know how to nurse, _and_ what's
more (!) how to keep you quiet. Also, they do know how to pray! I have
learned a little, I hope, on _that_ subject this last week. What I hear
and see here is quite a new light on intercessory prayer. I thought I
knew something of its power and reality, but I see I did not know much.

"Mrs. Pennefather took me (before my cold) to Clapton House. I only wish
every girl I care for was there; such a beautiful Christian school. I
got any amount of bright looks (as it seems they knew my books), and I
wanted exceedingly to go among them. Hearing the Principal say she would
be prevented taking their Bible class, I ventured the proposal to take
it. Afterwards, I had about a dozen all to myself in the drawing-room
for a talk with any that wanted special help. They were told to get
chairs. 'Oh!' I said, '_don't_ sit all in a row a long way off; come up
close and cosy; we can talk ever so much better then, can't we?' You
should have seen how charmed they were, and clustered niece-fashion all
round me. We did have such a sweet hour; it was rather after the
'question-drawer' manner; but all their little questions and
difficulties seemed summed up by one of them, 'we do _so_ want to come
closer to Jesus.'"

As a help to her reading of the Bible, Frances R. Havergal joined the
"Christian Progress Scripture Reading Union," conducted by her friend
Rev. Ernest Boys, for whose magazine she acted, on one occasion, as
editor during his absence. An amusing letter details her difficulties as
editor, and she came out of them having formed this conclusion, "Never,
except as an act of sheer mercy and pity, will I be an editor." This
Reading Union was a great help to her own spiritual life, and also to
her dealing with others, as the following sentences in a letter to the
writer bears witness. "Not long ago I got five of my elder sister's
servants to join, all Christians, but easy-going ones, and the result
astonished me! It led to quite a revival of their spiritual life, and to
reading together and speaking together, and to others; and I have since
had a most beautiful letter from them full of gratitude for the _great_
blessing which God had given them through joining. _Anything_ to get
people to read His Word! I find it continual help in corresponding with
or meeting those who have joined, and any to whom God has let me be
spiritually helpful are invariably delighted at the idea of reading with
me. It is training