The Bind Girl and the Bind Girl’s Friend

In a sweet fertile valley, all lovely and bright,
Where the beauties of nature enrapture the sight
Where the soft flowing Avon glides smoothly along.
And Philomel warbles her sweet plaintive song.

And the thrush and the blackbird delightfully sing
When the trees are adorned with the blossoms of spring,
Where autumn produces a plentiful store
Of fruit for the rich and bread for the poor.

There dwelt in a cottage, a few years, ago,
A blind girl on whom God did richly bestow
The light of the His gospel, which shone in her heart,
And joy, peace and comfort did sweetly impart.

How came she to know, in the morning of youth
The great God of mercy, of grace, and of truth
I will tell you dear reader, as well as I can,
For the Lord did the work without aid of man.

But God, in rich mercy, affliction did send,
To chasten her heart and her proud spirit bend
To mar earthly pleasures which are but as dross,
And give her the treasures of Christ and His cross.

A disease seized her eyes which deprived her of sight,
No more could she gaze on the beautiful light.
The fields and the flowers in beauty arrayed,
No more to her vision their colours displayed.

And there she laid mourning in darkness and pain,
But yet to her proud heart did the gospel disdain,
She said o herself, ‘If I have lost my sights,
Yet the world affords pleasure in which I delight’.

“I’ll not be a Methodist, though I am blind,
But when I  get better some pleasure will find,
I am still very young, and am not going to die,
If they want to convert me, ‘tis useless to try.

O the sad depth of evil, rebellion, and sin,
Which the children of Adam by nature are in,
Afflictions alone did but harden her heart,
Till God His own life-giving grace did impart.

When a minister came she turned to the wall,
And would not lend her ear to the gospel’s sweet call.
So vain were her thoughts and so dark was her mind
She hoped in earth’s vanities pleasures to find.

One night as she lay on her bed in the dark.
The sovereign ‘Jehovah enkindled a spark
Of life in her soul, which caused her to cry,
In terror for death and destruction seemed nigh.

Her friends were aroused, but no help could they give;
The moment was come for the dead child to live,
The Spirit of God now convinced her of sin,
And showed her the dangerous state she was in.

Though she was but a child, convictions were great,
And she mourned for a season her lost ruined state;
But He who had wounded was able to heal,
And this in due time she did blessedly feel.

For the God of all grace revealed Christ to her heart,
And faith to believe in His name did impart,
He filled her with comfort, with joy, and with love,
And sweetly allured her affections above.

Her soul now renewed by a heavenly birth,
She turned from the sin gilded pleasures of earth,
And loved to be found at her dear Saviour’s feet,
For her spirit now fed on His promises sweet.

The Methodists found her and led her away,
To class-meeting and places where they met to pray.
She joined their ranks and then did remain
Until the grand doctrines of grace became plain.

The Lord was her teacher, her heavenly Guide,
And sweetly His word to her spirit applied.
Then with the Armenians not ling did she stay
For her Saviour revealed a more excellent way.

To London she went to the school of the blind,
And there to her joy did companions find,
Some dear humble Christians, who loved the truth,
Made trophies of grace in the morning of youth.

Dear girls, though eyes of their bodies were dim,
By the eye of their faith they could look upon Him,
The chief of ten thousand, their boast and their joy,
Whose marvellous goodness their praises employ.

In This favoured spot Eliza soon grew
In knowledge in grace, in humility too.
In the great truths of God she a teacher became,
For much she delighted to publish the same.

The psalms of King David she learned all through,
And a great many chapters of holy Writ too.
But not in the letter alone did she rest;
It was the word, when applied, which sank deep in her breast.

The truths of the gospel took root in her heart
And much she delighted those truths to impart,
And publish salvation to all within reach;
What Jesus had taught her, she also must teach.

Armenian errors now fell to the ground.
No place in her heart could for them be found;
Despising the shame and enduring the loss,
To follow her Saviour she took up the cross.

Some girls in school rejoiced in the light.
And the writings of Hawker afforded delight,
Hart, Irons, and Gadsby were highly esteemed
By those whom the Lord by His blood had redeemed.

But their sweetest enjoyment was when they could meet
To pour out their hearts at the dear Saviour’s feet.
They repeated His word and united in prayer,
And often they felt that their Saviour was there.

Sometimes their sweet meetings were held in a shed;
In cold weather a blanket enveloped each head,
For as they enjoyed not the blessing of sight,
To them any place was sufficiently light.

And on one occasion I often heard say,
They crept in a three-cornered cupboard to pray.
Crouching under the shelves in each nook they could find,
Each repeated God’s Word as it came to her mind.

They sang a sweet hymn and each prayed in turn,
And like the disciples, they felt their heart burn
With love to the Saviour, their Lord and their King,
Who even in a cupboard caused them to sing.

When holidays came the gospel they heard,
And their should richly fed on the heavenly word,
They followed the Lord in His ordinance too;
What ever he enjoined they would joyfully do.

Elize went home, but her views were so changed,
That soon she discovered some friends were estranged.
They hated the doctrines so dear to her heart,
And soon she perceived from them they would part.

But to follow her Lord was still her intent!
Through the baptismal water she joyfully went.
Though enemies jeered her and friends were unkind,
In God’s way and precepts she comfort did find.

To her all the treasures of earth were but toys
Compared with her inwards sweet spiritual joys.
She counted the gain of professors but loss,
To follow her Jesus and take up His cross.

Elize once more returned to the place
Where God had displayed the power of grace.
And there a few years glided swiftly away,
And she greatly desired still longer to stay.

But another disorder afflicted her sore
Fits of sad epilepsy she had to deplore.
She must not remain in happy retreat,
Unless a cure could be rendered complete.

No help could physicians afford her need;
For God her dear Father in wisdom decreed
The light He had kindled should shine in her cot
And His patient young servant submits to her lot.

But O the poor girls on that sorrowing day,
How they hung on her neck, she could scarce get away
Like the Christians of old when dear Paul took his leave,
And they fell on his neck overwhelmed with grief.

It was hard for dear friends thus united in heart,
And cemented in love from each other to part;
But God for His loved ones will surely provide,
Though the grace He has given them must sharply be tried.

Eliza returned to her dear native vale;
But many distresses her spirit assail
Her kindred and friends turn their backs on her now,
And under affliction she daily must bow.

The truth which afforded Eliza such joy
Their proud carnal spirits did sorely annoy
Her close faithful dealings they could not well bear,
But the word of the Lord she could boldly declare.

And God owned His truth and His grace did abound,
Though some of the family unfruitful were found.
Amidst sore afflictions the Lord did appear,
And plan in the hearts of the young ones His fear.

One dear little sister (her age was eleven)
Was called by grace and soon taken to heaven.
In another dear sister (when only thirteen)
The work of the Lord could most plainly be seen.

This sister became the companion and friend
Of dear blind Eliza until her life’s end,
And long lived to prove, amidst life’s stormy road,
The power and the grace of her covenant God.

It was precious to witness the power of God’s truth
Thus sealed on the hearts of dear children and youth,
And the honour conferred on His suffering child
Whose conduct was dutiful, gentle, and mild.

Her brothers were both ungodly young men;
But God in His infinite mercy again,
Called the wife of the eldest to taste His free love,
Then landed her safe in the mansions above.

Eliza rejoiced to witness God’s  grace;
Though sorely afflicted yet still she could trace
In all her afflictions the hand of her God,
And meekly and quietly bow to the rod.

By this time her sister a woman was grown.
And as poor Eliza could not live alone
They rented a room in their father’s own co;
But pain and privation were often their lot.

Some work from the school to Eliza was sent,
And she plaited her baskets and smiled with content,
Her countenance glowing with faith, joy, and love
As she spoke of her infinite treasure above.

O, many sweet hour in her room I have spent
And seldom have witnessed such heartfelt content
In the depths of affliction and poverty too,
What wonders our God in His wisdom can do.

It was a “Bethel” indeed to my poor seeking heart
My friend did so sweetly instruction impart,
That the truths of the gospel shone lovely and bright,
Like the dawning of day over the darkness of night.

As the Bible I read, she expounded the word,
And never before such sweet things had I heard,
Such radiant joy in her face would often shine
That I wished, I too, could say “Jesus is mine”.

But when she conversed with her friend Mrs. Crane
Her sister and I would both silent remain.
Such wisdom and knowledge such grace then appeared
That we to express our opinions feared.

But O her sad fits, which came on in the night,
It was indeed a sad and a terrible sight;
A horrible darkness and feeling of dread
Assailed her; then quickly her senses all fled.

With struggling, her body was often left so weak
That she for a season could hardly speak,
But again, and again her God sent relief,
And sweetly delivered His child from her grief.

And filled her poor heart with such heavenly joy
That triumphant praises her did employ.
The joy of the Lord was her portion below,
Which raised her above her affliction and woes.

And clasping her hands, she would joyfully sing,
“O, yes I shall haze on my heavenly King;
For the bright world of glory to which I shall go
Can’t be full without me, O never, O no”.

Some kind friends in London who loved her well,
And had greatly desired that there she would dwell,
Sent for her each winter and kept her a while,
Until the sweet vernal season returned to our isle.

O, well I remember the sorrowful day
When last dear Eliza from us went away,
Her sister and I as we saw her depart,
Felt a sad gloomy feeling creep into the heart.

To London she went, and we saw her no more.
For her Lord called her home to the heavenly shore,
Where sickness and sorrow no more can annoy
Nor darkness one moment eclipsed her pure joy.

The letters she wrote all spoke of the peace
Which reigned in her heart, and did sweetly increase
Until the fit seized her which  called her away
To dwell with the Lord in the regions of day.

The last time she heard the gospel’s glad sound,
So much did her joy and her comfort abound
She said she was full as her vessel could hold,
Of the glorious gospel, more precious than gold.

The last fill now came and it came in the day;
But not as before, did her senses give way,
She retained her reason, and felt the rude shock,
But her soul was secure, it was safe on the rock.

It pleased the Lord that her sense should remain,
To show her the dreadful extend of the pain
She so often endured, but knew not before
This caused her afresh her dear Lord to adore.

This terrible fit lasted two weary hours,
And completely exhausted her bodily powers.
“O dear” she exclaimed “I could never have conceived
A tenth of this dreadful affliction believed”.

For a season her mind was beclouded and dim,
But still she declared she could look unto Him
But she wanted to lean on her own loving Lord,
And enjoy the sweet truths of His own written word.

And now she began to pour out her heart,
Her Saviour the spirit of prayer did impart,
For herself and her friends and her kindred dear
And the church universal, both far off and hear.

Her dear loving Saviour so sweetly appeared
And her should with the light of His countenance cheered
That precious indeed were the words which she said
That she shouted aloud as she laid on her bed.

A friend who was near her recorded the same,
And told of her triumph in Jesus dear name,
But much I regretted I could not be there,
To see her, and hear her, her rapture declare.

A few of her sayings I here will record
To show how she triumphed in Jesus her Lord
And when she had finished her happy soul fled,
And poor dear Elize, the blind girl was dead.

The Blind Girl, the last words of Eliza Grove

When Jesus shone into her heart,
With His soul cheering ray,
He did such great joy impart
That chasses all clouds away,

“O Victor, Victory to God
and the Lamb”, she cried.
“Ye weakest saints O trust in His word”.
And in His truth confide.

“O what a mercy, Christ in me,
The hope of glory bright.
What wondrous things by faith I see
All radiant with light.

His arms are underneath me now
I do not feel the bed
Can this be dying? Is it thus
I am through Jordan led”?

O, it is worth a thousand years
Of fits and blindness too,
To see the glorious things which I
By precious faith no view.

Unutterable things I see
Most glorious is the sight,
Those stones are now revealed to me
John saw in vision bright,

These eyes, these eyes shall see the King
In all His beauty soon
And I His worthy praise shall sing
Above the Sun and Moon.

O what a precious mercy this
Forever free from sin
In the eternal world of bliss,
And God shall shut me in.

The glorious robe is ready now,
I see I see the King;
I soon shall at His footstool bow,
And heavenly anthems sing.

O tell it, for His glory tell,
A chariot of love
Is sent to fetch me home to dwell
In His fair world above.

Victory, I am going home
My loving Lord to see
In a sweet chariot of love
O, Victory! Victory!

O glorious hour, O blest abode
I shall be near and like my God;
And every power finds sweet employ,
I that eternal world of joy.

O my beloved friends, don’t grieve,
I nothing have to do;
No husband and no child to leave,
But Jordan to pass through.

Weep not for me, no, not a tear,
I am going to the place
Where every tear is wiped away
From every happy face.

Where sighing, sin, and sorrow
Flee for evermore away;
I know it, yes, because I feel
The joys of endless day.

It is Christ in me the blessed hope
Of endless glory bright
Which bursts upon my ravished soul,
Affording such delight.

This is no fancy of the brain,
Though my disease lies there,
My reasoning power still retain
God’s mercy to declare.

It was twenty-eight years yesterday
Since I first saw the light;
To morrow is the Sabbath day,
In which God’s saints delight.

My friends will meet around His bread
To commemorate his love;
Ah I shall no more take it here
But in His house above.

When this poor body shall put on
Fair immortality,
Then in a body like His own
I shall my Saviour see.

Tomorrow you will say of me
She is in glory now;
And I before the eternal Three
With all the saints shall bow.

O, hallelujah I shall be
In endless glory then;
I shall the King in glory see,
Farewell dear friends, Amen!

Then, the immortal spirit fled
And left its frail abode
Amongst the mansions of the dead
To join her loving Lord.

The dreary wilderness she trod,
The night of death is over,
Her soul is resting with her God,
And she will weep no more.

In the fair “Vale of Fresham” I sojourned awhile
Where the beauties of nature enchantingly smile.
The spot is so lovely, so fertile, so bright
I could fancy fair Eden displayed to the sight.

But oh ‘It is not Eden, for sorrow and care
And the sin smitten trial of the serpent is there,
The people are sinners, but here I would trace
The steps of a sinner converted by grace.

It was a sweet summer’s eve, and the murmuring breeze
In soft gentile Zephyrs just waved the tall trees,
As I with a friend through the graveyard did walk,
When two females we saw in deep earnest talk.

They did not perceive that we followed behind;
But soon I discovered one female was blind.
“Oh. That is Eliza” my friend did exclaim.
“And this is her friend whom we call Mother Crane.

We did not disturb them. Their converse was sweet
They talked of their Lord and His work so complete,
But we followed them on ‘till we came to the door
Of dear Mrs. Crane, where I never was before.

My friend introduced me and then went away;
But I for an hour with Eliza did stay;
For when I addressed her, with smiles on her face,
She clung to my neck in a loving embrace.

And soon began talking of Christ and His love
Which brought Him to earth from His Kingdom above,
The love everlasting fixed on His bride
Which sweetly allured her to cleave to His side.

I was but a babe in the great Master’s school.
And with those two saints I felt quite a fool,
They did not despise me, but from the pure Word
They taught me more fully the ways of the Lord,

How sweet is the converse of Christians below
When Jesus the spirit of love doth bestow;
Nor can the foul demon of discord annoy
The souls thus united in heavenly joy.

But ah, when these pleasures begin to decline,
When Jesus withdraws His sweet presence Divine,
Then Satan steps in, with his horrible train,
And often occasions much sorrow and pain.

It was not so with us, for in union and peace,
Our love to each other did sweetly increase
No shadow of discord ever clouded our path,
Until our sweet converse was severed by death.

I often met with them from that happy hour,
And others came in who felt the same power,
Attracting their hearts from the world and its charms,
To Jesus the Saviour and His gracious arms.

They called us “Highfliers” O the title was right,
For often we soared to the regions of light
When ever we could mount on the pinions of love,
We rose to the beautiful regions above.

I have told how the Lord took Eliza away
In a chariot of love to the mansions of day,
Our friend Mrs. Crane lived many years more
Before she was called to the heavenly shore.

It is not of Eliza I now try to write,
And my own unworthy self must retire out of sight
I want the blessed spirit to help me to trace.
The steps of a saint in the Kingdom of grace.

What she told me I now will endeavour to tell,
But fear that I cannot record it so well
As she, in her own simple words could relate,
How God led her on in her wilderness state.

Until she was brought to her mansion above.
To feast on her Saviours ineffable love.
I hope to write truthfully, simple and plain,
What I know of the life of my friend Mrs. Crane.

“Ah me,” she would day, in the days of my youth
I knew not the Lord nor the word of His truth,
A poor empty sinner, so vain of attire,
To deck my poor body was all my desire.

A kind loving husband I had at that day,
But cared little for him, I fell light and gay
My poor silly heart sought the pleasures of sin,
And never once dreamed of the evil within.

One night a friend came and asked me to go
To chapel with her, and I could not say “No”
I cared little whether I went there or not;
But that solemn season can never be forgot.

The Lord sent His dart; He sent it with power;
It entered my heart in a sorrowful hour
My soul with a tempest was fearfully tossed,
And now for a season I felt I was lost.

I went to my home overwhelmed with grief;
My neighbour attempted to give me relief,
But, Oh I am lost, was my sorrowful cry,
No comfort for me at that season was nigh”

Now lower and lower I sunk in the deep,
Until I could neither eat, drink, work, or sleep,
My friends all declared I was out of my mind,
And soon an asylum for me they must find.

One day I sat reading and weepint alone,
And did not perceive how the hours had flown,
Until my dear husband came home in the eve,
This caused him to sorrow and bitterly grieve.

O Mary, dear Mary, what are you about?
No food is prepared, and the fire is out,
You sit reading weeping the whole of the day,
I fear I must certainly send you away.

How better my sorrow no mortal can tell,
I felt that I surely should sink into hell,
That I was neglecting my duty, it was plain,
And causing my husband much sorrow and pain.

My trouble grew greater, by night and by day
At length all my finery I cast it away
I took off the whole of my flaunting attire,
And cast all my ribbons and flowers on the fire.

Such a vile wretch as I, how could I thus dare,
My body to dress and such ornaments wear,
My should standing naked exposed to the rod,
Or the sword as I feared, of my angry God.

But nothing I did could my terror abate,
At length the old foe, in his desperate hate,
Drove me till I came to the brink of the pit,
Saying, “Cast thyself down, for hell your are fit.”

He bid me destroy myself day after day,
At length I resolved to no longer delay;
But rush to destruction and thus the worst know,
And now I determined to strike the dread blow.

But O the rich mercy and grace of the Lord,
He stopped me and sent to my heart a sweet word,
Which melted me down in the dust at His feet,
And gave me a glimpse of His mercy so sweet.

O what a poor ignorant, vile wretch was I,
But God in His mercy would not let me die.
He calmed in a moment the surges of grief,
And sweetly and blessedly sent me relief.

To call Him “my Father” I did not yet dare,
But hoped that I had in His mercy a share.
I wanted to follow Him now in His way;
His blessed commandments now to obey.

But now came a trial so very severe
It cost me much sorrow and many a tear,
The enemy tempted my mother, to be
A bitter and sad persecutor to me.

And that time I cherished and idol I fear;
For truly my mother to me was most dear.
But God caused this trial to wean me away
From cleaving to closely to vessels of clay.

She heard of that ordinance I should go through
And quickly she came to inquire if it was true.
I owned my intention. She got in a rage,
And soon on her side did my husband engage.

He said he would turn me right out of his door,
If ever I dared to mention it more,
She told him to do so; it would be quite right,
And their cruel threats did my poor heart affright.

And caused me to think I had better delay,
Or enter the church, in an easier way,
O my poor coward heart, to gain some relief,
I fain would have entered the church like a thief.

My pastor was firm and I think he was right,
He told if I had not faith for to fight,
I must stay where I was, for I could not get in
Except by the door; it would only be sin.

But blessed be God He came to my aid,
And made me to trust Him and not be afraid,
Though my husband declared on that very same day
That I was baptized he would turn me away.

The time, at length, came, and my mother came to,
I cried in my heart “Lord what shall I do”?
My husband declared I no longer should stay
If I was determined to have my own way.

My poor angry mother grew more violent still,
Persuading my husband his threats to fulfil,
The scene grew so stormy I could not remain;
So I quietly left then in sorrow and pain.

The Lord gave me grace, and I felt I must go,
Such love to His ordinance He did bestow
That I joyfully went through the watery grave,
And proved He was Jesus, Almighty to save.

Love, peace, joy and mercy flowed into my heart,
Until the time came that I had to depart,
Now I must return to my dear husband’s door,
Which I feared would not open to me anymore.

But I felt it my duty to go back and try,
My heart was lifted to Jesus on high,
I knew He could help me, and bless His dear Name,
He did help me too, and His praise I’ll proclaim.

It is blessed to trust Him, so great is His power,
He can help a poor soul in the stormiest hour,
He can say, “Peace be still”, and the raging waves cease.
The storm will be calm, and all will be peace.

The door was not locked, so I went to my place;
Sat quietly down, and looked in his face,
I did not speak to him but waited awhile
And at length he began to speak with a smile.

And so you have been and done, it he cried,
I could not do otherwise, now I replied,
I discovered the footsteps of Jesus so plain
To follow my Leader, how could I refrain.

Ah well, he exclaimed”, it is of no use to talk,
I must leave you alone in your own way to walk,
I see you will go as our hear is inclined;
You will go on and leave our husband behind.

But why my dear husband should you stay behind?
For you there is room if your heart is inclined,
Come with me to chapel on each Sabbath day,
Who knows but the Lord may lead you in His way”

My heart which has been so overwhelmed with dread.
Was melted; for not a cross word he said,
I was now full of thankfulness, pleasure and joy,
And felt as if nothing my peace could destroy.

But the storm was not over, for on the next day
My mother came in and to anger gave way,
She blamed my dear husband and called him a fool,
Who did not know how in his own house to rule.

She told him that he was as bad as his wife,
But she was determined as long as she’d live,
She never would own me again as her child,
Poor woman, her anger hade her quite wild.

But this only softened my dear husband’s heart,
Her violent behaviour made him take my part.
“I shall not persecute her again”, he exclaimed,
For she after all, is not to be blamed.

My Mother went home, but day after day,
Her anger was great; so I kept quite away
But soon came afflictions and sorrow and pain,
And then I no longer from her could remain.

She now was subdued; but I never could trace
Any signs of the precious renewing grace,
I was with her alone at the time when she died,
But God to my heart his own word applied.

The word came with power; it bid me be still,
And know He was God and submit to His will,
Each tumult was hushed, and my heart became light,
I felt that the judge of the earth must do right.

I had such a view of His mercy and power
Alone with the dead in that sorrowful hour;
Hislove and His mercy to me was so plain
I thought I should never distrust Him again.

But O my bad heart have proved since then,
That it could distrust Him again and again,
Forget His sweet mercy, His love and His grace,
And turned my back to Him instead of my face.

To chapel my husband not willingly went,
Our Sabbaths together were now happily spent,
But I could not perceive that the spirit of grace
Had made for Himself in his poor heart a place.

He was so affectionate, loving and true,
I felt that I could not enough for him do,
I studied to add to his comfort the more
Because I had been such a bad wife before.

But O my dear husband was taken away
And to me it proved a sorrowful day.
He always had been so exceedingly kind.
It was a sharp trial to leave me behind.

“O Mary, dear Mary” he often would say,
What can you do when I am taken away?
I cannot conceive how you will be supplied.
I answered “Dear husband the Lord will provide”.

And He has provided to this very hour,
O yes, I have proved His love and power,
On a poor lonely widow so mean and so low,
He doth His bounty most richly bestoy.

I never wanted for raiment or food,
Or anything else that the Lord saw was good.
He has led me and kept me and fed me till now;
And I at His footstool most humbly would bow.

I went to Cropthorn to keep the free school
Which was to be kept under strict parish rule;
I told them I was a dissenter it is true;
But still they declared they thought I should do.

My Father lived with me; our cottage was neat
The school went on nicely and all was complete,
I had such a season of comfort and rest,
That I began building and lining my nest.

But O the dear Lord saw that this would not do,
I must not this flesh pleasing method pursue,
I was settled on earth and not trying to rise,
So He stirred up the nest to send me to the skies.

I taught the dear children from day unto day,
But church catechism did not hear them say,
They learned the commandments as part of God’s word;
But the portions of error were never once heard.

But not came the trial I must teach it all,
If I could remain in the parish at all
I must go to church, too, and teach the dear youth
In a way which I felt was contrary to truth,

My friends said “Submit and cast not away,
Your home and your living, O do not, we pray,
Be so very precise; but yield a small part,
For still you can worship the Lord in your heart”.

But blessed be Jesus, He made my way plain;
And I felt in a moment I could not remain,
I dared not to trifle with God’s holy truth,
Nor teach fatal errors to children and youth.

Now, like Father Abraham, I had to go,
Away from my home in the valley below,
To sojourn wherever I could find me a place,
My soul trusting in God and the word of His grace.

I never regretted the step I had taken,
For my resolutions could never be shaken.
I saw the Lord’s hand in that matter so plain,
I could not resemble nor with them remain.

For a season I went to live with a friend
And there as a servant often had to bend,
To the will of another, which caused me some grief,
But still the Lord helped me and sent me relief.

Soon after I came with my brother to dwell
I took in plain sewing, and did pretty well
And here I was living when you came that way
And met dear Eliza and me the same day.

And offer I had of a good home for life,
If I would become a rich tradesman’s wife;
But that was a way which I never say plain,
And so as a widow I choose to remain.

Thus far my dear friend told her story to me
And if my good reader the features can see,
Of a dear simple Christian, then I will pursue
The rest of her steps all the wilderness through.

I truly can witness I never saw a child,
More humble and simple, more gentle and mild,
Than dear Mrs. Crane though her talents were few,
She was so conscientious, so faithful and true.
Unlike dear Eliza she seldom could talk,
But all men could tell by her Christian like walk.
She was a disciple of Jesus the Lamb,
And lived to the glory and praise of His name.

Her mind was but feeble, her memory bad,
And the sense of her sinfulness made her feel sad,
And then with a sorrowful sigh she would say,
I fear that I cannot be in the right way.

So unlike Eliza in word and in deed,
O, how shall I still on my journey proceed?
I know dear Eliza will surely prevail;
But often I fear I shall utterly fail.

Eliza was clever her mind was so bright,
That she shone as a star on a wintery night,
Her memory was stored with the gospel of peace,
And her comfort and joy did sweetly increase.

A more striking contract I never say before,
Though both did alike their dear Saviour adore,
The one was so valiant, the other so meek
The one was a teacher; her friend could scarcely speak.

But both to their Saviour were equally dear,
For both were partaker s of true Godly fear,
As others they travelled in union and love,
Till Eliza went home to her mansion above.

When she was departed, for many long years
Her friend could not mention her name without tears,
“O how I did love her”, she often would cry;
Yet felt so condemned when Eliza was nigh.

Poor dear humble soul, how sweetly she prayed.
Yet like Mr. Fearing, was always afraid;
Afraid of herself and the workings of evil.
Afraid of the world and afraid of the devil.

With trembling spirit she went on her way.
But her courage was great in adversity’s day.
She stood by the truth whenever assailed,
And in persecution her spirit never quailed.

With a conscience so tender a spirit so pure,
She could not the least spot of evil endure;
She felt so unworthy, so sinful and base,
She feared she was worse than the rest of her race.

I never shall forget how she came in one day,
Her face flushed with weeping and full of dismay,
What an be the matter my dear friend’ I cried,
O, I read suc ha sermon today” she replied.

A sermon of Gadsby’s I feel it is all true;
But it cuts me clean off, O what shall I do?
I often dreaded it would come to this;
I shall never see the bright regions of bliss.

The good man is right; I know it is true;
But it quite cuts me off, O what shall I do?
I fear I’m a hypocrite, empty and base,
And never belonged to the justified race.

I said, my dear friend, I am sure it is not true,
Mr. Gadsby would never cut off such as you,
But if he should do so, your God is the same
Who called you and caused you to trust in His name.

“But just let us look at that sermon once more,
Perhaps you may see what you saw not before,
Like fire it is purging the dross from the gold,
That you may more clearly your Saviour behold.

We read it together; the word came with power,
Rejoicing our hearts in that sorrowful hour.
The sermon was blessed to the good of her soul;
The hand, that had wounded her now made her whole.

Her beautiful countenance beamed with delight,
When Christ on her soul shed a ray of His light,
But often her spirit was full of dismay
When fearing she might not be in the right way.

But as she grew nearer the end of her race
Her light became clearer; God gave her more grace,
She felt more assurance that Christ was her friend,
And that He would help her right on to the end.

And now came a scene so exceedingly bright,
That faith for a season seemed turned into sight,
A vision she had which dispelled every fear,
And made her quite sure her Redeemer was near.

She said, she was weeping and mourning for sin,
And thought what a terrible state I am in,
I felt so unworthy, my sins I confessed.
But was too full of trouble to think about the rest.

But all in a moment I saw by me bed
A beautiful vision; though nothing was said.
I knew it was Jesus all glorious and bright.
And love, peace, and happiness came with the sight.

I stretched out my arms; He seemed close to my side,
“My Lord and my God”, in rapture I cried,
I never could use such bold language before.
But now my whole soul did my Saviour adore.

He seemed to gaze on me with love and with grace
And a beautiful glory appeared on His face,
I blessed Him and praised Him, and lost every fear;
He was so exceedingly precious and near.

The vision departed and left me to weep
Sweet tears of affection; I wanted no sleep;
But there I lay, blessing and praising His name,
In language I never before dared to claim.

“I called Him my Saviour, my Lord, and my God,
My Jesus, my husband; and each loving word
Was full of endearment, so sacred and bright,
I can never, no never, forget that blessed night”

From this time, my friend could most sweetly adore
Her God and her Saviour in terms which before
She never dared utter her dear heavenly Friend
So sweetly appeared for her help to the end.

I had now left the beautiful spot called green Hill,
But my dear humble sister I valued much still,
And often invited her where I then dwelt,
For her sweet conversation was valued and felt.

When breakfast was ended, I messed my dear friend,
For an hour in her chamber she always would spend
To call on her Saviour and study His word,
And often such seasons would comfort afford.

This had been her practice for many long years,
Though often attended with signing and tears.
She often rose early, this season to gain,
And always observed it in pleasure and pain.

For even when darkness enveloped her mind,
Yet still would she go, though no comfort to find,
She mourned over her distance from Jesus her King,
And sighed out her sorrows when she could not sing.

But the last time she visited me, I could tell
That all was sweet peace, for her spirit did dwell
At home was her Father in lands far away
In beautiful mansion of heavenly day.

Very soon after this, my dear friend, Mrs, Crane
Was laid on the bed of affliction and ain,
And soon it was evident she must depart
Though she was increasingly dear to my heart.

When I went to visit this friend of my youth
I found her rejoicing in God and His truth,
“I see the dark grave just before me” she cried,
But Jesus has sweetened it, for me He died.

“He whispered so sweetly”. Fear not to go down
To the grave. I have ransomed thee, thou art my own,
I will surely be with you in that solemn hour
And thou shalt experience my love and my power.

She repeatedly said, “I have not the least fear,
My God and my Saviour are blessedly near
My soul for its journey is just on the wing,
And I cannot help singing “O death where is thy sting”?

O grave, where’s thy victory? Jesus has died,
And rose and ascended, for me to provide
A heavenly mansion He’s gone to prepare
For unworthy me, and I shall be there.

“I surely shall see Him and be with Him there,
Such vile wretch as I such glory to share,
I cannot help my joys so abound,
Grace, Grace it is charming, a heavenly sound”.

I s at by her side and listened with tears,
For now the sweet friendship of full eighteen years,
Was about to be severed my dear friend must go,
And I must remain in the desert below.

When I saw her again, her affliction was great,
But her mind was still kept in a heavenly state
To all who came near here she spoke of the peace
Which reigned in her heart and did sweetly increase.

She said, “The Lord brings His word to my mind,
Though unable to read it, sweet comfort I find
And when He enables me, then I can pray
And hold sweet communion with Him night and day”.

A young friend came in and stood by her bed.
And hearing her sweet conversation she said,
“What mercy it is that you sought the Lord’s face,
Before you arrived at that solemn place”.

“What a mercy it is that He sought me, she cried,
Such a vile wretch as I am in sin deeply dyed;
When I would have destroyed myself He came near,
And saved me from built and from terrible fear.

He led me and kept me, and bless His dear name,
He has helped me till now; His praise I’ll proclaim,
He has pardoned me, I shall be with Him forever,
Such a wretch as I am, yet my bountiful Saviour.

“My husband grieved for me, when on his death bed,
O what will you do my dear Mary”? he said
“I feel He will help me”I calmly replied,
For is it not written, “The Lord will provide”?

And He has provided, not one word has failed,
Though Satan has often my spirit assailed,
And now he has told me in deaths gloomy night
He will shine on my path way, and all shall be light.

“I know it will be so, no promise can fail,
My Saviour over every foe will prevail,
I know my dear Father, my heavenly Friend
Will never forsake me, but help to the end.

I saw her once more; but she then was so weak,
Her voice nearly failed but her eyes seemed to speak,
As she laboured to tell me the joy of her soul,
And how her dear Father her foe did control.

The tempter had sent forth a fierce fiery dart,
And tried, like a coward, to wound my poor heart,
But though her strength failed, her Saviour was nigh,
He came to the rescue and made the foe fly.

These words to her spirit were sweetly applied,
She felt that Jehovah was still on her side;
“Thy maker is thy husband” so great is His might
Thy foe He will vanquish, and put them to flight.

“The great Lord of Hosts, in His glorious name,
Every foe that assailed thee He will cover with shame;
And when all are vanquished he will take thee to dwell
Save out of the gun shop of Satan and hell.”

Many more precious things she attempted to say;
But soon came the time when I must go away.
She bid me farewell and said “We shall meet
In glory above and shall then be complete”

“I earnestly hope it will be so, I cried,
“I know it I am sure of it now” she cried,
My Father has promised, Yes, we shall be there
In His blessed Kingdom, His glory to share.

I left my dear friend, to behold her no more,
Until we shall meet on the heavenly shore.
Many more precious things she was often heard to say,
And much I regretted that I was away.

To one friend she said, I feel Christ is so near
He has utterly banished my doubts and my fears.
O, now I am sure He’ll not leave me alone
Because I am linked to His heavenly throne.

I have strong Consolation, O yes, I have been led
For refuge to Jesus, my glorious head.
I know He will help me, and all will be right,
He gave me the promise that it should be bright.

The time now arrived that this dear saint must go,
And leave all the cares of the valley below
At first she was restless and seemed in much grief
But Jesus her Saviour soon gave her relief.

Her countenance brightened and beamed with delight
As she of her Saviour once more got a sight.
She joyfully cried, “My dear Lord is come”
To help through this struggle and carry me home.

Did you not see a change when my Lord came?
O now I could tell it, and bless His dear Name,
If my friends were all here, I could tell of His love,
I soon shall be with Him in mansions above.

“Tell them, all is fulfilled; not one word has failed;
My Saviour over every foe has prevailed.
He told me it should at even be light;
It is so! It is so! O glorious sight”.

She now shouted “Victory to God and the Lamb”:
And in dying she exclaimed “Hallelujah, Amen”
Thus lived to the honour of Him who was slain,
And thus died rejoicing, Dear Mary Crane.