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GRACE DARLING
Heroine of the Farne Islands
by
EVA HOPE
[Frontispiece: Grace H. Darling]
London and Felling-on-Tyne
The Walter Scott Publishing Co., Ltd.
New York: 3 East 14th Street
1875
THIS VOLUME
IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO
MISS THOMASIN DARLING,
THE BELOVED SISTER OF THE HEROIC GRACE DARLING,
IN RECOGNITION OF HER CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
AND AMIABLE DISPOSITION, BY
THE AUTHOR
CONTENTS
CHAP.
I. Woman's Work
II. Ancient Northumbria
III. The Childhood of a Heroine
IV. Lighthouse Homes
V. Lighthouse Guests
VI. Christmas at the Longstone Lighthouse
VII. A Wedding in the Family
VIII. "Prevention Better than Cure"
IX. August Pic-Nic's Pleasures
X. The Perils of the Ocean
XI. The Wreck of the "Forfarshire"
XII. Grace to the Rescue
XIII. After the Event
XIV. A Visit to the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland
at Alnwick Castle
XV. The Darling Family at Home
XVI. An Early Death
XVII. "Being Dead, yet Speaketh"
XVIII. Conclusion
GRACE DARLING,
THE HEROINE OF THE FARNE ISLES.
CHAPTER I.
WOMAN'S WORK.
"The rights of woman, what are they?
The right to labour and to pray;
The right to succour in distress;
The right, when others curse; to bless;
The right to lead the soul to God,
Along the path the Saviour trod."
What is woman's work? This is one of the vexed questions of to-day,
and it is one which, doubtless, sometimes troubled the unwilling brains
of our forefathers, though to a less extent. They settled it more
rapidly and satisfactorily than we are able to do, for, "in the long
ago," women were less ambitious than they are now. In our times, they
have so forced themselves to the front, that a number of questions have
necessarily to be considered; and what woman ought to do, what she can
do, and what she must do, are subjects which afford interesting and
useful topics of conversation in all circles. As might have been
expected, the opinions of even wise men vary with regard to this
matter. "A woman is good as a house-wife, and a mother," say some.
"But as there are not homes enough for them all, something else must be
thought of," say others. "A woman has neither strength enough, nor
brains enough, for most occupations," say her detractors. "A woman is
capable of doing almost anything a man can do, especially those things
which are the most honourable and remunerative," say the most
enthusiastic advocates of woman's rights. There are some, indeed, who
would gladly aid her to mount the very highest pinnacles of fame and
social distinction. There are others who are jealous if she succeed in
getting her foot, even upon the lowest step of the ladder, and who
would be glad, like the Friend of Mrs. Stowe, to give the intruder a
push, with the words, "Thou art not wanted here."
In the midst of this clamour of inharmonious voices, it is a little
amusing to see how quietly and effectively some women settle the matter
for themselves. If, indeed, they are among the best of their sex, they
are surely qualified to judge, not only of their own ability, but also
as to that which is proper. And they have no difficulty in finding
this reply to the puzzling question--A WOMAN'S WORK IS THAT WHICH SHE
SEES NEEDS DOING. It is her duty to put her hand to any occupation
that is waiting for workers. If a fire is raging, and she have
strength to bring a bucket of water, and throw over it, is she guilty
of an unwomanly action if she obey the impulse of her heart, and work
diligently by the side of men whose work it is? If she see "another
woman's bairnie" in trouble, is she not right to rush into the streets
and snatch him from the danger which threatens him, as the horses come
tearing by, and the huge and laden vehicles shake the houses? And is
she less a woman, if, seeing these children grown up to manhood, she
beholds them exposed to greater dangers than their childhood ever knew,
and hastens to their rescue with brave and inspiring words?
To draw the line which separates the right and wrong of other people's
actions, is always a difficult, if not an impossible thing, and yet it
is what almost everybody attempts. It is right, say some, for a woman
to instruct her own family in Biblical knowledge, and she may even
invite the children of her neighbour to be present while she does so.
But if the little social gathering should become a congregation, so
that, instead of meeting in the lady's own room, it should be necessary
to borrow a mission-hall or a chapel, then even her friends shake their
heads, and bring the blush to her face by suggesting that she is doing
an unwomanly thing. It is right and proper that she should know so
much of medicine as to be able successfully to doctor her own children.
Nor is she all that she ought to be unless she can tell, in an
emergency, what is best for her husband, and many of the poor who may
seek her advice. But if the joy of healing prove a fascination and a
snare to her, and in order that she may not be a burden to father or
brother, or to enable her to provide for orphan children left to her
care, she endeavours to enter the medical profession, and receive money
for her services, what a terrible hue-and-cry is raised against her.
The Lord Jesus Christ once uttered a very high eulogium upon a woman,
against whom words of bitter blame and indignation were spoken. There
was a supper at the house of Simon, the Leper, and to him was given the
honour of entertaining a Guest who was not only royal, but divine.
There were also present three members of a family who owed the Saviour
life-long thanks for benefits received. One of them, a woman, whose
name was Mary, felt so burdened that she could not let so good an
opportunity pass without in some way expressing her emotions. She
therefore brought a very expensive gift, an alabaster box of precious
ointment, and, breaking the box, she poured the ointment on the head
and feet of Jesus, thus performing a graceful act of womanly
ministration. It was uncommon in some respects, and this of itself was
sufficient to draw down upon her the scathing rebuke of the
unsympathetic on-lookers. "Why was this waste of the ointment made?
It might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have
been given to the poor. And they murmured against her." But He, who
is always woman's best friend, took Mary's part against her accusers.
"Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She hath wrought a good work on
Me, for ye have the poor with you always; and whensoever ye will, ye
may do them good, but Me ye have not always. SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE
COULD."
In these words, we think we have an answer to the question, What is
woman's work? Is it not this?--SHE MAY DO WHAT SHE CAN. She is not,
of course, to go abroad seeking work, while work is ready to her hand.
She is not to neglect homely duties, for those which call her away from
friends and kindred who need her. She is not to stretch out her hands
beseechingly for higher service, if they are already full of lowly
tasks not yet accomplished. But if she have leisure, strength, and
ability--if there are no God-given ties that ought to hinder her--if
she sees fields white ready to harvest, and knows that the labourers
are all too few--then, in Christ's name, let her do with her might
whatsoever her hands find to do.
It is surely this which the voice of GRACE DARLING, the heroine whom
the hearts of men and women alike agree to love and revere, is saying
to us still, and has said ever since her brave deeds thrilled the
world. She gave her thoughts and powers, with conscientious diligence
and perseverance, to the common-place duties of her lot, but she was
none the less ready, when the occasion came, to go forth over the
stormy waters to do a most uncommon deed of daring. Usually, she was
happy and content in being a blessing to her own family; but she was
not afraid to forget herself, nor unable to rise above the natural
timidity of her sex, when the noblest and strongest passions of her
heart were aroused on behalf of men, women, and children, who were in
danger of a watery grave.
There are other great women, her sisters, of each of whom it may also
be said, "She hath done what she could." Most of these have been
helped by circumstances to do their brave deeds so silently that the
world does not even hear their names. But to a few it happens that
duty calls them to their work in the face of the crowd, and this may be
providentially ordered that those who look on may be thus taught the
hopeful and inspiring lessons of a good woman's life.
Illustrations of women whose work has been heroic, are not wanting.
It is not very long ago since the world rang with the name of FLORENCE
NIGHTINGALE. She was an educated and accomplished young lady, the
daughter of a wealthy man, who might have been content to live the
quiet life of luxury to which she was born. But God had given to her a
tender heart, which would not permit her to look on suffering without
longing to alleviate it; and when she was twenty-one years old, she
began to take an interest in the condition of hospitals. After a time
she went into the Protestant Deaconesses Institution at Kaiserswerth,
that she might be trained as a nurse. At the end of ten years of
preparation, she entered upon her life-work. War was declared with
Russia; and when the battle of the Alma had been fought, the wounded
crowded the hospitals. But the condition of these places was so
terrible, the men died of disease so rapidly, that the death-rate was
greater than if they had fallen in fight. In this appalling crisis,
Miss Nightingale offered her services. These were thankfully accepted;
and a week afterward, the lady and her nurses left England for Scutari.
What she did there has since become matter for history. On one
occasion, she was on her feet for twenty hours at a stretch, until all
the poor fellows who had been brought in were comfortably accommodated.
None can tell how many lives she was the means of saving.
"Neglected, dying in despair,
They lay till woman came
To soothe them with her gentle care,
And feed life's flickering flame.
"When wounded sore on fever's rack,
Or cast away as slain,
she called their fluttering spirits back,
And gave them strength again.
"'Twas grief to miss the passing face
That suffering could dispel;
But joy to turn and kiss the place
On which her shadow fell."
Nor was her work confined to nursing only. Her example has done very
much; and her literary productions have given light and teaching to
those who wished to follow it. Who does not know the good that her
"Notes on Hospitals" has done? And her little book, "Notes on
Nursing," is invaluable to all who are called upon to spend an hour in
the sick room. Florence Nightingale has answered the question, What is
woman's work? by doing what she could.
She was one example, and ELIZABETH FRY was another. Passing her
childhood in the quiet home of her father, she was yet, as a child,
laying the foundation of her future excellent career. When only
eighteen years of age, she gained her father's consent to her
establishing in his house a school, to which about eighty poor children
came, and where they were taught good lessons, which were the seeds of
useful fruit in after years. At twenty years of age, she married
Joseph Fry, Esq., of Upton, Essex. He was then engaged in business in
London. She had eight children, and must have had her hands almost
full of domestic cares and duties. But she had eyes for the troubles
and needs of the inhabitants who lived and loved, sinned and suffered
outside of the sheltered resting-places in her own home, and she became
aware of the pitiable condition of the female prisoners in Newgate, and
resolved to visit them. It was considered to be a very dangerous
experiment; but her woman's heart was strong, for she had faith in God,
and in the power of human love; and otherwise unprotected, she went
alone into that part of the prison, where a hundred and fifty of the
worst of her own sex were confined. The women were surprised into
attention and respect by her dignity and gentleness of manner. She
read to them some portion of "the old old story," and spoke to them
with such earnest love, that their hearts were melted within them.
Many of them heard, for the first time, of the divine compassion of Him
who came to seek and to save that which was lost; and as they listened,
tears stole into eyes that were strangely unused to shed them; and from
some of the poor wanderers a cry went up to the merciful Father, and
was the first prayer in the sinful, sorrowful life. In 1816, she
became a systematic visitor of the prison. About that time, the
"Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline" was instituted, and
she worked in connection with it. She established a school inside of
the prison walls--found work for the idle hands of the women, and
succeeded in forming a Committee of Ladies who were willing to help in
the reformation of the female prisoners. It soon became evident that
the labour was not in vain. A marked difference in the habits of the
women was apparent. Instead of the riot and filth which were the
accompaniments of idleness, order, neatness, and decency, were
maintained. Nor did she rest when Newgate had shown some improvement.
Her thoughts were turned to the condition of the poor wretches who had
been sentenced to transportation. The foreign prisons were in even a
worse condition than our own, and she took several Continental journeys
in order to gain knowledge, and enlist the sympathy and help of
Christian people of all nations for the prisoners.
But although this work was that with regard to which she was most
deeply solicitous, it was not the only one which occupied her thoughts.
The Abolition of Slavery was a task which was laid upon her heart, and
she rendered the cause good service. She spent much time and money
also in the distribution of Bibles and religious tracts. She provided
the ships of the Royal Navy, and those of the Coast Guard, with
religious and instructive literature, having obtained permission from
Government to do so. And she did not limit her good deeds to such
things as these, which necessarily were well known. She worked
silently, too; and many an act of mercy gladly rendered to the poor and
destitute, the sick and helpless, had no witness but the God who seeth
in secret, and rewardeth openly.
This good friend added to her other engagements that of the preacher;
and never, perhaps, has a woman's voice spoken more effectively than
did the voice of this worthy woman, who preached the gospel both by
lips and life, not only in her own, but also in Continental cities. It
was, indeed, a great loss to this world, where noble men and women are
so much wanted, when Elizabeth Fry died. But He who watches all life
and action, has said, "He that is faithful in that which is least, is
faithful also in much," and He calls the steadfast servant to higher
service.
In the year 1845, she died at Ramsgate, in the sixty-fifth year of her
age. A nation mourned for her, and as the most fitting testimony to
the esteem in which she was held, a building was erected, which was
called the "Elizabeth Fry Refuge," and which was to supply home and
relief to discharged female prisoners. Was Elizabeth Fry an unwomanly
woman? Certainly not. But she did exceptional work, because she saw
that it needed doing; and God blessed and prospered her in it. Of her
also it may surely be said, "She hath done what she could."
Even in our own day, there are multitudes of good women who are
slipping a little out of the beaten track. Are not the names of Miss
Faithful, Miss Leigh, Miss Macpherson, Miss Marsh, and Miss Rye,
"familiar in our mouths as household words." Are there not speakers
and preachers, scientific women and teachers, who have been thoroughly
successful in the work they have undertaken, though it has not been
that which has usually fallen to the lot of women?
At the time of writing these words, the largest congregation in London
is mourning the loss of a woman who, Sunday by Sunday, gathered
together eight hundred members of a Young Woman's Bible Class, to
listen while she spoke to them of things pertaining to their present
and eternal welfare. And who is there but would earnestly wish such
women God-speed? Their work may be a little different from some of
that of their sisters, but it is good work all the same. And as such
it ought to be done. Why should not the labourers be allowed to
proceed with their tasks without opposition and hindrance from those
who look on? It cannot be denied that much of this work never would be
performed if the women did not do it. Are they not right to step into
vacant places, and stretch out their hands to help, when help is
needed? Whether they are right or not, they certainly do not escape
censure. People are ready enough to applaud a really heroic action,
but if the deed be as good in itself, yet have no romance about it, the
tongues of the critics are apt to say sharp things. Many women, simply
because they are not courageous enough to brave the adverse opinions of
those by whom they are surrounded, lose golden opportunities of
distinguishing themselves. They are afraid to be singular. But this
fear is no honour to the sex. A woman should be so far free and
independent as to do that which she feels to be right, no matter though
the right seem to call her to heights which she had not occupied
before. And if, in her ordinary avocations, she be allowed liberty of
thought and action, there is the greater probability that, when the
occasion comes which demands from her strength of nerve and firm
endurance, she will not be found wanting. It does not matter very much
whether or not other people are satisfied with a woman's deeds, though
she cannot help wishing to please those whom she loves. But what does
matter is, that she should gain the high praise of Him who sees not as
man sees, and who will say even to those who imagine themselves to be
in some sense failures, "She hath done what she could."
To study the life of any good woman, is to know that she is not
necessarily unable to do many things well. It used to be thought that
it was a pity to educate a woman; for, if she understood two or three
languages, it was not likely that she would also know how to darn
stockings. And nothing can make men willing to pardon a woman's
domestic deficiencies. Have not poets sung of them as nurses, wives,
mothers, and cooks! But no poet cares to write of them as physicians,
reasoners, lecturers, or preachers. Lyttelton has written--
"Seek to be good, but aim not to be great:
A woman's noblest station is retreat;
Her fairest virtues fly from public sight,
Domestic worth, that shuns too strong a light."
Montgomery has said--
"Here woman reigns: the mother, daughter, wife,
Strew with fresh flowers the narrow way of life.
To the clear heaven of her delightful eye
An angel-guard of loves and graces lie;
Around her knees domestic duties meet,
And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet.
Where shall this land, this spot on earth be found?
Art thou a man?--a patriot! Look around;
Oh, thou shall find, howe'er thy footsteps roam,
This land _thy_ country, and this spot _thy_ home."
Shakespeare, too, has described her mission--
"I am ashamed that women are so simple,
To offer war where they should kneel for peace,
Or seek for rule, supremacy, and sway,
When they are bound to serve, love, and obey;
Why are our bodies soft, and weak, and smooth,
Unapt to toil and trouble in the world;
But that our soft conditions, and our hearts,
Should well agree with our external parts?"
It should be borne in mind, however, that a really clever and sensible
woman is able to do many things excellently. Was Mrs. Fry less a good
wife and able mother, because she visited prisons, and saved many of
her sex from desolation and death? She had eight children, and no one
doubts that each one had every care that a devoted mother could bestow
upon him. Was Grace Darling less loving and obedient as a daughter,
because she was so bold as not to be afraid to face death? Certainly
not. And the women of to-day will not fill their humble positions less
satisfactorily if they thankfully take every opportunity of training
themselves, both physically and mentally, for whatever good work may
come in their way. Does not the name of Grace Darling suggest to many
parents, a contrast between her life and that of their own daughters?
And would not many a man be glad to know that the woman who is to sit
by his side, and help or hinder him through life, had similar
qualifications for her position? In a word, can Grace Darling's be
trained? Is there any way of making "the girl of the period" into a
vigorously healthy, sensible, devoted, self-forgetful woman? Is it
impossible, out of the material which is to be found in any of our
schools and seminaries, to form characters of sterling worth and
practical usefulness?
The study of the life of the heroine of the Farne Isles will provide
the answer to this question. It will be seen, at all events, that such
women are not the produce of ballrooms, where the air is poisoned by
gases, and where women spend nights in scenes of excitement and gaiety.
Contrasts cannot be more striking than this between late hours, crowded
rooms, paints, scents, and flirtation, and the free fresh air, better
than all the champagne in the world, which circulated over and through
the Farne Isles. If the girls of the future are to be free from sickly
sentimentalism--if they are to have warm and tender hearts, that are
ever ready to respond to that which is noble, and sympathise with that
which is sorrowful--then they should get at least a good part of their
education out of doors, among the mountains and rocks, and by the
ever-changing sea. There was nothing artificial about the life of
Grace Darling. It was free, natural, and real. And if the women of
the next generation are to be strong and healthy in mind and body, they
should be taught to despise, rather than to covet, the dissipations,
the shams and frivolities, the dress and fashion, of modern society.
Another thing is morally certain, and it is, that Grace Darling had not
read many novels. The effect of doing this is to make girls dream,
rather than do. Their imagination takes flight into lofty regions, and
they fancy themselves doing a vast number of heroic actions, but it is
not such girls who would be found ready to act promptly in the
emergency. Less of that which is superficial, and more of that which
is natural and true, is wanted in these days to make noble women.
It is to be hoped that the consideration of this life will aid in the
development of all sterling qualities, and that women will rise from
its persual with a stronger determination than ever to become
unselfish, useful, and devoted. Are there not lives yet to be saved?
Are there no wrecks as awful as those which are caused by ships
crashing among rocks, or stranding upon dangerous sands? These are
days of civilisation and culture, of the multiplication of schools, and
extension of churches. But no reflective observer can pass along the
streets without seeing perilous places, which, though they never were
marked on any wreck chart, have been the means of luring hundreds to
destruction. There is work enough for all willing hands, and the women
of Great Britain can do no unimportant part of it. Only let them be
true to themselves, and to the higher instincts which God has planted
within them. Only let them be faithful to duty, and prompt to perform
any good task that lies before them, whether it be small or great, and
they will be worthy to take their places by the side of the Farne Isles
Heroine; and of them also the Judge will say, "They have done what they
could."