But there was another object which drew largely on John Yeardley’s time during his residence at Scarborough.  This was the unsectarian schools established in the town for the education of the industrial classes.  Of these the Lancasterian School for girls was his favorite, and the deep and steady interest which he manifested for the improvement of the children, as well as the peculiar talent which he evinced for attracting and developing the youthful mind, are shown in an affectionate tribute to his memory by the late mistress of the school:—­

For many years he was a visitor at our Lancasterian School, where it was his delight to impart knowledge to a numerous class of girls.  He had a happy method of communicating information.  The children used to listen with the greatest attention and delight; they never wearied of his lessons.  Scriptural instruction was his first object; the children were questioned on what they had read, and it was delightful to watch their countenances whilst he explained portions of Scripture, which he frequently illustrated by the manners and customs of Eastern nations; and this he did in a way that rendered his teaching valuable, as he did not fail to make an impression and gain the affections of his hearers.

One little girl we had whom he used to call the oracle; and indeed she was not inappropriately so-called; for whenever any of the girls were at a loss for an answer, they invariably turned to her, and seldom failed to receive a response to their silent appeal.  This gifted child died between the ages of sixteen and eighteen; he was a frequent visitor at her bedside during a lingering illness, and it was his privilege to see that his labors had not been in vain.

I shall never forget him, not only for the important instruction I derived from him, but also for his valuable assistance.  During my labors of more than twenty-five years, I had none to help me as he did.  When at home he never failed to visit as every afternoon:  no matter what the state of the weather was—­snow, wind or rain—­he was to be seen at half-past two, with his large cape folded round him, bending before the blast, toiling up the hill near the school.  So accustomed were we to him that his coming was deemed a matter of course.

After our Scripture lesson a portion of time was devoted to geography, particularly Bible geography; then he would talk to them of places where he had travelled:  his descriptions of the Ionian Islands, the people and the schools he had visited there, used to be a favorite theme, and very interesting.  In this way our afternoons were passed, and truly they were times of profitable instruction.

He seemed to care less for the boys’ school; he did occasionally visit them, but the girls were his pets.  I have sometimes thought his knowledge of the ignorant and degraded state of the females in Greece was the cause of his taking so much interest in the education of the females in his own land.