Since we left Minnesota, Mary had apparently been slowly recovering from the invalidism of the past. She enjoyed life. She could occasionally attend religious meetings. The society of Beloit was very congenial. Sometimes she was able to attend the ministers' meetings, and enjoyed the literary and religious discussions and criticisms. The last winter--that of 1868-69--she became exceedingly interested in a book called "The Seven Great Hymns of the Mediæval Church." She read and re-read the various translations of _Dies Iræ_. But she was attracted most to the _Hora Novissima_ of Bernard of Cluni. Such a stanza as the 26th:-- "Thou hast no shore, fair ocean! Thou hast no time, bright day! Dear fountain of refreshment To pilgrims far away! "Upon the Rock of Ages They raise thy holy Tower; Thine is the victor's laurel, And thine the golden Dower." And the 29th:-- "Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest, Beneath thy contemplation, Sink heart and voice oppressed. "I know not, oh, I know not, What social joys are there; What radiancy of glory, What light beyond compare!" But these and others were all eclipsed by the last, which seemed afterward to have been a prophecy of what was near at hand, and yet neither she nor we anticipated it:-- "Exult, O dust and ashes! The Lord shall be thy part; His only, his forever, Thou shalt be, and thou art!" This was a fascination to her. We were blind at the time, and did not see afar off. Now it is manifest that even then she was preparing to go to "Jerusalem the only." _She was tenting in the Land of Beulah._ For years past Mary had almost ceased to write letters. Neither her physical nor mental condition had permitted it. But a letter is found written on the 2d of February, 1869, which must have been the very last she ever wrote. Along with it she sent a copy of some of the stanzas from _Hora Novissima_, which at this time were such an enjoyment to her. The letter is addressed to Isabella, in China. She writes: "Your last letter, written October 5, '68, was received January 5, 1869. All your letters are very precious to us, but this is peculiarly so. Perhaps I have written this before; but if I have, I am glad again to acknowledge the joy it gives me that our Father gives you faith to look gratefully beyond the passing shadows of this life into the abiding light of the life to come. "Was the 19th of First Chronicles the last chapter we read in family worship before you left home? If so, the 13th verse must be the one you read: 'Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in his sight.' Even so let it be. May you ever 'be strong in the Lord.'"