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THE VALE OF CEDARS;
or, The Martyr
BY GRACE AGUILAR,
AUTHOR OF "HOME INFLUENCE," "WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP," ETC.
1851
"The wild dove hath her nest—the fox her cave—
Mankind their country—Israel but the grave."
BYRON.
MEMOIR OF GRACE AGUILAR.
Grace Aguilar was born at Hackney, June 2nd, 1816. She was the eldestchild, and only daughter of Emanuel Aguilar, one of those merchantsdescended from the Jews of Spain, who, almost within the memory ofman, fled from persecution in that country, and sought and found anasylum in England.
The delicate frame and feeble health observable in Grace Aguilarthroughout her life, displayed itself from infancy; from the ageof three years, she was almost constantly under the care of somephysician, and, by their advice, annually spending the summer monthsby the sea, in the hope of rousing and strengthening a naturallyfragile constitution. This want of physical energy was, however, indirect contrast to her mental powers, which developed early, andreadily. She learned to read with scarcely any trouble, and when oncethat knowledge was gained, her answer when asked what she would likefor a present, was invariably "A book," which, was read, re-read,and preserved with a care remarkable in so young a child. With theexception of eighteen months passed at school, her mother was her soleinstructress, and both parents took equal delight in directing herstudies, and facilitating her personal inspection of all that wascurious and interesting in the various counties of England to whichthey resorted for her health.
From the early age of seven she commenced keeping a journal, which wascontinued with scarce any intermission throughout her life. In 1825she visited Oxford, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester, Ross, and Bath,and though at that time but nine years old, her father took her toGloucester and Worcester cathedrals, and also to see a porcelain andpin manufactory, &c., the attention and interest she displayed onthese occasions, affording convincing proof that her mind was aliveto appreciate and enjoy what was thus presented to her observation.Before she had completed her twelfth year she ventured to try herpowers in composition, and wrote a little drama, called Gustavus Vasa,never published, and only here recorded as being the first germ ofwhat was afterwards to become the ruling passion.
In September, 1828, the family went to reside in Devonshire for thehealth of Mr. Aguilar, and there a strong admiration for the beautiesand wonders of nature manifested itself: she constantly collectedshells, stones, seaweed, mosses, &c., in her daily rambles; and notsatisfied with admiring their beauty, sedulously procured whateverlittle catechisms or other books on those subjects she could purchase,or borrow, eagerly endeavoring by their study, to increase herknowledge of their nature and properties.
When she had attained the age of fourteen, her father commenced aregular course of instruction for his child, by reading aloud, whileshe was employed in drawing, needlework, &c. History was selected,that being the study which now most interested her, and the first workchosen was Josephus.
It was while spending a short time at Tavistock, in 1830, that thebeauty of the surrounding scenery led her to express her thoughts inverse. Several small pieces soon followed her