"She used to speak of her literary work very much as if she felt it were a mission, and seeing how far from strong in health she was it was a wonder to me that she accomplished so much. "It was a shock to us all to know that her quiet personality had without a strife Slipped in a moment out of life, and the summer at the English Lakes has never been quite the same since her sympathetic and tendersouled presence has been denied us. "She loved our Cumberland hills with a steady passion. It was among the mountains' that she felt 'the weight of her desires,' and without her Borrowdale has lost a voice. "H. D. RAWNSLEY." MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY. "I HAVE always felt the most sincere admiration for the works of Edna Lyall regarded merely as literary productions, but I ever saw in them something deeper and more touching than any mere skill in literary productiveness can give to an author's writings. I had the honour to know Edna Lyall, and I admired to the full the noble, generous, and, I may even say, sacred purpose which inspired her in her literary career. She always wrote with an absorbing desire to serve, to enlighten, and to elevate our poor human nature in its everyday crosses and trials and troubles, and yet she brought to her work none the less the true spirit of an artist who understands how to make literary work attractive as well as instructive. It was indeed a privilege to have known her, and that I once enjoyed that privilege shall ever be remembered with thankfulness by me. I thank you from my heart for having given me this opportunity of paying my poor tribute to her intellect and her heart, and to that literary career which closed all too soon, but was yet able to win for itself an enduring memory. "JUSTIN M'CARTHY." MR. WILLIAM O'BRIEN. "MALLOW COTTAGE, WEstport, "11th August, 1904. "WE once had the privilege of welcoming Miss 'Edna Lyall' to our little country home here, and her memory has remained with us ever since as sweet as the breath of a morning rose. Her books were the image of herself-gentle, deep, and true. While she understood and shared in the sorrows of our worldly lot, she had also a true woman's appreciation of the goodness of human nature and the consolations of human affection. She was one of those English women who might have done more than laws or armies to gain the good-will of the Irish nation. "WILLIAM O'BRIEN." EPILOGUE. IT seems to me, as indeed must be the case with every biographer, as if the title of this book should be "Some of the Letters and Part of the Life of Edna Lyall " -so much is perforce left unsaid, so inadequate is that which is written, to give any true idea of the real person, the modest, humble, retiring but strong spirit, and the devoted, consecrated life; but all her friends and many others will, one trusts, be able to read between the lines, and will understand that the greater part of the letters were too private to be quoted, and contained much which only concerned those to whom they were written, for Edna Lyall wrote as she talked to her friends, much more of their affairs than of her own. It is, indeed, as one of her favourite poets (Whittier) says The gospel of a life like hers There are many who may like to know that one of her numerous charities is still being continued in her name. Throughout the year it was Edna Lyall's custom to pay the entire expenses of two visitors, in succession, to Eastbourne from Bethnal Green. Her Sunday class and several friends now subscribe, when her birthday comes round, large sums and small to perpetuate this very useful way of helping Londoners, and it is intended that a large proportion of the profits of this book shall be appropriated to this purpose. No subscription lists are published, but all sums are acknowledged at once, and a statement of money received and spent is sent out annually. Any contributions may be sent to the Treasurer MISS ESCREET, IO GROVE ROAD, EASTBOURNE. To the friends who have so generously lent letters for this volume my warmest thanks are due, and to those who have kindly written reminiscences and appreciations, all who read them will also be most grateful. I have also to thank Messrs. Longmans, Green, & Co., Messrs. Hurst & Blackett, Messrs. Methuen & Co., Messrs. James Clarke & Co., for permission to take extracts from the works of Edna Lyall published by them; Mr. Gordon Home, who kindly allows me to quote from the preface to his booklet on Farnham published by the Homeland Association; the Editor of Good Words for the quotation from the article "How I Became a Novelist," etc., published in that magazine; the Editor of The Lady's Realm, in which magazine "The Critic" was published; and the Editor of Pearson's Magazine, who published in the Christmas number, 1903, Edna Lyall's "Ideal Christmas". And here" cometh the end... not a cessation of life but fuller life" for Edna Lyall and all who love her. THE END, |