After the duke's death, his widow paid frequent visits to the Continent.
Pau was a specially favourite resort. There she found both English and
French Protestants worshipping in places utterly inadequate for the
purpose. She generously purchased a site for a church to be used by both
congregations, the lower storey being fitted up for a French Protestant
school. She also liberally subscribed towards the erection of the
church. Her good works at this place were not few. Having heard that a
man living near had broken his leg, she drove off at once to visit him,
and repeated her visits weekly. A Bible was given to him, and the result
was that his first journey on his crutches was to the Protestant service
at Pau. He was convinced that in the teaching of the Protestants alone
there was safety. The next day the children were withdrawn from the
Roman Catholic school. The excitement was great, and no little
persecution and pecuniary loss ensued to the new converts. The duchess
began her Protestant school at Pau with eight pupils. She also had Bible
classes from time to time, one being for Roman Catholic girls. A Sabbath
evening service was held by the duchess for her French servants.
The story of Manuel Fuster, a Spanish refugee, is an interesting one. He
had been destined by his parents for the priesthood. But having fallen
into destitute circumstances, the duchess's butler had shown him
kindness and given him some work to do for the house. Full of gratitude,
when her grace passed through the courtyard, he fell down on his knees
to thank her. She told him that that homage should be paid only to the
Most High. At this interview and at many others she spoke to him about
his soul's salvation. A French Bible was given to him before she left.
On her return to Pau the next year, he was found breaking stones by the
roadside, a conversation proving that he was quite a changed man. In the
end he did good Christian service as a colporteur in France.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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