HANNAH MORE, towards work of any kind ; but her heart was becoming more and more devoted to Christian hopes and aspirations. Although suffering from ill-health, Mrs. Hannah More, at the close of 1809, published a novel, en- titled " Ccelebs in Search of a Wife," which met with such success, although published, as was her wont, anonymously, that in a fortnight after its first appearance, it was out of print, and the booksellers " became clamorous for copies." This was fol- lowed, in 1811, by " Practical Piety," dedicated to the philanthropist, Mrs. Fry ; and again by "Christian Morals," "Moral Sketches," &c., which works met with the same extraordinary success that had attended their predecessors. Shortly after the appearance of " Christian Morals," in 1813, death, for the first time, broke the loving circle of sisters. Mrs. Mary More, the eldest, was the first to depart, after a long life devoted to usefulness and benevolence. Her illness was very brief, and she died full of hope and resig- nation ; but her loss was very acutely felt. The gentle, domestic Elizabeth, who was playfully called " The Wife of Barley Wood," died in 1816 ; and the year following, Sarah, after an ago- nizing illness, left the two youngest clinging together in intense grief, but full of holy trust. Hannah More, to soften her sorrows, continued to labour in the cause of morals and religion ; the schools and benefit clubs were sedulously attended 41
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