even of her last illness, but strictly to call myself to account for my conduct from my youth until now; to enumerate the many advantages I have enjoyed, and then compare my subsequent conduct.

"As long as I can remember, I daily received religious instructions from my mother. She taught me to read, and daily made me learn the Shorter Catechism and portions of Scripture.. I recollect, as early as when eight or nine years old, having something like religious exercise. I yielded to my sisters and others from a principle of religion, and I was so still and quiet that they used to call me 'the little pigeon.' But the corruption in me had not been called into exercise.

"I staid eleven months with my aunt in Glasgow. She was very partial to me, praising me to every body, and I soon began to think myself a nonsuch. This taught me a lesson which I desire ever to remember-not to seek the praise of men, and not to praise my children before their faces.

"In 1780 we removed [to Edinburgh], and for several years I recollect nothing but childish vanity and folly. Dr. Davidson, formerly Mr. Randal, conceived a great regard for me, and was pleased to fix upon me as a companion for his eldest daughter, who was extremely volatile. I went, for a length of time, to his house every evening, to study my lessons with Sally, was present at their family worship, and sat in his pew on the Sabbath. Many, very many are the instructions I received from that man of God, and

accordingly I had something like exercise. I remember my ever making conscience of reading God's Word, and singing His praises, and praying to Him every day in private.

I

"In February, 1783, my grandfather died, which made a considerable impression on my mind. prayed and cried to the Lord only to give me the portion of His people, and I would ask no other. I prayed that He would hedge me in, and keep me in a right way; that, if I ever forsook Him, He would chastise me, only never take His loving-kindness from me. Often, often have I prayed in this manner, when my conduct was in direct opposition to my prayers; but blessed be my God who has answered my prayers. He has repeatedly chastised me, visiting my transgressions with a rod, and my iniquity with stripes; nevertheless, His loving-kindness has He not utterly taken from me, nor suffered His faithfulness to fail.

"About the month of November, 1783, I went to Barnton [a seat of her ladyship's], four miles from Edinburgh, to live in the family of my much revered patroness and exemplary friend, Lady Glenorchy, where I remained until the summer following. Oh, what have I not to answer for what I saw in that family. It was, indeed, a little heaven upon earth. Never, before or since, have I seen such exemplary conduct. The family consisted of Lady Glenorchy [now thirteen years a widow], Lady Harriet [or Henrietta], Hope [eldest daughter of the Earl of Hopetoun, who

had resided with Lady Glenorchy since the earl, her father's death, 1781, adding, as Lady Glenorchy's biographer says, 'much to the comfort of her life,' from her clear, vigorous, and evangelical spirit], Miss M'Dowall, the chaplain [the Rev. Dr. T. S. Jones], and myself. Lady Glenorchy was in very ill health during the whole of the winter, never getting out to church or any other place except once on the Sabbath, and sometimes not that; yet I never remember seeing a frown on her countenance or hearing her utter a murmuring word. She was even then deprived of her favorite employment, visiting and relieving the poor. But they did not suffer on that account. She had many almoners. My mother was often honored with that office.* In 1783, when there was a great scarcity, she furnished her friends with tickets, receivable at different shops, and commanding necessaries of life for those who were in want. She had a large room, which she called her wardrobe, hung round with coarse but comfortable garments, which had previously furnished work to many persons in the different stages of spinning, weaving, and making up. She likewise kept all kinds of simple medicines by her for the use of the sick. Her mansion was elegant, and her grounds tastefully laid out;† and, like the great, she had two porters' lodges at the gate.

* So, also, as she often told us, was young Joanna herself, whom Lady Glenorchy used, on such occasions, to call her little almoner. It was part of the education she bestowed on her young protegé. † Barnton was sold for £28,000.

Of these she made schoolrooms, two of her pious domestics having charge of them. In one, the poor children were taught to read, and received religious instructions; in the other, the females were taught to sew, spin, and knit. I was witness to her having potatoes planted for the poor in her very pleasuregrounds. But I can not pretend to enumerate the many good deeds of that excellent lady, and only, for my own improvement, set down something of what my eyes saw and my ears heard. During the week we worked while one read, generally myself. Our reading was sacred biography, or the experiences of pious people. On the Sabbath, our reading was of a deeper character. Lady Glenorchy kept a little Bible in the pocket of the carriage, and, while driving to church [usually four miles, to her ladyship's chapel, which she had built, and supported, in Edinburgh], she would give us a text to meditate upon. Her whole time, talents, and fortune were devoted to God, and she had no intercourse with the world except it was to promote some good work.*

*Lady Glenorchy's biographer, speaking of her at this period, says, "In the beginning of the month of September, 1783, she, with her friend Henrietta Hope, returned to Barnton, where she remained during the following autumn and winter. 'The liberal,' says the prophet, 'deviseth liberal things;' much had Lady Glenorchy done, and much had she expended in promoting the cause of benevolence and the interests of piety; yet, after all, she was not satisfied; she never thought that she had done enough while there was a possibility of doing any thing more. Little or nothing did she expend on herself more than was absolutely necessary; yet she contracted even

"I was often much exercised while staying at Barnton, but I as yet only experienced a wish and desire that little in order to be able to do more good. Her economy became great, but it was the economy of piety and benevolence." She herself writes to her intimate friend, Mrs. Baillie Walker (also an intimate friend and counselor of Mrs. Graham), a lady whose strong mind and deeply religious character had been of special benefit to her (Lady Glenorchy), as it was to all brought within the sphere of her influence, August, 1783, from Moffat, where she had accompanied Lady Harriet, when failing health required the drinking of goat's whey, "The Lord has been pleased to visit me by sickness once more, after my having attained to a measure of health I had not known for several years. May I not say, with Job, ‘Shall I receive good at the hand of God, and shall I not receive evil also?' He gave me health for a season, and now He has taken it away; blessed be His name, for He doth all things wise. Yes, I am fully persuaded that this very illness is one of the 'all things' that are working together for my good, and my heart freely acquiesces in the dispensation." Again, in her Diary, January 1, 1783, she records, "The Lord has been pleased, most unexpectedly to me, to lengthen out my life to see the beginning of a new year. . . He crowns me with every blessing of a temporal nature. I also enjoy the means of grace abundantly; but, alas! how unworthy do I feel myself to be of such favors. How ungrateful, careless, negligent, and forgetful of my best friend and benefactor. I stand astonished at the goodness of God, and at my own total unworthiness. Oh that I had a heart and tongue to praise Him, and power to speed forth to others the grace of God by a holy and useful walk and conversation! May I this year increase in faith, love, and power in my soul, that God may be glorified in me and by me. Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee! Amen, and Amen!" Again, January 26th, "For some days past I have had more liberty in prayer, and more comfort in secret duties than usual, particularly in the morning; and sometimes in the night, when I awake, I have been constrained to praise Him for all His mercies. I have had several instances of His answering my prayers for spiritual blessings, and find my mind led