Page:The Leadbeater Papers (1862) Vol 1.djvu/20

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6
MEMOIR OF MARY LEADBEATER

humour which made the author's conversation and correspondence so attractive.

The publication of the "Cottage Dialogues" was followed by the "Landlord's Friend," "Cottage Biography," "Biographical Notices of Irish Friends," and "Memoirs of Richard and Elizabeth Shackleton;" besides which she wrote poems, essays, characters, and tales, some of which have found their way to various periodical publications.

The last work she lived to publish was a little book called "The Pedlars,” written for the Kildare-street Education Society, consisting of dialogues descriptive of the natural and artificial curiosities of various parts of Ireland, and of what was always her favourite theme—the character of the Irish poor, their virtues, their sufferings, and the best mode of improving their condition.

All these works, different as they are in subject and style, bear the stamp of a mind ever disposed to look at the favourable side of things and characters, to receive the good thankfully, and bear the evil with cheerful resignation.

Amongst her literary performances may be reckoned a very extensive correspondence with people of different ranks and situations in life. She excelled in this department. She expressed herself with ease and conciseness, and related little domestic occurrences with spirit, accompanied by touches of the most gentle wit, which gave a charm to the merest trifle. If she were the messenger of sorrowful intelligence, it was delivered

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