MONTHLY RECORD.

THE METHODIST

NEW CONNEXION MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1850.

BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY BULLOCK,

LATE OF CHEADLE,

BY HER HUSBAND, THOMAS BULLOCK.

MARY BULLOCK, whose maiden name was Mary Birch, was born on the 3rd of September, 1817, at Ipstones Park, in the county of Stafford. Her early history is marked by no striking incident. She was taken

by her parents, whilst young, to the parish church and Sunday school, and at the latter place she received some good impressions. Her good conduct and her progress whilst there gained her the esteem of many, among whom was the daughter of the clergyman. A number of useful little books, some of which are still in my possession, were given to her as rewards. They bear inscriptions like the following: "Mary Birch's Book, Sept. 9, 1827. A Gift, by Miss D. Carlisle, as a reward for good conduct, at Ipstones Sunday School."

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A similar inscription, bearing the name of "the Rev. J. Ashton," is found in a large Prayer Book. It reads: Given for regular attendance and attention at the Sunday School, Ipstones. Christmas, 1830." We might produce a number of such inscriptions, were it necessary. Her mother, I believe, did not forget to impress on her youthful mind the great importance of religion. In after life, when she had occasion to pass the place which was her abode whilst in her infancy, she would look on the tall old house and the attached field and garden with peculiar emotions. Pointing to some little hills or terraces which are to be seen in the field, she would say, "There I have passed some happy days, skipping over, and rolling off those little banks, and plucking the pretty daisies as I walked the field; whilst sometimes the sun shone brightly and browned my little shoulders, and at others, the rain would fall and hurry me to my home. I can imagine," said she, "I hear my mother now, calling me to dinner. Those days, though days of youth, were happy days, when I walked with my sister over this field, plucking the flowers as we skipped along." She had a keen relish for the beauties of nature, which was doubtless thus early called forth and fostered in this rural district; and there is little doubt that it gave a tone of religiousness to her mind which the vicissitudes of after life could never eradicate. But a few weeks before she died, she

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walked out with me, for a mile, on three or four successive mornings, when she appeared delighted with her view of the material universe. The mornings were as lovely as ever visited our earth in the dark damp month of November. There was a sharp frost, with a cloudless and a perfectly clear sky; and this, with a beautiful sun shedding down his silvery beams, seemed to her a rich feast. She looked frequently around, (and every one acquainted with the scenery in the neighbourhood of Cheadle knows that it is seldom surpassed,)-she looked frequently around and said, "What a beautiful world this is!" She seemed to drink in all the happiness so delightful a scene is fitted to impart. Would that parents were impressed with the importance of exciting in the minds of their children a love of nature. All natural impressions thus made have a religious bearing on the mind, and are frequently as durable as life itself. Deistical writers frequently boast of the religion of nature, as if nature and nature's teachings were monopolized by themselves. The glorious influence arising from a contemplation of the stupendous works of God is only fully to be enjoyed by those who contemplate those works in the light of revelation. The material world and the Bible emanate from the same great Source, and they are conjointly intended to promote the happiness, and secure the welfare of God's intelligent universe. They are the offspring of the same parent, mutually illustrating and confirming their Divine origin, and ever aiming to impress again on fallen humanity the image of Jehovah's excellence. The everlasting calm, and the unrivalled beauties of earth and sky, excite in the Christian emotions fit to be enjoyed by angels.

She continued to reside with her parents until she arrived in her teens, when she left home, and after a short time went to reside, first at Belmont, in the family of the late Rev. Mr. Carlisle, and subsequently, on the occasion of one of the daughters being married to a clergyman by the name of Ward, she went to the village of Caulton to reside with them as housemaid. After some time, (about the year 1834,) Providence brought her to reside at Cheadle. She continued regularly to attend the Church of England, and, of course, as she had been led there from her infancy, she had some prejudices in favour of the Establishment. However, these prejudices gave way before the light of truth. She visited occasionally, on the Sabbath evenings, the Dissenting places of worship, until she began to feel a decided preference for the Dissenting services. The absence of formality and the general simplicity of the worship, she said, appeared more natural, and much more befitting the solemn exercises of religion; and in after-life, her feelings were so much opposed to the ceremonies of the Church as to render her somewhat uncomfortable when she had to endure them. And besides this, she has often declared to me that she received no spiritual profit under the preaching of the ministers. She continued to visit more frequently, and to grow still more in love with, the preaching and the worship of Nonconformity; until she began seriously to think on the importance of attending to the interests of her soul. Some time previous to this, I had formed a slight acquaintance with her, and though I had for a long time regularly attended the preaching of the Gospel, and had been brought up a Sunday scholar in connection with our society at Cheadle, I had never yet thought seriously on the

momentous concerns of religion. She, however, after a short time, connected herself with the above-named society, and now began to employ all her powers of persuasion, in order to induce me to follow in the same steps. We had frequently talked over the matter, and admitted its importance, but now she earnestly entreated me to unite myself with the Church; and after serious reflection I acceded to this most reasonable request. Let me here express my thankfulness that I did. And let me here add, that my wife has always helped, and considerably, to keep in my mind a religious feeling, and a sense of its paramount importance. In my efforts to improve my own mind, too, she has always aided me as far as in her lay. She delighted in making everything about me comfortable, in protecting me from little annoyances, and she patiently bore without complaint those frequent irregularities, as to the time of my retiring to rest, which will always transpire where an individual is strongly bent on self-improvement. These things may be thought of little value, but they are, in fact, to those who know how to appreciate them, of "great price.'

By this time my wife had experienced two serious attacks of illness, both of which had very considerably reduced her strength. She had, however, recovered, and partially regained her strength, though not her former healthy appearance. The disease was an affection of the liver, induced, I believe, by too close confinement, and which she could never after entirely get rid of. On the 5th of March, 1842, our union was consummated in the parish church of Cheadle. Never were a couple more thoroughly bound together by the best of all bonds. A solemn act! but one having the authority of heaven; and when prudently engaged in, a perennial spring of happiness. Her religious state continually improved, and towards the latter part of her life she ever felt an abiding consciousness of her acceptance with God. Besides a number of other books, she frequently read the Scriptures, and the New Testament she several times read regularly through. She was especially fond of the Gospels, and many are the times she has lingered over those pages, pondering the memorable events recorded in the history of her Master. She often told me she found something new, and something profitable, which she had not before observed. She was the mother of only one child-a son, which still survives, for whose welfare she was constantly and tenderly solicitous. She gave daily attention, as far as her health would permit, and as far as we deemed it prudent at so early an age, to his religious and intellectual education. She taught him herself to read the Scriptures, and to write, before he had attained the seventh year of his age. Especially was she anxious to impress his infant mind with the great ideas of religion, and she lost no opportunity of doing so. I am persuaded that she has so far succeeded in this attempt, that the impressions thus made will never be obliterated. Well would it be if all the mothers were thus careful of the religious training of their children. Many times have I seen her weep, and weep bitterly too, because she thought, perhaps, one day her child might become wayward. For these fears there was probably little foundation; but her tender anxiety for her offspring, united with the child's active and lively temperament, seemed to pronosticate future troubles. The training of her child occupied more of her thoughts than aught else besides.

In the summer of 1848, she had a severe attack of spasm in the stomach. Medical aid was procured, the pains were allayed, and to all appearance she completely recovered. In a few weeks, however,

she had another attack, which was again promptly met by sedative and other medicines. She recovered in a few days. Our fears were now excited; and we saw clearly that she was likely to have these attacks frequently. She abstained from all foods likely to excite the stomach in that direction, and took every conceivable precaution. She had, however, slight attacks occasionally, until in June, 1849, she was visited by one which all but proved fatal. For several weeks she was labouring under severe, sometimes the most excruciating sufferings. If for a few days she appeared to be recovering, she experienced a relapse, until her medical attendants, in order to produce a reaction in the glandular system, were under the necessity of producing salivation. At one stage of this illness, it was thought she could not recover. She took her leave of everything pertaining to earth, expressed a willingness to meet death, and said she had no wish to recover. Her confidence in God, and her faith in Christ, were strong she had cloudless prospects, her hope was blooming, and her mind calm as a summer's morning. She patiently waited the approach of the last enemy, but his fell stroke was averted. Salivation had the desired effect; the natural secretions were restored, and the system appeared to be rapidly regaining its usual strength. About this time I had occasion to go to London and to reside there for a while. Mrs. B. remained at Cheadle, except for a week or two, when she was on a visit to her sister at Leek, about ten miles distant. She corresponded with me once, and sometimes twice a week during the whole of the time I remained in the metropolis. For the greater part of the time she appeared to be improving. Still, whenever in her letters she spoke of the future, there was a condition or qualification expressed, which plainly showed that she was fully conscious of the uncertainty of her life. This sometimes hurt my feelings, for since the salivation seemed to have produced so favourable a reaction, I confidently expected her complete recovery. In her letters, too, she requested me always to remember her in my prayers, as she remembered me. But a short time passed over and

the sad news came that my wife was unwell. In her letter she said she thought it was a "slight attack of the influenza." It proved, indeed, a severe one; and on the 9th of November I hastened home, and found her somewhat improved. She had taken a slight cold, and this, conjoined with a little imprudent over-exertion, she said, had brought on the attack. With great care she gradually but slowly improved, until she was able to walk out, the weather being fine, a mile or so. I accompanied her, as before related, and she was evidently benefited by the walks. I had now to visit Manchester, and felt pretty confident she would continue to improve. My hopes were again blasted. I received a communication from her, the last she wrote, dated Dec. 3rd, 1849, informing me of another attack. came upon me like a thunderbolt, and my spirits drooped again.

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MY DEAR HUSBAND,-I know quite well how much you would be disappointed because I did not write you last night. The fault is not mine. I was, indeed, very ill all day yesterday. In fact, I was not able to sit up. Attacks of sickness came on. I got some brandy and