English Pictures Drawn with Pen and PencilManning, Samuel
History
English Pictures Drawn with Pen and Pencil
Manning, Samuel
England -- Description and travel
But the town is a curious combination of English bustle and Dutch
quaintness. Its quay reminds the traveller of the Boomptjies of
Rotterdam; its "rows," only a few feet wide, with a narrow riband of
sky overhead, recall the narrow streets of Genoa; its vast fleet of
herring-boats discharging their silvery "harvest of the sea" at the
wharves, offer a spectacle almost unique in the world. Unlike Norwich
and many other neighbouring towns, Yarmouth has been the scene of no
important event in our history, nor has it contributed any illustrious
name to our list of worthies. A stained glass window in the parish
church, however, perpetuates the earthly memory of one whom Scripture
declares shall be "had in everlasting remembrance"--Sarah Martin, the
prison visitor. She was a poor dressmaker, without wealth or social
position, earning with difficulty a scanty subsistence by her needle,
yet doing a work comparable to that of John Howard or of Elizabeth
Fry. The great lesson of her life has been admirably inculcated by an
eloquent American preacher:
[Illustration: 8191]
"Here, on a lowly bed, in an English village by the sea,--fades out the
earthly life of one of God's humblest but noblest servants. Worn with
the patient care of deserted prisoners and malefactors in the town gaol
for twenty-four years of unthanked service, earning her bread with
her hands, and putting songs of worship on the lips of these penitent
criminals,--Bible and Prayer-book in his feeble hand, saying, at the
end, 'I have been the happiest of men, yet I feel that death will be
gain to me, through Christ who died for me.'
[Illustration: 9191]
"Blessed be God for the manifold features of triumphant faith!--that He
suffers His children to walk toward Him through ways so various in their
outward look--Sarah Martin; from her cottage bed, Earl Spencer from his
gorgeous couch, little children in their innocence, unpretending women
in the quiet ministrations of faithful love, strong and useful and
honoured men, whom suffering households and institutions and churches
mourn. All bending their faces towards the Everlasting Light, in one
faith, one cheering hope, called by one Lord, who has overcome the
world, and dieth no more! The sun sets; the autumn fades; life hastens
with us all. But we stand yet in our Master's vineyard. All the days of
our appointed time let us labour righteously, and pray and wait, till
our change come, that we may change only from virtue to virtue, from
faith to faith, and thus from glory to glory!"
[Illustration: 0192]
[Illustration: 0194]
ROUND ABOUT SOME INDUSTRIAL, CENTRES.
[Illustration: 0195]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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