyrol. _"Gelobt sei Jesu
Christ!"_ cries one; _"In Ewigkeit, Amen!"_ answers the other (_i.e._,
"Praised be Jesus Christ!" "For evermore, Amen!") The following lines
are from Mrs. F.'s Poem:

"When the poor peasant, alpenstock in hand,
Toils up the steep,
And finds a friend upon the dizzy height
Amid his sheep,

"They do not greet each other as in our
Kind English way,
Ask not for health, nor wish in cheerful phrase
prosperous day;

"Infinite thoughts alone spring up in that
Great solitude,
Nothing seems worthy or significant
But heavenly good;

"So in this reverent and sacred form
Their souls outpour,--
Blessed be Jesus Christ's most holy name!
'For evermore!'"

[9] Rev. Asa Cummings, D.D., of Portland, for many years editor of the
Christian Mirror; one of the weightiest, wisest and best men of his
generation.

CHAPTER IX.

STEPPING HEAVENWARD.

1869.

I.

Death of Mrs.