“If we forsake thy laws, and go astray; if we depart from thee and break thy commandments, wilt thou visit our faults with rods, and our sins with chastisements.  Blessed promise; amen, Lord, do as thou hast said:  seeing thy loving-kindness is secured to us, and thou wilt not cast us off from being thy people, nor alter that which thou hast spoken; wilt thou keep us as the apple of thine eye? wilt thou cover us with the shadow of thy wing?  Art thou my Husband? art thou the Father of my fatherless children? wilt thou be the stay of these orphans, and their and my shield in a strange land? wilt thou perfect what concerns us? wilt thou care for us? wilt thou never leave us, never forsake us? in the valley of the shadow of death shall thy rod and staff support us?  What can thy servant say but, Amen, do as thou hast said.”

CHAPTER IV.

SCHOOL IN NEW YORK—­DEATH OF HER PASTOR DR. JOHN MASON—­LAST NEWS OF HER SON.

MRS. GRAHAM, after a pleasant though tedious voyage, landed in New York on the 8th day of September, 1789, where she and her family were received with the greatest cordiality and confidence.  The late Rev. Dr. Rodgers and Rev. Dr. John Mason were especially kind to her.  She came eminently prepared to instruct her pupils in all the higher branches of female education; and the favorable change effected by her exertions was soon visible in the minds, manners, and accomplishments of the young ladies committed to her care.  She opened her school on the 5th of October, 1789, with five scholars, and before the end of the same month the number increased to fifty.  She not only imparted knowledge to her pupils, but also, by her conversation and example, prepared their minds to receive it in such a manner as to apply it to practical advantage.  While she taught them to regard external accomplishments as ornaments to the female character, she was careful to recommend the practice of virtue as the highest accomplishment of all, and to inculcate the principles of religion as the only solid foundation for morality and virtue.  The annual examinations of her scholars were always well attended, and gave great satisfaction.  General Washington while at New York honored her with his patronage.  The venerable and amiable Bishop of the Episcopal church in the state of New York, then the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Moore, was never once absent from those examinations.  She was sensible of his friendship, and always spoke of him in terms of great esteem and respect.

She united in communion with the church under the pastoral care of the Kev.  Dr. Mason.  This excellent man was her faithful friend and wise counsellor.  Under his ministry her two daughters, Joanna and Isabella, joined the church in the year 1791.  Her eldest daughter Jessie, who had made a profession of religion in Scotland, was married in July, 1790, to Mr. Hay Stevenson, merchant of New York, and she became a member of the church under the care of Dr. Rodgers, where her husband attended.