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 MISS LIZZIE O. SMITH.
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR ; 
 
 OB, 
 
 THE LIFE, SUFFEKINGS, AND EELIGIOUS EXPEKIENCE 
 
 MISS LIZZIE 0. SMITH. 
 
 REV. E. DAVIES, 
 
 Author of "Believer's Handbook," " He leadeth me," "The Gift of the Holy Ghost," %c. 
 
 " My life, my blood, I here present, 
 If for thy truth they may be spent : 
 Fulfil thy sovereign council, Lord; 
 Thy will be done, thy name adored." 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 FOR IAL0 BY E. DAVIES, BEADING, MASS.; LIZZIE O. SMITH, PHO3NIX- 
 
 VILLE, OT.; J. P. MAOEE, BEOMFIELD STBEET ; AND CONGBEGA- 
 
 TIONAL PUBLISHING HOUSE, BOSTON, MASS.
 
 To 
 
 ALL WHO ARE TREADING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS 
 
 BY BEING MADE 
 
 "PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING,' 
 
 IS TOTS BOOK MOST AFFEOTIONAT3.L-i 
 
 DrUtcatrtf.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 INTKODTTCTION 9 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Birth and early life. Sanguine and active. School 
 education. Loss of mother. Family broken up. 
 Violent cold. Calomel. Relapse. Began to de- 
 cline. Beginning of sorrows. Wholly confined to 
 her bed. Sinking into the will of God. Human help 
 fails. No fear of death. God's voice. Would you 
 like to get well ? Nearly blind in one eye. Poverty. 
 
 Neglected private prayer. Unyielding will. Rod 
 applied. Kind friends. Wilderness. Limbs con- 
 tracting. Jaws set. Reflections. New attack. 
 Opium. No hope of recovery. Chastisement. 
 Eating with a long knife and fork. Seraphine . .15 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Loss of pastor. Many afflictions. Intense sufferings. 
 
 Sleep gone. Need of a mother's care. Self-exam- 
 ination. Besetting sins. No hope. Tears day and 
 night. Encouraging word. Wishing for death. 
 Tempted to commit suicide. Heavy rod. Light 
 dawns. Novel-reading. The law a school-master. 
 
 Deformity of body. New consecration. Heavy 
 cross. Glad thanksgiving. Entire sanctification. 
 Joined Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. D. Dor- 
 chester. Great joy. Marked answers to prayer. 
 Witness of full salvation. Disease of the head . . 25
 
 6 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Letters from " The Evangelist." From " Boston Re- 
 corder." From " The Congregationalist." Preach- 
 ing at home. Speaking in public. Land of promise. 
 Taken violently sick. Nigh unto death. Partly 
 recovered. Joined the church. Wasting away. 
 Wishing for home. Gratitude to friends. A dream. 
 
 Grace sufficient 34 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Reviewing the past. Many trials. In the valley of 
 humiliation. Chariots of iron. All things lawful. 
 Furnace of affliction. Visits an infidel. God fulfils 
 his word. Father's marriage. New trial. Anni- 
 versary. Family altar. Oasis in the desert. Morn- 
 ing blessings. Thirty-third birthday. Sad state. 
 Exhortation ......... 48 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Mrs. Lawrence's remarks. Sunday letter-writing. 
 Extracts of letters. Perfect trust. The whole will 
 of God. Remarkable answers to prayer. Walking 
 and talking with God. Gather the sheaves. Ladies' 
 description of Miss Smith. A lesson to murmurers. 
 Pastor's remarks. Always content . . . .59 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 Letter from Mrs. Bullard. Never a pauper. Repair- 
 ing the house. One dollar per week. Attending 
 camp-meetings. The infinite I AM. Seventy letters 
 in ten weeks. One tenth to God. Letter of sympa- 
 thy. Personal piety. Trial of faith. Holy triumph. 
 
 Mother fading ,68
 
 CONTENTS. 7 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Gen. Lyon's death and burial. Patriot's testimony. 
 Eternal, immutable truth. Burning love. Illumi- 
 nated valley. Dr. Lawrence. Alone with Jesus. 
 Union with the Lord. Would die for sinners. Bap- 
 tized in a cloud. Longing after the divine image. 
 Happy, so happy. Walking through the flames. 
 Trials. Mother dies suddenly. Grief swallowed up. 
 
 Record of sufferings. More perfect lesson of trust. 
 
 Faith never disappointed. Centenary offering. 
 Father's death. Extracts from letters . 81
 
 INTRODUCTION, 
 
 AT Willimantic Camp-Meeting (Conn.), in the 
 year 1872, 1 met the subject of this sketch. She was 
 lying upon her cot-bed in a small tent, and giving 
 her experience in a very clear and decisive man- 
 ner. God was with her in deed and in truth ; and 
 the glory of God filled her soul till it shone upon 
 her countenance, and the people loved to gather 
 around and hear her tell of the mighty grace that 
 had so perfectly filled her soul for so many years. 
 She was then forty-eight years of age, and had lain 
 upon her bed for thirty-eight years, and was as 
 perfectly reconciled to her lot as though she was 
 walking the streets of glory. I was delighted to 
 see this manifestation of the grace of God and the 
 real exemplification of the power of perfect love. 
 It seemed to me as though God had taken special 
 pains to polish this jewel of grace, and had put her 
 in his show-case, and left her on earth to convince 
 all others of his mighty power to save.
 
 10 INTKODUCTION. 
 
 A correspondence was opened, and I secured a 
 special interest in her prayers for me in the mighty 
 work of an Evangelist, to which I was called ; and 
 many times have I felt the power of her prayers, 
 and have been comforted with her precious words 
 of encouragement. I will give a few of her letters 
 in the body of the book. 
 
 In the fall of 1873 I was called to assist in hold- 
 ing revival services in the town of Eastford ; and I 
 found her prayers and counsels of great importance. 
 She was often in an agony of soul for the salva- 
 tion of her friends, and cried to God day and night 
 for this object ; and it pleased God to open the 
 windows of heaven, and to save some fifty souls 
 in about eight days ; and quite a number of them 
 were heads of families. Sister Lizzie was carried 
 to the church on her bed, which was placed near 
 the altar ; and she was always ready for prayer, 
 praise, or testimony. The Methodist Church in 
 Eastford was then under the care of Rev. J. W. 
 Hunt, who was a zealous laborer in the cause 
 of Christ. 
 
 At " the National Camp-Meeting for the Pro- 
 motion of Holiness," held at Sterling, Mass., June 
 17-27, 1874, it occurred to me that her biography 
 ought to be written, as she was in attendance 
 upon this meeting and would testify so richly for 
 Christ. There were a great many inquiries made 
 about her, and I had never had time to make the 
 inquiries of her. So the last night of the meeting
 
 INTEODUCTION. 11 
 
 in the Oxford tent, I sat down at my table by her 
 side, and asked her to relate her life and religious 
 experience. Rev. J. S. Inskip was preaching that 
 night ; and he was so desperately in earnest that I 
 could hear his voice ringing out the word of God, 
 and then the mourners went forward for prayers, 
 and there was a mighty " shout of a King in the 
 Camp ; " and souls were converted, and others 
 sanctified that night, still I wrote on. It maybe 
 well at this stage to say, that Sister Lizzie has a 
 bedstead about four feet long and two feet wide, 
 which is about three feet high ; and on this she 
 lies day and night, Sunday and week day, summer 
 and winter, autumn and spring. She lies sweetly 
 reposing in the sweet will of God, and her face 
 often shines with the glory of God. 
 
 My design in this little book is to bring out the 
 chief facts of her life and religious experience. 
 
 1. To magnify the grace of God, and to show 
 the rest of the world that that grace is sufficient 
 for any one who will trust in God. 
 
 2. To show how much one human being can 
 suffer, and for how long a time. 
 
 3. To show how kind her friends have been to 
 supply all her need. 
 
 4. And that Sister Smith may have the conso- 
 lation that her life of unusual confinement and 
 suffering has been the means, in the hand of God, 
 of helping to extend his kingdom. 
 
 5. And to show also how much care (speaking
 
 12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 after the manner of men) God has taken to polish 
 this precious jewel on earth, that it may shine the 
 brighter in his diadem in heaven. 
 
 I have found it best to let Sister Smith speak in 
 her own language mostly, that it might be her 
 own testimony. 
 
 It is just to say that Mrs. Prof. Lawrence had 
 purposed to write this book, and had collected 
 materials for it, but could find no publisher ready 
 to undertake the publishing thereof. 
 
 It seemed to me the work ought to be done ; and 
 I commenced it with faith in God that he would 
 help me to lay this tribute at his feet, and would 
 so bless the reading of this book to thousands, that 
 I should have abundant recompense in heaven, if 
 I had none on earth. 
 
 To interest and profit the reader at this point, I 
 copy the following from " The Ipswich Bulletin : " 
 
 " THE STORY OF A SUFFERER. The caves of 
 the Alps and the valleys of Piedmont hold the sacred 
 du.st of those who counted not their lives dear, so 
 that they might win Christ. The catacombs of 
 Rome tell the story of those who were victims of 
 cruel persecution. The pavements of Smithfield 
 cover the charred bones of men and women true to 
 the faith ; and the waves that dash upon Scotland's 
 shore still murmur the triumphant words of Mar- 
 garet, the Maiden Martyr. 
 
 " But not all martyrs burn at the intake. Some
 
 INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 will wear a martyr's crown, whose faith never 
 caused a question. God even now deals blow on 
 on blow upon many a child, and one day will give 
 them as sweet a recompense as if waters swallowed 
 them, or flames devoured them. 
 
 " The story of some of these has been written. 
 Chloe Sankton of Connecticut, Sarah Mugford of 
 Salem, Miss Condon of New York, and others, 
 have caused many to exclaim ' Can one live, and 
 endure so much.' 
 
 " We have recently heard of a living martyr 
 whose story should excite the sympathy of all. In 
 various places where it has been told, strangers 
 have kindly extended a helping hand. 
 
 " The name of the sufferer is Lizzie O. Smith. 
 Her house is in Eastford, Conn., the burial- 
 place of our brave Gen. Lyon. She was left 
 motherless in infancy, and during her girlhood 
 lived in various families, doing household work. 
 She wasted her strength by labor, and was dan- 
 gerously ill. The harsh medicines given affected 
 the entire frame. Her limbs became useless and 
 distorted ; her eyes nearly sightless ; and, for 
 many and many a year, she has been utterly help- 
 less and dependent, and full of suffering. 
 
 " But her faith in God has been wonderful. It 
 has attracted many to her poverty - stricken 
 home. 
 
 " It is said that strangers shudder when they 
 first see her distorted form in a little iron crib, 
 2
 
 14 
 
 ENTKODUCTION. 
 
 not larger than a child's cradle ; but when she 
 speaks of her heavenly Father, of the love and 
 tenderness of the Saviour, it seems like listening 
 ta the words of angels."
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " A clod of living earth, 
 
 I glorify Thy name 
 From whom alone my birth 
 
 And all my blessings came : 
 Creating and preserving grace 
 Let all that is within me praise ! " 
 
 Miss SMITH was born in Eastford, formerly a 
 part of Ashford, Conn., Dec. 23, 1823. Her mother 
 was a sister of Dr. Keys, the father of Gen. Keys, 
 a commander in the Potomac Army. She was 
 sister-in-law to Hon. Mr. Upham, formerly senator 
 to Congress from Vermont. 
 
 The early life of Miss Smith was spent in the 
 usual experiences of childhood. She appeared to 
 enjoy perfect health, and was of a very sanguine 
 temperament, and more active than children in 
 general, and could hardly be kept still. She en- 
 joyed and improved the privileges of a common- 
 is
 
 16 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 school .education, and took great interest in her 
 studies, and was very apt to learn. 
 
 When but four years of age her godly mother 
 was taken to heaven, but not before she had 
 planted much good seed in her young heart ; her 
 father was still living, but in the neglect of re- 
 ligion. After her mother's death the family was 
 broken up, and the four children were scattered 
 into different families. Lizzie was sent to live 
 with a Baptist family in West-ford. Then she 
 went from family 'to family, wherever she was 
 wanted, to do little chores for her board : all this 
 was because the father was too poor to meet his 
 family expenses. And thus her life passed on 
 till she was a little more than eleven years of age, 
 when she took a violent cold which settled in her 
 left eye. A physician was called, who, according 
 to the old school of medicine, administered calomel 
 freely, and practised blood-letting. She recovered 
 rapidly for a few days, when she took a new coid, 
 and from that time she began to decline. The 
 physician was called again, but his remedies were 
 of no avail : for the calomel she had taken helped 
 to develop the hereditary rheumatism and scrofula 
 which was in her system. Now the disease began 
 to settle into her limbs, and commenced in the right 
 foot, which became much swollen and very sore ; 
 then it rose to her knee, and soon began to spread 
 over the whole body, and the physician declared 
 her case beyond his skill. He advised her to be
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 17 
 
 carried to Stafford Springs, to try the power of 
 mineral water, as a last resort; but all this failed. 
 
 This fearful disease continued to spread rapidly 
 from one limb to another, until March, 1836, 
 when she was very sick and helpless, and wholly 
 confined to her bed, having lost the use of nearly 
 every joint in her system, and life was despaired 
 of. Her sufferings were indeed intense in the ex- 
 treme, far more than tongue or pen can describe ; 
 so that many of her friends supposed she must die. 
 And about this time she began to yield all to the 
 blessed Saviour, and realize a sweet sinking into 
 the will of God. The Holy Spirit suggested to 
 her mind in a very distinct manner this pointed 
 question, 
 
 " Would you like to get well ? " 
 
 Her heart immediately responded, " Thy will 
 be done, not mine." 
 
 She had no choice between sickness or health, 
 life or death. So far grace reigned, but she hid 
 the light, and failed to confess Christ to her 
 friends ; and thereby lost the encouragement and 
 counsel which a young disciple needs. And so 
 she stumbled on in her religious experience, most- 
 ly in the dark. On this she says, " Oh, how 
 merciful is God ! There's no other God like our 
 God, so ready to forgive us all our heart-wan- 
 derings, so long-suffering and forbearing." 
 
 She was at this time residing with her aunt, 
 with whom she lived nearly four years, during 
 
 2*
 
 18 HISTOBY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 which she had several physicians ; but human 
 help failed. She hung between hope and fear, 
 between life and death ; but she had no fear of 
 the results, being ready to go or to stay. Let us 
 hear her own language. 
 
 " My dear aunt watched over me night and day, 
 with the tenderness of a mother ; may the Lord 
 reward her for it ! and he will. I said nothing to 
 her of my feelings on the subject of religion. I 
 have learned since that she had a hope of my salva- 
 tion if death had come. About this time a voice 
 spoke to me, yea, the voice of God and asked 
 again, 
 
 " ' Would you like to get well? ' 
 
 " My heart replied immediately, ' Thy will, not 
 mine, be done.' I felt that I had no choice. 
 
 " My limbs had now become somewhat con- 
 tracted and stiffened ; and, as they did so, the in- 
 flammation abated. My health began to improve, 
 but I was nearly blind in one eye. I could now 
 feed myself with a knife and fork made expressly 
 for me, and could also use my needle a little. 
 
 " My father, by this time, had spent all his little 
 property, although the home of my birth still re- 
 mained in his hands. This he rented to a family, 
 and procured my board with them ; consequently, 
 in April, 1840, I was removed upon my bed to 
 this place. Here, although the place was familiar 
 to me, yet I was among strangers. But my dear 
 father was nearer to me than formerly, so that he
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYB. 19 
 
 could visit me every day, and my youngest brother 
 resided near me. 
 
 " New friends soon began to gather about me, 
 and many of them were professed followers of 
 Christ ; yet, I am sorry to say, the subject of per- 
 sonal piety was hardly ever introduced. Oh that 
 Christians were more faithful in this respect ! for 
 while they were watering others, they might them 
 selves also be watered. Yet the Lord preserved 
 me ; though, to my shame be it spoken, I neg- 
 lected my private devotions; and, at times, not 
 only ceased to remember the hand that supplied 
 me with every blessing, but I also murmured at 
 the dispensations of Providence : still he loved 
 me, or I had been cut off.- Praised be his holy 
 name forever! for his loving-kindness and long- 
 suffering toward me. 
 
 " After boarding for two years, my father, feeling 
 the need of home influences in his declining years, 
 concluded to go to housekeeping again. From 
 this tune I date the commencement of my greatest 
 trials. Our means being limited,, we were often 
 without such female assistance as I thought we 
 then needed ; but what short-sighted creatures we 
 are ! How much more infinitely wise is our 
 heavenly Father than we are ! I can now see 
 that I had just those things which it was best for 
 me to have. I was naturally possessed of a very 
 proud spirit, and an unyielding will, and a very 
 sensitive nature. I was very well contented when
 
 20 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 I could see all my father's wants supplied (for I 
 loved him most ardently), and my own comforts 
 well attended to. My heavenly Father saw where 
 I needed mostly the rod applied, and he applied 
 it, though with a loving hand ; for while he smote 
 with one hand he blessed with the other. 
 
 " He raised up many kind friends, and they min- 
 istered daily to my bodily comforts ; for this I have 
 ever felt grateful to them, and also to God, who 
 put it into their hearts to remember me, so utterly 
 unworthy of the least of God's mercies. Should 
 these remarks ever reach their eyes, may they re- 
 member that their recording angel has written 
 their kind acts in the book of remembrance, 
 where it will remain forever. 
 
 " At that time I could view God in his character 
 of love and mercy, but never in that of justice 
 and holiness. Thus I remember to have lived on, 
 sometimes sinning and then repenting, and at 
 times filled with the love of God, and at others 
 wondering that my wishes were not gratified. 
 Thus was the Lord leading me on through the 
 wilderness, to see whether I would keep his com- 
 mandments or no ; suffering me to hunger, and 
 feeding me with the hidden manna, that I might 
 know that ' man was not to live by bread alone, but 
 by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth 
 of God.' 
 
 " No clergyman visited me for many years. I had 
 no spiritual adviser, yet that was no excuse for
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 21 
 
 my unfaithfulness ; for the Lord has promised to 
 be nigh unto them that call upon him with grace 
 sufficient for them. 
 
 " My limbs continued to contract and become 
 more rigid ; yet my general health had so far re- 
 covered as to enable me to go and visit my friends 
 in the neighborhood, although I had to be carried 
 on my bed. My jaws had become so set that it 
 was with difficulty I could take my food. In 
 the summer of 1850 some friends advised me to 
 have my front teeth extracted, to make a passage 
 for my food. I consented, and they were taken 
 out." 
 
 Mrs. Lawrence reflects as follows : 
 " Pause a few moments, dear reader, and reflect 
 upon the parts that have been narrated with great 
 brevity and simplicity of manner. Fourteen years 
 of weary days and painful nights have been passed 
 on that little cot, and in the most helpless condi- 
 tion imaginable ; unable to move a single limb, or 
 turn herself on her bed, and suffering much of 
 that time excruciating pain; obliged to lie con- 
 stantly upon her right side, and moved only as 
 you would move a block, or any inanimate object : 
 her joints all rigid, and even her jaws set, and as 
 almost useless as though she never had any ; and 
 so with every joint, except some of her fingers and 
 one thumb, and all this at that period of life, when, 
 of all others, there is the greatest desire for, and 
 delight in, the use of the physical powers, name-
 
 22 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 ly, between the years of eleven and twenty-five. 
 And then remember that all this time this poor 
 afflicted, helpless child has known no mother's 
 sympathy and care, has felt no kind sister's soft 
 hand of affection on her fevered temples ; her lone- 
 ly days and wearisome nights have never been 
 cheered by the comforting words, and the num- 
 berless little deeds, which a mother's affection alone 
 suggests, nor by the frequent kiss of a mother's 
 love. 
 
 " And beside all this, the pinching hand of pov- 
 erty has been upon her all this time, and she has 
 lacked what many would call the necessities of 
 life, and the attention of that help that money can 
 procure and hold. Then she has been moved 
 about from place to place, and endured hardships 
 that none but God and herself can understand or 
 tell." 
 
 But we will return to her own narrative of her 
 eventful life : 
 
 "A few months after this I visited a family 
 some six miles away, where I had resided before I 
 was sick. While there, I had a new attack of the 
 old disease, which deprived me still further of 
 the use of my hands. I could neither sew nor feed 
 myself, nor even hold my book to read. For about 
 fourteen years I had taken opium to ease my 
 pains, until it had become a habit so confirmed 
 that I thought it impossible to overcome it. 
 
 "During this sickness my father employed a
 
 HISTORY OP A MODERN MARTYR. 23 
 
 botanical doctor : he did not, at first, advise me to 
 leave off taking opium, as it would cause me so 
 much suffering ; but being very anxious myself to 
 do so, the doctor helped me what he could, and 
 with the blessing of God I succeeded in overcom- 
 ing the fearful habit. 
 
 " Up to this time, in all my trials and privations, 
 I had cherished a secret hope that I should some 
 day recover my health, and the use of my limbs ; 
 but all such hopes now vanished, and a dark cloud 
 seemed to gather over my future prospects. Sev- 
 eral of my dearly beloved relatives, that had 
 comforted me in my lonely hours, were taken from 
 me by the unrelenting hand of death. I often 
 looked at the trembling hand of my father, and at 
 the furrows which the hand of time was wearing 
 in his cheeks, and at his silver locks, and then I 
 would think I shall soon be left an orphan, helpless 
 and friendless, with none to care for me. Oh, how 
 my heart would sink within me at the thought ! 
 None can tell the thrill of anguish that swept 
 through my soul at such moments ; and none but 
 God can know what my feelings were at such 
 times, unless by sad experience, from which may a 
 kind Providence protect you, dear reader ! Oh, 
 unbelief ! thou most heinous of sins, what misery 
 dost thou inflict on such as entertain thee. The 
 good Lord saw that I needed chastisement, and he 
 applied the scourge he had so often used before : 
 but my heart rebelled against it, and
 
 24 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 " ' Against the God that rules the skies 
 I fought with hands uplifted high, 
 Defied the offer of his grace, 
 Too proud to seek a hiding-place.' 
 
 " I was often angry at the rod, and looked not be- 
 yond to see the loving hand that bore it. Yet the 
 Lord did not utterly consume nor forsake me, for 
 he is a gracious God and merciful. 
 
 " For about one year I remained so helpless as to 
 be unable to even feed myself at all, and I had lost 
 the sight of one eye completely. Yet the Lord 
 was very merciful to me, in so far restoring the 
 use of my hands, as to enable me to feed myself 
 again by the aid of a knife and fork, made express- 
 ly for me, long enough to reach from the position 
 of my hands on my stomach to my mouth ; and 
 also to play a little on my seraphine, a small in- 
 strument that my cousin had fitted for my use."
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 " Though in affliction's furnace tried, 
 Unhurt, on snares and death I'll tread : 
 Though sin assail, and hell thrown wide, 
 Pour all its flames upon my head, 
 Like Moses' bush, I'll mount the higher, 
 And flourish unconsumed by fire." 
 
 " ABOUT tliis time I met with another trial. 
 The pastor of the Congregational Church, who had 
 often visited me, and showed himself a true friend, 
 was called to another field of labor, and I deeply 
 felt the need of his visits and counsels. During 
 these years of confinement I suffered many afflic- 
 tions, besides those that affected my limbs. I 
 had a sore on my back which never healed for al- 
 most three years, and did not for many years after, 
 unless it was for short periods. 
 
 " The winter of 1853 was one of intense suffering. 
 I had an attack of the spinal complaint, which af- 
 fected my whole system. Sleep departed from my 
 eyes, for days and nights in succession, almost en- 
 tirely. I sometimes thought I should never sleep 
 again, till I slept the sleep of death. My father 
 and I were alone much of the time ; he did for me 
 
 3 25
 
 26 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 what he could : but oh, how much I felt the need 
 of a mother's gentle nursing, or a sister's tender 
 care ! But God, in his infinite wisdom, saw fit to 
 deny me those blessings. 
 
 "In the spring of 1853 I began to reflect se- 
 riously upon my ways, and asked myself these ques- 
 tions, 
 
 " ' Can I be a Christian, and live as I do ? Did 
 Christ ever set such an example as I am setting to 
 those around me? Did ever such passions as 
 often rise in my heart dwell in his bosom of love ? ' 
 My conscience could only answer, ' No.' 
 
 " I resolved to make one more effort to overcome 
 my besetting sins, which were many, and once 
 more I asked the Lord to help me. But, alas! 
 I soon neglected to ask him for that grace that I 
 so much needed. Now the adversary of my soul 
 was ready to tempt me to give up my hope in 
 Jesus. And alas ! that I was too ready to obey 
 him. He said, ' It is of no use for you to try any 
 longer to profess to be a Christian.' This I had 
 never done publicly by uniting with any church, 
 yet I had often done so to individuals. When I 
 was asked to join a church I said, ' I could not 
 do so, for I should be a stumbling-block to others, 
 as I felt some had been to me.' So, instead of 
 following my Lord's commands, to confess him be- 
 fore the world, and ask and believe for grace 
 sufficient for me, I neglected a plain and an im- 
 portant duty, cherished my unbelief, and lost
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 27 
 
 the privilege of being enclosed in the fold and 
 fellowship of the church, and of having an un- 
 der shepherd, to lead and guide me into the 
 green pastures and beside the still waters. l Ye 
 are a stiff-necked and rebellious people,' God 
 said to the Israelites ; and I felt that it may well 
 be applied to me. 
 
 " Since I first believed, I had at times enjoyed 
 much, not only of the comfort of love, but great 
 joy ; but now dark clouds gathered about my brow, 
 a darkness that was felt most keenly. Oh, 
 wretched indeed was my condition! I had no 
 hope in this world, nor in that which is to come. 
 Tears were now my meat and drink day and night. 
 Yes, in the language of Jeremiah, ' I have eaten 
 ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with 
 weeping.' 
 
 " A beloved cousin entering my room one day, 
 unexpectedly found me weeping, when he said to 
 me, ' Dry those tears ; be not discouraged ; it is 
 always the darkest just before day ; ' but I heard 
 as one that understood not. 
 
 "None but God knew the anguish of my 
 heart ; for I hid my sorrows from others, and tried 
 to be cheerful in the presence of my friends, lest 
 they, too, should forsake me. I often wished for 
 death ; and the enemy would sometimes sug- 
 gest the idea of self-destruction. That was too 
 horrid to be entertained for a moment; but, if 
 death would only come in some other way, I felt
 
 28 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 that those I loved would be relieved of a heavy 
 burden, and I should be released from a misera- 
 ble existence. I shudder now, when I think 
 how near I stood to the brink of everlasting woe. 
 In this awful state of mind I continued for about 
 a year : I had now come to the bitter waters of 
 Marah, and I could not drink them. 
 
 " I began to pray to have my trials removed in 
 some way, I cared not how ; but they still . re- 
 mained, and the rod grew heavier still. I felt 
 the smart, but yielded not. Oh the adorable 
 mercy and love of God, which spared me, and 
 did not cut me off in the midst of my sins and 
 rebellion against him, but still chastened me, till 
 I began to cry for mercy in good earnest ! Yes, at 
 last I yielded, my stubborn will was subdued, and 
 I cried out, ' Lord, if thou canst not remove my 
 burdens from me, give me grace to bear them.' 
 
 " Now my prayer was heard and answered. His 
 word was fulfilled which says, ' A broken and a 
 contrite spirit thou wilt not despise.' Hope again 
 revived ; light began to shine upon my pathway, 
 though but feebly, like the dawn of the morning. 
 I was so humbled that I felt willing to do any 
 thing, or to be any thing, if I might but have the 
 approving smile of God. I felt that I could not 
 stop short of knowing in whom I have believed. 
 I was led by the Spirit to ask for the assurance, 
 which I believed to be the privilege of every 
 Christian ; and God gave it.
 
 HISTORY OP A MODERN MARTYK. 29 
 
 " Near to tliis time, July, 1854, a cousin handed 
 me a book, saying, ' It is interesting, and the tone 
 of its morals good.' Some of the characters rep- 
 resented were dressed in the garb of religion, as 
 novels frequently are. After she was gone, it 
 was suggested to my mind, ' This book is not 
 what you need : something different will be more 
 profitable for you.' Yet I commenced reading it ; 
 but the voice continued speaking louder and 
 louder to my conscience. I soon laid it aside, 
 when I began to reason thus, ' I have read such 
 books many times, and do not know that they 
 were injurious to me.' The voice said, ' Some- 
 thing else would be more profitable for you.' 
 The enemy suggested, ' What can you say if 
 your cousin asks you how you like the book ? are 
 you willing to injure her feelings by telling her 
 that you have not read it ? ' But I realized that I 
 must choose which of the two I would offend, 
 God or man. I choose to make God my friend. 
 The book was laid aside, never to be opened again 
 by me ; and I was blessed in so doing. 
 
 " Crosses one after another arose, which I con- 
 tinued to take up daily, and I always found it a 
 blessing to do so. The law now became my 
 schoolmaster, and ruled me with an iron sceptre. 
 I scarcely dared to speak or think, lest I should 
 sin against the law. Sometimes I feared to ask 
 for the things necessary for my comfort, lest I 
 should gratify the lusts of the flesh. I was afraid 
 3*
 
 30 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 to eat those kinds of food which had been my 
 favorites in times past. I continued in this state 
 of mind till my body was brought into complete 
 subjection. 
 
 " My health was somewhat improved ; though at 
 - lines my back was troublesome, so that it caused 
 severe pain to be moved, or to have people step 
 heavily upon the floor of my room. My limbs 
 grew more and more rigid and contracted ; but my 
 soul thirsted more ardently than ever for the liv- 
 ing God, so that my language was ' As the hart 
 panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my 
 soul after thee, O God ! ' I now made a new and 
 full consecration of myself to God, and resolved 
 that flesh and blood should not prevent me from 
 doing any and every thing that I saw to be the 
 will of God. 
 
 " On Thanksgiving Day I felt it to be my duty to 
 speak to my dearest earthly friend on the subject 
 of religion, but the cross was very heavy to bear. 
 I looked at the cross and wept much ere I could 
 take it up ; but I had put my hand to the plough, 
 and could I now look back ? I had promised to 
 leave all for Christ. I prayed for strength, and 
 went forward in the path of duty. After having 
 done my duty, peace flowed into my soul like a 
 river. Still I continued praying for an assurance 
 antil sabbath morning, when, for the first time, I 
 could cry in the spirit and blessedness of Scripture, 
 ' Abba, Father ! ' for his Spirit witnessed with my
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 31 
 
 spirit that I was born of God. Oh joy unspeaka- 
 ble ! that filled my poor heart. This was on a 
 Thanksgiving Day, when I was so sick that I could 
 only eat a cracker; yet was so filled with 
 thankfulness, that it seemed the most delicious 
 meal of my life. I now grasped the mighty fact 
 that the Spirit had already sealed me as his own 
 precious child. 
 
 " Up to this time I had never been instructed 
 about the ' higher life ' of Christian experience, 
 neither had I joined any church, although I was 
 then thirty years of age. Without human instru- 
 mentality I was led by the ever-blessed Spirit to 
 seek the blessing of perfect love, and as one pas- 
 sage of Scripture after another was presented to my 
 mind, I would ask God to fulfil those several 
 passages in my experience without any definite 
 idea of what I was praying for, or how or when I 
 should receive what I asked. So I was led from 
 step to step. My duty now became quite plain 
 that I must join a church ; and I felt that I ought 
 to join the Methodist Church. I reached this 
 conclusion after carefully considering that as holi- 
 ness was the plain doctrine of the Bible, and was 
 the central idea of the Methodist Church, there- 
 fore I wanted to join that church. In two days 
 after this decision, the Rev. D. Dorchester, a Meth- 
 odist minister, now a Presiding Elder in the New- 
 England Conference, called upon me, and I told 
 him my experience, but not of my decision. He
 
 32 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 then asked me if I belonged to any church. I said 
 'No.' 
 
 " But he was so satisfied with my experience, that 
 he took my name at once on the class-paper, and 
 made arrangements for my baptism. I was bap- 
 tized the very next sabbath ; and of course, as I 
 could not leave my bed, I was baptized in my own 
 house as I lay upon my bed. I had been so ex- 
 ceedingly happy at the thought of being baptized, 
 that I realized no great blessing at the time ; but 
 afterward the blessings were so poured into my 
 soul, that I realized in some measure the joy that 
 there was in heaven over the mighty salvation that 
 was now my own. And it was manifest to my 
 soul that I had joined the family of God, which 
 was but one family in earth or heaven. I was so 
 exceedingly happy, that it seemed as though I 
 could hear the very angels of heaven singing in 
 glory. 
 
 " The next day I was carried to see a friend ; and 
 I felt greatly interested for the salvation of the 
 church, that it should come up to its highest privi- 
 lege, and I was still hungering in my own soul, and 
 asking great things of my heavenly Father. Early 
 one morning I was amazed at the greatness of the 
 petitions I had asked ; and God said to me, ' Do 
 you believe that I am able to do those great things 
 that you have asked ? ' 
 
 " At once my faith took a mighty leap, and I 
 cried out, ' Yes, Lord.'
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 33 
 
 " At that moment my heart was laid open to my 
 gaze, as though it had been a book ; and I saw 
 plainly the roots of inbred sin, and they so fully 
 covered my heart that it looked black ah 1 over. 
 I saw then that my unbelief was the prominent 
 one : when I saw this, I cried out, ' Lord, take it 
 away, and give me thy righteousness.' 
 
 "At that moment the fire from heaven came 
 down ; and my sins seemed to arise like a cloud, one 
 by one, till this fire consumed the whole, and I was 
 conscious that all these sins were entirely removed, 
 and my heart was pure in the sight of God. 
 
 " This was a new era indeed in my history, by 
 which I was brought into glorious harmony with 
 God ; and now I could rejoice even more, pray 
 without ceasing, and in every thing give thanks. 
 
 " Then I could realize the sentiment of the 
 poet : 
 
 "'I stand all bewildered with wonder, 
 And gaze on the ocean of love ; 
 While over its waves, to my spirit, 
 Comes peace like a heavenly dove. 
 
 The cross now covers my sins ; 
 The past is under the blood : 
 I am trusting in Jesus for all ; 
 My will is the will of my God.' "
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " When passing through the watery deep, 
 I ask in faith his promised aid, 
 The waves an awful distance keep, 
 And shrink from my devoted head : 
 Fearless their violence I dare ; 
 They cannot harm, for God is there." 
 
 IT nay be well to look at our dear Sister Smith 
 in the light of other's eyes ; so I copy from " The 
 Evangelist." 
 
 LITTLE BROWN HOUSE ON THE HILL-SIDE. 
 
 BY META LANDEK. 
 
 On a sunny slope in Eastford, Conn., is the last 
 resting-place of the heroic Lyon, one of our earliest 
 martyrs in the late fearful rebellion. 
 
 " Rest, patriot, on thy hill-side grave, 
 
 Beside her form who bore thee ! 
 Long may the land thou diedst to save 
 Her bannered stars wave o'er thee ! * 
 
 Just below this sacred shrine is a small brown 
 house, fast going to decay. Enter it, and you will 
 find a peculiar sufferer, on a little iron bedstead no 
 
 34
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 35 
 
 longer than a child's crib. There she lies, drawn 
 up, twisted, and stiffened, blind of one eye, her 
 jaws nearly set, and entirely helpless, except as 
 she can slightly move her hands and arms. And 
 there she has lain, day after day, week after week, 
 month after month, for more than thirty years. 
 
 Your first feeling is one of most painful oppres- 
 sion. And you ask yourself again and again, 
 " How is it possible for human nature to endure 
 such a living martyrdom?" Then you question 
 this life-long sufferer, and she tells you that He 
 who is infinite in love has fully redeemed his 
 pledge, " My grace is sufficient for thee." Like 
 Chloe Lankton, whose case is so well known, 
 Lizzie Smith, having passed through many deep 
 waters, and struggled with, and well nigh been 
 swallowed up by, the buffeting waves, has at 
 length attained that perfect peace which comes 
 from a will in entire harmony with the Divine 
 will. So that after your first impression of gloom, 
 you soon begin to note the cheerful countenance 
 of the Lord's stricken one, and perceive how it 
 brightens the bare walls of that little sick-room. 
 And your heart overflows with gratitude to him 
 who thus giveth his sweetest songs in the deepest 
 night. 
 
 After our delightful interview with Lizzie Smith, 
 she writes, through an amanuensis : " You ask if I 
 am willing that God's goodness should be pub- 
 lished abroad. I answer, Yes, indeed, even to the
 
 36 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 uttermost bounds of the earth, if it would lead one 
 poor, doubting soul to that faith in Christ which 
 is a Christian's privilege, or one poor sintier to 
 that fountain which has been opened in the house 
 of David for all uncleanness. Language often 
 fails me when I try to express what my beloved 
 Lord and Master has done for me, his erring 
 child." 
 
 Afterwards, when little sums were sent to her 
 by some who had just become acquainted with her 
 case, she writes, " You cannot imagine how sur- 
 prised 7 have been on receiving letters containing 
 money. I know not how to express my gratitude 
 in any thing like what this kindness demands." 
 
 A GREAT SUFFERER. 
 
 Our readers will recollect an account in our col- 
 umns in February last, from the pen of Mrs. Prof. 
 E. A. Lawrence, of Elizabeth Orcella Smith, a de- 
 formed invalid living at Eastford, Conn., whose 
 sufferings and Christian patience for thirty years 
 past have been quite remarkable. Mrs. Lawrence 
 has since received from her a letter which shows 
 that the appeal was not wholly in vain. She 
 writes, 
 
 " You cannot imagine how surprised I was on 
 receiving from the post-office three letters in one 
 day, all containing money. And another day I re- 
 ceived two more. I know not how to express my
 
 HISTORY OP A MOI?EBX MARTYR. 87 
 
 gratitude in any thing like what this kindness 
 demands. God has been very tenderly blessing 
 me both temporarily and spiritually. He blesses 
 me as language utterly fails me to express." 
 
 All those who have ministered to the necessities 
 of this saint would feel amply rewarded could 
 they know how worthily their kindness has been 
 bestowed, and how warmly it is appreciated. 
 
 LITTLE BROWN HOUSE. 
 
 The kind and generous response to the plea in 
 behalf of Lizzie Smith has awakened most grate- 
 ful emotions ; nor can the sufferer rest till her 
 warmest acknowledgments have been expressed 
 to all those Christian friends who have remem- 
 bered her in the day of trouble. Through an 
 amanuensis, she writes, 
 
 " I want them all to know how much their ben- 
 efactions will add to my comfort in my helpless 
 condition. I would love to tell them of the con- 
 solations of that grace which has buoyed my soul 
 above the sorrows of earth, and enabled me to re- 
 joice with a joy that is unspeakable and full of 
 glory. I have no language to convey to others 
 what the love and goodness of God's provident 
 care of me merits. I do feel that all these added 
 blessings bind me with stronger cords to the ser- 
 vice of Him whom my soul loveth. Oh ! it is good 
 to be the Lord's wholly, for time and for eter- 
 nity!"
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 It would seem to the careful observer, that God 
 has indeed set one thing opposite to another : pain 
 and pleasure, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, 
 day and night, summer and winter, and poverty 
 and wealth. And it would seem as though God 
 appoints some persons to suffer intensely and for a 
 long time, and in poverty, as with the subject of 
 this narrative, that others may have the pleasure 
 of relieving those pains and poverty, and that 
 they may be rewarded for the same, by God and 
 man. As an illustration read the following from 
 " The Congregationalist." 
 
 LIZZIE O. SMITH. 
 
 Those who remember the case of this remarka- 
 ble sufferer as it has been presented in " The Con- 
 gregationalist," and who have kindly contributed 
 to her relief, will not be unwilling to hear from 
 her again ; while others may be interested to know 
 something about her. 
 
 Bedridden for more than thirty years, drawn up 
 so that she lies upon a child's crib, blind of one 
 eye, entirely helpless except as she can move her 
 hands a very little, and at the same time dependent 
 on Christian friends for most of the comforts, if 
 not necessaries of life ; yet her trust in God is 
 unwavering, and her peace is like a river. So 
 that, although emphatically one of the Lord's 
 poor, she is yet rich beyond ordinary believers. 
 
 To illustrate the proverb that " it is an ill wind
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 39 
 
 that blows nobody good," or rather to show how 
 true it is that all things work together for the 
 good of such loving disciples, the writer would 
 state, that, on her way to Philadelphia last spring, 
 her pocket was picked, and, with other money, of 
 a sum sent to her for Miss Smith. In relating the 
 robbery, she was naturally led to speak of this 
 sufferer, and of the sum intended for her use, 
 which awakened inquiry, and suggested sending 
 for the published account. This, passing among 
 a few friends in the city of brotherly love and 
 elsewhere, created a substantial interest, of which 
 the following extracts are an acknowledgment. 
 
 " Yesterday morning, while pleading for mate- 
 rial and spiritual supplies, this passage came to 
 mind, ' And it shall come to pass that before they 
 call I will answer, and while they are yet speak- 
 ing I will hear.' When your note came, I felt 
 that God's word was verified." 
 
 On learning afterwards the amount that had 
 been contributed, she again wrote, 
 
 " I hardly know how to express the surprise 
 and gratitude that pervaded my soul as I perused 
 your letter. Although I had been believingly 
 asking my heavenly Father for large things of 
 late, yet when they came, and so soon, and in such 
 a body, I was awe-struck at the goodness and con- 
 descension of God. And how shall I ever suffi- 
 ciently manifest my gratitude to you, and to those 
 who have united with you, in procuring that aid
 
 40 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 which will add so much to my comfort, and I trust 
 to my usefulness. Oh, my dear friend ! I can 
 never do it ; but there is One who stands as my 
 surety, and He has said, ' Inasmuch as ye have 
 done it unto one of these little ones, ye have done 
 it unto me.' And the promise is ' Verily thou 
 shalt not lose thy reward.' May God reward you 
 all a thousand fold ! " 
 
 In a recent letter Miss Smith says, 
 
 " I am using some of my money to fit up our 
 house so that it will afford us a dry shelter. It 
 has been rapidly going to decay for some years, 
 and my aged father has yearly been growing less 
 able to repair the ravages of time. I have thought 
 much about the matter, and how the means could 
 be procured for the necessary repairs, but could 
 see no way until by the provident care of God, 
 through your instrumentality, the material aid has 
 been rendered to accomplish the work in part." 
 
 Of her religious experience a friend writes as 
 follows : 
 
 " At the tune we saw her, she was experiencing 
 that peculiar peace which flows from an entire 
 consecration to Christ. 
 
 " Like the generality of Christians, Elizabeth 
 passed many years alternating between fevers and 
 chills, sometimes on the mount, and sometimes 
 low in the valley. ' As long as I looked to God 
 for aid,' she said, ' so long I succeeded in my en- 
 deavors. But I had not yet learned that I must
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 41 
 
 live, moment by moment, a life of faith in the 
 Son of God. ... As I advanced, step by step, 
 the Lord enabled me more and more to see what 
 I needed, and what it is my privilege to have. I 
 could not stop upon the ground where I had for- 
 merly stood. I must know that God was mine 
 and I was his. I must have the Urim and Thum- 
 mira placed upon my heart.' 
 
 " Thus she was led to that fresh and full con- 
 secration, which brought her entire peace. She 
 compares her past and present states to two modes 
 of travelling; on the sea sailing-vessels and 
 
 o o 
 
 steamers. ' The one,' she says, ' has to go accord- 
 ing to the winds ; the other, having the propelling 
 power within, however contrary the winds may 
 be, can go forward in spite of them all.' 
 
 " Soon after she came into this state her 
 strength declined, and she was brought near the 
 invisible world. She was happy in the thought 
 of going home, for the sting of death had been 
 removed." 
 
 Our dear Sister Smith was but a babe in holi- 
 ness after she experienced the blessing of perfect 
 love. Hence she had many battles with the 
 powers of darkness, and was tossed about from 
 time to time. She says, " I had never heard but 
 little of the blessing of holiness of heart, as but 
 few of my acquaintances ever professed it ; but 
 there was a Miss C., one of my former school- 
 mates, who had found this pearl of great price,
 
 46 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 room in which I was lying, and through another 
 room, and out of doors. It was not dark, yet 
 neither sun, moon, nor stars were visible. I 
 began immediately to descend a steep hill. The 
 bier had now disappeared ; and I was held by two 
 giant-like hands around me, which hurried me 
 on with an indescribable speed toward a tomb, 
 which I could see enshrouded in a gloomy mist 
 just before me, a little to the right of the path, 
 near which was a body of water directly in front 
 of me. I struggled hard to extricate myself from 
 their death-like grasp. As I drew near the tomb 
 the hands were gone, and I was borne directly 
 past it ; now I expected to be cast into the water, 
 but, instead of this, I turned a short angle between 
 the water and the tomb. 
 
 " By this time I was in a standing posture, when 
 all at once the sun arose above me with beams so 
 bright and powerful, that they pierced all through 
 my whole body, and the glory of it was so great 
 that I instantly awoke. 
 
 "I had a somewhat similar dream before my 
 former sickness, in which I was hurried along 
 through a covered passage-way, and left in a filthy 
 room, which seem to be realized in the gloomy 
 state in which I was afterwards. I began to re- 
 cover. I then attributed it to nervousness, in- 
 duced by my extreme debility: but now I see 
 that it was my own fault, for God has grace suffi- 
 cient for us in every time of trouble, if we but
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 43 
 
 of us, and we parted, perhaps never to meet 
 again. 
 
 " Soon after this I was called to visit a Congre- 
 gational family ; and they had a religious meeting 
 appointed at the same time, and my mind was 
 much exercised as to the propriety of females tak- 
 ing a part in such meetings. I had inquired of 
 the Lord in reference to my duty in this case. I 
 knew it was not according to their custom for 
 females to take any part. I was somewhat troubled, 
 but I left it with the Lord, and very unexpectedly 
 I was called upon to speak ; and God gave me 
 much liberty to talk on the subject of holiness, 
 but how much to the edification of others I do 
 not know. 
 
 " I continued to enjoy more and more of the 
 divine presence, till I could truly say, ' The land 
 of promise was one of hills and vales, flowing 
 with milk and honey.' There were a few sisters 
 who often assembled in my room to hold prayer- 
 meetings, and these were seasons of great interest 
 to me. 
 
 " Early in the spring I felt that death was near : 
 my health began gradually to fail. I suffered but 
 little pain ; but I felt that my strength was failing. 
 I began to set my house in order, so that in all 
 things, temporal as well as spiritual, I might be 
 ready. On the afternoon of July 13 I was taken 
 violently sick ; doctors and friends were sent for, 
 and death seemed to be fast approaching; my
 
 44 HISTOKY OP A MODERN MABTYR. 
 
 father and Sister B. watched over me with un- 
 wearied care, during that night of intense suffer- 
 ing. The morning found me somewhat relieved, 
 but I suffered most excruciating pains : a tumor 
 broke internally, after which I was comfortable 
 for a while. 
 
 " Soon after this our minister proposed, if I 
 lived till the third sabbath in August, to come 
 and administer the sacrament, and receive me into 
 full membership in the church. He did come, and 
 the presiding elder came with him ; and it was 
 a time of refreshing to my soul. I knew now the 
 blessedness of having an almighty arm to lean 
 upon, when an arm of flesh could do but little. 
 I had now no anxiety about any thing, except it 
 was to leave my father with no one to care for 
 him in his declining years : here unbelief crept in, 
 that stealthy foe, although I did not see it then. 
 Soon after this my health began to decline again 
 very fast, and in about two weeks another tumor 
 broke externally : this reduced my strength more 
 than ever. I was so low that my friends were 
 called to see me die ; indeed, at one time life 
 seemed to be extinct : I lost all sensation of pain 
 and almost of feeling ; my breath was apparently 
 gone. I continued hovering between life and 
 death for several weeks : then I began slowly to 
 recover, though it was weeks before I regained 
 my usual sensitiveness. I felt much disappointed 
 in not being permitted to go to my home above.
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 45 
 
 I could hardly say, ' Thy will be done.' Then 
 would come over my soul such feelings of home- 
 sickness, as may be better imagined than de- 
 scribed. 
 
 " The adversary took advantage of these feelings, 
 and sorely tried me. For a while the eye of 
 faith was dim with doubts and fears; but I was 
 soon enabled to lay my all again on the altar that 
 sanctifieth the gift ; and the Lord healed my back- 
 slidings, and again lifted upon me the light of his 
 countenance, and I could again say, 'He doeth 
 all things well.' 
 
 " I would here render a tribute of gratitude to 
 those friends that contributed so much to my com- 
 fort with both money and personal attention ; and I 
 would not forget a Mr. G. of New York, a wealthy 
 man, who till now had been a stranger, who had 
 come into the country to spend the summer, and, 
 hearing of my situation, often visited me, and 
 spared no expense in rendering me such aid as I 
 needed, and which he delighted to afford. May 
 the Lord bless him abundantly, and all the others 
 who were so faithful and kind in my sorest trials ! 
 I believe he will do it ; for, often in answer to my 
 poor prayers in their behalf, God has spoken 
 these words with power to my heart, 'I will bless 
 them that bless thee.' 
 
 " Late in the autumn I had a dream that left a 
 deep impression on my heart. I was taken on 
 i bier, and carried by an invisible hand from the
 
 42 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 and had spoken to me upon the subject ; but to me 
 it was a hidden mystery. So, as many others have 
 done, I cast away the blessing by my unbelief, 
 because I thought it was for others ; but it was not 
 for me. But I have learned better than to believe 
 the enemy's suggestions. 
 
 " Bro. Dorchester held a meeting at our house ; 
 and his text was Ps. xl : 1-3, ' I waited patiently for 
 the Lord ; and he inclined unto me, and heard my 
 cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, 
 out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and 
 established my goings. And he hath put a new song 
 in my mouth, even praise unto our God : many shall 
 see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.' This 
 was peculiarly appropriate to me ; for indeed my 
 walls were salvation, and my gates praise. After 
 the preaching he had a class-meeting, which I en- 
 joyed very much. My health remained much the 
 same during the winter. In the spring Bro. Dor- 
 chester held another meeting at our house, and 
 preached from Heb. xii. 13. ' Wherefore, seeing 
 we also are compassed about with so great a cloud 
 of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and 
 the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run 
 with patience the race that is set before us, looking 
 unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ; 
 who for the joy that was set before him endured 
 the cross, despising the shame,' &c. I was much 
 ancouraged and strengthened by his discourse. 
 Soon after this he and his wife took their leave
 
 HISTORY OF A MODEEN MARTYR. 
 
 47 
 
 ask for it in faith; and I neglected this plain 
 duty ; but, as soon as I was ready to perform my 
 part of the covenant, he met me, and I found his 
 grace every way sufficient for me."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " To Him my eye of faith I turn, 
 And through the fire pursue my way ; 
 The fire forgets its power to burn, 
 The lambent flames around me play ; 
 I own His power, adopt His sign, 
 And shout to prove the Saviour mine." 
 
 " ONE year had now passed since I took upon 
 myself the vow to be wholly the Lord's. Through 
 what varied and trying scenes had I passed in that 
 time ! yet I was not alone, for 
 
 " ' When trouble, like a gloomy cloud, 
 Had gathered thick and thundered loud, 
 He near my soul has always stood, 
 His loving kindness, oh how good 1 ' 
 
 ' In reviewing his past mercies and loving kind- 
 ness, I felt ready to consecrate myself anew to 
 his service, saying in the language of the poet : 
 
 " ' Lord, I am thine, entirely thine, 
 
 Purchased and saved by blood divine ; 
 With full consent thine I would be, 
 And own thy sovereign right in me.'
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 49 
 
 " And, depending solely on the grace of God for 
 strength, I resolved so to live as to let my light 
 shine before others, that they might see my good 
 works, and be led to glorify God. I was deter- 
 mined 'to press toward the mark for the prize 
 of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' 
 
 " ' Let worldly minds the world pursue, 
 . It has no charms for me : 
 Once I admired its trifles too, 
 But grace has set me free.' 
 
 ''''One thing have I desired of the Lord-, that 
 will I seek after ; that I may dwell in the house of 
 the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty 
 of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For in 
 the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion : 
 in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me ; he 
 shall set me up upon a rock? For, ' In Thy pres- 
 ence there is fulness of joy, and at thy right hand 
 there are pleasures forevermore.' 
 
 " This winter was one of many trials, both of 
 body and mind. Much of the time my father 
 was my only nurse. I often walked in the valley 
 of humiliation, seeing my own utter nothingness, 
 but having exalted views of the all-sufficiency of 
 God's grace. I had often asked the Lord to give 
 me a tender conscience, which I now realized ; and 
 the adversary of my soul, in such seasons of 
 humiliation, took advantage of this by applying 
 /he law in all its strictness, leading me into errors
 
 50 HISTOKY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 by blinding my mind to the fact that I was not 
 under the law, but under grace. I often felt that 
 like Judah, the inhabitants of the mountains were 
 driven out, but those of the valley had chariots of 
 iron, and I could not drive them out : but the 
 grace of God was sufficient for me, and enabled 
 me to realize the fulfilment of his promise, 
 ' Thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they 
 have iron chariots, and though they be strong.' 
 I triumphed at last ; and I was enabled to say with 
 the apostle, ' All things are lawful unto me, but 
 all things are not expedient : all things are lawful 
 for me, but I will not be brought under the power 
 of any.' God forbid that I should sin against 
 his grace and mercy. There I would set a land- 
 mark, that all who pass this way may see it, and 
 shun the rock on which I was in peril for a 
 time. 
 
 " The spring season found my health much im- 
 proved, but trials still awaited me, for truly he 
 hath chosen me in the furnace of affliction ; but 
 blessed be the name of the Lord in the midst of 
 them all. I could hear the gentle voice of my 
 Saviour saying, ' Fear not, it is I ; be not afraid, 
 for these trials of your faith are more precious than 
 of gold, though it be tried in the fire,' and ' these 
 light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work 
 out for you a far more exceeding and eternal 
 weight of glory.' 
 
 " Thus faith triumphed over all. Though the
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 51 
 
 fiery billows rolled around me, they touched me 
 not. I would strike a high note of praise to my 
 Redeemer in the midst of them all. 
 
 " I was often left alone, as my father was obliged 
 to be out to attend to his duties ; at such times he 
 was accustomed to tell me if he was to be away 
 any length of time. But at one time he went out 
 just at sunset, expecting soon to return ; but being 
 detained, I was in great distress, thinking some- 
 thing must have befallen him ; and then a heavy 
 shower with thunder and lightning set in, and the 
 doors and windows were all open, and I could 
 only call aloud for help, with little prospect 
 of raising any. I lifted my heart to God in 
 prayer, pleading mp helpless condition, and claim- 
 ing the promise of my heavenly Father, that ' I 
 will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' I was then 
 calm and collected in my feelings, and after some 
 length of time my father returned in safety. These 
 were useful lessons to me. I learned the safety of 
 trusting in the promised faithfulness of my Lord 
 and Master, and then to be able to see love in- 
 scribed on every trial, this is happiness indeed to 
 me ; yes, it is such happiness as the world can- 
 not give, to know that the Almighty God of love 
 is our stronghold, where we can flee for refuge, 
 and find safety in eveiy time of trouble. 
 
 " In October I was invited to visit the family of 
 Mr. B., where I had visited in years past. I had 
 some doubts and fears about going, as Mr. B. was
 
 52 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 an avowed infidel. But I carried the matter to 
 the mercy seat, and inquired of the Lord. Then I 
 thought of the Saviour's mission to this earth, was 
 it not to save sinners ? and is it not enough for the 
 disciple to be as his Lord ? I decided at once to 
 go : afterwards I felt very thankful to God who 
 led me to this decision, as I learned that his chil- 
 dren were looking to see what I would do, antici- 
 pating that I should decline the invitation, on the 
 ground that I was a Christain, and therefore could 
 not visit a poor infidel. 
 
 " Oh, that I and every professor of the religion of 
 the Saviour might ever remember that the eyes of 
 the world are upon us ! I went not like Paul to 
 Ephesus to fight, but as a passive instrument in 
 the hand of God, to show forth the power of that 
 religion which is love. The Lord was there be- 
 fore me, and the mouth of the lion was shut. I 
 enjoyed myself well, as I always do when in the 
 path of duty. This family have shown me much 
 kindness in times of trouble, when a friend is a 
 friend indeed. May the good Lord bless them and 
 reward them abundantly for it ! and I hope we 
 may yet meet to sing the song of Moses and the 
 Lamb. This circumstance taught me never to 
 shun the erring, but to do all in my power to win 
 them to Christ, to lead them to love the same 
 Lord and Saviour who has done so much for me ; 
 for truly, ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy 
 of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 53 
 
 world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.' My 
 worldly prospects began to brighten in some re- 
 spects. A woman we had expected to come and 
 live with us in the spring, and then had decided 
 not to do so, now, very unexpectedly to us, con- 
 cluded to come. I had been very anxious that she 
 should come, so that my father might be more at 
 liberty, as he depended on his daily labor for our 
 support. In this lesson I saw the truth of that 
 Scripture which saith, ' Commit thy ways unto 
 the Lord, trust also in him, and he shall bring it 
 to pass.' I felt renewed confidence to trust all in 
 His hands, and say, 
 
 "'* All my times shall ever be 
 Ordered by thy wise decree, 
 Times of sickness, times of health, 
 Times of penury and wealth, 
 Times of triumph and of grief, 
 Times of trial and relief.' 
 
 "Again he shows me his faithfulness in his 
 promises when he says, ' He will regard the prayer 
 of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.' 
 And again, ' The needy shall not always be for- 
 gotten.' I had often laid my case before my 
 heavenly Father, telling him how much I needed 
 some one to fill the place of a mother : and he has, 
 in his good time, seen fit to grant my desire ; for, on 
 the 14th of December, my father was united in 
 marriage to Mrs. C., the lady mentioned above. 
 
 5*
 
 54 HISTORY OF A MODEEN MABTYR. 
 
 My feelings at that time were indescribable. 1 
 was about to pronounce the sacred name of mother, 
 which I had never done within my recollection, 
 my own dear mother having died in my childhood. 
 I ^ealized my position as a step-daughter, and how 
 much of the happiness of the family depended on 
 me. I felt the necessity of winning her love, and 
 doing right myself, being assured if I did all 
 would be well ; for I have full confidence in God, 
 that if I do my duty he will be with me, and I 
 have not the least fear of being harmed, for ' he 
 that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.' 
 
 " But the fountain of my heart was broken up, 
 when I saw my father stand before God, and 
 promise to leave all and cleave unto his wife. Up 
 to this time no one had stood between my father 
 and me, and I could go to him with my troubles ; 
 but now he was betrothed to another, and a sense 
 of loneliness came over me not easily described. 
 I flew to the mercy-seat as a bird to her mountain ; 
 and I found relief in prayer, and in prayer and 
 praise I spent most of the night. 
 
 " ' Prayer makes the darkened cloud withdraw ; 
 Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw ; 
 Gives exercise to faith and love, 
 Brings every blessing from above.' 
 
 "Jan. 1, 1857. Another year has fled: again 
 my mind turns back, and reviews the past scenes
 
 HISTORY OP A MODERN MARTYR. 55 
 
 through which I have been brought. What mercy 
 and love hath the Lord shown me during the last 
 year ! Oh, what shall I render unto my adorable 
 Lord for all his benefits to me ! how many changes 
 have taken place ! how many dear friends have 
 passed away in that time! Solemn thought! 
 Oh, may we ever keep eternity in view, and re- 
 member our days are but a span ! One year ago 
 how dark my prospects ! but God has seen fit in 
 his providence to smile upon me, and give me a 
 mother to watch over me, and assist my father 
 in taking care of me in my helpless condition ; 
 and, what is best of all, she is one who fears 
 God, and she has helped to rear the family altar 
 in our humble dwelling ; and now we hear the 
 words which he speaks to all that trust in him 
 with all their hearts saying, ' They shall be abun- 
 dantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and 
 thou shalt make them to drink of the river of thy 
 pleasures.'' Again I renewed my covenant vows, 
 willing to do or suffer the will of God : only de- 
 siring that his whole will might be accomplished 
 in me ; for I would withhold nothing from him 
 who hath done so much for me. 
 
 " In February I received a visit from a Baptist 
 lady, L. W., whom I had met once before, and in 
 whom I found a kindred spirit. A meeting with 
 such a friend is like an oasis in the desert, where 
 we may rest and refresh ourselves while on our 
 pilgrimage to the celestial city. She has been
 
 56 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTR. 
 
 greatly afflicted; but the rod has budded and 
 blossomed, and bears fruit to the glory of God. 
 
 " I awoke one morning in February, and these 
 words of the Psalmist were sweetly applied to my 
 heart, ' Though ye have lien among the pots, yet 
 shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with sil- 
 ver, and her feathers with yellow gold.' This 
 assurance of my Lord gave much joy ; and I felt 
 to consecrate myself more willingly than ever to 
 his service, and to say with a willing heart, Let me 
 receive the stripes, if others may but taste of thy 
 loving kindness with me. 
 
 " I am now thirty-three years of age : my limbs 
 are so contracted, that I lie upon a bed four feet 
 long and two feet in width, from which I have 
 not been moved, except in the arms of another, 
 for twenty-one years. I can see only with one 
 eye, my jaws are firmly set, and my hands are 
 rigidly fixed twelve inches from my head, to 
 which I have not raised them for twenty-seven 
 years but once, and that some eighteen years 
 since in a paroxysm of distress, and unconsciously. 
 I have lain upon my right side for thirty years, 
 and am utterly unable to move myself from the 
 position in which I am placed ; and my whole S3 r s- 
 tem is so rigidly stiffened, that a strong person 
 can raise me to my feet without bending me, by 
 putting their hands under my head and lifting 
 me up. 
 
 " I can use my hands sufficiently to be able to
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 57 
 
 feed rnyself witli a knife and fork some thirteen 
 inches long, made expressly for me, when my food 
 is cut up and placed on a plate before me ; and 
 with the help of some machinery, which has been 
 kindly prepared for me by some friends, I can 
 manage to hold a book to read ; and I look upon 
 my hands, crippled as they are, as evidence of 
 God's love to me, for truly * 
 
 ' God is love : I know, I feel, 
 He afflicts, but loves me still.' 
 
 " I have now given a brief and imperfect sketch 
 of my life, temporally and spiritually ; but I 
 deeply feel that my words can but faintly describe 
 what intense sufferings I have endured in body 
 and mind, or what I have enjoyed in favor and 
 loving kindness of my God. I can truly say, 
 ' That however much we suffer in the flesh, there 
 is a blessing that maketh rich and addeth no 
 sorrow.' Permit me, a humble individual, to ad- 
 dress a word to such as are walking in the broad 
 roads that lead to destruction. I would entreat 
 them to turn and seek the Lord while he may be 
 found, and call upon him while he is near ; before 
 the evil days come, when they shall say I have no 
 pleasure in them. Come, dear friends, and claim 
 his promise when he says, ' Ye shall seek me and 
 
 * At this writing she is fifty years of age, and has been 
 upon her bed thirty-eight years. ED.
 
 58 HISTORY OP A MODERN MARTYR 
 
 find me, when ye shall search for me with all your 
 heart.' 
 
 " And to the justified who are walking in the 
 strait and narrow way, I would say, ' Call on the 
 Lord and he will answer you, and show you great 
 and mighty things which thou knowest not ; ' but 
 when thou knowest them, I know you will join 
 with me in saying with the Queen of Sheba, ' the 
 half had not been told me.' Oh ! let us go on unto 
 perfection: there is a blessed fulness in Christ 
 Jesus."
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " Thy every suffering servant, Lord, 
 
 Shall as his perfect Master be ; 
 To all thy inward life restored, 
 
 And outwardly conformed to thee. 
 Out of the graves the saints shall rise, 
 And grasp through death the glorious prize." 
 
 To the foregoing narrative we will append a 
 few extracts from her letters, mostly written since 
 this part of the narrative was closed, together 
 with one or two others. 
 
 All her writing is done by the hand of another, 
 and mostly by the kindness of young ladies who 
 often visit her, both professors and unconverted 
 persons : for such is the charm of her cheerful 
 loving spirit, that the young ladies and misses of 
 the neighborhood seem to take great delight in 
 calling and spending a little while on their way, 
 to and from school, and at other times, with Lizzie, 
 as they familiarly call her ; and they not only bring 
 her many little presents of flowers, &c., but often 
 stop when passing her little cottage home, and 
 sing some of her favorite hymns and- sweet songs. 
 Often in the silence of night their sweet voices 
 
 59
 
 60 HISTOEY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 break on the ear of their afflicted but happy friend, 
 as the angels of mercy. These young friends have 
 not only written this narrative, but they write 
 her letters of correspondence and friendship ; 
 their only reward being an interest in the prayers 
 and sympathies of the object of their kindness. 
 At one time she relates that she was brought into 
 a very strait place by one of these young friends, 
 with the utmost kindness and good-will, offering to 
 come and write for her on the sabbath. This, she 
 says, they had often done ; and " I had not thought 
 I was doing wrong, or violating the sabbath in 
 so doing. But now I saw that it was not only a 
 sin for me to use the Lord's Day for my own pur- 
 poses, but that I was taking others from the only 
 appropriate duties of the sabbath, namely, such 
 as appertained to their spiritual interests, and by 
 the use of which those interests might be pro- 
 moted. As soon as I saw it in its true light, I 
 determined to cease from it at once ; but I was in 
 great trouble as to how I should communicate this 
 decision to my friend who had promised to come 
 the next sabbath. At first I tried to find some 
 excuse to make to her for not writing (so as to 
 shun the cross), but I found no rest of mind till 
 I told her the true reason. I remembered that 
 Christ had said, ' He that is not willing to take 
 up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.' 
 Although the enemy often suggested to me, 
 that, as I was unable to write myself, if I
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 61 
 
 did not let them do it on the sabbath, very likely 
 I should be unable to get any one to write for me. 
 But thanks be unto God, who enabled me to re- 
 solve, that, if I could write on no other day but 
 the sabbath, I would not write at all, except 
 strictly religious letters ; and these I do not think 
 it wrong to write on that day. 
 
 " This resolution, made in the strength of Christ, 
 has never been broken ; and the Lord has always 
 provided for me, so that I have always had some 
 one to write for me when I needed, and I am con- 
 fident I always shall. I believe it is always the 
 safe course to do right, to honor God, and keep 
 his law." 
 
 Let those who have hands of their own to use, 
 follow this worthy example. 
 
 The following paragraph is extracted from a 
 letter written to her uncle in 1855 : 
 
 " DEAR UNCLE, I wish to tell you something 
 about myself, and what the Lord has done for me. 
 You know that I have long felt that I had some 
 hopes of heaven ; but those hopes were wandering 
 and unstable, oftentimes blown about by the wind 
 of circumstances. Two years ago, owing to an 
 overwhelming weight of domestic trials, the little 
 light I had went out, and all was utter darkness. 
 I could not see my Father's hand which held the 
 rod ; and often, in my despair, I wished for death. 
 But oh how little I knew what I was desiring ! 
 c
 
 62 HISTOKY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 Had I been taken at my word, where would my 
 poor soul have been ? It humbles me to think of 
 it ! Oh, the goodness and mercy, the long-suffer- 
 ing and forbearance, of God ! Thus I lived, fight- 
 ing against his will, daring to raise my feeble arm 
 against his almighty power ; yet he withheld not 
 the chastening rod, for he loved me still, sinful 
 and sinning as I was. At last I felt that none but 
 God could help me. I began to cry unto him to 
 remove the cup of bitterness, but he refused to 
 hear me ; then I prayed for grace to bear it. Now 
 he heard my prayer ; and light began to dawn upon 
 my soul, faintly at first, but a steady and increas- 
 ing light. My soul hungered and thirsted after 
 righteousness, and his word was pledged that I 
 should be filled. This, with other like promises, 
 I claimed, and my hopes grew brighter and 
 brighter ; still I had not that assurance that I was 
 accepted, that I was an heir of God, and joint heir 
 with Christ, until the second day of December, 
 when' his Spirit witnessed with my spirit that I was 
 a child of God. And now with confidence I can 
 draw nigh, and Father, Abba Father, cry! " 
 
 In another letter, referring to a subsequent visit 
 from this uncle, she says, 
 
 " I often think of him, and the visit which he 
 paid us, as one of the green spots in my life, 
 around which memory loves to linger ; and how 
 sweet it is to know that,
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 63 
 
 ' There is a scene where spirits blend, 
 Where friend holds fellowship with friend; 
 Though sundered far, by faith we meet 
 Around one common mercy-seat ! ' 
 
 " Last sabbath was a good day. Mother went 
 to meeting, and brought home some of the good 
 with her. The text in the morning was : ' Lovest 
 thou me ? ' 
 
 " Does it not seem strange to hear so many say, 
 ' I hope I love the Lord,' but can speak with no 
 greater confidence ? Whoever hears any one say, 
 4 1 hope I love my father, my mother, husband, 
 wife, or child ? ' Yet I used to do just so ; and 
 that makes me desire all the more to point others 
 to the better way, that they may find that assur- 
 ance which it is every Christian's privilege to 
 enjoy." 
 
 In another, Feb. 21, 1857, she says, " My health 
 is about the same as it has been, and my soul is in 
 prosperity. I feel that the light shines upon my 
 pathway brighter and brighter. I feel a more in- 
 tense and burning desire to do and suffer the will, 
 the whole will, and nothing but the will,. of God. 
 I realize 
 
 ' ' ' His purposes are ripening fast, 
 
 Unf olding every hour ; 
 The bud may have a bitter taste, 
 But sweet will be the flower.' " 
 
 June 25, 1857, she writes to a friend, " On the
 
 64 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 first sabbath in this month my father was baptized 
 in the name of the Lord Jesus. What a covenant- 
 keeping God ! How faithful to all his exceeding 
 great and precious promises ! How immutable his 
 promises ! ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.' ' Delight 
 thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee 
 the desire of thine heart.' These, and other sim- 
 ilar promises, he is continually fulfilling in his own 
 good time ; and his faithfulness often constrains me 
 to cry out, ' What shall I render unto thee for all 
 thy benefits to me,' who am the least and most 
 unworthy of all thy children ? I have some of the 
 time of late walked and talked with God in the 
 closest communion I have ever known. He has 
 given me the most remarkable answers to prayer 
 that I have ever received ; but the tempter has 
 roared bravely against me for two or three days 
 past, but I know that he is chained so that he can- 
 not harm me. I have been much drawn out in 
 prayer of late in behalf of you and your people. 
 May the Lord strengthen you to accomplish great 
 good in his name ! Yours is a great work, and, if 
 well done, a rich reward awaits you ; for, ' they 
 that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the 
 stars for ever and ever/ 
 
 " ' Mount up the heights of wisdom, 
 
 And crush each error low; 
 Keep back no words of knowledge, 
 That human hearts should know.
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 65 
 
 Be faithful to thy mission, 
 
 In the service of thy Lord; 
 And then a golden chaplet 
 
 Shall be thy just reward.' 
 
 " Oh ! let not ' the sheaves lie ungathered,' but 
 thrust in thy sharpened sickle, and gather into the 
 garner of thy Lord! Then, when your work is 
 done, you will hear the welcome sound, * Well 
 done, good and faithful servant ! enter thou into 
 the joy of thy Lord.' What a heart-sickening 
 sight to behold a world lying in wickedness, and 
 rejecting so great and so free salvation, bought 
 with so great a price, even the precious blood of 
 Jesus ! Is it not enough to melt the heart, and 
 cause the tears to flow ? Oh ! let us do with our 
 might, while the day lasts, what our hands find to 
 do, and act well our part in the great work which 
 God has assigned us." 
 
 The following extract is from a letter by the 
 Baptist lady referred to in the narration, written 
 Feb. 13, 1857: 
 
 "Although I had often heard of my friend's 
 affliction, I was wholly unprepared for the sight 
 that presented itself when I came to see Sister 
 Smith. I found her exceedingly emaciated, and 
 prostrated upon a bed where she had lain many 
 years, with limbs contracted, and hands well-nigh 
 useless, and able to see only with one eye. I never 
 saw such a sight, and could never have conceived 
 
 6*
 
 66 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 of one so diseased and helpless as she is. As I 
 took my seat by her bed, and looked upon her 
 wasted form, and realized her helpless condition, 
 and heard her narration of what she had passed 
 through in -past years, and saw, also, her perfect 
 resignation to her heavenly Father's will, I could 
 but weep, and exclaim, Lord, what art thou not 
 able to do ! I feel that it has not been in vain 
 that I have been permitted to see her, and be with 
 her for some little time. Such patience, and firm 
 confidence in God, I never saw before. And she 
 was desirous to do (as well as suffer) all she could 
 for the glory of God and the good of others around 
 her, confident that when she has done with earth 
 she shall find a ' house not made with hands, eter- 
 nal in the heavens.' 
 
 " What a lesson for those who murmur, and 
 complain at every thing that does not accord with 
 their wishes, to see one so greatly afflicted, yet 
 always rejoicing ! L. w." 
 
 TESTIMONY OF HER PASTOR, REV. OTIS PERRIN. 
 
 " I have visited her a number of tunes during 
 the past year ; and I have found her at all times, 
 and under all circumstances, fully reconciled to 
 God. Indeed, if any one at the present day has 
 learned the lesson of Paul, that in whatever state 
 I am, therewith to be content, I think she has. I 
 have said, I thought that she enjoyed as much
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 67 
 
 religion as all the rest of the church. Perhaps 
 that would be saying too much ; but I would say, 
 that I have spent eight years of my life upon a 
 sick-bed, and have seen others passing through all 
 the trying vicissitudes of fortune incident to 
 human life, yet I have never seen one where I 
 thought there were such displays of the power of 
 divine grace, when we consider that she has lain 
 in the same posture for more than thirty years. 
 The great length of her sickness necessarily ren- 
 ders her pecuniary circumstances trying in the 
 extreme. If any one were blessed with much of 
 the good things of this world, here would be a 
 good opportunity for them to invest some of their 
 capital, knowing that they who give to the poor 
 lend unto the Lord."
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 "Peace, doubting heart : my God's I am; 
 Who formed me man forbids my fear; 
 The Lord hath called me by my name ; 
 The Lord protects ; forever near; 
 His blood for me did once atone, 
 And still he loves and guards his own." 
 
 PHCENIXYTLLE, May 24, 1867. 
 
 MRS. LAWRENCE. 
 
 Dear Madam, I learn that you are preparing, 
 for the public eye, a history of the life, suffering, 
 and experience of Lizzie O. Smith. As I am a 
 distant relative, and have known her for many 
 years, and living as I do a very short distance from 
 her home, I have felt that I should like to add a 
 few items that may, perhaps, aid you in your 
 efforts. 
 
 I was well acquainted with her mother, and 
 knew Lizzie as a little child ; but after the break- 
 ing up of the family, in consequence of the death 
 of her mother, I nearly lost sight of her for several 
 years ; in fact, I knew but little of her for some 
 years, until she was brought back to her early 
 home a helpless cripple. She had then been sick 
 
 68
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 69 
 
 some five or six years. Soon after her return, I 
 visited her. My feelings were stirred with the 
 deepest sympathy as I looked upon this afflicted 
 child of sorrow. As I left her bedside, and turned 
 my steps homeward, I cannot describe the emo- 
 tions that swelled my bosom, as I thought of the 
 condition of that poor motherless girl. As I re- 
 flected upon her situation, I thought, perhaps, had 
 her mother lived, she would never have come to 
 this. Being a mother myself, I could feel this as 
 none but a mother could. 
 
 The little patrimony that was left for the chil- 
 dren when the mother died was soon spent to pro- 
 vide for the necessary care and medical aid for 
 the suffering one, as well, also, as that which her 
 father could earn besides. On the above-men- 
 tioned visit I saw that she was needy, and soon 
 procured some print to make her a dress ; and from 
 tune to time continued to add things for her com- 
 fort according as my means would allow. All 
 that has been said of her helpless and needy con- 
 dition is true, as I, who am so intimately ac- 
 quainted with all the facts concerning her case, 
 can speak with assurance. 
 
 Although she never asked aid of any one ; yet I 
 felt she needed it, and more than my limited 
 means could supply. So, unknown to her, I had 
 a little box made, and passed it around to some of 
 the young ladies ; then carried it, with the few 
 dollars it contained, and placed it upon the table
 
 70 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 that stood at the head of her little couch, hoping 
 that it might meet the eye of the benevolent caller, 
 and remind them that here was an object that 
 needed material sympathy. 
 
 In 1855 she was taken very ill, and to all ap- 
 pearances her days were numbered. I was called 
 several times to her bedside, as it was supposed, to 
 see her breathe her last. She thought her work on 
 earth was done, and seemed perfectly resigned to 
 the will of God. At one time, when life had ap- 
 parently fled, but just before utterance failed her, 
 she was asked by one that stood near her, "if 
 Jesus was precious." She distinctly and firmly 
 answered " Yes." She hung thus for weeks be- 
 tween life and death. Death was a subject which 
 she conversed upon with as much composure and 
 pleasure as she would have done had she been 
 going to take a journey to see some dearly beloved 
 friend. 
 
 She was much beloved by the young people in 
 our place ; and it was their desire, that, should she 
 be taken away, her remains should be placed 
 in the cemetery where the last relics of the 
 lamented Gen. Lyon now rest. This request she 
 readily granted, and had a spot selected where 
 her body was to be laid, although most of her 
 relatives were buried in a cemetery two miles 
 distant. Contrary to expectation of all, she 
 recovered : her work was not done, and I feel that 
 she has been the means of doing much good in the
 
 HISTORY OP A MODERN MARTYR. 71 
 
 service of our common Lord and master ; certainly 
 my own soul has enjoyed rich feasts of love, and 
 been greatly blessed in my frequent visits at her 
 humble abode. Many hours have we spent in 
 sweet counsel together, talking of the deep and 
 glorious things of God; and the precious social 
 meetings, both prayer and class, that we have had 
 in her room, have been precious indeed. They 
 have been held there weekly and semi-weekly, 
 for some five or six years. I have thought some- 
 times they would hardly have been -sustained had 
 it not been for her. She has often, in the absence 
 of preacher and class-leader, taken the lead of the 
 meetings, as we all thought she was the most 
 capable of doing it. We feel, too, that her pray- 
 ers and labors have availed much in bringing souls 
 to Christ in this place, and encouraging believers 
 on in the good way. 
 
 The sorrowful always love to go for sympathy 
 to her, knowing that in her they will find a true 
 friend. Even our ministers feel that there is a 
 power in her influence which helps much to 
 strengthen and encourage them in their labors. 
 
 Some years ago I felt that her room needed 
 refitting up ; and, as I did not feel able to do all 
 that was necessary to be done, I had a subscrip- 
 tion paper drawn up without letting her know of 
 it, and carried it to a great meeting which was held 
 in the west part of our town, to see if I could not 
 collect something to help in this matter. The
 
 72 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR 
 
 people contributed quite liberally, so that we were 
 able to make her room much more comfortable and 
 pleasant than before. She always appeared very 
 thankful for any acts of kindness bestowed upon 
 her. 
 
 I am very thankful that in you she has found 
 so good and powerful a friend, and you will not 
 loose any thing for what you do for her. It is be- 
 cause of the interest I take in her welfare that I 
 have noted down these few ideas and incidents, to 
 aid you in your efforts in her behalf, and to do 
 good to others who may read of her life-long suf- 
 ferings and patience, and the faith which has so 
 gloriously triumphed over it all. If you think 
 what I have written is worthy of any notice, use 
 it at your discretion. 
 
 B. P. BULLARD. 
 NEVER APPLIED TO THE TOWN FOR AID. 
 
 It has been intimated that Sister Smith was poor, 
 and this was true. Still it is a commendable fact 
 that in all her poverty she never applied to the 
 town for aid ; but by prayer and supplication 
 she made known her requests unto God. Mrs. 
 Lawrence had asked her about this matter, and 
 she replies, 
 
 " I think I can answer you satisfactorily as to 
 receiving aid from the town. Whenever my 
 necessities have needed aid, I have always made
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 78 
 
 application to him whom I love and whose I am, 
 and have ever found him to be such a covenant- 
 keeping God, that my wants have ever been sup- 
 plied so freely, that I have never been obliged to 
 make application to the town. He has always 
 raised up some such voluntary friend as yourself, 
 in every time of need, by which he has magnified 
 his power and his purpose to take care of those 
 that trust him ; and surely you would, join with me 
 in praising him for his goodness and condescension 
 in doing so, could you but know how the poor in 
 our town are cared for, and in what hands they are 
 placed, being sold by the year to the lowest bidder. 
 I feel that it calls for gratitude from the deepest 
 depths of my soul, that the Lord has never per- 
 mitted me, helpless as I am, to come to that ; and 
 I trust he never will." 
 
 REPAIRING THE HOUSE. 
 
 The home of the dear sister needed many re- 
 pairs. The roof was leaky ; the back side was all 
 out of repair. She says, " My building method pro- 
 gresses slowly: we have got the old part newly 
 silled and newly clapboarded where it was neces- 
 sary. It was very badly decayed, and has been 
 much more expensive to fix it than we expected. 
 My carpenter, Mr. Bullard said, thought it would 
 have been all down on the back side, had it not 
 l)cen fixed in three years. The bank wall, which 
 t was necessary to build, is finished, and the under- 
 
 7
 
 74 HISTOEY OF A MODEEN MAETYE. 
 
 pinning is ready, and the sills for the new post are 
 laid ; the Lord willing, the frame will be raised next 
 week. I ani having it built plain but substantial." 
 Just think of it, a poor invalid superintending 
 the building of a new part to her humble home 
 and repairing the decaying part, and calling upon 
 God for money to do all this ; and this money was 
 forthcoming from her many friends in various 
 places. 
 
 ONE DOLLAE PEE WEEK BY WILL. 
 
 About this time a Mrs. Smith of Hartford, Conn., 
 a cousin of Miss Smith, died ; and in her will she 
 left her one dollar per week during her natural 
 life. 
 
 ATTENDING CAMP-MEETINGS AND GEOVE-MEET- 
 INGS. 
 
 By the kindness of her friends, she was carried 
 on her bed to the Willimantic camp-meeting from 
 year to year, and then to a grove-meeting that was 
 held in her own town every fall ; and she took a 
 great interest in such places, and was made a great 
 blessing to many of the sinners and saints that 
 would love to gather about her, to hear her relate 
 the dealings of God to her soul. Hence she says, " I 
 enjoyed the camp-meeting and the grove-meeting 
 very much. I feel the Lord blessed me greatly, 
 and strengthened me more than ever for future 
 endurance, and fitted me up to meet the trials of
 
 HISTOBY OF A MODERN MAETYE. 75 
 
 life, for they are plenty. Many of them are from 
 the increasing infirmities of my parents ; but the 
 promises of my Father are literally fulfilled to me : 
 4 My grace is sufficient for thee.' And, 4 As thy 
 day is, so shall thy strength be ; ' also, ' I will 
 never leave thee nor forsake thee.' Oh ! how like 
 the shadow of a great rock in a weary land is the 
 Lord to me ! how I love to look into the beams of 
 that sunlight that emanates from the infinite 'I 
 AM, the God of love and power ! ' : 
 
 SEVENTY LETTEES IN TEN WEEKS. 
 
 At one time her friends were so stirred up in her 
 behalf, that the letters came in at a great rate, even 
 as fast as some business men receive them ; so that it 
 was difficult to find any one to reply to them all, 
 or to keep a just account of the amount of money 
 in every letter. In a letter to Mrs. Lawrence, 
 she writes, 
 
 "MY DEAE FEIEND AND BENEFACTEESS, 
 I have felt, in view of what has been done for 
 me by others, through your instrumentality, that 
 those letters ought to be acknowledged by the 
 public press, by the use of which they have been 
 secured to me. One reason why I feel anxious about 
 this is, because necessity has obliged me, for the 
 want of a scribe, to limit my letters of acknowl- 
 edgment to the fewest words possible. Then 
 quite a number of the letters were anonymous or
 
 76 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 blanks. I have endeavored to answer when the 
 address was plainly given. I have about seventy 
 letters in ten weeks. I should have been delighted 
 to tell them all how much their benefactions 
 added to my comfort in my helpless and dependent 
 condition. I would love to have told them, too, of 
 the consolations of that grace which has buoyed 
 my soul above the afflictions and sorrows of earth, 
 and given me the power to rejoice with a joy that 
 is unspeakable and full of glory, and filled me with 
 a hope of immortality. I feel that I have no 
 language sufficiently expressive to convey to others 
 the love of God's goodness to me. 
 
 " When I think, dear friend, of that one short 
 interview with you, and of the benefits to me 
 therefrom, I am led to exclaim, How mysterious 
 are the ways of God, and yet how good ! " 
 
 All this was to aid her in repairing and enlar- 
 ging her home, and so the Lord did bountifully pro- 
 vide ; and the house was enlarged and fitted up 
 with an economy and neatness that commends itself 
 to all. 
 
 ONE-TENTH OF HER INCOME TO GOD'S CAUSE. 
 
 The reader will be delighted to know that 
 the cause of God lay so near to the heart of 
 our sister, that she devoted one-tenth of her in- 
 come to the support thereof; and I fear she will 
 put many^a Christian to a blush when .they read
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 77 
 
 her letter to Mrs. Lawrence. She says, that out 
 of the receipts from letters, sent through Mrs. L., 
 " About sixty dollars of it has been spent in re- 
 pairs on the house. I have purchased for my room 
 a new parlor stove, and some articles of bed-cloth- 
 ing for myself, and a large woollen shawl, which 
 things I have very much needed, especially when 
 going from home. I have bought a barrel of flour 
 and some groceries, &c. After appropriating one- 
 tenth of the whole as an offering to God, I sin- 
 cerely make to the cause of Christ, in accordance 
 with a promise formerly made to God ; believing 
 it to be a positive duty enjoined under the pres- 
 ent as well as during the past dispensation." 
 
 Let us reflect on this a moment. 1. She believes 
 it to be a positive duty to devote one-tenth to the 
 cause of Christ. 2. That this is enjoined in the 
 new as well as under the old dispensation. 3. 
 That she had made a promise formerly to God. 
 4. When her income was enlarged she kept her pro- 
 mise, which I fear many do not do. 5. How many 
 of the readers will go and do likewise. 6. Can 
 God be satisfied with a Christian who gives less to 
 his cause than he required by law from a Jew. 
 Reader ! what do you say to this ? 
 
 LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 
 
 Our dear Mrs. Lawrence, who had been so kind 
 to Miss Smith, was brought into affliction herself, 
 and how quickly a letter is sent from Miss Smith 
 
 7*
 
 78 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 to show the depth of her feeling for a faithful 
 friend in her hour of trial, as follows : 
 
 " MRS. LAWRENCE, My dear friend, will you 
 consider it intrusive if I offer you a few words of 
 sympathy in midst of your great sorrow. I have 
 wanted to write to you ever since I heard from 
 ' Zion's Herald ' of your bereavement, several 
 weeks ago. But I have felt that words from human 
 lips were insufficient to meet the needs of your 
 sorrow-stricken heart, and it would be almost like 
 mockery to offer them. I have felt that I would 
 like to twine my arms around your neck, and 
 whisper words of comfort to you in the name of 
 Him, who in all our afflictions is afflicted. He can 
 give the balm that will heal the wounds which 
 the keen arrows of death make, when he strikes 
 and lays low in the dust our loved ones. May he, 
 that can comfort as a mother comforteth her chil- 
 dren, comfort you in your sorrow ! You have often 
 been remembered at the throne of grace, where 
 I love to go and carry all my own wants and griefs, 
 and those of my dear friends, among whom I num- 
 ber you, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude. 
 That little orphaned one, who will never know a 
 father's or a mother's love, I think of too. 
 
 " Remember me affectionately to your husband, 
 and say to him, that the crippled one in the hum-, 
 ble ' brown house on the hillside ' thinks of him 
 in his sorrow, and sympathizes with him in the
 
 HISTORY OF A MODEEN MARTYR. 79 
 
 keen anguish he must have felt when he saw the 
 king of terrors bear away from his sight a loved 
 member of his own household. ' Death loves a 
 shining mark.' 
 
 " Yours, in the loving bonds of Christ, 
 
 " LIZZIE O. SMITH." 
 
 EXPRESSION OF PERSONAL PIETY. 
 
 The letters of Sister Smith are fine expressions 
 of her deep piety ; see the following extract : " The 
 river of salvation is deep ; we may drink, and 
 drink, and drink again, and never exhaust it. Oh, 
 the height, the depth, the length, the breadth, of 
 God's love ! who can comprehend it ? The more 
 I taste, the more I want : only the Fountain-head 
 above can satisfy the thirst of love. The more I 
 see of his infinite purity, mercy, and love, the 
 more humbled I feel, and the smaller I . seem in 
 his sight, and the more I desire to be like him." 
 
 A TRIAL OF FAITH. 
 
 " I have had nothing come in since I last wrote 
 to you. My straitened circumstances have of late 
 produced some anxious thoughts ; but this morn- 
 ing I awoke before the dawn of day, and I was 
 rebuked and refreshed and strengthened by the 
 Spirit's application, and also by the parable of the 
 birds of the air and of the lilies of the field. And 
 the words of Jesus, ' Oh, ye of little faith,' went 
 to my heart, with a fervor that I have no language
 
 80 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 to express. Praise the Lord ! for such reproof anil 
 assurances from the great Caretaker. Hallelujah ! 
 Let all the earth praise the Lord for his goodness. 
 Amen." 
 
 HOLY TRIUMPH. 
 
 " My circumstances are at the present more 
 trying than usual. Mother's health has been very 
 poor all the spring, and for three weeks has been 
 failing rapidly. I am powerfully testing the 
 promises of God, and I find him faithful. Through 
 the abounding grace of God I am kept in perfect 
 peace, having the rest of faith, and the full assur- 
 ance that the Lord doeth all things well. He 
 who forgetteth not to care for the sparrows will 
 not forget me. Oh, my dear friend ! the Lord is 
 good always, and I see his loving hand in every 
 thing. He is the Friend that sticketh closer than 
 a brother. He is indeed precious to my soul. Our 
 physician thinks that mother cannot live long : her 
 lungs are ulcerated. I am feeling tired and care- 
 worn in body, but strong in the Lord."
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 " Since thou hast bid me come to thee 
 (Good as thou art, and strong to save), 
 I'll walk o'er life's tempestuous sea, 
 Upborne by thy unyielding wave, 
 Dauntless, though rocks of pride be near, 
 And yawning whirlpools of despair." 
 
 WHILE the war of the rebellion was raging, the 
 heart of Sister Smith was lifted to God for the 
 brave patriots who had gone to the South to lay 
 down their lives for the country they loved ; and 
 among the rest was the noble and valiant Gen. 
 Lyon, a native of Eastford, who fell so soon in the 
 fierce engagement of Wilson's Creek. His mor- 
 tal remains are laid in the cemetery, quite near 
 to the home of Lizzie ; and the following letter 
 will explain the rest, from one who to me is 
 unknown : 
 
 " On that memorable day, which occurs only once 
 in a life-time, in which governors, statesmen, 
 patriots, and military heroes came together at 
 Eastford, Conn., to bury the mutilated body of 
 Gen. Lyon, whose heroic spirit and noble deeds 
 
 81
 
 82 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 will ever grace the pages of our nation's history, 
 I first made the acquaintance with the subject of 
 this brief narrative. After listening to the stirring 
 speeches made on that memorable occasion, our 
 company passed on before them to the place of 
 interment, while the procession was being formed, 
 to the south part of the parish, quite near to the 
 residence of Miss L. O. Smith. One of the lady 
 friends of our company, seeing a small bed on the 
 little hillock just south of the cemetery, went to 
 explore what it contained, and came back to us 
 with the following request : ' Come up and see 
 the young lady yonder; she is one of the most 
 patient and happy persons you ever saw, and 
 appears to be almost entirely helpless. She has 
 heard of you by report, and would be glad to see- 
 you and converse with you.' 
 
 " The story of human suffering, to the Christian 
 heart, whether of body, mind, or estate, true ever 
 to itself, always finds a response. Somewhat 
 reluctantly, as a stranger would naturally feel, I 
 complied with her request, and immediately 
 repaired to the little couch of the patient Chris- 
 tian sufferer, who, as the narrative states, had 
 been for many years under a process of refinement 
 in one of the deepest trying furnaces of physical 
 pain and mental agony, depriving her of almost 
 every physical enjoyment, amounting to complete 
 prostration of every nerve and muscle. Such a 
 complete victory over so much physical deprivation
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 83 
 
 and mental resource of enjoyment, I had not met 
 before in my short .pilgrimage. 
 
 " The beautiful photograph of the original, lying 
 before me as I write, brings the whole scene of this 
 happy event vividly to mind. And I can truth- 
 fully say, from our first interview of about thirty 
 minutes, that happy face shining so deeply down 
 in the furnace, as I then saw it, together with her 
 patient resignation under her affliction, had so 
 daguerrotyped her form in my mind, that had I 
 not seen her on earth, or her picture, I think I 
 should have remembered it when I met her in that 
 beautiful world, where poisonous drugs, admin- 
 istered by the hand of professedly learned quacks, 
 never can destroy or belittle the bodies of its 
 redeemed inhabitants. We were strangers but 
 for a few moments ; for our spirits mingled together 
 at the throne of grace in vocal prayer as a brother 
 and sister of Christ's spiritual family, which made 
 us at home at once. That brief interview has 
 often afforded me pleasure on reflection ; and that 
 little episode in life's short journey will afford me 
 pleasure when in that world of light and glory we 
 contemplate the pleasing reminiscences of our 
 earthly pilgrimage. 
 
 " The moral heroic and the military were so con- 
 trasted in nay own mind, that the former was to me 
 as much higher than the latter as the heavens are 
 higher than the earth, or as high above each other 
 as the -eternal honors of God are more enduring
 
 84 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 than the honors of men. The one began to die 
 away and fade the moment the roar of the 
 musketry ceased over that pale, manly form, and 
 may finally die with the history of the nation. 
 The other rises higher on earth, in the enlight- 
 ened Christian's mind, until it conquers sin, death, 
 hell, and the grave, and will be rising higher and 
 still higher to all eternity. May that victory and 
 conquest be that of the author and every reader of 
 this brief narrative, is the prayer of N. G." 
 
 How precious it is to read over the letters of a 
 friend who lives so near to God. I cannot withhold 
 the following extracts of letters sent to Mrs. 
 Lawrence : 
 
 " My health is quite good for me ; and I am 
 happy in the Lord, and feel that whatsoever trials 
 I am called to pass through are among the ' all 
 things that work together for my good.' For I 
 do know that I love God: therefore, I have an 
 assurance from the great I AM, who can utter 
 nothing but eternal and immutable truth. Oh, it 
 seems to me, sometimes, as if I never felt the love 
 of God bum with such an intense, constant, and 
 powerful ardor upon the altar of my heart as it 
 has for a few months past ! Oh, that all the world 
 might taste and see the riches of his grace ! " 
 
 Again she writes, " Please say to Dr. Lawrence 
 that I owe him a thousand thanks for an article
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 85 
 
 from his pen, entitled, ' The Illuminated Valley,' 
 which I read in ' Zion's Herald.' Oh, how really 
 it harmonized with my own experience, under 
 similar circumstances ! What glory can we catch 
 through the cracks and crevices of dissolving- 
 nature, of the sweet sunshine of the beautiful 
 beyond ! How delightful to feel that our impris- 
 oned spirits are almost free, just ready to spread 
 their pinions to soar away to find their long-sought 
 rest upon the Saviour's loving breast ! I hope, if 
 the Lord will, that the doctor may be spared long 
 to bless the world with his teachings, and have 
 health sufficient to be abundant in labors in the 
 cause of Christ. 
 
 " I am much happier in my Christian experience 
 than in the early part of winter. For a season 
 then I toiled much ; but grace has again tri- 
 umphed, and I am happy, gloriously happy, in the 
 Lord. It seems as though I never loved so well 
 to be alone with Jesus, and hold sweet com- 
 munion with him. The burden of my prayer has 
 been for a more direct, free, and complete union 
 and communion with the Lord, and a deeper and 
 more sensible consciousness of the divine presence 
 with me, and greater revelations of the mysteries 
 of his kingdom, and the hid treasures of wis- 
 dom and knowledge. And he who despises not 
 the prayer of the destitute has heard and an- 
 swered by pouring out, in rich effusions, his Spirit 
 upon me. Oh, yes, I know I love the Lord ! I
 
 86 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 love his cause. I love his kingdom. I love poor 
 sinners, too, for whom Christ died. To say that 
 I am willing to die for them is to say but little ; 
 but when I say that I am willing to live for them 
 (which I have felt able to say for some years past), 
 then I offer a sacrifice that costs me something." 
 
 To the same she writes, " Spiritually I have 
 been some part of the winter baptized into the Lord 
 in a cloud. Though now, by faith, I have an open 
 vision of the goodness and the glory of God, such 
 intense longings after the divine image, and a deep 
 and abiding consciousness of the presence of the 
 Three in One, as I have seldom, if ever, had be- 
 fore. It has seemed sometimes as if the immortal 
 part of my being would burst away from its 
 shackles of mortality, and soar to its native land, 
 and find its resting-place in the bosom of my 
 Jesus. 
 
 "I AM HAPPY, SO HAPPY! 
 
 walking to and fro through the flames ' leaning on 
 my Beloved.' How quietly we rest when we are 
 all the Lord's, living in full assurance that the 
 blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed us from all 
 sin." 
 
 But trials still awaited this saint of God, as the 
 next extract explains. Joys and sorrows are the 
 common lot of this world. Of her sick mother 
 she writes, " We had flattered ourselves that she 
 would stay with us through the winter, if no
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 87 
 
 longer ; but our hopes were in vain, and we are 
 again taught to know that ' God's ways are not 
 our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts.' 
 
 " On the twenty-second of September mother 
 died. Although feeble, mother had been about 
 her work as usual in the forenoon ; and in the 
 early part of the afternoon, while washing out a 
 shirt for father, she had a paralytic shock, and fell 
 to the floor. There was no one with me except a 
 little girl of nine years. I sent her for assistance, 
 which soon came. She was apparently nearly 
 dead when help reached her ; but, being laid upon 
 her bed, she rallied somewhat, and was conscious 
 for nearly an hour. Then she slept most of the 
 time until nearly two o'clock the next morning, 
 when she passed SiW&y without moving a limb or a 
 muscle, although she seemed to labor for breath. 
 On Friday her mortal remains were laid away in 
 the silent grave, to rest until the resurrection 
 morn. 
 
 " But I cannot tell you, in any way, the debt of 
 gratitude I owe to God for the all-sufficient sus- 
 taining grace in these hours of severe trial. It 
 has put my faith to a severe test, yet it fails not. 
 My gratitude entirely swallowed up my grief, 
 God was so good in the midst of it all. What we 
 shall do for help, I do not know."
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 THOUGHTS ON A LITE-BOOK OP HER SUFFER- 
 INGS. 
 
 Mrs. Lawrence has for years had it on her mind 
 and heart to prepare a manuscript record of Sister 
 Smith ; and it may be well to see what Sister S. 
 thought of the matter : "I think such a work, in 
 order to be useful, should be written in such a 
 style as to interest readers, or its circulation will 
 be limited. I have made the matter a subject of 
 prayer, and have decided to accept your proposal, 
 and ask you to make the book as interesting as 
 you can, and leave the result with God. I think 
 I have learned the lesson of trust more perfectly 
 within the past few months than I have ever done 
 before. I have come to rest all my affairs, both 
 temporal and spiritual, in the hands of God, and 
 he has never disappointed my faith ; and if he sees 
 that the narrative of my somewhat peculiar life 
 and sufferings, and the triumphs of his grace, are 
 likely to do good in the world, I do not fear but 
 he will give it circulation." 
 
 This has the true ring in it ; and I will add that 
 two weeks ago I had no idea of writing this nar- 
 rative ; but I have been led into it in a kind of 
 providential way, as I had opportunity, and I now 
 believe that God's hand is in it, and that it will 
 prosper. I have avoided mental labor for the past 
 few weeks, because of a trouble in my head ; but 
 I have been graciously sustained in this labor
 
 HISTOEY OF A MODERN MAETYE. 89 
 
 of love, and have succeeded far better than I ex- 
 pected. Lord help me through ! 
 
 The following is indeed touching. 
 
 In 1866 the Methodist Church raised about nine 
 millions of dollars as a centenary offering ; and our 
 good sister could not let such a time as that pass 
 by without doing her share, so she sent her offer- 
 ing ; and the following letter will show how it was 
 received. 
 
 PHCESUXVILLE, CONN., April 27, 1866. 
 
 DEAE Miss WILLAED, Having read in " Zi- 
 on's Herald " of your purpose to furnish, as a cen- 
 tenary offering, a home for the students of the 
 Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, to be called 
 Heck Hall, I here enclose one dollar to aid you in 
 your efforts to do so. 
 
 It is not the widow's but the cripple's mite ; and 
 were it larger it would be most cheerfully be- 
 . stowed. It is a portion of the tenth which the 
 hand of charity bestows upon me, and which 
 has for some years been devoted to the service of 
 the Lord. I have been a poor and helpless cripple, 
 unable to stand upon my feet, change my position 
 in bed (where I lay upon one side always), carry 
 my hand to my head, or open my jaws to receive 
 my food, ever since the twelfth year of my age. 
 I am now forty-two years old, having been in this 
 situation thirty long years. 
 
 I love the Lord and his cause, and have abun- 
 dant reason for thankfulness for the many mercies
 
 90 HISTORY OF A MODERN MART YE,. 
 
 and blessings which my heavenly Father so kindly 
 bestows upon one so unworthy. 
 
 May God bless you in your laudable undertak- 
 ing ! and may the fulness of the blessing of the 
 gospel rest upon all who are benefited by it ! My 
 prayers attend this small donation. 
 
 LIZZIE O. SMITH. 
 
 A TOUCHING GIFT. 
 
 DEAR DR. EDDY, I copy and enclose to you 
 a sermon most eloquent, in the form of a letter 
 to-day received : it is, to me, the most valuable 
 yet written in connection with our Association. 
 The dollar seems to me in some sense sacred, and 
 the tears that the very sight of it brings to my 
 heart will make it better and more tender. 
 
 The reading of this letter will do much good, I 
 think. How its patient thankfulness puts to 
 shame our querulous ingratitude ! How the 
 thought of the awful visitation permitted for some 
 mysterious reason to this Christian woman may 
 help us to be patient with our lighter burdens 
 and less enduring griefs. Use the letter as you 
 like. Perhaps names should be suppressed. 
 Truly yours, 
 
 FRANCES E. WDLLARD, 
 
 Cor. Sec*y. 
 
 I can hardly close this deeply interesting narra- 
 tive without noting another severe trial which our
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 91 
 
 sister has passed through of late. That fond 
 father, of whom she has spoken so freely and af- 
 fectionately, has passed on to the realms of glory, 
 to wait at the gate for his daughter, who for about 
 forty years has been purifying in the furnace of 
 affliction. He was well prepared for the exchange 
 of earth for heaven, of sorrow for joy, and of pain 
 for pleasure. He was indeed a kind father, and 
 even to the last he was full of affection ; and, when 
 he could not speak, he wanted to be placed where 
 he could see his daughter, who could not leave 
 her prison-bed, even to see her father die. It was 
 a tender scene but a holy triumph ; for the very 
 room was filled with the divine presence, and the 
 kind and attendant angels carried the immortal 
 spirit, to take up its abode with the blood-washed 
 around the throne. 
 
 Some months ago Sister Lizzie reminded me 
 that her letters may be called for, and that a biog- 
 raphy was to be written, and that Mrs. Lawrence 
 had been thinking of it for years. Little did I 
 then think that such a lot would fall to me. 
 
 Mrs. Lawrence, at Lizzie's request, sent me all 
 the material she had gathered ; saying that she had 
 commenced the work, -but, finding no publisher 
 willing to undertake it, had been waiting for fur- 
 ther light, and would be rejoiced if I carried it 
 through. Now I must give a few quotations from 
 my letters. 
 
 " I am glad your experience at G. was so pleas-
 
 92 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 urable : we now and then have such a bright 
 spot in memory's waste. My heart has been won- 
 derfully drawn out for you and your success in 
 your labors. I have been praying for that place, 
 ever since you requested my prayers for it. I be- 
 lieve you will see a mighty work there. O my 
 brother ! within a few days I have felt like open- 
 ing my mouth wide for you, and I felt that I had 
 a great deal of appropriating faith in your behalf ; 
 but, oh ! you do not know when I think of my own 
 place, how sad I feel. My tears have been my 
 meat day and night. I often feel that I cannot stay 
 here if there is not a change for the better.*' 
 
 This letter serves to show the tone of other let- 
 ters ; and I wish to record that I have great faith 
 in the prayers of this sick sister, and count my- 
 self happy to have made her acquaintance, and 
 expect she will shine in glory far brighter than 
 those who have had greater privileges. 
 
 This book might have been made much larger ; but 
 I have endeavored to keep to the point, and have 
 suppressed every thing unnecessary to give a full 
 picture of the life and sufferings in question. Then, 
 a small book will sell faster than a large one. 
 
 There are, no doubt, many errors that have es- 
 caped my review ; but it is as perfect as I had time 
 to make it : and it is a comfort to me that Gabriel 
 in glory can do no better than he can ; and this I 
 have done, and I know God approves. Sister
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 93 
 
 Smith is in her usual health, and may live many 
 years in this life ; and I trust that this book will 
 be a source of income to her, and a great blessing 
 to tens of thousands that may read it. 
 
 Sister Smith's experience is another testimony 
 to the truth of the old Bible and Wesleyan doc- 
 trine of sin in believers, and to the work of entire 
 sanctification by the immediate operation of the 
 Holy Ghost, which is not experienced at the time 
 we are converted, nor by any process of growth, 
 but by the Spirit of God in answer to an all con- 
 secrating and appropriating act of faith. 
 
 In her last letter to me, July 10, 1874, she 
 writes, 
 
 " Your faith has strengthened my faith ; and I 
 believe the work will go through. If so, I hope 
 it will do ' mountains of good,' as you think it 
 will. May the Lord abundantly reward you, 
 my brother, for trying to do me so much good ! 
 Though my health is about as usual, yet I some- 
 times think I shall not need the love and care of 
 my earthly friends a great while longer ; but, of 
 course, this is known only to Him who knoweth 
 all things. However this may be, while I live, 
 I want God should glorify himself in me, that I 
 may be eternally glorified with him."
 
 94 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 TESTIMONIES AND INCIDENTS. 
 
 Since writing the above, the following have been sent, and I 
 give them room, as they give additional evidence of the power 
 of salvation in Miss Smith. 
 
 Eev. John H. Sherman was acquainted with Miss Smith, be- 
 ing born in the same town. He gives the following : 
 
 "In the year 1850 I saw her for the first time. I was then 
 eleven years of age. Here I learned my first lesson of the 
 reality of religion, of what it could do for man. 
 
 "I was moved with pity at what seemed to me such a sad 
 condition. I could only look on with astonishment to see how 
 happy she seemed to be. 
 
 " She then had a little musical instrument fixed across her 
 bed, which she called a melodeon. It was a very ingenious con- 
 trivance, and it would have been worth considerable to see her 
 manage to play on it. It would certainly have been a difficult 
 matter to have convinced any one, by testimony, that such a 
 crippled form as she could i play on a melodeon.' What seemed 
 more passing strange to my youthful mind was, all her tunes 
 and songs were of a cheerful and joyful nature. 
 
 "Her conversation was all cheerful; and happiness seemed 
 to fairly shine in her face. 
 
 " Arriving home, I said to my father, ' I have seen a strange 
 sight to-day! A poor cripple girl (I took her to be much 
 younger than she really was), that cannot move, but a very 
 little, a single joint in her whole body, and never expects to 
 get well, or to leave her bed, or turn over in it, in all her life; 
 and yet she is the happiest creature I ever saw. What makes 
 her so ? ' She always appeared to me to be the happiest per- 
 son in the world. 
 
 " The following year I found the same dear Saviour precious 
 to my soul, for I was converted. 
 
 "In 1852 I saw her at camp-meeting: she staid in our tent. 
 I gathered much from her that has often been a help to me, 
 and the precious seed sowed by her constant efforts to pro- 
 claim Jesus to some one will be seen in eternity. One scene, 
 especially, made a deep and lasting impression on my heart, 
 though more than a score of years are past. The whole scene 
 presents as lively a picture in my mind as though it was but 
 yesterday. 
 
 "We were having prayer-meeting in Eastford tent, on Dan- 
 ielsonville camp-ground. 
 
 "A large crowd of persons were gathered about the door of 
 our tent; Sister Lizzie lay on her little cot at the door of the 
 tent, in the shade just outside the tent, the whole front of the 
 it-lit being open. The crowd (mainly young people) were look- 
 ing upon her with .surprise arid pity; quite a number of these
 
 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. - 95 
 
 were strong, robust-looking young, men. I shall never forget 
 the following words (she spoke them in an earnest exhorta- 
 tion) : 
 
 "'Young friends, you look strong and healthy. You look 
 upon me with an eye of pity. I want to tell you I am happy 
 in Jesus. I do not know you, what your wealth or position iu 
 life may be ; but, with all your health and whatever your wealth 
 or prospects in life may be, if you have not the religion of 
 Jesus, I would not change places with any of you.' " 
 
 Rev. 1ST. Goodrich, her former pastor, says, 
 
 " Having been acquainted with the subject of this brief nar- 
 rative, for more than twelve long dreary years of physical suffer- 
 ing and glorious spiritual triumph, over the world, the flesh, 
 and the devil, I hereby add my testimony to the truthfulness 
 of the statements herein so graphically delineated. It would 
 hardly be possible to overstate them, as no one but herself 
 could imagine the mental and physical agony, that, in such a life 
 of almost abject suffering, she has endured for thirty-eight years 
 as her common lot. Such a life could not have been made tol- 
 erable, save by the constant abiding evidence of divine accep- 
 tance, clearly manifested, and continually realized and enjoyed 
 in the soul. 
 
 ' O wondrous grace, 
 O boundless love ! ' 
 
 " This is not the testimony of one individual merely, but the 
 universal testimony of all intelligent Christians, not only of 
 her own church, but of other friends in the various denomina- 
 tions in the town and vicinity, and in fact wherever she is best 
 known. I can bear truthful testimony also to her benevolence 
 and real genuine love to Christ and his cause, exhibited in its 
 practical fruits by her systematic beneficence, causing her (at 
 times) great self-denial, which I know it must have cost her, 
 in order to carry out her annual practice of giving one-tenth of 
 all her income to the cause of Christ, both at home and abroad. 
 Her influence both in the church and community generally 
 to the praise of God be it said is not second to any person, 
 religiously, in that region, either as a private Christian or a 
 class-leader. 
 
 "Her pastors have all known that her exhortations and 
 prayers are a power for good to all, both saint or sinner, who 
 have had the privilege of listening to them. The crippled body 
 is truly the temple of the Holy Ghost. Amen." 
 
 The following letter explains itself : 
 
 EAST THOMPSON, July 13, 1874. 
 REV. E. DAVIES. 
 
 Dear Brother, I received a letter last week from Sister L. 
 O. Smith of Eastford, stating your purpose in giving to the
 
 96 HISTORY OF A MODERN MARTYR. 
 
 public some account of her life of suffering, moral triumph, 
 religious victory, and personal usefulness, &c. The object of 
 the narrative was to aid, if possible, the afflicted one to some of 
 life's necessities, of which by her own efforts she really is des- 
 titute. This effort on your part, without fee or reward, seems 
 to me to be a very noble one, and doubtless the promptings of 
 the blessed spirit of the Master, for which you will have your 
 hundred fold in this life, and in the world to come life eternal. 
 Thank the Lord! If by Lizzie's suggestion I can aid you in 
 any way, I would do it most cheerfully, with this restriction, 
 that it be assigned only to a former pastor. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 N. GOODRICH. 
 
 Mr. Jesse Gibson was a noted infidel, for whom Miss Smith 
 felt a deep interest, and prayed much for him, and sent him a 
 number of letters, and they were made a great blessing to him. 
 He sends the following inscription : 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF MISS L. O. SMITH. 
 
 INSCBIBED WITH CHBISTIAN TENDEBNESS, BY MB. JESSE GIB- 
 SON, HOPEVILLE, CONN., JULY, 1874. 
 
 " The past of life, how sweet to muse, 
 
 When thou didst pray and toil 
 That I might reason disabuse, 
 Christ's teachings reconcile. 
 
 " The sleepless nights I mused are past, 
 
 The aching head is well ; 
 Beneath the cross my all is cast: 
 How sweet the tale to tell ! 
 
 " Thy form, dear friend, is paralyzed, 
 
 Contains a soul so sweet, 
 Which helped me to be Christianized, 
 More thoughtful, and discreet. 
 
 " Your Christian counsel will I keep 
 
 That I may live and die ; 
 And ever in Jesus fall asleep, 
 Amid worlds of endless joy. 
 
 " Thy tender words will I embrace, 
 
 While logic stooped, in turn, 
 
 To sip the healing of his grace 
 
 Who doth for sinners yearn. 
 
 " God bless and comfort you always 
 
 As down to death you go ; 
 In glory, God will ever say, 
 ' Well done, the work below.' "
 
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