DYING OF STARVATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5997, 5 February 1881, Page 7

DYING OF STARVATION.

A MILE north of the village of Phcenix lives Joseph Smith, an honest, industrious farmer. Not until about three years ago did Mr. Smith evince any particular interest in church matters. At that time a revival occurred in the Methodist church in Phtenix. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attended regularly and experienced a change of heart. ""Three or four weeks ago Mrs. Smith became impressed that she and her daughter, a bright intelligent girl of 16, years were filled with sin. The daughter became imbued with the same belief, and the

two were convinced that nothing but protracted fasting and prayer would cleanse their souls. They told a minister of the contemplated action and he sanctioned it. Accordingly at nocn on the 4th instant, they each partook of a little milk, and for five da 3's neither of them took nourishment of any description ; but at the end of that time Mrs. Smith resumed eating. The sustenance of the infant at her breast was exhausted, and, as she saj's, obeying divine instructions, she broke her fast. The girl, however, continued fasting until the 14th, when she was given a light quantity of food in liquid form. She was so weak that she had frequent fainting spells. On Saturday creninp, the 16' th, friends learning of the condition of the girl, called a doctor, but she was past aid, and died the next morning. While fasting she moistened her mouth each day with a damp cloth, and twice she washed her mouth with water. On one of these occasions she accidentally swallowed a single drop, and for this supposed sin she atoned by praying for eighteen consecutive hours. When she became so weak that she could not get on her knees, her mother informed her that prayer was just as effectual while sitting in a chair or lying in bed, and in this way it was continued until her physical strength was exhausted. There are several other children in the family, but none of these participated in the fast. Mr. Smith, although not fasting, interposed no objection to his daughter's abstinence. An investigation will'"bo~taelil,-MttV4?_itJs found that Mr. and Mrs. Smith are izisanc7~as ltrVSsupposed they are, they will be sent to an asylum.—Syracuse Corresxrondent New York Sun.