Strickland"s notice, and when twelve years old she composed a poem called "The Red Rose." This was intended as a sketch of the fortunes of the House of Lancaster, but was so severely criticised by her father, that she tore up the ma.n.u.script by his advice, and promised not to try poetry again. But three years afterwards she made another venture in that line under the t.i.tle of "Worcester Field," which was published, although, however, it is not well known.
Her fame arose gradually soon after this period, when, through the death of the father, reverses of fortune induced Agnes and her sisters to make literature a profession. She then a.s.sumed her true taste, and evinced marvellous talent as a writer of history, making the lives of England"s Queens no longer dull, dry, and uninteresting, but beautiful sketches of true character, and of real, though bygone times; painting, too, in vivid colours, the social positions of our royal matrons with wonderful skill and ability.
Agnes Strickland died on the 13th of July, 1874, leaving us a powerful proof of the importance of early and attentive education.
The young girl, living in such seclusion on the Suffolk coast, little imagined in her childhood that her future fame was depending upon the interesting and valuable information which she was beginning to acc.u.mulate, and which she was learning to love as she read in dutiful diligence the books indicated by her careful father.
And yet that quiet commencement led to high honour, and England has well acknowledged her debt of grat.i.tude to Agnes Strickland for her splendid additions to historic lore. Large labour, constant care, and stern study enabled her to use the talents which G.o.d had given, talents, of which she was unconscious as a child.
May not this thought induce a spirit of earnest effort in each young heart now? G.o.d has given talent in some degree, and of some description, to all, and He requires the improvement of that talent, whatever it may be.
In conclusion, Agnes Strickland wrote with womanly and wonderful beauty the history of England"s Queens. There was once a history written, of far greater beauty, and by far higher power, of Him who is the "King of kings and Lord of lords;" a history traced by His own hand alone, as He guided "Holy men" of old by the power of the Holy Ghost. One portion of this History is traced in blood--the "blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, which cleanseth from all sin" those who receive in penitence, faith, and love, the "record that G.o.d gave of His Son." May the same Holy Spirit, which dictated the Holy Word of G.o.d, write the History of His character and love so deeply within our hearts, that we may receive His full salvation now, and the "eternal life" which He so freely gives hereafter!
[Ill.u.s.tration: finis.]
PRINTED BY JARROLD AND SONS, NORWICH.
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
_Crown 8vo., 3/6. Handsomely bound in Cloth, Gilt Edges_:
FROM ADVENT TO ADVENT: OR, PIECES IN PROSE & POETRY,
On Subjects selected from Sunday Services.
"A series of brief, thoughtful, and ably-written meditations.
The poems are the spiritual utterances of a devout mind. We recommend the book with the greatest pleasure."
_Hand and Heart._
"Each prose composition is followed by a poetical one; "collect," "meditation," and "poem" succeed each other in due order throughout the book, and every page contains instructive and edifying matter. The verses show a command of metre in all its varieties, the ideas are well expressed, and the rhymes are good.... We sincerely wish it success."
_The Voice of Warning._
REVIEWS.
"Very high praise is due to the talented wife of the Vicar of Ringland, not only for the conception of this work, "From Advent to Advent," but for the admirable way in which she has carried it out, and the remarkable literary ability therein displayed."
_The Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich Gazette._
"We hardly know which to commend most--the admirable arrangement of the work, or the excellence of its composition. Both afford abundant evidence of great genius and tact, to which is added the advantage of a large and ripened experience.... An unceasing stream of meditation and praise, in language which no Christian lips could refuse to utter.... They simply breathe the pure spirit of the Gospel, and express it with a beauty and pathos which will attract every reader. The work supplies a long-felt want. It forms an admirable companion to the Prayer Book.... Even the verses, taken by themselves, would form a second "Christian Year," of which a Keble need not be ashamed. To the prose compositions like praise must be accorded. The work is well-bound and printed, and forms an attractive little volume, well suitable for Sunday School prizes, for presentation to friends, and for the general circulation which it deserves extensively to obtain."
_Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal._
"A valuable volume."
_The Rev. Hely H. Smith._