1817-32. BIRTH OF TWIN BOYS. 3 



The year 1817 opened in sorrow, for it found the heavy 

 hand of sickness on one of this little band ; and ere its first 

 month closed, Johnny had left them for the eternal home. 

 The first deposit of the family treasures was thus placed 

 beyond reach of the spoiler, and since then, from time to 

 time, the store has been added to. Like the dreamer's 

 ladder, a pathway was formed, by which the yearning hearts 

 left behind have paid many a visit to the happy circle above, 

 and been refreshed by the assurance from the Saviour's lips, 

 " I will come again and receive you unto myself." 



About a year after this, on the aist of February, 1818, 

 twin boys were born. It seemed to the mother, that God, 

 having seen the desolation of her heart in the dreary months 

 gone by, had sent, in His compassionate love, not only a 

 son to increase the little flock, but also one to take the 

 place of his brother in heaven. So while a new name, 

 George, was given to the elder of the two, the subject of 

 this memoir, the other received the name of John. 



When the twins were two years old, a little brother 

 joined them, but only to spend two days on earth. Within 

 the next five years two sisters and a brother were born. Of 

 these, Jeanie died when four years old, Margaret lived three 

 months, and Peter, the second of the name, one year. 

 Afterwards the family received its complement in the birth 

 of two sisters, who still survive. The elder one received 

 her mother's name, Janet or Jessie, and the younger that of 

 the dearly loved Jeanie, who had " fallen asleep " some years 

 before. 



How far George was influenced by the death, in rapid 

 succession, of so many of those who were growing up side 

 by side with him, it is quite impossible to tell; but un- 

 doubtedly many impressions were received which were not 

 effaced during the years that followed. At five, when his 



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