AMONG the Christian women of America, perhaps few names have been more widely known than that of Mary Lyon.
To tell the story of her useful life, much of which was spent in loving service for the Lord, would fill a volume; but a few lessons from her early life as to the value of thoroughness and habit of doing things well, will (I think) be of some use to the girls who may read this brief sketch of her school-days.
Mary Lyon was born in the year 1797.
Her home was a New England farmhouse, where from early morning till evening busy work of some kind was always going on. Both Mary's parents were true Christians. Her mother was a woman of strong faith, and one who prayed much that all her children might early know and love Christ.
As soon as Mary was old enough to understand, her mother used to tell her of the Savior's love for little children. And Mary would listen, and say when the "Sweet story of old" was ended, "Tell me about my little brother Ezra who has gone to live with Jesus, above the bright blue sky.”
As the schoolhouse was some distance from Mary's home she did not go to school very early, but her mother taught her at home to obey promptly and cheerfully, and in many ways suited to a child's strength, to be helpful to others.
When Mary was six years old an event took place which was never to be forgotten by her—the death of her dear father. His family was gathered round his sick bed. Mary did not sob or cry aloud, but looked on, strange new feelings of sorrow and wonder filling the young heart as the dying father prayed, "God bless my children. My Father, be Thou the Guide of their youth. Now, Lord Jesus, come quickly." And then he went to be with Christ, which is far better.
Dark cold winter days followed, but the widow and the fatherless learned much of the loving kindness of the Lord. Sometimes provisions were scarce and there was no money in the house to buy more. Mrs. Lyon did not tell her neighbors, but just took her need to God in prayer. Some friend would call with a basket of apples, or a cake for the children; or some farmer on his way to market would stop his wagon at their gate, to say his wife had put up a few things she thought might be of use to Mrs. Lyon.
Mary soon began to help her mother in spinning. Sometimes the work would go on smoothly, enough, but at others the flax tangled up and the thread broke or got into knots. And if the face of the little worker grew clouded, and she was tempted to say, "This tiresome old spinning wheel won't work right to-day," her mother would look up with a cheering smile and begin singing,
“It is not in the wheel,
It is not in the band,
But 'tis in the little girl
Who takes it in her hand.”
And so the girl who took it in hand kept bravely on with her work, till in time she was able to spin a thread as fine and even as that of her mother. Having a new dress was an event to Mary and her sisters: so many things had to be done before the dress could be made. Sometimes a woolen dress for winter wear was needed, and Mary would watch the sheep-shearing with great interest; then came the wool picking and washing, then the wool must be sent to the carding-mill. Spinning and weaving at the old hand-loom followed, Mary taking part in all these occupations.
During the winter months she attended school, and made rapid progress in her studies. In the summer her widowed mother needed her help in household cares, and it was gladly, cheerfully, given.
When Mary was fifteen years of age, her eldest brother took entire charge of the little farm, and while her mother and younger sisters went to a new home, Mary remained with him as his housekeeper. Busy days they were for her; milking the cows, churning butter, cooking, spinning, and many other duties took up much of her time; but by early rising and constant industry she was able to improve her education.
About this time Mary Lyon gave herself to Christ. From quite a little girl she had felt a great desire to be a true Christian, and had often been deeply anxious about her soul: perhaps the gospel she had listened to had not shown her quite simply how she might be saved by faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was the afternoon of a bright and beautiful Lord's day in May, 1816, when she first said from her HEART, "Lord Jesus, thou art MY Savior.”
She had left the little brown meetinghouse with a heavy heart. A servant of the Lord had been speaking of the goodness of God. In closing, the silver-haired man, looking round with almost a father's affection, exclaimed, "And now, my children, what more can I say to you? Remember, it is a very solemn thing, and very wicked, too, not to love so good a God as the One of whom I have been telling you.”
Alone, and in deep trouble, Mary took a winding path along the hill-side. She had long been looking into her own heart to find some love to God, but she had not really believed the love of God to sinners (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)), so of course none was to be found in her heart.
But then and there the memory of her dying father's prayer for his children came to her mind. Why should not the answer be given that day? and turning from the footpath into a hollow near the brow of the hill, she knelt and prayed, "O God, Thy way is perfect; be Thou my Father, and the Guide of my youth. Lead me into Thy way of peace, show me Thy dear Son as my Savior.”
And her prayer was heard, joy and peace in believing filled her soul. New hopes, new affections, made her very happy, as she said with David, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name." (Psa. 103:11<<A Psalm of David.>> Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (Psalm 103:1).)
And new desires, too, sprang up in her heart; one of these desires was to be allowed to show her love to Christ by doing something that would please Him, and He gave her the desire of her heart.
She was just beginning to keep school, only a village school, and many of her pupils were very young. But Miss Lyon put her whole heart into her work, and the girls who attended her school soon began to love their kind patient teacher. After a few years of study, Miss Lyon began her life-work as head mistress or principal of a large boarding-school for young ladies, most of whom were being trained to become teachers of others. Miss Lyon was anxious that all her pupils should get on well with their lessons, but still more so that they might all early know and love the Lord Jesus.
And year by year the Lord gave her the joy of seeing many of her dear girls converted. Some of her scholars became teachers in mission schools, others just LET their light shine for Christ in their own homes.
After about thirty years spent in teaching, Miss Lyon fell asleep in Jesus on the 2nd of March, 1848.
WHAT found I in the year that's past
To make my heart forget
That this, perhaps, may be my last I
Although in childhood yet.
For little ones, still less than I,
Their short-lived course have run,
Who never, never thought to die,
When first the year begun.
Their faces rosy, just like mine,
Their voices glad and gay;
They did not show a single sign
Of fading thus away.
But I am left while they are gone;
Oh! shall we meet again,
And on the resurrection morn
Eternal joys obtain?
We shall, if in the Lamb of God—
In Jesus we are seen;
We shall, if wash'd in Jesu's blood,
Which makes the vilest clean.