The Pilot's Daughter Part 1

The Pilot's Daughter.

by Francis Cunningham.

THE PILOT'S DAUGHTER.

The subject of this little memoir was so well known to her neighbours, and to the many young persons with whom she a.s.sociated, that I have felt sure a short account of her would not be unacceptable to them. They knew her quiet, virtuous, consistent, pious walk, and they will, I am sure, bear witness, that I do not over-state the blameless character which she maintained. This, as it was an example to others, so it must be a cause of heartfelt rejoicing to her friends now that she has finished her course, and entered into her rest. To others, this little history may have its use. It is not the account of a person of unusual powers of mind, or of attainment; nor of one placed in extraordinary circ.u.mstances, although she was blessed with pious parents, who watchfully instructed her in the truths of Religion, as well as taught her by their example.

She had only the advantages which many young persons in every village and town possess, nor did she attain to any situation in life, which mult.i.tudes may not aspire to. But she gained a deep and well-grounded feeling of Religion. She learned the evil nature of her heart. She discovered and gained that treasure, which is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. She laid hold by faith on his merits. She was taught of the Holy Spirit; and the graces of the Spirit were in an eminent degree manifested in her life. She by the same power acquired the adorning of the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of the Lord of great price. She followed in the simple training of the ministry of the Church: neither seeking to wander from its pastures, nor exercising any want of charity towards those who differed from her, one of whom, attached to another denomination of Christians, her only surviving sister, and nearest friend, was her constant companion; with her she lived in perfect unity of Spirit. Her circ.u.mstances then had nothing in them out of the ordinary course of human life. She had temptations peculiar to her own character and disposition, and she met with the usual trials, which belong to her situation in life. She had her time of health, and of sickness. She was a daughter and a sister. She was engaged in a variety of pursuits both to gain her livelihood, and to do good to others; but in every state,-without exhibiting any quality to which her friends and neighbours might not aspire,-she may be truly said to have walked after her measure in her Master's footsteps, and to have adorned her Christian profession.

The father of this young woman was James Cullingham. He had for many years been a Pilot. He was a man of somewhat original character.

Throughout his life he had followed, without variation, the usual line of his calling, and faithfully discharged the duties of his occupation. The business of a Pilot on this part of the coast, is to take ships coming from the North to London. Then to return home again, to wait perhaps a few days till the opportunity occurs of another voyage. This kind of life is one of a good deal of temptation; but it did not prove more than this to him, for he pa.s.sed through it without reproach, although somewhat unsuccessfully as to his own profit. In the depth of the winter, when the Northern Ports were frozen, his usual duties were suspended. It was in these intervals we had occasion to observe his valuable character.

His season of rest was employed chiefly at home, reading various books; in his latter years, books of devotion; and he was rarely absent from the House of G.o.d. In the latter part of his life, he was in the habit, when at home, of having stated prayer three times a day; and he read the Scriptures in the order of the Calendar of the Prayer Book; at this period he also gave up all watching for the coming in sight of ships on the Sabbath day; always, however, being ready to go out to them, as his profession called him to do, if there was any actual necessity. On the week days at the prayers, as well as on the Sunday, he constantly attended the services of the Church. I shall long remember, during the last years of his life, (the only period when I knew him,) his respectable appearance, his attentive demeanour and the animation with which he made the responses out of a large prayer book, which was his constant companion, altogether manifesting the fulness of heart, with which he entered into the service of G.o.d. He was a fine model of a man, whose religion partook of the character of a former age. He was deeply serious, entirely practical, strict in his attachment to the Church; but his religious feeling, although it led him sometimes to a fearless reproach of sin in others, did not so much draw him to aim at the conversion of his neighbours. He owed very much of the expansion of his religious mind to a social Prayer Meeting, at which he was a constant attendant. One of his family remembers the first deviation from that remarkable firmness which belonged to his natural character, on which occasion he came home from one of these Meetings, deeply affected, and witnessed by his tears, the impression he had received. He had one remarkable deliverance from Shipwreck. He had been called to take charge of a ship in distress which in the course of ten minutes must have perished, had it not pleased G.o.d to direct an instantaneous change of the wind. In this danger he felt himself calm and prepared for his end. He was, in after years, constantly sensible of this deliverance, and on two sheets of paper, nailed up in his bed room, he wrote as a memorial in his own large hand: "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear; the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid?"

And "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart danceth for joy, and in my song will I praise him." Psalm xxviii. 8. He was a man of undaunted courage, considering, that in his station of life, it was his duty to run any risks by which he might be faithful to his occupation, and acquit himself of the responsibility entrusted to him.

Elizabeth's Mother was a person of no common character. She had been left an orphan at sixteen years of age. She had spent many years in service, and at the conclusion of this time, had married. Her character was one of great decision, and warmth of feeling. She was a person of singular benevolence, and filled a valuable post amongst her afflicted neighbours, and in our District Society. Her great sympathy with others, and her uncommon power of body and of mind, had led her to give up days and nights to nursing her neighbours. This labour eventually undermined, and permanently injured her vigorous const.i.tution. Those only, who saw her in her afflictions, can be aware of the deep feeling which dwelt in her heart. She was in the habit of reading a variety of common books which fell in her way. I remember some very curious questions, which she once put to me on the family of an individual, which had figured in the History of England. Her piety was ardent. It was her habit to retire every afternoon to her chamber for prayer. She had not, perhaps, as much of adherence to the forms of the Church as her husband, although she was zealously attached to it, and a constant frequenter of its services. She was very peculiarly observant of statements of doctrine, made in the Public Ministry, giving the most marked preference to those which freely offered the grace of G.o.d to all. She had been led to very deep seriousness of religious feeling by the ardent piety and interesting death of her second daughter, who exemplified, during eleven weeks of painful sickness, an attainment in religion, which afforded the fullest a.s.surance of her joyful entry into the everlasting kingdom of her Lord and Saviour. That daughter had taken a somewhat higher course of mental pursuit, than any of her family. She was accustomed to express her devout feeling in verse, and a copy book has been put into my hands, containing a variety of little poems, which at least shew her sweetness of mind, and her knowledge of religion. I cannot forbear quoting one of them, not particularly for its excellence, but because it serves to prove, in reply to the charge often made of ingrat.i.tude against the poor, how frequently a deep feeling of thankfulness may exist, which nevertheless gains no public expression. These lines are on the death of a venerable Clergyman, whom I myself knew to have been frequently foremost in acts of benevolence, and often, if necessity required it, willing to stand almost alone in deeds of enlarged charity.

ON THE DEATH OF THE REV. J. G. SPURGEON, RECTOR OF OULTON.

Hark! tis the loud knell which tolling so dreary, Announces to all, a frail mortal's decease; That relieved from pain, at rest is the weary, A Christian has entered the mansions of peace.

But it tells us a _friend of the poor_ is departed, A benevolent friend has resign'd his last breath, And the eye where the soft tear of pity has started, Is now closed, and sleeps in the silence of death.

Yet while in deep sorrow, his loss we're deploring, His spirit is mounting to Heaven above; To those regions of light he is rapidly soaring, To reap the reward of his labours of love.

Peace to thine ashes! thy warfare is ended, Thou hast fought the good fight, and hast entered thy rest; Still a tear dims their eye, thou so kindly befriended, And thy memory is sweet to the poor and distress'd.

On her death bed, Susan Cullingham spoke of 'pa.s.sing the dark valley, but,' she added, 'It is _light_,' and she bade her friends go to the grave, not to _weep_, but to look for her in heaven.

I think that I have rarely known in their rank of life, a finer specimen, of what I might wish the whole population of my parish to be, than the Father and Mother of Elizabeth Cullingham. They lived most happily together, and after death were not long separated. Their death I shall have occasion presently to record.

Elizabeth's early life was such as might be expected in her station. She had exceedingly good health and spirits at this period. She was fully on par with all other girls in childish pursuits. Her disposition was, however, always careful. She was considerate in all things, not wasteful of any thing, a stayer at home, prudent and disposed to seriousness. At the age of sixteen, she went to fill a subordinate situation in a family in London, in which a female relative was the housekeeper. In this situation she was exposed to no more temptation than belongs to a servant in general. She was permitted, indeed, to partake of the usual amus.e.m.e.nts which are allowed to servants in London, but she was protected from the evils which might have resulted from those amus.e.m.e.nts, by the watchful attention of the relation under whose care she was placed, and by the preventing grace of G.o.d.

During the three years of her residence in London nothing occurred to mark her course. She fulfilled her duties, and gained the character of a good servant. She returned to Lowestoft about the month of May, 1831, in health and spirits. Her return was the wish of her careful mother, who feared to leave her daughter at a distance, without the protection of the kind relative, who had now retired from service. On her return, Elizabeth resided in her own family, and followed the business she had been taught; but her residence at home was under somewhat new circ.u.mstances. At this period certain means of instruction were offered to the young people of the parish, which, under Divine help, were peculiarly calculated to meet her opening mind. These means were 1st, a Bible Cla.s.s, and 2nd, a meeting of women, belonging to the Church, for the more especial object of Social Prayer. Both of these she frequently acknowledged to have been of great advantage to her.

In the Bible Cla.s.s, the Scriptures were read, and generally explained, whilst the object constantly kept in view was to fix the word on the conscience of the young people. Each one of these were invited to repeat some portion of Scripture or a hymn, selected by themselves. The meeting of women was under the immediate. direction of the minister, but presided over by Mrs. Cunningham: in it the word of G.o.d was read, and a review taken of the sermons of the preceding Sunday. Two or three of the members were then at liberty to engage in prayer. In the latter years of her life, Elizabeth occasionally offered up prayer. These meetings were generally seasons of edification to her, and very much tended to establish her religious mind: they had also the effect of uniting her with those of our Church who were likeminded. Their general result I have found to be greatly beneficial to the Church itself. It was observed by her relations that from the time of Elizabeth's first attendance on these occasions, she devoted herself more entirely to the service of G.o.d. Her conduct was altered: she became more serious, and she had more love for the Scriptures, and as the necessary consequence, other books were laid aside: her natural fretfulness was also brought under, and her character a.s.sumed that sweetness and quietness which it retained till the end. For two or three years she went on in this course. She was laborious in gaining her livelihood, and as her health was never strong, after her return home she occupied herself at needle-work, at which, however, through the indulgence of her parent, she was not required to labour more than suited her health.

She was habitually, and by principle, industrious, feeling that it was equally a Christian duty to be diligent in business, as to be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. I do not remember any circ.u.mstances relating to her history at this period which were of importance. For two or three years she pursued the even tenor of her way. She was dutiful to her parents, kind to all around her, serviceable to the Church, and in every way an ornament to her Christian profession. The work of conversion was obviously going on in her soul. The fulfilment of every duty, private and public, gave full proof of it.

It was about the year 1833 that she had the offer made of a situation in a gentleman's family, of which the religious habits were particularly suited to her. Into this family she entered, and was absent for about three years in a distant part of the kingdom. During this time she had a severe attack of illness, which resulted in her return home. But as this new state of servitude was somewhat of a trial to her, and it had its peculiar burden in her weak state of health, and with her naturally anxious habit of mind, so it was calculated to exhibit the strength of principle which she had attained. I am glad to be able to bring forward a witness of her conduct as a servant during this period. When she was dead I wrote to her late master, to ask about her, and I subjoin a part of his reply in his own words.

_Brighton_, _July_ 28.

"MY DEAR FRIEND,

"Though we cannot but lament the removal of such manifestly bright saints as E. C. from this our lower earth, yet every such removal is like a door opened in heaven; and one seems to hear her peaceful spirit saying to us, "Be followers of me, and of them who have inherited the promises." Blessed are such dead who die in the Lord.

As long as E. C. was in my service, I always considered her as one of the most perfect characters I had ever seen. She was with us, I should think, about three years.

"She always seemed to me a model of Christian deportment as a servant, for I never saw one ruffle or ripple in the even stream of her temper; I never saw her upset or put out by any hasty order or word which I might have spoken. She was evidently always at rest in Jesus-enjoying very unusually peace and joy in believing-and this was no doubt granted to a more simple and consistent _obedience_ than is generally seen in professors of our days. The characteristic graces of her state appeared to me humility and quiet contentment in her situation of life. She had no high sounding profession, but all was a meek, yet very firm, testimony to that blessed Master's grace who had "wrought all her works in her."

"When _servants_ are really thus Christian, they do especially _adorn_ the Gospel of G.o.d their Saviour. "Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering again, not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrines of G.o.d our Saviour in all things." t.i.tus ii. 9.

"She did this most eminently. Of course I can say little more: the incidents in a servant's life are generally so few. Hers was a blessed constancy, an even flow of calm and established piety."

The testimony of this letter to the character of Elizabeth, as a servant, is remarkable. 'Not one ruffle or ripple in the even stream of her temper,' of this naturally anxious, and even fretful, girl. 'Never upset or put out by any hasty order or word:' '_consistent obedience_:'

'humility and quiet contentment in her situation in life,' marking all her course. How truly may we feel with her master that all this was a strong testimony to the grace of that blessed Saviour, who had "wrought all her works in her." Yet what encouragement does this case afford to many others who are engaged in domestic service. She fulfilled her duty as unto the Lord, and of her Master in heaven she will doubtless receive her reward.

Elizabeth now having returned home, took her place in the parish. She sought to be serviceable to others as well as to gain her livelihood: she was a constant helper to the ministry, and a great comfort to her parents, with whom she dwelt. Her religious mind appeared to be continually progressing. At the close of the year 1836, she began a private journal, which has been lent to me. It contains chiefly notes of sermons which she heard, and of the impression which they produced on her mind. How happy it is when the soul is brought so to hunger and thirst after righteousness, that it feeds upon all the food which is presented to it; when the means of grace are used not without profit, when sermons are listened to, and applied to the heart, when the word of G.o.d is read, and marked, and inwardly digested, so that the hope of everlasting life is embraced, and held fast. It was so with Elizabeth C.

No word seemed to be received without attention and application. I wish that her example may be followed in this matter, and with the same blessing. I will now make some extracts from her journal; they will serve to shew the very inside of her mind. It begins Dec. 18, 1836.

'Mr. C. preached from Isaiah xl. 3, 5. I felt my mind much impressed with the sermon. O that the Lord may remove every mountain that impedes my way to Him.' Sat.u.r.day being the last day of the year she writes-'When I look back on the past year, how many short comings and backslidings, how much coldness and lukewarmness have I to mourn over: O blessed Lord, enable me to dedicate myself afresh to thy service, in entering upon another year, and do thou pardon all that is pa.s.sed.' January 1. 'The first text which caught my eye this morning was Isaiah i. 25. "O blessed Lord, purge away all my sins, and make me to walk humbly before thee."

Mr. C. preached from Rom. xii. 1, 2. How was my mind impressed when he pointed out the necessity of giving the whole heart to G.o.d. I was led to pray earnestly that the Lord would enable me to do so for Jesus sake.

January 2. Attended a Prayer Meeting at the Vicarage, to implore the outpouring of the Spirit. O Lord, hear the prayers which have this day been offered up. January 15. Mr. C. preached from 1 Cor. ii. 9. The sermon was truly interesting and affecting, as he spoke to us of the death of two individuals, Mrs. R., and Mrs. C., well known to us, who died under very affecting circ.u.mstances. Mr. C. pointed out what it was to love the Lord, and what was prepared for them that love him. We have no doubt but our dear friends are now enjoying those things which are prepared for the righteous. O blessed Lord, prepare me for every change and condition of life; but above all prepare me for death, that I may be ready to meet thee with joy.'

I may be permitted to digress from my subject for a few moments, to relate the history of the two individuals alluded to. The elder of the two died full of years, many of which had been spent in the Service of G.o.d. She was 91 years of age, and the Parent, in the fourth generation, of a large number of our Congregation. Although surrounded by many witnesses at her death, she departed so quietly, that none could know when she took her flight. Of her it might be truly said, she had "fallen asleep in Christ." The other individual was Mary Rackham. She was the Mother of a large family; she acted a prominent part in her husband's much frequented Butcher's shop, and this brought her into the observation of the whole Parish. She was well known by her constant attention to business, being inferior to none in the active pursuit of her daily duties. She was confessedly the woman in the parish, who appeared to me to have the largest share of varied occupation. She was however in the midst of all her duties, distinguished for her obliging manners to all about her. In her family, the utmost good order and consistency were observed.

She had lost one child, whom she trusted she had trained for G.o.d, and now her longing anxiety was, that all the rest of her family should follow in the same course. How entirely her heart was set upon this I could well judge, who was often led into conversation with her on that subject. But her labours and conflicts, and her victory in her own soul were still more conspicuous. She was naturally of an eager and sanguine temperament, but that this had an entirely new and spiritual direction was manifest to all. Her disposition was not to entertain high notions of herself; yet was she confident in her Saviour, and she never testified any doubt as to her portion in Him. Her zeal for the Service of G.o.d was very great, and her attendance at his house, considering her circ.u.mstances, was remarkable. On Thursday Evening, as on Sunday, she was always to be found in her place. She was an attendant at the latest Sacrament, and twice at the services on the last Sunday of her life. But her seasons of private devotion were as regularly maintained. She was watchful to secure her morning and evening retirement;-and in order to keep up the Spirit of devotion, which she feared might flag through the hurry of business; she constantly retired in the middle of the day, when her business had a pause, for the purposes of reading and devotional exercises. She was a member, and a constant attendant, when she was able, on the Society for Social prayer. She died after her confinement; and we had the opportunity of witnessing only an awful, but a calm and cheerful delirium which filled up her latest hours. But a more beautiful and instructive example of holy devotedness to every duty, performed in the faith of Christ, we could scarcely have had the opportunity of witnessing, than that which she exhibited in her daily walk and conversation. She died at the age of 35 years, leaving five children behind her.

The Journal of E. C. goes on. 'Thursday Evening, March 5. Mr. Hogarth preached from 2 Cor. v. He described the body as a tent, which must soon be dissolved, and the miseries of the wicked, who have no hope beyond this life. None said Mr. H., but the followers of Christ can take up the language of the text. Enable me, O Lord, thine unworthy servant, experimentally to feel that I, even I, have a building of G.o.d, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. March 8. Mr. C. spoke of a dear Christian friend, S. J. who was called to put off her earthly tabernacle last Sabbath. We feel a.s.sured she had a building of G.o.d, an house prepared for her disembodied Spirit-to her, said Mr. C. may the text be applied. "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the Joy of thy Lord." Give me grace, O Lord, to improve the talent committed to me, that when thou callest me to give up my account, I may be ready as thy servant was.' Susan Jones, the person here alluded to, was an individual of great interest. She ill.u.s.trated a valuable little tract, ent.i.tled the "_Single talent well employed_." She was one of three sisters, who lived together in Lowestoft. She had resided with a family in Scotland, whose testimony to her worth, as well as that of the heads of the family in which she died, I shall venture to insert. She was one of the brightest ornaments of our little Christian Society, and much beloved by all who knew her. I will copy the account of her inscribed in the memoranda of a friend.

'This morning's post brought me the tidings of dear Susan Jones'

death, or rather of her being on the point of death, and a request that I would inform her sisters of it. Another valued member of our Society, a true sister in the Lord-one much beloved by us and by many here is now departed! The letter was from Mr. S. a Clergyman, with whom she had been staying at Woodbridge about three months, in order to nurse Mrs. S. in her confinement.'

The following is an extract of his letter.

'Poor dear Susan was apparently well this morning, and engaged as usual, till about 11 o'clock; when upon her stooping down, she felt an acute pain; but as she was subject to this, we were not alarmed.-Finding, however, that the pain continued, we sent for our medical attendant. The suffering for a short time became acute, and the symptoms so alarming, that it was soon evident there was no hope of her life. It is considered that a vessel near the heart had given way, and that she is sinking from internal bleeding. She is indeed as one fallen asleep. Her mind is calm, and her heart is _fixed_;-her grat.i.tude to G.o.d, her patience, love, _humility_, combined with simple trust, are all so conspicuous, that I cannot perceive which is the greatest. She appears not to have a thought in the world, and has not said one word regarding it. Her thoughts are all towards G.o.d, and the voice of praise and prayer to him, for spiritual blessings are her only theme. "Thy will be done," seems the first and uppermost feeling of her heart. You may feel a.s.sured when you receive this, that her Spirit is in Heaven, with her beloved Saviour. All her words are now either to, or of her G.o.d and Saviour, and she appears to have closed her senses to this trying scene. Her bodily sufferings now are small. I feel as though in parting from her, I was losing one of my best friends, and I only pray that the Almighty, in his mercy, may so help me, that I may see dear Susan in another and better world. With every good wish and prayer,'

Believe me, Yours faithfully, J. P. S.'

February 27th. 'Received this morning the account of dear Susan Jones's death. The following is an extract from Mr. S's. second letter.'

'Poor dear Susan was called away a few hours sooner than we expected.

She breathed her last a quarter before one o'clock this morning, when she exchanged a Sabbath day on earth, for an eternal Sabbath in heaven. I feel as strong a confidence that she is now in glory, as I can feel of any person I ever knew. The verse for the day in the Christian Almanack, 26th February, is, "There remaineth, therefore, a rest for the people of G.o.d," as it were greeting me on my coming down stairs this morning, with a most welcome and appropriate a.s.surance, and as it were in confirmation of my feelings. All I can say of her in her life, and in her death, would come short of the reality, and I can only hope and pray that I may be kept from abusing the privilege I have had in her friendship; and that her image and example may, by G.o.d's blessing, be the means of a.s.sisting my weakness, and helping me on to an _entrance_ into glory for ever and ever with her!'

May we seek to follow her humble and Christian course, blameless and harmless as she was, loved by all, and loving all. She was not quick to discover, or speak of the faults of others, being too humbly alive to her own. I never remember to have left her after the fullest communications with her, distressed or perplexed by histories of others, and their faults and failings; over these she drew the curtain, and fixed her eye _only upon her own_. She introduced the subject of other people only to speak kindly and affectionately of them: she appeared "without partiality," nor had she that selfishness which soon takes affront: I never knew her vexed with any one for supposed unkindness or neglect: she seemed always to think she received more than she deserved. O may we all have grace to follow her in this, and in many other of her Christian virtues.

When thus suddenly seized, and with nothing but death before her, her soul was found perfectly _staid_. No distressing fears or conflicts overwhelmed her; but she met the summons with perfect fort.i.tude and resignation. When Mr. S. said to her, 'Dear Susan, do you not feel afraid?' 'O no, sir, I have no fear; I am leaning on the arm of Jesus, He is my support-He is holding me behind and before. G.o.d has laid his hand upon me: His will be done; He will keep me, He will support me.'

The sting of death seemed entirely withdrawn, and the glorious hope of being for ever with the Lord, swallowed up all pain in quitting this valley of tears. O the blessedness of living thus in preparation for death! May the instructive lesson sink deeply into all our hearts, leading us to a watchful circ.u.mspect devotion to our G.o.d and Saviour; that, when he shall please to call us, we may say with her, '_ready_, _Lord_, _ready_.'

As it was my painful office to inform her dear sisters of the affecting event of Susan's seizure and probable departure at that moment, I went in after the service on Sunday morning. At the moment of my entry, Hannah was reading a paper she held in her hand. I asked them if they had heard any thing of Susan. 'Not very lately; but we have just been reading a paper of her's we found in her Bible.' These were the words:-'O my dear sisters, we have now began another year, O may we live it _fit to die_, should we be called away before it is past. This day I have been to hear Mr. Salmon, and we had a most excellent sermon from Zechariah i. 5.

"Your fathers, where are they?" G.o.d bless you both.-Susan Jones.'

This seemed a merciful preparation for breaking to them the sorrowful tidings, which I did, as carefully as possible, endeavouring to arm them with Christian feeling of dependance upon G.o.d, and with sense of His presence and love in this event. They were not at first so overwhelmed as I expected: they were deeply attached to each other, and nothing could exceed the careful and affectionate manner in which Susan had nursed Elizabeth in a long and painful illness. Her watchful affection had bound them still more closely together.

Elizabeth Jones has since died, and has left ample testimony to her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and her meetness to appear in the presence of G.o.d, through the merit of her Saviour. We had most interesting and satisfactory testimonies of Susan Jones's character from others. Lady H.

thus writes of her in a letter to Elizabeth.