Gods Answers | Page 5

in her power. She had established
evening schools, lending libraries and coffee-sheds, and of these and
further efforts she wrote:--
"Second to the preaching of the gospel, we lay every laudable snare to
induce men to learn to read and write. In doing this, spare time is
occupied to the best account, and the enemy is foiled in some of his
thousand-and-one ways of ensnaring the toil-worn navvy at the close of
day.
"The more our little band goes forward, the more we feel that drink, in
all its forms and foolish customs, must be resisted,--first, by the
powerful influence of a felt example; and secondly, by gently and
kindly instructing the minds of those amongst whom we labour as to its
hurtful snares. We are accused by some of putting this subject before
the blessed gospel. God forbid! But when we look on every reclaimed
one and know that this was his besetting sin, we regard the giving it up
as the rolling away of the stone before the Saviour's voice, 'Come

forth,' can be obeyed.
"These first endeavours to spread the gospel story in a more enlarged
way were made in villages where the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon had
laboured when not yet twenty years of age, and where souls had been
blessed through the youthful preacher. Some of these converts became
my helpers, and are co-workers to this day.
"It was in 1863 that I first became an almoner for others, whilst filled
with a desire to build a missionhall among the coprolite diggers in
Cambridgeshire.
"The friends attending the Barnet Conference heard of my wish and
shared my burden."
The following letter to Dr. Elwin shows the sympathy that he felt in her
work:--
"My DEAR FRIEND,--Thanking you for your daily remembrance of
my continual wants in this the Lord's work among these poor migratory
coprolite diggers, I must say it was indeed refreshing to think that this
little hidden vineyard was laid on your heart to present to the Lord at
the Bristol Conference. The answer has come, and now it is my blessed
privilege to ask you to rejoice and praise our loving Father for another
six souls born anew. Yes, dear brother, they are those I have laid before
you again and again to plead for, that the dead form of godliness might
be broken down. Though diggers, they are residents in a neighbouring
village, and have attended my ploughmen's Bible-class for some years.
From the mouths of many witnesses, in a series of outdoor gatherings
every Lord's day evening in the past summer, they have heard, on their
own village green, a present, free, and full salvation.
"Is it not kind of the Master to employ us feeble women in His service,
by allowing us to use our quiet influence for Him, and to do many little
things, such as inviting wanderers to listen, providing hymns and seats,
also refreshment for those sent to deliver the King's message? And oh!
it is indeed a hallowed privilege to be a 'Hur,' to hold up the hands of
the speaker, and watch the index of the soul as the message of love or

of warning falls; to slip in and out of the group, and meet the trembling
soul with a blessed promise, or grasp the hand with Christian sympathy.
Then for us women such service affords opportunity of giving the little
leaflet or book, such as the case requires, and following it up in the
home with Bible in hand.
"The Lord was very good in sending me helpers, _i.e._, brothers, to
speak during all those summer Lord's-Day evenings. On one occasion I
was left alone, and yet not alone. At another time my faith was tried.
No one had come to speak. The people had gathered. I opened my
Testament on the passage, 'Come and see' (John iv.) If the Samaritan
woman was led so boldly to say to wicked men, 'Come and see,' surely
my Lord knew my burden, and my need for a brother to speak to that
village gathering. We sang a hymn. I was led to pray. On arising from
the grass, a young man came round the corner and said, 'Miss, the Lord
has laid it on my heart to come here and preach to-night. Can I be of
any service?' He took for his text, 'Yet there is room.'
"I know you like to trace the links in the chain of blessing, so I will
enter a little into detail. One village displayed the most perfect outward
form of all that is considered correct as to the using of means. There
were clubs, saving of money, young men well dressed and regular at
their place of worship, four nights a week at their evening school; but
oh! my