the Christian family. This conclusion does injustice to the memory of the deceased, and it arises from an imperfect appreciation of the special character of her piety. That was eminently social. She delighted in holding frequent, intimate converse with devout, earnest souls who evinced in their life and experience the work of the Holy Spirit.

From such associations she evidently derived some of the most beautiful traits of her own rare piety. Next after the revealed word of God, she reverenced the testimonies of the simple-hearted, humble, self-denying followers of the Savior; and she was a meek and thankful learner of the deep lessons derived from this source. I think she was accustomed, beyond most other Christians of my acquaintance, to look in this direction for a measure of that wisdom which God conceals from the wise and prudent, that he may reveal it to babes; and I know that she rejoiced in this intimate fellowship with humble, pious souls, as an invaluable means of nourishing the Christian affections, of banishing sloth and lukewarmness, of quickening her spiritual perceptions to a constant alertness in worship and duty, and for maintaining incessant communion with heavenly things, and a vivid assurance of acceptance with God, always regarded by her as prime necessaries of the spiritual life. Mrs. Garrettson's ardent attachment to the Church was, I am sure, greatly strengthened by the special provision made in its institutions for this quickening of individual piety by frequent contact with whatever fervency of spirit may exist in any of its members. Such helps to the growth in clear, genial, Christian experience, were certainly well adapted to endear to her these special means of grace, but they were, at the same time, yet more eminently fitted to foster a large and catholic spirit. Piety, at once so ardent and social, can not satisfy its cravings with names, and forms, and traditions. It is therefore the natural foe of sectarian bigotry, which makes these its idols, and measures its spiritual prosperity by the intensity

of its distaste for all deviations from model orthodoxy. Without impairing the strength of denominational ties, heartfelt religion does, by the force of an inherent law, traverse these vanishing lines, and ally itself by gracious affinities to all whe bear the Master's image. The least tinge of bigotry is, as it seems to me, theoretically incompatible with the type of piety for which Mrs. Garrettson was distinguished throughout her long religious life; nor do I believe that any Christian of the present day has more entirely escaped this hateful contagion. I will repeat that no feature of her beautiful old age was more characteristic and attractive than the fervent Christian charity which blessed and cheered her long career quite to its closing hour with an ever-increasing radiance. Such virtues are too rare and too precious at the present day I fear I must add, especially in middle life and old age-to be omitted in our estimate of Mrs. Garrettson's character, where they shone so conspicuously. How many professors of religion, who begin their race with at least some hopeful measure of this catholic spirit, utterly neglect its cultivation, and offer to our view, as their most observable marks of religious development and growth, a growing exclusiveness, which, in the maturity of life, or, if not before, in old age, has become bigotry so intense and impracticable as to deny Christian recognition and fellowship to the great body of Christ's redeemed people. We should learn lessons of caution from such lamentable perversions of the Christian character, and be provoked to godly emulation as often as we look to the bright example of our departed friend for encouragement and instruction.

I said that Mrs. Garrettson's mental as well as moral powers seemed to be ever fresh from the holy influence of her piety. This was remarkably exemplified in her love of nature. She rejoiced in every beautiful thing which her eye beheld in heaven above or on earth beneath. The return of spring-time brought to the venerable centenarian a tide

of satisfaction as exuberant as she might have felt on the May-day of her fifteenth year. It was a touching sight to look upon her tall, erect form, as, during her early morning promenade in the flower-garden, she rejoiced in the sweet sights and odors that made nature glad around her, or stooped to gather bouquets for her guests, or to adorn the breakfast-table. She saw God in all nature's loveliness, and her lustrous eye would sparkle to the last as she joyfully and devoutly ascribed to Him the beauties so lavishly bestowed on the region around her. What rendered all doubly delightful, she evidently enjoyed what belonged to others as keenly as her own; and I am sure she felt a lively satisfaction in the happiness and well-being of the humblest of her neighbors, hardly less than themselves.

With such a spirit she could not fail to maintain a salutary influence to the last, for she maintained her interest in all that affected the good of others, which is the true secret of influence.

It would be thought a remarkable omission in the briefest sketch of Mrs. Garrettson's character to pass unnoticed one of its most prominent features-her hospitality, to which, however, I only refer, because in her, more than in most others, it rose to the dignity of a Christian virtue. She was seldom alone; for several months in the year her house was usually crowded with family and religious friends. Few such examples remain among us of the free, genial hospitality which is generally thought to have graced the olden time more than it does the present. Many will long remember this venerable mansion as the scene of delightful social intercourse, where acquaintances were formed, and friendships contracted, very pleasant and profitable; where clergymen and private Christians, of different churches, learned to forget sect, and admire the Savior in the delightful experiences and recognitions of Christian fellowship. "Behold how good and pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in

unity!" was the sentiment of which these delightful reunions were wont most frequently to remind us. Religion, mutual edification, and enjoyment, and the promotion of Christ's kingdom, as they were the ruling ideas of Mrs. Garrettson's life, entered into all her social and domestic arrangements, as their sole and vital principles. Opportunities were multiplied for family and social worship. A lecture in the parlor, or a sermon or prayer-meeting in the neighboring schoolhouse, was had whenever practicable, in the fullest confidence that nothing would be more agreeable to the guest, and as the very best provision that could be made to promote his gratification. Such was usually the prevalence of graceful, unobtrusive, Christian influence, that every one caught the dominant sympathy for good things. With many it was, no doubt, a transient emotion, and passed away with the occasion as a bright illusion, which could hardly fail, however, of leaving at least a pleasant remembrance of divine realities. With many more, I doubt not, the impression was lasting, and exerted a permanent influence over the character. What added to the moral power of these social and domestic arrangements, and, without seeming to design it, imparted to them a positive religious character, was the regular recurrence of the class-meeting and the Sundayschool, for the accommodation of the neighborhood, to which one apartment was always consecrated.

Mrs. Garrettson's charity was no less remarkable than her hospitality, and, like it, was eminently Christian. I have the best reason to believe that her liberality in supporting the institutions of religion, and in relieving the needy, was always as great as her pecuniary means would permit. She also devoted the largest part of her time and personal exertion to the same objects, and, what is still less common, her doors were always open to the unfortunate.

All who were much in the habit of visiting the house will remember to have met there, from time to time, some victim

of oppression or misfortune-perhaps a foreign refugee waiting to obtain employment, or an invalid for the return of health-perhaps an orphan child, or a bereaved family. These were, for the time, objects of chief solicitude, for whose physical comfort, and yet more for their moral well-being, the whole family movement was directed.

I mention here, as exceedingly characteristic of Mrs. Garrettson, and as evidence of the enduring strength and vivacity of her mental powers, that she continued to the close of life to take a lively interest in public affairs. She read the newspapers with the regularity of a practiced politician, and formed very decided opinions of men and measures. I was recently much impressed with her remarks upon the succession of revolutions which have swept over Europe within the last year or two. They were evidently the subject of many of her earnest thoughts and prayers, as likely, not only to elevate enslaved nations, but to favor the spread of religious liberty and the introduction of a pure Christianity. In every thing that concerned her own country, her deepest feelings were enlisted. Hers was a patriotism born amid the stirring scenes and profound excitements of the war of Independence. She had been acquainted with Washington and Jay, and many of the ruling spirits of that day, and the gallant Montgomery, whose blood flowed early in the great struggle for freedom, was a favorite brother-in-law. These circumstances had no doubt much influence in forming, if we may use such language in speaking of a woman, her political opinions and character. The strength, intensity, and dignity of these might be denominated Roman, but for the profounder Christian sentiment with which her thoughts and conversation were imbued whenever her country and its interests were the theme. I have reason to believe that her country and its rulers were remembered in her daily prayers with a fidelity and fervent devotion little known to the great body of professing Christians. We might indulge flattering hopes