She was a wonderful officer in public, but I love best to remember
how she conquered in her own private life. When we remember how she
attacked the devil's kingdom, we can well believe that he did not
leave her unmolested. She had her full share of difficulties,
hardnesses, disappointments, and physical weakness; but, whatever
her feelings were, she rose above them, and went on with her work.
In her office, over the fireplace, hung a large picture of Christ
in the Garden of Gethsemane. On her writing table was the same
picture, but small; so, if she lifted her eyes from her writing,
she was reminded of Him whom she loved with her whole heart. As He
conquered by prayer, so did she. One morning, one of the local
officers called to see her. When I went to her room to fetch her,
her eyes were red with weeping. 'Dear, I can't go down like this,'
she said; 'will you see to the business for me?' She had been
pleading--agonizing with God.
She was very sweet to me. I can see her smile now as she first
welcomed me to the quarters. I was very timid and helpless in
public work when I became her lieutenant, but she made me feel
that her responsibility was to make me a worthy officer. She said,
'I could get others to do the house-work; you are to be my comrade
in the fight.' She took me fully into her confidence, consulted me
about corps organization, difficulties, special efforts,
everything! She would tell me all her plans and then ask for mine.
The first time she insisted upon my taking the Sunday night address,
in spite of having laboriously prepared, I was so nervous that I
stopped, fairly played out, in the middle of my talk, but she got
up and encouraged me, and asked the comrades to pray. She helped me
so much that to give a Bible address is not a difficulty now. I
learned to forget myself.
Had she a weakness? Well, it may seem much to say it, but though I
lived with her so long, I cannot think of one; she was an all-round
conqueror.