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Miss bosanquet. 29
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Considerable Interest Having Been Expres...
in his chariot when he has suddenly stopped to reprove profane swearing in the road . " But still , piety and " Methodism" were far
apart , and Mr . and Mrs . Bosanquet had little suspicion that their child was inclining towards this dreaded sect . But the time was
come when she found it necessary to declare herself before men ;—or how should she avoid the playhouse , balls , gay dressing , and
various inconsistencies which jarred upon her sensitive conscience ? So she had a long conversation with her father , whom she quaintly
describes as " a man of deep reason , calmness , and condescension , " and he very naturally said , " Child , your arguments prove too
much , and therefore are not conclusive . If what you say be true , then all places of diversion , all dress and company , nay , all
agreeable liveliness , and the whole spirit of the "world , is sinful . " His daughter made answer , and said , " Sir , 1 see it as such , and ,
therefore , am determined no more to be conformed to its customs , fashions , or maxims . "— " This was a season of great trial ; but the
Lord stood by me : glory be to his holy name ! " So she went on at home , trying to accomplish a happy inedium ; but she naively
describes how , still retaining her usual habits of dress , though she did not go to public diversions , she began to " find favour" in the
eyes of the company who frequented her father ' s houses , and " felt in great danger of being carried down the stream . "
"At this time I became acquainted with a gentleman in some degree religious , though I fear not deeply so . He professed much
affection for me , and my religious friends advised me to think of him , as it was likely to be very acceptable to my parents , and would
open a door to more religious liberty . Bufc I cannot say he was agreeable to me . Neither my understanding nor affection could
approve the proposal ; yet I was hurt by unprofitable reasonings . Sometimes I thought it might be of the Lord ; at others I could not
see into it at all . " At length , however , some conversation with a pious friend roused up all her latent yearnings to missionary life .
" The affair of the gentleman was obliterated from my mind ; and the prospect of a life wholly devoted to God drank up every other
consideration . " This young thing of eighteen " now saw the path in which she ought to walk , " and very rationally concluded " not to
think about a married life , for my present light was to abide single . -But the Lord seemed to call me-to more . activity , insomuch that I
cried out , ' Lord what wilt thou have me to do ? '" and her conclusion was that she would live like the women of Gospel times , and
be " wholly given up to the church . " But the time came when Mr . and Mrs . Bosanquet could bear it no longer , and when , their
daughter becoming more and more devoted to her Methodist friends , they dreaded the contagion for their sons . Mary was twenty-one years
of age ; she had a small fortune of her own ; and it appeared that some decorous plan for her residence away from home might
conduce to the harmony and affection of all parties , rather than a pro-
Miss Bosanquet. 29
Miss bosanquet . 29
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1858, page 29, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031858/page/29/
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