Genius for Mechanics [pp. 282]

GENIUS FOR MECHANICS.
and confirmed in their course of piety. She exhibited, in her daily walk and conversation, unequivocal proofs of an elevated state of grace, and
all she had intercourse with "took knowledge of
her that she had been with Jesus," and that she
reflected his glory and image. She pursued an
even, steady course, being strong in faith, fervent in
spirit, and always serving the Lord. Thus did she
seem to maintain constant communion with God.
Such was her uniform piety, that her life was very
often compared to an "even spun thread." She
was always cheerful, without being volatile, and
maintained genuine Christian gravity without being sad.
Mrs. Griffith lived to see her parents, two brothers, and her husband, deposited in the grave, and
often rejoiced in the prospect of meeting her dear
relatives as well as other friends in heaven.
In July, 1843, she was attacked with the then
prevailing epidemic, influenza. This disease fastening on her lungs, resulted in a confirmed consumption. For nearly twenty-three months she
lingered and suffered under this wasting malady,
but endured it all with the most perfect resignation. She found that religion, which had sustained
her in life, sufficient to comfort her, and even cause
her to rejoice in affliction and the near prospect of
death. Her patience never failed her; nor did any
thing like a murmur escape her-lips. During the
tedious season of her long illness, it was fully ascertained she could suffer as well as do the will of God.
She neither despised the chastening of the Lord,
nor fainted when rebuked of him. To her niece,
Mrs. M., she said, "I have been endeavoring, in
my weak way, to do the will of the Lord for fortyfour years, and now I hope I shall be abl'e to SUFFER
all hlis will." In her suffering she would frequently
say, "I enjoy sweet peace," and often repeat the
words of the Psalmist, in praise to God, "Bless the
Lord, 0, my soul, and all that is within me bless
his holy name."
Having a great desire to see her before she died,
I attended a quarterly meeting in her neighborhood, and had the mournful satisfaction to look
upon her emaciated countenance in February last.
I then heard from her lips many expressions setting forth the strong faith, the unshaken confidence,
the undaunted courage, with which she seemed
ready to meet death in triumph. Her expressions
of. sensible enjoyment' were equally satisfactory.
Religion appeared to be, in her, as an unwasting
spring of consolation, which continually refreshed
her soul with its pure streams. Her peace was as
the running of a river, and her righteousness as
the waves of the sea. The design of my visit was
to comfort her; but I confess that in the sources of
comfort I at least equally shared. It was an interview I can never forget-a season of inexpressible
joy. During our conversation, I asked her if she
recollected any special incident in her life that
she could relate to me. After a little pause, in
which it was obvious she was retrospecting the
past, and examining the pathway along which she
had been conducted, she replied, "I do not know
that I can recollect any special incident other than
that goodness and mercy have followed me all the
days of my life." When we prayed with and for
her, she appeared exceedingly happy, and rejoiced
with a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
The next day, Monday, 24th of February, the
presiding elder, and preacher in charge, and myself, visited her sick-room, and administered to her,
and a few other friends, the sacrament of the Lord's
supper. It was an hour of special grace, a season
of great mercy, never to be forgotten by those
present. She seemed to be quite on the verge of
heaven. I saw her no more.
The disease continued to advance toward its fatal termination. During the last five or six weeks
of her life, she was almost daily expecting the messenger to come and release her from suffering, and
take her home to rest. At one time she said to
her friend, Judge Larkin, "I have been taking a
walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
and I find no terrors there." At another time she
said, "I have often thought of the silent grave as
a desirable and pleasant place of retreat." A very
intimate friend of hers remarked, her approach to
death reminded her of a person who had been a long
time absent from her family and friends, and on her
return was just getting in sight of "HOME." Her
soul was often elated with joy and gladness at the
prospect, and she would exclaim in raptures, "I am
almost home! I am almost home!" The night she
died, when asked by Mrs. F. if she felt all was well,
she replied, in the fullest assurance of faith, "O0,
yes, all is well! all is well!" Nearly the last words
she was heard to utter, were, "I am going home."
Her triumphant exit occurred on the night of the
26th of May, 1845.
Original.
GENIUS FOR MECHANICS.
THE English assert that there is no intellect in
America, do they? but only, say they, "a genius
for mechanics." Looking fairly, however, at this
statement, one would believe that these two were
convertible terms; for that which is effected by
the most complex inferences and deductions, often
engrossing a variety of sciences in its elaboration,
should be originally of mind, and should claim
some consideration of thought. At all events, we
think there is no great ratiocination in their view of
the subject.
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