Madeley, Dec. 29th, 1815.
My dear Armstrong,
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ON the 9th instant, dear Mrs. Fletcher was removed from the church
militant to the church triumphant, from a sorrowing church below to a
glorious one above. The last few months of her life were attended with
much pain, but how sweetly did the Christian beam through all! In her
former years she seems to have been called more particularly to glorify
God by an unusual degree of activity and usefulness. Latterly, she has
been called to bear and suffer; but all in the spirit of her Divine
Master. O my dear friend, how gladly would I join her glorified spirit
by making my escape from a world of sin and sorrow! Do not, however,
mistake me; I do, indeed, love home, and strange would it be were it
otherwise, but still I would not run away to get there. I see that there
is much for me still, both to do and to suffer; and as such, rather than
pettishly desiring to depart, I would calmly and quietly wish to
wait—wait till all my discipline is over, till I am better fitted and
prepared for my inheritance among the saints in light.
* * * *
While my Mary’s letter lies before me, I feel disposed to copy another
part of it, relative to the management of school children. “I was much
pleased a few weeks since at the national school. Dr. Bell’s
arrangements are well made, and the mistress he has appointed is an
uncommonly clever woman, just fit for that situation, and apparently for
none else. I asked her how she managed with the children when any of
them used improper language, having myself been much troubled with this
at our Shoreditch school? She said such a case rarely occurred, but when
it did, she found it better to convince the understanding of the evil,
than merely to correct for the individual fault; and as she was
particular in explaining the catechism, commandments, &c., she had in
general little trouble in bringing such faults home. For example, she
said, ‘A few days since, about twenty of the girls came to me, and said,
“O Governess! little Chambers has said a very wicked word.” I lifted up
my hands, and said, “Blessed are the peace makers.” If twenty of you had
come to tell me of a good deed, I would gladly have listened, but go away
and be ashamed at being so pleased to publish the faults of a
school-fellow. I thought it right, however, not to let it go unnoticed;
and therefore called to me privately the monitor of the class. She said,
“Indeed, governess, it was a very naughty word, it was O God.” I said,
“Very well, that is enough.” I then went round to the different classes,
who were saying the catechism; after a while I came to this class, and
after having asked several children the commandments, I said (pointing
the fore finger,) “Little Chambers, do you say the third.” She
immediately burst into tears, and said, “O Governess! I did say a
naughty word, but I will never do so again, if you will forgive me this
once.”’ This is not according to the plan of correction generally
pursued at schools, but it appears to me much more judicious and more
likely to produce lasting benefit.”
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My Mary joins me in kindest and most Christian regards to yourself and
dear Mrs. A., and in love to all your family, and I remain,
Yours ever affectionately,
G. MORTIMER.