and ministers of Christ-a season for improvement. But I am often ready to question the wisdom of my heavenly Father in placing one so ignorant in a situation that might have been occupied by one that would do much for his honor. This has been an occasion for discovering much of my innate depravity; how much envy towards those endowed with superior gifts and attainments;-how much ignorance and pride have I found to hinder improvement. O thou great Source of wisdom and grace, condescend to illuminate my mind with some ray of divine light, sufficient to dissipate the mist that envelopes my understanding. Thou hast promised this gift to those who ask it. Manifest thyself in this a prayer-hearing God to, this most unworthy of thy creatures."

On these extracts it may be remarked, that Mrs. McFarland was doubtless the only one who discovered the deficiencies which she so humbly deplores. Though in conversation with ministers she usually appeared like a learner, seeking instruction by questions, yet so sensible were her own remarks on topics of a practical and experimental character, that ministers felt themselves edified; and often remembered, in order to repeat them, for the benefit of others.

CHAPTER IV.

CHARACTER AS A MOTHER.

Mrs. McFarland was the mother of eight children; three sons and five daughters-seven of whom still survive. The first act, after the birth of a child, was to express devout gratitude to God and devote it to him. Then she desired her husband to be called and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. As soon as circumstances would permit, the child was presented in the church for baptism. As God was her God in covenant, she also claimed a covenant relation for her children; esteeming it a sacred duty, as well as great privilege, to make a public consecration of them to him. This was done in some instances before she had recovered sufficient strength to attend public worship herself, and at others as soon as she was able to go out.* But it was never deferred, as is too often done by many parents, for several months, or even some years, after the birth.

One of her children was born on Saturday night, when she pleasantly remarked,- How I should rejoice to have my dear babe carried to the house of God, to receive the seal of the covenaut on its first Sabbath in this world.'

In delineating the character of Mrs. McFarland as a mother I am particularly indebted to the two oldest daughters, for most of the facts; and shall first present their "recollections" of her, in their own language, and then add such other particulars as may be relied on.

Mrs. Buxton says: "She began to talk to her children about God, in their infancy, before she was certain that they could understand any thing on the subject. She would sit down at the table, with her child in her arms and her large bible before her, and seek to convey some instruction to its mind, by simple language. Finding it was easy to render bible stories interesting to children, she endeavored to draw out some instruction from every one she told us. She spent some time with us every Sabbath, after meeting, when we read the Bible, recited a portion of the Assembly's Catechism, and gave some account of the sermons. This practice

was not discontinued after the Sabbath School was established; for though she felt that this institution afforded children and youth a precious opportunity for receiving instruction, she thought it was still the duty and privilege of parents to retain their hold upon the tender mind,

and to be no less diligent in their efforts. She remarked, that Sabbath Schools should not supersede parental instruction, though parents. might feel themselves very poorly qualified for the performance of their appropriate duties. When we attended a week-day school she went over our lessons with us every morning. And as we advanced to higher studies than were taught in schools when she was young, she endeavored to qualify herself, by study, for the same exercise; and she succeeded so well that there was no danger of our getting the impression that we knew more than our mother, upon any subject.

"So far as her health would permit, she was uniformly an early riser. She found it easier to do this when her system was braced by the cold of winter than when enfeebled by the heat of summer. I do not know that she was ever able to rise at a fixed hour for any length of time; but think that till within a few years from four to six was her time during the cold season. In summer she generally rose before the sun, though she was often too feeble for much mental or bodily effort. It is already understood that a large portion of these early hours was devoted to prayer and reading the scriptures. When

she began the day in this manner, she said she was sweetly prepared for its cares and its trials. After this preparation, her first business was generally to call her children. I seem even now to hear her light step, as she came to our chamber, and her animated cheerful voice calling us,-'Come, little girls, don't you want to get up;'-accompanying her invitation with some quotation, perhaps from our infant hymns, or from Thomson, or her favorite Cowper, or from the bible, appropriate to the morning. Once, when she was obliged to come the second time, she said, 'You will make but a cipher in society if you do not rise early.' A few years ago her attention was directed to the various examples of early rising, found in the bible. She was greatly interested in the fact, that in most of the instances given, the individual rose to the performance of some great or good action. examined all these examples, from that of Abraham, when he commenced his painful journey to the land of Moriah, to the women who went early to the sepulchre, to pay the tribute of affection to their crucified Lord.

She

"On the Sabbath she rose at an earlier hour; and I believe that at these seasons she never failed to have the presence of her risen Saviour,