In vain. She took to her bed the very day of her arrival, and never rose from it again; she became daily weaker, and in three weeks from that time her sufferings ceased forever. She was perfectly conscious to within less than two hours before her death, and took an affectionate leave of her mother and brother. Speech had been a matter of difficulty for some time previous, her throat being greatly affected by her malady; but she had, in consequence, learned to use her fingers in the manner of the deaf and dumb, and almost the last time they moved it was to spell upon them, feebly, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

She was buried in the cemetery of Frankfort, one side of which is set apart for the people of her faith. The stone which marks the spot bears upon it a butterfly and five stars, emblematic of the soul in heaven, and beneath appears the inscription,

"Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."—Prov., ch. xxxi., v. 31.

And thus, 16th of September, 1847, at the early age of thirty-one, Grace Aguilar was laid to rest; the bowl was broken, the silver cord was loosed. Her life was short, and checkered with pain and anxiety, but she strove hard to make it useful and valuable, by employing diligently and faithfully the talents with which she had been endowed. Nor did the serious view with which she ever regarded earthly existence induce her to neglect or despise any occasion of enjoyment, advantage, or sociality which presented itself. Her heart was ever open to receive, her hand to give.

Inasmuch as she succeeded to the satisfaction of her fellow-beings, let them be grateful; inasmuch as she failed, let those who perceive it deny her not the meed of praise for her endeavor to open the path she believed would lead mankind to practical virtue and happiness, and strive to carry out the pure philanthropic principles by which she was actuated, and which she so earnestly endeavored to diffuse.

October, 1849.

CONTENTS

PART I.—THE SISTERS.

CHAPTER I.—A Launch—A Promise—A new Relation
CHAPTER II.—Glimpses into a Child's Heart—A Death-bed
CHAPTER III.—Retrospection—The Lowly sought—The Haughty foiled
CHAPTER IV.—Retrospective—Effects of Coquetry—Obedience and Disobedience
CHAPTER V.—A Heart and Home in England—A Heart and Home in India
CHAPTER VI.—Domestic Discord, and its End

PART II.—TRAITS OF CHARACTER.

CHAPTER I.—Youthful Colloquy—Introducing Character
CHAPTER II.—Three English Homes, and their Inmates
CHAPTER III.—Home Scene—Visitors—Childish Meditations
CHAPTER IV.—Varieties
CHAPTER V.—A Young Gentleman in a Passion—A Walk—A Scene of Distress
CHAPTER VI.—Cecil Grahame's Philosophy—An Error, and its Consequences—A Mystery and a Confidence
CHAPTER VII.—Mr. Morton's Story—A Confession—A young Pleader—Generosity not always Justice
CHAPTER VIII.—An unpleasant Proposal—The Mystery Solved—A Father's Grief from a Mother's Weakness—A Father's Joy from a Mother's Influence
CHAPTER IX.—Temptation and Disobedience—Fear—Falsehood and Punishment
CHAPTER X.—Pain and Penitence—Truth Impressed, and Reconciliation—The Family-tree
CHAPTER XI.—The Children's Ball
CHAPTER XII.—Effects of Pleasure—The young Midshipman—Ill-temper, Origin and Consequences
CHAPTER XIII.—Suspicion—A Parting, a double Grief—Innocence proved—Wrong done and Evil confirmed by Doubt

PART III.—SIN AND SUFFERING.

CHAPTER I.—Advance and Retrospect
CHAPTER II.—A Letter, and its Consequences
CHAPTER III.—A Summons and a Loss
CHAPTER IV.—The broken Desk
CHAPTER V.—The Culprit and the Judge
public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@36648@[email protected]#CHAPTER_VIC"