Слике страница
PDF
ePub

In short, there was a combination of authority, decision, and tenderness, in Mrs. Graham's government, that rendered its subjects industrious, intelligent, circumspect, and happy. She enjoyed their happiness; and in cases of sickness, she watched her patients with unremitting solicitude and care, sparing no expense to promote their restoration to health.

A strong trait in her character was distinctly marked by one rule she had adopted, viz: to educate the daughters of pious ministers at half price. This was setting an example worthy of imitation. It was a conduct conformable to scriptural precept. Said Paul, 'If we have sown unto you spiritual things, it is a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things! Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel.'

Always conscientious in obeying the commandment of her God, she observed them in this matter, giving in her proportion, at least the widow's mite.

By another plan (for she was ingenious in contrivances to do good,) she greatly assisted their slender circumstances, especially such as were of the household of faith. Believing that the use of sums of ten, fifteen, or twenty pounds in hand, would be serviceable by way of capital to persons in a moderate business, she was in the habit of making such advances, and taking back the value

in articles they had for sale. She charged no interest, being amply repaid in the luxury of her own feelings, when she beheld the benefit it produced to her humble friends. The board of her pupils being paid in advance, she was enabled to adopt this plan with more facility. Were her spirit more prevalent in the world, what good might be done! The heart would be expanded, reciprocal confidence and affection cherished; and instead of beholding worms of the dust, fighting for particles of yellow sand, we should behold a company of affectionate brethren, leaning upon, and assisting each other through the wilderness of this world. Look not every man on his own things,' said Paul, 'but every man also on the things of others. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.'

On the subject of promoting the external accomplishments of her scholars, it became a question of importance how far Mrs. Graham was to countenance them in their attendance on public balls -to what length it was proper for her to go, so as to meet the received opinion of the world in these concerns. She consulted with her pious friends, and wrote to Lady Glenorchy on the subject. Her ladyship's letter in reply is so excellent, that it is given at full length, with Mrs. Graham's letters, and will consequently be found in her publications. In after life, Mrs. Graham was of opinion that she and her scholars had gone too far in conformity with the opinions and manners of the

world. A reference to this deviation from what she considered a close Christian walk in life, will be frequently found in her subsequent exercises; the tenderness of her own conscience, however, often made her speak of her departure from a strictly religious course, with more severity than it really deserved, considering the delicacy of her situation, as an instructress over the children of parents, who probably were averse from restraining their children so much in the style of their education, as might better have suited Mrs. Graham's views of a christian circumspection, and abstraction from worldly amusements and pursuits.

It was customary with Lady Glenorchy to remark, that two of Mrs. Graham's friends held a band around her waist, when she approached the boundaries between religion and the world, to prevent her from falling over.

Lady Glenorchy being in a delicate state of health, made frequent use of Mrs. Graham as her almoner to the poor. On one of these visits, Mrs. Graham called on a poor woman, with a present of a new gown. "I am obliged to you and her ladyship for your kindness," said the poor woman, rich in faith; “but I maun gang to the right airth first, ye wad na hae come, gin ye had na been sent; the Lord hath left me lately wi but ae goon for week day and sabbath, but now he has sent you wi' a sabbath-day's goon." Meaning, in plain English, that her thankfulness was first due to the

God of providence, who had put it into the heart of his children to supply the wants of this poor disciple.

Mrs. Graham used to repeat with pleasure an anecdote of her friends, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas. Mr. Douglas was a tallow-chandler, and furnished candles for Lady Glenorchy's chapel. The excise tax was very high on making those articles, and many persons of the trade were accustomed to defraud the revenue by one stratagem or another. Religious principle would not permit Mr. Douglas to do so. Mrs. Graham one evening was remarking how handsomely the chapel was lighted. "Aye, Mrs Graham," said Mrs. Douglas," and it is all pure-the light is all pure, it burns bright." It would be well if Christians of every trade and profession were to act in like manner; that the merchant should have no hand in covering property, or encouraging perjury, to accumulate gains; that the man of great wealth should have neither usury, nor the shedding of blood by privateering, to corrode his treasures; that all should observe a just weight and a just measure in their dealings as in the presence of God. Let every Christian seek after the consolation of Mrs. Douglas, that the light which refreshes him may be pure.

It being stated as matter of regret, that poor people, when sick, suffered greatly, although while in health their daily labor supported them; Mrs. Graham suggested the idea of every poor

person in the neighborhood laying aside one penny a week, to form a fund for relieving the contributors when in sickness. Mr. Douglas undertook the formation of such an institution. It went for a long time under the name of " The Penny Society." It afterwards received a more liberal patronage has now a handsome capital, and is called "The Society for the Relief of the Desti tute Sick."

In July, 1786, Mrs. Graham attended the dying bed of her friend and patroness, Lady Glenorchy: this lady had shown her friendship in a variety of ways during her valuable life; she had one of Mrs. Graham's daughters for some time in her family; condescended herself to instruct her, and sent her for a year to a French boarding school at Rotterdam. She defrayed all her expenses while there, and furnished her with a liberal supply of pocket money, that she might not see distress without the power of relieving it. So much does a person's conduct in maturer years depend upon the habits of early life, that it is wise to accustom young people to feel for, and to contribute in their degree to the relief of the afflicted and the needy.

Lady Glenorchy was a character in whom was eminently displayed the power of religion. Descended from an ancient family, married to the eldest son of the Earl of Broadalbaine, beautiful and accomplished, she was received into the first circles of society. With her husband she made

« ПретходнаНастави »