of eternity and the soul. A few extracts from her letters to this female friend will show how she loved her, and followed her in her thoughts and with her prayers, when distance separated them. Here, also, it should be remarked, "they were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in death they were not [long] divided." "NEW YORK, APRIL 11. "You can hardly imagine, my dear Mary, the disappointment I experienced, when I returned on Monday morning, to find you had left us. It was so unexpected to me, that for a few moments I could not reconcile myself to it. It was my wish, before we parted, to have united once more at the throne of grace. The thought often rushes upon my mind, that we shall never meet again on this side eternity; that we shall never kneel again together before the mercyseat of our heavenly Father. But I will not indulge the thought we may see each other here; but, if not here, I humbly hope we shall behold each other face to face, in a better, happier world, and unite in celebrating the praises of that Being who watched over us while together, and blessed us while separated." : At a subsequent date, she thus writes to this friend: "You express the hope that I find much enjoyment in the path of holiness; but oh! my dear Mary, I have more cause for lamentation than yourself. I have found, since my return, that my heart has wandered from God; that I have grown cold in his service, and provoked him to hide his face from me. May we not attribute our coldness to our six months' residence in that busy city? I found such a life greatly prejudicial to my growth in grace; and sometimes, when dwelling upon my own backslidings, I regret that I ever left home. But it was for the best, and perhaps was to show me that I have no strength in myself." Writing to this friend some time after, from the house of the relative in New York, where they had visited, she says, —“I can hardly realize that nearly two years have elapsed since you were seated with me on this very spot, where we have enjoyed many hours of social converse. While I am writing to you, a feeling of melancholy passes over me; and yet, I ask myself, Why is it? My dear friend is at home, surrounded by friends, and as happy, for aught that I know, as this world can make her; and I have ten thousand bless. ings to call forth my gratitude. But thus it is; the recollection of past interesting scenes always excites in me a degree of sadness. I have taken much pleasure in visiting those places which were interesting to us when you were here; especially Wall Street Church, and our favorite resort, the Session Room." To another of her friends, who had removed to a distance of several hundred miles, she thus writes: "I thank you for the hasty note which I received before you left, and affectionately reciprocate every kind expression. I followed you in imagination to the close of your journey, and thought of you on the first Sabbath. I reflected with seriousness, that one more scene of this changing world had closed. How rapidly events follow each other! Surely, I never realized so forcibly as now, that I am living for eternity. And is it so, my beloved Sarah, that the days of our youthful friendship are gone, never to be recalled? We will not think of the past, but look forward to brighter scenes above. 'All are friends in heaven; all Faithful friends; and many friendships, Are lasting there and growing still.'" Miss Huntington's fidelity in seeking the conversion of her friends to God, is illustrated in the following passages from letters to young ladies of her circle of relations and friends. Writing, soon after her own change of religious Have you I cannot feelings, she says, "My thoughts very soon recurred to my dear Mary; and I imagined her in the midst of the same privileges and blessings. I had heard that there was a work of grace in Ithaca, and could not but hope that my friend had been made a subject. Is this the case? Have you 'tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious'? found the world vanity, and religion a reality? bear to think, for a moment, that you have let so precious a season pass unimproved. But perhaps it is not over. Possibly the Spirit is still with you; and oh, if it be ! — and if it be not, let me entreat you to seek a share in the blessing. I fondly imagined that the same Spirit, at the same time, was sent to us both, and that we should be prepared to spend eternity together. How did it increase the bitterness of my soul, that I did not begin earlier to glorify my God! The past years of my life appear to me all lost - lost forever! Believe me, dear friend, we do not begin to live until we live for God. Oh! how irrational is man! how deserving the most severe punishment! Can we sufficiently admire the astonishing mercy of Him who bears so long with us? Surely he is the God of patience!"" She seemed anxious lest she herself had hindered the conversion of this young friend, by want of Christian fidelity, and to have sought, by a frank acknowledgment of negligence in one particular duty, to take up the stumblingblock out of her way. "How has my conscience reproved me for neglecting to speak to you of the love of this Saviour, when we were together! have had bitter reflections that so much of my time was spent in trifling conversation, when I knew not but our next meeting would be before the throne of judgment. I have endeavored to seek the pardon of my God for these sins; and now do I ask, sincerely, your forgiveness, for sins committed against your soul. It was an erroneous,idea of friendship which kept me silent upon such an important subject; and it should humble me in the dust." Writing to another friend, she says, "I was much disappointed at the contents of your letter. My dear Susannah, how can you withhold your heart from the blessed Saviour? Is there nothing lovely in his character? Yo love excellence in your fellow-creatures: Jesus is the fountain of all excellence. In him is all you can desire. Why, then, withstand his kind calls and entreaties? I am at a loss what to say to you. You know all. Your understanding is convinced of your duty. How can you be so ungrateful as to live at enmity with God? Oh! that single name, Gon, expresses every thing. I do think it is sweet to me. Consider, my dear friend, with whom you have to do;' that you are trifling with the High and Lofty On who inhabiteth eternity!' You cannot always do this. Now he sits on a throne of mercy, and kindly calls upon you, a tender father, to be reconciled to him. Erelong you will behold him on a throne of judgment. You will then see the justice of Jehovah in casting you off forever. Excuse my freedom; but these are solemn truths, and must one day be realized. Will no arguments move you? Oh! I can only commend you to the sovereign grace of Almighty God." like A heart so affectionate towards those beyond the circle of her father's family, it might be expected, would have most ardent and tender attachments to those more nearly related. Miss Huntington had an only sister, to whom, after her marriage and removal to a distant part of the State, she thus writes-"When I think of the painful separation 1 am called to endure, the idea that you are happy lessens the evil. But, my dear sister, you can hardly imagine what the state of my feelings has been since you left us. I felt for a little while as if I could not live; the loneliness of my situation pressed upon me with all its force. Every apartment reëchoed the painful tale that you were gone; and this feeling came home to my heart with a heavy load, respecting our past enjoyments together-they were, but they will be no more!' Words would fail me to express all the bitter feel ings of my heart. But I endeavored to drown them in care, and to lessen them in the faithful discharge of duty. I have in a great measure succeeded, and have learnt to look upon the whole with brighter and calmer feelings. It is my wish to supply your place, so far as I am able; but I have not the power to fill it." "Oh that I had more of the presence of the Spirit of God, and I should be less cast down with temporal trials. When we surround the family altar on Sabbath mornings, I delight to unite in the petitions of our dear father for you; and could you witness the affection and fervor with which he commends you, and the spiritual interests of your flock, to our heavenly Father, it would gladden your hearts. You are not forgotten at other seasons; but then, particularly, we feel as if communion were sweet." But there was another relation in which her affections were developed in a manner and degree not surpassed in any of the intimacies or relationships already described. Miss Huntington had three brothers, whom she loved with most exemplary tenderness, and in whose temporal, but especially spiritual good, she felt an habitual and intense interest. How they would prosper in the things of this life, but, much more, how they should live here so as to glorify God, and arrive at heaven, were subjects on which she frequently disclosed her anxiety to them and to her Christian relatives. It may serve to illustrate her Christian character, and to quicken others in the duties of the same relation, to present a few extracts relating to this point. Truly, there is no relation, in which a young lady can be contemplated, more interesting than that of an affectionate, judicious, solicitous, and prayerful sister. Of her eldest brother, she thus writes: "I feel depressed this morning, not particularly about myself, but about our dear Jedidiah. I long to have him interested in the covenant of grace. Do let us be more earnest than ever for this blessing; and let us pray that our faith may |