THE next morning Rachel and her pupils were together in the schoolroom. The former had no trouble to maintain order, for she possessed a vast amount of moral power, although so young. She had an influence over her pupils, and possessed, of course, that knowledge of which her pupils could have no idea, and "knowledge is power." She put them through an examination, and found, much to her surprise, that their studies had been neglected. They could paint a little, they could draw a little, and could play a little; but nothing could they do thoroughly. Their English education was very much at fault. The solving of an easy problem they seemed to have no idea.
"Oh!" they said, "mamma thinks that girls do not require arithmetic; we have only to dress, play the piano, and look pretty when we grow older.”
O foolish parents, who train your children in this way! No wonder that there are the homes that we see around us; no wonder that husbands can go away to the gambling-table, and into other company than that of their wives. See the butterflies dancing about in the market, as it were, and eagerly caught by the speculator of that money market, not eager to buy for their intrinsic value, but for that which attends the purchase. Would that all those that had the care and the training of the rising generation knew how it should be carried out. Intellects can be crammed, but the moral training is often thought little of, either by parent or teacher.
Rachel, under Caroline's training, had learned differently; she was in every way fitted for her vocation, and on this first morning in the schoolroom she felt pity for her pupils, who had been in the midst of disadvantages. She, however, with full purpose of heart, determined to bring them out of the groove in which they had been so long.
She sought for strength and wisdom at the throne of grace, and that One who is always ready to give, denied her not. She endeavored to gain the love of her pupils, and was not long in doing this, so that they seldom found pleasure, but in her society. They delighted in their studies, and loved to please their teacher. They rapidly improved in everything, but like their mother, only lived for this world. True, they attended the church in the neighborhood, where only was heard read Sunday after Sunday a written sermon, purchased from a London publisher. The man had no capacity to compile a sermon of his own. He was not a believer in heart, so he had not the power even to read aright the thoughts of the God-fearing men who had written them. He delighted in hunting, and his wife and daughters took very little interest in anything else, but to dress for balls and dinner parties, instead of looking after the interests of the parishioners.
Such were the surroundings of the home in which Rachel was now an inmate. She attended the church, and each day she went only increased her yearning for reality that she could not find. She had her precious Bible, and delighted to read it too; so that since Caroline had left her, although she had been without the writings of man to tell her the meaning, but God's Spirit alone, there was not much but what she understood, prized, and longed to know more of. She had no earthly adviser, she stood alone; yet not alone, there was One who was leading her. If she wanted admonition, to her Bible she could go; if she required instruction, this was not denied her, and encouragement she found in the midst of all her trials. "Be not weary in well doing, for in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not." And a time did come, when the teacher reaped the fruit of her labors. The God of her fathers rewarded her. The seeds she sowed in that schoolroom at last sprang up, and when that trio merged into womanhood they were fitted to fight the battle of life; for, like Rachel, they were compelled to do so. And a time came when they, as wives and mothers, were able to take their places, not through their mother's training, but through one of Judah's daughters.
Rachel did not receive much gratitude from the mother of her pupils, for jealousy crept in. She did not lose the affection of her children, but her companionship they did not seek, as in former times. They delighted to be with Rachel, and had the capacity to know where the most good was gained. Rachel prayed for their conversion. She instructed them in the truths of salvation, and their young hearts were eager to know more.
Rachel was not gloomy. True religion, which is Christ, cannot make people gloomy. There are some who have found out that this world's pleasures can never satisfy. They try active service, such as district visiting, etc., to appease conscience, but all to no purpose. They are cast in on themselves. The mind will have something, and at last feeds on itself. The outcome of all this is a dissatisfied frame of mind, a gloomy countenance, bringing unhappiness wherever it goes, and instead of the doctrine of Christ being adorned, His name is dishonored by the counterfeit. A true Christian wears no gloomy countenance. The peace of God rules in his heart. What troubles God? Nothing, for He can do all things, so that the man of faith can calmly rest on the One who is the Almighty. He knows from God's word that his sins are forgiven him, that he stands in Christ a new creature, that through the blood of the blessed Redeemer God has placed His righteousness upon him; that all his own righteousness is as filthy rags. Old things are passed away, and all things become new; so what has he to fear? Nothing; he can say:—
"Just as I was, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bad'st me come to Thee,
Oh! Lamb of God, I came.
"Just as I was, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
Yea all I need in Thee I found,
Oh! Lamb of God, I came.”
Mrs. N—had not many associations. She only countenanced those who had some recommendation to her notice, such as wealth or pedigree.
There was a rich family, consisting of a lady and her three daughters, who no doubt meant well. The possession of ample means had altered their position in life from what it once had been, but a cramped and meager education had unfitted them to mix with those whose society they now sought, so they always led unnatural lives, and were indeed to be pitied. How many there are in the lower ranks of society who seem fitted by their gifts to be with those far above them, and move on naturally, till they find their level there.
But when one sees people, who are not so gifted, ever intent on gaining a position, it is to be despised; and more so when Christianity, more or less, has to a great extent leveled distinction. God is not well pleased with this state of things, which is very prevalent in the present day. Let each fill the sphere allotted to him; this gives true dignity if that is wanted.
Mrs. W—was the wife of a retired tradesman. Her husband, possessing ample means, had therefore been able to provide the money to employ teachers for his daughters, but he was not in a position to judge of the capabilities of the persons whom he had engaged, and thus his daughters had been educated by second-rate people, who had given the Misses W—ideas of "gentility," instead of true nobility. All persons, high and low, have this in their power to obtain to, but it is no fault of the young, who are put by their seniors under the care often of those who are ignorant of what true nobility of character means.
Mr. W—and his family removed into the country, where Rachel and her pupils were located. Very few knew anything of their antecedents. They moved among a class who thought their "genteel” plain garb was very lady-like indeed. These girls visited the poor, gave away tracts, explained the Greek text often to those who knew very little of the English one. All who were older could see that these people were living in a world of their own making.
Rachel met them. They felt intuitively that she was a lady, and secretly felt a jealousy they could ill control; but showed, however, their antecedents to Rachel by how they treated her. At the evening gatherings she was left out in the cold by these people. Yet not in the cold, for her mind was a world of its own. Her past associations, her travels, and her knowledge, too, made her glad to be so treated. She could not have found pleasure in talking of the things that they did. One topic would be literature, but while their consciences would not allow them to talk of the popular novel writers of the day, which was too worldly, yet the writings of learned Christian men were picked to pieces by these girls. The beautiful writings of a servant of Christ were one day so much criticized in Rachel's hearing, that she felt bound to uphold them.
The school of doctrine that they had learned in did not quite coincide with the writer's notions of theology. Rachel could forbear no longer. She came forward and said:—
"Pardon me, that writer is personally known to me, and I cannot hear him so spoken of without defending him. He is an honored servant of Christ, and as to the book you speak of, have you read it?”
“Oh, no, but this morning we lent it to our cook. She could not understand the book that we read from, and from which he must have obtained his information.
His writings are Mr. B—'s made easy.”
Dear fellow Christians, whoever you may be, or wherever you are, do not sit in judgment on honored servants of God. All have learned from the same source, and because there is a similarity in the writings, this is not the reason you should give for it. Beware, for you are sitting in judgment on the divine Teacher. Value the writings while you have them; look into the Holy Writ, and see if these things are so, and then, instead of spending your time in needless criticism, talk of Jesus and His love. God keeps a book of remembrance of those who speak of His name—His name, not another's. When Christians meet let it be for edifying one another, instead of religious topics. It has the same air of worldliness about it as the topics of the dinner table of the man of the world.
Rachel had often sat in silence listening to the conversation of professing Christians, endeavoring now and again to teach her things that she had known long ere they. But like numbers, when we have found out a truth, we think none have known it before us. Let us not judge; the one who feels the most is often heard to say the least. This was the case with Rachel. The truths she had learned from Caroline had never been forgotten, so that she knew the scriptures beyond her years.
The three young ladies looked up at Rachel in surprise. Their ideas of a governess were very cramped. "She must be seen, and not heard," this was their idea of one fitted to instruct the young. They had only bowed to Rachel hitherto—had never advanced further. The young ladies allowed Rachel to go on, because they could not find words to stop her. Rachel did go on, and told them of truths they had never heard before.
Mrs. N. was surprised at the vehemence of her governess; she did not make any remark, she was a shrewd woman, and saw the effect that Rachel's speech and warmth were having on her guests, and Mrs. N. was proud, too, of the tall, handsome figure before her.
Rachel had now grown into womanhood, and possessed indeed a handsome countenance, and a face, too, that betrayed great force of character. She was so wholly absorbed in objects outside herself, that her very unconsciousness enhanced her beauty. Never more did Mrs. W. and her three daughters enter that house as they had done before; they had not the same confidence in conversation, and were ever fearful of Rachel-an instance of the influence of the stronger character over the weaker. They were indeed in an unnatural position now, and felt that one was in their presence far beyond them in every way.
One evening Mrs. W. and her daughters were seated with Rachel, her pupils, and the rest of the family. Silence reigned for some time, with the exception of an occasional remark. They had learned, like many nominal Christians, not to respect God's ancient people.
"Do you not pity the poor Jew? You see they have not the scriptures as we have them.”
Rachel answered, "If it were not for the poor Jew you would not have the scriptures as you have them.”
Mrs. W. said, "Oh! I was not aware that we are indebted to the Jew for the scriptures.”
This was the answer of the woman who pretended to read her Bible daily, and who regularly attended the village church. Yet so it is with many in Christendom. She was much surprised when told how many were Jewish writers.
Mrs. W. said they must have been a very wicked people to have crucified our Lord. Like many another, she thought that the Jews' hearts were different from her own.
The elder of the two youths then said, "Will you tell me, Miss Barnard, what is the meaning of common sense?”
He had treated Rachel very coldly, thinking that a governess should be treated differently from another person. He could give no grounds; it was only the outcome of his little mind.
Rachel, with ready wit, answered: "Oh, it cannot be explained—only those who have it know what it is.”
The young man's mouth was closed; his intellect a little sharpened that day. It did him good, and he never forgot it.
At another time, when all were seated after the evening meal, with work in hand, the Misses W. again the guests, Miss W. spoke of the Jew once more. ‘She said,
"What mean characters some of them are!”
Rachel answered with much warmth (the image of her beloved grandsire coming before her), "I can bear testimony that to this race belong some of earth's noblest sons—because some have acted wrongly, should we brand all alike?”
"Oh, no!" softly said Miss W.; "decidedly not.”
There are many who have never traveled, who know but little of the human heart, whose ideas are cramped, and who know nothing whatever of the Jewish race, and look upon them with contempt.
Rachel, with great feeling surprising all, said: " The Jews have been (though not now) and will be the aristocracy of the earth. The land of their fathers will be restored to them—that land that once flowed with milk and honey. Jerusalem will be the joy of the whole earth; she will yet lift her head among the nations.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.'”
Rachel was wending her way to the heavenly Jerusalem; still there were times when her heart burned within her when she thought of the earthly one.
Her hearers looked at her with amazement. At last Mrs. N. said, "I should like to see Jerusalem. What sort of place can it be?”
Rachel remarked, "It is now in the hands of the Turk, and in the city where the temple of God once reared its lofty pinnacle a Turkish mosque now stands.”
Miss W. answered, "One has read a great deal in books, but one cannot always believe.”
Rachel said, " What I say I know is true, for my eyes have looked on these things; my feet have trodden the streets of the earthly Jerusalem; my eyes have beheld Mount Zion, and on its summit, in an English church, my ears have listened to that well-known hymn—
“Jerusalem the golden,
With milk and honey blest,
Beneath thy contemplation
Sink heart and voice oppress'd;
I know not, oh, I know not,
What joys await me there,
What radiancy of glory,
What bliss beyond compare.'”
Not a sound was heard, all listened with breathless attention for more.
Rachel continued:
"I have rested in the garden of Gethsemane in the twilight hour. I have looked on the waters of Jordan. I have stood on its banks, and have sat on the shores of Galilee. I beheld the blue waters of the Mediterranean from the heights of Carmel, and found shelter 'neath the cedars of Lebanon. The land of the Hebrew I love, for it is the land of my fathers." Her eyes kindled with holy fire. "But I have found what some of my fathers never found—a city that hath foundations, whose Builder and Maker is God. That God is my Redeemer, my Jehovah, my Messiah, my all in all.”
Never more in Rachel's presence was the Jew spoken of with disrespect; never more was Rachel slighted. She could afford to have been silent ere this; but now all felt her power. She had not forced herself upon them, however. None far or near possessed the talents she possessed; no voice surpassed hers, or even equaled it in richness of tone. Few could hold conversation with her. She never talked of people or of circumstances. She found her happiness in the schoolroom, where she could impart to her pupils the knowledge, in some degree, that was hers. This Jewish governess was no more despised; all were glad to be taken notice of by her.
However, her stay in this house was soon to be brought to a close. Mr. N. did not understand agriculture, so that the money he had invested was nearly all lost, and the estate was put up at auction in order to pay creditors.
He was compelled now to return to business, and Rachel parted with her pupils.
Mr. N. and his family, with the little money saved from the wreck, commenced business in H—. Mrs. N. was now learning a lesson, that all things change here. It made her think. She, too, looked into God's word, and found things by the light of His Spirit that were for her eternal welfare. She had to face the stern realities of life. Her husband's business was not enough to maintain such a family. The boys had no more time for boating, fishing, or novel-reading. They had wasted time they never could recall. They were in a position requiring them to earn the bread that perisheth, and through their parents' want of judgment they knew not the way. However, after a few rebukes from relatives who were some of them sensible men, the arrow struck, and these lads, being too proud to be thought ill of, began to study to get their own living. Eighteen or twenty was rather late for this. Their object was not for right's sake, they liked a good name.
Let us hope that, as they progressed with their studies, they learned to work for a better object. After years proved that they did not work in vain, for through much labor and perseverance they, though late in years, found their place on the plat form of life, and at last found out, and their parents too, that there was One who could strengthen them for such a battle.
Would that they had learned their lesson sooner; they would have saved themselves much trouble and sorrow. But we all have our lessons to learn, some one way and some another. The divine Teacher knows what to teach each one.
Rachel's old pupils were now in a position to give out to others what they had learned from her. Their mother having found out the hollowness of riches, thought it very requisite that her daughters should know how to earn their livelihood, so she got the aid of masters to fit them, and soon they opened a school for the middle classes, and were successful; but now we must leave them.