Part 16 (1/2)
CHAPTER XV.
MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS FROM HER DIARY.
Have you heard of that wonderful city, Whose walls are of jasper and gold?
Whose inhabitants ever are happy, And never grow weary or old?
Have you heard of those emblems of vict'ry, That all of the glorified bear?
Of the star-bedecked crowns of rejoicing Which all of the ransomed shall wear?
HER GRAt.i.tUDE TO THE NEW YORK FLOWER MISSION.--In the middle of a busy summer she writes: ”The Flower Mission has enabled me to bring some brightness and pleasure to the sufferers on sick beds, for which I am very grateful.”
Her ardent love of ”sweet, sweet nature” is fully exemplified by frequent visits to the New York Flower Mission Society's Rooms.
How refres.h.i.+ng to the sight of the sufferer are those gifts of earth's adornment. And how pleasing are the words of the poet Burns:
”The snowdrop and primrose the woodlands adorn And the violets they bathe in the weet of the morn.”
THE YOUNG JEWESS.--Writing under this head, she says: ”Some time since I became acquainted with a young Jewess, who was very sick. I visited her from time to time, carrying her some little comforts and a bouquet of flowers. I also read and prayed with her, which displeased her mother.
But ere long her daughter became a Christian, and when I asked her one day if she fully believed in Jesus as her Messiah, she replied, 'Oh, yes.' She always came to church, but being an invalid and dependent on her mother, she could not come out boldly and confess Christ. I have learned since that she has married a Christian man, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a happy woman.”
It is quite possible for this young Jewess in her sickness to have been led to the holy cross of Jesus through the missionary's thoughtfulness in bringing suns.h.i.+ne into this sick room by those beautiful and fragrant flowers.
THE FORSAKEN GERMAN WOMAN.--Of this case she states: ”A poor woman who had come from Germany not long ago, felt herself forsaken by all, and longed for her old home. Telling her of the love of Christ, she seemed to receive G.o.d's word with grat.i.tude, and was very thankful for the little temporal aid I could give her.”
The great charm in her life was her almost universal benevolence to all in deep distress. Consider this German woman forsaken and far from her native home. She sighed for
Her dear sweet fatherland, and gazed across the sea, But could not get a blink o' her ain countrie.
Oh! how blessed! truly blessed are those who are thus like minded. Oh!
the rich and inestimable value of such a life. Who can really estimate the power of such human affection? It is emphatically real, true, solid, and substantial. How influential! How full of Christ-like generosity! Where can we find one so full of the spirit of her dear master? Her life was spent for the temporal as well as the spiritual welfare of those with whom she was providentially brought in contact.
See how tenderly she _noticed_ the change wrought among her paris.h.i.+oners, after her return from a short respite from her incessant labors. Some were dead, others were sick. To minister to these was her continuous occupation. She felt her days were short, and as she remarked on her own death-bed, ”I must finish my work.” Hence, short were her intervals of repose. She says:
”The prospects of the poor are beginning to brighten. Some, who have been out of work for some time, have now found employment. In the month of February, of the two hundred families I visited, forty on whom their families were depending for support were without any employment. I have gathered several into the church and the Sabbath-school, as well as the prayer-meeting, which is well attended. G.o.d help the poor!”
And again, after a somewhat short respite from her labors, she writes:
”On my return from my vacation, I found many sick, and some had been called away from this life. Mrs. L., whom I had long visited, had fallen asleep in Jesus. Another poor woman who had lost her husband and a darling child was greatly afflicted. She was willing and glad to hear of the Saviour who knows all our sorrows, and has promised to comfort the afflicted with His own presence.”
Yes, this is emphatically true. For what sayeth G.o.d through the Prophet Isaiah:
”Oh! Israel, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou pa.s.seth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy G.o.d, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour. I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sebia for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.”
A Storm of Starvation, Sickness, and Death.--The Widow's Lament.--A Father and Three Children Rescued.--The Stranger in the City.--”During the last month I have met with a great deal of dest.i.tution, many persons out of employment, several families without fire or food, and the most of them had never known want before, but knew not where to apply for aid.