MEMOIR OF MRS. HARRIS. MRS. MARY ANN HARRIS, born July 19th, 1815, was the daughter of W. Wrangham, Esq., of Epsom, Surry. Characterized from childhood by great docility and affectionateness of disposition, and attending the public means of grace, she early became the subject of that Divine teaching which maketh wise unto salvation. As soon as her great self-diffidence would permit, she became a member of the congregational church at Epsom, then under the pastoral care. of him who, in July, 1838, had the happiness of becoming her husband. Up to the period of her marriage, she had been, for a considerable time, the devoted teacher of a class of children in the Epsom chapel Sunday school; meeting them regularly and punctually twice every Lord's day. Her love for the young induced her to take a lively interest in every thing which related to their welfare; and, on her removal to Cheshunt, gladly would she have resumed, had circumstances permitted, her favourite occupation in the duties of a Sunday school. The quiet and even tenor of her wedded life, and the cheerful equanimity of her temper, prevented the occurrence of any thing calcuated to move and to strike by the recital; but, for the same reason, her sudden departure will be felt most deeply and permanently by those who knew her best. Her presence was ever felt like that of the quiet dew and the cheerful light-simply by the sunny enjoyment which it dif fused around. Entirely unconscious of her own attractiveness, she was content simply with not having wounded or offended, where at the very time she was exciting the strongest esteem; and yet was she ever ready to point out and enlarge on the excellences of those with whom she mingled: in 'lowliness of mind esteeming others better than herself.' Transparent as the day, she was confided in as soon as seen; for to see her, was to know her;-and warm in her affections, she lived and moved in the happy little circle of which she formed a part, only to love and to be loved. But it was, as it ought to be, in the sphere of domestic life that she appeared to the greatest advantage; finding in its ordinary duties scope for the practice of many virtues, and in its ever-recurring scenes a variety and freshness of pleasure which promised never to be exhausted. If, like Martha, she was ever careful (not troubled) about many things, it was only that afterwards, like Mary, she might sit in quiet at the feet of Christ. Most truly might it be said that the Bible was her favourite book. Often would she sit perusing it by the hour together; and, on the Lord's-day, for hours; breaking silence only to ask a question on the subject of her reading, or rising only to consult a Commentary. For some months previous to the event which occasioned her death, she had entertained the apprehension of its fatal termination. Her habitual cheerfulness, however, wasbut little, if at all, affected by the anticipation. In patience she possessed her soul. The principal effect appeared to be, the more rapid development of her character, intellectual and religious. Especially was this apparent in her deepening concern or the welfare of those around her; a concern which showed itself at times, when in conversation respecting them, in tears, lest they should be neglecting the great salvation. In the prospective usefulness of the newly-formed society of which she was treasurer, she felt much delight. Her last act, on the evening prior to her dissolution, was to arrange the little details of her office. Whatsoever of this kind her hands found to do, she did it with all her might. On the Lord's-day morning she was occupied in the perusal of the word of God, and of a volume of dis MEMOIR OF MRS. HARRIS. 287 courses by Mr. Binney, on "The Practical Power of Faith," by which she expressed herself unusually pleased and benefitted. About six o'clock in the evening, though the hour of "travail" evidently approached, she begged me not to absent myself from the house of God, on her account; but desired, that if an interval offered, I would read the Scriptures and offer prayer with her after my return. By a little after eight, however, she had given birth to a fine little girl; and on my approaching her, at her request, and saying, "God has been very good, my love, in bringing you through the crisis, so quickly and safely;" "Oh, yes," said she, never shall I be able to be sufficiently grateful for his goodness." Little, at that moment, did she herself, or any one around her, expect that she was so soon to be transported to that blessed state where gratitude finds the harp and the voice which on earth it had wanted to pour itself forth in an adequate song of praise. Between three and four hours after-hours of agony— agony borne with uncomplaining patience-but agony which exhausted her vital powers-she suddenly and peacefully, with a smile on her face, sunk into the sleep of death. "So," in the language of a hymn which she was admiring the Lord's-day evening before 66 "So fades a summer cloud away; So sinks the gale when storms are o'er; So dies a wave along the shore." Numerous and affecting are the lessons which this Divine dispensation conveys. But it is not for the hand which has traced these lines, to point out those lessons to others, at least for the present, so much as to interpret and take them to himself. May the God under whose "mighty hand" he is now smarting, graciously help him in all humility and submission so to do. OP TE |