The life of Sophia Jex-Blake / by Margaret Todd (Graham Travers).

  • Margaret Todd
Date:
1918
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: The life of Sophia Jex-Blake / by Margaret Todd (Graham Travers). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    accursed thing far from them and destroy it utterly and I think the Papal Aggression is put in our way to try us and see if we will oppose it unto death. But of course you know more about it than I, so please tell me why it is wrong to oppose it.” One can imagine that her Father was almost ashamed to confess that the question was only a joke. “ Now for a word about the ‘ bowing,’ he says in another letter. ‘ It is of no importance in itself, and therefore I never tell my children or servants either to bow or not to bow; but particular circumstances may render it important, and if good and kind Miss B. thinks that at Christ Church, you may honour God rather by doing as she and others who are with her do, than by being singular on this point, I not only wish you to obey her, but to do it with a willing and ready mind, cheerfully, as a plain matter of duty. Which it is. It is for her to judge, and for you to do, gladly, what she tells you.” Miss B. had the greatest admiration for her pupil’s gifts, and in particular she considered her a budding poetess. These are some of the effusions of the period : “ Oh Mother ! thou that broughtest me forth My sins gainst thee none, none can tell For these alone I ought in sooth To be e’en now in lowest hell. But oh S my God still spares me on To be a comfort to thy years God grant I may e’er the sun goes down Seal thee this promise with my tears. Ne’er ne’er again what [e’er] betide, (In Jesu’s strength alone I trust) I’ll vex my mother, who did guide My years of infancy now past.” Another time after expatiating on her Mother’s virtues and unmerited affection, she goes on to inform her that there is One— ” Whose love surpasseth thine as far As Sol excels the falling star. My Mother one request I make That thou wouldst pray for Jesu’s sake That he would break this heart of stone And mould it like my Saviour’s own.”
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