to have feared to be judged, "By their works
ye shall know them." And Grace Darling's life showed only good fruits.
Her heart must have been right, or her actions must not have been so
worthy. And few women ever found greater truth in the words, "She
shall be praised." She was praised, indeed, most eloquently and
generously. She had not to complain that she was not appreciated, for
honours were heaped upon her, both while she lived and after she was
dead. And now a new generation adds its honours to those which were
rendered by the old.

Will not the women who read this history also take the wise words to
heart? Favour is deceitful. To be praised is not enough to satisfy a
woman's heart alone. To be admired and flattered may be pleasant while
it lasts; but it does not last long. People soon tire of their
favourites, and cast them aside for new ones; and then there is
desolation indeed in the hearts of those that have been carelessly
rejected. And beauty is vain. It is often a snare to its possessor.
The love which owes its being to nothing besides is not particularly
worth having. For beauty fades; and the faded flower is often thrown
away as something that is worthless. But beauty and favour are indeed
God's gifts, which many women know how to use to His glory, and the
good of those who love them, or are in any way connected with them.
But it is only where these things are sanctified and controlled by the
fear of God that they are really valuable possessions. The first thing
necessary, then, is to seek that religion which comes from above, and,
making the heart right, causes the life to be also right.

The last verse of this remarkable chapter of Proverbs is peculiarly
applicable to the case of Grace Darling--"Give her of the fruit of her
hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." No true, and
kindly person will begrudge her the praise she received, since she
really earned it. She sowed the seeds, and it was only right that she
should reap the fruit. And of all the praises that were heaped upon
her none equalled the simple unvarnished story of her own deed. To
describe her exploit, with no word of comment, was to load her with
commendation of the highest kind. And it is well indeed when that can
be said of any woman--which is always the case when her life is right.
On the whole, even now people get pretty much what they deserve. For a
little time an individual may be misunderstood and m