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    and energy , are summoned away in the fall career of their useful action , — when the parent of a large family , their companion , instructor , guide , and friend , fulfilling with sedulous and untiring cheerful ness the varied duties of wife and mother , is removed from the presence of those who delighted in her society , it is

    fitting that such an event should he seriously considered , that the living should " lay it to heart / ' Blind unbelief complains of the unequal distribution of happiness and misery in this world ; and feeble , unreflecting faith almost shudders at appointments in which , apparently , unmixed evil prevails ; but the sincere , the rational , the confiding Christian feels a firm conviction that the entire ways of Divine Providence form a mighty and harmonious whole , and is enabled to bow with calm resignation under the action of the immutable decrees of him who " saw the end from the beginning . " *

    Many circumstances conspire to render the death of Mrs . John Herford unusually distressing and deeply impressive to an extensive circle of relatives aud intimates . Highly gifted by nature , and with talents industriously cultivated and improved , she had for many years devoted herself to the work of education ; and , incessantlv and usefully

    occupied , she was happy in the success of her own efforts , and ever ready to contribute to the success and advancement of others . Especially , she held herself favoured in being permitted to assist and promote the welfare , in succession , of a number of her young friends , who now , profitably employing the information they received from their amiable

    instructor , recall , with respectful regret , the recollection , not of the teacher only , but of the kind , the active , and the unwearied friend . Thus usefully proceeded the days of the excellent person whose decease , in the prime of middle life , is here recorded . But her exertions were not confined to the routine of her engagements . Fully

    ap-* "It has been ascertained , " writes a near relative of the departed friend , " that there existed an internal disease which must have terminated fatally if peculiar circumstances had not expedited its action , and would have caused , while life continued , severe suffering . How merciful then was her removal !" This account was received after the above was written , but what a practical

    commentary dues it present !

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    predating the value of time , and the importance of the often < Jisregard'ed series of small detached portions of this precious gift , she had the happy faculty of finding suitable and useful employment for every passing minute . She thus gained leisure for the acquisition of knowledge where others saw only

    constant and wearying occupation in her professional pursuits ; and thus was she enabled , not only to continue her course of self-education in the various branches of useful knowledge and elegant literature , but ( iudulging a predilection which , from her earliest childhood , she had evinced ) to surprise her friends by the continual production of

    new efforts of taste amd skill in more thau one branch of the pictorial art , which shewed , that had she been devoted to that pursuit , as the occupation of her life , she would have been recognized as one of the painters " of this age and nation . " She also published a comprehensive Chart of History and Biography , in which , by an ingenious contrivance , she succeeded in

    exhibiting , uot only the rise , progress , and extent , of each empire , but its comparative condition of prosperity or decay . In the midst of this constant activity , Mrs . H . never permitted herself to degenerate into the mere worldly character . Her religious feelings were pure and ardent ; her admonitions on this subject earnest and affectionate ; her faith enlightened and sincere , and her benevolence disinterested and diffusive .

    Enjoying to the last the complete use of her faculties , she was enabled to administer consolation to her surrounding friends , and to suggest the best possible arrangements for continuing for the benefit of her family , the establishment she had succeeded in forming .

    Such an example is surely worthy of being recorded . It shews that the best feelings of the friend and the Christian may co-exist with the most assiduous exercise of the mental faculties , and the most active occupation of the time . It shews to the young that the task and duty of acquiring knowledge need not

    be renounced because their days are constantly and laboriously employed . It presents , in fact , another instance in addition to many more which might be quoted , to prove that the more regular and important are the occupations , the more opportunities may be found for benevolent and intellectual pursuits .

    W . H , S Birmingham , Nov . 6 , 1831 .

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    660 Obituary .- * Mrs . Sarah Herford .

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    S .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Dec. 2, 1831, page 860, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2604/page/64/