Oh that we had the power to speak
The gratitude we feel,
But words are vain, and oh how weak,
The feelings to reveal.
Dear lady, we most humbly hope,
You kindly will accept
This token of our gratitude,
Our love and deep respect.
And so on through several not very interesting pages. But to Bessie the value of these effusions was very great. They showed not only the gratitude but the happiness of her workpeople. They indicated a renewed life of the intellect and affections, and were received with encouraging sympathy. The composition of verses had given pleasure to herself from early childhood, and no doubt the form of expression chosen by the workpeople was influenced by her own example.