so deep a sense of loss with all who knew her, that it seems befitting to pen some little memorial of her life, in the hope that many who were not privileged to come within its gracious influence might derive encouragement from being afresh reminded that lives of simple, every-day sincerity and kindliness, are of the utmost value in testifying to the worth of the Christian spirit, preaching as they do more eloquently than spoken words, and producing wide and far-reaching effects, often in unsuspected quarters. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Wright, and was born at Bury St. Edmunds in 1822. While she was still quite a babe her parents removed to Sudbury, Suffolk, where she continued to reside until womanhood, and where other branches of the family still keep alive its connection with that meeting. Being the youngest member of the family, her education was completed at home without recourse to any of the public schools in connection with the Society. Although naturally of a lively and cheerful disposition, and always full of the enjoyment of life, she seems at a comparatively early age to have come under the tendering operations of the Divine influence; and though never much given to talking of her spiritual experiences, except for the consolation or assistance of others, she always manifested that seriousness of deportment and rectitude of conduct which are characteristic of those to whom religious concerns are matters of weight and vitality. She came to the Potteries about the year 1848 as housekeeper to her brother, who was in business at Hanley; and thus originated her long connection with Staffordshire Monthly Meeting. Always a regular attender of meetings for worship, she devoted no little share of time and attention to the affairs of the Society of Friends, and filled the office of Clerk to the Women's Meeting for nearly thirty years. In 1862 she was married to Henry Watson, of Newcastle, a union that proved through early thirty years almost ideal in its suitability. Well fitted by her geniality for social duties, her home circle was always a welcome homingplace for Friends travelling in the ministry and others, and no one entered it but felt the influence of its rest and peace. Her life was an eminently busy one until about five years before its close, when an unfortunate accident rendered her a cripple; but the suffering conse quent on this accident, and the enforced inactivity that it entailed, irksome as they must have been bodily to one of her sanguine temperament, were borne with a remarkable degree of quiet patience and cheerfulness. It was evident that during this time she was drawn even more closely than before into dependence on "the arm that never faileth," and an everincreasing degree of sweetness manifested itself in her character. Besides her uniform kindness of heart and gentleness of demeanour, she was filled with a large and wise charity; and, though always holding fast by the old ways of Friends, was never lacking in helpful sympathy for any one endeavouring to perform the Master's service. One characteristic deserves to be placed on record, and that was her readiness to believe and make the best of everybody; nothing was more painful to her than any attempt to blacken the character or belittle the work of another, and any such conversation always caused her genuine distress. Her charity in outward matters was free and generous, and to the poor and suffering of her neighbourhood she was an active friend and constant helper. During the latter portion of her life she not unfrequently gave expression in meetings for worship to her deep and abiding trust in the love and mercy of God through His Son; and though her communications were invariably short, they were of such weight and sweetness that one often reI called those words of Whittier's addressed to Avis Keene : "Whose hopeful utterance through and through, The freshness of the morning blew; Who loved not less the earth, that light But the accident to which reference has been made had worse consequences, for from it arose a painful internal disorder which filled the last few months of her life with great suffering, indeed at times with agonising pain. Then more than ever shone out her uncomplaining nature. To the last, at the worst, careless of herself, thoughtful, gentle, patient and loving to all around her; grateful for the slightest kindness, the least mark of attention, never forgetting to reward even the smallest service or token of affection with her smile of thanks, and in all things "Followed meekly, with reverent steps, the feet of her Saviour." During this time of severe trial, with the mind sometimes wandering on the border land of delirium, it is hardly matter for surprise that at times she seemed to go "through the dark valley and the river of deep waters; but hope and faith from above strengthened and upheld her to the end, and she passed away peacefully, and with a sweet smile upon her lips. Simplicity, kindliness, charity, love-these were the predominant features in the life of our Those who were rich in her life are now rich in beautiful and unfading memories; and of her it may truly and reverently be said : friend. "Beautiful lives are more than words; |