The Last Week
The donkey-boy — My Temperance regiment — Work on the village bank — Sailor friends — Helga’s pictures — ‘‘ God’s will delicious” — Good Mary and kind nurse — ‘‘ How good and kind to come!” — The last Sunday — The last hymns — Last messages — *‘ Do speak bright words for Jesus” — The last song at the Golden Gate — With the King — Astley Churchyard.
BY dear sister Frances had promised to meet
some men and boys on the village bank
on May 21st. Though the day was very damp, she went, taking her Bible and her Temperance book with her. While standing a long time on, this cold spot, heavy clouds came up from the
Channel, and she returned, wet and chilly with the
rain and mist; even then some were waiting for her
to speak to them.
May 22nd, being Ascension Day, she wished to
go to church with our friend, but looked so poorly
that I urged her to come for the Communion
only. She was very tired, and took a donkey
home. As she passed through our village of
Newton, quite a procession gathered round her, her
regiment of boys eagerly listening. Her donkey boy, Fred Rosser, remembers that Miss Frances told him “I had better leave the devil’s side and get on the safe side; that Jesus Christ’s was the winning side; that He loved us and was calling us, and wouldn’t I choose Him for my Captain?” Arriving at home, Frances ran in for her book, and on the saddle Fred signed the pledge. A young sailor, W. Llewellyn, was going to sea the next day. Frances was anxious to speak to him, and in the evening went to the cottage. He signed the book and heard one of her closing messages ;* and this was the last time her feet were
“Swift and beautiful for Thee.”
That evening she spoke to several; her intense earnestness, her pleading words in the kitchen, are hot forgotten. To our worthy landlord, his wife and boys, she spoke loving words. David and Johnnie Tucker will not forget how often she had them in her study.
May 23rd. The chilliness increased; and though she was in her study as usual, I requested the doctor to see my dear sister, and desired him to come again. The Temperance meeting was to be held in the evening, and my sister arranged 150 large Temperance cards, then to be given. Very
* His last letter, from Brazil, states that he has faithfully kept the pledge.
cheerfully she gave up the wish to go, saying (so Like her!) “You will do all so much better than I can; will you give them two messages from me: to those who have signed, ‘ Behold God Himself is our Captain’ (2 Chron. xiii. 12); to those who have not signed, ‘Come thou with us, and we will do thee good’ (Num. x. 29)”. Our Vicar and Mr. Bishop, from Swansea, were to be present; and to them she sent her good wishes and request for bright short addresses. While we were at the meeting, she was stitching strong paper tract-bags for sailors at sea, till she felt ill and Mary assisted her into her room. A feverish night ensued. Saturday, 24th. Our friend, the Baroness, left us; but she was not uneasy about Frances. In the afternoon my sister asked me to rearrange her pictures near her bed. “Put Mary Fay’s text next to me, ‘Jesus Christ, the same. yesterday, to-day, and for ever”; above that, ‘Sunrise from the Bel Alp,’ and ‘ The Glacier of La Tour.” I read to her the text painted by Helga, on the rock: “I saw a sea of glass, clear as crystal.” Frances said, “Strangely sweet! tell Helga her pictures take my thoughts away from the pain, — up there.” Then Frances asked me to place “my own text,” “the blood of Jesus Christ,-His Son, cleanseth from all sin”; and beyond it Emily Coombe’s illumination, “I reckon that the sufferings,” etc,
The following are her last notes, in pencil.
(Zo Miss E. Titterton.)
May 23, 1879.
DEAREST EMILY, —
I am laid up again with a return of these feverish attacks, which the doctor says are really from debility; so must only send love, and assure you that whatever is the reason of no answer, it can’t possibly be that Mrs. P. is “offended” — that’s not the last possibility, but an impossibility! It may be that she does not see her way and is in a fix what to say; this is highly probable, as the Mildmay institutions are, financially, at a low ebb, and of course she must throw all available strength into this. I have got the wole rising generation of the village to sign the pledge (all between eight and sixteen), except two boys who won’t sign, three who broke, and one girl “‘ going to sign”! Also about fifty grown-ups. My little lads are splendid: such hearty enthusiasm about it! Temperance meeting to-night, at which I was popularly supposed to be going to speak! but I have to entrust it all to others under God. I dare not let the fact transpire that I can’t go. They are such affectionate people, these poor Welsh.
If I am able to go to Ireland (June 4), I will explain to Mr. Fitzpatrick about pence cards for you and the Brey SaNChy ae 2
THE Mums es, May 24. DEAR Mr. Watson, — I am in bed again with another of these tryingly frequent feverish attacks, and am writing on the back of your own letter, not having other paper within reach!
The fact is, I have knocked myself up with this Temperance work; but having got the whole rising generation of the village into my Temperance regiment, except four naughty little black sheep, seems to me quite worth being knocked up for!
I am sorry I demurred to Dr. B.’s book appearing in my special livery; it was rather small of me, and I feel small accordingly.. I forgot to say that the subject is one of my unfinished ‘invalid book” papers, but I don’t think I need sacrifice it, need I? I could put a footnote, something of this sort — ‘‘For fuller and far better thoughts on this passage, my readers are referred to the ‘Brook Besor,’ by Andrew A. Bonar, D.D.,” etc.
I have had such a kind letter from Dr. Macduff, sending me “Palms of Elim.” I like it best of his, since the “Faithful Promiser.”
Maria says I must not write any more.
Yours ever,
F, BR. H,
Of Sunday I have kept no account.
May 26th. She could not attend to her letters, but corrected the proof of “Morning Stars,” on the text “I am the bright and morning Star”; and then the pen so long used in the service of her King was laid down. She was not suffering very much, lying quietly in bed, her pet kittens Trot and Dot on her duvet. She rather astonished her doctor by saying, “Do you think I’ve a chance of going?” He told her that she was not seriously ill; and asked if she really liked lying there, and in pain.
300; MEMORIALS OF F. kR. #1.
Frances. “Yes, 1 do; it is as if an errand-boy were told to take a message, and afterwards the master bids him zo¢ to go. I was going to Ireland next week, hoping to write for the Irish Society, but God has upset all my plans, and it’s all right.”
The last passage she looked at in her Bible was the Christian Progress chapter for May 28th (Rev. ii, I-10). She asked Mary to read it for her, dwelling on “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life,” bidding her turn to the reference in James i. 12.
(It is remarkable that the same promise of “the crown of life” was the last passage our dear father ever read.)
May 29th. Fever and internal inflammation rapidly came on, and all the symptoms and agony of peritonitis. God seemed to permit severest suffering, and all remedies failed. But her peace and joy shone through it all, while her patience and unselfish consideration for others were most striking, arranging that all who nursed her should rest also. When we were distressed for her, she whispered, “It’s home the faster!” She told Mary she was quite sure now she should never go to Ireland,. adding, “God’s will is delicious; He makes no mistakes.” Our good Mary was a great comfort at all times. ‘
May 30th. She was speaking of justification by faith: “Not for our own works or deservings; oh, what vanity it seéms now to rest on our own obedience for salvation, any merit of our own takes away the glory of the atoning blood. ‘ Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,’ that’s it.”
MM. “Have you any fear?”
fF, “Why should I? Jesus said ‘It is finished,’ and what was His precious blood shed for? trust that.”
Another time: “I am sure ‘I am not worthy to be called His son,’ or His servant, but Jesus covers all; Iam unworthy, but in Him complete.”
The last letter she could listen to was from my brother Frank’s twin sons, and her message. was: “Thank Willie for that nice text, ‘Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning’; and I do hope that Willie and Ethelbert will be ambassadors for Christ; even if they are not clergymen, may they win souls.”
To her sister Ellen: “I have not strength to send messages to yours. I should have liked my death to be like Samson’s, doing more for God’s glory than by my life; but He wills it otherwise.”
Ellen. “St. Paul said ‘The will of the Lord be done, and ‘let Christ be magnified, whether by my life or by my death.’”
I think it was then my beloved sister whispered:
“Let my own text, ‘the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin” be on my tomb; all the verse, if there is room.”
I must mention the skilful and tender care of the nurse, Sarah Carveley (from the Derby Institute). A year before, when in perfect health, Frances had playfully said, “You must come and nurse me.”
The constant sickness was very distressing, and nothing alleviated the agonizing pain; but my sister’s patient endurance was most lovely, trying to comfort ws, and thanking us so sweetly for all we did.
Another time she said: ‘‘ Marie dear, God is dealing differently with me in this illness; I don’t know what He means by it; no new thoughts for books or poems come now.”
Then, “Will you ask the Lord Jesus it may not be long before He speaks to me Himself some little love token.” I knelt and asked that He would speak “peace” to her, even as He did to His disciples.
F, “I have peace, but it’s Himself I am longing for.”
M. “The little boats on the stormy sea had not to row back to Jesus; He drew nigh to them, and said, ‘It is I, be not afraid,’”
Saturday afternoon she was very ill and feverish, saying, “I know now what it means, ‘my tongue cleaveth to my gums.” When fanning her she said, “Marie, you have made this last year of my life the brightest.”
M. “Do you at all regret coming here?”
Ff, “I should think not; the pleasantest time I ever had, delicious /”
Whit Sunday she felt better and was able to talk a little to her brother and sisters, saying: “How good and kind to come! Frank, do you remember when we knelt together at dear papa’s dying bed, what you said to me? It so comforted me. Ever since I trusted Jesus altogether, I have been so happy. .I cannot tell how lovely, how precious, He is to me.”
Her doctors were most watchful, and Frances expressed her confidence in them and declined further advice. She asked them, “What is the element of danger?”
“You are seriously ill, and the inflammation is increasing.”
F. “J thought so, but if I am going it is too good to be true!”
In the early dawn of Whit Monday Frances said to me: “’Spite of the breakers, Marie, I am so happy; God’s promises are so true. Nota fear.”
About 8 a.m. we thought she was departing, and asked for her brother. He knelt by her, inquiring if he should pray. “Yes; let it be a sacramental service.” She softly but emphatically joined in the words, “Therefore with angels,” etc. Reverently, she asked her brother to say the (administration) words “once for all,”
After some peaceful rest, she whispered: “Frank dear, it is not the performance of the rite, zo safety in that; but it is obedience to His command and as a remembrance of His dying love”; to which he assented.
When one of her doctors was leaving he said,
“Good-bye, I shall not see you again.”
F. “Then do you really think I am going?”
Dri Nes.
Bat to-day i”
rs Probably.”
F. “Beautiful, too good to be true!”
Soon after she looked up smiling. “Splendid to be so near the gates of heaven!” (Again and again we heard this, and “So beautiful to go!” through the last hours.)
To Frank: “Will you sing ‘Jerusalem, my happy home, to papa’s tune ‘ St. Chrysostom,’ and play it on my harp-piano. Sing from the copy that has
‘Jesus my Saviour dwells therein,
In glorious majesty;
And Him through every stormy scene
I onward press to see!’
* No. 53, ‘* Havergal’s Psalmody.”’
Oh, it is the Lord Jesus that is so dear to me, I can’t tell how precious! how much He has been to mel?
Afterwards she asked for “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,” to the same tune.
The Vicar of Swansea came for a few minutes. He said: “You have talked and written a great deal about the King; and you will soon see Him in His beauty. Is Jesus with you now?”
F. “Of course! It’s splendid! I thought He would have left me here a long while; but He is so good to take me now. Give my love to dear Mrs, Morgan, and tell all the Association (Y. W. C. A.) that what she and I have told them is all right, God’s promises are all true, and the Lord Jesus is a good big foundation to rest upon. Ask Mr. A to speak plainly about Jesus. I want all young clergymen to be faithful ambassadors, and win souls. Tell Mr.W I can never thank him enough for his help. Oh, I want all of you to speak bright, BRIGHT, words about Jesus, oh, do, do! It is all perfect peace, I am only waiting for Jesus to take me in.”
Soon after her friend Mrs. Morgan came, and Frances whispered: “There is no bottom to God’s mercy and love; all His promises are true, not one thing hath failed.”
In the afternoon, she asked us if it was wrong to groan when in such pain. We told her how very, very patient she had been; that even her doctors had noticed it, and her calmness.
F. “Oh, Iam so glad you tell me this. I did want to glorify Him, every step of the way, and especially in this suffering. I hope none of you will have five minutes of this pain.”
Her brother sang “Christ for me”; and Ellen
repeated
“On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand”;
adding “I want to rejoice more for you, dear Frances; you are on the Rock, and we want no other.”
F. “It is the ove God has laid for us.”
Many times she whispered: “Come, Lord Jesus, come and fetch me; oh, run, run.” Then, “Do you think I shall be disappointed?”
“No, dearest, we are quite sure you are going to Him now.”
F., smiling, “I think Jesus will be glad.”
On Tuesday, June 3rd, Whit Tuesday, atdawn the change came. One of her sisters repeated, “When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee.”
F. “He must keep His word.”
Isaiah xli. 10 was repeated incorrectly; she whispered it correctly for us. After a short doze, she exclaimed: “I am lost in amazement! There hath not failed one word of all His good promise!”
She just spoke of Miss Leigh’s work in Paris, and her friend Margaret C. there, adding “Strange I think of it now.”
Whispering the names of many dear ones, she added “I love them all.” Then, as it were with her last look on them from the opening golden gates, she said yearningly “I want all to come to me in heaven; oh, don’t, don’t disappoint me, tell them «Trust Jesus.’”
Ellen repeated: (altering the word “canst”)
“Jesus, I will trust Thee,
Trust Thee with my soul;
Guilty, lost, and helpless,
Thou hast made me whole:
There is none in heaven,
Or on earth, like Thee;
Thou hast died for sinners,
Therefore Lord for me.”
Clearly, though faintly, she sang the whole verse, to her own tune “Hermas.”
Then came a terrible rush of convulsive sickness. It ceased; the nurse gently assisting her, she nestled down in the pillows, folded her hands on her breast, saying, “There, now it is all over! Blessed rest!”
And now she looked up steadfastly as if she ‘saw the Lord; and, surely, nothing less heavenly could have reflected such a glorious radiance upon her face. For ten minutes, we watched that almost visible meeting with her King, and her countenance was so glad, as if she were already talking to Him. Then she tried to sing; but after one sweet high note, “HE her voice failed; and, as her brother commended her soul into her
Redeemer’s hand, she passed away. Our precious sister was gone, — satisfied, — glorified, — within the palace of her King!
See O She TOOK: Fee, he
The one grand step, beyond the stars of God,
Into the splendour, shadowless and broad,
Into the everlasting joy and light.
The zenith of the earthly life was come.
What then? Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard! Wait till thou too hast fought the noble strife, And won, through Jesus Christ, the crown of life! Then shalt thou know the glory of the word, Then as the stars for ever, ever shine, Beneath the King’s own smile, perpetual zenith thine!”
THe Tomn, ASTLEY CHURCHYARD, 1879
(FROM A DRAWING BY THE BARONESS H&LGA VON CRAMM.)
On Monday, June oth, at 6 a.m., the villagers and others assembled on the lawn while her flower-crowned coffin passed out. The Rev. S. C. Morgan, Vicar of Swansea, addressed them after we had left for Worcestershire.
Many relatives and friends joined us at Stourport, following our beloved sister to her father’s tomb in Astley churchyard. <A golden szar, of Banksia roses, a poet’s wreath of laurel and bay, and many white crowns, were laid upon her. There, within sight of her birth-room in the rectory, and under the branches of the fir-tree her father planted, (and, away beyond, the hills and valleys of her childhood’s haunts encircling us,) we laid our dear sister in sure and certain hope of her “resurrection to eternal life.”
The following is the inscription, on the north side of our dear father’s tomb, in Astley churchyard:
FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL,
YounGEST DAUGHTER OF THE Rev. W. H. HAVERGAL, AND JANE HIS WIFE.
Born at Astley Rectory, 14th December, 1836. Died at Caswell Bay, Swansea, 3rd June, 1879. Aged 42.
By her writings in prose and verse, she, ‘‘ being dead yet speaketh.”
The blood of Fesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us Jrom all sin.™ I JOHN i. 7.
=- There had been heavy storms all day, even as she had passed through many (and our own stormgrief had been bitter and desolating). But the sunshine came, just as the service was ending, and the birds suddenly sang sweetly all around. Very hushing was the thought that our dear sister’s life had been the prelude of the everlasting song; and that she was then looking upon the face of her King,and praising Him “evermore, and evermore.”
“Worthy of all adoration
Is the Lamb that once was slain,”
Cry, in raptured exultation,
His redeemed from every nation;
Angel myriads join the strain;
Sounding from their sinless strings
Glory to the King of kings;
Harping, with their harps of gold,
Praise which never can be told.
Hallelujahs full and swelling
Rise around His throne of might.
All our highest laud excelling,
Holy and Immortal, dwelling
In the unapproachéd light,
He is worthy to receive
All that heaven and earth can give.
Blessing, honour, glory, might,
All are His by glorious right.
As the sound of many waters
Let the full Amen arise!
HALLELUJAH! Ceasing never,
Sounding through the great For Ever,
Linking all its harmonies;
Through eternities of bliss,
Lord, our rapture shall be this;
And our endless life shall be
One AmeEN of praise to THEE!
(F. R. HL)
“Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to HIM be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.”
JESUS, I WILL TRUST THEE.
“I will trust in Thee.” — Ps. lv. 23.
Jesus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul; Guilty, lost, and helpless, Thou canst make me whole, There is none in heaven or on earth like Thee:
Thou hast died for sinners — therefore, Lord, for me.
Jesus, I may trust Thee, name of matchless worth, Spoken by the angel at Thy wondrous birth; Written, and for ever, on Thy cross of shame, Sinners read and worship, trusting in that name.
Jesus, I must trust Thee, pondering Thy ways,
Full of love and mercy, all Thy earthly days:
Sinners gathered round Thee, lepers sought Thy face s None too vile or loathsome for a Saviour’s grace,
Jesus, I can trust Thee, trust Thy written word, Though Thy voice of pity I have never heard. When Thy Spirit teacheth, to my taste how sweet — Only may I hearken, sitting at Thy feet.
Jesus, I do trust Thee, trust without a doubt:
“Whosoever cometh, Thou wilt not cast out.” Faithful is Thy promise, precious is Thy blood — These my soul’s salvation, Thou my Saviour God!
Mary JANE WALKER, 1864,
Tune, HERMAS; No. 105, in “Havergal’s Psalmody.”
I Je - sus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul;
Guilt - y, lost, and” help - less, Thou canstmake me whole.
There is none in hea - ven or’ on earthlike Thee:
Thou hast died for sin - ners; there- fore, Lord, for me,
FRAGMENTS. By F. R. H.: — The Dream Cathedral. 2.
Christmas Decorations. °. e ° °
United Bible Reading. ° e ° ° °
‘CAN Things?. °... e °
Words about Work ° 6 3 5
Motto Verses, for Open Air Mission Workers °
Excerpts: on Music, etc.. 6
A’** Line LEFT OvuT” 5 <:
LETTERS, ETC. By Rev. C. B. Snepp, Miss Clay, Miss Ada Leigh, “B. M.,” Miss Kirchhoffer, Bishop Alexander, etc.
F. R. H. ChurcH MIssIoNARy MEMORIAL FUND
F. R. Hs anp CHURCH PASTORAL-AID SOCIETY
F. R. H. anp IrisH SocreTy Work.
In Memoriam. By various Authors.
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