“A woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
ABOUT the period of which I am writing, two benevolent Christians passed through Barnstaple, one of whom was the secretary of the Tract Society, and the other was, I believe, active in the formation of the Home Missionary Society, which had its commencement soon after. Their object in this journey was to make inquiry concerning the spiritual destitution of some of the dark parts of that locality, about which I had some conversation with them. Their first stage from Barnstaple lay over a wretched road, through a wild and barren country, which may account for the breaking down of their carriage. This providentially occurred near Paracombe, a small village, surrounded by moors and commons. They found there no public accommodation for travelers in which to tarry the night; but they were hospitably entertained at a farmhouse near the village, when they soon inquired if there was a Sunday-school in or near the place. It is probable, however, that even the name of a Sunday-school had never been heard there until this time; but the farmer’s wife observed that the village schoolmistress, Grace Jones, was very fond of children, and would probably like to keep one; and at the request of the strangers she was sent for. It being rather late, Gracey—the name by which she was generally known—was in bed; but she joyfully responded to the summons, and soon arose and came to see the travelers, who intended if possible, to leave early the next morning. They were much interested with her appearance and manner; and she was told, to her great joy, that books of different kinds would soon be sent from London to enable her to begirt the Sunday-school. On the next day, the news spread rapidly through the village, that two gentlemen were going to send Gracey a box of books from London, when all who desired it might send their children to the Sunday-school. Few, however, believed this. The general opinion of the ignorant villagers was that Gracey would be disappointed, and the gentlemen had made a fool of her. And for a time it seemed as though they had judged rightly; for the books were long expected in vain. But after much delay, it was found on inquiry that the vessel by which they had been forwarded had been wrecked during her voyage. A fresh box, however, was soon sent, and the school commenced.
Gracey was remarkably gifted by the Lord for this instruction of the young. Her manner was so kind and winning that she always secured their love; while her method of communicating knowledge was peculiarly her own, and excited interest and attention. A word or even a look, was sufficient to ensure the most perfect discipline; so that in a school of about twenty children, the utmost order was always seen. When she sometimes visited me during the vacation, she always gained the affections of my own dear children. I have reason to believe that she was not herself converted when she began the Sunday-school; but she was gradually led into the truth, while seeking to make it known to others. Her whole heart was in the work. When the village was visited by a flood, her only anxiety during the night was about the box containing the Bible and hymnbooks, lest they should be injured; which, as she lived at the bottom of the village, and close to the mill, happened to be the case; but on this and many other occasions, the Lord raised up willing helpers to supply what was needful for the furtherance of her useful labors.
A small book was published two years ago entitled “Christ in the Cottage, and Christ in the Mansion.” It was written by a minister who called on me at Barnstaple, after having in a very accidental way gone to the village where Gracey resided, which was a few miles from Lynton, a favorite watering place on the sea coast. His account of a visit to her school is very interesting, and a few extracts will I am sure be acceptable, and tend to confirm my judgment respecting this poor but truly excellent woman.
The account given of Gracey by the landlady of the town is thus graphically described. I asked, “Is there a Sunday School in the parish?” “O yes! there are as many as seventy children, and set up by a poor woman.” “What!” said I, “a Sunday-school of seventy children, and set up by a poor woman!” “Aye, it’s as sure as you stand there; and she’s so poor, that sometimes she can’t scramble on without parish relief. Sure enough, she’s a wonderful woman: I never saw the like of her. She knows as much of her Bible as any person: and you would be surprised to hear how the children of her school answer questions; and they are so pretty—behaved too. There are some wild swearing chaps here amongst the men in this place, but they dare na’ swear in her presence; and yet she’s a poor little woman, and a cripple too.”
Describing his visit, he says: “I entered and found the children ranged around, and Grace the nucleus of the circle. They were reading the history of Joseph. She, a little woman, crippled, raised up on a pair of pattens, to allow full scope for her large, black, intelligent, brilliant eyes, which no nuts, or playthings, or cake could possibly escape. I retreated into a corner, near enough to hear all that passed, and not near enough to disturb the teacher or distract the children. I was quite delighted. Her questions were so apposite; her remarks so enlightened, her reflections as to the subject-matter before her so judicious; her manner animated; her heart and tongue in evident coincidence. No wonder that every eye was fixed upon her. The interest expressed in the children’s countenances, as she proceeded, told you that they felt there was a reality in what was urged upon them. As the clock struck twelve, she waved her hand, and her little children departed.”
The remaining extracts are in Gracey’s own words. “I was once a worldly woman, blind as to the concerns of my soul, and ignorant of a Saviour. I was always fond of reading, and got my neighbors to subscribe to a circulating library in the next town. So we got novels and such trash; and so it went on for some time. I kept a school for a livelihood; but I did not teach the children the Bible, for I did not understand it myself. However, it came into my mind one day, these novels are not quite the thing; I think I will begin to read the Bible; and as I read on, I saw it would never do to go to novels again; and I began for the first time to have a real concern about my soul, and a real desire to be saved. I had no one to talk to me about these things; but I read in my Bible about Jesus Christ, and what He had done to save sinners; and I felt that I was a sinner, and needed such a Saviour. So the Lord led me to put my trust in Him, and to love Him, and serve Him.”