God is every where, and can ever raise up friends for you wherever He, in His providence, calls you. Does my Jacky reflect when she says, 'I was born to suffer; it is hard to be tossed about in this manner?' Does she not, at such times, forget that all this is for her own improvement, and that God has, in a very remarkable manner, provided the means of such improvement, for your mother had it not? What would poor Juliet and thousands of others, give for your opportunities? Yes, your own sister Jess would at present esteem it a happiness, though, I make no doubt, she would feel as you feel, and say as you say, or, perhaps, be even more impatient, if actually in the same circumstances. Still, in the view of sober reason, your advantages are greater than theirs who are at home, and your situation comfortable at the same time. Turn back your views to your mother's situation: left a widow, with four of you, in a distant country, with scarcely so much in hand as to carry her and her orphans to her native land. Next, view our cottage [at Cartside]-no doubt it was the cottage of innocence, simplicity, and happiness, though of pov erty-and even from that we were shut out with but a poor £16 a year to depend upon, and the eldest of my children scarcely eight years of age. What could be our prospects at that time? Either sitting from six in the morning till ten at night sprigging muslin, or some such work, or going out to common service? Many late, many anxious nights your

C

mother had at that time; and she who had ever lived a life of ease and plenty in the lap of indulgence, loving and beloved-her company courted— her conduct copied the seeming favorite of all who knew her yet brought so low as to be obliged to part with her last servant, and do her own housework; and, what was worse, be neglected by those who were formerly my intimates, some of whom had esteemed my friendship an honor. What were my prospects then? Yet, Jac, think what the Lord has done for us since that time, and you in particular. Relations, afraid of being entangled in our difficulties, kept at a distance; but the Lord opened the hearts of strangers to countenance me and find business for me. Yet what would even this have done for me had I been without education? I have had the happiness of seeing my children possess all the means of a most liberal education, and enjoying a circle of worthy friends and acquaintances. If I am taken away before they be of age to carry on the present school, or should the business fail, though I can not leave them in abundance, I should leave them with such acquisitions and talents as will render them blessings to, not burdens on society, dependent though they will be on character, behavior, and their own exertions for a livelihood. If they behave with propriety wherever they are, they will be respected, and entitled to keep company with people of education, and never need be in want of a home gained by their accomplishments. Bless the Lord

with me, my dear, and forget not all His benefits, who is, in truth, the widow's help, the orphan's stay, and the stranger's shield."

Under such faithful and affectionate training she remained until the family left Scotland for the United States.

CHAPTER VI.

RETURN TO AMERICA.

Dr. Graham's Views of Settling in America.-Mrs. Graham's Plans. -Christian Friends.-Dr. Witherspoon.—Mrs. Graham and Family arrive in New York.-Reception.-Success.-Mrs. Graham's School and Patrons.

THE reader will remember that Dr. Graham's main motive in getting commissioned to serve in America was the hope of finding there, with his young wife's father and mother, a rural agricultural home. Though the idea, as he entertained it, like similar projects of many others, was rather romantic than wise, the impression remained deep on the mind and heart of Mrs. Graham; and though compelled by adverse circumstances, and the state of war in this country at the time of her widowhood, to return to Scotland, she seems never to have lost the desire of establishing her family in the land where she had spent the happiest years of her womanhood, and where her daughters were born. It is even more than probable that she accepted the opening made for her in Edinburgh under the design of thoroughly educating her girls for a similar enterprise in New York. Her friend, Mrs. Major Brown, who had come to Scotland with her husband, was, as we have stated, a native of New York, being the daughter of Mr. Vanbrugh Liv

ingston, a distinguished member of that opulent family, even then occupying a high social position in the new state, as it had from an early day in the colony. Doubtless the conversation of these ladies was often turned, in their confidential moments, to the city, which soon gave strong promise of its future prosperity and influence. The great kindness of the Christian friends who ministered to Mrs. Graham in 1772, when on her way to Antigua, and most probably the correspondence of Mrs. Brown with her relatives there, were not without the effect of keeping alive Mrs. Graham's predilections and desires. Thus did Providence prepare her mind to listen favorably to the suggestions of that eminent divine and distinguished patriot, the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, who paid a visit to his native land, and was intimate with the circle of Mrs. Graham's friends. Devoted to the highest welfare of his adopted country, which he served so well, and especially to the religious and general education of its youth, on whose proper education for their duties so much of the prosperity of the young republic depended, Dr. Witherspoon, the President of Princeton College, readily perceived how able a coadjutant such a woman as Mrs. Graham, with such a family, would be to him, and he spared no pains to persuade her that in New York she would find a sphere for her zeal in advancing her usefulness and the glory of God, especially as it was his deep conviction that in this land the Church of God would eminently flourish, and become a praise in the whole