Of her I may say, every talent given was duly improved; for she did not spare herself, but her strength, her time, and substance, she cheerfully devoted to the benefit of the souls and bodies of others; and as her prayers were very prevalent, so were her charities very extensive. Upon this subject, before I proceed, I feel it my duty to make one remark: I have heard some persons say, “O she was imposed upon.” But, as I knew her better than any person now alive, I must beg leave to affirm, that she was not the dupe of the designing; her good sense was equal to her piety, and her charities were conducted with such a degree of wisdom, that fraudulent cases, in a general way, were detected by her: though, whenever a doubtful case occurred, she would say, “it is better to be on the right side, and to give a trifle to an unworthy object, than run a risk of overlooking one that ought to be relieved.” Upon such occasions no doubt the worthless have sometimes partaken of her bounty, but never to any considerable amount. She was one of a thousand for economy; always sparing of expense upon herself, that she might have the more to give to the household of faith. She would often say, “God’s receivers upon earth, are, Christ’s church and poor.” When, I have proposed the purchase of some article of clothing for her, she would say, “is it quite necessary? if it is not, do not buy it; it will be much better to give the money to some of our poor neighbours, than to lay it out upon me.” Nor was this once only; it was invariably her conduct, and with great truth it may be said, that “What her charity impair’d She saved by prudence in affairs.” She was always remarkably exact in setting down every penny she expended. She kept four different accounts, in which all she spent was included; these four were, the house, sundries, clothes, and poor. We have often at the end of the year been astonished to find the house expensed so small, considering how many had shared with us: at such times, she has said, “It is the Lord who has blessed our bread and water.” I have, in former years, taken up the book in which she kept her accounts, and wept over it, with the consideration, that I should one day probably have to settle it alone; and now I have drank of the bitter cup. A few days ago, I entered upon the work; and I think it right, as a confirmation of what I have before advanced, to state the difference between the expenses of her clothes, and what she had dispensed to the poor. On making up the account of her clothes, I found the whole year’s expenditure amounted to nineteen shillings and six-pence; this was every penny that had been laid out; on her own person, for the whole year. {27}