ELIZABETH W. ORCHARD was born March 6, 1795, at Melksham, in Wiltshire;
and from an early age was very dutiful to her parents, and much attached
to her school and books. In 1802 her father removed from Newport, in the
Isle of Wight, to Bath; where he and his family attended the Rev. Mr.
J.'s chapel. Soon after their arrival at Bath, Elizabeth and William her
brother were admitted into the Sunday school belonging to Argyle chapel;
from the time of Elizabeth's admittance, she seemed to read her books
with understanding and profit; and during the week, it was always her
study to get her task by heart against the returning Sabbath. Her
partiality for her teachers was great: especially for Miss S., whom,
when she was taken ill, she longed to see. The tickets that were given
to her in the school, as tokens for good, she valued much; and expressed
a wish to return them, that she might obtain a hymn book, the reward she
was entitled to. A shilling that was given to her by the committee at
Christmas, for learning her book, with one that she had borrowed of her
brother, she laid out in the purchase of a Testament; which she
preserved with great care till her departure.
During her illness, Elizabeth often reproved her brother and sister,
saying, "If you are not better you will certainly go to a place of
misery." On every occasion she discovered a great love to prayer; and
when by weakness she was prevented from going to chapel, she learned her
tasks; and what she did learn and hear, was, by a Divine blessing,
deeply impressed on her mind.
For the last five weeks before her death, she was not in the least
terrified at her approaching dissolution; but conversed with pleasure on
her departure. Her father asked her one day, when in great pain, whether
she loved the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? to which she answered,
"Yes, I do, and I shall soon be with him in glory." Mr. B., one of the
teachers of the school, called to see her; and after conversing with her
some time, asked her, "If she should like to go to heaven?" to which she
answered, "Yes."
On April the 24th, when in great pain, on viewing her hands, she said,
"O father! the blood ran from the hands of Jesus Christ when he was
nailed to the cross, and that was done by wicked men, but I shall go and
see him in heaven." At another time, when her parents, talking of the
sufferings of Christ, said that he died to save good children, and would
take them to sit with him on his throne for ever, and would give them
crowns of glory. To which she answered, "It seems, father, as if I could
see him." On the same day she said, "I do hope when my body dies, that
God will receive my soul to heaven." After this she related to her
parents the account of the rich man in the Gospel; observing that he was
tormented in hell, and could not so much as obtain a drop of water to
cool his burning tongue, while poor Lazarus was carried to Abraham's
bosom, where he was crowned with happiness.
She was visited by her much beloved teacher Miss S., whom she had long
wished to see; and to whom, with the rest of the teachers of the school,
her parents say they shall be always thankful for the good instruction
they gave their dear departed child; and hope that the committee and
teachers of the school at Argyle chapel, and of every other similar
school, will be encouraged by this instance of the good effects of
religious advice in a child only nine years old, to go forward in their
endeavours to bring young sinners to Christ. She was much struck with a
passage of Scripture in Revelation, that Mr. J. preached from: "They
shall be clothed in white." "O," said Elizabeth, "I expect to be clothed
in white too." And as her mother was sitting by her bedside reading, she
said, "If God will let me, I will keep places for you who may be left
behind." Her brother she advised not to play so much, but to be a good
boy, mind his book and school, and pray to God to make him truly
religious; or he would go to a place of misery after death. Being told
that she was very ill, she replied, "I must bear it with patience:"
though, in fact, she longed to be gone. When she was very weak, and
death stared in her face, her parents carried her from one room to
another; but in no place could she find ease. She, however, contemplated
with satisfaction the day when she should eat of the tree of life that
grows in the midst of the paradise of God; "There," said Elizabeth, "I
shall never thirst, nor never sin, but behold the Lamb, who will lead me
to fountains of living water." After lying one day in a doze, she opened
her eyes and said, "Mother, I have seen an angel." Her mother asked her
where? She pointed to the place where she dreamed that she saw him. And,
being asked if she should like to go with him, she answered, "Yes."
"There I shall see his face,
And never, never sin;
There from the rivers of his grace
Drink endless pleasures in."
Her parents now hung mournfully around her bed, and concluded that the
Lord was going to release her. They saw clearly that she could not
survive long. Being raised up on the following Sabbath in bed, by
pillows, and seeing the children in the street at play, she observed to
them about her how improper it was that they should profane the Sabbath,
and that they ought to be at chapel, and that God would be very angry
with them. Her father had some time before carried her out for the
benefit of the air, daily. And being out with her the Sabbath before her
departure, she pressed him to carry her to chapel; which he did, but was
soon obliged to return with her, when she exclaimed, "Farewell, chapel;
farewell, Mr. J.; farewell, my beloved teachers; farewell, my dear
schoolfellows;" and soon after she said, "Farewell, brother and sister;
farewell, father and mother. I charge you all to meet me in heaven, that
we may spend an eternity of happiness together there." And on the 27th
of May, 1804, after a few struggles, the feeble springs of life stood
still, and her happy spirit took its flight to the paradise of God.
BOOKS FOR SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
---
200 Mulberry-street, New York.
-----
IDLE DICK AND POOR WATCHMAKER.
Originally written in French, by Rev. CESAR MALAN, of Geneva. With
Illustrations. 18mo., pp. 82. Price, 15 cents.
MOUNTAINS OF THE PENTATEUCH.
Conversations on the Mountains of the Pentateuch, and the Scenes and
Circumstances connected with them in Holy Writ. 18mo., pp. 202. Price,
23 cents.
LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN,
Author of the Pilgrim's Progress. By STEPHEN B. WICKENS. Six
Illustrations. 18mo., pp. 336. Price, 31 cents.
THE TWO DOVES:
Or, Memoirs of Margaret and Anna Dove, late of Leeds, England. By PETER
M'OWAN. 18mo., pp. 88. Price, 17 cents.
THE MOTHERLESS FAMILY.
Two Illustrations. 18mo., pp. 96. Price, 17 cents.
THOMAS HAWKEY TREFFREY.
Parental Portraiture of Thomas Hawkey Treffry, who died at Falmouth.
April 19, 1821, aged eighteen years. By Rev. RICHARD TREFFRY. 18mo., pp.
171. Price, 21 cents.
UNCLE WILLIAM AND HIS NEPHEWS.
Nine Illustrations. 18mo., pp. 61. Price, 16 cents.
MY GRANDFATHER GREGORY.
With Illustrations. 18mo., pp. 116. Price, 18 cents.
MY GRANDMAMMA GILBERT.
By the Author of "My Grandfather Gregory." Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 139.
Price, 20 cents.
THE CONVERTED JEWESS:
A Memoir of Maria ------. 18mo., pp. 107. Price, 18 cents.
NO KING IN ISRAEL;
Or, The Importance of Discipline. By a Sabbath-School Teacher. 18mo.,
pp. 54. Price, 14 cents.
THE JEW AMONG ALL NATIONS.
Eight Illustrations. 18mo., pp. 178. Price, 22 cents.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Among Children; or, Twenty-five Narratives of a Religious Awakening in a
School in Pomerania. From the German, by CHARLOTTE CLARKE. 18mo., pp.
104. Price, 18 cents.
THE FEATHER AND SONG BIRD.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 72. Price, 14 cents.
THE NEST AND EGG.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 75. Price, 16 cents.
THE ANIMALCULE AND GALL INSECT.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 76. Price, 14 cents.
THE ANT AND SPIDER.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 76. Price, 16 cents.
THE FLY AND HONEY BEE.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 81. Price, 15 cents.
THE FLOWER AND FRUIT.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 77. Price, 16 cents.
THE SEED AND GRASS.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 107. Price, 18 cents.
THE TONGUE AND EAR.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 93. Price, 17 cents.
THE EYE.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 88. Price, 17 cents.
THE HAND.
Illustrated. 18mo., pp. 96. Price, 17 cents.