JUVENILE GEMS.
The subjects of these memoirs—Ann Jane Woolford, George Woolford, and Hephzibah Woolford—were born in the beautiful town of Cheltenham, August 20th, 1840, January 28th, 1842, and February 14th, 1846.
The names of their parents were George and Ann Woolford, both members of the Church assembling for worship in Bethel Chapel, Cheltenham.
In all, four children shared their affection, interested their solicitudes, listened to their counsels, and knelt at their domestic altar.
Upon three out of the four the grave closed in comparative infancy; and, believing the "kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man" appeared to them, the bereaved mother, partly to indulge in a subject of mournful interest, and partly to record the gracious dealings of God, drew up, with her own hand, the subjoined narrative:—
George.
"My eldest child, George Woolford, was attacked by scarlatina on October 16th, 1851, from which he partially recovered, but died the following month.
"Perceiving his soul 'drawing nigh unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers,' I remarked, 'It will do you no harm to think of death, seeing we must all die.' With tears in his eyes he exclaimed, 'Oh, mother, I am afraid I shall not go to heaven.' I asked why he thus feared. His answer was, 'I am afraid the Lord will not forgive me.' I said, 'My dear, the Lord is ready to forgive all who from their hearts are sorry for their sins; and I hope the Holy Ghost will enable you to pray for divine forgiveness.' He seemed much affected by these remarks, but said he was too ill to talk or listen to me.
"In great earnestness (and I believe under divine influence) I entreated God to grant me the great favour of informing me whether my dear boy was interested in the everlasting covenant, which is 'ordered in all things, and sure.'