CHAP. 1.
These fragments of departed years
We gather up and store,
Since thou, in mercy to our tears
And prayers, art healed no more:
In death's stern war is no release,
Yet walks the ransomed soul in peace.
"The memory of the just is blessed;” and it is pleasing to surviving friends, sometimes to retrace the steps by which their loved and lost ones have been led along the journey of life, into that path which ends in perfect day.
The early years of the late beloved and honoured Mrs. Fishwick, were marked by no striking incidents. She was nurtured in a happy English home, by truly faithful and judicious Christian parents, from whom she soon learned important lessons of “good. judgment and knowledge.” Her father, the late Roger Crane, Esq., of Preston, in Lancashire — man of masculine mind and deep piety, as well as of extensive general information — was also distinguished by his tact in interesting young people, and communicating to them his stores of varied knowledge, in a most attractive manner. Her mother, who was a Miss Annet, of Alnwick, in Northumberland, an amiable, refined, and gentle Christian lady, finished her course in peace while Miss C. was yet all infant. The mother's place was anxiously supplied at first by a faithful nurse, who had come, like Rachel's, from her distant home, with her young mistress, on her marriage.
In October, 1799, when Miss Crane was nearly four years old, Mr. C. married again; and his daughter gained a second mother, in the late Mrs. Aspden, of Blackburn. Of these two, it was frequently remarked that a stranger would never have supposed them to be otherwise than real mother and daughter.
Mr. Crane having realised a handsome competency, retired from business while his only child was yet very young: consequently he had the more leisure to devote to her instruction and improvement. From her first years, she was accustomed to bow at the family altar; to reverence the word of God; to listen quietly and attentively to His ministers in His house; and to esteem them, and all who loved the Lord Jesus, very highly, for His sake.
She was also early taught the leading truths of Christianity; the utter ruin of man by the fall, and his redemption through Christ Jesus.
A naturally delicate constitution prevented a close application to scholastic pursuits in the days of her girlhood; but what might be lost to Miss C. in this manner in the mere knowledge of books, was more than compensated by her father's improving conversation, and the formation of her character under his judicious eye.
The main design of education as regarding this world, was, in his view,
Not to know at large of things remote,
But that which before us lies in common life.
The power of correct judgment and of calm philosophical survey, for which she was eminently distinguished in later life, was early brought into exercise 'by her father's careful training. As all instance of this, when she was very young, a gentleman, a friend of Mr. C., who was fond of playing with and amusing her, being about to leave the neighbourhood, enquired of Miss C. whatever she would do without him, not doubting but that his loss would be greatly felt by the little lady. Her philosophic answer was, “I must do as I did before you came.”
Mr. Crane was an active and influential member of the Methodist Society, at a period when that sect was everywhere spoken against; and he was not without his portion of the reproach and insult then so plentifully bestowed upon these followers of Christ.§ Still he was a man of a truly catholic spirit.
An expression of his in writing to a friend, when upwards of seventy years of age, gives a just view of his character in this respect. “I am a man of no party, but the party of Jesus; whenever I see a Christian, in the spirit of Christ, my spirit is joined unto him, whether it be Moses or Aaron."
Under the auspices of such a parent, Miss C. learned highly to esteem all the disciples of our common Lord: amongst these, though more particularly among his own people, Mr. C. was extensively known and greatly respected.
His house was an hospitable home for a season, to many, when journeying through Preston. At the same time his favourite motto was deeply inwrought in the delicately retiring mind. of his daughter – “Be courteous to all, but familiar with few.” By the habit of prompt and implicit obedience, of thinking little of herself and much for the comfort of all around her; of patient, persevering research, and taking nothing for granted without examination, Miss Crane was admirably fitted to become in future years the wise counsellor and faithful friend, the beloved and unselfish mistress of a happy home-circle, and a valuable and influential character in general society
§ The following instance of Mr. Crane's liberality was lately communicated to the writer by a gentleman who was then a boy, and well acquainted with Mr. C. When it was thought desirable to build a chapel in Preston for the accommodation of the increased number of hearers who attended the preaching of the Methodists in the hired room, it seemed almost an impossibility to accomplish such an undertaking. Mr. Crane had recently received from his father his allotted portion of this world's wealth, and was about beginning business for himself. He now generously devoted toward the building of this house of prayer, one-fourth of his property. He also spent much time and labour in begging for, and making other arrangements for the raising of the edifice. Once, at the close of a long and rather unsuccessful day’s application among his neighbours and townsmen, he ventured to call at the house of a Roman Catholic lady, whom he believed to be a Christian. She said to him, “Well, I know nothing about you Methodists, but I give you this,” taking some silver out of her pocket, “for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Mr. C. was deeply struck with the purity of this motive. He lived to rejoice in the work of his hands; he saw many good days in the chapel he had been so interested in raising, and many souls born for God in it. Some years afterwards it was enlarged, and again, before Mr. C.’s death, a more spacious one was built in its stead, and a second was in contemplation.