Travelling in a mountainous region at nightfall of a tempestuous day,
and having lost my road, I was directed for a lodging to “Squire
D----’s, who keeps the ferry.” After supper, I had a pleasant talk
with the father of Squire D----, on whose head the snows of eighty
winters had fallen, and soon the family were gathered round us, engaged
in delightful converse. I inquired as to the high-handed wickedness
of a neighborhood not far off, where I had heard that meetings were
frequently held in mockery of religious worship:
“Yes, yes,” said the squire, with just enough of the Welsh accent to
betray his origin, “and our neighborhood here was just as bad ten years
ago; we were all alike: no church, no preacher, no Sunday-school, no
day-school. One evening a minister and a young lady stopped at my house
for the night; I thought them very inquisitive people. They asked if
we had any preaching. ‘No.’ Any schools? ‘No; we have had several
teachers, but no one will stay more than a quarter with us.’ The young
lady said she would come and take a school among us, if we would employ
her. After some further conversation, I told her I would see what could
be done, and write her the result. Next morning they left for the
minister’s home at M----, some fifty miles distant.
“In a short time I had a school made up and board engaged for the new
teacher, and wrote her to that effect. She came and commenced her
school at the time appointed. But soon there was complaint that the new
teacher _read the Bible and prayed in her school_. And her troubles did
not cease here. The man at whose house she boarded insisted that she
should leave, because she prayed, sung hymns, and would keep talking
about religion all the time. Miss H---- then set out to look up another
home for herself; but she met the same reply from all: ‘We cannot
receive you unless you leave off praying and singing.’
“When she applied to me, I objected on the same grounds. Finally, I
told her if she would come on my own terms, I would take her into
my family. She inquired what those terms were. ‘Why,’ said I, ‘you
shall have such a room to yourself; there you are to stay from the
time you return from school until you start to go back, only when you
come to your meals: you must not sing hymns; you may pray as much as
you please, but mind you don’t let us hear you at it; and _remember_,
the first time you infringe this contract, you leave the premises.’
To all this she agreed, with as much meekness as if my terms had been
reasonable and right. That evening she took up her abode under my roof;
and little did I think what a blessing God was sending me in that
frail, delicate girl.
“The children all loved the new teacher very much. So one day she told
them to ask their parents’ permission, and if _they_ were agreed, she
would teach them on Sunday too. This proposal pleased us all. If she
taught on Sunday, that was so much clear gain to us.
“I soon observed that my children took to staying in the teacher’s room
much of their time. At length, one Sunday morning, they came down with
some tracts; I looked over them, and found they were on the subject of
religion. Ah, said I, my lady, I’ve caught you now. I called her down,
told her she had violated her contract, and must be off. The poor girl
began to weep; I felt ashamed. ‘Dear sir,’ said she, ‘will you read
those tracts? If you do, and still continue in your present mind, I
will leave your house immediately.’
“Here was a pretty fix; the children were all crying, and begging me
not to send Miss H---- away; and the books, Oh, they could not part
with the books. I was mightily perplexed; at last I gave in. Said I,
‘Miss H----, you may go back to your room; I will consider the matter.’
I shall never forget the smile that passed over her face as she thanked
me and went back to her room. Thanked me, indeed! Well, I set to work,
read one of the tracts, felt self-condemned; read it again, felt
dreadfully troubled. Then I read them all, and felt that I was a great
sinner. I said nothing more to Miss H---- about leaving my house. Each
day my convictions became deeper. At last, I could bear it no longer.
Thought I, this won’t do; I must talk with Miss H----. So I invited
her to come and sit with us in the family. She cheerfully complied. I
asked her a great many questions about the doctrines of the Bible, not
meaning to let her know any thing about my concern. But all would not
do; my distress continued, or rather my agony, for I thought I was the
greatest sinner on earth.
“At last, I sent one evening for Miss H---- to come down, and I told
her my troubles; for my proud heart was well-nigh broken. Said I, Miss
H----, I feel so and so ever since I read those tracts of yours; and
I related all that was passing in my mind; and, said I, do you think
there is any mercy or hope for such a poor miserable sinner? The tears
began to run down her cheeks; then she laughed; then she caught me by
both hands, and looking up into my face, she said, ‘Oh, my dear friend,
I am _so_ glad.’ ‘Why,’ said I, ‘are you glad because I am in trouble?’
‘Oh, my dear sir,’ says she, ‘this is the Spirit of God operating on
your heart.’ All at once a great light seemed to shine into my mind.
All that I had been learning for so many weeks seemed now just as plain
as A B C. Said I, ‘Come, Miss H----, kneel down then and pray for me;’
and she did pray for me, and I do bless God for his wonderful mercy to
such a poor hardened sinner. I believe that God _did_ change my heart
just while that _very prayer_ was going up. All at once it just came:
I loved my Bible and I loved to pray, and I could not bear the company
that I used to take so much delight in.
“On the next Sabbath, Miss H---- asked me to go along with her and the
children to the school--which was, and had been a Sunday-school, though
we never suspected it; and here came a trial. If I go, they will say I
am getting religious; if I stay, it will be a sin, for I know I _ought_
to go; and then it will grieve Miss H----. These last considerations
were the strongest; so I went. The room was crowded with children, all
waiting for their teacher; I thought they all looked happy. After a
little while, Miss H---- took the Bible, and coming to me, she said,
‘Mr. D----, will you read and pray with us this morning?’ I was
startled; my very heart trembled. Said I, ‘Oh no; not now.’ Then she
read a chapter and prayed herself. Oh, how I felt, to think that I was
ashamed to pray before those children! Ah, thought I, this will never
do; I will come here and pray next Sunday. That night I read and prayed
with my family; and the next Sabbath I opened the school with prayer.
“The news spread soon all through the settlement. D---- has got
religion and is praying in the Sunday-school! strange news this! Very
soon the people began to drop into our Sunday-school. Then Miss H----
said to me, ‘You had better read us a sermon at the Sunday-school,
after the other exercises are over.’ She selected the sermons, and I
read them. Our meetings grew very solemn. Presently we sent word to a
good man at B---- to send us a minister; he did so. The minister came
and preached for us. The little school-house could not contain one half
of the people who crowded to hear him. We held our meetings in the open
air, under the trees.
“Ah, that was a wonderful time; the cry of the anxious sinner went up
from every house. The Spirit of God was moving mightily upon the hearts
of the people, and many were born into the kingdom of Christ. All this
brought a great change in our settlement. Instead of the dance, and
the gaming-table, and the foolish song, we had meetings for prayer and
praise; and the tavern and still-house were exchanged for the temple of
God.
“The Sabbath became a day of holy rest among a people who used to
spend it in revelry or idleness. Houses of worship were built, where
our population flocked every Sabbath to hear the preached word from
the living minister; and in the course of two or three years, hundreds
professed faith in Christ, and joined the church. We have had a
flourishing church here ever since. Ah,” said the good man, in his
peculiarly emphatic way, “see what God hath wrought for us.”
How often have I reproached myself, when I contrasted the heroic
conduct of this devoted female with my own man-fearing spirit! She has
gone to her reward; her memory will be cherished for a few more years
in the hearts of those to whom her humble efforts were of such immense
value, and then pass away and be forgotten. But her _influence_ will
pass on, an ever-increasing current, down the long tracts of time, and
throughout the endless ages of eternity.