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then she was seized with a violent rheumatism, and again took to her bed from which she never more arose.
During all this she was very patient, and generally cheerful, thoa at times her courage fainted and she thought that she should not recover,— wishing only that she could see her friends at home once more before she died.
At such moments she loved to repeat these lines [by Andrews Norton], which seemed to soothe her feelings:—
Father! I thank thee! may no thoughtOn Sunday, the 22nd, all her pain had left her, and she said she had not felt so well during her sickness. On this day, too, we received a letter from Margaret, which gave her great pleasure, and renovated her spirits very much. But still from day to day she gained no strength. In this situation she continued during the whole week—perfectly calm, cheerful and without any pain. On Friday another letter came front Margaret, and she listened to it with greatest delight. A few minutes afterwards a letter from you and Eliza was brought in, which I reserved for the next day. When I went to her on Saturday morning I found her countenance much
E'er deem thy chastisements severe.
But may this heart, by sorrow taught,
Calm each wild wish, each idle fear.
