ANNA PACKMAN, a child between seven and eight years old, was taken ill one day at school. She came home and remained very ill. Two days afterwards she spoke of a good man coming into their little school on Sunday, and telling them how kind it was of their teacher to lead them to Jesus, and repeated her text of Scripture, “I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me,” and sung the following hymn: ―
“Around the throne of God, in heaven,
Thousands of children stand;
Children whose sins are all forgiven,
A holy, happy band:
Singing, Glory, glory, glory!”
And a little while after she had sung the hymn, a friend asked her, “What did Jesus Christ come into the world for?” She answered, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners;” and oftentimes when she awoke she would repeat, — “Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.” When her companions came to see her, she sang a little hymn, as follows: —
“There is a happy land,
Far, far away;
Where saints immortal reign,
Bright, bright as day.
Oh! how they sweetly sing,
Worthy is our Saviour-King,
Loud let his praises ring,
Praise, praise, for aye.
Come to this happy land,
Come, come away!
Why will ye doubting stand,
Why still delay?
Oh! we shall happy be,
When from sin and sorrow free,
Lord, we shall live with thee,
Blest, blest, for aye.
Bright in that happy land,
Beams every eye;
Kept by a Father’s hand,
Love cannot die.
Oh! then to glory run,
Be a crown and kingdom won,
And bright above the sun,
We’ll reign for aye.”
On the morning of her departure, she bade her father and friends “good-bye,” and then looked up and waved her little hands, saying, “Glory, glory, glory!” and fell asleep.