rejoice at the incarnation; and when the Angel of Death came, she was there
to robe the departed one for burial. We had often heard her, while
kneeling among her children at family prayers, when father was absent, say:
'I ask not for my children wealth, or honor; but I do ask that they may all
become the subjects of Thy converting grace.' She had seen all her eleven
children gathered into the Church, and she had but one more wish, and that
was that she might again see her missionary son. And when the ship from
China anchored in New York harbor, and the long absent one crossed the
threshold of his paternal home, she said, 'Now, Lord, lettest Thou Thy
servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.'

"We were gathered from afar to see only the house from which the soul had
fled forever. How calm she looked! Her folded hands appeared just as when
they were employed in kindnesses for her children. And we could not help
but say, as we stood and looked at her, 'Doesn't she look beautiful!' It
was a cloudless day when, with heavy hearts, we carried her out to the last
resting-place. The withered leaves crumbled under wheel and hoof as we
passed, and the setting sun shone upon the river until it looked like fire.
But more calm and bright was the setting sun of this aged pilgrim's life.
No more toil. No more tears. No more sickness. No more death. Dear
mother! Beautiful mother!

"'Sweet is the slumber beneath the sod,
While the pure soul is resting with God.'"




II. CALL TO CHINA AND VOYAGE HENCE