Part 3 (2/2)
Never, perhaps, was this commandment applied with more filial confidence, or accompanied with a richer blessing, since the days of the apostle, than in the present instance.
Her determination was accordingly made. She resolved to undertake the education of youth, trusting that her Lord would make her an humble instrument of training some for his service on earth, and his praises in heaven. Here was exhibited an instance of simple yet powerful faith in a believer surrounded by temporal perplexities, and of condescension and mercy on the part of a compa.s.sionate G.o.d. Light unseen by mortal eyes descended on her path.
How weak, perhaps enthusiastic, would this have appeared to the busy crowd, blind to the special providence exercised by the G.o.d of heaven towards all his creatures. She felt the pressure of her affliction; but, like the Psalmist, _gave herself unto prayer_:
”Prayer ardent opens heaven, lets down a stream Of glory on the consecrated hour Of man in audience with the Deity.”
Though her faith was strong, yet her mind was under such agitation, from her total want of funds to carry her plan into effect, and from other conflicting exercises, as to throw her into a nervous fever, which kept her confined to her bed for some weeks. On her recovery, she felt it her duty to _go forward,_ trusting that He, who had directed her path, would provide the means that were necessary to enable her to walk in it: she sold her heavy furniture, packed up all her remaining effects, and prepared to set out from Paisley for Edinburgh on a Monday, in the year 1779.
On the Sat.u.r.day previous she sat by her fire musing and wondering in what manner the Lord would appear for her at this time, when a letter was brought to her from Mr. Peter Reid, enclosing a sum of money which he had recovered from the underwriters, on account of Mrs.
Graham's muslins captured on their pa.s.sage to the West Indies. Mrs.
Graham had considered them as totally lost, but her friend had taken the precaution to have them insured.
With this supply she was enabled to accomplish her object, and arrived in Edinburgh with her family. Her friend Mrs. Brown met her there, and stayed with her a few days, to comfort and patronize her in her new undertaking. Mrs. Brown was her warm and constant friend until her death, which occurred at Paisley in 1782, when she was attending the communion. She bequeathed her daughter Mary to Mrs. Graham's care.
But in 1785 the daughter followed the mother, being cut off by a fever in the twelfth year of her age.
It may be proper here to introduce the name of Mr. George Anderson, a merchant in Glasgow, who had been an early and particular friend of Dr. Graham. He kindly offered his friendly services, and the use of his purse, to promote the welfare of the bereaved family of his friend. Mrs. Graham occasionally drew upon both. The money she borrowed she had the satisfaction of repaying with interest. A correspondence was carried on between them after Mrs. Graham's removal to America, until the death of Mr. Anderson, in 1802.
During her residence in Edinburgh she was honored with the friends.h.i.+p and counsel of many persons of distinction and piety. The Viscountess Glenorchy, Lady Boss Baillie, Lady Jane Belches, Mrs.
Walter Scott, mother of the poet, Mrs. Dr. Davidson, and Mrs.
Baillie Walker, were among her warm personal friends. The Rev. Dr.
Erskine, and Dr. Davidson, formerly the Rev. Mr. Randall of Glasgow, and many respectable clergymen, were also her friends. She and her family attended on the ministry of Dr. Davidson, an able, evangelical, useful pastor.
Her school soon became respectable in numbers and character. Her early and superior education now proved of essential service to her.
She was indefatigable in her attention to the instruction of her pupils. While she was faithful in giving them those accomplishments which were to qualify them for acting a distinguished part in this world, she was also zealous in directing their attention to that gospel by which they were instructed to obtain an inheritance in that to come. She felt a high responsibility, and took a deep interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare. As ”a mother in Israel,” she wished to train them up in the ways of the Lord.
She prayed with them morning and evening; and on the Sabbath, which she was careful to devote to its proper use, she took great pains to imbue their minds with the truths of religion. Nor did she labor in vain. Although she was often heard to lament of how little use she had been compared with her opportunities of doing good, yet when her children, Mr. and Mrs. B. visited Scotland in 1801, they heard of many individuals, then pious and exemplary, who dated their first religious impressions from those seasons of early instruction which they enjoyed under Mrs. Graham while in Edinburgh.
Mrs. Graham's manner in the management of youth was peculiarly happy. While she kept them diligent in their studies, and strictly obedient to the laws she had established, she was endeared to them by her tenderness; and the young ladies instructed in her school retained for her in after-life a degree of filial affection which was expressed on many affecting occasions. This was afterwards remarkably the case with her pupils in America. Her little republic was completely governed by a system of equitable laws. On every alleged offence, a court-martial, as they termed it, was held, and the accused tried by her peers. There were no arbitrary punishments, no sallies of capricious pa.s.sion. The laws were promulgated, and obedience was indispensable; the sentences of the courts-martial were always approved, and had a salutary effect. In short, there was a combination of authority, decision, and tenderness in Mrs. Graham's government, that rendered its subjects industrious, intelligent, circ.u.mspect, and happy. She enjoyed their happiness; and in cases of sickness, she watched over them with unremitting solicitude and care, sparing no expense to promote their restoration to health.
A strong trait in her character was distinctly marked by her educating the daughters of pious ministers at half price. This was setting an example worthy of imitation. It was a conduct conformable to scriptural precept. Said Paul, ”If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live by the gospel.”
Always conscientious in obeying the commandments of her G.o.d, she observed them in this matter, giving, in her proportion, at least the widow's mite.
By another plan, for she was ingenious in contrivances to do good, she greatly a.s.sisted those in slender circ.u.mstances, especially such as were of the household of faith. Believing that the use of sums of ten, fifteen, or twenty pounds in hand would be serviceable by way of capital to persons in a moderate business, she was in the habit of making such advances, and taking back the value in articles they had for sale. She charged no interest, being amply repaid in the luxury of her own feelings, when she beheld the benefit it produced to her humble friends. The board of her pupils being paid in advance, she was enabled to adopt this plan with more facility. Were her spirit more prevalent in the world, what good might be done. The heart would be expanded, reciprocal confidence and affection cherished; and instead of beholding worms of the dust fighting for particles of yellow sand, we should behold a company of affectionate brethren leaning upon and a.s.sisting each other through the wilderness of this world. ”Look not every man on his own things,” said Paul, ”but every man also on the things of others. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
On the subject of promoting the external accomplishments of her scholars, it became a question how far Mrs. Graham was to countenance them in their attendance on public b.a.l.l.s--to what length it was proper for her to go so as to meet the received opinions of the world in these concerns. She consulted with her pious friends, and wrote to Lady Glenorchy on the subject. Her ladys.h.i.+p's letter in reply is so excellent that the serious reader will be gratified with its insertion.
”BARNTON, December 27, 1781.
”DEAR MADAM--I received your letter last week, and also one some time ago from Mrs. Walker, in which she desired me to send you my sentiments upon the alteration you had made, and still thought of making, upon your plan.
”I have since endeavored to consider, with all the attention of which I am _at present_ capable, the arguments that may be brought on both sides of the question; and with regard to the first point, the _practisings_, I will frankly own, that could you send your young ladies to one where _girls only_ are admitted, I should more readily yield my opinion of the matter to those Christians who have advised you to it. But as I learn that it is a promiscuous dance of boys and girls, I must in conscience say that I look upon such a meeting to be as pernicious in its effects upon the minds of young people, as b.a.l.l.s and public a.s.semblies on persons of riper years. When you mentioned the subject to me first, I thought it had been a practising of girls _only_, else I should then have given you my sentiments fully upon that head.
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