Her liberal education, her acquaintance with life, and her humble, yet ardent piety, were considered pecuiarly calculated to qualify her for so important a trust. Another friend had suggested to Mrs. Graham the propriety of opening a boarding house in Edinburgh, which he thought could, through his influence, be easily filled by students. She saw obstacles to both; a boarding house did not appear suitable, as her daughters would not be so likely to have the same advantages of education as from a boarding school. To engage as an instructress of youth on so large a scale, with so many competitors, appeared for her, an arduous undertaking. In this perplexity, as in former trials, she fled to her unerring counsellor, the Lord, her covenant God. She set apart a day for fasting and prayer. She spread her case before the Lord, earnestly beseeching him to make his word a light to her feet, and a lamp to her path; and to lead her in the way in which she should go; especially, that she might be directed to choose the path, in which she could best promote his glory, and the best interests of herself and her children. On searching the scriptures, her mind fastened on these words, in John xxi. 15, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee; he said unto him, feed my lambs. Never, perhaps, was this commandment applied with more energy, nor accompanied with a richer blessing since the days of the Apostle, than in the present in stance. Her determination was accordingly made. She resolved to undertake the education of youth, trusting that her Lord would make her an humble instrument to feed his lambs. Here was exhibited an instance of simple, yet powerful faith in a believer, surrounded by temporal perplexities; and of condescension and mercy on the part of a compassionate God. Light, unseen by mortal eyes, descended on her path. How weak, perhaps enthusiastic, would this have appeared to the busy crowd, blind to the special providence exercised by the God of heaven towards all his creatures. When the assembled universe shall at the great day of judgment be called around the throne of the Judge of the whole earth, such conduct will then appear to have been wise, judicious, and efficient; but to the eye of carnal reason, absorbed in the devices and calculations of worldly wisdom to attain prosperity, it now appears delusive and unavailing. There are some passages in Miss Hannah More's Practical Piety, on the sufferings of good men, peculiarly applicable to the faith, exercises, and conduct of Mrs. Graham, at this season of difficulty and deprivation. She felt the pressure of her affliction; but, like the Psalmist, she gave herself unto prayer, realizing in a measure the poet's description: "Prayer ardent opens heav'n, lets down a stream Of Man in audience with the Deity." Although her faith was strong, yet her mind was under such agitation, from her total want of funds to carry her plan into effect, and from other conflicting exercises, as to throw her into a nervous fever, which kept her confined to her bed for some weeks. On her recovery, she felt it her duty to go forward, trusting that He who had directed her path, would provide the means that were necessary to enable her to walk in it: she sold her heavy furniture, packed up all her re maining effects, and prepared to set out from Paisley for Edinburgh on a Monday, sometime in the year 1780. On the Saturday previous, she sat by her fire, musing, and wondering in what manner the Lord would appear for her at this time, when a letter was brought to her from Mr. Peter Reid, enclosing a sum of money which he had recovered from the underwriters, on account of Mrs. Graham's muslins, captured on their passage to the West Indies. Mrs. Graham had considered them as totally lost, but her friend had taken the precaution to have them insured. With this supply, she was enabled to accomplish her object, and arrived in Edinburgh with her family. Her friend Mrs. Brown met her there, and stayed with her a few days, to comfort and patronize her in her new undertaking. Mrs. Brown was her warm and constant friend, until her death, which happened at Paisley in 1782, when she was attending the communion. She bequeathed her daughter Mary to Mrs. Graham's care. But in 1785 the daughter followed the mother, being cut off by a fever in the twelfth year of her age. It may be proper here to introduce the name of Mr. George Anderson, a merchant in Glasgow, who had been an early and particular friend of Dr. Graham. He kindly offered his friendly services, and the use of his purse, to promote the welfare of the bereaved family of his friend. Mrs. Graham occasionally drew upon both. The money she borrowed, she had the satisfaction of repaying with interest. A correspondence was carried on between them after Mrs. Graham's removal to America, until the death of Mr. Anderson in 1802. Such was the acknowledged integrity of this gentleman, that he was very generally known in Glasgow by the appellation of "honest George Anderson." During her residence in Edinburgh, she was honoured with the friendship and counsel of many persons of distinction and piety. The viscountess Glenorchy; lady Ross Baillie; lady Jane Belches; Mrs. Walter Scott, (mother of the poet;) Mrs. Dr. Davidson; Mrs. Baillie Walker, were amongst her warm personal friends. The Rev. Dr. Erskine, and Dr. Davidson, (formerly the Rev. Mr. Randall, of Glasgow,) and many respectable clergymen, were also her friends. She and her family attended on the ministry of Dr. Davidson, an able, evangelical, useful pastor. Her school soon became respectable, in numbers and character. Her early and superior education now proved of essential service to her. She was indefatigable in her attention to the instruction of her pupils. While she was faithful in giving them those accomplishments which were to qualify them for acting a distinguished part in this world, she was also zealous in directing their attention to that Gospel, by which they were instructed to obtain an inheritance in the eternal world. She felt a high responsibility, and took a deep interest in their temporal and spiritual welfare. As a mother in Israel, she wished to train them up in the ways of the Lord. She prayed with them morning and evening, and on the sabbath, which she was careful to devote to its proper use, she took great pains to imbue their minds with the truths of religion. Nor did she labour in vain. Although she was often heard to lament of how little use she had been, compared with her opportunities of doing good, yet when her children, Mr. and Mrs. B-, visited Scotland in 1801, they heard of many characters, then pious and exemplary, who dated their first religious impressions from those seasons of early instruction which they enjoyed under Mrs. Graham, while in Edinburgh. Mrs. Graham's manner in the management of youth, was peculiarly happy. Whilst she kept them diligent in their studies, and strictly obedient to the laws she had established, she was endeared to them by her tenderness; and the young ladies instructed in her school, retained for her in after life a degree of filial affection, which showed itself unequivocally wherever opportunities offered to test it. This was afterwards remarkably the case with her pupils in America. Her little republic was completely governed by a system of equitable laws. On every alleged offence, a court martial, as they termed it, was held, and the accused tried by her peers. There were no arbitrary punishments, no sallies of capricious passion. The laws were promulgated, and must be obeyed. The sentences of the courts martial were always approved, and had a salutary effect. In short, there was a combination of authority, decision and tenderness, in Mrs. Graham's government, that rendered its subjects industrious, intelligent, circumspect, and happy. She enjoyed their happiness; and in cases of sickness, she watched her patients with unremitting solicitude and care, sparing no expense to promote their restoration to health. A strong trait in her character was distinctly marked by one rule she had adopted, viz: to educate the daughters of pious ministers at half price. This was setting an example worthy of imitation. It was a conduct conformable to scriptural precept. Said Paul, If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? Do ye not |