/ OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. % Memorial Sftetdj of (Ellen p. Sljato. MORRISON AND GIBB, EDINBURGH, PRINTERS TO HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. a Jtaorial Sfcetrf) of (Bllm $♦ Sfjaiw, EDITED BY HER SISTER, MARIA v/g.' HAVERGAL. ' In Thy presence is fulness of joy. NEW YORK: A. D. F. RANDOLPH & CO., 38 TWENTY-THIRD STREET. 1887. By £ tf § Atmy »nd Nav* May 27, fl2f \\ X ^ r\ ~a CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER, I I. HOLY MEMORIES, 5 II. SCHOOL DAYS, IO III. HOME LIFE, 17 IV. MARRIAGE AND A HOME IN IRELAND, . . . .28 V. RETURN TO ENGLAND — NEW HOME AT WINTERDVNE, WORCESTERSHIRE, 45 VI. LAST DAYS AND SUDDEN GLORY, 64 LETTERS TO HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, 85 BIBLE NOTES, 131 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. /^VNE of God's beautiful mysteries in ^-^ nature is the varied, invisible, and inseparable perfume of flowers ; they may hide beneath their leaves or greenery surrounding, yet cannot conceal their fragrance. And thus it was with the life of my sister Ellen, whose humility, meekness, and un- selfishness adorned her earthly home, till most suddenly gathered and transplanted to the King's fairer garden. It is only possible to give some outlines of that gentle life, A 2 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. and this is done by the express wish of her husband. He desires that God's glory may shine forth to others, as they read her clear testimony to the preciousness of God's Word, and how she adorned the doctrine of God her Saviour in all things. Not forgetting the interest many friends may feel in this Memorial, her husband wishes to circulate these pages among the large number of excursionists, who in former years have received so many books at her hand. Thousands have been per- mitted to wander freely in the picturesque and shady walks of Winterdyne. Fervent prayer preceded effort for their good ; Mr. and Mrs. Shaw would then take baskets full of books — such as Mr. Stevenson Black- wood's, Rev. George Everards, and Reid's, with F. R. Havergal's Memoir, ' Royal Invitation/ etc. etc., offering them with kindly words to the strangers. In former years, her sister, F. R. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. Havergal, occasionally and energetically assisted with voice in holy song, as well as hand, in giving away flowers at these gatherings ; and they seem to have suggested the following lines in her poem of ' The Sowers/ as in her own copy she has written * Mr. Shaw ' against these lines : — ' Another watched the sowers longingly : " I cannot sow such seed as they," he said ; " No shining grain of thought is given to me, No fiery words of power bravely sped. Will others give me of their bounteous store ? My hand may scatter that, if I can do no more." ' So by the wayside he went forth to sow The silent seeds, each wrapped in fruitful prayer, With glad humility ; content to know The volume lent, the leaflet culled with care, The message placed in stranger hands, were all Beneath His guiding eye who notes the sparrow's fall/ A few words from one of Mrs. Shaw's last letters convey the fragrance of her faith and hope. ' When I look at the Fifteenth Psalm, in the light of Revelation vii., and I see how 4 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. that innumerable multitude stand before the throne, I take comfort in seeing that I can claim admission with them, for I have the same right, the same passport — " the blood of the Lamb ! " Washed in that all-atoning blood from omissions, commissions, and failures, and clothed in His perfect righteousness instead of my own, I hope and expect to " abide in His holy hill." ^ MARIA V. G. HAVERGAL. Winterdyne, February 19, 1887. CHAPTER I HOLY MEMORIES. ASTLEY RECTORY, Worcestershire, is no longer an unknown name. Holy memories cluster around its home and adjoin- ing churchyard. And holy footprints may yet be tracked among his people, of the faithful ambassador of Christ, the Rev. W. H. Havergal ; while his home influence twines with the bright life of his youngest daughter, Frances. The church, built on high ground, com- mands extensive views. '. . . . See Woodbury's outline grand, Upon whose crest the ancient Briton camped. Oh, lovely are the walks that curve between, From Yarrow up the Toot Back to the meadow in our view, where once Lily and Rose, our cows, were often seen, And sometimes Gentle, our fine faithful horse ; And there each other year we made the hay ; 5j 6 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. Our pastor father, with well-ordered mind, Gave orchard, study, parish, each due care. We mimic children, played at church and school, And grew up handy, hardy, in our country life.' — J. Miriam Crane. The rectory garden then was fair, and it was our mothers delight to train the flowers with skill and care. In its shrubbery nooks, as well as flower-borders, snowdrops grew luxuriantly. When children, we transplanted them from the Astley snowdrop wood, where they grew in thousands ; their dark green tufts, crested with snowy bells, springing from under the dead bracken and tangles of moss and ivy. With February they came, and on Feb- ruary 19, 1823, came our home snowdrop, Ellen, third daughter of the Rev. W. H. Havergal and Jane his wife. Her memory seems always associated with this flower, as appears from her sister Miriam's lines (her- self only seven years old) on her second birthday : — ' Pretty little sister dear, See a snowdrop bud appear, All beneath the shady tree Which, my sweet, resembles thee ! ' NURSERY DAYS. And in after years her own children delighted in the long drive from Winterdyne to the same Astley snowdrop wood, to gather baskets full of ' mothers flower ' as a birth- day offering. Even as a little child, Ellen possessed the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, ever hiding away self and preferring to please others, regardless of her own wishes — 1 So many nice scruples arise in the way, Whenever we wish her, her own self to please, Or take for herself some comfort and ease ! ; — F. R. H. Once I questioned our maid about the old nursery days, and she told me that she never knew Miss Ellen naughty but once, and that was to defend sister Maria when corrected ! Also, that she was a most good-natured child, dressing up her dolls to give away, and other playthings. Her skill in doll- dressing extended afterwards in making artistic costumes of various nations, and to her delight these dolls were sold for the Church Missionary Society. (It was always a pleasure at Astley Rectory to help that.) She learnt knitting from a dear old widow — 8 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. she was never an idle, listless child — and after learning her little lessons with mother, would quietly work and amuse herself. Some of my earliest and holiest remem- brances are of our dear mothers Bible lessons on Sunday. Both Ellen and myself were much impressed one night, rather later than usual, with mothers words about the holy happy heaven, and the great love of Jesus, and they roused me to keen attention, and I thought, * Mamma and Ellen are good, and sure to go to heaven ; I wish I was/ We often wondered why our mother always went to her own room some time before tea, and we determined to discover what she did. Opening the door, there she sat reading her large Bible. We thought much more of the Bible from that time, and I believe Ellen early followed that example, and certainly did so in later years, retiring from any other pursuit for those hallowed moments. ' My good little Ellen,' or ' Papas harm- less dove,' was his home call ; and his birthday lines must close her childhoods page :— A FEBRUARY QUEEN. 'To Ellen, on her Third Birthday. 1 1 9/// February 1826. ' Come, my pretty little love, Sweet and harmless as the dove ; You, my February Queen ! Paper-crowned with pink and green, Happy, happy may you be, Often as this day you see. Onward as through life you go, May the Bible you well know ! And when days and years are fled, And you sleep among the dead, May your spirit happy be, With the Great and Holy Three, Clad in robes of holiness, Crowned with everlasting bliss.' — Rev. W. H. Havergal CHAPTER II SCHOOL-DAYS. LIVING in a retired country rectory, my father thought it desirable to give his daughters such school training and education as would fit them for useful and happy lives. Great Campden House was then a well- known school, attended by first-rate pro- fessors from London, with other educational advantages ; so Ellen's home life and gover- ness were exchanged for school, and the penetrating and persuasive Bible teaching of Mrs. Teed. There was no vacancy on the first application, but the death of one of the pupils made way for her admission in March 1838. Eagerly did I watch for Ellens arrival, and very pleasant was it to introduce her to our many companions, and show her the SCHOOL-DAYS. n historic tapestried rooms and chapel of Queen Anne, and the quaint wood-carvings in one of the spacious schoolrooms. The garden walks were extensive, and beneath the terrace there was, as supposed in olden times, a subterranean passage to the House of Lords — but our curiosity might never penetrate that. I did not then know the secret of my sister's anxiety to come to school, and it is only eighteen months ago that I found it out ! I was then staying at Hertford, and during a visit from Ellen (Mrs. Shaw) invited some of the dear girls from Christ's Hospital to breakfast. She then gave them this account of how and when God's Word brought her peace and joy : — It was in March 1838 that I first went to school at Great Campden House, Kensington. I was so dis- appointed when, the Christmas previous, Mrs. Teed wrote that she had no room for me ; so I was glad when the letter came in March, for I thought I shall surely find out for myself what I could not then at all believe. I will tell you the secret why I wished to go to school. It was not that I wanted to get on with lessons and accomplishments only, though I really was very glad of the opportunity of learning more than I could 12 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. at home, for I was nearly fifteen, and had not been years at school like my sisters. For many reasons I was glad to go and learn ; but the secret was, that then I hoped I should really find the Lord Jesus as my own Saviour. I had for long been so miserable. I knew all about Christ, and had had much sweet teaching at home. But I heard that the governess, Mrs. Teed, was so good, and I knew that many of her pupils had really found Christ. It was on a cold morning in March 1838 that papa drove me at 4 a.m. to Worcester to meet the 'Star' coach to London, which started at 6 a.m., going through Oxford and High Wycombe, where dear, saintly grandmamma Havergal met me. The coach arrived at Kensington between 7 and 8 p.m. A teacher, Miss Green, met me and took me into the back parlour for tea, and then I had a chair close to the door of the schoolroom, where evening prayers were going on. I heard the organ, and I suppose some one gave me a book for the hymn, which I have never forgotten ; it was — ' How condescending and how kind Was God's eternal Son ! Our misery reached His heavenly mind, And pity brought Him down. ' When justice, by our sins provoked, Drew forth its dreadful sword, He gave His soul up to the stroke Without a murmuring word. ' He sunk beneath our heavy woes, To raise us to His throne ; There's not a gift His hand bestows, But cost His heart a groan. SCHOOL-DAYS. 13 ' This was compassion like a God, That when the Saviour knew The price of pardon was His blood, His pity ne'er withdrew. ' Now though He reigns exalted high, His love is still as great ; Well He remembers Calvary, Nor let His saints forget. 1 Here let our hearts begin to melt, While we His death record, And, with our joy for pardoned guilt, Mourn that we pierced the Lord ! ' — Isaac Watts. And then sister Maria came to meet me and introduce me to school-life. And I was not disappointed. God did not disappoint my hope, for before many weeks I found it all true. It was on Good Friday, 5th April 1838, that our chaplain, the Rev. Joseph Parker, preached on Isa. liii. 5 : ' But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon Him ; and with His stripes we are healed.' He spoke so simply and sweetly — did we each for our- selves believe that Jesus, God's dear Son, was wounded for our transgressions — bruised for our iniquity ? When it came to my usual time for going alone to read my Bible, I looked at the verse, and as I looked at the words they shone into my soul, and I just believed that Jesus was bruised for me, and that He had suffered for my transgressions, and so all my sin was gone, and there was nothing now but peace between me and my Father* And so that verse became my glorious way- 14 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. mark, and the peace it gave me has lasted on all these years.— (1838-1885). Many can testify to the reality of this early conversion, and therefore being justified by faith, and having peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, good fruit appeared, and henceforth she walked most 'justly, holily, and unblameably.' i It was the rising ! the first hour Of the true shining, that should rise and rise From glory unto glory, through God's skies, In strengthening brightness and increasing power. A rising with no settling, for its height Could only culminate in God's eternal light. • ••»»• 1 And so the years flowed on and only cast Light and more light upon the shining way, That more and more shone to the perfect day ; Always intenser, clearer than the past ; Because they only bore her on glad wing Nearer the Light of Light, the presence of the King.' — ' Zenith/ F. R. H. I rejoiced in my sister's popularity at school, her winsome gentleness ensuring many friends. In Gods providential hand, one of her school friendships was the forging of a golden link, riveted in her happy mar- riage and home in Ireland, and afterwards at Winterdyne. SCHOOL-DAYS. 15 On leaving Campden House, Ellen re- ceived prizes and a silver medal for drawing from Mons. de Riviere. She excelled in crayon heads and figures, and with further lessons at home attained proficiency, and she eventually sold many pictures, devoting the profit to the Church Missionary Society. From Mrs. Teed she received a Reference Bible, the special token of her approval, with the words, ' The Lord grant that my beloved child may grow in grace and in the know- ledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ/ Mrs. Teed's appreciation of her character is shown by this mention of Ellen after she had left school To M. V. G. H., 1841. ' Great Campden House. . . . ' And how are you prospering ? Are you looking into self where no good thing dwells, or looking to Jesus who is all fair, and in whose righteousness we are all fair too ? Are you, an unrighteous sinner, living by faith upon the perfect righteousness of the God-man Christ Jesus ? The effect of this righteousness is peace and quietness and assurance and holy living ; for if our garments have been made white at such a cost, there will be a holy fear of spotting them, — a dove cannot live with a spot on its silver feathers. Keep near to the 16 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. Lord Jesus ; they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. 6 1 hope you pray daily with my sweet dove Ellen. I hope you found her improved in her studies ; how I shall miss her I cannot tell. Love to your dear, dear father and sweet mother and Miriam. I love many at Astley Rectory, and have reason to do so. — Your affec- tionate friend, M. A. Teed.' CHAPTER III HOME LIFE. SCHOOL days were followed by the uneventful period of home life at Astley Rectory ; taking share with her sisters in the Sunday school. Her collecting- book for the C. M. S. showed loving diligence, many entries being of quarterly pennies and even halfpence from the scattered cottages. During the summer holidays she delighted in assisting sister Miriam in her large sewing and knitting class. Studies were not neglected, and on our removal from Astley to Henwick House, she had lessons in German from Herr Lorenz, and it was then her little sister Fanny listened and learned precociously, though unobserved. Ellens translations from Goethe B 1 8 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. and Schiller are fluent and poetical, or as F. R. H. said, 'first-rate.' In 1844 our dear father accepted the rectory of St. Nicholas, Worcester. Her delicate health often prevented her from working in the parish according to her most earnest desires. I know how intensely she longed to work for Christ, how prayerfully and diligently she prepared every lesson for her class, and how deeply the gentle teacher was loved. Some conversations with her sick scholars are given in ' Pleasant Fruits/ With her needlework she almost entirely supported a child in an Indian orphanage. Solid useful books were regularly read, and abstracts written. We were thankful that our dear parents' example and wish kept us from wasting time on novels. Our sweet mothers long and severe illness, from 1845-48, brought our first and darkest shadow. Then it was that Ellens home ministry shone with unvarying and unceasing brightness. No classes, no pleasures ever kept her from her mother 's side. Not satis- fied with the night nurse's attendance, Ellen would steal gently down to her mother's room, HOME LIFE. 19 soothing and alleviating the weary nights, and bringing comfort untold, unseen, save to the Eye that never slumbers or sleeps. Yes, I must bear witness to my sisters self-sacri- ficing and dutiful love, a true pattern to myself and daughters in general. Some time after our dear mothers blessed rest and most peaceful departure, on the 5th July 1848, sister Miriam sent her a miniature likeness of her mother. Ellen writes : — When I first looked at the beautiful and well-known features, I thought, ' Oh that those lips had language ! ' Then again I thought — if it were so, they would only speak our sorrowful words — only a little while, and when I shall meet my loved mother in her glorious home, what new and unimagined tones of love and joy and peace will she then speak ! what, oh what will it be to hear her new and tuneful voice. And again I thought — no pain, no passing shadows will then dim that beloved face ; and if so lovely when with us, how fairer still will she be then, reflecting the beauty of her Saviour, who ever was to her the 1 Altogether Lovely/ Our dear father always specially honoured Ellen for her 'piety at home/ and at her wedding breakfast he emphatically referred to this characteristic trait, and of her mothers 20 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. special blessing resting upon her. In our fathers will he made special bequest to ' his most dutiful daughter Ellen/ of the elegant silver cake basket which the parishioners of Astley had presented to our dear mother, Jane Havergal, ' in remembrance of her uniform kindness, March 1842/ In the autumn of 1853, we both spent some weeks with Mrs. Gross of Ayr, to whom she addressed these lines on her birthday : — Birthday Thoughts for an Aged Friend He who has led thee all the way, To silvery hairs and life's decay, Will not forsake thee now When many a care hath aged thy brow. Wait patiently — and thou shalt see Thy God aye waits for thee. Light has He sown, it soon shall rise With gladness on thy longing eyes \ Till then, though evils hedge thy way, Thy shield He proves by night or day ; Leading thee where thou soon shalt see Him face to face continually. Loving God's law, sweet peace shall roll As deepening rivers in thy soul. PASSING CLOUDS. 21 Rejoice then, in the Lord rejoice ! And listen to His faithful voice, 1 With blessing thou art surely blest, Rely on Me for endless rest.' -E. P. H, 1853. Eighteen hundred and fifty-three was a sorrowful year. Our dear fathers illness and blindness detained him in Germany, and scattered our home circle. Ellen was also recovering from illness, and the sea-breezes of Ayrshire were most beneficial. Her graceful, fragile figure was quite a contrast to the sturdy Scotch lassies. Indeed, visitors called her ' the sweet English angel ; ' and her peaceful smile and simple words about the Lord Jesus, won many new friends. With the close of the year, the clouds bright- ened, and our home recall came. Thoughts the Night before going Home, after Long Absence. December 1853. Another stage of life is drawing to its close — Strange have its wanderings been, nor few its woes, — Sickness and sorrow heavy on us lay, While each one wandered in a solitary way. Yet sunshine sometimes pierced the clouds, and showed A wayside flower, or where a streamlet flowed. Why were we scattered from our much-loved home ? Why did we journey each as pilgrims lone? 22 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. E'en as an eagle stirreth up her nest The Lord did warn us, f this is not your rest' Did He not often lead His own aside By burning bush, or pillar'd cloud, and guide His followers to some lone mountain-side, That they might learn, * In Me ye must abide ' ? So did He lead us ; and when storms rose high Drew nearer, whispering, * It is I.' Oh, let me listen still to that sweet voice, And in Thy love and guiding grace rejoice. — The morning dawns — the shadows flee away, My longings wake — I'm going home to-day ! No sweeter joy my heart shall know Till ends my pilgrimage below. And yearning for my Saviour's breast — He beckons — ' Come to Me and rest, To-day in Paradise with Me be blest ! ' — E. P. H. The St. Nicholas bells were ringing the home-welcome, but we did not know how eagerly one of Ellen's class was listening and longing to see her teacher. Little Sarah had been a rather troublesome child, and yet she would squeeze her teachers hand even when chiding her. And she would run home to grannie in the almshouse, and tell her, ' I was naughty at school to-day, but Miss Ellen told me of it, and I can't bear to vex her, and she does want me to be Jesus' little lamb.' The texts learnt at school were LOVING LITTLE SARAH. 23 found again in grannies great Bible, and the same great Bible was carried by Sarah to church, tripping by grannie in her ancient satin bonnet and hooded cloak. We were in Scotland when the child's illness came. Sarah read her Bible much, and consequently found comfort ; but her one longing was, * Grannie, can't I live to see Mr. Havergal and dear Miss Ellen ? I must tell them Jesus loves me, and saves me ; won't they like to see me happy ? ' She heard the bells, and the loving little heart was beating her dying welcome, ' Grannie, they will come now! She asked for the old Bible, and the 14th chapter of St. John, and then she slept. Just as the chimes ceased, One dearer than pastor or teacher came, and little Sarah was gathered with the Shepherd's arm. It may encourage some wearied teacher, who seems ever sowing and never reaping, to read how surely God's promise comes true, ' My word shall not return unto Me void.' Let us follow my sister to the bedside of one of her scholars in the first class of St. Nicholas Sunday school. A reference Bible 24 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. is open by Susans side ; it is well worn — a good index of its value to the owner. Susan takes it up saying, ' My Bible is all my comfort now, it's so sweet to me. I hardly care to go to sleep for thinking of it, and the night never seems long, verse after verse brings me so many sweet thoughts. Yester- day I was so ill, and thought I was dying.' Teacher. ' And could you trust yourself in the hands of the Lord Jesus?' Susan. 'Yes, quite so. He is such a Saviour, I could not be afraid. He is very precious to me, and I love to think of Him/ Teacher. ' Are you not thankful, Susan, that the Lord Jesus has taught you thus to know and love Him ? ' Susan. 'Yes, I do thank Him, but I thank Him too for sending you to teach me; oh, I do thank you so, Miss Ellen ! ' Another visit, Susan remarked, ' I am proud of my Sunday school ; it's a blessed thing to go to one. I was at St. Nicholas school for eleven years, and do thank God for your teaching. How I listened and tried to remember and ponder over all you said, through the week ! You used to beg us to THE DYING SCHOLAR. 25 seek the Lord Jesus, and to pray for the Holy Spirit ; and if you had not, perhaps I should have gone in wicked ways. How you warned us Sunday after Sunday, and pointed us to Jesus, the living way! And what should I do now, without all the Scripture you encouraged us to learn? When I lie awake at night it all comes back into my mind so sweet, and when I am too weak to hold my Bible, the verses come in my mind like food. I wish all my class would attend to the Bible more ; it's after they will want it J February 12. — A cold wintry day, with snow falling thickly. It was an effort and risk for Ellen to brave the long walk through the storm, but she felt a strong impulse not to delay her visit. She found Susan weary and uncomfortable. Her teacher smoothed the tumbled pillows, and brushed her tangled hair, and sponged her feverish hands, and then she sat down and wiped away the gathering death-drops on her scholar s face, saying, ' " God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither 26 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, shall there be any more pain," and it will be very soon now, dear Susan/ 1 Yes, He will, He will. But my Saviour had no kind hand to do for Him what you have been doing for me. I have pure water and nice things to refresh me — the Lord Jesus had none — only that vinegar and gall on the sponge.' And then they talked together of the coming glory. Long had she watched the fruits of grace springing up in her scholars soul, and now the Holy Spirit had ripened her for glory. She lingered long by the bed- side ; it was not easy to loose the dying hand that would never again hold hers so lovingly. But they parted, and Susan's last whisper, ' Full of hope, dear teacher,' gave a glance through the opening door into the bright home she was entering. And when the even- ing came, Susan passed within the gate, — 1 Above the splendours of the sky, To view Him face to face.' Reference has been made to one of my sister's school friendships. The following letter gives a gleam of that sympathy which she so truly felt for others. SYMPATHY. 27 Oak hampton, iqthjuly 1850 Can the account sent me from the Record be really true, my F. ? I can scarcely realize that your much loved treasure is snatched away, how then can you? Oh, my F., how I grieve for you ! Yet it is no c strange thing' that has happened. The husbandman and shepherd are wont to remove ripened fruits and loved sheep to the place prepared for them ; and now that your heavenly Father has done as seemed Him good, may His grace enable you to say, ' Even so, Father ; not my will, but Thine, be done.' It must indeed be a bitter cup, a heart-rending wound, yet I know as your day, so your strength. May faith be strong and hope bright to enable you to pierce the cloud, and confide in the love that has thus appointed, and to receive the comfort which cometh from God alone. Who comforteth like Him ? not by removing the trial, but showing it to be a very proof of His love, and of our fellowship with Him — a means and channel of richest blessing. Surely this one is to wean you from earth and its miserable comforters and 'cast' you upon Jesus in His fulness and all-sufficiency as your all in all, and thus enable you to press forward to where we shall all be one in Christ Jesus. How often have you prayed for such things, — may this be the means of your obtaining. I thought of you last night as I read, ' I have been cast upon Thee ever since I was born.' Is it not sorrow and trial that ' casts ' us upon our God ? Our flesh, our heart, our props all fail ; we have nothing left but to rest in Him. What a rock to be ' cast ' upon ! so sure, so sheltering ; never failing — all-sufficient, because a smitten rock. May its healing streams abound to you while you find shelter there in this storm of sorrow ! . . . — Your affectionate friend, E. P. Havergal. CHAPTER IV. MARRIAGE AND A HOME IN IRELAND. WE are permitted to unveil some letters after Ellen's happy engagement to Giles Shaw, Esq. of Celbridge Lodge, County Kildare, and the wise and prayerful spirit in which she looked forward to this new step in life. To G. S. Worcester, November 1855. And of what should my first letter be, but of Him who is our first friend, our first object, our first or ' exceed- ing joy ' ? His love to us is from everlasting, ours is but just commenced, but was it not from Him ? did He not shed His love abroad in our hearts, and then drew us by it to each other ? Then may our hearts, being ' knit together' by His love, be ever receiving increasing supplies of it that shall bind us closer to Him. I would love you much, but I would love Him most, because He ' first loved me, and gave Himself for me. 5 Do you think these two rules would help us to love Him LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 29 more, — that whenever we think of each other, especially in absence, we should also think of Him who is ' with us always,' while we are with Him. Also, that when- ever we observe anything, either defective or pleasing in each other, we should make it an occasion to admire Him who is ' without blemish or spot/ and altogether lovely. ... E. P. H. To G. S. Lansdowne Crescent, nth December 1855. The snow prevented me from going into the parish this morning, so I had the pleasure of going to my room at noon and doing as I hoped you then did. My chapter happened to be Matt. xvii. I felt it was indeed 6 good 1 to 'come apart' from the rest and be awhile in the presence of Jesus. It seemed as if you and I might, and did, ascend far higher than that happy mount, even to that Mount Zion whither He is gone before us. And if we cannot yet see His brightness with bodily eyes, faith can discern something of His brightness as the ' sun of our souls/ the ' Sun of Righteousness.' I could not but pray, ' Lord, show me> show us Thyself.' He has arisen upon our souls with healing in His beams. May He now shine more brightly upon us, not only to cheer with His bright beams of love, but to reflect upon us more of His image. Oh to be changed into His image here, and into His glory hereafter ! Surely He did (as you say) ' meet us on that occasion ' ! How gracious of Him to do so ! . . . E. P. H. December 1855. I hope our Sunday enjoyment has been mutual, — to me there seemed new need for every prayer, new 30 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE, cause for every praise, and a new light and value in precepts and promises, which it would have been delight- ful to have enjoyed with you. Never was I so struck before with the figure brought to our notice by our Church, of Christ as the Branch. ' I sat under His shadow with great delight/ and thought of Him as His Father's 6 plant of renown/ ' daily His delight,' and yet transplanted by Him to our desert world. Those to whom He was first given saw no beauty in Him, but thanks be to God if He enables us to see that He is 6 beautiful and glorious/ and 'altogether lovely.' We look unto Him and see Him as a branch drooping and oppressed, with the burden of our sin, laden with the imputation of our guilt and sentences of death. We look again, and see He is the only ' righteous Branch ' in this ' dry ground/ — and more than this, that He is our Righteousness. We go and ' sit under His shadow/ and are 'revived/ sheltered, and refreshed, — we find His fruit is not only for ' healing ' to our sin-wounded hearts, but that it is 'sweet to our taste/ and in full confidence it will ' never fail/ we may say — c Feed me till I want no more ! ' Nor is this enough, we must be ' graffed into ' this glorious Branch and ' abide in Him.' And how gracious a command is this ; I feel it so very much just now when so much is before me, and yet, that ' separate from Him ' I can do nothing. Oh that I may so abide as to become neither barren nor unfruitful in holiness. I had many other thoughts about this beauteous Branch which shall * spread through all lands.' Only, if it is pleasant to be under the shade of what seems now to our blind eyes but as a Branch, what will be the fulness of our joy when we behold Him as the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God ! LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 31 18M December 1855. My class chapter, Gen. xlii., for to-morrow has been showing me how much of the gospel is laid up for us in the rolls of the Old Testament, — how Jesus is set forth to the spiritual eye. I want to impress my dear class with the thought (ver. 5) that every earthly good must at some time prove barren and disappointing (a lesson for myself)^ that it will be only in the heavenly Canaan that we shall 'hunger no more/ The con- sequence of neglecting to seek spiritual food (John iii. 18, 36, vi. 53). To point them to the true Joseph who gives His own body for our food, and is a full store- house for all our wants (Prov. viii. 17, 21 ; John vi. 35 ; Col. i. 19; John i. 14, 16). No price to be given by us (Isa. lv. 1). As Joseph spoke 'roughly,' so God shows ' hard things ' to His sons — pricks the conscience, convinces of sin, awakens His north wind, or sends trial like His pruning-knife — and why all this? — to convict, search, cleanse, and prune, and so fit them to receive comfort in the revelation of Himself. So would I warn them of sin and danger, and then direct them to Jesus. He will bring sin to remembrance — show us ourselves first and then Himself. Here I may repeat the little book, ' Shew me myself.' Is it not thus that He has dealt with you and me ? Was not His heart full of tenderness, melting with love when He sent chastening to either ? Oh ! I hope that in all the pleasant things He is showing me now, He will yet reveal Himself 'more clearly, not let me be taken up with the things themselves, nor let me ' set my affections f even upon one object more than upon Himself, who is infinitely lovely, worthy, and precious. The thought strikes me, too, that as Joseph gave corn and yet reserved the display of his affection and the 32 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. knowledge of himself for a future time, so the Saviour gradually unfolds to us the riches of His grace, the knowledge of Himself, and of His will, just as He fits us to receive it. He gives, like Joseph, a present supply, and waits for us to come again when we are in want. Then if we are hungering now for more of the Bread of Life which we have already tasted, will He not supply us again ? — let us ' open our mouths wide that He may fill ' them. < My soul with all Thy fulness fill.' ... E. P. H. December 1855. I wish I knew the hour for your Saturday Bible class, and of your Sunday readings ; it would be so nice to think of you just then, for I hope always to help you in them by seeking for you the help that cometh from above. Another thing I should like to know — at what time or hours I may specially meet you in spirit at our Father's footstool? I am so thankful that you have such praying friends ; social prayer seems so little used as it might and ought to be ; it is what I have often longed to enjoy more of, and now God seems to be giving me my heart's desire. I did not know Mr. Bradley's sermon on the Branch, — indeed it was because I could not remember hearing or reading anything upon the subject, that I tried to think for myself, and was surprised, as we often are, to find a single twig of the word of life bearing so much fruit. My subject for my little class next Sunday after- noon is, the Things to which the Word of God is compared. I want to get time to study it, that I may the better estimate its value. LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 33 2\st December 1855. To help you to one pleasant, profitable thought seems a sweet privilege, but it makes me feel that in myself I am 'poor and needy,' and need to say, ' cleanse the thoughts of my heart,' and teach me to think ' such things as are good.' I would be hearing what the Lord doth speak, watching daily at His gates, waiting at His door, that i His thoughts ' may become ' dearer J to me, and my own be moulded more like His. And if we have even a desire after holy thoughts, is it not because 1 the Lord thinketh upon us,' to keep us from our own naturally earthly ones? It has been altogether a happy morning. I went down to the vestry, and made it my business to go into the church, where the recipients await their turn, and tried to say a word in season to the different groups, and so, while allaying their impatience, to lead their thoughts to the Giver of all — the best gift, etc. Then I had an errand or two to some who could not come to receive, — one, a poor man, who said, i It was twenty years last week, Miss, since I took to my bed. Not a day but those words come to my mind, " I will not leave you comfortless," etc., and they make all my sufferings seem but a dream.' Then I went to collect the last of my quarterly mis- sionary subscriptions, and was quite refreshed by another nice talk. How good is God to give such ! Many a thought passed of this being (so far as we know) my last St. Thomas' Day at home — the new stewardship I am (D. V.) to enter upon. And yesterday, at the examination of our National School by the Bishop, as I looked on the dear little faces as they sang their Hosanna, my imagination flew across the Channel to the Irish faces that will be all strange at first, but which I fancy I love C 34 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. already, and long to teach them, too, of 'the new song.' ... E. P. H. 2.\th Deceniber 1855. A happy Christmas to you ! — happy in the possession of thousand blessings from the ' upper and nether springs/ — happy in the full enjoyment of that one best gift which is the source and pledge of all others. Oh ! is not this Christmas gift from our Heavenly Father a precious one? Let us try to rejoice more in it. I was trying yesterday to teach my little class something of its greatness from Hebrews i., which tells of His Godhead, His creating and upholding power, His throne of righteousness and majesty, — the worship He receives, and His eternity. Yet He left all this, laid aside His robes of Light and Majesty, took off His crown, left His kingdom, exchanged heaven for earth— His Father's bosom for a hard manger in a poor stable — the love and adoration of angels for the unconscious presence of brute beasts, etc. And why did He thus? Matt. i. 21 ; Luke xix. 10; John iii. 16; Acts iii. 26; 2 Cor. viii. 9; 1 Tim. i. 15; Titus ii. 14, and iii. 6, 7 ; 1 John iv. 9, 10, and many other Scriptures tell us. Is it not then a precious gift ? As we think of it, may our hearts burn within us, so that they cry out, ' Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift ! ' It is all our ' salvation and all our desire.' A sermon I was reading suggested to me that God Himself, has in many ways shown the importance of His gift, by representing it beforehand in types and shadows — preached it by prophets and apostles — announced it by angels — proclaimed it by His own voice from heaven. What more could He have done ? Yet two thoughts more please me — the holy Church throughout the world feel its importance and exult in its preciousness. We LETTERS BEFORE MARRIAGE. 35 shall join with them to-morrow in giving thanks and 'glory to God in the highest' for this His good Will towards us — while we may look forward to joining angels above (for whom He was not slain), but who yet praise Him who ' loved us and gave Himself for us.' I hope your good friends are with you. I am sure you will have Christmas happiness if they are, for He who made Himself ' one with us ' will be in the midst of you. ... E. P. H. 'ipth December 1855. It is the eve of the last Sunday in the year — a solemn time, is it not ? Has it not a voice of warning of our last Sunday of all, and our last account, as well as a voice to recall the deeds of the one just closing? It reminds me of Sabbath sins — surely the worst of all sins. ' If Thou, Lord, shouldest be extreme to mark iniquity, how should /stand?' I am accustomed to spend the two closing hours of the year in self-examination and prayer, and now never without a vivid recollection of my dear mamma on her last old year's night. ' What thou knowest not now thou shalt know hereafter.' It is good for us to be humbled by disappointment sometimes in our imperfect endeavours — but look up, ' be not weary,' at least refresh yourself with the thought that ' the counsel of the Lord standeth sure.' He will surely bring to pass the good counsel of His Will for us. His Word shall accomplish that which He pleases. ... E. P. H. January 1856. Once again my fingers would give wings to a few words to you. Thank you for dear 's notes : they remind me of the burden of dear papa's sermon — ' God is with 36 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. thee/ — the pillar of the Christian's confidence in the unforeseen events of the New Year. How cheering to find the first Sunday of the year pointing us to the true Light ! Oh, how we need it ! It has been ' the day star ' to lead us out of darkness ; but /, at least, need it to arise with more healing in its beams, for dark films of ignorance and unbelief are around me ; and then, in looking forward through the mists of the unknown year, though hope would foresee all mists disappearing in bright sunshine, I know not ' how it will go with me ' — how fearfully then should I walk if it were not promised — ' they shall walk in the light of Thy countenance ; ! and we are commanded to i walk in the light.' Then may that Sun shine more and more perfect day into our souls, and guide our feet in the way of peace — this is all the light and happiness that w r e care for. ... E. P. H. I have such increased need of prayer, with such new prospects and duties before me ; in all of them my desire is to glorify God ; to meet them / have nothing but utter weakness ; help me then to remember to seek for and lean upon Him from whom alone cometh help. How I wished you were at my side yesterday while listening to dear papa's beautiful and striking sermon ! It was very specially suitable to us in starting anew on life's journey, — it was so full that I must reserve descrip- tion till we meet, and only give the text — i Sam. x. 7. What can you make of it ? It is nearly noon, so I am going to our Father's footstool to ask Him to meet and bless us both. I need so much grace now to prepare me for all God is preparing for me, and only dread becoming forgetful of my constant, momentary need of teaching and strength. ... E. P. Havergal. MARRIAGE. 37 As in February our home snowdrop came, so in February was she transplanted to a new and happy home in Ireland. Her dear father's ' Bridal Thoughts' ('Life Echoes') fitly express the bridegroom's welcome to his daughter on her wedding day, February 5, 1856. ' Rise up, my love, and come away ! It is, it is thy bridal day : God's watchers bright Await the sight, And joy to chant their sweetest lay. 1 'Tis God who hath prepared thy way To reach this blest and blessing day; ,r Twas He who trained When most He pained, He meant to chase thy tears away. ' Then rise, my fair one, come away To a home of love by night and day ■ Peace and prayer Await thee there, And praise shall tune thy song alway ! ' It was a spring-like day with pleasant sunshine. St. Nicholas Church was full of friends, both rich and poor, the benedictions and salutations of the almshouse women culminating at the church porch with — ' Bless you, sir ; you've picked the right one ! ' 38 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. Her father had prepared a musical surprise for his daughter at the breakfast, handing her these verses printed on bridal paper ; and then his voice, with brother Frank and sister Frances, led the assembled guests in singing this — 'Nuptial Grace. < G. $. and E. P. H. ' O Thou whose presence beautified Poor Cana's nuptial board, By Thee let ours be sanctified, And Thou shalt be adored. ' Thyself to us, ourselves to Thee, In mystic union join ; And grant us greater things to see Than water turned to wine. i Thy glory show, our faith make strong, Like rivers be our peace ; And seat us where Thy Marriage Song Shall never, never cease. ' To Him who wove the marriage tie In Eden's thornless bower, To Him, the Christ of God most High, Be glory, praise, and power ! ' — Rev. W. H. Havergal. Before our travellers left, a chapter was read from the Holy Bible, with a forcible ex- MARRIAGE AND A HOME IN IRELAND. 39 position by the Rev. Charles Bradley, Vicar of St. James's, Clapham, and prayer by our dear father, that they who were indeed heirs together of the grace of life might rejoice in the fulness of His blessing here, and here- after share the fulness of joy in His presence. We need not give many details of her home-life in Ireland. After only a few weeks' residence, the rector, Rev. R. Pakenham, observed to her husband, * If there is one unselfish woman in the world, it's Mrs. Shaw.' To her husband she was ever a ' priceless treasure/ and to his two elder children both cherishing and wise. How prayerfully she watched over them we gather from the frag- ment which follows ; and when her own four children came, they formed a sixfold cable of happy and united entwining of love. The storms are lulled, new scenes appear, All passing fair, and sunbeams cheer, And radiate all around. My Shepherd's love is now my theme, Folded beside the o'erflowing stream Whence life and grace abound ; 'Mid pastures pleasant, green and fair, For me Thy living food prepare Like tender, budding grass. 40 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. Not lonely still, as once of old, Sweet converse now, I oft can hold Beside my ' Shepherd's tent.' And while we wait to hear His voice, May we with thankful hearts rejoice, And praise His love divine. Nor is this all, — two precious lambs As pledges of His love He gave, Whom I for Him should tend — And yet again, His bounteous hand Bestows a still more tender lamb, To prove His love again. O Israel's Shepherd ! be their God, And through their hearts, oh shed abroad The riches of Thy love. And grant the elder ones 1 to grow In holy fear and simple faith, Like mother safe above. And still, O Lord, Thy grace employ, That they may lead with sacred joy Their sister-lamb to Thee : That they a threefold cord may be, A holy, happy trinity, United in Thy love. -E. P. S., 1 8 S 7. When visiting at Celbridge Lodge, I was touched to see the warm love gushing up from many an Irish heart for these Protestant friends, who showed their love by their works. 1 J. H. S. and A. M. S. IRISH LOVE. 41 I took notes of one literal outpour from a Roman Catholic which represents many more. ' Yours can't be a very bad religion if it makes such men as Mr. Shaw, for shure and isn't it to his dure we fly when we're sick or sore in want or distress, isn't his blankets that warm us the length of the long cowld winter, and isn't his hand that's ever stretched with the kindness to us ! Didn't he and Master John face the cholera, the crathur's ! and run with the hot bottles and the powders and the red flannel everywhere there was a poor sowl sick or sufferin'. Shure the ra-al love of God must be blazin' up in his heart, or he'd never feel for the poor as he does. And it's what I often think in myself that heaven will be a quare place intirely if he warn't there ! And the good lady herself, Mrs. Shaw I mane, shure a more tinderer, kinder crathur you couldn't find in the walls of the world. Let a poor body go to her dure when they may, isn't she always ready to see them and spake to them — she doesn't send the cowld message by the mouth of a servant ; no, she comes to you her own self (ah, it's asy seen the ra-al true blood of a lady flows in her veins !) and she axes you so kindlike to step into the beautiful, illigant hall and the windy that would dazzle your eyes to look at. And thin she'd listen so quiet and patient-like to all our troubles an' trials, an' spake feelin' words about the holy Saviour of the world, that the sound of her sweet voice, savin' it so tinder, would bring the comfort into your breast. And she wouldn't stop at the good words either, for she'd have a kind feel for your unfortunate body as well as your sowl, and her hand would be stretched out with the can of sweet milk and the arrowroot and the beautiful fine broth that you might carry home in the tail of your 42 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. cloak without spillin' a drap of it, it would be so darlint thick ! Ah ! many an' many's the time the heart might drap out of our bodies wi'd want an' weakness if it warn't for her goodness to us. May it all meet her at the gate of glory, an' may the blessin' an' benediction of our heavenly Father rest about her and Mr. Shaw here an' hereafter. It's a sore day for Celbridge Mr. and Mrs. Shaw laving us warey an' lone.' Turning from cabins to palaces, from peasants to Bishops and Queen's Counsel, we give this tribute of esteem from her Irish friends after she had passed away. To her Husband^ G. S. ' The Palace, Kilkenny, ' 1st /anuary 1887. 6 My very dear Friend and Brother, — It is a, sad New- Year's day to you, and yet I cannot refrain (even at the risk of intruding upon the sacredness of your grief) from writing a few lines to express our joint and sincere sympathy with you and yours in this deep sorrow which has fallen so suddenly upon you. I know full well, from my own experience, how weak and poor all human words of comfort are at such a time, but I know how the one and only Comforter can sustain with His own presence in such an hour. May He be very near to fill, as He alone can do, the blank that is left in your heart and home. ' I recall her Christian grace and winning character, all her gentleness and faith in Christ, all her love to God's people, and I bless God for the remembrance. It will ever be sweet and instructive and helpful to the many TRIBUTE OF ESTEEM. 43 who knew and valued her — for " she being dead yet speaketh " — and all she was, was by the grace of God, which sanctified and ennobled all in her that was " lovely and of good report." 1 We remember you in our prayers, and bear you on our hearts. — Yours in best of bonds, Wm. P. Ossory.' ' The Palace, Waterford, \oth January 1887. ' My dear Mr. Shaw, — When I saw mentioned the great sorrow which had fallen upon your house, I felt deep sympathy for you ; and now that you are so kind as to have a memorial card sent to me, I know that you will not feel it amiss that I should express that sympathy. Yet surely thanksgiving is to be mingled with it, for you are not mourning under the hand of an unknown God, but you know and believe His love to you in the midst of all this. Neither are you sorrowing for her who sleeps in Jesus, as one without hope. Blessed be the Lord for His goodness. She did her work as a wife and mother, and saw its fruits in her children, and now she rests from her labours, until she meets you and them in the presence of the Lord at His coming ; and this does not shut out her present conscious happiness " with the Lord," as He beautifully says of those who died hundreds of years before, "all live unto Him.' 6 1 hope that my dear godson Alfred goes on happily in his ministry. He kindly wrote to me about the time of his ordination ; his brother W. is also, I think, in the ministry. Here is blessed fruit of her training and example, which the Lord has crowned with the power of His Spirit. Do not take the trouble of writing to me, but believe me always, your very sincere friend, 1 M. F. Cashel.' 44 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. 6 Dublin, 30M December 1886. ' My dear Mr. Shaw, — It was with the deepest sym- pathy for you all in your loss that I read of your bereave- ment in to-day's paper. What a terrible blank her loss must be to you all ! and to come so suddenly, as the paper says it was ; and yet what a happy way for her to go to her loved and loving Lord ! Truly you sorrow not as those that are without hope when you grieve for the loss of one so kind and gentle, so thoughtful for all, so unselfish and so good. Oh, how many will miss her ! I know I feel that I have lost one of the friends on earth who are so few, those that one can rest in perfect con- fidence that their friendship is real and genuine; but what is the loss to you all ! May our Father enable you to look more on the gain to her, as she rests in the light and sunshine in the presence of the King, having heard the sweet " Well done, good and faithful servant." After all her kindness to me, and yours — I am sure you will not think this letter an intrusion, but will accept my real sympathy, and believe me, yours ever sincerely, 1 Thos. P. Law.' CHAPTER V. RETURN TO ENGLAND NEW HOME AT WINTERDYNE. iqth December 1866. OUR next outline brings us to an English railway station, Stourport, and two figures pacing the platform expecting the train with travellers from Ireland. Four little faces recognise dear aunt Fanny and cousin Connie. But all her welcomes to England are quenched by their fervent and faithful adhesion to old Ireland — W. ex- claiming, ' We won't be John Bulls or little calves ; we will be Paddies and pigs ! ' As the train moves on to Malvern, aunt F. throws into the carriage her * Welcome to Winterdyne/ and the verses are eagerly discussed. Poetry is not always convincing, and for them the memory of their sweet 45 46 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. Celbridge home and their own clear, shining Liffey, could not be compared to unknown Winterdyne and 'silvery Severn/ especially as on that wintry day the river certainly looked muddy. After-thoughts are sometimes best ! and aunt F/s verses were found to be true. 'Welcome to Winterdyne. ' Francie and Willie, welcome to you ! Alfred and Alice, welcome too ! To an English home and English love, Welcome each little Irish dove ! Never again we hope to be Kept apart by an angry sea ; A thousand welcomes, O darlings mine, When we see you at Winterdyne. c Welcome all to a warm new nest, Just the place for our doves to rest ; Through the oaks and beeches looking down On the winding valley and quaint old town, Where ivy green on the red rock grows, And silvery Severn swiftly flows, With an extra sparkle and glitter and shine, Under the woods of Winterdyne. 1 On a quiet evening in lovely spring, In the tall old elms the nightingales sing ; Under the forest, in twilight grey, I have heard them more than a mile aw T ay ; RETURN TO ENGLAND. 47 Sweeter and louder and far more dear Than any thrush you ever did hear ; Perhaps when the evenings grow long and fine They will sing to you in Winterdyne. 1 Little to sadden, and nothing to fear ; Priest and Fenian never come here : Only the sound of the Protestant bells Up from the valley pleasantly swells, And a beautiful arch to church is made, Under the sycamore avenue's shade ; You pass where the arching boughs entwine Out of the gates of Winterdyne. ' Welcome to merry old England ! And yet We know that old Ireland you will not forget ; Many a thought and prayer will fly Over the mountains of Wales so high ; Over the forest and over the sea, To the home which no longer yours must be. But farewells are over, O darlings mine, Now it is Welcome to Winterdyne ! ' — Frances Ridley Havergal. To M. V. G. H. Osborne House, Great Malvern, 16th Deceiiiber 1866. I feel it is but right to thank and greet such a father on reaching again my fatherland. Tell him Giles has just said, ' I am sure there is not one happier this morning, at the thought of your being in England, than your father ; ' it is indeed a large measure of the present sweetness of my cup to be nearer him. So glad to find 48 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. from your kind greeting this morning that he is so well. What blessings are included to me in such a father ! Tell him the ' good management ' of my dear husband succeeded well, for when I and the children arrived at Malvern four hours after him, he was waiting at the station with cabs to bring us to Osborne House, where I found fires blazing, and the table laid for dinner, so comfortable and cheerful ! I knew he would do it with less fatigue, if without ' incumbrance,' and I trusted, too, that the Angel would go before him, so I had no anxiety. I wish I could express how great I feel the mercies to have been that have thus * led us forth in peace,' instead of being driven out from our Irish home by sickness, peril, or any of the thousand things which might have been. D. V., we go to see Winterdyne to-morrow, sleep at Oakhampton, and again to W. Tuesday, to take measures, etc. Mr. Crane kindly met Giles at Stourport, to say we can enter on possession at once. How plain and easy our path ! . . . Your loving sister, E. P. S. This passing reference to her sister F. may be of interest. To M. V. G. H. . . . Dear Fanny has been making us all so bright and happy, and is so missed. Miss Edwards went violently in love with her, although she did not expect to like her. And then, as she has been such a blessing to Annie — she also is deeply attached to her. I am glad to find she is not spoiled by becoming an authoress, — for certainly it requires much grace to stand all that is said and read about her poems. I like to see her so unaffected HOME- LIFE AT WINTERDYNE. 49 as not to disguise the pleasure and thankfulness that it is natural to feel at many of the remarks. I wish we could have been more quiet for her, but could not avoid being rather lively lately, and every one clings to her for sympathy and advice. She is to stay with Mr. and Mrs. Bullock to-morrow, and then goes to brother Frank at Hereford. We so enjoyed Mr. H.'s visit ; he was so thankful to find the change that had taken place in A., and said he could never forget his Sunday here. It is the greatest honour I wish for our house, that it may be said, ' this and that one was born there.' . . . Your loving sister, Ellen. Only a faint outline can be traced of twenty years' home-life at Winterdyne, but extracts from letters will supply some details. It was a great pleasure to Mrs. Shaw to be within a drive of her birthplace, Astley Rectory, and her sisters home at Oakhampton in the same parish. The hospitalities of Winterdyne were widely extended, and many friends shared the excursions to the surrounding hills and valleys. Throughout the summer months, frequent parties of excursionists were admitted to the grounds — sometimes they came with banners and music to the hall door, and were courte- ously welcomed. Often the evening rendez- D 50 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. vous would be around the ancient cedar tree, and holy song and grateful speeches concluded a day of which some poor guest said, i It's just like being in heaven. 7 During the gale of October 14, 1881, this magnificent cedar suddenly fell ; Mrs. Shaw heard the falling crash, and as she saw it lying uprooted and its massive branches prostrate — one thought filled her mind, ' Thou remainest.' Hence these lines : — ' They shall Perish ■ but Thou Remainest, O cedar tree of Winterdyne, The shading guardian of our peaceful home, How much we all loved thee ! Thy boughs in summer seemed to cool the air For those who sat beneath. In wintry frpst and snow A hoary sire thou seem'dst. In stormy winds We loved to see how bravely thou didst stand, Nor thought that thou couldst fall. O cedar tree of Winterdyne, How many a tale thou could'st have told Of festive pleasant times — But pass we by the gathering throngs From far and near with gladsome songs, The pattering feet with music sweet And banners bright, and great delight That thou didst look upon.— THE CEDAR TREE. 5i One 1 honoured thee when o'er her thou didst wave Thine ancient branches. There she oft did sit Whose presence was as sunshine, gladdening all She looked upon. She was God's messenger, — Carolling glad truths like blythsome bird, Or speaking words in season, softly, lovingly, And telling forth the honour of her King. — But her work is done ! she has passed away. And thou hast fallen ! both leaving us the record sure Of thy Creator LORD, — that He remains. — E. P. S. 1 F. R. H. Mr. Shaw well remembers the following incident. It was Sunday afternoon, July 16, 1876, when a terrific thunderstorm with vivid lightning had just swept over Winterdyne. He was standing in the dining-room when his wife came in, and instead of referring to the thunder, which usually much affected her, she handed him a hymn just written, * I love, I love my Master.' She explained that just before her sister Frances had left for Switzer- land, she had been teaching her class about the Hebrew servant's choice, in Exodus xxi. ; and she suggested that Frances should write a hymn with reference to this, and also arranged that at three o'clock on that afternoon she would pray for her help and guidance at 52 OUTLINES OF A GENTLE LIFE. ' Fins Haut/ But while Ellen was thinking how F. would arrange her hymn, these lines were suggested amid the crashing storm. The simultaneous verses of both sisters are now given : — ' I Love My Master.' Exod. xxi. 5. I love, I love my Master, I will not go out free ! He loves me, O so lovingly, He is so good to me ! I love, I love my Master, He shed His blood for me, To ransom me from Satan's power, From sin's hard slavery. I love, I love my Master, O how He worked for me ! He worked out God's salvation, So great, so full, so free. My Master, O my Master, If I may work for Thee, And tell out Thy salvation, How happy shall I be ! I know not, but my Master Will teach me what to do ; Prepare the ground, point out the way, And work within me too.