MEMOIR

OF

MISS FANNY WOODBURY.

MISS FANNY WOODBURY, the subject of the present Memoir, was born at Hamilton, in the state of Massachusets, North America, 10th September 1791. She was the daughter of Mr Isaac and Mrs Anna Woodbury, persons in affluent circumstances in that state, who bestowed on her an education suited to their rank in society, both in their own family, and also in an Academy for young ladies in Bradford, in their neighbourhood.

Possessed of a slender constitution in her infancy, she rarely knew what it was to enjoy good health; and was often brought apparently to the very gates of death. When about three years old, her sense of hearing was greatly impaired by a fever; and her deafness, which was at times much greater than at others, was one of her greatest trials through life.

It is probable that these bodily afflictions were one mean of leading her to realize the importance of religion. The particular occasion of bringing her to deep and solemn consideration, was

importance of complying with their requests. A few months before her death a friend said to her, "I have a cousin whose situation is peculiarly favourable to self-examination. Do supplicate for him, Fanny; for he requires it very much." It was asked her sometime afterwards if she had ever prayed for him: She replied," I have not once attempted to "I supplicate the throne of grace, without pleading on his behalf." This is only one of many instances of her concern for souls: And here, it is hoped, her prayers were not presented in vain; for this same person soon after exhibited an evident change of life.

She had a very deep sense of the worth and preciousness of time: But holy time was in her esteem by far the most precious. Very few, if any could more feelingly" call the Sabbath a delight." Notwithstanding her difficulty of hearing, she had a remarkable fondness for public worship. To one, who often walked with her to the house of God in company, she was accustomed to say, when about to enter the sanctuary, "Now I do hope our souls will be richly fed;"-" Do let us hear as for eternity," and the like.

The great doctrines of the cross were her meat and her drink, her joy and her glory. She often lamented the abounding

errors of the day, especially that which robs the Saviour of his divinity, by reducing him to the level of a dependent being.

Deeply imbibing the spirit of the doctrines which she loved and advocated, she seemed constantly to breathe forth love to God, and good will to mankind. Her religion was exhibited in all the relative duties of life. As a child, she was respectful and obedient; as a sister, affectionate and kind; as a friend, sincere and constant; as a correspondent, punctual and faithful.

Though in consequence of her natural diffidence and inability of hearing, she was in general rather reserved, yet to a few intimate friends, whom she tenderly loved as the friends of Immanuel, she was remarkably open and communicative. Of the two principal characteristics of true friendship, tenderness and faithfulness, it may be difficult to ascertain for which she was most distinguished. When about to part with her friends, she was accustomed to give them some warm exhortation, such as, "Do live near to God;" "Pray much and fervently;"" Press forward with all speed:" And of the tenderness of her affection we have in the present volume many pleasing instances. Her attachment to the late unfortunate Mrs Newell holds a con

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spicuous place in her history. When the melancholy news of this young lady's death was communicated to her, she was almost inconsolable; and her journal, on that occasion, exhibits such an unaffected picture of agonized feeling chastened by pious submission, as must endear her character and her memory to every feeling heart.

With regard to the poor, she was by no means disposed to dismiss them with, "Be ye warmed, and be ye filled," when it was in her power to relieve them. So far from stopping her ears at the cry of the poor, or turning away her eyes from beholding the needy, she sought them out in their dreary cells; and there caused the heart of the widow and the fatherless to sing for joy. Nor was she satisfied with relieving their temporal wants. It was her ardent prayer and endeavour that they might be fed with the bread of life, and clothed with the garments of salvation.

The sick and the afflicted had a share in her tender sympathies; and it was her melancholy delight to visit, assist, and console them. Her success in this duty, even to aged christians, was uncommon.-They seemed to consider her, notwithstanding her youth, as a fit companion and friend, to whom they could with confidence unbosom themselves,

whether afflicted in body or mind. In conveying consolation to the wounded spirit, however, she was scrupulous in the extreme; Jest she should incur the guilt of crying "Peace, peace, when there was no peace." She was a striking example of industry and economy. A large part of her time was spent in discharging the duties of the domestic circle. When her eyes were occupied. with reading, her hands were generally employed to some useful purpose. Like Dorcas, she made garments for the poor. After her death, several garments, suitable for the approaching season, were found, which she had carefully prepared, and laid by for distribution.. Almost the whole of what she bestowed in charity was the fruit of her own industry. She often expressed her astonishment, that Christians would suffer so much of their time to be lost in idleness; adding, that if their own circumstances did not require the fruit of their labours, the poor were ever needy.

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Her conversation was happily seasoned with the salt of grace.. "During the two last years of her life," observes one of her correspondents," I have had the privilege of being in her society more or less almost every week; and, I think, all that passed between us, up