THE EARNEST PHILANTHROPIST. continued to decline, and the endwas at hand. Her last illness was most affecting, and proved howdeep and sincere were the religious feelings of her heart. On the day which preceded her final seizure, she was occupied in transcribing some texts from the New Testament, in order to gratify a friend who desired her autograph. On the 11th of October, after a day or two of considerable pain and debility, she became suddenly affected with paralytic symptoms. " Oh ! Mary, dear Mary, I am very ill ! " she said to her faithful nurse. " Pray for me ! " she added. "It is a strife-but I am safe." A few hours subsequently, as one of her daughters was reading from Isaiah to her, she uttered in a slow distinct voice, " Oh ! my dear Lord, help and keep thy servant." She never spoke again ; but sank into a state of unconscious- ness. After a long succession of convulsions, torturing to those who witnessed them, but ap- parently unfelt by herself, she quietly drew her last breath on the 13th. Her remains were committed to the earth on Oct. 20. She sleeps beside her little child in the Friends' burying-ground at Barking, Essex. The death of the great philanthropist caused an unprecedented sensation. Endeared to every heart by her goodness and beneficence, admired, loved, sought, her loss was felt by all. She had fulfilled every duty allotted to her ; as a servant of GOD, as friend, wife, mother, and public benefactor ; and had 43
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=