Memorials of Frances Ridley Havergal

IT is with a reverent hand that these “hidden leaves” of my dear sister’s life are now laid at the Master’s feet, for His acceptance and

blessing.

‘Leaves which grave Experience ponders,
Soundings for her pilot-charts;
Leaves which God Himself is storing,
Records which we read, adoring
Him, who writes on human hearts.

Leaflets long unpaged and scattered
Time’s great library receives;

When eternity shall bind them,

Golden volumes we shall find them,
God’s light falling on the leaves.”

No attempt has been made to write a Biography, but rather to allow her to relate her own life-story — a sister’s loving touch uniting

the several links. Her letters, so kindly lent to b vi SAGE

me by many friends, have furnished abundant

materials for this purpose.

These pages will reveal, to some extent, her “true-hearted, whole-hearted” loyalty in the service of God. Often was it as unseen as the lonely watchfulness of the sentinel on some distant outpost; although in later years she seemed as one pacing the ramparts in the very

presence of the King. And so —

“The joy of loyal service to the King Shone through her days, and lit’ up other lives With the new fire of faith, that ever strives, Like a swift-kindling beacon, far to fling The tidings of His victory, and claim New subjects for His realm, new honour for His Name.”

May Christ be magnified by this record of her life and death! To her, Christ was indeed “all and in all”; and she did but describe her own experience in the words:

“There were strange soul depths, restless, vast, and broad,

Unfathomed as the sea;

PREFACE. vii

An infinite craving for some infinite stilling:

But now Thy perfect love is perfect filling,

Lord Jesus Christ, my Lord, my God,
Thou, Thou art enough for me!”

Yes, she was satisfied with Him, and knew what it was to “rest zz the Lord,” whilst she worked for Him. May I not add that an equally joyous and blessed experience may be ours; and that His grace, which was sufficient for her, is sufficient for all who, possessing “like precious

faith,” “follow His steps.”

CASWELL Bay RoAD, THE MuUMBLES,
SouTH WALEs.
April, 1880,

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CONTENTS.

Preface.. 7;: ° ° °. 4:

CHAPTER I. (1836 — 1844.) Introduction — Birth — Brothers and sisters — Name — Birthday wreaths — Astley Rectory (c//ustration) — Her father’s

music — New home at Henwick — Flora’s epitaph — Reading under the table — First rhyme. a = ts.

CHAPTER II.
(1843 — 1848.)

Autobiography from six years old — Wanting to be happy — Sunday chapters and prayer — Golden light — Waving boughs — ‘‘ The caged lark” — No hypocrisy — Mother’s last words — Death — No trance — The cry of the motherless — Wales — Oakhampton. ° ° °

CHAPTER III.
(1848 — 1852.)

The new decade — Meteor flashes — ‘‘Oh for faith” — School at last — Showers, but 7o blessing — Breaking the ice — The climax — The school sunbeam — A gleam of hope — Trusting Jesus — School again — Illness and patience — Wales — Singing and responding at ‘‘ Taffy services”

CHAPTER IV.
(1852 — 1855.)

School at Diisseldorf — Journey to Westphalia — Leaving school — Numero I. — Autobiography resumed — Life in the pastor’s family — The Countess von Lippe — Letter from Pastor Schulze-Berge — The day of confirmation — In Worcester cathedral — ‘* Thine for ever”

26
x CONTENTS.
ee
PAGE — Home life — Oakhampton enjoyment — ‘‘ Welcome
home to my father”.:; - a = oS

CHAPTER V. 7
(1856 — 1860. )

Ireland — F. R. H. and the Irish girls — Hebrew studies — Grateful memory of Bible class teachings — ‘‘ Nearer heaven!” — Chapters learnt — ‘‘ Touching the hem” — Leaving St. Nicholas’ — The loving teacher — Last page in Sunday Scholar’s Register — Welcome to Shareshill. 59

CHAPTER VI.
(1861 — 1869.)

Oakhampton — A new power — Musical gifts — Deep borings — Subjects for prayer — Hiller’s commendation — Remarkable power of harmonizing — Welcome to Winterdyne — Stormy petrelism — Sent empty away — Calmer waters — Joining Young Women’s Christian

Association — London — “Guess my birthday treat!” — Signor Randegger — Epitome of his first singing lesson — New home at Leamington — How poems

came — My Evelyn! — ‘‘The Two Rings” — Weary and sad — First sight of Alpine mountains,: Ge

CHAPTER VII. ’ (1870-1871.) A father’s holy teachings — Peaceful death — ‘‘ Yet speaketh” — ‘* Songs of Grace and Glory” — How harmony was learnt — Letter on tunes in ‘‘ Havergal’s Psalmody” — The ‘‘hush of praise” — Sympathy — The great transition — The most enjoyable trip to Switzerland — A real Alpine dawn — The Vaudois chaplain — Vivas on the Col de la Seigne — Christmas Day — Waiting, not working. 4 4 3. 7 99

CHAPTER VIII. r
(1872 — 1874.)

““The Right Way’? — Snowdon — Evenings at Harlech — Jesus our Reality — Switzerland once more — Ascent to the Grands Mulets — Glissade peril and escape — Active

CONTENTS. xi

service — Winterdyne — Bright sunshine — Full surrender — 1 Johni. 7 — Definitive standpoint — Chimes in the night of ‘‘ Ever, only, all for Thee” — No cheque — Songs, not sighs — How ‘‘ Golden harps,” ‘‘ Tell it

out,” etc., came — Wayside enjoyments °.. 116 CHAPTER IX, (1874.) Circular letters — Sunset on the Faulhorn — Ormont Dessus — Interruptions to poems — Other work done — “‘ Little

Pillows,” etc. — Swiss singing — That great transfer — A musical reverie — Return to England — Bright work and results.. = 5 - °.. - 142

CHAPTER: X.
(1874-1875.)

A dark enigma — Typhoid fever — ‘‘ Waiting at the golden gates” — Coming back from them — Winterdyne — Relapse — Oakhampton — The ministry of kind servants — Return to work — Letters — Gleams — Whitby —

“Reality” — The old friend’s letter — Kindness of friends 155

CHAPTER XI. (1876.) ‘The Turned Lesson” — Patient work — Sympathy with E. C., going to India — Upton Bishop Vicarage — - The brother’s organ and last singing — The last visit to Switzerland — “‘ Seulement pour Toi’’ — Bible reading to peasants — The Great St. Bernard — Champéry — Baroness Helga von Cramm — Alpine cards — Illness at Pension Wengen — Return home — ‘‘My King” — Pruning. r i é - 7 F F - 189

CHAPTER XII. (1877-) Letters — The mystery of pain — The Lord’s graving tool — Loyal letters — ‘‘Won’t you decide to- night >? — Manhood for Christ’s service — Splendid promises — “My silver and my gold” — Mildmay: its intercessions, .greetings, hushing power — A crumb from the King’s table — The Christian Progress Union. me ya ee xii CONTENTS.

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