ere few
women, as all that knew her can testify, that exceeded her in comeliness
of body and excellent beauty; of fair, modest, and sober deportment,
grave in her looks, humble in her carriage towards all people,
superlative in discretion; of few words but when she spoke (as occasion
offered itself) no woman passed her in eloquence, in judgement, and
wisdom. Great was her devotion to God, and her love to God's word,
constant her reading of the Scriptures, and her singing of the Psalms,
when she sat at work with her children and maids about her."

An inscription in the great parlour, written by her in the last year of
her life, may well be given here as a fitting conclusion to this
imperfect narrative:--

I. H. S.

He who by reproof of And He who, by a cheerful
our errors, and participation and
remonstrance of that approbation of that which
which is more perfect is good, confirms us in
seeks to make us the same is welcome as a
better, is welcome as Christian Friend.
an Angel of God.
But
He who any ways goes And He who faults us in
about to disturb us absence, for that which
in that which is and in presence he made show
ought to be amongst to approve of, doth by a
Christians (tho' it double guilt of flattery
be not usual in the and slander, violate the
world) is a burden bands both of friendship
whilst he stays, and and charity.
shall bear his
judgement, whosoever
he be.
Mary Ferrar, Widow,
Mother of this family,
and aged about fourscore years,
who bids adieu to all fears and hopes of this world
and only desires to serve God,
set up this Table.

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

Footnotes:

{1} The details of the life at Little Gidding contained in the following
pages are derived chiefly from "Two lives of Nicholas Ferrar, by his
brother John, and by Dr. Jebb," Baker's MSS., edited by Dr. Mayor