We cannot but praise her. Knowing what epithets of adulation were lavished upon her, we yet cannot help feeling that she deserved all the honest commendation which she received. It was a sublime deed of heroism; a splendid example of womanly unselfishness and love. That a timid girl should thus brave danger, by cleaving her way through the seas which she had thus grave reason to fear, with none but her father by her side, was indeed a matchless achievement. Grace Darling forgot herself, or she could not have done it. And she showed, on that day, how weakness can become strong, and timidity courageous; and it is little wonder, indeed, that even the cold world should have been stirred to give her most loyal admiration and praise.
Long, very long, indeed, may it be before the memory of the gallant deed shall die out! May hundreds of thousands of girls, alike in humble or lofty positions, be taught by it to be self-forgetful, brave, and eager to save others. And may many noble Englishwomen arise who shall have reason to thank God for the lesson which they learnt from the life of the heroine of the Farne Isles, Grace Darling!
It may be that to those who read these pages such an opportunity as that afforded to the lighthouse-maiden may never come. But none the less does every woman's life need the same qualities that she possessed; for courage, intrepidity, self-forgetfulness, and tender sympathy for the suffering, are the needs of each day.
"The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask:
Room to deny ourselves—a road
To bring us daily nearer God."
And it is those who cultivate these higher qualities that will have presence of mind when any emergency arises to do promptly the very best that can be done. Only let our women simply do their duty, looking to Heaven for guidance, and if they are not Grace Darlings, they will be as true and good, and perhaps almost as useful as she.
CHAPTER XIII.
AFTER THE EVENT.
"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
"She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
"She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth
her hands to the needy.
"Strength and honour are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time
to come.
"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the
law of kindness.
"Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman that feareth
the Lord, she shall be praised.
"Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise
her in the gates."—Solomon.
It was not possible for Grace to carry out the Scriptural injunction, and not let her right hand know what her left hand did, for no sooner was the account of the wreck published in the newspapers, than the most intense excitement was created, and a whole stream of admiration and praise set in the direction of the lighthouse-girl. Such an occurrence would naturally arouse the enthusiasm of our countrymen and countrywomen, who would consider that they could not too strongly express their feelings of delight.