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limit which had restrained her youthful imagination, she justly feared the danger of transgressing it for herself and others: thus restricted, the enjoyment, so far as it was permitted, was without a sting.

Her husband, also, scrupulously endeavoured to keep his genius for literature in subjection to higher objects: if he had turned the bent of his mind to it, he probably might have excelled in poetry. Those who have no taste of this kind themselves, are in danger of mistaking their motives, when they condemn those who have. None who are sensible of the beauties of literature can despise them, however they may feel themselves circumscribed in the indulgence of their inclination. Of a winter's evening, Elizabeth Shackleton frequently brought those scholars who belonged to her own religious society, into the parlour, to read her the journals of Friends, as she sat at work. She was also pleased at hearing history read to her, generally by the young students who were parlour-boarders. This employment was the more agreeable and instructive, because she had an excellent memory and sound judgment. She entered into the characters of those held up to view, often supplied the thread of the narration, when it had escaped the young. reader, and took a lively interest in the public or private events which were narrated. She persuaded herself that Caligula's reason was impaired by the fever which had seized him before he was raised to the imperial dignity, and therefore imputed to insanity, the apparent change of character, and the subsequent horrors of his reign. She lamented and blamed the timidity of Seneca, which deterred him from curbing the headstrong passions of Nero; believing, that had he been faithful in the discharge of his duty, his pupil might have been awakened to a sense of his enormities, and the preceptor been longer spared to a degenerate age. It was natural that this fault should appear evident to one who was herself religiously con

cerned to avoid it; for she believed it was required of her, in many instances, to admonish those whose improper words or actions came under her notice. She spoke not of those offenders; she spoke to them; though in doing thus she took up the cross, and often for a time felt it heavy; but whatever the rank, or how little soever acquainted with the person, she must fulfil her apprehended duty, to obtain that peace, which, flowing as a river, amply rewarded such sacrifices. It need scarcely be added, that in these performances, her own will being laid aside, she was instructed so to speak, as seldom, if ever, to offend; and we cannot calculate how much good may have been produced by those alms (if they may be so termed) given in secret. The manner in which Elizabeth Shackleton was strengthened to perform her duties, is thus described by herself.

"Being sensible of my own inability, my dependance was on Divine help, which I had often experienced in times of need. I was favoured with understanding and knowledge for the business, beyond what I could have thought; my careful, industrious husband assisting in many things belonging to my department as well as his own; so that we were reciprocally helpful one to the other, sympathizing and bearing burdens one for the other, in our arduous calling; and both being near of an age, and favoured, for many years, with a good degree of health, our success in endeavouring to do our duty was an encouragement, and our minds were preserved in a grateful sense of the gracious dealings of the Lord to us. And notwithstanding our close and constant engagements, so that we seldom left home on other occasions, we found it but our reasonable duty to attend the meetings for discipline to which we belonged, as well as quarterly and half-yearly meetings; also to show, by an exemplary life, the efficacy of the principles of truth we professed to be led by, amongst

the numerous acquaintance we had; being employed by many who knew little or nothing of those principles."

An instance of this occurred, when a gentlewoman, on leaving her son, requested of Richard Shackleton that he might be permitted to read the Bible. He, amazed, expressed his surprise that she should place her child where such a request was necessary, assuring her that the Bible was daily read in the family. She asked his excuse, telling him that she understood that George Fox's Journal was substituted instead of it, by those of his profession. At another time, the son of a man of fortune was brought to his school by his mother, who, till she came to Ballitore, had never seen one of the people called Quakers. Elizabeth Shackleton queried why she brought her son among a people who were such strangers to her. She answered, that she had heard a good character of them, although they differed from the Church of England concerning baptism and the supper. This lad spent most of his childhood, and some of his youth, at Ballitore, perhaps the happiest part of his life; for when he lay in an American prison, dying of wounds received in a battle, in which the British army (wherein he was an officer) was defeated, and the prison was so crowded as to aggravate the pangs of death, "If I were at Ballitore I should not be thus neglected," were almost the last words he uttered.

One of the pupils, an only child, died of the small-pox; and Elizabeth Shackleton lost her own child, then also an only one, about the same time, of the same distemper. "This," said she, "proved a trial to me, which I hope was of service; believing, that whatever afflictions are permitted to attend us, are for our good, if we make a right use of them, and more and more cast our care on Him who careth for his humble dependant children."

CHAP. III.

A further account of Abraham Shackleton.Death of his wife. Various Letters.-Illness and death of Abraham Shackleton.

We shall now return to Abraham Shackleton. After his release from the duties which he had faithfully performed in an arduous occupation, he found himself more at liberty for the service of that religious society of which he was a member. Besides a constant, regular attendance of the particular and general meetings to which he more immediately belonged, he paid frequent visits, in company with friends, to meetings in several parts of this nation; and several times attended the yearly meeting in London, even in the time of old age, and when natural strength failed, yet his spiritual as well as intellectual faculties witnessed no decay. He did not appear in the character of a minister; yet, many times, in religious meetings, in the families of his friends, and among his own household, his words would drop from him with such sweetness and energy, as carried with them an evidence that they were brought up from the well of life and salvation. Beloved and respected by all who knew him, for his unblemished life and useful labours, he was to the last preserved in deep humility and diffidence; preferring others to himself, walking among his brethren with all lowliness and meekness; and exercising no authority in the church, but in the fresh sense of the power of an endless life. Edifying and instructive, indeed, were his words; but still more so his life and manners. In the virtue of temperance he was an eminent pattern; being remarkably abstemious in meat, drink,

and sleep; and was solicitous to enforce the practice of this virtue. Solid and exemplary in his own deportment, he was grieved when he observed levity of conduct or conversation in others. He greatly enjoyed hearing any thing good or commendable of his fellow-creatures, and uniformly discouraged all detraction; closely attending to, and practising the counsel of his Great Master, who enjoined that we should in all things do to men as we would that they should do to us. He delighted in retirement, and for that purpose frequently walked alone in the fields. Even when he was in company, the interior travail of his soul was visible in his countenance. Thus he continued to devote the evening, as he did the morning of his day, to the service of Him who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not; and when from home on a religious account, his mind was still tenderly turned towards those left behind, as appears by the following fragments.

In the year 1760, Abraham Shackleton attended the yearly meeting in London, and addressed his son during its sittings, from which the following is an extract.

A. S. TO HIS SON.

"London, 2d of 6th Month, 1760.

"There really seems a good hand at work, to gather and bring things into better order. Fifty-eight friends offered themselves willingly, to visit the monthly and quarterly meetings in the nation; and I hope they will have the hand of the Lord upon them, to work for Him. I thought my heart was a little like Deborah's, when the narrow path was not sufficiently occupied, and those under the profession of truth had taken to by-ways, that my very heart rejoiced, and was with the willing in Israel, that offered themselves to the work.” * **

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