Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-16
SKETCH OF MADAME TELLER.
by MRS. S. J.. HALE.
"Somc there arc


ing several of the principal cities in our re-
public, on an crrand of mercy. The strong
interest she had excited in the hearts of all
who have enjoyed the privilege of her ac-
quaintance, has induced us to prepare
short sketch Of her character and issue for
the qualification and instruction of our nume-
rous readers. What woman's heart can be
Indifferent to the beautiful example of one
of their own scx, thus devoted to doing good :!
Madame Henrietta Teller is a native Of
Switzerland. Her family was among the
best in Lausanne, and she was educated in
all the refnements thought necessary to form
the mind and manners of the lady. She was
naturally of cheerful empcrament-and,
like most young ladies, considered the amuse-
ments and enjoyments of this life, as perma-
ncnt sources of happiness. Her prospects,
indeed, seemed to promise as fair a portion
Of earthly felicity as usually falls to the lot of
the most favored.
She married man who was highly es-
teemed one of the magistrates of the city /;
they had an d" elegant sufliciency, "and were
calculated to adorn the gay and elegant So
ciety which was proud to receive them
And heaven had blessed them with one pure
source of domestic happiness-a daughter,
on whom they lavishcd their warm afiec-
tons, and garnered up their hopes.
Madame Teller had been educated in the
Protestant faith, and thought herself Chris
tan, though she had never made personal
picty subject of much thought. But, like
most mothers, she was faithful TO teach her
clIild whatever of truth and goodness she her.
self knew. She told her little daughter ear
ly of God, her heavenly Father, who lived
far, far away in the distant heaven, above
the sun and the stars, where no human eye
could see his glory. The child seemed to
seize the idea of God, as though it were the
life and light of her young soul. She did not
like her mother, feel that he was far away
she thought him near, wanted TO see him, and
was continually urging her mother TO tell her
about him. One day, when Madame Fcllcr
had taken her child to the balcony on the
top OF the house, the little creature looked
around On the broad and open scene before
her-lhcn raising her eyes To the sky, she
appeared TO feel herself nearer heaven, and
the first words she said wcro-"Now moth
er, show me God 3"
1t could not be, but that these convcrsa-
tons of the child should awaken the moth
ers heart to the subject of religion. An
event was soon to occur, which would stamp
the impression with the sacred seal Of the
Holy Spirit. The child was to die Yes,
the only chld-lhe darling daughter ofNlad-
anne Feller-was suddenly called TO the bos-
ON of the Father she had so much wished to
see. And though scarcely past the age OF
infancy, her death was lesson of deep i'm
port-she was so happy so trumphant-for
she assured her mother that an angel stood
by her bed, and smiled on her, and promis-
| ed to take care of her.
Could the mother wish to hold her child
back from heaven? She did so wish-and
it opened her eyes to the selishness of her
own heart. She saw that she had made all
idol Of the gift, and neglected 10 lovo and row.
crencc the Giver. From that time, Ma
dame Teller devoted her heart and soul to dc
the will of God. The death of her husband,
which took place few years after, ant
which was also that of Christian, left hel
alone in the world, but not lonely; every
creature of God had claim on her deeI
Christian sympatlics. The good she lovet
the evil she pitied. Her strong and arden
mind could not be satisfied with that passive
Christianity, in which mos, of our sex ar,
content TO pass their lives. She wanted t,
work in the cause of her Saviour. She fcl
that laborcrs were needed in his vineyard
and determined to devote herself as a mis-
sonary. The question was-where SIN
should begin She had frends-M. DIV
Ter and wifc-who had gone out to Canad
as missionaries TO the French Canadians, am
had begun their work by opening school a
Montreal.
After much consideration and many pray
ers, Madame Teller resolved to 90 to Cana
da, Join her tlienls, and become teache
in their school. She reached Montreal
, 1885. She found the state Of the poor pee
pie in Canada much more distressing tina
she had anticipated. We will not here cnto
! into any consideration of the causes whc
have operated to keep the French colonis
in Canada from participating in the improve
Y ments Which, during the last half centur,
have been so rapidly going on throughol
if civilized Europe, as well as indepcndel
America. But whether it were owing TO ii
agency of the British government, the inf,
ence of the Catholic priesthood, or to II
faults of the colonists themselves, certain
is, that they were in most wretched cond
ton. A recent writer thus graphically d,
|. scribes them ave could hardly find in ar
heather country more degraded race
J. Without the common necessities oflfe, witt
out instruction, ignorant Of the Bible, and
the love Of God 10 man, they have long Ii
j. ed in the most stupid Indifference and nsei
e sibiIity, and died with scarcely hope or
thought of eternal life. +"
e Such was the character Of the people who
e Madame Teller wished to serve. But il is
work Of great difficulty to begin improv
&c ments. The very benefits conferred ofie
awaken distrust--even dislike-in the hear
n ofthose who receive them, towards their be
At efactors. The blind cannot know the tr,
value Of sight; and partial restoration us
d ally perplexes the mind, by showing "m'
ID as trees walking"
1t is not strange that the poor Canada
'; distrusted their disinterested benefactors, al
"a prosecuted the Protestant missionaries.