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THE RECORD
OF A
HAPPY LIFE:
BEING MEMORIALS OF
FRANKLIN WHITALL SMITH
A STUDENT OF
PRINCETON COLLEGE.
BY HIS MOTHER,
H. W. S.
ORIGINALL Y PRINTED FOR PRIVA TEF CIRCULATION.
PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
I873.




Entered, according  to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by
ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington............................................................................................................




For Frank's little brother and sisters, his cousins, and the circle
of his loving friends, this book has been compiled, with many
earnest prayers that they may learn from its pages the secret of
the happy life they so well remember, and that they may make this
secret their own.
It is essentially a boy's book, and must be judged from a boy's
standpoint.  But if Frank's young life can but tell the "old, old
story" in all its precious fulness, let none complain of the youth
of the teacher, nor of the youthfulness of his ways.
And may this history of the struggles, the failures and the victories of one whom they so loved, and who so earnestly desired day
by day to be found walking in the Highway of Holiness, cheer and
aid his young Christian friends, who like him are seeking to live
up to the Bible standard, and who long to know  that " victory
which overcometh the world," and that "life which is hid with
Christ in God!"
H. W.S.
xi








THE RECORD
OF A
HAPPY LIFE.
CHAPTER I.
S I was sitting at the bedside of our boy on
the afternoon he was taken sick, although
no thought of danger had entered my mind,
yet by one of those unaccountable impulses that
sometimes lead the Christian into apparently strange
things, for which afterwards he sees cause to be deeply
thankful, I said to him, "Frank, this may be typhoid fever, and suppose thee should die; thee is
not afraid, is thee?"
"Oh, no," he answered, very cheerfully, "not
at all."
Pursuing my own train of thought as to the joys of
entering upon the glorious eternity to be spent with
Jesus, I added, after a moment, "It would be rather
nice, would it not, to go? "
"' Well, yes," hesaid, with a smile,''it would; only
I would like to live a little longer to work for Jesus."
2                                13




14      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [-Aitat. 3,
Ten days after that afternoon our Frank had left
us to be with Jesus; and now we who are still on
earth feel as if we would like, as far as possible, to
fulfil the earnest longing of his heart, and to let him
" work for Jesus."  A sweet work, without any toil or
weariness on his part, going on here on earth, while
his head is safely pillowed on his Saviour's breast.
It is with this object, and to comfort our hearts
with the sweet remembrances of his happy life, that
the following account has been prepared, for those
who knew and loved him. And his parents earnestly
pray, that from among his loving circle of relations
and friends, many bright stars may be added to his
crown, through the instrumentality of this book.
Our boy was born in our house on Shoemakers'
Lane, Germantown, August I2th, 1854. He was our
second child; and three years of his little life were
brightened by the sweet companionship of his sister
Nelly, whose patronizing love and care for her " little Bud," as she called him, were a pretty'sight to
see. She seemed to consider herself responsible for
his good behavior on all occasions, and evidently
felt as if everything she learned was valuable only
as she could teach it to him. One little scene, when
he was just three years old, is too sweet to be forgotten. We were spending the summer at grandpa
Whitall's house at Atlantic City. I had put the two
children to bed one evening, and had left the room,
when, hearing their voices, I stopped outside to listen.
I heard Nelly say, "Franky, does thee know that
Heavenly Father don't hear thee when thee prays,
unless thee thinks about what thee is saying?"




MEtat. 3.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.     15
" Don't he? " asked Frank, wonderingly.
" No indeed," answered Nelly; " and thee ought
to think how good He is, and how He loves us, and
gives us good things, while the poor little beggars go
from door to door." Then she continued, " Franky,
shall I tell thee a story about praying? Once there
was a little boy, and his mother was very poor and
had no bread, and he said,'Mother, I'll get some
bread.' And he went in a corner and kneeled down
and prayed,' Please, Heavenly Father, give us some
bread.' And he thought about what he was saying,
Franky, and Heavenly Father heard him, and put a
great big basket full in a good woman's heart, and
she took it to the poor people, and they had plenty to
eat. So thee sees, Franky," she moralized, "we
must always think about what we say."
Her exhortations seemed to be understood by little
Frank, and he asked, " Does thee think about thine? "
" Oh, yes," replied Nelly, " always. Let me show
thee." And she repeated her little prayer very
solemnly, saying, at the end, "There, Franky, I
thought about that."
Frank's sense of condemnation for his own formal
prayer was by this time thoroughly aroused, and he
called out at the top of his voice, " Mamma, mamma,
come back; I want to say my prayer over again, and
think about it."
And his little thoughtful voice and manner, as he
repeated his childish requests, showed how effectual
the lesson had been.
What such a companionship would have been to
him as he grew up, we cannot tell; for, a few months




i6      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Atat. 4.
after this time, on Christmas morning, I857, our darling Nelly was taken home to heaven, at the age of
five years and five months; and as no more children
were added to the family for eight years, Frank was for
all that time an only child. He was also the oldest
grandchild in the families of both his grandpa Smith
and grandpa Whitall, and was an especial joy and
delight, petted by all around him.
A very sweet, fascinating little fellow he was, full
of gentle and generous impulses, and developing daily
many winning little traits.  But he had also a naturally obstinate, wilful temper, and until he was between four and five years of age, the peculiar circumstances by which he was surrounded made him quite
naughty at times; and his fits of loud crying, followed by long sullen spells, were very much dreaded
by his mother and aunties.
About this age, however, a great change took place
in him. His father and I, who had long been seeking
the truth, were both brought on the same day, during
the summer of 1858, to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus
Christ as our all-sufficient Saviour, bearing our sins in
His own body on the tree; and by faith in Him
were " born again " into the family of God. Almost
at once we began to wonder whether Frank could understand this blessed gospel. He seemed too young.
We thought it almost useless to try; and yet the news
of salvation was too good to be kept from our child,
and we told him as simply as possible the story of
Jesus and His love. To our amazement,- so ignorant were we then of the meaning of those words of
our Lord, " Suffer little children to come unto me,




MEtat. 4.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.        I7
and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of
heaven," —Frank seemed to understand. The blessed
Holy Spirit carried home the truth to his little heart.
His soul was brought under a real conviction of his
sinfulness and his need of a Saviour, and in his gentle
childish way, easily and simply, he too believed and
was born again.
Among my old papers I find the following account,
written at the time, and as I have read it over and
over since his death, every scene it describes comes
up before me with vivid intensity.
" Our little boy, only four years old, has been converted this past winter.  We had never taught him
anything about trusting Jesus, because we did not
know it ourselves. And we had contented ourselves
with general instructions about God as a Father in
heaven, and about His moral law as the rule of life.
And even after we had learned the truth for ourselves, it seemed to us for a while that it was impossible for one so young to understand anything about it.
But having heard the story of a little girl who had
been saved, our eyes were opened to the fact that
even little children could come to Jesus and find forgiveness.  And with earnest prayer that the truth as
it is in Jesus might be blessed to our child, we began
to tell him the blessed story. He listened to it wonderingly and gladly. The Holy Spirit made him feel
himself to be a sinner needing a Saviour, and at once
he seemed to open his gentle heart to admit the dear
Lord who was knocking for entrance.
"The fruits of the Spirit at once began to show
themselves in him very manifestly. He loves to talk
2 *              B




18      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Etat. 4.
of Jesus, and to hear stories about Him, and repeats
over and over again,' Mamma, I love Heavenly Jesus
best of all.' He has become gentle and yielding, and
full of love, even his little face shining often with a
real heavenly light, and all his old sullen tempers
seem  to have disappeared almost entirely.  This
change is so striking that even our casual visitors cannot but notice it, for he was formerly one of the most
obstinate and difficult of children, so that we at times
almost despaired of conquering him. Now, when he
is tempted to be naughty, he runs away by himself for
a little while, and then comes back with a bright
smile on his face, and in gentle tones makes a pleasant remark, watching eagerly to see how it will be
received.  Several times when this has occurred I
have said,'Frank, did thee ask Heavenly Jesus to send
the good angel into thy heart?' and he has answered,'Yes, mamma, I said it in my heart, and right away
He heard me and sent the good angel to drive the
naughty one away.' But sometimes his answer has
been,' No, mamma, I did not ask Him, for He sent it
right in Himself, quick before I had time to ask.'
"He loves to talk about our spirits going up to
heaven, and seems fully to realize that the spirit is
the part of us that loves and trusts Jesus, and wants
to please Him. Once when we had been talking together on these things, his face lighted up with a lovely,
enthusiastic little smile, and he said,'Oh, mamma,
I do love Heavenly Jesus so! If He was standing
here by me, I would wipe my mouth right clean, and
would kiss and hug Him all the time.' Then, after
a pause, he added,' and, mamma, I will save ever so




,Etat. 4.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.       19
many hugs on my hands to give Him when we go up
to meet Him in the clouds.'
" The darling child seems to have no fear of death,
but rather to desire it, and sometimes he will say in
the morning,'Oh, mamma, maybe it will be
Heavenly Father's time for me to go up to Heaven
to-day, and then I will be so glad.'
"A short time after his conversion, he taught me a
lesson I shall never forget. I had been teaching him
to pray every evening -' O Lord Jesus, please give
me a new heart that will love thee.' He was for a
while very earnest in praying, saying it two or three
times in the evening, and asking us to remind him to
say it in the morning; and it was very sweet to see
him,- his little hands clasped, and his eyes closed,
pausing reverently a moment in silence, and then saying the few simple words so confidently, as though
sure of a speedy answer. But one night, after I had
read his usual little story to him, and had tucked him
up comfortably in bed, as I leaned over him to listen
to his last prayer, he said,'Mamma, I want to pray,
but I don't know what to pray for.''Why not say
thy usual prayer for a new heart?' I asked.'Oh,
mamma,' he answered,'I can't say that any more,
for I did ask Heavenly Jesus for a new heart, and He
gave it me, and I have got it now.  And besides,'
he added,'I know it is a soft heart, for it loves
Heavenly Jesus so much. So now, mamma, what
shall I pray for?' I suggested that he should ask to
be so very good that everybody would see it,. and it
would teach them to love Jesus too.'Oh, but,' he
replied,'I am too little to be a preacher.''No,'




20      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [.Atat. 4.
was my answer,'thee is not.' And then I told him
of some very little children who had trusted Jesus,
and had talked to others about Him, and had been
the means, some of them, of bringing even men and
women to believe in Him and love Him. Frank
listened with deep interest, and said at last,'Well,
mamma, I want to preach to the soldiers; and if papa
will take me to their house, I will say, Do you love
Jesus? and if they say, No, I will tell them to do it,
and then they will. So, mamma, I will pray for that.'
And with clasped hands, and an earnest little face, he
said,' Please, dear Heavenly Jestis, make me so good
that everybody will know that I love thee; and
please let me preach to the soldiers, and tell them
to love thee, and to throw their guns away.'
" Since then, something like this has been his
nightly prayer; and he often adds, with beseeching
earnestness,'-Please, never, never, never let me do
anything naughty any more' "
How well I remember it all. My incredulity as to
the possibility of so young a child being converted,
and my slowness in believing in the reality of it, even
after I saw daily so many proofs. But looking back
now over the fourteen years that followed, I see how
wonderfully real and true it all was, and what a
radical change did at this period take place in our
boy. From that time I have no recollection of anything in him ever needing punishment, scarcely of
anything calling for reproof. And yet his life was so
thoroughly natural and boyish, that while it was passing it had no sense of strained piety, such as we have
been too apt to associate with the idea of children




A/tat. 4-] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.        21
converted young. From first to last he was a joyous,
happy, natural boy, ready to enter into all sorts of
innocent fun, rejoicing in every manly sport, fond of
gunning, sailing, climbing, swimming, and base-ball
and cricket; and always the foremost to lead in
any adventurous expedition.
His religion did not deprive him of happiness, but
increased it tenfold.  He could afford to be natural,
because having been made a partaker of the Divine
Nature through faith in Christ, it became to a great
degree natural to him to do right. Relieved from
all anxiety about his salvation, he was free of heart to
throw himself into every innocent pursuit or pleasure
that came to him; and the result has been a life
which it is a perfect delight to contemplate, so unstained seemed its last fourteen years to our sight
with any care, or sorrow, or sin. He said himself, in
the last conversation he had with his darling cousin
Minnie, to whom he confided everything, that in
looking back over his life he believed he had always
had everything he wanted, and had done just what
he pleased. And this was very much the case. I
can scarcely remember his ever expressing a wish that
we found it necessary to deny; and we were able, for
many years before his death, to grant him almost the
entire control of his actions in every respect.  It was
because his heart was right with God, that this could
be. And it is a beautiful exemplification of what the
religion of Jesus was intended to do for us, taking
effect first upon the inward life, and then producing
its results naturally, and therefore easily, upon the
outward actions. Being "'born again" into the family




22      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AMtat. 6.
of God, and knowing it, it was characteristic of his
new nature to desire, above everything else, to live
and walk as became such a position, and such a relationship.
What a glorious proof such a life is, that the Lord
Jesus Christ came to make us happy, and to give us
liberty, if only we so understood His gospel as to apprehend that ourselves,' for which we are apprehended
of Him.
Only a month or two before his death, I said to
Frank, on the occasion of some especial pleasure he
had been enjoying, " Frank, it does seem as if all the
good times come to thee."  And then added, " I do
believe it is just because thee has given thyself to
Jesus, and trusts Him with everything, and so He
manages for thee to have a real happy time all the
while."  He laughed in his quiet way, and said, "I
really think it must be so, for I certainly do seem to
have the best time of any one I know."
Surely his life has been throughout an illustration
of the truth, that if we seek firs the kingdom of God
and His righteousness, all things needful shall be
added unto us; and that no good thing will God
withhold from them that walk uprightly.
After Frank's conversion, his childhood flowed on
very happily, his little heart learning easily the lessons
of faith, and acquiring very quickly the blessed habit
of going to Jesus with all his childish needs and
childish troubles. His confidence in prayer often
amazed us. I remember very well one occasion
when he was about seven years old.  WVe were passing the summer in a little cottage on his grandpa




Atat. 7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.        23
Smith's place on Shoemakers' Lane, Germantown.
Frank had spent his little stock of money for a certain kind of toys which were all the fashion among
the boys at that time; and I felt as if a due sense of
economy and propriety forbade him having any more.
So, as I handed him the last of the toys, I said,
" Frank, this is all, remember. When this is gone,
thee cannot have any more."  He made no reply,
and I thought the matter was ended. Shortly after
I went up the main street to do some errands, and
on my way home passed a store where these toys
were for sale.  I noticed them at first, without any
thought of Frank, but after having passed by some
distance, I began to feel as if I must go back and buy
the little fellow some more. The feeling increased
so much, and made me so uncomfortable, that at last
I walked back several squares and made the purchase.
When I reached the house, Frank came running out
to the gate to meet me, and said, in the most confident little way possible, "Well, mamma, where
are my toys?"  "Why, Frank," said I, quite surprised, " don't thee remember that I told thee, thee
could not have any more?" " Oh, yes," he answered,
" but then I asked Jesus to tell thee to bring me some,
and I know thee has got them."
Another time, while still living in this cottage,
Frank was dangerously sick with the measles, and was
utterly unable to retain a drop of water on his stomach, yet he was consumed with thirst. One evening,
after a day of great suffering, he said to me just at
nightfall, "Mamma, I want thee to come here and
pray that I may go to sleep, and sleep sound all night,




24      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. 7.
and wake up to-morrow morning with my stomach
well, so that I can drink." I rather hesitated, feeling
that there was no hope of his prayer being answered,
but was at once checked for my want of faith, and
said, " I will, Frank, if thee has faith. Can thee believe that God will do it?" "Oh, yes," he answered,
"I am sure He will; so just pray."  I accordingly
kneeled beside his bed, and asked for the things he
wanted. He then fixed himself for sleep, and said,
"Now, mamma, tell Ellen to get up early in the
morning and go down to Mr. Thompson's spring,
and bring up a big pitcher of water, and set it by my
door with two tumblers, so as to be all ready when I
wake up."  And then he quietly went off to sleep.
I obeyed his injunctions to the letter, feeling
thoroughly stirred up by the child's faith, and yet
so doubtful as to the result that I resolved in myself
never to mention the subject of water again until he
did. Need Isay, however, that according to his faith it
was unto him? Frank slept delightfully, waked up at
daylight, and called for his water. It was all waiting
for him just as he had ordered, and he sat up in bed
and drank two full tumblers with the most intense enjoyment; and not an uncomfortable feeling followed.
Verily God hath hidden these things from the wise
and prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes.
Many similar instances I could relate, but these are
sufficient. This habit of confiding prayer was never
lost, and to it, no doubt, was owing much of the
happy even tenor of his young life.  Before the
years had come when doubts are so apt to harass the
soul, Frank had learned too deeply ever to unlearn




Etat. 7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.       25
it, the blessed truth that God means what He says
when He tells us to ask and we shall receive, and
when He urges us to be careful for nothing, but in
evJerytzhing to make our requests known unto Him.
He realized that all things, both great and small,
were included in the two words nothing and everythintg; and as a consequence his life was largely filled
with that peace which is declared to be the portion
of those who know this secret.
3




CHAPTER II.
HEN Frank was about five years old, a dear
friend of his father's died, leaving a widow
with four little children. We took one of
them home with us for a visit, to relieve the delicate
mother for a time of some of her numerous cares, a
little girl named Sally, of just about Frank's age. She
proved to be a dear good little girl and nice company for Frank, and after her mother's death, which
occurred within a year or two of her father's, we
concluded to keep her altogether, and she grew up
with our boy, a bright pleasant companion for him,
adding very much to the pleasures of his life.
At about the age of eight years, a very grave danger
threatened Frank, and he was committed to the Lord
in a most especial manner. A very wicked man,
whom we had been obliged to thwart in some of his
wicked purposes in reference to a child in the
of which institution we were at the time
managers, wrote us a most abusive threatening letter.
In it he declared his intention of taking his revenge
on us through our son, by leading him into wickedness and. making him as bad as himself.  As I read
the letter, my heart sank within me. I thought of the
thousand ways in which such a threat could be ful26




Ntat. 8.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.       27
filled, and how powerless we were to prevent it. I
was afraid to have my boy out of my sight for a
moment, and felt as if we would have to move out
of Philadelphia, away to the ends of the earth, anywhere to get out of the reach of this wicked man.
But then I realized that even this might not be effectual; and in my despair I fled to the Lord for
help. At once there came to me, as a voice from
heaven, that blessed promise — " The angel of the
Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and
delivereth them;" with the assurance that so would
the angels encamp around our boy and deliver him
from this and every danger.  My heart leapt up in
happy confidence, as I gave him at once into this
blessed guardianship; every fear vanished; and as I
saw him leave the house for school the next morning,
I could almost see the cohorts of angels surrounding
him on every side. I believe I never again feared
any danger for him, so sure was I that the Lord was
his defence and his shield on every hand. Who can
doubt that God did then and there, according to His
word, take the charge of the child thus committed to
Him, in an especial manner; and that from henceforth He encamped round about him continually,
leading him safely through all the dangers of life,
and landing him now at last unharmed in his heavenly home?
At the age of ten years Frank had a fresh awakening in his religious life, and, under the influence of
some meetings he was attending, for the first time
made a public confession of his faith in Christ. He
grew up a noble, pure boy, recoiling from intimacies




28     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Eftat. to.
with other boys whom he found to be persisting in
wrong courses; and breaking off of his own accord
two or three friendships, begun when he was very
young, because he found his friends were developing
wrong propensities. About one or two of these I remonstrated, seeing only the fair exterior of his childhood's friends; but he said, with a look of such dignified purity, "Mother, if thee knew those boys, thee
would be only thankful that I cannot like them."
Just about this age of ten years a great joy came to
Frank. His little sister Mary was added to the family,
and she was destined to be to him a source of untold
delight during the eight years they were together,
and to receive from him the tenderest and sweetest
love and care that ever a big brother gave to a little
sister. His ways with her were lovely, a perfect
combination of brother, and father, and playmate allin one; and it was a great joy to us to see them together. As a little baby, Mariechen, as her German
nurse called her, soon learned to read the story of
love out of her brother's eyes, and would go to him
from any one, even her mother. And as she grew
older, their talks and plays together were among her
chiefest delights.  He called her "Rogey-pogey,"
because of her mischief, and she called him "Longlank," because he was so tall; and the very words, as
I write them, bring up visions of many a merry ride
and walk, and evening romp. After Frank left home
for college, they kept up quite a correspondence, and
a letter from "Bubba" was always hailed with a
shout of joy.  One of his letters I will insert as a record of their happy intercourse.




NEtat. Io.] THET RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    29
S" HAV. COLL. 3mO. I9, I871.
"MY OWN DARLING LITTLE SISTER:
"As I was walking up to my desk the other day,
somebody said,' Frank, there is a little three-cornered
letter in thy desk for thee.' And then I thought,'Who can have written me a letter in a three-cornered envelope?' But when I saw mother's handwriting on it, and a letter' M.' on the back, then I
knew a young one they call Mary Whitall Smith had
sent it.  And then I tried to think how much I
loved that young'un, but I could n't remember, it
was so much. Then I opened the letter and read it,
and now I am answering it. What did thee draw
that picture for, thee scamp? Look out for a spanking when I come home! Thee knows it don't look
like me. Does thee know thee called me Tumblebug? What can I do to punish thee? Something
awful, I guess.
"Who taught thee to write so well?  I didn't
know I had a sister who was such a good writer.
Thee can write almost as well as I can.
"... But, thee sweet one, I must stop. With
ever so much love, I remain thy very affectionate'bubba,'                            FRANK!"
To this sister, as well as to the three younger children born afterwards, the loss of such an older brother is greater than we can express. But we must
believe that He who gave, and who has taken away,
will Himself be to them more than even the tenderest
brother.
In the fall of the year i864, Frank's father took
3*




30     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Aitat. II.
charge of the glass factories at Millville, New Jersey,
belonging to the firm of Whitall, Tatum & Co., of
which he had become a member. And we moved
there, taking up our abode in the Mansion House
situated in the factory grounds, on a high bluff overlooking the Maurice River, and surrounded by old
oak-trees. It was in this free country life that Frank
developed the fondness for manly pursuits, which
added so much to his pleasures and to the force of
his character. We felt so unwilling to send him to
boarding-school, that we had tutors for him at home
for three years, and they largely made up to him for
his isolation from other companionship, joining in his
riding and gunning, and sailing and skating, and rousing him to energy and manliness. The wild nature
of the country around Millville afforded many opportunities for hunting and exploring expeditions; and I
was continually being called on to put up lunches
overnight, for a start on some such excursion before
the dawn of the next day..
I love to think of our boy at this time, in his free
joyous country life, and I am so glad we lavished
upon him every innocent gratification that could make
his life brighter. I remember the great epoch when
he became the owner of a gun. A rash indulgence
I thought it, but could not find it in my heart to
make a single objection, when I found his father was
willing, and saw how the boy's heart was set upon it.
And he has often told us since that nothing ever gave
him such exquisite pleasure as the arrival of that gun,
with its brown paper wrappings and powdery smell.
I remember a sweet little incident connected with




AEtat. II.]  THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    31
this gun which I must insert here, because it so beautifully illustrates the effect of grace on the heart.
Frank's father never hesitated to let his boy know
when he was gratified with his conduct, and one
day, soon after the arrival of the gun, he said to him,
on the occasion of some fresh instance of obedience:
"Frank, I want thee to know how I appreciate
thy ready instantaneous obedience to my wishes, and
how fully thy father's love is satisfied with his son."
Dear Frank smiled and said, " Has thee noticed any
difference since thee gave me that gun, father? "
"No," was the reply; "thee has always been so
good that I do not know that I have noticed any especial change."
"Well," said Frank, "II think there has been
some, anyhow, for'I felt as if thee must love me
so much to give me that gun, that I have wanted
more than ever since then, to do just everything thee
wishes. "
It is thus grace always acts obh a true heart; and
the lesson which Frank learned in the tender love
of his earthly father, was beautifully repeated when
he came fully to understand the love of his Heavenly
Father.
It never seemed to us that religion was intended to
make a boy unnatural, or to turn him into a premature old man. And we encouraged his amusements
as heartily as we did his religion, sure that his Father
in heaven had given him richly all things to enjoy, and
that we were the appointed channels through which
these good things were to be handed forth to him.
Through his whole life this was our feeling; and it is




32      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [IEat. 12.
unspeakably comforting now, in looking back, to remember that he always had our hearty sympathy and
help in every project of pleasure he proposed. It was
very seldom that we found any need of objecting to
any of his wishes, but on the few occasions when this
did occur, he was so sure of our earnest desire always
to gratify him where it was possible, that he found no
difficulty in yielding. And there never was a shade
upon the most perfect openness and freedom of our
mutual intercourse.  Frank knew all of our secrets,
and we knew his, and I am sure no father and son
ever more thoroughly delighted in each other than
did our boy and his father.
In the spring of i866, when Frank was twelve
years old, some of his cousins and friends of about
his own age came down to Millville to spend the
Easter holidays. They were a happy young party,
and made the house, and woods, and river ring again
with their joyous merriment. Among other things
they formed a society called the "S. S. S.," which
was from that time the centre of a great deal of
interest to all its members, and the source of much
happiness to our boy.
Its object was to bear a protest against the tendency
of the age towards making boys and girls into premature young ladies and gentlemen, and for the promotion of healthy, hearty, youthful fun. They had a
regular Constitution, with rules and regulations, some
of which were very amusing, and yet perhaps truly
sensible also. Article I. read as follows:
" Be it enacted, that we, the members of this society,
do one and all pledge ourselves to unite together in an




Atat. I2.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.          33
unbroken phalanx to resist the fearful assaults being
made upon' fun' in the present age of the world."
ARTICLE II. " Be it enacted, that each member of
this society be required to plan and carry out all
sorts and manner of fun, upon every possible occasion, and to join in it wherever it may be going
on. Also to laugh, shout, climb, race, leap, and
tumble whenever moved thereto."
ARTICLE III.  " Be it enacted, that our members,
when together, shall only wear such garments as
shall be able to stand the wear and tear of fun;
garments that can scale rocks, wade streams, climb
trees, walk fences, and run races. Further, be it enacted, that our garments shall never be in the height
of the fashion."
ARTICLE VIII.  "Be it enacted, that fun, according to our meaning of the word, includes the play of
the intellect, as well as the play of the body; that a
race of wits is as legitimate as a race of feet, or a
leap of the fancy as a leap over fences, and that to
climb means as well to scale the hills of knowledge
as the hills of nature. Be it enacted, therefore, that
we keep each other stirred up to all sorts of mental
activity, as well as bodily; and that to further this,
debates, essays, epistles, and skirmishes of the wits
generally, shall be continually carried on among us,
by letter and otherwise."
ARTICLE IX. "Be it enacted, that we have as frequent meetings as possible, and that we always meet,
whenever practicable, at'Liberty Hall,' kept by
C




34     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Atat. 12.
R. P. & H. W. S., and that between our meetings
we keep up a vigorous correspondence."
ARTICLE X. " Be it enacted, finally, that we never
grow old in feeling ourselves, nor ever permit any one
else to do so."
The hearty innocent associations and interests of
this S. S. S. Society, we felt to be very valuable to
our boy; and we are sure they contributed not a little to the healthy development of his character, preserving him in a large measure from the sentimental
unreality of the age, and inciting him to all that was
truly natural and manly.
In the fall of 1867, Frank's cousin, WhitallNicholson, the next to him in age of the large family of
grandpa Whitall's grandchildren, came to Millville to
spend the winter, studying and playing with Frank.
It was a merry, happy winter, filled with quite as
much play as study, and one that we all enjoyed very
much. I find in one of my old letters to Whitall's
mother the following reference to it:- " The two boys
are so happy together that it is a pleasure to have
them about. Their rifles have come, and they are
fill of excitement about them, cleaning, and greasing,
and getting the very blackest hands that ever adorned
the ends of any boy's arms. They have a great deal of
fun modelling the clay used for the glass pots into
mock battles, and Whitall's figures are really capital.
They do this in the evening, while Mr. F. or I read
to them  out of'Queens of England.' They are
making scrap books too. And their workshop is always a resource for rainy days; and altogether, they
are a busy and happy pair of chaps."




CHAPTER III.
URING all this time at Millville, Frank was
surrounded with very precious religious influences, both from the circle of friends who
visited us, and from the natural flow of happy Christian life and conversation which was the atmosphere
of our household. It was an inestimable blessing to
him, that the truth set before him was the pure gospel
of Jesus Christ, unmixed with the commandments or
traditions of men. It had been the privilege of his
parents, after many years of seeking, to be brought out
clearly into the full light of the gospel of grace; and
from the moment when our boy had started to walk
in the heavenly pathway, at the age of four years,
we had endeavored carefully to guard him from the
many errors that so often obscure the truth as it is in
Jesus.
Frank was taught that the Lord Jesus Christ was
the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the
world, and that in His atoning death on the cross He
did bear our sins in His own body, and did take upon
Himself the stripes that were our due. He was taught
that by means of this sin-bearing, God had reconciled
the world unto Himself, and- that He no longer imputed their trespasses unto them; and he understood
35




36    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.  [AMtat. I2.
the gospel to be a message of glad tidings to sinners,
telling them the wondrous fact that their iniquities had
been taken off of them, and laid upon the Lord Jesus
Christ, and that God was reconciled to them by the
death of his Son. Thus understanding the gospel, it
was easy for Frank to see, that the only thing left for
him to do in the matter was to believe this good news,
and through believing to find eternal life. He was
taught that his own part in the work of salvation
was simply to believe, and that then the blessed Holy
Spirit would never fail to do His accompanying work
of creating within him a new heart and a right spirit.
"He that believeth hath everlasting life," the believing only being our part, the giving of eternal life
being the work of God, always accompanying our believing. Thus the plan of salvation was not hidden
from Frank by any system of works. He was taught
that good works must follow, and not precede, the
new birth; that they were the results of this new birth,
and not the cause of it. And he learned thoroughly the
blessed truth, that the Christian life ought to begin
with the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins, instead
of this knowledge being attained only at the end of a
long course of faithful obedience and service.
It was a happy faith that our boy was taught, and
the results were to be seen in a life, even then almost
blameless, and a confiding trust in His Saviour that
shed a brightness over all his pursuits and pleasures.
Such was Frank, during our life at Millville. But
after all, his religion was not an active religion. It
made him good, and obedient, and dependable, but
it did not make him zealous in the Lord's work, nor




iEtat. 12.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.      37
enable him to bear any open or public testimony to
his Master. He was naturally exceedingly reserved,
and it seemed as if it was almost an impossibility for
him to open his mouth to confess the Lord Jesus
before men. We felt that more was needed before
he would be the earnest working Christian we
longed to see him, but the way to supply this need
we could not yet see. God, however, had His
messengers all ready, who were to bring to our
house the glad tidings of a sufficiency to be found in
the Lord Jesus, not only for our future salvation, but
for our utmost present needs as well. They were to
supply the missing link in our knowledge of the gospel. We had, as I have shown, learned thoroughly
the blessed truth of justification by faith, and rejoiced
in it with great joy. But here we had stopped. The
equally blessed twin truth of sanctification by faith had
not yet been revealed to us. And we had long been
conscious that for ourselves, as well as for Frank, there
was a need of far more spiritual power than we yet possessed, and for a secret of victory over temptation,
that would enable us always to triumph, where asyet
we suffered many and sorrowful defeats.
And at last the time came. In the fall of the year
i866, there came as Tutor to Frank, a young Baptist
theological student. He had not been long in our
house, before we discovered that he had a secret of
continual victory and abiding rest of which we were
ignorant. After watching him for many months,
continually impressed with the wonderful purity and
devotedness of his life, we began to ask him about
it. And he told us that his simple secret was faith.
4




38      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 13.
He trusted, and Jesus delivered. He laid the care of
his life, moment by moment, on the Lord, and the
Lord took it, and made his life moment by moment
what He would have it to be. It was a wonderful
revelation. At the same time, some of the workmen
in our factory, having also come into the experience
of this life of faith, began to come to our house to
talk about it; and we all attended, Frank and all, a
little evening meeting, held for the consideration and
promotion of this truth.  The result was at last, that
Frank's father and myself were brought out into a
clear knowledge of the truth of sanctification by faith,
and realized in the wondrous peace, and victory,
and liberty of this new life, that we had known before
only half the gospel. Our dear boy also was thoroughly aroused, and began then dimly to understand
the truth which a year or two later was to be so beautifully developed in his experience, and was to make
him so early ripe for his heavenly home.
The following letter, written to this Tutor, in the
spring of I868, will show the work of the Spirit in his
hedrt, and his felt and acknowledged needs.
"MILLVILLE, N. J., March Ist, I868.
"DEAR  MR. F.:
"I promised I would write to you, a good while
ago, but I have never kept my promise, so I will do
so now.  Last evening we went to the Methodist
holiness experience meeting, where almost every
body spoke. I felt led to speak, but Satan said'Nobody wants to hear you; you had better keel.
your seat. Just think how awful it would be for you




/Etat.13.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.      39
to stand up and face everybody there; you would
feel terribly.' And he conquered. But, Mr. F., I
want you to pray for me, that I may be able to take
up the cross for my dear Saviour, who has done so
much for me. Mr. F., we have a dear Saviour; I
am sure I don't half appreciate what He has done for
me, but I am doing so more and more.
"' Mr. McAfee and I have cleaned out the boat
house, and covered the bottom with sand; we have
dug out the channel to the river, and put up a fence
on one side. Since the snow we have been coasting
down the hill to the boat-house.
" Last Saturday evening, that is a week from yesterday, after the holiness meeting, which was a very
nice one, when I was in bed, I thought somehow this
way -If these Methodists have such a blessing, why
should not I?  Why, no reason at all. So I just
prayed that I might have the peace of God shed
abroad in my heart; and I had it, and it made me
so happy! And oh, Mr. F., I want you to pray that
I may be all the time growing in grace.
"We are all well, as I hope you are. Little Bay
told us this morning she was never going to marry!
"Good-bye, from your loving brother in the Lord,
I" F. W. SMITH."
The blessed Spirit had begun thus early to open our
dear boy's eyes to the wonderful privileges of the
higher Christian life; but it was not until two years
later, in the spring of I870, that his soul was brought
into the full experience of it.
Among his old papers, we have come across




40     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [-iEtat. 13.
a few leaves of a journal kept about this time, which
contains the following entries:
"FIRSTr-Mo. I8th, I868.
"'I am a boy, a little over thirteen years of age,
with a kind, loving father and mother. But better
than this, I have a much kinder and much more loving Heavenly Father, who gave His only-begotten
Son to die for me, and save me from eternal destruction. I became a Christian somewhat over nine years
ago, but I have been a very naughty one ever since.
I have disobeyed my earthly parents, but far worse,
I have disobeyed my Heavenly Father. But, thank
God, I have come out of that reign of sin, by believing that He has not only forgiven me my sins, but
also destroyed the body of sin in me. So long as I
believe this, I am happy; but the moment I stop
clinging to Him, I am overwhelmed with sin, and am
miserable until I again return.
" My lot is indeed a happy one. I have a dear,
kind, loving father, who would do anything almost to
please me; a dear, kind, loving mother, who sympathizes with me in all my joys and sorrows, and who
advises me in all my perplexities; a sweet sister Mary,
four years old, whom I love with all my heart, and
who returns my love again; a baby sister Alice, six
months old; a little brother Logan, two years old,
and an adopted sister, who is about my own age."
"FIRST-MO. I9th.
"This afternoon I went skating with my tutor,
and learned how to cut a circle backwards for the first




AXtat. I3.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.        41
time. In the evening heard Mr. Coleman preach a
splendid sermon on sanctification, from Matt. i. 21."
"FIRST-MO. 24th.
" Warm again; skating soft. Began Irving's Life
of Washington to-day, rather reluctantly, but at
father's request, and found it very interesting indeed."
"FIRST-MO. 25th.
"Cold again, and splendid skating.  I can roll
forwards, cut a circle backwards and forwards, spread
the eagle, skate backwards and forwards, -and tumble down!"
" FIRST-MIO. 26th.
"To-day is First-day. I used to think it a great
bore for First-day to come, but now I enjoy it, though
not as much as I ought to.  Sorted father's tracts for
him."
"SECOND-MO. 6th.
"No skating to-day, but we took a splendid sail
this afternoon. It was terrible hard rowing back.
Took a fine sleigh-ride this evening by moonlight.
(Young ladies were wanted to complete the fun.)"
" SECOND-MO. 20th.
" Had a splendid sail this afternoon, rowing down
the river and sailing back. This morning three men
were converted in our factory; and this evening another one was brought to know Christ as his Redeemer. Went to a Methodist Experience meeting,
the best I have ever been to."
4*




42     THE RECORD OF A HAPPRF LIFE. [AEtat. I3.
Thus his life passed happily along, both inwardly
and outwardly, while many circumstances were conspiring in the Providence of God to form his character, and give him the perfect dependableness which
was afterwards so remarkable in him.
We had very strong convictions as to the importance of a late education, as giving time for the solid
development of the mental powers, and avoiding the
great danger of any overstrain of mind and body.
We concluded, therefore, in the fall of I868, to intermit a year of study, and to let him go into the countingroom of the firm in Philadelphia, under the care of
his uncle, James Whitall, for the winter. It was a
great trial to let him go away from home, and seemed
like somewhat of an experiment to send a petted home
boy, who had hardly done anything but play all his
life-long, into a counting-room with trained clerks,
where steady work would be expected from him.
But we believed the discipline would be invaluable tc;
him; and we had confidence in our boy. We sent
him away with many prayers, and with a confiding
trust that the Lord, to whose care we committed
him, would guard him from every danger. He made
his home at his dear grandpa Smith's, in Germantown, and in the tender love and care of his grandpa
and grandma, and his darling " aunty Lill," he was
made as happy almost as if he had been at home.
A very tender tie existed between Frank and this
aunt. From his earliest babyhood she had been delighted to have him much with her; and her selfsacrificing love was repaid with an affection both filial
and brotherly. I always felt happy about him when he




AEtat. I3.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    43
was under her care, knowing that every need of his
heart, and mind, and body also, would all be most
lovingly and judiciously provided for.
Under this happy guardianship, Frank passed the
winter, more than fulfilling all our expectations, and
even our hopes, in regard to his counting-house duties.
From every one in any way connected with the business, there came at the time, and has come since, one
unvarying testimony as to his uniform faithfulness in
the discharge of his duties, and his lovely, gentlemanly
deportment to all around him. To our hearts it was
sweetest music, to hear such praises of our absent boy.
In the few leaves left of his Diary, we find the following reference to this change:
"'SEPTEMBER 7th, I868.
"To-day I began my work at the store in Philadelphia, away from home, and almost all religious
influences. Oh! how I pray that I may be kept ever
near to my precious Jesus.  In the evening I went to
Germantown, and received a hearty welcome at Ivy
Lodge, and a real nice room all to myself."
Again, under date of First-mo. 23d, I869, he wrote:
"I do not often write anything connected in this
book, but every now and then I like to jot down
what interests me most.  At present it is that our
whole family is to move up to Philadelphia to live.
On Christmas I was home and went deer-hunting, but
shot nothing.
" During the last week I have been attending lectures on Geology. Very interesting.




44    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Atat. I3.
"As the days move on, I am afraid I am not progressing much in the kingdom of God. I pray con.
stantly, and yet I cannot put my full trust in Christ.
I do not know why, though. It is not because He
would betray my trust; oh, no! for I know He could
not do that. I do trust Him in some measure, but I
have not the blessing of a clean conscience. So far
as I do trust Him though, He does deliver me."
He came home every week during the winter, so
that we did not receive many letters from him, and
can only find one that has been preserved. In this
he says:
" DEAREST MOTHER:
"I would have written before, but have not a
minute's spare time in the day, and have been engaged every evening.
" I think I am getting to be of more use in the
store, for I am kept pretty busy now. I am praying
that I may grow in grace unto the perfect man, and
I know you are praying for me.
" Uncle James says if Whitall goes to Millville this
week, I can go down on Fifth-day, and stay over until
Second-day, and then we can go deer-hunting. Ask
father to tell Uriah to arrange the hunt.....
"It is getting late, so must close, with lots of love
to all the young ones, their names being too numerous
to mention.
"I am very lovingly, my dear father and mother,
your ever dutiful son,            FRANK. "




CHAPTER IV.
I     IN the spring of I869 we moved up from Millville, intending to make our home in Philadelphia, but going for the summer months
to a little cottage which "Grandpa Whitall" had
built for his daughters on the lawn of " The Cedars,"
his country-place near Haddonfield, New Jersey.
As Frank's health seemed to suffer somewhat from
the close confinement to business, he gave up his position in the couiting-room shortly after our removal,
and took a few weeks for country rest and rambling.
This little cottage was a happy summer home for
our dear boy during the remainder of his short life.
His loving grandpa and grandma Whitall delighted to
gather around them in the summer all their children
and grandchildren, and it made a happy, merry
party. Frank was the oldest of twenty grandchildren, and the whole flock were often all together at
"The Cedars," and  all, from  the oldest to the
youngest, thought it was about the happiest place
in all the world. There were boating, and driving,
and riding, and swimming for the older ones; and
trees to climb, and brooks to paddle in, for the younger
ones, with a donkey to take them on their longer expeditions.  The four older grandchildren, Frank and
45




46     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I4.
Whitall, Minnie and Bessie, formed a very congenial
and fun-loving quartette, and kept us all alive with
their endless expeditions and pleasant adventures.
These summer reunions were eagerly anticipated and
joyfully remembered from year to year, and made our
dear children very happy. And yet through all the
light-heartedness and youthful gaiety, our boy did not
forget the underlying secret of a heart at peace with
God, which so colored and brightened his life.
Writing to one of his cousins a year before his death,
in reference to the summer reunion, he says:
"And what a responsible position we two hold
among our cousins. Just think, we are the only ones
who profess to be wholly given up to Christ, and how
we shall have to hold up the standard of holiness, and
show them that our life is a truly happy one. Do let
us pray ever so earnestly for  ~ and. If they
could only be made real hearty Christians, what
splendid times we'd have this summer. For after all
I don't know of any subject I am so much interested
in as Christ."
Thus beautifully did the gospel of joy and peace,
which he had heard and believed, bear its legitimate
fruit in Frank's heart, making it natural for him to
love communion on this subject better than he loved
anything else. And the blessed results in his daily
life and walk, among the mirthful group of grandchildren at " The Cedars," were such as to win from
every one, whether old or young, the same testimony
that " Frank never did anything wrong." His cousin
W      used to call him sometimes the "model
grandchild," and we would all smile at the name.




AS.tat. I4.] THE RECORD OF A HAPP Y LIFE.    47
But it was indeed true, and Frank's uncles and aunts
all feel that, in losing him, their children have lost
one who would have been a safe and blessed example to them  always.  I am glad we did not wait
until after his death to know how good he was, and
that he himself had the pleasure of hearing from the
lips of those who loved him, over and over, what a
joy and a comfort he was to all of us. How my
heart used to thrill with pride and delight when his
grandpa Whitall would say to him sometimes at the
close of a happy day at " The Cedars ": " Franky
dear, when I die, I want thee to remember that thy
grandpa never had any fault to find with thee for anything. "
Dear grandpa little thought at such times that our
strong, healthy, manly boy would be the first to be
called home, in the very bloom of his youth, and that
the summons would come to him in the midst of one of
these happy summers at "The Cedars." It was very
sweet to us all, however, that our kind Heavenly
Father so arranged it as to let this lovely spot, where
Frank had been so happy, be the scene of his last
brief illness, and his sudden translation into the far
happier and eternally blessed home awaiting him in
the better world. If Frank could have chosen himself, I think he would have chosen this. And for
the rest of us, we realize that a tie tenderer than ever
binds us to the peaceful seclusion of this sweet summer
retreat.
During part of the summer of I869, Frank was at
West town boarding-school, having taken a sudden
fancy that he would enjoy a few months that summer




48     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [SAtat. 14.
at a boarding-school. And as usual, we had so much
confidence in his principles and his judgment, that
we allowed him to follow out his own plans in reference
to it. He seemed for a little while to be quite in perplexity as to his decision, but he told us afterward
that he asked the Lord to guide his judgment, and
that he believed he had decided according to the will
of God.
He remained at West town a few months, and then,
on account of weak eyes, the result of a serious attack
of catarrh some few years before, was obliged to return to " The Cedars " in August of I869, in orderto
rest before the winter schools should open.
These few months, however, were much enjoyed
by him, and none of us regretted that he had gone.
His home letters were very frequent, but not especially interesting to any but his parents, being full
of little details of his school life, the croquet and
base-ball matches, and the amusements generally in
and out of school.  A few extracts, however, will
show that the blessed Holy Spirit was leading him on
step by step into the full light, for which he had begun to long at Millville, and that no surroundings
could make him forget his Lord. Writing to his father
Fourth-mo. Ioth, he says:
" DEAR FATHER:
" Thy acceptable letter came to hand, and I am
very much obliged to thee for it. I have indeed been
thrown under extraordinary religious influences, and
I feel very thankful for it too. But I am a most weak
disciple of myjprecious Lord, afraid to do anything




.,Etat. 14.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    49
to forward His cause for fear of being laughed at.
Pray that I may be able to overcome this. It sometimes almost makes me cry, to think of how much
Jesus has done for me, and how little I have done
in return.
"1... I have joined a croquet club, and expect to
have a good deal of fun. I enjoy myself here very
much, and don't regret that I came at all. Please
write to me again, for I feel refreshed and I think
strengthened by thy letter of to-day. With heaps of
love, I am thy affectionate son, and brother in the
Lord,                      FRANK W. SMITH."
To me he writes, at another time:
" DEAR MOTHER:
"The box came all right, and I am very much
obliged for it, also for the Decalcomanias, which are
very funny. I am having an elegant time here, and
am not at all sorry I came.
" I could resist the teml)tation no longer, and have
joined the first Latin class. We are now reading
Virgil; it is elegant fun, almost as nice as reading a
story-book. Thee need not be afraid I am studying
too much though, for I have plenty of time......
"Now as to my Christian experience.  I think I
am growing in grace some, though not much I am
afraid; not as much as I would like. But I am trusting, and I think the good Lord will deliver me from
this body of sin, and make me wholly His.
"I wish I could see Alice; the dear little duck-adaddles!  Cover her with  kisses.  Tell' rogeypogey,' I think those drawings she sent me are
5                D




50     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I4.
beautiful, but that I generally try to know my lessons
so well that I do not need a fool's-cap. The boys
here have sponge-cake sent them' (a hint!).
"Dear mother, I will not do anything that will
make me go against my conscience, but I see no harm
in a little foolish fun, as thee calls it, if I do not think
it is wrong.
"With lots of love, and ioo,ooo,ooo kisses to'Bay' and all the children, I am thy loving son,
" FRANKLIN SMITH.'
Frank had always been in the habit of taking a
little time every morning for reading the Bible and
for prayer; but on first going to West town, he wrote
to us that he could not keep this up, because he had
no private place to go to for the purpose. I suggested the woods at last, and in one of his letters he
says.  " I find time every morning before breakfast
to read my Bible alone in the woods, and it is a great
comfort to me. I think the Lord is keeping me, but
I am a very weak child of His. I pray for more
strength. "''
He had regretted very much this summer, leaving
the merry group of grandchildren at " The Cedars,"
and especially Minnie, whose home was in Baltimore,
and whom he therefore had not many opportunities
of seeing. In one of his letters he writes: "The
rule of the school is, that those boys who get grade
ten for the week, can get out early on Seventh-day.
This week there were three, of whom I was one. I
went out and sat in the woods, and read poetry, and
wrote a piece to Minnie, which I will let thee see.




MEtat. I4.]  THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.             5I
Thee need not return it, for I have another copy;
and thee can put it away, and show it to me some
time when I am an old man, and I will laugh at it."
This piece was in imitation of Longfellow's Hiawatha, and was as follows:
" Is my Minnehaha lonely?
Did her Hiawatha leave her?
Well, her Hiawatha's sorry,
Sorry that he cannot see her,
See his lovely Minnehaha.
And this summer at the Cedars,
Will she think of Hiawatha,
While his light canoe she paddles
On the shining big fresh water?
He has gone to fight the white men
In the land of the Dacotahs;
And all through the days of summer
Will he fight them hardly, hardly;
And when days are growing hazy,
And the leaves from trees are falling,
Will he come back to his wigwam.
In the wild dark woods of Westtown,
I am writing this unto thee.
Gayly near me sings the robin,
And all nature that surrounds me
Is as green and fresh as can be:
But my thoughts are not at Westtown,
Are not with my comrades round me,
For I'm thinking of Owanee,
And of thee, my Minnehaha.
And I'm lonely, lonely, lonely,
In the land of the Dacotahs;
There is something that is wanting,
That I may be fully happy,'Tis thy presence, Minnehaha!
HIAWATHA."




52     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Etat. 14.
After all, however, Frank's weak eyes forced him to
return home before the falling of the leaves, and he
had a good share of the summer's pleasures with
Minnie, and all the grandchildren at the dear old' Cedars.'
The ensuing autumn we moved to Philadelphia,
and Frank spent the winter at home attending an
academy at Broad and Market Streets, preparing
himself to enter college the next fall. We have no
records left of this winter. It was a busy one for our
son, as his year's intermission had thrown him somewhat back in his studies; but he felt that his discipline and training in the counting-room had been
very valuable to him, and that he came back to his
books with a mind greatly strengthened and matured.
Frank's father was away from home on business a
large part of this winter, and his letters to his son
were an invaluable part of the influences by which the
Lord surrounded this lamb of the flock, who was to
be brought so early in his young life into the ripe
experience of maturity.  The development of his
Christian character was not left to the chance influences for good which might, from time to time, surround him.  But continually and prayerfully we
sought to set before him the only legitimate results of
Christian faith, and lovingly and constantly were these
pressed upon him. How fully our boy responded to
these efforts, and how entirely he satisfied every
aspiration we had for him, will be seen as his story
goes on.
His father, in writing to him from New Orleans
during this winter, says:




sEtat.'5.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    53
C MY PRECIOUS SON:
" I know not what word to use to express the gushing love I feel for thee as I take my pen; and although the end of three of the hardest days' works I
ever did is not just the time to say all that I want to
say, I will not wait.
" I thank thee, my darling son, for thy full confidence, which I value. I can only pray for thee,dear
boy, and entreat thee to walk in the only easy path;
that offaith-full-ness.  And for this let me give thee
a secret of my life, which is this: I find that the first
moment the Holy Spirit points out anything to be
done, that moment is the easy one to do it in. The
next moment will find it harder. A third'may lead
to disobedience. Act easily, because at once.
" Dear Frank, thee is young, in full health, and in
prosperous circumstances,- few are so blessed. Thy
Heavenly Father so loves His own glory in thy life,
and thy own highest happiness, that He cannot suffer
thee to take thy rest in the world. I believe that He
now calls to thee' Give me thy heart!' Thy whole
heart, with all its hopes and joys. It would be so
lovely to see thee, with all bright around thee, yield
all in a full consecration to Him who bought thee.
But if thy heart refuses, what would be the highest
token of a Father's love and care? Would it not be
to break into pieces thy idols, whatever thee may be
setting before thyself apart from Christ, and to bring
thee, even though weeping and broken-hearted, to the
foot of the cross?  How much lovelier to give Him
an as yet unbroken spirit, than to wait for the discipline of sorrow to be sent!
5-,



54     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Astat. 15.
"Weigh these things, and the Lord give thee understanding. My heart clings to thee as thee can
never know. But, dearly as I love thee, my son, I
love God's glory in thee above all; and I love thy
highest happiness so much, that sooner would I see
thee broken-hearted before the cross, with thy earthly
hopes in the dust, but thy heart happy in Jesus, than
to see thee in the highest outward prosperity, thy
heart's evil desires granted, but leanness in thy
soul!
"Thy loving, praying, sympat/iizing father,
"I ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH."
The longings of his father's heart here expressed
were all in time wonderfully fulfilled, and our son did
a little later give the Lord his unbroken spirit; and
in the midst of all the brightness of youth and health
he yielded himself up in full consecration to Him
who had bought him for His own.
But the time was not quite yet. He was to realize
yet more fully the vanity of all earthly things, and
was to be made to hunger and thirst more deeply for
the blessed rest of the life hid with Christ in God.
In September, I870, he entered Haverford College as a Freshman, full of joyous anticipations of
a college life; a happy, good boy, earnestly longing
to enter into the fulness of rest and victory, of which
he had first heard at Millville, in the year i867, and
for which ever since he had been praying and striving,
but not yet having realized it.  A few weeks before
going, he wrote to one who had also been long seeking the same blessing: " Thee really has that experi



AEtat 15.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    55
ence thee has sought after for so long, has thee? Do
pray that I may have it too. I am longing for it,
thee don't know how much."
And this longing seemed but to deepen and strengthen as time went on. The various occupations of
his student life interested him much, and he entered
with all his heart into the College pleasures, greatly
enjoying being "rushed " by the Sophomores, and
entering with hearty zest into the "pillow fights"
and the cricket and base-ball matches; but through it
all there seemed ever to be a continually increasing
hunger and thirst after righteousness, and a growing
realization that he could never rest satisfied short of
the fulness of the salvation that was to be found in
Jesus.
Dear Frank knew himself to be a child of God, and
felt great peace in believing that all the guilt of his sins
had been atoned for by the death of the Lord Jesus, and
their every stain washed away in His precious blood.
But he was conscious that the powier of sin had not
yet been altogether broken in his soul, and that his
life was too much passed in an experience that could
best be described by Romans vii. 19, 21: "When
I would do good, evil is present with me," " for the
good that I would I do not, and the evil that I hate
that do I." He knew there was a better experience
in store for the Christian than this. He had seen it
in his tutor during the memorable year of 1867 at
Millville. He had known of it in many of his father's
workmen. He had heard of it continually from
those he loved and honored. Above all, he had
been taught to find it in the Bible. He had been




56      THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [IEtat. i6.
long seeking to realize it for himself; and now the
blessed Holy Spirit was stirring him up to a longing
that would take no denial, and was not to cease until,
in the early part of the year I87I, our darling boy
learned the secret of a life of faith, and entered upon
the blessed highway of holiness, never again to leave
it for any lower pathway, until it landed him safe in
heaven itself.
In a letter to me, written in November of 870o,
which will best show the working of his mind on this
subject, he says:
"Once for all I will tell thee freely how I stand at
present religiously,-s'trictly secret, remember. There
is nothing I could wish for more than to be sanctified
wholly, but I cannot give up my will.  If I should
give it up, and I have often tried to, I feel that I
should have to give up so much that I can't do it.
For instance, -- says that a sanctified Christian can
never be jolly again, nor play any more games. Now
I have a perfect horror of this. I have an ambition
to become the best at out-door games and all that.
And it seems as if I coazld not consent to keep all the
rules of this institution. Our class, for instance, expect
to "rush" the freshmen next year a good deal.
(Thee need not tell any one this, and I am only telling thee on condition that thee won't stop me from
doing it.) Now it seems to me that if I made any
great profession of sanctification here in the College,
the fellows would think it rather inconsistent if I
should go right off and break the strictest rule in tile
whole catalogue. I attend the Bible class because
thee and father want me to, and because I think I




~Etat. I6.] TH7E RECORD OFA HAPPY LIFE.       57
ought to. Last First-day evening the fellows were
building bonfires around the house, which of course
is positively forbidden. I did not join in because it
was First-day, and I am not quite so bad as to
break the Sabbath. But if it had not been Firstday, nothing could have prevented me.  Had it
been Seventh-day night, I should have done it;
and then the next evening I would have gone up to
the Bible class, like the most consistent fellow here.
If I should make any particular profession, it would
not seem very consistent, would it?  That is where
I stand, and where I am afraid I am likely to stand,
unless I get stirred up most wonderfully. I am often
very much frightened at my position, but it seems I
cannol change.  My prayers at night are cold, heartless forms, more for this world's good things than for
spiritual blessings.  I suppose all thee can do is to
pray for me, for I know the doctrine of sanctification,
and all about it, by heart, so often have I heard it. I
know you all say it makes you so much happier, but
you did not have it while you were as young as I am."
In this letter, our dear boy stated exactly the
difficulties of a young heart, when the subject of entire
dedication is urged upon it, and we realized that to
him they were actual difficulties, needing very careful
and tender dealing. I replied to him therefore very
fully, trying to show him that the path of dedication
was meant to be one of joy, and not one of hardness
and suffering; and that if he would only begin at the
right end of it, all would come out happily.
My reply was as follows:




58     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. i6.
c" ELEVENTH-MO. 14th.
" MY DARLING BOY:
" I am very glad thee writes to me so freely. But
I am sorry consecration looks so hard to thee.  I
know it is natural, and I can sympathize with thy
feelings, for I used to feel so myself.  But I see
plainly where thy mistake is.  It is just because thee
does not know the oys of God's salvation, and therefore the duties connected with it appall thee. I wish,
my precious boy, that thee would just pray now for
one thing, - that God will give thee the joys of His
salvation. I will ask this for thee, and thee must ask
it for thyself. It is not a long prayer, and thee can
easily remember to say it morning and evening, and
when once thy soul is filled with joy, all the rest will
come right. Thee is looking at the thing now in a
very legal way, and making the gospel out to be
bondage.  Whereas, really and truly it is the greatest
liberty; and one of its chief elements is joy.  Dear
Frank, the gospel is good news, a blessed story to make
people happy, not a sentence to condemn them to hard
and sad servitude. Thee never can know all about
it until thee gets hold of it at the right end, the end
beginning with'Love, joy, and peace.' Remember
these are thefirst mentioned in that long list of the
fruits of the Spirit. Ask for these before thee begins
to look forward to the other things.  Don't be afraid
of the dear Lord; He wants to make thee happy, and
will not cut thee off from anything but what would
harm thee."
In reference to the mistaken ideas of —, I told
Frank that the Bible never taught that we were to be




XAtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY L/TE.    59
taken out of the world by becoming Christians, but
only that we were to be kept from the evil in it, that
religion was not meant to make us unnatural, nor to
turn a boy into an old man. And I assured him that
all innocent games and amusements would be just as
lawful to him after being consecrated, as before, the
only difference being that he could enjoy them with
a free conscience and a happy heart.
But as to breaking the rules, I told him it was
always unmanly and very foolish, and could win respect from no one; that a law-abiding citizen was
always the honored and trusted one, and that the boy
who aimed at future positions of confidence must
begin, therefore, by being a law-abiding student.
And finally I urged him to compare the joys of a
consecrated life with the uneasiness and self-reproaches that must necessarily follow a course of disobedience to lawful authority.
It will be seen from our boy's letter that he was
always very honest with himself. And in truth he
was so careful never to say more than was strictly
true, that we often thought his danger lay in the
other direction, and that a more free and unconstrained expression of his religious experience would
have been more helpful to himself and to others.
This careful honesty, however, now renders doubly
valuable every after word of his concerning the wonderful victory he so soon realized over the very difficulties mentioned in this early letter.  His confessions of what the Lord did for his soul were always
behind rather than beyond the reality.




CHAPTER V.
HE stirring up which he expressed the need
of, came to him not long afterwards, and
came, in the wonderful grace of God, through
joy and not through sorrow. Frank's uncle and aunt,
Horace J. and Margaret L. Smith, lived at Hestonville, about five miles from Haverford College, and
with generous kindness they gave Frank the treat of a
party at their house every three weeks on Saturday
afternoons. Frank was to invite some of his fellowstudents to accompany him, and I was to take out
with me from the city a few of his young cousins and
friends to join them.
Our first party was on October 8th, I87o, and was
the beginning of a succession of the pleasantest, happiest reunions of young people it was ever my lot to
attend. " Uncle Horry " and "Aunt Maggie " made
us feel thoroughly welcome and at home, and the
merry out-door games in the afternoon, and the evening's innocent amusements in-doors, will never be forgotten by any who shared in them. The little party,
who met thus from time to time, called themselves in
merriment "Heston-villains," and were drawn to60




/Ftat. 16.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    6I
gether in a close bond of youthful friendship that was
to us elders delightful to witness and join in.
It was through these parties, and what grew out of
them, that Frank's awakening was to come.  Nearly
all of the young circle were Christians, and one or
two of them were truly consecrated in heart and life
to the service of their Lord. And the joyous merriment of their games and their talk seemed never to
turn their hearts away from a far deeper interest in
the blessed subject of the glorious salvation they had
found in the Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel had
come to them all, as a piece of good news to make
them happy, and not as a code of severe laws to
frighten them and make them sad. And the ending
to their happy evenings which they all loved the best,
was to gather in Uncle Horry's parlors, around the
glowing fire, and read the Bible and sing hymns together, followed by a little season of silent waiting
before the Lord, in which some of the young voices
would be heard breaking the silence in prayer or simple confession.  It was the influence of these little
meetings which at last effectually awakened our boy.
The first of these occasions however was held in our
own parlor in Filbert Street, where we gathered one
evening on our return from Hestonville, while waiting
for the late train that was to carry our students back to
their college. Frank's father proposed our each one
telling the present state of our religious experience,
and began asking one after another some simple question to draw it out. He turned to Frank first, and
our dear boy was thus obliged to come out openly,
and declare upon whose side he was, which he ever
6




62     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I6.
after felt to have been a great blessing to him. It
was a deeply solemn and touching occasion. As one
after another uttered their simple confession of blessing or of need, scarcely a dry eye remained in the
room, and two of the Haverford students broke down
entirely, saying they were not converted, but that
there was nothing which they longed for so much.
In reference to this evening one of the young ladies
has written to us since Frank's death:
" My religious friendship with Frank began that evening, after one of our first Hestonville parties, when we
walked in to Philadelphia, and met in your parlor for
confession and prayer. I think he was the first young
man with whom I had ever had a religious conversation, and it was a great strength to both of us. We
spoke of the great need of Haverford, and the great
work to be done there, and, when we parted on our
steps, agreed that we would each pray for the College,
until the Lord should bless it. And his faith was very
strengthening to my own; he said he saw no reason
why we should not receive an answer to our prayer."
The result of this little season was, that the two dear
boys spoken of were converted within a few days, and
that they were all so much interested as to beg
F'rank's father to come out to Haverford sometimes to
talk to them and help them on their Christian pathway.
He gladly consented, and from that time occasionally
met a few of Frank's cousins and fellow-students in a
room belonging to one of the Professors at the College.  In these little social meetings, the attention of
those present was first called to the certainty of the
forgiveness of sin to those who put their full trust in




tEtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    63
the atoning work of the Lord Jesus. And a number
of intelligent and earnest young men there for the first
time found peace in believing. At the same time there
was pressed upon those who, like Frank, had realized
this joy of forgiveness, that it was their privilege to
know in their own experience an entire inward consecration of will, and a full trust in Christ's power to
keep them from sin. They were led to place themselves in the searching light of the Holy Spirit, asking
that every thought and desire, the very central powers
of their existence, might be brought into conformity
to the will of God. Many an unsanctified ambition
and unholy feeling, scarcely defined in the comparative twilight of their previous experience, was here
brought into the light of consciousness, and yielded
to God. And several of them, during the course of
these meetings, and while under the sweet influences
of the Hestonville parties, in large measure entered
upon this higher experience of Christian privilege,
and realized in their souls a uniformity of love, joy
and peace, with a corresponding outward consistency
of life, such as they had not before known. Our own
precious boy was among this number, as will be seen
from his letters; and from that time his Christian
character shone brighter and brighter, until the coining to him of the perfect day.
Perhaps one of the most important features of these
meetings to the young Christians, was the vocal confession they there made of Christ as their Saviour.
Some who had long been trusting Him, but who had
never defined to themselves, nor confessed to others the
blessed fact that they were therefore the children of




64      THE RECORD OFA X ]:,IUPPY LIFE. [iZtat. 16.
God, found in these simple confessions the undying
assurance of a Saviour's love; and realized the blessedness promised, in Rom. x. io, to those who not only
believe in their hearts, but also confess with their
mouths, the Lord Jesus.  Our dear Frank  here
learned the importance of this Christian duty of confession, and was enabled afterwards, when among
strangers at Princeton College, to bear a faithful testimony to his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
A few extracts from his letters and diary of this
winter will reveal the sweet development of his
Christian experience, and will show how, through it
all, he was the real boy, turning easily after a boy's
fashion from grave to gay, mingling his College games
and his religious feelings in the most natural sort of
way, and finding out the blessed truth that the more
he learned of the salvation of Jesus, the more perfectly
he found it was suited to him as a boy, with a boy's
needs and a boy's difficulties.  Never to the very last
did he cease to be a boy. And it was one of the crowning charms of his Christian experience that it never
made him unnatural, nor deprived him of the hearty
healthy enjoyment of his young life, with all its innocent pleasures and pursuits.
We tried to impress upon his mind that he was to
enter into the sports belonging to his time of life
heartily and with an unclouded conscience; that in
the divinely arranged harmony of things, he at his age
was as much called to the development of his character, physical, moral, and intellectual, by throwing
himself with heartiness into all innocent sports congenial to his years and tastes, as his parents were




Aztat. x6.] 711E Rt -ECORD OF A H,?APPY LIFE.    65
called to bend themselves to the work of life. AVe
taught him to enter upon the cricket-field, or the football match, as thoroughly in comm union with his Lord
as in his moments of sober work.  And he learned
the lesson.  So that afterwards in writing to one of
his friends, he said, that when his eyes were looking
to the Lord, and his trust in Him was unwavering,
he could enter with his whole heart into all the pleasures around him, but that when his communion was
clouded, he could not enjoy even the most exciting
cricket-match that ever was played.
On the 3oth of October, I870, Frank wrote in reference to the Hestonville party of the day before:
" DARLING MOTHER:
" I think yesterday was a perfect success; as far as
we Haverford students are concerned, I know it was.
The fellows all said that they had a capital time.
We have already begun to look forward to the next
time. I hope Bay is not sick. It made me feel real
bad not to be able to pay more attention to her and
Alice and Logan; in fact, I felt quite homesick when
I got back here.  I am ever so glad I had that little
talk with thee. Although we did not say much, yet
it seemed so much like home to talk to thee confidentially as in olden times. With us College fellows
it always is a long, long while ago since we were
school-boys, thee knows. Does thee think the girls
liked it?  Try and find out.  I hope I impressed
them with a faint idea of how humble my position as
a Freshman is, and how exalted that of my companions
as Juniors pretends to be."
6*               E




66     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. i6.
About the same date he wrote to his "Aunty Lill ":
" MY DEAREST AUNTY:
" I was very glad indeed to see thee at Hestonville,
for I hardly expected thee would come. I wish I
could have seen more of thee, but the young ladies
had to be attended to.
" I was also very glad to hear of N.'s conversion,
but as to writing to her, as thee asks me to, that is
altogether out of the question. I would as soon think
of flying. In the first place, I know that I am too
cold a Christian, and do not feel as if it would be
genuine feeling, even if I should write. I am very
sorry to make this confession, but I am afraid it is too
true. I don't know what message I could send to her,
either. I am of course very glad to hear of her conversion. I have been praying for her ever since I was
certain she was not a Christian. I hope she will be
more faithful than I have been."
As yet our boy was only experiencing the convictions of the Holy Spirit, revealing to him his cold
condition.  And meanwhile many other interests
were filling up his young life.
He had not forgotten the " S. S. S." Society in his
new associations, and about this time he wrote the
following epistle to the absent members, on the occasion of the meaning of their name having been discovered:
"DEAR COMPANIONS OF MY YOUTH:
" To be writing you an epistle in this manner reminds me of my youthful days, so long ago, before I




AEtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.       67
entered here as a College student.  I often think of
those days with pleasure, and with many regrets that
they are gce to me. For of course a College student
is not expected to play any more, nor to do anything
unpractical. If he hunts for arbutus, it is for the good
of his botany.  If he rows, it is for the sake of his
muscle. If he plays hare and hound, he does it to
improve his lungs. But as for doing such frivolous
things as walk fences, ride in a donkey-cart, build
dams, or anything of that sort, they are all out of the
question. He may perhaps skate once in a while, to
relieve his overburdened mind; but he scarcely ever
does it with ladies, as it would make him unfit to
study.
" My dignity as such a person has suffered considerably since coming here by being' rushed.' The
Sophomores seem scarcely to remember that I am as
good as they, and maybe, better; and the way they
have'hazed' me, considering who I am, is too
frightful to relate.  Prof.  -    also made me feel
rather badly by catching me in the middle of a pillow-fight the other evening, into which you may be
sure I did not enter of my own accord, but was forced
into it by my antagonist hitting me first.
" I have to study four hours a day, and am leading
well the tail of the class, a high position, the class
consisting of eight, and there being but seven above
me.
"I also am so great a favorite here that all the
students rival each other in seeing who can be with
me most, and I, fearing to be partial, am constrained
to go alone a great deal.




68     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [2Etat. i6.
"Now I hope I have impressed you with a due
sense of my great dignity. For let me tell you, it
always leaves an impression wherever it goes. If you
were to see me, I have no doubt you would be surprised at its magnitude.
" And now let us attend to some society business.
Our name, that name which has always inspired us
with a desire for mischief, that name which above all
others was so suited to our characters, has been found
out! What shall we do?  The matter is serious.  It
requires careful consideration by the thinking part
of our members; and much of the thinking part, you
will of course allow, is vested in the College student,
or, in other words, in the dignified writer.  His
opinion therefore is, that we should have a new name,
and take more precautions to keep it secret. Think
it over, ye frivolous sub-freshmen, and let me hear
your decision.
" Hoping you will feel honored by this remarkable
condescension on my part, in writing to you small
children, I remain, your truly dutiful servant,
" F. W. SMITH."
On December 4th, he writes:
" DARLING MOTHER:
" It hardly seems worth while to write to thee after
having written so lately, but still I'11 do it.  In the
first place let me tell thee about my good grade for
last month. I was perfectly astounded. Happily
for my nerves, I don't believe it will happen again.
This was it: Six hundred and ninety-eight and three
quarters - seven hundred being perfect; that is, I said




/Etat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.        69
every lesson through the month perfect except two.
Is n't it astounding?  The fellow who was second in
the class had six hundred and ninety-two for his grade,
six and three-quarters lower than mine. Please don't
faint on reading this, for I'11 never do it again, so
excuse me!
"We had - at least I had - an extremely pleasant
evening when father was out.  For the first time in
my life I prayed out-loud, and I felt glad afterwards
I had done it; that is, I think I felt a certain degree
of peace. But I am sorry to say, it is all gone now,
and I am the same as ever, cold and — thee knows
it all."
During the visit here referred to, Frank's father
suggested to the young men that it would be a great
help and strength to them to have a little prayermeeting together, at such times as he could not be
with them; and in Frank's next letter of December
7th, he thus speaks of these meetings:
"About our little meeting-we have it from  12
to 12.20 every day.  It is a curious fact that they are
the nicest meetings I was ever at; in fact, I quite look
forward to them, more than I can say of any other
meeting I ever attended.  What is the reason    Because I take part? I think we would rather conduct
the meeting as we do now than any other way. One
of us reads a few verses from the Bible; and then we
wait on the Lord for guidance, and some one prays
and some one else speaks.  It is very interesting."
On December 25th, he wrote:




70      THIE RECORD OF A HAPPY LI~FE. [Aitat. i6.
" DEAREST MOTHER:
"How I did long to be at home last night, to see
the children and you, and the Christmas-tree, and all.
If I had not made up my mind not to be, I should
have been real homesick. Did you have a nice time?
And are there any more presents for me?
"As father has probably told thee, we are about
to start a Bible class among ourselves. We expect
persecution when all we do is found out, but I think
the Lord will help us to stand it for His sake. I am
afraid I don't live very consistently, but I hardly feel
ready to give up all my fun, and strictly obey all the
rules; it looks like a life of such awful bondage."
The year I870 closed on our boy, leaving him still
in what was to himself a very unsatisfactory state of
experience, though outwardly to us he was, as always,
the same dear, good, noble fellow, who had rejoiced
our home and our hearts for so many years. The
year I87I opened upon him in very much the same
state of mind.
On January 8th, I87I, he wrote:
"I think the fellows all enjoyed father's talk the
other night. R. says he could listen any length of
time; he is really deeply interested in the subject of
sanctification. He says I am the only person he ever
talked to on religious subjects, except his sister.
There are almost too many in the room, when father
comes out, for them to talk freely to him; however,
I don't see how it can be remedied. Our meetings
now are pretty lively. T. made a beautiful prayer,




AEtat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    71
the other day; and quite often, le and H. make some
remark on some passage in the Bible.
"I can't tell thee exactly what I mean by being
inconsistent. Nothing very glaring, I suppose, but a
general feeling that I am inconsistent, with such a
high profession as I mnake here, by going to and taking part in these meetings. And I fear I never can
feel that I am in the least consistent, until I give up
and become sanctified. But the giving up, it seems, I
cannot do. There are perhaps only two things that
I cling to very strongly, but it seems as if I could not
give them up. Nearly everything else I can give up
pretty easily, but these two I cannot. They are comparatively very small things in themselves, and thee
would most likely consider them nothing, but they
are just where my will sticks."
Again, on the I5th of January, he wrote:
" All the boys enjoyed father's visit last week, but
it don't seem to have had any effect on the meetings.
R. and I are the only ones who are apparently stirred
up about them. We have determined to do our duty
in them, and although it don't do much good, still it
can't help having some effect, however little. R. is
really deeply interested. We had a long talk yesterday, and at last we came to the conclusion that we
would be more happy, and more useful in every way,
if we would only consecrate ourselves wholly. And
he said he would, if I would. But it really seemed
as if I could not give up my will. Perhaps I shall
be able to, some time. I cannot help thinking what
blessed results would most likely come in the college




72     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [,Etat. i6.
if there were even two of the Lord's weakest ones
given up to Him. And as R. said,-' Would I not be
willing to give up everything to save one soul?' It
does seem as if I could at the time, and yet when the
thing comes up, immediately I retract."
The next day he wrote:-"- Thee must not tell any
one, please, because I hate any great profession, and
then a coming short of it; but last night I believe the
Lord enabled me to give up all my hold on the world,
and abandon myself wholly to Him."
From this time the work went rapidly on in our
dear boy's heart. The first giving up of his will did
not, it is true, reach down into the inmnost depths of
his life, and he found afterwards many and far greater
things to be abandoned to the Lord. But it was the
be'innz'zg of a life consecrated to God, and thenceforth his path was steadily onward and upward.
On the I7th I replied to this:
" MY DARLING BOY:
"I seize the first moment I have had to answer
thy precious letter, and cannot express to thee how it
rejoiced my heart. Oh, dear Frank, there may not
be any rapturous joy in thus abandoning thyself to thy
Saviour for Him to do with thee according to His own
will, but there is always peace, and that is enough.
Thee must watch now against discouragement. Remember my favorite quotation from George Fox,
that'all discouragement is from  the Evil One;'
and no matter what thy difficulties or perplexities may
be, let them never for a moment cause thee to be dis



stat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LI'E.          73
couraged. Afresh abandon thyself to the Lord, and
afresh believe that He does receive thee, and undertake thy case. It is just too lovely to think of thee as
belonging altogether to Him now, and to know how
happy He will make thee! And thee must be just as
simple and light-hearted as a little child; have no
cares and no fears; but let Jesus carry every burden,
and take every trouble. Faber says:'If our faith were but more simple,
We would take Him at His word,
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the presence of our Lord.' "
Our boy's next letter shows us by what a sad experience he learned the necessary lesson, that, while
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, with
the mouth confession must be made unto salvation.
It will tell its own story.
" DEAREST MOTHER:
"Thee knows I told thee last Second-day that I
had given up all. Well, all that morning I felt peaceful and happy, until I went up to our little meeting,
and there it came to me that I should confess that I
had consecrated myself. But then I thought,'Suppose I fall, how will it look after having made such
a high profession?' Which immediately shut me up.
Consequently I began to lose my peace, and the next
day it was all gone. It was the same for two or three
days, until by Sixth-day evening I was so weak, that
I entirely gave way to my temper, more than I have
done before for a year or so; and on account of this
7




74     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I6.
giving way, have made myself miserable, and estranged two of my best friends in the college. It is
my place to go and make up, as I did the getting
mad; but it is such fearfully hard work, that I don't
know whether I can possibly do it. If I don't do it,
it won't be done, and it will make the whole class
uncomfortable, as this is the first quarrel any of us
have had. I feel dreadfully about it. Why is it that
as soon as I try to give up and walk in a really Christian way, I immediately fall? It is mighty humbling,
anyhow. Perhaps I did not trust enough. But I
have not any faith, hardly enough even to pray for
more. I'm all in a muddle, and don't know how
to get out."
In the little pocket-diary Frank kept this year,the only one he ever kept that we can find,-in which
he noted down briefly whatever interested him, he
wrote, January 20th:
"Very poor skating. Half holiday. Began bracket.
Got mad at    and."
On the 26th he wrote:
" Thermometer 5~. Heavy snow all day., Made
up with  ~ and -.  Spent afternoon in one of
the Professors' room, with them and -.  Jolly
fun. Sang, and had a nice time generally."
Between these two entries he had written me the
letter quoted above, and we had met at one of the
Hestonville parties, where I had had a little conver



tlat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    75
sation with him about it. I found he was very much
discouraged, and in fact I had hardly ever seen our
dear boy so sad as he seemed that night.  He felt as
if it was all of no use: he never could live a holy
life, and he might as well give it up in despair. I
showed him where the beginning of his trouble lay, in
having failed to acknowledge his consecration in the
meeting, when the Spirit had prompted him. I reminded him of the passage which says, " With the
heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation," and of the
promise to those who confess with the mouth and believe in the heart, that they " shall be saved." And
told him, I thought this meant, that salvation could
not be fully realized until confession was made; that
many had lost their consecration from a failure to
acknowledge it, and that he would never have any
strength until he was willing to do the Lord's will in
this respect.
But I told him that there was no cause for discouragement whatever; that we find in the Bible a provision for just such a case, " If any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the righteous;" and, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."  I told Frank that it very
often happened, when Satan found souls seeking to
escape from his bondage, that he tripped them up in
a most unexpected way, in order to discourage them,
and make them give up the struggle. But that he
might completely baffle Satan by going at once to the
Lord for the promised forgiveness and cleansing; and




76     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. i6.
then, being reconciled to God, he could go and be
reconciled with his brother.  The dear boy's brow
cleared as we talked, and he did at once, then and
there, confess his sin to his Heavenly Father, and believe he was forgiven, according to the word. But
there still remained the duty of reconciliation with his
brother, and of this he wrote to me on January 29th.
" DEAREST MOTHER:
" In the first place, about my experience. I had
the most azwfu time making up my mind to say anything to those two boys, that I ever had in my life.
I thought about it, and prayed about it, and scolded
myself that it was not either gentlemanly, or Christian
like, until at last, when on Fourth-day I had spoken
to only one of them, I felt so perfectly unhappy that
I believe I could have done something desperate.
But that night I prayed for strength to do it the next
day, and I prayed for about half an hour, until at last
faith was given me, and the next morning I did
it; so now we are better friends than ever. But still
I am not at all at rest; and yet I believe I have given
up everything, except one thing, and I don't know
whether I am required to give that up or not.  The
thought just struck me the other day,' Am I willing
to speak in the meeting at the meeting-house, if I
felt called on to do it?' I do not think I can ever
give that up, if I am required.  That may be my
sticker, I don't know. But if it is, I don't know how
I am going to get over it. I am perfectly willing
to say anything in our little meetings up-stairs, but I
cannot speak publicly before the whole college, in a




,Etat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.       77
regular meeting.  It is impossible.  However, I'11
see thee soon and talk about all such things. And
now for gossip."
In his diary, under date of February I2th, while
paying a visit during vacation at Baltimore, he writes:
" Went with M. and B. and heard Caroline Talbot
preach a first-rate sermon.  Good talk on my future
prospects with M. I should like to be a lawyer, that
I might have some chance of being a mover in a great
reformation of our country."
Frank's cousin M. was the recipient of all his
aspirations and hopes in life.  No plan was ever
matured by him, until it was first talked over with
her. She supplied to him almost more than a sister's
place, sympathizing in all his tastes, and rousing him
into a love for all that was noble and pure in literature
and in morals, and making his life bright with her
energetic spirits and her hearty appreciation of fun.
Almost the last thing they were doing together at
"The Cedars," the week before he was taken sick,
was reading aloud to one another Milton's Paradise
Lost, and planning together to have a sailboat on the
creek near the place. Such perfect sympathy as existed between them must, I think, be rare between
cousins, and it was one of the chief joys of our boy's
life.
7*
7 d>A




CHAPTER VI.
IN the 26th of February Frank wrote:
" DARLING MOTHER:
"I verily believe, if father had not
come out last week, our meetings would have been
dropped, for a little while at least. His coming
stirred us up some, and that night R. and I prayed
that we might have an especially good meeting on
Seventjl-day, and we had faith too. But, by the way,
tell father he made a remark that C. needed very
much: the one on never arguing with an unbeliever
about Bible doctrines.  C. does that continually,
arguing about predestination for instance, with,
and I believe it must be a drawback to his saving
any souls.
"But to continue. Seventh-day we went up, and
there were eight of us. In the beginning, R. proposed that we should all kneel down when any one
prayed. H. modified by saying, Such as did not approve of it, of course need not do it. Well, we sat in
silence a very little while, and then H. kneeled down
to pray, and every one else kneeled but two. When
H. was through, and he prayed feelingly as he always
does, we remained on our knees; just think of that
for us! In a little while I prayed, then four others.
78




Atat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    79
Then we rose, and after a little while, S. said that he
was happy to be able to confess that, on Sixth-day
night, after being in the meeting with father, he had
for the first time gone down with a feeling that he did
not want to sneak into the collecting-room. H. said
the same, and then we closed the first really lively
meeting we ever held up there.
" Ask the girls if they won't pray, especially that
we may have a greater degree of brotherly love toward
each other, for we cannot work without it. I was
speaking to one of them about it last Third-day."
The next day he wrote:
"I guess I'11 have to give up all hopes of consecration for the present, for I cannot give up my will
in the matter of publicly confessing in the meetinghouse. To-day, ~ got up, and said there, before
every one, that he was able to say he was on the
Lord's side. Every one was deeply impressed."
On March 5th he wrote:
"Our meetiigs continue very good. Very free
and easy, and to me sometimes very powerful. I am
just beginning to see that a Christian's life can be a
happy one, a thing I never realized before. It always
seemed to me that a Christian must be talking awfully
good, and acting awful sober all the time, and after
all be somewhat of a hypocrite. But I see now it is
not at all necessary.
" How does thee know, dear mother, that we ought
to pray in every meeting? I am afraid I take too
much on myself, for I do more now in our little




80     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I6.
meetings than some others. We were getting dead
again the other day, -had had two silent meetings,
and I felt thoroughly stirred up, so I kneeled down
and prayed that we might be' roused from our deadness.' Did I do right? Yesterday we had a very
good meeting, for the first time praying for ourselves
individually, that we each one might have our last
stumbling-block removed. Do tell me about prayer
in thy next letter."
In reply I wrote:
" Prayer is not a sort of religious performance, to
be entered upon only when we feel in a good state of
mind. It is simply asking for something we want.
And the time to pray is when you realize your need
of anything, and this often happens when you do not
feel any particular comfort in praying. There is
never a hint anywhere in the Bible that we are to
wait for any especial feeling in order to pray, except
the feeling of need. Everywhere we are told to ask,
not tofeel. A great many people think their prayers
will not be heard, unless they feel very fervent and
tender. But God does not hear our prayers because
of our feelings at all, but because of the plea we bring,
even the precious availing plea of Jesus' blood, and
we can bring this plea even in our coldest and deadest
moments. Whatever you want, ask for it, for the
promise is,' Ask and ye shall receive.' When I go
into a meeting, I always ask God to give me a sense
of the needs of the meeting, and when I feel these,
then I believe it is right for me to pray, unless some
one else does."




sEtat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.      81
In Frank's next letter he says:
"Please send me some texts, proving what thee
wrote about praying, that I may bring them up at
our next little Bible class, as the lesson is on Prayer.
Suppose, too, thee sends me some lessons for the Firstday evening Bible class, and maybe there will be a
chance of having them some time.
"It has got out somehow that we pray for the
fellows by name up-stairs in our meetings, and one
fellow came up to -- the other day, as mad as could
be, and said,' Do you ever pray for me up-stairs?'
- told him if he wanted to know to come up and
see.' Well,' he said,' if you pray for me, I'11 skin
you alive.' Rather strong language, was n't it? "
Under date of March 9th is the following entry in
his pocket diary:
"Letter from Bay.  I do love those little things
like everything.  Find it out when I get away from
home.  I must answer the letter very soon, for I
know how she likes to get letters. Read a little out
of Ruskin. Found in him what I have always wanted,
- a list of books that ought to be read. Every spare
minute IJintend to read up on literature. I want very
much to read the standard works."
On March s5th he wrote to his father:
"MY DARLING FATHER:
"I am up very early this morning on purpose to
write to thee. So please prize my letter.
F




82     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. l[Etat. I6.
" It seems quite a dreary prospect to look forward
to not seeing thee out here this week.  I am  so
used to it now, and I do enjoy thy visits so much.
Thy coming has done me spiritually an infinite amount
of good. Before thee began to come, I used to think
that I never could learn anything more of thee, as I
had heard thee talk so often. But I have found my
mistake.  instead of looking on the Christian life as
a stiff, constrained, and solemn one, I see that it can
be very natural and joyous.  Well, I saw a sign the
other day that I am called a good many names behind my back, for what I do. It was this. I left a
book lying in one of the class-rooms, and the next
time I saw it, it had written all over the cover,' Franky Smith, the Prayer-meeting Genius.' It was
a considerable trial to me to bear it patiently, but the
Lord helped me.
"And now about our meetings.  I hardly know
what to say. I wish somebody would take an elevenpronged pole and poke us all up. At my request,
mother sent out a great number of texts, urging constant prayer on us. I read them in our meeting, and
said that I hoped no one of us would feel that he had
to wait for a great moving before prayer, but would
follow a gentle impression. But it did not seem to
have any effect. I say so much in our meetings, trying to get them roused up, that I am afraid they won't
like it.
" One of the fellows here takes a very sad view of
the Christian life, which, as I understand it, is one of
joy. In talking to some one the other day, he told
him he thought a Christian ought never to joke, nor




Ytat. i6.] T.HE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    83
laugh, nor be anything but sober all the time. That
he ought not to have anything to do with unbelievers,
except to preach to them.  This latter point he
brought up in our meeting, and enforced it on us as
being absolutely necessary for a Christian. We all
went against him, and said we thought that if we let
unbelievers alone, except just to preach to them, they
would not hear our message. He quoted the text,'Come out from among them and be ye separate,
saith the Lord;' and we interpreted it to mean, Be
separate in spirit, that is, do not countenance their evil
deeds. Were we right? His seems a very hard view
of the Christian life.
"I am getting along nicely in my studies. The
smartest fellow in the senior class said to me yesterday, that nothing would give him greater pleasure
than if I would read my Virgil with him. He said
he had heard I was a smart classical scholar, and that
he thought he could learn as much from me as I
could from him. I am afraid he will be disappointed.
"In haste, with love, I am thy'owney doney' son,
" FRANK. "
On March 29th, Frank wrote:
" DARLING MOTHER:
"Thee has got me into the scrape, and now thee
must get me out of it. I have been appointed to lead
in the First-day evening Bible class; and now thee
must send out a lesson for me. Make a really stirring
and interesting one, that will attract the boys to listen
to it. Now be sure, and send it soon, so that I can
study it first."




84     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Ntat. i6.
On April 2d we received a letter from our boy
that filled our hearts with unspeakable joy.  It was
written the next day after one of the monthly Hestonville parties, when the boys had chosen to miss the
train and walk home the five miles, for the sake of an
hour more at " Uncle Horry's." It had been: a sweet
evening, full of innocent merriment, and ending in a
precious little meeting, never to be forgotten.
" MY DARLING MOTHER:
" There is so much to say to-day, that I hardly
know where to begin. But here goes. In the first
place, after wading through an unmentionable quantity
of mud and mire, on our way home from Hestonville
last night, we at last arrived here safely.  Oh! but
we did feel tired, and wet, and muddy. But we all
exclaimed with one voice, that the last hour more
than paid for the walk. We did just have a splendid
time. And, thanks to a really sensible talk I had with
Miss, I never enjoyed an evening so much in
my life. How immeasurably better it was than to
talk to some frivolous nonsensical girl of the world.
"Now I suppose thee would like to have me hold
an experience meeting with thee, would n't thee?
Here it is. In the first place, some time last week I
think it was, I felt my need of entire consecration
deeply, and my principal point of difficulty seemed
to be that I was afraid of man, and was not willing to
be made anything for Christ's sake. Well, I told it to
-, and he advised me to tell it in the meeting, saying he would pray for me. The next day I did, asking for their prayers.  But I did not seem to change




Atat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.         85
much until Fifth-day, when Samuel Emlen was out
here.  Mother, never in all my life have I heard a
sermon as eloquent, as really inspired as that sermon
was.  To hear him, standing up there, with his
splendid voice showing forth the joys of a Christian
life, compared to one of the world; and the joys of
an entirely consecrated Christian life, compared to
that of a half-hearted Christian; and say with all his
earnestness,' Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and
all things necessary shall be added,' was altogether
too much for me. I gave right in, gave up my fear of
man, and all, to Christ. Well, I got through that day
happily; but in the evening I joined in some mischief
that was against the rules, and one thing and another,
so I was put back somewhat. Then I was not faithful in speaking to some unconverted fellows. So I
came to Hestonville yesterday, ready for a great deal
of good.  I got Miss      over in the corner, and
there she told me her experience, and I told her mine,
and we tried to comfort each other.  She told me I
must have more faith, and that she was going to pray
for me that I might get it. And so last night, after
reaching home, I concluded there was no use holding out any longer; I must be either a whole-hearted
Christian or none. And I had my choice; I must
choose one. I was helped to choose the wholehearted Christian course, and give myself altogether
to the Lord.  I just said,' Lord, take from me everything, only give me Thyself.' H. has consecrated
himself too; so this afternoon, from two until four, H.,
S., and I are all going to meet together to pray for a
blessing to-morrow. I am absolutely certain we will
8




86     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I6.
get it, so I will not send this letter until after that
time, or rather until after we get our blessing."
" SECOND-DAY, 8 O'CLOCK.
"We had our meeting yesterday, and I tell thee I
never was so blessed in all my life; nor did I ever
enjoy anything so much as I did that little meeting.
We went into one of the class-rooms, and before we
knelt down, we told each other that we were willing
to give up everything to the Lord. Then we knelt,
and told God we gave Him our all, and specified
some of the things; and we pleaded His promise that
we should have all our wants satisfied if we believed.
And we did believe, so that before we went out of the
room, we not only knew that we ourselves were
blessed, but we also believed that our meeting to-day
would be wonderfully blessed; and that one, for
whom we prayed, would be converted soon. So we
had a glorious time.
"5 O'CLOCK.
"This is the first chance I have had since the
meeting to write.  It truly was glorious! Here is a
description. When we were all up there, S. read two
or three passages about having all our wants supplied.
We then were silent for a little while, and then H.
said that we wanted this meeting to be a meeting
of thanksgiving; and he gave thanks for having been
enabled to consecrate himself zekoll)y.  1 gave thanks
for the same thing, and S. did also. Then we kneeled
down and C. prayed. S. gave thanks on his knees
for entire consecration, and R. prayed for it. I was
blessed and filled to overflowing.




sEtat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    87
" But, my dear mother, I must not write any more,
as this is nearly eight pages. Pray, and ask the girls to
pray, that we four may be kept full and kept resting.
"Adieu, with much love to all, I remain as I always have been, thy very affectionate son,
" FRANK. "
In my reply to this precious letter, I wrote:
"-I feel inexpressibly thankful, my darling boy,
for the Lord's tender and loving dealings with thy
soul, and am indeed truly rejoiced that thee has been
enabled to give thyself up so completely to thy dear
Saviour. Now, darling Frank, thee will be a happy
Christian, as well as a useful one; and I am sure
thee will continually learn more and more of the
simplicity of the life of faith, so as to be able to look
away from thyself, and to have thy eyes fixed on
Jesus. The soul can never be discouraged that looks
at Him, - never! For He is only love, and tenderness, and forgiving mercy.  But when we look at
ourselves, then there is nothing but discouragement.
Do not expect ever to find any good in thyself, for
thee never will; and if thee could, it would be a very
bad sign.  Our goodness, our strength, our everything, in short, is in Jesus. We are poor sinners,
and nothing at all, and Jesus Christ is our all in all!
"Father sends his dear love, and says thy precious
letter has rejoiced his heart.  Darling son, I feel as
if I never could be thankful enough for thy early
dedication.  It is so sweet to be the Lord's altogether, and His only. How perfectly peaceful and
free from care we are, when we know that the Lord




88     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [EAtat. I6
has taken us into His dear keeping, and that His
Arms are round about us and beneath us. Oh! I feel
like singing'Praise God, from whom all blessings
flow!'
"And now, dear Frank, do not let any sudden
failure, if it should come upon thee, make thee feel
that the whole thing is spoiled. It often happens,
in the beginning of this life of faith, that there are
temporary failures, and that the feet do sometimes
stumble. But this need not discourage thee. Sanctification is not a thing once done, and done forever;
it is a life, a walk, and if we stumble we can get up
again. It is a life of trust, moment by moment; and
if for one moment we fail, that is no reason why we
should not trust the next moment. But remember,
dear Frank, the very moment thee discovers thy
failure, to go at once to Jesus, and have it all washed
away in His precious blood. For His promise is,'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' He does both: He forgives, and
then He cleanses and makes us just as pure as before; and He does it at once, as soon as we confess,
so that we need not be hindered a moment.
" Farewell, my own precious boy, - doubly precious now that thee belongs wholly to the Lord! Oh,
may He fill thee with all the fulness of God! "




CHAPTER VII.
ROM  this time onward our dear Frank's
will was given up to the Lord. There were
some variations in his life, and now and
then failures in action; but in the very centre of
his soul his will was from henceforth on the Lord's
side, and was never taken back again; and he proved
during the remainder of his young life very fully the
blessedness of a heart thus given up to the Lord,
finding religion's ways to be to him, indeed, ways of
pleasantness, and all her paths, paths of peace. By
this step of consecration and of faith, our boy had
been brought into the place of liberty, where his soul
could " dwell at ease," and where, in the truest sense,
he inherited all the good things of the earth.
On the 9th he wrote, after having given one of
the Bible lessons he had sent for, in their First-day
evening class:
"o We have just had an exceedingly interesting
Bible class. First I read the texts, telling what are
the present possessions of the believer, and got each
one to make a list, as thee suggested.  It was very
interesting; but no one would talk. So I began on
8 *                                89




90     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Astat. i6.
the believers' names. Then they got to talking, and
the fellows said they had never been to so interesting
a lesson up there. -    told me the last lesson on
the Assurance of Faith interested him very much,
and he hoped I'd continue. So thee sees, thy lessons
are doing some good.  The privileges of the believer as shown in these texts has set me to thinking
a great deal, and I feel more than ever that I muzst
be a whole-hearted Christian. For, as I told Minnie
in my last letter, there is no use in being half-way;
either be one, or the other.
"Would it be wrong for me to study on First-day?
I have so much to do, in order to enter another college; and I could study so much then. Be sure and
answer this."
My reply to this question was as follows:
"As to studying on First-day, dear Frank, I
would not do it. It seems to be a Divine law somehow, that any secular business done on that day does
not prosper, and it has been proved beyond question
that no one can work at the same things seven days
in the week straight on, without losing his health.
Lawyers say that they can really accomplish more
by working six days, and resting one, than they can
by working seven. I think the Heavenly Father has
provided that day for us to be able, with an easy
conscience and an undivided heart, to read and meditate and be occupied about heavenly things."
Frank was very anxious to get a thorough education, and in a letter, dated April 9th, he wrote:




Mtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.        9!
"I have a great passion and desire for the best
education the country affords.  I am  exceedingly
fond of literature, of classics, and of mathematics.
If I could have my choice in life, and if I had the
ability, nothing could give me greater pleasure than
to be a professor, that I might study.  I would a
thousand times rather read a good piece of literature
than a novel, -a thousand times; and for a little
while a day I would rather translate Virgil than do
either. But, laying all prospect of being a professor
aside as impracticable, I do want a good thorough
education.  And now about the college.  I may as
well blurt it out.  I want to go to  —. Now,
don't tear this letter up, but think about it."
In reference to this letter, he says, in his Diary:
"Wrote home; said I want now to go to
Said I'd like to be a professor, and said a whole lot
of funny things. Wonder what answer I'1l get."
When the answer came, he makes another entry:
" Letter from home.  Say I can't go to  ~, on
account of the Unitarian influences. But I can go
through Princeton, and then most likely to a Germifan university.  That will suit me almost as well
as -."
About this time he wrote to one of his young
friends, who had lately been converted:
"I was very glad to hear that thee had become a
Christian, and I do sincerely hope that thee will be a
better and more faithful one than I have ever been.




92     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Altat. I6
Sometimes when I think of my past life, and think
what a hypocrite I have been, -how, while to the
world outside I have appeared fair enough, within, I
have sinned and sinned, as I have no doubt thee has
known; when I think of all this, I have wondered
how I could have had any hope then of ever being
saved. But I know God is rich in mercy, and I
believe He has forgiven my past; as for the future,
He will keep me.
"' It seemed to me that one newly converted has
such a splendid chance to save himself from almost
all future remorse about any hypocrisy, if he will
only begin by keeping Christ between himself and
temptation as a sort of shield.
" It was last fall that the Lord showed me how
wicked I had been, and enabled me to trust Him
more fully for the future.
c" I suppose thee has heard of our little daily meeting
here. There are ten or eleven of us who meet together daily for half an hour, and we have some very
blessed times. The Lord is often with us.
" In reference to my past sad experience, I believe
it was all, or a great part, brought on by my refusal
to confess in public that I was on the Lord's side
years ago, when I was at Millville. It was a great
drawback to me."
On the Ioth of April he writes in his Diary:
" Only day after to-morrow I'11 go home for the
golden wedding at' Ivy Lodge.' Hurrah! "
This was the golden wedding of Frank's grandpa
and grandma Smith, and was celebrated by a large




AEtat. I6.1  THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    93
family gathering in their hospitable home in Shoemakers' Lane, Germantown. It was an occasion of
great interest, and dear Frank, as the oldest grandchild and one dearly beloved, was one of the import.
ant parties to the celebration.
He writes in his Diary concerning it:
"A4przY' I2, I87I. The golden-wedding day! Had
a grand time at the wedding.  Waited on N.  It
was jolly. At last we got together alone, and had a
first-rate private talk about our experiences. She told
me all about herself, and I about myself, religiously.
It was very interesting."
A short time after, he wrote to his beloved aunt,
E. P. S.:
" DARLING AUNTY:
" Obediently to my promise, I sit down to write to
thee.  I feel very hot and very lazy, and out of six
letters I wanted to write to-day, this one is the third
and the last.  The other two were to father and
mother; so thee sees that next to them you all rank
very high in my affections, for I can tell thee I only
write to the people I love best. Really I have come to
consider'Ivy Lodge' as a sort of second home to
me, where I always find a welcome, and always find
people I love dearly. I'm not of a very expressive
nature, but you must remember that'still waters run
deep.'...
"And now for my experience.  It is almost too
deep to tell. A will entirely surrendered; a faith
given me by Christ; a constant rest and peace in




94     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [.4Etat. I6.
Him, comprises nearly all of it. Only so blessed, so
entirely different from anything I ever experienced
before, that it seems like a separate life from the old
one.  If Christians only could realize the perfect rest
there is in Christ, they would be compelled to leave
their trying to be good all in His hands.
" My feelings, too, are somewhat changed. I used
to dislike some of the fellows so much, as thee knows,
and now I fairly love them. I used to be considerably
vexed at one or two in our little meeting, who never
spoke, because I thought they were doing us harm in
keeping us back. But now the Lord has taken all that
away, and I feel just as full of love, and just as united
in spirit to them, as if they had spoken.
"But I am still very weak; and have to remind
myself continually that I am not living this life myself, that I have not changed myself; but that Christ
is living in me, and that Christ has changed me. I
feel just like a monument of what Christ can do for
an unwilling disciple.
"But I have talked too much about myself.  We
have very blessed meetings now; we have them in
the morning before breakfast, and to me they are
very sweet.  M. and C. H. seem  both to have
entered into this life of rest too.  Isn't it a cause
for thankfulness?
"But, dear auntie, it is bedtime. Give ever so
much love to grandpa and grandma, and remember
that when I say I love thee, I mean it.
"Affectionately, thy' nevvy,'
"F. W. SMITH."




Eitat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    95
On April 25th, he wrote in his Diary: "I feel
so joyful in the Lord to-day. It is continually easier
for me to walk in Him."
And a few days later:
" I have surrendered myself wholly to Christ, and
He keeps me wonderfully. I really believe He does
guide me. I hope I do just as He tells me up in our
meetings. I do not want to do anything in my own
strength, but only His will."
On April 3oth, he wrote to me:
" DARLING MOTHER:
", C. H. and I walked down to Hestonville yesterday, to see Uncle Horry and Aunt Maggie. We
had a splendid walk; told each other our experiences and difficulties, our prospects in life, and
what we had to give up, and so on. Our experiences are very much the same, an entire surrender to
Christ, a constant watch over ourselves to see that we
take nothing back from the consecration; and a constant belief that God will keep us abiding in Him.
We have our dark seasons, when our trials are very
great, when it seems almost impossible to keep trusting Christ; but those I spend in constant prayer, and
I am helped through them. I am really wonderfully
guided by the Holy Spirit, because I have His promise that He will guide me, and I believe it.  I
never have any difficulty in knowing His will; and
although I do not follow it as I ought to, yet each
day it gets easier. I had no idea of the rest of this
life. Every time I feel troubled about myself, I go
right to the Lord, and He removes it."




96     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [3E tat. i6.
The C. H. spoken of in this letter was Frank's
cousin and dearest friend.  Their intimacy continued unchanged until our dear boy was taken
away, and was always a joy and a strength to them
both.  Drawn together by the sweet bond of Christian fellowship, they became far more to each other
than merely common friends.
It has been a great loss to us that most of the letters written by our boy to this dearly loved friend
have been destroyed, C. H. having made a change
of residence, and having dreamed of nothing but
a lifelong intimacy between them.  But their intercourse was always on the basis of Christian faith
and experience, which, while drawing them continually
nearer to each other, drew them nearer to Christ also.
Often in his Pocket-diary there are such entries as
this: "Talked with Charlie until two o'clock last
night."  " Charlie sick; took care of him Tuesday
and Wednesday nights. Talked till about one or two."
"Had a jolly walk and talk with C. H."
And Charlie, in writing to us since Frank's death,
says:
"I cannot express to you better how I feel his
loss, than to tell you that he was the only person
who filled the place of a twin brother to me; for although our ages differed a year or two, we were both
baptized into the fulness of the Gospel at the same
time, and we did truly enjoy a fellowship in Christ.
"This was the secret of our love for each other;
and while we enjoyed the pleasures of this life together, whenever we settled down to a good long




AStat. i6 ] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    97
talk, we never, as far as I can remember, forgot that
we were in His hands."
On the 6th of May, I87I, we had our last "Hestonville party," at Uncle Horry's; and Frank thus
notices it in his Diary:
"We did have just a jolly time at Hestonville today. Formed into a society, and decided to write a
history. Agreed each one of us to write once a year
to the Corresponding Secretary; and to have a grand
reunion on the Fourth of July, I876.  Jolly fun.
This is the last Hestonville. I could almost cry."
And on the 7th he wrote home to me concerning it:
"I think we had an elegant time yesterday. That'Society' was a perfect success.  All our plans,
which I suppose the girls have told thee, exactly suit
me. Will thee have time to compile our history? I
guess thee will.  Thee must.  What does thee think
about our reunion in I876? Won't it be fun? And
the idea of having a corresponding secretary, to keep
accounts of our doings, is just grand.  I would not
mind having Charlie's place one bit myself."
After a little more about this, and planning for a
picnic in the summer, dear Frank goes on, in the
same letter, to what he calls his "weekly report " of
his experience.  A precious report, that it was our
happy privilege to receive from our boy every few
days, during all the rest of his life. He writes:
"As for my weekly report: Charlie, I believe, is
still trusting and happy. But for myself, I hardly
9                 G




98     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iStat. I6.
know what to say. I do trust the Lord to keep me,
and He does it, a great deal. But it seems somehow
I can't trust Him enough; I mean, that, when I am
thinking of Him, I am able to trust Him fully; but
before I know it I forget Him, and then a temptation
comes suddenly, and I fail. Of course, He always
enables me to stop short, whatever it may be, and
confess it, and then He does forgive me. But I'd
rather be kept entirely. Is it not His way to keep us
entirely? Of course, if this is only to be attained by
a gradual growth, I am willing to wait; but I thought
it came at first. Besides, although I feel tolerably
restful, yet I am not at all happy.  Pray that my experience may become deeper.
"We had the lesson on the Passover, this evening,
in the Bible class. It was very interesting to me, and
did me a great deal of good in showing me how
entirely dependent we are on the blood of Christ, -
more so than on our faith, or anything else. It is a great
trial to my faith to find myself in my present barren
condition; but I can truly say, as I am writing to
thee, that I believe in the Lord's own good time, He
will give me joy in Him. I only hope it will be soon.
" Give Mary lots of love, and tell her I've got the
shrubs yet she gave me at Hestonville, and also the
taste of the sweet kiss she gave me just as we were
running off. Give love to all the rest of the'chicks.'"
From this letter it will be seen that dear Frank was
experiencing the sort of reaction that often follows
seasons of great joy in the Christian life, and that,
not having learned fully the lesson of walking by




_Etat. I6.]  THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.          99
faith, he had become discouraged by it. In my reply
I said:
"As to thy Christian experience, dear boy, I do
not think thee need be at all discouraged.  The life
of faith is, in one sense, a growth; that is, the
Ihabit of trusting grows, until it becomes as it were a
second nature, and we trust, almost as we breathe,
without being definitely conscious of it. But in the
beginning of this life, the usual experience is apt to
be such as thee describes, rather variable and sornetimes failing. But thee has learned the secret; and
if thee always goes back at once, upon the discovery
of thy failure, to the blood of Christ for forgiveness
and cleansing, thee will find thy soul so getting into
the habit of looking to the Lord Jesus and His
cleansing blood, as to wander no more.  I do not
think a perfect and complete victory always comes
just at first. It is like a child learning to walk; it
may have many a tumble at first. But if it is not
discouraged by its tumbles, but just jumps up and
goes ahead, it will be able to walk after a while without falling. If, however, its falls discourage it, and
it gives up in despair, it will never walk at all. Just
go on as thee is doing, my darling boy, trusting as
fully as possible; and when thee fails, at once confess thy failure to the Lord, and believe in the
forgiveness and the cleansing that He has promised
in i John i. 9, and all will be well.
"As for joy, dear Frank, thy joy is to be in tZhe
Loiord, not in thyself. Spiritual joy is not a thing, not
a lump of joy, so to speak, stored away in your heart,




I00    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE  [,Etat. I6.
to be looked at and rejoiced over.  Our joy is all in
Christ. We rejoice that we have tIim for our Saviour;
we rejoice in His love and in His power to save. I
suffered a great deal from just this - that I looked
for and expected to have joy as a thing by itself;
and I never found it, and that discouraged me. But
now I never think whether I have joy or not. I have
Christ, and that is enough.  I am gl/adthat I have
Him, and this gladness I do believe is the true sort
of Christian joy.  It is surely something to be glad
about, to know that we have such a Saviour and such
a salvation.  So, dear Frank, give up looking for joy,
and just take all the comfort thee can out of the gifts
the Lord has already given thee, and be glad of thy
salvation, and rejoice in Christ.  Does thee understand the distinction between rejoicing in thy joy and
rejoicing in Christ?
" I expect thy present state of mind is just as the
Lord would have it to be.  If thee is conscious of
being entirely given up to Him, it must-be; because
where He has his way with us, He will make us right.
And yet this may not always be manifest to us. A
lump of clay that is in the process of transformation
to be made into a beautiful vase, has to go through
many different stages; and the earlier stages may not
be perhaps at all beautiful or attractive. But the
Potter knows what He is about, and the lump of clay
must be content to be just as He would have it, and
not as it would like to be itself.  Thee is that lump
of clay, my darling boy, and thy only concern need
be to let the Heavenly Potter have His own way with
thee.  He will surely then make out of thee a'vessel




A.tat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   IOI
unto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master's use,
and fitted to every good work.'
"Farewell, my own precious darling boy! How
I do love thee, and what a comfort thee is to me!
" Thy own mother,           H. W. S."
In a letter to his father, in this month of May,
Frank says:
"The question of work is one that has occupied
me a great deal lately.  Christ has done so much for
me, has spent so much love and tender compassion
on me, that I can never bear to think of how little I
am doing for Him. How I wish I had more faith to
trust Him to guide me in this matter! My way in the
College seems a good deal shut up, as I cannot very
well speak to any of the upper classes, and nearly all
my own class are Christians.  Those who are not, I
have talked to so often, that they don't care to hear
me.  I hope to try, trusting in the Lord for strength,
tract-distributing around the country when I am out
walking. Perhaps I can do something for Him in
this way. Of course, we can only do a very little
towards repaying our debt of gratitude to Christ; but
the mite we can do I want to do with all my heart;
and I want to enter into this work in His strength,
and not in my own in the least. There was a time
when the very thought of becoming a preacher, even
like thee, was excessively repugnant to me; but now
there is nothing I should consider more joyful than to
be gifted by Jesus to proclaim His gospel. It would
be glorious!
"Perhaps thee never knew it, but my air-castle
9*




102    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [zEtat. I6.
has always been to become a thoroughly honest and
upright lawyer; to work my way up gradually until
I should become a prominent Christian statesman,
upholding the right.  It may sound foolish to thee,
but I suppose it is the same thought and ambition
nearly every young fellow has; and I used to think that
to give up this, and settle down into a simple preacher
of the gospel, would be dreadful. But now I can see
that the call,' Feed my sheep,' is far higher than any
earthly ambition. After all, what does fame amount
to in this world? A mere thing of time, a simple
bubble, when compared to the'Well done, thou
good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of
thy Lord,' which lasts forever. Oh, how blessed it
would be to do something for Him!"
From this letter it will be seen that Frank had begun
to feel, as every soul truly at rest in the Lord must
necessarily feel, a longing desire to work for his Master.
Having a heart now "at leisure from itself," he was
able to go out in yearning after others, and in his
quiet, gentle way he tried to tell one and another the
sweet story of the love of Jesus, and to win them to
give themselves to Him. One of his companions,
not himself a Christian, writing to us, says:
"I feel it my privilege, as one who knew dear
Frank well, and who watched him through the very
trying ordeal of college-life, to testify to his consistent
Christian walk and conversation, and to his constant
endeavor, both in word and example, to work for the
glory and honor of his Divine Master and the eternal
welfare of his classmates. Many a time has he pleaded




M]tat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   103
earnestly with me, as a true friend should, to fix my
attention on things above.
" I consider it far harder to make a pretence before
your companions in college than anywhere else; in
fact, it can't be done. And all who knew Frank at
Haverford would join with me in saying that his
influence had always been for good."
In a letter written in the early part of May, Frank
thus refers to an effort he had made for one of his
friends, which resulted in great blessing.
" To my great surprise, -- told me yesterday,
when I spoke to him about it, that he had not yet
entered into that full rest I thought he had. So I
prayed for him, and prayed that I might be guided
how to speak to him. And at last he gave up his
unbelief, and this morning, in our little meeting, he
confessed it, and said the Lord had kept him wonderfully. A cause for praise, is it not? "
This young man has sent us the following account
of this circumstance, and of his intercourse with our
dear boy while at Haverford and afterward.  He
writes:
"I scarcely know where to begin in writing about
dear Frank. Our acquaintance really began at Haverford, though we had known each other from childhood. Our brotherhood, at all events, began there.
"When Frank came to Haverford, he found very
little religious life among the students, even those
who were Christians.  Although not then in the




104     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [,E-tat. i6.
Higher Life, he mourned over this in himself and
others, and induced his father to come out and hold
a series of meetings with some of us; and memorable
meetings they were in the history of our lives.
"Then we commenced holding daily prayer-meetings among ourselves, in which Frank's voice was
often heard in prayer and faithful testimony.  And,
looking back at that eventful winter in the light of
the last few months, it seems as if we could mark his
growth in grace, so rapid and manifest was it about
that time.
"In the spring of 1871, I was called away from
the College for about three weeks, by ill-health.
During this time, Frank and two others, C. H. and
C. S., had a wonderful meeting together, at which
time, I believe, they all felt that they had entered
upon the'Highway of Holiness.' When I returned
to the College I was struck with the change in Frank.
His spirit seemed to have grown so restful, while his
love for Christ and for his fellow-students was even
more ardent than before. He took a warm interest
in me from that time, as I seemed to have been left
behind the rest of them. We were often together,
and he used to try and make the way of faith plain
to me; but I thought it contrary to reason, and, consequently, would not accept it.
" On one occasion, about the Ist of May, we took
a long walk together, and Frank compared the restful
state of his heart to my own unsatisfied hungry condition, and pressed upon me the claims of the Saviour
for the possession of my whole heart, - till I could
stand it no longer, and proposed that we should kneel




AEtat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I05
down together by the roadside, under a tree, while I
gave myself up to the Lord.  I shall never forget the
spot, nor the joyful look with which he assented. But
little was said as we returned to the College; we
were both too full of our own feelings.
" Next morning, when we met at our little prayermeeting, I said to him,' It bears,' alluding to the
experience of the day before.'Of course it does!'
he replied, with emphasis.
" Soon after this, a few of us had an especial little
meeting to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Frank's prayer on this occasion was very sweet;
in fact, his prayers were always different from anybody else's at Haverford. They were perfectly natural. HIe asked for just what he wanted; his tone
was conversational, if I may so speak; it seemed as
if he were really holding communion with the Lord;
and the general directness and simplicity of his manner was strongly in contrast with the strained, difficult way in which so many young believers are apt
to pray.
" Naturally reserved and quiet, he rarely spoke at
any length in our meetings, but what he said carried
power with it, and especially his prayers.
"Soon after this time, about the middle of May,
we two read together' Holiness through Faith,' written by Frank's father, and some of dear Frank's
comments and prayers in connection with different
parts were especially beautiful.
"After Commencement I saw but little of him
during the summer. He was at Newport for a few
weeks, and I took one or two sails with him. He




o106    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [stat. I6,
was a grand swimmer, and saved a classmate's life
once at Haverford while bathing in the Schuylkill.
The student himself told me this.  I never heard
Frank allude to it.
"In the spring of 1872, I spent one night with
him at 13I5 Filbert street.  Before going to sleep, I
recounted to him all my hindrances and troubles, and
he confessed to having some of them himself, and
especially to what he termed' deadness or want of feeling on the subject.'  (I must say that I never noticed
anything of the kind in him.) He said that this was
in the way of his work at Princeton; and together
that night we besouglht the Lord for help and strength.
Dear Frank's prayer on this occasion was particularly
submissive and sweet.  He expressed his confidence
in the Lord's word, and that we were in the right
way, and then added,'And we know that thou wilt
give us feeling, when it is right for us to have it, and
when we can bear it.' After this we talked of the
forgiveness of sins, and the fear of death, and Frank
said he believed that fear had been entirely removed
from him, and he was not afraid to die.
" The next morning, in one of the early morning
meetings held in his father's parlor during the week
of the Friends' Yearly Meeting, he spoke very
sweetly, testifying to the peace of a full surrender to
Christ. This was the last time we ever met on earth.
The next time, I trust, will be beside the river of
Life, in the Heaven we so loved to talk of."




CHAPTER VIII.
N the I4th of May, Frank wrote to me:
"~-  and I go together a great deal
now.  He is one of the most manly fellows in the
College. Everybody respects and likes him. Now
tell me, is this the right condition for a Christian, -
to be honored and respected as he is? Or ought he
to be fairly despised, and rejected, and spurned?
That question has been troubling me a good deal
lately. The Bible most assuredly says, Christ was'despised and rejected of men,' and we are to bear
His yoke. But then it also says that a Christian shall
be blessed even in this world. What are you to do?
Fairly seek unpopularity, as some I know do, because
they think it right; or -well, I suppose just let it
alone, as to seek popularity is most certainly wrong.
Then, here is another question about it. If you are
very popular, you can exert a great influence for the
right; whereas, if you are unpopular, everything you
do works against the cause. Oh, dear, dear, such a
question is hard to decide.
"Another thing. Often, in my walking, I go with
i07




Io8    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. 16.
fellows who don't care a cent for the rules. Well
now, for instance, we walk in the evening, and we
come to the limits of the bounds; and there I have
to stop and say, I cannot go outside, because it is
against the rules. Immediately, I have no doubt, the
fellows think I am setting myself up to be better
than they; think I am sanctimonious, and all that.
I hate to be thought of in that way, above all things.
" What does Eph. v. 4 mean? That we are never
to talk foolishly or jestingly at all? That would make
us dreadfully sombre and morose. I cannot believe
that is what Christ wants. It seems to me if we only
pray at the time for help, and trust for it, we will
have it; at least, I have found it so.
" What thee told me about not being discouraged
by a few falls, helped me a good deal, for I was getting
a little discouraged.  I think I can trust now....
" Suppose thee sends out some tracts for the unconverted next week, so that when I go walking I
can give them to the people I meet. I do so want to
do some work, little as it may be."
In answer to Frank's question about popularity, I
wrote him:
"Thee solves the question thyself, dear Frank,
when thee says,'just let it alone.' That is it.  Do
not seek popularity or unpopularity, but simply have
a single eye to Jests, and let Him take the care of
thy reputation into His own hands; and remember,
it is one thing to be hated for Christ's sake, and
quite a different thing to be hated because of being
disagreeable.  The Lo,:d Jesus was rejected and




AEtat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    109
despised because of His mission, and not because of
anything disagreeable in Him; and He is our example.
"Eph. v. 4 does not mean that innocent playfulness, which is, I think, perfectly legitimate for young
people. The very best Christians I know, are the happiest and the merriest. Those who have entered into
this blessed experience of abiding in Christ are lighthearted and fairly gay; they can afford to be natural,
because they have given their natures up into the
control of the Lord, and He regulates them aright.
It is only the half-hearted Christians who have to be
constrained and walk on stilts. As a child, whose
heart is entirely set to be obedient to its parents, can
go on at perfect ease and naturally until the parent
tells it to change its course, so we may leave all
responsibility as to our lives in the Lord's hands,
and go on at ease and naturally, unless He speaks and
calls for a change of course. The branch is not all
the while making an effort to produce fruit; it simply
bears it, and leaves to the husbandman all the labor
of cultivation, and of making it productive.  And
we are nothing but the branches, Christ is the Vine,
and our Father is the Husbandman! Surely, we can
afford to leave ourselves to His care!
" I love to think of thee, my precious boy, in the
care of thy dear Lord; His arms around thee, and
His love enfolding thee! "
To his "Aunty Lill" Frank wrote about this time:
"EVER SO DEAR AUNTIE:
"I was very glad, indeed, to get thy letter week
before last. It was very encouraging to me to find
IO




I IO    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [,JEtat. I6.
thee was so glad of my being able to trust Christ,
although I knew thee would be. It truly is a blessed
life. But my faith is weak. It seems hard to keep
continzually trusting.  I am so apt to forget for a moment, and then immediately I fall. But, as mother
says, I know I must not be discouraged by my falls;
only let them make me more anxious to return. As
long as I am enabled to abide, it is a far greater and
deeper joy than any the world gives. Tell grandpa
I do realize the Christian's life to be a joyous one. I
always used to think that when I should become an
entirely consecrated Christian, I would have to be
sombre and morose, and live altogether separated
from the world. But I have seen how often we are
exhorted to rejoice and be joyful; and have noticed
that text in John,' I pray not that thou shouldst take
them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep
them from the evil.' There is our distinction, it
seems to me,- that we should join heartily with this
world's pleasure, so long as we can take Christ there
with us, and can do it with a perfectly good conscience. "''
With all his deep interest in the glorious salvation
he had learned so fully to rejoice in, Frank did not
lose his enjoyment of the college games, but entered
into them with hearty energy, and a determination,
if possible, to excel.  On May IIth, he wrote in his
little diarj:
" Played on cricket-crease, and made one run oni
an underhand ball! I guess I'm  the best player
here, only the fellows don't know it!!! Was bowled




/Etat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I I I
out on a swift round arm of P. E. Nasty shooter,
that I can never manage."
And again: "C We played a match with G., etc. We
beat by one run; score 32 and 33. I made ten runs!"
To his father he writes: " I find myself considerably behindhand on the cricket-field, but play all the
spare time I have, and perhaps I can learn by the
time I am a Senior.  They say there is a great deal
of science in cricket, and that six years hard practice
is scarcely enough to make a really good player."
On the i8th of May, he writes in his diary: "Accepted the offer to speak before the Loganian Society,
on July iIth.  Whew! "
On the 2ISt, he writes: "Wrote home to B. and
to father. Twelve pages to mother. Poor woman!
I pity her, for she's got to read it! "
But it was not a letter any mother need be pitied
for receiving - a precious letter, telling me all his
life, both inward and outward, as he always did,
perfectly sure of my loving sympathy in everything.
"DARLING MOTHER:
" I have lots to tell, and to say to thee to-day, so
do not be surprised if the letter is a little long.  In
the first place, I am very much obliged for the basket.
Its contents thee may believe were mighty acceptable,
especially the strawberries, which were the first that
have been out here. I would wish thee encouraged,
if it is not asking too much.
"And now comes a piece of news, the greatest I
have had to tell thee for a long while. I was walking through the study-room, the other day, when a




I 2   THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Altat. I6.
Senior and a Junior called to me, and said,' Smith,
you have been appointed to make an original declamation before the Loganian Society, the night before
Commencement.' They said it was a great honor
for a Freshman to have it; and wanted to know if
I would accept it.  I said I would think about it.
And so I prayed it over, and asked God to show me
what was right.  I told Him I would like to glorify
Him  in it, and asked Him for help in writing it.
Well, I slept over it, and the next morning I came
to the conclusion it was right; that it would be a
splendid chance for self-improvement, and that I
could really glorify God by it. So I have accepted
it; and now, of course, I want to do my very best.
I have to choose my own subject, and, as usual, I
come to thee."
He then gave me a little sketch of the subject he
proposed taking, and, after touching on other matters, continued:
"Our morning Bible-classes are gradually bringing us out.  We are studying I John through, and
yesterday came to the text,'Love not the world,'
etc., when one of the class took it literally, thinking
it referred to God's actual outward creation, and
that we were not to love the beauty we see there.
Of course we all came out at that, and said we
thought it brought us nearer to God, to love what
He has created. I know it is one of my especial
delights to look at and admire nature, and then
realize that the same God who made all things for
us' richly to enjoy;' the same God who guides and
governs them all, loves me individually, with such a




/Etat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A IL4PPY LIFE.   113
tender, compassionate, forgiving love, and so great a
love too.  I feel like doing nothing but work for
Him all my life.
" Another idea was advanced, that wel were to have
nothing to do with the world in any way, except to
preach to them; that we ought not even to play
cricket with an unconverted fellow, because it brings
us into company that is not directly Christian in its
influences. What does thee think? And still another idea was, that we must never, in all our lives, be
five minutes in company with any unconverted person, of our own age or otherwise, a stranger or a
friend, without saying something about Christ.  It
seems to me, for fellows of our age, young and
inexperienced as we are, this would be taking a good
deal on ourselves. Tell me what thee thinks.
"I am very much obliged for thy answers about
popularity, etc., and about Eph. v. 4. They are very
satisfactory to my mind, and encouraging.  I am
afraid I have been seeking popularity too much, and
it has made me unhappy."
In answer to Frank's questions in this letter, I
wrote:
"It seems to me that text,'He giveth us richly
all thiings to enjoy,' answers one of the difficulties thee mentions. God made the world for our
use, and comfort, and pleasure, and I think it would
be ungrateful in us not to enjoy it.  And as to the
other idea, that we are to have nothing to do with
the unconverted, there is a full answer to be found, I
think, in the directions about going to feasts in I Cor.
to*              H




114    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. I6.
x. 27; iand Paul's words, in I Cor. v. 9-II, that if
we did thus separate ourselves,'we must needs
go out of the world;' taken with what our Saviour
prayed for us, -not that we should be taken out of
the world, but kept from the evil that is in it.
" As to speaking to every one about their soul —
that is dreadful legality! The Lord don't want us
to make any such rules for ourselves; He wants to
guide us Himself by His blessed Spirit; and if we
commit it to Him, He will show us when and where
and to whom to speak; and then he always makes it
easy. For when He leads His own sheep out, He
goeth before them, and makes a way for them."
To one of his cousins, to whom Frank was much
attached, and who, like himself, had been much
helped by the religious communion and fellowship
enjoyed at their Hestonville parties, he thus writes:
" DEAR   ~:
"I have been wanting to write to thee ever since
Yearly Meeting week, but have not had time.
"I was real sorry thee was not out at Hestonville
when we last went. We had a jolly time. Of course,
thee knows all about the H. V. P. Society and its
proposed doings.  Won't it be fun to meet together
in I876? And as for the prospect of our picnic,it seems almost too good to be true.
" What fun we have had at Hestonville! I should
think thee would miss the girls very much, now thee
is out in the country. How does thee do without
them? And then the little meetings-thee must miss
them like everything. Just think what we were this




AEtat. i6.] TIHE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I 15
time last year; or, at least, I'11 speak for myself.
Christians, I have no doubt, but so cold, heartless,
and dead, that we would not have worked for Christ
in any way, nor have spoken in a meeting for all
the world. And now what a change! Although, for
my part, I am still far from what I ought to be, yet I
know Christ has filled us both with so much love for
Him, and so much power in Him, that we would be
willing to do anything for His sake.  How far superior this is to the old life, in happiness and everything else!
"And, dear —, what a responsible position we
hold among our cousins. Just think, we two are the
only ones among them who profess to be given up to
Christ! And how we shall have to hold up the standard of holiness, and show them that our life is a really
haplpy one.  Do let us pray earnestly for  - and
If they could only be made real hearty
Christians, what splendid times we'd have this sumnier. For, after all, I do not know of any subject I
am so much interested in as Christ.
"But my paper is at an end.  Do write soon to
me.  I will write every other week, if thee will.
And so fare thee well, my very dear cousin; and
believe me when I say I do love thee very much,
though I never have expressed it.
"Thine for life, etc.,
" FRANK W. SMITH."




CHAPTER IX.
N the 28th, Frank wrote to his father, who
was away from home:
" DARLING FATHER:
" It seems very strange to think of thee away out
at San Francisco. What a comfort it is to know that
one's dearest friends are in the Lord's keeping.  It
never occurs to me to be afraid for thee, because I
know our Father will not let anything happen that is
not perfectly right and according to His will. I
am very much obliged for' The Victory of the Vanquished.' It is very interesting and stirring, and
brings Christ's life somehow very near to one. I
liked it very much, indeed. How differently Christ's
love reveals itself to different people.  To me it
comes wonderfully and sweetly through nature; each
proof of His Almighty power seems to me but a new
proof of His Almighty love in two ways. First, in
giving us richly' all things to enjoy;' and, second,
in showing how great the condescension and love
must have been to descend to us.
"Oh, father, since reading this book, Christ has
II6




s/Etat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I 17
revealed himself to me so wonderfully as being the
ideal of perfection, I have always had, embodied.
And that ideal dwelling in me, - to think of it, -
ignorant, weak, failing me!  That I, who have
displeased Him so all my life, should now have
Christ living in me, guiding my every-day actions,
no matter how small and insignificant, does seem
too wonderful almost to be true.
"I have something for which I want thee to pray
for me. I have an original oration before the Loganian Society the evening before Commencement.
Please pray that I may be helped to write it, so as to
glorify God in it.
"It is not worth while to ask thee whether thee is
prospering, because I pray for it every night, and
know the prayer is answered.
"Very lovingly, thy son,
" FRANK. 
On the 3ist he wrote to his Aunt E.:
" MY VERY DEAR AUNTIE:
" I would have written to thee three days ago, but
I was attacked with an aggravated form of'spring
fever,' and it was so hot, that I absolutely could not
do anything but go out of doors and lie in my hammock. Besides, I was deep in the'Victory of the
Vanquished,' by the author of the' Sch,6nberg Cotta
Family.' Has thee read it? It brings a part of
Christ's life most beautifully before one, I think.
Somehow it seemed to bring the reality of His sufferings for us, and His love towards us, very near to me.
And I have realized in a more full sense than ever




I 18    THE RECORD OFA HAPPY LIFE. [.ZEtat. i6.
before what Christ was, or I should rather say, is to
me. It does seem so wonderful that Christ, who is
perfect holiness and strength, and all, embodied,
dwells within us continually, as long as we only trust
Him. And that His indwelling does not make us
sombre or morose, but entirely the opposite; in fact,
making our very countenances beam with joy."
On the 29th, Frank wrote in his Diary:
" G. P. was up in our Bible-class, and gave us a
few encouraging words to keep on in the' good fight.'
Our privileges, and therefore responsibilities, are very
great. The fellows went on a'row' to-night, singing down the turnpike, and all around. Well, I tell
you I was tempted to go, but was enabled to be kept
from it."
On the 7th of June he wrote:
"At home with weak eyes. Caulked boat. Began Essay. Kind of lazy work, lounging around
home. Plenty of cherries and strawberries.  Had a
splendid talk with mother, by which I was convinced
I was not allowing myself enough happiness in my
Christian life."
After his return to College, he wrote to me:
" I tell thee, mother, thy talk to me that night did
me heaps of good. I'm not afraid to be happy now,
as I was before. And Christ seems so much nearer
to me than ever before; right with me, somehow. I
like to regard Christ with the same kind of love I
imagine I should have if I were in love with a young




,Etat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I 19
lady, only ten thousand times greater. What would
I not do for her sake? And far more, therefore,
what won't I do for Christ's sake? The highest
ambition I have now is to work for my Saviour. It
seems to me that I have a revelation of His love, such
as no one ever had before.  Of course it is not so,
because I am no more favored than any one else;
only it seems so. But I cannot put my feelings on
paper somehow. It is because they are too deep for
expression."
In answer to this, I wrote to Frank:
" Thy experience, my precious boy, is very blessed.
I thank the Lord with all my heart for His great mercies to thee.  This revelation of the love of Christ
which has been granted to thee, gives thee a little
foretaste of what it will be to pass an eternity with
Jesus; and it has also taught thee how it is possible to
be in ourselves poor sinners and nothing at all, but
to find Him to be our all in all. It is a blessed thing
to have such revelations of Christ; it is infinitely more
glorious than any amount of telling about it by another! Does thee not find that thee knows now what
before thee only imagined, or rather imagined could
not be? But do not expect, dear boy, ever to find
thy old nature any better or any nearer thy ideal; for
thee never, never will. Thee thyself, that is, thy old
nature, will always be utterly vile, and ignorant, and
corrupt; but Jesus is thy life now. It is with thee,' no
more I,' but Christ who liveth in thee. And is not
this glorious - to lose thy own life, and find Christ's
divine life put in its place? To cease to be of the




120    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LItEl. [A-tat. I6.
race of the first Adam, and to become one of the race
of the second Adam, the Lord from heaven! It is
far more glorious than it would be for an animal to
cease to be an animal and to be transformed into a
man.  Never look into thy own heart then for any
sort of satisfaction or comfort.  Thee will never find
any goodness there, -no stocks of virtue laid up to
draw upon.  But thy goodness is all in Chzrist, and
thee must draw it from Him moment by moment as
thee needs it.  Andrew  Longacre says that some
Christians are so thrifty, that they do not like to live'from hand to mouth,' as the saying is, but want to
have a stock of goodness laid up ahead, and a stock
of wisdom, and of patience, and of all the other
graces.  But he says God's plan for us is different.
He has laid it all up for us in Christ, and we have to
draw it each moment as we need it.  If thee feels
thyself then to be in thyself mean, and foolish, and
altogether vile, just look at Christ, and say to thyself,' Never mind, all I need is there ready for me,
whenever I have occasion to use it; and having
Christ, I have all things.' Our view of our own vileness, therefore, need not discourage us.  Of course,
zwe are vile, but our life is in Christ,- He is our life!
I can, with untold joy, thank God for thee, my own
precious boy.
" This is such a simple and child-like way of living,
that many Christians overlook it altogether, and weary
themselves out in trying to reach up to some great
height when what they really need is to sink down into
Christ. Some old writer says that' God's will is a
pillow to rest on, and not a load to carry;' but this




stat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   12I
is only true to the soul that is altogether given up to
Him."''
On the I6th, Frank wrote to his father:
" DEAR DARLING FATHER:
"I have not written to thee for ever so long, and
the only excuse I have is because I was at home with
weak eyes.  It was not because I do not love thee,
for there is not an hour passes hardly, but I think of
and pray for thee. Oh, how often I pray that God
will give me the power thee has in speaking to people! There is nothing I covet so much, no earthly
accomplishment or acquirement. Only let me work
for my Master, and see His marks of approval on my
work, as thee does, and I ask no more.  But I remember for the present that I must not expect too
much, as I am so young, and even Jesus did not
preach till He was thirty. I really believe I am
ready to do any work for Him though, that He may
call me to at present.
"' Well, father, I never had any idea of the blessedness of a consecrated life before I tried it.  The
peace, the rest, and the joy I have whenever I think
of whose I am, and of how entirely I am His, is absolutely beyond the power of my pen to express. I
never enjoyed the innocent pleasures of this life half
so much; and, to tell the whole truth, I never had
anything like so great liberty in doing what I please,
simply because I have no desire to do anything my
precious, precious Saviour would not like. Fellows
come to me and ask me to do wrong things that used
to be very attractive to me, but now absolutely I do
II




122    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Aitat. I6.
not care for them.  Such freedom from  bondage
never appeared possible to me before; and yet I
don't mean to say I have no temptations, because I
have; but the Lord gives me a surety of victory, and
I meet them with joy, in the certainty of another conquest.  However, thee knows this life better than I
do, and I suppose it is nothing new; but it seems to
me that no one could ever have realized it as I do.
" And, oh, father! I never loved thee and mother
nearly so much as I do now. It seems to add a new
zest to my love, and to make a bond unspeakably
precious between us. I said in one of my letters that
I was not where I wanted to be; and I have since
found out that the true reason was because I was
afraid to be happy. But mother got me out of that
at home, and now I realize that Christ means me to
be just as happy as I can possibly be; and that not
only religiously, although that is the most blessed
part, but temporally also, here with the pleasures of
this earth. All that will give me true happiness and
leave no sting behind, He will grant me.
" How I have to thank the Lord for such parents
as I have. Where would I be, if I was —'s son,
for instance?   But, father dear, as it is Private
Review now, and hard studying, I shall have to close
this dear little talk with thee.
"Very lovingly, thy consecrated son,
" FRANK."
In reply to this, Frank's father wrote:




Atat. i6 ] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    123
" DEAR FRESHMAN:
"Thy letter is most welcome. We sent off a box
of grapes by to-day's Express, which be careful not
to leave unopened too long.
"'I am so glad to hear that thee is trusting fully in
the Lord.  It is such a restful, solid position, and has
before it the untold treasuries of grace all open.  Let
us, dear son, be mnilh'onaires in grace, - accepting,
without measure, the gifts of God.
"I hope much from  thee, not only in open confession among thy fellow-students, but also from the
undesigned hourly influence of thy character, which,
it is a solemn fact, tells more on those around us
than even our preaching. So that our aim should be
primarily to be, rather than to act, and then let the
acting come out spontaneously.  See to it that thy
character is Christ living in thee, and all will fall
into harmony.
" I believe that in days of prosperity and joy there
is an especial sweetness in such a full surrender to
and trust in Jesus.  Oh, how lovely to do this as a
thank-offering in the joyfulness of prosperity -not
to have to be led to it through sorrow!
"I hope to see thee Friday of next week on my
way home, and hope to find thee happier than ever
in the Lord; and in the sense of His favor enjoying
all the innocent pleasures around thee. Above all I
trust I shall find thee happy in the consciousness of
walking'in the will of God,' and not outside of it.
"Thy loving and praying father,
" R. P. S."




124    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat i6,
On the 22d of June, he wrote to one of his cousins
as follows:
" DEAR B —:
"Is thee coming in to see the graduating class
at C. M. S.'s School next week?  Charlie and I
are going to send three bouquets to the three young
ladies. But would it not be a joke, if I should not
get any invitation?
"I had quite an adventure yesterday. It happened
thuswise: There were five of us Freshmen over swimming at the Schuylkill, where it is about a quarter of
a mile wide; we had all swum across, and A. and
I., having swum back again, had got out and were
partly dressed; we were talking quietly on the bank,
and watching the other fellows swimming back, when
suddenly from the middle of the river came the cry,' Cramp, I've got the cramp!' I looked, and there
was C., with his head just above water, calling for
help. I called to the fellows who had just got in
shore to go out for him, but they were too tired; and
then came the cry again,' Quick, Frank, I've got
the cramp!' Well, in less time than I can tell it,
I had my clothes off, and jumping right into the
water, I swam for him as hard as I could. There he
was in the middle of the river, as quiet as he could
be, every now and then going under above his mouth
and nose, and I saw he could not hold out much
longer.  So I just prayed that I might be helped to
save him, and I felt sure of an answer. Then I swam
with all my might, and I believe I never swam so fast
in my life; and I got there just as he was about to




iEtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   125
give up. He put his hand on my shoulder, and I got
him half-way in, when the other fellows met us with
a log. But I tell thee, he was near under; his face
was getting blue a little, and he says in about five
seconds more he would have gone under. My! but
I was thankful to my Heavenly Father for helping
me, because without His help I might not have done
it; C. might have got frightened, and pulled me
under, for instance.  But it is all right now.
" And here I have written a letter exclusively about
myself.  Please answer in a similar strain.
" Thy loving cousin,           FRANK."
Except to this cousin, our dear boy scarcely spoke
of the adventure - as he calls it - related above. To
us it seems like an act of real Christian heroism; but
to him it seemed something so simple and natural as
to be worth very little thought, and even his father
did not know of it until after his death.
His last letter to his father from Haverford was
written on the 25th of June.  In it he says:
" As to my experience, I think thee knows it all.
Almost the same. An unclouded brightness and
blessing of love as long as I look at Christ; but
whenever I look away, no matter for how short a
time, utter misery. It is joy to me to read the Bible,
and to think of Christ all the time; but sometimes
when I forget it, or rather feel too lazy, which I am
sorry to say sometimes happens, I get so extremely
wretched, that I not only lose all interest in the
things of Heaven, but even in the fun going on
around me, until I return. As far as I know, I am
II *




126    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [-Abtat. I6,
Christ's completely, and have no wish but to follow
Him."
On the 9th of July he wrote to his Aunt E.:
" DEAREST AUNTIE:
" We have been examined in five out of our six
books, and the last one I do not feel much afraid of,
so I have a little time to write to thee. I sent thee
one of the programmes for next Third-day, with a
request that thee would not come. Please don't.
Thee knows I should like to see thee very much, but
I do not feel proud enough of my production to
want thee to hear it. I enclose a programme of the
next day, however, and I will let thee come then.
"Our little meetings became so dead and cold,
that we thought it best to stop them; and Charlie
feeling the need of something in their place, asked
me to meet with him just to read a chapter every
morning. We began to meet, and pretty soon some
one else came; then another, and another, and now
there are five of us. It seems as if the Lord must
have sent them, for we did not ask them. We have
really nice times up there, no formality about it.
Sometimes we pray after reading, and sometimes not
— just as we feel.
" How we can carry Christ into everything, can't
we? Yesterday I was being examined in Geometry,
and I found there was one question that I could not
answer. So I prayed that it might be shown to me,
and then left it, and went on answering the others.
When I had finished them, I came back, and studied
ovei that question, and just fifteen minutes before the




MAtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   127
time for handing in the answers, I found out how to
do it. Without help I do not think I could have
done it."
On the 3d of July he wrote in his Diary:
"Yesterday, Professor Hartshorne gave us a farewell address, in which he showed forcibly the power
and influence for good that one upright moral man
might have in a community. Oh! if by my manliness I could have such an influence in my class! I
have prayed for help to do exactly as I should here,
so as to bring the most glory to God, and I am trusting for an answer. Next year I shall be a Soph, and
the temptations to disobey all rules, and do just as I
please, will be very great! I shall want to'rush,'
and all that; and yet I know it is not right; so may
the Lord give me help to stand up for Him, and not
to do anything next year, nor this either, that will
dishonor Him at all."
On the IIth he wrote.
" Spouting night! I feel, I feel, I feel, I feel just
like a whale!  Got through tolerably; M. was delighted with the old thing, which rather discourages
me. Subject -'The fear of Peculiarity.'"
On the i2th, Frank came home for the summer
vacation, to the unqualified joy of the whole colony
at " The Cedars," and of his especial friends M., W.,
and B., in particular. Although such a wonderful
change had taken place in his Christian experience,
since last they had met in this happy summer home,




128    THE RECORD OF A HAlPPY LIFE. [AZtat. i6.
yet dear Frank had not been spoiled by it for the old
accustomed days of fun and adventure.  With a
greater zest than ever, because with a heart at peace
with God, he could throw himself into all the innocent
pleasures of which these summers at " The Cedars "
were so full; and we mothers lived our young lives
over again, as we sympathized, and cautioned, and
helped in the daily sports and adventures. Very few
records are left of this summer vacation, except the
bright memories of a light-hearted, happy, manly
boy, drinking in to the full the cup of youthful joys.
On the 3d of August Frank went to Newport, where
he spent about three weeks, meeting there most of
the " Hestonville party," and having a good merry
time. From there he wrote to me:
" MY DEAREST MOTHER:
" I ought to have written before, I expect, but it is
very hard to write here. I began several letters, but
as soon as I would get under good headway, in would
come somebody and say,'Come on, let's take a
sail.' So off I would go, and resolutely make up my
mind to write when I came back. But then it would
be:' Let's go rowing;' or,' Let's take a walk;' or,'We are going to see the girls, won't you come?'
or something of that kind. So I have been just on
the go all the time. Charlie and I sleep together, and
the other two in an opening room, and it is a perfectly
jolly crowd. There is something going on all the
time with us, either sailing, rowing, walking, or being
with the girls. So I am having as elegant a time as is
possible, and would not have missed it for anything.




A-tat. i6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I29
" The order of exercises generally amounts to this.
From seven till eight waking up by pillow-fights, and
dressing.  From eight to nine breakfast, and afterwards reading the Bible, -we four together.  From
nine to two, either a good long sail, or else waiting
on the girls; and in the afternoon and evening ditto.
We had a sail yesterday by ourselves to the Lightship, about four miles out in the ocean.  It was very
rough, and the spray dashed all over us, so we came
home soaked. But it was splendid, I tell thee,
managing the boat all ourselves, out in an unusually
rough sea, and quite a high wind."
One of the Hestonville party, a young lady, who
was at Newport at this time, among other reminiscences of dear Frank, writes:
"He conducted our last prayer-meeting at Newport, in the summer of I87I. It was the day he
took the sail up to Rocky Point, and he came in
tired; but led the meeting, I remember, with great
power and earnestness.  He chose the last chapter
of Revelation, and spoke especially of the seventeenth verse,' And let him that heareth, say come,'
and he brought it out very impressively. How fully
he lived up to it in his own daily life! His conversation seemed so much in heaven.  In connection
with this verse in Revelation, and the subject of isviting others to the Saviour, and confessing Him
before men, he quoted Matt. v. I6, very beautifully.
He said,' Let your light shine, - elt, not make. God
has given us the light, now we must let it shine.' It
was a very solemn meeting, and after it was over, we
I




I30    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [_Etat. I6.
three sat on our doorstep for a long time, talking,
especially of trust, I think, and of the work which
lay before all of us; of the many temptations we
all had, and the responsibilities which rested upon us
as men and women,- the many points of temptation
for men, and their opportunities for service, and
woman's work in preparing thlem for it. And as
trust was talked of, I remember s'o well how we all
felt, that whatever was before us, we need not fear,
but trusting in God, we might be sure it would all be
right. "
So sweetly and naturally were the innocent pleasures and religious interests of our boy's life intermingled, that each seemed to grow spontaneously
out of the other; and while his Christian faith never
lessened his enjoyment of all the good things belonging to his youth, but rather strengthened it, neither
did participation in these weaken his earnest pursuit
after heavenly things, nor dim the sweet sense of his
Saviour's love.  Eminently natural in his whole
Christian experience, he seemed to have lived long
enough to taste largely of earth's joys when sanctified
by grace, that he might exemplify the wonderful
adaptability of the religion of Jesus to our human
nature in all its stages, and to show that it was intended to make us happy in every right sense of that
word. Then, this mission being fulfilled, our son was
to be taken home to eternal happiness in Heaven, just
as he had reached an age when the cares and trials
of life must almost inevitably have come upon him,
and from which our fondest love could not have




Xtat. I6.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   13 I
shielded him; and it has seemed to us sometimes
that his Lord permitted a life of such unusual purity
and happiness to end thus early, in order that in the
company around the Throne his voice may sound
a different tone from that of the multitude of those
who have " come through great tribulation,' to swell
the grand chorus of praise.




CHAPTER X.
IN September of I87I, Frank entered the
Freshman class at Princeton College, and
began keeping "Bachelor's Hall," as he
called it, in a room in the town. In his Pocket-diary
the last entry takes notice of this:
"Setfemnber I31fh.  Oh, thou poor diary, thou dost
tell but little of my thoughts and feelings, so lazy am
I about writing in thee i And now what am I? Still
I do hope a trusting child of God! And where?
Well, of all places in the world, in Princeton.  Yes,
here at college; here, if nothing happens, for four
years, for better and for worse.  Princeton will still
keep me a member of'75, if I live and remain well.
Jean Ingelow says, in her'Songs of Seven,' something like this:'Ring out, ye bells, ring out your
wild changes!' And I thought of this, as I heard
the college-bell ring to-night, here at Princeton, in
my own private room. How changed is my position
from this time last year."
On the same day he wrote to me:
"DARLING MOTHER:
"Here I am, safe and sound, in my Bachelor's
Hall at 7~ P. M.; arrived about one.
I32




Etat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   133
"I don't like to confess it, but I feel really lonely
to-night. I would not for the world acknowledge I
was homesick; but I should not mind one bit being
at'The Cedars' with thee just now.  It is a dreadful
shame I do not let out my real feelings when I am at
home, but it seems almost impossible. Those talks
thee had with me, that prayer of thine by my bedside the night before I left, and all thy loving advice,
was ever so acceptable, and more profitable to me
than I can tell; and yet I hardly gave thee the
slightest sign of sympathy, thereby depriving us both
of a great deal of pleasure.  It sometimes seems to
me as if it must be hard work loving me.  I am
so cold, and there is so little sign of feeling about
me. However, I know thee does love me, and thee
cannot tell how much I think about it, when I am
not with thee. That coldness is undoubtedly a defect,
which I want to try and overcome. My trust is all
in the Lord, and was so while I was at home; but
I did not talk about it. He will keep me, I am sure.
" Give much love to Mary and the' young uns,'
and an untold amount for the dear mother of
" F. W. S."
To his father, also, he wrote on the same day:
" DARLING FATHER:
"I feel ever so lonely here, not knowing a soul;
but I will not acknowledge I am homesick. I shall,
nevertheless, be very glad to see thee when thee
comes. You never know how much you love people
until you are separated from them. I never had the
faculty of expressing my love to thee and mother, -
12




134    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
but, indeed, I do love you, and try to observe your
wishes a great deal more than perhaps you know;
and in coming here, I think I appreciate fully your
kindness in giving me a good thorough education,
and in keeping me so liberally while doing it. And
now that I know, in some degree, the advantages of
education, I can never be thankful enough to my
Heavenly Father for so loving a father and mother;
nor to my earthly father for so many opportunities
others, more worthy, are longing for and cannot have.
And, father, I do want to put my thanks in a tangible shape, by being a thorough, industrious student,
and a good son; but, knowing I cannot accomplish
this by my own strength, I have once more afresh
given myself wholly into Christ's care, and He, I am
sure, will keep me from the many temptations which
are acknowledged to beset us here on every side."
On the T 7th he wrote to his " Auntie Lill":
" MY VERY DEAR AUNTIE:
" Few letters were ever more acceptable to me than
thy last. It came the night after I had arrived here;
and all day, not knowing a person to speak to, I had
been feeling very lonely, and very much shut out from
almost everything; and then came thy letter, and I
read it and re-read it, and it seemed to be so pleasant
to be reminded that the dear people at' Ivy Lodge'
were remembering me. Of course, I knew in a general way that you were thinking of me and praying
for me, but thy letter seemed to bring it home with a
great deal of force. It was so comforting to know,
that, although the people around me did not care for




AE it. I7.] TIH7E RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   135
me in the least, yet there was some one who did, and
who was kind enough to say so just when I felt so
lonely. I am getting acquainted gradually, but thee
knows it is a slow process for me.
"One thing I enjoy more in consequence of being
such a stranger, and that is communion with Christ.
He seems like such an old and tried Friend now. I
know He is watching over and guiding me, and so
I do not fear but that all will turn out right.
"We have Class prayer- meetings and College
prayer-meetings, both of which I expect to attend.
As the first one comes to-night, I am praying for help
and strength to take whatever part in them it may be
the Lord's will I should take; and I am sure He will
enable me to do it. It is a great comfort to me to
think that thee is praying for me, and I will indeed
do as much for thee."
After this meeting, Frank wrote to me:
"The prayer-meeting our class had to-night was
very good indeed; almost every one spoke or prayed,
although it was the first; there was no holding back
nor reluctance. With Christ helping me, I was enabled to pray. One thing I noticed, their prayers
were too roundabout and general -not so much for
themselves as for every one else."
On the 24th he wrote to me:
"My stove is put up in my room, and a stock of
wood laid in, and I have had a fire the last few days.
This is really quite cheerful. I love to put out the
light, and sit down in front of the open draught, and




136    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I7.
watch the fire flickering, and then dream about home
and you all, and my future prospects, and my present
work,- such work as the Lord, I humbly believe, has
appointed for me, but for which, alas i I am all too
unworthy. I have often thought that the reason God
gives some of His work to the weakest of his children,
is to show them their absolute need of Him, - that
they can do nothing without His aid. I believe thee
was right in saying it was my privilege to preach the'Higher Christian Life' here.  But, oh, I feel so
utterly unable to do it in the right way! And so I
have just resigned it all into the Lord's hands.
When He wants me to speak for His glory, He will
tell me what to say and then I need fear no blunder.
It is such a comfort to remember, that, if I am under
His guidance, He will not let His cause suffer.
"I am getting gradually acquainted, but have not
yet found the fellow I would care to be intimate with.
He is here, though, I suppose.  This life, where I
have to back myself socially, is bringing me out
somewhat, I hope.  Father told thee, I suppose,
about our cane-fight; how we Freshmen undertook
to carry canes, and the Sophs tried to take them
away. And how we held on to them, and how I
came out victorious, though with a broken cane and
scratched hands. Oh, it was jolly fun! "
On the ist of October, he wrote:
"The prayer- meeting, last Sunday, was very
interesting. I said a little about trusting Christ.
But there are so many older Christians there, that I
hardly like to say anything that seems like giving




MEtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    137
advice. My own experience, during the past week,
has been very restful, more so than ever before.  I
am trying, all the while, thy plan of a total surrender.
It seems so wonderful to have my every action guided
by the Lord, and to be enabled to follow that
guidance."
In my reply to this letter, I wrote:
"I rejoice over thy experience, my dear boy. It
only remains for thee now to keep thy heart with all
diligence. And the way to keel it, is to abandon it
to the care and keeping of thy Lord. I am so
thankful thee knows the rest of faith. This always
comes when there is a childlike confidence in Jesus,
which clings to His word, and will not give heed to
a doubt.  Of course He will save thee, for this is
just what He came to do. And when all thy cares
are cast on Him, He will keep thy heart and mind
in perfect peace. I am very glad thee spoke in the
prayer-meeting about it.  Thy youth need not hinder
thee in the least, because we are told that God has
ordained praise out of the mouths of babes. Thee
will invariably find that confession will greatly
strengthen thy faith.  And the clearer and more
definite thy confession can be, the better for thy own
soul. I find a bold, clear, confession is one of the
surest ways of baffling Satan, when he comes with
his suggestions of doubt and discouragement."
I2*




CHAPTER XI.
N the I5th, Frank wrote:
"I had a talk yesterday with a fellow here
that interested me very much. He began to
explain to me the'dreadful doctrine of full sanctification' held by the Methodists. I asked him why it
was so dreadful, and explained it a little; how it was
only trusting Christ to keep us moment by moment.
And, finally, he said he could not argue against it,
only he could not see how man, who is sinful by
nature, could possibly help that nature coming out.
I told him I would lend him father's book on' Holiness through Faith,' which might perhaps enlighten
him; and he promised to read it.
" My experience is very blessed. No especial feeling, but just a restful sense that Christ is purifying me
and taking care of me. I cannot keep my thoughts
on Him as much as I should like, but it is getting
easier to do so all the time."
On the 20th he wrote to his aunt:
" One good thing I have to report, and that is that
I am altogether over my loneliness. There is a very
pleasant fellow, who rooms opposite to me, and we
138




AEtat. I7.]  THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   139
spend the evenings talking about politics, etc.  He is
a Democrat. Then, in the daytime, between playing
football and studying, my time goes pretty rapidly,
and I was really surprised, the other day, to find that
October was nearly three-quarters gone.
" My room looks quite nice now with all the pictures hung up.
" The Lord is keeping me wonderfully, I feel most
truly thankful to say, and does enable me, despite
my great diffidence, to speak sometimes for Him."
On the 22d he wrote to me:
" DARLING MOTHER:
"I suppose I could come home next Sixth-day, and
I would like to be there while Mr. Inskip is there.
How are his meetings? As interesting as ever? I
think I need some help; for, although I am trusting
to a certain degree, and am kept to that degree wonderfully, yet somehow  I lack that full and entire
surrender and the looking to Christ for guidance as
much as I should. Principally I am weak in the
working point; that is, I cannot expect to be kept,
unless I often exert myself to work for Christ; and
just there I do appear to be failing.  I seem to need
wisdom as to how to do it best; and I feel too afraid
to try to work, for fear I shall not do it in the best
way. I'11 acknowledge this is wrong, but somehow
I cannot help it; and so I think I need help from
above, to enable me to'ask for wisdom, nothing
wavering.'
" There is undoubtedly a great field for work here.
In the prayer-meeting last night, when I heard sev.




I40    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Etat. 17.
eral earnest prayers for a revival, and heard them say
they knew the revival must begin in our own hearts,
I thought of what a glorious gospel I had to tell them,
and yet lacked wisdom to know how to tell it in the
best way. Oh, how I would like to tell each one
how I am kept, and how sweet and restful my life is!
Do, please, pray that I may have this wisdom.
" I had the most beautiful row yesterday that could
be. A Junior and I started off, and came to what
looked like a mill-pond, on which were some boats;
we unlocked one, got two flat sticks for paddles, and
went up to what apFeared like the head of the pond;
there was a narrow stream flowing in at this place,
and we followed up its course for about three miles,
right into the heart of a dense swamp, with old,
romantic oaks and maples bending over on each
side, and bushes so thick that we could not see ten
feet either way. Altogether it was so perfectly enchanting and romantic, that I was entirely carried
away; and, to crown all, we started up a lot of wild
ducks.
" I have found a fellow at last that I believe I like.
He is an earnest Christian, and full of fun, ready to
go on all sorts of adventures, stronger than I am, and
one of those whole-hearted fellows who, whatever he
undertakes, will do it well."
Frank came home as proposed, and spent two or
three days, attending the meetings for the promotion
of Christian Holiness, being held in Philadelphia, at
that time, by Mr. Inskip and Mr. McDonald. He
was deeply interested, and seemed to find the needed




AEtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I41
help he spoke of in his last letter.  On the 5th of
November, he wrote to one of his young friends concerning it:
"DEAR D.:
"I was at home last Seventh and First-days, but
failed to get a glimpse of thy countenance, as my
time was mostly taken up going to the meetings held
by Mr. Inskip and Mr. McDonald, in the Fourth
Street Church.  Did thee get to any of them? They
were most certainly splendid meetings, and helped
me on my way wonderfully. I shall never forget one,
in which Mr. I. asked all who would then and there
solemnly consecrate themselves without reserve to
God, to raise their right hands.  It seemed so solemn,
that at first I was almost afraid, but was helped to do
it, and have often since been unspeakably thankful
for it. After that he asked all who felt willing to
trust Christ, then and there, to give them a puzre
heart, to do the same. Again faith triumphed, and
again my hand went up. And, indeed, D., although
my former experience was very blessed, it did not at
all come up to this.  As long as I continue trusting,
a perfectly cloudless sky is between me and Christ.
And if for a moment I look away, immediately it
sends a pang through me, as if something had
happened to make me unhappy.
" Do, I beg of thee, try it, if thee has not already.
It is just simple faith, believing implicitly what Christ
says.
" And I am sure if Christ can give me this faith,
He also can thee. For here I am among a lot of




1 42    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [A]ltat. 17.
fellows who are violently'opposed to this doctrine,
called on to declare it to them, and to tell them I
have experienced it. And then I must expect to be
watched closely, that they may see whether I live a
true doctrine.  Surely Christ will give thee this faith
too.
"The difference between a pure heart, and one
where sin to a certain extent still exists, is something
like this, I think.  When our hearts are pure, we are,
as it were, on the highway of holiness, and that is
holy, and the devil cannot come on it to tempt us.
He does come alongside, and holds out his allurements, but unless we walk up to him and take these,
he cannot touch us. As long as we are in the middle,
we are safe.  But where the heart is not pure, we are,
as it were, travelling on the same road with Satan.
And although using Christ's strength to keep him
under most of the time, still if we are not very careful, continually looking out for him, he will trip us
up somehow or another.  Because, in this last case,
he has our sinful nature to work on, without any
deliberate act on our part, while in the other case it
requires this deliberate act of leaving Christ, before
we can be overcome.
"That is as plainly as I can put it; but, anyhow,
the truth is the same.  Christ will cleanse our hearts,
if we will trust Him to do it.
"A very good plan, I find, when a temptation is
coming, is to say to myself over and over,'Jesus
saves me, Jesus saves me.' And although at first it
may seem untrue, still in the end you are sure to be
victorious.




2Stat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I43
"Tell me in thy next letter that thy heart is purified by Christ's blood. Thankful I am beyond expression that mine is.
"But my enjoyment in talking about how much
has been done for me is so great, that I have gone
beyond my usual limit to my letters, which thee must
excuse.  I shall pray that the next letter that comes
from thee, will tell me of one more who has entered
into the' rest of faith;' and I hope thee also will pray
that I may be kept within the truly blessed' highway
of holiness,' and may turn neither to the right nor
the left.    Thy attached brother in Christ,
" FRANK W. SMITH."
We had urged our dear boy, while with us on this
memorable visit, on his return to College to make a
good confession among his fellow-students of what
the Lord had done for him; reminding him that the
Lord had said to us, "Ye are my witnesses; " and
that a man, to be a useful witness, must always tell
of what he himself, personally and experimentally,
knows of the subject. The very night of his return
he did as we had suggested, and thus wrote to me
concerning it.
"I got up in our class prayer-meeting the night I
returned, and spoke about the necessity of entire
consecration, and said I was thankful to say that God
had helped me to consecrate myself altogether to
Him. But this confession did not seem to make any
more impression than if I had not made it. I will
not, however, be discouraged, but, with God's help,
will do whatever work he has for me earnestly, for



I44    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY? LIFE. [.Ttat. 17.
getting self and man, and only looking unto Him.
Oh, what a grand thing it is to have any work to do
for One who has done so much for us!
" Every time we have a meeting, some one gets up
and says what we ought to do; that we ought to do
this, or we ought to do that; but no one ever says
how we are to do it. Does it not seem as if God
wanted me to show them the way as it has been shown
to me?  I have faith Christ will help me this very
night to testify for Him, and, having done that, will
enable me to live the life of faith I have testified
about.
" My visit home did me lots of good. The time
when Mr. Inskip asked all in the meeting who would
solemnly give their all to Christ to raise their hands,
often comes back to me. My hand was up; and,
having given myself to Him, not an iota can I take
back. "
In my reply to this letter, I wrote:
"II have a bad headache to-night, and am almost
too tired to write. But my boy must have his letter,
if it is only a few lines, that he may know how much
I love him.  I have been thinking, ever since thee
went back, what a darling son thee is, and how proud
I am of thee; and I have prayed so fervently that
thee may be preserved pure and good in the midst
of all the evils around thee. It does seem a great
risk to send a young fellow like thee out into such an
independent life; but I trust thee to thy Saviour, my
boy, and I believe He will keep thee. Only thee
must keep very close to Him, and never let go thy




Ntat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    145
confidence in Him  for a moment.  I feel deeply
thankful that He is helping thee, to take a more decided stand, in witnessing for Him in your meetings.
It may not seem to have much effect at first, but it
cannot fail, I think, to stir them up in the end; and,
anyhow, He has called thee to be His witness; and
this is too blessed a secret to be kept hidden away in
one's own bosom, —is it not? I do so long for
every Christian to know about it, and all seem to
be so hungry. Do be faithful, my darling boy, in
telling the good news of this full salvation in the Lord
Jesus, wherever thee has the least opening.
"The Friends' Biennial First-day School Conference is to bie held in Ohio the last of this month, and
I want thee to go to it very much, for I expect it will
be a time of feasting spiritually.  Does thee think
they will let thee off from College, if I write very
urgently?  It will take a whole week, as we leave on
the 20th, and do not get back until the 28th."
We had always felt that to foster and stimulate our
boy's religious life was, after all, the matter of chiefest importance; and whenever there were any especially desirable Christian privileges to be enjoyed, of
the kind he would appreciate and like, we never
hesitated to let him take a holiday from his studies,
in order to avail himself of them. It was arranged,
therefore, that he should go on this Western trip with
a large party of friends who were going out from
Philadelphia.
On the I2th of November he wrote, asking what
things he should bring home for the journey, and
then continued:
13                K




146    THE RECORD OF.4 HAPPY LIFE. [EStat. 17.
"Last night at the prayer-meeting, in the College,
Mr. H., a most earnest Christian, asked all who
would be willing to make one personal effort to save
some soul, to stand up. I was not there, as I had
been out gunning; but M. told me, nearly every one
stood up, and that the meeting was very solemn. Oh,
how I do pray there may be a revival here! I have
prayed for help, and do believe I shall have it, to be
in the foremost ranks of any movement to help on
the work of Christ. I have been most wofully negligent in this particular, but Christ is waking me up. I
have faith that this very night I shall be helped to
take a bold stand on Christ's side.  I mean, I shall
be enabled to say something definite, marking my
position. I shall leave this letter open to tell thee
about it."
" 8 O'CLOCK.
"I was at prayer-meeting, and my backwardness
kept me from rising at first, as a good many others
rose pretty rapidly; and I was afraid I should have to
keep still altogether, until near the end I prayed for
one more chance, and then I was called on to close
the meeting by prayer. So I prayed God would show
us our privileges in Christ, and would fill us with His
Spirit; but that is not decided nor plain enough for
me, and I shall pray that strength may be given me
to come out more boldly on the Lord's side.
" I found this afternoon that there was one thing I
had to give up, and that was a regard for my reputation; and grace was given me to do it; and now I
feel willing to be accounted anything for Christ;
though, of course, I want to be very sure it is for
Christ, and nothing else."




Ntat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    147
To his friend C. H., he wrote on the same date:
".... And now, Charlie, about our own personal
experience, which we have so often talked over
together. I did not half appreciate my privileges at
Haverford, where there was a little band of us so fully
in sympathy. Here almost every one, even the
Christians, are opposed to the doctrine of sanctification by faith; and it is very hard'clinging to the
cross' without any sympathy.  But what is a faith
worth which cannot hold on to Christ through thick
and thin? And because there is so little sympathy,
Christ has drawn me more to Himself, and my experience is, I think, richer and richer all the time.
Oh, how much Christ has done for you and me!
We ought to be so thankful, that we would be willing
to do anything for Him. I pray often that you may
be built up in the most holy faith, and that you may
be enabled to follow Christ's guidance in all things!
" I have come lately to a very blessed experience
of entire rest in Christ. The life of trust, where one
has to have a fight for faith, when each particular sin
comes up, is after all only a partial rest.  But it is
blessed to trust for heart purity, which brings an
abidingz faith, and this I am learning now.  I send
you some texts on the subject, to show you that this
is taught in the Bible. Look the subject up, and if
you do not realize it, pray that you may."
In this letter, and in the one to " D.," on the 5th
of November, Frank touches upon a subject which is
one of the utmost importance to those who seek to enter
into the possession of all the privileges that are ours




148    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Atat. 17.
in Christ. As he well expresses it, " to have a fight
for faith as each particular sill comes up, is after all
but a partial rest; " and yet many who enter into the
life of faith do not get further than this. The lesson is
learned, that relze we trust, Christ delivers; but the
secret of being kept continually trusting is not yet
found out.  The soul in this condition is like a
general, guarding his outposts, and always able to
defend them against the assaults of the enemy, when
he reaches the spot in time; but who is continually
harassed in all his movements by a traitor in his
castle at home, whose constant aim it is to betray
him  into the hands of his enemies.  This traitor is
inbred sin. And in order to know a complete and
continuous victory, this inward enemy must be cast
out, and the heart must be cleansed from all unrighteousness.  Then, the very centre of the being having been taken possession of by Christ, and all His
enemies destroyed by His presence, He reigns there
supreme.  And the soul finds itself "kept by the
power of God," through an unwavering faith, which
nothing jostles or dims.  This wonderful truth is
taught in many ways, and under many different
figures, in the New Testament. Being "dead to sin,"
knowing " the body of sin to be destroyed," " purifying our hearts by faith," being " cleansed from all
unrighteousness; " all these, and many other expressions, set forth this truth, that Christ, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, is able and
willing to destroy his very worst work,- even that
which he wrought in us when he implanted sin in
our nature. And that when Christ enters there, sin




AEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I49
must retire.  But let it be understood that it is only
the presence of Christ that keeps out the sin.  There
is no inherent purity in the heart itself.  But as with
light and darkness, so with Christ and sin; they cannot exist together, there is no possibility of fellowship between them. Let a room, however, presume
on its light, and shut out the rays of the sun, and
darkness at once fills it.  So let the soul presume on
its purity, and cease to let Christ abide in it, and that
moment sin reigns there again supreme. The indwelling presence of Christ makes the heart pure,
and keeps it pure.  The indwelling presence of
Christ drives out His enemies, and keeps them out.
The indwelling presence of Christ destroys (or
" renders inert ") the body of sin, and keeps it so;
but the moment the soul lets go of Christ, or turns
its eyes away from Him, that moment its old evil all
returns.  Thus we see that our great need is to abide
in Christ continuously, and all else will be right, for
He will take care of it. And our great danger lies
in being betrayed out of that abiding, for then all
else goes wrong.  "Christ formed within" is our
sure defence against all our enemies, and our sure
deliverance from our inward foe. In learning this
blessed secret, our dear Frank realized a deliverance
far greater than any he had yet known, and from
henceforth his life flowed on in a sweet accord with
the will of God, knowing but slight variations from a
perfect inward rest.
13 *. _r~~6U~ 




CHAPTER XII.
N the 20th of November we started for
Wilmington, Ohio, where the  First-day
School Conference was to be held.  We
reached there the next day.  Some other young
Christians, who also knew this blessed' rest of faith,'
were of the party, and Frank greatly enjoyed the
sweet fellowship they all had with one another, as
they travelled on together.
The Conference was a deeply interesting and stirring time to all who were present, and Frank entered
with great earnestness into all the various meetings,
and enjoyed exceedingly the discussions on the subjects connected with and growing out of Sunday
School work.  His principal enjoyment, however,
was found in the little side-meetings for the promotion of Christian holiness, which were held between
the regular sessions of the Conference.  He had so
sweetly realized in his own consciousness the blessedness of the rest of faith, that he rejoiced in every
means taken to bring his fellow-Christians into the
same happy experience; and it was always a very
precious help to me, when laboring in these meetings,
to look into the happy, peaceful face of my son, and
to know that he himself was a living proof of the
150




AXtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    151 
truths we were trying to teach.  He took some little
part in these meetings, but felt that his place there
was rather that of a learner, to gather strength and
wisdom for his work at Princeton, and among his
young friends. It was a time of great blessing to
him, and he thus wrote to his "Aunty Lill," soon
after his return:
"It seems to me that the Conference at Wilmington must have been a wonderful blessing to a great
many. I know it was to me. I never had such entire
trust before.  That beautiful text,' Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee,
because he trusteth in Thee,' has been ringing in my
ears ever since my return, and has really been my
experience most of the time. Once or twice, I am
sorry to say, I have let in some worry, and have destroyed my peace for awhile. But Christ has restored
it to me again.  Oh what a Saviour He is! It does
seem like asking so much to have Him take us with
all our frettings, and worryings, and doubts; but He
has promised.' I spoke in our class prayer-meeting last Secondday about this perfect peace, and confessed that I
enjoyed it. It did not seem to make much impression, but still I believe it was right for me to do it;
and I do pray that the Holy Spirit will give some
one a longing for it. I do so want to do some work
for Christ who has done so much for me."
The year I872, destined to be the last of his life,
though we little dreamed it then, opened thus peacefully on our precious boy, and front this time forward




152    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
the text he quoted to his aunt seemed to have become
the sweet undertone of his life. To his friend C. H.
he also referred to it, in a letter written at this time:
"As to my own religious experience, it has been
weonderful.  This text has been my watchword ever
since I came back from the Conference;' Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on
thee, because he trusteth in thee.' I never had such
trust, such peace, and such a feeling of the nearness
of Christ before. I don't worry about the future,
God will take care of it; for the present I am trusting. I often remember you in my prayers, and ask
that you may continue to find this blessed, thrice
blessed peace and joy."
Having thus found such perfect rest in his own
soul, Frank began to feel more than ever anxious to
work for others, and he was greatly grieved when he
found that for a little while his natural reserve and
timidity seemed to stand in his way. His father wrote
to him in reference to this as follows:
"MY DEAR SON:
"I want thee to feel the weight of debtor, that
thee owes to the students around thee; for'we are
debtors to all men,' says the Apostle.  Let thy light
shine; Christ is thy light. Do not cover up or hide
the precious things taught thee; the ice once broken,
it is the most delightful thing to talk of Jesus and His
grace. A habit of unhappy reticence continued in
now, may blight all thy future life. The hiding of the
talent means something! Thee has learned to trust




YEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   153
Jesus for victories over sin and self; now, in the same
way, trust Him to enable thee to speak for Him joyfully and easily. Tell me, if thee can, that faith has
conquered thy natural reticence; few things are more
longed for now by me. Lovingly,
" THY FATHER." 
On his return to College, after the Christmas holidays, Frank wrote to me, on the I4th of January, on
this subject:
" DEAREST MOTHER:
"I am all settled now, and am just as comfortable
and snug here in my new room as a'bug in a rug.'
And I am very happy. But I am troubled that I do
not make more efforts to work for Christ, at the most
only a spasmodical one here and there.  Why is it
that I can't seem able to work? Yesterday, as I was
taking a walk, I thought,'Why can't I on my walks
distribute tracts?' But I shrank somewhat from the
idea; I thought I was more given up than that. I
am willing enough to speak twice a week in my class
prayer-meeting, — my reluctance to that I gave up
long ago; but when it comes to speaking in private
to a few fellows, who I feel sure are not interested,
my faith seems to give out, and I can't find words.
And the idea of distributing tracts, or of speaking
in the College prayer-meeting, seems equally hard.
And I do not know what to do. What shall I?
Pray? I do pray. Trust? I thought I (lid; but when
the time for work comes, I am found wanting.
"It seems almost wrong for me to say I am living




154    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [A?,tat. 17.
the higher Christian life, until I can record some
efforts to further Christ's cause. That the Lord does
keep me wonderfully from sins of commission, I know,
and I feel most thankful for it; but my faith does
not seem to get the victory over my weakness in
Christian work; and this is this week's confession."
In my reply I said:
"As to thy work for the Lord, I wish thee could
get into that happy place about it, where thee would
find it thy greatest joy.  I think if once thee could
just give all up, and dash into things, and come out
boldly as a Christian, so that Christian work would
be expected of thee, thee would find great liberty in
it. I do not believe thee can be happy in any other
way. The Lord has done too much for thee, and
thy light is too great for thee to keep it always under
a bushel. Commit thy ways in this unto the Lord,
dear boy, and He will direct thy steps. Ask Him to
make thee willing to work, for He can, and He only.
But do not stop claiming full salvation, because of
this weakness in service; that would be a fatal way
of remedying it. Claim it by faith more boldly than
ever, for only in this very salvation can thee find any
deliverance from thy weakness.
"One thing more. Do not be troubled by any
indefinite charges of unfaithfulness, as though thee
ought to have done a great deal, but yet thee does
not know what. Only be troubled when thee can
recall some definite act, when the Lord called and
thee refused to obey. Satan makes a great gain when
he succeeds in discouraging us with these vast inde



Nstat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    155
finite charges. The Holy Spirit is always definite,
and condemns only for definite disobediences or failures. And if nothing has been suggested to thee to
do during the day, don't be distressed at night, because thee has done nothing. If God wants thee to
do anything, He will tell thee so."
In Frank's next letter, he wrote:
" I don't feel any doubt but that if I should do
as thee says, come out so boldly on the Lord's side
that Christian work would be expected of me, I
should be much happier; but it does seem as if I
could not. When I am praying, it seems as if I
could do anything, because then I am definitely trusting. But, somehow, when I go out I get interested
in studying or exercising, and it seems to become
indefinite. Once in a while I am enabled to say a
word for Christ, but it seems to have no effect, and
this discourages me. Perhaps I ought not to look for
fruits, but just trust to the Holy Spirit to guide me,
and do as He directs.  I will try this, and never
mind if my labor does seem fruitless, but just go
ahead.
"I am  glad thee spoke about those indefinite
charges. I have been troubling myself a. great deal
about them; but now I will not be troubled until
some definite act comes before me. To-night, in our
College prayer-meeting, I felt that I ought to pray,
and I was helped to do it, although it did come rather
hard, and I could not have done it without help. So
I believe I will give it all into Christ's hands, and I
can then trust it will be all right."




I56    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
About the same time, he wrote to his aunt:
" DEAR AUNTIE:
"...   I am very nicely fixed in my new room in
College. The pictures are hung around to suit my
taste, and quite set off the white-washed walls. And
here I live all alone,' monarch of all I survey,' with
a bright fire, three easy-chairs, a great big sofa, plenty
of closet-room, and everything nice and cosy. I
would not want to be more comfortable.  What kind
of plants would be suitable to have in my room?
".. I have been very much troubled lately about
my not doing any work for Christ; and as of course
it is a fault in myself, I have tried to remedy it by
consecrating myself more fully than ever to the Lord.
And I feel sure He will guide me into the right
position about it, and will enable me to trust Him to
show me when, and where, and how He wants me to
speak for Him. Oh, it is such a wonderful relief to
be able to cast all my burdens on Him! "
On the 28th of January, he wrote again to his aunt
in reference to her little Sabbath-school, in which he
always took the deepest interest:
" I do not see how thee can say, aunty, that thee
is at all discouraged about thy school, for it has been
so wonderfully blessed ever since thee has had it.
There have been so many conversions, and the children have all been so much interested.  I have
always felt sure thee must have a great deal of power
with thee there.  I pray that thee may, very frequently.




Atat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   157
"I do often pray that I too may be able to work
acceptably, but sometimes I feel afraid I may have a
selfish motive in it. Still I am sure the Lord can
manage this.
"I find it harder to keep trusting, and to keep
putting my whole dependence upon Christ in prosperity, than in adversity; that is, it is harder when
some one tells me of the good influence I have had
over him, than when my faults are shown up to me.
It is a great lesson to learn that we are most apt to
fall when we feel most secure. I am very sorry to
hear that about poor  -. He must be leading a
wretched life, half trusting and half doubting.  I
don't think there can be any life more wretched."
To me, he wrote on the same date:
" We had a splendid time on Sixth-day evening.
About five o'clock, four of us started to skate on the
Delaware to Trenton, about ten miles. The ice was
superb; it was full-moon, and altogether just jolly.
The only drawback was that one fellow gave out
about three miles from Trenton, and we had to pull
him the rest of the way. For about one mile I pulled
him alone, as the rest gave out also. We reached
Trenton a little before nine, got our supper, and
lodged at an hotel, as all, except myself, were too
tired to skate back that night.  Next morning we
skated back, and reached Princeton in time for breakfast and chapel. Every one was worn out excepting
me; so I, with a party of stronger fellows, started at
two on Seventh-day, and went down again, this time
in an hour and eighteen minutes, and came back on
I4




158    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I7.
the cars for supper. Altogether, it was just splendid
fun.'"
From this it will be again seen that Frank's earnest
interest in religious subjects, and his deep Christian
experience, did not abate in the least his enjoyment
of all the sports belonging to his age, nor weaken his
energy in heartily carrying them out. And his welldeveloped manly form, and healthy color, bore witness to the good effects of his fondness for outdoor
pursuits. Even when he was taken sick, it seemed
almost impossible to believe that so much young life
and energy could so suddenly be laid low. And to
the very last, death looked as if it must be at least a
great way off, even though we were forced to believe
it was surely approaching.
In this same letter, quoted above, Frank spoke of
his eyes being very weak, and of the idle evenings
he was obliged to spend, in consequence of not being
able to read or study, and he asked us if he could
not hire an organ, that he might amuse himself learning to play and sing. We consented gladly, thankful for an opportunity of gratifying our noble good
boy.
On the 4th of February, he went to Trenton to try
and hire one, at the same time visiting the family of
a dear cousin who resided there.  But he found it
impossible to accomplish his object, and his father,
consequently, bought an organ and sent it up to him,
to his great delight.




stat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   159
On the IIth of February, he wrote:
"DEAREST FATHER AND MOTHER:
" I am perfectly delig-zed with my organ. It is
such a sweet-toned one, and so handsome. I don't
think I ever had anything I enjoyed a quarter as much.
There were seventeen fellows up to see it last night,
and every one agreed it was a very fine one. Six of
the best singers in the College were up here singing
and playing, and, I can assure you, there was some
delightful music. Surely I can say my cup is running
over. I am blessed in almost every way imaginable,
especially in having such kind, loving parents. I
truly ought to be good.
"I had an elegant time at Trenton, at Cousin
B ——'s, last week. -In the evening we had a very
strengthening talk, and I came back here with a
much stronger faith. And on Second-day evening I
was helped to come out pretty boldly in our prayermeeting; I spoke on the text in John xvii.,'I pray
not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but
that thou shouldst keep them from the evil;' and said
I knew for myself that God would answer that prayer,
just so far as we had faith to trust Him. After the
meeting a fellow came up to my room, and we sat
and talked a good while about our experiences. He
had not the assurance of faith, and I tried to show it
to him, and I think he entered into it."
In Frank's next letter, he touches upon a difficulty
very common to young Christians, who feel that unless they are consciously thinking about the Lord all
the time, they are doing wrong, and are wandering




I60    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [iEtat. I7.
away from Him; forgetting that the mind cannot
be occupied with more than one thing at a time, and
that when engaged in studying or playing, it cannot
be that we should also be thinking directly on religious subjects.
Frank wrote:
" I have come to the conclusion that my character
is not worth much; as soon as I get away from a
warming influence, I immediately get cold. I should
like to be a bold, strong Christian, but it seems as if,
when I stop praying or reading the Bible, I forget
about Christ, and become so much interested in what
I am doing - studying, reading, or playing - that I
do not think of anything religious again all the while.
I do not think I do anything wrong particularly; the
Lord keeps me to a very great degree from this; but
still I do not seem to be an earnest Christian."
In my reply I told Frank, that he was demanding
too much from himself; that he could not expect to
be always consciously thinking of Christ, when he
was busy about other things; that a husband does
not cease to love his wife, nor does he care any less to
please her when he is busy about his daily occupation,
although for hours together perhaps he may scarcely
have a thought or remembrance of her; and I urged
him to commit himself in this to the Lord, trusting
Him to govern his thoughts, and to bring to his
remembrance such things as it was His will he should
recollect.
To his darling little sister he wrote, on the same
day:




AStat. 17 ] THE RECORD OF A HAlPPY L/FE.   i6i
"MY PRECIOUS SISTER MARY:
"So thee is eight years old, is thee?  I am only
a little more than twice as old. Hurry up, and
maybe thee will catch up to me. Think thee could?
I am very much obliged to thee for thy two letters,
and I expect thee thinks I ought to have answered
them before. Well,'so I ought; but I will do it now
instead.
" How many Valentines did thee get? I know
where one came from. Can thee guess?
"Yesterday two boys came into my room here,
and we took off our coats, and pulled the mattress
down on to the floor and then turned somersaults on
it, like this picture I send thee. Would not thee like
to have seen us?
"Do write again to thy loving'bubba,'
" FRANK. "
14*              L




CHAPTER XIII.
N the i8th of February, Frank wrote home:
t"There is a little hope at last for our class.
I was talking this afternoon with an earnest
Christian, and found he just felt the need of this life;
so I lent him father's book on' Holiness through
Faith,' and thy' Word to the Wavering Ones,' and
he seemed very glad to get them.  He is really in
earnest, so now we have agreed to have a little private
prayer-meeting every First-day afternoon up in my
room. We can only think of six fellows who are
enough in earnest to join in it; but, oh, we do want
so to be thoroughly stirred up. Do pray for our little
private prayer-meeting, that it may tend to bind the
few who come more together, and that it may be the
means of great blessing to us all. Now please, do
not tell this all around; principally, because every
one everywhere always comes and praises me, whenever they hear of anything of the kind, and I dislike
this intensely.
" This fellow I spoke of seemed delighted at the
idea of having father to come here and talk to us,
and thinks we could get several to come up, especially
if they knew long enough beforehand to prepare their
lessons.''
i62




AEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I63
On the 25th, he wrote to his father:
" DEAREST FATHER:
"... I heard mother's Bible lesson while I'was at
home last week, and was deeply interested. I want
to begin a deeper study of the Bible for myself; because a truth coming to me directly from the Bible
would be so much more vivid than if I had to read
it out of some theological work.
" We had our little meeting this afternoon, and a
truly sweet time it was. Every one felt the need of
a closer walk, and of more earnestness among us
Christians; and so, according to thy suggestion, I
proposed that we make our next meeting a time for
especially looking into the Bible, and seeing if the
life thee told us about when thee was here, is possible,
and, if so, to enter into it.  Do write and tell me a
forcible way to present it. I want all the Christians,
in our little band at least, to be made perfectly right,
and then we can begin to do outside work.  We have
appointed seven o'clock every morning to pray for
each other by name, and for some one erring Christian whom we may pick out. If we are only strong
in the Lord ourselves, we can help other weaker
Christians so much better. We thought it best for
the present to have only those up here to our little
meeting, who we are sure are in earnest, and seeking after the right way. As we get stronger, we will
invite others in.  What does thee think?
" I am so glad we have some definite way of working now. For instance, we agreed that we would all
endeavor not to let our class prayer-meetings flag in




I64    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
interest. And we agreed to help each other on once
in a while by a comforting word."
In reply to this letter, Frank's father wrote:'" BOSTON, February 27th, I872.
" MY DEARLY LOVED SON:
" Thy letter is most welcome. I see the hand of
God in your being drawn together to seek His full salvation,-I see it in the meeting for self-consecration,
which He will wonderfully bless. I look with prayerful hope to a circle, (small at first,) entering into an
experience of the joy and power of soul-union with
Christ; I see how whenyou are thus right before Himn,
He can open the very windows of Heaven upon you,
and then draw in many to share your blessings; and
that from the running over of your cup, many shall
be led to taste of the water of life, and be saved. I
see it all in vision as it were, and feel deeply the
importance of your whole-hearted consecration, and
accompanying faith. God could work without instruments, but he rarely does so; He makes us responsible in a most important degree. You may so reflect
Christ in the college through your faith as to leave
His impress upon thousands directly and indirectly.
God grant it! is my cry to Him. I have studied the
Bible by subjecis,- with the Concordance almost my
only commentary. Take'pure,' for instance - Can
I be pure; may, I' call on God out of a pure heart,' etc.
Or take' victory,' - or' dead to sin,' - or' holy,'or'sanctification'; and  study them  prayerfiudy,
earnestly to ascertain what our Lord proposes to do




'Etat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I65
for us. Use the Englishman's Greek Conc )rdance
in preference to the English Concordance.
"Oh my son, how thy father's heart is filled with
thanksgiving - (I have been praising God aloud, as
I passed along the Boston streets to-day) - that his
boy is seeking to walk with God!' I have no greater
joy than to see my children walking in the truth,' as
St. John says.
"Thy loving, praying father,
" ROBT. PEARSALL SMITH. "
In reference to the work in the class prayer-meetings, which Frank referred to in this letter to his
father, we have received since his death a testimony
from his room-mate, a member of the Junior class,
which shows us how faithfully our dear boy carried
out the resolution here expressed.
He writes: " Frank was very highly esteemed by
his class, and was a favorite with all, especially the
Christians. I have been told that he was the life of
the class prayer-meeting, the burden of which chiefly
fell on him: and that whenever there was a pause
or apparent lack of interest, he was the one to sustain
the meeting."
To his friend, C. H., he wrote about this time:
" We have just started a meeting in my room here,
something like the one we had at Haverford last year.
There are about seven of us, all in earnest to do some
work for Christ; and we have just got together to
find how best to do it. How is your little meeting
coming on? I pray for you all. Oh, Charlie! if




i66    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Astat, 17.
you and I can only do some work for Christ! We
had such a good start together at Haverford; do let
us keep on together. I do so want to be a good,
strong, earnest, firm Christian, resting only on Christ,
and not at all on myself."
To me he wrote, after their first little meeting:
" DEAREST MOTHER:
"We have had our meeting, and it was really a
very sweet time. All who came were very much in
earnest. Various plans were set on foot, as how to
work for the unconverted, and to help erring Christians; but we all agreed that we had better get right
ourselves first. We are going to make' Holiness'
the subject of our next meeting, and inquire and see
from Scripture, whether there is such a thing as a
close walk with God; and, if so, how to attain it.
I do long for us to be completely given up to the
service -of Christ.
" The fellow I walk with is going to study the Bible
with me, and I also want to do it alone. Can thee
give me some hints as to how best to study it, the way
thee did? It seems to me a great deal of one's power
would lie in having studied the Bible for one's self,
and not having been satisfied with some other person's
thoughts. I want to give at least half an hour a day
to this, and I think it will do me more good than
simply reading without study; and I have an especial
desire too, that P. should be clear and fresh in his
knowledge of the truth, as he is going to be a minister. I am sure, it is much better for us to get the
truths out for ourselves, than to have to take the
opinions of theologians."




AEtat. I7.]  THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I67
In my reply to this letter, I wrote:
"As to studying the Bible, the very best plan is to
have a blank-book, ruled in columns, with headings
of all the different subjects you are interested in; and
then, whenever you come across a text that refers to
any one of these subjects, note it down under its
respective head.  In this way you get subjects thoroughly looked up, and, moreover, have the texts all
ready for use. Sometimes, if you want to look up a
subject all at once, you can take the' Concordance,'
and take some words that are keys to the subjects,
and look at all the texts containing these words.
The marginal references also are a great help. It is
to my Text-book, arranged on this plan, that I owe
most of my knowledge of Scripture.. I will send
thee a sample-page.
" HOLINESS.
Prayers for B]olt- Commands to be HO     to be Holy.
ness.            Holy.
Heb. xiii. 20, 2I. Rom. xii. I, 2. 2 Phil. ii. I3. Ps.xliv.
Phil. i. 9-I I. Col.  Cor. vii. I. I Pet.  3. Rom.viii. 2-4.
i. 9-I4. Eph. i.  i. I3-i6.  Eph.  Phil. iv. I3. John
15-20.  I Thess.  iv. I-3. Phil. ii.  xv. 4-7. I John
v. 23, 24.  Col.  I4, 15. 2 Cor. vi.  iii. 6. Gal. ii.I9iv. 12. Eph. iii.  I4-I8. I Thess.  21.  Gal. v. 24.
I4-2I. 2 Thess.  iv. I-4, 7. Heb.  Rom. xiii. I4. I
i. II, 12. I Thess.  xii. 14, I5. I Pet.  John v. 4, 5. 2
iii. 9-13.  I Pet.  ii. 21, 22. Rom.  Cor. x. 3-5. Gal.
V. IO, II.        vi. 11I-14.  Col.  iii. I-5. Gal. v. 5,
iii. I-5. Eph. iv.  6. Phil. iii. 8-Io.
17, 22-24. Eph.  Rom. x. 3,4. Ps.
v. 1-4. Rom. vi.  cxliv. I, 2.
I-4. I rim. vi.
I-14. 2 Pet. iii.
I4.




I68    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
"Any one who will study the Bible in this way
cannot fail to become deeply interested in it; and
will find that they learn many wondrous things out
of God's law."
On the 3d of March, Frank replied:
" DEAREST MOTHER:
" Thy letter was very acceptable, thee may be
sure, and I commend thy promptness. I have tried
thy plan of studying the Bible, and I find it very
interesting.  I hope to keep it up regularly.
" We had our meeting again this morning, and it
is doing a great deal for us, I hope.  I tried to press
the necessity of not putting off the entering into this
experience of the higher Christian life, but most
people seem to look upon it as something to be
obtained in the dim and distant future.
" It was ever so nice to see father last night, and I
am sure his talk did some good.  Several of the fellows have spoken to me about it, and how much
interested they were.  It stirred them up considerably. What a wonderful help Christian sympathy
is. I find it far easier to trust in Christ now, since
we have started our meeting, than I did before. I
want to take each one of our company and try to
impress him individually with the necessity of a consistent walk. Do pray that I may be helped, and
that they may be made to feel it necessary.  Oh! I
do wish we could all get thoroughly melted together
in a bond of Christian love! "
Frank's intellectual life was growing rapidly, along




AEtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I69
with his spiritual, during this last winter, and he says,
writing to us, about this time:
"Princeton has been, and is now, a wonderful
thing for me. I am getting more and more earnest
every day to improve my mind.  I have found
another student who feels just as I do about it, and
we are reading together daily. He is a Christian, a
jolly fellow, smart, has good common sense, and
altogether is the nicest companion I have met here
yet."
But most of his intellectual interests and aspirations
were confided to his Cousin M, who heartily
sympathized with him in them all, and greatly helped
him by her advice and encouragement. Some extracts from his letters to her will show how his heart
was alive with all noble ambitions, and how he yearned
to plunge into life's earnest conflicts.  One of his
earliest aspirations had been to be a lawyer, and he
had often discussed it with her.  Writing to her,
March 7th, he said:
"And now  about that lawyer business.  It is
hardly worth while to look at it in its poetical light;
that it would be a splendid thing to benefit the human
race; that I would have a grand chance to bring
about reforms; that I could have the love and gratitude of the whole nation; that it would be a worthy
cause to strive after, and all that.  Just leave this and
look at the practical side.  Can I do it?  I am convinced that it is only eloquence that will bring a man
favorably before the country, and I know I have not
I5




I70    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I7.
eloquence. I know it by my poor powers of conversation and of writing. And thee knows it too, if thee
would only look at the fact in its bare truth. I do
not want or need any compliments. I know just
what I am worth, and no man or woman alive can
make me believe I am eloquent. Thee may say I am
not old enough to be developed yet. Granted. I
can judge, though, of my comparative abilities by
those around me, of my own age, can't I? Hard
work, and I don't grudge it, may win me good solid
sense, may develop pluck and perseverance, may
give me power to express myself plainly, but it can
never sharpen my wits, nor give me eloquence.
"Oh, M -, if by sixty years of hard labor I
could in one month do anything that would really
and truly benefit the world, or even raise the people
of our own country so as to help them in eternity, as
well as while on earth, I would willingly, more than
willingly, do it; for I think I could do true Christian work better in that way than any other. But for
this I must have eloquence.
"If, however, I am not a lawyer, my life need
not be entirely selfish. If my consecration amounts
to anything, it will not be; and if what I do, the
world does not stamp as noble and heroic, but passes
over in silence, I shall be rewarded in eternity, where
eloquence and talent are not necessary."
On the Ioth of March he wrote to me:
"We have just had our private prayer-meeting,
and it was very interesting. We took the subject of
charity, and endeavored to make it practical by pro



MEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    171
mising to try not to say anything evil of any one,
and to correct each other, if we heard one another
doing it. I suppose we might go on and hunt out
an almost innumerable number of Christian virtues,
and then, after all, be unable to practise one of them
without help from Christ.
" I wish I did not feel so lukewarm between Sundays.  I feel all right after writing to thee, and after
having our little meeting; but when I begin to enter
into the week, reading, studying, or talking about
every-day affairs, I feel cold again.  I enjoy reading
the Bible, I enjoy praying, but still I have that old
longing to be nearer Christ, all the time near Him,
not only on Sundays and in meetings, but when I am
busy about everything that I have to do."
Here again Frank made the very common mistake
of looking to his feelings, and judging of his spiritual
condition by them, instead of by his faith. In my
reply I told him this, and urged him to remember
that his nearness to Christ did not depend upon his
feeling near, but upon his trusting; and that, when
he was busy at other things and could not be thinking
of Christ, he must believe that he was still just as
near as in his most fervent moments. I tried to show
him that the way of faith, and not the way of feeling,
was the safe and happy way; and his heart was comforted, so that he never again expressed a similar
trouble.
On the I7th of March he wrote:
"We had a lovely meeting this morning. We
took'Our Father which art in Heaven,' and spoke




172    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIE. [A2tat. I7.
of the tenderness God displayed by calling Himself
Our Father.  Then an earnest Christian spoke of the
love we should feel towards each other as brethren;
and the meeting gradually turned to a practical view of
the subject, and we agreed to show more love to each
other through the week, and to help and strengthen
one another by some little word; also, to endeavor
really to do some work in the College. We have become really in earnest, I hope; and agreed to pray
often for a revival, in our own class especially. Oh,
I do hope we can do some effective work! It does
seem too bad that a band of ten earnest Christians
should only speak once or twice a week about the
things that interest them most.  I do hope we shall
do better now, as we have promised each other to do.
I know thee is praying for us, and I have faith that thy
prayers, and all our prayers, will be answered.  If
we could only once be thoroughly baptized with the
Holy Ghost!
"I was at Trenton, Second-day evening, and received a wonderful lift. We had a lovely meeting,
like the H. V. P. used to have last winter, and it did
seem so natural and pleasant. It did me a wonderful
amount of good."
In reference to these visits to Trenton, of which
Frank writes now and then, one of his cousins there
has written since his death:
"We have been holding a little prayer-meeting
once a week for about two years; and when we heard
of Frank's going to Princeton, we thought how pleasant
it would be if he could regularly attend them. But




Etat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I73
owing to some College regulations, he could only be
with us occasionally. It was our usual custom to
begin our meeting with reading a chapter in the
Bible, and then talking about it; and when Frank
was with us we always handed the Bible to him. He
used to take t very willingly, but with true humility,
which we all noticed to be a marked trait in his Christian character. I remember well his reading a chapter in I John. We were all impressed by the solemn
and realizing way in which he read it; and after he
had finished, he spoke of the love of Christ and of
holiness very impressively.  Our conversation turned
naturally to the subject of consecration, and Frank
said, that as far as he knew, he was entirely the Lord's.
" He used to tell us how he longed to have his life
in the College to be such as would show to his fellowstudents the truth of what he had openly professed
among them,- that he was trusting Jesus to keep him
from all sin.
"I wish I could remember more particulars of the
deeply interesting occasions when Frank was with us,
and of the talks we used to have about the' life hid
with Christ in God,' but I cannot.  Frank was always
a great help and strength to us."
Another member of this little prayer-meeting also
writes:
"At one of our meetings Frank read the chapter
ending with the words,'Be ye therefore perfect, as
your Father which is in Heaven is perfect,' and we
all were struck with his beautiful and simple explanation of it.  He said the little bud was as perfect for
I5 *




174    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [IEtat. I7.
a bud, as a full blown rose was a perfect rose; and
so we were to be perfect as men, as our Heavenly
Father was perfect as God; that we were to be complete in Christ at each stage of our growth, but
capable always of a greater maturity of perfection.
He always seemed to have so much power to explain
things in a clear, simple light. And when we were
discouraged, or cast down, he always had some little
experience of his own to tell, to help us. And he
would try so sweetly to tell us of the love and forbearance of Jesus, that new light would always come
into our minds, and a new purpose and resolution
into our hearts.
" His prayers were very childlike and full of confidence, just like a little one coming to its Father;
and I remember how impressed I was once, when he
thanked God with so much simplicity, that we were
permitted to come as little children, and call Him'our Father.'  He always brought a power and
blessing with him.
"In the first conversation we had with him, after
he went to Princeton, he spoke of feeling it his duty
to come out decidedly and confess his entire trust
in the Lord Jesus; but said he was so anxious to
live a right life, and was so sensible of his temptations and his weaknesses, that he had been almost
afraid to make such a confession, surrounded as he
was by so many who would watch every word and
action, and would rejoice in any failure. He asked
us to pray in our little meeting that he might have
strength to do his duty, and that he might find some
who would sympathize and work with him.




stat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   175
" The next time he was with us, he said, in his
humble, self-forgetting way, that strength had been
given him to acknowledge his Saviour openly and
boldly; and that God had sent him one friend who
was anxious, like himself, to work for Christ.
" There was one trait in Frank's Christian character that was very rare and beautiful.  He never
seemed to think of such a thing as giving up or
being discouraged, but seemed to be always pressing
forward."




CHAPTER XIV.
N the 29th of March, Frank's father went to
i"' ~ Princeton to spend the Sabbath, and hold
meetings with the young men in the Presbyterian Church, with which denomination he was
connected.
Frank, being naturally of a very cautious disposition, felt considerable anxiety beforehand, and was
proportionably rejoiced when he found how deeply
interested all the young men were in the meetings.
He wrote to me concerning them from Princeton:' DEAREST MOTHER:
"Father has had a wonderful series of meetings.
There were about two hundred to hear him last night,
disagreeable as the weather was; and at the meeting
before breakfast, where I hardly expected to see any,
there were about thirty; and, at half past nine, where
I told him there might be perhaps fifteen, there were
sixty or seventy. The fellows appear deeply interested. Every one seems stirred up, and hopeful of a
real revival.
" I had a-lovely time at Trenton on Second-day.
I think I will try to go down there oftener; it does
me so much good."
176




Atat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   177
To his friend C. H. he also wrote, speaking of these
meetings and the blessing they had been to himself:
" DEAREST CHARLIE:
"This was delayed, as father was here all day
yesterday, having meetings. We really had a wonderful time. Father roused them all on the subject
of holiness, and the fellows were deeply interested.
I never heard it so plainly stated. -First, a heart
purified from all things contrary to the will of God,
by the cleansing blood of Christ; and, second,
simple and momentary faith in His promises to keep
and deliver. I do hope and pray it may result in
many entering into this blessed, blessed life.
" I have often thought of what you spoke of as
being a good test question, -'Would Christ do
this?' and it has been very practical in showing me
my duty.
" In letting myself be searched by God's light, I
have found many of my opinions have had to be
changed. There is one thing, which please don't
mention, - it is in reference to becoming a minister.
Yes, dear C., after a severe struggle of my will last
night, I was helped to say,' Here am I, Lord, send
me in any way Thou pleasest!' It will be a great
trial to my flesh, and will go against all my plans for
life, and all my prejudices; but if He calls me, He
will give me strength to do His will.
"I pray often for you, and for your Bible class.
Sanctification is what every band of Christians need.
Sinners will not read the Bible; but they will read
our lives."
M




178    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [/Atat. 17.
To his beloved " Aunty Lill " he also wrote, concerning these meetings, on the ist of April:
" MY BELOVED AUNTY:
"Don't think, because I write to-day, that I want
to' April-fool' thee. I did not write before because
I really had not time. Father has been here and had
some meetings, and they were all very well attended.
He spoke very plainly and practically on holiness,
and I think they all thoroughly understood what he
meant. Two of the fellows said afterwards that it
was an experience they themselves had, but in which
they had never before found any one to sympathize
with them; another came up to me to-day, and said
that what he had heard yesterday he had been enabled to put into practical use to-day:'And it does
work,' he said. Oh, I do so hope the result may be
real, practical, and widespread through the whole
College. All the tracts and books I have to give are
in demand. Do pray that we may have a revival here. "
During the next week Frank's father stopped at
Princeton again, on his way home from Boston, and
on the 7th of April Frank wrote:
" Father's meeting this afternoon made a wonderful impression on all who were there. Two or three
have told me it was the most solemn meeting they
ever attended.  One of the most able fellows here
said it was the crisis of his life.
" Our own little private prayer-meeting on Sabbath morning was on the words'Thywill be done;'
and after five or six had said how necessary consecra



A.tat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I79
tion was, not only advisable but necessary, it seemed
as if I ought to confess openly to my consecration.
This I did, and then said it would be a wonderful
comfort to me to hear how the others felt on the subject. It seemed to shut them right up, and only one
spoke afterwards on consecration, and he only to
confess that he was afraid he was not as fully consecrated as he ought to be.  It is a little curious,
though natural I suppose, that every one is willing to
tell his neighbor, he ought to be consecrated, while
he himself is not willing to do it."
On the I 7th of April the "S. S. S. " had a meeting
at Baltimore, their last on earth, and they passed a
very happy, joyous week together. After Frank's
return, he wrote to his cousin M~ - concerning it:
"I did have an elegant time in vacation, and at
Baltimore. It never was so hard to come back to
study. It seemed like coming from one of those
wonderful places the opium-eaters describe, back to
this dull practical world. I thought, as I came back
in the cars, that it was good for us we did not have
this much pleasure often, or we would grow blase.
In fact, I hardly think we could have more fun than
we do on some of our S. S. S. parties.
" I have been wondering, since I came back,
whether it is the best thing in the world for me to
have my mind filled with an indescribable, romantic,
day-dreamish sort of a desire to do, and to be, something great. I mean, whether I had not better leave
the romantic side of life, and deal simply with the
practical. It is all very well to have high and noble




I80   THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Aitat. 17.
resolves, and to be able to think of them as really
noble. But after all, who accomplish the most,-the
dreamers, or those who quietly let go all ideas of
doing anything grand, and simply throw themselves
into the practical work around them?
"Whenever I get too enthusiastic over my future
prospects, I always throw a damper on myself by remembering that every one who is young and strong,
and in good health, starts in life with a wonderful
determination to do everything. But when he comes
to fight the battle, he finds that he fails. Now, why
should thee, or B., or 1, be any more likely to succeed
than the thousands of others who have been just as
ambitious and just as talented?
"But vale, vale! Sadly, because the S. S. S. is
over, perhaps the last; joyfully, because life and
next summer are ahead! "
On his return to Princeton at this time, Frank
joined with a Junior in taking some very pleasant
rooms, consisting of a common parlor, with a private
bed-room for each, opening into it. And he greatly
enjoyed the change in many ways. The Christian
fellowship of his room-mate was very delightful to
him, and they seemed to be a mutual help and strength
to each other. This room-mate, in writing to us,
since our boy's death, says:
"He was a most genial, pleasant room-mate, and
we had a great deal of enjoyment, in the short time
we were together. I have often said that I did not
think I could have found a pleasanter companion.
"We were in the habit of having' family worship'




AEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   18I
together in our parlor every night before we retired
to our own rooms, and were thus wonderfully drawn
together in our religious life.  One evening I would
read a passage in the Bible, and he would lead in
prayer, and the next he would read, and I would
pray. We were reading through Acts. We often
had long talks on our religious views, which I enjoyed
very much. And although we might not agree exactly, -yet we always separated with a greater respect
for each other's opinions, and there were very few
points on which we differed."
On the 28th, he wrote to his little sister Mary:
" DEAR LITTLE SISTER:
"It is ever so good in thee to write to me. Maybe,
when thee goes to College, and I get little again, I
will write to thee.. How are thy poor measles?
Has thee let them go away yet? I should think they
would get tired of staying with thee so long.
" Did n't thee tell me one morning, when we were
having a frolic together, that thee sometimes sees
ghosts? Well, I went down to the graveyard last
night, all in the dark, to look for a ghost, and what
does thee think I saw? Nothing at all but a few
grave-stones! I guess there are no ghosts, and thee
only thinks thee sees something.
"I am so glad, my precious sister, that papa is
able to tell me thee is a real Christian, trying to be
good.  It makes me love thee more and more.
Write a letter to thy bubba, who loves thee ever so
much.
" FRANK. 




182    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [A.tat. I?.
On the same day, he wrote to me:
" DEAREST MOTHER:
" All safe back here, and delightfully fixed in my
new quarters. But it has seemed harder to come
back this session than it ever has before.  I don't
know why it should; but in order to conquer it, I have
plunged deeply into work. I am not homesick; but
guess I had too good a time in vacation with the'S. S. S.,' etc.
" I forgot to bring any books or tracts of yours on
Holiness back with me, and two or three have asked
for them.  Thee had better send me a small package
by express.   One fellow told me he wrote to his
mother about this Higher Life, not knowing but she
would disapprove of it. She wrote back a long letter, saying it was just what she had believed for a
long while, but that she had never seen any book on
it except Boardman's.  He wants some of ours
to send to her. I think there are several here who
have entered into the experience, but who do not
seem to want to tell it. I expect thee would say I am
one. Perhaps I am, but I have told it once or twice,
and met with but little response,. and it seems to have
shut me up. Not right, I suppose.
"Don't thee think a cultivated intellectual life is
likely to kill the spiritual? How are you to reconcile
the two? Drop the intellectual? I do not mean, of
course, to say that my intellect is very cultivated, but
I can see that when I get particularly zealous to improve it, I seem to grow lukewarm spiritually. Now it
seems to be right and necessary for me, here at Col



AiEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I83
lege at least, to cultivate my mind; and yet I do not
want to kill my spiritual life in doing it. Do tell me
where the medium is to be found. It is a question I
have been puzzling over for a good while.
" Thee cannot imagine how intense a desire has
been slowly begetting itself in me for a long time to
cultivate my mind, and I must now settle the question. If I should have to give up all means of mental
improvement, and become an uneducated preacher
for instance, thee cannot tell what a trial it would be
to me. This is a sticking-point with me, I think,
though I never defined it before.
" It does seem to me sometimes that my lot in life
is almost too happy to be true. I have so many
things to be thankful for.  Just suppose I could
never Arite in this way to thee or father, like some
boys I know, who never write more than two pages
home, simply because they get no sympathy.  If the
older we grow the more enjoyment we have, I do not
know where I will end, I am so happy now."
On May Ist I replied to Frank's question in this
letter, as follows:
" As to thy question about intellectual cultivation,
that is thy present duty; therefore it need not, and
ought not, to hinder thy spiritual life. I do not think
there is anything in intellectual pursuits that is necessarily deadening, any more than there is in any other
pursuit.  Religion is made tofit into our human life
here, with all its needs and all its capabilities; and
it only needs for us, whatever we do, even if it be
eating and drinking, to do it to the glory of God,




I84    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AStat. 17.
and all will adjust itself in harmony with His will.
I believe it is the duty of every one to obtain the best
education possible; and if thee only looks at thy
studies as being thy duty, and as being really pleasing
to God, and then asks His blessing continually on
thy efforts, I think thee will not find them deadening.
It is a great disadvantage to a preacher to be uneducated; but, if he finds himself so, he must do the
best he can with it. If, however, he has an opportunity to remedy it, it is his bounden duty to do so.
Commit this matter to the Lord, dear boy, and trust
Him to keep thee fresh and bright in thy spiritual
life, and it will all be right."
In Frank's reply to this letter, he wrote:
"I did not mean exactly that kind of intellectual
cultivation thee referred too; of course, it is my duty
to get the best education I can, while you are keeping
me here; but what I meant was more in respect to
reading books of literature, -well written standard
works by infidel or sceptical writers, or by authors
who were not in the least degree Christians.  Thee
knows there are a great many of that kind, who
have printed books which are beautifully written, and
which every cultivated man should know about.
What shall I do about these? Thee has only partially settled my perplexities.
"Do suggest some method of carrying on our
little morning meeting, so as to make it lively and
in teresting. "
I replied to this on the 14th of May:




,Etat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I85
"As to thy questions about reading, I would say,
emphatically, No! to any reading for acnusemeznt
which would have a tendency to draw off thy mind
from the truth as it is in Jesus. Reading for infornation is another thing, as all information is valuable in
one's Christian work; but as it is impossible to read
everything, or to pursue all branches of literature,
we ought, I think, to choose those which will help,
and not hinder, our Christian life; and a man is far
more intelligent who thoroughly masters one branch,
than if he has a smattering of a great many. Read all
the books that will really strengthen thy mind and
do thee good; and then, if thee has any time left, thee
can consider about reading other things.  I think
the Holy Spirit is the best guide, however; if He
makes us feel uneasy with any reading, then we must
give it up.  My darling boy, let nothing stand in the
way of entire abandonment to the Lord. Indeed,
this is the only happy way to live, and it will not cut
thee off from any pleasure which is really worth
having, or which could make thy life brighter in any
true sense.
" I cannot tell thee what a comfort and a joy thee
is to me, nor how tenderly I love thee. My confidence in thee is perfect, my boy."
About the same time his father also wrote to him in
reference to these subjects:,, LOUISVILLE, May 4, 1872.
"MY DARLING BOY:
"Weighing one hundred and fifty pounds, and
being stronger than I am, leaves thee still my'boy.'
i6g*




I86    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. l[Atat. 17.
" Thy letter is most welcome. I have been deeply
impressed, in reading John Wesley's Life, by what he
accomplished through definiteness of purpose, and
steady, unwavering persistence in work. He was at his
work,- always at it, —hard at it; and his life-work
has, through God, told on the history of the human
race.  Could his life but convey this lesson to our'boy,' whose life-long habits are now being formed,
what might we not expect from his early start in the
good path!
"And it is so sweet to know that, while we yield
ourselves as' instruments of righteousness,' we do
not have to furnish the power for work. Our Heavenly Father does this; we only'do not frustrate'
His purposes, but just let Him work in us to will and
to do. The effort is not that of'doing,' but of allowing Him to do, unhindered by ourselves.
" Has thee noticed that the greatest instruments in
God's hand have been educated men? - Moses,
Daniel, Paul! What a motive for intense effort to grasp
all thy privileges in this respect. Many of the most
deeply spiritual men of our day have the highest
education; and while thee forever gives up ambition
in thy studies, the love of God should be the motive
with thee, as selfish ambition is with others. Surely,
this should be more all-controlling than ambition to a
child of God. Ignorant Christians are not, therefore, spiritual, nor is it the tendency of ignorance to
make them so. There are probably a hundred ignorant Christians to one educated one; but I question
if the proportion of sluggish Christians is not far
greater in the ranks of the ignorant. Of the steward



./Etat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I87
ship of his natural faculties my son has to give an
account, and his responsibility now is for a liberal
cultivation and enlargement of them;- not for self,
but for God.
"The unusual mercies which surround thee may
waft thee on to untold blessings! God grant that they
may not be used for self, or cause indolence, so that
severe sorrow may become needful to prepare thee to
receive real blessings!
" If some around thee are not in earnest, I trust
that there is at least one who is taking Christ in His
promises, and leading a quiet but' real life hid with
Christ in God'; and, fiom  this Rest, boldly witnessing'where his sanctified judgment shows it is
best' for the Lord Jesus.
"' Do not feel that I am crz'izesing, - I greatly joy
in my boy; so much that I want to see him a holy,
outspoken witness for his Lord.
" Thy loving father,
"ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH."




CHAPTER XV.
0 his cousin M -, Frank wrote on May
IIth from College:.... I am  glad thy father set me
right on that question, when I was with you, for
my theory was just a sort of outgrowth of a rather
puerile brain. However, the outgrowth cleared the
way for the good plant, which will be much more
firmly rooted for having its ground stirred up a little.
I knew thy secret delight at seeing me'squenched,'
and really enjoyed it with thee.  It is fun to have
ideas though, even if they are erroneous; I am sick
of getting everything second-hand.
"I would like to'let off' to thee about what I
ought to be doing at present, instead of idly dreaming about other more interesting things I might be
doing. The first thing I want to do is to carry out
that maxim,' Know thyself,' and find out about my
own mind and its workings.  Well, it is fine here at
college, where every one is studying, and where the
general influence is brain-stimulating. But I long for
a truly sympathizing, congenial friend like we are
to each other. How grand it is that we shall be
together next summer at' the Cedars,' and can read
together and talk.
"And now don't let us spend all our time dreamI88




JAtat. 17.] TJHE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   189
ing of doing something grand, and allow the present
to go; but let us earnestly regard the present, each
moment as we have it, as a priceless treasure to be
used, and not to be dreamed away. I do not mean
to say a little dreaming now and then will hurt us for
actual work; but I like what Longfellow says in his
Psalm of Life:'Act, act in the living present.'
Not act in some grand way in the future, but act now.
I have no objection to having an ideal in moderation,
but I cannot afford to let it carry me away from the
duties of the'living present.'
" Oh, I heard such a splendid speech, in our Hall,
the other night; it was on'Failure,' and the fellow
said that a man who had honestly and truly tried
some great object and had failed, was as worthy of
praise as the one who succeeded; that but for those
who had failed, none would ever succeed; and that
many men become mere nothings in the world, because they do not dare to fail.  Do let us dare to
fail, if it is inevitable, and then perhaps some one
else, out of our wrecked hopes, may build up a firm
edifice. What difference who builds the great house
of our objects, so that it is only built? And if we can
be but the corner-stone, hidden away down in the
foundation, we will know the building rests on us,
and that, unless we had been so buried, the building
could not have been built.
"I never had thought of thy illustration of the
knight and his armor. We have always so admired
those stories of our dear old heroes, Launcelot, and




I90o   THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
Galahad, and Tristram, and the rest; and it is splendid to be able to think of them in connection with
ourselves and our poor lives, which seem so unromantic. But just here comes a question which is to
me one of extreme importance. The knights of all
our dear old romances fought for some lady, and laid
their trophies at her feet. Now who are we three
knights to fight for, and at whose feet do we propose
to lay our trophies? I don't want to lecture, and
especially not to preach; but do we expect to give the
glory of our lives to ourselves, or to God? He asks
for it, and are we to keep it for ourselves? Oh!
let us look at this fairly and squarely, and have no
flinching to commence with.  I am far more in earnest than ever before; and I do think this is the question to start with. We are not to lay our honors at
God's feet in a general way, and really keep them
ourselves; but personally and particularly He must
have them all. Please, don't call this a'preach,' for
I am just putting down what is going on in my own
mind on this subject.
"I do hope our lives, as thee says, may lie side by
side, in the pursuit of our ideal. Our paths may be
very different; but that we may each help and
encourage the other, in our upward way, I do sincerely hope.
"Thee knows it is said, a man can make himself
whatever he pleases; and thee also knows, probably,
that I am naturally very careful of what people say.
Now, without running to the other extreme, I want to
go ahead and do what I ought to do, as if there was
no' Mrs. Grundy.'  Maybe thee will help me a




A:tat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.  I9
little, as it will be tough work fighting one's nature.
"But I must stop, and sign myself thy fellowclimber up the Ideal mountain; and though the way
is rough, and there are many briers, and it perplexes
us sometimes to know our path, still there is the top
always above us, and here and there we see restingplaces, and dreamlands, and we can help each other
a little. So let us hope.
"Thy prosaic cousin,            FRANK."
On the x9th he wrote to me, still continuing the
question as to the proper sort of reading for a young
Christian:
I....   I am not quite settled on the reading point
yet. Thee says not to read anything for amusement,
which will draw my mind away from divine things;
of course, I agree to that.  But, when we read for
instruction, ought we not to choose out those books
which are written in the best style on the subjects we
are studying? For instance, ought I to read Hume,
when I am reading English History; or ought I to
reject him, because he was an infidel? Ought I to
refuse to read Gibbon's History of Rome for the same
reason? Or, carry it a little further, ought I to read
Livy or Homer, for they were Pagans?
" I am just beginning to realize how very crude
my mind is; and, in fact, to think that I have never
really thought before. I suspect I have been pretty
full of emptiness for the last sixteen years or so, and
am just waking up to the fact. It is very hard work
to learn really to think. But I am trying to put my




I92    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Astat. 17.
telf through on metaphysics, and to follow out a very
few ideas of my own.
"I am going to put another question to thee that
puzzles me. How far is ambition right? I mean,am
I to hold before myself a desire to do something
great and good; or, should I rather expect to be just
a commonplace humdrum sort of man, doing good
of course as much as I can, but never making much
effort or stir? I could not bear the thought of settling down into nothingness. Now, is it wrong to
seek for influence and a name, using, of course, perfectly right means? I hope I have made myself
clear, for I want the question answered, please.
"I do not know of anything I have not given up.
I acknowledge I would feel a little disappointed, if I
should be called to go as a missionary to the South
Sea Islands, for instance; but still I would go.  I
could not, however, help the feeling of disappointment. But despite my consecration and trust, which
are earnest, so far as I kno6w, I do not feel that exquisite joy some speak of, except at very rare intervals, when thee, or father, or some one, stirs me up."
I replied to this letter as follows:
"That reading-question is a difficult one, I confess. I think I would not object to read a History
written by an infidel, if it was a standard work; but
I would not read any book by the same author, written on the subject of religion.  Hume's History
would not hurt; but his book on Miracles might be
of untold injury to the soul. I think the only really
safe and wise plan is to pray about thy reading, and




sEtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I93
to trust the Lord Himself to teach thee. Thee need
not form any plan, but just take each book as it presents, to the Lord, and ask Him about it, and if thy
heart feels free to read it, then do so; I think this will
solve the difficulty.
"As to thy other question, I would answer, emphatically, that it is right for a Christian to try and
be the very best he can.  Paul says to Timothy,'Study to show thyself approved, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed.' Our Master wants to
have polished instruments for His service; and it is
thy duty to use thy present training-time to the very
best advantage. No, we must not settle down into
anything humdrum or commonplace. Be in everything the best thee can. Get all the influence thee
can, and all the power thee can, and consecrate it to
the Lord. Don't let Satan have all the benefit of
ambition in his kingdom; but let thy soul be fired
with a holy ambition to excel in everything for the
Lord's sake, —just as father prayed that his management of the factories at M. might be successful, in
order that Christ might be glorified. The longing to
be something and to do something is divinely implanted in every heart, and it would be unnatural to
try and quench it; all we must do is, to let this
longing reach out after doing and being something
for the Lord; and this is glorious ambition! To be
co-workers with God, how grand! What a destiny
to be ours I To be made a partner of Rothschild
would be something; but to be made a partner of
God, how immeasurably more! Paul says,'Covet
earnestly the best gifts,' so it is our duty to do it.
17               N




I94    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
"As for joy, dear Frank, do not be troubled at
not having it continually. Our feelings vary with the
variations in our physical condition, or our surroundings; but our faith may remain unchanged
through everything, and it is this we must watch
over.  Our joy is very sweet to us, but our faith is
more precious to the Lord."
To his father, Frank wrote, on the 22d of May:
".... This Princeton atmosphere is waking me
up, intellectually, a good deal. I am beginning to
realize, as I have not fully done before, that my mind
needs a great deal of cultivation in every respect. I
am storing up all the good practical sayings I hear;
and am acting on them whenever I can. One thing
I am trying very hard to persist in, and that is to be
doing something all the time; never to idle, or trifle
away time, as thee advised me. So don't think thy
admonitions are altogether thrown away, even if I
do not act immediately on them.
"Thee cannot realize for me the necessity of
keeping myself pure, half as much as I realize it
for myself —pure both in body and mind. It is, in
fact, my most earnest prayer that I may be made
entirely so.
" I want to know, father, if it is possible for us
to give ourselves in an entire abandonment to
Christ, unless we are brought to it by some trial?
I don't think a person ought to wait for that trial;
but, somehow, I seem to think that no one can know
thefull preciousness of'abiding in Christ,' until they
have some sorrow; and I am afraid I will not until
then. "




XAtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY-LIFE.    I95
This was our boy's last letter to his home; and the
question with which it closed was destined to be
gloriously answered in the brightness of the Lord's
presence, where he was so soon to enter upon the fulness o-f joy for evermore, with no need of sorrow or
of discipline ever again. It was his blessed portion
to yield the free-hearted consecration of a life that
had never known any deep trial; and to be in his
own sweet experience a happy proof that sorrow is
not a necessary preparation for abiding in Christ, but
only the alternative, where the tender wooings of
grace have not proved effectual.
Frank's eyes failing him, as they usually did in the
spring, he came home the last day of May, and was
unable to complete the collegiate year. And before
another College year rolled round, he had done with
colleges forever, and had entered upon the life where
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are opened
to his eager spirit, and where the highest aspirations
of his soul, after a full and perfect development, have
been lost in amazed surprise at the infinity made his
own.
After his return home, Frank had a very happy
time, visiting his friends, and enjoying the quiet
country pleasures at "the Cedars," where we had
gone about the first of June.
Among other visits, he spent several days with
some of the old Hestonville party at West Chester
and Wilmington, and was delighted at this opportunity of renewing and strengthening the sweet ties of
Christian friendship that had been formed two years
before. Two of the party were engaged to be mar



I96    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I7.
ried, and this, of course, introduced an element of
great interest to Frank, who laughed a good deal in
his quiet, happy way, as he told me on his return of
the fun he had in attempting to tease the youthful
pair.
As always upon their reunion, so now, this precious
band of young Christians found one of their sweetest
sources of enjoyment, when together, to consist in
their religious fellowship, and in the little occasional
prayer-meetings they managed always to have. Frank
himself did not say much about this to me; but one
young lady of the party, writing to me since, says:
"Very much of our intercourse during those days
at West Chester and Wilmington was religious, - and
was very precious.  The expression of Frank's face,
as he testified during that time to the Lord's goodness to him, and especially the tones of his voice as
they rose in earnest pleading to the throne of Grace,
have come back to me over and over with wonderful
power and reality.
" The last prayer-meeting we ever had together was
at Westchester on First-day night. There were some
young people there of whose Christian standing we
did not feel sure, and when Frank was talking of
having the meeting, he said:' Now is the time to
show our colors, and we must not be afraid to
do it.'
"That meeting I shall never forget.   Frank
prayed; and although I cannot recall the words of
his prayer, I remember realizing that he had grown
very much since I had heard him pray before. He




EWtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    I97
was very anxious for the conversion of one of his
friends, and regretted very much that we had not had
a little prayer-meeting together while this one had been
with us. But at last, he said, we must leave it all with
the Lord, since He had not seemed to make a way
for the meeting, and must believe that He would
make all things work for the best.
" When we left W., we rode in the cars together
for two or three hours, and had a delightful talk on
religious subjects.  We spoke of the right sort of
conversation for Christians, of the medium between
austerity and too great freedom. He told me also of
a conversation he had had with his father, which had
been a great comfort and help to him, in which his
father had said, that a young Christian need not be
discouraged because he had not the depth of peace
and rest he saw in those more advanced; for that these
grew with our growth, and were always greater in
those whose experience in this Higher Life had been
of longer duration."
The only letter Frank wrote after this was one sent
from "the Cedars," on the g9th of June, to his cousin
Minnie, whom he was eagerly expecting to join him
there:
" DEAR MINNIE:
"Could n't before. Dreadful sorry. Sore eyes.
Came home; been visiting ever since.
" Feel prepared for our work this slimmer, which
is to be our armor-making time? We can blow each
other's fires, only I am afraid mine has the least fuel,
and will burn out the quickest. The Philadelphia
17 *




I98    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
Library will not be shut up, so we can have that all
summer. Does thee know yet what books we want?
" Do hurry on here, so that we can talk. I think
abstract subjects afford an endless field of fun to us.
We have hardly ever thought about them before, and
they have the charm of being fresh.  It is a perfect
joy to me to talk about them, so do hurry on to' the
Cedars.'
" Do let us put a little practical into our dreams.
First, if thee and I are to accomplish anything,
how can we do it best, —by writing, by public
speaking, or by our individual influence over individuals? Second, where can we do it best? And,
third, what, when done, will amount to most; that
is, will do others most good? We must talk this over
this summer, and then set to work definitely to prepare ourselves; just as Herodotus worked at his style
that he might write a history, or as Demosthenes
overcame his stammering that he might become an
orator. Hard work and steady application to one
purpose will accomplish wonders; and as I need
wonders, I must have the hard work and application.
I am willing to put years of hard work on my' ideal,'
and then fail, if necessary; though I most certainly
shall not fail, if hard work can help it.
".... We do need a great deal of armor, and
so, it seems to me, we should direct our especial and
earnest attention to finding out what weapons we
really must have, in order that we may get only such
as will be most useful; not attempting any which
there is but little probability of our ever using.  We
must read as much as our eyes and health will per



AEtat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   I99
mit; exercise as much of the remaining time as we
can; find out things by talking whenever and wherever we get a chance; and, while we are exercising,
and all the rest of the time, think! It is an intensely
interesting occupation to me, to find out the best way
to think. No one can tell another; each one must
find it out for himself. Another thing, we must study
human nature.
"Much obliged for what thee said about the reality
of my consecration. I do want it to be real."
On the Ist of July the large party of cousins gathered at " the Cedars," all bright with health and
spirits, little thinking that, before two short months
would pass, the oldest of that happy group would be
taken from their midst, to join the company of the
redeemed in Heaven.
On the 4th of July, Frank joined us at Sea Cliff
Grove, on Long Island, where we had gone a few
days previously, to attend the National Camp Meeting for the promotion of Holiness, or "the Higher
Christian Life." For ten days we camped out there in
tents, attending meetings having this definite subject
in view all day long. Our dear boy enjoyed the services of these ten days exceedingly, and felt it to have
been a season of great blessing to his soul. A young
lady, with whom he was much associated during
these meetings, thus writes concerning him:
"During these pleasant ten days I spent with
Frank, I had many conversations with him on religious subjects, in which he helped me to come out
decidedly on the Lord's side; especially he helped




200    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. I7.
me to understand the subject of sanctification by
faith; and, although he never said much about himself, still I knew from his conversation that he enjoyed
this blessing. I found a friend in him such as I have
never found in any other young man.
"In one of our'young people's meetings,' he
spoke of the trials and temptations of College life,
and of his own weakness; but told us of his confidence in God's power to deliver him and strengthen
him. He also spoke in one of the more public
meetings, confessing his entire consecration to the
Lord, and his sweet sense of being fully accepted
by Him."
Another lady, older than himself, who was much
with him while there, says:
"I shall not soon forget some of the sweet talks I
had with Frank at Sea Cliff about the Higher Life.
In one of these he said,' I think the best way is to
live Christ, and then, when we speak, we will be believed;' and added, that he did pray that his life in
College might be such as would make his fellowstudents believe holiness to be attainable. He said,
on another occasion, that he thought it did not do
much good to argue about this doctrine, but to let
people understand plainly your own faith in regard
to it, as if you were not ashamed of it, and then hold
on to it firmly, without getting angry at anything they
might say or do; he said he thought' this had more
influence than anything else.'
" In the last conversation we had together, he said,
after speaking of his responsibilities because of so




AEtat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   20I
much teaching;' But I do not think much about the
future. I do not know why it is, but somehow I cannot make any plans for the coming College year; I
do not look that far into the future. I never before
felt just as I do now; but I know the Lord will lead
me, and I just leave it with Him. I want to work
for Christ; but I only want to do it in whatever way
He may see best.'
"In reply I quoted those lines:
"' It may not be my way; it may not be thy way;
But yet, in His own way, the Lord will provide.'
Adding,'and we need not arrange nor choose.' I
seem now to see his smile and the bright light in his
eye, as he answered,'Yes, the Lord's way is best for
us all.'
"Ah! little did we know that even then the path
of glory was the Lord's way for him; and that a few
more days would reveal to his enraptured gaze the
gates of the celestial city!
" How often have his words, with their sweet emphasis, recurred to me since, when tempted to question
or complain -'The Lord's way is best;' and they
have many times strengthened faith and love in my
soul. "
Our dear boy returned from Sea Cliff to " the
Cedars" on the Is5th of July, and spent a happy
week with his cousins there, in all sorts of out-door
amusements, and in the " armor-making " work they
had been so long planning.
On the 22d of July, I872, the four older cousins,
Frank, M., B., and W., started on a long antici



202    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [ZEstat. 17.
pated "expedition," to explore the upper stream
of the Brandywine. The company consisted of half
a dozen of the Hestonville party, and a few more of
their young friends, and it was led by the father of two
of the young ladies. They met at his summer home
near West Chester, Pa.; and taking several carriages,
and a wagon with provisions for pic-nicking, they
drove leisurely through the beautiful scenery of
Chester, Lancaster, and Berks counties, lodging at
night at the village inns, and stopping by day to
explore, and climb, and row, as their fancy dictated.
From the wooded heights of Ephrata they looked
over a broad expanse comprising many of the eastern
counties of Pennsylvania; and returning by way of
Coatesville, had an unsurpassed view of the " Great
Valley," from Caln meeting-house, after a charming
ramble along the West Branch of the Brandywine.
Each member of the party had an office. Frank
was " Botanist;" and the very names, " Historian,"
" Astronomer,'' " Artist, " "Poet, "  " Hostler,"''
"Caterer," and "Picker-up," will long recall to
all of them vivid scenes of adventure, some full of
fun, others of serious danger.
The friend from whose house they started writes
as follows, concerning this short episode in our boy's
life:
"While I had known Frank from a little child,
my acquaintance with him had been but slight before
our living together during these pleasant days. I
cannot well put into words the sense that grew upon
me of the remarkable combination of manliness and




,Etat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   203
meekness in his character. There was a magnetism
about him that brought one very close to him. Before the beginning of each day's fun and work, and
after it was over, we drew near together to the same
Mercy-seat, and at such times his soul seemed to
take hold of the Invisible with an earnestness rare in
one so young. The Lord Jesus was with him an ever
present Friend and Helper; so that, whether in the
height of our enjoyment, or in the more serious moments when we talked together of the ways of God,
he was alike a faithful witness for Him whom he
loved. What I now recall most vividly, as I look
back to this little journey, is the modesty and ingenuousness he exhibited in all our undertakings, the
unselfishness he constantly showed when it was not
easy to prefer others to himself, and the fact, very
early apparent, that he was to be absolutely trusted
in any duty assigned him.
" He was not very well on two or three occasions,
and more than once he expressed what now seems a
strange presentiment of his early death.  One of the
party relates that, as they stood together in a little
country graveyard, Frank said to her,' I wonder which
of us will be taken first? I think I shall die young!'
And, after the return of the party to West Chester,
the evening before they separated, as they sat in the
moonlight on the piazza, the conversation turned
again, as it often had, upon death and the wonders to
be revealed to us hereafter. Frank did not take an
active part in this, but was silent and thoughtful. But
at another time when we were together, as if in unconscious recognition of the change so soon to come to




204     THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Ntat. 17.
him, he called attention to the closing passages in
Tennyson's ivorte D'Arthur, and  repeated  aloud
the impressive lines beginning:'Ah, my Lord Arthur! whither shall I go?'
And slowly answered Arthur from the barge:' The old order changeth, yielding place to new
And God fulfils Himself in many ways,
Lest one poor custom should corrupt the world.
Comfort thyself! What comfort is in me?
I have lived my life, and thaf which I have done
May He Himself make pure! But thou
If thou shouldst never see my face again,
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of.
But now, farewell! I am going a long way
To the island valley of Avilion;
Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow,
Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies
Deep-meadowed, happy, fair with orchard lawns,
And bowery hollows crowned with summer sea,
Where I will heal me of my grievous wound.'
"Some of us who heard him can never read these
words again without associating them with our last
hours with Frank on earth."
The night after the return of our four to "the
Cedars," we had our usual First-day evening Bible
class in grandpa Whitall's parlor. The subject of
our lesson was the " Present possessions of the believer; " and dear Frank was very much interested.
When the text, "He that believeth hath everlasting
life," was read, a very earnest discussion followed, in




stat. 17.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.   205
which he seemed to be seeking to enter into the
meaning of these wonderful words more deeply than
ever he had done before, as though his soul might
have felt the foreshadowing of the glorious unfolding
of this life, which a few short days was to bring him.
We talked until pretty late, and the last words dear
Frank said, as I kissed him good-night in the hall,
were something in reference to this eternal life. Had
I but known that never again would I have an opportunity of talking with my son on these blessed themes,
how much there was I would have said and asked!
And yet there was no need; for, surely, never had
there been a sweeter or fuller intimacy between
parents and child, than had always existed between
our son and ourselves.
The next day was his last well day on earth, the
last opportunity he and his cousin MA    ever had
for their " armor-making." They climbed into a
favorite tree, and read to each other out of Dante
and Milton; and learned together a little poem,
which seems now strangely significant of the parting
that was so soon to come:
" I go my way, thou goest thine,
Many ways we wend;
Many days and many ways
Ending in one end.
Many a wrong and its curing song,
Many a road and many an inn;
Room to roam, but only one Home
For the whole world to win."
And Frank's last words to this darling cousin were
these lines, so prophetic, which he repeated to her
I8




206    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [Altat. 17.
that night as they separated on the stairs on their way
to bed.
The next day Frank  seemed drooping.   We
attributed it to the fatigue of the expedition at first;
but a bad headache coming on, and continuing, we
put him to bed, and sent for the doctor. His grandma
Whitall arranged a chamber for him in the quiet of
their larger house, just across the lawn from our little
cottage; and there, surrounded by all the tender care
that love could give, he passed the ten days of his
illness, and closed his eyes on earth in the very spot
of all others that he and we would have chosen, could
we have arranged it for ourselves.
The first day of his sickness the thought passed
through my mind that it might be typhoid fever;
and as I sat beside his bed with my work, an instinct
within me seemed to urge me to ask him for some
last words of assurance and peace, although I little
thought they would be the last.  I said to him,
" Frank, this may be typhoid fever. Suppose it is,
would thee be afraid to die? " " Oh, no," he answered, very cheerfully, "not at all." We sat
silent for a few moments after this, while I was pursuing in my own mind the thoughts of the blessedness
of being taken home to Heaven, and how greatly it
was to be desired by all of us; and then I continued,
"It would be rather nice, after all, to die, -
would n't it, Frank?"   "Why, yes," was his still
cheerful reply, " it would.  Only I would like to live
and work for Jesus."  I comforted him with saying
that he need not trouble himself about this; that, if
the Lord wanted him He would keep him, and if He
did not, it would be glorious to enter so early upon




~tat. I7.] THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    207
the unspeakable bliss of being with Jesus. And this
was the last talk I ever had with my boy!
He rapidly grew worse, became delirious, and,
was so very sick that it seemed unkind to rouse him,
even to answer a question. On the fifth day of his
illness, his father was sitting beside him, and, in a
lucid moment, he turned and said, "Father, is this
the end?"  "I think not," was his father's reply;
"but if it should be, it will all be well."  "Oh,
yes," he exclaimed, "I know that, but then I would
have liked to have done some work for Him /"  In
a moment he was wandering again, and these were
his last intelligent words.
On the afternoon of the 8th he had a struggle
which lasted for a short time, and then he gradually
but surely failed. The cold chill of death slowly
crept up his limbs, his breath grew shorter and
shorter, and at half-past five o'clock, on the afternoon of the 8th of August, I872, Frank's earthly life
was over, and his glorious heavenly life with Jesus
had begun.
Our son had left us. But the sweet memories of
his life, and the precious savor of his dedicated spirit
were with us still; and every relic we found among
his papers and his private treasures, only revealed to
us afresh how deep and true had been his Christian
experience. The next day after his death we took
from the pocket of his every-day coat, which we
found hanging in his room, his little daily note-book,
and there we met with a sweet surprise; for we found
his last precious confession, in the form of the consecration on the opposite page, which reveals in its
completeness the secret of his pure and happy life.




208    THE RECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE. [AEtat. 17.
Another precious consolation awaited us when
we opened the Bible which had been Frank's constant companion ever since his fourteenth birthday, in
i868. We found it full of pencil-marks made around
his favorite verses, - revealing, in this way, much of
his inner life, and his appreciation of the truth of
God. Especially we rejoiced to see that those verses
which declare the love and goodness of God, and
develop the simplicity of a life of faith in the Lord
Jesus Christ, were the most deeply marked; and that
the last chapters in Revelation, where the glories and
the joys of Heaven are revealed, had also been
peculiarly precious to him, while as yet he had had
no thought of so soon entering into the possession of
them.
" Some gentle souls there are who yield unto my'love,
And ripening fast beneath my care, I early can remove."
Such was our boy. All that many an older
Christian has learned only through years of painful
discipline and sore trials, his fresh young heart apprehended by a childlike faith, while yet his life was
free from care or sorrow, and filled with all its early
brightness.
The Gospel had come to him as, in very truth,
" glad tidings of great joy; " he had believed it, and
it had made him happy. And it was no half-gospel
he believed, nor was it a partial Saviour in whom he
trusted, but Jesus was to him a full, a perfect, and a
present Saviour from the power, as well as from the
guilt of sin; and his life bore daily and hourly witness to the reality of his trust, and to the mighty
power and perfect trustworthiness of his Saviour.




,Etat. I7.] THE R'ECORD OF A HAPPY LIFE.    209
It was Frank's singular privilege to learn in the
beginning of his Christian life the WAY OF FAITH.
Not only was the truth that we are justified by faith,
and made the children of God by faith, understood
by him, but he also apprehended the far deeper
truth, that the believer is called to live by faith, to
stand by faith, to walk by faith, and to overcome by
faith; and it is no wonder, that, possessing this secret,
his soul early ripened for Heaven, and the Lord could
call him home.
On his eighteenth birthday, the I2th of August,
I872, he was committed to the earth in Laurel Hill
Cemetery, in the sure hope of a joyous resurrection.
18*              0








A DEDICATION.
I take God the Father to be my God.
I THESS. i:: 9.
I take God the Son to be my Saviour.
ACTS 5: 3.I
I take God the Holy Ghost to be my Sanctifier.
I PETER 1: 2.
I take the Word of God to be my rule.
2 TIM. 3: i6, 17.
I take the people of God to be my people.
RUTH I: i6, 17.
I likewise dedicate my whole self to the Lord.
ROM. I4: 7, 8.
And I do this deliberately.
JOSH. 24: 15.
Sincerely.
2 COR. I: 12.
Freely.
PSA. Ilo: 3.
And for ever.
ROM. 8: 35, 39