Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-16

had always found it much pleasanter to give
than receive. When | left our beautiful
Switzerland, the Lord had subdued my heart
Il no longer shrunk at the prospect of pow
crty, If it were to be encountered in the ser
vice of Jesus. -" .t...
Still her utterly forlorn condition at st.
Johns weighed heavily on her heart. She
remarks that il was the only time since her
arrival in Canada, that she has felt despon-
dency. She was sitting, at the close Of a
day, passed in utter loneliness, and the pri
vations which those who are destitute of
means must suner-the bitterness of her lot
IA stranger, poor, despised, prosecuted
homeless and iriendless, came like wave of
dcsoa.ion over her soul. She looked from
her solitary window on the people passing
along the sreels-cach, she thought, was
fastening towards home, while she had no
home. She remarked little child among
the passcrs by--that child, she thought, is
going to its mother, while | have none TO
come to me with the smile Of love, and cali
me by that cndcaring name. Should l die,
no one would regret me, not tear would
be shed | should be laid in my grave, with
the remark that a poor nendcant, or worse
"a wretched imposter-had gone unmourn-
ed to her last refuge.
But this cloud of darkness did not long OPP
press her. Brighter visions arose, as she ex-
presses it-God spoke 10 her, (the feeling of
his presence was doubtless most clear toher,)
and said. Did not tell thee of all these
things ?-and didst thou not promise to en-
durc, and not to faint while my love sus-
tanned thee! am with thee now.''
From that time she doubted no more, but
determined to go onward. Means of sup
port from her friends soon reached her, and
she again began TO teach all the pupils she
could obtain-adults as well as childrcn-to
read the Bible. That was her mission
The necessity for her labors may be somc-
what understood from the fact, that there was
not more than one in twenty of the French
colonists in Canada who could read, and
scarcely copy of the Bible was to be found
among the Catholic population.
Madame Teller had obtained considerable
Influence at st. Johns. SO concliating were
her manners, so pure and peaceful her life,
So devoted was her heart and soul TO the
cause OF dong good TO the wretched, and
teaching the ignorant, that many who rcgar-
dcd her as hcrilic, could not but admire her
zeal, and bless her charity. But when the
first rebellion in Lower Canada broke out
the blind fury of those who felt oppression,
but were not qualified to discriminate be-
tween their friends and foes, was at st. Johns,
turned against Madame Teller and her adhe-
rents. She was driven, by violent outrages,
from the country, and with about sixty adhc-
rents, took shelter in our Republic. She
was received at Champlain, where she fled,
with great kindness; though her sullerings
during her flight were sevore-and even du-
ring the winter she passed in our country,
she and her poor followers had TO endure
many privations. But order was restored,
in some measure, in the provinces, and the
British authorities invited Madame Teller TO
return, promised her protection for the flu
ture, and urged her to appear against those
who had injured her, and they should be pun
ishcd.
Now was manifested the blessed Christian
spirit which Lad so truly guided the conduct
of this noble-heartod woman.
She accepted, with gratitude, the offer of
returning 10 her labors, but she steadfastly
refused to witness against those who had in
jured her.
81 came to Canada" said she, "to do
good 10 all, as far as have the ability-to
those who injure and persacutc, as well as
to those who love and aid me. What these
poor people did, was done in ignorance-l
pity and forgive them, and only want the OPP
| portunity Of doing them favors."
Her resolution soon became known, and
the true Christian spirit of her conduit sub.
dnod her enemies. From that time she was
comparatively unmolested-he school in.
creased-hcr influence augmented-and hel
character was respected even by those who
still opposed her mission.
in the autumn of 1886, she removed tc
Grand Segnc, settlement about twenty
miles from Montreal. Here she opened
school, and soon had over twenty pupils
Her evenings were devoted TO teaching thos,
adults who could be persuaded to come ant
receive lessons, and hear the gospel read
The winter proved "A severe one, but thes'
poor children, having found the pleasantnes
of Madame Feler's teaching, would not b.
discouraged. lnone of her letters to frien'
in New York, she says: " Last week TIT
; weather was so bad, that even the men di
not venture TO leave the house you can hav
no idea of its severity. Well, not one OF tn
children stayed from the school. Their pa
rents were not willing to let them 60, bu
they begged and cried so much that they oh
tanned permission. They were obliged I
break their way through the snow; the small
lest were up to their necks the boys wen
on before to protect the girls. Some of ther
came quite distance, and had their ear.
checks, and hands considerably frozen-b,
t made no complaint whatever, so happy wer
they to be at school. Some of them hav
made remarkable progress, being able I
a read fluently at the end of three months.-
They delight me by their intelligence, an
n their earnestness to learn the things of Go,
a Oh, my dear sister, pray for my poor chi
: dren in Canada, that their hearts may be ope
n to receive Jesus. Mr
S The summer of 1889 was season Of scar,
: ity, and much distress among the poor pee
e pie Of Canada. Madame Teller, though
= much destitution, living on the vegetables