The African widow : being the history of a poor black woman : showing how she grieved for the death of her child, and the consequences of her doing so

AFRICAN WIDOW;

BEING THE

HISTORY

OF A

POG31

LONDON;

Printed for

.THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY;
AND SOLD BY J. DAVIS, AT THE DEPOSITORY,

B£RNERS STKEET, OXFOIII) STREET; '

AT THE PEPOSITORY, MANCHESTER;

AND OTHKK BOOKSELLERS.

Price One Penny.

/) H

J CHILDREN'S BOOK

COLLECTION

1*

LIBRARY OF THE

^ UNIVEHSfTY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES

TIIE

AFRICAN WIDOW;

BEING THE

HISTORY

OF A
POOP*. BZ.AC3C

5howing.Jiow.slie grieved for the Death of hci
Child, and the consequences of her doing so.

LONDON:

Printed for
THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY ;

AND SOLD BY J. DAVIS, AT THE DEPOSl'IOKV,
XKBNEKS STRF.KT, OXFOttD STRF.BTj '

AT THE SOCIETY'S DKPOSJTOKY,

MANCHESTEK ; .AND OTHCtl
BOOKSELLERS

THE

AFRICAN WIDOW.

ON lately reading the Report of a So-
ciety instituted for the relief of the
wants of the poor African and Asiatic
strangers, whom various circumstances
in r,1 evidence have brought to England,
was much struck with the very af-
fecting Narrative of a Black woman,
which is added to the Report. — It oc-
curred to me, that it might be well to
state the circumstances of her life, in a
few plain and simple rhymes. The at-
tempt is here made, preserving the par-
ticulars of the history as they are re-
corded in the account above mentioned.
L. II

CURISTIANS, attend while I relate

A new and simple story ;
Twill teach your heart with thankful-
ness

To praise the Lord of Glory.

In London city once there dwelt

A poor, but honest pair,
God bless'd them with an infant clukl,

And she was all their care.

From Africa's far distant shores,
To this good land they came,

Friendless and poor alike imknov-n
T-> fortune and to fame.

The times grew hard, and keen dis-
tress

Forc'd him from her to flee ;
Mutual support in hopes to gain,

The husband went to sea.

Oft would the tender wife with tears
Her absent husband mourn :

Oft, as she view'd their darling child,
She sigh'd for his return.

Rut, oh ! my heart it bleeds to think

What sorrows did betide,
The parents' hope, this much-lov'd
child,

It sicken'd, droop'd, and died.

And while she mourn'd her infant's

loss,

Sad tidings came from sea ;
The ship was wreck'd, her husband

drown'd,
A helpless widow she.

6

What tongue can tell, what heart
conceive,

The horrors of her mind ?
Her husband lost, her infant dead,

And she was left behind !

Loudly she wept, and sigh'd, and

groan 'd,

With anguish almost wild ;
And still she cried, " My husband's

dead,
And I have lost mv child !"

Was there no holy hope divine,
To calm her anxious care ?

No consolation from above ?
No remedy in prayer?

Ah no ! her dark untutor'd mind

A stranger was to truth :
No God, no Christ, no hope she knew ;

A heathen from her youth.

Deepest despair possess 'd her soul,
She spake in accents wild,

.- .d still she cried, " Mv husband's

dead,
And I have lost mv child '."

Oft to the infant's grave she went,
Full many a tear to shed ;

And as she wept, still ever cried,
a Ah me ! my child is dead !"

Each following week, when Sabbath-
bells

Proclaim'd the hour of pray'r,
The open'd church-yard gate goon

brought
The weeping mother there.

Full three long years in hopeless woe,
She mourn 'd her wretched lot ;

Comfort, like Rachel, she refus'd,
Because her child was not.*

How dark the sorrows of a mind
With grief like this perplext ;

In this world she no comfort knew,
She sought none in the next.

A moment pause, while thus I end
The first part of my story ;

And when you hear what's yet to

come,
Oh, give to God the glory I

Christians, 'I'll tell you how the Lord
Pity'd this widow's sorrow ;

For oft the tear that's shed to-night,
Ends in a smile to-morrow.*

9
From week to week, for three long

years,

With solemn pace and slow ;
The widow trod the church-yard path
In unavailing woe.

Once as she went her custom'd way,
Clos'd was the church-yard gate ;

Far from the grave was she compell'd
In pensive grief to wait.

With streaming eyes she view'd the
spot

Where her dear babe was laid ;
Deny'd access, she sat and cried,

" Ah me ! my child is dead !"

Within th' adjoining house of God
Was heard the voice of pray'r,

But all was vain to her, who knew
No voice to soothe her care.

Once more she came, the gate was
clos'd,

And she stood weeping there ;
The only path-way which remained,

Lay through the house of pray'r.

She saw th' attendant at the door,
And ask'd her leave to pass ;

" Pray, let me go to yonder grave.
My child's beneath the grass."

10
Thankful to gain her kind consent;

Swift through the church she fled,
And reach'd the grave, where still she

cried,
" Ah me ! my child is dead !"

While in the church rejoicing saints
Songs of thanksgiving shout,

Low on the ground, in sad despair,
The widow sat without.

The hour of mercy then approach'd,
And God beheld her case,

The preacher now began t' unfold
The mysteries of grace.

She linger 'd long, but ere he clos'd.
She rose to journey home :

Re-passing through the church sl.e

heard,
" Flee from the wrath to come." *

Struck with the alarming sound she
stopp'd,

Astonish'd and distress 'd !
The preacher cried, " Arise, depart,

For this is not your rest." t

Deep in her heart conviction sunk,
Each word, each thought seem'd
new;

She long'd to ask, " Can I be sav'd?
What must a sinner do ?"

O'erwhelm'd with many a rising fear,

She felt the weight of sin,
She wish'd to seek salvation's path,

But where must she begin ?

Convinced how far from God she liv'd,
Homeward she bent her way ;

W7ith thoughts confus'd and fault'ring

tongue,
Trembling slie tried to pray

12

For mercy now she hourly sued,
Dropping repentant tears ;

The thoughts of judgment, death, and

sin,
Appall'd her soul with fears.

Earnest she read the word of God,

But could not find relief,
As yet a vail was o'er her eyes,

And she a prey to grief.

A neighbour told her, whom she a~!-.M
What course she must pursue,

" A worthy lady lives hard by,
Who'll kindly speak to you.

" She is a lady rich and great,
But she's a Christian true ;

She lives a life of doing good,
And she'll be good to you."

Gladly she hasten'd to the house
Where this kind lady dwelt,

To her she open'd all her heart,
And all she fear'd and felt.

With sweet affection and regard, '

The lady heard her woes,
Then kindly pointed out the w:iy

J. lie laMy uceti

Then kindly poi
Foi souls to s

to seek repose.

13
She spoke of sin, and spoke of Christ,

His righteousness and blood ;
Show'd how the sinner's only hope

In Jesu's sufferings stood.
f Fear not," said she, " but humbly
come,

With this thy only plea,
A helpless sinner sure am I,
. But Jesus died for me.

." Be every trial sent of God,

A med'cine to thy mind ;
Thy husband and thy infant's loss
Were both in love design 'd.

" These were thy idols, these en-

gross'd

Thy soul's entirest care ;
He took them both, that thou mighf st

learn
To seek thy God by pray'r.

" That grave, where thou so oft has.
heav'd

The sigh of sad despair,
A place of mercy prov'd to thee,

A Saviour found thee there.

" Freely resign thine all to him,
Whose truth shall make thee free :

Believe it, and be comforted,
lie gave himself for thee."

Thus holy counsel from her lips

In tender accents fell ;
Parting she took her hand and said,

" Sister in Christ, farewell."

* Sister !" — she scarce believ'd the
sound,

" Sister !" — can this be true ?
Can such a lady own a wretch,

And call her " sister " too ?

The word it pierc'd her inmost so"1,

The tear responsive fell ;
What were the feelings cf her r.^art,

No mortal tongue can. tell.

She thought how lovely grace appears
In those whom God makes his ;

What must then be the love of Christ,
Which brings forth fruit like this ?

15

Home she return'd, and prostrate fell

At a Redeemer's feet,
Pleaded his blood, his life, his death,

Before the mercy-seat.

Light, like a flood, burst o'er her soul,

As Jesus seein'd to say,
" I've blotted thy transgressions out,*

I've wash'd thy sins away."
Thus did the Holy Comforter

His peaceful joys impart,
And pour'd the oil of gladness out,

To heal her wounded heart.
" Blest be my Saviour God," she
cried,

" All glory be to Thee ;
I know that 'tis in faithfulness,

Thou hast afflicted me. f
" Dark was my day of ignorance,

And dark of sin my night,
But now the shade of death is turn'd

To morning's welcome light. J

" Incline my soul to serve thee, Lord,

My every power employ,
For thou hast heal'd the widow's heart,

And made it sing for joy. §

+ Ts. cxxix. 75
S Job. xxi> i*

16
" Farewell, my babe; no more I'll

weep,

Nor at thy grave despair,
But trust that God hath made my child
His own eternal care.

" That house of God, where oft I'll go,
Shall still this thought afford,

I went to mourn an infant dead,
But found a living Lord."

Christians, adieu ! I now have told
My new and simple story,

Ascribe the honour all to God,
And praise the Lord of Glory.

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