way in which she entered into the interests of others, different as some of them were from anything in her own experience, of the brightness of her manner and the earnestness of her talk, seasoned, as it often was, with touches of humour and playful smiles. She was the recipient of every kind of confidence, and her advice was sought continually in cases of difficulty or perplexity. She had besides a great love of children, and her interest in them was so tender and discriminating as to be delightful to those who brought them under her notice, scarcely expecting perhaps that she would have much attention to bestow. It happened in her own circle of relations that two young families were very much thrown on the care of aunts and uncles-she, the great aunt, had not the charge of these young people, but helped when she could, and was consulted as to every arrangement made for their good. But it need hardly be said that she entered into every event, joyful or sorrowful, in a large and scattered family with the keenest interest; what is less common, her feelings were similarly called forth for many others, who leaned on her judgment and reposed in her sympathy and love. As to the nature of her influence, one is reminded of the words. of Elizabeth Barrett Browning in describing a friend: "She never found fault with you, never implied Your wrong by her right, and yet men at her side Grew nobler.

For the effect of it was penetrating, beyond the apparent value of her words. In return for her loving

kindness, affection was given her in "good measure" and "running over," so that lonely as she was in an outward sense, she was never in her latter days lonely in heart. Her friends vied with one another in helping her in any way possible; if need were in greater things, and always in smaller matters, such as calling on their way to take her to meeting, or supplying her with flowers from greenhouse or garden, or fresh from the country lanes or fields. And she always appreciated every little kindness or token of love.

It should be mentioned that she took especial interest in "Meetings for Church Affairs," especially the Meetings on Ministry and Oversight. She attended them as long as she was able to do so, and did her best to infuse into them something of the tone and spirit which ought to prevail on such occasions. In the winter of 1890-91 she took a leading part in a little series of meetings for Friends who had been lately received into membership. A few others united with her in this engagement; the gatherings. were small and held at her house. They were conducted for the most part in a conversational manner, the special topic being the principles of the Society of Friends. One of the members of Bristol Meeting remarked lately that nothing had helped him so much. as these little meetings. In a letter to Hannah Southall she thus alludes to them herself:

"Your district is great in Teas-and doubtless such institutions are a great assistance to the more

spiritual ones. That little meeting here, which I have told you of, has to do its best without such assistance, for I give neither bit nor drop to the attenders. Still those who come seem to feel an interest and I trust there may be some benefit received; certainly I can acknowledge it.”

Ann Hunt had no lack of taste for the pleasures of social intercourse; she delighted to spend an evening or pay a longer visit at the houses of her friends, and she also kept up an interest in a variety of subjects, and was often to be seen at lectures or committee meetings when attendance must have required considerable effort on her part.

CHAPTER IX.

"How quiet shows the woodland-scene!
Each flower and tree, its duty done,
Reposing in decay serene,

Like weary men when age is won ;
Such calm old age as conscience pure
And self-commanding hearts endure,
Waiting their summons to the sky,
Content to live, but not afraid to die."
'Keble.

To Rebecca Zaytoun.

"10th of Second Month, 1891. F I could, I should like to encourage thee to a

immeasurably great, has been so marvellously proved by His life and death for us, becoming poor that we might be rich. Well, if so, will He not undertake for thee in spiritual as well as natural needs? When the temptation comes to feel unloving or irritated, cast thyself upon Him. Look away from the thought, from the object that causes the temptation, to Him and His dear love. I have found this the greatest help myself in besetments which have been exceedingly hard and painful and persistent in my own experience. Didst thou ever notice that in the text 'We love Him because He first loved us,' the Revised Version leaves out 'Him' and makes it read, 'We love because,' etc.

At first I was sorry for the

change, but there is a rich meaning attached to it, signifying that Christ's love to us enables us to live in the very spirit of love to all those whom He has given Himself for. Then about the giving away one's possessions. I do not at all think that we are intended to take our Lord's words literally without regard to the circumstances and motives. Perhaps it helps us if we think of that other rule of conduct, 'Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.' If one considered what we should really feel right and reasonable if we were in the place of the asker, I think it might sometimes be clear that the request should not be granted. It seems rather as if the injunction meant that we should act in a liberal and ungrudging spirit as regards our possessions, because, if taken literally, the least deserving people would often despoil others of all they had and so prevent the good use of their money and stewardship."

Early in 1891, Ann Hunt's beloved friends Elizabeth and Hannah Southall experienced a succession of bereavements in a very short time. Next door to them lived a widowed aunt (by marriage) Anne Southall, and her daughter, a cousin, Mary Anna, with whom they were very intimate, and who laboured with them in many of the good works which were carried on in the town or in connection with Leominster Meeting. This dear cousin died first, in February, after a short illness, her aged mother following her only a few weeks afterwards; and then, towards the end of March, came the unexpected blow of the death of their brother John's wife at their home