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and eloquent; he was only seven years old when he wrote to his Cousin Henry Ward, who was ill with some childish ailment:--
“Do not forget to say your prayers every morning and evening.
I hope that you trust in God; and, my dear cousin, do not set your mind too much on Earthly things!
And my dear cousin, this is the prayer.”
Follows the Lord's Prayer carefully written out. On the next page of the same sheet, the eight-year-old Julia adds her exhortation:--
“Dear Cousin, I hope that you will say the Prayer which my Brother has written for you. I hear with regret that you are sick, and it is as necessary as ever that you should trust in God; love him, dear Henry, and you will see Death approaching with joy. Oh, what are earthly things, which we must all lose when we die to our immortal souls which never die!
I cannot bear the thought of anybody who is dying without a knowledge of Christ.
We may die before tomorrow, and therefore we ought to be prepared for death.”
This was scarcely cheering for Henry, aged ten; as a matter of fact, he was to have half a century in which to make his preparations.
Some of the nursery recollections were the reverse of merry.
When Julia was still a little child, the old housekeeper died.
The children loved her, and Auntie Francis did not wish them to be saddened by the funeral preparations; she gave them a good dose of physic all round and put them to bed for the day.
Julia was a beautiful child, but she had red hair,
Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston and New York. 1916.
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