During a sojourn in Switzerland she was anxious to reach the people she saw wending their way to early mass.  On learning that she would sing to them, many promised to come to her pension.  She says, “First I sang to them, and then got the girls to join in the hymn which they had [previously] copied out.  Then I read some passages....  A few went away when I read....  You will wonder what I sang!  Well, I had been singing snatches of hymns to myself and especially ‘Only for Thee,’ and found this gave immense gratification in our little pension; so I thought God could as well give me French as English if He would, and I set to and wrote ‘Seulement pour Toi!’ (as they had liked the tune so much).  Only it is quite a different hymn, making prominent the other side, He and He only is and does all for us.”  This hymn thus written was of good service on another occasion.  On the way from Chamounix to Great St. Bernard Hospice, some of the passengers in the diligence sang French songs remarkably well.  Her sister says:  “We listened and commended, and then asked if they would join us in a new tune, ‘Seulement pour Toi!’ Finding the driver took up the chorus in bass, Frances went outside that he might see the words, and most heartily was it sung by all!”

The following Sunday was spent at the hospice; and once again was her musical talent used in proclaiming the Master’s message.  Her brilliant touch upon the piano attracted the attention of the “fathers” in the monastery, and they begged her to sing after dinner.  She asked her sister to join in prayer that the King’s message might be given, and that it might search some hearts.  As there were different nationalities present, she very simply but gracefully said she was going to sing from the Holy Scriptures, repeating the words in German and Italian, and then sang Handel’s “Comfort ye,” “He shall feed His flock,” and afterwards, “Rest in the Lord.”  An Italian professor of music, with many others, thanked her, and were expressing their admiration to her sister, when Frances bade them “good night,” remarking to her sister, “You see, Marie, I gave my message, and so it is better to come away.”

An instance illustrating the singing powers and also the friendliness of this sweet singer is recorded by Rev. S.B.  James, D.D., in his Frances Ridley Havergal, a Lecture Sermon.[1] “After a garden-party in Somersetshire where she had almost exhausted herself, she happened to overhear her hostess’s regret that the servants had not been present.  ‘Oh, if it is work for the Master,’ she exclaimed, ’of course I can do it.’  And though she had been just stung by a bee upon the hand, and was suffering intense pain, she threw off hat and gloves, took her seat eagerly at the piano, and ... impressed a whole retinue of servants with the beautiful piece from the Messiah, ’Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’  And when it was all done she stood up and said, ’Now I am going to tell you what you must do when you have yourselves accepted the invitation,’ and she sang out before that humble spell-bound audience, ’Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King.’ ...  One person at least was turned to righteousness on that musical afternoon.”