^’UNHHINE , 
 AMONG THE 
 MOUNTAINS 
 
 Acornley 
 
i. ■ 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/sunshineamongmouOOacor 
 
Wsltini 
 
 7\ 
 
 l^monu tlje : 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE YOUNG PASTOR'S WIFE 
 
 BEING 
 
 MEMORIALS 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. AGNES REBECCA ACORNLEY, 
 
 WIFE OF EE\^. JOHN H. ACORNLEY. 
 
 HER HUSBAND. 
 
 A 
 
 You may break, you may nun, the vase, if you ttIII, S 
 * But the scent of the roses will hang round it still.** 
 
 V. 
 
 12589 ^ 
 
 HOWAKD DAISLET, PUBLISHER: 
 
 PRIMITIVE METHODIST BOOK DEPOT 
 
 T5 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, L. I. 
 
 1876 . 
 
FRT.BS 07 P. BARNES, 16 CORTLANDT 
 
 STREET, N. 
 
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 s/yl'^1 
 
 *■ 
 
 ~W- 
 
 
 Soil «R* 
 
 f2(^7 
 
 ' V : ■ 2" b 
 
 IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBR.INGE OE 
 
 llTu ^ftUfe- 
 
 MTIO WAS FOK SE^2EN YEARS :MY DAILY COMPANION 
 AMID TOILS AND TRIALS, 
 
 AND THE SHARER OP ALL MY JOYS AND SORROWS, 
 
 THIS HUMBLE TRIBUTE OF LOVE' 
 
 IS INSCRIBED 
 
 nV HER BEREAVED AND SORROWING HCSBAND. 
 
 125893 
 

PREFACE. 
 
 Of the writing of books there is no end ; and some 
 may be ready to ask “ Why write another ? The 
 world is full of books of this character ! ” Our only 
 answer is, that Christian biography is an important 
 branch of religious literature, as it affords the devout 
 reader incentives to higher aims and nobler actions. 
 
 Christians are said to be like town-clocks ; all eyes 
 are turned upon them, and the actions of those who 
 are not Christians are often guided by them. It is 
 as important that the inner lives of quieter and more 
 unobtrusive Christians be held up as examples for 
 the imitation of others, as it is for the lives of 
 greater and more ostentatious men and women to 
 be recorded. 
 
 It is not the thunder with all its roar that fells the 
 mighty forest-king — the oak— but the noiseless light- 
 ning’s flash. The glorious sunshine which is such a 
 powerful force in nature — producing the most stu- 
 
VI PREFACE. 
 
 penclous results — comes to us in the most gentle, 
 peaceful, and unpretentious guise. The feathery flakes 
 of snow which tliread their way through the atmos- 
 phere, as though they were too filmy to yield to 
 the demands of gravity, clothing the earth with a 
 carpet, soft as the most e.xcjuisitely wrought brussels, 
 falls softly and silently upon the earth, imparting a 
 charm and beauty to everything visible. The rock 
 which has silently stood the blast of a thousand years; 
 the brook or river which has for ages quietly murmured 
 along its bed ; the lo\’ely flowers which grow by the 
 wayside, lifting their tiny ])etals to the sun, and emit- 
 ting refreshing odors ; the forest with its myriad leaves 
 — nature’s mammoth library — all are quietly waiting 
 to impart lessons of wisdom and love. 
 
 'I'hus it is with the lives of virtuous and humble 
 Christians. 'I'hey may not have taken leading patjs 
 in life’s great drama, but they may have filled some of 
 those minor — though none the less important — places, 
 without which the play would be incomplete. They 
 may not have astonished the world with the thunder 
 of their actions, but the lightning’s flash of their vir- 
 tuous deeds may have leveled some sturdy oak of sin 
 to the ground. They may not have swept over the 
 earth like a mighty rushing wind, or a moral avalanche, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Vll 
 
 bearing down the opposing force of hell but like the 
 gentle, glorious sunshine, the unpretentious light of 
 their useful lives has diffused its rays all around ; and 
 those rays, insinuating themselves into the charnel 
 house of sin, have filled it with light, and peace, and 
 sweetness, and joy. The record of the inner lives of 
 God’s glorified children is the very poetry of our 
 religion. It is the casket of gems, they have accu- 
 mulated — some perhaps, not of the first water — but 
 magnificent gems after all. It is the bouquet of flowers 
 they have gathered — some, perhaps, not the most 
 odorous or pretty — but sweet, beautiful flowers after 
 all. The casket which contains the gems may be rude 
 and unpolished, but it holds them. The thread which 
 ties the bouquet may not be of silk, but it binds the 
 flowers together. 
 
 Thus our work may have been imperfectly accom- 
 plished, and some may think that we have given too 
 much prominence to matters of small import ; but 
 we believe that “ it is lines and shadings and such like 
 apparent trivialities that make all the difference be- 
 tween an expressionless and a life-like portrait.” So 
 that even minute matters may, after all, sometimes 
 be worth noting. 
 
 We do not claim anv literarv merit for our work. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 viii 
 
 Defects and imperfections it has many. We would 
 therefore ask the indulgent reader to waive severe 
 criticism, and to bear in mind the purpose we have in 
 view, viz : to offer an humble tribute of love in affec- 
 tionate remembrance of one who has shared joys and 
 sorrows with us, as we have walked together life’s 
 uneven path. We also indulge the hope, that this 
 simple recital will be the means of leading some who 
 shall read it, to a nearer acquaintance with our com- 
 mon Lord and Master. May it be so. Amen ! 
 
 J. H. A. 
 
 WlI.LIAMSTOWN, 
 
 Dauphin County, Pa., 
 
 July 15th, 18V6. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Parentage, Birth, Childhood. 
 
 Only those who have been pre-eminently notable are by some 
 esteemed — No such material here — In a temple the stones not all 
 alike — More likely to imitate the common lessons of life than the 
 extreme and dazzling' — Birth — Parentage — Paisley Abbey — Sound- 
 ing AISLE— Martyr’s stone— Preston— Birth-place of temperance 
 movement— Home influences— Child of many prayers. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Youthful Career and Conversion. 
 
 Resides with her father’s mother— Grandmother’s influence and 
 training— Conversion— Such a change in such an individual differ- 
 ent to a like change in an old sinner — All sold under sin — Residence 
 with Rev. H. Wheeler — Letters from Miss Baugh — Enters service 
 —Shore Hall — Holling'worth Lake— Found many friends— Letter 
 to Mr. C. Crawford — Rochdale — Favored with occasional services 
 of Methodist celebrities— Anecdote of Rev. John Verity — P. M. 
 minister Imprisoned — Commenced a school — Affectionate inter- 
 course with her scholars — Visits Elizabeth C. the child of an infidel 
 — The monotony of daily and nightly teaching not held as an ex- 
 cuse for neglecting Sunday School— Elocutionai-y powers. 
 
X 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER lir. 
 
 COlUlTSHtP. 
 
 Coiii'tsliii) often modestly veiled over in religions publications 
 — If (lone properly will bear referring- to— Extract of letter— con- 
 sent of parents necessai-y— Correspondence — A jieriod like this 
 interesting- and fascinating- to young persons— Extract— Manj- find 
 ])leasuro in lavish expressions — Not so her correspondence — Let- 
 ters— Thoughts about entering- the ministry— Letter on the sub- 
 ject. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Mauiuage and Setteement in AmEUIC'A. 
 
 Jlarriage — Atfection for her husband’s family— Family altar — 
 Pecuniary circumstances— Death of her father-in-law— Letter 
 f)-om Kev. ,Tohn Oscroft— Note to her father— Her husbami emi- 
 grates to America— Philadelphia— Joins her husband in America — 
 Correspondence— Mrs. Acoruley’s early impressions of her adopted 
 country — Correspondence— Cheerfulness— Sickness of her child— 
 .loins the M. E. Chuich— Tamaqua. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 As Minister’s IVife. 
 
 Enters the mini.strj — First aiipointment— Mount Carmel— tVatch- 
 ful interest in the Society’s progress— Church burnt— Bcnei’olent 
 tavern keeper— Letter from Mrs. George— Annual Conference- 
 Remoi'al — AVyoming — First missionary —Mineral AVealth— False im- 
 lu-essions— Miners— Religion flourishes— Moral sunshine— Miner’s 
 song— Mrs. Acornles' eminently fitted for ministei'’s wife — A good 
 minister’s wife a benefit to the community — Qualities she ought 
 to possess — Baptist magazine — Good taste— Love of flowers- Atfec- 
 tion and peace in her home — Baby’s death- Feeble health— pur- 
 poses I'isiting England— Disappointment— Extracts from corres- 
 ])ondenco — Matcwnal anxiety — Accident to her father- Kindness 
 of friends— AVooden wedding — Sui'i)rise party — Morris Run — 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 Hearty welcome—Sickness — Childish ennilort— Breaii cast upon 
 the -waters — Band of Crusaders — Acts of kindnessr— Her I’eligion of 
 a practical character — Fond of singing. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Sickness and Death. 
 
 Fourth of July — An.xiety to see tlie Sunday School children — 
 Offei-s her child to Cod in haptism — Taken sick— Gradually woi-se 
 —Last conversation with her husband — Her father and sister sent 
 for— Husband took sick — An.viety of friends— Mind wanders- In- 
 tense suffering'— Passed awaj'— Gone to be with Jesus— Our loss 
 great — Letter from brother William— Funeral. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 REMEMBIiANCE AND CONDOLENCE. 
 
 The wise man's description of a virtuous woman— Watchful 
 Providence— Sweet thoughts of comfort — Letters of sympath;s' — 
 Preamble and Resolutions adopted by Good Templars— Letters 
 of condolence- Longing- to see the land of our birth— Set saU— 
 Arrival in England— Encouragement and sympathy— Finis. 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 PARENTAGE, BIRTH, CHILDHOOD. 
 
 “ Yes, ’tls our duty, and our interest too, 
 
 Such monuments, as we can huild, to raise.” 
 
 “ How then shall I begin, or where conclude, 
 
 To draw a fame so truly cii’cular?” 
 
 “ ’Tis paradise to look 
 On the fair frontispiece of Nature’s book ; 
 
 If the first opening- page so charms the sight. 
 
 Think how th’ unfolded volume will delight! ” 
 
 Dryden. 
 
 In reading the lives of individuals some persons 
 esteem only such worthy of perusal as have been pre- 
 eminently notable, such as great warriors, statesmen, 
 travelers, philosophers, philanthropists, and invent- 
 ors ; or, someone profound in learning, high in fame, 
 deeply pious, or notoriously wicked ; in short, such 
 as have done something which will dazzle the eye, 
 tickle the ear, or produce a sensation in the feelings. 
 The subject of the following pages, however, formed 
 material for no such memoir. The life of a plain, 
 but earnest young Christian woman is the matter to 
 be brought under review. 
 
14 
 
 SitnsJiine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 In a magnificent tabernacle or temple the stones 
 are not all exciuisitely carved, yet the plain ones are 
 calculated to fill useful positions. They are not all 
 great stones, yet the small ones cannot be dispensed 
 with. They are not all in the front, or on the out- 
 side of the building; there are many obscure and 
 hidden ones, all of which have been fashioned by 
 labor, and appointed to a useful place. The Great 
 Creator, in his wise economy of nature, has seen fit 
 to make more pebbles than diamonds, and more 
 grasses than flowers. Human beings find that it 
 answers their health better to drink more freely of 
 water than nectar, and to eat. more heartily of bread 
 than sweetmeats and confectionery. So the common 
 lessons of life are really what we are more likely to 
 imitate than the extreme, dazzling, and extraordinary 
 lives of persons of which there may be but one in an 
 age, or a few in a nation. 
 
 My dear wife, whose maiden name was Agnes 
 Rebecca Whillock, was born April 21st, 1847, in the 
 town of Paisley, Scotland. Her father, the Rev. 
 Benjamin Whillock, was a Primitive Methodist Min- 
 ister, who preached in a hall which was part of the 
 old abbey; another part being used as the parish, 
 or old abbey church. A portion also lay in ruins. 
 The walls of said ruins were not many feet high. 
 One wing of the building was occupied as dwellings, 
 while what had been built as a private chapel, a kind 
 of wing of the abbey church; went by the name of 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. ij 
 
 the Sounding Aisle. This chapel had been built and 
 dedicated to St. Mirren by James Crawford, of Kel- 
 wynnet, burgess of Paisley, and Elizabeth Galbraith 
 his wife. It was endowed by its founders, with 
 salary for priests, who were to reside constantly there 
 to perform mass, and pray night and day for the 
 souls of the endowers while time lasted. AVhat has 
 become of the revenue, or the priest, I do not know. 
 When the Scotch reformation resulted in the estab- 
 lishment of Presbyterian instead of Roman Catholic 
 churches, praying for dead people went out of fash- 
 ion. In this Aisle is the tomb of Marjory Bruce, or, 
 as she was called, on account of a defect in her eyes. 
 Queen Blearie, who died from a fall she sustained 
 while hunting near Paisley. 
 
 “In ii6o, or 1164, Walter founded the abbey of 
 Paisley for Clunic monks from Wenlock in Shropshire, 
 England, from whence he came. The motives which 
 induced Walter to build Paisley Abbey may be gath- 
 ered from the charter of the foundation of that place, 
 from which we extract the following ‘ Know all 
 present and to come, that I, Walter, son of x\llan, 
 steward of the king of Scotland, for the soul of King 
 David, of King Henry, and of Earl Henry, and for 
 the souls of all my parents and benefactors, and for 
 the salvation of the body and soul of King Malcolm, 
 and of myself, to the honor of God, and by the 
 power of his grace, shall establish a certain house of 
 devotion below my lands at Paisley, according to the 
 
i6 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 order of the brethren of Wenlock ; that is, according 
 to the order of the monks of Clugny.’ ” 
 
 In the Paisley cemetery, behind the martyr’s 
 church, is tlie Martyr's Stone, from which m'C learn, 
 that the bodies of James Agie and John Park lie 
 here, who suffered at the cross of Paisley for refusing 
 the oath of abjuration, February 3d, 1685. 
 
 “ stay, passenger, as tlioii g'oest by, 
 
 And take a look wliere these do lie 
 Who for the love they bare the truth. 
 Were depriv’d of their life and youth. 
 
 Tho’ laws made then, caused many die 
 •Judges and ’sizers were not free 
 He that to them did these delate. 
 
 The greater count he hath to make : 
 
 Yet no e.xcuse to them can be. 
 
 At ten condemn’d, at two to die. 
 
 So cruel did their rage become. 
 
 To stop their speech caused beat the drum 
 This may a standing' witness be 
 ’Twixt Presbyt’ry and Prelacy.” 
 
 The town of Paisley, which is also noted for the 
 manufacture of superior shawls, claims the honor of 
 being the birth place of the Rev. Colin Campbell 
 McKechnie, the distinguished and able connexional 
 editor. 
 
 Mrs. Acornley’s mother, whose maiden name was 
 Caroline Lea, was a native of Preston, Lancashire, 
 England. Preston is a*large manufacturing town on 
 the banks of the river Ribble. “ Here the temperance 
 movement took — about forty years ago — that definite 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife, IJ 
 
 form which now passes under the nameof Teetotalism, 
 a term which, although by no means euphonious, and 
 resulting from a stammering articulation, covers a 
 principle which, while physiologically sound, and in 
 harmony with the teachings of the word of God and 
 the material and moral well-being of man, is com- 
 mending itself increasingly to the judgment of- 
 statesmen, patriots, philanthropists, and Christians 
 generally.” Here, also, the Rev. George Lamb, one 
 of the stalwart pillars in the Primitive Methodist 
 Church, first saw the light of day. 
 
 Miss Lea was converted when quite young, and 
 became a member of the Primitive Methodist Church, 
 Saul Street, of that town. She was an intelligent, 
 warm-hearted, pious young person. 
 
 In July, 1846, the Rev. William Antliff (now D.D. 
 and Principal of the Sunderland Theological Insti- 
 tute) united her in the bonds of holy wedlock to the 
 Rev. B. Whillock. The following day the young 
 couple bade an affectionate farewell to their friends, 
 and departed for Paisley, their new ministerial sta- 
 tion. This part of the south-west of Scotland had 
 an atmosphere damp and foggy. Mrs. Whillock 
 manifested symptoms of asthma, accompanied by a 
 cough which (a few weeks before the birth of her 
 who afterwards became Mrs. Acornley) resulted in 
 the breaking of a blood vessel in the lungs. Medi- 
 cal aid was called in, and medicine of an astringent 
 nature administered. While this stayed the dis- 
 
 2 
 
1 8 Sunshine Ammg the Mountains ; 
 
 charge from the lungs it increased the cough; the 
 maternal time of anxiety came on, and the lives of 
 both mother and infant hung in doubt ; yet the good 
 Lord brought them both through. Nevertheless 
 the mother endured a continued affliction. The 
 climate was deemed against her health, therefore 
 the Annual Conference complied with a request from 
 Mr. Whillock to remove him from Scotland. How- 
 ever, her health was never perfectly restored. She 
 died at Wrexham, North Wales, and was interred in 
 the Baptist Cemetery, where an inscription on her 
 grave stone will briefly tell her character and death : 
 
 UNDEUNEATH 
 
 lie the mortal remains of 
 CAROLINE, 
 
 EATE WIFE OF BENJAMIN WHILLOCK, 
 
 Primitive Methodist Minister, 
 
 She was horn December 13th, 1833, 
 and, after a 
 
 protracted affliction, departed this life 
 July 13th, 1849. 
 
 Throug’h the blood of Christ she knew, whilst young, that 
 her sins were forgiven, and in death the faith 
 of Jesus gave her assurance, resig- 
 nation, and peace. 
 
 As a Wife she was affectionate and dutiful. 
 
 As a Mother fli-m and kind. 
 
 As a Christian steadfast and unassuming. 
 
 For some years before Mrs. Acornley’s birth her 
 parents had been practical total abstainers from all 
 intoxicating drinks, and so continued ; thus, as a 
 matter of course their child was led in the paths of 
 
Or, the Yotmg Pastor s Wife. 
 
 
 true temperance, hence she became a life abstainer, 
 and as her years increased, temperance principles, 
 meetings and successes became subjects of great 
 interest to her. 
 
 Prior even to her birth her parents besought the 
 Lord to accept the child as a living servant and sac- 
 rifice, and ever afterwards she was the subject of 
 many supplications. From the first at home, and 
 among her other associations she was encircled with 
 a chain of religious circumstances. Thus she heard 
 of heaven and learnt the way. At an early date 
 she was taught the personal duty of prayer, and was 
 led to realize that 
 
 “ Praj’Br is the Christian’s ^ntal breath. 
 
 The Christian’s natiTO air, 
 
 His watchword at the g-ates of death, 
 
 He enters Heaven with prayer.” 
 
 As a matter of course appropriate passages of Scrip- 
 ture were committed to memory, such as the follow- 
 ing words of the wise man, which were taught her as 
 part of her morning and evening prayers : — “Two 
 things have I required of thee, deny them me not 
 before I die, remove far from me vanity and lies; 
 give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with 
 food convenient for me, lest I be full, and deny thee, 
 and say who is the Lord t or lest I be poor and 
 steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” Prov. 
 ch. XXX, 7-9. 
 
20 Shmhim Among the Mountains : 
 
 CHAPTER IT 
 
 YOUTHFUL CAREEl'i AND CONVERSION, 
 
 “ ’Tis not for man to trifle. Life Is brief, 
 
 And sin is Here. 
 
 An ag’o Is but the falling of a leaf — 
 
 A dropping tear. 
 
 We have no time to .sport away the hours; 
 
 All must be earnest in a world like ours. 
 
 “ N ot many lives, but only one have we — 
 
 Frail, fleeting man I 
 
 Ho\y sacred should that one life ea^er be— 
 
 That narrow span ! 
 
 Day after day, filled up with blessed toil. 
 
 Hour after hour, still bnnging in new spoil.” 
 
 Dr. Bonar. 
 
 In after time domestic circumstances in Mr. 
 Whillock’s family rendered it expedient, during 
 girlhood, for Agnes to live considerably with her 
 father’s mother, Mrs. Tranter, who was a member 
 of the Primitive Methodist Society in Birmingham. 
 Through her grandmother’s influence and training 
 she was early taught the duty of “ Searching the 
 Scriptures,” punctuality at the Sunday-school, and 
 attendance at the services of the sanctuary. Who 
 can fully estimate the moral and spiritual power of 
 
21 
 
 Or, the Yon?tg Pastor s Wife. 
 
 such surroundings ? In this case the labor was not 
 in. vain. Such was her affectionate attachment to her 
 dear grandmother, that her young mind was readily 
 opened to receive those lessons of wisdom and piety 
 which that dear aged grandparent was constantly 
 imparting. And in after years she would look back 
 to this time and speak of it as being the happiest pe- 
 riod of her youthful career. When she was about 
 eleven years of age there was a religious awakening 
 among the Primitive Methodists in Birmingham, and 
 it was at this time and place when she professed 
 (with other young persons) to venture her all on the 
 Atonement of Christ, thus rendering her heart and 
 life to Jesus. No wonder now that her affection for 
 the courts of God’s house became more fervent; but, 
 in such a case as hers, the change called conversion 
 did not contrast so much with her previous life, sim- 
 ply because of her youth, and her former religious 
 and moral habits and associations. Such a change 
 in such an individual is of course very different to a 
 like change in an old sinner, whose life has been far 
 from righteousness, who, when he is translated out 
 of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of 
 God’s dear son, becomes a wonder to many, and 
 also to himself. Yet whether it be the young or 
 the aged, the moral or the profane, the Sabbath- 
 scholar or the street Arab, the fifty pence debtor or 
 one who owes five thousand talents, each is under 
 condemnation, all are sold under sin, every one is 
 
23 
 
 SuJisJnne Among the Mounfains ; 
 
 guilty before God. As none can be justified hy 
 works, all need the new birth unto righteo-usness, 
 and except they are converted and become as little 
 children they cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 
 From this time her attachment to God’s house deep- 
 ened, and she manifested a growing interest in the 
 Sunday School. This formed, to a certain extent, 
 her character, and influenced to a considerable de- 
 gree her future career. 
 
 Subsequently to this she resided with her uncle, 
 the Rev. Henry Wheeler, while he was stationed at 
 Macclesfield, Cheshire, with whom a true Christian 
 feeling ever after subsisted, as will be seen by ex- 
 tracts of correspondence from Mr. Wheeler in a 
 subsequent page. 
 
 Mrs. ykcornley had corresjwndence with many 
 friends during her youth, but seeing that we do 
 not possess those letters she dispatched, a few of 
 the answers she received will indicate the character 
 of her friends, and the nature of the correspondence. 
 One or two extracts will illustrate. A pious young 
 woman, residing at Dawley, Shropshire, was one 
 among her acquaintances. On the 20th of April, 
 1863, Miss Baugh wrote: 
 
 “ My very dear and affectionate friend : 
 
 “ I am so very glad to hear 
 
 that you are among kind friends, and that you are 
 so happy. There is an old proverb which says 
 
23 
 
 Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 ‘ In the fear of the Lord there is strong confi- 
 dence ; and his children shall have a place of refuge. 
 Commit thy way unto the Lord, and he shall direct 
 thy path.’ When I go to school I feel very strange. 
 I seem to look — and to look — for one who is not to 
 be seen there; but when I am at home I can look at 
 the shadow (meaning her portrait), but the substance 
 is gone, and when I am so busy, you sit there and 
 never say shall I help you, and yet I get on better 
 
 when I see and think about you Hoping 
 
 you are well, I beg to remain, 
 
 “ Your ever dear and affectionate friend, 
 
 “M. M. Baugh.” 
 
 Another letter from the same young lady, dated 
 May 1 8th, 1863, commenced 
 
 “ My very dear and affectionate friend : 
 
 “ I hope that you are in the enjoy- 
 ment of health, also your cousins ; please to give my 
 kind regards to them, also to your uncle and aunt. I 
 should be very glad to see them and you — perhaps 
 we shall see each other sometime on earth — if we 
 do not, we may meet in Heaven, when we shall range 
 the sweet plains on the banks of the river, and tell of 
 his love for ever and ever. Dear Agnes, I hope you 
 do not think of giving up your class meetings ; re- 
 member it is the best place to get our spiritual strength 
 
24 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 renewed ; be determined to go on in the way of duty, 
 it is the way of safety, 
 
 , * , “I should like to see, to speak to 
 
 you, what I have not time to write. I constantly keep 
 a bouquet of flowers by you (portrait). I know you 
 like them, and yet you don’t take them. I was very 
 much pleased with those you sent me I have studied 
 the language of flowers, so 1 know their meaning. I 
 am very glad to hear that you had such a nice treat, 
 but I am sorry you felt so lonely ; if you would have 
 friends you must make yourself friendly; but 1 ad- 
 vise you to be careful with whom you make friends. 
 Beware equally of a sudden friend and a slotv enemy. 
 . . . . And now dear friend, my time is nearly 
 
 gone; 1 must not conclude however, without begging 
 of you to live close to God. Pray for me, and I will 
 pray for you, and may we both improve the grace 
 given, leaving the things that are behind and press- 
 ing forward to those that are before, and may it be 
 ours to hear the welcome plaudit. ‘Come up hither; 
 inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from the foun- 
 dation of the world.’ Farewell for the present, and 
 believe me to be, 
 
 “Your ever sincere friend, 
 
 “Matilda Maria Baugh.” 
 
 There was, perhaps, no young person' in the Daw- 
 ley Primitive Methodist Society more pious than 
 Miss Baugh ; she was modest, unassuming and vir- 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 2^ 
 
 tlious. She became a married woman, and disease 
 and death soon made her their victim. 
 
 Mrs. Acornley wrote Miss Baugh’s mother a letter 
 of condolence, as may be inferred from the following 
 extract from Mrs. Baugh, dated May 17th, 1866 : 
 
 “ Dear Agnes : 
 
 “I was glad to hear from you ; your 
 
 kind letter comforted me more than I have words to 
 ex])ress, for my loss was very great; but it pleased 
 the Lord to remove her to himself. Although it is 
 hard to say ‘ Thy will be done,’ yet it may be all for 
 the best in the end ; He had some vvise purpose in 
 view that we are not permitted to see now, but we 
 shall know hereafter, I am greatly comforted to 
 know that she is gone to Heaven, where the wicked 
 cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest. She 
 died shouting ‘ Victory ! ’ or, rather, she asked her • 
 father to do so. I should have liked you to have 
 been there to have heard her talk ; you would have 
 wondered where she could have found so much to 
 say. It was a pleasure to wait on her, she was so 
 patient and thankful for all we did for her. . . . 
 
 “All join in love to you. 
 
 “ I remain your sincere friend, 
 
 “Jane Baugh.’’ 
 
 Some time afterwards, feeling a wish to put forth 
 a laudable individual effort for independent personal 
 
Sunshine A mong the M ountains ; 
 
 26 
 
 maintenance, she answered an advertisement, which 
 resulted in an engagement as nurse-maid in the 
 family of Dr. Collier, of Shore Hall, near Rochdale, 
 Lancashire. 
 
 Within sight of Shore Hall is a sheet of water, 
 covering ninety acres of ground, called Hollingworth 
 Lake. It was originally constructed as a feeder for 
 the Rochdale and Manchester canal. It is, however, 
 no longer necessary for that purpose. The lake is 
 now owned by a company who have laid out its sur- 
 roundings as a pleasure resort, and although the 
 scenery cannot be said to be grand, yet Hollingworth 
 Lake is not without its merits. During the summer 
 months and on gala days, thousands of eager pleasure- 
 seekers flock to this place from all parts of South Lan- 
 cashire and the East Riding of Yorkshire. The bosom 
 of this placid water is dotted with pleasure-boats and 
 • racing-skiffs, cutters, and canoes; while every once in 
 a while is heard the shrill whistle of the little paddle 
 steamer as she goes snorting round the lake, or mer- 
 rily glides across from one landing-stage to the other. 
 The lake is fringed by numerous establishments where 
 candies and toys are dispensed, and where materials 
 for fortifying the stomach and pleasing the palate, are 
 dealt out to those who are willing to pay. Joyous 
 sounds, merry laughter, and sweet music, come rip- 
 pling over the water, while scenes of gaiety are be- 
 held all around. Some poet has said, while viewing 
 the placid waters of Hollingworth Lake by moonlight, 
 
the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 27 
 
 “ Oh, that this peacefulness might long endure, 
 This lovely scene continue, free from mist ! 
 Who would not seek for what is true and pure ? 
 Who would in aug'ht unheautif ul persist ? 
 
 “ None but the gross and foul who make the earth 
 A scene of terror, havoc, and distress. 
 
 O give us, gracious God, a second bii’th. 
 
 And stem the tide of human wretchedness. 
 
 “ Give us to love thy works, so bright and fair ; 
 Give us to know whdre truest goodness lies ; 
 Give, from on high, a living, freshening air. 
 Before whose current all pollution flies.” 
 
 While residing in the family of Dr. Collier, Mrs. 
 Acornley soon found many friends, connected with 
 the Primitive Methodist Society at Shore, whose 
 friendship continued and was cultivated for years 
 afterwards. The following letter, which she wrote 
 several years afterwards, will illustrate her sincere 
 attachment to the friends she had made in this place ; 
 
 “ Plains, Luzerne Co., Penn., 
 
 “ North America, 
 
 “November 23d, 1873. 
 
 “ Dear brother Crawford ; 
 
 “ I have long promised to write to you, and the 
 dear, yes, the dear friends at Shore. Oh ! how I 
 long to see you all. I watch the plan and see who 
 
 are the active members at Shore 
 
 (Speaking of numerous friends, she says :) Have any 
 
2S Sunshine Among the Mountain^ ; 
 
 of them removed or gone home to Heaven ? ' How 
 we would like to see you all again. I am going to 
 try to send you a little news, and you will let all my 
 dear friends hear, I know. 
 
 “ You will hear of us sometimes, I dare say, and 
 know that John is in the ministry, and I believe the 
 Lord owns our efforts. This is the second year that 
 we are on this circuit, and during that time, we have 
 divided into two circuits, and on this part we have 
 built two little churches. . • . 
 
 “ We are now erecting two more; one will probably 
 be opened in four weeks, and the other, which will be 
 larger, will be opened probably in February or March. 
 
 We have much to be' thankful for, 
 
 though we have many drawbacks. Trade in this part 
 is very bad just now, on account of the great bank 
 suspension ; there is not full employment, nor much 
 
 money stirring yet our members are 
 
 very kind ; ... . . and now pigs are dying all 
 
 around, and dead pork comes into our buttery, and 
 sausages, mince pies, pork pies, as if we liked them and 
 
 could eat them I tell you this to let 
 
 you know we are respected, and among friends ; yet I 
 long to mingle with you in England again, at Shore 
 and Rochdale. I do long to see my dear husband’s 
 mother and family again ; we often feel lonely just 
 because, we have no relatives at hand. We have 
 buried our dear little rosebud last July twelve months; 
 his name was Ebenezer Hamer; we felt the Lord had 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 2g 
 
 helped us ; we have now another son ; we call him 
 John Samuel; he is a fine baby, six months old. 
 
 “ John has been very sick a few weeks ago, but is 
 now better, though not like himself ; he has far too 
 much work, the circuit work is heavy, and the local 
 
 help is insufficient My own domestic 
 
 cares are many, yet I do what I can in the work ; I 
 do not do what I should like, or as much as I wish. 
 Visiting members in this country is not like England, 
 
 it is up hill and down dale Our circuit 
 
 extends about twelve miles ; we have five places as you 
 
 will see by the plan I shall send It is 
 
 only three years since Primitive Methodism was 
 known here, in this Wyoming Valley ; it is a lovely 
 part of the country. Winter is now set in in earnest; 
 already the sleighs are out, and the bells on the 
 
 horses ring merrily I guess if I 
 
 could see and hear you all reading this it would 
 make me feel like getting my ' hagging’* along with 
 you; I wish I could; I guess it would be ‘‘gradehf 
 good.' I shall be hopping in maybe sometime; if 
 not, I trust we shall all meet in the glory land, where 
 the inhabitants never say ‘I am sick;’ where we 
 shall join in the grand hallelujah chorus to Him that 
 hath loved us, and not only loved us but washed us 
 ■in His own most precious blood ; to this end I 
 aspire. 
 
 * A phrase used in Lancashire for the afternoon meal at four 
 o’clock. t Very good. 
 
JO 
 
 Su 7 ishine Among the Moutitains ; 
 
 “May the Lord bless you all is the sincere prayer 
 of your long lost friend and sister in Christ, 
 
 “ Agnes Rebecca Acornley.” 
 Shore being in the Rochdale Circuit, and preachers 
 and friends coming and going, her correspondence 
 and acquaintance was extended to Rochdale. 
 
 Rochdale is a town of great antiquity, for without 
 doubt it existed as such long before the conquest of 
 Britain by the Normans. The present population is 
 estimated at near 66,000. Rochdale has been favored 
 with the occasional services of many Methodist celeb- 
 rities, such as John Wesley, Adam Clark, Joseph Ben- 
 son, Hugh Bourne, Wm. Clowes, .&c., &c. 
 
 An amusing incident once occurred at an open 
 air service in Rochdale. The Rev. John Verity, 
 while standing on a chair preaching in the street, 
 was accosted by a police officer and commanded to 
 “ move on.” Mr. Verity very politely said “ I hope 
 you will permit me to dismiss the people first 1 ” 
 The officer of course readily assented, when Mr. 
 Verity went into a long explanation as to what he 
 had inteiided to have stated if he had not been in- 
 terrupted ; that it had been his “ intention to have 
 told them that Christ had died for sinners, and that 
 they might be saved.” And thus he went on for 
 half an hour, telling the people what he had mtended 
 to have said if he had not been prevented. Mean- 
 while this “ guardian of the law ” was expecting, at 
 the conclusion of every sentence, to hear the con- - 
 
Or, the Voting Pastor's Wife. Ji 
 
 gregation dismissed, but finding that Mr. Verity’s 
 explanation continued to roll on, without any signs 
 of a speedy termination, he turned upon his heel and 
 retired in disgust from the scene. 
 
 About the year 1839 the Rev. Mr. Steell, a magis- 
 trate, and curate of Littleborough Church, a village 
 about three miles from Rochdale, sent Mr. White, 
 a Primitive Methodist Minister, to prison for preach- 
 ing in that village, but he was released by the order 
 of George Ashworth, Esq., another magistrate, who 
 rose from his bed at midnight in order to accomplish 
 that object. 
 
 There had been a day school kept in the base- 
 ment of Crawford Street Primitive Methodist Chapel, 
 Rochdale ; the school had been so reduced, from 
 some cause or other, that it was discontinued. Mrs. 
 Acornley was requested to make the attempt to re- 
 commence it. There was no endowment, no fund 
 for salary apart from, what was raised by the indi- 
 vidual payments of each scholar. She knew she was 
 young and inexperienced, but had resolved, under 
 God’s blessing, to look to her own industry for her 
 living. The task of commencing and establishing a 
 day school, which should afford a livelihood to the 
 school-mistress, from school rates commencing at 
 two-pence per week, required courage, hope, indus- 
 try and patience; but she attempted and succeeded. 
 In addition to this, she commenced a night school, 
 principally for young women and girls, many of 
 
32 
 
 Sumhinc Among the Mountains ; 
 
 M'hom during the day were working in the cotton 
 factories, thus being deprived of educational advan- 
 tages. Her affectionate intercourse with the children 
 endeared her to their hearts, and this was apparent 
 not only in the school-room, and when meeting in 
 the streets, but the absent or sick she often visited at 
 their own homes. An extended acquaintance and 
 friendship thus became established between her and 
 the parents. 
 
 There was one little girl named Elizabeth C , 
 
 whose father professed to hold infidel principles. 
 This little girl was taken sick ; she wished to see her 
 school-mistress, who was also her Sunday-school 
 teacher. The father consenting to such a visit — 
 rather visits might be said, for they were frequent— 
 of course, the conversation and exercises were relig- 
 ous and devout, mingled with prayer and praise ; the 
 infidel father was at times much affected, but whether 
 this was from any evangelical convictions, or the 
 natural emotions of a parent who lovingly looked on 
 a sick child, whom he feared would die, it is not for 
 the writer to decide. The child, however, died, and 
 its happy spirit, without doubt, went to mingle with 
 that unnumbered multitude of little ones which stands 
 “around the throne of God in Heaven.” 
 
 The father’s heart seemed broken ; life seemed to 
 have lost its charm, and in an incredibly short time, 
 he too, died. May we hope that he has met his 
 child in the glory-land. 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 33 
 
 Mrs. Acornley was occasionally the recipient of 
 affectionate letters from her pupils, indicative of the 
 kindly feelings and affectionate regard they had for 
 her. 
 
 The daily and nightly monoton3'"of teaching was 
 not held as an excuse for not taking share in the labor 
 of Sunday school teaching. On God’s day she was 
 active in giving instruction in Crawford street school. 
 Her aptitude for teaching, her religious warmth, her 
 punctual attendance, with her affectionate manner, 
 endeared her to the class she taught. 
 
 When tea meetings, festivals, or anniversaries for 
 the school occurred, and recitations, etc., were needed, 
 she was ready to take part. A printed programme 
 lies before the writer, dated Christmas, 1867, in which 
 she was announced to render a piece called “ The 
 Crucifixion.” This she gave with much feeling, and 
 marked and telling impressions were made. From 
 early childhood, reciting, etc., at Sunday school anni- 
 versaries, had been frequently her practice. Her elo- 
 cutionary powers were somewhat considerable, and 
 it would not be too much to say that her talent in 
 this line was indeed extraordinary. 
 
34 
 
 Sims /line Among the Mountains ; 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 COURTSHIP. 
 
 “Our fortune rolls as from a smooth descent, 
 
 And from the firet impression takes the bent : 
 
 But, if unseized, she glides away like wind, 
 
 And leaves repenting- folly far behind.” 
 
 Dryden, 
 
 The subject of courtship — a kind of preface to 
 the larger volume of marriage — is ofttimes modestly 
 veiled over in religious publications, as if it was a 
 circumstance that modest and Christian people should 
 only utter in a whisper to some one particular, confi- 
 dential friend. The writer thinks that courtship, if 
 properly conducted, will in after years bear referring 
 to and prudently disclosing. In the arena of court- 
 ship, not only affection, but conscience, truth, and 
 piety, ought to act their part in undisguised charac- 
 ters. The evangelical motto “ Whatsoever ye do, do 
 all to the glory of God,” ought to have an applica- 
 tion in this interesting practice, as in any other cir- 
 cumstance of life. Such were the feelings and con- 
 victions of the writer, and such also were the opinions 
 of her whom “ once I courted, now I lament,” as may 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. J5 
 
 appear from the following extract from her pen, in 
 reply to a letter I wrote her on this subject : 
 
 “ I felt highly pleased when I read that part of 
 your epistle, stating that ‘ it would be unwise on 
 your part to allow any rumor, or rather to encourage 
 the same, until (as I understand it), I was made 
 acquainted with your present position and circum- 
 stances, also your future prospects in life.’ Allow 
 me here to say (I hope I do not flatter you), that a 
 young man of such a frank disposition is worthy of 
 such an one as will honorably and steadily assist him 
 through life, in joy, in sorrow, in prosperity, in ad- 
 versity. A spirit of such frankness, either in a young 
 man or a young woman is commendable, and de- 
 serves a just reward, A frank and upright disposi- 
 tion is honorable, both in the sight of our Heavenly 
 
 Redeemer and man I pray that the 
 
 blessing of the Most High may rest upon you, and 
 that the Holy Spirit may direct you in all your un- 
 dertakings, so that when you have done with the 
 world and its cares, you may be received unto Him 
 who hath washed you, and freed you from the yoke 
 of bondage, is the most sincere wish of 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
 Having settled in our hearts that our affection was 
 mutual and genuine, the next thing was to gain the 
 consent of our parents ; if this was withheld, we con- 
 sidered it would be an indication that Providence 
 
j6 Sunshine A ?nong the Mountains ; 
 
 disapproved, and therefore, all |jrofessions or expres- 3 
 
 ■1 
 
 sions relative to our prospective union, should be 
 neutralized or made void. But otherwise, should S 
 
 they comply, this would be the bugle-sound to give ^ 
 
 us marching orders to “go forward.” >! 
 
 A reference to some of her corre.spondence at this ^ 
 period may not be uninteresting or unprofitable. f 
 
 Having made her an offer of marriage, the following '■ 
 extract will indicate the intelligent, frank and Chris- 
 tian manner in which she accepted my proposal. 3 
 
 Speaking of some recent change in her circum- * 
 
 stances, she says ; '4 
 
 “ But yet I Avill not repine ; it is the will of God ; 
 
 ‘let Him do as seemeth Him good.’ I yet believe ^ 
 
 that the sun will again shine upon my path, though | 
 
 I assure you I have passed through much, but I will * 
 
 raise my Ebenezer and say, ‘ hitherto the Lord hath ^ 
 
 helped me.’ Oh ! that I may live nearer to Him * 
 
 who has kept me in infancy and childhood, unto |l 
 
 these years, to know and understand right from | 
 
 wrong, good from evil ; to live closer to Him is my 
 constant desire — my motto is, ‘ nearer, my God, to ^ 
 
 Thee.’ He who has been a present helper to many ' 
 
 before my existence and since, will be my constant, 
 never-failing friend. Yes! a friend that is more con- ; 
 
 stant than a brother Allow me to say ; 
 
 I that in joti 1 have the firm belief I shall find an ^ 
 
 earthly friend, faithful and true unto the last. ‘Last’ j 
 
 you say, ‘what does that mean .^ ’ It means this : I J 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 37 
 
 am not a flirt, nor should I wish to trifle with any- 
 one, nor any one to trifle with me ; but it is my duty 
 to seek out a fit companion ‘ for life,’ and I would 
 not give my hand nor heart to any young man whom 
 I believed had not the fear of God before his eyes. 
 You have had a good example set before you, and I 
 feel thankful that you have followed the same, and 
 given your heart to Him who is your Heavenly 
 Father. Oh! that you may live closer to your God 
 
 than you hitherto have done And 
 
 now let our effo rts be joined for the promotion of 
 God’s cause. To you I now give my heart, but not 1 
 without due and serious consideration. And may | 
 the God of Jacob be my helper and yours, is the ■ 
 most ardent desire and prayer of your ‘ 
 
 “ Most affectionate 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.’’ 
 
 The following letter breathes the same kind of 
 pious emotions : 
 
 “ Dear John : 
 
 “ I most sincerely hope that you arrived safe at 
 home on Sunday night without taking cold; for I 
 know you must each* have got very wet indeed. 
 This day has been so dull to me, as the morning’s 
 
 * Rev. James Crompton and myself, -both having- been preach- 
 ing- in the neighborhood. 
 
jS Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 post brought me rather unwelcome intelligence ; but 
 I will look up as well as I can, the Lord helping me. 
 I hope soon to see you, for I do think that I may 
 
 place confidence in you And, oh ! I pray 
 
 that God may bless you, and that all you do may 
 prosper, both temporally and spiritually ; that you 
 may have His choicest blessing resting upon all your 
 goings out and comings in ; and whatever station of 
 life you may be placed in, you know there is a watch- 
 ful eye that neither slumbers nor sleeps, continually 
 over you. Oh ! that His arms of love and tender 
 mercy would ever you embrace. I assure yo u, since 
 I have had the knowledge of you, many have been 
 the prayers that have ascended up to the throne of 
 grace in your behalf. 
 
 “ I have not thought of you, or the circumstances 
 that have transpired, lightly, oh ! no ! I have pon- 
 dered it over and over again, and asked my Heav- 
 enly Father to direct me in the way that is right, to 
 ‘ guide me by His unerring counsel,’ and you also, so 
 that we may each discern more clearly and aright, 
 what is before us. My dear John, do think before 
 you go any further ; oh, consider — do you think I 
 am a suitable companion for you through life t I 
 ofttimes feel my littleness and insignificance in the 
 sight of Him who is all just and holy; He who is my 
 Creator, my Preserver, my Redeemer, and my Medi- 
 ator. I feel that I am sinful. I feel that I can ex- 
 claim ‘ what am I, that thou art so mindful of me } ’ 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. jg 
 
 He has watched over me constantly ; He has covered 
 me with the shadow of His almighty wing. With 
 Milton, I can seem to say, 
 
 ‘ I have naught to fear — 
 
 This darkness is the shadow of Thy wing. 
 
 Beneath it I am sacred ; 
 
 Here can come no evil thing' 
 
 and then, with a more inspired writer than even he, 
 ‘ what shall I render unto the Lord for all his 
 
 benefits ? ’ In return, I wish for my life 
 
 to be more devoted to his service; to do His will 
 shall be my constant delight. Oh ! that he may ever 
 help me and you to do His will, so that when He 
 comes to number up His jewels, we may each be 
 even more precious than the most costly ; for if the 
 world were brim full of the most precious jewels, 
 they were less than nothing when compared to the 
 
 value of one soul I hope soon to see 
 
 you, and meanwhile, I pray, that He who fed the five 
 thousand in the wilderness, may feed you with Heav- 
 enly bread ; He who shone in the bush may shine 
 around about ; and the peace that the world can- 
 not give or take, may ever dwell within your soul. 
 And now accept my kindest love, believing it comes 
 from a sincere heart. 
 
 “ Most affectionately yours. 
 
 “ Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
40 
 
 Sitiishine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 The circumstances of a period like this are, to 
 most young persons,, very interesting and fascinat- 
 ing ; but even at this time my dear departed one 
 did not lose sight of, or forget, the principle taught 
 in the decalogue, viz., “ Honor thy father and thy 
 mother,” &c., as witness the following communica- 
 tion, which I received in July, 1866. She says — 
 “ 1 am sorry to hear that your mother is so poorly, 
 I do hope and trust that she will be restored soon 
 to perfect health ; remember you must take care of 
 her, for the true value of a mother no one on earth 
 knows except those who have lost one. I sometimes 
 think that, could I, 1 would give all I possessed, and 
 do all that ever lay in my power, if I could call back 
 my own dear parent, or even her who I shall ever 
 think of as a parent, (my dear grandmother) ; but no 
 I cannot; but there is one thing I can do — ‘/can 
 go to them, though they cannot return to me.’ Ah I 
 I cannot tell how soon that day may come when I 
 shall see them and my Saviour. Here, by faith, we 
 can see the land that is yet afar off. Oh! my dear 
 John, if God should permit that my life and yours 
 should be spared, and that we should be joined in 
 the holy bonds of wedlock, let us pray that our efforts 
 may be united to promote each other’s spiritual in- 
 terest and eternal welfare. In your last epistle you 
 write ‘Agnes, pray for me;’ believe me, my dear, 
 that not one night passes over your head but that 
 there is an earnest prayer ascending up to the throne 
 
( 9 r, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 41 
 
 
 of heavenly grace on your behalf. In return I now 
 ask ‘ pray for your Agnes Rebecca ! ’ May the Lord 
 ever bless you Believe me to be, 
 
 “ Most affectionately yours, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
 While not a few young persons find pleasure only 
 in lavish expressions of an emotional character, or 
 even very nonsense, such was not her mode of cor- 
 respondence. Here is an instance of a pious re- 
 flection on the love and goodness of God, and a kind 
 Providence, at the beginning of a new year. 
 
 “January 30th, 1867. 
 
 “ Near one month of this present year 
 
 has flown into a vast eternity. How many, since the 
 commencement of the year, have passed away to prove 
 the realities of another world, while you and I have 
 been spared ! Let gratitude to Almighty God fill 
 each of our hearts. I feel that I need much of His 
 divine assistance to direct, guide, and strengthen me. 
 My desire is to live the life of the righteous, so that 
 my end may be peace. Oh ! my dear, pray much 
 for your Agnes Rebecca. I feel I need some one’s 
 prayers, especially yours ; you for whom I wish to 
 think as for myself; for whose welfare, temporally 
 and spiritually, I constantly and earnestly pray. 
 May the choicest of God’s blessings ever be yours ; 
 
42 StinsJiine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 may the light of His glory beam ever on your path 
 through life ; and, when you have done with earth 
 and all its joys and sorrows, may you be conducted 
 by holy angels and ‘spirits of just men made perfect,’ 
 to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there 
 to sing the song of Him who hath redeemed you, 
 ‘not with corruptible things such as silver and gold, 
 but with His own precious blood.’ I pray we may 
 each look unto Him, knowing that from Him all our 
 blessings flow. How innumerable they are ! for, 
 while many are in want of daily sustenance, our 
 wants are supplied ; while others have not sufficient 
 to wear to screen them from the inclemency of the 
 weather, we have that which is comfortable and 
 warm ; there are those who have not habitation, 
 nor bed to lie down upon, while we each have that 
 blessing. 
 
 ‘ Not more than others we deserved, 
 
 Yet God hath given us more.’ 
 
 “ Let us each feel we have a thankful heart, and 
 may it be our constant aim to do that which is right 
 in the sight of God. Lord help us 
 
 “ With affection -yours, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
 There is a pious reflection on my birthday, dated 
 December 27th, 1866. 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 43 
 
 “ Again appears thy natal day ; 
 
 Again with blessings be it crowned : 
 
 In virtue’s path, and wisdom’s way, 
 
 May’st thou on each return be found.” 
 
 “ Many happy returns of this day to you, iny dear 
 John, and may you live to see many, many more. 
 
 I pray that your future life may be a life of holiness, 
 following your Lord and master with greater vigi- , 
 lance and earnestness, and by faith taking firmer 
 grasp of the hem of His garment. Let your light 
 shine, and be not weary in well doing, knowing that 
 if you waver not, but prove faithful unto the end, 
 there is laid up for you an everlasting palm of vie- i 
 tory and a never-fading crown of glory. I pray that 
 your life may be spared, having health and strength ' 
 to perform the daily task of life ; and. oh ! should it 
 please God that you and I should be united, I say 
 again, and pray, that our efforts may be joined, not 
 only in things temporal, but to promote God’s glory. 
 May God ever bless you is my constant prayer. . . . 
 
 “ With true affection, I am still yours, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.’’ 
 
 For a number of years my mind had been seriously 
 impressed with the importance of devoting myself 
 wholly to the work of the Christian ministry, an im- 
 pression which was shared by many of my official 
 brethren ; and for the accomplishment of which, 
 hundreds of prayers had been offered by a holy 
 
44 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 father and a God-fearing mother.. It was, however, 
 necessary that our engagement should be protracted 
 during the period of my probation {four years ) ; the 
 decision hung in the balance month after month. I 
 conversed with her on the matter in its various rela- 
 tions. She finally signed the official document, 
 promising to wait the prescribed period of probation; 
 and then she wrote me as follows : " 
 
 “ Since you named concerning your going into the 
 ministry to me, my heart has seemed to beat quicker 
 than usual; my thoughts upon the subject have been 
 serious^ various, and many. I do pray that the bless- 
 ing of God may attend your path, and should you 
 go and proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ to 
 a fallen world, giving up all for your Saviour and 
 blessed Redeemer, who died to redeem you from the 
 yoke of bondage; I do hope and sincerely trust that 
 you will never be ‘ weary in well-doing.’ Remember 
 the promise of our blessed Redeemer, that : that 
 j which ye sow shall ye also reap. Go, my dear John, 
 
 1 and cast the bread upon the waters, and it shall be 
 seen after many days. Go, and proclaim the glad 
 tidings of peace to perishing sinners ; tell them of a 
 pardoning Saviour, who died to save even the vilest of 
 the vile, so that when here you have done, and suffered 
 his righteous will, you may be admitted into that 
 Heavenly Jerusalem, there to bear and wave an ever- 
 lasting palm of victory, and wear a never-fading 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor s Wife. 4^ 
 
 crown of glory ; and in that crown may there be 
 placed many, many stars in remembrance of the 
 souls you have won to Christ while on earth. Go on, 
 my dear John, and work while it is called day, work 
 for Christ in his vineyard, and may the Lord ever be 
 your helper. If so be that you and I should be 
 parted for some time, remember that there is one in 
 this ‘ wide, wide world ’ who would sacrifice anything 
 that was possible for your temporal welfare. And 
 should it ever prove that you come in contact with 
 one who has a prettier face, or a brighter looking 
 purse, bear hi mind that her love cannot be more 
 pure, or more sincere than mine. I shall never wish 
 to stand, or be an obstacle in your way; but, rather, 
 on the other hand, as help-mate to help you ‘ onward, 
 upward, and Heavenward.’ May God grant that it 
 may be so With kindest love, be- 
 
 lieve me to be, 
 
 “ Affectionately, your 
 
 “ Sept. 5, 1866. 
 
 Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
46 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MARRIAGE AND SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA. 
 
 “ Like the wanderer’s step in snow, 
 
 Ever be my lot, 
 
 Leaving- the trace of the way I go. 
 
 But staining- not.” 
 
 In the preceding chapter, my contemplated pro- 
 ject of entering the ministry as a probationer, has 
 been stated. While it had been for years the desire 
 of my father that I should be so occupied, and had 
 for more than two years been talked of by my relig- 
 ious friends, my betrothed and myself ; yet, towards 
 the close of the year 1868, I resolved to get married, 
 thus closing the avenue to the ministry in connection 
 with the British P. M. Conference. Accordingly, on 
 the 17th December of that year, we were united in 
 the holy bonds of wedlock by the Rev. William Wil- 
 kinson, in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Smith 
 street, Rochdale, Lancashire. 
 
 In the hearts of all the members of my family, an 
 affectionate feeling for Agnes had sprung up ; conse- 
 quently, when our acquaintance resulted in mar- 
 
Or, ihe Young Pastor’s Wife. 4y 
 
 riage, they were ready to receive her as my wife with 
 open arms. 
 
 My father, who was then (and had been for some 
 years) very sick, was unable to attend and witness 
 the ceremony ; but directly it was over, we posted 
 off to receive his congratulations and blessing. 
 Having thus entered upon the duties of married life, 
 and of course wishing the blessing of God on our 
 union and labors, we immediately erected a domestic 
 temj)le — with a social altar for praise and prayer to 
 our Father-God. Nor was my dear wife simply a 
 silent witness ; she often officiated as priestess at this 
 altar, sending up burning petitions to the throne of 
 God^ 
 
 Neither of us inherited any pecuniary fortune; 
 our estate and capital consisted of our mental and 
 physical energies, developed by our personal indus- 
 tries. With loving hearts and willing hands, we 
 hoped under God’s blessing to win a livelihood. 
 She therefore resolved to continue her school, which 
 she did as a select or private one, giving her instruc- 
 tions at home, until failing health compelled her to 
 resign it. Our domestic bliss was somewhat inter- 
 fered with by the fact that my dear father (who, as I 
 said, had been ailing for many years,) was confined 
 to his bed the very day after our marriage. That 
 affliction lasted six weeks, and then his trials of life 
 were at an end; the Lord Jesus lighted up the valley 
 of the shadow of death with the brightness of His 
 
4S Sunshine Among the Moimtains ; 
 
 glorious presence ; the gates of the heavenly city 
 were thrown wide open, and the internal glories of 
 the paradise of God burst upon his view, and tri- 
 umphantly stepping upon the shore of everlasting 
 deliverance, his happy spirit was “ absent from the 
 body and present with the Lord.” While father lay 
 sick, I received a letter from one of our aged minis- 
 ters who had labored in Rochdale Circuit, the Rev. 
 John Oscroft ; that letter had a reference to our 
 marriage and my father’s affliction, and may not be 
 uninteresting at this point ; I therefore take the 
 liberty of transcribing a portion of it which runs as 
 follows : 
 
 “Lynn, Jan. 30th, 1869. 
 
 “ Dear Brother Acornley : 
 
 “ I received your note and was glad to hear from 
 you. You say that you have changed your state 
 from single blessedness to matrimonial bliss. I hope 
 you will realize the truth in the fullest sense of the 
 word. It is said ‘ he that findeth a wife, findeth a 
 good thing,’ and if that wife be sanctified by divine 
 grace, she will be the more valuable to her loving 
 and God-fearing husband. Strive together to keep 
 God in the house, for His presence and favors are 
 better than life ; it is this alone that constitutes mat- 
 rimonial bliss. I thank you for the kind manner in 
 which you speak of me in your note. I don’t know 
 that I have done anything to make such favorable 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 4^ 
 
 impressions on your minds, or to call forth such 
 friendly and Christian expressions concerning me, 
 God bless you both. Amen. 
 
 “You inform me that your father is now confined 
 to his couch with a severe affliction, from which he 
 may never recover. Under such circumstances, 
 what a consolation it must be to his sorrowing family 
 to learn, in the hour of dissolving nature, that his 
 faith is strong, his prospects bright, his evidence 
 clear, and his hope of glory blooming with immor- 
 tality ! My Christian regards to you 
 
 all. Amen. I am not so well myself; Mrs. Oscroft 
 is tolerable, 
 
 “ Yours, &c., 
 
 “ John Oscroft.” 
 
 On the day of my father’s death, my dear wife 
 wrote to her own father, informing him of the fact, 
 and as the letter illustrates her Christian affection 
 for my parents, 1 insert it here. 
 
 “February 7th, 1869. 
 
 “ My dear father ; 
 
 “ I am very sorry to inform you of the death of 
 your old acquaintance and friend, and my dear 
 father-in-law, this day, Feb. 7th, 1869. He died 
 calmly and in the full assurance of a gospel hope. I 
 was with him at the time of his departure, with my 
 husband, dear Mrs. Acornley and William Henry; 
 
 4 
 
jO Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 we all saw him pass from this transitory scene to 
 prove the beauties and realities of another; may our 
 end be like unto his. He is now spending an eternal 
 sabbath in that ‘bright and better land.’ We pur- 
 pose to lay his remains beneath the clods of the 
 valley on Wednesday next, the loth. My dear 
 father, remember us each at the throne of grace. 
 With love to all, we remain, 
 
 “Your affectionate son and daughter, 
 
 “A. R. and J. H. A.’’ 
 
 In the summer of 1870 we formed the resolution 
 to emigrate to America; consequently, in May of that 
 year, I left my dear wife, with a baby only a few 
 months old, took passage, and after sixteen days’ 
 “ life on the ocean wave ’’ landed in Boston, and pro- 
 ceeded to Philadelphia, where, in a few months, I 
 was joined by my dear wife and child. 
 
 Philadelphia has a population of nearly 700,000, and 
 covers an area of nearly thirty square miles. It has a 
 thousand miles of streets, which are lighted at night 
 by 10,000 gas lamps; to supply those lamps with gas 
 there are over 600 miles of piping, concealed under 
 ground. It has more than 200 miles of city rail- 
 roads, over which there are nearly 1,800 cars passing 
 every day. There are over 400 public schools, at- 
 tended by over 80,000 scholars, who are taught by 
 1,600 teachers. There are over 400 places of wor- 
 ship, which have accommodation for 300,000 persons. 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 51 
 
 There are nearly 9,000 manufactories, with a capital 
 of nearly 185,000,000 dollars, giving employment to 
 145,000 persons, the annual product of whose labor 
 is over 384,000,000 dollars. There, in 1776, the 
 Declaration of Independence was signed, and here, 
 in 1876, the Centennial of that event is being cele- 
 brated, and the world's great exhibition is being 
 held. 
 
 To those unacquainted with the circumstances of 
 the case it may appear strange that we should under- 
 take such a long journey, at separate periods of time, 
 but the reason was, that not being in affluent circum- 
 stances, and not knowing whether or not America 
 would be adapted to meet our purposes, we deemed 
 it prudent that I should first try it, and then, if cir- 
 cumstances were favorable, Mrs. A. would follow 
 after. I need hardly say, that at our re-union our 
 joys and pleasures were mutual. Previous to her 
 leaving England, she wrote me a number of times. 
 The following extract from two of those letters will 
 illustrate her feelings at this period: 
 
 July 8th, 1870. 
 
 “ My dear husband : 
 
 “ Or rather, ‘ housc'band,' when we have no house 
 to bind at present. Your long and loving epistle 
 
 came duly, and it was truly welcome 
 
 We were so pleased with the account of your voyage, 
 &c., it was really entertaining. I read the letter after 
 
^2 Sunshine Among the Moicntahis ; 
 
 class (I go to yours). James Schofield cried and 
 laughed over it. They all seemed over-joyed, and 
 hope you remember them and the Wednesday night’s 
 meeting, as they do you ; all of them pray for you, 
 and they wish you to pray for them. We do have 
 such good meetings. Oh, it makes me feel so happy. 
 I hope, dear John, you remember me at the throne 
 of divine grace, as I need more of the love of God 
 abiding in my heart — more grace to sustain me. I 
 ever think of you and try to bear you up. May the 
 Lord bless you and me, and our dear boy, and help 
 us to train him up for heaven. He is a dear little 
 creature. I do feel very thankful for the temporal 
 prosperity that has attended you thus far. 
 
 “ Your loving wife, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca Acornley.” 
 
 Again : 
 
 “August ist, 1870. 
 
 “ Mother is so thankful things have resulted so 
 well for you, and so am I. I trust we may do well, 
 be a blessing, and be blessed. Darling baby has 
 been so very sick I was afraid I should have to leave 
 him in Bury Road (cemetery.) I do not know yet 
 how it may turn with him. We are to take very 
 great care of him. I trust he will get well. He is 
 better to-day than for a week past. I have been 
 very ill myself, but am much better to-day. Both of 
 us have had to doctor, and you know it will take 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 53 
 
 something to make me have a doctor, or go to one. 
 I trust I may soon be all right. I think if all is well 
 I shall start for America three weeks next Wednes- 
 day. I would start sooner if I could hear of anyone 
 who was going to New York. Mother wants to see 
 how baby is before I decide ; it will not do to start 
 until he is better, I will write again as soon as I 
 know the vessel and the date of starting. 
 
 “ Your loving wife, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca Acornley.” 
 
 Having made her final arrangements, she left Roch- 
 dale. From Liverpool she 'wrote to her mother-in- 
 law as follows ; 
 
 “ Liverpool, August 24th, 1870. 
 
 “ My dear mother ; 
 
 “ You will be very anxious to know how dear baby 
 is. He is much better this morning. I do not feel 
 well myself, but hope to be better before the day is 
 
 out I put my case in the hands of 
 
 God ; he will take care of me and darling. As dear 
 William said last Sunday night at Smallbridge, ‘ He 
 hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,’ 
 and if I am in His hand what have I to fear. If I am 
 able I will drop a line from Queenstown. I certainly 
 feel very lonely; but it is as well that you did not stay 
 all night, though your company would have been 
 such a luxury, and so acceptable. Give my dear 
 brothers Sam and Fred my love, and kiss them for 
 
§4 Sunshine Amoitg the Mountains ; 
 
 me ; I do so wish they were here, for I know their 
 little hearts would leap for joy. Give my love to 
 Mary Jane and kiss her, and tell her to try to be a 
 woman, and do what she can for you. Do not forget 
 dear William and Sarah Hannah ; tell them I send 
 the true love of a sister to them. And now, dear 
 mother, God bless you, we shall soon see each other 
 again ; accept the warm love of an affectionate 
 daughter. 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
 Again she wrote the next day ; 
 
 “Liverpool, August 25th, 1870. 
 “ My beloved mother : 
 
 “ You will be astonished when I tell you that we 
 are not on board yet. I am nearly tired of a Liver- 
 pool life and no lome. I cannot tell you how fa^ 
 tigued I feel. I have never had darling out of my 
 arms to-day, and have been backwards and forwards 
 to the offices and pier to know particulars. Our lug- 
 gage is to go on board to-night. I cannot tell you 
 when we shall start I am sure. I was so glad to re- 
 ceive a letter from AVilliam this morning, it was quite 
 unexpected, and consequently was so good. Cjive 
 my love to him and Sarah Hannah, also Polly, Sam 
 and Fred. God bless you dear mother. 
 
 “ From your loving daughter. 
 
 Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 From the above it will be seen that she cherished 
 the idea of seeing my dear mother again. How un- 
 certain is every earthly thing ! How little did she 
 anticipate when she wrote, that she had seen her for 
 the last time on earth ! How important the injunc- 
 tions of holy writ, “Set thine house in order,” “Be 
 ye also ready,” &c., &c. 
 
 “ Mrs. Acornley’s impressions of the land of her 
 adoption were favorable from the first, and she set 
 herself at once to the task of making her home com- 
 fortable and agreeable for her husband. 
 
 The following, dated September 24th, 1870, is to 
 her father, giving an account of her safe arrival : 
 
 “1953 Warnock Street, 
 
 “ Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 “ My dear father ; 
 
 “ I dare say you will wonder why I have not writ- 
 ten before now to tell you of our arrival. Well, the 
 reasons have been many, but I feel very thankful to 
 tell you we are safe and getting much better than we 
 have been since our voyage. We had it rough all the 
 way except three days. Baby was under the doctor’s 
 care most of the time, and I was sick all the time ex- 
 cept the last two days. When I arrived in New York 
 I was very weak. Since I got to Philadelphia I have 
 had the throat complaint. My cough got most violent 
 on the voyage, and is still distressing; but with that 
 exception I feel moderately well. But to alter the 
 
Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 subject, Mr. Hamer and John met me at New York; 
 I need not tell you how ‘glad I was to see them. 
 Mr. Hamer seemed quite as anxious as John for my 
 arrival; he met me with the affection of a father; he 
 is truly a friend. Well, we started off to Philadel- 
 phia, and got here something after midnight. The 
 house is pleasantly situated and convenient; I 
 hardly need describe the appearance of the outside 
 of the house, for now you are in America, I doubt 
 not you have seen far more than I have. I have not 
 been in the city yet ; my time has been fully occu- 
 pied. There are no P. M.’s here. But more another 
 time. Write to us soon. 
 
 “ Our love to you, dear father, from your affection- 
 ate daughter, 
 
 ‘^A. R. A.” 
 
 On the 29th of October, she wrote as follows to 
 my mother ; 
 
 “1953 Warnock Street, 
 
 “ Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 “ My beloved mother : 
 
 “ I have plenty of news for you, but I do not 
 know whether I can tell you one half ; I am afraid 
 not. 
 
 “ This city is a magnificent place — you have no 
 idea. There are large shops, (or stores, as they call 
 them here,) hotels, churches, etc. Down each side 
 of the foot-path, in the centre of the city, are shade- 
 
Or, the Yoimg Pastor s Wife. 
 
 57 
 
 trees growing. Many of the houses are flat-roofed ; 
 Ave can walk out on the top, dry clothes, etc. There 
 are plenty of churches, but no P. M.’s. We have 
 been tAA'ice to the Cohocksink M. E. Church, AA'hich 
 is the most like a P. M. Church I know of. In the 
 afternoon that I Avent there was an experience meet- 
 ing — a right lively one too. At night there Avas a 
 good sermon preached ; they started the prayer- 
 meeting Avith ‘Turn to the Lord,’ (Szc. They con- 
 duct their services different altogether. All the 
 congregation stay at the prayer-meeting. Service 
 begins at 7.30 P. M. 
 
 “John and the rest are aAvay from home, but give 
 his and my love to ^11 the dear friends at Smith 
 street and Bamford, if you see them. We are still 
 yours, 
 
 “John and Agnes.” 
 
 To her sister she Avrote — 
 
 “ Dear Fanny ; 
 
 “Ten minutes ago I received a letter from 
 father for my husband ; from it I gather that you 
 are quite Avell, also father, but that your mother is 
 sick. I hope that you Avill take care of her and 
 nurse her Avell, that she may soon recover, and enjoy 
 better health than she has formerlv ; give her my 
 love, and tell her I cherish for her a daicghter's 
 affection. Hoav do you like this country.^ I like it 
 exceedingly Avell, though you must not think that all 
 
jS Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 is smooth, yet I have cause to rejoice. I trust you 
 will feel satisfied in this country, and do your very 
 best to make home cheerful, and your mother and 
 father comfortable. If you do your duty thoroughly 
 you will be repaid 
 
 “ Wishing you prosperity, temporal and spiritual, 
 with a sister’s fond affection, I am still, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca.’’ 
 
 She was cheerful and pleasant in the performance 
 of all her domestic duties, and was ever ready with 
 a word of encouragement or sympathy, as the case 
 might be, whenever I returned home from business, 
 weary and downcast. During our residence in Phil- 
 ctdelphia she made many friends, for whom she re- 
 tained a waim affection to the day of her death. 
 
 While residing in the city she often suffered in- 
 tensely. At one time, after speaking of her own 
 sickness, she thus refers to the sickness of her eldest 
 child : — 
 
 “ Since I have been sick, Benjamin Richard has 
 been taken sick ; he has had fits and inward con- 
 vulsions, which held him from twenty to thirty-five 
 minutes ; poor, dear little darling, and me not able 
 to help him. You know what a mother’s feelings 
 would be at that time. I thought my heart would 
 break. However, the doctor considers him out of 
 danger now. Praise God ! ’’ 
 
 As we sought in vain for a Primitive Methodist 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. gp 
 
 % 
 
 Church in Philadelphia, we were at this time wor- 
 shipping and laboring with the Cohocksink M. E. 
 Church, Germantown x\venue. 
 
 Subsequent to this, in order to be more in the 
 midst of my business connections, we removed to 
 Tamaqua, a county town of about 8,000 inhabitants, 
 situated among the mountains of Pennsylvania, a 
 great height above the level of the sea. It is in the 
 county of Schuylkill, and ninety-nine miles distant 
 from the city of “ brotherly love.” Through its 
 centre runs a little creek, which, as it goes, gathers 
 volume and strength, until, by the time it reaches 
 Philadelphia, it becomes the respectable river Schuyl- 
 kill. The business of the town is principally coal 
 mining. There is one large iron foundry, a shoe 
 factory, railroad communication with the outer 
 world ; and the religious privileges are on a par 
 with other towns. Here we resided until Provi- 
 dence opened the way for our introduction into the 
 work of the Christian ministry. 
 
do 
 
 Sunshine A?nong the Mountains ; 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 AS minister’s wife. 
 
 “ It you have not gold and silver, 
 
 Ever ready to command ; 
 
 If you cannot t’ward the needy, 
 
 Reach an ever open hand ; 
 
 You can visit the afflicted. 
 
 O’er the erring- you can weep. 
 
 You can be a true disciple. 
 
 Sitting- at the Saviour’s feet. 
 
 Mrs. EUcn II. Gates. 
 
 Previous to the events recorded in the closing 
 part of the last chapter, I had received an invitation 
 to labor as an itinerant minister in the M. E. Church, 
 and also one from the people of my early choice, 
 (Primitive Methodists ) Of course I resolved to 
 identify myself with the latter — the church of my 
 fathers — a determination which my ,dear wife en- 
 couraged. Writing to her mother-in-law from Phil- 
 adelphia, she says: “While John was in the coal 
 region, he found some P. M.’s, and preached for 
 them ; you should just see his excitement over the 
 matter; he says it was a real treat.” Referring to 
 the fact of a number of ministers having left the 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor's Wife. 6 i 
 
 connexion, and the societies being consequently 
 without a shepherd, she says, “John is a member of 
 the M. E. Church, Philadelphia ; he will have a 
 licence this year to preach for them, unless he goes 
 to preach for our dear lost people up in the coal region." 
 Again, she says, “A gentleman has had some serious 
 talk with John about the ministry (M. E.) He told 
 John to prepare himself. Our own people at St. Clair 
 
 are without a minister John is in a strait 
 
 what to do; will you advise him, mother; his heart 
 is in the work. Pray for us, dear mother, as we do 
 for you. 
 
 We entered our first appointment at Mount Car- 
 mel, November, 1871. This is a small mining town 
 of about 1,300 inhabitants, very pleasantly situated, 
 in Northumberland Co., Pa. Here Primitive Meth- 
 odism had struggled for an existence a number of 
 years, services being held in school-houses, and the 
 homes of our people. When we entered the station 
 the foundation of a new church had already been 
 laid, upon which the building was erected during our 
 stay. An extract of a letter to her father will show 
 her watchful interest in the society’s progress. 
 
 “ Mount Carmel, 
 
 “ Northumberland County, Pa. 
 
 “ April loth, 1872. 
 
 “ My dear father : 
 
 “ I am sure I wish you many, many happy returns 
 of the day ; I trust you will live to see many more. 
 
62 Sunshine Among the Mountains ] 
 
 1 had intended to send you I5.00, to arrive upon 
 your birthday, but I did not have it just then. You 
 will find it inclosed. I would like to send more but 
 
 cannot just now ; this may be useful to you 
 
 I will inclose you bits of dresses the children have 
 had sent them. The people seem to have received 
 us very well here, and our efforts have been crowned 
 with success ; to God be all the praise. 
 
 “ John will give you an account of the revival 
 services. He is not well at all ; his chest and throat 
 are very bad ; cannot you tell me what might do 
 him good I have tried many remedies. I think 
 it probable we shall be removed this conference; 
 the circuit extends some thirty or more miles, and 
 we expect it is going to be divided. The conference 
 commences May ist, at Tamaqua. I shall be very 
 sorry to leave Mount Carmel for many things; but 
 I trust all will be for the best. Good bye ; the Lord 
 be with you and bless you is the prayer of 
 “ Your affectionate daughter, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca Acornley.” 
 
 To her sister, after speaking of the various efforts 
 in behalf of the Church, she says: “I’ll tell you we 
 
 are very busy ; the people are exceedingly kind to 
 
 us I feel that we are goi n g to be the 
 
 agents for good. I pray that much good may be the 
 result of our efforts, but until there is a change with 
 our dear little one, I cannot get out so much as I 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor s Wife. 6j 
 
 did. Try to be a good girl to your dear mother and 
 father ; do your duty at all times, in all places ; give 
 them each my kind love.” 
 
 The pro gress of the work of God was a subject 
 upon which she loved to dwell ; and it afforded her 
 intense delight to see sinners saved. To her mother- 
 in-law she wrote, March 31st, 1872: “I am really 
 
 so delighted with your photograph, ’tis such an ex- 
 ceedingly good one; we are so very glad you have 
 sent us one. John has been away this week holding 
 protracted services that have been going on three 
 weeks, and I expect he will be there (Shamokin) next 
 week. He is so happy, they have had such glorious 
 seasons. He came home this morning at 6. 15, and 
 went away again in the afternoon at 3.15, for his to- 
 morrow’s appointment. So, you see, ’tis quite a 
 luxury to have him home. I should like you to see 
 his journal; I have just been reading it over. It 
 would do you good. I believe, dear mother, the 
 Lord does bless him, and his efforts ; and my daily 
 prayer is, ‘ O Lord, do give him souls for his hire 
 and seals to his ministry.’ Last Sabbath he preached 
 at Mount Carmel ; we had a time of refreshing from 
 the presence of the Lord. Three precious souls 
 stepped into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. 
 And one went home sorrowing. I trust it will prove 
 sorrow that will work repentance. There have been 
 thirtee7i brought through in the circuit by his agency 
 since he started in the work at Mount Carmel. 
 
6^ Sunshine A mong the M ountains ; 
 
 Praise the Lord ! Oh ! it does make me feel so happy. 
 
 I feel the Master is_ withjiim, — with us 
 
 I saw the little glistening drops come when I showed 
 
 him your photograph I cannot here 
 
 enumerate the draw-backs we have had, dear mother, 
 but we have had them without number. If dear John 
 has his health we shall yet see better, brighter and 
 pleasanter days ; I will not say happier, for we are 
 as happy in each other’s confidence as ever we can 
 be ; every week seems fb”hnake us dearer to each 
 other. I pray that the Lord may spare his life; that 
 it may be a life dedicated to God’s service. Oh, 
 dear mother, I cannot tell you how much I love my 
 husband. Do not think me foolish ; I have 7io one 
 to tell any one thing to, except him, in this strange 
 land. Though friends we have many, thank the 
 Lord ! but not one to whom I could tell a trouble or 
 joy. That is one reason why I so much crave for 
 you to be here ; for when he is away week after week 
 it is so lonely and dreary, and it makes me feel low 
 spirited ; the children are so young and delicate, 
 John does not know how they suffer, he is away so 
 much, and I get weary. But I am complaining, and 
 1 do, not want to say any thing that will make you 
 feel bad dear mother. The Lord is very good to me 
 amid all the vexations. There are hosts of things I 
 could talk to you about that I cannot write. Our 
 Festival was a success. Accept my love, 
 
 “ Your ever affectionate daughter, 
 
 “ Agnes.” 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor s Wife. Sj 
 
 During our residence in Mount Carmel a great 
 trial overtook our little society at Gtrardville. The 
 church, which was worth about $6,000, and had only 
 just been cleared of debt, was burnt to the ground ; 
 an organ which cost $300, and the new pulpit bible, 
 which was the gift of a number of young men, were 
 also destroyed, together with a house which stood 
 on the next lot, belonging to sister Weightman. 
 This calamity had a great effect on the mind of sister 
 W. and brought on a long and protracted sickness. 
 This occurred Friday, February 2d, 1872. The 
 friends, although deeply humbled before God, were 
 not discouraged. Their hope was in God, and they 
 believed that 
 
 “Behind a frowning providence 
 He hides a smiling face.” 
 
 Their faith was honored ; for the day following. Sat* 
 urday, February 3d, a meeting was called to take 
 steps towards erecting a larger and more substantial 
 building. God blessed them in their subsequent 
 efforts, and now a neat brick structure stands on the 
 old site, an ornament to the town, and a credit to 
 the "heads and hearts of those brethren whose labors 
 contributed towards its erection. Thus were they 
 enabled to fully realize that 
 
 “ God moves in a mysteripus way 
 His wonders to perform.” 
 
 While we sat in consultation as to what would be 
 best to be done with regard to continuing the services 
 5 
 
66 Sunshine Among the Mountams y 
 
 during the erection of the new church, God put it 
 into the heart of Mr. Griffiths, the tavern keeper, to 
 allow us the use of a room he had behind the tavern; 
 a messenger was sent to the meeting to inform us of 
 this offer, who also intimated that we should not be 
 expected to pay a single cent for rent. Expressions 
 of joy and gratitude burst from the lips of every one 
 present, and earnest prayer was offered that God in 
 his infinite mercy might bless the man who had thus 
 come to our aid in this time of need. That after- 
 noon the room was filled with benches, and made 
 ready for service. The following day I took the 
 stand, preached twice, and conducted a fellowship 
 meeting. We had a glorious time; believers shouted; 
 sinners wept ; the word was quick and powerful ; the 
 prayers of God’s people were heard, and two precious 
 souls stepped into the liberty of His dear children. 
 Hallelujah! Thus was this Hall dedicated to the 
 service of the Most High. At this time our baby 
 Ebenezer Hamar was so very sick we did not expect 
 he would recover ; yet Mrs. Acornley’s own trouble 
 did not prevent her from sympathizing with others 
 in distressing circumstances. Writing to her mother- 
 in-law, she says; — “ I am in great trouble just 
 now. I do not think dear baby will live. I have 
 scarcely had any r^st day or night for three weeks. 
 
 I cannot tell you more now The 
 
 people are exceedingly kind, we want for no sympa- 
 thy or respect 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor s Wife. 6f 
 
 '“Cousin Jane Eleanor’s husband went out West 
 two months ago. She is still in Cornwall. He has 
 died, and is buried in a strange land, without a friend 
 to close his eyes. Poor girl, she is in deep trouble. 
 I feel for her very much.” As the reader will here 
 see by the foregoing extract, an allusion is made to 
 the death of her cousin’s husband (Mr. George) while 
 at Treasure City, Nevada. He died and was buried 
 among strangers, having been but a few weeks in the 
 country, Mrs. Acornley wrote the young widow a 
 letter of condolence; and as we have not the letter 
 at hand, the following extract from the reply she 
 received will indicate the tenor of her epistle : 
 
 ■“ St. Day, Cornwall, 
 
 January 25th, 1872. 
 
 ■“ My dear cousins: 
 
 “I need hardly tell you that your kind, though 
 short, letter was to me very welcome. If anybody 
 ever needed sympathy, I think it is myself. I pray, 
 my dear, that such a trial as mine may never befall 
 you ; for no one can imagine what it is like except 
 those who have passed through the same. My Bible 
 tells me that ‘whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,’ 
 therefore I do strive to bow meekly to the rod, be- 
 lieving that He, who is too wise to err, knows best 
 what is good for me, and if he did not love me I 
 should not be so chastened. But oh, it is very hard 
 to feel submissive to the divine will, but I do pray 
 
68 Sunshine Among the Mou?ifains ; 
 
 for grace to make me so. Pray for me, my dear 
 cousins, both of you I earnestly ask your interest at 
 the throne of grace; please remember me. 1 should 
 very much like to see you, I have a great deal to say 
 to you, but I feel as if I cannot write it, at least not 
 just now, and I am afraid I shall never see you again 
 
 in this world, you are so very, very far away 
 
 I have one true friend above, and to Him I look for 
 all my help. I feel assured that if I trust in Him and 
 do my duty He will be what He has promised, the 
 ‘ Husband of the widow and the Father of the father-^ 
 less.’ ..... I see from your address you 
 have again changed residences. I should be glad to 
 know, if it is not asking too much, what your pros- 
 pects in life are? Has your dear husband entered 
 the ministry ? I almost conclude he has from the 
 tone of your letter, though you do not positively say 
 
 so I would ask you to kindly write 
 
 to me very often, your letters will do me good, and 
 
 give me a little consolation Please let 
 
 me have a reply very soon, for I shall be anxiously 
 waiting for it. And now, with kindest love to you 
 both, believe me, 
 
 “Yours, most affectionately, 
 
 “Jane Eleanor George. 
 
 “ Kiss the babies for me.’’ 
 
 Our Annual Conference, which met in Tamaqua 
 on the I St of May, stationed us for Plymouth Circuit 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 6 g 
 
 along with brother W. B. Beach. We resided at 
 Hughestown, a little village about a mile from the 
 town of Pittston, Luzerne County. Pittston is built 
 on the banks of the river Susquehanna, in the beauti- 
 ful valley of Wyoming. The surrounding scenery is 
 indeed lovely. By some, this valley is said to be the 
 garden of Pennsylvania. 
 
 “ On Susquehanna’s side, fail' Wyoming i 
 
 Sweet land ! may I thy lost delight recall.” 
 
 Campbell. 
 
 » 
 
 “ Oh ! not the visioned jioet m his dreams, 
 
 When silvery clouds float through the ’wildered brain, 
 
 Wlien every sight so lovely, wild and grand, 
 Astonishes, enraptures, elevates — 
 
 When fancy, at a g'lance, combines 
 The wond’rous and the beautiful, — 
 
 So bright, so fair, so mild a scene, 
 
 Hath ever yet beheld.” 
 
 Shelley. 
 
 It is claimed that the German Missionary, Count 
 Zinzendorf, was the first white man who ever beheld 
 the beauties of this romantic section of country. In 
 the year 1742 he sought, in the wilds of the forest, to 
 proclaim the glad tidings of salvation to the untu- 
 tored savage. Fierce and prolonged wars have 
 taken ’place in this valley, and the blood of white 
 man and red man has mingled in mortal strife. 
 During those border wars atrocious crimes were 
 perpetrated, and wrongs committed both on white 
 man and Indian. 
 
70 
 
 SimsMne Among fJie Mountains ; 
 
 “ Nature hath made thee lovelier than the power 
 Bven of Campbell’s pen hath pictured ; he 
 Had woven, had he gazed one sunny hour 
 Upon thy winding vale, its scenery, 
 
 With more of truth, and made eaoh'rock and tree 
 Known like old friends, and greeted from afar ; 
 
 And there are tales of sad reality 
 In the dark legions of thy border war. 
 
 With woes of deeper tint than his own Sertrnde’s are.’' 
 
 Halleck. 
 
 Clark, the historian, says, when speaking of “ Wyo- 
 ming’s classic vale,” “ Its own intrinsic loveliness has. 
 been the theme of poet and tourist since the day 
 when enraptured eyes first beheld it. Its historical 
 incidents have been breathed over the firesides of the 
 entire American nation. Its sudden and giant-like 
 growth has drawn to it the wonder and applause of 
 the world, while its seemingly exhaustless supply of 
 mineral wealth, challenges the astonishment of the 
 old world, that but a century ago had never dreamed 
 of this El Dorado in the forests of America.” 
 
 A great change has now come over the entire face 
 of the country. Where once the wild man ran, and 
 the crack of the huntsman’s rifle was heard ; now 
 the evidences of civilization appear on every hand. 
 How marked the change ! 
 
 The impression seems to prevail in the minds of 
 some people, that in the coal section of these Penn- 
 sylvania mountains there is nothing but dense moral 
 darkness, barbarous rudeness, and savage ferocity. 
 This, however, we are proud to say, is only so to a 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. yi 
 
 very limited extent ; although we admit that much 
 that is sinful and sad exists among these mountains ; 
 yet we must say that those persons who entertain the 
 views we have alluded to, have only seen the dark 
 side, or heard exaggerated statements, and have thus 
 formed unjust conclusions concerning these “hardy 
 sons of toil.” 
 
 Miners, as a class, have their besetments and 
 vices, it is true ; nor would it be untrue to say 
 that numbers of them are rough in appearance and 
 deportment; yet^ ben eath that rough exterior are 
 often found generous sentiments, refined feelings, 
 manly qualities, warm hearts and holy lives. Relig- 
 ion flourishes to a considerable extent among these 
 mountains. There are spots which are illuminated 
 with brilliant and glorious rays of moral sunshine ; 
 and in those spots there are heads as clear, intellects 
 as quick, reputations as pure, and characters as 
 unstained as can be found under more favorable 
 circumstances in any city, town, or village from the 
 Atlantic to the Pacific coast. To these “ hardy sons ” 
 we are indebted for many of the comforts we enjoy. 
 Some poet has sung — 
 
 “ Before the miner pierced the field. 
 
 The soldier had no sword to wield ; 
 
 To sailors Neptune would not yield 
 Old ocean, like a parchment sealed. 
 
 The rail-car had not kept the rail. 
 
 Nor steamships sped without a sail ; 
 
 The Lightning’S had not told their tale 
 From northern hill to southern vale.” 
 
J2 Sinisfu'jie A?fi077g the Motinfaim ; 
 
 Again the same poet has sung — 
 
 “ The sailov’s life has its round of charms, 
 
 The stonn and chase with their wild alanns r 
 And he siiig-s as the boatswain pipes to arms, 
 
 ‘Ho! ho! for the' sea with its mystic charms.' 
 
 The soldier flgrhts for a scanty hire. 
 
 Yet pants for the strife and the battle’s fire ; 
 
 As he to the I’ampart’s heig-hts aspii-es 
 Sing-s— ‘ ho ! for the strife and the battle’s Are.' 
 
 The farmer treads o’er his fuiTowed land. 
 
 And scatters seed with his careful hand, 
 
 ~ And sings as he twists his shining bands, 
 
 ‘ Ho ! ho ! tor hearty harvest hands.' 
 
 The miner pants for no gory g-oal : 
 
 In vain to him may the battle roll ; 
 
 Yet his manly heart and his fearless soul 
 Sings ho I sffcwessto the gleaming coal.’ 
 
 We dig by day, and we dig by night. 
 
 For the iron ore and the anthracite — 
 
 For the ore so gray, and the coal so bright ; 
 
 Sing ho ! for the ore and the anthracite.” 
 
 Mrs. Acornley was eminently fitted for the office 
 of minister’s wife. Solomon says, “ A virtuous wo- 
 man is a crown to her husband.” “ Her price is far 
 above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely 
 trust in her.” “She will do him good, and not evil, 
 all the days of her life.” “ Every pastor stands in 
 need of encouragement, of cheerfulness, of peace in 
 his own home, to enable him to bear what life brings 
 with it, and still to preserve the power of working 
 
(9r, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 73 
 
 for the benefit of mankind.” And a good wife is not 
 only a benefit to him personally, but is certainly an 
 acquisition to any community. She helps the pastor, 
 makes for him a pleasant home, increases the social 
 feeling between him and his people, and is a blessing 
 to them in many ways. The fundamental qualities 
 which every true minister’s wife ought to possess are 
 good common sense, mental culture, and sincere 
 piety — which includes faith, love, courage, zeal, 
 meekness, patience, and humility. Of course there 
 will not be perfection in all, or any one of these 
 graces, neither is it claimed for the subject of this 
 memoir ; mistakes she did make at times, but in all she 
 conscientiously endeavored to discharge her duties 
 as they rose. There are many unthinking people in 
 our churches who expect a good minister’s wife to be 
 found, like some garments, a complete fit ; they ex- 
 pect her to be as the Baptist Magazine says, “War- 
 ranted never to have headache or neuralgia; she 
 should have nerves of wire and sinews of iron ; she 
 should never be tired or sleepy, and should be every- 
 body’s cheerful drudge; she should be cheerful, intel- 
 lectual, pious and domesticated ; should be pleased 
 with everybody and everything, and never desire any 
 reward beyond the satisfaction of having done her 
 own duty, and other people’s too.” And then, if she 
 does not come up to these requirements, they are 
 ready to grumble and find fault. This ought not so 
 to be, for it is the training in the sphere that qualifies 
 
"^4 Siai s/line A7no7ig tJic Mo7/77tai7is ; 
 
 her fo7' it, though some have more native con- 
 geniality to thritatiorTthan others. The true min- 
 ister’s wife, while she is endeavoring, as in the sight 
 
 of her heavenly Master, to do her duty, 
 
 • 
 
 “ She knows 
 
 Herself the mark of scrutinizing’ eyes, 
 j And curious observations. Apt remarks 
 I Are ventured, subtle questions asked, to pro’\’c 
 I And fathom her opinions.” 
 
 And, although in her experience she finds that 
 “ there are shadows as well as lights, clouds as well 
 as sunshine, thorns as well as roses, but much hap- 
 piness after all,” she realizes that — 
 
 “ Duty is a prickly shrub, but its flower will be happiness 
 and glory.” 
 
 In household affairs Mrs. Acornley displayed much 
 good taste. When, like many others not in affluent 
 circumstances, she had not furniture sufficient for 
 use and convenience, she stayed not to murmer or 
 repine, but carefully adorned her home with all the 
 little articles of beauty or value which kind friends 
 had given her. She was very fond of choice flowers 
 and beautiful leaves, and when she wrote to her 
 various friends, would often insert a leaf, or a dried 
 flower in the envelope. Writing to her father, who 
 at that time resided in the state of Minnesota, she 
 says : — “ Those leaves you enclosed were really 
 beautiful. I have not lost my taste for flowers, trees 
 and ferns ; though I have grown from a child to a 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 75 
 
 woman. I have still that childish will to watch over 
 a few flowers with tender care, and I love to examine 
 beautiful leaves.” She would have endorsed every 
 sentiment contained in the following lines, by the 
 Countess of Blessington : 
 
 “ Flowers are the bright remembrancers of youth ; 
 
 They waft us hack, with theii- bland odorous breath, 
 
 The joyous hours that only young life knows. 
 
 Ere we have learnt that this fair earth hides graves. 
 
 They bring the cheek that ’s mouldering in the dust 
 Again before us, tinged with health’s own rose ; 
 
 They bring the voices we shall hear no more. 
 
 Whose tones were sweetest music to our ears ; 
 
 They bring the hopes that faded one by one, 
 
 ’TiU nought was left to light our path but faith, . 
 
 That we too, like the flowei’s, should spring to life. 
 
 But not, like them, again e’er fade or die.” 
 
 And then, with Bernard Barton, she might have said 
 
 “ If such the soothing precepts taught by you. 
 
 Beautiful blossoms ! weU may ye appear 
 As silent preachers in the Christian’s ^■iew.” 
 
 Her house was the abode of affection, peace, com- 
 fort and joy; and notwithstanding many privations, 
 it might be said of her home and family, that 
 
 “ There each soul with heavenly hope is blest, 
 
 And^very thought of strife is KiTshed to rest. 
 
 There sweet affection its mild radiance throws. 
 
 And bids each heart in mutual love repose. 
 
 O, they have comforts that all griefs defy. 
 
 And joys that wealth and greatness cannot buy, 
 Treasures laid up in realms of endless day, 
 
 A kingdom that shall never pass awayj 
 
Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 And e’en on earth to them the seal is given, 
 
 Of their eternal heritage in Heaven. 
 
 ’Tis this which to that lowly cottage brings 
 i Such peace, from this their heartfelt gladness springs, 
 j This sheds a halo round each changing scene, 
 
 ( And gilds earth’s desert waste with ,ioys serene.” 
 
 Affliction and bereavement, however, soon entered 
 that peaceful home. Our little one, Ebenezer Hamar, 
 was taken away to mingle with that countless multi- 
 tude of children “ around the throne of God in 
 heaven.” The tender tiny rose, “ fair and beautiful 
 as a truant one from Eden, planted by some seraph’s 
 hand,” was “ nipped in the bud.” 
 
 “ There’s not a flock, however watched and tended. 
 
 But one dead lamb la there ; 
 
 There’s not a household, howsoe’er defended. 
 
 But has one vacant chair.” 
 
 This was a sore trial. The more sickly and trouble- 
 some children are, the closer they seem to twine 
 themselves round a good mother’s heart, and conse- 
 quently, the harder it is to part with them. This 
 dear child was born amidst distressing circumstances 
 and anxious cares ; nevertheless, with many tears 
 and many prayers, he was laid on God’s altar, and 
 in Jesus’ arms, and consecrated to the Most High. 
 And when his short probation was ended, as she 
 gazed on his little pale face, as he lay cold and still in 
 death, although her heart seemed well nigh with an- 
 guish riven, she did not sorrow as one without hope, 
 but was enabled to see the hand of her beneficent 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 77 
 
 Lord, and could say from her heart, “ The Lord gave 
 and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name 
 of the Lord.” She was consoled with the thought 
 that he was only gone a little ahead ; that the good 
 Lord had only plucked her rose-bud, that it might 
 open into flower in the garden of Clod. 
 
 When this occurred her sorrow was augmented 
 by a feeling of loneliness, having been but a few 
 weeks on this station, and consequently being among 
 strangers. However, the friends were very kind, and 
 our babe was laid in his little grave in “sure and 
 certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life,” 
 Rev. W. B. Beach officiating. The following paper, 
 written about this time, will illustrate her feelings, 
 and give an idea of the devotion which pervaded her 
 mind under these afflictive circumstances : 
 
 “ Through the various changing scenes of this (my) 
 life, I have been made fully to realize that beautiful 
 passage, ‘ I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor 
 his seed begging bread.’ What confidence seems 
 placed in those few words ; what comfort the poor 
 Christian may take if he trusts ; what a holy feeling 
 may pervade his whole frame, his whole actions, words 
 and thoughts. Yea, ‘though thy father and thy mother 
 forsake thee, the Lord will take thee up.’ Then why 
 should I, a poor weak worm of the earth, yet an heir 
 of heaven ; 1, an erring daughter of Eve, yet a child 
 of God ; I, unworthy and polluted, yet a sinner saved 
 by grace ; why should I faint, why should I despond 
 
Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 or feel sad ? my Father knows my fears ; He can de- 
 fend me; He knows my weakness, He can protect 
 and strengthen me. ‘ Praise the Lord, O my soul, 
 and forget not all his benefits.’ Truly I can say and 
 feel that ‘ Hitherto the Lord hath helped me.’ The 
 removal of our darling Ebenezer is, I trust, a bless- 
 ing in disguise. I do feel that through it my heart 
 has been purified. My Father thought the flower or 
 bud had bloomed long enough down here, so now it 
 blooms in the garden of paradise. I may not feel 
 very well in body, but my soul is on full stretch for 
 the kingdom. This morning we went to church — 
 very few present* — yet though cast down, not forsa- 
 ken, we each had a blessing, 
 
 ‘ The Lord came down our souls to greet, 
 
 AVhile glory crown’d the mercy seat.’ 
 
 This afternoon I went to school, just at time, sent for 
 the keys and started ; addressed the scholars on the 
 Deluge ; had a very interesting season. Went to 
 church at 6 o’clock ; Bro. P— started the service ; 
 we had a very good congregation after all, and truly 
 we felt cheered. Bro. P — spoke from the words, 
 ‘ Let not your heart be troubled,’ &c. And indeed 
 why need' we ? for if faithful unto death, the promise 
 
 * The reason of so few being present was owing to the fact of 
 nearly all the society having removed out West ; a number went 
 to Ohltown, Ohio, and formed a society which is now the head of 
 a station. 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 79 
 
 is, a robe of righteousness ; a crown of glory ; a 
 palm of victory ; and we shall drink of the river of 
 life ; eat of the tree in the midst of the garden ; we 
 shall hunger no more ; nor thirst any more ; and 
 God, eveji our God (how beautiful ! how sublime !) 
 shall wipe all tears from our eyes. A dear sister of 
 the M. E. Church spoke, and truly the Lord was in 
 our midst; we all felt good* I am sure, I think we 
 frightened old Satan clear away.” 
 
 A. R. A. 
 
 Her own health was very feeble at this time, hence 
 she wrote as follows to her mother-in-law : 
 
 August 14th, 1872. 
 
 “ My beloved mother, 
 
 “ Do not think me negligent or thoughtless for not 
 writing to you sooner. My mind is quite upset, and 
 I have not had any desire, or heart, to write. I am 
 not well at all, and unless there is a great change 
 speedily I shall be soaring away. I seem to grow 
 weaker each day. If I do go away, I would like our 
 dear, only boy, Benjamin Richard, to be under his 
 dear grandmama’s care, please remember. He is a 
 dear child.” 
 
 After speaking of the affection of her eldest child 
 for his little brother, who was gone, she continues : 
 “ I do not mourn for my child, wishing him to return, 
 dear mother, but only a mother who has lost or 
 
Simshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 parted with a dear one, knows my feelings, or can 
 truly sympathize with me. Our darling was always 
 sickly and weak ; and had it pleased the Lord to 
 spare his life, I think he would never have been a 
 
 strong man The Lord lent him to 
 
 us a little time, and now He hath need of him. I 
 cannot repine, dear mother. He was indeed a lovely 
 flower ; every one used to say, ‘ what a beautiful 
 
 child.’ I s^em now to have a tie that 
 
 should bind me to this land, and .likewise another 
 link to bind me to the glory land. Pray for us, dear 
 mother, that we may be kept steadfast. I do sin- 
 cerely wish that you and dear Fred, and Sam, and 
 
 Polly were all here If you come, I 
 
 shall come to live with you, dear mothep to get well 
 again. I need a gentle hand to take care of me, for 
 my mind seems shattered ; I dont know why. 1 do 
 
 not repine May God bless you, dear 
 
 mother, and the children. 
 
 “Your affectionate daughter, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca Acornley. 
 
 She had purposed, had circumstances permitted, 
 visiting her native land, England. But in this she 
 was doomed to disappointment; still she did not re- 
 pine. Writing to her husband’s mother, at different 
 times, she says: “Disappointments await us at all 
 times ; you and I are permitted to receive another ; 
 before I name it you know what it is. I thought that 
 
Or, the Young PastoPs Wife. Si 
 
 before now — in this month — I should have had the 
 unspeakable pleasure of taking a good cup of tea 
 with you. But circumstances alter cases sometimes.” 
 Speakii^g of the division of the circuit, she says: 
 “ We have eight preaching places ; it will be hard work ; 
 the local help is insufficient, but I trust, with God’s 
 blessing, we shall do wonders ; already the cloud 
 seems to be breaking. We have managed to build a 
 little church since we came on the circuit.” Again, 
 ■“ now do try to write, if only' a line or two, or let 
 brother Sam ; we have been very anxious to hear 
 how brother Fred is; it seems so very strange no 
 one writes. You know we are away, but you have 
 no idea how we prize a line, or a paper. Brother 
 William has been real good to send us so many 
 P. M’s and B, W’s (Primitive Methodists and British 
 Workman.) I hope he will continue, for they are so 
 valuable; they please and interest us more than one 
 pennyworth. We have only had one letter from him 
 since our birdie flew away; but he has got other cares 
 of a domestic nature, and we excuse him. But you 
 know my feelings, you can imagine how very lonely 
 we are sometimes. If we have things cross our path, 
 to try our faith, or Christian fortitude, we have 7iot 
 one of our relatives to whom we can tell our trouble 
 or relieve our mind. Those at home can fly to you 
 in person, and you can advise and sympathize with 
 them there and then ; but we are here, and when 
 cast down, no one of our own to sympathize or ad- 
 6 
 
S2 Sunshine Amang the Mountains ; 
 
 vise. We cannot write what we could tell you. Do 
 write and let us know how you all are.” Again, she 
 says: “ Our missionary meetings are just over; they 
 have proved a real success, seeing they are the first 
 ever held by our people up in this region. We hope 
 to realize '^75.00 by the effort. W'e are still short of 
 our salary, but we have never wanted for provisions. 
 Only money is short, and we hope to obtain that. 
 Our circuit is a very hard one; the roads are rough 
 to travel, the weather is most severe. John is oft- 
 times weary in the work, but not of the work. I pray 
 he may never be. He is so much away from home he 
 has not time enough for study. I do not know how he 
 manages at all. It is not all pleasure to be a minister 
 or a minister’s wife ; there is every disposition to 
 watch, and form yourself to. But amid all our dis- 
 couragements we have a very great deal to be thank- 
 ful for. Our societies have suffered greatly from 
 removals. A very great many have gone west on 
 account of work, trade in general about here being 
 so bad ; this makes our money matters bad, and our 
 societies weak.” 
 
 Speaking of her approaching sickness, she says : 
 “ I feel very sad over it somehow, though I ought, and 
 do try to leave it in the hands of my heavenly 
 Father. I feel as if I shall not see over it; the cold 
 is intense; many are dying round here. I hope you 
 will pray for me. I do wish you were here, and then 
 all would go right, I know. If anything happens to 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 8g 
 
 me, I hope you will take our Benjamin Richard, 
 and may the Lord bless you.” 
 
 God, however, was better to her than all her fears. 
 He kindly brought her through the furnace of afflic- 
 tion, and made her the living mother of a living 
 child. Ought not feelings of gratitude to fill the 
 hearts of Christian parents for God’s great goodness 
 to them at these times. So it was with the subject of 
 this memoir; joyous emotions, sunny hopes, tender 
 attachment, and unfeigned gratitude filled her heart, 
 and often found expression on her tongue. It was 
 to her a 
 
 “ Delightful task ! to rear the tender thought. 
 
 To teach the young idea how to shoot. 
 
 To pour the fresh instruction o’er the mind. 
 
 To breathe the enlivening spixit, and to fix 
 The generous puiipose in the glowing bi’east.” 
 
 And often have we felt 
 
 “ Our heart grow softer as we gazed upon 
 
 That youthful mother, as she soothed to rest. 
 
 With a low song, her loved and cherished one. 
 
 The bud of promise on her gentle breast ; 
 
 For ’tis a sight that angel ones above 
 May stoop to gaze on from their bowers of bliss, 
 
 When Innocence upon the bi-east of Love 
 Is cradled, in a sinful world like this.” 
 
 In a letter to her father, referring to one of her 
 children, she says : “ I pray he may be spared to be 
 an ornament to the church, a pillar to build her 
 
S4 Sunshine Among the Mountains j 
 
 up, and a bright light to go out no more forever. I 
 want and pray that he may do the work we have left 
 undone.” 
 
 About this time the Rev. B. Whillock, Mrs. Acorn- 
 ley’s father, met with a very serious accident, while 
 driving in a cutter one Sunday to perform the ser- 
 vices at a funeral. The horse ran away, the cutter 
 upset, and he was thrown over on the ice. His 
 collar bone was broken, and he was otherwise in- 
 jured in different parts of the body. In reply to a 
 letter of her sister’s, informing her of this misfortune, 
 she wrote, 
 
 “ My dear sister Fanny, 
 
 “ I was really very glad to hear from you yester- 
 day, though sorry to hear of father’s misfortune. 
 You never spoke one word of your mother. I con- 
 sider that an oversight. I wish to know of all your 
 welfare. Do not fail to keep me posted. I am 
 sorry you suffer with the headache. I trust you will 
 never suffer as I do. I fall insensible sometimes 
 with the excessive weakness ; my sight goes, and 
 through my temples one convulsive throb, and I am 
 gone. I am alone most of the time. It is not alto- 
 gether safe ; though when I feel to go blind, I lie down 
 on the sofa a few minutes, with my eyes closed, and 
 so put it off. For several years I have suffered 
 severely with pain in the head, and whatever I try 
 does not seem to do me much good 
 
Or, the Yoking Pastor's Wife. 8 ^ 
 
 I hope you will write often and let me knowhow you 
 each are. Now do not fail, as I shall be very anx- 
 ious ; meanwhile accept my warmest love as a sister. 
 
 “ Agnes Rebecca.” 
 
 To her father she wrote as follows : 
 
 February, 1873. 
 
 “ My dear father, 
 
 “ I am sure I need not tell you how very deeply I 
 sympathize with you in your great affliction. I have 
 not words to express my sorrow or sympathy. I 
 sincerely trust you may be speedily restored, though 
 I am afraid never to your former strength. I had a 
 forewarner of a something, and have been deeply 
 and doubly anxious of late. I have still terrible 
 misgivings. I trust nothing more serious will occur. 
 My dear John never goes away from home but 
 something whispers, will he return to me again 
 safe ? I try to leave these things in the hands of my 
 heavenly Father. Our prayer daily arises from the 
 family altar for you, and the welfare, temporally and 
 spiritually, of each of }'-ou. 
 
 “You must not think it strange I do not write to 
 you more often. I have never felt like writing or 
 sitting still long enough to write since our birdie flew 
 away eight months ago ; our house has never seemed 
 the same. But the flower blooms in a more con- i 
 genial and heavenly atmosphere, and soon we will 
 smell the fragrance, if faithful unto the end. I need 
 
S 6 Simshme Among the Mountains ; 
 
 not ask if you suffer pain, I am sure you must. Da 
 write often and let us know how you are — or rather 
 Fanny. I was very glad indeed to see her hand- 
 writing. I hope she will not fail to let us see it 
 
 often We are very anxious. I hope,. 
 
 through mercy^ you will' soon recover* and that irr 
 this affliction you may feel the hand of God resting 
 upon you in love. May you feel that though He has: 
 afflicted you, yet not forsaken you.. In His provi- 
 dence He has ordered it so. May He ever bless 
 you, and keep you faithful^ is the prayer, daily, of 
 your fond daughter, 
 
 “Agnes Rebecca Acornley.” 
 
 February, 1873. 
 
 Referring to the difficulties connected with the 
 erection of several churches on this station — Wilkes- 
 Barre and Pittston — and also to the continued kind- 
 ness of her numerous friends, in a letter to her sister 
 she says : “ We are somewhat short of our salary,, 
 
 but if we succeed in building and getting the churches 
 in easy circumstances, I can bear the loss better, 
 though we need money as much as most people. 
 Our members are pretty kind. I believe we have the 
 
 respect of all Do you still like your 
 
 circuit } you seem to be making yourself useful. I 
 hope you will still try to live, and let people feel and 
 know that you live. We are accountable beings, and 
 according as we have shall it be required again. 
 
O;', the Young Pasto}'s Wife. 8j 
 
 May the Lord bless you, my dear, is the prayer of 
 your affectionate sister.” 
 
 Again, to her father,- she writes : “ We have much 
 to be thankful for. I feel thankful to the people^ 
 but I feel doubly thankful that the Lord has inclined 
 their hearts toward us ; I can safely say we have not 
 one opponent or enemy on the circuit. We try to 
 do our duty as becomes the gospel ; I think if there 
 is a man on the face of the earth that tries to act con- 
 sistent and charitable, working the doctrine of the 
 gospel, and with an eye single to God’s glory, it is 
 my dear husband, I pray that the God of Jacob' 
 may defend and uphold him ; strengthen him in body 
 for the work, fire his heart, and give him seals to his 
 ministry and souls for his hire.” 
 
 The friends were ready to seize every opportunity 
 of showing their kindness, hence it was determined 
 to celebrate our “ Wooden Wedding.” To those who 
 are unacquainted with this custom, we may remark, 
 that it is usual to celebrate weddings in this manner, 
 when the friends of the parties bring presents in char- 
 acter with the occasion. For instance, at a “ Wooden 
 Wedding ” the guests are expected to bring some arti- 
 cle of that material. At a “ Silver Wedding ” some- 
 thing of silver, and so forth, through the list of anni- 
 versaries. We may also observe that the fifth anni- 
 versary is “ Wooden,” the te7ith is “ Tin,” the 
 fifteenth is “ Crystal,” the twenty-fifth is “ Silver,” 
 and the fiftieth is “ Golden.” 
 
S8 Sinnfnne A77iong the Mou7iiai7is ; 
 
 On the evening of the fifth anniversary of our 
 marriage — December 17th, 1873, a number of friends 
 gathered and enjoyed a cup of tea together at the 
 parsonage, each one bringing an expression of their 
 good-will in the shape of a present of something or 
 other ; the evening, was then profitably and pleasantly 
 spent in singing and conversation. The Pittsto73 
 Gazette, of the next week, contained the following 
 reference to it ; — 
 
 “ HYMENIAL. 
 
 J'Vootte7i Weddi7ig . — On the evening of the 17th, 
 the friends of the Rev. John H. and Mrs. Acornley, 
 Primitive Methodist minister at Plains, Pa., gathered 
 at the parsonage to celebrate their ‘Wooden Wed- 
 ding.’ The evening was very pleasantly spent in 
 ministering to the necessities of the ‘ inner man,’ &c. 
 Some excellent pieces were rendered by an amateur 
 choir. Numerous presents of useful articles were 
 furnished by the guests, and expressions of good will 
 indulged in ; and hopes were entertained that 
 the reverend gentleman and his lady might be spared 
 many years, enjoy a long life of happiness and useful- 
 ness here, and finally spend an eternity in Heaven.” 
 
 After having spent two years on this station, we 
 were removed to Morris Run, Tioga County, in the 
 northern part of the State of Pennsylvania. But 
 previous to our removal Dr. Shive, Sister Moore and 
 Bro. James Hilburt (a young man of great promise, 
 who, while rising quickly from bed a day or two after- 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor's Wife. 8g 
 
 wards, fell, and striking his neck on the top of a 
 broken lamp globe, which stood on a chair by his 
 bed side, severed his jugular vein, the blood flowed 
 profusely, and be died in a few minutes,) were the 
 promoters of an agreeable surprise in the shape of dry- 
 goods, groceries, and a small sum of money. Thus 
 the last act of this young man in connection with 
 the church of Christ was an act of kindness towards 
 his minister and family. A number of ladies in 
 Pleasant Valley, got together and made a handsome 
 quilt, on which was inscribed, in the centre of each 
 block, the names of the donors, and sent in to Mrs. 
 Acornley as an expression of their respect and es- 
 teem. This she carefully treasured as long as she 
 lived. These are not a tithe of the kind manifesta- 
 tions of affection which she received ; and the 
 friends she made while on this station lived in her af- 
 fections as long as life lasted. 
 
 “ Friendship ! mysterious cement of the soul ! 
 
 Sweefner of life, and solder of societj', 
 
 I owe thee mvich ! thou hast deserved of me 
 Far, far beyond what I can ever pay.” 
 
 John L. Sexton, Jr., Esq., in his account of Morris 
 Run, says : “ Morris Run, located on a mountain 
 stream bearing the same name, situated four miles 
 east of Blossburg, in the township of Hamilton, in 
 Tioga County, is one of the great mining towns in 
 the semi-bituminous coal-fields of northern Pennsyl- 
 vania. About twenty-two years ago, these mines 
 
go 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 were opened by the Tioga Improvement Company.” 
 Since then they have passed through various hands, 
 until now they are owned and worked by the Morris 
 Run Coal Mining Company, W. S. Nearing, Esq., 
 agent. Improvements have continually been made, 
 and the capacity of the mines increased, so that now 
 they are enabled to produce 2,500 tons per day. The 
 total shipment of coal for the year ending Jan. ist, 
 1874, reached the vast sum of 357,384 tons. This 
 was exclusive of their home and other sales. About 
 eight hundred men are employed; of these 450 are 
 miners, and about 350 are connected with other 
 branches of the work. The town contains about 
 2,500 inhabitants, who dwell in 356 houses. There 
 is but one store, which is .owned by the company ; 
 Major Anderson being the principal agent. There 
 are three churches in Morris Run, viz., Welsh Bapti st, 
 Welsh Congregational, and Primitive Methodist. 
 These are neat structures, surmounted by tall spires, 
 intimating to a stranger the moment he enters the 
 town, that the spiritual welfare of the inhabitants is 
 not neglected. 
 
 In the evening of the day we arrived on our new 
 station a number of friends gathered at the parsonage 
 to accord us a hearty welcome. Each one brought 
 something to please the palate, and appease the crav- 
 ings of the stomach. The tables were laden, and 
 every one seemed to enjoy a social cup of that which 
 “ cheers but not inebriates.” After which words of 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. gi 
 
 welcome and good will were freely indulged in, and 
 hopes expressed that the newly formed associations 
 might have God’s blessing, and that during the' com- 
 ing year the work of the Lord might prosper, sinners 
 be saved, and God’s name be glorified. 
 
 In a short time after her arrival in Morris Run, Mrs. 
 Acornley was seized with another attack of sickness, 
 this time accompanied with inflammation in the eyes, 
 rendering her almost blind. While suffering intense 
 pain one day, her children playing around until they 
 were tired, and she being unable to attend to their 
 wants, the little one became uneasy and cross ; this 
 made her feel keenly her affliction, and calling him 
 to her, she began to soothe and comfort him ; at the 
 same time tears coursing down her face. Her eldest 
 child — a little over four years old at this time — ob- 
 serving his mother weeping, attempted to console her, 
 saying, “ Don’t cry ma ! don’t cry ! I try and find out 
 where the Lord lives, and I go and fetch him, don’t 
 cry ma ! He ’ll make 7nud to make you well. If He 
 don’t put it on your eyes, I will, don’t cry ma! you ^ 
 be better.” And placing his little hand on her face, 
 the dear child, thus attempted in his way to com- 
 fort her, nor was it in vain. She had related to her 
 child the story of Christ healing the blind man, and 
 now that lesson, replete with force and beauty, had 
 returned to her own soul rich and mellow with in- 
 struction and consolation. A fresh flood of tears 
 burst forth, and her heart welled up with gratitude 
 
Q2 Sufis/iine Among the Mountains j 
 
 and love to her heavenly Father who had thus made 
 her child the means of comforting her soul. Blessed 
 be God, “ Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings 
 He has ordained strength.” The loss of her little 
 one was a subject which still occupied her mind con- 
 siderably. Writing to her sister, she says, “ It is two 
 years to-day since we laid our dear little rose-bud 
 down to sleep, until the sound of the trumpet. What 
 a very pleasant two years he must have spent up 
 there ! don’t you think V' referring to her new home 
 and friends, she says, “ I do not like this part of the 
 country so well as our former residence, but / like 
 the people^ I feel I shall be real happy with them.” 
 Mrs. Acornley received the following letter from a 
 lady belonging to the M. E. Church, but who had 
 frequently attended our church at Wilkes-Barre, and 
 for whom she had formed a sincere attachment. 
 
 “Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 14th, 1874. 
 
 “ Mrs. Acornley, 
 
 “ Dear sister : 
 
 “Your kind epistle came safely to hand. I was 
 sorry to hear that you had been sick. Mr. Acornley 
 not well, and the little boy ailing. 
 
 “ I have sincere sympathy for a preacher’s wife go- 
 ing to a strange place, but as a mother I can enter 
 into her feelings, knowing well the anxious watchings 
 over the little ones — and the over the precious 
 
 ones, as the light has gone out of the bright eyes for- 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 93 
 
 ever, and the active little limbs grown strangely still. 
 And I know too what it is to go to a strange place 
 and leave the little 7noimds of earth so dear to us in 
 the far away. 
 
 “ I hope by this time that you are much better, as 
 well as your husband and the little ones. I hope 
 also that you may find in your new home, some con- 
 genial spirit who will cheer and comfort you in those 
 hours which come to all, when the hearty counsel of 
 a kind friend is grateful and helpful 
 
 “ I was at your church last Sunday evening for the 
 first time since you left, there was a good congrega- 
 tion 
 
 “My kind regards to your husband, and I trust you 
 may both be cheered by seeing the Master s work 
 prospering under, your labors. However if you do 
 not see the results, you know that it will not be vam, 
 but the rewards are sure. 
 
 “ Remember at a throne of grace 
 
 “Your unworthy sister, 
 
 “ R. G. Mitchell.” 
 
 The friends in Morris Run were exceedingly kind ; 
 and sought in every way in their power to compen- 
 sate for the dullness of times. They seemed deter- 
 mined that hard weather and dull times should not 
 interfere with the comfort of their minister or his 
 family; and hence “ Pound Parties,” “Peck Parties,” 
 and pleasant “ Surprises ” in many ways, visited the 
 
94 
 
 Sunshine Among the Moimtains ; 
 
 parsonage on various occasions. The Blossburg 
 Register contained the following paragraph in refer- 
 ence to one of them. 
 
 Aforris Run . — On Wednesday evening, Dec. 9th, 
 1874, another band of crusaders started out in Morris 
 Run, and besieged the house of Rev. John H. Acornley 
 (Primitive Methodist Minister). The inmates were 
 surprised, and consequently soon brought to surrender. 
 The besiegers took possession of the premises, when 
 it was discovered that each of the attacking party was 
 armed with bags of potatoes, beets, apples, onions, 
 and other rveapons too numerous to mention. Hav- 
 ing gained admission, the crusaders laid down their 
 weapons, hostilities ceased, their arms were stacked, 
 and peace and good will were soon manifest between 
 the late apparent belligerents. 
 
 “ Mr. Acornley and his wife were at a loss to give 
 expression to their feelings at this manifestation of 
 affection ; their prayer, however, is that God may bless 
 every one of the ‘ Peck Party ’ who came to see them 
 on Wednesday evening of last week.” 
 
 Her intercourse with those who were not members 
 of the church was of an affectionate and Christian 
 character; and in order further to illustrate the af- 
 fection and esteem in which she was held by both 
 members of the church and congregation, we give the 
 following incident : One evening, not being very 
 
 well, she thought not to go to the Monday evening 
 prayer-meeting, which was usually held at the house 
 
(9r, the Young Pastor s Wife. gs 
 
 of some member or friend. On this occasion, how- 
 ever, when it was found that she did not purpose to 
 come, several of the ladies started out to the parson- 
 age ; told her she must come, as they wanted to see 
 her there. She came, wondering what made them so 
 anxious. The meeting was indeed a blessed season. 
 At its close, one of the brethren, W. C. Jenkins, rose 
 to his feet and remarked that “godliness was profita- 
 ble unto all things, having the promise of the life that 
 now is, as well as of that which is to come ; that those 
 who live to God, and trust in him, shall be blessed 
 with things temporal, as well as things spiritual, he 
 was glad to see that they were unlike some societies 
 who were always finding fault, and complaining about 
 their minister’s wife. Some minister’s wives, he re- 
 maned, if they happened to have a little taste in 
 dress, if they could trim up an old bonnet or hat, in 
 order to make it last another season ; or if they could 
 turn an old cloak, to save purchasing a new one out 
 of their scanty income, were sure to be accused of 
 being proud and arrogant, above their station, or 
 something of that sort. But he was pleased to find 
 that it was not so in Morris Run ; but so far from' 
 that, their minister’s wife Avas loved and appreciated 
 by the sisters in the church, and also by the ladies of 
 the congregation. In proof of which, he had great 
 pleasure in presenting to Mrs. Acornley, in the name 
 and in behalf of the ladies, a small token of their re- 
 spect and esteem.” He then proceeded to present 
 
p (5 Sunshine Among the Aloiintains ; 
 
 Mrs. Acornley with a tea-pot ; half dozen tea spoons ; 
 and a beautiful quilt, the work of the ladies' own hands. 
 She was so overcome with the surprise that she 
 could not give full expression to her feelings. How- 
 ever, she returned thanks, as best she could, to the 
 ladies and friends, for their great kindness, and 
 prayed that God would bless the labors of her dear 
 husband, and herself among them ; and, finally, that 
 all might find their way to the better land. It would 
 be impossible to enumerate all the manifestations of 
 affection which she received from the friends of 
 Morris Run ; we may, however, say, that Mr. W. S. 
 Nearing, the company’s agent, was especially kind. 
 
 While I was attending the Annual Conference at 
 Shenandoah City, she wrote as follows : 
 
 “ Morris Run, Tioga County, Pa. 
 
 “ April nth, 1875. 
 
 “ My dear John : 
 
 “ Last night I received two letters from you, and 
 was glad. Several of the brethren were here as soon 
 as the mail, to know the news. There is quite a talk 
 for fear you are removed. I have been real sick all 
 week. I have not been to church to-day. Bro. 
 Cook preached last Sabbath night, he had ‘ Strait is 
 the gate, &c.’ He said the gate was so strait that it 
 would not admit a ball room dress, nor a bottle of 
 whiskey. 
 
 “ Bro. Young preached in the morning, and the 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. gj 
 
 sermon was certainly a draught from Horeb, I went 
 to school in the afternoon. To-day I am missing all, 
 
 my side is bad, and headache intense 
 
 I shall not expect you back this week, only keep me 
 posted each day. I think they will manage at church. 
 They are all anxious that you come back well. With 
 love, an d a_wife’s true affect ion, I am still, 
 
 “ Ever yours, 
 
 “ Agnes Rebecca Acornley.” 
 
 This, as far as we are aware, was the last letter she 
 ever wrote. To her husb and she was a help-meet in- 
 deed, and in the performance of his ministerial duties 
 was a g reat comfort and a constant help. Her 
 morality was of the purest kind. Her temperance , 
 principles and practice were very strict. As a daugh- 
 ter she was tender and respectful. As a wife she was 
 exemplary and loving. As a mother she was affec- 
 tionate and kind. As a friend she was faithful and 
 true. As a Christian she was consistent and earnest, \ 
 Her religion was of a practical character, and s hone 
 most brilliantly in her own home. She was anxious 
 to be a worker for Jesus, was much interested in the 
 Sabbath school, and delighted in religious exercises, 
 such as singing and prayer. One of the hymns she 
 was particularly fond of was the following : — 
 
 “No mortal eye that land hath seen. 
 
 Beyond, beyond death’s river ; 
 
 Its smiling- valleys, hiUs so green. 
 
 Beyond, beyond the river. 
 
Suns /line Amoiur the Mountains 
 
 9S 
 
 Ite shores arc rlrawing nearer, 
 
 Tts skies are growing- clearer, 
 
 Eacli day it seeiheth nearer. 
 
 That land beyond the river. 
 
 Chorus,— W e'U stand the stori®v 
 We’ll stand the storm, 
 
 Its rage is almost over; 
 
 We'll anchor in the harbor soon. 
 In the land beyond the river. 
 
 No cankering care, no )iiortal strife, 
 
 Beyond, beyond the river ; 
 
 But hapjiy, never-ending life. 
 
 Beyond, beyond the river. 
 
 Through the eternal hours, 
 
 God's love in lieavenl,\- showers, 
 
 Shall water faith’s fair flowers, 
 
 In the- land beyond the rivei'. 
 
 Chorus.— We’U stand, &c. 
 
 Tliat glorious day will ne’ei- be done, 
 
 Beyond, beyond the river ; 
 
 When we’ve the crown and kingdom won, 
 
 Ijej'ond, beyond the river. 
 
 There is etei-nal pleasure. 
 
 And ioys that none can measure, 
 
 For those who have their treasure, 
 
 In the land beyond the river. 
 
 Chorus.— W e’ll stand, &c. 
 
 When shall we stand on Zion’s hill ? 
 
 Beyond, beyond the river ; 
 
 Where endless bliss our heaids shall fill. 
 
 Beyond, beyond the river. 
 
 There angels bright are singing. 
 
 And golden haiirs are ringing. 
 
 We ne’er shall cease our singing, 
 
 In the land beyond the river. 
 
 Chorus.— W e’ll stand, &c.” 
 
 Another which she sung often during the last few 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor s Wife. pp 
 
 months of her earthly pilgrimage was the consecra- 
 tion hymn. 
 
 ■“ My body, soul aad spirit, 
 
 Jesus, I g-ive to thee, 
 
 A consecrated ottering, 
 
 Thine evermore to be. 
 
 Chorus.— M y all is on the altar. 
 
 I’m waiting- for the fli-e, 
 
 0 Jesus, mighty Saviour, 
 
 I trust in thy great name, 
 
 1 look for thy salvation. 
 
 Thy promise now I claim. 
 
 My all is on the altar, &c> 
 
 O let the fire descending. 
 
 Just now upon my soul. 
 
 Consume my humble olfering. 
 
 And cleanse and make me whole. 
 
 My all is on the altar, &c. 
 
 I’m thine, O blessed Jesus, 
 
 Washed by thy precious blood, 
 
 Ifow seal me by Thy Spirit, 
 
 A sacriflce to God. 
 
 My all is on the altar, &o,” 
 
JOO 
 
 Sunshine Among the Moutitains / 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 
 
 Happy the spirit released from its clay ; 
 
 Happy the soul that g-oes bounding away. 
 
 Singing, as upward it hastes to the skies, 
 
 Victory! Victory! homeward I rise. 
 
 Many the toils it has passed through below. 
 
 Many the seasons of trial and woe ; 
 
 Many the doubtings it never should sing, 
 
 Victory! Victory! thus on the whig.” 
 
 For several weeks previous to our Fourth of July 
 celebration Mrs. Acornley had been so unwell that 
 she was unable to leave the house. But so great 
 was her anxiety to see the children, that with the as- 
 sistance of several friends she reached the pic-nic 
 grounds, remained there during the day, and ap- 
 peared to enjoy herself immensely. On the 9th of 
 July she was safely delivered of a fine male child. 
 For several weeks she progressed very favorably and 
 gathered strength. On Sunday, August 23d, she 
 attended church in the evening and offered her child 
 to God in the holy ordinance of baptism ; Rev. F. 
 T. Evans, Welsh Congregational minister, officiating. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 24th, she attended the funeral 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 101 
 
 service of our own next door neighbor’s baby — Mr. 
 Thos. Davis — in their own house ; after which she 
 went to visit the family of Mr. W. R. Gilmour, re- 
 turning home in the evening. This was the last time 
 she was out of doors. The next day she was very 
 sick, which resulted in a severe attack of inflamma- 
 tion. The friends were very kind, and doctors very 
 attentive. She, however, grew gradually worse. To 
 her husband, who had just returned from his ap- 
 pointment at Arnot, on Sunday evening, August 29, 
 she said ; “ O my dear, I feel assured I shall never 
 recover, but this has been a blessed day to my soul.” 
 And then she went on to relate what sweet seasons of 
 communion with God she had enjoyed during the 
 day. This was the last conversation we had with her 
 of any length. She suffered greatly during her afflic- 
 tion; her reason at times forsook her ; and she was 
 deprived of the power of speech, so that to hold in- 
 telligent conversation with her was almost an impos- 
 sibility. It was sometimes really distressing to wit- 
 ness her struggle to say something; and it was with 
 great difficulty that her attendants caught a word, or 
 a disconnected sentence. 
 
 Gentle sufferer raise thine eye 
 To thy home heyoiid the sky ; 
 
 Though thy earthly way be clouded, 
 
 In the mist of sorrow shrouded. 
 
 Yet there is rest for thee. 
 
 Perfect, pure felicity. 
 
 In yon Heaven of joy and love, 
 
 There shall be no pain above 
 
102 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountaitis ; 
 
 The clay following she appeared to be much bet- 
 ter, and the doctor again had hopes of her ultimate 
 recovery ; she called, however, for her sister ; a tele- 
 gram was sent for her at once ; she then called for 
 her fatlier. Both of them finally arrived and minis- 
 tered incessantly to her needs, until she took her 
 flight from this transitory scene. 
 
 Her husband being taken sick about the same time 
 as herself, the children were taken away, and kindly 
 cared for by friends; consequently the house wore a 
 gloomy aspect. She was often seized with spas- 
 modic convulsions, which violently worked her arms, 
 and sometimes her head. Then her body would be 
 so perfectly rigid that it was impossible to place her 
 in an upright position. Many hours of anxious 
 watching and attention followed. The house was 
 seldom free from visitors anxious to know how she 
 was, or to render assistance if required. A corres- 
 pondent of the Blossburg Register wrote at this time, 
 “ Rev. J. H. Acornley, pastor of the P. M. Church 
 of Morris Run, has been quite ill, but is recov- 
 ering. Mrs. Acornley, his wife, is dangerously sick, 
 and but little if any hope is entertained of her re- 
 covery. Much sympathy is felt for the family, and 
 many prayers are ascending daily in their behalf” 
 
 When her sister arrived she recognized her and 
 expressed herself glad, as she never expected to see 
 her again. A day or two afterwards her father — 
 Mr. Whillock — knelt down by the side of her bed, 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. lOJ 
 
 and poured out his soul to God in prayer on her 
 behalf. While he was thus occupied, she looked at 
 him as though unconscious of what he was engaged 
 in ; then brightening up she said, “ Praise the Lord ! ” 
 when he finished she responded “Amen.” 
 
 About eleven days before she died, as her sister 
 was about to retire, she kissed her and said, “ Pray 
 for me,” to which Fanny responded, “ yes, I will pray 
 for you,” when she said again, “ yes, pray for me, and 
 be a good girl.” This was the last time she appeared 
 conscious of Fanny’s presence. The day following 
 she seemed to have a presentiment of her approaching 
 dissolution, for after having her frail suffering frame 
 gently attended to, she turned to the wall, and her 
 attendants heard her feebly whisper, “ Ten more days 
 rolled up in these clothes, and then they will be taken 
 away.” On Sunday, September 12th, she fixed her . 
 eyes steadfastly above and said, “yes! Ebenezer,” 
 as though speaking to her lost baby. Then after a ' 
 pause she tried to sing “ Jesus lover of my soul,” &c. 
 but could not. She appeared almost choked with 
 suffering. Her mouth and throat were in a sad con- 
 dition. Her mind wandered, and she appeared to 
 be talking incoherently to herself and to her dear 
 little children who were so soon to be left motherless. 
 
 It appeared hard for her to utter anything, and her 
 speech was very difficult to understand. On the 
 eveningof Friday, the loth, consciousness had seemed 
 to forsake her, and from that time she took but little 
 
J 04 Su7islnne Atnong the Mountains ; 
 
 notice of anything or anybody around her. On the 
 15th, however, consciousness returned for a few 
 minutes, and she struggled to say something, but not 
 one word could be understood. Her sight was af- 
 fected during the last few days, and in one of these 
 brief intervals of consciousness she was asked if she 
 knew one of the ladies who were standing in the 
 room ; she failed to recognize her, and shook her 
 head — speech being entirely gone — intimating that 
 the person was unknown to her; when told who it 
 was she wept at the thought of not being able to re- 
 cognize her friends. Had she been able to speak, 
 she would doubtless have consoled herself and friends 
 with the thought that in heaven 
 
 “ We shall know each other.” 
 
 A few days before she died, while several ladies 
 were tenderly raising her, her body being quite rigid, 
 she evidently thought they imagined her gone, for 
 with a mighty effort she called out quite loud and 
 distinctly, as they took hold of her, “ I’m not dead 
 yet! I’m not dead yet I” She lingered a few days 
 more, suffering intensely — mortification had set in — 
 and, notwithstanding all the efforts of friends, physi- 
 cians and family, she passed away on the morning of 
 the 2ist September, 1875, in the 28th year of her age. 
 
 “ We stand heside the Christianas dying bed, 
 
 And watch the life stream ebbing- fast aivay ; 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 105 
 
 There is no terror there, we would not stay 
 The struggling- spirit in its heavenward track ; 
 
 Nor its bright view of endless bliss delay, 
 
 Or to earth’s son-ows call the ransomed back.” 
 
 We have the full assurance that she has gone to 
 be with Jesus. We derive this blessed confidence, 
 not only from the whispered words which with diffi- 
 culty we heard before her death, but from assurances 
 given at the commencement of her affliction ; and 
 better still from the whole tenor of her deportment 
 during the seven years of our married life. During 
 those years we traveled the path of life together,. and 
 through trials and sorrows, afflictions and bereave- 
 ments, her conduct was always such as becometh the 
 gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 “ O, but death is bliss ! 
 
 I feel as certain looking on the face 
 Of a dead sister, smiling from her shroud. 
 
 That our sweet angel hath but changed her place. 
 
 And passed to peace, as when, amid the crowd 
 Of the mad city, I feel sure of rest 
 Beyond the hills— a few hours fux’ther west.” 
 
 T. W. I^arsons. 
 
 Our loss is indeed great, and our sorrow extreme, 
 but though a great loss to her family and friends, it 
 is an incomparable gain to her. Though we have 
 lost otu companion, and sharer of our joys and sor- 
 rows, she has gained companionship with the glori- 
 fied in heaven, and will continue to share in the 
 delights of the redeemed for ever and ever. Though 
 her three dear little children have lost a kind and 
 
lo6 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 affectionate mother, and a wide gap has been left in 
 our family circle, she has gone to swell the blessed 
 family circle of heaven, and has gained a home in 
 the beautiful mansions of her beneficent Father in 
 glory. 
 
 May we be enabled to take our bleeding, broken 
 hearts to Jesus, and pour out our whole souls to 
 Him, for He, and He alone, knows how to succor 
 and support his afflicted children in every time of 
 need. “Lo!” says He, “I am with you alway, even 
 to the end of the world.” “ AVhen thou passest 
 through the waters I will be with thee, and through 
 the rivers they shall not overflow thee ; when thou 
 walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, 
 neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” 
 
 “ Oh I shall we weep, as one by one, the dear, the besfc-beloved 
 g-o, 
 
 And we are left alone and sad, to miss and mourn them here 
 below ? 
 
 Nay, they are safe, though we have pain, and we shall meet 
 them soon again.” 
 
 Not knowing of her death, her husband’s brother 
 William wrote as follows ; 
 
 September 27th, 1875. 
 
 “ My dear brother, 
 
 “ Mother has to-day received your second letter in 
 reference to your own and Agnes’s illness. We 
 are all deeply sorry to hear that you are situated 
 thus. 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 lO’g 
 
 “A fortnight has elapsed since we received the first 
 letter, and it has been a time of great trouble and 
 suspense to us. A fortnight has passed since you 
 wrote your second, and I do hope most sincerely 
 that by this time Agnes will be somewhat recovered ; 
 but as you say, however well she gets on, she Avill be 
 a long time before she can attend to her household 
 duties. We shall not forget to remember you at the 
 throne of Divine grace, and to pray that God’s bless- 
 ing, ‘which maketh rich and addeth no sorrow,’ may 
 rest upon you ; and that this affliction may be sancti- 
 fied to your good, and to our good as well. 
 
 “ It greatly rejoices our hearts to know that you can 
 claim the promises of God, and that you experience 
 the blessedness of a simple trust in Him. Continue 
 to look up, my dear brother; think much upon the 
 ‘ exceeding great and precious promises ’ contained 
 in God’s Word, and depend upon it that that word 
 is true ; although affliction and sorrow are things we 
 do not like, yet these are among the ‘ all things ’ 
 ‘ that work together for good to them that love God.’ 
 ‘ No chastening for the present is joyous, but griev- 
 ous, but afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of 
 righteousness to them that are exercised thereby.’ 
 ‘ The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are 
 the everlasting arms.’ This last was my text at 
 Stubley last night, and is a passage which has many 
 a time been a great comfort to me. 
 
 “ Mother wishes to know what you think about her 
 
loS SimsJiine Among t/ie Afountams ; 
 
 coming to you ; she could ill be spared here, that is 
 certain. She wishes to have your advice on the 
 matter, &c. I know very well that you would only 
 be too glad to have her come. But you are there, 
 and know more about the country than we do ; would 
 it be advisable Hoping that matters have by this 
 time taken a turn for the better, and that we shall 
 very soon hear from you again, 
 
 “ I remain, 
 
 “Your ever affectionate brother, 
 
 “ W. H. Acornley.” 
 
 Before this letter was written Mrs. Acornley was 
 gone to realms of light and glory ; and her happy 
 spirit was basking in the sunlight of her Redeemer’s 
 presence. 
 
 “ Beyond life’s toils and cares, 
 
 Its hopes and joys, its weariness and sorrow. 
 
 Its sleepless nig-hts, its days of smiles and tears,” 
 
 (In the) “bright unending morrow.” 
 
 The funeral took place on the 23d of September, 
 1875. Such was the esteem in which she was held 
 that nearly every person in the town attended and 
 followed her remains to their last resting place, thus 
 evincing their respect for the deceased, and their 
 sympathy for those who had been bereaved. In 
 order to give every one an opportunity of attending 
 the funeral ; also, as a mark of respect and sympathy, 
 Mr. W. S. Nearing, the company’s agent, kindly 
 stopped all the works that afternoon. The Railroad 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. log 
 
 company generously furnished extra cars to convey 
 the mournful cortege to the place of interment. The 
 “ Good Templars ” organization — of which she was 
 a member — attended in full regalia. The sisters of 
 this order, as w'ell as those connected with the I. O. 
 of O. F., manifested great attention during all the 
 time of her affliction. 
 
 Knowing her love for flowers, a large and beautiful 
 wreath of the choicest kind was made by one of the 
 friends, and placed upon the casket as it was being 
 borne by six of the brethren. 
 
 “ How much of memoiT dwells amidst thy bloom, 
 
 Rose ! ever wearing- beauty for thy dower? 
 
 The bridal day, the fe.stival, the tomb, 
 
 Thou hast thy part In each, thou stateliest flower! 
 Therefore, with thy soft breath come floating- by 
 A thousand images of love and grief. 
 
 Dreams, tilled mth tokens of mortality. 
 
 Deep thought of all things beautiful and brief.” 
 
 Mrs. Ilemans. 
 
 This beautiful memento of affection was placed ujion 
 the grave, where, for months, it remained after it had 
 withered, a sad “token of mortality,” reminding the 
 passer-by that 
 
 “ The brightest day sinks into niglit, 
 
 The fairest bud is touched with blight, 
 
 There is no rest in thing-s of sight— 
 
 Oh, no ! not here.” 
 
 The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. D. 
 Savage, assisted by the Rev. C. Jones, (Welsh Bap- 
 tist.) The church was crowded with an attentive 
 
no Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 and sympathetic audience. Her mortal remains 
 were interred in the Blossburg burial ground. 
 
 “ The grass grows green upon the yielding sod, 
 
 In this calm spot by careless steps untrod ; 
 
 And tears are flowing- o’er thy lowly tomb, 
 
 And sorrow’s eye in vain would pierce the gloom.” 
 
 Here 
 
 ' “ Sleeps the precious dust, whose earnest faith 
 And humble love are registered on high.” 
 
 “ It is a lowly tomb. No marble there 
 Or sculptor’s art doth blazon forth high birth, 
 
 Or deeds of proud renown.” 
 
 “ ’Tis not on marble, nor on the gilded page 
 To print thy worth — thy charity display ! 
 For chronicles like these may in an age 
 Be lost, and in oblivion pass away.” 
 
 Howcroft. 
 
Or^ the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 Ill 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 REMEMBRANCE AND CONDOLENCE. 
 
 “ But who amongst us can at first God's purposes divine ? . 
 
 ‘ (She) being dead yet speaketh,’ and (her) memory to this day j 
 Is living, though (her) quiet grave lies many a mile away.” I 
 
 Let the reader, at his or her leasure, read the wise 
 man’s incomparable description of a virtuous woman, 
 for, says he, “ Her price is far above rubies.” “ Favor 
 is deceitful and beauty is vain; but a woman that 
 feareth the Lord shall be praised. Give her of the 
 fruit of her hands ; and let her own works praise her 
 in the gates.” — Prov. xxxi., 10-31. 
 
 Many expressions of condolence and encourage- 
 ment, both verbal and written, were received by her 
 bereaved husband, which were a great help to him ; 
 feeling as he did, that he was not without the sym- 
 pathy of his brethren in the ministry as well as that of 
 his family and more immediate friends ; and he was 
 brought to sweetly realize with Mrs. Hemans that 
 
 “ The gloomiest day hath gleams of light. 
 
 The darkest wave hath bright foam near i 
 And twinkles through the darkest night 
 Some solitary star to cheer it. 
 
II2 
 
 Sunshine A mong the Jlf oiintains ; 
 
 The gloomiest soul is not all gloom, 
 
 The saddest heart is not all sadness; 
 
 And sweetly o’er the darkest doom 
 There shines some lingering gleam of gladness. 
 
 Despair is never quite despair, 
 
 Nor life nor death the future closes ; 
 
 And round the shadowy brow of care 
 Will hope and fancy twine their roses." 
 
 And as he thought of the watchful providence of 
 his beneficent Father in heaven, he looked up and 
 tremblingly said ; 
 
 “ Father, take my hand, 
 
 And reaching down, lead to the crown 
 Thy child.” 
 
 And the answer sweetly came ; 
 
 “ The way is dark, my child ; but leads to light ; 
 
 I would not have thee always walk by sight. 
 
 My dealings now thou oan’st not understand ; 
 
 I meant it so ; but I will take thy hand. 
 
 And through the gloom, lead safely home 
 My child.” 
 
 Then was he brought fully to realize that his 
 heavenly Father 
 
 “ ‘ Himself hath done it.’ Yes, although severe 
 May seem the stroke, and bitter be the cup, 
 
 ’Tis His own hand that holds it, and I know 
 He’ll give me grace to drink it meekly up.” 
 
 The Rev. D. Savage, the day previous to Mrs. 
 Acornley’s death wrote as follows : 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. I/J 
 
 “Tamaqua, September 20th. 
 
 “ Dear brother : 
 
 “Yours to hand ; how deeply do I feel for you, 
 
 * Hope thou in God, for thou shalt yet praise him.’ I 
 do hope sister Acornley is better; I lift my heart to 
 God on your behalf, and pray, for your sake and the 
 dear children’s, that she may be spared, if consistent 
 with the will of God. If it is otherwise, anything I 
 can do I will. Look up brother; behind a frowning 
 providence God hides a smiling face. Tell sister A. 
 from me — keep hold of the cross, trusting in the 
 blood ; Victory is certain ! Land is ahead ! The 
 crown is shining! Jesus is waiting ! His grace is cer- 
 tain victory! We will meet on the banks! and never j 
 say farewell. 
 
 “ With love, yours in haste, 
 
 “ D. Savage.” 
 
 On the day of the funeral the Rev. F. T. Evans — 
 Welsh Congregational minister — being unable to at- 
 tend, wrote as follows : 
 
 “ Blossburg, Tioga Co., Pa. 
 
 “ Sept. 23d, 1875. 
 
 “Mr. Acornley, 
 
 “ Dear brother : 
 
 “ Please ask brother Savage — if you deem it proper 
 — to make known the reason of my absence from 
 the funeral of your dear and beloved wife, and my 
 
114 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 sister, Mrs. Acornley. I should like for him to do so 
 for my sake as well as for the public at large. . . . ^ , 
 My brother, I feel very s-orry I could not be 
 present. Trust to God whom you faithfully serve, 
 ‘ Cast thy burden upon the Lord, he shall sustain 
 thee.’ He shall never suffer the righteous to be 
 moved. My brother, take comfort in the Lord in 
 
 your bereavement 
 
 “ Your sincere brother, 
 
 “F. T. Evans.” 
 
 In an obituary sketch, which was published in 
 Oui- Messe?iger, for January, 1876, the Rev. I), 
 Savage says: “Bro. Acornley, in the year 1871, was 
 called by our conference to the work of the ministry. 
 The sacrifices he had to make were cheerfully borne 
 by his companion. The burdens he has had to bear, 
 peculiar to the work of the ministry, were made 
 lighter by her sympathy. The genuineness of her 
 piety, and the deep love she had for the cause, the 
 members and friends of her husband’s charges can 
 bear testimony to. Her strong temperance principles 
 Avill be understood, when it is remembered she was a 
 faithful and earnest Good Templar.” 
 
 At a regular meeting of Morris Run Lodge of Good 
 Templars, No. 740, the following preamble and reso- 
 lutions were adopted ; 
 
 Whereas, It has pleased our heavenly Father to 
 remove by death our beloved sister Agnes Rebecca 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wije. iij 
 
 Acornley, thus severing the fraternal ties that so 
 pleasantly existed in the past, and 
 
 WJi£reas^ We regret with sadness her departure to 
 that bourne from whence no traveler returns, be it 
 therefore 
 
 Resolved : First, That while we recognize with 
 
 reverence the will of our heavenly Father, we are 
 filled with sorrow at the loss we have sustained, in 
 one who by her generous, kind and genial dis* 
 position, won our love and highest respect, and who 
 as a Good Templar, was ever found ready and will- 
 ing to do her duty. iVnd be it furthermore 
 
 Resolved : Second, 'I'hat our charter be draped, 
 
 and that the members''wear a badge of mourning for 
 thirty days ; and that these resolutions be printed in 
 xht Blosslnirg Register, and a copy of the same be 
 presented, with sympathy of the lodge, to our beloved 
 brother and husband of the deceased. 
 
 Upon the pallid niiirble brow. 
 
 The auburn tresses lie, 
 
 Her dark blue eyes are closed for aj c, 
 
 Beneath the autumn sky. 
 
 The firm brave lips will speak no more, 
 
 The words of truth and love, 
 
 For hushed in joy, the spirit flies, 
 
 To rest in realms above.” 
 
 J. O. Chapman, J. Bennett, L. D., 
 
 N. M. Loper, Fanny J. AVilson, 
 
 W . S. Fe.xturd, Conimitcce. 
 
li6 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 Morris Rim, Oct. ist, 1875. 
 The Rev. Henry Wheeler— uncle of Mrs. Acornley 
 — who is now superannuated and resides in Newport, 
 Monmouthshire, writes : 
 
 “92 Dock Street, Newport, Mon., 
 
 “ Dec. 7, 1875. 
 
 “ My dear Mr. Acornley, 
 
 “ Your letter, informing us of the removal by death 
 of your beloved wife, arrived here yesterday, for 
 which I tender you best thanks. 
 
 “We were all of us anxious tobe furnished with some 
 particulars in reference to that event, and have had 
 • much pleasure in reading the particulars of her 
 peaceful passage from hence to the glory land, and 
 are happy for the blessed assurances that she is now 
 ‘Safe in the arms of Jesus ’ — -safe for ever and ever, 
 praise the God of our .salvation, praise him for the 
 blessed One who has overcome for us ‘the sharpness 
 of death,’ and opened ‘ the kingdom of heaven to 
 all believers.’ ‘ Blessed are the dead which die in 
 the Lord,’ so ‘ saith the spirit,’ and we have there- 
 fore no reason nor room for anxiety or doubt. 
 
 “ AVe sincerely sympathize with you in your trouble, 
 but you must not allow it to cast you down ; try to 
 bow with the most profound veneration whilst with 
 faltering accent you utter the words of one of old, 
 ‘ It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good.’ 
 
 ‘ He is His own interpreter, 
 
 And He will make it plain.’ 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 I17 
 
 “You must brace up your nerves, and look your 
 difficulties full at once, and then cast your burden 
 wholly on the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. If 
 Agnes is dead, Jesus lives; — Jesus, the resurrection 
 and the life, — ^Jesus, who comforted the sisters at 
 Bethany, — Jesus, who had compassion on the weep- 
 ing widowed mother, who was following the dead 
 body of her only son to the grave, and said to her 
 ■“ weep not,’ gives now the same advice to you; and 
 are not the words precious words ? ‘ Weep not ! ’ 
 
 you have no real reason to be distressed nor to be 
 gloomy! ‘The Lord liveth,’ and he undertakes to 
 be your strength and your stay; yea. He also has be- 
 come your salvation. 
 
 “ Then let not your tears run down. 
 
 Nor your heart with sorrow be riven ; 
 
 There's another gem in the Saviour’s crown. 
 
 And another saint in Heaven I ’ 
 
 ■“ Your motherless children are all right. The Lord 
 will take care of them. May they always be under 
 the shadow of His wing. I do pray that the all-gra- 
 cious One may be very near to you and your little 
 ones, and that you may be graciously comforted by 
 Himself. He can comfort as none other can, I know 
 it. I know it from experience. As one whom his 
 mother comforteth, so will He comfort you. May 
 you be drawn nearer to Him. O, the blessedness of 
 coming nigh unto God. Tell Jesus all your trouble, 
 — tell it all to Him. Tell it to Him confidently, and 
 
Ji 8 Sttnslnne Among the Mountains ; 
 
 I know He will be graciously pleased to help you, 
 and to provide for you and your darling little ones ; 
 and you slrall be able to append your name to the 
 very long list of names- already inscribed under the 
 record, penned by the sweet Psalmist of Israel, ''This 
 poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved 
 him out of all his troubles.’ 
 
 “ Myself and family present kindest sympathies and 
 affe.;tionate regards, with earnest prayer for your 
 comfort, health, usefulness and everlasting salvation. 
 
 “ I am yours, very truly, 
 
 “ Henry W heeler.” 
 
 Mr. Wheeler’s daughter, Mrs. George, also writes t 
 
 “St. Day, Cornwall, 
 
 “November nth, 1875. 
 
 “ My dear cousin John, 
 
 “ I now make my second attempt to write you 
 since I saw the announcement of my dear Agnes’s 
 death. I cannot tell you how much I was surprised, 
 nor how full of sorrow my heart was;, poor, dear girl! 
 I had always cherished a hope that I should see her 
 again in this world ; but our lovitrg Father orders 
 things differently; and knowing, as we do, that what 
 He wills is best, however bitter it may be for us, yet 
 Ave will strive to say from our hearts, meekly, ‘Tlry 
 will be done.’ Oh, my dear cousin, be it yours to 
 cast your heavy ljurden at the Saviour’s feet. Open 
 to Him those heart sorrows with which no earthly 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife, irp 
 
 friend can sympathize ; He will bear your heavy 
 burden, and you too shall be led to say, ‘ He doeth 
 all things well.’ 
 
 “ When you feel able to write me a letter of particu- 
 lars concerning the sad event, I shall feel grateful to 
 you. I should like to know if she was conscious at the 
 time of her death, and what were her last words. Dear 
 girl, I wish I could have seen her, for I had much to 
 talk over with her, but now I must endeavor to meet 
 her in our Father’s house. Truly, ‘ God moves in a 
 mysterious way;’ to my earthly eyes it seems as 1 
 though I could have been better spared than she ; 
 there appears to be fewer ties to bind me down here, 
 but she was more meet for the inheritance than I. 
 
 “ 1 have often grieved that the correspondence be- 
 tween us had ceased, owing to my not knowing your 
 address after you changed circuits, 
 
 “ My little Sidney sends love and kisses to each of 
 the dear little ones; and in true cousinly sincerity, I 
 remain, 
 
 ‘■‘Yours truly, 
 
 “ Jane Ele.vnor George.’’ 
 
 Rev. C. Spurr, President of our Eastern Confer- 
 ence, wrote as follows from Lowell, Mass; 
 
 “ Dear brother Acornley, 
 
 “ I received your card bearing the mournful intel- 
 ligence of the death of your dear wife. How dreary 
 
120 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 and lonely you must feel ! My wife joins with me in 
 deep sympathy with yon in your painful bereave- 
 ment; and we pray that He in whom you trust may 
 sustain and comfort you in your deep distress and 
 trouble. 
 
 “ O, that I could say something to soothe your 
 sorrowing heart ! But how well I know the inability 
 of mortals to do this. Our warmest sympathy is too 
 cool, and our words too feeble, to reach the depths, 
 and remove the sorrow of a grief stricken heart — a 
 heart ready to burst with anguish by the removal of 
 a loved one, and that loved one, the light of the 
 eyes. I would say, however, in the language of the 
 apostle Paul, ‘Sorrow not as those who have no 
 hope, for if we believe that God raised up Jesus from 
 the dead, even so them also that sleep in Jesus will 
 God bring with him.’ How sweet the thought! ‘she 
 is not dead but sleepeth.’ Christ our blessed medi- 
 ator shall again wake the slumbering clay, remodel it 
 after His own lovely likeness, and the soul shall put 
 it on afresh. Yes, ‘He will change the vile body, 
 according to the mighty working whereby He is able 
 to subdue all things to himself.’ My brother, let 
 these thoughts cheer you ; look to Him from whom 
 cometh all help, and draw from His boundless full- 
 ness grace to help in this time of need. I would say 
 more; but it would add nothing to your comfort. 
 May God, the father of all our mercies, comfort you 
 in all your tribulation, and preserve you to His heav- 
 
Or, the Young Pastors Wife. 
 
 I2I 
 
 enly kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord, is the 
 sincere prayer of 
 
 “Your brother in Christ, 
 
 “Charles Spurr.” 
 
 The Rev. H. G. Russell, Missionary Secretary, 
 wrote from Girardville, Schuylkill Co., Pa : 
 
 “ Dear brother Acornley, 
 
 “ Being from home last week, I did not hear of 
 your sore trial until I returned this week, or I would 
 have made an effort to come up to see you. Dear 
 brother, I deeply sympathize with you in your afflic- 
 tion. But what are all human sympathies compared 
 with that of Jesus, which I know you enjoy. Human 
 friendship can only drop a tear or two ; but Jesus is 
 touched with our feelings. He is eminently able to 
 succor the tried ones of his flock, and willing to aid 
 them. He is a very present help in time of need. 
 You cannot do better than commit all to the Lord. 
 Your three little ones will be cared for. Oh ! to lose 
 a mother’s care, no tongue can tell what it is ; but 
 the promise is still good, ‘ As thy day, so shall thy 
 strength be.’ ‘ My grace is sufficient for thee.’ ‘I 
 will not leave you comfortless.’ ‘ I will come unto 
 you.’ 
 
 “ My wife said, when I came home, ‘ O ! I wish I 
 was near them, so that I could do something for 
 them.’ Could you come and spend a week or so 
 with us ? 
 
J 22 
 
 Sunshine Among the Mountains ; 
 
 “ Dear brother, I find I cannot write. I could 
 talk to you better. I am suffering from a very vio- 
 lent cold ; my head pains me. It is with difficulty 
 I pen these few words. May God bless you and 
 your little ones. And by and by may we meet her 
 who is gone before, is the prayer of your sincere 
 brother and sister in Christ. 
 
 “ H. G. and M. Russell.” 
 
 The Rev. F. Gray, of Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., 
 Pa., says : 
 
 “ My dear brother, 
 
 “ I write this in answer to your card, which bore 
 the sad news of your heavy loss. My heart deeply 
 sympathizes with you. I can only commend you to 
 that Being who has been 
 
 ‘ Ovir help in ages past. 
 
 Our hope for years to come. 
 
 Our shelter from tlie stormy blast. 
 
 And our abiding home.’ 
 
 “ Oh ! my brother, try and look to Crod. There is 
 consolation in the words of the apostle, ‘ We sorrow 
 not as those without hope;’ my brother, you have a 
 glorious hope, I pray God may give you enduring 
 grace. ‘ The Lord is a very present help in trouble.’. 
 ‘ This poor man cried and the Lord heard him and 
 delivered him out of all his troubles.’ I'his God is 
 your God, and he will be your guide even unto death. 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 12 J 
 
 I have no doubt, my brother, on my mind, about your 
 wife’s safety ; and this is a source of great conso- 
 lation. Try and reconcile yourself to God’s will. 
 ‘Thy will, O God, be done ! ’ My father and mother 
 are here on a visit ; they wish to be remembered very 
 kindly to you. My heart is full at present ; I hope 
 to hear from you as soon as you have an opportunity 
 to write. Connexional committee meets next week. 
 I wish you were able to be with us. I should like 
 to see you, especially just now. The Lord help and 
 bless you for Christ’s sake. Regard me as your true 
 friend and well wisher. My wife and parents join 
 with me in love to you and the dear children. 
 
 “ I am yours in Christ Jesus, 
 
 “ Francis Gray.” 
 
 The Rev. W. B. Bache of Hazelton, Luzerne Co., 
 Pa., says : “ My dear brother, put your trust in that 
 Saviour whom you have so earnestly presented to 
 others. I pray that our heavenly Father may support 
 you with his grace, and guide you by his wisdom. 
 O, may he sanctify this providence, and may Christ 
 himself still be the great desire of your heart. Since 
 he has taken away the desire of your eyes, and the 
 helpmeet of your life ; may you realize the fulfill- 
 ment of his promise, ‘I am with you always, even 
 unto the end.’ Yes, my brother, in joy and in sor- 
 row ; in health and affliction ; on land and on i?ea. 
 Oh ! what a friend. 
 
J 24 Sunshine Among the Mou7ifatns j 
 
 “I pray that your three motherless children may be 
 the object of our everlasting Father’s love and care. 
 They and you, my dear brother, now need the con- 
 tinued sympathy of Godly friends ; and especially 
 that of our never-dying, and ever-living friend, Jesus 
 Christ. May the blessing of Heaven be with you, 
 and the God of Jacob be your refuge. Amen. 
 
 “ I remain yours, in Him who is the best centre of 
 our love and union, the Lord our righteousness. 
 
 “William B. Bache.” 
 
 Expressions of sympathy were also received from 
 Rev. M. Harvey of Ohltown, Ohio, from Howard 
 Daisley, Esq., book steward, of Brooklyn, N. Y., 
 and many others. An old and valued friend of our 
 youth, in Rochdale, England, wrote as follows : — 
 
 “ My dear old friend, 
 
 “ I have heard of your great trouble, 
 
 and I trust you will not take it amiss if I tender 
 you my sincere sympathies in your affliction ; even 
 you whose work and duty it is to bind the broken 
 hearted, and speak words of comfort to those in 
 trouble and distress, will perhaps feel encourged by 
 receiving a word of sympathy from an old friend far 
 away. ‘All things’ (says the good old book) ‘work 
 together for good,’ to them that love and serve Him. 
 'I'his may be easy to preach ; may you have grace 
 given vou in this dark hour to feel and realize the 
 
Or, the Young Pastor s Wife. 
 
 125 
 
 truthfulness of its teachings. I pray that it may 
 lead you to greater devotion, and a higher standard 
 of usefulness; and that you may more and more be- 
 come a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
 rightly dividing the word of truth. May the blessing 
 of our common Father be with you, and give you 
 that grace you so much need at present 
 
 “If convenient, please write me a few lines, they 
 will be thankfully received. Mrs. Harris joins me in 
 kindest remembrance, with every wish for your future 
 success. 
 
 “Truly Yours, 
 
 “R. Harris.” 
 
 We felt at this time an uncontrollable longing to see 
 the land of our birth ; and having suffered consider- 
 ably from nervous prostration, and being physically 
 and mentally unwell, we hoped that a voyage across 
 the Atlantic would improve our health. We also 
 thought that if we could place our two eldest children 
 in the care of their grandmother — in compliance with 
 the request of her whom we now mourn — we could 
 return to our work, and spend the residue of our 
 days contentedly in our blessed Master’s service. 
 Accordingly, we left the baby with Mr. and Mrs. 
 Tipton, of Morris Run, who kindly cared for him as 
 though he had been their own child, until death 
 snatched him from their embrace. It is impossible 
 for us to express, much less discharge the obligation 
 
126 
 
 Sunshine Amo/ig the JiTonntains ; 
 
 we feel for their great kindness, and unwearied and 
 self-sacrificing attentions to us and ours. May the 
 God of all grace ever bless them. 
 
 On the 8th of December, 1875, stepped on 
 board — with two children — the good ship “Algeria,” 
 and after ten days, landed in Liverpool ; and the 
 same evening were in the midst of our dear friends 
 and relatives. While in England we were the recip- 
 ient of a great number of letters. An extract or two 
 will illustrate. 
 
 The Rev. James Crompton, of Haslingden, says : 
 “ Dear brother, 
 
 “ I am glad to have a line from you. I saw in the 
 paper an account of tlie death of your dear wife, and I 
 felt as if an old friend had departed. 1 truly sym- 
 pathize with you under your stroke of bereavement. 
 I know well what it is ! I should be gh.d to see 
 you try to come as far.” 
 
 The Rev. M. Shorrock, of Walkden, near Man- 
 chester, writes : 
 
 “ Dear brother Acornley, 
 
 “ I was much pleased to hear from 
 
 you and to learn that you were at home again ; 
 though I deeply regret the cause. I was sorry to 
 hear that you had lost your dear wife. I sincerely 
 sympathize with you in your loss Please 
 
Or, the Young Pastor's Wife. 
 
 127 
 
 let me know when you propose going back, for if you 
 cannot come here I will try to get to Rochdale. 
 Mrs. S. joins me in kind regards to you and your 
 mother and family. 
 
 “ Yours as ever, 
 
 “ M. Shorrock.” 
 
 Manifestations of kindness and sympathy were also 
 received from Rev. William Harris, of Stockport, 
 Rev. John Mould, of Rochdale, and many others. 
 
 We cannot \ ery well finish our task of love without 
 recording e.xtracts from letters received from two of 
 our flock in Morris Run. The first one from Mr. 
 George Palmer, we value, as it comes from one who, 
 at that time was laboring under deep conviction of 
 sin ; but who since then has ventured his all on the 
 atonement of Christ, and thus has experienced the 
 blessedness of those whose sins are forgiven. The 
 other is from one who, during our two years stay in 
 Morris Run. showed much kindness to ourself and 
 Mrs. Acornley. 
 
 “ Dear friend, 
 
 “ I was glad to hear from you, and hope you are 
 getting better ; although I am afraid you are not do- 
 ing very well, by the letter you wrote Tipton. Dear 
 Mr. Acornley, I don’t think you ought to fret about 
 anything ; you are on friendly terms with the Lord, 
 and that ought to balance all your troubles. I think 
 I will turn preacher for once, and see how I can 
 
128 
 
 Sunshine A mo Jig tiie Mountains ; 
 
 preach to you. Now, when I discover that the Lord 
 has freely forgiven me all my sins, it seems to me 
 I should be ashamed to doubt any one single promise 
 in the Bible, and if so, please look at the following : 
 everything ‘works together for good to them that 
 love God,’ and ‘ Our light affliction which is but for 
 a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and 
 eternal weight of glory and if you trouble for your 
 children at all remember this, ‘ Whatsoever ye shall 
 ask the Father in my name, he may give it you.’ 
 Again, ‘The fervent effectual jtrayer of a righteous 
 man availeth much.’ Now, dear friend, if I was a 
 Christian, I should certainly expect all these promises 
 fulfilled ; and should believe the Lord would do just 
 what he says. And I should do just what you have 
 often told me to do, ‘trust everything to the Lord.’ 
 Dear sir, although I should verv much like to see you 
 back again, I hope you won’t come back yet, if you 
 think you can get any benefit by staying away. Write 
 again when you get time, and God bless you. 
 
 “Yours truly, 
 
 “George Palmer.” 
 
 “ P. S. The reason I wrote in this strain is because 
 I thought you were considerably down when I read 
 Tipton’s letter. — G. P.” 
 
 “ Dear brother, 
 
 “ I am sorry to learn that you are not improving 
 in strength ; but hope when this note reaches you. 
 
Or, the Yoimg Pastor s Wife, i2g 
 
 you will feel better. Dear brother, look to God for 
 your strength, and ask Him to give you mighty faith 
 in His precious promises. He requests you and I 
 to cast our burden upon Him and He will sustain 
 us. Do not suffer past occurrences, trials and diffi- 
 culties to gloom and injure your future usefulness. 
 God’s promises are yea and amen ; and everything 
 works for good to those that love Him. Therefore, 
 my dear brother, lay hold on your future engage- 
 ments with Christian boldness, and ask your heav- 
 enly Father to throw light into the dark future, 
 such light as will enable you to steer clear of the 
 rocks in life’s ocean. Let your sails be hoisted to 
 the gospel breeze ; King Emanuel is your captain, 
 who will lead you at last triumphantly into the port 
 of glory, to join in the melodious chorus of Moses 
 and the Lamb, with those dear ones who have gone 
 before you. May God bless you, dear brother. I 
 pray for you every day, and shall continue to do so. 
 
 I shall do all that lays in my power to 
 
 make your home cheerful and pleasant when you 
 
 return The services of the sanctuary 
 
 are kept on regularly. The members and the con- 
 gregation are very anxious to see you return. 
 
 Cheer up, brother, and buckle on both 
 
 temporal and spiritual harness. Take your position 
 in the ranks of your King’s army, with a manly 
 
 spirit, and as a valiant soldier of the cross 
 
 “Yours, as ever, faithful, 
 
 “William C. Jenkins.’’ 
 
IJO 
 
 SfiusJiine Among the Mountains. 
 
 We must now stay our hand. Our task of love is 
 done. May it not be in vain; may the writer and 
 reader finally meet the sainted one — whose life 
 ])icture we have feebly attempted to draw — in the 
 “ Bright forever.” Amen. 
 
 Let sorrow now no more prevail to rob my soul of peace ; 
 
 The longest night will end in day, and all my trials cease : 
 
 No tear bedims the g'olden courts where I shall soon appear — 
 
 ‘ Tn heaven above, where all Is love, there’ll be no sorrow there !’ 
 
 God of all comfort ! let this truth Thy suffering- pilgrims cheer ; 
 
 Soon shall we reach our heavenly home ; each day it draws more 
 near. 
 
 When feeble sight no comfort views, let faith the truth declare — 
 
 ‘ In heaven above, where all is love, there’ll be no sorrow there !’ ” 
 
 THE END. 
 
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