Helen Silvie was a Scotch girl. She was born in the village of Dunblane, situated on the beautiful banks of the river Allan.

She lost her hearing by fever when about five years of age, and two years after she was sent to the Edinburgh Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb.

She was a very shy child, and would not speak any words after she became deaf, so she soon forgot how to do so, and when her education was begun, she was nearly like a child born deaf.

For a time she was peevish and discontented; her mind was dark. But so soon as she began to understand, it was as if light shone into her mind, and she became cheerful and happy like her companions.

At first she did not seem very clever. But after two years she began to improve fast, and soon was one of the best pupils in the Institution. She was very amiable and affectionate, and a great favourite with her companions.

When she grew up she became an assistant in the school, she taught one of the junior classes in the early part of the day, and instructed the girls in sewing in the evenings. For some years she was thus usefully employed. But her brother wished her to go and live with him, and keep house for him at Bannockburn, and she consented and left the Institution.

After a time Helen wished to return to the Institution. So she wrote a letter to a friend and asked her to find out if she would be allowed to become a teacher again. But the Superintendent of the Institution was ill, and no answer was sent to her letter. Then Helen thought she would go herself to the Institution and see if they would employ her. It was winter. She set out from Stirling in a steamer on the last day of the year 1845, and arrived at Granton Pier at night. It was dark. A gentleman offered to conduct her up the pier, but he did not know the way. He should have turned to go towards the town, but he led her straight on. They came to the edge of the pier, and in an instant both were plunged into the sea. They were soon picked up, and carried to the hotel. Helen soon seemed quite well, and she was sent on to the Institution. She felt so happy at being again among her old friends that she did not soon go to bed. She thought herself much better than she was. She caught a very bad cold. In a few days inflammation of the lungs came on. Her sufferings were very great, but, she bore them patiently; and on Sabbath morning, the 18th of January, 1846, her spirit took its flight to her Saviour's bosom.

Her pastor, who visited her on her death-bed, was much pleased to see how fully she trusted in Jesus. He said of her after she died "I think of her as one of the spirits of the just made perfect."