MRS. EDWARDS AND HOME TRAINING 39 



he sometimes wondered if it was not the Lord's 

 will that he should marry, that he might thereby 

 be more useful, and that if it was the Lord's will 

 that he should marry, he wished to be reconciled 

 thereto, but he did hope that the Lord would send 

 him as a wife such a woman as Mrs. Edwards, 

 whom he considered the most beautiful and noble 

 wife for a Christian minister that he had ever 

 known. If there be a more charming tribute to 

 woman than this, I have not seen it. 



In view of the character of her children and their 

 great success in life, it may be interesting to know 

 how she brought up the children, of whom there 

 were so many, and for which the schools did so 

 little. This is the testimony of one who knew of 

 her home life well : " She had an excellent way of 

 governing her children; she knew how to make 

 them regard and obey her cheerfully. She seldom 

 punished them, and in speaking to them used gen- 

 tle and pleasant words. When she had occasion to 

 reprove or rebuke, she would do it in a few words, 

 without warmth and noise, and with all calmness 

 and gentleness of mind. In her directions and 

 reproofs of matters of importance, she would ad- 

 dress herself to the reason of her children, that 

 they might not only know her inclination and will, 

 but at the same time be convinced of the reason- 

 ableness of it. She had need to speak but once 

 and she was obeyed; murmuring and answering 

 again were not known among them. In their man- 

 ners they were uncommonly respectful to their 



