No further tidings from this profligate son ever reached Mrs. Graham; and she could only indulge the hope that He who has the hearts of all men in his hands had effectually turned him from the service of Satan to that of the living and true God. In this hope she felt encouraged from the eventful history of her younger brother, Archibald Marshall. He too had gone to sea, and for many years he was never heard of. At length, some time after his death, the family received encouraging accounts of his having been a decided Christian. A young man residing in a boarding-house, kept by a pious woman in Paisley, was observed one day reading Doddridge's "Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul." The book contained Archibald Marshall's name written on the blank leaf. On inquiry the young man explained that he had got the book from a mess-mate on his death-bed, and that the person from whom he had received it was not only an exemplary Christian himself, but had been useful to him also. The woman who heard this account was acquainted with Mr. Marshall's family, and lost no time in conveying the gratifying intelligence, that Archibald Marshall, though dead, had given the most satisfactory proofs, during the latter period of his life, of having embraced the overtures of reconciliation, and taker Christ as his Saviour and Lord.

In July 1795, Mrs. Graham's second daughter, Joanna, was married to Mr. Divie Bethune, a merchant in New York. This union was peculiarly suitable. both parties having given themselves to the Lord before they gave themselves to each other. But in one short month after this event, so pleasing to Mrs. Graham, she

was called to endure a very painful bereavement in the sudden death of her first daughter, Mrs. Stevenson. This amiable and excellent young woman had been for several years characterized by remarkable piety, and her end was peaceful and happy. Her mother, who had the privilege of witnessing her dying moments, was deeply affected; but when the spirit of the youthful saint had taken its flight, she wiped the tears from her eyes, and, raising her hands to heaven, she exclaimed, "I wish you joy, my darling!" This was the triumph of faith over the feelings of a mother's heart. She felt assured that her child had entered the mansions of the blessed, and therefore she gave vent to an ecstasy of holy joy.

Mrs. Graham's active Christian spirit was unwearied in devising plans of benevolence and charity. She devoted regularly a tenth part of her earnings to pious and charitable uses; and, on one occasion, when the unexpected result of a successful speculation in which she had engaged was made known to her, "Quick, quick,” she immediately exclaimed, "let me appropriate the tenth before my heart grows hard!" The formation of a female society for the relief of poor widows with small children took place at her house in 1797, and she herself was elected first directress; an office which she held with the utmost honour and usefulness for ten years.

In the month of September 1798, Mrs. Graham's daughter, Isabella, was married to Mr. Andrew Smith, a merchant in New York; and all her children being now honourably settled in the world, she was prevailed upon to retire from her school into private life.

H

It was during that year that the yellow fever raged with unusual violence, and it was with the utmost difficulty that Mrs. Graham was prevented from risking her valuable life by visiting the sick; but after the disease had abated, she was unwearied in her attention to the widows of those who had been cut off, and she headed a society which was formed for their relief.

ness.

As Mrs. Graham had now abundance of leisure time, she dedicated it to the promotion of the benevolent society over which she had been called to preside. In the fatherless and the widow she felt a lively interest, and endeavoured, in every possible way, to comfort and relieve them. The society at length assumed an importance and an influence which they had not anticipated. It received a charter of incorporation, and some pecuniary assistance from the Legislature of New York. Thus raised to a greater prominence, the board of directors thought of extending their plans of usefulWith this view they purchased a small house, where they received work for the employment of poor widows. They opened a school for the education of orphan children, which was superintended by several ladies in rotation, who volunteered their services for that purpose. Several other day-schools were opened in different parts of the city, besides two Sabbathschools, one of which was superintended by Mrs. Graham herself. In short, she was indefatigable in her exertions for the promotion of the temporal comfort and spiritual well-being of the poor and the afflicted. She enjoyed, in all the rich intensity of happiness, the luxury of doing good. Hers might be said to be the character of the righteous Job: "When the ear heard

her, then it blessed her; and when the eye saw her, it gave witness to her; because she delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon her, and she caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. She put on righteousness, and it clothed her: her judgment was as a robe and a diadem. She was eyes to the blind, and feet was she to the lame. She was a mother to the poor; and the cause which she knew not she searched out."

At each annual meeting of the society, Mrs. Graham delivered an address along with a report of the proceedings of the managers during the preceding year. And not confining her exertions to one object alone, she took an active interest in every benevolent design. An asylum was proposed, in 1806, for orphan children, and besides entering warmly into the scheme, and aiding it by her subscription, she, or one of her family, taught the orphans daily until the friends of the institution allowed of a teacher being procured. This society, which was afterwards incorporated, owed its origin, in a great measure, to Mrs. Graham; and down to the time of her death, she continued to visit the hospital, and to act as a trustee. The females in the State Prison occupied a considerable share of her attention; and in seasons of depressed trade she provided employment, at her own expense, for a number of poor industrious

women.

At length, from the infirmities of age, she resigned the office of first directress of the Widows' Society, and took the place of a manager. In the year 1810,

her constitution suffered a severe shock from an acci

dent which occurred to her while bathing. She was carried beyond her depth, and with great difficulty she was rescued from her perilous situation.

During the last two years of her life, Mrs. Graham seemed to be fast ripening for heaven. She withdrew almost entirely from public engagements, and spent her time chiefly in private reading, meditation, and prayer. The only instance in which she emerged from her retirement, was for the purpose of joining some ladies in forming a society for the promotion of industry among the poor. This was an object which she had long had at heart, and the last public act of her life

was devoted to it.

For some weeks before her last illness, her health

was unusually good. The greater part of her time she dedicated to reading. Owen, Romaine, and Newton, were her favourite authors. On the two Sabbaths before she was attacked with the disease which terminated her earthly career, she partook of the Lord's supper. Her last meditation was written on one of these occasions, and closes with these words :

I

"I ate the bread, and drank the wine, in the faith that I ate the flesh and drank the blood of the Son of Man, and dwelt in him, and he in me!-took a close view of my familiar friend, death, accompanied with the presence of my Saviour, his sensible presence. cannot look at it without this. It is my only petition concerning it. I have had desires relative to certain circumstances, but they are nearly gone. It is my sincere desire that God may be glorified; and He knows best how, and by what circumstances. I retain my one petition: