ONLY a week after the arrival of Rachel at this lovely spot, her scholastic duties commenced. One sunny morning Rachel opened the school door, at the hour fixed, and saw eighteen eager, up-turned, smiling faces greeting her, who had been waiting on the pretty enclosure in front of the school. Birds were warbling sweet songs in the luxuriant trees that formed an avenue up the road leading to this spot. The distant splashing of the waves on the shore close by, and the scent of the sweet-smelling flowers growing wild—all seemed to shed a peacefulness around, that teacher and pupils were able to set to work with willingness—the teacher with a full purpose to educate her pupils as far as she was able, and the pupils to do what they could to please their teacher—and thus they started in harmony, and continued so throughout Rachel's sojourn there.
Before, however, the lessons began, all joined in singing a morning hymn, and a simple prayer was then offered by the teacher, supplicating a blessing from the Master of all on that day's labors. Rachel acknowledged Him in her ways, and He always blessed her efforts with success, and when the day was over, those young voices rang out in the calm evening air, and the hymn:—
"Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,”
was sung with much feeling by Rachel. Her pupils joined in, and as she beheld the changing expression of their young faces, she could not fail to notice that a few of them, in some little measure, felt what they were singing.
They tripped lightly away to their various homes, and Rachel wended her way to hers. Her day's work was over, and with a thankful heart she mounted the hill once more, and entered her pretty little sitting-room, where her Spanish landlady had laid her evening meal, and Rachel was left alone. Reclining in her easy chair, she looked around and felt that after all her tossing, her Father had given her an earthly rest for a time, in what she could call "home, sweet home!" Her evenings were her own now, not like they had been in Mrs. N.'s house. She used these hours for recreation, study, or in preparing lessons for the next day, and ere she left that sitting-room for the night, the landlady was aroused by Rachel's rich voice sending up the notes:—
"How good is the God I adore,
My faithful, unchangeable Friend.”
On arriving at the school the next morning, 'she was surrounded by the majority of her pupils, each with a lovely posy of flowers. The sweet perfume in that comparatively small room would have been almost overpowering to some; but the teacher's lonely heart had been made glad that morning by seeing fresh young hearts eager to make her glad, and this overpowered her far more.
On the following Friday, Rachel wrote on the blackboard some scripture questions, to be answered on Monday morning. Many Bibles were opened on the Sunday by parent and child, the former helping the latter in her efforts to find the coveted answer. Let us hope that the eye of some was fixed in its search on a passage that pointed out the way of salvation.
Rachel was told that one gentleman, who never looked into the scriptures, or thought of eternal things, for the sake of his child was led to give up his usual occupation, and turn over the leaves of that heavenly message, and the little one for whom he worked brought the best answers. Rachel had sought for missionary labors, and what better scope is there than to be in a position to train the rising generation? How many stories in the reading-book was she able to turn to account by putting the way of salvation, through the tender Shepherd, before them! Thus the whole moral tone was excellent, and its influence felt by the parents at home.
Now Rachel set to work to devise a plan by which she might directly tell them the "old, old story." She sought for aid at the throne of grace, and the thought suggested itself to her, Why cannot I have a Sunday class? She sent notes to the parents about the matter, and on the following Sunday afternoon not a pupil was missing.
The parents were some Presbyterians, Wesleyans, Church of England, &c., but there was not one among them who did not willingly allow their children to hear the "old, old story of Jesus and His love." Many of them had heard it on old England's shores in days gone by, and now the teacher's words on that first Sunday were recapitulated in many a home.
Tracts and books Rachel sent to these homes by her beloved pupils, and let us hope that the seeds sown will spring up into eternal life.
It was a pleasant sight on that first Sunday, the teacher with her rich voice, striking the chords of the pianoforte, and leading her class in singing:—
"There is a happy land,
Far, far away,
Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day.”
And again, for the elder ones:—
"There is life in a look at the crucified One,
There is life at this moment for thee.”
Many Sunday hours came and went; but the interest was kept to the last.
One day a lady called on Rachel, and asked her why she did riot give an address. She answered, "I cannot do that, but I would have a Bible-class at my lodgings." And the following Sunday evening was a memorable one to her, for she was taken at her word, and twelve ladies came with their Bibles to Rachel's lodgings. She felt utterly powerless in herself to put truths before them; so when all were seated, she went into another room, and cried to the great Teacher for wisdom, and on her return to her visitors, the calm expression of the young teacher betrayed no weakness, and with a strong yet sweet voice, she led that grand old hymn, that many had heard in their native land:—
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.”
And when she came to the words:—
"Not the labor of my hands,
Could fulfill Thy law's demands,”
with what fervor did she sing them. All were attracted with her deep feeling. Then after an earnest petition for the divine blessing in clear and earnest tones, she read from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 44: 22. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." Then from the first chapter of Revelation, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last," "I am he that liveth and was dead." How clearly
by these scriptures did she show the Godhead of her blest Redeemer, and that without shedding of blood there is no remission:—
"Amazing truth! the blood of One,
Who without usurpation could
Lay claim to heaven's eternal throne.”
A great work was done that evening. Those who took no interest in their Bibles before, turned to see if these things were so; and as much earnest prayer went up from that busy teacher, we may rest assured that she will have souls for her hire. Many Sunday evenings passed away in these reunions.
Rachel spent many years in this garden of nature, till her Master called her into another sphere. He had tenderly watched over her, He had deigned to use the weak vessel for His glory, and now He was about to give her a companion to cheer her pilgrim way.