MARY CARPENTER. 103 



that never failed, and love that never wearied, devoted 

 herself for more than twenty years to their welfare." 



Sad to say, the new school was scarcely brought 

 into working order when Mary Carpenter was struck 

 down with rheumatic fever, which kept her hanging 

 between life and death, and seriously affected her heart. 

 The Red Lodge was opened before Christmas ; it was 

 April before its mistress was able to take pen in hand ; 

 May before she was able even to visit the schools ; and 

 the summer was far advanced before work could be 

 resumed. The school itself did not actually suffer, 

 for Mary's sister Anna looked after its management, 

 and filled as well as she could her sister's place. But 

 it was a great trial of patience, and unfortunately, as 

 far as health was concerned, it left effects which 

 remained through life. 



When at length restored health enabled her to 

 resume her post as manager of the Red Lodge, Miss 

 Carpenter took up her work with the greatest enthu- 

 siasm. She was by nature specially fitted to act as a 

 juvenile reformer. She believed in children, she had 

 intense sympathy with them ; it was part of her faith 

 that " there is a holy spot in every child's heart," and 

 this holy spot she was very quick to find out. 



The work at Red Lodge was full of interest, but it 

 required a great deal of patience ; indeed no one who 

 has not actually laboured amongst the depraved 

 and criminal can imagine how discouragements and 

 disappointments were every-day affairs. But Mary 



