When not a wind did rise,
As Fancy thus my heart deceive
And fix my wandering eyes,
No; 'tis the beauty of the soul
That could my bosom fire;
This would my tenderest thought control,
And love and truth inspire."
The thoughts expressed in some of her maxims show the bent of her mind, whether they are original or not. For example: "If you are told that another reviles you, do not go about to vindicate yourself, but reply thus: My other faults, I find, are hid from him, else I should have heard of them too;" "Fix your character and keep to it, whether alone or in company;" "No man can hurt you unless you please to let him; then only are you hurt when you think yourself so."
Whatever her early attempts may show, Sybil Jones was certainly of a highly poetic nature. Her whole organism was so delicate that musical tones proceeded from her at the slightest touches from within or without. Melodious words came almost unsummoned to her lips as she plead with sinners to come to the waters of life and "drink without money and without price." John Bright told the present writer that it was always a delight to him to listen to her, and that he regarded her as a poet of high degree in her thought and expression.
So with her daily duties and her thoughts of life and the future she developed from girlhood to womanhood, and at the age of twenty-five became the wife of Eli Jones. The joy and fruit resulting from their union show unmistakably how fully they were suited for each other, and they gave each other mutual help and inspiration. Their married life was begun at South China upon a farm which has since been divided into a number of smaller ones. The young wife was very careful in her expenditures, and an accurate account of all their expenses and their income was minutely kept by her.