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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES

 
 
 cX2-^.
 
 MEMOIR 
 
 MRS. SARAH L. HUNTINGTON SMITH, 
 
 LATE OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN MISSION IN SYRIA. 
 
 BY EDWARD W. HOOKER, D. D. 
 
 THIRD EDITION. 
 
 150 NASSAU STREET, NEW-YORK.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1845, 
 
 By T. R. MARVIN, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 Right of publishing transferred to the American Tract Society. 

 
 
 PREFACE 
 
 IN preparing a new edition of the following Memoir, 
 the compiler has availed himself of the suggestions of 
 reviewers and readers, for its improvement in some 
 points. 
 
 It being his plan to devote the first five chapters to 
 the delineation of Mrs. Smith's character, in some of 
 its prominent and most interesting features, rather 
 than to give a history, in the order of time ; dates 
 of years were omitted, in those chapters, to avoid 
 giving perplexity to the reader. In the narrative of her 
 missionary life, which commenced with her engage- 
 ment in the Mohegan enterprise, the order of time is 
 observed, and dates are given in full. 
 
 In relation to the ancestry of Mrs. Smith, all the 
 information is given in the present edition, which is 
 well authenticated. Her supposed descent from the 
 venerable John Robinson, of Leyden, is not ascertained 
 with certainty. It has been traced no farther back 
 than to William Robinson, who was in Dorchester, 
 near Boston, in 1641, and whose relation to the ven- 
 erable Puritan is still matter of tradition. 
 
 Some additions have been made from the correspon- 
 dence of Mrs. Smith ; partly from letters not received 
 till after the publication of the first edition. A few 
 passages have been added from the original history of 
 
 3074838
 
 4 PREFACE. 
 
 her disastrous voyage to Smyrna ; and from the notes 
 of her last days, by her husband. To make room for 
 these, it has been necessary to omit some valuable 
 passages of the first edition. From the materials in 
 hand, a volume much larger could have been prepared, 
 with much less labor of selection ; and it has been 
 the wish of many friends that more might be pub- 
 lished. The compiler has, however, preferred to limit 
 the Memoir to a duodecimo of four hundred pages, 
 that it might contain only the choicest of the materials ; 
 and that its price might be such as to admit of its more 
 extensive and useful circulation. 
 
 With the present edition is given a new engraved 
 likeness, from the original portrait in the possession of 
 her father. 
 
 The work is commended to the God of Missions, 
 whom the subject of it so fervently loved and served ; 
 with the prayer that it may long be instrumental in 
 advancing the spirit of piety and of Christian benevo- 
 lence, and in promoting the kingdom of Christ Jesus 
 on the earth. 
 
 BKNNINGTON, VT., August, 1840.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Parentage and ancestry Development of youthful character Religious 
 impressions Efforts in Sabbath school, and views respecting want of 
 piety in teachers Her conversion, 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Norwich Female friends, and efforts for their spiritual good Illustra- 
 tions of her character and intercourse as a sister Efforts for the spiritual 
 good of her brothers Death of her youngest brother, 22 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Religious experience Views of Christian duty and habits of life Senti- 
 ments on miscellaneous subjects, 56 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Journeys Decease of friends Sympathy with mourners, 78 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Interest in revivals of religion In benevolent operations In the conver- 
 sion of distant relatives and acquaintances, 93 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Commencement and progress of her interest in missions Efforts among 
 the Mohegan Indians Letter to the secretary of war, 106 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Correspondence with her father and friends respecting the foreign mission 
 seivice Engagement to Mr. Smith Marriage Embarkation, .... 127
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Voyage to Malta Ship's company, and efforts for their good Alexan- 
 dria Arrival at Beyroot, 153 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Entrance on missionary labors Interest in the establishment of a school 
 
 Habits and manners of the inhabitants Experience on missionary 
 ground Monthly Concert Studies Illustrations of Scripture, .... 180 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Dhamdoon Mountaineers Death of Mrs. Thomson Visit of the 
 United States' ship Delaware at Beyroot Journey to Suimeen and 
 Baalbek, 195 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Scenery Sabbath evening English service Troubles of Mohamme- 
 dans Death of Dr. Dodge Appeal to American Christians On 
 physical culture Intercourse with English friends Letter to Mrs. 
 Dodge On preparation for the missionary work Female prayer 
 meeting Native habits of fasting Thoughts on American character 
 
 Arab visits Letter to Mrs. Wisner on the death of her husband 
 Letter to Mrs. Hallock, 217 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 Journey to Jerusalem Return to Beyroot, 237 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Correspondence Health Trials Past views of Christians on the state 
 of the world Letter to Miss Williams Responsibilities of American 
 churches, 262 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Summer residence at Aaleih Personal endeavors for the good of indi- 
 viduals Druzes - Alarms among the natives Ibrahim Pasha Case 
 of an English woman Sorrows of a Mohammedan wife Arrival of 
 Miss Williams Views of missionary life Mr. Smith's labors 
 Further hints on missionary qualifications Feelings respecting her 
 parents, 271
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Thoughts on the world as a portion Close occupation of time A 
 Moslem wedding Views of her employment Of a heavenly inher- 
 itance Interest in American friends Engagement in apian for reli- 
 gious visits, 293 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Letter to the members of the Young Ladies' Academy, Norwich Views 
 of the effects of the mission Climate Importance of respectability of 
 appearance in missionaries Good Friday Translation of an Arabic 
 grammar Spring and its productions Impediments to missionary 
 labors Religious conversation Health School Letter to Mrs. 
 Temple, T03 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Failure of Mrs. Smith's health Departure from Beyroot Shipwreck 
 Arrival at Smyrna Continued decline of health Removal to Boojah 
 Last days Death Funeral, 390 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 Concluding Remarks, ..... . 360
 
 MEMOIR. 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 PARENTAGE AND ANCESTRY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTHFUL 
 
 CHARACTER RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS EFFORTS IN SAB- 
 BATH SCHOOL, AND VIEWS RESPECTING WANT OF PIETY 
 IN TEACHERS HER CONVERSION. 
 
 SARAH LANMAN HUNTINGTON was born in Norwich, Con- 
 necticut, June 18, 1802. Her father was Jabez Hunting- 
 ton, Esq. Her paternal grandfather was General Jedidiah 
 Huntington, of New London ; favorably known as an officer 
 in the American army in the war of the Revolution ; but 
 better known, in later periods of his life, as devoted to 
 works of pious benevolence, particularly as one of the 
 early members of the American Board of Commissioners 
 for Foreign Missions. 
 
 It was a source of satisfaction to the subject of this 
 Memoir, particularly after her entrance upon missionary 
 engagements, that an ancestor whom she so much loved 
 and revered, was in his lifetime a member of that Board, in 
 the service of which she was to go forth to the missionary 
 work. Writing of him a few months before her decease, 
 she remarked, " He was far before his age in his liberal 
 views of benevolent efforts. I shall never forget the interest 
 with which I stood by his monument, in New London, just 
 before my departure from America. I felt that his spirit 
 approved of the consecration I had made." Her paternal 
 grandmother, Mrs. Faith Huntington, was daughter of the 
 9 1*
 
 10 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Hon. Jonathan Trumbull, who was governor of the Slate 
 of Connecticut in the time of the American Revolution ; a 
 sister of the second governor of the same name, and also 
 of Colonel John Trumbull, the eminent American painter. 
 She was a woman of serious and devout piety. 
 
 Her maternal grandfather was Peter Lanman, Esq., of 
 Norwich, a man of religious character; among whose an- 
 cestors, in the county of Plymouth, Massachusetts, were 
 several individuals of eminent j>iety. Her maternal grand- 
 mother, the late Mrs. Sarah Lanman, whose name she bore, 
 was a woman of strong mind and ardent piety ; and proba- 
 bly accomplished much for the formation of the character 
 of this grand-daughter. 
 
 Excellence of character is not secured by " birth or 
 blood." It is yet due to the subject of this Memoir to say, 
 that, through both the Trumbulls and the Lanmans, she was 
 of true Puritan stock. Among her maternal ancestors was 
 the Rev. Joseph Coit, of Plainfield, Conn., who used, with 
 much simplicity, to pray that his descendants " mignt be the 
 children of God as long as the grass should grow and the 
 brooks run." Among her ancient relatives in the same 
 connection, was a devout maiden aunt ; of whom General 
 Thomas, when leaving his family, on military duty, in the 
 time of the French war in Canada, remarked, that he 
 " would willingly give Miss Lanman her board for her 
 prayers." The Rev. Joshua Huntington, of the Old South 
 Church, Boston, was a half-brother of her father. While 
 residing in Boston, in attendance upon school, she felt the 
 benefit of his influence, and that of his wife, Mrs. Susan 
 Huntington whose biography is before the Christian 
 world extensively. Her mother was a woman of decided 
 Christian character. She died at the age of thirty-six, when 
 Sarah was only seven. She is remembered to have conse- 
 crated this daughter to God, with peculiar confidence of her 
 acceptance in that solemn act. 
 
 It is the object of this chapter to give a brief sketch 
 of Miss Huntington's early years, including the period at
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. H 
 
 which her conversion to God took place ; and to show what 
 were some of the early developments of her character, in 
 those traits in which she subsequently shone so brightly. 
 Not that the natural elements of human character are of 
 themselves the foundation of Christian usefulness ; but that 
 these are to be valued when sanctified by grace, consecrated 
 to God, and diligently employed for the divine service and 
 glory, and for the good of a lost world. 
 
 Being of a delicate constitution when a child, there was 
 some difficulty in training and governing her. A fond 
 nurse, sometimes by injudicious kindness, did much to 
 counteract the corrections of her parents. Under these in- 
 fluences, a character was formed of a nervous and some- 
 what peculiar temperament; affectionate and sensible to 
 favors, fearful of pain and suffering ; yet venturesome to an 
 extreme, and decided and tenacious in opinions. These 
 traits gave occasion to friends to say, that she promised to 
 make either a very good or a very bad person. They were 
 rendered especially prominent by a protracted sickness 
 when she was about six years old, which confined her to a 
 cot, by the fireside; and also by the death of her mother, 
 which event deprived her of the benefit of maternal influ- 
 ence for a time. Her quick sensibilities were at this age 
 often tortured by the extreme severity of a school-mistress, 
 under whose instruction she was placed. So deep was the 
 impression made by the harshness and frequent punishments 
 of this teacher, that when, in riper years, she visited her on 
 her death-bed, in the alms-house, she actually found herself 
 shrinking before one of those expressions of countenance at 
 which she had so often trembled in her childish days at 
 school. A playful allusion to this teacher is found in one 
 of her letters to a brother in the latter years of her life ; in 
 which she speaks of " what our quondam school-ma'am used 
 to say, and which required the utmost stretch of infant faith 
 to credit 'If I did not love you, I should not whip you.' " 
 
 She was the subject of very early strugglings of a sinful 
 heart against the claims of the law of God. Once, when she
 
 12 MEMOIR OF 
 
 was placed in an apartment alone, as a punishment for 
 improper conduct, and told that God was displeased with 
 her, in an ebullition of excited feeling, as she afterwards 
 confessed, she stamped with her foot upon the floor, and 
 exclaimed, "I hate God." Afterwards, when under con- 
 viction of her sins, immediately previous to her conversion, 
 she feared that this outbreaking of her natural heart could 
 not be forgiven. 
 
 But with these things in childhood, showing that she was 
 a subject of that native depravity in which all the human race 
 are " guilty before God," she exhibited, as she was advancing 
 in the years of youth, many of the virtues which are useful 
 and lovely ; and probably went as far in those excellences 
 of natural character on which many endeavor to build their 
 hope of salvation, as almost any unconverted persons do ; 
 carrying with her, however, the clear and often disturbing 
 conviction, that the best virtues which she practised were 
 not holiness, nor any evidence of fitness for heaven. 
 
 She was exceedingly attached to her friends. Her father 
 was almost her idol. The affection for her mother, who 
 was so early removed by death, she transferred, with exem- 
 plary tenderness, to her step-mother ; and it is believed the 
 instances are rare in which the parties are uniformly happier 
 in each other, in that relation, than were Mrs. Huntington 
 and this daughter. Her warmth and tenderness of affection 
 as a sister were also peculiar and exemplary. Her child- 
 hood and youth were marked with great delicacy of mind 
 and manners ; diligence, promptitude, and efficiency in her 
 undertakings ; love of system and fondness for study, im- 
 provement, and the acquirement of useful knowledge, joined 
 with a great desire to answer the wishes and expectations 
 of her friends. Dutifulness and respect for her parents and 
 grandparents; reverence for her superiors generally; readi- 
 ness to receive advice or admonition ; a just appreciation of 
 the good influence of others, and a spirit of cautiousness 
 respecting whatever might be injurious to her own charac- 
 ter, were also prominent traits in her habits. Disinter-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 13 
 
 estedness and self-denial for the benefit of others were 
 conspicuous. Long before she became a subject of divine 
 grace, she took an interest in various objects of benevolence, 
 particularly Sabbath schools; and exhibited that spirit of 
 enterprise, patience, and perseverance, in aiding the efforts 
 of others, which constituted so prominent an excellence in 
 her character in the later years of her life. Self-govern- 
 ment ; economy in the use of her time and pocket money ; 
 tastefulness in dress, without extravagance ; and a careful 
 and conscientious consideration of her father's resources, 
 also were observable in her early habits. These traits are 
 not mentioned because they are not found in many other 
 young persons, but because they appeared in her in an 
 uncommon degree. 
 
 Although she -entered with zest into the amusements of 
 her young friends, yet she preferred those relaxations of 
 the mind which were rational, intellectual, and useful. 
 While in Boston at school, she writes to her mother, " I 
 
 have not yet been to the theatre ; but Mrs. wishes me 
 
 to go once ; and she says she shall take me very soon ; but 
 I should not care if I did not go at all." She afterwards 
 went once, and wrote to her friends that she had no desire 
 
 to go again. In another letter she says, "Miss called 
 
 to see me, and invited me there on Thursday to a social 
 cotillion party; but I declined, and told her I should prefer 
 visiting them some afternoon when they expected no 
 company. Their party probably turned out quite a ball." 
 Such a preference of an unpretending and quiet visit, 
 instead of the gayety and amusements of a fashionable and 
 splendid party, and this in a young miss of sixteen, not 
 pious, and therefore liable to yield to such a temptation, 
 indicated a soundness of judgment, and good sense, not 
 often surpassed at such an age. 
 
 She had a cast of mind, though not gay and frivolous, yet 
 capable of that playfulness, which under proper regulation 
 is very pleasant in the intercourse of near friends. Her 
 early letters, when at school particularly, were enlivened
 
 14 MEMOIR OF 
 
 with some flashes of wit. But she seems to have been 
 aware that wit is rather a dangerous talent, and to have 
 repressed, rather than cultivated it, as she grew up to 
 womanhood. This trait in her mind occasionally disclosed 
 itself, in subsequent life; yet the instance is not recollected 
 by the writer, in which she indulged in the play of wit at 
 the expense of the feelings of others. She used it, when at 
 all, to enliven the intercourse of friendship, not to sport 
 with the feelings, or interrupt the happiness of those 
 around her. 
 
 She was most assiduously and conscientiously attentive 
 to the proprieties of her sex, and of social life; and it is 
 believed that few young ladies pass through the period of 
 youth, having said or done fewer careless or indiscreet 
 things. t 
 
 In these and other traits of character disclosed in her 
 early years, there was much to make her lovely in the 
 different relations of life, and to give promise of usefulness, 
 ability to exert influence, to command respect, and even to 
 shine in any circle of society. 
 
 With all, however, which made her to be esteemed and 
 respected by her friends and acquaintances, she was con- 
 scious that she had not the religion of Christ dwelling in her 
 heart. Her early letters contain passages showing that she 
 was sometimes thoughtful of God, and of the interests of her 
 own soul, and of eternity. Expressions of just and sound 
 speculative views of divine truth, and of the nature of 
 religion, often appeared in her letters to her friends. But 
 they were accompanied with expressions of her sense of 
 unfitness to speak or write on such subjects ; of her 
 consciousness that as yet she had " no hope," and was 
 " without God in the world." 
 
 She did not believe that in social virtues or intellectual 
 endowments there was any thing on which she could rest 
 for acceptance with God and hope of heaven. She had 
 many pious friends, and doubtless was the subject of their 
 solicitude and earnest prayers, that one having such traits
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 15 
 
 of character might not fail of the salvation of the gospel. 
 But, much as she loved them, and earnestly as they desired 
 to welcome her to the enjoyment of the Christian hope, 
 she seems never to have attempted to persuade herself, or 
 to have allowed others to persuade her, that she was a 
 Christian. And facts, indicating the natural aversion of 
 the heart to religious things, justify the remark, that long 
 did she shine in the virtues of social and domestic life, and 
 exhibit uncommonly fine traits of character, before she 
 learned to bow, as a sinner, at " the cross of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ." 
 
 No specially serious impressions were made upon her 
 mind until she was twelve years old. At the Thanksgiving 
 of that year, her parents went to New London to visit her 
 grandfather ; and left her to entertain a party of her young 
 friends. One of them it being the evening of the usual 
 weekly prayer-meeting left the company when the hour 
 of the meeting arrived, in order to attend it. After she 
 was gone, it was remarked, " Maria is serious ; " at which 
 Sarah exclaimed, " Well ! no one will say of me that / am 
 serious." She even had such a dislike to that meeting, as a 
 stated exercise, that she once secreted herself, to avoid 
 attending it with her parents. But in the spring succeeding 
 the time above mentioned, a beloved female friend now, we 
 trust, a saint in heaven, and to whom, more than to any 
 one else, she attributed the permanency of her religious 
 impressions, and her ultimate conversion, being with her 
 one evening, as the full moon was rising, their attention was 
 attracted towards it. They conversed upon its beauty, and 
 upon its being the work of God ; and as they indulged 
 in youthful sentimentalism, her heart was softened. Her 
 friend, perceiving it, seized the favorable moment, which she 
 had probably been seeking, and invited her to attend 
 the conference meeting. To this she consented, with the 
 utmost willingness. 
 
 Her pastor, the Rev. Alfred Mitchell, held stated re- 
 ligious meetings, at this time, for the benefit of the young.
 
 16 MEMOIR OF 
 
 These she attended, with varying effect; sometimes con- 
 siderably interested, and sometimes not at all. But though 
 the instructions given were excellent, her feelings were not 
 brought to a crisis. Among her associates was the pious 
 friend before mentioned, (who left the Thanksgiving party for 
 the prayer-meeting,) -and whose society she closely culti- 
 vated. With her, at this time, she was led to carry on a 
 frequent correspondence on religious subjects. But neither 
 did this lead to a decisive result. 
 
 In her fourteenth year, a number of young ladies, under 
 the direction of a member of the church, commenced a 
 Sabbath school. In this she took a class. She gave much 
 attention to it, and her mind was deeply interested. And 
 though neither she nor any of the original teachers were 
 pious, she was in after life much gratified by a call from 
 a young female, who informed her, that, while in her class 
 at that time, she received, from what she said, impressions 
 that were the means of her conversion. In this same 
 Sabbath school she had a class, when called to leave her 
 native country for the missionary service. 
 
 Here it may be proper to advert to her sentiments and 
 feelings relative to her peculiar position, as a teacher in a 
 Sabbath school, without personal religion. It appears that, 
 at a particular time, after the enlargement of the school, 
 and when reflecting with much solicitude on this subject, 
 she offered to her associates in the work her resignation 
 of her place as a teacher. This drew from one of them 
 a tender and earnest expostulation with her, in a note, from 
 which the following extract is made: 
 
 " You gave early and freely your talents to the cause of 
 the Redeemer, externally ; wherefore should the heart be 
 withheld ? He who claims it is ' altogether lovely.' If, 
 instead of retiring from the little circle whose exertions 
 have been combined in his cause, you should, this after- 
 noon, in the sanctuary, where such offerings are accepted, 
 freely yield and sweetly consecrate your all to his service, 
 the moment will be reviewed with grateful delight, through
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 17 
 
 the ages of futurity. O come, dear Sarah, and decide; 
 ' come with us, to our Immanuel, and he will do us good.' 
 Even this afternoon, let the report be circulated in heaven, 
 that another is escaped from the snare of the fowler ; is add- 
 ed to the trophies of the cross ; become assimilated in spirit 
 to their happier community, and prepared to do much good 
 here, and to receive its bright rewards hereafter." 
 
 To this appeal she replied, in a note which seems to 
 have been first penciled upon the blank pages of her 
 friend's paper, and of which all that can be deciphered is 
 -the following : 
 
 " Accept, my dear Miss M c Curdy, my sincere gratitude 
 for your kind advice. And oh! that I could tell you I 
 had followed it. But no ; another Sabbath is closing, which 
 is another witness of the goodness of God, to my own 
 condemnation. But with regard to my remaining longer a 
 teacher in the Sabbath school let me assure you my 
 determination respecting it, which I communicated to you 
 this morning, is not a hasty one. I have long felt very un- 
 suitable for this office, and have reflected much. Do not 
 think I leave it because the task has become unpleasant 
 to me, far from it. But I consider it of the utmost 
 importance, that where religious instruction is given, it 
 should be given by those who have experienced religion 
 in their own hearts ; who have been sanctified by divine 
 grace ; and who, feeling the true value of their own souls, 
 can pray and labor earnestly for the salvation of others. 
 
 " I think the school would be more prosperous and more 
 respectable, if all the teachers were professors of religion. 
 If I leave it, one, and I doubt not the only Achan, will be 
 removed. If it should please God ever to renew my heart, 
 I may be more fit to be intrusted with the care of little 
 immortals. But, till then, do not urge my continuance, 
 any longer, a curse to this noble and heavenly institution." 
 
 These notes being without date, the time of the occur- 
 rence to which they relate is uncertain. It is believed, 
 however, to have been when several persons of her own age
 
 18 MEMOIR OF 
 
 were in a state of deep anxiety on the subject of religion. 
 The general state of the church, at the time, being one 
 of declension, the solicitude of these inquirers did not 
 result in a saving change. 
 
 It was at the age -of fifteen that she went to a boarding- 
 school in Boston, where she remained a year. Here she 
 had no deeply serious impressions; and sometimes felt even 
 a reluctance to visit at her uncle Huntington's, (where she 
 spent her Sabbaths, and with whose family she attended 
 church at the Old South,) because she was liable to hear 
 more religious conversation than was agreeable. She was 
 much absorbed in her studies, with some degree of ambi- 
 tion ; and for success in them she used to pray. 
 
 After returning to her father's house, her life was a worldly 
 one, spent much in company. At the age of eighteen, in 
 July, a young relative, an intimate friend of her sister, 
 sickened and died. Sarah was at that time on a visit 
 abroad ; and her sister, in a letter, informing her of the 
 event, addressed a few words to her conscience. Though 
 very few, they were " as a nail fastened in a sure place." 
 On returning, after a few days, she found that this death had 
 made much impression among the young. Meetings were 
 held, to pray that it might be sanctified to them. These she 
 attended ; but found great occasion for complaint against 
 herself, that she had so little sensibility, though she doubtless 
 had much. 
 
 The following note to the Christian friend who addressed 
 to her the one already quoted, seems to have been written 
 about this time : 
 
 " In what words shall I express to you, my dear Miss 
 M c Curdy, my sincere thanks for the affectionate and ex- 
 cellent advice which you have given me? And be assured 
 I receive it with pleasure, as coming from one whom I 
 consider as belonging to the fold of the dear Redeemer. 
 And can I hesitate to place confidence in the friend I so 
 highly esteem? Oh! could your kind prayers and wishes
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 19 
 
 be answered, I might hope to join with you, and the dear 
 saints who have gone before you, in those blessed mansions, 
 singing praises to redeeming love. How delightful and en- 
 viable is tne character you at first described ! but how awful, 
 and I fear too applicable to me, is the latter ! Ah ! I must 
 have resolved in my own strength ; for why should I, at this 
 time, be in this stupid state, if I had rested upon the Saviour 1 
 The idea at times rises in my mind, that it is wrong for me 
 to attempt to pray ; that it is mockery to pray without the 
 Spirit ; for surely my prayers would be answered if I prayed 
 aright. But what would be my feelings to abandon this 
 duty! Oh! I never can! 
 
 'Perhaps he will admit my plea, 
 Perhaps will hear my prayer ; 
 But if I perish I will pray, 
 And perish only there." 
 
 And now, what shall I say? Of what avail is the detail of 
 unrepented sins? I can only tell you that I am still ' in the 
 gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.' O, my dear 
 friend, may I indulge the hope that I shall have an interest 
 in your prayers? Do pray that I may see my situation in 
 its true light, and that I may be enabled to clasp my Saviour 
 in the arms of a strong and lively faith, relying upon him 
 alone for salvation. 
 
 " It is needless to request of you to keep this answer an 
 entire secret. Perhaps you know from experience how dis- 
 agreeable it is to have such things in any measure public. 
 Be assured, my much respected friend, that you have not in 
 the least degree offended me. Nothing could have given 
 me more pleasure than the testimony I have received of 
 your friendship and good wishes ; and I doubt not but each 
 of the teachers has the same feelings which I have. Re- 
 questing you to tell me of my faults, without any hesitation, 
 I subscribe myself your truly affectionate but unworthy 
 friend."
 
 20 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Special meetings were at this time held by her pastor ; but 
 she did not attend them, lest, by declaring herself an inqui- 
 rer, she should raise the expectations of her friends only to 
 disappoint them, as she had done in her former seriousness. 
 The safety and propriety of this decision admits of question ; 
 although it was natural for an unconverted person to make 
 such a one. In returning one evening, however, from a 
 prayer-meeting, an intimate friend took occasion to speak 
 to her, plainly, of her spiritual state. She then wept, and 
 opened the feelings of her heart. This was on Tuesday 
 evening. Wednesday passed without any thing special, 
 except that, at a sewing-circle, she chose the more serious 
 part of the company; and, entering into conversation re- 
 specting submission to God, she advanced the sentiment that 
 if the sinner could be made to understand how to submit, 
 he would do it. The next morning, she awoke with a deep 
 impression that it would be her last day of grace; that God 
 would cut her off or harden her heart, or in some way put 
 an end to her probation. In the evening, she attended the 
 regular Thursday conference, and, before leaving home, knelt 
 down and earnestly prayed that it might be the evening of 
 her submission to the Saviour. It was so. Before the meet- 
 ing closed, while the assembly was at prayer, she gave up 
 her heart to God. She did it in the full exercise of her 
 understanding, and felt then, and afterwards, that it was 
 peculiarly a rational act. This was on the 10th of August, 
 1820. 
 
 Much joy followed, and the night was spent with her 
 sister, in wakefulness, conversing upon the wonderful grace 
 of God. But in the morning she arose under a cloud. 
 Her sister took her to her pastor ; but she found no relief. 
 On reaching home, she retired by herself; and then had 
 such views of her heart as she never had before. She felt 
 that she was a sinner against God, and loved to sin, and she 
 abhorred herself for it. It was an hour of intense convic- 
 tion of her sinfulness. Overwhelmed with it, she went again 
 to her Saviour, and then found permanent relief.
 
 MKS. SARAH L. SMITH. 21 
 
 Writing to an intimate friend, soon after this, and giving 
 some account of the work of divine grace which had been 
 experienced in Norwich, she says, " And can you believe, 
 my dear Mary, that God, in his infinite mercy, has been 
 pleased to snatch me as a brand from the burning, and that 
 I am to join this precious company of converts, and before 
 him, angels, and men, covenant to be his forever ? It was 
 on Thursday evening that I hope! was enabled to cast my 
 load of sin a heavy load at the feet of Jesus, and submit 
 to his sceptre. Oh ! it was a glorious liberty I experienced ; 
 and I could only say. ' Adore, and praise, and wonder ! ' : '
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 NORWICH FEMALE FRIENDS, AND EFFORTS FOR THEIR 
 
 SPIRITUAL GOOD ILLUSTRATIONS OF HER CHARACTER 
 
 AND INTERCOURSE AS A SISTER EFFORTS FOR THE 
 
 SPIRITUAL GOOD OF HER BROTHERS DEATH OF HER 
 
 YOUNGEST BROTHER. 
 
 IN reading the biography of an eminent and useful Chris- 
 tian, we naturally wish to know something of the place of 
 his birth and residence; the circle of society in which he 
 moved; the kind of influences under which his character 
 was formed; and the esteem in which he was held by those 
 who knew him best. A beautiful flower may grow in a 
 wilderness, or on some fertile spot in a desert. But we 
 look in the garden most advantageously situated, and where 
 is employed an assiduous and judicious cultivation, for the 
 flower which shall be most rich and beautiful. With the 
 name of Norwich pleasant associations have perhaps be- 
 come formed in the minds of some American Christians, 
 as the birthplace of Harriet Winslow ; and it may not lose 
 any thing now, by the fact that there also the subject of 
 this Memoir was born, educated, and fitted for high service 
 for Christ and a seat in heaven. 
 
 Norwich, the early home of Miss Huntington, is one 
 of the most pleasant towns in New England. It embraces 
 much wild and beautiful scenery, of both land and water ; 
 always strikes pleasantly the eye of the traveller; and has 
 been a place of some resort by strangers of taste and 
 intelligence. There are not many valleys in New England 
 sweeter than that at the head of the Thames; nor which 
 
 83
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 23 
 
 would be more reluctantly left by a resident having a soul 
 to love scenes rendered pleasant by creative power and 
 mercy. And a missionary, forsaking it for the uncertainties 
 of a foreign residence, gives one evidence of willingness 
 to forsake all things for Christ. 
 
 Of the society of Norwich it is some commendation 
 to say, that a lady of Miss Huntington's intelligence and 
 cultivation of mind and manners, loved it, and spent her 
 years happily in its circles, and contributed to render it 
 desirable. She spent her time principally at home; although 
 the number of her friends abroad, their attachment to her, 
 their estimate of her society, and their desire for it, made her 
 visits to be often solicited. At Hartford, New Haven, New 
 York, and at other places, the residences of her relatives, 
 she was sure of a hearty and happy reception ; oftener than 
 she felt that, as a daughter, she could be absent from her 
 father's house. 
 
 The delight with which she returned from visiting some 
 of her choicest friends, she testifies in the following extract: 
 " Through the blessings of a kind Providence, my dear 
 sister, I am at last seated in my beloved HOME, with every 
 thing to call forth the gratitude of my heart towards that 
 Being who delighteth in mercy. Whether it be that my 
 own happy feelings have radiated every object, or that a 
 peculiar brightness does really encircle them, I know not ; 
 but certain it is, that I never returned home under pleas- 
 anter surrounding circumstances." 
 
 Amidst the society of friends whom she visited, Miss 
 Huntington was unwilling merely to enjoy herself; but seems 
 to have been solicitous lest her time should pass without 
 benefit to those around her. She thus writes to one of 
 her friends while in New York: "I fear my winter has 
 not been very profitably spent ; and have just been saying 
 the same to aunt Faith, and telling her that I do not think 
 I have done any thing for the benefit or happiness of any 
 one." Far otherwise, however, was the sentiment of her
 
 24 MEMOIR OF 
 
 friends. Her jealousy of herself, doubtless, operated to 
 secure a good measure of fidelity in endeavors to be useful. 
 
 The friendship of young ladies for each other is inter- 
 esting arid lovely, especially when it is sanctified and 
 strengthened by religious principle. The delicacy and 
 fervency which mark such attachments, and the intercourse 
 growing out of them ; the mutual confidence ; the sympathy 
 in each other's joys and sorrows; the liveliness with which 
 they enter into each other's prospects in life ; and, if Chris- 
 tians, the refining of these feelings which arises from their 
 hearts being fixed upon the same Saviour, from their rejoi- 
 cing in the same hope, and anticipating the same bliss, 
 holiness, and glory in heaven ; such friendships, in this 
 cold world, aid our conceptions respecting the love, and 
 harmony, and purity which pervade the society of heaven. 
 True, these same lovely female associates live in a world of 
 sin ; and they partake in the sinfulness of human character 
 while without religion, and of the imperfections of other 
 Christians after conversion. But such friendships rebuke 
 the things unamiable, unrefined, and selfish, which so often 
 introduce alloy into the happiness of society, depress the 
 standard of Christian feeling, and perplex the path of many 
 towards heaven. 
 
 One of Miss Huntington's earliest friendships, of this 
 class, was with a cousin, near her own age, several years 
 since deceased, to whom she owed much for her endeavors 
 to promote her spiritual good. No letters have been pre- 
 served which throw light upon this intimacy. She prepared, 
 for the gratification of the relatives of this friend, a memoir 
 of her life, not designed for publication, but exhibiting 
 favorably both the character of the deceased, and her own 
 ability as a writer of a memoir. 
 
 During one of her visits in New York, soon after her 
 religious change, Miss Huntington was much in the society 
 of one for whom she formed a strong attachment, and who 
 seems to have entered into her views on the great interests
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 25 
 
 of eternity and the soul. A few extracts from her letters to 
 this female friend will show how she loved her, and followed 
 her in her thoughts and with her prayers, when distance 
 separated them. Here, also, it should be remarked, " they 
 were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in death they 
 were not [long] divided." 
 
 "NEW YORK, APRIL 11. 
 
 " You can hardly imagine, my dear Mary, the disappoint- 
 ment I experienced, when I returned on Monday morning, 
 to find you had left us. It was so unexpected to me, that 
 for a few moments I could not reconcile myself to it. It 
 was my wish, before we parted, to have united once more 
 at the throne of grace. The thought often rushes upon my 
 mind, that we shall never meet again on this side eternity ; 
 that we shall never kneel again together before the mercy- 
 seat of our heavenly Father. But I will not indulge the 
 thought : we may see each other here ; but, if not here, I 
 humbly hope we shall behold each other face to face, in a 
 better, happier world, and unite in celebrating the praises 
 of that Being who watched over us while together, and 
 blessed us while separated." 
 
 At a subsequent date, she thus writes to this friend : 
 " You express the hope that I find much enjoyment in the 
 path of holiness; but oh ! my dear Mary, I have more cause 
 for lamentation than yourself. I have found, since my re- 
 turn, that my heart has wandered from God ; that I have 
 grown cold in his service, and provoked him to hide his 
 face from me. May we not attribute our coldness to our six 
 months' residence in that busy city? I found such a life 
 greatly prejudicial to my growth in grace; and sometimes, 
 when dwelling upon my own backslidings, I regret that 1 
 ever left home. But it was for the best, and perhaps was 
 to show me that I have no strength in myself." 
 
 Writing to this friend some time after, from the house of 
 
 Smith 2
 
 26 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the relative in New York, where they had visited, she says, 
 "I can hardly realize that nearly two years have elapsed 
 since you were seated with me on this very spot, where we 
 have enjoyed many hours of social converse. While I am 
 writing to you, a feeling of melancholy passes over me; and 
 yet, I ask myself, Why is it? My dear friend is at home, 
 surrounded by friends, and as happy, for aught that I know, 
 as this world can make her ; and I have ten thousand bless- 
 ings to call forth my gratitude. But thus it is ; the recol- 
 lection of past interesting scenes always excites in me a 
 degree of sadness. I have taken much pleasure in visiting 
 those places which were interesting to us when yon were 
 here; especially Wall Street Church, and our favorite re- 
 sort, the Session Room." 
 
 To another of her friends, who had removed to a dis- 
 tance of several hundred miles, she thus writes : "I thank 
 you for the hasty note which I received before you left, 
 and affectionately reciprocate every kind expression. I 
 followed you in imagination to the close of your journey, 
 and thought of you on the first Sabbath. I reflected 
 with seriousness, that one more scene of this changing 
 world had closed. How rapidly events follow each other ! 
 Surely, I never realized so forcibly as now, that I am 
 living for eternity. And is it so, my beloved Sarah, that 
 the days of our youthful friendship are gone, never to be 
 recalled 1 We will not think of the past, but look forward 
 to brighter scenes above. 
 
 ' All are friends in heaven ; all 
 Faithful friends ; and many friendships, 
 In the days of time begun, 
 Are lasting there and growing still." " 
 
 Miss Huntington's fidelity in seeking the conversion of 
 her friends to God, is illustrated in the following passages 
 from letters to young ladies of her circle of relations and 
 friends. Writing, soon after her own change of religious
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 27 
 
 feelings, she says, " My thoughts very soon recurred to my 
 dear Mary ; and I imagined her in the midst of the same 
 privileges and blessings. I had heard that there was a work 
 of grace in Ithaca, and could not but hope that my friend 
 had been made a subject. Is this the case? Have you 
 ' tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious ' 1 Have you 
 found the world vanity, and religion a reality? I cannot 
 bear to think, for a moment, that you have let so precious 
 a season pass unimproved. But perhaps it is not over. 
 Possibly the Spirit is still with you ; and oh, if it be ! and 
 if it be not, let me entreat you to seek a share in the 
 blessing. I fondly imagined that the same Spirit, at the 
 same time, was sent to us both, and that we should be 
 prepared to spend eternity together. How did it increase 
 the bitterness of my soul, that I did not begin earlier to 
 glorify my God ! The past years of my life appear to me 
 all lost lost forever! Believe me, dear friend, we do not 
 begin to live until we live for God. Oh ! how irrational 
 is man ! how deserving the most severe punishment ! Can 
 we sufficiently admire the astonishing mercy of Him who 
 bears so long with us? Surely he is 'the God of pa- 
 tience ! ' " 
 
 She seemed anxious lest she herself had hindered the 
 conversion of this young frientl, by want of Christian fidel- 
 ity, and to have sought, by a frank acknowledgment of 
 negligence in one particular duty, to take up the stumbling- 
 block out of her way. " How has my conscience reproved 
 me for neglecting to speak to you of the love of this Saviour, 
 when we were together ' I have had bitter reflections that 
 so much of my time was spent in trifling conversation, when 
 I knew not but our next meeting would be before the throne 
 of judgment. I have endeavored to seek the pardon of my 
 God for these sins; and now do I ask, sincerely, your for- 
 giveness, for sins committed against your soul. It was an 
 erroneous idea of friendship which kept me silent upon 
 such an important subject : and it should humble me in the 
 dust."
 
 28 MEMOIR Oi' 
 
 Writing to another friend, she says, " I was much 
 disappointed at the contents of your letter. My dear Su- 
 sannah, how can you withhold your heart from the blessed 
 Saviour? Is there nothing lovely in his character? You 
 love excellence in your fellow-creatures: Jesus is the 
 fountain of all excellence. In him is all you can desire. 
 Why, then, withstand his kind calls and entreaties? I am 
 at a loss what to say to you. You know all. Your under- 
 standing is convinced of your duty. How can you be so 
 ungrateful as to live at enmity with God ? Oh ! that single 
 name, GOD, expresses every thing. I do think it is sweet to 
 me. Consider, my dear friend, * with whom you have to 
 do ; ' that you are trifling with the ' High and Lofty One 
 who inhabiteth eternity ! ' You cannot always do this. Now 
 he sits on a throne of mercy, and kindly calls upon you, like 
 a tender father, to be reconciled to him. Erelong you will 
 behold him on a throne of judgment. You will then see 
 the justice of Jehovah in casting you off forever. Excuse 
 my freedom ; but these are solemn truths, and must one 
 day be realized. Will no arguments move you? Oh! I 
 can only commend you to the sovereign grace of Almighty 
 God." 
 
 A heart so affectionate towards those beyond the circle of 
 her father's family, it might be expected, would have most 
 ardent and tender attachments to those more nearly related. 
 Miss Huntington had an only sister, to whom, after her mar- 
 riage and removal to a distant part of the State, she thus 
 writes "When I think of the painful separation 1 am 
 called to endure, the idea that you are happy lessens the 
 evil. But, my dear sister, you can hardly imagine what the 
 state of my feelings has been since you left us. I felt for a 
 little while as if I could not live; the loneliness of my situ- 
 ation pressed upon me with all its force. Every apartment 
 reechoed the painful tale that you were gone; and this feeling 
 came home to my heart with a heavy load, respecting our 
 past enjoyments together 'they were, but they will be no 
 more ! ' Words would fail me to express all the bitter feel-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 29 
 
 ings of my heart. But I endeavored to drown them in care, 
 and to lessen them in the faithful discharge of duty. I have 
 in a great measure succeeded, and have learnt to look upon 
 the whole with brighter and calmer feelings. It is my wish 
 to supply your place, so far as I am able , but I have not 
 the power to fill it." 
 
 " Oh that I had more of the presence of the Spirit of God, 
 and I should be less cast down with temporal trials. When 
 we surround the family altar on Sabbath mornings, 1 delight 
 to unite in the petitions of our dear father for you; and 
 could you witness the affection and fervor with which he 
 commends you, and the spiritual interests of your flock, to 
 our heavenly Father, it would gladden your hearts. You 
 are not forgotten at other seasons ; but then, particularly, 
 we feel as if communion were sweet." 
 
 But there was another relation in which her affections 
 were developed in a manner and degree not surpassed in 
 any of the intimacies or relationships already described. 
 Miss Huntington had three brothers, whom she loved with 
 most exemplary tenderness, and in whose temporal, but 
 especially spiritual good, she felt an habitual and intense in- 
 terest. How they would prosper in the things of this life, 
 but, much more, how they should live here so as to glorify 
 God, and arrive at heaven, were subjects on which she 
 frequently disclosed her anxiety to them and to her Chris- 
 tian relatives. It may serve to illustrate her Christian 
 character, and to quicken others in the duties of the same 
 relation, to present a few extracts relating to this point. 
 Truly, there is no relation, in which a young lady can be 
 contemplated, more interesting than that of an affectionate, 
 judicious, solicitous, and prayerful sister. 
 
 Of her eldest brother, she thus writes: "I feel de- 
 pressed this morning, not particularly about myself, but 
 about our dear Jedidiah. I long to have him interested in 
 the covenant of grace. Do let us be more earnest than 
 ever for this blessing ; and let us pray that our faith may
 
 30 MEMOIR OF 
 
 not fail." At another time, she says, "I wrote to him 
 on new year's day, upon the subject of religion. He re- 
 ceived it kindly, but made no reply." 
 
 The following are extracts from the letter mentioned : 
 " I cannot refrain, my beloved brother, on this interesting 
 anniversary, from expressing, by letter, my deep anxiety for 
 your salvation. The subject has ever lain near my heart; 
 but of late I have felt unusually solicitous that you should 
 improve the present season of comparative leisure and quiet, 
 in securing your eternal happiness ; fearing that your ' ac- 
 /cepted time' will pass away, and your eternity prove a 
 miserable one. I hope, dear brother, that this effort will 
 not displease you. If I were sure that it would, still, my 
 feelings and my duty would urge me to the step. For we 
 shall meet on that last great day, when I must bear the 
 scrutiny of my Judge in regard to my own efforts for the 
 salvation of those who are dear to me. And could you 
 realize, as I now do, the transitory nature of all sublunary 
 things, and the weighty interests which hang upon our fleet- 
 ing moments, were I in a state of impenitence towards God, 
 your love for me would dictate some exertion for my poor 
 soul. But I will make no further apology. I doubt not that 
 you will accept this expression of my affection with the same 
 feelings with which it is offered." 
 
 After expressing her confidence that he had no disbelief 
 in the doctrines of the Bible, and yet her fear that he was 
 quieting himself in the notion of a blameless inability 
 to do his duty, and warning him against that delusion, she 
 writes "It is useless and sinful to spend our time 
 in speculations upon 'man's free agency and God's sove- 
 reignty.' Our duty as sinners is very plain, so that none 
 need err respecting it. We are responsible to God, and 
 must be righteously condemned if we refuse to obey the 
 plain injunction, 'Give me thine heart.' Oh! how un- 
 grateful to postpone this duty even if we intend to do 
 it until the last hour, when we can please ourselves no
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 31 
 
 longer ! Would that my every breath, from early infancy, 
 had been consecrated to my highest, dearest Friend, to 
 whom I owe every thing, and can pay nothing. 
 
 "The past has been, with me, a happy year; for I have 
 set more lightly by the world, and I have with unusual 
 tranquillity rested upon God. I can testify that the ways of 
 Wisdom are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths peace. 
 Often, when you have returned from your daily toils, weary 
 and depressed, I have longed to have them sweetened by the 
 comforts of religion. You have found that earthly pursuits 
 do leave an aching void ; but religious hopes fill the whole 
 spirit. 
 
 " I have prayed for you every day, since I first knew the 
 way to the throne of grace. Precious privilege ! it is yet 
 mine, and I will use it still more faithfully. Yes, dear 
 brother, your own apartment shall witness a fervent prayer 
 for you each day, while health continues. And will you 
 not pray for yourself, and give yourself to God 1 Our years 
 are flying, and we shall soon be beyond the grave. I make 
 this appeal to you with the judgment seat in view. 1 
 already see you and myself standing there together ; our 
 dear parents too, and each member of our family; our 
 duties to each other set before us, and their performance or 
 neglect placed to our account. Shall we be deterred from 
 duty by an earthly frown 1 My God ! I fear thee more than 
 an assembled world of reproaching fellow-mortals. Let me 
 have but thine approbation, and I care for little else. 
 
 " Dear, affectionate brother, good night. Do not throw 
 this aside as unworthy of your attention. Though worth- 
 less in itself, it speaks of that eternity to which you are 
 hastening. Let the subject interest you; and be assured 
 that the heart which dictates it loves you. 
 
 YOUR SISTER." 
 
 Her two brothers younger than herself, and over whose 
 childhood and youth she watched with much anxiety, are 
 more frequently mentioned in her letters to her Christian
 
 32 MEMOIR OF 
 
 friends ; and her correspondence with them after they 
 left the family home, shows the heart of a Christian sister. 
 Writing of them, she says, "I hope you and your 
 husband will pray for our dear brothers at home, who are 
 just at the age to be influenced by evil companions. I am 
 often made very anxious lest they should become indifferent 
 to moral restraint. I often weep in secret for them, and 
 sometimes think I suffer a mother's anxiety, in degree, if 
 not in kind. This is one of my trials, and one which you, 
 dear sister, did not experience. I strive not to be unduly 
 anxious, but I do earnestly desire their conversion. Peter 
 seems to be ambitious to make the best use of his advan- 
 tages, and I hope his collegiate course will be honorable ; 
 but the temptations in Yale are great. Yet we must leave 
 all with God, being ' careful for nothing.' Oh for such 
 a spirit ! When I think of the revival here, five years since, 
 I wonder that I did not wrestle more earnestly with God 
 for the extension of his grace. But the season is past ; 
 I will not say never to return, for I trust it will." 
 
 Miss Huntington's second brother, after having assisted 
 his father in business till the age of twenty-one, removed 
 to New York. Her letters give evidence of the new and 
 increased interest with which she followed him into the 
 scenes of mercantile life in the city; and with what assiduity 
 she sought to influence him to habits of life, honorable, safe, 
 and promotive of his own happiness ; but especially to lead 
 him to the thoughts and duties becoming one having higher 
 than temporal interests to secure. The following seems to 
 have been written not long after his leaving the paternal 
 roof : 
 
 " I need not tell you, my beloved brother, that your 
 affectionate letter was truly gratifying to your sister. I 
 thank you for it, and for the freedom with which you 
 expressed the feelings of your heart. My own is ever open 
 to receive all your joys and sorrows ; and could I alleviate 
 the latter, I should greatly rejoice. I can easily sympathize
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 33 
 
 with you in those moments of retirement, when the excite- 
 ment of a busy day has passed away. The imagination, 
 always liveliest at evening, wings its flight, and bears away 
 too frequently the more sober judgment. Often, when I 
 have been fatigued, a cloud has seemed to envelop every 
 object ; and through the gloomy vista of future years, not 
 a ray of light was discernible. But I have been enabled 
 to gain the ascendency over such feelings, and to exercise 
 a more cheerful dependence upon Him who feeds the 
 ravens, and to whom all things are subservient. You were 
 always active, my dear brother, but you have never before 
 experienced the unceasing crowd of business; you are 
 separated from all your dear ones, and surrounded by 
 Strangers; besides which, your mind is naturally inclined 
 a little to romantic sentiment; and the leisure which you 
 have had for reading and reflection, has carried you rather 
 above the common level. From these causes, I can easily 
 appreciate all the feelings which you manifest. These in- 
 tellectual features, my dear Edward, while they show them- 
 selves in the midst of the routine of sober duty, render a 
 character more interesting; but if permitted to assume 
 the control, and to lead one from rational and necessary 
 employments to a romantic and visionary course, they de- 
 stroy all harmony of character, and generally bring their 
 subject to unlooked-for misfortunes. As Divine Providence 
 has furnished your present situation, is it not best to make 
 a wise use of it ? I think of you a great deal ; and were 
 it not that I am borne along rapidly by a multiplicity of 
 cares, my tender solicitude for you, and the recollection 
 of past enjoyments, would induce a morbid sensibility. 
 Youi letters always excite me so much as to make me ' play 
 the infant.' And though, apparently, I have no ability to 
 assist you, I am permitted every day to have audience with 
 the 'King of kings,' in your behalf; this privilege no 
 earthly arm can take from me ; and though shorn of every 
 temporal blessing, this will remain with me to the end 
 
 of life." 
 
 2*
 
 34 MEMOIR OF 
 
 All her solicitude respecting this beloved brother, how- 
 ever, for " the life that now is," was immeasurably surpassed 
 by that which she felt respecting his interests for eternity. 
 The following, written some time afterward, on learning 
 that his mind was exercised on religious subjects, shows 
 the intenseness of her solicitude respecting him 
 
 "TUESDAY EVE. 
 
 " My dear Edward : My expectation was wrought up to 
 a great height this morning, previous to the arrival of your 
 letter ; and when I read it, my heart seemed as if it would 
 burst. This was but for a few moments, however, when 1 
 was enabled to cast you upon an all-sufficient Saviour, and 
 there leave you. I can do nothing else, nor any of your 
 Christian friends. I think your situation extremely critical ; 
 for should the Holy Spirit depart, you would be surprised 
 to find how indifferent you would become, and how this 
 miserable world would once more assume its reign over 
 you. The Spirit has been striving with you. Read John 
 xvi. 7, 8, 9. I felt nothing but the hardness of my heart 
 and unbelief; and it was this hard, unbelieving heart that I 
 carried to Jesus. He came to ' the sick,' and not to ' the 
 whole.' I would recommend to you, my dear brother, to 
 say nothing more to any one upon the subject of your 
 feelings, but go to God, who alone can help you; and read 
 nothing but the Bible. Mr. Temple, who addressed us this 
 P. M., says, ' the Spirit maybe talked away.' It does relieve 
 us to converse; yet we should seek no relief in this case 
 but at the cross. You are still in ' slippery places.' Haste 
 away, my brother ; oh haste ! You gain nothing while 
 you delay ; you lose ground. Do not prescribe any par- 
 ticular course to God, or expect any precise method. 
 Scarcely two cases agree precisely. Go in earnest prayer 
 to God ; ' look on him whom you have pierced, and mourn ; ' 
 and when we next hear, tell us that you will join our happy 
 company."
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 36 
 
 In another letter, soon after, she says, "1 do not 
 know, my dear brother, that I can say any thing to you that 
 you do not already know ; but I fear that you are not fully 
 aware that the fault is wholly your own, if you are yet 
 unreconciled to God. He created you for his service, and, 
 from the first dawn of moral intelligence, has demanded 
 your every affection and your constant obedience. Every 
 day and hour he has been waiting for your heart; and think 
 you that he is now unwilling that you should turn from 
 your revolt and obey his will ? The controversy is just 
 this and it is the same which overthrew the happiness 
 of the first apostate, and which, in its very nature, makes 
 every being miserable God chooses to reign in your 
 heart, and your rebellious will says, ' No, I cannot give up 
 the dominion.' It is this which is the source and the end 
 of all sin the creature at variance with his Creator ; the 
 sinner having an offered redemption, yet trampling upon 
 the atoning blood of the Son of God ! Awful apostasy ! 
 more aggravated than that of Adam ; he accepted the pro- 
 pitiation offered. Only be willing to submit your will to 
 God, in Christ, and the work is done. The way is very 
 narrow ; therefore all self-dependence must be cast away, 
 and you must receive the kingdom of heaven ' as a little 
 child.' The deepest convictions will make you no better ; 
 not one step is taken while the will is unsubdued. You 
 say that you shall not return to the world. It matters little 
 in regard to the final event, what idol you have besides God, 
 so long as you do not love him supremely, and do every 
 thing from this principle of love. The purest morality 
 helps you none. My dear brother, be not an alien from 
 God, an ' alien from your mother's children.' Sarah is well 
 and lovely. Your letters cast a shade over her counte- 
 Tiance, while they tell of continued resistance to the offered 
 mercy of her glorious Redeemer." 
 
 Miss Huntington had the sweet satisfaction, at length, of 
 seeing this brother rejoicing in the Christian hope, and
 
 3tt MEMOIR OF 
 
 uniting with the church of Christ. She thus writes to 
 him in relation to his making a profession of religion: 
 " You need not be told, my dear Edward, how much I have 
 thought of you, particularly in relation to the solemn act 
 of public consecration to God. May you be a ' living 
 epistle ' of Christ, ' known and read of all men.' " 
 
 The youngest brother of Miss Huntington seems to have 
 been the subject of her most intense and protracted interest. 
 Not that she loved him more than the others, for there does 
 not appear to have been any thing of favoritism in her mind. 
 But, it being the design of her father to educate him for one 
 of the learned professions, and his early indications of talent 
 giving hope of his future usefulness, her affection for him, 
 and her feelings as a Christian, led her ardently to desire 
 that he might "preach the unsearchable riches of Christ." 
 With what earnestness she prayed, and endeavored to 
 engage others to pray, for his conversion ; with what so- 
 licitude she sought to win him to Christ, and to aid him 
 in his Christian course ; with what kindness she watched 
 over him in long and distressing sickness, and in the hour 
 of death, will appear in the following passages from her 
 correspondence : 
 
 " 1 am glad to hear that you have some regulations 
 established for the improvement of your time ; but their 
 importance and efficacy will only be manifested by the 
 faithful practice of them. The talents which a kind God 
 has given you will be worse than lost, if you permit 
 them to run wild. They will require your steady and faith- 
 ful improvement. Our dear father regards your future 
 character and reputation with peculiar interest. As his 
 prospects for the possession of wealth are so much darkened, 
 I hope that in his children he will find constant enjoyment. 
 But this must depend upon our individual exertion. 
 
 " To tell you, my beloved Peter, how much I feel ill 
 regard to your own reputation, and the honor of your 
 friends, and, most of all, the character which you are
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH- 37 
 
 forming for eternity, would be impossible. Suffice it to 
 say, a large portion of ray heart is occupied by you and 
 your future prospects." 
 
 The kind regard with which she watched him in his 
 college relations and pursuits, is indicated in the extract 
 subjoined : "I should like very well to know what impres- 
 sion my brother is making upon the Faculty of Yale. He 
 does not require any repetition of our wishes respecting 
 him." 
 
 The following letter, accompanying one received from 
 him, was written on hearing of a revival in Yale College, 
 and of his awakening to religious inquiry ; and indicates 
 that his spiritual condition was the absorbing subject of 
 her thoughts. 
 
 "These few lines, my dear sister, we received from 
 Peter yesterday ; and I cannot omit sending them to you, 
 that you may be quickened in prayer for him. It is now 
 a day of salvation with him; and oh! shall we be cold and 
 unfaithful? I knew there was a revival in college, and 
 have prayed earnestly that P. might share in it ; but when 
 this letter came, my feelings and desires were almost too 
 intense for utterance. He speaks the language of an 
 awakened sinner. The complaint of such a one is usually 
 of hardness of heart. 
 
 " I feel that I am unworthy of such a favor as the conver- 
 sion of a brother ; but God can glorify himself; and I hope 
 it is my most earnest desire that his name might be glorified. 
 I have devoted this day to humiliation and prayer. My 
 faith is weak very weak. I never felt my own impotence 
 more than at present. I know that, in this revival, some will 
 be taken, and others left ; and it may suit the purposes of 
 Jehovah to leave our dear brother. His ways are not our 
 ways, and I desire to be submissive ; but we are justified in 
 seeking his grace for our friends."
 
 88 MEMOIR OF 
 
 To him she also writes, as follows: "To give you 
 any adequate idea of the sensations produced by your letter, 
 my dear brother, is impossible. Indeed, you will never 
 realize them unless you are brought to experience 'fear 
 and trembling,' with earnest desires for a near relative, to 
 whom ' the day of salvation ' has arrived, and which, if mis- 
 improved, will add to his condemnation. 
 
 " I hardly dare write, lest I should weaken any impres- 
 sion which the Spirit may have produced in your mind. 
 What shall I say to you? 'Agree with thine adversary 
 quickly, while thou art in the way with him.' Wait not, 
 my dear brother, for deeper convictions ; your heart can be 
 softened only at the foot of the cross. An impenitent sin- 
 ner is a hardened sinner ; and true penitence carries the 
 soul immediately to Jesus, where pardoning love is secured. 
 There will the 'exceeding sinfulness of sin' be discovered, 
 and there may you mourn and hate it. Believe me, dear 
 Peter, there is no salvation in convictions. You say thai 
 you are determined to find an interest in the Saviour. Go . 
 to him, then, immediately. Submit your hardened and 
 rebellious heart to his disposal and government. There is 
 peace no where else ; there is safety in no other resort. 
 Repent and believe now, and the work is done. 
 
 " I waited for such a sense of my sins as should make 
 me a worthy object of God's mercy ; but I waited in vain. 
 On one evening I was brought to feel that tears and distress 
 could not avail, and that my duty was to ' believe.' I cast 
 myself on the compassion of the Saviour, as a poor, blind, 
 hardened, helpless wretch; and that moment found joy and 
 peace in believing. 
 
 " I tremble while I think that some will be taken, and 
 others left. Your room-mate is taken-; be not you left. I 
 rejoice that you have pious friends around you. But friends 
 can do nothing for you. The cause is between God and 
 your own soul. We have prayed for you, especially since 
 we heard of the revival in college.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 39 
 
 " Dear brother, should this season pass away, and leave 
 you unconverted, I should almost despair. You would be 
 less susceptible of future impressions, and your hard heart 
 would be harder still." 
 
 He became hopefully a subject of divine grace; and 
 during his next visit at home, in college vacation, Miss 
 Huntington writes to her sister respecting him "It is 
 with unusual joy and gratitude that I would inform you, 
 that Peter gives evidence of a change of heart. I cannot 
 say but that I still rejoice with trembling, and cease not to 
 pray for him ; but I never witnessed so striking a change 
 in any individual ; and it is noticed by all. If he remain 
 steadfast, I have no doubt he will be a minister of the 
 gospel. Pray that he may not be deceived, or grow careless 
 in the ways of the Lord." 
 
 Miss Huntington, thus enjoying the satisfaction of hope 
 for this brother, devoted herself with all the assiduity of a 
 Christian sister, to the promotion of his growth in grace. 
 
 "I hope you have had a pleasant Sabbath, and found 
 nearness of access to the throne of grace. My beloved 
 brother, as you value your best interests, do not permit the 
 arch enemy to prevail, in regard to your closet duties. He 
 aims first at these, for he well knows that here declension 
 always commences. Do you ever omit your regular meals? 
 or if you do, does not lassitude ensue ? How much more 
 do our souls require the spiritual food derived from that 
 source to which prayer gives us access! I can scarcely 
 express the solicitude I feel for you in this respect. 
 
 ' Satan trembles when he sees 
 The weakest saint upon his knees.' 
 
 " Oh ! keep fast hold of the sceptre, and you will assuredly 
 thrive. Faithfulness here cannot be followed by unfaith- 
 fulness in other duties, for God will bestow the assistance
 
 40 MEMOIR OF 
 
 which we implore. Immediately after making a profession 
 of religion, I left home for New York, and had a week's 
 passage. During this time, my private duties were much 
 interrupted, and I felt the effect of it upon my spiritual 
 state, until about one year since. In this last year, the 
 dealings of Providence have, I humbly hope, restored my 
 soul. Had I not joined the church when I did, I fear the 
 duty would have been neglected, perhaps for life. The 
 privileges of a visible standing in the church, impose obli- 
 gations which do not operate so powerfully out of it. Our 
 father mentioned his conversation with you respecting 
 your making a profession. If a certainty of your having 
 passed from death unto life could be granted, I should 
 wish you not to hesitate a moment ; but as a trial of your 
 faith is necessary, perhaps it is well to defer it for a season. 
 Love to Christ and your own soul, demands a vigorous and 
 watchful devotion to his service until the duty be made 
 plain. It is always easy to depart from God, but more 
 especially so when no open profession has been made: 
 therefore, in postponing this act for a little while, do not 
 permit sloth or presumption to destroy and darken your 
 evidences. You will excuse me, dear brother, for offering 
 such advice in your present circumstances. It is dictated 
 by love; and perhaps the experience of seven years may 
 enable me to give you a few hints, which you will receive 
 in kindness." 
 
 She renews her advice on the subject of secret prayer 
 in the following extract : " Do not allow yourself to be 
 hurried when you go to converse with God ; feel that time 
 thus spent is the most profitable portion of each day ; and 
 be as constant in the evening, before nature is exhausted^ 
 as you are in the morning. First try ' to find Christ there.' 
 and then let all your petitions be the simple expression of 
 your wants, and not the repetition of familiar phrases. 
 Expect the assistance of the Spirit, arid wait, as it were, 
 for his inditings. I have found much profit from this
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 41 
 
 course, and from the reflection that as ' my times are in 
 God's hands/ if I am faithful to this duty, he will prosper 
 my other labors. 
 
 " Do not, I entreat you, take for your standard any 
 Christian that ever lived; but go to the pure oracles of 
 truth for guidance. Ask yourself continually, ' How would 
 my divine Master conduct under these circumstances ? ' ' 
 
 Respecting some seasons of prayer, with this brother, 
 while he was at home in vacation, she thus writes: " You 
 cannot, more than myself, desire to be again engaged in 
 my chamber as formerly. Those were to me delightful 
 moments, and, I may truly say, furnished me more heartfelt 
 enjoyment than I ever before experienced. I told mamma, 
 at the close of your first day's visit at home, that it had 
 been the happiest day of my life. Oh ! if we are both 
 God's children, we may anticipate an eternity of happiness 
 similar to that ; though far more pure, and transcending our 
 highest conceptions. Let us be faithful. There is no 
 true elevation of character without the control of Christian 
 principle. To live a holy life is never easy, or, I should 
 say, is never attainable by the indolent; though some cir- 
 cumstances are more favorable than others. College life 
 must be a tempting one ; but it may prove as the refiner's 
 fire and fuller's soap, through the grace of Him who giveth 
 us ' strength equal to our day,' when we seek it. 
 
 " My dear brother, what is the present bent of your spirit- 
 ual mind ? If your closet be a pleasant resort, I need not 
 inquire further, for it is the avenue to Christian faithfulness 
 and joy. If we are fellow-travellers on the road to heaven, 
 it is important that we ..should occasionally exchange a 
 word of recognition and inquiry." 
 
 Miss Huntington delighted to cherish hope, on the basis 
 of good evidence, for those who indulged hope for them- 
 selves. And yet her solicitude that they should have the 
 hone which "maketh not ashamed," kept her awake to
 
 42 MEMOIR OF 
 
 whatever were their dangers of self-deception and of ruin. 
 And when she feared, or "stood in doubt" of her dearest 
 friends, as to their spiritual condition, she was most tenderly 
 and solemnly faithful in her endeavors to lead them to 
 self-examination and careful testing of their evidences. 
 The following, with some other extracts, illustrates these 
 remarks ; 
 
 "WEDNESDAY MORNING. 
 
 " Dearest Brother . Your last letters led us to fear 
 that your religious hopes have become darkened. * * * 
 * * I will write freely, for I am your sister in the flesh, 
 and we are members of the same body. You will receive 
 what I say in tenderness, I am confident. Oh ! you can 
 form no adequate conception of the agonized feelings into 
 which I was thrown last evening, on your account. The 
 view which I had of the holiness of God's character, of 
 the evil of sin, and the obligations which we are under to 
 serve our Creator, even were reward and punishment out 
 of the question ; the possibility that your heart was still 
 alienated from him, and the dishonor which such a fact 
 would cast upon religion; and my own insubmissiveness 
 under it ; all conspired to render me, for an hour, the most 
 wretched being imaginable. My anguish of body and mind 
 was unequalled by any thing I ever before endured. 
 
 " I do not believe that you have yielded to the grosser 
 temptations to which you have been exposed ; but I fear that 
 the commendations which have been bestowed upon you, 
 have become a snare, imperceptibly leading you to be too 
 much engrossed by worldly pursuits ; curtailing your seasons 
 of retirement, and producing self-exaltation and desire of 
 human praise, which are incompatible with the meekness of 
 the gospel. Alas ! what is the applauding breath of mortals, 
 that we should sacrifice for it our eternal concerns ! Satan 
 is a subtle foe ; for by leading to the abuse of lawful pur- 
 suits, his artful policy most frequently insnares our mind. 
 He well knows, by his own history, and the snares which he
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 43 
 
 has so successfully laid for others, that the native haughti- 
 ness of our hearts is the principle by which he can most 
 effectually drag us down to his own inevitable doom. You 
 are now at the most critical point of your life. This fallen 
 and murderous foe stands on one side, striving to delude you 
 by the false glare of worldly honor and popularity ; cherish- 
 ing the pride of your heart, and striving to make you in all 
 respects like himself, that you may be the companion of his 
 misery. On the other hand stands the gracious Saviour, 
 who has paid the price of your redemption from the galling 
 chains of sin and Satan ; presenting to you the simplicity 
 of his gospel, which can purify the affections, elevate the soul, 
 give true dignity to the understanding, make the subjects of 
 it ' kings and priests' before the throne of God, where the 
 happy intelligences become more and more like Him who 
 is the source of all wisdom, knowledge, purity, and felicity. 
 ' Choose you this day whom ye will serve,' there is no 
 neutral spot ; it must be God or Mammon. And what have 
 you professed solemnly before many witnesses? What lan- 
 guage is conveyed to you through the symbols of your Sa- 
 viour's love? What would be the effects of your apostasy? 
 " Beloved brother, what more shall I say ? Perhaps you 
 will be surprised at the strain of my remarks ; but be not 
 offended. I have written very plainly, yet with feelings of 
 tenderness which I cannot express. I beg you to write me 
 immediately. I shall wait anxiously for a reply. Write 
 ingenuously. I believe that you love me ; and I love you 
 too much for my own comfort. The last was, with me, a 
 happy year; a year of spiritual gladness. My hopes respect^ 
 ing you, contributed not a little to my joy. This year opens 
 upon me with less tranquillity; perhaps I am to be made 
 acquainted with my own heart. If so, it will be a profitable 
 period. The arrows of the Almighty are dipped in love, 
 and they will make my heavenly rest more sweet. ' The 
 will of the Lord be done.' " 
 
 Letters subsequent to these indicate relief to the anxious
 
 44 MEMOIR OF 
 
 feelings of Miss Huntington. Through divine goodness, and 
 in answer to prayer, she was permitted to rejoice in seeing 
 his soul restored, and found much comfort and satisfaction 
 in him ; and more especially in anticipating his entrance on 
 the work of the gospel ministry. 
 
 i 
 "MONDAY EVE. 
 
 "Your good letter, my beloved brother, afforded me 
 heartfelt pleasure. The expression, ' I have, with the as- 
 sistance of God, determined to devote myself to the Gospel 
 Ministry,' preceded as it was by earnest desires after holi- 
 ness, was indeed like music to my soul. You have been 
 borne upon my feeble prayers, with more energy and con- 
 stancy, than any other dear ones, from the peculiar temp- 
 tations of your constitution and circumstances. Since I 
 began to pray for you, it has been my earnest petition that 
 you might be an ambassador for Christ; until you requested 
 that I would not ask any thing definitely for you. The last 
 time, however, that I approached the throne of grace, previ 
 ous to the arrival of your letter, I did once more, in submis- 
 sion, supplicate that you might preach the gospel. Dear 
 brother, it is a ' good work ; ' and for a young man, in these 
 days, the best and most important. May God abundantly 
 prepare you to become ' a workman that needeth not to be 
 ashamed.' " 
 
 Miss Huntington's correspondence with this brother was 
 rich in various counsels, adapted to his case, like those from 
 which we have already quoted. Among the subjects were 
 the following : Engagement in Sabbath school instruction, 
 as a means of usefulness to others and to himself The 
 dangers of entrance into the circles of the gay and thought- 
 jess Religious reading The importance of decision of 
 Christian character The habit of lively faith in Christ as 
 promoting growth in grace Activity and efficiency in the 
 service of Christ Commitment of his way to God in 
 faith Prayer for unconverted relatives Christian in-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 46 
 
 fluence upon others Spiritual trials, as leading to self-ac- 
 quaintance and reliance on the Saviour. 
 
 For the purpose of obtaining the means to prosecute his 
 professional studies, and also for the benefit to be derived 
 to his own character, he went to Natchez, Mississippi, to 
 engage in the labors of a private tutor in a family. The 
 interest with which Miss Huntington followed him to that 
 part of the country, appears in the next extracts from her 
 correspondence. 
 
 " I had two or three seasons of weeping after the arrival 
 of your letter to Edward, for which I blamed myself. Yet 
 no one but an all-seeing God can know how, for a year or 
 two past, your interests have been interwoven with the 
 fibres of my heart. I do not think that our own dear 
 mother, whose death was your life, could feel more deeply 
 for you than I do. But I will leave this strain, and en- 
 deavor to anticipate the time, when, if we are both faithful, 
 no sorrow will mingle itself with our joy, and no anxiety 
 disturb the calmness and fervor of our love. 
 
 " I enjoy the hour appropriated to our concert on Sat- 
 urday evening, exceedingly ; more so, I think, than any 
 other. 
 
 " I am far from undervaluing literary attainments, yet fully 
 believe that a high standard of holy living is the most 
 eminent means of usefulness. God thus vindicates the 
 wisdom which cometh from above. How little we think 
 of those years which were passed in acknowledged aliena- 
 tion of heart from our Maker!" 
 
 " Every cloudless evening in which I am called out, my 
 eye turns towards the ' North Star.' It was a sweet reflec- 
 tion to me, that you took the pains to look for it while you 
 were penning your letter. Often notice it, my beloved 
 brother, and whenever you do, send a petition to the throne 
 of the Eternal, for our mutual steadfastness in the path of 
 wisdom ; and I will do the same. Were I to sit down, with
 
 46 MEMOIR OF 
 
 no occupation, I should dwell with you in imagination too 
 intensely ; and it is doubtless best that constant employ- 
 ment should interfere with the reveries of a naturally roving 
 mind." 
 
 " CHRISTMAS EVENING. 
 
 " I delight to dwell upon the thought that you and I, dear 
 brother, may take sweet counsel together in a heaven of 
 purity and Jove. Washed and sanctified, perhaps we may 
 be united in performing embassies of love for our adorable 
 Redeemer." 
 
 " What a privilege is prayer ! I would not be deprived 
 of it for worlds ; and how could I ever esteem it lightly, or 
 use it unfaithfully ! Within a few days, more particularly, 1 
 have taken great delight in conversing with God, and re- 
 alizing his constant presence. The world seems nothing 
 worth, except as a field of service and sacrifice for Him. 
 Oh ! my brother, let us be faithful during our little span. It 
 is but a short period that we shall have for labor. Will you 
 not resolve with me to be wholly for Christ? I feel willing 
 to give you up to the good of the people where you are, if 
 it be consistent with the purposes of God. You will require 
 the qualifications of a Missionary to labor there, and if you 
 possess any of the spirit, do encourage it. It is greatly 
 wanting. Fields are white to the harvest, but where are 
 the reapers ? I trust we shall see you, and hear you preach, 
 yet ; and I pray that you may win many souls to the truth, 
 and gain for yourself a glorious crown. 
 
 " It is delightful to think of the Millennium ; but still 
 more of Heaven, where hearts and voices will praise Him 
 in sweet harmony. Then, my brother, we will join our 
 voices in melodious strains, and bless our Redeemer, not 
 only for what we have ourselves received, but for what 
 he hath done for those we love, in bringing them all into 
 his blessed family." 
 
 "We have sympathized tenderly in your trials, and of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 47 
 
 late I have been scarcely able to speak of you without 
 tears. The dreary visions of a cold grave in Mississippi 
 have haunted my mind. Would that the next letter we 
 receive might contain the cheering intelligence that you 
 are just embarking for the North. Why should you linger ! 
 Your health and the urgency of your friends here, furnish 
 a sufficient reason to your employers there. When I think 
 of the spiritual benefit resulting from your trials, I rejoice 
 in them." 
 
 The hopes of Miss Huntington that she might see this 
 brother a minister of the gospel, in the design of Providence 
 were not to be answered. In consequence, remotely, of an 
 injury which he received previous to his departure for Mis- 
 sissippi, his health failed, so that he was compelled to relin- 
 quish his professional studies. His disease assumed such a 
 character as to shut him up at home his father's house 
 where his sister devoted herself exclusively to the care of 
 him, for his few remaining days. Death at length finished 
 the disappointment of her expectations of his entrance on the 
 ministry of the gospel on earth ; while she and her friends 
 rejoiced in the hope that he was only transferred to higher 
 and holier services " in the presence of God." The follow- 
 ing extracts from a letter to her sister show the family as 
 they were watching around his dying bed, and entering 
 upon the days of mourning ; and the affectionate Christian 
 sister watching the last moments of the brother whose 
 preparation for heaven she had so long and so anxiously 
 aided. 
 
 " My dear Sister: I have been intending to make some 
 record of our dear brother's illness and death, which should 
 be more particular than any thing which you have received. 
 As I was with him almost constantly from the time we 
 visited you, until he left us for a mansion in his heavenly 
 Father's house, it will afford me melancholy satisfaction to
 
 48 MEMOIR OF 
 
 retrace those days of solicitude, now, as we hope, so joyfully 
 terminated to the released spirit. 
 
 " The week before Thanksgiving he suffered much from 
 the cutting of a tooth ; and all the pain which had been in 
 his back seemed concentrated in his face. For several days 
 he could not open his mouth sufficiently to receive his ac- 
 customed food. The return of brother Edward and his 
 wife he enjoyed; and shared with us in the usual pleasures 
 of the festive board. For several succeeding days he fur- 
 nished no small portion of our mutual domestic joys. He 
 soon, however, began to complain of intense pain in his 
 forehead. He once remarked to brother Edward that he 
 felt almost discouraged that he grew weaker and weaker. 
 To save us anxiety, he seldom spoke of his sufferings. One 
 day he said to rne, 'I believe I shall not tell mother any 
 more of my bad feelings ; it seems to trouble her so much.' 
 
 " He said to me one night, as he retired to bed, ' I shall be 
 deranged, if this headache continues much longer;' and 
 the next morning he said that ' all night every thing seemed 
 to him to be French.' He had been reading Scott's Life 
 of Napoleon. During that week, his nights were wretched. 
 We slept with the doors of our apartments open, and I could 
 hear him sigh upon his bed. One morning at two o'clock, 
 he called to me and said he had not slept any. I arose and 
 gave him some oil of valerian, and some water directly from 
 the well ; and he became composed. 
 
 '* Company and noise at length became so oppressive to 
 him, that on Friday morning I prepared my own room for 
 his reception ; and about eleven o'clock invited him into it. 
 As he entered it, and went directly to bed, he said very 
 sweetly, ' It looks pleasant here.' During the first day, he 
 said to me, ' Sister, you need not give up your bed at night; 
 I can sleep in my own room.' I told him that I loved to have 
 him there ; and that I should stay with him most of the time. 
 He replied, ' I wish you would ; I love to have you stay with 
 me better than any one else.' From that time every word 
 spoken seemed burdensome to him, and he would turn his
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 49 
 
 head from the speaker. From his first retiring to my room, 
 he was averse to taking any food. I said to him, one morn- 
 ing, in a playful manner, * You must eat something, brother ; 
 and I am going to make you mind, to-day, or else I shall 
 whip you.' He replied, in the same humor, ' If you will 
 not whip me very hard, I'll take that.' 
 
 " Tuesday morning, the truth gradually forced itself upon 
 me that he had not entire control of his mind. Feeling as if 
 my heart would burst, about the middle of the forenoon, I 
 came down stairs, and told S. and M. that I believed Peter 
 would never recover. They thought his aberration of reason 
 might arise from the opiate he had taken. But, alas! the 
 hand of death was upon him. That night, after two 
 o'clock, papa watched with him. He called me before six 
 in the morning, saying that Peter was much distressed ; and 
 he wanted my company. Peter had been for some hours 
 crying, ' Oh ! papa ! Oh ! father ! ' until our dear parent could 
 endure it no longer. During that day, he lifted his head 
 from his pillow every other minute, and would look upon us 
 with the most piteous expression. Edward returned that 
 morning, but dear Peter had no look of recognition for 
 him. 
 
 " On Thursday, he was quiet and cheerful ; and as I sat 
 by him, I felt that even if he must die, eventually, I should 
 rejoice to have him remain with us many weeks as he then 
 was ; it was such a pleasure to administer to him. It was 
 indeed a pleasant sick-room ; and our physicians, Drs. 
 Hooker and Eaton, were so united and confiding, bound 
 together as they were by Christian ties, that it was a pleas- 
 ure to have them with us. That morning, when Dr. 
 Hooker had been attending upon him, he appeared so 
 rational, that the doctor proposed to me to go and speak 
 to him on the subject of death. I did so, asking him 
 several questions, which he answered in the affirmative. 
 To one ' Do you love the Saviour ? ' he answered, very 
 emphatically, ' Yes.' At eight o'clock that evening, he said 
 to Edward, with a tone of voice and collectedness of mind 
 
 Smith. 3
 
 60 MEMOIR OF 
 
 which I shall not soon forget, 'How soon shall I die!' 
 Edward said to him, ' Do you wish to die ? ' After a mo- 
 ment's pause, he replied, with his characteristic caution, ' I 
 do not know what it is to die.' He then turned to brother 
 Jedidiah, and said, ' I wish you would pray with me ; ' and 
 drew his head forward to the end of the pillow to listen. It 
 was to me a most melting scene the heads of those three 
 precious brothers together, in united supplication for one 
 whose spirit was so soon to be in the presence of its Maker. 
 I cannot express to you, my sister, the emotions of that hour. 
 Our parents were not there, and there was no one but me to 
 drink in the full tenderness of the scene, with all its affect- 
 ing associations. Often since have I dwelt upon it, in 
 silence; and its remembrance even eternity cannot erase 
 from my heart ! 
 
 " Thursday night he had his senses ; answered Mr. Coit's 
 questions with clearness and satisfaction, and appeared in a 
 happy frame. Friday he was much the same. For the first 
 time, the physicians gave us some little encouragement that 
 he might recover. I was slow in admitting any hope to my 
 breast : when it did find place there, its ejection only opened 
 the wound again, to bleed with all its freshness. This 
 was the case on Saturday morning, when our dear brother 
 seemed quite comfortable. I felt encouraged ; although the 
 thought occurred to me, that it might be only a revival 
 which was the precursor of death. We discovered that his 
 breathing was faint, his pulse weak, and his flesh cold. 
 There was a visible alteration in him from that time, though 
 we did not entirely give him up. He was still patient and 
 lovely as ever. 
 
 " I did not mention, that on Thursday or Friday morning, 
 as I was sitting alone with him, I took up his Bible, to read, 
 hoping he would notice it. He significantly looked at me ; 
 then at the Bible, and nodded his head, as much as to say 
 that he understood my intention. Once, too, when I had 
 been washing his hands and face, I smiled upon him affec- 
 tionately, while a faint smile played on his pallid features, in
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 51 
 
 return. He almost invariably returned my kisses, as he had 
 been used to do in health. Sabbath morning he was more 
 feeble. His eyes rolled in their sockets ; and he seemed 
 unconscious of surrounding objects; though he answered 
 mamma's questions intelligibly. One of them was, ' Do you 
 feel that your soul is washed in the atoning blood of Jesus ? ' 
 to which he replied in the affirmative. I told him it was 
 Sabbath ; that papa had been to church, and put up a note 
 for him, and that Mr. Dickinson had prayed very affection- 
 ately for him. He replied that he knew it was Sabbath ; 
 and to the communication respecting the note/ answered, 
 with a grateful tone of voice, ' Did he? ' But in a moment 
 his mind wandered. In the afternoon, it became necessary 
 to give him powerful medicine ; and I trembled for the 
 result, knowing that some change must ensue. We all felt 
 that the night would be a critical one, as his pulse was 
 increased to a hundred and twenty-eight. Between eight 
 and nine o'clock in the evening, his clothes and bed were 
 changed ; and although he endeavored to help himself, 
 nature was almost exhausted, and her work nearly done. A 
 little before midnight, I visited his silent couch ; and there 
 he lay upon his unruffled pillow, bearing the impress of the 
 king of terrors, whose victory was not yet accomplished. 
 What a moment was that to my afflicted soul ! By the use 
 of wine and other means, he was aroused from that lethargic 
 state; and when I saw him again, about two o'clock, his 
 eyes were open and full of expression ; his arms thrown 
 out of the bed ; and his attitude that of independence ; 
 while reason was dethroned, and all his remarks incoherent. 
 He appeared exceedingly interesting. When we were 
 convinced that he would continue till morning, we all lay 
 down, except papa, who sat up the remainder of the night, 
 with Dr. Hooker. It was then that he repeated the Lord's 
 prayer so impressively, even to the 'Amen.' The excite- 
 ment I have mentioned had given place to a more composed 
 frame. 
 
 "At about six o'clock, I took my seat again by his side,
 
 52 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and occasionally administered a little broth. He could say 
 nothing intelligibly ; but the whisperings of his lips were 
 incessant, which had not been the case before. I could 
 distinguish only the words ' may I,' and ' Amen,' indicating 
 that he was in prayer. Marianne and I staid with him during 
 family prayer, when he received a spoonful of broth, from 
 his own silver cup, which he used in childhood; but he 
 could not swallow it. We troubled him no more with earthly 
 aliment. The soul was fast preparing to leave its tabernacle 
 below, to dwell where the Lamb himself should feed him- 
 After prayers, all assembled in the chamber ; breakfast was 
 forgotten ; and the morning was spent in witnessing the 
 ravages of death upon that loved form ; until a quarter 
 before eleven, when the spirit was released. His struggles 
 were severe, though the physicians thought he was insen- 
 sible to pain. At one time, his whole frame quivered, every 
 fibre being affected in a way that I never beheld before. 
 The room was filled with sympathizing relatives and friends, 
 our dear minister, and the two physicians. Mamma ex- 
 pressed a wish that some of the promises of the gospel might 
 be repeated ; and her request was kindly regarded by Mr. 
 Dickinson, who also prayed. After which papa made a 
 most affecting prayer, alluding to the circumstances of his 
 birth, and commending his dying child to God, and giving 
 up all his children once more to Him. He then made 
 another prayer for you, especially. It was an impressive 
 scene to all present, and very touching. For a few 
 moments after 'that languishing head was at rest,' I felt 
 somewhat like David, who .arose and washed himself, and 
 his countenance was no more sad. I rejoiced for him. The 
 physicians, with our kind neighbor, Mr. Ripley, performed 
 the last sad offices to the precious one; after which his 
 lifeless form was very dear to us, until it was consigned 
 to its narrow house. Our Jirst mournful pleasure in the 
 morning, and the last at night, was to visit the lovely 
 remains, which now seemed almost like an angel's dwelling. 
 Our hearts were knit together by uncommon ties. We
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 53 
 
 had no cares or preparation to distract our minds ; and 
 during the whole of that week, we could sit down together 
 and talk of the sainted spirit who had gone to mingle its 
 celestial sympathies with its angel mother and its blessed 
 Saviour." 
 
 Writing in another letter to her sister, of the conflict 
 through which she passed, on the night previous to her 
 brother's death, and of the happy feelings which followed, 
 she says 
 
 " As midnight advanced, the certainty of the event grew 
 more inevitable, and my anguish seemed to keep pace 
 with the approaching crisis. Mamma, and Sarah, and Ma- 
 rianne had lain down, brothers were in the room with the 
 doctors, while father and I were alone in the parlor. I 
 leaned upon his shoulder, and gave vent to sorrows which 
 were unfelt before, and poignant in the extreme. It seemed 
 as if my heart would dissolve, while unutterable thoughts 
 pressed home upon my soul. The conflict was severe ; and 
 though I acknowledged God's perfect right to inflict such 
 evils, I could not bring myself to meet them. Death, with 
 all its terrific accompaniments, seemed then, in reality, to be 
 ' the wages of sin.' My own sins were not, at that time, 
 particularly oppressive ; but sin in general, I felt, at that 
 hour, to be the fruitful source of DEATH ; and that it was 
 the severest penalty, of a limited nature, which an infinitely 
 wise and just Being could inflict. I thought that in the 
 course of my life I had experienced a little of almost every 
 variety of evil, or at least that I knew something of its 
 nature ; but this night I found an evil pressing upon my 
 inmost soul, altogether different from any thing I had ever 
 known before. Of course I needed new support. My 
 cherished brother was dying in my apartment, and I could 
 do nothing to help him. The sovereignty of Jehovah, whose 
 hand none could stay, and whose purposes none had a right 
 to question, arose before me with a maiestv npver before
 
 54 MEMOIR OF 
 
 perceived. Father prevailed upon me to lie down upon the 
 sofa, while he also took a little rest. Early in the morning 
 ' while it was yet dark,' I took my accustomed seat, for the 
 last time, to administer to him who was on the confines of 
 eternity. 
 
 * * * After having been that night, as if at the foot of 
 that mount which none might touch ; when the struggle was 
 over, and the sweet remains were arrayed for the tomb, 
 gentler accents spoke to my heart; and I felt that I had 
 come ' to Mount Zion,' ' to an innumerable company of 
 angels, to the spirits of just men made perfect,' and es- 
 pecially ' to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.' ' I am 
 the resurrection and the life,' were words which now were 
 clothed in a more glorious meaning. 
 
 " I do earnestly desire, my dear sister, to make this event 
 profitable ; and hope I can already say, ' It is good for me 
 that I have been afflicted.' It appears a more solemn thing 
 to live, and a more solemn thing to die. The domestic rela- 
 tion has assumed a new sacredness in my view, as bearing the 
 impress of Heaven's own beautiful plan ; and I pray that I 
 may henceforth give it a prominent place in my system of 
 duties. It is a symbol of the union of the upper world. 
 I shall never again say it is selfish to desire the temporal 
 and eternal happiness of those whom we love, or to mourn 
 their loss. It is the great Parent of the Universe who 
 has thus bound us in circles of friendship. And perhaps 
 one of his designs in so doing is, that when these are 
 broken, our wounded souls may know the preciousness of 
 those consolations which are furnished for the afflicted." 
 
 Said the Chaldean king, of One whom he saw walking 
 in the midst of the furnace with the three faithful men, " and 
 the form of the fourth is like the Son of God ! " Truly, it 
 is worth while to pass through such scenes, and to bear 
 such chastening of " the Almighty ; " if, amidst all, the 
 chastened one can feel that God is there ; good, even to 
 look upon the "clouds and darkness" which are "round
 
 MRS SARAH L. SMITH. 55 
 
 about Him," if the soul can rest so sweetly in that which 
 is also written, "justice and judgment are the habitation 
 of his throne." 
 
 It was indeed a mysterious providence which disappointed 
 the hope of seeing that brother, so beloved and cherished, 
 a minister of Christ. But here was one of the instrumen- 
 talities by which her Lord was preparing her for the mis- 
 sionary service. And good as it would have been for the 
 brother to preach " the unsearchable riches of Christ," in his 
 native land ; better even than this, was it, that by his death 
 the heavenly spirited sister should have her preparation 
 completed to make known the dying love of Christ to the 
 benighted daughters of Arabia,
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE VIEWS OF CHRISTIAN DUTY AND 
 
 HABITS OF LIFE SENTIMENTS ON MISCELLANEOUS 
 
 SUBJECTS. 
 
 THE loss of the private journals of the subject of this 
 Memoir at the time of her shipwreck, on her passage from 
 Beyroot to Smyrna, has probably deprived us of much which 
 would be interesting, as recording her Christian experience. 
 Her correspondence, however, previous to the time of her 
 decision upon going on a mission to Syria, contains many 
 passages the free disclosures of her heart to some of her 
 friends in which, ijiay be seen the depth and strength 
 of her feelings as an experimental Christian, and the prep- 
 aration she was making for future usefulness. A few 
 selections of this character will constitute the present 
 chapter, together with some of her thoughts on miscel- 
 laneous subjects. 
 
 Trust in God. "Every future day of my life I desire 
 to leave cheerfully in the hands of God, and to be entirely 
 resigned, should he see fit to frustrate all my expectations. 
 I feel peculiarly, this evening, the precariousness of all 
 things earthly, and the danger of placing too much depend- 
 ence upon them. But I do not think that we are forbidden 
 to indulge pleasant hopes of the future." 
 
 "Do not be impatient and distrustful respecting the 
 future. God will provide. Sometimes I resolve only to 
 ask for wisdom to-day, and leave the morrow entirely. If 
 I live to see another day, and in the possession of ray 
 
 66
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 57 
 
 faculties, I will again present myself as a suppliant. God 
 is not a hard master." 
 
 Anxiety for the future. "We are restless beings, ever 
 reaching forward ; and if we have any steps to take, cannot 
 but feel solicitude respecting them. Yet the Christian has 
 a delightful resort in every emergency, and no good thing 
 which God has promised, shall fail those who 'walk up- 
 rightly.' There is the point. Promises are conditional ; 
 and if we fulfil our part, they will never fail." 
 
 Religious enjoyment. "You inquire, my dear sister, 
 respecting my religious feelings. I have had considerable 
 enjoyment arising from the reflection, that I have entered 
 the service of the best of beings, and that I shall be 
 permitted to glorify Him. Life has appeared to me 
 short, uncertain, and insignificant; and heaven worth any 
 sacrifice." 
 
 "I expected to be very unhappy after you left, and I 
 never restrained my feelings so much, under any circum- 
 stances. But all the remainder of that week, I enjoyed 
 my religious exercises beyond any thing I have experienced 
 before, since my first joys. Prayer and the word of God 
 were my delight ; and I rejoiced to consider myself as 
 engaged in the service of God. I still feel very differently 
 from what I have done for some time past; though the peace 
 of mind to which absence from company and the quiet of 
 my own room have contributed, has been, in some degree, 
 interrupted by the distractions of the world and its cares." 
 
 Satisfaction in employment. "I am happy and cheerful 
 in the attempted discharge of duty ; and have no time to 
 cultivate morbid sensibility. And at night, when I lay my 
 weary head upon the pillow of repose, my rest is rendered 
 doubly sweet by a busy day." 
 
 Retirement. "I anticipate much pleasure from a visit to 
 3*
 
 58 MEMOIR OF 
 
 you next winter. I am sick of dissipation, tired of idle 
 words. 'When shall I fly away and be at rest?' " 
 
 Being of God. "I was this morning contemplating 
 the BEING OF GOD. For a moment I felt bewildered with 
 the incomprehensibility of the subject, and all finite things 
 appeared unworthy of a thought. But I soon felt that these 
 were more suited to the strength of our minds than the 
 secret things which belong to God only ; and I felt that 1 
 ought to be grateful to Him, that my attention was divided 
 between things real and spiritual ; or rather things earthly 
 and heavenly. We could not bear an uninterrupted med- 
 itation on these great subjects ; we should soon be in '& 
 
 case. Our minds are prone to speculate, and sometimes 
 unprofitably." 
 
 Contentment. "I have thought, to-day, of the text, 
 ' Godliness with contentment is great gain.' It does not 
 say riches, or honor, or pleasure with contentment, but 
 'godliness.' Let us live for God's glory, rise above trifles 
 as far as possible, (and all things merely worldly are trifles,) 
 and exercise strong faith. ' Rejoice in the Lord, O ye 
 righteous ; and again I say, Rejoice.' " 
 
 Habits of thought respecting Christ. "I am sensible that 
 I do not regard Christ as much as I ought ; and I wish you 
 would pray for me, that he may be more clearly revealed to 
 my soul." 
 
 Conjlict. "I go on as usual, struggling against sin 
 and perplexities, endeavoring to fix my thoughts, as Moses 
 did, * upon the recompense of the reward ; ' reward ' of grace, 
 not of debt.' " 
 
 Spiritual darkness. To her sister, following a visit, she 
 writes " Added to the grief of our separation, I experi- 
 enced the continuance of the hiding of my Saviour's counte-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 59 
 
 nance. At the close of your visit, and for a few days after, 
 I could not get near to God in prayer. Sins of childhood 
 and youth rose like mountains before me. I feel brighter 
 now." 
 
 Consciousness of rectitude. In reference to a subject of 
 some perplexity, she thus writes : "I have proceeded, if I 
 know my own heart, in the fear of God, with constant 
 prayer, in reference to every step. Acquitted by God and 
 my own conscience, it is useless for me to be disturbed by 
 the opinions of others. Suffice it to say, I am now happier 
 than I had been for many months previous. My friends 
 seern very dear, God very merciful, and heaven delight- 
 fully pure and happy. My mind is unclouded with distrust 
 or discontent. I feel that the trials I have suffered were 
 disciplinary, and I hope salutary ; that the command to 
 * seek first the kingdom of God,' with the annexed promise, 
 comprises all our duty, and all our pleasure." 
 
 Means of happiness. " All our years would be happier, 
 if we could make the service of God continually our su- 
 preme delight, our meat and our drink. Trials we must 
 have, for our Master had them." 
 
 Self-indulgence. " At our preparatory lecture, last even- 
 ing, I was much struck with the 27th hymn 
 
 ' Cold mountains and the midnight air 
 Witnessed the fervor of thy prayer; 
 The desert thy temptation knew, 
 Thy conflict and thy victory too.' 
 
 " Shame upon the Christian who would prefer his own 
 ease to the honor and service of his Saviour. And yet this 
 is too much the case with us all. My earnest petition is, 
 ' Deliver me from self' " 
 
 Depression of spirits. "I hope you will be cheerful.
 
 60 MEMOIR OF 
 
 What does depression effect ? Nothing but sorrow ; it cannot 
 alter our condition. Every situation has its trials. Do not 
 think too much about the past. I cannot bear it. I am 
 obliged to forget the past in present occupation. If our 
 anxiety remedied any thing, it would be wise to indulge it ; 
 but as it operates contrariwise, it seems the part of good 
 sense and Christian fortitude to rise above it. I -know it is 
 easy to comment upon this subject, but I do it for my own 
 benefit partly, and hope to practise accordingly." 
 
 " Last night I awoke, and lay thinking upon the dark side 
 of every thing; but this morning I feel better. It is sinful 
 to indulge in such feelings. I think we ought to pray for 
 a cheerful spirit. Confinement and solitude are extremely 
 injurious to mind and body. Activity and social enjoyment 
 are imperative duties. It is necessary also, ' to go out of our- 
 selves ; ' for me it is absolutely so. I hope you will try 
 not to think too much. Keep your mind cheerful. Look 
 upon your mercies. It is God's will that you should do so. 
 He will provide for the future." 
 
 " Your letter gave me both pleasure and pain. I beg you 
 will not, as Mr. Cecil says, ' permit your feelings to take 
 away half of your life.' I know that I am not the person 
 to recommend fortitude, and the usual prosing in regard to 
 its exercise I would avoid. But we know that anxiety does 
 not lessen the evil of any thing. When I live near to God, 
 it seems like being in a father's house and under his con- 
 stant care and provision, and there I feel no anxiety. I 
 am not called to take thought for food and raiment; my 
 Father knoweth that I have need of all these things." 
 
 " If I had not been in an unusually happy frame when 
 your last came, I should have been .much depressed by 
 your allusion to the dark side of the picture, in regard to 
 our country, as it often fills me with apprehension. Since 
 then, I have had some desponding hours, which I was ex- 
 pecting would follow my season of enjoyment. But I am 
 beginning to revive again. I suppose that it is wisely 
 permitted that some should fix their eyes upon the diffi-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 61 
 
 culties to be overcome, in making ' the paths straight,' and 
 others be cheered with the bright scenes .which will event- 
 ually be realized ; or rather that we should, individually, 
 participate in Z ion's hopes and fears, pursuing our pilgrim 
 path in alternate ' strength and weakness, joy and wo.' " 
 
 Influence of thankfulness and cheerfulness. "When is 
 your Thanksgiving? Do you recollect that our ancestors, 
 after appointing a number of Fasts, in the midst of their 
 perplexities, resolved that they would appoint a day of 
 Thanksgiving, to acknowledge their mercies, as well as 
 deplore their misfortunes, and it seemed to be accepted? 
 Do, my dear sister, strive to keep from despondency, and 
 enjoy, with your husband and children, the domestic bless- 
 ings which surround you. It may prove a permanent injury 
 to your children, if the sunshine of \ mother's face, which 
 often furnishes such delightful associations, is clouded by 
 depressed feelings. Once, since my return home, when an 
 unconscious shade passed over my face, Elizabeth came 
 to me and scrutinized my countenance with much intense- 
 ness. I was led to feel that children notice the expression 
 very readily ; their own is moulded by that of others with 
 whom they associate constantly." 
 
 Spirit of adoption. "I have thought much, within a few 
 days, of the relation which exists between God, as a Father, 
 and his children. While we live near him, we dwell in our 
 Father's house; are nourished and supplied by a tender 
 Parent, whose hand we can view in all our concerns. This 
 is a delightful part of my experience, to feel that I am acting 
 for God, and that he is employing and supplying me, 
 privileges purchased by a Saviour's blood, and manifested 
 by the Holy Ghost." 
 
 " When I look upon God as a tender Father, I can cheer- 
 fully trust all to him, without one anxious doubt. Time 
 seems short, and of no moment, comparatively ; and I know
 
 62 MEMOIR OF 
 
 that God loves me and mine better than I do, and will 
 better dispose of our concerns." 
 
 Growth in grace. "I think one preventive to our growth 
 in grace, arises from our esteeming it a burden to take up 
 the cross of Christ. But it is a privilege that he permits us 
 to approach him in any way. What greater obligations can 
 be imposed on us to insure our faithfulness, than to have 
 been created and redeemed by the Being who claims our 
 service ! Oh ! let us pray for a subdued heart." 
 
 Frame of mind in prayer. "I was gratified, this morn- 
 ing, to find my heart and my supplications first drawn forth 
 towards the kingdom of God, while personal interests 
 seemed secondary in my view. To God's grace be all the 
 glory." 
 
 Benefits of spiritual trials. "Any event which draws 
 the children of God to himself, is auspicious. Afflictions 
 should not be termed mysterious. As sinners, we should 
 expect them, and regard them as the principal means which 
 God uses to discipline the soul and make it meet for heaven. 
 We cannot make progress without them. They are an evi- 
 dence that mercy hovers over us." 
 
 Review of Christian acquaintanceship. To an esteemed 
 Christian friend, she writes "I can assure you I often 
 retrace the scenes of our past intercourse, which, from their 
 transient nature, seem almost like a dream of the morning. 
 But I trust their record is on high, and that their moral in- 
 fluence was for our benefit. While participating in your 
 prayers and in your conversation, I felt the strong tie of 
 Christian sympathy ; and our intercourse having been exclu- 
 sively of a spiritual nature, the seal of Heaven seems to have 
 impressed it; testifying that it is destined to a more delight- 
 ful renewal in the courts above. Blessed thought ! "
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 63 
 
 Deceitfulness of the heart. " You speak of the deceit- 
 fulness of the heart. I think much of it, and am constantly 
 afraid that I should not endure the test. But our strength 
 must always be in Christ. The more we exalt him, the 
 more vigorous will be our Christian course." 
 
 Communion with God. " The communion of saints is 
 precious. But how much more so, communion with God ! 
 Here we are assured, that, whenever our thoughts dwell 
 upon him, his own are fixed on us. His perfections ever 
 afford a subject of unmingled pleasure, for our contempla- 
 tion. I hope that you have had much of his presence the 
 last year ; for then I may know that happiness has been your 
 portion. I have of late enjoyed much of the presence of 
 God, and find my sweetest satisfaction in communion with 
 him. There is on earth nothing that appears attractive. It 
 is not a melancholy sensation, for I can see God in all 
 things, however minute; and they seem tending to his glory. 
 I do not think that any event, however limited its influence 
 may appear, fails to accomplish some purpose for the glory 
 of God. In reading the Bible, we see that the most casual 
 circumstances were thus overruled. Could we preserve a 
 constant and vivid sense of this truth, we should realize the 
 solemnity of our situation. Our worldly-mindedness would 
 be checked, and we should be less anxious for the future." 
 
 Permanence of things spiritual and heavenly. " What 
 changes are wrought in the views, feelings, and sometimes in 
 the character, by the lapse of years i Were my hopes cen- 
 tred here, methinks I should be the victim of melancholy 
 retrospections. But thanks to my Almighty Friend, I have 
 entered a path, the footsteps of which become more sure, 
 and the prospects more animating, every hour I live. Yes, 
 that faith which grasps immortality, is continually becoming 
 a more absorbing reality; and earth, with its trifling toys 
 and airy bubbles, seems scarce worth a thought. Oh ! the 
 power of that grace which can transform our earth-born, de-
 
 64 MEMOIR OF 
 
 graded, worthless nature, for the participation of the pleas- 
 ures which flow at 'God's right hand.' It is the knowledge 
 of a crucified Saviour, conveyed to the benighted and dis- 
 eased soul by the Holy Spirit, which enkindles that flame of 
 happiness, destined to interminable and augmenting bright- 
 ness. It has no origin in fallen man, but comes directly 
 from the Source of all." 
 
 Anxiety respecting public interests. "Do you not 
 tremble for our country ? My heart sickens with appre- 
 hension. A crisis seems to be approaching ; and statesmen 
 as well as Christians seem to fear. The whole earth seems 
 to ' reel to and fro like a drunken man.' Personal interests 
 seem to dwindle to insignificance in the contrast. I never 
 perused newspapers with such eagerness as I do now ; and I 
 find matter enough for prayer; and oh! for a wrestling 
 spirit ! " 
 
 Heaven. "I am trying to learn that earthly hopes and 
 dependences have no permanence; and whenever I part 
 with Christian friends, I console myself with the anticipation 
 of time and opportunity in heaven." 
 
 " I am overwhelmed with cares and burdens, because 1 
 am pleased to undertake considerable. But the burdens 
 and cares of this life will make heaven sweet. There, dear 
 sister, we shall unite, without separation. Let us live for 
 this end, and be happy." 
 
 " I do love to think of heaven. I seem to feel a spirit 
 within me that says, there is unmingled happiness in store 
 for the immortal mind. Oh ! how soon, if faithful, shall 
 we find ourselves upon those happy shores, disembodied, 
 disenthralled, and holding converse with Christ, with angels, 
 with our departed ones ! " 
 
 Fleeting nature of earthly things. " While I write, 
 the balmy air breathes upon me through the window which 
 overlooks the garden, and B. is mowing the grass in the
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 65 
 
 adjoining lane. ' In the morning it flourisheth and groweth 
 up, in the evening it is cut down and withereth.' How 
 true of life ! Events long anticipated follow in quick suc- 
 cession, and in the retrospect appear so trifling, as to excite 
 our astonishment that we regarded them as so important. 
 Some one has said that the reason of our disappointment 
 in future worldly good, is, that our hearts are greater than 
 the world, and cannot be filled with it; but that God is 
 greater than our hearts, and has prepared joys, which, as 
 they are incomprehensible, will never disappoint. I only 
 wish that thoughts of rest in heaven might so affect me as 
 to lead me to overlook all earthly trial and suffering." 
 
 A thought in Broadway. " New York seems pleasant 
 to me, and quite like home. In Broadway it seems as if 
 people were hurrying to eternity, as fast as possible. Each 
 one seems intent upon something, nobody can tell what, 
 as though it were the last day of existence. And I hurry 
 on, in the same apparently selfish manner." 
 
 Occupation. "I was delighted to hear of your Sabbath 
 evening efforts. Life seems worth just nothing, without 
 some such occupation. What once appeared to me the 
 acme of felicity, in anticipation, seems now like straws, 
 scarce worth a thought." 
 
 Effect of a revival. "A revival is a discriminating 
 season. It shows who are for the Lord. It has been a 
 profitable season to me ; I hope a re-conversion. Never did 
 sin appear so heinous, and Christ so essential and precious. 
 Yet, although sins, general and particular, have humbled 
 me to the dust, I go not mourning I have a complete 
 Saviour, and I can lift up my head with joy." 
 
 Holiness in the church. "I am every day more im- 
 pressed with the conviction that holiness in the church 
 will do more for its prosperity than any thing else. We
 
 66 MEMOIR OF 
 
 look around and expect to see converts multiplied; but 
 our own hearts must first be purified and our deportment 
 rectified." 
 
 Faith. " Let us cultivate faith ; it is the grace which 
 the present state of the church requires. Have you seen 
 some remarks of Dr. Griffin upon ' the prayer of faith ' ? 
 the substance of which is this that believing prayer rests 
 upon the general readiness of God to answer ; while that 
 presumptive expectation of particular blessings, is nothing 
 but hope resting upon the prayer of faith which we suppose 
 ourselves to have offered. The first confides in the word 
 of God, the last in our own efforts. I was pleased with 
 them." 
 
 Love. " Religion shines purer and brighter in the 
 exercise of love, than in highly wrought experiences." 
 
 A critical case. " You would think from 's 
 
 conversation that she is a lively Christian. There is no 
 point of religious experience or interest upon which she is 
 not eloquent. And yet she loves the world dearly." 
 
 Expenditures of Christian benevolence. "I am more 
 than ever confirmed in my opinion that the amount which 
 Christians bestow in charity should not be prescribed. Dr. 
 Alexander, in his missionary sermon, says, ' Let every one 
 follow the promptings of his own benevolent feelings, and 
 " as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give ; for the Lord 
 loveth a cheerful giver." The temple of God was reared 
 of old by free-will offerings, and the spiritual temple must 
 now rise in the same way. They will be blessed indeed, to 
 whom shall be granted such love to Christ and such benevo- 
 lence to men that they will cheerfully offer, not merely a 
 part, but the whole of what they possess, for the furtherance 
 of the Redeemer's kingdom.' Doubtless many disapproved 
 of the poor widow's bestowing her whole living, and we
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 67 
 
 know that Mary's costly sacrifice elicited blame. Surely, 
 unless a new spirit pervade the church, benevolent opera- 
 tions must cease, for many of them are greatly involved." 
 
 Selfishness. "It is useful to go abroad occasionally; 
 but if we fix our thoughts, habitually, upon the interests 
 of Christ's kingdom, which are occupying the heavenly 
 world, we cannot be ' selfish ; ' and for myself, I do not 
 wish to be in any place where these are not the predom- 
 inant subjects. Did you ever notice particularly, that in 
 the Lord's prayer, the petitions relative to his kingdom 
 are placed before our own individual wants 1 Would it 
 not be profitable to follow this arrangement in our closet 
 duties, and thus in our prayers ' seek first the kingdom of 
 God ' 1 and possibly it might have an effect to weaken our 
 attachment to the things of the world, and to our private 
 interests." 
 
 Denial of self. "It is a mistaken idea that self-denial 
 for Christ can be practised without inconvenience, and 
 without a consciousness, in the very act, that self-love is 
 mortified. Yet I believe the difficulties of self-denial are 
 more in anticipation, than in reality ; or rather that they 
 are diminished, as we advance in the path ; like the staff 
 which was presented to the 'pilgrim Good Intent,' when 
 ascending the hill, the thorns of which, as soon as he had 
 courage to grasp it, crushed beneath his hand. When 
 once the Christian will permit the honor of God and the 
 salvation of souls to take that place in his heart which his 
 own interests have occupied, he will not be obliged to ask 
 the question so frequently, ' How much shall I do for thee, 
 my Saviour ? ' You will think this a favorite subject with 
 me ; and I acknowledge it is, because the money now ' so 
 necessarily ' employed for temporal good, is wanted to 
 furnish the bread of life and robes of righteousness to 
 immortal souls."
 
 68 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Simplicity and plainness. "It appears tome that now 
 is the most favorable time for the church to fix the principle 
 of simplicity and plainness, because the prevailing fashion 
 in dress and furniture rather favors it. Our most genteel 
 ladies now dress as the Methodists have been wont to do ; 
 and I cannot but observe that God's children can now do 
 for the fashion, what they could not be prevailed upon 
 formerly to do for Christ. In throwing off the trammels of 
 Satan, we must not wait till the whole church will consent 
 to join us ; nor even until we can be perfectly consistent. 
 In our most solemn moments, when eternal things seem most 
 real, we must decide the question of duty, and then make a 
 gradual, but sure inroad upon the dominion of pride. If 
 Christians would deliberately weigh the motives which bind 
 them to the imperfect standard of past years, they would 
 find them to have no basis in the primitive Church of our 
 Saviour. And although I would not encourage violent 
 measures ; yet, if we are upon the confines of a new era, 
 when moral and intellectual influence is to supersede that 
 which is sensual, great and striking changes will be 
 witnessed." 
 
 Doubts. "I cannot say that, for several years, I have 
 had any serious religious doubts, because my mind has 
 been almost continually fixed upon the prosperity of Christ's 
 kingdom. Still I am distrustful of my heart, and I might 
 be placed in circumstances which would call forth unex- 
 pected evidences of an unsanctified nature." 
 
 Dress. "I do not approve of prescribing retrench- 
 ments. It must be a free-will offering. The Tract on 
 Dress was written by Mrs. , of New York, an ec- 
 centric woman. There is danger of an envious temper 
 mingling with other feelings. My own views have been 
 drawn from a source which leads me to hope they are the 
 fruit of the Spirit. It is a sense of eternal realities which 
 has stamped vanity and vexation upon all these trifles ; and
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 69 
 
 upon them seems written in letters of blood, ' The price of 
 souls.' " 
 
 Troubles. "I have been thinking that every body has 
 something to give trouble, either great or small some 
 source of anxiety so that we may as well be satisfied, 
 and reflect, ' if it were not this, it would be something 
 else.' We are apt, too, to imagine that our evil is the 
 most peculiar and trying. Now, it seems to me that no 
 one has exactly the kind of solicitude which I feel for the 
 poor Mohegans ; because, if present efforts fail, they will 
 not be there, to experience benefit from any future ones. 
 Yet many would doubtless exclaim, ' Dear me ! if I had 
 nothing more than poor Indians to trouble me, I should 
 be happy.' I know that if they did not weigh upon my 
 mind as they do, I should be heart-sick about . I be- 
 lieve Miss Hannah More or Mrs. Sherwood says, we have 
 only to choose between evils, in this life. Trouble we 
 must have, but we may sometimes take our choice of it." 
 
 Dangers of the church. "I have lately thought much 
 of the present dangers of the church. The accession of 
 numbers is calculated to induce security ; and its activity, 
 pride. Unless the standard of self-denial be raised, those 
 who flock into it, from the ranks of the wealthy and the 
 young, will cause the separating wall to be demolished. 
 Let the days of Constantine be remembered. This is the 
 first experiment which the church, as a body, ever made 
 for the conversion of the world ; and it would not be 
 strange if self-exaltation should make it necessary to purify 
 and humble her through the fire. I only mention these 
 reflections as occasion for prayer, not of discouragement. 
 I wish that some minister would preach upon the present 
 dangers of the church. Daniel, 4th chapter, 28 37 verses, 
 would be a good text." 
 
 Ministerial deportment. "A minister, if he preserves
 
 70 MEMOIR OF 
 
 his dignity, can hardly be too accessible. Sympathetic 
 benevolence is the very essence of piety, and is all-power- 
 ful in its influence. Who can withstand mercy and gen- 
 tleness 1 " 
 
 Writings of Jane Taylor. "I agree fully with Mrs. C. 
 in regard to Jane Taylor's writings. She is so natural 
 and simple. Have you seen ' Display,' a tale by her, which 
 is truly experimental ? She does not give, like Mrs. Sher- 
 wood, such importance to personal beauty, in her heroines. 
 All Mrs. Sherwood's are conspicuous for that, while Miss 
 Taylor attaches but little importance to it, and seldom gives 
 a novelist's description of beauty. As young people attach 
 so much value to it, to the neglect of other graces, I have 
 admired the manner in which Miss Taylor treats the subject. 
 Still I am a great admirer of Mrs. Sherwood." 
 
 Quiet usefulness. "A well-regulated mind will never 
 form plans which require the agitation of hurry in their 
 execution. I am anxious to fill up life with usefulness, 
 that God may be honored, and my fellow-creatures not be 
 the worse for my existence; and by curtailing my own 
 wants, in the pursuancg of a systematic plan, I try to avoid 
 that bustling course which is so uncomfortable to surround- 
 ing persons, and distracting to one's self. I know of no 
 better preparation for life or for death. From the midst 
 of usefulness, I wish to be called to the reward which is 
 * of grace, not of debt.' " 
 
 Spiritual trial. "When certain cords of my wayward 
 heart are touched, I cannot easily check their vibrations; 
 and no one is aware how much I have suffered from their 
 continuance, in many a secret hour. But it was all right, 
 my dear sister, that I should suffer \i lien you left. I knew 
 that my heart had wandered fro,n the Creator to the 
 creature, and I might have expec'ed that my punishment 
 would be found in the very instrument in which I rested."
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 71 
 
 (jfossip. "Our winter has passed iu an even tenor, 
 with but few family incidents to relate. I have lately 
 increased my aversion to what may be called epistolary 
 gossip ; for there are those residing here, who transport 
 the most trivial circumstances, which are reechoed from 
 distant places to ourselves. But I know that you have no 
 relish for such entertainments." 
 
 Sideboard ornaments. "I have taken pains to adorn 
 the sideboard with flowers ornaments which the God of 
 nature has provided to our hands, without expense or 
 anxiety. I believe you will not think me visionary when 
 J say that, in the Millennium, his works will be admired 
 more than those- of art nor call it very improperly odd, 
 if I try to turn our thoughts from the last, to the contempla- 
 tion of his glorious works." 
 
 Expensive churches. "I have been for some time 
 decidedly of the opinion, that while Christ's last command 
 remains unfulfilled, splendid churches are not an acceptable 
 offering to him. The temple of Solomon has probably been 
 a criterion, while it seems to have been forgotten that its 
 magnificence was typical." 
 
 Activity in duty as an antidote to affliction. "I very 
 
 much fear, my dear , that you are exhausting the 
 
 energies of your immortal soul in the retrospection of 
 past sorrows and enjoyments. You will forgive my plain- 
 ness, but I cannot forbear urging you to change the current 
 of your thoughts, and seek, from the exercise of disinterested 
 benevolence, that enjoyment which has been denied from 
 other sources. I believe that I can in no way evince the 
 sincerity of my affection so strongly, as by striving to with- 
 draw you from the contemplation of the past, and to lead 
 you to .resolve upon the cheerful, persevering, and soul- 
 exalting service of Him, who has a perfect right to dispose
 
 72 MEMOIR OF 
 
 of all your concerns. Do not tempt him to take from you 
 still other, and, it may be, dearer blessings than you have 
 already forfeited. Our lot is not cast beneath the enervating 
 influence of Italian skies, or the luxurious gales of Eastern 
 climes ; but we are freeborn American women ; formed 
 for higher pursuits and nobler purposes for the exercise 
 of mental energy, vigor in action, and elevation of soul. 
 Far be it from me to despise or lightly speak of the gentle 
 graces and yielding affections of our sex ; but I do feel 
 that no woman in this favored land need pine arid die for 
 want of objects to interest and absorb the faculties of her 
 soul. The precepts of our holy religion, drawn out in 
 the daily practice of life, can make a heaven below; and 
 how numerous are the streams of mercy, which we can 
 augment, if we but throw our whole hearts into the service 
 of Him, whose love surpasses all that earth has to bestow ! 
 It is ungrateful, it is unsafe, to brood over the sorrows and 
 disappointments of life, clinging to broken reeds and broken 
 cisterns while the mind is left to lose its vigor, and be- 
 come unfit for the plain, important, and every day duties 
 
 of life. Think, , how brief is our temporal existence, 
 
 and how short the season of service and of trial, to be 
 rewarded by an eternity of perfect bliss ! Is our Saviour a 
 hard Master, when he assures us that the greater our afflic- 
 tions here, if sanctified, the more intense will be our joy 
 hereafter ? Oh ! look into the Bible, and become imbued 
 with its spirit, and you will be ashamed of the selfishness 
 which concentrates your affections upon any thing merely 
 earthly. Do not be displeased, my dear friend ; it is because 
 I love you love your soul as an imperishable existence, 
 destined to a far more exalted sphere than this niche of time, 
 that I write thus plainly." 
 
 Writing for the public. "In regard to writing for the 
 public, I feel indisposed to it at present. I have come to 
 the conclusion, that the world is so full of writers, my pen
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 73 
 
 is not needed. Perhaps my field is to labor and pray with 
 my ' hands under ray wings.' Ezekiel i. 6." * 
 
 Influence of commerce on morals. " The remarks which 
 I made to you respecting commerce, I would not make to 
 every one ; for I consider it very important that Christians 
 should not expose themselves to the imputation of an un- 
 sound judgment, from those who have no reflection; yet 
 my opinion, however erroneous, still favors my own argu- 
 ment. Uncle Trumbull, who dined with us on Saturday, 
 says that the Parisian trade is a curse to our country, 
 converting the costume of our ladies into the attire of 
 
 profligates. He spoke very respectfully of Mr. , 
 
 but said that he was doing injury by his business. This 
 is the opinion of a man of the world, and evidently given 
 without acrimony." 
 
 Excitement. " The old-fashioned quietude of domestic 
 life, in this region at least, seems much interrupted by the 
 bustle and excitement of the present day. Do you not 
 think that it is injurious to the character to live upon 
 excitement? I think, if I had any superintendence of 
 girls, I should strive to have it avoided in their education. 
 It produces an artificial stimulus, which, sooner or later, 
 must end in reaction, leaving the character tame and spirit- 
 less. Fixed principles of action, having their foundation 
 in truth, will animate the soul sufficiently, and give perma- 
 nent cheerfulness, instead of being lost by effervescence. 
 Excitement, however, is the order of the day, and I do 
 not consider myself free from its injurious influence." 
 
 Affectionate manners in ministers. *' How much min- 
 isters and religious teachers gain by a tender style ! I 
 
 * Notwithstanding this modest conclusion, Miss Huntington wrote 
 a considerable number of interesting and valuable pieces, for the col- 
 tunne of different religious journals. 
 
 Fmith.
 
 74 MEMOIR OF 
 
 hope, dear brother, you will never withhold the pungent 
 doctrines of the gospel ; but I do hope you will cultivate 
 that affectionate solemnity which accomplishes much more 
 than harshness. A minister preaches by his looks, his 
 attitudes, and his tones, out of the pulpit and in it, as well 
 as by what he says. Oh ! I do long to see love the promi- 
 nent, all-pervading characteristic of every Christian." 
 
 Obligations of the children of God. " There is no 
 stopping-place for the churches; and we should rejoice in 
 this. How indolent we are, how ungrateful, that we are 
 not willing to serve our Master during a short life, when we 
 hope to enjoy him forever ! I was thinking, this morning, 
 that I have commenced an eternal existence, to be consum- 
 mated in heaven, and that every moment of life has an 
 influence upon that existence beyond the vail. Oh for a 
 constant sense of duty and obligation. These fluctuating 
 natures bring us into bondage." 
 
 Pure and undefiled religion. "I have recently thought 
 much of the words 'Pure and undefiled religion, before 
 God and the Father, is this, to visit the fatherless and 
 widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted 
 from the world.' In the more public, benevolent labors, 
 there is room for much that may mar the purity of religion ; 
 and though we should give all our goods to feed those who 
 are temporally and spiritually destitute, it would not satisfy 
 our Maker, or our own consciences, in that ' honest hour,' 
 except the humble and gentle virtues predominate. In 
 looking back upon my own life, and observing, also, the 
 minuter shades of character in others, who have much zeal, 
 I see a great deal which cannot be called ' pure and unde- 
 filed ; ' which is not charity in its legitimate sense. I know 
 there are many who err in withholding themselves from active 
 effort ; and I would not for worlds throw an obstacle in their 
 way, to keep them back from duty. But I think those who 
 are constitutionally, and from principle too, inclined to go
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 75 
 
 forward in public acts, should be careful to maintain a close 
 walk with God, since nothing can be a substitute for this. 
 ' These things we should do, and not leave the other un- 
 done.' These thoughts have dwelt upon my mind with so 
 much force, in reference to myself particularly, that I was 
 constrained to inscribe them here, although you may per- 
 haps say, they are not very new. They are old, indeed, as 
 the word of God." 
 
 Family self-complacency. "If the numerous ' Hunting- 
 tons ' are useful in their generation, it is of little conse- 
 quence whether they are conspicuous. The applause of the 
 world is but a breath, and valueless on many accounts. In 
 the first place, the standard is very imperfect; adulation, 
 also, is often insincere, and our vanity attaches even more 
 to what is said than was meant." 
 
 Delight in the scenes of spring. "You doubtless par- 
 take with us in the peculiar beauties of nature at this season. 
 Every tree, capable of blossoming, is robed in luxuriant 
 dress, and bespeaks the boundless benevolence of our God. 
 What heart can fail to respond to the voice of nature 1 " 
 
 Christian disinterestedness, contrasted with the spirit of 
 the world. "I find that my wants are few, and the world 
 appears very trifling. ' A hoarding spirit ' you cannot 
 detest, my dear brother, more than myself; and I have 
 reason to believe, that it is the farthest possible from my 
 nature. I am naturally profuse, and I never coveted wealth. 
 But I find that I can do for Christ, and for our dear father, 
 what no other motives could induce. When I think of 
 my perishing fellow-men and that is almost every mo- 
 ment I consider no sacrifice too great to save them. I 
 feel willing ' to be sacrificed to the world, and to have the 
 world sacrificed to me.' To ' think of things lovely, honest, 
 (or beautiful,) and of good report,' is perfectly consistent 
 with entire simplicity of character and habits. If we take
 
 76 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the whole of our Saviour's doctrine, we shall find that much 
 greater separation from the world, and distinctness of prac- 
 tice, are requisite in his disciples. The shades of difference 
 between them and the world are too faint, too blended, to 
 hasten the millennial day. Against our trifling gratifica- 
 tions, and multiplied personal wants, pride, vanity, and love 
 of things temporal, we must throw into the scale the ever- 
 lasting destiny of numerous immortal souls ; and if we can 
 contemplate the balance unmoved, we have strong reason 
 to doubt the reality of our love to God." 
 
 On the day of annual fast and prayer for colleges. 
 (February, 1832.*) " I have been meditating on the prob- 
 able aspect which the several colleges of our country pre- 
 sent, this evening. I have imagined myself passing from 
 room to room among the hundreds who are congregated 
 within their walls, or listening to the secret breathings of 
 some fervent spirit for his unregenerate room-mate. I have 
 imagined, too, that these pious intercessors, feeling them- 
 selves sustained by the united efforts of individuals and 
 churches, throughout the land, redouble their earnest entrea- 
 ties, and in the exercise of invigorated faith, already behold 
 the fulfilment of their wishes. Yet my imagination stops not 
 here. In some of these institutions, I see a few, who but yes- 
 terday, perhaps, were reckless of the future, now exhibiting an 
 uneasiness which they can scarcely define, yet indicating that 
 the Spirit of God, this day invoked, has touched their hearts. 
 I have indulged the thought, too, that possibly there will be, 
 upon an average, one conversion at least, to every individual 
 who has cheerfully and conscientiously devoted this day to 
 its appropriate duties. Precious reward ! 
 
 *' In addition to the prominent subjects of prayer the 
 immediate descent of the Holy Spirit three important con- 
 siderations have dwelt upon my mind, as affording ground 
 
 * An extract from an article which Miss H. wrote for the ' Religious 
 Messenger.'
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 77 
 
 for humiliation and fasting. The first of these is, the neglect 
 of the Bible as a Class book, in the majority of our colleges. 
 The second, is the misimprovement of those superior advan- 
 tages by many who enjoy them, while others are panting to 
 possess them; and the third, the diversity of theological 
 opinions which divide and weaken the strength of the true 
 Israel of God. * * * Above all, let us not forget to im- 
 plore the teaching and peaceful influences of the Spirit, to 
 enable those who control these institutions to see eye to eye, 
 in reference to the truth which is communicated through the 
 volume of inspiration. There certainly must be one simple 
 meaning conveyed by unerring Wisdom in his revelation to 
 fallen man. That meaning he will disclose, if it be sought 
 with an upright mind. In consequence of such diversity of 
 sentiment, infidelity finds a ready apology in the minds of 
 unregenerate youth, forgetting, as they do, that to his own 
 master, every intelligent being must stand or fall. Christian 
 brethren and sisters ! with the close of this day, our respon- 
 sibilities towards the objects of our devotion do not terminate, 
 but are greatly heightened. Let us receive a fresh impulse 
 from the return of this anniversary, and, at least one day in 
 each week, carry to our closets the varied and extensive 
 wants of our literary institutions."
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 JOURNEYS DECEASE OF FRIENDS SYMPATHY WITH 
 
 MOURNERS. 
 
 Miss HUNTINGTON'S journeys were confined principally to 
 such as were necessary in visiting her relatives and acquaint- 
 ance ; were therefore generally short, and furnished few in- 
 cidents which would be of special interest in a memoir. 
 A few will be noticed in the present chapter, as showing how 
 she was accustomed to mingle in general society. Some- 
 thing is also to be learned of the taste and mental habits, by 
 observing how an individual appears abroad, and in inter- 
 course with intelligent and respectable strangers. And of 
 the strength of religious character, there is probably no 
 surer evidence than this, that it " cannot be hid," even 
 amidst the comoanies and throngs into which the Christian 
 is thrown, while travelling. 
 
 The following are brief passages relative to a journey into 
 Massachusetts, in which she visited Andover, at one of those 
 anniversary seasons, when so many distinguished Christians 
 are customarily assembled. In the course of this journey, 
 also, she visited Boston, and the house where she spent 
 some of her " school-girl days." 
 
 " We passed Stafford Springs, and stopped a moment at 
 the boarding-house. My thoughts flew back to the time 
 when my beloved mother, with fond solicitude, carried me 
 to those waters. I was but three years old at the last visit; 
 and I sorrowed to think how much of that pride of heart 
 still remained with me, which, at that tender age, subjected 
 me to the appellation of ' Madame Buonaparte,' from a lady 
 whom I saw there." 
 
 78
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 79 
 
 " ANDOVZR. 
 
 " The moon is shedding her mild and peaceful beams 
 upon me as I write. How delightfully Andover Hill appears 
 at this moment ! I imagine you and your sweet babes, 
 calmly reposing upon your pillows. May guardian angels 
 attend you, for ' so he giveth his beloved sleep.' Good 
 night, dear sister. When the toils and solicitudes of life 
 are over, may we be prepared to meet in those ' sweet 
 fields beyond the swelling flood,' which ' stand dressed in 
 living green.' " 
 
 " The events of Anniversary week were too interesting 
 to affect me indifferently; and the intervals of ease with 
 which I was favored, enabled me to appreciate the oppor- 
 tunities afforded me for an acquaintance with many persons 
 of whom I have often heard." 
 
 "NORWICH, Nov. 7. 
 
 " My visit in Boston forcibly impressed me with the 
 mutability of earthly things, what changes nine years 
 have produced ! The voice of strangers resounded in the 
 apartments once occupied by those whom we loved and 
 honored. I said, ' Where are they 1 ' and Echo answered, 
 Where are they 1 ' The laughing and joyous school-mate 
 had become the woman and the mother. Time is a faithful 
 laborer, and a monitor to the most thoughtless. To the 
 Christian, however, its flight is cheering. 
 
 ' 'Twill waft us sooner o'er 
 This life's tempestuous sea.' 
 
 "I was absent six weeks, and met a most hearty wel- 
 come. Father is unwilling to spare me for any thing but 
 to go and see you. My late visit furnishes me matter for 
 much pleasant and solid reflection. I rejoice that I was 
 permitted to make it. Have you seen an account of Dr. 
 Payson's last moments, with the letter which he wrote to 
 his sister? Oh! that his death may be sanctified to the
 
 80 MEMOIR OF 
 
 church. His ' last end ' might be that of every Christian, 
 if preceded by such a life. My thoughts never dwelt so 
 much upon any similar event. The church is one ; may her 
 strength and beauty be enhanced, rather than diminished, by 
 this pruning of her branches." 
 
 A sketch of a journey which she took with her second 
 brother into Maine, and thence to the White Mountains of 
 New Hampshire, is given in the subjoined letter. 
 
 "NORWICH, JULY 26. 
 
 " My dear Sister : After we had given you the last look 
 of affectionate adieu, and turned from your peaceful dwell- 
 ing, my heart and eyes overflowed with tender emotions, 
 and for some minutes we pursued our way in silence. I 
 told Edward I could not talk immediately, and whenever my 
 imagination pictured the little group at Wiscasset, I felt a 
 weight at my heart. We reached Brunswick just before 
 one, and proceeded to President Allen's. We dined, visited 
 the colleges, took tea, and left at seven, with a very pleasant 
 impression of Brunswick. We reached Portland about 
 eleven, passed a comfortable night, and found ourselves in 
 the stage at five the next morning, with a party from Boston. 
 We became exceedingly attached to them; they were our 
 companions eight days. Having occupied the stage-coaches 
 almost exclusively for so long a time ascended Mounts 
 Washington and Holyoke together and formed a majority 
 at the social board three times a day for more than a week 
 our intercourse bore the character of endeared friendship, 
 and we could not intrench ourselves in indifference. I 
 cannot but indulge the belief that our journey is to result 
 in the salvation of some soul. 
 
 " I early discovered to them my own religious views, and 
 had free conversations with some of the company. 
 
 "The first night after leaving Portland was spent at 
 Conway. The next day our ride was one of intense in- 
 terest. I rode upon the outside of the stage-coach, which
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 81 
 
 is much practised by ladies on that magnificent route. For 
 a long time before we reached them, the mountains of New 
 Hampshire appeared in the blue distance, to our admiring 
 gaze ; but when we were actually among them, it was truly 
 a scene of peculiar interest. The drivers, who are familiar 
 with every object, instead of hurrying us along, gave us 
 every opportunity to view the scenery; and we rode or 
 walked, just as it suited us. At the Willey House we all 
 left the coach, and examined the melancholy spot, rendered 
 desolate by the direct agency of Heaven. The affecting 
 events connected with it were deeply impressed upon my 
 imagination, by viewing the interior of the desolated man- 
 sion, and the course of the destructive avalanches, which 
 swept a family into eternity. Again, we walked through the 
 celebrated Notch. 
 
 " The scenery of the White Hills, my dear sister, sur- 
 passes description : to be realized, it must be seen. You 
 may try to imagine the effect produced by wending one's 
 way around lofty ridges, which appear impassable before 
 you reach them, until you find yourself within an amphi- 
 theatre of mountains, more bold and towering than any you 
 ever saw. 
 
 " But few ladies have ever reached the summit of the 
 highest land in North America, east of the Rocky Moun- 
 tains. Yet, as I remarked to one of the gentlemen, I had 
 not resolved to attempt it from ambitious motives. I 
 wished to see the wonderful works of God, and I should 
 undertake it, looking to Him for support and protection. 
 The top of the mountain is nine and a half miles from 
 Crawford's, five of which are accomplished by riding, and 
 the 1 remainder on foot. We set out, half of the party in 
 a wagon, and the other on horses. I was the only female 
 equestrian. When we dismounted, we were each furnished 
 with a long palmer-staff; and with our two guides, father and 
 son, making twelve in all, we commenced our ascent in 
 
 ' o * 
 
 Indian file, presenting a scene for an artist's pencil. But 
 oh, the toilsomeness of the ascent ! I thought I had exerted 
 
 4*
 
 82 MEMOIR OF 
 
 myself before ; but every former effort dwindled to a point, 
 in comparison. We crossed the Amonoosuck seven times, 
 which rises from the Lake of the Clouds, high upon the 
 range, and empties into the Connecticut. The Saco rises 
 within a few yards of the same, and empties into the 
 Atlantic. This we crossed twenty times, before reaching 
 the mountains. Our guide frequently regaled us with water 
 fresh from the fountain ; and after reaching a recess in the 
 rocks, called 'the kitchen,! we took our lunch. The 
 wind began to blow violently, and a portion of our party 
 concluded to remain behind, with one of the guides. I 
 exchanged my hat for a calash, with one of the ladies, 
 and proceeded. Our path now lay over shelving, pre- 
 cipitous, and broken rocks, which appeared to form an 
 almost perpendicular ascent, and the summit seemed to 
 fly from our approach. At length we completed the 
 arduous attempt, and we found ourselves surrounded by 
 'a sea of mountains,' an illimitable extent of undulating 
 surface, with no definiteness of prospect, but mountain- 
 billows of mountains. I could have staid there many 
 days ; but there is no shelter ; the wind blew violently, and 
 the clouds soon threatened to envelop us. I remained but 
 five minutes, while others, who reached the summit sooner, 
 were there fifteen. The grandeur of the view surpasses 
 description. I had not time to collect my thoughts, but I 
 felt like a pygmy. We returned to Crawford's in just 
 twelve hours from our departure ; more than eleven of 
 which were spent in climbing. Before we left Crawford's, 
 his two little girls repeated to me a hymn, which I had 
 given them to learn. We dined the next day at Haverhill, 
 and spent the Sabbath at Hanover. President Allen had 
 furnished us with letters of introduction, of which we made 
 no use until after Sabbath, when we called at Dr. Muzzy's. 
 1 had anticipated an unpleasant Sabbath; but from some 
 cause, every one in the house seemed to be under restraint. 
 There was no loud talking or jesting. Edward and I de- 
 termined to set an example, and spent most of the time in
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 83 
 
 our rooms. We went to meeting all day, and so did each 
 of the party. We had received an addition to our number 
 of a wealthy Episcopal family from New York, who were 
 polite, serious, affable people, and with our Unitarian 
 friends, heard two sermons from Mr. Page, on the day of 
 grace being past ; and on the sovereignty of God ; bona fide 
 Calvinism. 
 
 " Dr. M. called in the morning, and we took a hasty 
 view of the colleges. My associations with the Mohegans 
 rendered it doubly interesting. With old Dr. Wheelock, 
 and Earl Dartmouth, whose portraits adorn the walls, I felt 
 a strong sympathy, because they loved the Indians. 
 
 " Monday noon found us at Brattleborough ; and Tuesday 
 noon, at Northampton ; and the afternoon, on the summit 
 of Mt. Holyoke. Here, after a trifling effort, we spent an 
 hour or two most delightfully ; and the view, oh ! it is 
 exquisite ; more beautiful than Mt. Washington. In a clear 
 atmosphere, thirty steeples may be counted. I can describe 
 it in no way so forcibly, as by a family of villages, with 
 the beautiful Connecticut sweeping gracefully among them. 
 I do not believe the whole earth presents a lovelier scene. 
 ****** 
 
 " The hour of parting came. All our life and buoyancy 
 were fled. We had been silent for nearly an hour. Our 
 Boston party were to leave for home at 2 o'clock the next 
 morning. My heart was full, and I was obliged to retire, 
 and give vent to my feelings. I awoke when they left, and 
 heard the last rumbling of the carriage wheels as they died 
 upon my ear. We should probably meet no more until 
 the last great day ! This intercourse of entire strangers 
 for eight successive days, had not been in vain ! It was a 
 link in the chain of events, that eternity would disclose in 
 its relations. 
 
 ****** 
 
 ' Northampton is a delightful spot. Amherst and Hadley 
 we could only see at a distance. The New York party
 
 84 MEMOIR OF 
 
 accompanied us to Springfield, where we visited the Ar- 
 mory, on Wednesday afternoon." 
 
 The following letter to one of the ladies of the party in 
 the excursion to the White Mountains, gives her account of 
 the conclusion of the journey ; and exhibits the strength 
 and liveliness of Miss Huntington's interest, as a Christian, 
 in the spiritual welfare of her travelling acquaintances. It 
 also shows how entirely practicable it is, to unite the utmost 
 fidelity in presenting religious truth and duty, with the most 
 perfect delicacy and propriety. 
 
 "NORWICH, SEPT. 7. 
 
 "My dear Mrs. A.: You will perhaps be surprised to 
 receive a letter from me, as I made no promise to that ef- 
 fect when we parted ; but I am very desirous to hear from 
 you, and begin to fear I shall not have this pleasure, unless 
 I bring you in debt. After my return home, I accidentally 
 heard of you at Saratoga, by some Norwich friends who 
 were there, but did not see you. From this circumstance, 
 I have been led to fear that your son was more unwell, 
 making it necessary for you to set out immediately upon 
 another journey. Will you not permit me to hear from 
 you very soon, with particulars of your recent tour, of 
 your son's health, and of all which you think I should be 
 gratified to know. By a letter from Mr. W. to brother, 
 written the day after his arrival in Boston, we were in- 
 formed of your progress after our separation at Northamp- 
 ton. I awoke at 2 o'clock, and heard the familiar sounds 
 which accompany the departure of passengers ; and waa 
 just forming the resolution that I would rise, wrap myself 
 in a cloak, and seat myself at our parlor window, that, 
 unobserved, I might witness your exit ; when I heard the 
 rumbling of the carriage, as it moved from the door. The 
 darkness and solitude of night did not diminish the des- 
 olate feeling which stole over me, as the last sounds of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 85 
 
 the stage-coach died upon my ear, and I thought we should 
 never all meet on earth. The next morning all things 
 looked cheerless and forsaken, and we were not sorry to 
 hear the signal for our own departure, which took place 
 at 10 o'clock. 
 
 " We reached Springfield at noon, where, to our regret, 
 we learned that no stage left for Norwich until Friday. 
 We visited the Armory that afternoon, and the next morn- 
 inor took an extra for ' Home, sweet Home ' to me the 
 
 O * 
 
 dearest spot on earth ! My father's house possesses a charm 
 with which my imagination could never invest any other 
 place. You may easily believe we found a most cordial 
 welcome ; particularly from my mother, of whose loss of 
 sight you heard me speak. After we became settled in 
 the quiet of home-born pleasures, and I began to reflect 
 seriously upon the events of our mountain excursion, I felt 
 assured that an overruling Providence had exerted some 
 special agency in them. It could not be a mere accident, 
 that we were drawn together for so many days, once entire 
 strangers, but now endeared friends. For myself, possessed 
 of naturally strong affections, I may say that I shall ever 
 retain a lively recollection of those interesting scenes ; 
 and that among the friends of my fleeting years, those of 
 White Mountain memory will hold an important place. 
 Eternity will develop all the features of that interesting jour- 
 ney, and their influence upon the future destiny of each. 
 
 " I am aware, my dear madam, that our views upon an 
 important subject are dissimilar ; and perhaps you will deem 
 it strange that I touch upon it; yet I cannot hesitate, for 
 my principles and feelings always impel me to remind my 
 friends those whom I especially love that we are fel- 
 low-travellers to a region of more intense interest than any 
 earthly spot can boast. How often, during our rides, did I 
 cherish the ardent wish, that we might all be prepared to 
 meet, where separation is unknown ! And excuse me if I 
 add, that the prayer has unceasingly risen, that the same 
 Almighty Saviour, upon whom all my hopes rest, may he
 
 86 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the chosen portion of each of my companions. If it is idola- 
 try * to exalt to the throne of my heart this great ' High Priest 
 of my profession,' yet I fear not to appear with these prin- 
 ciples before the tribunal of Jehovah. Since God has ap- 
 parently owned the efforts of that portion of professing 
 Christians who maintain these views, is it not safe, my 
 dear friend, to make it a subject of earnest prayer, that, 
 if the natural character be so utterly destitute of merit as to 
 require a divine expiation for sin, we may be enabled fully 
 to believe in so essential a truth ? This religion is one 
 eminently calculated, in its very nature, to produce a peace 
 of mind wholly independent of earthly joys. Yea, it be- 
 comes more vigorous, as sublunary pleasures disappoint, 
 and lose their influence. When the idols of this world 
 are snatched from our hearts, they become more purified for 
 the residence of Immanuel, through the 'Comforter' which 
 he promised at his ascension. 
 
 " I will not apologize, my dear madam, for this intro- 
 duction of a subject which holds the first place in my 
 thoughts ; for the recollection of your amiable deportment 
 forbids me to cherish the apprehension,-, that you will be 
 displeased. 
 
 " One word I must indulge myself in adding, to my 
 young friend B. a hope that he will join that immense 
 company of youthful soldiers, who are now enlisting under 
 the banner of the Great Captain. In casting my eye over 
 a Boston paper, I noticed his name among the recipients 
 of prizes at the High School, which, but for our journey 
 together, would have been overlooked or unheeded. 
 
 " And now I must say adieu ! with the request that I may 
 soon hear from you a favor to which I think I may lay 
 claim. Your excellent husband I shall always remember ; 
 to whom, with your son, present my kind regards ; also to 
 
 * ' If by some it be accounted idolatry,' is the meaning of Miss 
 Huntington, doubtless.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 87 
 
 any of our friends whom you may see. Accept the as- 
 surance of the respect and love of yours, &,c." 
 
 The decease of one of the party, nearly at the date of 
 the preceding letter, is thus noticed, in writing to her 
 sister : 
 
 " NORWICH, SEPT. 19. 
 
 "Mr. 'P., one of our associates at Mt. Washington, cf 
 whom I wrote, is no more ! He died with fever a week or 
 two since. I cannot realize it. He was only twenty-four 
 years of age; and his wife twenty-two. I had just written 
 to them on the subject of religion, which letter did not 
 reach them till after his death. The prominent idea upon 
 which I insisted was the shortness of time ! " 
 
 In a letter written at one point of another journey, ap- 
 pears her love for beautiful and sublime scenery. 
 
 " BEHNINGTON, VT., OCT. 22. 
 
 " 1 have enjoyed my visit very much. The mountain 
 breezes are very salubrious. The beauty of the scenery 
 exceeds any thing of the kind which I ever saw. The 
 autumn tints of the foliage are much richer and more 
 variegated than with us; and as the lofty mountains are 
 covered to the summit, they present the appearance of im- 
 mense flower gardens ; rendered more striking by dark 
 spots of evergreen alternately presenting themselves. One 
 of the highest of these mountains, called Mount Anthony, 
 rises not far from Mr. H.'s residence, containing a marble 
 quarry, and a cave of some celebrity, the interior of which 
 I should visit at a more favorable season. We have thought 
 a great deal of C., our old domestic, who was taken prisoner 
 here, in the revolutionary war. He was among the party 
 of Hessians who were bought by the British for ' six pound 
 ten.' We have seen and handled Col. Baum's sword, which 
 was taken from his wounded person at ' the battle of Ben- 
 nington,' and of which C. had so much to relate."
 
 88 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Of an excursion to New York she thus writes : 
 
 "MARCH 21. 
 
 " Notwithstanding a strong head-wind, there was scarce 
 any sickness on board the boat. I spent most of the day 
 on deck, inhaling the free sea-breeze. Our passengers 
 
 were agreeable. Among them was Mrs. , mourning 
 
 for the loss of the infant whose birth was so splendidly 
 commemorated. She is a pretty woman, simple in her 
 manners ; but, alas ! that relief from sorrow should be sought 
 in the perusal of a novel ! As we sat around the stove at 
 midnight, in the ladies' cabin, I had a favorable opportunity 
 to say a few words in behalf of the rationality of true 
 religion ; and especially of its support in trial." 
 
 In connection with the foregoing extract, as indicating 
 her views of the true sources of consolation in affliction, 
 and her habits of thought respecting the bereavements of 
 Providence; it may be proper to add a few extracts from 
 Miss Huntington's letters on the death of friends. 
 
 On hearing, during her absence from home, of the death 
 of that most intimate of her friends, whom, as has been 
 already remarked, she regarded as having been the instru- 
 ment of her conversion, she thus writes : "By letters from 
 home last evening, my dear cousin, the intelligence of your 
 recent affliction reached me. I am left alone to-day, and 
 my thoughts refuse every subject of contemplation, but what 
 relates to my dear Eliza and her lovely infant. To relieve 
 my feelings, I have taken my pen ; and I presume no apology 
 is necessary for this expression of my sympathy for you. I 
 imagine you sitting lonely and disconsolate, no less grieved, 
 than if the dear child had been your own. How your heart 
 must bleed ! I could weep with you. While your thoughts 
 are fixed on earth, all things present must appear dark and 
 cheerless. But if you raise the eye of faith to a purer 
 scene, how lovely is the prospect ! Behold the angelic 
 mother, striking anew her harp of praise, while she hails
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 89 
 
 her sweet offspring ' born again above.' Their melodious 
 voices unite in the song of redeeming love. 
 
 " If we contrast the heavenly state of these dear departed 
 ones with their earthly career, even had they been spared 
 for the highest temporal happiness, we must rejoice in their 
 release*. The mother, contending with the depravity of her 
 own heart, would often have mourned over the alienation 
 of her child from God ; and like others, struggling with sin 
 and disappointment, would have found life at best but a 
 weary pilgrimage. The dear infant, too, must have followed 
 the same beaten path, and discovered that all is vanity. 
 True, we should be cheered by their existence; our path 
 might be brightened by their presence ; but 'tis only selfish- 
 ness that would have retained them here, or would recall 
 them now. Whenever I think of Eliza with natural feelings 
 only, I experience deep regret that God has taken her ; but 
 I strive to check such thoughts, and to rejoice for her. 
 
 " I think of you, and pray for you, and I hope that you 
 find in your trial a peaceful resting-place in God. It is in 
 affliction that the Christian may most glorify his Saviour 
 before the world. Perhaps at this time you may be the 
 means of impressing upon some individual the importance 
 and reality of true faith. 
 
 " I could easily fill my paper, but your Bible will furnish 
 you more profitable reading. To that and the riches of 
 God's grace I commend you." 
 
 Of another, who, not many months before her decease, 
 had entered upon the Christian life, she writes "I heard 
 from Chester respecting Fayette's death. I rejoice to hear 
 of her peaceful exit, and delight to anticipate a meeting in 
 heaven. I have desired so much to become a disembodied 
 spirit, and my thoughts have dwelt so much upon the invisi- 
 ble world, of late, that I cannot but rejoice for those who 
 forsake their clay. But now I wish to live for the sake of 
 others."
 
 90 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Shortly after the decease of her grandmother, Mrs. Sarah 
 Lanman, she thus writes : " Grandmamma's sickness and 
 death made demands upon my time, which were cheerfully 
 met, as I esteem it an honor to have contributed any por- 
 tion of labor to the comfort and memory of one so highly 
 honored of God. It was a privilege to be with her the last 
 day of her life, and to behold her peaceful exit. She used 
 often in health to express much solicitude respecting the 
 externals of her death ; and in this respect, as well as in 
 more important things, God was very gracious. She died 
 while lying in a natural posture upon her side, and closed 
 her own eyes ; softly breathing her last, like an infant. 
 Her remains, too, were lovely ; and the sweet smile upon 
 her features seemed an earnest of her angelic rest in heaven. 
 She was a shining light. May we be enabled to honor her 
 memory by a regard to those principles which were the 
 ornament of her life." 
 
 The subjoined extracts relate to the decease and charac- 
 ter of the Rev. Alfred Mitchell, her much esteemed pastor : 
 " Your friend and brother, and our beloved minister, 
 has gone to the world of spirits, to join the Master whom 
 he has served so faithfully. While I write it, I can hardly 
 believe what my pen records. And yet it is really so. 
 About 5 P. M., yesterday, the conflict ceased ; and I trust he 
 has found a joyful welcome in the regions of blessedness. 
 
 " I have felt very tenderly at the departure of my spiritual 
 father. I have grown up under his ministry, and have often 
 fed upon the truth which he has delivered. I shall rejoice 
 to meet him in heaven. My last interview with him was 
 very endearing and gratifying." 
 
 She partook deeply in the sensation felt throughout the 
 churches of New England, at the death of the Rev. Mr. 
 Cornelius.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 9J 
 
 " NORWICH, FEB. 14. 
 
 " Before this arrives, you will probably hear of the sudden 
 death of our dear Mr. Cornelius ; an event which occasions 
 us many tender recollections casts a shade over many 
 pleasant associations and more than all, makes a wide 
 breach in the church of Christ. Dear Mrs. Cornelius, how 
 does she support it ! 
 
 ' One there is, above all others, 
 Well deserves the name of Friend,' 
 
 and he can, and will, I trust, sustain her. 'Cease ye from 
 man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for wherein is he to be 
 accounted of? ' It is sweet to realize, that God is an infi- 
 nitely wise and benevolent Sovereign; and although he 
 gives no account of his designs to us, faith assures us of 
 the perfection of his government. Why do we ever dis- 
 trust that love which has clothed divinity in humanity, and 
 furnished us a perpetual High Priest in heaven ? There 
 stands our Representative, the Surety for our everlasting 
 welfare ; and as long as He there remains, we know, for a 
 certainty, that all things will work together for good, to his 
 adopted ones." 
 
 She subsequently visited Mrs. Cornelius in New York, 
 and thus describes her feelings : " My visit was one 
 of tender interest, and it has left a pensive impression upon 
 my mind. There is something sublime and heavenly in the 
 sorrow of an enlightened but chastened Christian. In con- 
 versing with such a one you seem to have stepped out of 
 the usual ferment of human scenes, to hold communion 
 with elevated and invisible realities." " As we passed 
 through the hall to the street door, I said, ' Your house 
 is a pleasant one.' She replied, 'It is a sacred spot to me. 
 Here I have witnessed precious scenes, my husband 
 ripened fast for heaven during the few months we were 
 here together.' I went to see her three times. She told 
 me much that was interesting of her dear husband, and
 
 92 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 permitted me to peruse some letters respecting him from 
 Boston and Hartford. I went around the house with her, 
 and saw his study, desk, books, &c., just as he left them. 
 It was like communing with the invisible world." 
 
 In a note to a mother, recently deprived of a beloved 
 child by death, she thus writes : 
 
 " NEW YORK, APRIL 18. 
 
 " Dear Mrs. Williams : Since hearing of the deep 
 affliction with which you have been visited, my sympathy 
 has been frequently excited towards you, and I feel con- 
 strained to express the same with my pen. I know, from 
 sad, yet sweet experience, that it is some alleviation of our 
 grief to find that our sorrows are shared by others, although 
 the only true and permanent consolation can be derived 
 from Christ Jesus. I trust we both can testify how precious 
 his friendship is at such an hour of anguish. Never, till 
 the departure of my dear brother, did I know how to feel 
 for the afflicted. Now I can enter into the sanctuary of 
 their grief, and my heart seems to vibrate in unison with 
 every chord of theirs. I know that the tie which binds a 
 mother to her child is peculiar, and can be realized only by 
 those who sustain this relation; yet the kind of maternal 
 watchfulness which I had been called to exercise towards 
 that brother, greatly increased the strength of my regard, 
 and added to the poignancy of my sorrow." 
 
 Thus did Miss Huntington improve the departures of those 
 whom she knew or loved, for the quickening of her own 
 spirit, and in sending forward her thoughts, aided her own 
 preparation to enter upon the scenes of eternity.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 INTEREST IN REVIVALS OP RELIGION IN BENEVOLENT 
 
 OPERATIONS IN THE CONVERSION OF DISTANT RELA- 
 TIVES AND ACQUAINTANCES. 
 
 Miss HUNTINGTON, after her conversion, was solicitous 
 for the prosperity of religion in her native place, and with 
 the enlargement of heart which marks the devoted Christian, 
 she rejoiced in revivals of religion wherever they occurred. 
 Her anxiety respecting its prosperity in Norwich was 
 frequent, when there was not a revival in actual progress. 
 When such seasons did occur, they were to her times of 
 intense interest of lively anxiety but also of solemn and 
 elevated joy. To her sister, who visited Norwich after an 
 extraordinary descent of the Holy Spirit, she said, " How 
 trifling these ornamented parlors and drawing-rooms have 
 appeared to me of late ! " It should not be represented that 
 after Miss Huntington's entrance upon a religious life, she 
 was entirely free from the temptations of the world. In com- 
 mon with others she experienced seasons of declension. But 
 she felt, in an uncommon degree, the effect of the extra- 
 ordinary effusion of the Holy Spirit enjoyed by the church 
 in 1S31 ; and ever after that period she seemed to have 
 received a new and powerful impulse in the divine life. 
 She prayed much for the blessings of the Spirit on those 
 around her ; encouraged others to do the same ; watched for 
 answers to prayer, and for the first evidences of divine 
 influence on the hearts of Christians and the unconverted ; 
 interested herself in the cases of the thoughtless and care- 
 less, as well as of awakened and converted persons; and 
 entered into the " joy of the angels of God in heaven, over 
 
 93
 
 94 MEMOIR OF 
 
 one sinner that repenteth," with a liveliness of gratitude 
 rarely surpassed. Her letters to her friends abounded in 
 details of the interesting scenes and events passing ; and 
 indicated that she was a rich sharer in the spiritual benefit 
 of such seasons. 
 
 The same devoted piety which inclined her to pray for 
 the influences of the Holy Spirit in revivals of religion, 
 also led her to take a steady and fervent interest in the 
 advancement of the kingdom of Christ every where. The 
 seasons of concert in prayer among Christians, for mis- 
 sions, Sabbath schools, revivals in colleges, and other spe- 
 cific objects, on which in late years Christians have been 
 " agreed together," always received her careful observance. 
 In promoting all the great systems of Christian benevolence 
 in operation for spreading the gospel in our dark and ruined 
 world, she bore an active, and often a leading part with 
 her Christian friends. No one entered with more liveliness 
 into the spirit of the anniversaries of the various benevolent 
 associations, or felt higher satisfaction at the evidences of 
 their increasing prosperity. She also engaged with others 
 in efforts for the spiritual good of places in the region of 
 Norwich, destitute of religious privileges, and was active 
 among her Christian associates in raising the means for 
 furnishing the destitute. She was for some time engaged 
 with several of her friends in a " Charity Warehouse," 
 where were sold various articles, and to which she devoted 
 some of the products of her skill in painting and drawing. 
 The profits of this were devoted to some of the benevolent 
 objects of the day. Respecting this enterprise, she had 
 afterwards, however, some scruples. She said to a friend 
 that she had given up the Warehouse, in which were sold 
 sweetmeats, &c., for she could not consistently teach her 
 Sabbath scholars self-denial, while she was instrumental in 
 furnishing temptations to self-indulgence. She also was 
 concerned, with ladies of the church to which she belonged, 
 in fitting up a " Missionary Room," where they used to 
 meet for prayer and labors of benevolence. There was a
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 95 
 
 ceaseless, untiring spirit of love to souls and to the kingdom 
 of her Lord and Redeemer, in her heart, united with 
 ingenuity in devising, and enterprise in executing benevo- 
 lent plans, which seemed to bear her onward from day to 
 day and from year to year; making efforts herself, and 
 endeavoring to enlist the hearts and the hands of her friends 
 around her. Her spirit is well illustrated in the following 
 sentences in one of her letters: "What a blessed work, 
 to be the messenger of glad tidings to a guilty world ! I 
 have more than once, of late, wished myself a young 
 minister. The triumphs of divine grace, and the presages 
 of millennial glory, sometimes induce such overpowering im- 
 pulses in my soul, that I want to burst the confines of my 
 sex, and go forth a public ambassador for Christ. To 
 check such feelings, which should not be deliberately 
 indulged, requires an effort." 
 
 She deeply felt whatever embarrassed, or was liable to 
 bring into reproach the efforts of Christian benevolence, as 
 her remarks on an agent indicate : " Mr. C. pleased us, but 
 he was injudicious, Monday evening, in pronouncing a wo 
 upon those whose motives in giving were not purely Chris- 
 tian. Mr. G. had just spoken in favor of the object ; and 
 as usual with him, acknowledged his deficiency, in one 
 particular ; and though Mr. C. meant well, his denunciation 
 was ill-timed and prejudicial to his object. If I had time 
 and room, I would explain more fully. ' Be ye wise as ser- 
 pents, and harmless as doves.' I have thought much, of late, 
 upon the importance of the exhibition of tenderness and 
 affection, by Christians and ministers. If we can draw the 
 hearts of people towards us, we increase our influence. 
 ' God is love.' Severity and harshness are carnal weapons. 
 A recollection of our own native obstinacy and rebellion, is 
 calculated to make us merciful to others." 
 
 Miss Huntington entered with much spirit into the con- 
 dition and necessities of the Greeks, as appears from the
 
 96 MEMOIR OF 
 
 following account of efforts in Norwich on their behalf: 
 " Should my letter be, in any respect, a la Grec, you must 
 not be surprised ; for ' know you hereby,' that for the past 
 week, rny fingers have been almost constantly employed in 
 the service of Peloponnesian damsels. The new Masonic 
 Hall has presented a scene upon which you would have liked 
 to take a peep, and would probably have done so, had you 
 been here. One hundred and fifty females were collected 
 on one day, and groups of various numbers and appearance 
 have presented themselves there on other days. The work 
 is now nearly completed, and a generous donation will be 
 made from Norwich." 
 
 The sentiments of the following paragraph, in relation 
 to charity funds, will probably be appreciated as just : 
 " Do you not think that it is more consistent with the spirit 
 of the gospel to trust, from year to year, in Him who has 
 all in his hands 1 Is it not conforming to worldly princi- 
 ples, to accumulate large funds? I do not assert, but only 
 propose a query. When we speak to people respecting the 
 embarrassments of the society, they reply, ' Why do they not 
 use the money which they have? And when that is gone, 
 we will furnish more.' And these are not opposers, but 
 hearty friends. There is no doubt that a spirit of benevo- 
 lence will increase; and as Christians become more separate 
 from the world, every succeeding year will furnish sufficient 
 for its exigences." 
 
 One great object in the arrangement of her expenditures 
 seemed to be to appropriate the greatest amount of her 
 income to the advancement of the kingdom of Christ. She 
 was frugal and simple in her apparel, with an eye to greater 
 ability to give liberally, and was generous in her donations. 
 The little income which she received from a small legacy, 
 was, at times, if not invariably, devoted to religious chari- 
 ties ; and some silver plate, which came to her from the 
 estate of her grandfather Huntington, was devoted to such
 
 MRS. SARAH L,. SMITH. 97 
 
 objects. In these and other ways, was nurtured that 
 strength of moral feeling and self-government, which en- 
 abled her to forsake many of the dearest earthly objects, 
 that she might carry the knowledge of her Saviour to the 
 degraded daughters of Syria. 
 
 One of her plans to obtain means for doing good, appears 
 in the following extract from a letter to her sister : "I 
 intend, when you are located again, to seek some opening, 
 where, if I do not go to the West, I may obtain a smajl 
 school, and give every dollar to the cause of benevolence. 
 I must, do something. Mary brought ' a costly offering' to 
 the Saviour's feet, in token of her gratitude. I long to 
 show my love and gratitude ; and I see not how I can be 
 exempted from labor, with health, youthful vigor, and 
 freedom from domestic ties. Pray for me, that God will 
 open a door of usefulness. We are trying to excite to 
 some systematic effort, for our destitute regions." 
 
 The subjoined statement is derived from the superin- 
 tendent of the Sabbath school connected with the First 
 Congregational church in Norwich. 
 
 " Miss Huntington was always a teacher in the school, 
 when in town, (except about eight months,) till she engaged 
 in the Mohegan enterprise. Then her absence was felt and 
 lamented by all ; her advice and efficiency were of such 
 essential service to the school. Having accomplished her 
 object at Mohegan, in providing the Indians with a teacher 
 for both the Sabbath and the week, she came the next 
 Lord's day into the Sabbath school again, and expressed 
 a willingness to take a class, if there were one for her. 
 She had been in the room but a few minutes, when the 
 superintendent received a note signed by five young ladies, 
 expressing a wish to join the school, if they could have a 
 teacher. He considered the occurrence providential, and 
 proposed to her to take them as her class. She shrunk 
 from it, at first, through a feeling of incompetency ; but 
 
 Smith. 5
 
 98 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the next day accepted the proposal. The class soon in- 
 creased to a dozen. Not one of them, at the beginning, 
 was a professor of religion. She met them every Wednes- 
 day for personal conversation and prayer. All were at 
 length, one after another, converted, except one. To this 
 one, on the eve of her marriage, she testified her affection 
 in a parting note." 
 
 "SiBBATH EVE, MARCH 11. 
 
 " I was not aware, my dear Sarah, until to-day, that the 
 important event you are anticipating was so near at hand. 
 I must now, I suppose, relinquish the enjoyment of your 
 presence and aid, in my pleasant class of Bible learners. I 
 resign you to other duties, cares, and pleasures. I cannot, 
 however, do this without tender emotions. Your deport- 
 ment has been such as to win my regard, while I have been 
 deeply solicitous for your immortal welfare. 
 
 " For your friend I have a high respect ; and I anticipate 
 for you mutual and substantial happiness so far as human 
 means can operate. 
 
 " And is it so that our intercourse has thus ceased for- 
 ever? It has not been accidental; you, I believe, were a 
 principal agent in the formation of the class. Its interests 
 are linked with eternity. Our ranks are at length broken, 
 and other changes will probably follow. Life, with all that 
 belongs to it, will soon be gone. Dear Sarah, do not any 
 longer remain upon neutral ground ; the Saviour is worthy 
 of all your heart, and heaven worth the greatest sacrifice 
 you can make. 
 
 " Accept the warm expression of my love and best wishes 
 for you and yours. Our class meet at Mrs. Chester's next 
 Sabbath evening, at my request. Should you be able to 
 attend, it would afford pleasure to all, and give particular 
 satisfaction to your true friend." 
 
 A letter to one who had been a scholar in her Sabbath 
 school class, residing in another State, shows the interest
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 99 
 
 she felt in all who had been under her instruction : " We 
 miss you exceedingly in our little group, as each of the dear 
 girls will testify. I love you all ; and I am unable to ex- 
 press how ardently I desire to see you, without a single 
 exception, safe within the enclosure of ' the Good Shep- 
 herd ' ! Not the form of one ever glides before me, nor her 
 image enters my mind, without strong solicitude that God 
 would sanctify you in early life for his service, and that you 
 may be the happy instruments of hastening the millennial 
 day. That you, my dear Mary, have been 'sealed to the 
 day of redemption,' gives abundant joy to my heart ; and my 
 only wish for you now is, that you may not be satisfied with 
 low attainments of Christian character; that you take no 
 earthly being for a standard, but that Jesus Christ may be 
 your pattern in all things. What a precious visit was yours 
 in Norwich! Surely, your parents have rejoiced that they 
 consented to your stay. My respects await them. Every 
 unpleasant feeling, but that of grief at your departure, 
 seemed banished from my mind when you left; at the 
 reflection that you were going to a home, where every thing 
 would favor your spiritual improvement not only within, 
 but without the paternal home. Much devotedness will be 
 expected from you under such circumstances." 
 
 The superintendent also states that the mind of Miss Hunt- 
 ington was ever studious and inventive on the subject of 
 plans for the improvement of their system of instruction. 
 This was the fact to such an extent, that when suggestions 
 on the subject appeared in the Sabbath School Journal, he 
 found them almost uniformly anticipated by some which 
 she had made, and on which they had already acted. 
 
 The superintendent, on one occasion, received a letter, 
 in the hand-writing of Miss Huntington, though without 
 any signature ; and which so obviously bears the impress 
 of her mind and heart, and so well illustrates the character 
 of the devoted and solicitous teacher, that it will be here 
 inserted.
 
 100 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " Will you, my dear sir, esteem it becoming in a teacher of 
 your Sabbath school to express a few reflections which 1 
 trust the Spirit of God has suggested ? (for I do assure you, 
 Bir, I have had deep searchings of heart relative to our 
 school, since the trying event of last Sabbath.) The mis- 
 conduct of our scholars, upon that occasion, led to these 
 reflections ; and you will perhaps be surprised when I tell 
 you, that during the exercises at the Falls, my own feelings 
 were principally of a painful nature. My heart ached, 
 while I looked around upon our school, and considered 
 that among the numbers, who for nearly ten years, winter 
 and summer, had been the subjects of our instruction, I 
 could not recollect a solitary instance of conversion. I 
 know that several upon their death-beds have given some 
 faint evidence to their friends that they had profited by 
 their privileges. And I recollect also, with pleasure, that 
 one adult hopefully became a subject of grace, through our 
 instrumentality. But my own memory furnishes no instance 
 of a child belonging to our school who has brought forth 
 the fruits of the Spirit by a holy conversation. On the 
 contrary, some, who, from age and other circumstances, 
 have passed away from under our instruction, have openly 
 disgraced themselves and us, by vicious courses ; and others, 
 who have been brought to the verge of the grave by vio- 
 lent sickness, have manifested no anxiety on account of 
 sin, but resumed their usual places in the school as in- 
 different as ever. My dear sir, what is the difficulty 1 
 Is there not a serious defect somewhere ? These are ques- 
 tions which I have put to myself since last Sabbath ; and 
 permit me to tell you how I have answered them. 
 
 " In the first place, the want of discipline is a prevailing 
 and deadly evil among us. In the third number, vol. 2d, 
 of the Sunday School Magazine, a teacher, after delineating 
 the different traits of character which his class exhibit, arid 
 mentioning their characteristic thoughtlessness as children, 
 remarks 'But how cheering! No sooner does the bell 
 ring for attention, the teacher look or speak, or the super-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 101 
 
 intendent appear, than all in a moment is silence and order. 
 Those little whims, those evil desires, which just before had 
 occupied them, are fled, and they are quickly supplanted by 
 a few words of salutary and timely advice. Thus by a hap- 
 py arrangement of every thing connected with the govern- 
 ment and utility of the school, each pupil is trained in the 
 ways of heavenly wisdom, " whose paths are pleasantness 
 and peace." ' That such a description cannot apply to us, 
 the experience and observation of every teacher will tes- 
 tify. I have been extremely mortified by the repeated re- 
 mark among our friends and supporters, ' Your school is 
 very disorderly.' 
 
 " Another fault is a want of seriousness on our part. 
 Our deportment does not partake sufficiently of the sa- 
 credness of holy time, and the solemnity of our duties. 
 If scholars witness any distraction, or listlessness, or lightness 
 in the manners of their teachers, they catch the infection 
 and practise it doubly themselves. 
 
 " Another evil, which t beg leave to mention, is a defect in 
 our mode of instruction. McDowell's Questions, so generally 
 used among us, every teacher must have found, give the 
 learner but a very superficial acquaintance with the word 
 of God. They are confined to the historical parts of the 
 Bible ; and even among these, some of the most interesting 
 and instructive portions are passed over; and from Job to 
 Malachi the whole is omitted, excepting Daniel and Jonah. 
 
 " There is great reason to fear that we are deficient in 
 prayer and faith, and in a serious and thorough preparation 
 of heart and mind, for the weekly duties of our responsible 
 station. If these be wanting, every other exertion must 
 inevitably fail. 
 
 " May I propose, sir, in view of all these considerations, 
 a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer, to be privately 
 observed by the teachers! This is what we have never 
 done ; but what might be done with propriety ; and I think 
 is even demanded by the unfruitfulness of this garden of 
 the Lord.
 
 102 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " Will you permit me, sir, to suggest several improvements, 
 which I think would greatly advance the interests of our 
 school ? In the first place, let us be much more attentive 
 to the outward government of our respective classes, and 
 the school generally. Let us convince our pupils that as 
 ' order is Heaven's first law,' so also is it ours, and must 
 be regarded. Let us also be more exclusively devoted to 
 them, and by an increase of seriousness, show them that 
 we are acting for eternity. 
 
 "I would propose, also, that we abolish those long lessons 
 of question and answer ; the recital of which occupies so 
 much time, as almost to preclude practical instruction. 
 Let each of us furnish ourselves (from the Bible) with a 
 system of doctrines and duties, simplified or enlarged ac- 
 cording to the capacities of our scholars ; and give to each 
 scholar, who is able to do it, one subject every week to 
 examine and prove by Scripture, requiring him to commit 
 the proofs to memory, and recite them to us; while we 
 in the mean time study the subject ourselves, with prayer 
 and faith, and be prepared to explain and enforce them. 
 Those who are too young to examine for themselves may have 
 the proofs pointed out to them ; which they can learn as 
 well as the others, and be instructed in them by us. We 
 have many fine minds and ready scholars under our care, 
 who should be taught to think and examine for themselves. 
 Every Sabbath scholar should be well acquainted with 
 the leading doctrines and all the precepts of the gospel. 
 This course of instruction, I believe, will effect it, with 
 God's blessing, and by his grace may be the means of 
 turning them from sin unto holiness. We must not palliate 
 the faults of our scholars too much, on the ground of the 
 general thoughtlessness of early youth, and our own mis- 
 conduct at their age. We did not possess the advantages 
 of Sabbath school instruction, and we have a right to ex- 
 pect that Sabbath scholars will be better than any others, 
 better than even ourselves ; as the husbandman looks for a 
 richer crop, from the soil which he has most highly cultivated-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 103 
 
 And in this age, when so much is doing for the moral im- 
 provement of our race, we should expect to see depravity 
 less predominant, among those who have been planted in 
 the house of God, and are nurtured by his fostering hand. 
 
 " I would willingly hope that the evils I deplore are con- 
 fined to myself and my own class, humbling as the fact would 
 be to me. But I have witnessed the same in other classes ; 
 and the school at large is suffering for want of more vig- 
 orous measures. 
 
 " As a fellow-laborer in this school, I have thus far ven- 
 tured to express my sentiments. I trust they will not be 
 considered the effect of arrogance ; for I apply them all 
 doubly to myself; feeling that I am the most unworthy and 
 unfaithful of our number. Our work is great, and our ac- 
 count will be solemn. May we prove ourselves faithful stew- 
 ards, and partakers of the heavenly inheritance. 
 
 " N. B. Since writing the above, I have thought of the 
 Assembly's Catechism, as a system of instruction prepared 
 to our hand; of which we may give one question each 
 week to our scholars, for examination. In conversing with 
 them upon it, we may be able to elucidate it occasionally 
 by stories, or facts, which have come to our knowledge, 
 after the plan of the 'Sherwood Stories,' which the 
 teachers have probably seen." 
 
 Miss Huntington felt a lively interest in the conversion of 
 her relatives and acquaintances. This was manifested in 
 various ways ; especially by making them the subject of her 
 prayers, and endeavoring to enlist her Christian friends in 
 the same object; proposing to them the consecration of 
 stated seasons for this purpose. Scattered through her let- 
 ters are found various passages which show her conscious- 
 ness of the necessity of prayer, and the solicitude with which 
 she watched for encouragements to the duty. A few ex- 
 tracts, from among many, illustrate these remarks. " Mary 
 and I have set apart four o'clock every afternoon to pray for
 
 104 MEMOIR OF 
 
 uncle B. We want to get courage to mention it to aunt 
 Faith, that she may observe the same season." 
 
 Writing to one of a very dear family, she says, " I do 
 not know that a single day has passed, since my return, that 
 I have not commended each one of you to God." 
 
 She writes to an aunt "I was much rejoiced to hear 
 of the happy change in your son. We have great en- 
 couragement for prayer ; and spiritual blessings are the best 
 which can be bestowed. Sister and myself have for several 
 years remembered the descendants of our honored grand- 
 father Huntington, in concert, on Tuesday evenings; and it 
 is peculiarly pleasant to us to be encouraged in the duty, by 
 instances of conversion in any branch of the family. It is a 
 privilege to be permitted to present the various cases of each 
 family before the mercy seat. Would it be agreeable to you, 
 my dear aunt, to join the concert ; and to mention it to 
 aunt Richards, when you see her, and to your son ? In 
 grandmamma Lanrnan's family we have a similar concert on 
 
 Thursdays. It is indeed a day of blessings to the 
 
 church, and if ' sinners cannot now sin at so cheap a rate 
 as formerly,' surely professing Christians have much greater 
 responsibilities. Let us bless God that they are waking 
 from their slumbers, and ere long the church will ' put on 
 her beautiful garments.' " 
 
 Respecting the children of her uncle, the Rev. Joshua 
 Huntington, she thus writes: " Mr. Wisner sent for Sarah, 
 that during Joshua's vacation the children might be together 
 again ; and we were desirous to have her go. Oh ! that the 
 Spirit which is hovering over several of the churches in 
 Boston, might meet them upon that spot where we trust the 
 prayer of faith was offered for them." 
 
 "I am glad you pray for J., and M., and G. Since the 
 revival commenced, I have witnessed answers to prayers of- 
 fered years since. Can it be that we shall all meet, a family 
 in heaven 1 " 
 
 "Will you pray for uncle T. on Tuesday evenings?
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. ]05 
 
 Have we not encouragement in our concert ? Nine grand- 
 children, and a daughter with her husband, of our honored 
 grandfather, have become pious, within the last year ! A. 
 and H. R. join the church about this time. Cousin M. and 
 J. leave next week, the latter I believe thinks much of 
 serious things; and brother J. requested me to pray particu- 
 larly for the former, as he thought her impressed on Thurs- 
 day evening by a sermon of Dr. Payson, from the text, 
 'To-day, if ye will hear his voice,' &c. I think a great deal 
 of your children, and intended to have asked Mr. H. if they 
 manifest any susceptibility on religious subjects. I want to 
 hear them sing ' Hosanna,' in infancy." 
 
 " I should have mentioned in my last, that uncle 
 Thomas's oldest daughter is a subject of the revival in 
 Brooklyn all grandpapa's female descendants of any matu- 
 rity of age are now pious." 
 
 5*
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT AND PROGRESS OF HER INTEREST IN 
 
 MISSIONS EFFORTS AMONG THE MOHEGAN INDIANS 
 
 LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR. 
 
 THE object of the present chapter is to give some extracts 
 from the correspondence of Miss Huntington, which show 
 the commencement and progress of missionary tendencies 
 in her mind. To go back and see her first thoughts on the 
 missionary service ; and to follow her through successive 
 years, to the time when divine Providence opened the door 
 for her entrance upon it, indicates how great a change may 
 take place on the subject, even in the mind of a Christian. 
 
 Writing to her sister, January 21, 1823, she says, "Mr. 
 Maxwell took some pains to convince me that I ought to be 
 a missionary ; but I told him I never had thought that my 
 calling." 
 
 The subject, in the course of this year, was before the 
 mind of a much esteemed cousin, and some interchange of 
 views was passing among the relatives of the circle. She 
 writes, September 10 "Grandmamma Lanman says she 
 thinks that cousin Mary might be as useful at home, as on 
 missionary ground ; and mamma does not appear pleased with 
 her plan. I asked grandmamma why it should not be con- 
 sistent for our friends to make sacrifices for the church, as 
 well as for others." 
 
 October 3, 1824. "Mr. Gridley, an agent of the 
 American Board, preached here last Sabbath, and is to re- 
 turn in the course of a week or two, to establish associations 
 among us. He intends to go to Palestine, and I think him 
 well adapted to the situation. How missions increase in
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 107 
 
 importance ! It seems to me that all classes and ages should 
 be excited to some effort for them. Children might do much 
 by devoting an hour or two in a week to employments for 
 their aid. I intend that Sarah Ann shall learn to do some- 
 thing in reference to the great object." 
 
 August 29, 1826. "I have thought much, recently, 
 upon the subject of missions. I never felt it a duty to go 
 myself to the heathen. But I do feel that I ought to make 
 every exertion with my hands (my all) in their behalf. 
 How much we might do by devoting an hour every day to 
 some employment for them ! " " We have not money, but 
 we have time and strength, the talents which God has seen 
 fit to bestow upon us, and for which we must account. 
 The cry is, * More funds, and more shall be accomplished.' 
 I hope God will enable me to fulfil the resolutions which I 
 have recently made, respecting these duties. I shall be no 
 less guilty than the possessor of thousands of gold and 
 silver. It requires a stronger effort for the covetous man to 
 bestow his wealth, than for the naturally active to put forth 
 his strength and redeem his time." 
 
 Febrwary 28, 1827. "I have become a subscriber to 
 the Missionary Herald, the last two numbers of which are 
 very interesting. Do you not think the missionary cause 
 is constantly gaining ground ? What a privilege to be 
 engaged in it ! " 
 
 August 27, 1827. "At a recent Bible class, Mr. 
 Mitchell remarked upon the costly sacrifice which Mary 
 offered to our Saviour, in gratitude for the restoration of 
 her brother Lazarus, as an example to those whom God has 
 blessed in the conversion of their friends. It went to my 
 heart. I am deficient in gratitude and devotedness." This 
 followed the conversion of one of her younger brothers. 
 
 September 8, 1828. "I read, some time since, with 
 much feeling, ' Missionary Paper, No. 9,'* and have re- 
 
 * Published by the A. B. C. F. M. title, "Something has been 
 done during the last forty years," a trat of thrilling interest.
 
 108 MEMOIR OF 
 
 perused it of late. I also read extracts from it at OUT 
 Missionary Association. Have you seen the tract entitled 
 ' True Believer Bountiful ' 1 It is a sermon by Mr. Clark, 
 one or two sections of which are introduced into the 
 Missionary Paper, No. 9. I think the plan proposed in 
 the Missionary Herald, which I have just received, is the 
 best which has appeared, for the arrangement of annual 
 meetings and collections." 
 
 November 1, P. M. "I have put on my hat and habit 
 to attend the Monthly Concert, but the rain makes me 
 doubtful about my duty. If three or four only could meet, 
 it would be pleasant to add even a little, to the cloud of 
 
 incense which is rising every hour of the twenty-four. 
 
 Evening. I have returned from the Ladies' Meeting, where 
 nine assembled ; and I hope we were not wholly destitute 
 of the, spirit of the occasion. In the ' Recorder ' a series of 
 pieces is published adapted to the monthly concert. The 
 last, entitled ' The Alternative,' is calculated to arouse a 
 new set of feelings, in regard to the duty of Christians." 
 
 December 15, 1829, after being permitted to see the 
 conversion of her second brother, she says, " I feel now as 
 if I should rejoice to be a missionary to the heathen. We 
 owe a thank-offering. Our dear father has appeared very 
 happy in looking upon us all." 
 
 January 15, 1830. "I regret to hear what you say of a 
 deficiency of missionaries. I have thought, lately, that if 
 individuals from what are called ' the first families,' of 
 both sexes, were to consecrate themselves to the work, it 
 would give a new impulse to the cause. Suppose, for in- 
 stance, a young lady or gentleman, from the midst of our 
 pleasant circle, in Norwich, should go to the heathen : 
 would not our monthly concerts have a deeper interest? 
 If one who meets with us at the missionary room were to 
 be transplanted to labor among pagan females, would not 
 our hearts be inflamed with new zeal and self-denial ? 
 Could not every place furnish and support one missionary ? 
 Oh ! the hundreds that are sinking into misery while 1
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 109 
 
 write. Are we not in danger of fixing our eyes upon the 
 future prospects of the church, rather than upon the souls 
 who are perishing every passing hour 1 It appears to me 
 there is no time to be lost in consulting with pride, under 
 the specious names of ' respectability, and suitable conform- 
 ity.' It is with the present generation of heathen, our 
 brothers and sistere and neighbors, whose cries ring iu 
 our ears, that we have to do. And certainly in regard to 
 our own country, there is not a moment to spare, if ' pre- 
 vention is better than cure.' Let the world, who certainly 
 are the majority, spend their energies in holding up a little 
 longer, the inventions which must one day be overthrown ; 
 but let not Christians sell the souls of their fellow-men at 
 so cheap a rate. Sacrifices must be sacrifices ; they require 
 a struggle with selfishness, of course. We must expect to 
 feel them, and suffer for them. Have you not seen persons 
 profess to keep a Fast, and because they felt hungry, go and 
 eat something? Christians must learn to attach a new 
 meaning to such passages as these : ' My kingdom is not of 
 this world.' ' Be not conformed to this world.' ' A pecu- 
 liar people, zealous of good works.' " 
 
 At a time when she spent her Sabbaths in teaching a 
 Sabbath school among the Mohegan Indians, to which she 
 walked six miles, she writes, September 11, 1831, "Jt 
 is astonishing what an effect is produced upon my interest 
 in society here, by an absence from our church every Sab- 
 bath. I scarcely know who are in town, or how the con- 
 gregation look. Yet it is a self-denial which ought to be 
 practised for the good of others. The missionaries give up 
 every thing. I should like to go to the Washington Islands, 
 mentioned by Mr. Stewart, where no Christian has been. 
 But my path seems plainly marked out; and I wish, dear 
 brother, you would pray that I may have grace to sub- 
 ordinate every duty to those filial ones which are now so 
 important." 
 
 In October of this year, (1831,) it appears her mind 
 had made such progress on the subject of missions, that
 
 110 MEMOIR OF 
 
 she came to the conclusion expressed in the following ex- 
 tract : " Our annual meeting of the Foreign Missionary 
 Society was very interesting. I then made the resolution, 
 that whenever my dear parents want me no longer, if 
 unfettered as I am now, I shall devote myself personally 
 to a mission among the heathen. So you may consider 
 me henceforth a missionary in heart; and when circum- 
 stances favor, must be ready to resign me, unless God 
 should put insurmountable obstacles in my way." 
 
 But it was not in reading missionary intelligence and 
 reflection upon it, only, that Miss Huntington was cher- 
 ishing the spirit of missions. As early as the year 1827, 
 she had become interested in the condition and necessities 
 of a remnant of the Mohegan Indians, living six miles from 
 Norwich. In 1830, we find her concerned in the circula- 
 tion of a subscription to build a church for them ; and with 
 a circle of Christian females, among whom she met for 
 prayer each week, making the case of the Western tribes, 
 threatened with dispersion, a subject of special prayer. 
 In the summer of 1830, writing to one of her friends, she 
 says, " Will you pray for a Sabbath school in Mohegan, of 
 .which Miss Breed and myself have the sole care, and to 
 which we devote our Sabbaths?" In September following, 
 it appears from a letter to the same friend, that she was 
 earnestly desirous to have a place of worship, and a 
 preacher, provided for them ; and asking prayers for the 
 success of the object, she says, " It is a great weight upon 
 my mind, and I never sympathized so feelingly with the 
 missionaries abroad, as now." 
 
 Under date of October 25, 1830, she addressed a letter 
 to Jeremiah Evarts, Esq., Corresponding Secretary of the 
 American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 
 giving a brief review of the condition of the remnant of 
 this tribe of Indians. She thus concludes her appeal in 
 their behalf:
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. JU 
 
 " After such protracted neglect of their best interests, 
 the Indians seem surprised at a renewal of effort, on the 
 part of the whites ; and can hardly believe that it is not 
 dictated by some selfish principle, or destined soon to 
 evaporate. They will speak, however, of the ' good meet- 
 ings ' and ' beautiful singing ' which they had among them 
 many years ago. 
 
 " Our Sabbath school is held in a house occupied by 
 the relatives of Rev. Samson Occum. His sister, Lucy 
 Tantiquigeon, died last winter at the age of ninety-eight. 
 Her children, grand-children, great-grand-children, and 
 great-great-grand-children now dwell there, in one habita- 
 tion. Her memory is precious to her descendants ; and her 
 children, two of them at least, give evidence of piety. The 
 Lord will bless these Indians, I fully believe, if suitable 
 measures are taken by the agents of his will. Much inter- 
 esting matter might be collected respecting the tribe. The 
 history of Mr. Occum is identified with that of Dartmouth 
 College, and some of his manuscripts are still accessible. 
 
 " If consistent with your engagements, respected sir, 
 may I hope soon to hear from you 1 If your communica- 
 tion should be in the form of counsel, it would gratify me 
 much, as I presume you are no stranger to that intense 
 interest in an object, which occupies one's waking and 
 sleeping hours. I am the more solicitous respecting this, 
 because I feel that now is the critical time for action ; as 
 the present efforts are laboriously sustained, in especial 
 reference to more efficient ones. If these fail, and the 
 existing interest subside, I fear the set time to favor this 
 interesting people will have passed away, and their blood 
 forever rest in our skirts. 
 
 " We shall wait, sir, until the receipt of your letter, 
 before making any systematic arrangement to obtain funds 
 for the support of a missionary ; assuring you, however, 
 that not an iota of the burden of that shall rest upon 
 your Society. 
 
 " I might have mentioned, in speaking of Mr. Occum,
 
 112 MEMOIR OF 
 
 that a volume of hymns, composed by him, is extant in 
 some part of New England, as well as a few sermons 
 and also his picture, taken in England ; where he preached 
 before the king. 
 
 " In regard to the Society of which you are the organ, 
 permit me to say, sir, that it possesses a charm in my own 
 estimation, altogether paramount to every other institution; 
 and I can, therefore, with the utmost sincerity, present to 
 you my earnest wishes for its success, and the assurance of 
 my labors and prayers to the extent of my ability." 
 
 November 2. "You inquire respecting my plans for 
 Mohegan. Miss Raymond of Montville and I have engaged 
 to keep a weekly school for the Indian children, this winter, 
 taking weeks alternately. We meet there, on horseback, 
 to-day, to reconnoitre the ground ; and expect to commence 
 on Monday after Thanksgiving. I have written to Mr. 
 Evarts on the condition of the Indians, and our plans ; and 
 we hope that like those in the State of New York, they 
 will be taken under the patronage of the American Board, 
 if the funds are furnished by Connecticut. You know all 
 the Indians are regarded by that body as a foreign nation. 
 The corner stone of the church is to be laid soon. I feel 
 my interest for them increase every hour." 
 
 Nov. 3. " My tour among the Indians, yesterday, was 
 interesting. It was necessary to take a guide; and you 
 would have been quite amused at the picture which 1 pre- 
 sented a little Indian girl behind me upon the horse, and 
 half a dozen other children following on foot, talking as 
 fast as their tongues would go. I was perfectly delighted 
 with my situation, which was as romantic as real life can 
 be, to say nothing of my reflections. The Indians have a 
 fine spot of 2,700 acres ; and if suitably trained, might 
 become a respectable, happy community. May the Holy 
 Spirit bless them, as he has done the degraded Sandwich 
 Islanders ! " 
 
 In her letters to her Christian friends, she often requested
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 113 
 
 a special employment of their prayers for the success of the 
 enterprise. 
 
 The progress of her own endeavors, and those of her 
 associate, in this labor of love, will be learned from an 
 extract of a letter of December 4, 1830, written at Mohegan, 
 to her former teacher and friend, Mrs. L. H. Sigourney, as 
 follows: " You will perhaps be surprised, that as a Sab- 
 bath school teacher only, my letter is dated from this spot. 
 I must therefore inform you that Mohegan is to be my 
 home, every alternate week, through the winter. I had 
 expected to spend the whole of the season here, and made 
 arrangements to that effect ; but the increased weakness of 
 my mother's eyes, rendered it inconsistent for me to do it, 
 without subjecting myself to the reproof contained in Mat- 
 thew xv. 5, 6. My present assistant in the Sabbath school 
 is a lady of Montville, whose residence is five miles from this. 
 We have established a weekly school, the labors of which 
 we mutually share. To-day completes the first week's 
 effort, with sixteen scholars, and four or five more are ex- 
 pected. We occupy a pleasant room at Fort Hill farm, upon 
 the southern declivity of the eminence chosen for the 
 church. I should like exceedingly to have a visit from 
 you, my dear madam, this moment, at my solitary but not 
 gloomy fireside. It is because I am confident that you take 
 a heartfelt interest in this remnant of Indians, that I write 
 thus freely. 
 
 " The inquiry has been made of me ' Do they seem 
 grateful for these attentions?' My answer is this j 'We 
 are but discharging, in some inadequate measure, our debt 
 of gratitude to them ; the obligation is on our part.' So 
 oppressed have I recently been, with my own criminal 
 neglect of them, that I can feel no self-complacency in 
 my feeble efforts. 
 
 " The strong natural propensity of the Indians to the use 
 of ardent spirit, is the most discouraging circumstance 
 respecting them yet, many of those who are addicted to 
 it, can and do abstain ; and at this day, a ray of hope beams
 
 114 MEMOIR OF 
 
 through the cloud. Inebriates are not now esteemed hope- 
 less. I have had free conversations with a few on the 
 subject, who seem, for the time being, disposed to reform. 
 As far as I can judge, they possess acute minds. May I 
 hope for your constant prayers, especially in reference to 
 this vice, and for the descent of the Holy Spirit ? " 
 
 Assigning to one of her brothers a reason for her engage- 
 ment in this difficult and self-denying work, she remarks 
 " One especial inducement to my plan arises from my sense 
 of God's mercy to my brothers. I have virtually promised 
 a thank-offering, and ' I am straitened ' till I find some way 
 of presenting it. When seeking your conversion, I resolved 
 that if God heard me and renewed the hearts of my brothers, 
 I would devote myself wholly to him. When others have 
 almost reproved me for self-denial, I have longed to tell 
 them the secret impulse. But my own heart has accused 
 me of broken vows, while others have said I was ' going too 
 far.' Each Christian knows what passes between his soul 
 and God, with which ' the stranger intermeddleth not.' " 
 
 The details of her labors, and method of spending her 
 time, may be gathered from a letter, commenced Dec. 12, 
 and journalized under several subsequent dates. 
 
 " Seated in my little missionary apartment, which serves 
 for parlor, bed-room, kitchen, school-room, and chapel, I 
 have composed myself to the sweet employment of answer- 
 ing your good and long letter. I have a school of eighteen 
 or twenty, including four adults; one man, two married 
 women, and a ' squassise.'* They come at half past nine, 
 and stay until four, having half an hour's intermission , and 
 we carry on arithmetic, millinery, tailoring, &c., besides the 
 ordinary avocations of a school. All these, with the gov- 
 ernment of untutored, untamed beings, nearly exhaust my 
 powers, during the day ; and at evening I have work to fit, 
 and ' my profession' to study. But I am quite satisfied. I 
 
 * Unmarried Indian female.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 115 
 
 came here for their benefit, and not to please myself. Our 
 Sabbath school is nearly twice as large, embracing whites, 
 and is kept up four hours of the Sabbath, besides an inter- 
 mission. I leave home Sunday morning, and return the next 
 Sunday evening, and Miss Raymond does the same, so we 
 are both here on the Sabbath. From my windows I see 
 New London Point, and Groton Monument. My circum- 
 stances and duties are altogether new, and I sometimes 
 think myself in a dream. Will you pray for God's Spirit 
 to visit our school and this vicinity 1 
 
 " I should like to ask Mr. if the Saviour had any 
 
 regard to his ' station,' when he left his throne for a 
 dwelling among our wretched race? Our rank is that of 
 Christians, if we would follow him. The more I contem- 
 plate his character, the more I am confirmed in my views 
 on the subject of self-denial. If a soul outweighs in value 
 the whole world, are the petty distinctions of life, which are 
 fostered by the same spirit that produced the rebellion in 
 heaven, to be put in competition with it? All that eleva- 
 tion of character which is the result of Christian principles 
 operating upon the mind and heart, ought to be cultivated 
 in honor of Him, who is the source of all excellence. 
 Every other preeminence over our fellow-beings, my prin- 
 ciples, to say nothing of my practice, condemn. 
 
 " Ten o'clock approaches, which is my hour for retiring. 
 (I rise at five.) The 'school ma'am' begins to be weary. 
 Once more, good night. I hope ' Orion's bands,' and ' the 
 sweet influences of Pleiades,' are as bright and beautiful at 
 Wiscasset, as they are this evening m Mohegan." 
 
 17th. " I have just now returned from a visit to see a 
 sick child and a dying man. The latter is a victim of 
 intemperance. As he lay upon his bed, pale and emaciated, 
 I felt a strong conviction that the Indians are really Israel- 
 ites ; so strikingly did the entire character of his face re- 
 semble that of the Jews, and especially the lineaments of 
 our Saviour, as exhibited by painters who have probably 
 followed the national cast of countenance. I do not say
 
 116 MEMOIR OF 
 
 much of my belief; but often when I am giving instruction 
 to the children from God's word, the unbidden thought 
 rushes upon me with force, that their progenitors were his 
 peculiar people. Three of my scholars returned with me, 
 voluntarily, as it was dusk two boys and a girl ages 
 seven, eight, and nine. The new moon and stars were just 
 appearing, and our conversation was interesting and ele- 
 vated. The Indians have acute minds. Moral and in- 
 tellectual culture is all they want." 
 
 That Miss Huntington was endearing herself to those 
 whose good she was seeking, in her missionary residence, 
 besides the Indians, appears from the following extract : 
 
 " TUESDAY EVENING. 
 
 " Dear Mother : On my arrival here, I found all my ex- 
 pectations realized. Mr. and Mrs. Dolbeare were impatient- 
 ly waiting for me, and a happier couple, or happier counte- 
 nances, I never beheld. The former had selected a hymn to 
 show me, as expressive of his feelings it is the 373d of the 
 Village Hymns, which Sarah will read to you. I found also 
 several pious females and young converts from Montville, 
 with Miss Raymond, and we held a little prayer-meeting in 
 our room. The meetings in the evening and on Sabbath 
 were very solemn. My duties here are delightful; and I 
 should love to spend my life in seeking after those who 
 ' are lost.' " 
 
 "MoHEGAN, JAN. 20, 1831. 
 
 " I thank you, dear sister, for your timely caution respect- 
 ing pride. I said to a friend, the other day, that God takes 
 care of that. If he calls his children to any service for him, 
 he knows how to keep them low. I have had many trials in 
 this undertaking. Not in my humble accommodations 
 these are nothing, they are voluntary but in the indiffer- 
 ence, coldness, and unkind remarks of some Christian 
 friends. I have had much to rftnind me of the Saviour's
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 117 
 
 declaration respecting ' a prophet in his own country.' By 
 some I have been sustained and encouraged, and have had 
 the happiness to see others endeavoring to make amends for 
 their past unfriendliness to the effort. But my constant 
 occupation and fatigue, (the labor, which was to have been 
 divided, devolving upon me,) and consciousness of great in- 
 ability, have left me little time to indulge in self-complacency 
 and should I even be called to more self-denying service, 
 if I am a real child of God, I cannot but think I should have 
 the evidence which St. Paul enjoyed of his renewed nature, 
 a forgetfulness of past attainments, and a pressing towards 
 future ones. You know we- are all baptized into one Spirit. 
 
 There is one thing, however, which occasionally gives 
 
 me some uneasiness the fear that were I compelled to 
 pursue a course, which I could voluntarily adopt, my deceit- 
 ful heart would rebel 'God knoweth ! ' I trust my health 
 will not suffer materially ; though every energy, physical and 
 mental, is requisite. When the weather permits, I walk, 
 morning and evening, and I sit very little in school. 
 
 " I detected my own heart, a few evenings since, rather 
 unexpectedly. I had had some religious conversation with 
 nearly every member of this family but the married daughter, 
 who is about your age. I knew she respected the subject, 
 but I rather shrunk from a personal application of it to her. 
 She came into my room to spend an hour in the evening; 
 and though the opportunity was favorable, I thought if I only 
 performed my duty before the winter closed, it would be 
 sufficient But just before she was leaving, I made a direct 
 appeal to her own case, and found her very tender she 
 wept much, and seemed disposed to prolong the conversa- 
 tion, and remarked that she had often wondered that Chris- 
 tians were so backward in their duty. The next morning 
 she appeared solemn, and still more so since. In reflecting 
 upon the subject, I saw my inconsistency. I did not con- 
 sider that delay, on my part, would endanger her soul, but I 
 was only devising a course to satisfy my own conscience. Is 
 not this the reason why religious conversation is often use-
 
 118 MEMOIR OF 
 
 less, because it is introduced in a languid manner, merely as 
 a duty 1 " 
 
 Not satisfied with laboring for the present supply of the 
 spiritual wants of the Mohegans, Miss Huntington con- 
 ceived the plan of seeking aid from the Legislature of 
 Connecticut, and also from the Government of the United 
 States. A petition to the former was drawn by her, and 
 with accompanying signatures, was presented at the session 
 in May, 1831. The object of the petition was to obtain the 
 aid of the State, both to give them Christian instruction and 
 a school. The application failed, however. In prosecution 
 of the object on which her heart was so earnestly set, she 
 addressed a letter to the Hon. Lewis Cass, then Secretary 
 of War, to which department of the general government 
 belongs the superintendence of Indian affairs. 
 
 "NORWICH, DEC. 8, 1831. 
 
 "Honored Sir: A short time previous to the change 
 in the department which you have the honor to occupy, a 
 letter was addressed to the Secretary of War, by Joseph 
 Williams, Esq., president of a benevolent association, in 
 behalf of the Mohegan Indians residing in this vicinity. 
 A second communication was forwarded during the vacan- 
 cy in that department, to neither of which has any reply 
 been made. It now becomes my duty, and pleasure, hon- 
 ored sir, to present a new appeal to one, who, I am confi- 
 dent, will attach no impropriety to the liberty which I take. 
 I am the more encouraged in the pursuance of my deter- 
 mination, from the fact, that my own sex are sometimes 
 successful in the cause of humanity, while others are 
 ' turned empty away.' Should the inquiry arise, upon 
 what ground I assume this prerogative, I would answer, 
 that I prefer no claim, but a friendship for the Indians,- a 
 friendship created and deepened by an intercourse with 
 the remnant of Mohegans, during every pleasant Sabbath, 
 for the last year and a half, and In the gratuitous labor of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 119 
 
 a week day school through one season. It gives me pleas- 
 ure to recollect, while thus trespassing upon one in your 
 public station, my former familiarity with your name as asso- 
 ciated with my cousin, Mr. Lanman, of Michigan, and that 
 my honored cousin, Mr. Huntington, will do me the favor 
 to become the bearer of this. To him I would refer you for 
 auy inquiries which you may please to make. 
 
 " It is possible, sir, that you may have perused the com- 
 munications sent by Mr. Williams, yet it will be proper 
 for me to mention a few facts respecting the Mohegan 
 tribe. There are more than one hundred of them re- 
 maining ; a third of whom are children. Some scattering 
 families are to return to the reservation in the spring, 
 which you probably know lies near the river Thames-, 
 between Norwich and New London. In past years this 
 remnant of a once powerful and invariably peaceful race 
 has been grossly neglected, and of course they became 
 much degraded. The benevolent of this vicinity have now 
 built for them a small chapel, which will accommodate the 
 white population also, with whom they are mixed, and for 
 the last year have supported the gospel and a school among 
 them. Sufficient encouragement has attended this experi- 
 ment to induce farther effort, and in consequence of this 
 we are constrained to solicit aid from the fund appro- 
 priated to the moral and intellectual improvement of the 
 Indians. 
 
 " Should the influence which is now exerted over them 
 result in the increase of their numbers, and the policy of our 
 government require that they, with other remnants, should 
 remove beyond the Mississippi, their improvement would 
 present no obstacle to this, nor would they be more unfit 
 for a removal. You may perhaps think me visionary in 
 my expectations respecting so feeble a people ; but some of 
 the families are large and increasing, and it is the usual 
 effect of moral elevation to make ' a little one become a 
 thousand.' You will perceive, honored sir, that I do not 
 indulge the thought of your being of the number, who wish
 
 J20 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to see the aborigines of our country become extinct, 
 through neglect. Far be sucli a wish from a noble breast! 
 
 " Among the children of the Mohegans, there are many 
 whose intelligent minds and susceptible hearts give promise 
 of future improvement, as a reward of effort in their behalf; 
 while a diminution of intemperance, and the progress of 
 moral reformation among some of the adults, render our hopes 
 more cheering. May we not hope, sir, that in the midst 
 of numerous official and important duties, you will yet 
 regard this call of benevolence, and permit these poor Mo- 
 hegans to share in the benefits of that fund, over which 
 you have the control ? I will guaranty a faithful and con- 
 scientious appropriation of whatever your wisdom shall 
 dictate, as proper for us to receive. 
 
 " Although this appeal is presented by a feeble hand, yet it 
 is one to whom has been assigned the principal duties of 
 this nature, in reference to those for whom it is made. If 
 fny labors should prove in any measure successful, it will 
 Hot be the first time that the weakest instrument has been 
 chosen for the accomplishment of important purposes. 
 
 " Presuming, honored sir, that you will ask no apology 
 for this intrusion upon your time and attention, I would 
 beg the favor of an early reply to my communication; as 
 some immediate arrangements are depending upon its suc- 
 cess; and subscribe myself, 
 
 " With sincere respect, 
 
 " Your obedient servant, 
 
 " SARAH L. HUNTINGTON. 
 
 " Hon. LKWIS CASS, 
 
 " Secretary of War, Washington." 
 
 She also addressed a letter to her kinsman, Hon. Jabea 
 W. Huntington, then a representative in Congress, from 
 Connecticut, requesting such aid as it might be in his power 
 to afford. The result of this effort was successful, in ob- 
 taining an appropriation of five hundred dollars towards 
 erecting buildings, and four hundred dollars for the support
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 121 
 
 of a teacher. The first sum was employed in building a 
 house for the teacher, and the latter has been annually 
 received and appropriated for his support. The church was 
 built wholly with funds obtained in Norwich, through the 
 exertions of Miss Huntington and her first coadjutor in this 
 enterprise. 
 
 Not alone for this little remnant of a single Indian tribe, 
 did Miss H. cherish a benevolent interest, but also for other 
 tribes, especially those which were liable to suffer injustice 
 at the hands of our country, as the following sentiments 
 attest, addressed to one who had been a missionary to one 
 of the Southwestern tribes: "I have thought much of 
 the Choctaws, just setting out upon their march. May the 
 God of Israel go with them ! I now go and return to 
 Mohegan on foot, upon the Sabbath ; and in my fatigue, try 
 to think of the great privations of other missionaries, and 
 of our imprisoned brethren.* I do believe that an almighty 
 power will arise for this peculiar people, and confound their 
 enemies. If it should be found that the aborigines of this 
 country are the lost tribes of Israel, how appropriate the 
 predictions respecting them, particularly Ezekiel, 37th chap- 
 ter, and Amos, 9th ! " 
 
 The following letter, addressed to Mrs. L. H. Sigourney, 
 furnishes the continuance of the history of Miss Hunting- 
 ton's efforts on behalf of the Indians, and her farther views 
 respecting^ them : 
 
 " NORWICH, APRIL 4, 1831. 
 
 " Dear Madam : In consequence of various and pressing 
 duties, arising from my desultory and changing life the past 
 winter, I have permitted your kind and soothing letter to re- 
 main long unanswered not because I did not prize it 
 highly and receive it gratefully. It was truly a cordial to 
 my feelings, and I thank you sincerely for it and the little 
 books. The one by Mr. Gallaudet is already in the hands 
 
 * Rev. Mr. Worcester and his associate, then in the Georgia peni- 
 tentiary. 
 
 6
 
 122 MEMOIR OF 
 
 of an adult learner, who knew not that there was a Saviour, 
 until I had the privilege of telling it to her ; and who has 
 for some time practised at least a temporary reformation, 
 and manifested considerable tenderness of conscience. I 
 have indeed found no deficiency of intellect among the 
 Indian children, and among those adults only who have 
 been debased by circumstances. My week-day duties at 
 Mohegan have ceased ; but my Sabbaths are spent with 
 them, and will be so through the summer. The Sabbath 
 school increases in numbers and interest, and we are so 
 happy as to obtain three pious teachers upon the ground, 
 which with two others and a superintendent, from Norwich, 
 will give it some importance. One of the Mohegan teach- 
 ers is a lovely girl, of recent spiritual birth, belonging to a 
 family of ten children, from whom we at first experienced 
 opposition, ridicule, and actual persecution now five of 
 them are attached to the school. In the family at Fort 
 Hill, where we resided, three conversions have occurred. 
 At that place, regular religious services are sustained, Sab- 
 bath afternoons and Wednesday evenings. There is an 
 increasing attention to the means of grace in the neighbor- 
 hood, among whites and Indians, and tokens of mercy here 
 and there among the former ; while a powerful revival has 
 existed in those parts of Montville which have been longer 
 cultivated. The meeting-house is to be raised this week, and 
 the week-day school resumed by a hired teacher, next week. 
 " These circumstances bring me to that part of your letter 
 in which you make a proposition. I would not venture to 
 dissent entirely from your maturer judgment; still I have 
 been led to think, that as the number of the Mohegans 
 is so small, and their property sufficient to support them 
 virtuously, and especially as the means of grace and advan- 
 tages of education are to be furnished them by the benevo- 
 lence of others, it is desirable that they should be kept 
 together, and become an object for permanent efforts to 
 ameliorate their condition, upon their own territory. I feel 
 likewise some repugnance to their being servants to those
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 123 
 
 who have treated them so cruelly. I fully concur with 
 you in the opinion that they require motives to perse- 
 verance in goodness. Of this I have had abundant testi- 
 mony in my intercourse with them ; it has led me to make 
 continued exertion for their benefit, and this fact is urging 
 their friends here to the determination, that a missionary 
 must speedily be obtained to occupy the house. 
 
 "You will perceive that, whether intentionally or not, 
 I have deferred a reply to your letter until I could answer 
 your kind question, ' What can I do to serve you ? ' The 
 meeting-house will probably be dedicated in the course of 
 a few weeks ; and if your ready pen will furnish us a hymn 
 for the occasion, it will be truly gratifying. 
 
 " When we first became acquainted with our interesting 
 charge, they could not raise a note in singing ; now, no 
 book is so attractive to them as a hymn book ; they readily 
 catch the air of a tune. We have formed also a temperance 
 society. In our peregrinations upon Mohegan ground, we 
 found a very defaced picture of Mr. Occum, in clerical 
 robes, taken while he was in England. I brought it home and 
 placed it in the care of Col. John Trumbull, who has ob- 
 tained from Miss Murray, a benevolent lady in New York, 
 two hundred and fifty lithographic prints of the same, which 
 are to be sold for the benefit of the tribe. It is necessarily 
 a rough sketch, from so imperfect a copy, but is neverthe- 
 less of some value to the virtuoso and the philanthropist. 
 I am waiting for an opportunity to send one as a present to 
 yourself, and one to Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth, also a little 
 package for sale in Hartford, if you will take the trouble of 
 them. The subscription to the church is not quite com- 
 pleted, and considerable remains to be done in regard to a 
 missionary and school. It is hoped our legislature will aid. 
 
 " I trust we have your constant prayers, for without the 
 blessing of God our efforts are fruitless. 
 
 " At our anticipated Sabbath school celebration, next 
 week, we expect to have the procession augmented by our 
 Mohegan branch.
 
 124 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " My parents and friends kindly reciprocate your affec- 
 tionate remembrance. The chain of affection to which 
 you allude, resembles almost all others of an earthly nature. 
 They are most conspicuous for their broken links; but there 
 is consolation in the thought, that every link which is of 
 real value, will be reunited in a holier sphere, forming one 
 long, bright, immortal chain, binding us to the throne of the 
 Eternal. This reflection cheers me, as I become daily 
 more impressed with the inconstancy of sublunary joys." 
 
 To the friend who had been her first coadjutor in this 
 enterprise, Mrs. President Allen, but who was providentially 
 removed to a distant part of the country, she writes 
 
 "NORWICH, ADO. 13, 1831. 
 
 " I must tell you what abundant cause we have for grat- 
 itude in reference to our mission, (I must still include you.") 
 It is just one year since we commenced our labors, in that 
 kitchen, under embarrassments which your memory will 
 readily recall. Now, they have a chapel, a stated ministry, 
 and the means for its support ! One hundred dollars have 
 been appropriated by the Domestic Missionary Society 
 towards aiding them ; which, with other contributions, en- 
 able us to answer the very moderate demands of Mr. W., 
 who, with his wife, is highly calculated to be useful there. 
 
 " Now, my dear friend, why should we not come before 
 God with confidence, and implore that gift, which, of all 
 others, he is most pleased to bestow ? the Holy Spirit ; 
 without which every other blessing will become a curse. It 
 is especially needed in this case, for the unfriendly whites 
 are continually exciting the Indians to suspicion instil- 
 ling into their minds the idea that our efforts are only a 
 speculation, and that all the expense is derived from their 
 own pittance. On my return, I found that these surmises 
 had gained influence, and diminished the congregation ; 
 but appearances are more favorable now. For so limited 
 a field, it is an extremely difficult one to occupy. Untiring
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 125 
 
 labors, I have no doubt, will, eventually, be crowned with 
 success. Surely we have reason to take courage from 
 what God has already done for them. Do pray much for 
 the Holy Spirit." 
 
 Miss Huntington, with the countenance of several of her 
 Christian friends among whom was the lady addressed in 
 the last letter had also a plan for the benefit of a remnant 
 of the Pequod tribe of Indians. 
 
 From the extracts which follow, it appears that she had 
 the satisfaction of seeing an advance of the importance of 
 the Mohegan enterprise in the minds of others. " Your 
 interesting communication was particularly acceptable, and 
 I thank you for commencing the correspondence. In the 
 little interview which we enjoyed, I felt a peculiar sympathy 
 with you, which has been heightened by bearing you upon 
 my heart, as I have since done, before God. You cannot 
 tell how much satisfaction it gives me to reflect, that in that 
 spot, where once I could scarcely rind one who would feel 
 with me for the poor Indians, there are now those who love 
 to devise plans for the benefit of that once degraded com- 
 munity. Your plan I highly approve, and shall rejoice to 
 aid in its accomplishment ; and I think it will be well to 
 have it put in operation without any delay. 
 
 " I have just been perusing, in my closet, the 6th chapter 
 of Galatians, to the 9th verse of which I would refer you 
 and all who labor at Mohegan. Should your plan succeed, 
 I will try to visit you some day when you are assembled. 
 In accomplishing objects of this kind, I have usually found 
 them to succeed better if I undertake them with an expecta- 
 tion of success in my own mind, and an apparent courage in 
 the view of others. Earnestness and confidence go a great 
 way in gaining the cooperation of friends ; and when exer- 
 cised in dependence upon God, and gentleness towards our 
 fellow-beings, is perfectly right. Excuse my liberty in 
 giving advice. I know you were sincere in asking it, and 1 
 should do wrong in withholding it. I beg your earnest
 
 \ 
 126 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 prayers that we may be directed in selecting a child from the 
 Pequods. He will be an interesting object to us, as we hope 
 the Lord will convert and sanctify him as a chosen vessel. 
 Let us pray that we may be so evidently guided in our 
 choice, that the Spirit may whisper to us, ' Arise and anoint 
 him, for this is he.' And like David, who was taken from 
 the sheep-cote, may he prove a blessing to his nation." 
 
 It is proper here to remark that Miss Huntington's 
 interest in this object knew no decrease, in the midst of 
 her foreign missionary labors. Writing from Syria, to 
 her first associate in labors among the Mohegans, she says 
 "Miss Williams and I often talk of Mohegan; and we 
 have received many interesting letters from Mr. Gleason. 
 I shall not forget the scenes in old Lucy's kitchen, and 
 beneath the hay-stack, in which you and I mingled. I trust 
 we shall talk of them in heaven." 
 
 It may gratify the reader to know the present state of 
 this little mission. The following extract of a letter re- 
 cently received from Rev. Anson Gleason, the pastor and 
 teacher stationed at Mohegan, answers inquiry on this point. 
 After giving an account of the organization of the church, 
 he observes " Since then, from time to time, others have 
 been hopefully converted and united to our little fold ; till 
 upwards of forty have been enrolled thirteen of whom are 
 natives, three males and ten females. One native female 
 has been excommunicated ; two have departed this life in 
 peace ; two white sisters have also died. * * * Our 
 members generally are spiritual and active, both natives and 
 whites, and live in much harmony and good feeling. Thus, 
 dear brother, you see that the precious seed your sister 
 sowed in tears, here on this hard soil, has come up and 
 yielded a glorious harvest. The little school she left is very 
 prosperous. There are now twenty native children who 
 attend school, and are making good progress in useful 
 studies. One little Indian girl is making rapid progress in 
 the Latin Reader."
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE WITH HER FATHER AND FRIENDS RE- 
 SPECTING THE FOREIGN MISSION SERVICE ENGAGEMENT 
 
 TO MR. SMITH MARRIAGE EMBARKATION. 
 
 THE time had now arrived, in which Miss Huntinglon 
 was to have the gratification of her long-cherished wishes 
 to serve her divine Lord, and promote the salvation of a 
 dying world, by engaging in the foreign mission service. 
 It appeared the design of Providence, that through the 
 Rev. ELI SMITH, of the American Mission at Beyroot, 
 Syria, should be brought before her mind the subject of 
 entering upon that good work, as the wife of a missionary. 
 As it is instructive and interesting to see the movements of 
 the mind and heart of a Christian like Miss Huntington, 
 in contemplating such an important step, extracts will be 
 given from her correspondence with her father and other 
 friends on the subject. 
 
 "MARCH, 1833. 
 
 " My honored and beloved Father : I have taken my 
 pen to address you on a subject which could not at present 
 be discussed, in personal conversation, either by you or me, 
 with sufficient composure. It is one so momentous in its 
 nature, that I almost tremble while I write ; and I would 
 most tenderly and respectfully request you to suspend your 
 judgment, and strive to control the strong affections of your 
 heart, until you have deliberately and prayerfully considered 
 the whole matter. 
 
 " You know, my dear father, that I have long regarded 
 the missionary cause with deep interest ; but how deep, 
 is?
 
 128 MEMOIR OF 
 
 no being but the God of missions, has known. My sin- 
 cerity is now put to the test; and the question is to be 
 decided, whether I will forsake home and country, to dwell 
 as a laborer in that land which was the ' cradle of 
 Christianity ' is contiguous to the scene of our Saviour's 
 sufferings and where he promised peculiar blessings upon 
 those who should be made partakers of the same. I have 
 not now to decide upon the single question, Am I willing 
 to become a Missionary ? That has been long settled in my 
 own mind. But it involves another Will I go in the way 
 which Providence now seems to point out ? This last de- 
 pends upon the course which my feelings shall take towards 
 the individual who has presented the inquiry, in case your 
 approbation be obtained. 
 
 "I could cover many pages in recording the circum- 
 stances which have contributed to inspire me with what 
 I hope is a missionary spirit ; but can only glance at the 
 most prominent, to convince you, that at the age of thirty, 
 and after twelve years' training in the school of Christ, my 
 resolution is not hastily formed. 
 
 " From the first year of my Christian life, I began to 
 feel the importance of sacrifices, to promote the cause of 
 missions, on the part of those who remain at home. 
 Supposing myself unqualified, by education and habits, 
 for active service abroad, the continually deepening views 
 which I received were confined to labors at home; until 
 the time that Rev. Mr. Temple addressed our auxiliary, 
 more than three years since ; when they assumed a definite 
 form. Never shall I forget the impression made upon me 
 by his appeals ! I seemed pressed down with such a weight 
 of obligation, and sense of past delinquency, that I almost 
 wished the dust might cover me, and oblivion throw its veil 
 over my unpardonable indifference. It was an epoch in 
 my Christian course. I consecrated myself anew to my 
 Saviour's cause, and I hope was accepted in so doing. 
 
 " It was not long after this that the Valley of the Mis- 
 sissippi became an object of interest; and to this field, 1
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 129 
 
 devoted myself in heart, by regulating my expenses and 
 habits, iu view of a residence there for two years as a 
 teacher. These arrangements were providentially diverted 
 from their original design, and were brought into requisi- 
 tion at Mohegan, where were reflected in miniature, some 
 of the lights and shades of more extended missionary 
 operations. 
 
 " But there is still another period to which I look back 
 with feelings of intense and sacred interest. The desires 
 which I had cherished were like a smothered flame in my 
 breast, which every missionary meeting, and every monthly 
 concert, seemed to rekindle and cause to rise higher and 
 higher. Often have I returned from the concert of prayer 
 completely exhausted with the exercises of my soul, and 
 burning with desire, to lay myself upon the altar of sacri- 
 fice, as the only assurance that I was doing all which I 
 could do, for that cause which brought the Saviour from 
 his throne. The period to which I refer was the last mis- 
 sionary meeting but one, which was held at Dr. Strong's 
 church ; when with perfect calmness I made, and after 
 reaching home, recorded, a solemn resolution, to this 
 effect; that whenever my parents could spare me, if 1 
 were as much at liberty as then, I would devote myself to 
 the work of a foreign missionary, and hold myself ready 
 to go forth in such capacity as Providence should point 
 out. From that time, until recently, I have felt almost 
 assured that I should find my grave in a distant land 
 During my illness last summer, my hopes received a 
 check ; and fearing that my constitution was injured, I 
 almost relinquished the expectations which I had indulged. 
 I was cast into the valley of humiliation, too, where I felt 
 that God regarded me as he did his servant David, when 
 he accepted the desire which prompted him to build a 
 temple to his honor ; but chose another thus to perpetuate 
 his glory. The sudden death of my brother had a tendency 
 to deepen my humility if, through grace, I may give it 
 that appellation and this winter I have had such exercises 
 
 6*
 
 130 MEMOIR OF 
 
 as I never knew before. I have sought to concentrate my 
 feelings and desires within the narrow but not unimportant 
 circle of home engagements. 
 
 " In retracing my past views, which led me to ask for an 
 assimilation of soul with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, I 
 feared that the incense had been touched with unhallowed 
 fire. I determined to devote myself exclusively to the 
 performance of filial and other relative duties, and ' in 
 honor to prefer ' all others to myself; and this I wished to 
 do, without arrogating to myself any merit, as though it 
 were a condescension. I have felt myself under a cloud, 
 but I have not lost my anchor ; and my whole spirit was 
 more like that of a little child, than any thing which I had 
 before experienced. I was willing to relinquish the cher- 
 ished object of my heart, the missionary cause, and to be 
 and to do, whatever God required, small as it might appear. 
 
 " In this attitude the important question now in agitation 
 found me better prepared I think, to decide judiciously, 
 than in those days of greater excitement to which I have 
 alluded. Now a field seems opened before me, more de- 
 sirable than any other upon a foreign soil, with a fellow- 
 laborer whose previous knowledge of the station, and other 
 qualifications, give him a high rank in this department. 
 But I dare not, and shall not indulge my prepossessions in 
 his favor, except I have not merely your consent, but your 
 cheerful approval. This has already been bestowed by my 
 dear mother, and other near friends, without any solicitation 
 on my part. 
 
 " And now, my dear father, to you, who are the earthly 
 idol of my heart, is submitted the sole responsibility of de- 
 ciding this interesting question, interwoven with the concerns 
 of eternity. Were I invited to unite my destiny with a mer- 
 chant, whose business called us to the shores of the Medi- 
 terranean, I think you would not hesitate to resign me, and 
 would feel that you and my mother would be kindly provided 
 with every attention. Will not He, who has required, as a 
 test of discipleship, that all should be willing to forsake
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 131 
 
 father, and mother, and children for him, be true to his own 
 promise? Although it has been my delight to contribute to 
 your and mamma's happiness, (and I had anticipated with 
 great satisfaction, the privilege of smoothing your declining 
 paths,) yet in the ordinary course of nature, a few years, at 
 best, would terminate these duties. If I leave you for a 
 home in a foreign clime, I know that I shall suffer, intensely 
 and perhaps often, with an aching heart and yearnings of the 
 tenderest affection towards you. Yet I feel impelled to ven- 
 ture upon these and other trials, if I may go with your bless- 
 ing. I want, my dear father, that you should enjoy the sat- 
 isfaction of giving me up, as it were, voluntarily, to this 
 work, in the spirit with which you renewed the dedication 
 of all your children to God, in that hour when the soul of 
 one was hovering near the gate of heaven. I have thought 
 constantly of that act, within a few days, and said to myself, 
 ' Will my dear father stand the test which was involved in that 
 committal 1 ' Will it not afford you consolation, though it 
 be associated with sorrow, to reflect that you have one child 
 safely lodged in the tabernacle on high, and another in the 
 outer court of that tabernacle which missionary ground 
 seems to resemble 1 I shall wait your answer with intense 
 interest. Should you surrender me to the Saviour, and to 
 that work which I covet, I should like to add a few lines to 
 this, and forward it to New York and Vermont. 
 
 " May that blessing which maketh rich, and addeth no 
 sorrow thereto, be yours, kindest and best of parents! If I 
 leave you, the blessing will be yours in a double sense; if I 
 stay, I may not be able to shield you from the stings of 
 sorrow, should God see fit to send them." 
 
 " My dear Brothers and* Sisters : Our beloved father, 
 with his accustomed tenderness and prudence, has taken the 
 foregoing letter into serious and deliberate consideration; 
 and he requests that each one of his children will first give 
 an individual and unbiased opinion, before the result of his 
 own decision is known. As I cannot enjoy the privilege of
 
 132 MEMOIR OF 
 
 personal intercourse with you, at present. I must add some- 
 thing which you will wish to know respecting this case. 
 
 " In the first place, I must speak of the friend who has 
 presented this subject to us. It is the Rev. Eli Smith, who 
 has been a missionary in western Asia for six or seven years ; 
 and since his return, last year, has published the travels of 
 Mr. Dwight and himself in Armenia. 
 
 " In addition to what I have said to our dear father, I will 
 mention other reasons, which lead me to the conclusion, that 
 this matter bears the impress of the finger of God. In re- 
 tracing my life from childhood to the present time, I see 
 much which appears like a measure of training for this pur- 
 pose, so far as human influences operate , although the work 
 appears so solemn and important, that it seems to me httle 
 short of entire holiness is sufficient for it ; and that God's 
 abounding grace can alone suffice. You know I have 
 always cultivated a spirit of enterprise, which mamma's in- 
 fluence has tended to increase ; and her disregard of those 
 trifling things which many women esteem so highly, has 
 insensibly led me to value the stronger points of character 
 more. That I have been preserved from forming any con- 
 nections involving me in the ordinary circumstances of life, 
 and that these have appeared to me so insipid or perhaps 
 I had better say unsatisfying does not seem to me an 
 accident merely. 
 
 " In years that are past, when tny dear brothers were 
 strangers to God, and I used to agonize before Him in their 
 behalf, I pledged myself, in case of their conversion, to bring 
 * an offering very costly ' and lay it at my Saviour's feet, as 
 an expression of my gratitude; and^often, since my prayers 
 were heard, have I inquired of myself, ' Where is it? ' That 
 touching scene in the dying chamber of our dear Peter, 
 when those three brothers' heads were together bent before 
 their God, seems now like a token, from heaven itself, to 
 remind me of my promise. 
 
 " These thoughts, and many others which I cannot now 
 relate, might seem like the stirrings of an ardent tempera-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 133 
 
 ment, wrought up to a state of enthusiasm by some sudden 
 event, were it not that they have been dwelt upon, and re- 
 corded too, before this time, for my own private benefit. 
 
 ' In going to a foreign land, I should not be neglecting 
 benevolent labors at home; for these are now reduced to so 
 much system, that each one knows his place, and there are 
 many idle hands which could well be spared or act as sub- 
 stitutes. I have been hedged up of late, and my circle of 
 duties continually narrowing, until my field is circumscribed 
 by the walls of my father's house. And even here my labors 
 are more limited and less important than might be supposed. 
 The social character of our inhabitants, with our numerous 
 circle of relatives, very happily tends to occupy a large 
 proportion of our dear mother's sympathies and to obviate 
 her privations. Their kind attentions are so generously 
 bestowed, that days have sometimes passed, in which I have 
 not had five minutes' conversation with her ; and she has 
 noticed, as well as I, how almost invariably I have been in- 
 terrupted, whenever I have taken a book to read aloud. 
 That my presence contributes greatly to the happiness 
 of my dear parents, their affection, which becomes every 
 day more endearing and precious, will not allow me to 
 deny ; and yet I d6 feel, that should they ' not grudgingly 
 or of necessity,' but with cheerfulness, surrender me to 
 Christ, he will make all grace ' to abound ' towards them ; 
 and that they will never for a moment regret the sacrifice. 
 I can see also a way in which every attention will be fur- 
 nished them. 
 
 " Do not think that I have not seriously contemplated the 
 darker shades in the picture of a missionary life ; though I 
 acknowledge that the train of my thoughts is more in ac- 
 cordance with the following sentiments, contained in an 
 address by Mr. Smith on the trials of the missionary, (and 
 who could enter upon the work without such preposses- 
 sions?) than with the forbidding features. He says, 'Your 
 satisfaction will be unalloyed and ennobling, in feeling that 
 you have thrown yourself into a position perfectly congruous
 
 1 34 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to all your true relations to time and eternity ; by selecting 
 an employment that sinks to their deserved rank of trifles, 
 the affairs of the body and of time, by neglecting them ; and 
 exalts to their proper magnitude, the affairs of the soul and 
 of eternity, by looking to them for its objects and its pleas- 
 ures.' Yet I do not forget, that the life of a missionary is 
 usually short; and that even before T reach the field of labor, 
 I may find a watery grave. Should I arrive there, my pre- 
 vailing impression is, that I shall live but a few years, and 
 that those few may accomplish but little for the benefit of 
 those immediately around me. But if only a ' cup-bearer ' 
 to him who seeks my aid, by helping him to work success- 
 fully, I shall not go in vain. And if our church, in sur- 
 rendering for the first time one of her children to this 
 blessed cause; and our Sabbath school, and particularly 
 my circle of friends, should feel themselves more identified 
 with the cause of missions, by my means, the sacrifice would 
 be worth making. The more I have to give up, the more 
 valuable will be the offering which I am permitted to make. 
 
 " Hitherto I have looked at the work with an ardent 
 desire to be permitted the privilege of engaging in it ; 
 now, while it seems as desirable as ever, the leadings of 
 Providence and the coincidences which accompany the 
 present event, lead me to feel that God not only permits, 
 but is calling me to leave all and follow him. And when 
 I wonder at his condescension in choosing so feeble an 
 agent, whose insignificance and depravity deserved nothing 
 but his contempt and wrath, I am consoled with the as- 
 surance, that if in Christ Jesus I am worthy to inherit a 
 crown of immortal glory ; through the same infinite love, I 
 may be permitted to sympathize in his labors and his suf- 
 ferings here. 
 
 " May God graciously lift upon us all the favor of his 
 countenance, and be a light to our feet at this critical 
 period ! " 
 
 On receiving replies to the foregoing, she again writes
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 135 
 
 "MARCH 14, 1833. 
 
 "My ever dear Father: After having perused the letter 
 of my brothers and sisters, before God, and having implored 
 the aid of the Spirit in the guidance of my pen, I have 
 seated myself to ask for your decision in this case, in 
 which my feelings are now more tenderly and deeply in- 
 terested, than when I addressed you nearly a fortnight 
 since. You will readily perceive, from the perusal of the 
 communication just received, that one object which oar 
 friends had in view, was to present the other side of the 
 subject in such a light, as to bring my sincerity to the test, 
 and to check all dangerous enthusiasm. For this I thank 
 them. 
 
 " After assuring you, my dear father, that no change 
 whatever is produced in my mind by the letter, I will pro- 
 ceed to review its contents from the beginning, for your 
 satisfaction, theirs, and my own. 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 " And now, my dear father, I ^have nothing to add to 
 the inducements which I have already laid before you. 
 Since the commencement of this important subject, I have 
 indulged no impatience nor distrust. My feelings towards 
 yourself and towards my heavenly Parent, have been in- 
 creasingly consoling to me, as furnishing testimony that 
 my hopes in his grace are not fallacious. In quietness 
 and in confidence is my strength, ' and my foot standeth 
 in an even place.' The prospect of heaven seems bright 
 and cheering, and I feel that we shall all soon sit there 
 together. Then, and not till then, will you and my other 
 dear friends appreciate fully all the motives and the prov- 
 idences which seem to my mind to be urging me into the 
 path, which possesses so many attractions in my eyes; 
 
 ' The path in which the Saviour trod, 
 The path to glory and to God.' '" 
 
 Miss Huntington had the satisfaction, soon after writing 
 the foregoing letter, of receiving the consent of her father
 
 136 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to the proposals which had been under consideration. 
 She then, with great earnestness, began her preparations 
 to go forth to that work upon which her mind and heart 
 had been so long and intently fixed. In pursuance of this 
 object she visited her relatives in New York and Philadel- 
 phia. A few extracts from her letters written at this time, 
 will show her frame of mind and the state of her heart, in 
 anticipation of what was before her. 
 
 "NEW YORK, MARCH 28, 1833. 
 
 " My beloved Parents: From brother Edward you have 
 heard of my safe arrival here. Our passage was unusually 
 calm and pleasant. Our cabin, through the night, was as 
 quiet as a private apartment at home. The voice of our 
 pilot broke upon the stillness of the night, and my thoughts 
 immediately traced an analogy between him and our blessed 
 Saviour, who, in his untiring love and watchfulness, ' never 
 slumbereth nor sleepeth.' I thought I could add another 
 stanza to that most beautiful hymn of Watts, commencing 
 thus : 
 
 ' Join all the glorious names, 
 
 Of wisdom, love, and power, 
 That ever mortals knew, 
 That angels ever bore, 
 All are too mean to speak his worth, 
 Too mean to set my Saviour forth.' 
 
 " I am going to see uncle Trumbull, to consult with 
 him about taking some lessons in perspective, according to 
 Mr. Smith's suggestion. I think of you, my dear parents, 
 only as happy in the presence of Him, ' whose loving 
 kindness is better than life.' That you will continue to 
 enjoy his smiles, and that these will make your last days 
 your best days, is the prayer and expectation of your 
 grateful child." 
 
 "NEW YORK, APRIL 1, 1833. 
 
 " I thank you, my dear brother, for your affectionate 
 note. I have thought much of late upon the privilege en-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 137 
 
 joyed by those who are the offspring of the righteous. 
 Dr. Griffin once remarked, in a sermon, that in this country, 
 there is many an unbroken chain of pious ancestry, reach- 
 ing from its first settlement down to the present time. 
 May we not find our own family forming one of the 
 links, which will extend into the eternal world? How 
 high then are our obligations ! " 
 
 " PHILADELPHIA, APRIL 11, 1833. 
 
 " My dear Parents : From this city of brotherly love, 
 I feel disposed to address you, although my letter may not 
 be completed until after my return to New York. I left 
 the latter place on Tuesday morning at half past six. I 
 took cousin Sarah by surprise ; though a cordial welcome 
 from her and her kind husband was bestowed upon me. 
 His country seat is a charming one, atfd were the weather 
 a little warmer I should put my slight knowledge of per- 
 spective to the trial. Vessels of all sizes are to be seen 
 every hour, passing up and down the Schuylkill, which 
 forms the western boundary of the estate. The brilliancy 
 of the verdure of the surrounding fields and graceful slopes, 
 surpasses any thing which I have ever seen. Having spent 
 the last fortnight amid the brick walls and dust of New 
 York, the opening of spring seems like a sudden transition ; 
 for the apricot trees are here in full blossom. The air is 
 bland, and the songsters of the grove seem more melodious 
 than usual. 
 
 " I have made a short but satisfactory visit to West's 
 painting of ' Christ healing the Sick ; ' and gazed with 
 intense interest and sympathy, upon the bronze statue of 
 William Penn, whose left hand holds the treaty which he 
 made with the Indians, and which makes his memory so 
 precious to me. We spent a half hour among the exotics 
 of a distinguished florist, where I saw the most brilliant 
 display of hyacinths that I ever met, of every shade and 
 exceedingly double. The gardener loaded us with them. 
 I only regret that I cannot convey them to Norwich, that
 
 138 MEMOIR OF 
 
 their fragrance might greet the senses of my dear mother, 
 as they do mine at this moment. I would not have failed 
 of making this visit, and shall remember it with especial 
 pleasure, when far away." 
 
 " NEW YORK, APRIL 16, 1833. 
 
 " I left Philadelphia on Saturday. I formed an ac- 
 quaintance with an interesting Quakeress, on board the 
 boat, who appeared like a pious lady. When I parted 
 with her, I took her hand and remarked, that I hoped we 
 should meet in a better world. She replied with character- 
 istic composure and simplicity, but with bewitching gentle- 
 ness, ' I hope so : I am pleased with thy countenance.' 
 It was my first acquaintance with one of this sect, and 
 I think it will give me satisfaction, when I have passed 
 the ' river of death,' to recollect that with Christian af- 
 fection I have shaken hands with a 'Friend.' 
 
 " Last Sabbath was the communion in the Bowery church, 
 where, side by side with dear Edward, we commemorated 
 the love of that Saviour to whose work we are conse- 
 crated. I rejoice, dear father, that you have his presence. 
 He will not leave you comfortless, but will come unto you, 
 more graciously than ever. I 'trust I shall be with you on 
 Saturday. Notwithstanding my enjoyment here, and else- 
 where, I shall rejoice more than all, to be once more with 
 you, in my quiet home. My love awaits each one of you." 
 
 "NORWICH, APRIL 23, 1833. 
 
 " Your gratifying letter, my dear sister, reached me in 
 New York and was peculiarly acceptable. I thank you 
 for resigning me so cheerfully. Our dear father is in just 
 that state of mind, respecting my departure, which I wished 
 and expected him to acquire. In his letters to me while 
 I was absent, he expressed unusual confidence in God, and 
 enjoyment of his presence ; and the day of my return, 
 which was Saturday last, he very frankly acknowledged, 
 in my presence, that his feelings had been wrong, but 
 were now wholly changed.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 139 
 
 " It is of the first importance that we all preserve a 
 quiet spirit. I have been so unusually composed, since this 
 event, that I dread more than any thing, a ruffled, excited 
 state of feeling. 
 
 " I had a pleasant visit in New York and Philadelphia ; 
 though rejoiced to return, where I can walk more by faith, 
 which it is very difficult to do in a tumultuous city. I hope 
 we shall all be enabled to preserve our spirituality of mind ; 
 which is practicable, if we keep other things in their sub- 
 ordinate place. If any may take advantage of the precept, 
 ' Take no thought for the morrow,' we may do so, who are 
 in the ranks of our Saviour, avowedly, and, I hope, sincerely. 
 ' For your Father knoweth that ye have need of all these 
 things,' is a precious promise." 
 
 " MAY. 
 
 " What a lovely spring this is ! All nature seems joyous, 
 animate and inanimate. This little plain looks like a para- 
 dise, and I sometimes sing, with pleasure, rather than 
 pain, Eve's lamentation, 
 
 ' Must I leave thee, Paradise ! 
 Thus leave thee, native soil, 
 These happy walks and shades ? ' 
 
 Yes, with joy I leave thee, that souls, whose value out- 
 weighs a world's delights, may become heirs of the ' sweet 
 fields beyond the swelling flood.' It is a little after sunrise 
 now, and I have had a precious season in my closet, where 
 my mind seemed to expand with the truth of God. How 
 soon we shall know him in eternity ! Let us quicken our- 
 selves in the race set before us." 
 
 The powerful competition, which the missionary cause 
 held in Miss Huntington's affections, with her home and all 
 its pleasant circumstances, may be learned from two or three 
 sentences in one of her letters, written a few months before 
 she left her country. "To make and receive visits, ex- 
 change friendly salutations, attend to one's wardrobe, cuj-
 
 140 MEMOIR OF 
 
 tivate a garden, read good and entertaining books, and even 
 attend religious meetings for one's own enjoyment; all this 
 does not satisfy me. I want to be where every arrangement 
 will have unreserved and constant reference to eternity. 
 On missionary ground I expect to find new and unlooked 
 for trials and hinderances ; still it is my choice to be there. 
 And so far from looking upon it as a difficult task to 
 sacrifice my home and country, I feel as if I should ' flee 
 as a bird to her mountain.' " 
 
 To those who knew the pleasant local circumstances of 
 Miss Huntington's residence ; the circle of society in which 
 she moved ; the high place she had in the respect, confi- 
 dence and affection of her numerous acquaintances; the 
 interest with which they gathered around her, and bestowed 
 their testimonials of regard, as the time approached when 
 they were to " see her face no more," to those who knew 
 these things, her willingness to leave all, is explained only 
 by the fact, that she so loved her God and Saviour, and 
 desired his glory in the publication of his gospel to the ends 
 of the earth, that she " accounted not her life dear unto 
 herself." 
 
 "NORWICH, JUKE 21, 1833. 
 
 " I am grateful to my dear friends for their kind interest, 
 and their solicitude for my future happiness. But they must 
 all be cautious, and I too, of dwelling much upon those 
 features in the case which are calculated to encourage too 
 much sensibility. You recollect the reply of our Saviour to 
 Peter, when he said, ' Be it far from thee, Lord.' The work 
 before us, is, as Mr. Smith expresses it, one of inconceivable 
 magnitude ; and whatever has a tendency to weaken courage, 
 must be regarded as our Saviour did the rebuke of his 
 warm-hearted disciple, as a temptation to be resisted. 
 How precious is the thought that he who said, ' Lo, I am 
 with you alway,' was a human, as well as a divine Being! 
 
 " I think, dear sister, that some of the views which are 
 entertained respecting missionary relinquishments and pri- 
 vations are a little imaginary. If we attempt to sum up the
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 141 
 
 amount of real happiness enjoyed by those who remain at 
 home, including all the anxieties and perplexities attendant 
 upon almost every hour, what will be the result? Cast in 
 the balance against those of the missionary, which are of a 
 different nature perhaps, are we sure that the latter would 
 preponderate ? It is the testimony of all missionaries I have 
 noticed, that their trials are not of the kind, which fill the 
 anticipations of their friends. I am unwilling that my 
 friends should cultivate in themselves, or in me, the feeling 
 that I am too valuable for the sacrifice. 
 
 " Your prayers I prize. I ask their continuance, that 
 my work may assume such an appearance in my eyes, as to 
 outweigh every minor consideration, and that the great 
 realities of eternity may fill all our souls." 
 
 "NORWICH, JULY 5, 1833. 
 
 " As soon as you had left the door yesterday, dear brother 
 and sister, I retired to your vacant room, and there my heart 
 seemed strengthened with the same hope which I felt would 
 strengthen me in death. I felt that it was enduring as 
 eternity. Glorious hope ! what can a feeble human being 
 do without it? Eternal things never seemed so real to me 
 as they now do. Our circumstances as a family, for many 
 years, have been of a teaching nature ; and we should be 
 dull indeed, had we learnt nothing. Although we have had 
 trials, they are such as we would hardly exchange for 
 those of most others ; and our blessings certainly we would 
 not relinquish for those which are only temporal. Let us be 
 grateful and cheerful, and, as a wise man of Persia said, 
 speak of our trials with a smile.' 
 
 " When you pray for me, ask that I may have more and 
 more love for souls and for the honor of God. This is the 
 only feeling which can sustain a missionary ; and bear away 
 the spirit from selfishness." 
 
 " JULY 8, 1833. 
 
 " Mr. Dickinson preached yesterday morning from the 
 words, 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth;'
 
 142 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and in the afternoon from Malachi iii. 8. I have seldom 
 had much enjoyment at the communion table, because I 
 have usually been too exclusive and personal in my desires, 
 looking for some especial token of the Saviour's \ovefor me. 
 I trust that yesterday I was enabled to throw off those 
 shackles ; and that hereafter, as then, it will be a season 
 in which I shall feel my obligations to a dying world, and 
 make some new surrender to my Master. I felt yesterday 
 that the church is in no immediate danger of apathy from 
 having nothing to do. It will require a great effort for her 
 to ' arise arid shake herself from the dust,' and ' put on her 
 beautiful garments/ and be ' comely as Jerusalem.' A few 
 have already commenced the reformation, and ministers 
 must lead the van ; and all of us who feel interested must 
 work hard, and pray much, and prepare to encounter ob- 
 stacles. But let us go forward ; for the Lord is on our side. 
 ' Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.' " 
 
 Soon after her marriage, which took place on the 21st 
 of July, Mrs. Smith with her husband left Norwich to make 
 several final visits to relatives and friends; of which the fol- 
 lowing extracts furnish a brief account. 
 
 " BENNIMITON, VT., AUG. 10, 1833. 
 
 " My dear Parents : I am very happy to be able to 
 address you once more from this spot. Our visit at North- 
 ford was exceedingly pleasant and satisfactory, and the time 
 passed almost unconsciously. I was gratified to see so 
 many of Mr. Smith's numerous relatives, which, with -my 
 own, would make a congregation of no inconsiderable size ; 
 and with thanksgiving I may add, their united prayers would 
 form a cloud of incense not to be found in every circle of 
 similar number. May I not be unmindful of the privilege 
 of having so many praying friends ! On the Sabbath my 
 husband preached a farewell discourse, and took leave of 
 many of his friends. I could not refrain from mingling 
 my tears with theirs upon the interesting occasion. Mou-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 143 
 
 V 
 
 day morning we bade a final adieu, the sorrows of which 
 were somewhat alleviated by the possibility _of meeting 
 again, belbre our embarkation. It threw around our aged 
 parents a dignity which angels might admire, to see them 
 thus relinquish the object of their fond regard, to the cause 
 which angels love, and angels serve. May the richest 
 blessings of God's grace rest upon them, and upon you, 
 ray dear parents, who make the same cheerful surrender. 
 
 " Here we expect to remain until Wednesday next. You 
 will naturally imagine that dear Peter has been brought 
 to mind, and that many tender associations are connected 
 with him. There stands the rocking-chair which he occu- 
 pied, and when I lie down upon the bed, I can almost 
 imagine that I hear his steps in the adjoining chamber. 
 But while that precious form moulders in the grave, the 
 released spirit is in far higher and holier society above, 
 from whence I would not recall him, if I could. 
 
 c There entertain him, all ye saints above, 
 In solemn troops and sweet societies 
 That sing, and singing in your glory move, 
 And wipe the tears forever from his eyes. ' " 
 
 After having visited her only sister, for the last time, 
 and bade her " farewell," on her return home she wrote 
 as follows : 
 
 " NORWICH, AUG. 20, 1833. 
 
 " My very dear Sister : Were not the prayers of our 
 kind husbands answered, in reference to our parting? 
 During family devotions, I felt as if I should dissolve in 
 tears, and yet we separated with calmness. I long to 
 know how you felt after we left. Many times during the 
 day I closed my eyes, and said to myself, ' Can it be that 
 I shall behold those loved faces no more, until we meet in 
 eternity ? ' While I write, the thought makes my heart 
 sink, but I must not indulge it. 
 
 'Away, it is done, I will breathe not a sigh, 
 But a amJle shall spring up o'er the tear that would rise.'
 
 144 MEMOIR OF 
 
 "The recollection of our visit to you is delightful. 
 Indeed, the whole journey furnished as much unalloyed 
 pleasure as earth often bestows. Our ride to Pittsfield was 
 pleasant, where we arrived some time before dark. The 
 next morning we set out early, and called first in Canaan, at 
 the house of Deacon Whiting, the father of one of the mis- 
 sionaries at Beyroot, where we had a precious visit, and met 
 together at the throne of grace. On Friday we went to 
 Northampton. Next morning Mr. Todd accompanied us to 
 the grave of Brainerd. At 10 o'clock we left for Hartford, 
 which we reached between eight and nine in the evening. 
 Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth were expecting us, and received 
 us very cordially. Our visit to them was as delightful as 
 the most solicitous kindness could make it. Mr. Smith 
 preached in each of the churches his farewell. When we 
 
 left the next morning, Mr. put into my hands a check 
 
 upon the Merchants' Bank of New York, for $100, charging 
 me to use it for our own comfort. He requested us to let 
 them know when we were to sail, saying, ' Though we are 
 old folks, perhaps we shall have the courage to be with you ; ' 
 and when he bade us adieu, he was so overcome, that he had 
 to go into the dining-room and recover himself, before he 
 could wait upon us to the stage-coach. Such kindness we 
 shall not soon forget; and will you pray that those feelings 
 of personal interest may be transferred to the cause to which 
 we are devoted? We return from our journey, laden with 
 the rich experience of God's goodness. Our friends in Nor- 
 wich are very kind and attentive." 
 
 On the morning of the 29th of August, 1833, came that 
 hour which, more than all, may be expected to try the soul 
 of a missionary ; especially a daughter of such tender and 
 strong affections the hour of bidding farewell to her father 
 and her mother. The following letter, written the next day, 
 best describes her feelings on that occasion. It is delightful 
 still to see, how " the love of Christ constraineth " the de- 
 voted missionary, and with what sacred steadfastness it en-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 145 
 
 ables him to move on in the path of duty, even though it be 
 in a sundering of the tenderest ties known on this side of 
 heaven. In such an hour, how impressively is illustrated 
 that promise of the Lord Jesus, " My grace is sufficient for 
 thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness " ! 
 
 " PROVIDENCE, AUG. 30, 1833. 
 
 " My dear Father : Yesterday was to me a most painful 
 season. For the first time in my life, I strove to drive your 
 image from my thoughts ; for so long as it was present there, 
 in the last attitude in which I beheld you, waving your 
 adieu, my tears flowed irresistibly. Yet I would not return 
 to you. It is a good icork which I have undertaken, and I 
 feel happy in the thought that you would not recall me from 
 it. Still nothing but the hopes of the gospel sustain me. 
 Earth cannot furnish a motive sufficiently powerful to justify 
 such a sacrifice. Yesterday these hopes were less operative 
 but this morning, I seem to feel an answer to the prayers 
 which, as I hope, are offered for me; and probably my reno- 
 vated strength of body, invigorates my mind. Tell all our 
 dear friends to pray for our spiritual advancement, more than 
 for any thing else. We have now begun our work, and 
 need your prayers. The effects of these we shall feel con- 
 tinually ; and our friends can in no way render us so happy, 
 as in the kind office of suppliants at the mercy seat." 
 
 To her brother, who was a resident at her father's house, 
 and from whom she had parted forever, in this life, she 
 wrote as follows : 
 
 "BOSTON, AUG. 31. 
 
 " My dear Brother : After leaving you all on Thursday, 
 I felt for a little while as if you were dead ; but since 
 writing to you so freely, I have entirely lost this sad im- 
 pression, and I can now, with some slight exceptions, 
 think of you with my usual cheerfulness. In consequence 
 of the delay of sailing, we do not feel hurried, and I doubt 
 
 Smith. *f
 
 H6 MEMOIR OF 
 
 not all things will be kindly ordered, as they have been thus 
 far. I have learned from past experience, that when I place 
 my own concerns secondary to higher duties, God prospers 
 them ; but as sure as I give them the Jirst place, they 
 perplex me. This explains the sentiment inculcated by 
 our Saviour, 'Seek first the kingdom of God and all 
 other things shall be added.' 
 
 "Sabbath evening. I attended the Old South this 
 morning, where Dr Skinner is supplying the pulpit for a 
 few weeks. It was the communion season, and my thoughts 
 were peculiarly interesting. When there fifteen years ago, 
 I was not a guest at the Lord's table, but an alien from 
 him." 
 
 " SEPTEMBER 4. 
 
 " Although exceedingly anxious, my beloved father, to 
 hear from home, I dreaded the effect of your letters upon my 
 feelings ; and when I read yours, with Faith's, and especially 
 Edward's, I realized all I had anticipated, and more, of 
 an overflowing of natural affection. Had not my husband 
 been present, I should have given unrestrained indulgence 
 to my sensibilities, and perhaps made myself sick. But 1 
 trust both my Saviour, and my husband, are willing that I 
 should love such dear ones as I have left behind, and weep 
 at the remembrance of them. Oh ! how gracious was our 
 Redeemer, in assuming the nature of man ! It is a comfort 
 to me to think that his soul, more perfect in refined and 
 tender emotions than any earthly being, was susceptible 
 of acute suffering. Yet his principles never swerved ; and 
 so long as feeling is not indulged to the prejudice of duty, 
 it is not indulged to a sinful excess. God forbid that I a 
 woman should ever become a stoic ! Let no one ask 
 or expect it of a missionary, as an essential qualification. 
 God often calls to his work those who possess the warmest 
 affections, that his grace may be more triumphant ; and 
 brother Hooker says, that ' those who love Christ best, love 
 also their friends most.' I do not intend, in my letters, to 
 throw a gloss over any thing ; but shall tell you of all that
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 147 
 
 occurs ; so that you may rely upon my integrity and can- 
 dor, and not imagine that I am suffering what I wish to 
 conceal. And yet I do not mean to complain." 
 
 The letters of Mrs. Smith which were written from this 
 time to that of her embarkation, exhibit evidence of the 
 intensity of her attachment to her friends and her country; 
 and that her trials were severe, in parting with them for 
 life. But they likewise show the source from whence she 
 derived her comfort and strength ; the predominance of 
 her love to Christ and the work to which she had conse- 
 crated herself; and that she advanced, with firm step, in 
 the path which she had entered. From these letters, the 
 limits of the present chapter will admit the insertion of 
 only the following passages : 
 
 " I hope, my dear cousin, that you do not forget to pray 
 for me, as you would for yourself under similar circum- 
 stances. I need much more grace than I possess. Pray 
 that I may be a good wife, an efficient associate, a kind 
 friend that I may have bodily vigor, mental capacity for 
 acquainting myself with the languages of the country to 
 which I am going and above all, a warm heart and an 
 overcoming faith. 
 
 " In leaving forevet this favored land, with home and 
 affectionate friends, my mind involuntarily forms an esti- 
 mate of its real value, similar, I think, to the views which 
 I shall have upon a dying bed. The result of my reflec- 
 tions is this. Every thing really valuable here, rises in my 
 estimation ; while a multitude of things deemed quite es- 
 sential, sink to insignificance. O that Christians so richly 
 blessed would consent to throw off the shackles of the 
 worldling, and give all their energy to the salvation of 
 their fellow-beings ! The time must come when this will 
 be the case. God forbid that his judgments should be 
 necessary to accomplish it."
 
 148 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " BOSTON, SEPT. 14, 1833. 
 
 " My thoughts have dwelt too much, dear brother and 
 sister, upon those whom I have left. The separation from 
 home and beloved ones, was far more trying than I antici- 
 pated. I wept nearly all the first day, at the remembrance 
 of that little group which surrounded the stage-coach, 
 upon whom I had looked for the last time. The image 
 of our dear father, waving his final adieu, rose continually 
 before me, and my heart was dissolved in tenderness. To 
 part with him was more painful than to separate from all 
 my other friends. But I need not describe to you my 
 emotions ; you know them all, dear sister. 
 
 " My faith, I trust, is not weakened. Yet I pity a mis- 
 sionary who loves not his work, or whose dependence is any 
 where but in God. Nothing but reliance upon Christ, and 
 the courage derived in answer to prayer, can furnish any 
 adequate support. Pray for us, dear friends, continually; 
 thus it is in your power to make us happy. I seem to 
 realize in my own soul, that my friends are . remembering 
 me. In the family of Mr. Hubbard, we have been welcome 
 and happy. I had not much opportunity to converse with 
 the dear friends at Andover, as it was the Sabbath. Through 
 the papers, you will hear of the meeting in the evening. 
 We were urged to stay to the anniversary ; but we rather 
 dreaded fatigue and excitement. I felt a great deal at part- 
 ing with our friends there; they were associated with so 
 many tender recollections. But I suppressed my emotions 
 till my head seemed bound with cords, and my heart felt as 
 if it would burst. We had a little season of social prayer 
 on Monday morning. We still expect to sail on Wednesday, 
 Occasionally my heart sinks, at the thought of taking a last 
 look at the shores of my native land, and I know not how I 
 shall sustain it. My only hope is in God. Do not fear that 
 the attentions which I receive elate or injure me. If ever I 
 felt myself ' less than the least of all,' it is now. Dear 
 brother and sister, thanks for all your kindness. To you, 
 Mary, Faith, Elizabeth, and Cornelius, I must now say,
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 149 
 
 farewell. My heart and my prayers are with you. I love 
 you too well for my comfort. I can sympathize with Mar- 
 tyn more than I expected. But if God gives me work to do 
 for him, I shall be happy. Let all missionaries count the 
 cost. I rejoice in the little preparation which I have had 
 for the mission. Once more, farewell ! I go cheerfully. 
 God bless you ! " 
 
 Her farewell letter to her father follows. 
 
 "BosTow, SEPT. 17, 1833. 
 
 " And now, my dear father, I take my pen for the last 
 time, and address myself to you. Nature struggles hard, 
 and I stop to wipe the tears which gather fast, and intercept 
 the traces of my pen. But I must not indulge myself in 
 saying what is in my heart. God only knows those deep, 
 deep fountains of feeling which he has created there. Your 
 letters, and brother's, have been all received, and were more 
 valuable than gold. They will often be read on our voyage. 
 * * * * I have urged Dr. and Mrs. Wisner to go and 
 see you. The former, particularly, has strong hold of my 
 heart; I hope you will become acquainted with him. 
 
 ****** 
 " And now, must I say adieu ? 
 
 ' Friends, connections, happy country, 
 Can I can I say farewell ? ' 
 
 " Dear father and mother, sisters and brothers, I forsake 
 you for Christ. You all love Him ; and your claim to me 
 you joyfully relinquish. To him I commend you ; at his feet 
 I leave you, and there, this morning, have I cast myself 
 with this plea, ' Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.' As 
 such I hope to be borne through the labors and trials of 
 life, and to the gate of heaven. There we meet to part 
 no more. Till then Farewell."
 
 150 MEMOIR OF 
 
 "SATURDAY, 1 O'CLOCK, P. M. 
 
 " My dear Mother : We are now just upon the wing, 
 and expect to sail this afternoon. Mr. Perkins has been 
 brought from Andover, and though unable to sit up all 
 the time, the physician thinks he can go on board the 
 ship with perfect safety. We esteem it a remarkable inter- 
 position of Providence, that we should have been detained 
 on Wednesday. For in addition to the mutual enjoyment 
 of each other's society, it is thought important that Mr. P. 
 should be with Mr. Smith, to gain information of the country 
 to which he is going. I hope you will unite your grateful 
 acknowledgments with ours, to the gracious Disposer of all 
 things. Mr. Smith has just come in, and says they are all 
 ready, and we go at half past three, 'if the Lord will.' He 
 sends a great deal of love to you all. Cousin Sarah will fill 
 this sheet after we are gone. In parting from these kind 
 friends, we feel as if we were going from home. The Lord 
 bless and reward them a hundred fold ! 
 
 " Dearest mother, this is one of my last acts, writing to 
 you. May God be with you and my beloved father, brother, 
 and all. I am well to-day, and go with cheerfulness. Our 
 long detention makes us anxious to be gone. Another fare- 
 well from your most affectionate daughter, 
 
 SARAH." 
 
 In accordance with the intimation in the extract just 
 quoted, the following account of the embarkation was com- 
 municated to Mrs. Huntington : 
 
 " SATURDAY, 5 O'CLOCK, P. M. 
 
 " I have just returned, dear cousin, from the vessel in 
 which your daughter sailed ; and I thought it would be 
 gratifying to you, to know how she appeared at the last. 
 We went on board a few minutes before four o'clock. At 
 four, religious exercises were commenced by singing the 
 533d hymn of Church Psalmody, ' Roll on, thou mighty
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 151 
 
 ocean ; 5 the tune, ' Missionary Hymn.' Dr. Jenks then 
 made an appropriate prayer ; not only for the missionaries, 
 but their near friends. We then sang the Doxology in long 
 metre; after which, friends were requested to go on shore. 
 At half past four, the vessel left the wharf; while those on 
 shore sang, ' From Greenland's icy mountains.' Through- 
 out the whole, cousin Sarah was perfectly calm and com- 
 posed. A stranger would have supposed she was leaving 
 home only for a short time. When I took leave of her, she 
 sent a message to Mrs. Hubbard, and appeared perfectly 
 calm. She remarked to Mr. Hubbard that she had been 
 wonderfully supported through the day, Mr. Smith seemed 
 quite overcome at parting with friends." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Smith embarked, at Boston, for Malta, on 
 the 21st of September, 1833, in the brig George, Captain 
 Hallet. By the pilot boat, on its return, Mrs. Smith ad- 
 dressed a note to the family with whom her time had been 
 spent in Boston, from which we extract the following : 
 
 " BRIG GEORGE, 5 O'CLOCK. 
 
 w Dear Friends : The pilot has just informed us that he 
 returns in an hour, and will take letters for us. I can only 
 say, we are all well and happy ; and very busy, as we are 
 just ' going to house-keeping.' I have been duly appointed 
 scribe pro tern., not because I am more talented than my 
 companions, but more idle just now ; though I mean to be 
 very industrious, and every thing else that is good. 
 
 " I stood upon deck till I saw the waving of the last hand- 
 kerchief, and Mr. Eckard's white hat, as he stood alone upon 
 the shrouds. You, dear Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard, I looked 
 upon with a daughter's heart ; you seemed to be representa- 
 tives of my parents. Thanks for every expression of love 
 from the members of your family. 
 
 " From first stepping on board, my heart has been stayed 
 up with the Scripture which I repeated this morning 'For
 
 152 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 1 am persuaded, that neither death, nor life ; nor angels, nor 
 principalities, nor powers; nor things present, nor things 
 to come; nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 
 shall be able to separate us from the love of God which 
 is in Christ Jesus our Lord.' * * * God's kingdom 
 seems more glorious than any thing else; thanks to his 
 grace. * * * Adieu, dear, dear friends. My heart 
 feels what I cannot express."
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 VOYAGE TO MALTA SHIP'S COMPANY AND EFFORTS FOB 
 
 THEIR GOOD ALEXANDRIA ARRIVAL AT BE YROOT. 
 
 THE company of missionaries to which Mrs. Smith was 
 attached, landed at Malta on the 14th of November, after 
 a prosperous voyage of fifty-four days. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith sailed shortly for Alexandria, where they arrived 
 on the 25th of December. From thence, on the loth of 
 January, they embarked for Beyroot, their destined station, 
 which they reached on the 28th. Mrs. Smith kept a 
 journal during these voyages, in which are recorded many 
 interesting incidents. The scenes of the mighty ocean, 
 sometimes peaceful and beautiful, and sometimes .stormy 
 and terrible, were new to her. She saw every thing with 
 the eye of taste, and of one who adored and delighted to 
 acknowledge God in all the works of his hands, and to 
 praise him for his power, wisdom, and goodness. 
 
 As it is the object of the remainder of this volume to 
 delineate the character of Mrs. Smith as a missionary, 
 rather than to give a history of her travels selections 
 with reference to this, will be given, from her journals and 
 letters to her friends. 
 
 ATLANTIC OCEAS, lat. 39 y, Ion. 41 26', ) 
 OCTOBER 4, 1833. 5 
 
 " My beloved Father : I little thought that we should 
 be in the middle of the ocean before I should have courage 
 to take my pen. But up to this very day, if I had kept a 
 journal, I could have recorded nothing but sick, sick, sick. 
 Oh, this sea-sickness ! what language can I use to describe 
 
 153 7
 
 154 MEMOIR OF 
 
 it ! For the present I will dismiss it, and tell of my agreea- 
 ble surprise on opening my writing-desk this afternoon, 
 for the first time for incidents are rare upon this wide 
 waste of waters. I had forgotten the items which were 
 deposited in my desk, and the first object which met my 
 eye was the profile of my dear father, and on searching I 
 found that of my own mother, and then those which are 
 so striking of Edward and Peter. My eye must have 
 kindled with affection, for my heart glowed with pleasure, 
 and it was unmingled, cheerful pleasure. I found, also, 
 several very nice pens, all prepared by Edward for writing ; 
 and my husband having filled my inkstand, I herewith com- 
 mence that correspondence, which is to be our only solace 
 in our separation. 
 
 "October 5. While in Boston, I had a great deal of 
 despondency of mind and physical depression ; but after so 
 many detentions, was anxious to sail. And when the day 
 actually arrived/ 1 summoned all the courage of which I was 
 capable, aided, I fully believe, by the grace of God. The 
 8th of' Romans furnished me the spiritual strength which 
 I needed, and I strove to turn away my thoughts from every 
 personal consideration, and occupy them with God's glorious 
 plans. 
 
 "As I was taking dinner to-day, a sweet little land bird, 
 which had been hovering around the deck, perched in the 
 window. Its size was that of a robin, its plumage black 
 and white. But it had not the calm and buoyant look of 
 the sweet songsters among my native hills. It seemed 
 wearied and ruffled, like some solitary wanderer. It was 
 five hundred miles from its home, the Western Islands. 
 
 "October 14. I have been reading again this morning 
 your letters received in Boston, and over them shed many tears 
 of fond affection and gratitude. Your image is continually 
 with me, and every night my imagination visits you. For 
 two Sabbaths we have been able to have religious exercises 
 on deck, at four o'clock, P. M., and it is truly affecting to see 
 these immortals, listening to that word which will either be
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 155 
 
 the savor of life or of death ; and which, if disregarded, will 
 justify God in their condemnation before the universe. It 
 is a sublime and overwhelming thought, that whether suc- 
 cessful or not in their labors, Christians are thus honoring 
 the Divine Being in his dispensations of grace. 
 
 " We number fifteen souls on board this ship ; two only of 
 whom, beside the captain, mates, and ourselves, are Ameri- 
 cans ; which renders it an unpromising field of labor. 
 
 "October 15. We have made the Western or Azore 
 Islands, which were associated, not only with the geography 
 of my early days, but with the feeble prayers of later years. 
 As a portion of the Islands of the Western hemisphere, it 
 has been my pleasure to remember them once a week in my 
 closet at home, hundreds of miles distant from them. And 
 here they lie stretched before me, inhabited only by ignorant 
 and superstitious Portuguese, to whom you may suppose 1 
 now feel not wholly indifferent. 
 
 " On the 26th, we first beheld, to our great joy, the 
 African coast; and on that day we passed through the 
 Straits of Gibraltar. You can hardly imagine the nature 
 of our feelings, when we found ourselves safely across the 
 stormy Atlantic, and within the shores of the Mediter- 
 ranean. 
 
 " The navigation of the Mediterranean possesses one 
 advantage over the ocean ; its surface soon regains smooth- 
 ness after being disturbed ; though, like the Atlantic, ' the 
 waves thereof mount up to heaven, and go down again to the 
 depths, putting us at our wits' end.' How exact the descrip- 
 tion in the 107th Psalm, of a life at sea, none but the 
 experienced therein can imagine. I have read it over and 
 over with admiration, since we embarked. 
 
 " I enjoyed much in the face of nature after we passed 
 the Straits ; and if my imagination does not deceive me, 
 these Mediterranean skies have beauties peculiar to them- 
 selves. I will endeavor to give you some faint description 
 of a sunrise scene which I beheld while standing alone upon 
 the bow of the ship, as she plunged through the foaming
 
 156 MEMOIR OF 
 
 waves. A few dense but ragged clouds stretched along the 
 eastern horizon, but not so closely as to obscure that first 
 silver tinge of the water, only beheld in a sunrise at sea, and 
 which suddenly strikes the eye, let it be watching ever so 
 intently for the first beam of the glorious orb. As it rose 
 on that morning, it presented the appearance of blocks of 
 effulgent gold, varying their outline each moment, till at 
 length one half of it appeared as if resting upon a pedestal, 
 beside which lay a fragment of its glory in the form of a 
 perfect square. The whole hemisphere seemed as it were to 
 smile as its monarch ascended ; and as I cast my eye towards 
 the west, floating clouds of the most delicate vermilion hue, 
 contrasted beautifully with the brilliant azure of the sky. I 
 turned first one way and then another, and knew not where 
 to fix my admiring gaze. Add to this an horizon of sixty 
 miles in extent, within which our ship was a lonely traveller, 
 upon a waste of waters, and you may form some little 
 conception of my feelings, as I involuntarily and audibly 
 exclaimed, 
 
 ' These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 
 Almighty Father .' 
 
 " November 12, 8 o'clock, A. M. In quarantine. A 
 new morning dawns upon me, and has afforded a beautiful 
 sunrise. My imagination enters your bed-room, my dear 
 parents, where the old clock, whose pendulum is not yet 
 ' discontented,' will soon strike one, two, three. Perhaps, 
 in your dreams, you are receiving a visit from your absent 
 daughter ; if so, I hope it is of a cheering nature, as the 
 reality would justify. For I do not feel myself to be very 
 distant from you not as much as I feared. ' We change 
 our sky but not our minds.' I seem to have anticipated 
 losing my identity, after reaching these foreign shores ; but 
 it is not so, and I hope you think of me as you think of your 
 children in Bennington and New York. My husband and 
 myself took our usual walk on deck just as the sun was 
 rising.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 157 
 
 " The moral influence which, as missionaries, we have 
 exerted over those with whom we have sailed, I know will 
 have a prominent place in your minds ; and I wish we could 
 inform you that God has given them all to our prayers and 
 labors. But this we cannot say, even of one. And yet we 
 hope that we have done a little good, which the last day 
 may disclose. Had we been more faithful, we might perhaps 
 have accomplished more. 
 
 " Our captain came from Provincetown, on Cape Cod, 
 which ' grows ' (as the Southerners say) little except 
 sailors and fishermen, children, and fish. He is not yet 
 twenty-six years of age, is about the size of brother E., 
 and his pleasant expression and agreeable manners have 
 often reminded me of him. He has been invariably kind 
 and considerate towards us; and we entertain a sincere 
 regard for him. The indiscretions of some religionists 
 have prejudiced him against the truth ; and when we first 
 came on board he declared himself an infidel. In view of 
 the circumstances which had effected his belief, we thought 
 best to act cautiously, and without neglecting favorable op- 
 portunities for conversation on religious topics, we have 
 sought to have our conduct such that we might be ' living 
 epistles, known and read ' continually. We have lent him 
 our books, which he has read with pleasure ; particularly 
 Tyerman and Bennett's Voyages. We think there has been 
 a gradual softening of his prejudices, an almost entire re- 
 linquishment of profane language, and that his mind is in 
 some degree prepared for the operations of the Holy Spirit. 
 I have had one long and interesting conversation with him ; 
 and we intend to unite in presenting him with a handsome 
 reference Bible. 
 
 " The mate, a little man about twenty-three years of age, 
 has been a source of anxiety and trial to us, for his open 
 disregard of all serious things, and his unceasing profane- 
 ness. We have no complaint to make of his deportment 
 towards us as individuals. But the name of our blessed 
 God and Saviour we have been compelled to hear used with
 
 158 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the greatest irreverence. Last week we concluded that it 
 was best to show our disapprobation by avoiding all notice 
 of him. The gentlemen had previously expostulated with 
 him. He appears to have noticed our reserve, and sought 
 to win our regard by offering fruit, dtc. For several days 
 we have scarce heard a profane expression from him. 
 
 " The second mate is near the same age with the chief 
 mate ; an obliging, amusing fellow, whose songs and im- 
 promptus, as he takes the lead of the men in their labors, 
 greatly inspirit them in their chorus of ' ho cheerily.' 
 I knew not, before, the importance of music among sailors, 
 to enliven and beguile them, as they pull the ropes. Thus 
 the efforts which are exhausting their energies, and bringing 
 on premature old age, are, at times, mere pastime with them. 
 This mate has aided us in our singing upon the Sabbath, 
 and, but for the influence of the first mate, I think would 
 yield to the truth. Since the first two Sabbaths, each one 
 has been calm ; and our religious exercises on deck, at 4 
 o'clock, have been uninterrupted ; except the last, when a sud- 
 den squall prevented Mr. Perkins from completing his ad- 
 dress. The sailors have been attentive and respectful." 
 
 " You must not think, from what I wrote in the intervals 
 of sickness, that I have suffered unusual hardships. Far 
 from it. Our accommodations have been unusually good. 
 Our cabin and berths are more airy and commodious than 
 missionaries generally find. We have been abundantly 
 supplied with various and wholesome articles of food, and 
 good water. The captain has freely offered us a share of 
 all his delicacies, and we have endeavored to reciprocate 
 his attentions. To the sailors we have once a week sent 
 a basket of gingerbread and apples, sometimes accompanied 
 with a tract for each. This is virtually, though not profess- 
 edly, a temperance ship. We have not seen a drop of 
 spirit on board. A little brandy has twice been used for 
 medicine. 
 
 " The Sabbath is a day which sailors claim for themselves; 
 which, T suppose, is employed as in this ship usually for
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 159 
 
 washing, sewfng, &c. This fact should have an influence 
 upon the prayers of Christians. 
 
 " I would that every missionary could know, before leaving 
 his native land, that the despondency produced by sea-sick- 
 ness is but as a momentary dream. I felt, at one time, that 
 I would hardly cross the ocean again, even to revisit my 
 beloved home. Yet its effects are so soon forgotten, that 
 even now I am not greatly dreading our next voyage. 
 
 " November 15. We have been this afternoon to take 
 leave of our friends of the Brig George, which was an 
 event of deep interest to us. All on board exhibited feel- 
 ings of kind regard. It is a little singular that an American 
 crew, with its officers, amounting to eleven souls only, should 
 speak seven languages ; viz. the Finnish, Danish, Swedish, 
 German, French, Italian, and English. We found all these 
 persons destitute of the word of God, except one of the 
 Danes ; who had a German Testament. We leave them 
 provided with Bibles, each one in his own tongue, except 
 the Finlander, who, happily, can read a little English. I 
 think we cannot for a moment doubt, that at least one of 
 the Bibles will save one soul ; and one soul outweighs a 
 world. The copy which is presented to the captain is a 
 large octavo, with references, from the British and Foreign 
 Bible Society ; a very handsome book. We each inscribed 
 our names in it ; and it was accompanied with a note from 
 Mr. Smith's pen, expressive of our gratitude for his kind 
 attentions, and our wish that we might have a happy meet- 
 ing in a better world. With them all I had a few serious 
 words, particularly with the first mate, on the subject of 
 profaneness. He received my reproof kindly, and acknowl- 
 edged that his conscience also frequently reproved him. 
 My own feelings quite overcame me, while bidding adieu to 
 those immortal beings, with whom, for eight weeks, we had 
 associated ; and to the flag of our happy, happy land. It 
 will be long ere we sail under her banner again ! And 
 alas ! long ere we see again a land so blessed. 
 
 " Oh ! how it makes the Christian's heart ache to behold
 
 160 MEMOIR OF 
 
 these poor Maltese. In Malta and Gozo, there are 123,000 
 inhabitants, most of them poor, ignorant, degraded beings, 
 such as you never beheld. Some of the most miserable of 
 our Indians will give you an idea of them, if you except 
 drunkenness ; which is, however, gaining upon them here. 
 Add to this an incessant jargon, which, with their ' cries,' 
 resembles more the inarticulate sounds of brutes than of 
 human beings. But it is more especially affecting to know, 
 that they are subject to the dominion of a tyrannical priest- 
 hood, who may be found at every corner. Yesterday, while 
 I was out, a procession was just entering St. Paul's church, 
 on their return from the administration of the Viaticum to 
 the dying, when numbers, old and young, through the streets 
 dropped upon their knees. Like Jeremiah I can say, ' Oh 
 that my head were waters ! ' 
 
 " Mr. Temple says he shall leave Malta, and the house in 
 which he has lived ten years, endeared to him also as the 
 scene of afflictions, with almost as much tender feeling as in 
 forsaking his country. The house is a large, airy building, 
 containing a chapel which serves also as a dining-room, and 
 the printing establishment. It is all of stone, within and 
 without, excepting the doors and window shutters. We 
 have for our use three small contiguous rooms, where are 
 our baskets, trunks, &.c. Upon these we turn a great iron 
 key, every time we leave our apartments. As I pass to and 
 from them, over these stone steps and floors, with a rusty 
 key in my hand, and ascend by a private stairway to the 
 terraced roof, in the gray of the morning, I sometimes 
 imagine myself the secluded inmate of some ruined castle ; 
 more especially when, from the promenade, I overlook these 
 ancient towers and battlements, founded in the chivalrous 
 days of the knights of old. 
 
 " But you will be more desirous to hear of your daughter's 
 health, than of the romance of her associations. I am happy 
 to say, that I am much better than I have been for months 
 before. The air and food of these regions seem favorable to 
 me thus far."
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 161 
 
 " MALTA, Nov. 17. 
 
 " Dear Mrs. Trumbull : It would have given me great 
 pleasure to have seen you and Mr. Trumbull before our de- 
 parture. Yet such demands had already been made upon 
 my tenderest sensibilities, that I almost dreaded, at the last, 
 a repetition of parting scenes ; and congratulated mysell that 
 my dearest friends were none of them present when we em- 
 barked. I am now quite relieved from those painful 
 emotions ; having left them, with my sea-sickness, in the 
 stormy Atlantic. My present composed and cheerful feel- 
 ings seem to compare with the easy motion of a vessel before 
 the wind, upon a smooth sea. I regard myself and my be- 
 loved friends as only in God's world, and composing one 
 family ; and all we have to do, is to serve him faithfully as 
 affectionate children ; and soon we shall be in our Father's 
 house on high. 
 
 " My whole heart thanks you and other kind friends, for 
 the praying circle which you formed. Be pleased to tell 
 them so from me, with my warmest Christian love. Pray 
 that we may be like our divine Master. In approaching 
 the harbor of VaJetta, we sailed along the northern side of 
 the island, directly by ' St. Paul's bay,' ' the place where 
 two seas met.' The Saturday evening that we lay in quaran- 
 tine, in selecting a portion of Scripture for investigation, ac- 
 cording to our usual practice, we chose the 27th of Acts ; and 
 when we came to the 26th verse, (' Howbeit we must be 
 cast upon a certain island,') all involuntarily paused. As 
 Mr. Smith has remarked, the Bible possesses more interest 
 in these regions, and a livelier meaning." 
 
 "MALTA, NOT. 18. 
 
 " My dear Brother and Sister : I think I never prized 
 your love and your prayers as I now do, though I have 
 ceased to indulge those painful emotions which followed our 
 separation. I am happy and well as I ever have been, and 
 perhaps more so. The novelty of every thing which I 
 behold in this ancient spot, interests me exceedingly; at the
 
 J62 MEMOIR OF 
 
 same time my heart bleeds for its desolations. The Church 
 Missionary, London, and Wesley an Societies, all have their 
 missionaries here, yet no access is obtained to the natives, if 
 we except one school under the care of the Methodists. 
 There are many hundreds of priests and monks, who are 
 always to be seen moving through the streets, their counte- 
 nances bearing none of the marks of pure, domestic joy. 
 They appear even more dissatisfied than ever, as their in- 
 fluence is diminishing. It is to be hoped that another gener- 
 ation will be permitted to think for themselves, unshackled 
 by Romanism." 
 
 " MALTA, Nov. 19. 
 
 "My dear Brother: I thought and spoke of you many 
 times while at sea, with tender commiseration, of the hard- 
 ships you must have endured in voyages which you took. 
 I made one descent into the forecastle, and was quite 
 willing to emerge from it. Yet when I saw the sailors sur- 
 rounding their beef and bread upon the deck, I thought 
 them happy. The despotic authority exercised at sea is 
 often alluded to with disapprobation ; but I am inclined to 
 think that in the present state of mankind it is necessary. 
 So much is at stake, that prompt obedience is all important, 
 and can only be secured by a severe penalty. A sleepy 
 watch or an unfaithful helmsman might cause the destruc- 
 tion of all on board. I always regard the man at the helm 
 with feelings amounting to sublimity. His fixed, silent at- 
 tention, with his eye now upon the compass, and now raised 
 towards the swelling canvass, reminds me of Him whose un- 
 erring wisdom and faithfulness are guiding through her 
 orbit, the planet on which we rest. 
 
 " Yesterday we received a call from Mr. and Mrs. 
 Brownell, missionaries of the Wesleyan Society, who 
 superintend a school of Maltese boys and girls. A few 
 of the natives have begged for Testaments. They are 
 an interesting people. They resemble our Indians ; and 
 the children in the streets, who are numerous indeed, re-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 163 
 
 mind me of my little flock at Mohegan, and call forth my 
 sympathy, from association. Some of the most respectable 
 youths of both sexes, are quite graceful and attractive. 
 The females have a peculiarly becoming dress, the most 
 conspicuous of which is a black silk mantle, thrown over 
 the head and reaching half^ way down the person. The 
 streets are filled with vagrants, and you cannot knock at 
 a door, without being assailed by some one asking your 
 charity for himself or for the souls in purgatory ; or go 
 into a shop, without having one or more at your elbow, ask- 
 ing to be employed in carrying home whatever you may 
 buy. It is painful to the feelings to appear so regardless 
 of them as is absolutely necessary. The city is so com- 
 pact, being only a mile in length, you would soon be rec- 
 ognized and very likely be followed by a mob whenever 
 you appeared, if you should allow your sympathies to be 
 called forth by their entreaties. Yesterday I passed along 
 the principal market place, through which I could scarcely 
 make my way ; all were crying at once their several com- 
 modities, and filling the street completely. The tongue of 
 the Maltese is his weapon, both offensive and defensive, ac- 
 companied by various gesticulations. He seldom resorts 
 to blows. The manners of the people are civil even to 
 servility." 
 
 "November 25. Yesterday morning, (Sabbath,) about 
 ten o'clock, two detachments of soldiers passed the house, 
 accompanied by bands of music, returning from the Chapel 
 service which is by a chaplain who preaches five sermons 
 every Lord's day, to the several regiments of the garrison. 
 The melody of the performance, which would have been 
 fine on any other day, was almost destroyed by association. 
 Had the seed of the gospel been dispensed in its simpli- 
 city, the birds of the air must have devoured it. 
 
 " This morning we rose between 4 and 5, and attended 
 Mass in the church of St. Dominic, who was the author 
 of the Inquisition. I had witnessed the same in our own
 
 164 MEMOIR OF 
 
 country ; but there I regarded it as only an error that was 
 in an incipient state. Here this absurd religion, with few 
 exceptions, is the religion of all; and as I entered the 
 dimly-lighted spot, and remained there nearly an hour, a 
 succession of varied feelings pervaded my rnind. The 
 first, was' a rush of excited sensibility, causing my eyes to 
 overflow ; the next, of indignation towards the priests at 
 the several altars, whose mummeries were purchased with 
 the money of people kneeling promiscuously upon the cold 
 stone floor, with nothing to support their persons, and who 
 were chanting their prayers in the Latin tongue. Directly 
 behind us, one old man was repeating his paters and aves 
 with the Rosary. But the last and strongest feeling which 
 I had, was that of compassion ; and as I passed a row of 
 kneeling women, wrapped in their black mantles, I could 
 hardly refrain from stretching forth my hands to them, as 
 I mentally exclaimed, ' Precious sisters ! let me lead you 
 to my Saviour, who is all sufficient, not only to save but to 
 purify.' But alas ! it is not for me to break their chains. 
 Yet I can and did once, if no more, plead earnestly to 
 God for them. How did my whole soul most gratefully 
 rejoice before the mercy seat, that I had from infancy been 
 taught to know the one Mediator ! Dear friends ! this 
 subject has not been too highly colored in the representa- 
 tions of those who have returned to tell our happy country- 
 men the sad tale of abominations in Satan's own seat. 
 The eyes affect the heart, and no descriptions can make 
 you feel as you would do, were you to be in the midst 
 of them. God forbid that dear America should become 
 a victim too ! Could her favored children realize how 
 small a portion of the work of evangelizing the nations 
 has been done, and that the great adversary is still the 
 god of this world, they would indulge in no feelings of 
 self-complacency, or of mutual congratulation at the ' great 
 things' now in progress. There is encouragement enough 
 to animate them in going forward, but it must be in ' the 
 patience of hope.'
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 165 
 
 "December 7. About 4 o'clock this afternoon, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Temple, Mr. and Mrs. Hallock, and Bishop Carabet, 
 with their families, bade a final adieu to Malta. It has been 
 a day of bustle and of interest. Just before they left, I 
 stepped in to bid Mrs. Carabet and the family good bye. 
 The bishop was in the cellar, arranging something, and I 
 went down to see him. I said to him, ' God bless you ; may 
 we meet in heaven.' He lifted up his hands and eyes, and 
 said, 'Jesus Christ!' He can speak but a few words of 
 English, and this expression was very precious. After this, 
 they came over to Mr. T.'s, and we knelt together in our 
 apartment, while Mr. Smith made a parting prayer. Then 
 all left for the ship, but myself. I locked the doors, and 
 remained alone in that large and desolate house until my 
 husband came back. I was never happier ; yet I thought 
 of you all, as my footsteps reverberated among those lonely 
 walls, 4,000 miles from my home. The door was surrounded 
 with beggars, who were rapping incessantly ; but I heeded 
 them not." 
 
 "MALTA, Nov. 29. 
 
 " 1 often think, my dear cousin, how your heart would 
 be affected by what I see and hear in this dark but inter- 
 esting portion of the world. Could we hold spiritual in- 
 tercourse, how would I each day convey to your quiet 
 chamber some affecting tale from this land of death, 
 which would give energy to the prayers which you delight 
 to offer before the mercy seat ! You can form no adequate 
 conception ojf the difference which exists between our own 
 country and this. The natural dissimilarity is as great as 
 possible ; but the moral still more so. When Mr. Temple 
 landed upon the shores of America, four years ago, he 
 thought he had reached the land of integrity and upright- 
 ness. 
 
 " Dec. 2. Mr. Temple says he retains more vivid and 
 delightful impressions of his visit to Norwich, than of any
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 place in America. I have not failed to inform him how 
 much influence he had in making me a missionary; and 
 have thought it quite singular that I should, in the outset 
 of my missionary life, be thrown so directly and intimately 
 into the bosom of his family, and should find my husband 
 regarded so much like a brother by them. How little did I 
 foresee this, when borne down by the truths of Mr. Temple's 
 appeals, four years ago ! How affecting it is to trace the 
 leadings of Providence ! 
 
 " A few days since, I visited the House of Refuge. It 
 is a flourishing institution, embracing 250 girls, all of whom 
 looked cheerful and well, as they were industriously em- 
 ployed in every variety of work. I was delighted with 
 every thing I saw, till I entered the chapel, where I unex- 
 pectedly beheld at one end, pictures, crucifixes, confes- 
 sionals, and all the apparatus of Romanism. My heart 
 sickened at the sight ; for if this error retain its influence 
 over men, eternity, with its dread realities, must dissipate all 
 that is fair and beautiful on earth. It is not uncharitable 
 to assert, that the religion of these countries is bad. It is 
 most justly described in the 5th verse of the 17th chapter 
 of Revelation. Those few expressive words portray the 
 whole system. The benevolence of the gospel which 
 mourns over the woes of a deluded people, leads us to 
 anticipate the fulfilment of the denunciation contained in 
 the 10th verse of the next chapter 'Alas! alas! that 
 great city Babylon, that mighty city ! for in one hour is thy 
 judgment come.' The preparatory steps, however, will be 
 long and tedious. The work which missions have to ac- 
 complish in these countries, is far more formidable than 
 among pagans ; therefore the church at home must not be 
 disappointed if but little success attends our labors for a 
 long time. Yet let her keep hold of the unfailing assurance 
 alluded to above ' in one hour is thy judgment come.' 
 
 "December 4. One of the most interesting places 
 which I have visited in Malta, is the palace of the Gov-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. JU7 
 
 ernor. After viewing the tapestry room, the hangings of 
 which are exquisitely wrought, we entered the armory, the 
 walls of which are covered with the rusty armor of the 
 ancient Knights, who formerly inhabited the island suits 
 of which were brought from Rhodes. Some stand erect, 
 at various distances from each other, through the centre 
 of the apartment. It required no wayward imagination, 
 amid such a scene, to carry one back to the days of the 
 crusades, and to converse with the dead of past ages, who 
 seemed as it were to surround us. As I looked upon those 
 semblances of human beings, the questions arose involun- 
 tarily in my mind ' What were the thoughts which found 
 a receptacle in the head that was pressed by that helmet? ' 
 ' What were the feelings that fluttered in the heart which 
 beat beneath that breastplate ? ' ' Where is the immortal 
 spirit of him whose weapon fell powerless against that im- 
 penetrable shield 1 ' Religion and martial glory were the 
 exciting causes of their prowess. All this has passed away 
 as a dream of the morning; and somewhere in the invisible 
 world, the beings who animated these panoplies are now in 
 existence. My heart said, ' Where ? ' and the walls seemed 
 to echo, ' Where ? ' Their religion is a sad inheritance to 
 these islanders ; their military genius has given them renown 
 in the fortification of this isolated rock ; but, forbidden by 
 the rules of their order the pure delights of domestic joy, 
 no posterity exists to speak with filial admiration of their 
 ancient glory. Inanimate bulwarks and mute images of 
 stone, are all thft remain of the far-famed ' Knights of 
 Malta ! ' Alas ! though Satan may bestow upon his subjects 
 ' the kingdoms of this world and all the glory of them/ it 13 
 but a poor reward. 
 
 " Dec. 8, Sabbath. Pray for us, my dear parents, that 
 our obedience and love may flow together in honor of Him 
 who has called us to a service for which we feel inadequate. 
 We desire to be more holy and devoted to our great work. 
 We are entirely happy in our calling, and would not ex- 
 change it for any other. We ask for nothing but hearts
 
 168 MEMOIR OF 
 
 warm with that benevolence which sustained our blessed 
 Master in these regions, where 
 
 ' He labored, and languished, and bled.' 
 
 "May God bless you, this night, my honored parents. 
 It is 9 o'clock here, and I leave you for my bed. You are 
 probably now listening to an afternoon discourse; though 
 perhaps the snow and cold keep dear mother at home. 
 
 " Dec. 10th. Mr. Schlienz, who superintends a mission 
 press here, has been showing us some first lessons in draw- 
 ing ; and Mr. Smith has just remarked, that I had better 
 inform my friends at home, that a knowledge of this art is 
 an important qualification for a missionary. To this I may 
 add, that missionaries coming to the Mediterranean, need 
 not lay aside any personal accomplishments or graces with 
 the expectation of their being useless here. It is far other- 
 wise. Externals have an important place in the regard of 
 the inhabitants of these countries, and hospitality and 
 politeness are very essential. The sincerity of plain 
 American manners, falls far short of the suavity demanded 
 by the habits of the East. I feel quite deficient in Malta ; 
 and in Turkey I must multiply my salams still more." 
 
 "ALEXANDRIA, DEC. 26. 
 
 " My dear Parents : Having reached the territory of 
 Mohammed Ali, I seat myself to give you a recital of our 
 adventures since I closed my journal at Malta. After the 
 first twenty-four hours, every vestige of sea-sickness left 
 me, and returned not again during the passage, though we 
 were exposed to incessant tossing. The fatigue and anxiety 
 of our embarkation, together with a cold, threw my husband 
 into a fever. I then became nurse in my turn. Our ser- 
 vant Ahmed proved an invaluable auxiliary to us. Without 
 him we should have suffered for necessary attentions. He 
 was devoted to our interests, and fought his way, with 
 determined perseverance and dignity, through all the abuse 
 which the Maltese ever bestow upon a Mohammedan. He
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 169 
 
 is a tall, erect Arab, with eyes deeply set, which shoot forth 
 the most penetrating glances in a direct line. He wears 
 the loose Turkish trousers ; and a red cap, surmounted 
 with a long, rich, blue silk tassel, in fashion like one upon 
 the head of a figure in my picture of Anthony and Cleo- 
 patra, which now, as formerly, is the Egyptian official cap. 
 A sliding door in our state-room, which opened upon the 
 ' companion-way,' sufficiently to admit air, and sometimes 
 our food, obliged us to see and hear almost every thing 
 which took place between the servants and the steward. 
 We were often not a little amused with what transpired 
 behind the scenes. We furnished Ahmed with a towel, 
 upon which to wipe our utensils; while the others, relying 
 upon the accommodations of a Maltese vessel, were put to 
 such extremities, as to use our servant's shawl and stockings 
 
 * o 
 
 for a like purpose. This superior appendage of a brown 
 towel, made him quite an object of envy, and they tried to 
 beg it from him. 
 
 " I studied a little Arabic and Italian, and read aloud 
 almost every day, though sometimes the foot of a person 
 on deck, or a rope, resting upon our sky-light, would cause 
 me to stop in the middle of a sentence, and wait patiently 
 for the return of the light. A fine wind bore us rapidly 
 forward, and in six days we saw the coast of Egypt. It 
 was towards evening that land was discovered, and as the 
 harbor of Alexandria, in consequence of shoals of rocks, 
 is difficult to navigate, the captain beat off to sea that night, 
 with the prospect of a safe entrance in the morning, while 
 we were all animated with the same expectation. But sad 
 to relate, we had gone beyond our destined haven, and had 
 now a head wind to carry us thither. This was Thursday, 
 and for the six following days, we did nothing but get a 
 sight of land towards evening, just in time to beat off again 
 at night ! We felt ourselves to be in a trying situation. 
 And it seemed as if ' patience would have her perfect work.' 
 In consequence of the situation of our berth, whenever they 
 tacked ship, we were obliged to change the position of pur 
 
 Smith. o
 
 170 MEMOIR OF 
 
 heads from one end to the other, and the last night we did 
 this five times. We summoned all our resolution, however, 
 and I believe were not left to murmur against Providence, 
 as we felt assured that our times were in the hand of our 
 heavenly Father, who had thus far fulfilled all our desires. 
 Yet we thought it proper to have an especial season of 
 prayer for deliverance from our present perplexities, as we 
 knew that our only hope was in God. A storm might over- 
 take us, or our food might fail, and the captain was 
 ignorant, timid, and unprincipled. It was on the 24th, the 
 day previous to our release, that we called mightily upon 
 God, for his gracious interposition. 
 
 " On Christinas morning, the air was serene and mild, 
 the bright rays of a genial sun illumined the blue waters 
 of the Mediterranean, and after a pleasant sail of a few 
 hours, the outlines of the coast again met our eye ; while 
 the shipping of the port, and ' Pompey's pillar' rising 
 directly above, terminated the long disquietude of ' hope 
 deferred.' At one o'clock we cast anchor in the harbor 
 of Alexandria ; and in an hour or two after, I stood upon 
 the shore of this ancient land, where Moses dwelt for 
 many years, and where the infant Saviour found a tem- 
 porary abode. 
 
 "Dec. 27. You are not aware how constantly I bear 
 you in mind, wherever I am, and whatever I behold, as my 
 
 ' Winged thoughts that flit to you, 
 A thousand in an hour,' 
 
 will testify. Particularly when I find any thing that is grati- 
 fying to a virtuoso, does dear mother's antiquarian and 
 classical spirit hover around me ; and I cannot help wish- 
 ing that she was with me, or at least that I could sit 
 down with her in the evening, and recount to her listen- 
 ing ear my adventures. 
 
 " This day, Friday, is the Sabbath of the Mohammedan. 
 Under our sleeping apartment, is a bazar of the Bedaween 
 Arabs. This morning at day-break, just as the cry of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 171 
 
 the Muezzins was heard from the minarets of the several 
 mosques, calling the devotees of the Prophet to the wor- 
 ship of Allah which is repeated five times each day 
 the voice of one near us met our ears ; which continued 
 for nearly an hour, and probably proceeded from a Beda- 
 wy. While I pitied the poor deluded votary, I felt reproved 
 by his self-denying fervor. I remarked to Mr. Smith, that 
 when we look at the triumphs of this false religion, we 
 cannot fail of being forcibly impressed with the influence 
 which only one individual may acquire over his fellow- 
 beings. Had the missionary but half the zeal for God, 
 which Mohammed exhibited for himself, with the aid of 
 the Holy Spirit what might he not accomplish? 
 
 "We went to the spot where Parsons was buried, .over 
 which a marble slab, with an inscription, had been placed 
 by our missionaries, when Mr. Smith was here seven years 
 ago. No vestige remains of it, however. They conducted 
 us to an enclosure, with the pretence of showing us his 
 tomb ; but it was not there. The Superior, who had been 
 in the convent four years, could tell us nothing of it ; and 
 we were obliged to leave, with the melancholy impression 
 that his remains had met the fate of many others, whose 
 bodies were left to repose among them. It seems that 
 until lately the Protestants in Alexandria have had no 
 place of burial, and the monks have found it for their 
 interest to disinter the dead, and after throwing the relics 
 aside into a charnel-house, dispose of the same spot to 
 new purchasers. How different the treatment which Abra- 
 ham received from the children of Heth ! 
 
 "Dec. 30. Alas! my spirit sighs for the quiet of a 
 Christian Sabbath. Pray for us, that in the midst of such 
 unfavorable circumstances, we may not ourselves lose the 
 impression of its sanctity. This is not an idle fear, when 
 we reflect upon the moral as well as natural pliability of 
 the constitution of man. I love to think of your privileges 
 and enjoyments, on these holy days; and I pray that you 
 may improve them as you would do, could you behold mine.
 
 172 ". MEMOIR OF 
 
 " What a blessing, my dear parents, is the throne of grace 
 to us, in our separation ! Sometimes I realize it more 
 than at others. This morning I felt as if distance were 
 annihilated; and in commending you to God for the day, 
 when it should dawn upon you, six hours and a half after, 
 I almost imagined myself among you. I have great reason 
 to be grateful that I am so well and cheerful in this remote 
 land. Although you are ever in my thoughts, I have none 
 of those painful longings which depress the spirits. I 
 enjoy every thing, food, air, exercise, sleep, reading, 
 writing, &/c. 
 
 "Evening. Mr. Smith and I took a walk at sunset, 
 the air being mild, and the clouds brilliant. The foliage 
 of the distant grove of palm trees gave surpassing beauty to 
 the scene. Unlike other trees, when viewed from a dis- 
 tance, their outline is distinct but graceful. Pompey's 
 pillar, in its simple beauty, rose behind these elegant 
 clusters. We stood upon a slight elevation, just as the 
 sun dipped his last lines below the horizon ; when a dis- 
 charge of small guns, from the fleet in the harbor, was 
 heard, followed by the evening tattoo. Immediately we 
 perceived the flags of the minarets hoisted, and from a 
 small door on the south side towards Mecca, which opens 
 into a gallery near the top, appeared the criers, whose voices 
 we distinctly heard, as they resounded through the soft air 
 of an Egyptian evening. The whole scene was impressive, 
 yet affecting ; while the contrast which was presented by 
 the works of creation, and the moral darkness around us, 
 brought forcibly to our minds those lines of Heber 
 
 ' Though every prospect pleases, 
 And only man is vile.' 
 
 'Tf V . v. . . ' ^ 
 
 "As we stood gazing upon the objects before us, we 
 spoke of you, and thought you would like to know where 
 we were closing this eventful year. We talked of its inter- 
 esting features, alluding to the fact that one year ago toe 
 had never met.
 
 MRS. SARAH L,. SMITH. 173 
 
 " Jan. 1, 1834. In the afternoon we went to the Greek 
 convent. Mr. Bird had requested that some inquiries 
 should be made there, preparatory to the erection of a slab 
 to the memory of Parsons, whose remains and monument, 
 I have told you, had been removed. A part of us remained 
 in the garden, while Mr. Gliddon and Mr. Smith, with a 
 Greek merchant for a dragoman, (interpreter,) had an 
 interview with the Superior; who says he must apply to 
 the Patriarch at Cairo, before any thing can be done. 
 Should his ashes remain undiscovered by man, angels will 
 watch over them ; and with sublimer feelings, we may apply 
 to him the lines, originally descriptive of an event widely 
 different in its character, 
 
 ' We carved not a line, we raised not a stone, 
 But we left him alone in his glory.' 
 
 " Our visit to Alexandria has been one of much interest 
 and pleasure. The weather has been favorable; the streets, 
 which are usually muddy at this season, have been dry, and 
 we have found kind and attentive friends. I felt at home 
 immediately, at Mr. Gliddon's. When describing the char- 
 acteristics of these countries, I have thought, my dear 
 parents, that you might suppose I was drawing a dark 
 picture ; too dark, perhaps. My husband says, that to 
 avoid such an impression being made by his sermons in 
 America, he modified some of his details in preparing them 
 for the press. But having returned to these scenes of 
 wretchedness, he thinks he ought to have placed them in 
 a stronger light. What else but evil can be told of the 
 undisputed dominions of the enemy of God ? How forcible 
 is the language of that declaration of Scripture, in its appli- 
 cation to this people * They are al gone out of the way ; 
 there is none that doeth good no, NOT ONE.' 
 
 " We have made some efforts in the cause of temperance, 
 by conversation and the distribution of publications among 
 the English. May its influence be more widely felt in our 
 mother country, and her dependencies. Will you pray for
 
 174 MEMOIK OF 
 
 such a result, as her sons and daughters are scattered over 
 the whole world 1 Although we have found many very kind 
 friends in these countries, but three only have been Ameri- 
 cans ; Mr. and Mrs. Temple, and Mr. Hallock. My regard 
 for England has increased by my intercourse with her 
 children. Though many of their habits and feelings are 
 different from ours, yet, when cast together among a people 
 of strange language, there are feelings of sympathy existing 
 between us, showing that we have had one origin. 
 
 "Jan. 5. This morning Mr. Smith preached in the 
 English chapel to a congregation not exceeding fifteen. 
 Upon returning to our lodgings, we read together a delight- 
 ful sermon of Dr. Chalmers, and sung a hymn. In the 
 afternoon we studied together the 2d chapter of Isaiah. 
 Before dark we stepped into Mr. Gliddon's, agreeably to 
 their request, for devotional exercises ; and after a cup of 
 tea, we had prayer and singing, accompanied by a familiar 
 exposition of the 4th chapter of Acts, by Mr. Smith. Pre- 
 vious to this, I gave Mrs. G. and her daughter some 
 account of the revival of religion in Norwich, four or five 
 years since. Scenes like that are entirely unknown to most 
 English people. To-morrow evening, we go there again 
 to hold the monthly concert, which has never been estab- 
 lished in Alexandria. 
 
 " I have been reading, in the Missionary Herald for 
 September, an article entitled ' Reforms effected by the 
 Pasha of Egypt,' which gives quite too flattering an exhi- 
 bition of his character and plans. His own aggrandizement, 
 and not the welfare of his subjects, is the pivot upon which 
 all his efforts turn. I have not heard a word in his favor 
 since I came into Egypt. It is true he exercises a more 
 liberal policy in reference to other nations, than is usual 
 among Moslems ; but he contrives to make all his plans 
 so subordinate to his personal ambition, that no real benefit 
 accrues to his people. He is not a rigid Mohammedan, 
 though far removed from the religion of the Bible. That 
 wise Ruler of mankind, who has all events under his control,
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 175 
 
 may, and doubtless will, bring light out of darkness, even 
 here ; but ' his path is in the deep waters/ and his counsels 
 are as yet hidden from our view. When next you kneel at 
 the family altar, dear father, will you pray for Egypt? 
 
 " How precious is the word of God to us in this moral 
 desert, on these Mediterranean shores! It is like the 
 stream which followed the Israelites in their wanderings 
 through the wilderness. With you, it spreads abroad, as 
 a wide ocean, bearing all upon its bosom. May the abun- 
 dant supply with which you are favored, have no effect to 
 lessen its value in your eyes, or lead you to be unmindful 
 of those who are thirsting for its refreshment. At this 
 hour, which is half past nine with us, thousands of my 
 countrymen are enjoying the privileges of the sanctuary. 
 Would that I possessed the assurance that not a heart 
 forgets the perishing millions in the Eastern world, whose 
 Sabbaths are any thing but scenes of peace and joy. You, 
 and the dear church of which I am still a member, are 
 without doubt soon to surround the sacramental board. I 
 can bring vividly before my imagination the appearance of 
 that precious flock, among whom I have so often sat, and 
 where now, ' had I the wings of a dove,' I would soon be 
 found. Yet I would surely fly back again, to bear to 
 this land of famine some of the crumbs which fall from 
 your table. 
 
 " How necessary is it that missionaries should each day 
 ask for the benevolence of Christ Jesus, when they are so 
 exposed to encounter objects which excite their disgust! 
 To this end I ask your prayers." 
 
 " ALEXANDRIA, JAN. 4, 1834. 
 
 " Dear Brother and Sister : Since our affecting farewell 
 interview on board the brig George, you have scarcely been 
 from my mind a single day ; and I have taken great satisfac- 
 tion in commending you and your children, and the inter- 
 esting flock in your house, to our covenant God. The
 
 176' MEMOIR OF 
 
 paternal regard which you have cherished for my husband, 
 from his early youth, gives you a twofold claim to my 
 affection and gratitude, to say nothing of that sympathy 
 towards me, which has excited in my own breast the con- 
 fidence of a sister toward you. Wherever you reside, I 
 trust God is your tabernacle ; and that light arid peace are 
 in all your paths. Your children will not be permitted to 
 forget us, while they are tenderly remembered by their 
 uncle and aunt, far away beyond the wide ocean. 
 
 " ' Egyptian darkness,' not. natural, but spiritual, broods 
 over this land; and we are ready to exclaim, ' How long, 
 O Lord, how long?' Nothing but hard, self-denying labor, 
 on the part of evangelized nations, will overthrow the 
 kingdom of Satan as it now exists in the world. Feeble 
 prayers, and trifling efforts, will do nothing effectual. The 
 struggle will be long and arduous; and who among our 
 favored countrymen stand ready to encounter it, both at 
 home and at the" out-posts, and to die in the warfare ; leav- 
 ing others, who may come after them, to enjoy the triumphs 
 of victory? Such as are ready to work for God as they 
 work for themselves, and such only, are worthy to enter 
 the lists. 
 
 " Our classical associations have been gratified by our 
 visit to this land, once the seat of science and art; the 
 relics of whose grandeur tell us what it has been. As we 
 expect to live under the same government, it has been well 
 for us to visit the dominions of the Pasha." 
 
 To a young lady of the family of the Consul at Alexan- 
 dria, in which Mr. and Mrs. Smith had been kindly enter-- 
 tained, during their visit to that city, she addressed a part- 
 ing note. 
 
 "ALEXANDRIA, JAN. 10, 1834. 
 
 "Dear Miss Gliddon': In requesting your acceptance 
 of a small copy of the New Testament, as a little memento 
 of my regard, permit me to express my gratitude for your
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 177 
 
 kind attentions, and my interest for your future happiness, 
 not only here, but in a world far more worthy of your 
 regard. 
 
 " It would have given me pleasure to have learned 
 from yourself, whether the high destiny of an immortal 
 being is the supreme object of your pursuit, had circum- 
 stances favored, so confidential an interview. With the 
 impression, however, that notwithstanding a uniform re- 
 spect for sacred things which you ever discover, you have 
 not fully formed the decision so essential to your safety and 
 happiness, will you allow me, at parting, to leave with you a 
 word of affectionate advice ? 
 
 " Having just passed through those years of interest and 
 temptation upon which you have more recently entered, I 
 can readily appreciate the views which at such a period 
 animate the breast, and will venture to inform you of that 
 which my own experience has taught me. It is the alluring 
 appearance of worldly enjoyment that withdraws the heart 
 from its Maker; and let me assure you, my dear friend, that 
 it is not worth our efforts. I have tried its value, and can 
 testify that it can never fill an immortal mind, or satisfy an 
 ardent soul. I knew nothing of happiness until I found it in 
 a unison of my own with the Eternal Mind ; and this was 
 the result of a free, unreserved, and rational surrender of 
 my whole heart to that Saviour whose atonement claimed 
 my earliest love and most untiring service. 
 
 "To this gracious Master, dear Miss Gliddon, permit me 
 to direct your eye, and to urge you, without any longer 
 delay, to devote ' the dew of your youth.' Let the surren- 
 der be immediate and complete, though it may require an 
 effort. A ' pearl ' so valuable as that which Jehovah offers, is 
 not unworthy the energies of our entire being, and nothing 
 but an earnest effort will secure it. Wait for nothing more 
 on the part of God ; he waits for you. The present is a 
 golden period. 
 
 " I pray that you may give, not the mere siftings of life to 
 Him who deserves more than you can bestow, but, with 
 
 8*
 
 178 MEMOIR OF 
 
 generous purpose, devote the best of all you possess to a 
 service which death cannot interrupt. 
 
 " With the highest sense of obligation for the attentions 
 bestowed by your family, I remain very sincerely yours." 
 
 "BEYROOT, FEB. 5. 
 
 "Dear Mrs. Temple : It gives me the highest pleasure 
 to be permitted the privilege of addressing you from this 
 spot, so full of interest, after our wanderings over the great 
 and wide sea. From Mr. Smith's letter to your excellent 
 husband, you learned respecting our safe arrival at Alexan- 
 dria; and that, after making the coast of Egypt in seven 
 days, we were, through the negligence and ignorance of our 
 captain, beating about upon the sea seven days more, before 
 the land-marks of our desired haven were sufficiently denned 
 to attract him thither ! The time which we spent in Alex- 
 andria, furnished us leisure for writing, and for satisfactory 
 intercourse with the kind family of our Consul. Our hearts 
 melted in view of the miserable condition of the oppressed 
 subjects of Mohammed Ali, among whom some faithful 
 missionaries, besides those already employed there, ought 
 to be located. 
 
 " On the 15th of January we sailed for Beyroot, in an Aus- 
 trian trabacolo. On the 20th we planted our feet upon these 
 sacred shores, and soon forgot all the troubles of the way, 
 which had mingled with the mercies of eighteen weeks 
 the interval that had elapsed since we left our native land." 
 
 To one of the family at Alexandria, where they had been 
 entertained, she gives a short account of their voyage. 
 
 " Our accommodations on board the Pomo, so far as space 
 and neatness were concerned, quite exceeded those of the 
 Grande Bretagne. Our renowned captain was very obliging 
 and sober, until we came within sight of Cyprus, when he 
 availed himself of a storm to put into port; and there he 
 kept us six days. He spent the time on shore, himself,
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 179 
 
 wholly given up to his cups, which explained, to our satis- 
 faction, the strong attachment to the shore, for which he is 
 so remarkable. Day after day, as we remained shut up in 
 that little tossing trabacolo, he deluded us with the promise 
 of returning and putting out to sea ; but the jolly-boat con- 
 tinued to appear without him ; till it seemed as if ' patience ' 
 would ' have her perfect work ' with us. On one day only 
 we went on shore, to get a little exercise by walking through 
 the muddy streets of Larnica. 
 
 " The morning of the second Monday after leaving you, 
 was bright and beautiful ; and while yet seventy miles from 
 Syria, the outline of Mount Lebanon was perceptible, even 
 before the far famed Venus-isle had faded from our sight. 
 As we approached our destined shore, the glory of Lebanon, 
 in all its magnificence, and the beauty of this interesting 
 city, more than compensated for all our perplexities."
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ENTRANCE ON MISSIONARY LABORS INTEREST IN THE 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOOL HABITS AND MANNERS 
 
 OF THE INHABITANTS EXPERIENCE ON MISSIONARY 
 
 GROUND MONTHLY CONCERT STUDIES ILLUSTRA- 
 TIONS OF SCRIPTURE. 
 
 WE now find Mrs. Smith in her appointed field of mis- 
 sionary service, and entering, with all her heart, into the 
 interesting scenes and circumstances of that land which she 
 had so much desired to see. As she has been, so she will 
 continue to be found the best historian of her own course 
 of life and labors. In this capacity she will appear, com- 
 mencing with the first letter to her parents, after arriving at 
 her station. 
 
 " BIYROOT, FEB. 5, 1834. 
 
 "After so long a time, my dear parents, I am permitted 
 to address you from this interesting land, around which, I 
 doubt not, your thoughts have already hovered, while you 
 have imagined it to be the dwelling-place of your children. 
 On the 28th of January, a day of uncommon beauty, we 
 approached our destined home. I can hardly convey to 
 you the feelings which pervaded my breast, as I looked 
 upon it. The bird's-eye view of Beyroot, at the foot of 
 that far famed Lebanon, which is truly a ' goodly moun- 
 tain,' riveted every affection of my heart, while its beauties 
 commanded my attention. Mr. Smith had left undescribed 
 its natural features, leaving me to form my own impressions; 
 and he remarked that even to himself it appeared more 
 lovely than he before imagined. 
 
 190
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 181 
 
 " It occupies the northern side of a cape, called the 
 ' Cape .of Beyroot.' The city itself, which is enclosed by 
 a wall, is small, and not particularly attractive or repulsive ; 
 but the environs, where the missionary house stands, and 
 which occupies an extent of country several times larger 
 than the city, present an enchanting prospect, even at this 
 season of the year. The ground rises gently towards the 
 south, and is covered with an uninterrupted succession of 
 gardens, separated by hedge-rows of the cactus, or prickly 
 pear, and filled with mulberry trees, trained to a low growth. 
 These are now stripped of their verdure ; but the sycamore, 
 the kharoob, and here and there a palm and cypress, diver- 
 sify the landscape, while innumerable almond trees, in full 
 blossom, enliven the scene, and place its beauties beyond 
 description. The houses, which are of a bright yellow, 
 tinged with brown, and unique in their appearance, are 
 scattered at equal distances over the gardens ; and are per- 
 haps as contiguous to each other as yours and Mr. C.'s. 
 Some of the terraces of the houses are surmounted with 
 low pointed columns, designed for the frame-work of an 
 .awning ; which give them a picturesque aspect, when 
 viewed at a distance. Mount Lebanon, in all its grandeur, 
 stretches from north to south ; while the snowy ridges of 
 its lofty eminences, and the numerous villages which occupy 
 its declivities, give additional interest to the ever-varying 
 appearance of its scenery. Among these villages, the one 
 in which Asaad Shidiak lived and suffered, is distinctly 
 perceptible from the neighboring terrace of an Armenian 
 friend, Yacob Aga. It seems as if my eye would never 
 tire in admiring the scene which is spread out before me. 
 I can truly say, that Beyroot pleases me more than any spot 
 which I ever saw, my own dear native town not excepted. 
 ' There are no vicissitudes for the eternal beauties of 
 nature,' said Madame de Genlis, when she revisited Ver- 
 sailles, after those revolutions which had overthrown palaces, 
 marble columns, and statues of bronze. So have I often 
 thought, since I came into Syria, which still retains those
 
 182 MEMOIR OF 
 
 characteristics of ' the promised land,' that rendered it so 
 attractive to the Israelites. 
 
 " We were most cordially welcomed by our friends, who 
 seem quite happy and devoted to their work. This brings 
 me to the moral aspect of the mission, which, though 
 mentioned last, is not, I trust, last in my heart. I think I 
 may say it is encouraging, much more so than either of us 
 expected. We feel that a wide door of usefulness is open- 
 ing before us, which will demand all our energies, and 
 even more. 
 
 " The Arabs are extremely free and social in their habits. 
 The trials of missionaries here, and perhaps in most Eastern 
 countries, are of a different character from those which are 
 imagined by friends at home. They are not so much per- 
 sonal privations as moral perplexities, arising from the 
 ignorance and deceit of a population destitute of that civil 
 and religious freedom, furnished only by the diffusion of 
 God's word. If our operations assume a more decided 
 cast, we know not but we shall yet have the ' persecutions ' 
 which are promised among the blessings of ' a hundred 
 fold/ to those who forsake home and country for Christ. 
 If, as his servants, we should be thus identified with our 
 Lord, may we have grace to endure this fellowship with 
 his sufferings. 
 
 " The language of the country furnishes the most for- 
 midable difficulty to surmount. Mr. Smith says that Mr. 
 Bird has become so familiar with it as to have as great a 
 choice of expressions as in speaking our own language. He 
 reads the Scriptures once a week to a congregation of beg- 
 gars, in his yard, after which he distributes bread to them. 
 When I saw him in the midst of about sixty, the morning 
 after our arrival, my thoughts immediately reverted to the 
 Saviour's ministrations. You can hardly imagine, though 
 you have often been informed of it, with what increased 
 interest the Scriptures may be perused in this country, 
 where they were written. I seem, in consequence of the 
 unchanged habits of these people, to enter directly in-to the
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 183 
 
 circumstances which are described in holy writ. The 
 best hours of every morning I devote to the Arabic, and 
 the first hours of every evening to Italian. I have already, 
 through necessity, attempted to stammer in both of these ; 
 and in the French likewise, with Mrs. Chasseaud, the wife 
 of our Consul. 
 
 " I continue to be happy in my new situation, and most 
 cheerfully adopt this country as my own, and hope to make 
 my grave here. My dear husband, for the first day or two, 
 was surrounded with old friends among the natives, who 
 welcomed his return with great joy. He feels as if he had 
 returned home. 
 
 " February 6. It is a most lovely morning, and we are 
 all occupied in preparing letters for America. My window 
 looks directly upon Lebanon ; and the summit of Jebel 
 Sunneen, its loftiest peak, 10,000 feet in height, is covered 
 with a brilliant mantle of snow. Would that you could 
 share with me the glorious prospect. But though we may 
 not mingle the expressions of our admiration here, ' there 
 is a land of pure delight,' where erelong we hope to be 
 reunited. Objects and interests more bright and conducive 
 to our happiness, will there unite our tastes and feelings, 
 and we will therefore think most of our heavenly home. 
 
 " April 2. On the 27th of March I had the privilege 
 and enjoyment of receiving letters from my beloved country, 
 among which were Nos. 1 and 2 from ray dear father. 
 These last, like diamonds among jewels, were selected and 
 read first. I will not attempt to inform you how much I 
 enjoyed in the reception of these tokens of affection, or 
 how grateful I felt to my kind friends from whom they 
 came. That page, my dear mother, from yourself, was not 
 the least valued, I assure you. It was so characteristic, it 
 brought you directly before me, and I had a more vivid 
 impression of your affection than I have before had since 
 we parted. I have thought of you a great deal, perhaps 
 more than you have imagined.
 
 184 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " Not only the important moral and political features of 
 this Eastern country are associated with the expansiveness 
 of your mind, but every landscape and every flower bring 
 you to remembrance. Especially when studying the 
 Arabic, your fondness for etymology is continually before 
 me ; and I think how much pleasure you would derive 
 from a language, every word of which can be traced to its 
 root. You have my constant prayers, and those of my 
 husband, and I doubt not that we and our work have yours. 
 I rejoice in your comfortable health, and in the kindness 
 of your friends, and in all your family blessings. I am still 
 with you in my dreams, and some of them are quite irrele- 
 vant to the calling of a missionary. 
 
 " I thank dear father for his precious letters, and am most 
 happy to hear that his health improves, and that he enjoys 
 the light of God's countenance. In this I am not disap- 
 pointed. In His house he will find that which is ' better 
 than sons and daughters. 3 Please to give my love to the 
 kind friends who meet with you for prayer, and tell them 
 that I thank them most warmly for their remembrance of 
 me. If there be a class of persons on earth who need the 
 prayers of all, it is that of missionaries. When hearing 
 Mr. Smith's farewell sermon, I thought that I felt the force 
 of his arguments, but now I know them to be true. Pray 
 most of all that we may abound in love towards those who 
 are around us. They are ignorant, deceitful, ungrateful, 
 and unwholesome ; and unless the Holy Spirit constantly 
 excites us to the exercise of the most disinterested benevo- 
 lence, we are in danger of despising them, and of exulting 
 in our own superiority. Familiarity with their wretched- 
 ness, also has a tendency to diminish that warmth of 
 sympathy with which we have been accustomed to regard 
 those who are destitute of the gospel. I often think, when 
 I am surrounded by these degraded women, ' Here are 
 the very persons over whom my heart so yearned, when I 
 was far away in my native land.'
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 185 
 
 " As I was walking, before breakfast, upon the terrace 
 of Mr. Bird's house, I saw a group of females who had 
 just returned from worshipping amid 
 
 1 the pomp that charms the eye, 
 
 And rites adorned with gold.' 
 
 There is almost a moral certainty that after these, my 
 sisters, have stepped beyond the boundaries of time, not 
 a ray of comfort will ever beam upon them, through the 
 endless duration of their existence. So overwhelming was 
 the impression of that moment, that I felt I could not live 
 long, should it continue. My husband joined me in my 
 walk just then, and we talked over these affecting truths; 
 and felt, as I hope we shall continue to do, that our very 
 existence should be identified with them. But to feel 
 and to act in view of these solemn truths, requires even 
 greater efforts here than with you. 1 used to think that 
 by a sort of magical influence, the heart would be kept 
 right on missionary ground; but I find it requires all my 
 diligence. 
 
 " The most cheering intelligence which my letters con- 
 tained, was the account of revivals in Andover and Ben- 
 nington, and some indefinite allusion to the prospect of the 
 same in Connecticut. I am more than ever convinced, 
 that upon America depends, at present, through God, the 
 prosperity of missions. Since coming to the Mediterranean, 
 Mr. Smith and myself have been led to think, that an en- 
 listment for life, as a general thing, is essential to the 
 permanence of this great enterprise. If I anticipated 
 returning in seven years, I should be thinking more about 
 that event, I fear, than I ought. Now I try to realize that 
 this is my horn* for life; that here are all my interests. 
 I do not wish to feel that I am a foreigner, but a denizen ; 
 and I hope to live, if it please God, to a good old age 
 among this people. 
 
 " Evening. I have a favorite walk near this, on the 
 sand which is washed upon the coast. Beyroot, you know,
 
 186 MEMOIR OF 
 
 is a cape, and of course much exposed to the wind from 
 the sea ; and I sometimes fear that as the sand from the 
 ocean gains gradually upon the gardens, it will eventually 
 make them a desert. You may imagine that this would 
 not furnish a very pleasant promenade ; but it is so solid 
 as to bear me upon its surface at this season of the year. 
 It is diversified also with a variety of flowers and sweet 
 scented herbs. I found to-day some most brilliant red 
 flowers, in form like a double tulip, and about half as 
 large; together with yellow and purple lupines. They are 
 now in a tumbler beside me. I wandered quite down to 
 the sea-side, perhaps a mile from the house, where I found 
 natural caverns and artificial excavations ; while the surf 
 rose probably thirty feet in the air. 
 
 " Although this land has greatly degenerated since the 
 days of that king who was a man after God's own heart ; 
 yet in some fine mornings, when all nature has seemed to 
 be smiling beneath the genial influence of this Eastern sky, 
 I could more than ever before unite with him in exclaim- 
 ing, ' Praise ye the Lord from the heavens ; praise him 
 in the heights ; mountains and all hills ; fruitful trees and 
 all cedars ; beasts and all cattle ; creeping things and 
 flying fowl.' 
 
 " Our school continues to prosper, and I love the children 
 exceedingly. Do pray that God will bless this incipient 
 step to enlighten the females of this country. You cannot 
 conceive of their deplorable ignorance. I feel it more 
 and more every day. Their energies are expended in 
 ' outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and gold and pearls 
 and costly array ; ' literally so. I close with one request, 
 that you will pray for a revival of religion in Beyroot. 
 It is now the centre of operations, and if the wide field 
 around us is to be cultivated, this spot must send forth 
 the laborers." 
 
 Mrs. Smith was desirous of enlisting the interest and 
 efforts of some one of her female friends in America, in
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 187 
 
 the instruction of native children at Beyroot. She had 
 found a kindred spirit before leaving this country, in one 
 who succeeded her in labors for the benefit of the Mohe- 
 gans. To this friend she addressed a letter, a few months 
 after her arrival at Beyroot, proposing that she should come 
 and join her in this enterprise ; and presenting an earnest 
 yet affectionate argument for her engagement in the mis- 
 sionary service. 
 
 Mrs. Smith had the satisfaction, a few months before 
 her final departure from Beyroot, of welcoming her friend, 
 as an associate in the delightful employment of teaching a 
 school of Arabian girls. 
 
 Of the habits and manners of the native inhabitants of 
 Beyroot, Mrs. Smith was observant, as one who was ac- 
 customed to study the condition of society ; and amidst 
 deep spiritual darkness, to note whatever was in the least 
 degree pleasant or favorable. 
 
 " The inhabitants are exceedingly social in their habits, 
 and courteous in their manners ; they seldom fail to greet 
 you in the street and elsewhere, with a smile and a com- 
 pliment. They have a great taste for flowers, which are 
 abundant. I am seldom without a nosegay, which has 
 been presented by a friend, scholar, or servant ; composed 
 of carnations, geraniums, roses, &c. The manners of all 
 are unusually graceful, and you will perhaps be surprised 
 when I say, that in consequence of their regard to etiquette, 
 this spot is quite a school of politeness." 
 
 In a letter to her sister, devoted to various topics, not 
 belonging in her journal, some passages occur which will be 
 in place at this stage of her history. 
 
 " You will wish to know in regard to my spirits. 1 
 am happy to say they have been very good ; and with 
 the exception of one deplorably sea-sick day upon the At- 
 lantic, I have experienced none of those heart-rending
 
 188 MEMOIR OF 
 
 feelings respecting what I had left, which I expected, 
 With the exception of that time, I have never for a mo- 
 ment wished myself in my native land. 
 
 ' Pleased 1 leave thee ; 
 Native land, farewell, farewell.' 
 
 " In regard to external appearance, I pay much the same 
 attention to it as at home, both during the week and on 
 the Sabbath. In Beyroot we have some English society, 
 and the etiquette of life must necessarily be preserved. 
 Indeed, those questions which I supposed would be forever 
 put to rest when I became a missionary, are even more 
 essential than ever; and temptations to pride and aris- 
 N -tocracy are increased. What degree of conformity to 
 style, and how much time may be conscientiously devoted 
 to household cares, on the part of missionaries, are ques- 
 tions that require to be prayerfully considered by us ; also 
 how far we may indulge ourselves in the comforts and 
 accommodations of life; for many are within our reach. 
 
 " The distinction between masters and servants here, 
 resembles that which exists in all old countries, more 
 than it does in America. The latter acknowledge the 
 name, and readily take the place, of menials; though a 
 kind of courtesy, even towards them, is demanded by the 
 genius of the people ; and if encouraged, they are very 
 free in. conversation. Their number can be multiplied with 
 comparatively trifling expense, and as much cleansing of 
 house and clothes obtained as is wished ; but all this must 
 be superintended, and much precious time consumed there- 
 by ; so that I have determined to keep as small an establish- 
 ment as possible. 
 
 " My trials here are not such as I anticipated, or probably 
 such as you imagined. I will endeavor to give you some 
 idea of their nature, though you cannot perhaps fully appre- 
 ciate them without experience ; at least some of them. In 
 the first place, there is a taking to pieces, if I may so speak, 
 of all former habits and associations, and modes of action
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 189 
 
 and the constructing of new, which shall be adapted to the 
 circumstances of a people totally diverse from those with 
 whom we have been educated. This demolition and re- 
 construction, gives one an opportunity to study his own 
 character and attainments, and to know, in some measure, 
 how much more he has been indebted to factitious circum- 
 stances than he had imagined ; and it is not a little calcu- 
 lated to produce humility and self-distrust. 
 
 " The difficulties and embarrassments of a new language, 
 are by no means small. The mortification of not under- 
 standing, and of not being understood and appreciated in 
 conversation, is a new trial ; and after the desultory habits 
 attendant upon a departure from one's country and voyages 
 by sea, it requires severe discipline to bring the mind to 
 study and close application. This unavoidable irregularity 
 operates unfavorably upon the spiritual feelings; interrupts 
 communion with the soul and with its Author; and renders 
 it necessary to ' keep the heart will all diligence.' 
 
 " There is nothing here to keep alive the religious sensi- 
 bilities in the way of excitement ; but every surrounding 
 circumstance has an opposite tendency. Particularly diffi- 
 cult is it for one who knows not the language, to preserve a 
 devoted zeal, as there are no opportunities for putting it 
 forth in action ; and while he daily sees multitudes who are 
 perishing, he is in danger of heeding it not, because he has 
 no power to help them. Moreover, the people are so social 
 and free, that unless a check is given them, every moment 
 of valuable time would be sacrificed. And this cannot be 
 done without appearing, not only to them, but to one's self, 
 deficient in that benevolence which swelled the breast in our 
 native land, and drew our feet hither. 
 
 " As a circle of missionaries, we are harmonious and 
 happy ; but to preserve this, it is necessary to be watchful 
 and courteous; and not make prominent one's own con- 
 cerns. Here too is nothing to excite, because there is a 
 sameness in all our circumstances; and perhaps it is more 
 difficult to exert an influence in a small circle, where all axe
 
 190 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ministers and ministers' wives. Mr. Smith says, that har- 
 mony has always characterized this mission ; and I pray that 
 it always may. 
 
 " Another thing which I might have mentioned in con- 
 nection with our benevolent feelings, or rather the inter- 
 ruption of them ; if the people were cleanly in their habits, 
 it would be more pleasant to have them about our persons. 
 I often think of the Saviour, surrounded as he was by a 
 multitude of the lower classes and you know his disciples 
 sometimes objected to this. Mr. Bird says, ' No doubt they 
 were just such dirty beings as we see all the time.' In 
 character and in taste, the females are like children ; would 
 that I could say, in comparative innocence also. 
 
 " I have suffered some alternations of feeling in my re- 
 ligious hopes since I left America ; which I believe is not 
 unusual with missionaries, before they have acquired the 
 language of the people to whom they go. I can enter feel- 
 ingly into St. Paul's opinion of himself, thus expressed, 
 though I have scarcely any of his zeal, ' I am not meet to 
 be called an apostle.' So sacred appears my calling, that 
 I feel wholly unfit to sustain it ; and I have not those clear 
 views of the Saviour's love that I wish. Perhaps when I am 
 able to speak of him to others, a livelier flame will be kin- 
 dled in my own breast. Pray much for me, dear sister." 
 
 A deep sense of personal responsibility is exhibited in the 
 following extract : 
 
 " This is the day of the Monthly Concert, and according 
 to the custom of this mission, a Fast also with us. It was a 
 solemn season. Dr. Dodge remarked, that in addition to 
 the guilt of the church as a body, for which we should 
 humble ourselves before God, our individual guilt called 
 for the deepest abasement. ' If,' said he, ' we had been 
 faithful servants of Christ from early childhood, how many 
 souls we might have aided in introducing into the kingdom 
 of heaven. We had each of us been more or less associated
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 191 
 
 with schools, academies, and colleges ; and how many of 
 our companions were now living in rebellion against their 
 Maker, or had already commenced their long lamentation 
 of wo, in the world of darkness, that might have been saved 
 through our efforts.' It was an overwhelming consideration 
 to us all ; and each heart feelingly, and with tears, responded 
 to the suggestion, that personal guilt, in reference to the 
 souls of men, rendered fasting an appropriate accompani- 
 ment to the duties of this interesting day. Since the meet- 
 ing closed, in the solitude of retirement, I have wept bitterly 
 at the remembrance of my own sins ; and in the light of 
 the truth which emanates from the pages of inspiration, my 
 heart seems now to be harder than the nether millstone. 
 Oh ! how we shall view this subject in eternity, when 
 worldly snares and associations cease their blinding in- 
 fluence ! 
 
 " Some parts of your letter affected me powerfully. The 
 scenes to which you allude of 1829 when so many of the 
 descendants of our venerated grand-parent were found sit- 
 ting at the fountain of salvation, from which he derived all 
 his support are indelibly imprinted upon my memory ; 
 but I knew not, until your letter informed me, that I was 
 in any measure instrumental in leading you to the foot of 
 the cross. Let all the glory be ascribed to Him who there 
 bled for you. I beg you will not regard me, as missionaries 
 are often regarded, too holy to need your prayers. Believe 
 me, dear Hannah, I never required them so much, and 
 never, never felt my own deficiencies as I now do ; and 
 were it not for the feeble hold which my soul takes on a 
 Saviour's mercy, I should sink down into despair and wo- 
 Forget not this, at least on Tuesday evenings." 
 
 " BEYROOT, MAT 20. 
 
 " Our warm weather has commenced earlier than usual 
 here, and we have now your July heat. I bear it very well 
 as yet. The abundant and brilliant foliage of this spot is a 
 constant source of admiration to me. The lilac tree, or
 
 192 MEMOIR OF 
 
 pride of India, is now in blossom, also the pomegranate. 
 The latter mamma once had, but it was little more than a 
 shrub. Here they are of the size of peach trees, and their 
 bright scarlet blossoms form a beautiful contrast with the 
 rich green of the leaves. The kharoob tree and luxuriant 
 grape vines, besides many other verdant productions, add 
 beauty to the scene. The cactus is now in blossom, its 
 flower a bright yellow. This latter lines every path, form- 
 ing an arch- and a pleasant shade, under which I pass every 
 afternoon, as my donkey bears me to school. 
 
 "May 21. It is ten months to-day, since my marriage; 
 and the period has flown by with incredible swiftness. We 
 commemorate the event, on every returning month, by a 
 concert of prayer with Mr. and Mrs. Perkins, (who were mar- 
 ried on the same day, and were our fellow-passengers across 
 the Atlantic,) in behalf of the officers and crew of the brig 
 George. 
 
 " May 22. If you wish to know with what we are most 
 occupied, it is Arabic. If you ask, ' What beside?' like the 
 Indian in another case, I can say, A little more Arabic ; and 
 ' What else ? ' A little more Arabic. With Mrs. Bird's chil- 
 dren, it is like their mother tongue; particularly with the 
 youngest, who is about five years of age. She speaks it 
 more readily than the English. 
 
 " May 28. While it requires but a short time to enable 
 one to transact ordinary business in this language, it is long 
 before such a knowledge can be obtained as to make re- 
 ligious conversation intelligible and profitable. For this 1 
 am exceedingly anxious, as I long to use my feeble talents 
 in urging sinners to flee to the ark of safety ; and I wish 
 you would make it your constant prayer, that I may live 
 to accomplish something in this way. In prayers that are 
 offered for missionaries, I think the obstacles arising from 
 the confusion of tongues, have been overlooked. 
 
 " This is the birth day of the king of England, and the 
 flag of avery Consul is waving in the breeze ; among which 
 the stars and stripes of our own happy country appear con-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 193 
 
 spicuous, and upon which I love to look. Every Sabbath 
 they are to be seen likewise. 
 
 " June 11. Mr. Smith and I have just taken a walk ' by 
 a well of water, at the time of the evening, even the time 
 that women go out to draw water,' where we found a group 
 of ' damsels,' doubtless exhibiting the same appearance as 
 those who performed the same offices thousands of years 
 ago. We stopped and conversed with them a little, and 
 they offered us drink from the ' pitcher,' or jar. I have seen 
 in Syria some very beautiful women, whose noble features 
 and richness of complexion have led me to imagine how 
 Sarah, Rebecca, and Rachel looked. I have often, in my 
 letters, alluded to the satisfaction which the Scriptures 
 afford me ' in the unchangeable East,' as this country has 
 been proverbially styled. Imagine with what peculiar feel- 
 ings you would peruse them, if such localities as the banks 
 of the Shetucket, the Falls, the Pine-tree, were mentioned, as 
 the scenes of events which they described ; or if the habits 
 of the people, which are familiar to you, illustrated their 
 truths. I was reading, a few mornings since, with exquisite 
 satisfaction, the excursion of Abraham's servant to obtain 
 a wife for Isaac. The well, the damsels, the jewels, the 
 camels, the provender, the act of Rebecca in vailing herself; 
 all have a reality, and I can think just how they appeared. 
 
 "June 20. From the public prints and other sources, 
 you will doubtless hear of the present disturbances in Syria, 
 and I fear you will suffer anxiety respecting us ; but let not 
 your hearts fail. ' As the mountains are round aboyt Jeru- 
 salem, so the Lord is round about his people.' Moreover, 
 Beyroot is a more quiet place than others in the country; 
 and even should the commotions reach us, we are favorably 
 situated for securing a refuge either in Mount Lebanon, or 
 on the sea. 
 
 "June 30. I feel somewhat thoughtful, this afternoon, 
 in consequence of having heard of the ready consent of the 
 friends of a little girl, that I should take her, as I proposed, 
 
 Smith 9
 
 194 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 and educate her. I am anxious to do it, and yet ray experi- 
 ence and observation in reference to such a course, and my 
 knowledge of the sinful heart of a child, lead me to think 
 I am undertaking a great thing. I feel, too, that my ex- 
 ample and my instruction will control her eternal destiny. 
 May I have your unceasing prayers, that I may possess 
 wisdom and patience, gentleness and decision, and never 
 take a wrong step in reference to her."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 BHAMDOON MOUNTAINEERS DEATH OF MRS. THOMSON 
 
 VISIT OF THE UNITED STATES* SHIP DELAWARE AT 
 
 BEYROOT JOURNEY TO SUNNEEN AND BAALBEK. 
 
 THE intenseness of the heat during the summer, at Bey- 
 root, renders it expedient for foreigners to remove for a few 
 weeks to the country among the mountains. Mr. and Mrs. 
 Smith took up their residence, in the month of August, at 
 Bhamdoon. She carried her love to Christ and to precious 
 souls into the scenes of her temporary residence, and also in 
 her journeys ; and devoted her thoughts and efforts to the 
 great objects for which she had " left all." 
 
 " Mount Lebanon, July 15. The warm weather had 
 become so enervating in Beyroot, that Mr. S. and myself 
 concluded to remove immediately to the mountains, where 
 on Friday last we literally pitched our tent; and in this 
 patriarchal dwelling I am now writing. 
 
 " This unusual heat is passing away, and the air is as 
 elastic as that of the White Mountains, and the water as 
 bright and refreshing. Indeed we are nearly as high as 
 Mount Washington, and the sea is spread out before us to 
 an immense extent ; the sun sets in the water beyond the 
 island of Cyprus, the outline of which we see, though it is 
 more than a hundred miles distant 
 
 " What an analogy exists between the moral and natural 
 features of an unevangelized nation ! As we passed over 
 Mount Lebanon, I told my husband that it required strong 
 faith to believe that it would ever become a fruitful field. 
 
 " July 16. We have taken some pleasant walks and 
 
 185
 
 196 MEMOIR OF 
 
 rides around these mountains. There are but few shade 
 trees in this village, but the grape vine is abundantly culti- 
 vated. It runs on the ground, upon the declivities of the 
 mountains, and is now loaded with fruit, half grown, while 
 ' watchmen ' are to be seen, scattered singly over the vineyards, 
 to prevent depredations. All the varieties of high mountain 
 scenery are found here; irregular and bold summits, deep 
 ravines, &c. The horizon, which the sea bounds, is so 
 extensive, that the sun appears to set high up in the sky, 
 and the sea and sky are almost blended. In the morning 
 the clouds are to be seen resting upon it,, like a mantle of 
 snow, far below us, presenting a most singular appearance. 
 Our tent occupies the site of an old threshing-floor, and 
 around it are several others, where men are now at work. 
 
 " July 17. I have just been interrupted by a visit from 
 a woman and her little boy, and presented with some 
 raisins. In return I offered them food also. She is poor, 
 and asked me to visit her ; on my promising to do so, she 
 kissed my hand. After I thought she had been here long 
 enough, I told her that I wanted to write, and bade her ' go 
 in peace,' which she did very cheerfully. I had asked her 
 a few questions of a religious nature; but it is of little use 
 for me, at present, to attempt any serious conversation, as 
 I can go no farther than to inquire if they love God and 
 Jesus Christ, and if they think about them, to all which 
 they answer most confidently in the affirmative. I long to 
 talk more with them on these great truths, but many months 
 must first elapse. Pray for me, my beloved parents, that 
 when I have the ability, I may also have the heart, to do 
 this people good. I sometimes fear that I shall find my 
 heart treacherous, for now I am able to pray for them, and 
 this duty I do not perform as faithfully as the case demands. 
 
 " Jerusalem, that still devoted city, we hear is almost 
 in ruins. How striking is the providence of God towards 
 these countries, once the cradle of Christianity, and towards 
 his peculiar people, to whom belonged the adoption, and 
 the covenant, and the promises, and the glory ! An im-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 197 
 
 mense debt of sin seems still resting upon them, and they 
 are receiving ' double ' vengeance. Alas, the poor Jews ! 
 In the late tumult, Mrs. Thomson says, they have suffered 
 peculiarly. 
 
 " August 5. Since our visit to these Druzes, Mr. Smith 
 has had several applications for the Scriptures. These 
 * mountain tops ' will yet 
 
 ' Shout to each other, 
 And distant mountains catch the flying joy.' 
 
 " This imagery of Cowper, with that of Jeremiah xxxi. 6, 
 where ' the watchmen of Mount Ephraim ' are mentioned, 
 was strikingly illustrated this morning, as I was taking an 
 early ramble among the peaks of Lebanon. The vintage 
 being near, the watchers are stationed upon the summits to 
 guard the. vines, which are growing luxuriantly in every 
 direction. Upon a distant eminence I beheld the solitary 
 figure of a man, whose voice met my ear ; while from 
 another summit I heard a cry, but saw no form. When 
 they see any person trespassing upon another's vineyard, 
 they shout in this manner." 
 
 After having given in herjournal some description of 
 the Druzes, residing around Bhamdoon. she writes 
 
 "August 6. The longer I remain at Bhamdoon, the 
 more I feel interested in the mountaineers. Could faithful, 
 consistent missionaries occupy these villages of the moun-^ 
 tains, I doubt not that the united efforts of their preaching 
 and example would be followed with a rich blessing, even 
 in the overthrow of false religion and the introduction of 
 the true." 
 
 Mrs. Smith entered with deep feelings into the reverses 
 of the missions at Jerusalem. Among them was the death 
 of Mrs. Thomson ; of whose excellence of character she 
 thus speaks :
 
 198 MEMOIR OF 
 
 "August 11. Mrs. Thomson was a dear and valuable 
 woman to us all, and we feel that our mission has indeed 
 sustained a loss. She possessed a cultivated mind, a warm 
 heart, and an animated manner. Her sensibilities were 
 perhaps too lively for this climate; since nothing is more 
 injurious here than excitement of feeling. Our departed 
 friend won the affection of all. Our servant remarked, 
 when he heard of her death, ' There is no one like her in 
 Beyroot.' The propriety and fervor of her devotional exer- 
 cises added greatly to the interest of our female meetings ; 
 and she was ever animated in devising means of usefulness, 
 and in sharing the labors of the mission as far as her 
 precarious health would permit. Her heart, as well as that 
 of her husband, was much set upon the Jerusalem branch 
 of our mission ; and as she had from her own funds 
 furnished a liberal supply of books and school apparatus, 
 she had formed strong expectations of doing good there 
 in her favorite occupation. You will learn from other 
 sources the trials which Mr. Thomson has experienced 
 in his separation from his family, during the commotions in 
 Judea and Jerusalem. God seems to be having a contro- 
 versy with that spot, and calling us to look and consider, 
 and admire his justice. Some might say that our dear 
 sister had sacrificed her life for nought; but I trust that from 
 her heavenly abode she looks down, with lively satisfac- 
 tion, upon the last two years of her life on earth, in which 
 her own preparation for eternal happiness has been more 
 effectually advanced than it could have been in any other 
 circumstances ; and she regrets not that he.r mortal part 
 rests on Mount Zion. I consider the discipline of char- 
 acter to which a missionary is subjected in the trial of a 
 final separation from his country, and in the subsequent 
 events, as worth all the sacrifice which it involves; even 
 though death be the immediate consequence, and not one 
 dark mind enlightened through his influence. How little 
 Mr. Thomson anticipated such a termination of his plans 1 
 Concerning the welfare of the Holy City, we cannot but
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 199 
 
 exclaim once more, ' How long, O Lord, how long ? ' I 
 know not but the answer will be found, in the spirit of it, 
 in the llth and 12th of the sixth of Isaiah. At least it 
 appears to me, that God is calling his people to look 
 intently, and notice his reasons for thus avenging the 
 iniquity of that chosen land. 
 
 " August 15. Evening. Since family prayers, at 
 which a number were present, Mr. Smith was saying, 
 that he wished some one more worthy and capable than 
 himself were among the people, to dispense the bread of life 
 to them, for he felt that the field was whitening. I re- 
 minded him of Moses and of Paul, who felt, almost to dis- 
 couragement, their own weakness. He is preparing his 
 journal, which he kept during our visit in Egypt, and his 
 journey in the Hauran, to send to the Missionary Rooms, 
 and he requires undisturbed leisure for this. 
 
 " Sabbath, August 16. A few days since, I called upon 
 a very pretty woman who lives in a part of this house, and has 
 been to prayers several times. Among other things she 
 asked me ' why in prayer we leaned forward and closed our 
 eyes.' This must have impressed her strongly ; as I 
 recollected that she had before asked me the same ques- 
 tion, when she called upon me, and which, from my imper- 
 fect knowledge of the language, I did not then understand. 
 I replied, that it was to enable us to withdraw our thoughts 
 from surrounding objects, and think of the great Being to 
 whom we were speaking, and that this was our custom even 
 in our closet duties. She seemed to approve of the practice 
 and the motive. Her little girl, named Saadeh, comes here 
 every day to be instructed. I told her the story of the 
 creation and the fall, and a day or two after requested her 
 to repeat it to me, which she did with great readiness and 
 propriety ; in better Arabic, of course, than mine. Mr. 
 Smith has now an audience of half-a-dozen before the door, 
 and one of them is reading the Scriptures aloud. It is a 
 great favor that so many of the men and boys can read. 
 
 " Alas, our poor sisters ! the curse rests emphatically
 
 200 MEMOIR OF 
 
 upon them. Among the Druze princesses, some, perhaps 
 the majority, furnish an exception, and can read. Their 
 sect is favorable to learning. Not so with the Maronites. 
 I have one scholar from these last ; but when I have asked 
 the others who have been here if they wished to read, they 
 have replied most absolutely in the negative ; saying that 
 it was for boys, and not for them. I have heard several 
 women acknowledge that they knew no more than the 
 donkeys." 
 
 On the occasion of some new arrangements in the Jer^sa- 
 lem mission, Mrs. Smith thus expresses herself: "These 
 constant changes, connected as they are with the eternal 
 welfare of souls and the honor of the Saviour's name, make 
 me feel solemn. I look around upon my brethren and 
 sisters, and my husband, and including myself, think we 
 shall soon, yes, sooner than the same number in our own 
 land, be in eternity; our work closed, our destiny sealed. 
 Oh, that we may prove faithful to our short trust ! 
 
 " August 23. Yesterday I inquired of one of my scholars 
 respecting the absence of two others, who are Maronites. 
 She said their priest had told them it was ' haram,' or pro- 
 hibited, for them to come, and had sent them a paper which 
 informed them that he should not allow them to come to 
 the church if they came here. I little imagined an ecclesi- 
 astical dignitary woul'9 interfere with my half-dozen scholars. 
 I regret it, because the two little girls were uncommonly 
 bright and affectionate. One of them I discovered walking 
 upon a neighboring terrace to-day ; and we exchanged salu- 
 tations, by the usual mode of placing the hand upon the 
 breast, while she looked wishfully towards me. Oh, what 
 an account must they have to render, who thus take away 
 the key of knowledge from those of whom they profess to be 
 the spiritual guides ! You can imagine the difference there 
 is between the feelings of the Maronites and Greeks toward 
 us, when I tell you that the Greek priest sends his own daugh- 
 ter, a pretty, rosy-cheeked girl, to be taught by me.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 201 
 
 " August 27. A few days since, during my school hours, 
 a woman called with an infant. I prepared some milk and 
 water for the latter. It did not drink much of it, and after 
 they were gone, I offered the remainder of it to a child five 
 or six years of age, who stood by. She declined it ; and 
 my scholars told me it was 'haram.' 'What,' said I, 
 
 does such a little girl fast from milk?' * Yes,' said they; 
 
 * all of us.' I looked upon the youthful group with mingled 
 feelings of amazement and pity, not unattended with admi- 
 ration at their early self-denial and steadfastness. Surely, 
 thought I, Satan has forestalled all that is valuable in human 
 character, even in babes and sucklings ; but a wiser and 
 more benevolent Being will yet perfect his praise by them." 
 
 In the course of this month, Beyroot was visited by the 
 United States' ship Delaware, Commodore Patterson. It 
 was the first visit of an American ship-of-war to the coast of 
 Syria, and was an interesting event to the inhabitants, 
 and peculiarly to the American missionaries. Mrs. Smith 
 entered into the spirit of the event and its attendant circum- 
 stances, with all the interest of an American and an ardent 
 lover of her country ; but still more as a Christian. 
 
 " August 29. The flag of our country is just hoisted, 
 indicating that the ship is near ; and my husband is pre- 
 paring to join Mr. Chasseaud in his consular visit to her 
 
 commander. This is an interesting day to me, for it ia 
 
 the anniversary of my last departure from the paternal roof. 
 Oh, what a day that was! May I never behold such 
 another ! Its anguish was second only to that which rent 
 my heart when the cold hand of death seized our dear 
 Peter. But let me speak of the goodness of God to me since 
 the supports of his grace, and my present cheerfulness and 
 comfort. I was reading in course, this morning, the 34th 
 of Exodus, and was deeply affected with the 6th and 7th 
 verses. I wish you would look at them, and I think you 
 will say with me, that God has ever proclaimed himself to 
 9
 
 202 MEMOIR OF 
 
 us ' the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and 
 abundant in goodness and truth.' I cannot express my 
 gratitude for the satisfaction which you have felt in giving 
 me up ; and for the health and spiritual blessings you have 
 received since my departure. 
 
 "August 30. I have just risen, my dear parents, from 
 the perusal of a package of letters from home, and have no 
 words to express to you all which I have felt while passing 
 rapidly over the contents of each. My emotions were 
 various, producing alternate tears and smiles. To hear 
 of your temporal prosperity was a source of high satisfac- 
 tion ; but to hear of such a shower of spiritual blessings 
 excited in my breast may I venture to say? joy such as 
 angels feel when similar intelligence reaches their heavenly 
 abode. But I have only glanced at your letters, because 
 I am in momentary expectation of a visit from the Com- 
 modore of the Delaware and his family ; by the return of 
 whose ship to Mahon, where a frigate direct for America 
 awaits her arrival, I am to forward this package. When 
 I peruse them at my leisure, I shall live over again all 
 those scenes so kindly and minutely detailed. 
 
 " September 2. It is a great pleasure to me, my dear 
 father, to know that my portrait affords you so much 
 comfort. My object in sitting for it is obtained ; that 
 room has, I trust, been a Bethel to me. I loved it more 
 than any place, for it has been the scene of much indi- 
 vidual and social communion with God. Adieu, beloved 
 parents. My heart clings to you with the tenderest affec- 
 tion ; which I believe heaven will purify and perfect." 
 
 Commodore Patterson and a portion of his family and 
 suite visited Damascus. On the Sabbath after their re- 
 turn, religious services were held on board his ship. 
 
 " September 10. On Sabbath morning we went on board 
 the Delaware, at 10 o'clock, where Mr. Smith preached 
 from the words, ' Strive to enter in at the strait gate.'
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 203 
 
 It was a most interesting and attentive audience. The 
 numerous crew, standing, formed two compact bodies each 
 side of the speaker. Their clean and simple uniform, of 
 white shirts and pantaloons, blue collars and cuffs, and a 
 black handkerchief tied around the neck, and their fair 
 complexions, contrasted strongly with the tawny skin and 
 fantastic dress of those whom for a year we have been 
 accustomed principally to see. Their instrumental and 
 vocal music, in tones familiar to our ears, was not a little 
 refreshing. The Arabs crowded on board, and I suppose 
 that in and around were more than a thousand souls. I 
 was much pleased with the sobriety and attention of a 
 row of boys, who stood in front of the older sailors. They 
 are a kind of apprentices on board, and the most of them 
 from the House of Refuge in New York. At present 
 they have little to do except to attend school. Although 
 my husband is no singer, I saw his lips moving with those 
 of the choir, for he could not resist it. The appearance 
 of the ship upon this coast is a happy occurrence. The 
 natives have expressed great admiration of her, and con- 
 sequently respect for her nation. The Commodore and 
 his family and suite have left a pleasant impression upon 
 all our hearts. He says that he came to Beyroot for our 
 sakes. Commodore Patterson is a plain, unceremonious, 
 agreeable American ; Mrs. Patterson the same ; and the 
 daughters are intelligent, affable, and polished.* I love the 
 manners of my countrywomen. The ladies of no land 
 that I have seen compare with them in that delicacy of 
 feeling and refinement which are the ornament of a female. 
 May they never be disposed to cast it from them. Mrs. P. 
 sent me a few pounds of nice black tea, and a keg of 
 crackers, before her departure. Their visit at Jerusalem 
 seems to have been the means of saving the life of Mr. 
 Nicolayson, whom they found sinking under a fever. 
 
 * For an interesting history of one of these young ladies, who has 
 since deceased, see Tract, No. 386, Amer. Tr. Soc. Series.
 
 204 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Through the advice of the surgeon of the ship, he was 
 raised from the borders of the grave, and by a singular 
 providence, Dr. Dodge met the surgeon in the road as 
 the former was proceeding with Mr. Thomson to Jeru- 
 salem, and obtained from him a knowledge of Mr. N.'s 
 case, and the manner in which he had treated it, so that he 
 was enabled to go forward and aid in his convalescence. 
 
 " In Beyroot, one night I was awake during the sound of 
 the midnight izan, (the cry of the muezzin in the mosque, 
 calling the followers of Mohammed to prayer.) It was a 
 long, monotonous, and dolorous shout ; and in the half-un- 
 consciousness of broken slumbers, I did not recognize 
 what it was; but it so went to my heart, that if it had not 
 ceased, I should have burst into tears. Then there is the 
 dull and dissonant vibration of the kettle drum, upon their 
 festas, which sometimes does not intermit its grating 
 sounds for successive days and nights. You know not, my 
 dear parents, how you would feel were you in the midst 
 of a population where every sound that fell upon your ear, 
 and every sight that met your eye, reminded you of Satan's 
 despotic sway. When in my native land, the curling smoke, 
 as it rose from the habitations at early morn, and the 
 twinkling light which illuminated them at eve, excited pleas- 
 ing associations; but here, alas! it is not so. I cannot look 
 upon the habitations around me, and think, ' that rising 
 column of yonder abode is an emblem of peace and of 
 prayer from a family altar ; or that glimmering taper at- 
 tracts towards it a chaste circle of happy faces, enjoying the 
 rational pleasures of social life.' When I think of your 
 spiritual blessings, which seem to be multiplying upon you, 
 I feel that I am emphatically in a ' dry and thirsty land, 
 where there is no water.' It is this that forms the greatest 
 trial and danger of missionaries, that they dwell where 
 Satan's seat is. 
 
 " Monday morning, while the sky was richly studded with 
 stars, we rose to prepare for our return to the mountains. 
 I love to gaze upon the spangled heavens,. for it transports
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 205 
 
 me directly to the dear home of my youth ; and the sweet 
 influences of Pleiades and the bands of Orion are the 
 same as when I looked upon them from my own quiet 
 chamber. This morning, Jupiter, before he melted away 
 into the light of heaven, rested like a brilliant gem upon 
 the forehead of Taurus, furnishing a beautiful appendage 
 to the latter, as he reclined in dignity upon his ethereal 
 couch. Who can contemplate the starry firmament without 
 some elevation of his moral feelings towards their glorious 
 Author, or without spending one thought upon his own 
 immortal destiny ? 
 
 " Bhamdoon, Sept. 25. Having recently returned from a 
 journey of nine days to the top of Sunneen and the ruins 
 of Baalbeck, I think you may be interested in an imperfect 
 description, which is all that I can give, of the works of 
 the great Creator, and his creature man. On Monday the 
 loth inst. we left Bhamdoon for the highest peak of Leb- 
 anon. It was a delightful day, and we were all in fine 
 spirits. Many villages of the mountains met our eyes, the 
 names of which we learned from our muleteers. Mr. Bird 
 often stopped to take observations, as he is preparing maps 
 of the country. We met a company of Gypsies, who sur- 
 rounded my donkey to examine me, and who looked pre- 
 cisely like our Indians. We passed also on that morning 
 the ruins of a town upon one of the heights over which we 
 rode. Our first resting-place about mid-day was at a village 
 called Korneil, where we dismounted and walked some 
 distance into a valley to see a coal mine, which was discov- 
 ered some years ago ; and where fifty or sixty Arabs, under 
 the superintendence of two Englishmen, are employed by 
 the Pasha. The vein is about three feet in thickness. Il 
 is yet a matter of doubt whether it will repay the labor of 
 working it, though the engineer- seemed sanguine. Surely 
 Englishmen are to be found every where. I little expected 
 to find any in this obscure part of our journey. We ought 
 to pray in reference to this very fact, for God can overrule 
 it for good. I cannot tell you how pleasant, yet how
 
 206 MEMOIR OF 
 
 etrange, are the sounds of my native tongue in this for- 
 eign land. 
 
 " This was the birth day of our dear Peter ; and I called 
 to remembrance his appearance when I first beheld him a 
 helpless infant. I could remember, too, the manner of our 
 dear mother, her pale looks and gentle tones as she smiled 
 at my greetings of him. It is one of the few scenes in 
 which she appeared, that. is indelibly imprinted upon my 
 memory. 
 
 " Our ride on the 16th was diversified with grand 
 and beautiful scenery ; frequently carrying us upon the 
 borders of lofty eminences, overlooking deep valleys, in 
 the bottom of which were scattered the long black tents 
 of the Bedaween. About noon we reached a spot upon 
 Sunneen, less than an hour from its highest peak, where 
 we rested, while Mr. Bird went forward to see if it were 
 practicable to attempt an excursion to 'the summit with 
 our animals. After our tents were erected, Mr. B. and my 
 husband proposed ascending the mountain, while I remained 
 in the tent, and read the Missionary Herald. Just after 
 sundown I stepped out of my tent, and going a few paces 
 towards the west, upon the brink of a deep valley, one of 
 the most sublime views met my eyes that I ever saw. A 
 rich bed of superb white clouds, rolling together, and curl- 
 ing their tops in the air, in the most fantastic forms, filled 
 the valley, occasionally breaking from each other sufficiently 
 to discover to me the grandeur of the depth below. Beyond 
 them stretched the glorious sea, its outline nearly obscured 
 by the blending of its waters with the brilliant tints of the 
 western sky. As I stood alone, gazing upon this almost 
 unearthly scene, the distant voices of the mountaineers, 
 pursuing their occupations upon the declivities below, came 
 up through this magnificent array of mountain drapery, and 
 produced a most singular effect upon my senses. I almost 
 imagined myself to be the inhabitant of another sphere, 
 stooping down to discover the pursuits of an inferior world, 
 whose occupants little imagined what glories were above
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 207 
 
 them. But a brisk evening air hurried me back to my 
 patriarchal habitation, and I was soon joined by my friends, 
 who had enjoyed the same prospect from the top of Mount 
 Lebanon. After prayers in Arabic, with the servants and 
 muleteers, we separated each to his ' rural couch,' design- 
 ing to set out upon our upward course an hour before light 
 on the ensuing morning. 
 
 " On the 17th we rose at half past three, and rode about 
 half an hour up the mountain, when the path required me 
 to join Mr. Smith and Mr. Bird on foot. After much 
 fatigue, which reminded me of my Mount Washington 
 excursion, we reached what we supposed to be the highest 
 peak, at day break, where, seating ourselves beneath the 
 shelter of a rock, we breakfasted, that we might be in read- 
 iness to behold the glories of the rising sun. We soon dis- 
 covered, however, that there was still a higher summit, 
 which would intercept the eastern horizon ; and after 
 watching the full rnoon till she sank in the waters which 
 bounded our western prospect, we sat out for the other peak. 
 As usual among mountains, the distance deceived us, and 
 what appeared but a few steps occupied so much time that 
 Mr. B. arrived only in time to see the sun start suddenly 
 from his hiding-place behind Anti Lebanon. Mr. S. might 
 have accomplished the same, but that he travelled slower on 
 my account. Although I was deprived of this splendid 
 sight, many interesting objects beside, sufficiently repaid 
 me for my fatigue. On the west was the illimitable sea, 
 with ranges of mountains varying in form and height. On 
 the east, the nearest object was the beautiful valley of the 
 Bukaa, separating Lebanon and Anti Lebanon, and prob- 
 ably forty miles in extent. Its perfectly level and diversi- 
 fied surface, with the Leontes winding through it, reminded 
 me forcibly of the valley of the Connecticut, as it appears 
 from Mount Holyoke. I think it must have been once the 
 bed of a lake, from its peculiar appearance and its 
 fertility, which is like that of the rich alluvial soil of 
 the Connecticut. Its northern extremity is bounded by
 
 208 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the territory of Hamath. The noble range of Anti Leb- 
 anon was spread out before us in its whole extent, em- 
 bracing Mount Hermon, called by the natives 'Gebel 
 Sheikh,' (old mountain.) It is higher than Sunneen, and 
 one little spot of snow glistened in the sun-beams near the 
 top of its majestic front, as we beheld it on this cloudless 
 morning. I am sure if king David had been with us, he 
 would have tuned his harp to the praise of its Author, whose 
 wonderful works he so loved to sing. The 'little hills' 
 below sat in such distinct outline upon the level valley, as 
 to seem almost as if they might ' skip like lambs.' The 
 Hauran, the region which Mr. Smith and Dr. Dodge vis- 
 ited last spring, was visible; but what interested me most, 
 was a faint view of the mountains of Galilee, in the blue 
 distance. I leaned upon a rock and gazed with silent but 
 deep emotion upon the land which my Saviour had trod ; 
 and my heart uttered the prayer, that the spirit which ani- 
 mated his breast, when he there dwelt in his humanity, 
 might henceforth continually possess mine. 
 
 " This day, on which I attained the highest summit of 
 Mt. Lebanon, was dear father's birth day, and recollections 
 of him mingled themselves with the important events which 
 gave interest to the period. At 2 o'clock, P. M., our 
 tents were taken down, and we commenced our descent 
 towards the valley of the Bukaa, and rested for the night at 
 Ain Hazeer. The view of Anti Lebanon was most glorious, 
 from our encampment, and I pitied those who could dwell 
 there unmindful of its Maker. One lone woman from a 
 neighboring khan came to see me, wearing a charm upon 
 her neck, which was as usual a picture of the Virgin. I 
 tried to say something to impress her with serious things. 
 
 " 18th. As the sun is very powerful in the Bukaa, we 
 rose before 3 o'clock for our ride. Our donkeys seemed 
 delighted with the level path before them, which was un- 
 broken by a single irregularity. I enjoyed it beyond any 
 thing I ever experienced of the kind before. We formed a 
 large, and what you would call in America, a grotesque
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 209 
 
 group. We met many genuine Bedaween on foot and upon 
 donkeys and mules, with their long blankets trailing upon 
 the ground, adding to the unique appearance of their dark 
 visages, and streaming locks, which were almost blended 
 with the gray of the morning. Although I am daily be- 
 coming familiar with the strange scenes of this country, 
 yet some of them to this hour impress me with such ro- 
 mantic sensations as I have formerly experienced when 
 reading works of fiction. This was one ; but many of the 
 associations were of a sacred character. The two noble 
 ranges of Lebanon and Anti Lebanon bounded our pros- 
 pect on either side, as we took an oblique course across 
 the valley. The sun came forth from behind Anti Lebanon 
 as a ' bridegroom cometh forth from his chamber.' Not 
 long after his beams warmed the earth, we stopped near a 
 stream of water and breakfasted, upon the green sward. 
 As we pursued our journey, we met immense flocks of 
 sheep, goats, and herds of cattle, and saw the black tents 
 of the Bedaween to whom they belonged , who, though 
 they differ in character and wealth from Abraham, probably 
 exhibit his mode of life, after he went out from his kindred. 
 With my American habits, I should surely say, were I 
 obliged to resort to their habitations, ' Wo is me that I 
 dwell in the tents of Kedar.' Says the spouse in Solomon's 
 Song, ' I am black like the tents of Kedar.' But the most 
 precious passage of Scripture, which these illustrations 
 brought to our minds, was the promise concerning the two 
 eldest sons of Ishmael, the progenitors of these Mohamme- 
 dans, found in Isaiah Ix. 7. ' All the flocks of Kedar shall 
 be gathered together unto thee ; they shall come up with 
 acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of 
 my glory.' 
 
 "At ]2 o'clock we reached the celebrated ruins of Baal- 
 bek or Heliopolis, the irregular outline of which had been 
 for several hours in sight. As we were much fatigued and 
 exhausted with the rays of a tropical sun, we did not now 
 stop to admire what we intended to examine at our leisure.
 
 210 MEMOIR OF 
 
 We hastened beyond the walls of the city, to find an en- 
 campment, the location of which was of more consequence, 
 because it was Friday noon, and we were to remain there 
 until Monday. 
 
 " Baalbek is abundantly supplied with streams of water, 
 which nourish the greatest profusion of trees and shrubs; 
 particularly the noble walnut, the fruit of which is like the 
 large English walnut. At the ruins of an elegant fountain, 
 which supplies one of these courses, we unloaded our ani- 
 mals, hoping to be in quiet possession of the spot, after a 
 few hours ; although numbers of men and boys were enjoy- 
 ing the delicious shade, upon the brilliant carpet of nature. 
 Several Mohammedans, in direct violation of our Saviour's 
 precepts, were publicly engaged in their devotions. I 
 walked by them to discover more minutely their peculiari- 
 ties, and the nearer I approached the more earnest they 
 became. I cannot give you a very correct idea of it. They 
 were upon their knees, and sometimes held their heads 
 erect, and with closed eyes muttered their orisons; then - 
 bent forward and touched their foreheads to the ground. 
 It was all deeply affecting, and perfectly absurd. Finding 
 that the Sabbath was to be ' a feast to the Virgin,' and of 
 course that this spot would be the scene of the sports of her 
 votaries, it became necessary to seek for another retirement. 
 After bathing 1 our faces in the limpid stream which flowed 
 near us, and gathering raspberries from its banks, we dined 
 upon the green grass, and the gentlemen separated, each to 
 seek for another encampment. Before night we were 
 quietly seated in our tents, beneath the rich shade of those 
 very walnut-trees which my husband had visited in his 
 journey to the Hauran. Saturday morning, early, we pro- 
 ceeded to the ruins, and devoted the forenoon to their 
 examination. And here I am tempted to lay aside my pen, 
 since no description of mine can give you any adequate 
 conception of those relics of past ages, whose foundations 
 are supposed to have been in existence in the days of 
 Solomon. As I gazed upon that part of the immense pile.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 211 
 
 I fully believed the supposition, and those old, defaced, but 
 yet undilapidated stones, gave me much more satisfaction 
 than all the Grecian taste and Roman and Saracenic magnifi- 
 cence, which form so much of the interest and variety of 
 its superstructure. Whoever selected the location for this 
 eplendid building, discovered true taste, as it stands at the 
 foot of Anti Lebanon, overlooking a rich tract of level land, 
 beautifully diversified with foliage and streams of water. 
 You may give full scope to all the romance and poetry of 
 your imagination, and picture to yourself fluted columns, 
 cornices, entablatures, tritons, sea gods, fishes, beasts, and 
 birds, in alto and bass relief, some in a state of preservation, 
 and others defaced by the hand of time and the curiosity of 
 travellers; with fragments of exquisite elegance scattered 
 all around, debased by the ' treading of cattle,' who actually 
 find pasture within the walls of this magnificent temple. 
 The pile consists of four divisions, severally called by trav- 
 ellers a palace, a portico, and two temples ; the smallest of 
 the latter being the ' temple of the sun.' The palace is 410 
 feet in length, and 383 in breadth, supported by arched pas- 
 sages, dark and dreary. The larger temple is 309 feet in 
 length and 202 in breadth. The smaller one Mr. Smith did 
 not measure. In one part of the building is a perfect tower 
 of Saracenic origin, entirely unique in its architectural 
 character. The most imposing object is the remains of a 
 colonnade which once surrounded the larger temple. Six 
 Corinthian pillars, the top of whose capitals is 130 feet 
 from the ground, now existing in a state of entire preserva- 
 tion, made a powerful impression on my feelings. They 
 fully answered all my ideas of ruined elegance. They 
 seemed as it were to be invested with life ; so touchingly, so 
 instructively did they speak of the unknown past, of which 
 neither history nor tradition unfolds the tale. My eye lin- 
 gered upon them to the last, untired and unsatisfied ; till 
 they faded from my view. In the afternoon we made the 
 circuit of the city, and visited a quarry, from whence much 
 of the stone of which the building is composed was probably
 
 212 MEMOIR OF 
 
 taken. One entire stone, 60 feet long, 17 wide, and 13 
 thick, still attached to the quarry, hewn, in solitary grandeur 
 seemed to speak volumes respecting the unfinished labors of 
 finite man. Baalbek is completely dilapidated. It is oc- 
 cupied by a few Moslems and Christians, whose small habi- 
 tations are constructed of the relics. There is, beside, a 
 mosque patched up with marble slabs ; and a beautiful 
 little marble temple, of Corinthian architecture, which has 
 been used by the Greek church for a place of worship. 
 Thus Satan in various ways has kept possession of the spot ; 
 though the idols of the temple have been cast down. Still 
 those familiar lines of Watts were continually in my mind 
 while there 
 
 ' Those ruins shall be built again, 
 And all that dust shall rise," 
 
 under another and more permanent dominion. 
 
 " But I am protracting my journal of this tour to an im- 
 moderate length ; and must hasten to an end, or I shall 
 never reach one. The next day, the Sabbath, we passed in 
 our tents ; having social worship in English, and reading, 
 and conversation with the natives who came to gratify their 
 curiosity by the sight of living wonders of the present age. 
 A Moslem begged a Testament, which my husband gave to 
 him, the first which he ever gave to a follower of the false 
 prophet. With strange inconsistency a Catholic Christian 
 endeavored to dissuade him from reading it ! Do you 
 wonder that the devotees of Mohammed have hitherto con- 
 tinued and multiplied, with such an influence around them ? 
 Pray for the extension of that pure light, beneath which 
 their delusion shall wither and perish. 
 
 " On the 22d we rose immediately after midnight, to 
 pursue our journey homewards. Nothing particularly inter- 
 esting occurred, except that I witnessed the cultivation of 
 cotton in the Bukaa, by females. The next day we reached 
 Bhamdoon, having spent eight days, and taken twenty-five 
 meals in our tents, and without having entered a single
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 213 
 
 habitation, beside, during our whole journey. With invig- 
 orated health and grateful hearts we were happy to find 
 ourselves at home again, in our rural mountain dwelling." 
 
 In her distant field of labor, Mrs. Smith received, with 
 lively satisfaction, intelligence of the prosperity of religion 
 among the Mohegan Indians. Writing to the missionary 
 among them, she says 
 
 " I was as much astonished as were the apostles often in the 
 weakness of their faith, to hear of the revival in Mohegan. 
 When shall we learn that our God is ' faithful to his promises 
 and faithful to his Son ' ? Remember me with Christian affec- 
 tion to the dear converts, and to all the children of the school. 
 May your cords still be lengthened. Pray do not take any 
 thing for granted respecting my probable knowledge of affairs 
 in your little parish, for my friends all say, ' You will learn 
 from Mr. Gleason about Mohegan.' And now I will answer 
 some of your questions. First, in respect to faith, hope, and 
 charity, my experience of them is the same in kind, though 
 I fear not in degree, as your own. I have been so whirled 
 about for the last year, that I sometimes hardly know what 
 my own feelings are. Of this, however, I am confident, that 
 we and other missionaries have not been brought here for 
 nothing ; and although we may see scarcely a ray of light 
 beaming upon the long night of darkness that has obscured 
 this spiritual firmament, others will. Nothing is lost in 
 God's moral kingdom, though it may sometimes appear so; 
 of course he is using us in some way. In one very im- 
 portant respect you have the advantage of us in your labors. 
 You can speak the language of the people whom you desire 
 to benefit. To acquire this is my leading object at present. 
 What a long and tedious process it is for the world to get 
 back to its rightful Lord ! How much angels must have to 
 cause wonder and admiration, while they are employed in 
 helping it forward ! They must often stop to love and wor- 
 ship a Being so holy, benevolent, and wise as their great
 
 214 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Leader. It will not be long, dear brother, before you and I 
 shall know more respecting this matter than we now do. 
 
 " In the village upon the mountains, where we are 
 spending the hot season, we have much to interest our 
 feelings. The Christians of the Greek church, who are 
 the majority of the population, are really friendly towards 
 us, and we could not help loving them, even if we had 
 not a spark of the Saviour's kindness in our breasts. They 
 are industrious, cheerful, and independent, and I often 
 think what a happy community they would form, with a 
 religion stripped of useless ceremonies a religion of the 
 heart rather than of the fingers; for one of the most dis- 
 tinguishing marks of their sect is their manner of making 
 the sign of the cross. Could the females of Syria be edu- 
 cated and regenerated, the whole face of the country would 
 change ; even, as I said to an Arab a few days since, to the 
 appearance of the houses and the roads. One of our little 
 girls, whom I taught before going to the mountains, came 
 to see me a day or two since, and talked incessantly about 
 her love for the school, and the errors of the people here, 
 saying that they ' cared not for Jesus Christ, but only for 
 the Virgin Mary.' I have not said a word about ' old 
 Lucy.' Peace to her memory ! she has at length reached 
 ' home,' I trust. I read her obituary in the paper." 
 
 " September 28. You kindly inquire, my dear madam, 
 whether I find the promise verified, ' Lo, I am with you 
 alway.' Perhaps I cannot better answer the question than 
 by telling you the reflections which I had this evening. 
 Just before sun-down, my husband stepped out to attend 
 prayers at the Greek church ; and as I closed the door for 
 the purpose of securing a season for devotion during his 
 absence, and turned back upon the solitude of our single 
 apartment, my heart was filled with praise to God for all his 
 gracious dealings with me during the past year. Expecting 
 in a few days to leave Bhamdoon, I was led to adore the 
 kind hand, that, in addition to all my other mercies, had
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 215 
 
 furnished me so pleasant and comfortable a home in this 
 obscure mountain village ; where I have renewed my 
 strength, and now have vigorous health to reengage in 
 rny labors at Bey root. 
 
 "Monday, October 8. This day, the season of the 
 monthly concert, has for some time been appropriated to 
 fasting and prayer at this station. While taking an early 
 walk this morning, I met two girls with baskets of grapes 
 upon their shoulders, who, as usual, invited me to partake 
 of their contents. I declined, pleading as an excuse, that 
 it was a fast with me, and they urged me no farther. It 
 is not here as in America, where such an apology might 
 be made the subject of ridicule among the unregenerate. 
 On the contrary, the more peculiar are our habits and 
 numerous our ceremonies, the more respect and influence 
 we may acquire ; for to be without religion is considered 
 a great disgrace. Many regard us as irreligious, because 
 we are so simple in our forms of worship and have so few 
 appendages; and are often surprised when we tell them 
 how many churches and priests exist in our native land. 
 A servant woman of Mrs. Whiting, who has now lived long 
 enough with her to love her and appreciate her principles, 
 about a year and a half since remarked to some of the 
 Arabs, that the people with whom she lived, did ' not lie, 
 nor steal, nor quarrel, nor do any such things; but, poor 
 creatures,' said she, ' they have no religion.' In contrasting 
 the spiritual blessings of my country with the more than 
 useless ceremonies of this, I often think of these lines of 
 the inimitable Watts 
 
 * Let strangers walk around 
 The city where we dwell,' &c. 
 
 " In some important respects, the morals of this people 
 are better than those of our own land. But the great 
 destroyer need not be strenuous on the point here, for he 
 has the entire mass of the inhabitants sufficiently enchained 
 by a corrupt religion for all his purposes ; and he reserves
 
 216 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 other temptations for those regions where he can employ 
 them, to blind the eyes of men against the clear light of 
 truth. In this our mountain residence, my husband has 
 had more than usual opportunity to give religious instruc- 
 tion by means of conversation, distribution of the Scriptures, 
 and evening prayers in Arabic, in our room. More or less 
 of the villagers are always present upon the latter occasion. 
 We feel assured that these ' mountain tops will yet shout 
 to each other,' though we may not live to catch ' the flying 
 joy ' on earth. 
 
 " I have rejoiced, dear Mrs. Farrar, in all the spiritual 
 blessings of your own family, and in those of the church 
 at large. In thinking of that garden of the Lord where 
 my friends dwell, I sometimes compare our situation with 
 that of our first parents who were driven out of paradise 
 to till the earth, which they found covered with thorns 
 and briers. Indeed, I think that had Isaiah seen, in vision, 
 our happy land, with all her faults ; contrasting it with 
 this, as it is now, and probably was then, he would still 
 have indulged in all the strains of prophetic rapture, which 
 characterize his writings. I must now, through necessity, 
 though unwillingly, leave you. A sheet of paper never 
 seemed so insufficient for my purposes, as sine* I came to 
 this country. A single one will not contain half I wish to 
 communicate to those I love ; and yet I think it will contain 
 as much as I ought to trouble them with."
 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 SCENERY SABBATH EVENING ENGLISH SERVICE TROU- 
 BLES OF MOHAMMEDANS DEATH OF DR. DODGE APPEAL 
 
 TD AMERICAN CHRISTIANS ON PHYSICAL CULTURE 
 
 INTERCOURSE WITH ENGLISH FRIENDS LETTER TO MRS. 
 
 DODGE ON PREPARATION FOR THE MISSIONARY WORK 
 
 FEMALE PRAYER MEETING NATIVE HABITS OF FASTING 
 
 THOUGHTS ON AMERICAN CHARACTER ARAB VISITS 
 
 LETTER TO MRS. WISNER ON THE DEATH OF HER HUS- 
 BAND LETTER TO MRS. HALLOCK. 
 
 HAVING returned from her summer residence in the 
 mountains, and become again settled at Beyroot, Mrs. 
 Smith resumed her journal addressed to her parents, as 
 follows : 
 
 " BEYROOT, OCT. 19, 1834. 
 
 "My ever dear Parents: I wish you could sit down 
 with me in my pleasant room, this evening, where I have 
 composed myself for a little epistolary converse with you. 
 The full moon, rising in the east, is shining in its splendor 
 over the lofty peak of Lebanon, while the waters of the 
 Mediterranean, which wash its base, are sparkling in her 
 beams, and on the north its dark waves are bounded only 
 by the sky. The street in which we live is directly upon 
 the shore ; a high castle, surmounted with a single turret, 
 stands upon a rock, a few rods from the land ; the hum of 
 human voices has ceased, and the silence of night is broken 
 only by the roar of the surf, as the sea dashes upon the 
 shore. Three times have I risen from my seat to view 
 
 and admire in solitude this charming scene We are 
 JQ 9U
 
 218 MEMOIR OF 
 
 partially settled in our new abode, but I hope we shall not 
 indulge the thought that this is our rest. If we do, God 
 will break up the delusion. 
 
 " This is the evening of the Sabbath, and it will be 
 more appropriate to recall the events of the day. Mr. 
 Thompson preached at our Consul's, a most excellent ser- 
 mon. My soul was refreshed, particularly in the singing, 
 and I thought of the bliss of heaven. The Sabbath, my 
 dear father, is the day in which I am in the habit of making 
 you especially the subject of my petitions ; and often my 
 heart is much drawn out in supplicating spiritual blessings 
 for you, and I feel assured that such blessings will make 
 you completely happy here and hereafter. Thus, through 
 the merits of my Saviour, though far removed from you, I 
 may be the means of making an impression upon your 
 present and eternal happiness. 
 
 "October 22. Yesterday I went up to Mr. Bird's to 
 consult about the plan of a school-house, now commenced 
 for females. I can hardly believe that such a project is 
 actually in progress, and I hail it as the dawn of a happy 
 change in Syria. Two hundred dollars have been sub- 
 scribed by friends in this vicinity, and I told Mr. B., that 
 if necessary, I thought he might expend fifty more upon the 
 building, as our Sabbath school in Norwich had pledged 
 one hundred a year for female education in Syria. I cannot 
 tell you how much satisfaction I take in appropriating my 
 little effects to missionary purposes ; as I used at home 
 often to wish that ' Holiness to the Lord' might be inscribed 
 on rny little possessions. 
 
 "October 27. This morning the English service was 
 held in the room now called our chapel, at our Consul's, 
 and it promises to be a pleasant resort. I felt more as I 
 used to feel in America, than since I bade farewell to those 
 
 ' Sacred scenes of peace and pleasure, 
 Holy days and Sabbath bell.' 
 
 Mrs. Chasseaud is much engaged in fitting it up, arranging
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 219 
 
 with her own hands the covering of the desk, in which 
 she exhibits the tact of her countrywomen. I cannot but 
 think that these feeble beginnings for this land are like the 
 little stone that was cut out of the mountain. 
 
 "October 29. Yesterday I again commenced the fe- 
 male school with four scholars, which were increased to 
 ten to-day, and the number will probably continue to aug- 
 ment as before, from week to week. As I walked home 
 about sunset this evening, I thought, 'Can it be that I am 
 really a school-mistress, and the only one in all Syria?' 
 and I tripped along with a quick step amid Egyptians, 
 Turks and Arabs, Moslems and Jews, to my pleasant and 
 quiet home, where I always find a number of kind friends 
 to bid me welcome. Dear Mrs. Abbott said to me, as I 
 seated myself with her upon the side of her bed, before I 
 took off my hat, ' You don't know what a privilege, what a 
 comfort it is to me to have you here.' My hours are now 
 so systematically and fully appropriated that I can only 
 steal short intervals for writing. , 
 
 "November 9. The number of English merchants is 
 increasing here, and for the last (week our minds have 
 been much exercised respecting them ; especially the im- 
 portance of their being regular attendants upon our morn- 
 ing service. If a foundation is now to be laid for a future 
 community of English and Americans, as we cannot doubt, 
 we are anxious that it should be a good one. If it be 
 only fashionable for all who come to attend chapel, it will 
 be a great point gained; for there will be souls which may 
 be the subjects of the operations of the Spirit. 
 
 " Dear parents, I love you, and think of you constantly, 
 yet am busy and happy. I sometimes indulge the thought 
 that God has sent me to the females of Syria to the 
 little girls (of whom I have a favorite school) for their 
 good. They are the burden of my prayer ; let them be of 
 yours. 
 
 "Jan. 5, 1835. On Friday I distributed rewards to 
 twenty-three little girls belonging to my school, which, as
 
 220 MEMOIR OF 
 
 they are all poor, consisted of clothing. The value of the 
 presents was graduated by the number of tickets which 
 each scholar could produce. My husband prayed and talked 
 with them. It was a new scene for Syria. Our Sabbath 
 school also increases. Eighteen were present last Sab- 
 bath, and walked two and two from Tannoos' house to 
 the Arabic service. I am in constant expectation of an 
 ' excommunication ' upon my pupils, from the ecclesiastical 
 authorities." 
 
 Of Mrs. Smith's labors, at this time, the Rev. Mr. 
 Thomson wrote, January llth "Mrs. Smith's female 
 school prospers wonderfully, but it is the altar of her own 
 health ; and I fear that in the flame that goeth up toward 
 heaven from off that altar, she will soon ascend, as did 
 Manoah's angel.* May the Lord prolong her valuable 
 life. We can hardly spare her ; she is our only hope for a 
 female school in Beyroot at present." 
 
 "January 28. It is a year to-day since our arrival at Bey- 
 root a year of mercies only. How grateful and obedient 
 ought we to be! I wish you would pray, my dear parents, 
 that I may not be so dull a scholar as I feel myself to be, 
 under all the kind discipline of a heavenly Master. When 
 I reflect upon the multifarious lessons, which in the course 
 of nearly thirty years I have been called to learn, I 
 am ashamed and confounded at my ignorance my slow 
 advance in moral improvement. Every day that I live 1 
 find less occasion for self-complacency. Little do those 
 who are basking in the rays of a meridian sun, like that 
 under which I lived in Norwich, and passing buoyantly 
 along with the stream, know how it would ' try their souls,' 
 and try their characters, and their Christian hopes, to be 
 transported to a dark, cold land, like this, where they would 
 be obliged to struggle against the current. Yes, it is to 
 me a solemn thought, that many, apparently hopeful fol- 
 lowers of Christ, in America, would not sustain the change : 
 
 Judges xiii. 19, 20, 21.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 221 
 
 for with all my self-love, I often fear that I shall be found 
 wanting at the last. Could I convey to the minds of my 
 friends the views which I have on this point, I should re- 
 joice. In a few words 1 would say, ' Examine yourselves, 1 
 and discover, if possible, how much of your love, zeal, and 
 activity, is the genuine fruit of the Spirit, and how much 
 is the result of factitious circumstances. 
 
 " Last Saturday was a day of much interest and excite- 
 ment to us, leading us to feel the force of the assurance, 
 that ' as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is 
 the Lord round about his people,' when they are planted 
 amid an irregular, despotic, and dangerous government. 
 We are here not only defended, but the defenders of the le- 
 gitimate subjects of Mohammedan rule against their own 
 rulers. An order was issued for the impressment of sol- 
 diers for the Pasha, which does not extend to the nominal 
 Christians, but only to the Moslems. In consequence of 
 which, the houses of the English and Americans were 
 nearly filled with refugees. Seven men slept in our court 
 on Saturday night. Many Christians were also seized, but 
 subsequently released, after satisfactory evidence that they 
 were not Moslems. 
 
 "February 12. Once more God, in his inscrutable 
 wisdom, has entered our little band, in the removal of one 
 of our number ; by which our hearts are not only wound- 
 ed, but our hopes of Jerusalem again blasted. Our be- 
 loved brother Dodge, who, from the time that I knew him, 
 has ever seemed to me ripening for heaven, has at length 
 reached that ' home for weary souls.' Sad to us, but 
 not to him, is this event. The following lines, sung at 
 brother Peter's funeral, and at our family devotions this 
 morning, express my present feelings : 
 
 ' There faith lifts up the tearless eye, 
 
 The heart with anguish riven ; 
 It views the tempest passing by, 
 Sees evening shadows quickly fly, 
 
 And all serene in heaven.'
 
 222 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Yes ; ' all serene in heaven.' He is there, I doubt not ; 
 though we cannot see why he should be snatched away, 
 after having spent two years of toil and perplexity in pre- 
 paring for service in this dark land, with the language just 
 beginning to be at his command ; yet he knows and ap- 
 preciates the whole. When I was an inmate of his family, 
 I found that he uniformly rose very early; and from his 
 increasing spiritual views and tender sensibilities, it was 
 evident that he held much communion with God. His case 
 confirms me in the long-cherished belief, that secret prayer 
 is the key to holy living and a happy death. 
 
 " We shall probably now make other arrangements ; and 
 the question will arise, ' Shall Jerusalem be abandoned ? ' 
 Death has interrupted every previous attempt, and to send 
 missionaries thither seems but sending them to their graves! 
 We all feel that God has selected from our number, at this 
 time, the very one who was best prepared for His presence ; 
 of course the one qualified to live and do good. This 
 makes us mourn, arid every day we realize our loss more. 
 
 " And now what can I say ; what can the missionaries 
 of Syria say; what can any of the laborers who are scat- 
 tered over this desolate world say, to the mass of Christians 
 crowded together in America, to induce them to feel and 
 to act only for dying multitudes ? They do feel, and they 
 do act, comparatively ; but, my dear parents, it is the eyes 
 that affect the heart ; and if we would believe fully, that a 
 guilty world is under the wrath of God, we must go to 
 those portions of the earth where Satan still reigns tri- 
 umphant. I was deeply affected with the fact that the 
 Washington Islands were abandoned as a missionary station, 
 because of their scattered population. Under existing cir- 
 cumstances probably this was necessary ; but ought cir- 
 cumstances to exist in a church so large, so blessed, so 
 competent as that of America, as unavoidably to doom to 
 eternal destruction a thousand souls in one place, five 
 hundred or even one hundred in another, to say nothing 
 of the millions? I think of those groups in the Pacific; of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 223 
 
 the Azores, of which we had a faint glimpse when cross- 
 ing the Atlantic; of other inhabitants of mountains and 
 valleys, upon which our eyes rested. I look abroad upon 
 the countries around this sea, teeming with immortal souls, 
 whose wasted existence will soon be swallowed up in the 
 svorld of wo ; and then my eye turns to our own land, 
 and I see the crowded conference-room, the Sabbath school, 
 the ' great congregation,' not denying but enjoying them- 
 selves, in the spacious churches where the truth is continually 
 dropping its sacred dew. I see the shelves and tables loaded 
 with publications too numerous to be read, the social board 
 covered with dainties. I think of the hours that are spent 
 in cooking, in visits, in regulating the fold or fashion of 
 an article of dress or furniture not by the devotees of 
 folly, but by blood-bought disciples of Christ and I think 
 of the wasted years of my own probationary existence; 
 and in view of all this, my heart sinks within me, and I can 
 only exclaim, in behalf of myself and others, ' Guilty, guilty ! ' 
 While you have more than enough of all that makes life dear 
 and immortality to appear precious, here there exists native 
 barrenness. 
 
 " Excepting the three or four native converts, we know 
 not one pious religious teacher, one judicious parent, one 
 family circle regulated by the love of God, one tradesman 
 influenced by the fear of God no, not even one! Let 
 me advise any, the humblest, the most uninfluential, whose 
 heart may be touched with such facts, leading him to ex- 
 claim, ' What can /do? ' to begin with some little thing, be 
 it ever so small, by which he may save, if not many, a few 
 moments of precious time, which he may devote to the pur- 
 pose of thinking and praying over this great matter. And 
 if he be faithful in a little, he may have authority over much. 
 The Holy Spirit will communicate new views, new energies, 
 and a spark may kindle a great fire. 
 
 " I write to Mrs. Ripley by this opportunity, and perhaps 
 also to sister Faith. I wish I had strength to do more ; but 
 my school and my studies draw upon my energies continu-
 
 224 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ally, as well as occupy the best hours of every day. When 
 I get an assistant from among the hundreds of well-qualified 
 females in America, I will give more time to my correspond- 
 ents there, God willing. 
 
 " We had five young men at our Bible class last evening, 
 English and Scotch. It is a little remarkable that these 
 foreign adventurers should all of them have been, as it ap- 
 pears, religiously educated. They are also more than 
 usually intelligent. We cannot but bope that God is laying 
 a foundation here on which to build his kingdom in future 
 generations." 
 
 -" BEYKOOT, FEBRUARY 12. 
 
 " My dear Sister : This is Thursday, the day on which 
 1 bring you and your daughters in especial remembrance 
 before God ; on Wednesday, I remember your dear husband 
 and little Cornelius ; and often in connection with them the 
 precious friends at Andover. 
 
 " You speak of the importance and duty of physical 
 culture. It is a subject upon which I reflected much in 
 America, and have done so still more in this country. I 
 think the individual who should devote his whole attention 
 to it, for the benefit of missionaries, would be a blessing to 
 the universe. 
 
 " Many precautions are essential in this climate, beside 
 those which relate to diet. Exposure to cold and dampness, 
 and fatigue, must be avoided. Unbraced by the cold win- 
 ters to which we have been accustomed, our northern con- 
 stitutions are particularly susceptible to debility ; and if we 
 lose our vigor of body, we cannot do with our ' might ' what 
 our hands find to do; for we have no might. 
 
 "February 28. I believe that I feel on Saturdays much 
 like all ' school ma'am's,' a sort of freedom from care and a 
 desire for relaxation; yet I am certainly happier, surrounded 
 by my twenty little Arab girls, than any where else ; though 
 I have a pleasant home and a most beloved husband. 
 
 " Our intercourse with our English friends becomes every
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 225 
 
 week more pleasant and mutually confidential. It seems like 
 an answer to prayer. We do not feel like relinquishing the 
 Jerusalem mission, but would rather ' draw arguments from 
 discouragements,' and ' take the kingdom of heaven by vio- 
 lence ' for that city. One fact is encouraging, that no death 
 has occurred in consequence of the climate, for it is superioi 
 to that of Beyroot. Their winters are cold and invigorating 
 " You inquire if missionaries are not in danger of losing 
 their regard for the sanctity of the Sabbath. They are so, 
 and on this account we feel it to be important that we keep 
 the day with uncommon strictness ; as the habit is calculated 
 to make a deep impression upon the natives, so unlike their 
 own. We get no dinner, though our servant is consequently 
 idle all the morning, while we are at English service. With 
 my husband and myself every moment is filled up as in 
 America, the native Sabbath school being exclusively under 
 our direction." 
 
 The letter from which the following extracts are taken, 
 was addressed to Mrs. Dodge, on the death of her husband : 
 " Need I spend a moment, my dear sister, to convince 
 you that in your sorrows, I am afflicted, and that I have 
 wept again and again over the memory of your and my 
 beloved friend, and at the thought of your desolated heart? 
 Though many tears had flowed, as one circumstance after 
 another confirmed the sad story of your loss ; yet when I 
 came to that part of your recital which alluded to the inter- 
 ment on Mount Zion, and pictured to myself the unconscious 
 curiosity depicted upon the familiar features of your bright 
 little Mary, in the last mournful scene, it seemed as if my 
 heart would burst. Sweet child ! God will surely be her 
 Father. I esteemed and admired your excellent husband, 
 His mind possessed certain delicate shades which were truly 
 attractive; not to mention his strong and increasing sensi- 
 bility to those spiritual things which he knows and loves 
 now with unclouded perceptions and emotions in that 
 blessed home on high. My husband and I reflect with great 
 
 10*
 
 226 MEMOIR OF 
 
 satisfaction upon our intercourse with him; we saw the 
 growing spirituality of his feelings, and very often said to 
 each other, that we had forebodings of his early removal. 
 We saw, too, that his piety was the result of cherished com- 
 munion with his God, and shall we not make him here our 
 exemplar ? His short visit at Beyroot was a cordial to our 
 tiearts." 
 
 The following letter to a young Christian relative, whom 
 Mrs. Smith hoped to welcome to a participation in her 
 labors, is inserted for the sake of the suggestions it contains 
 on preparation for the missionary work. 
 
 "BEYROOT, MARCH 2. 
 
 " Since you and I, my dear Mary, hope to be united in 
 labors, at some future day, for the benefit of this people, it 
 seems desirable that we should keep up a correspondence, 
 which you have so pleasantly commenced by your sweet let- 
 ter. I cannot tell you how much I was gratified, more than 
 by any which I have received; and I am constantly thinking 
 of your promise to come and aid me, if the Lord will. ' This 
 prospect, though distant a few years, gives a spring to my 
 feelings whenever I dwell upon it ; and furnishes one of the 
 strongest inducements to me to seek the preservation of my 
 health, that I may live to aid you by my experience, and 
 comfort you with my affection, when you forsake father and 
 mother for Christ. I look upon this consecration of your- 
 self to him as perfectly rational and consistent; and I hope 
 that in laying out your energies to prepare for the station, 
 you will feel that you are doing nothing more than is your 
 duty to do. This will keep you from spiritual exaltation 
 above those who are living for a less noble purpose; by 
 leading you to think of the high standard which God has 
 given us, rather than of the deficiencies of others. If he 
 blesses you in this undertaking, what sublimity will be at- 
 tached to all your thoughts and pursuits ! Methinks angels 
 will be your joyful companions and advisers, delegated by
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 227 
 
 your blessed Master. Perhaps too he will condescend to 
 employ me in furnishing you with a few hints that may be 
 profitable to you. In one letter, however, I will not at- 
 tempt to say all that is in ray mind; but take up one or two 
 subjects only. 
 
 " I need not dwell long, at present, upon the highest 
 qualification requisite for a missionary, though I should lo\e 
 to occupy many pages with it. You will readily believe 
 that no common degree of love to God and love to man, will 
 suffice for a foundation, in forming yourself to become one. 
 I will only remark, that this must be acquired by daily and 
 prolonged communion with God. You must not only take a 
 few minutes, at regular seasons, for prayer; but you must 
 secure some of your most valuable hours; and so occupy 
 yourself in them as to get near to God ; and so as to bring 
 eternal things near to you, that you may throw your entire 
 self into the work which engages his infinite mind ; and 
 that every thing beside may dwindle to a point. Although I 
 am very far from setting myself as a standard on the con- 
 trary, am continually lamenting my deficiencies yet I can 
 say, that if I have any heart for my work, I look back upon 
 the hours of retirement and devotion which, before I knew 
 my destination, were spent in my own chamber, in my 
 father's house, and when the beautiful stars of the morning 
 were my only light as the means of obtaining this heart. 
 I have also found great profit from whole days of private 
 fasting and prayer. You will derive particular benefit from 
 such seasons, having a known and definite object in view. 
 If you pursue an undeviating course of secret devotion, with- 
 out neglecting your active duties, your soul will gradually 
 rise to higher and still higher perceptions of truth and per- 
 sonal obligation ; and when you reach the land of darkness, 
 where, within the loyal dominions of ' the prince of the 
 power of the air,' even the regenerate have greater struggles 
 with their depraved natures; past joys and motives will come 
 back upon your soul to refresh and strengthen you; and
 
 228 MEMOIR OF 
 
 like David, you will remember God from the land of Jordan 
 and of the Hermonites, and from the hill Mizar.' 
 
 " Presuming that all your pursuits and studies will have 
 a decided and acknowledged reference to the missionary 
 work, during the years preparatory to your departure for 
 Syria; I would mention that a knowledge of languages, 
 and a facility in acquiring them, are the first requisites for 
 your undertaking. I do not wish to discourage you by too 
 formidable a list of necessary acquirements ; but Mr. Smith 
 and I both think that you should be able to speak the 
 Italian readily, to read the French, and to be sufficiently 
 familiar with Latin to use the Arabic and Latin diction- 
 ary the only one which we have; and if you can obtain 
 from your father a little knowledge of the idiom of the 
 Hebrew, it will aid you greatly in that of the Arabic, which 
 it strongly resembles. With a knowledge of Italian, you 
 can enjoy unembarrassed intercourse with most foreigners 
 in the Mediterranean ; and at brother Edward's, in New 
 York, you can get a native teacher. It is an easy, sweet 
 language. The French is so similar, you will -not find it 
 difficult ; and if you take the Latin first, you will find the 
 transition to both the others natural. The Hebrew is of 
 less consequence than the other three, and may be omitted. 
 To use De Sacy's grammar, you will need an acquaintance 
 with the French. It is seldom that an individual obtains a 
 perfect knowledge of several different languages, yet I think 
 the study of one foreign tongue, gives a taste and facility 
 for others ; and for a missionary, even a smattering in lan- 
 guages is better than nothing. As for the Arabic, you need 
 have nothing to do with it until you mingle with the Arabs ; 
 though possibly I may send you a book, that you may gratify 
 your curiosity by looking at the characters." 
 
 " BEYROOT, MARCH 17. 
 
 " My dear Mother : I have two reasons for addressing 
 myself to you especially, aside from my usual journal ; first
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. <&9 
 
 to gratify you, and secondly that I may bring you in debt 
 to me to the amount of a whole sheet of paper, filled by your 
 own dictation. Although you are mentioned in every letter 
 from home, and I love to hear that you are well and happy, 
 and that you love, and weep, and pray for me, still I have 
 an earnest desire to recognize upon paper the features of 
 your own mind ; that mind with which I have had so much 
 converse and sympathy. It is a very pleasant circumstance 
 to me, that notwithstanding I am so busily occupied with 
 cares and interests around me, I am often with you in my 
 dreams, and many times dear grandmother and brother 
 Peter are mingling with us. Shall we not all be associates 
 in heaven? 
 
 " We often think and talk of your Friday meeting, 
 which is on purpose for us; and I believe your prayers have 
 been, and will be yet more abundantly answered. On 
 Saturday we commenced a native female prayer meeting, 
 only one of whose attendants, (Mrs. W.,) gives satisfactory 
 evidence of a renewed nature ; yet we look for fruit here- 
 after. If those females in America, who decline leading 
 the devotions of a social circle, feel any thing of the reluc- 
 tance which I felt in attempting to pray in the native 
 tongue, I pity more than I blame them ; yet if they would 
 cast themselves upon God, as I was enabled to do, I doubt 
 not that similar strength would be imparted. My first effort 
 of the kind, in this difficult language, was with my little 
 girl, and I pursue it regularly. Twice I have performed 
 the duty in the school, and Mrs. W. and I stop a few 
 minutes once a week, to make the school and her irreli- 
 gious friends the subjects of prayer. If I were not writing 
 to you, dear mother, I should not mention these particu- 
 lars ; but I know you will tenderly sympathize with me in 
 an occurrence of this nature. Probably this is the fiist 
 female prayer meeting ever held in the Arabic language. 
 Will you not make it, at yours on Friday, an especial sub- 
 ject of prayer ? Pray that our stammering tongues may be 
 more and more unloosed.
 
 230 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " I wish, dear mother, you could visit my school, and 
 possess the gift of tongues. I would not withdraw your 
 interest from other objects, but I do wish you to pray a 
 great deal for these little girls. I sometimes feel that God 
 has sent me here to make an impression upon the female 
 character in Syria; yet I may be cut off speedily, and my 
 work cease. God forbid ! Rather let me be like Swartz 
 and Morrison, who have been permitted with bodily eyes to 
 behold the fruits of their labors. 
 
 " I think the habits of fasting among this people would 
 strike you singularly. They are very troublesome, to say 
 the least, in a family. Yet I am not solicitous about over- 
 throwing a superstition so comparatively innocent as this, 
 before the heart is convinced of the truth ; for I am of the 
 opinion that it often induces a recklessness of moral obli- 
 gation, unfavorable to purity. It is like having the soul 
 * swept and garnished ' for fouler spirits to be entertained 
 therein. When I took my little girl, she was fasting from 
 meat, butter, milk, and all animal substances, for forty days 
 previous to Christmas. Now, she and our Maltese are 
 keeping fifty days Lent before Easter taking no food until 
 after twelve o'clock, and then nothing of an animal nature. 
 Saturdays and Sundays the little girl, who is a Greek, may 
 eat in the morning ; and the servant boy, who is a Catholic, 
 Sundays only. This practice leads the people to think very 
 much about food, making them particular and difficult; for 
 after such long fasts, they loathe simple food, and are often 
 dissatisfied with what is given them. With my washer- 
 woman I have had frequent trouble. They are always, too, 
 wishing a change of food. The people fish all night upon 
 the sea, for ' bloodless fish,' as they are called, and often 
 the reflection of the torches, attached to their boats, dances 
 around the walls of our bed-room until morning dawns. It 
 reminds me of the probable mode in which the disciples of 
 our Saviour gained their subsistence. ' They toiled all 
 night,' but not under such a guide as these people, who are 
 thus duped to believe that this is religion, and will carry
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 231 
 
 them to heaven. Alas ! alas ! Blessed Lord, may thy 
 kingdom come speedily ! " 
 
 "Unmoor, MARCH 19. 
 
 " We feel anxious respecting our country, lest she be left 
 to misrule and destruction. May God save her, for his own 
 glory. In some respects my feelings and opinions have been 
 changed since I left America. Looking at our national 
 character at the distance of 5,000 miles, and mingling with 
 foreigners, I feel myself forming a more impartial estimate 
 than when I was borne along amid the excitement and self- 
 complacency, to which my countrymen are certainly ex- 
 posed. While I see much to admire and love, I also see 
 faults that I wish might be corrected. That humorous 
 poetical effusion of Halleck, describing the Connecticut 
 character, is not inapplicable to the nation at large: 
 
 ' They have a natural talent for foreseeing 
 
 And knowing all things.' 
 
 *** 
 ' Would shake hands with a king upon his throne, 
 
 And think it kindness to his majesty.' 
 
 " Now you must not think that I am becoming a traitor 
 to my own dear native land. It is rny love, for it that makes 
 rne jealous of her reputation ; thrown as I am into circum- 
 stances in which her merits are discussed, and where her 
 peculiarities are exposed by the various specimens of Ameri- 
 can character that find their way to these shores. I have 
 before remarked that I think our countrymen much better 
 qualified for missionary labor and self-denial than the 
 English, and I still think so; yet if we could prune away 
 some of our excrescences, raid at the same time retain that 
 energy in action which characterizes us, we should hold 
 a still higher place in ' the scale of being,' than we now do. 
 
 " I never felt the importance of family order, and a due 
 subordination of children and servants, as since I have 
 resided here ; and have been led to fear that the M'ant of
 
 232 MEMOIR OF 
 
 this in America, more than any thing else, threatens to 
 interfere with the permanence of our free institutions. 
 Surely God never designed that the beautiful and orderly 
 arrangement of his providence, which has divided mankind 
 into families, should be interrupted. During the past 
 winter, an American gentleman and his son have spent 
 considerable time at Beyroot, after travelling in the Holy 
 Land, and making some examinations for the purpose of 
 disproving the Mosaic history. They are from the south- 
 western States, and one of our English friends remarked, 
 that his own curiosity had been gratified at length by 
 a specimen of some of our ' back-woodsmen.' His criti- 
 cisms were not unkind at all towards our country ; but he 
 remarked, incidentally, that there was a singular familiarity 
 existing between this father and son ; the latter contradict- 
 ing his father continually, and treating him with no respect 
 whatever. 
 
 " It is interesting to me to study the character of the 
 English ; that race from which we sprang, and to whom 
 we ought to feel strongly attached. Between them and 
 ourselves there are shades of difference ; some to our advan- 
 tage, and some to our disadvantage. The manners of all 
 those whom I have seen are in most respects as refined as 
 those of the best classes in America. The above-mentioned 
 countrymen of ours remarked to their English acquaintances 
 at Beyroot, that at the South they did not feel much 
 sympathy with New England residents; for they were too 
 English in their character. The father said he did not visit 
 with those of his mother country, whom he met in foreign 
 lands, because he was ridiculed for eating with his knife, 
 instead of his fork ! 
 
 " May 18. Yesterday, at the Sabbath school, Mr. Smith 
 asked one of the little girls, ' who was the progenitor of 
 the Jews?' and she replied, 'Satan.' By general consent, 
 among the old and young, this afflicted race seem to be 
 condemned to ignominy here, and irretrievable destruc- 
 tion hereafter.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 233 
 
 " June 2. A few days since, one of my little Moslem 
 scholars, whose father was once an extensive merchant here, 
 came and invited me to make a call upon her mother. I 
 took Raheel, and accompanied her to their house, which is 
 in our neighborhood. I found it a charming spot, and very 
 neatly kept. An aged relative sat near the door of the 
 receiving-room, assorting and placing in a pile, some grape 
 leaves, which are much used in this country in cooking 
 rice. They mince fresh meat with the rice, and roll it up 
 in the leaves and boil it. It is a nice dish. But the reason 
 of my alluding to this, was to say that the woman was blind, 
 and all her movements reminded me so forcibly of my dear 
 mother, that I watched her with painful satisfaction. 
 
 " It is quite a formidable circumstance to receive and 
 make Arab visits, so much ceremony is requisite. I gener- 
 ally feel less at my ease in exchanging civilities with the 
 natives, than I did in any circumstances in which I was 
 placed in America. Sherbet and coffee must be furnished, 
 and the whole attention given to them while they remain. 
 Hospitality is regarded here as a religious act, I think, and 
 reputation is greatly prized. They are less sincere, how- 
 ever, than those whom they consider cold in their manner 
 of treating strangers. There is no regularity or system in 
 the arrangement of their time; of course, our New England 
 habits are often encroached upon. Sometimes, when I am 
 occupying an early hour in the few domestic cares in which 
 I allow myself, and when half-a-dozen Arab females parade 
 into the room, I am obliged to summon all my benevolence 
 and recollection, to enable me to perform the rites of hos- 
 pitality with cheerfulness. ' For this cause was I sent,' are 
 words which frequently come into my mind of late, when 
 thus interrupted. I cannot yet converse as freely as I wish 
 on any subject, especially that of religion. This too must 
 De introduced with great judgment and caution ; so that I 
 must at present content myself with accomplishing but little 
 more than exciting confidence and regard by an amiable 
 Christian deportment, which is not unimportant in preparing
 
 234 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the way for future efforts. I often think how dear mother, 
 if she were here and knew the Arabic, would interest thia 
 people. 
 
 " And is Dr. Wisner no longer upon the earth I Surely 
 there is a world, and work too, for the precious spirits who 
 are so frequently snatched from our sphere. I cannot be 
 sufficiently thankful that my own dear family circle remains 
 unbroken. I never receive a parcel from America, without 
 lifting up my heart to God that I may be prepared for what- 
 ever intelligence it may contain." 
 
 " BEYROOT, JULY 2. 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Wisner : When it has been in my heart 
 to address a letter to you, which has often been the case 
 since my removal to Syria, I little imagined that I was 
 deferring it for an occasion like the present ; and that when 
 I took my pen to assure you of my love, I should be called 
 to express also my sympathy in the sorest bereavement you 
 could experience. Dear friend, you are not the only 
 mourner in this afflictive event. We, who knew your hus- 
 band, loved him and weep for him. Who could know and 
 not love him? He won my heart the first time I enjoyed 
 your kind hospitality in Boston. That charming simplicity 
 and warmth of heart which he possessed, was very attrac- 
 tive, and he seemed so like a father and a brother to our 
 little missionary circle when we were departing from 
 America, that my attachment was greatly strengthened. 
 May I never again be called to endure the agony and con- 
 flict of feeling which I experienced at the close of the 
 evening service in Park Street church, when this dear friend 
 came to the pew where I sat, and gave me his parting 
 blessing. His own soul seemed full of deep sympathy ; 
 his words were few, and I could not speak. But for the 
 supporting grace of God, my natural feelings would have 
 wholly subdued me. 
 
 " Your excellent husband, for his kindness to our de- 
 parted relatives and to their orphan children, seemed to be
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 235 
 
 identified with us ; and as I said farewell to him, those chords 
 of feeling were touched which vibrated so painfully when I 
 left my father's house. I have loved to think of him in this 
 far distant land; and I have remembered, and repeated to 
 my missionary associates very often, a remark which he 
 made to us at our little meeting at Dr. Anderson's 'That 
 we should especially aim at the possession of a cheerful re- 
 liance upon the atonement of Christ.' This, he said, would 
 support us in our work more than any thing else ! 
 
 " When we heard of the sudden departure of Dr. Wisner, 
 I remarked to Mr. Smith, that it must be that God has a 
 place for those who become lost to us in this world, where 
 their services are immediately employed for his glory. Or 
 perhaps he sees that the sanctifying influence of their re- 
 moval will promote his kingdom more than their lives on 
 earth. All felt that this good and gifted man was eminently 
 qualified for his station. 
 
 " It is my opinion that nothing is lost to the church by 
 such an event, any more than was the case among the 
 Israelites, when Elijah was taken up to heaven. Yet we 
 mourn, and not without reason, when beloved objects are 
 snatched from our bosoms. Dear friend, how your heart 
 has bled ! If I felt anguish such as no former event ever 
 brought to my soul, when a precious brother was removed 
 by a lingering illness, what must you have suffered by the 
 sudden rending of that tie which now I know to be stronger 
 than any other ! But God has supported you, I am confident. 
 He will support you to the end. You could never claim so 
 many direct promises as in your present circumstances. If 
 ' thy Maker is thine husband,' what have you to fear ? Soon 
 we shall meet, I trust, where sorrow and sin will never draw 
 another sigh from our breasts. Please to accept, with my 
 own, the affectionate sympathy of my husband." 
 
 The feelings of Mrs. Smith as a mourner with one of the 
 families of the mission at Smyrna, afflicted in the removal of 
 a child, were tenderly expressed in the following extract :
 
 236 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 " Deal* Mrs. Hallock : You were very kind to give us 
 so minute an account of the sickness of your little daughter. 
 It was exceedingly touching, particularly as it carne from 
 a mother's pen ; and I think you have great consolation in 
 the remembrance of her sweet deportment, and tender 
 religious sensibilities. You may truly say of your precious 
 one, 
 
 ' She died to sin, she died to care, 
 But for a moment felt the rod ; 
 Then, springing on the viewless air, 
 
 Spread her light wings and soared to God. 
 
 * This the blest theme that cheers my voice, 
 
 The grave is not my darling's prison ; 
 The stone that covered half my joys 
 Is rolled away, and she is risen.' 
 
 I know much of the sorrows which death brings into an 
 affectionate family circle, having, the year that I left my 
 father's house, consigned to the tomb a beloved brother, who 
 v/as preparing for the ministry. Such events break up and 
 call forth those deep fountains of feeling in the human breast, 
 the existence of which is scarcely realized by the unafflicted. 
 1 asked my dear father, who had .before lost a lovely boy of 
 two years, which trial was the greatest, that of parting with 
 the infant, or the son of maturer years. Oh ! the last,' said 
 he, ' for the love which I bore the child, has gained twofold 
 strength for the man.' Such doubtless would have been 
 your experience. 
 
 " Do you not often think of the dear circle at Malta, and 
 the poor, ignorant beings that fill those streets? I doubt not 
 your prayers mingle with ours for the long deferred blessing. 
 Oh ! when shall we see the kingdom of Satan, around this 
 sea, tottering to its foundation? May we all be faithful to 
 our trust, and God will hasten it in his time."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 JOURNEr TO JERUSALEM RETURN TO BEYROOT. 
 
 IN prosecuting the objects of the mission, Mr. Smith was 
 called to visit Jerusalem. Mrs. Smith accompanied her 
 husband. She prepared an account of their journey to and 
 from Jerusalem ; and separate from this, a sketch of the 
 scenes she witnessed in that interesting city. The latter 
 never reached this country. Its loss occasions a chasm in 
 the present chapter, much to be regretted ; especially as it 
 was considered by her husband the most interesting of all 
 her journals ; and there is but a single letter to supply its 
 place. 
 
 To such readers of this volume as may be already ac- 
 quainted, through other channels, with scenes and places 
 described in this chapter, it is believed there will be com- 
 pensation in the characteristic descriptions she gives, and in 
 the accompanying manifestations of her peculiar feelings as 
 a Christian, visiting the scenes of a country of such sacred 
 and surpassing interest. 
 
 " BITROOT, MAT 14, 1835. 
 
 " My dear Brother and Sister : On the 1st day of April, 
 at 2 o'clock, P. M., I turned my face to go up to Jerusalem. 
 You will not doubt that I indulged some peculiar feelings as 
 I went toward the Holy Land ; such as no former journey 
 ever induced. I could hardly believe it a reality, though a 
 sacred cheerfulness stole over me. When I was a little girl, 
 I used to think of Jerusalem with great interest ; and after I 
 had a new heart, though not the heart of a missionary, I 
 thought that I could brave every imaginable evil for such a 
 field of labor. Now, I was actually realizing the dreams of 
 
 837
 
 238 MEMOIR OF 
 
 earlier days; and though the romance of childhood had 
 passed away, my heart beat in unison with the occasion. 1 
 only wanted some of my beloved ones in America to enjoy it 
 with me. 
 
 " The style of travelling in this country, together with the 
 narrowness of the roads, which seldom allows two to ride 
 abreast, interferes with social intercourse ; and conversation 
 cannot be supported without considerable effort. We talked 
 some, however, and thought more. 
 
 " Our tents were pitched at hight on the shore of the 
 Mediterranean ; and while the gentlemen were employed in 
 their erection, I walked down to the water, ' to meditate at 
 eventide.' ' That classical sea,' whose waters were then 
 clear as crystal, cast its waves upon the smooth sands with 
 calm dignity ; while I gathered the pretty shells which they 
 lodged at my feet. Not a sound was heard, save the mur- 
 muring of the sea, in this solitary place; and as I looked over 
 the wide, watery waste, my heart could not but soar to Him 
 who sitteth alone upon the throne of the universe, and 
 quietly respond to the voice of the peaceful waves. We 
 partook of our evening meal with cheerfulness, and after 
 uniting in prayer, retired to our couch. We had reason to 
 regret our choice of a location ; for the rain and the wind 
 beat upon our habitation, and the pins which held* it being 
 driven into loose sand, it fell in the middle of the night. My 
 husband was up nearly all night fastening down its sides, and 
 securing me and our articles from injury. When morning 
 dawned, however, no harm had befallen our persons or 
 property. Under the shadow of the Almighty we were se- 
 cure from the terror by night. At half past 8, we left 
 Khan Khuldeh, rode upon the shore of the Mediterranean, 
 and reached Sidon in seven hours. It is surrounded by 
 beautiful and well-watered gardens ; and as we rode out to 
 our encampment beyond the city about sundown, the bril- 
 liant verdure of the plain, bounded by low and luxuriant 
 hills, transferred us in in*agination to our dear New Eng- 
 land. The next morning at sunrise we set out for Tyre.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 239 
 
 " Whenever I saw our tent fall to the ground, my thoughts 
 naturally reverted to the taking down of the tabernacle of 
 the body at last. While waiting, I often had time to read 
 portions of Scripture appropriate to the localities we visited ; 
 to take notes also, and to converse with the women and 
 children who came to ask charity and to gather up any 
 thing which might be left. We travelled on this day along 
 ' the coast of Tyre and Sidon,' from whence many came 
 forth to witness and to be benefited by the miracles of our 
 Saviour. W T e p-assed near the site of Sarepta. The scenery 
 was exquisitely beautiful on the left; the country rising 
 gradually into hills of moderate height, whose declivities, 
 even to their summit, were covered with grain, and inter- 
 spersed with olive trees. These latter, in the distance, 
 strikingly resemble the apple trees of America, and we felt 
 almost as if we were travelling there. 
 
 " After a ride of seven hours we found ourselves in Tyre, 
 once ' the crowning city,' now most emphatically the abode 
 of indigence. We went directly to the house of our con- 
 sular agent, a respectable native, of the Greek Catholic 
 church, who treated us very hospitably. It was Friday 
 evening, and we staid in Tyre until Monday. 
 
 " Of the luxury of retirement, the inhabitants of these 
 countries know nothing, and no provision is made for it 
 in the construction of their houses. One large room is 
 furnished with cushions on each side, with a recess, before 
 which a curtain is drawn, containing the mattresses and 
 coverings of their beds, which are drawn forth at night and 
 spread over the room for sleeping. While arrangements 
 for the night were going forward, I sat quietly by with my 
 pencil, taking notes of the occurrences of the day. One of 
 the ladies took a bit of a wax taper in her hand, and dropping 
 upon her knees by my side, kindly held the light as long as 
 I wished to write ; interrupting me occasionally with ques- 
 tions about the object of this, that, and the other articles of 
 dress, &c., which I readily answered. As I sat thus oc- 
 cupied, and thus attended, I thought, ' Can it be that this is
 
 240 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the ancient Tyre ? and am I actually here? ' I made some 
 inquiries respecting the present condition of the place, of 
 this kind yet simple-minded woman. Said I, ' Have you 
 gardens, &c., here ? ' ' No,' said she, ' there is nothing here 
 but poor people, and nothing to look at but the sea;' and 
 this remark was accompanied by that very significant ges- 
 ture of the Arabs, by which they express utter destitution. 
 It is by putting the thumb and forefinger together, and 
 snapping the end of the upper teeth with the nail of the 
 thumb, bringing it suddenly from the mouth. This female 
 little imagined how strikingly she was testifying to the 
 truth of prophecy respecting that ' merchant of many isles.' 
 
 " In the evening of Saturday, we were informed very po- 
 litely, that the next day a family feast would occur to the 
 honor of their patron saint. We therefore removed all our 
 articles into the room which the gentlemen occupied, that 
 we might enjoy a more quiet Sabbath, and give them an 
 opportunity to receive their visitors without reserve. Mr. 
 Smith mingled a little with them, while several companies 
 of ladies came into the room where I sat, to see and be 
 seen. I was as kind and sociable as I was able to be, en- 
 deavoring to throw in, with my stammering tongue, a few 
 profitable remarks. One woman remained and listened 
 with apparent interest while I spoke of the downfall of 
 Tyre, as affording us a lesson to avoid pride, which God 
 eo much abhors. Towards evening they all went to the 
 church to prayers, and we accompanied them. I was of 
 course separated from my husband, and went to the women's 
 apartment, which was situated like the gallery porch of our 
 place of worship at Norwich, from whence, through lattice 
 work, we looked down upon the mummery below. The 
 female whom I mentioned as holding a light for me to 
 write, on the evening of our arrival, exerted herself so much 
 to furnish me a seat, of which the place was destitute, as to 
 cause the perspiration to stand in drops upon her face. She 
 first brought a little block, half a foot square, and then one 
 somewhat larger. By such kind acts she greatly won upon
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 241 
 
 my affections, though at first I thought her rather forbidding. 
 The women were not so much engaged in their devotions as 
 to prevent idle conversation and silly questions respecting 
 my dress. One of them asked me why I did not make the 
 sign of the cross. I simply replied that it was not my cus- 
 tom, and I did not know how. ' Poor heathen ! ' perhaps she 
 thought. As we descended into the court below, the women, 
 of which there were, to say the least, a hundred, arranged 
 themselves in order to see the stranger. I was introduced 
 to the wife of the English Consul, who urged me to go 
 home with her. I declined her invitation upon the ground 
 that I was not accustomed to use the Sabbath for visiting ; 
 enlarging a little upon my principles. Those nearest me 
 soon began to repeat my words to the others ; and it is not 
 improbable that they reached the ear of every individual. 
 But alas ! the deeply-rooted ignorance and prejudices of 
 this people are not to be undermined by casual intercourse 
 and slight efforts. They asked me if the service were not 
 excellent. I told them, ' if offered with the heart, it was ; 
 but if otherwise, it was worth nothing in the sight of God.' 
 They little imagined what an exertion I had been making 
 to restrain the emotions which the sight of it had occa- 
 sioned. 
 
 "Monday morning, at 6, we pursued our journey, after 
 gratefully acknowledging the kindness which we had re- 
 ceived. Our course was over the mountains of Galilee, 
 and through that portion of the promised land which fell to 
 the tribe of Asher. The scenery was rich and attractive ; 
 but the land thinly inhabited, owing to an oppressive gov- 
 ernment and a false religion. At this time, as well as during 
 the most of our journey, I could not but think what a noble 
 country this would be under the cultivation of freehold 
 proprietors. In this ride of nine hours, I counted thirty 
 varieties of wild flowers, many of which I recognized as 
 choice exotics in our American gardens. It seems as if 
 nothing could spring up here without producing a blossom. 
 An aqueduct, twelve miles long, supported by a succession 
 
 Smith. ] J
 
 242 MEMOIR OF 
 
 of fine arches, was on our route, and a very elegant country- 
 seat of the Pasha arrested our attention, possessing all the 
 features of an Oriental establishment. Man-y pilgrims of 
 both sexes were on their way to the Holy City, one of whom 
 attached himself to our company for several days. As he 
 was walking by the side of my donkey, palmer-like, with 
 staff in hand, I entered into conversation with him ; and 
 learning that he came from the mountains near Hadet, the 
 residence of Asaad Shidiak, I ventured to inquire what he 
 thought of him ; whether he were not a good man, &.c. 
 Drawing still nearer to my side, and casting a sidelong 
 glance towards my husband, as though he did not wish to 
 be overheard, he replied in a low and hurried tone, ' He 
 may have been a good man, but I do not like his religion.' 
 I must acknowledge that I was somewhat pleased with the 
 frankness of this answer of the Maronite pilgrim. 
 
 " The next morning we rode through Acre, the Accho of 
 the Old Testament, and the Ptolemais of the New. This 
 fortified city appears well in the distance, though not mag- 
 nificent. It is compactly built, and a spot which has been 
 much contested by the various rulers of this land. The 
 Pasha keeps men constantly employed in repairing the dep- 
 redations of the late war. We saw many poor old men in 
 companies, carrying little barrows of earth, and chained 
 like so many criminals. A large steam frigate lay in the 
 harbor. 
 
 " Our road beyond stretched around the head of the 
 beautiful bay of Acre. Upon its shores was once caught a 
 certain kind of fish, which is said to have produced the 
 celebrated purple Tyrian dye. We forded the Kishon at 
 its mouth, and breakfasted among the bulrushes upon its 
 banks. A short ride then brought us to Haifa, a village 
 opposite Acre, which furnishes a safer haven to winter in, 
 and is much used for this purpose. Thence we pursued our 
 course to the summit of Mount Carmel. From this spot 
 the view of the plain of Acre was magnificent and beautiful. 
 It is about 1,500 feet above the sea; yet we found fossil
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 243 
 
 shells there. The monastery is a large and commodious 
 building, not yet finished, but workmen were employed 
 upon it. It is occupied by seven monks, from Malta, Italy, 
 and Austria, and is altogether too fine a spot for them ; 
 though they have a range of apartments for the accommo 
 dation of travellers, where Mr. Whiting and Dr. Dodge 
 took lodgings, on their way to Jerusalem, with their fam- 
 ilies. I fixed upon it for a theological seminary, to be es- 
 tablished there some years hence ! but I did not tell the 
 monks this. They treated us with coffee, and were very 
 kind. After commencing our descent on the other side, we 
 read aloud the history of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, 
 whose contest occurred here ; and tried to imagine ourselves 
 in the place of the good prophet, when, after seven times 
 stretching his vision over the sea, which was spread out 
 before us, his servant returned with the cheering intelli- 
 gence, ' Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, 
 like a man's hand.' We now descended into the vale of 
 Sharon, and at 5 o'clock pitched our tents among its 
 beauteous flowers ; and as we plucked its rose, we thought 
 of Him who said, ' I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of 
 the valley.' 
 
 " At 6, the next morning, we went on our way, and 
 riding upon the sea-shore, our path was completely covered 
 with shells. We breakfasted among the ruins of Cesarea, 
 where not a solitary being now dwells. Here Peter first 
 preached to the Gentiles, after his most interesting introduc- 
 tion to Cornelius, whose residence it was, as well as of 
 Philip the Evangelist. Here Paul made his noble defence 
 before King Agrippa. Herod lavished his treasures upon 
 it, and made it the most flourishing city of Syria. Now, it 
 is all overgrown with grass and thorns. Under a ruined 
 arch, we sat and <fcung two verses of a hymn. After 4, 
 P. M., we encamped again in the vale of Sharon, and sung 
 the hymn which Mrs. Sigourney composed for the Mohegan 
 Sabbath School Society. It possessed peculiar appropri- 
 ateness to the occasion. Next morning, rose at 4, and
 
 244 MEMOIR OF 
 
 passed through the remainder of the vale of Sharon. Like 
 the previous day, scarcely a habitation or a human being 
 was to be seen, though the region would support many 
 thousands. The land literally ' enjoys her Sabbaths.' 
 Between 2 and 3, P. M., we reached Joppa, now called 
 Yafa, and were most cordially welcomed at Mr. Murad's, 
 our Consul a wealthy Armenian. 
 
 " Yafa may be styled the seaport of the Holy City; for 
 all who visit Jerusalem by sea go thither. A writer re- 
 marks, that ' its traditional history stretches far back into 
 the twilight of time, even anterior to the deluge ; and that 
 it is too old to have any antiquities, having outlived all that 
 once rendered it interesting.' We know, however, that the 
 timber of Solomon's temple was brought hither in floats ; 
 that Jonah fled from hence by ship to Tarshish ; and that 
 here Peter raised to life the benevolent Dorcas. Before 
 leaving Yafa, we visited the Armenian, Greek, and Latin 
 churches, in the last of which was a tolerably good picture, 
 representing Peter's dream ; and the church was dedicated 
 to him. All the different sects of Christians regard the 
 long fast of Lent ; and Moslems will only eat meat that has 
 been killed by Moslems, or superintended by them ; so 
 that heretics, like ourselves, must eat or throw away all 
 that is furnished. Our muleteers, servants, and all whom 
 we met, until after Easter, were fasting. 
 
 " We turned aside a little from the main road to visit 
 Lydda, now called Ludd. It is a most uninviting little village, 
 though its appearance from a distance is quite picturesque, 
 owing to the whitewashed domes of its houses, and the ver- 
 dure and variety of its foliage in which they are interspersed. 
 We spent an hour or two under the shade of its olive trees. 
 
 " Ramleh is an ancient town, supposed to be the Arima- 
 thea of the New Testament ; if so, the good man who gave 
 our Saviour a decent burial, was from here. We were but 
 a few hours from Jerusalem, and our hearts were too much' 
 attracted thither to be deeply interested in any thing which 
 we might find at Ramleh ; convents, churches, vaults, or
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 245 
 
 the like. We left there early in the morning, and found 
 ourselves at the gate of the Holy City, two or three hours 
 after mid-day, on Saturday, the llth of April, ten days 
 from our departure from Beyroot. 
 
 " On Wednesday, the loth, at 1 o'clock, P. M., being 
 joined by Mr. Whiting and Mr. Nicolayson, we set out 
 for Bethlehem, which is two hours from Jerusalem; and 
 riding through the valley of Rephaim, stopped at the tomb 
 of Rachel, which is probably the identical place of her 
 burial, though the present small stone building, erected by 
 Moslems over the spot, is of recent date. On reaching the 
 birth-place of our Lord, the city of David, we went direct- 
 ly to the convent which is said to cover ' the manger.' 
 Would that, instead of descending into subterranean pas- 
 sages to find the scene of this interesting event in a grotto, 
 I had spent the hour on one of the neighboring hills, where, 
 undisturbed by cowled heads and false tongues, I could 
 have derived some satisfaction from my reflections upon 
 the past. Indeed, I think it is time that Christian travellers 
 should take a decided stand against these absurdities of 
 priestcraft ; and neither give their time or money for the 
 purpose of being aided around the places, which they 
 cannot fail to regard with entire incredulity and disgust. 
 In this underground apartment are two places, in the form 
 of an ox crib, built of marble, iron, gold, &/c., which the 
 Virgin mother occupied at the time of her infant's birth ! 
 The apartment, too, in which Jerome translated the Scrip- 
 tures, is contiguous ; also his grave, in the same suite of 
 apartments. 
 
 " The Greeks, Latins, and Armenians, have a share in the 
 convent at Bethlehem ; and on the day we were there, many 
 little boys and girls were collected at evening prayers, and 
 were kneeling in files through the length of the apartment, 
 frolicking rather than praying. The inhabitants, in number 
 about three hundred, are nearly all of them Christians. 
 From Bethlehem, we rode a short distance, and pitched our 
 tents at the pools of Solomon, near the upper one, which is
 
 
 246 MEMOIR OF 
 
 386 feet long, and 231 broad. Their shape is an oblong 
 square, and they are surrounded by plastered stones. The 
 water falls from one to the other successively, and is con- 
 veyed by an aqueduct to Jerusalem. These pools are 
 worthy to have been the work of a king ; being objects 
 of interest for their magnificence, as well as for their 
 utility. It was a cold, dark night, and the inhabitants of 
 a neighboring castle, the only building near, warned us 
 against robbers, and urged us to come within their walls. 
 After tea, however, with genuine Yankee curiosity and 
 fearlessness, we issued from our tents with lighted tapers; 
 and walking some distance, descended, one by one, into 
 the bowels of the earth, to see the fountain which sup- 
 plies the pools. The entrance is by a narrow, perpen- 
 dicular descent, and it requires some effort to pass it. 
 I left my bonnet with the guide, and with my husband's 
 help, reached the spring below. It was worth the effort, 
 for there is a vaulted room, forty feet long, and nearly as 
 broad, and another somewhat smaller covered with stone 
 arches, and bearing the marks of great antiquity. At 7, 
 A. M., we left and rode to Hebron ; reaching it in the 
 course of the afternoon. As we approached this ancient 
 town called by the natives, Khaleel, which signifiesjfmnrf, 
 and is so named in allusion to Abraham's being the friend 
 of God our attention was unexpectedly arrested by the 
 magnificent grape vines. We were probably in the valley 
 of Eshcol. It had been a favorite project with us to pitch 
 our tents, like Abraham, ' in the plain of Mamre which is 
 before Hebron ; ' but the rain prevented, and we were 
 compelled to resort to accommodations which were al- 
 together more Turkish and uninviting than any which I 
 had before seen. Being wrapped in a gentleman's cloak, 
 and almost enveloped in an umbrella, which I purposely 
 drew very closely upon my head, I passed incog, through the 
 streets of Hebron, until our train stopped at the house of 
 the Governor, to which we had been directed by a citizen 
 of the place. We did not alight from our animals, until
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 247 
 
 Mr. N., who had before visited Hebron, had obtained a 
 hasty audience with his excellency, and an invitation to lake 
 lodgings in the seraia. It was an old and comfortless dwell- 
 ing ; and after crossing a small court, we found ourselves in 
 the august presence of the Governor, u genuine Turk, who 
 was reclining upon his cushions in a corner of the room. 
 He did not rise from his recumbent posture, nor condescend 
 to notice me at all ; until seeing that I was an object of 
 interest and care to my husband, he ordered a rug to be 
 spread in a broad window-seat for my accommodation. I 
 gladly hastened towards it; and there I sat, as still and as 
 silent as any Turk could desire a woman to be, until after 
 coffee had been served. The room looked as if it had not 
 been cleaned for ages; and the spider had not only laid 
 hold with her hands of this would-be palace, but had main- 
 tained her ground through more than one regency, I am 
 confident. Several handsome rugs and cushions were 
 spread over the space which the Governor occupied ; and 
 his own dress was of scarlet cloth, richly embroidered with 
 silver and gold. He complained of a lame limb; and one 
 end of his outer garment, which was a loose robe, was 
 thrown carelessly across the disabled knee, glistening with 
 the tinsel with which it was ornamented ; while ever and 
 anon his delicate and white hand, adorned with rings, was 
 employed to keep it in its place. His turban was thrown 
 back upon his head, exposing a handsome forehead and 
 comely features ; and his manners toward the gentlemen 
 were not uncourteous. After half an hour's conversation 
 with them, he retired, giving me a salam as he passed. 
 Truly happy was I to see him thus depart, and give me an 
 opportunity to relax my muscles. I dislodged some of the 
 cobwebs near me, and with the window-seat for my pillow, 
 took a little rest. 
 
 " We went to a mosque, which is built over the cave 
 of Machpelah, where lie probably the remains of Abraham, 
 Sarah, and others ; hoping to gain admittance to the tombs, 
 but did not succeed. At the synagogue, we examined the
 
 248 MEMOIR OF 
 
 copy of the Law and Talmud, and saw many Jews and 
 Jewesses. One of the persons assembled was a youth, per- 
 haps sixteen years of age, whose effeminate features, and 
 hectic glow, and manner of attire, made us doubtful for a 
 time whether he were a boy or a girl. He invited us into 
 the house of his grandfather, who is the chief Rabbi, where 
 also we saw the lad's father. It was affecting to behold this 
 aged father, son, and grandson, the only male representa- 
 tives of three generations. The old man was nearly blind, 
 being over eighty years of age ; and the light of his dwelling 
 was probably soon to be put out, in the removal of the con- 
 sumptive boy from earth ; would that I could say to heaven. 
 "Not far from Hebron, we found a very large ruin called 
 Ramet el Khaleel. Breakfasted at a place called Seir, 
 where is shown the tomb of Esau. From thence we went 
 to a cave supposed by some to be that of Adullam. After 
 descending half way down an immense ravine, we reached 
 the cave. Near its entrance, which faces the deep valley, 
 is a large, square stone, with another in the precipice above, 
 overhanging it so closely, that we were obliged to creep 
 upon our hands and knees over the first, to get at the mouth 
 of the cave. I took off my shoes to render my way more 
 safe, as the rock inclined towards the valley, and a misstep 
 would have cost me my life. Two solitary natives were 
 strolling near this usually sequestered spot, and expressed 
 great surprise at our knowledge of the existence of the cave. 
 It is probably one of the largest caves in Palestine, though 
 the land abounds with them. Some are converted into 
 dwelling-houses, and in others, the wretched inhabitants 
 find refuge from the Pasha, to avoid impressment. No 
 persecuted prophets are now found among the refugees ; 
 though once they were driven thither, and heaven was 
 thereby doubtless rendered more sweet to them. The as- 
 cent from the cave was extremely tedious; and our ride 
 home over the mountains, was cold and wearisome. We 
 met some of the ' herdmen of Tekoa,' in the neighborhood 
 of the cave ; none of them, I fear, resembling in character
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 249 
 
 the prophet Amos. We arrived at Jerusalem just before 
 the gates were closed, on the third day. 
 
 " The next week, on Wednesday, the 22d, we left again 
 for Jericho, and the Dead Sea, our party a little varied, as 
 we left Mr. Nicolayson behind, and were accompanied by 
 Mrs. Whiting, Mrs. Dodge, and Mary. It was 10 o'clock 
 when we left Jerusalem, and in an hour, or one and a half, 
 we reached Bethany. It is now a miserable spot, where 
 they show you the tomb of Lazarus ; yet once it must have 
 furnished our Saviour a pleasant retirement from the tumult 
 of the city. Our ride down to Jericho was over barren 
 mountains and parched verdure, the entire distance. A part 
 of the road was cut out of the white limestone rocks which 
 abounded on the route, and it was probably the identical 
 path in which the Good Samaritan overcame his national 
 prejudices, and excelled in benevolence the Levite and the 
 Priest. At half past 5, we encamped near a small tribu- 
 tary of the Jordan, a short distance from Jericho. While 
 the tents were erecting, I wandered forth alone, and seating 
 myself among the bushes which overhung the stream, took 
 my Testament and enjoyed an uninterrupted season of re- 
 tirement. I returned to the tents, where we took our meal, 
 engaged in social prayer, read Joshua's approach to Jericho, 
 sung ' There is a land of pure delight,' and retired to rest, 
 the gentlemen occupying one tent, and the ladies the other. 
 It was the first time that Mrs. Dodge had slept in a tent, 
 since her husband's death ; and when we were called the 
 next morning to prepare for our departure, she spoke very 
 distinctly, in her sleep, words which made me weep. ' Oh, 
 don't ask me about my husband,' she said ; ' he left me a 
 long time ago, and my heart is almost broken.' Mrs. Whi- 
 ting said, ' Cannot you put your trust in God, Mrs. Dodge 1 ' 
 This roused her, and s>he awoke so calm, and answered so 
 sweetly and gently, that I could not help loving and pitying 
 her the more. 
 
 " Deferring an examination of Jericho for the present, we 
 set forth at 4, A. M., for the Dead Sea. Our first object 
 11*
 
 260 MEMOIR OF 
 
 was the Jordan. We breakfasted upon its banks, after a 
 ride of two hours. It was indeed a sacred spot to us. This 
 was the river whose retreating waves left a path for the ark 
 of the Lord to pass safely forward, borne by his anointed 
 priests ; and here was the water which bathed the person of 
 the sinless Antitype ; when among Pharisees and Sadducees 
 he presented himself before the Baptist, ' to .fulfil all right- 
 eousness.' The mountains of Moab, barren in the extreme, 
 lay before us; and behind us appeared the Mount of Temp- 
 tation, where it is said our Saviour encountered the devil 
 during his fast of forty days. Our ride to the Dead Sea was 
 a peculiar one. All which I had imagined of the sterility 
 of the region, was fully realized. It is indeed a perpetual 
 and striking memento of the wrath of God against sin. The 
 region presents an undulating surface of nearly uniform 
 elevation, composed of a dingy, white soil ; hard, yet cracked 
 and broken, like earth which is discharging its frost, while 
 saline matter seems to have been deposited in spots over 
 the whole surface. In returning, we passed along a range 
 of low hills and valleys, where our guide found it difficult to 
 lead the way. No trees, shrubs, or stones, diversified the 
 scene, for some distance before we reached the desolate 
 shore of the sea. There, nothing that has life is seen, 
 though the general appearance of the lake itself did not at 
 that time differ from other similar bodies of water. It was 
 clear and sparkling. Our first act was to taste it. And it 
 was truly a nauseous draught ! It combined every imagina- 
 ble unpleasant flavor bitter, salt, and acrid. Of the specific 
 gravity of the water, you have perhaps heard. We found it 
 not exaggerated, as it bore up a large horse with Dr. W. 
 upon his back. You will not understand that they were 
 upon the surface of the water, but that they could not 
 sink. The poor animal knew not what to make of his 
 strange situation. 
 
 " Jericho is scarcely worthy the name of a village, even. 
 The houses are mostly huts, composed of mud, branches of 
 trees, &c., open on one side, and inhabited apparently by
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 251 
 
 nomads. Two men guided us to a fountain near by, doubt- 
 less the one which Elisha healed by casting salt therein, so 
 that the land should no more be barren. It would seem as 
 if the reality of the miracle was verified, even at the present 
 day ; for I never witnessed such luxuriance in any spot. 
 Every shrub was larger, higher, richer, of its kind, and 
 though it was the 23d of April, they had reaped and gathered 
 their barley harvest. I was quite delighted, and though I 
 had been upon my donkey nearly twelve hours, and had not 
 eaten since breakfast, my spirits were as buoyant as in the 
 morning. At evening prayers, Mr. Smith read to the mu- 
 leteers and servants the story of Lot. We rode to Jerusalem 
 next day in seven hours." 
 
 The letter to which reference has been made in the com- 
 mencement of this chapter, was addressed to Mrs. L. H. 
 Sigourney, from which is extracted the following : 
 
 " JERUSALEM, APRIL 21. 
 
 " A few days since, my dear madam, while wandering 
 over some of the sacred places of this interesting city, we 
 came to the fountain which furnishes the ' Pool of Siloam.' 
 1 said to my husband, ' I will write to our friend, Mrs. 
 Sigourney, before I leave Jerusalem,' and he plucked a tiny 
 flower from that memorable spot, that I might enclose it to 
 you. As we ascended from the Pool itself, which stands in 
 the ' king's garden,' after bathing our hands and tasting its 
 soft and limpid water, I thought how your poetic pen would 
 gain additional inspiration from such a spot, and I almost 
 wished that you were with us. In that garden Solomon 
 built a house for Pharaoh's daughter, and its location and 
 verdure, even now, indicate its former beauty and adapted- 
 ness. Yet nought remains of the splendor of the days of 
 Solomon and of Herod the Great. The glory is departed. 
 
 " This being the verdant season, it is the most favorable 
 period for visiting Jerusalem. Zion and Olivet, the Vale 
 of Cedron and the Garden of Gethsemane, appear green
 
 252 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and beautiful, under the brilliant rays of the same glorious 
 sun which once illumined them ; the birds, too, sing sweetly 
 as ever, and ' while marble columns and palaoes have 
 crumbled into dust, the simple flower of the field grows 
 and multiplies forever.' You can readily believe, that 
 while we derive no satisfaction from visiting the Church 
 of the Holy Sepulchre, within whose glittering walls priestly 
 policy and ingenuity have concentrated all the scenes of 
 Calvary, we still enjoy much from those natural features 
 of Jerusalem which can easily be identified. They are 
 peculiarly striking. 
 
 " I am not surprised at the tenacity with which the Jews 
 attach themselves to their former capital ; or that in their 
 ignorance of the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom, 
 they should still cherish expectations of future glory to their 
 nation. The great adversary of God and man has brought 
 them, as well as the various sects who occupy this country, 
 to the same level of deep degradation and subservience to 
 his rule. If you wish to know what mankind have lost in 
 breaking away from their allegiance to the rightful Governor 
 of the universe, come hither ; and if you would then wish to 
 realize what Christ has done for their recovery, go back to 
 America. The most trifling comforts which you have been 
 accustomed to regard as accidental, will then appear to have 
 been purchased by his love, as they really were. Personal 
 cleanliness, the orderly arrangement of a house, to say 
 nothing of matters of greater refinement and taste, would 
 strike you as features of the kingdom of purity and love, in 
 distinction from the kingdom of confusion and darkness 
 which exists here. But I need not dwell on this subject 
 for your information ; neither upon the interesting localities 
 of this vicinity, as the recitals of those who have preceded 
 me have doubtless made you familiar with them. 
 
 " Since arriving in Jerusalem we have made two excur- 
 sions, each occupying about three days. The first was to 
 Bethlehem and Hebron ; the second to the Jordan and 
 Dead Sea. Those very mountains and valleys reechoed the
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 253 
 
 sweet sounds of David's harp, when he wandered over them 
 with his father's sheep; and there he doubtless composed 
 many of his choicest psalms of praise to the Author of so 
 much beautiful scenery. ' In the same country,' too, did 
 angelic voices sing higher praise to Him who also sent 
 ' peace on earth and good will to men.' We visited, it is 
 true, the subterranean apartments of a convent, where are 
 shown the stable and the manger in which the infant Jesus 
 was laid ; but I would recommend to the Christian who 
 wishes to enjoy and profit by a short tarry in this region, 
 not to waste his time and energies in resorting to the places 
 which are marked out by monkish tradition. The incredu- 
 lity and disgust thus excited, tend rather to exhaust the mind, 
 and to interfere with those simple and agreeable feelings 
 which would naturally arise in the breast ; if not to take the 
 place of them altogether." 
 
 The letter of Mrs. Smith to her brother is here resumed, 
 giving an account of her journey on her return from 
 Jerusalem. 
 
 " Our first day's ride from Jerusalem, of seven hours, 
 possessed nothing peculiarly interesting ; we encamped, as 
 usual, near a fountain of water, not far from a village. 
 Rose at half past 5 the next morning, and passed a large 
 company of persons, handcuffed, and guarded by the 
 Pasha's soldiers; they had just been seized for his army. 
 I should think there were forty in all, from mere boys to 
 old men ; and a few wives and mothers followed in the 
 rear, who said to our muleteers, (who were Christians,) 
 * You are blessed! ' Only Mohammedans are seized. Chris- 
 tians are not allowed to possess arms, and are regarded 
 somewhat in the light of slaves, paying taxes only; and 
 vet they go forth free and fearless, while the genuine sub- 
 jects of Moslem power shrink away from observation. To- 
 morrow we might have fifty servants at our door, if we 
 would give them American protection.
 
 254 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " Early in the afternoon we reached Sychar, now called 
 Nabloos. We rode perhaps half an hour through the 
 beautiful valley which separates the mountains of Gerizim 
 and Ebal, before we reached the city. These are noble 
 heights, and so contiguous, that the blessing and the curse 
 could have been heard by the tribes who were encamped 
 in the plain below. Mount Gerizim is the most fertile; and 
 stretches along on the south, on the declivity of which lies 
 the picturesque town of Sychar. ' Beer Yakob,' or Jacob's 
 Well, is at the opening of the valley, some distance from the 
 city. Nabloos, as it is now called, is a large and very 
 flourishing place, embosomed in luxuriant gardens, and wa- 
 tered by fine streams. It has been said to contain 10,000 
 inhabitants, mostly Mohammedans. We visited the Samar- 
 itans, and their synagogue. This ancient and curious 
 race, of Cuthean descent, are now about one hundred in 
 number. They are wealthy and independent, but their 
 manners are gross and their physiognomy uninteresting. 
 We first visited the family of the priest; and after some 
 hesitation, I, though a woman, was permitted to accompany 
 them to the synagogue, the door of which was locked 
 within, while in our stockings we walked about upon the 
 dusty mats which covered the small apartment. They 
 showed us the Pentateuch in their native tongue, 3,400 
 years old, as they pretend ; and the only part of the Scrip- 
 tures which they regard as inspired. They openly declared 
 to us that the prophets were all liars ; and in answer to my 
 question, whether at this time there existed a friendship 
 between them and the Jews, they replied very contemptu- 
 ously in the negative. They are in expectation of the com- 
 ing of the Messiah, who is to be a mere man, and to make 
 Sychar the metropolis of his kingdom. As we left the 
 synagogue, the priest anticipated Mr. Smith's intentions, 
 by soliciting a present, and then complained of its being too 
 little ! In this city, Israel separated from Judah, and chose 
 Rehoboam for their king. It is a place of much interest. 
 
 " May 2. We rose at 4. and after a ride of two or
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 255 
 
 three hours, reached Samaria, the capital city of the revolted 
 tribes. It is situated upon a mountain, and surrounded by 
 mountains. Before breakfasting, we ascended with much 
 fatigue from the valley below, to examine a ruined church, 
 and a row of isolated columns ; the last of which are probably 
 the remnants of the grandeur of Herod the Great, who held 
 his court in this city, when the fascinating Salome, and her 
 malicious mother, accomplished the death of that holy man, 
 John Baptist. The remains of the cathedral, now a mosque, 
 commemorate the supposed place where he was beheaded ; 
 into the vault of which we descended. In addition to 
 other numerous mementoes of the wrath of God against 
 sin, with which this land abounds, those ruined columns, 
 standing amid trees and grass, and associated with the 
 events which the old church brings to mind, furnish a 
 striking lesson. Elijah and Elisha here wept and prayed. 
 After leaving Samaria, the aspect of the country was 
 uncommonly beautiful and varied. It was the inheritance 
 of Joseph ; and brought forcibly to our minds the blessing 
 of the fond father in his last hours, when, as his sons were 
 gathered around him, he dilated so feelingly upon the trials 
 and temporal rewards of him who was separated from his 
 brethren * Even by the God of thy father who shall help 
 thee, and by the Almighty who shall bless thee with bless- 
 ings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth 
 under,' &c. 
 
 " The women of Palestine often attracted our attention, 
 by the various modes in which they carried their burdens, 
 and the alacrity with which they moved under the weight 
 of them. This day we observed a novel sight of this de- 
 scription a woman tripping along with a good sized cradle 
 upon her head, in which reposed a sleeping infant. 
 
 " At 5 o'clock, Saturday, P. M., we reached Jeneen, a 
 small village on the south side of the plain of Jezreel, or 
 vale of Esdraelon, as it is sometimes called. Here we spent 
 a quiet Sabbath, without the village. No one intruded 
 upon our retirement. The door of our tent opened toward
 
 256 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the magnificent plain which stretches down to the bay of 
 Acre. Mount Carmel lay in the blue distance. The next 
 morning we commenced our ride over this beautiful vale, 
 where flowers in rich profusion were scattered in our path, 
 and three elegant gazelles were bounding amid the rich and 
 waving grain. 
 
 We arrived at Nazareth about noon. Its size and ap- 
 pearance disappointed us, but my feelings on entering it 
 were more pleasing than at any previous place. I looked 
 around upon the general features of the surrounding country, 
 and thought how familiar all had been to the Saviour's eye, 
 from childhood to maturity. When his body was wearied 
 with the labors attendant upon his employment as a me- 
 chanic, and his pure and elevated mind was panting for 
 more congenial intercourse than would be found in the 
 haunts of men ; how often, doubtless, did he become re- 
 freshed by wandering over those hills, and conversing with 
 his Father and our Father ! We held the Monthly Concert 
 in our tent, and it was a very agreeable one, as you may 
 suppose. Although the church of the Annunciation was 
 near our encampment, I did not visit it, for I was better 
 satisfied with gazing at the unaltered objects of nature. 
 Though not particularly striking, they furnished more prof- 
 itable associations than the glittering interior of a church. 
 
 " At 6 the next day we left Nazareth, and took our morn- 
 ing meal at Cana. Of course we thought and talked of the 
 wedding which once took place there. My present knowl- 
 edge of the practices of this country, in regard to such feasts, 
 enabled me better to understand and appreciate the circum- 
 stances attending the miracle there wrought. The enter- 
 tainment at a marriage usually continues for several days, 
 and the quantity which will be required to furnish all the 
 guests, cannot be ascertained at the commencement. These 
 humble relatives of our Saviour probably had greater de- 
 mands made upon their hospitality than they could meet ; 
 and when new guests continued to present themselves, he 
 condescended to supply their wants. I have no idea that
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 257 
 
 he employed his miraculous power to encourage excess, 
 neither does the Scripture narrative imply this. His object 
 was to enable his family friends to pass cheerfully aud re- 
 spectably through an entertainment, which the ordinance of 
 marriage justified them in making. How lovely and en- 
 tirely free from moroseness does his character appear ! 
 
 "At 1, P. M., we reached Tiberias, having had, at inter- 
 vals, as we passed over the mountains, several glances of 
 the mild and lovely lake, upon whose bosom not an object 
 presented itself. The little walled town of Tiberias, upon 
 its western edge, looked like the little toy cities which chil- 
 dren make of blocks of wood. Its form is quadrangular. 
 It is the only inhabited spot of any consequence upon the 
 shore of Gennesareth ; and but one solitary tree met our 
 eye without the walls. Beneath the shade of this we were 
 glad to shelter ourselves from the burning rays of a meridian 
 sun, until our tents were thrown up. We then went out to 
 the hot baths, which the Pasha has fitted up for his soldiers. 
 These are a mile south of Tiberias. One very large tank 
 receives the water from a spout which proceeds from a 
 lion's mouth. The waters are considered highly medicinal 
 by the natives. The next morning we rose very early, 
 before the mild beams of the morning star had melted away 
 into the light of heaven; the peaceful waters of the lake 
 reflected its gentle rays, and seemed like a precious remem- 
 brance of Him, who not only sailed, but walked upon its 
 bosom. Here, too, he invested his disciples with power to 
 become fishers of men. The snowy ridges of Mount Hermon 
 formed part of the scenery in the background, and presently 
 the lord of. day rose from behind the mountain range, and 
 we entered the walls, equipped for our day's journey. A 
 hasty ride through its streets was sufficient for our purpose, 
 for not half the enclosure is occupied. 
 
 " This was the sixth of May, and we were now going 
 towards Safed. We saw it before us during the whole day, 
 its situation being uncommonly elevated. At 1, P. M., we 
 reached the city. Safed is one of the four sacred cities of
 
 258 MEMOIR OF 
 
 the Jews, and many of these reside here now. Jerusalem, 
 Bethlehem, and Hebron, are the three others. We went 
 into the Jewish quarter, as my husband had some books for 
 one of their physicians, from Mr. N. While he was making 
 his call, I remained near the door, outside, and very soon I 
 was surrounded by scores of Jewish women and girls, and a 
 few men. A part of them had recently arrived from Poland, 
 and could only speak the German language. Some of the 
 little girls, having lived in Safed several years, could speak 
 Arabic ; which enabled me to hold conversation with them. 
 One in particular acted as my dragoman, interpreting my 
 Arabic to her countrywomen, in German. The most of 
 them were knitting stockings in European style, which made 
 me feel quite at home. I took off my gloves, and standing 
 among a crowd in the street, knit a little upon the work of 
 half-a-dozen different ones, which gratified them highly. 
 I was much struck with the soft and intelligent expression 
 of their hazel eyes, which were common to the whole group, 
 both male and female. Their complexion is European ; 
 and contrasted with the Eastern women, they are fair and 
 attractive. 
 
 " We accomplished a fatiguing ascent to a towering cas- 
 tle, from whence we had a most extensive and magnificent 
 prospect. Hermon, Tabor, the mountains of Gilead, and 
 the Sea of Tiberias, form a prominent part of the beautiful 
 scenery. The Jews come here in great numbers, to wait 
 for the Messiah, and to keep a celebrated feast, at which the 
 greatest indecencies and irregularities are practised. The 
 feast is solemnized in a neighboring village in honor of a 
 celebrated Rabbi, who wrote a cabalistic book, which they 
 hold in higher veneration than the Bible. Jews from all 
 parts of the world resort thither, bringing with them the 
 most expensive garments, embroidered with gold and silver, 
 which they dip in oil, and having suspended them upon a 
 pole, set fire to them; they then lie intoxicated three or 
 four days. At the feast of Purim, too, which commemorates 
 the deliverance of their nation, through the agency of Esther
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 259 
 
 the queen, they oblige themselves to become so intoxicated 
 as not to be able to distinguish between the phrases ' blessed 
 be Mordecai, and cursed be Haman.' Oh ! who can doubt 
 the existence of one great enemy of God, who is ingenious 
 in devising wickedness, beyond the capacities of mere man? 
 
 "At 6 the next morning, we left Safed, and pitched our 
 tents that afternoon near the waters of Merom, where there 
 was no village. Nearly opposite to this spot, at the foot of 
 Mount Hermon, we saw very indistinctly the ruins of a 
 castle, which was near the Cesarea Philippi of the Scrip- 
 tures, now called Banias. Dan is near the same spot, so 
 that although we had not travelled from Dan to Beersheba, 
 we had come nearly from Beersheba to Dan. We were 
 near the source of the Jordan, which rises in Mount Her- 
 mon. Here, at the waters of Merom, Joshua gained a great 
 victory over the idolatrous nations of Canaan, though they 
 came up against them ' as the sand upon the sea-shore in 
 multitude, with horses and chariots very many.' 
 
 " On the next day, between 1 and 2, we stopped near 
 Merj Ayoon, or meadow of fountains, so called from the 
 number of fountains in the neighborhood. At this village 
 nearly the whole population sallied forth to look at us, and 
 pleaded for our civility upon the ground that they were 
 ' all Christians,' which they reiterated again and again. 
 Hitherto in our journey the inhabitants had been reserved, 
 and the women -apparently without much curiosity. But 
 as we approached Mount Lebanon the scene was completely 
 changed, so that we were like a caravan of wild beasts, to 
 the villagers. Mr. Smith talked very plainly with the 
 priests. 
 
 " The next day we rose early, and after a ride over moun- 
 tains and valleys, we descended into a deep, narrow glen, 
 through which runs the Leontes, whose source is in the 
 Bukaa, and divides Lebanon from Anti Lebanon. Crossing 
 it by a bridge, we breakfasted upon its opposite bank. From 
 the steep precipices which overhung our path, sprung forth 
 the passion-flower and the most luxuriant dragon's-mouth.
 
 2(50 MEMOIR OF 
 
 I think the latter must be particularly indigenous to such 
 spots, as from the wall of the court of Mr. Whiting's house 
 in Jerusalem an elegant white one grows in the same man- 
 ner. It takes a graceful turn from the wall, and shoots up 
 erect, apparently requiring no support. 
 
 " You have doubtless noticed that our route home was 
 not like the one which we pursued in going to Jerusalem. 
 We went by the sea-shore, and returned over rugged moun- 
 tain paths. We spent our Sabbath in a spot which I shall 
 not soon forget. It was a large village, high in the moun- 
 tains, called Jezeen, its inhabitants nearly all of them 
 Christians. The place of our encampment was romantic 
 and delightful in the extreme. Noble walnut trees, copious 
 streams, magnificent precipices, all conspired to make the 
 spot uncommonly attractive. But I was obliged to be shut 
 up in my tent nearly all the time. During the sacred day 
 appropriated to rest, the noise and confusion was like that 
 of an annual parade upon 'the great plain' in Norwich. 
 For myself I had severe struggles of feeling; I wanted to 
 pity these people, and do them good, but I was made so un- 
 comfortable by their intrusions, that my sensibilities revolted 
 from coming in contact with such a multitude. In an hour 
 of social service which we secured to ourselves, I was com- 
 forted by the hymns sung, and a sermon of the late Mr. 
 Jenkins of Portland ; and the cloud which was thrown over 
 my mind vanished. Mr. Smith had a favorable opportu- 
 nity to sow some seed of ' the word ' there, I trust. We rose 
 at 2 the next morning, and left the village before the in- 
 habitants had risen. We passed the former residence of a 
 wealthy prince, who, being regarded as rebellious by the 
 Emeer, was deposed, his palace demolished, and his head 
 cut off. The grounds were extensive and fertile, and the 
 ruined palace large. At 1, P. M., we arrived at Der 
 el-Komr, (Convent of the Moon,) a large village near the 
 residence of the Emeer Besheer, the Prince of Mount Leba- 
 non professedly a Mohammedan, but really a Christian, 
 according as the term is used here. His buildings and those
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 261 
 
 of his son are handsome, situated upon the summit of high 
 terraced hills. 
 
 " We encamped beyond the town, on an elevated spot, 
 where perfect stillness reigned, and not an individual in- 
 truded upon us. After our noisy Sabbath at Jezeen, this 
 seemed like a calm after a storm. We now began to feel 
 that we were getting home, for it was our last night on the 
 road. We had the afternoon before us ; and I began to col- 
 lect my thoughts, and make some new resolutions for the 
 future, as we were anticipating a change of residence and a 
 new family circle. We retired to rest early, and rose at 
 midnight to complete our journey. The ride by moonlight, 
 among the wild and rugged scenery through which we passed, 
 was very interesting. Much of the way was so steep and 
 stony, that the old muleteer of whom I have spoken, was 
 obliged to lead my donkey till we came to a new road made 
 by the Emeer, consisting of broad steps, winding over the 
 mountains. We breakfasted near a khan, and dined in Bey- 
 root, at the table of our kind friend, Mrs. Abbot, the 12th of 
 May. We did exercise some gratitude to our kind Preserver, 
 I trust ; for he had covered us with ' his wings,' and no harm 
 had come nigh us by day or by night."
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE HEALTH TRIALS PAST VIEWS OP 
 
 CHRISTIANS ON THE STATE OP THE WORLD LETTER 
 
 TO MISS WILLIAMS RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICAN 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 IT is doubtless proper that missionaries should be contem- 
 plated, not only in their labors, cares, and trials, but also in 
 their social character and enjoyments; and in those pleasant 
 local circumstances in which Divine Providence places 
 them, conducive to their comfort and happiness. If there 
 be any Christian in the wide world, to whom a pleasant res- 
 idence, and the enjoyments of social life, and of a cultivated 
 taste and intellect, are desirable and reasonable, it is the 
 missionary. And the Christian at home, of generous sen- 
 timents, will rejoice to know that the " laborer" whom his 
 contributions are sustaining in a foreign land, finds some 
 of the same temporal blessings which are bestowed upon 
 himself; and will never take it up as a reproach against him, 
 that he finds enjoyment in his field of service. 
 
 Mrs. Smith carried into her missionary life and labors, all 
 her taste, mental cultivation, and social habits ; and appeared 
 in Syria much as when in America, amidst the pleasant cir- 
 cumstances of home and her father's house. And one im- 
 portant object of this Memoir will be answered, if it shall 
 serve to convince any who need the conviction that it 
 is possible for a serious, devoted, and useful missionary to be 
 as happy as any other Christian. These remarks are made 
 with reference to some portions of the present chapter ; and 
 also to passages which have appeared, or will appear, in 
 others. 
 
 263
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS SMITH. 263 
 
 " BETROOT, JULT 3, 1835. 
 
 '' My ever-beloved Parents : You mention the manner 
 in which the contents of my letters are made known to 
 my friends. It is certainly a very good one, if they do 
 not contain much which would be esteemed trifling, ex- 
 cept to the beloved family circle. Since I left America, 1 
 have never allowed myself to be flattered with the thought 
 that others would have access to them. I have written as 
 freely and simply as if I had been making a visit in Lebanon 
 or New London, and I must continue to do the same. Long 
 may the period be deferred, when any thing like restraint 
 shall characterize our correspondence, or any diminution 
 occur of that confiding "affection which has been the earthly 
 charm of my existence. 
 
 " How good God has been all my life, in giving me so 
 many to love me and to be loved by me ! To this I attribute 
 the want of jealousy in my disposition, and indeed I some- 
 times fear that I appropriate to myself more affection than is 
 my portion ; certainly more than I deserve. I am reading 
 your little book in course ; that is, taking up the portions 
 of Scripture in order, on the Sabbath, as you read and heard 
 them. Perhaps we may talk of them in our Father's house 
 above. 
 
 " July 16. Although thus late in the season, through 
 the goodness of God my health continues perfect ; and I am 
 able to keep school every day, notwithstanding I am in a 
 southern clime. I often think of the precious promises con- 
 tained in the 121st Psalm, especially these words, ' The 
 Lord is thy keeper ; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right 
 hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon 
 by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil ; he shall 
 preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out 
 and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even forever 
 more.' 
 
 " My school interests me more and more every day, and 1 
 do not love to think of suspending it even for a few weeks, 
 during the hot season. Day before yesterday, a wealthy
 
 264 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Jewish lady came with her two daughters to the school, and 
 begged me to take the youngest as a scholar. The elder 
 sister remained also; her age I cannot tell, but she is a dis- 
 creet, intelligent girl, ' in her teens.' Yesterday morning 
 they came again, and the mother asked me to teach her 
 eldest daughter Italian, and ornamental needlework. I re- 
 plied that my cares in the school were at present as much as 
 my strength would allow; that my husband was every day 
 urging me to suspend the school for a season, but if ad- 
 ditional laborers arrived from my country, as I expected, we 
 would extend our operations. She answered politely ; and 
 furthermore, requested that I would allow her little girl to go 
 home before the religious exercises of the school, as ' their 
 prayers were of a different kind.' I expressed no surprise 
 or displeasure at this, but courteously assured her that it 
 would be as she had desired. She then gave me her salams, 
 and with her other daughter went towards the door, where 
 they stopped and conversed several minutes. They then re- 
 turned to me, and the Jewess said her elder daughter would 
 like to learn Arabic, and to be taught and controlled like the 
 other scholars; to which I consented, and they left me. 
 Before prayers, I gave them liberty to go home. To-day 
 they came, and behaved, as before, sweetly. I told them, 
 when we were about to close the school, that they might 
 leave. The larger one did not seem inclined to go, and 
 said to her sister, ' Will you go or stay ? ' The latter, from 
 childish feelings rather than religious prejudices, probably, 
 preferred to go, and they left. I think I shall take great 
 pleasure in instructing them, for my Saviour's sake. But 
 how was I struck with the fact that Moslems, Catholics, and 
 Greeks, could remain where He is acknowledged ; while 
 that nation, whom with fraternal feelings He denominated 
 ' his own,' despise and reject him, and cannot endure the 
 place where he is worshipped ! 
 
 " Sabbath, July 19. At our Sabbath school to-day, were 
 twenty-eight scholars twenty-one girls and seven boys. I 
 began, some weeks since, to read and explain to my class the
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SM1TPI. 265 
 
 histories of the Old Testament, from the creation. To-day, 
 the lesson was the arrival of Jacob in Haran. The children 
 seem delighted to find such ' sweet stories,' as they call them, 
 in the Bible, and I think it incites them still more in learn- 
 ing to read. The few who can now read a little, commit to 
 memory portions of John's Gospel, from one or two verses to 
 forty and more. Your Sabbath school will excuse me if I 
 make a comparison, on this ground, in favor of our little 
 school in Beyroot. In committing to memory, these evince 
 more perseverance and more exactness, than those of the 
 same age whom I had the pleasure to instruct in America. 
 
 " July 31. To-day I closed my school for the month of 
 August, by the distribution of rewards to thirty little girls. 
 The American and English Consuls, and a few Arab friends, 
 were present, and expressed much pleasure at the sight of so 
 many young natives in their clean dress. The invitations 
 to friends were unpremeditated, and no exhibition of work 
 was made; a few of the more advanced scholars read a little 
 in the New Testament. 
 
 " If it were right and practicable to obtain any temporal 
 blessing by a wish, I would utter one on this anniversary of 
 our wedding-day, which would bring you quickly here, my 
 dear parents, in spite of age, infirmities, and the broad 
 Atlantic. How we should enjoy a visit from you in this our 
 pleasant house, where, in our affections and our comforts, we 
 would make you forget, for a little while, that you were on 
 missionary ground ! Our house, which we have taken for 
 ten years, is large, airy, and commodious; in which, though 
 it is midsummer and a southern climate, we enjoy health 
 and are able to pursue all our occupations. We have a fine 
 breeze from the sea nearly all the time; and at night we 
 sleep as quietly and soundly as two little hearty children, 
 who are without responsibility and care. Yet we have much 
 of both these. In addition to the superintendence of the 
 press, my husband preaches every Sabbath in Arabic, and 
 more than every other Sabbath in English, besides attend- 
 ing the native Sabbath school. I attend constantly the fe- 
 
 12
 
 266 MEMOIR OF 
 
 male school from 8 to 11, A. M. Yesterday 1 had twenty- 
 eight girls. 
 
 " You would perhaps like some description of our resi- 
 dence. It belongs to one of the wealthiest and most re- 
 spectable families in Beyroot ; is situated in the midst of 
 gardens of mulberry trees, retired from the road, yet very 
 accessible. It is built of stone, with a flat roof; and beside 
 the rooms of the press, has upon the lower floor, a kitchen, 
 store-room, lumber-room, servants' room, and bath ; all of 
 which surround a large covered court, opening upon a pretty 
 little flower garden, between which and the court is an awn- 
 ing of grape vines, whose luxuriant fruit is beginning to en- 
 rich our social board. Upon the second story, which we 
 occupy, are a large dining-room, a bed-room, study, room 
 for Raheel, my little girl, and two rooms beside are now 
 being built. These occupy the sides of a beautiful open 
 court, where we can sit and gaze upon the illimitable sea 
 which stretches out before us; and every evening we may 
 see the sun sink behind its peaceful waters. The morning 
 and evening skies here are brilliant beyond description. 
 When ' bright aurora streaks the eastern sky,' before the sun 
 shows his head above Mount Lebanon, we rise from our un- 
 disturbed slumbers, and after a season of retirement, Mr. 
 Smith works in the garden an hour, which greatly promotes 
 his health and cheerfulness ; and when he comes up at 7 
 o'clock to prayers, he seldom fails to bring me a rose, jes- 
 samine, or carnation pink, to add to the choice bouquet upon 
 my work-table. The flower garden contains orange, lemon, 
 and pomegranate trees in full bearing; and behind the house 
 is a garden somewhat larger, containing apple, peach, plum, 
 apricot, and mulberry trees. 
 
 !< My letter, some might say, is not a very missionary one, 
 but you can read the intelligence of our operations in the 
 Missionary Herald, while in that you learn nothing about 
 our house, family arrangements, &c., and these are what 
 friends wish to know. In reading my description of our 
 situation, you must remember that this is the dry season of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 267 
 
 the year, and that next winter, when the porous walls admit 
 the rain and damp, we shall perhaps sometimes think of your 
 superior comforts. In taking this house, we had in view 
 accommodating the press, as well as promoting our own 
 health ; and we often speak of the overruling Providence 
 which has furnished us with so pleasant a spot. Last year, 
 you recollect, we lived in one room at the mountains, where 
 we were favored with nightly visits from jackals." 
 
 On the eighth of August, Mrs. Smith was gratified with 
 intelligence of the arrival at Smyrna of the friend she had 
 invited to come and assist in the school. She thus writes 
 to her : 
 
 " My beloved Sister : It is but a very few weeks since 
 1 learned the result of my appeal to the Secretaries at the 
 Rooms, and to yourself; though I confidently expected a 
 favorable result, I cannot tell why. I can scarcely realize 
 that you are already among us, as it were, and I long to 
 welcome you to my heart, my home, and my labors. My 
 own health is perfectly good at present ; thanks to a kind 
 Preserver. On Saturday I closed my school for the month 
 of August, in obedience to my husband. It was increasing 
 every day in numbers, and I would gladly have continued it; 
 but the course, doubtless, was a prudent one. Last Sabbath 
 we had at our Sabbath school, forty-six scholars, a fourth 
 of whom were Moslems. Could you come with the gift of 
 tongues, how much we would do ! As it is, you can aid me 
 very much; for I felt, the last few days of my school, 
 that one head and a pair of hands were hardly sufficient for 
 forty untutored Arabs. 
 
 " I suppose you know that you are coming among an ex- 
 ceedingly social people. At all hours we are subject to 
 visits, from persons of every rank and age. The Syrians 
 often remind me of Solomon's remark, that ' the talk of the 
 lips tendeth to penury.' But we have reason to love them, 
 and do love them; and I think our influence among them ia
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 increasing. They think much of hospitality and courtesy, 
 and, were it not that they attribute some of our deficiencies 
 to ignorance of their language, our New England sincerity 
 would appear like bluntness. 
 
 " My husband and I have unitedly and individually re- 
 membered you at the throne of grace. In this I have taken 
 great pleasure. Having so recently passed through similar 
 scenes, I felt that I knew just what you wanted during the 
 past few months ; whether you were preparing to leave our 
 country, or were already upon the restless ocean. On the 
 Sabbath, especially, have my sympathies and prayers carried 
 me to the very threshold of your heart. Dear friend, for the 
 present, adieu. God grant us a happy meeting, erelong." 
 
 "August 12. There has been a seizure of Christian 
 youth to-day, for the manufactories at Acre ; and great 
 alarm has pervaded the city. We were told this morning 
 that thirty refugees were in and around our house. When 
 such events occur, as has been the case frequently of late, 
 mothers and sisters come to us to beg protection for sons and 
 brothers. I thought much to-day of our happy land, where 
 every one can sit unmolested ' under his own vine and fig 
 tree.' I believe I have told you that our trials here are 
 mostly of a moral nature, because there is little integrity 
 either in servants, employers, or children ; whether they be 
 native or foreign. In consequence of this, I sometimes feel, 
 ' Oh that I could fly away and be at rest ! ' But I have long 
 been accustomed to a degree of watchfulness over the morals 
 of those around me. in consequence of the solicitude which 
 I used to feel for the younger branches of our own family in 
 America. 
 
 " That which adds greatly to the trial of coming in con- 
 tact with deceit and unfaithfulness here is, that falsehood and 
 a smooth tongue are constantly employed to cover every act 
 of deception. ' Ma fe ne ikzub, abadan' (it is not in me 
 ever to utter a falsehood,) is in every mouth, of both old and 
 young ; if you utter a suspicion or reproof, their loquacity
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 269 
 
 will far outrun you, in the utterance of moral sentiments 
 respecting the guilt and shame of dishonesty. Oh ! hasten 
 in the multiplying of laborers for this dark land ; and let 
 none imagine that they are doing more than they ought, or 
 that they are even especially self-denying and meritorious, 
 if they give their sons or their daughters, their brothers or 
 their sisters, for the purpose of scattering the dense clouds 
 of the moral atmosphere. I do not know what led my 
 thoughts into this train ; but for several days I have been 
 thinking, that, when Faith, for instance, was a young girl, 
 and balls and cotillion parties, and such irrational amuse- 
 ments, occupied nearly all the time ; when many parents 
 were gratified with having their children admired for per- 
 sonal beauty and accomplishments, not a ray of spiritual 
 light had then penetrated the darkness of this Mediterranean 
 country. Every soul was enveloped therein, and not a 
 solitary Christian raised a finger to help them. Perhaps a 
 conversation which I held with our beloved Christian brother 
 Tannoos, led me to these reflections. He is nearly forty 
 years of age, and was giving me some account of his reli- 
 gious experience. He alluded to a friend of his childhood 
 and youth, yet a Papist, with whom he used to have much in- 
 tercourse ; and my imagination carried me vividly back to 
 those days, when these two boys, hand in hand, rambled upon 
 Mount Lebanon ; and I thought, if Christians had only then 
 commenced the performance of duty which for ages had 
 been neglected, a generation of enlightened, educated, and 
 perhaps pious people, would now be on the stage to bless 
 our eyes, and to aid us in our toils. Oh ! let us leave this 
 legacy to those who are to succeed us. 
 
 " August 24. In riding to-day, I went towards a quarry, 
 where as a fountain was near by, and it was ' the time 
 that women go out to draw water ' a company of young 
 girls, bearing jars upon their shoulders, were standing upon 
 the brow of a deep excavation, and talking of the dead. I 
 stopped and made inquiries of them, and they told me that 
 this morning a man was at work below, when the earth from
 
 270 MEMOIR OF 
 
 above came suddenly upon him, and he died, and they buried 
 him immediately. I was a stranger to them all, and was in 
 haste ; yet I could not forbear saying to them, ' Hear me a 
 little this is a lesson to us we may be near our own 
 death, and let us be prepared.' They answered, as usual, 
 very piously, but doubtless without the slightest feeling. 
 Oh, what a mournful thing is death, in this dark land ! and 
 yet it apparently excites no solemnity. 
 
 "August 25. On Saturday evening our market man 
 came to me, for the purpose of my reckoning with him, as I 
 do every day. I had repeatedly informed him that I did not 
 like to occupy myself in this way on Saturday evening. 1 
 took occasion to mention the habit in which I had been ed- 
 ucated, which was somewhat customary in our country, of 
 suspending work on this evening. But said he, ' Signora, 
 your countrymen work on board ship on the Sabbath : for I 
 saw them on board the man-of-war, sewing and doing all 
 manner of work.' I then told him that Christians in name, 
 and Christians in heart, with us, were widely different ; but 
 I answered him with a sigh, for I thought 'Oh! what a 
 blessing our country would be to the world, were all her 
 sons consistent and uniform in their adherence to the com- 
 mands of God ! ' 
 
 " Mr. Coster has finished the drawing of our house, which 
 is entirely satisfactory. I enclose an outline of the building, 
 which I copied for the purpose of giving you a description 
 of its internal localities. And now, my dear father, I am 
 not going to give you the sketch outright, that is, without an 
 equivalent. What do you think is my price? It is your 
 miniature, which I ask in return. You will not refuse me? 
 Mr. C. will not allow us to pay him any thing for his trouble. 
 He is to commence to-morrow a sketch of Beyroot and its 
 environs of which he has promised us a copy." 
 
 " BEYROOT, AUGUST 20. 
 
 "My dear Miss Williams: I think of you everyday, 
 and pray for you that you may have patience, wisdom, and
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 271 
 
 preparation for your work. The best preparation will be, a 
 heart warmly attached to the Saviour, with a determination 
 to lose yourself in his service and glory. Have you not 
 thought that missionaries are in danger of placing too high 
 a value upon the sacrifice which they make, in consequence 
 of the sympathy, and perhaps I may say, pity, with which 
 they are regarded by those whom they leave behind ? I 
 long to see the churches at home feel that they are only dis- 
 charging an obligation to the Redeemer, when they send 
 their best, their fairest, their most beloved to distant re- 
 gions to declare his name. Would that the offering which 
 my friends have made were ' without blemish and without 
 spot.' 
 
 " I can hardly imagine just how you have been employed 
 in Smyrna, though I doubt not usefully. The time will not 
 be lost to you, as you will have acquired some degree of 
 familiarity with Eastern manners and customs; and learning, 
 as you will, by the sight of the eyes, the great work to be 
 done in transforming this land from the government of 
 Satan to that of Christ, it will perhaps add steadiness and 
 energy to your faith. While you will doubtless exclaim 
 mentally, ' Who is sufficient for these things 1 ' you will rely 
 more implicitly upon the arm of Omnipotence. Permit me 
 to suggest a thought. Perhaps those who have been for two 
 or three, or more years on missionary ground, from their 
 contest with a foreign language, and the paralyzing of active 
 efforts, in which they were absorbed at home, are in danger 
 of suffering too great a reaction in their own feelings, and 
 consequently of modifying those of new comers. Now, 1 
 would recommend that every missionary, fresh from that 
 garden of the Lord in which we were planted, should exer- 
 cise a degree of independent Christian feeling when he is 
 transferred to a foreign soil ; or rather that he should take no 
 standard beside the word of God. There the balance is 
 rightly preserved, and is applicable to every possible situation 
 and circumstance. It is to do what we can with our might, 
 and rest the consequences upon an almighty Agent. That
 
 272 MEMOIR OF 
 
 He is at work, and will one day renovate the whole face of 
 this land, I have no more doubt, than that the voice of the 
 natural heavens will continue to be heard wherever there is 
 ' speech or language,' and that their line will continue to go 
 forth throughout the earth. 
 
 *' I have been so impatient to conquer the Arabic, that I 
 have but just commenced the Italian. I was induced to take 
 up the latter during my present vacation, from the fact that 
 a young Jewess, who has recently entered the school, wishes 
 to acquire it. 
 
 "Since writing the above, we learn that the vessel for 
 Smyrna will be detained here for a few days. Missionaries 
 must not allow their hearts to be made sick by hope deferred , 
 so I will fain make the best of our protracted separation. In 
 God's own good time he will bring us together. We have 
 made ' a little chamber upon the wall,' and shall set for you 
 there ' a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick,' 
 that when you come to us you may ' turn in thither.' 2 
 Kings iv. 10." 
 
 "August 21. I cannot tell you how much like a par- 
 adise America appears, as I view it from this land of dark- 
 ness. And yet it seems to me as if its blessed inhabitants 
 were dreaming, as it were, over a lost and guilty world. I 
 know there are many who pray, and labor, and give, for its 
 renovation ; but are there many whose sole object it is to 
 live especially and steadily for this end? I ask to be informed 
 whether any great changes have taken place in two years, 
 since I bade a last farewell to the shores of my native land. 
 The subject magnifies in my estimation every day, and I see 
 not that any parent can consistently set before his child any 
 object of pursuit but the diffusion of Christianity. The fact 
 that God continues to bless the delinquent, and even to over- 
 rule their delinquencies for the accomplishment of his pur- 
 poses, is no evidence that they are pleasing to him. I have 
 often seen great good grow out of my faults and sins, which 
 apparently might not have occurred but for them ; yet con-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 273 
 
 science reproached me, and God's law condemned me. So 
 the churches of America, and the large, refined, and de- 
 lightful social circles which there exist, may be watered, 
 blessed, and made happy; there may be prayer, praise, the 
 sweet communion of saints, and the endearing enjoyments 
 of domestic bliss; and yet God, who sees all the darkness of 
 other lands, may be offended with his people ministering 
 angels may wonder at their selfishness ; the eternal happiness 
 of myriads may be sacrificed ; and a less brilliant crown be 
 worn by themselves in heaven." 
 
 " August 31. Do you not often feel oppressed, my dear 
 Mrs. Temple, with the thought of what a dark and sinful 
 land this is? After a precious Sabbath has passed, in which 
 I have beheld its abuse and profanation, my heart sickens as 
 I begin the labors of Monday morning. How slow is the 
 progress of light! How many will have their eternal doom 
 fixed, before these countries are evangelized ! And, then, 
 how weak our faith, how cold our love, how lukewarm our 
 zeal ! Sometimes I think it must be a new race of mission- 
 aries who will have the honor of seeing great things here 
 such as can look away more entirely from things temporal, 
 like the worthies of old. Let us pray much for each other." 
 
 12*
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 SUMMER RESIDENCE AT AALEIH PERSONAL ENDEAVORS FOR 
 
 THE GOOD OF INDIVIDUALS DRUZES ALARMS AMONG 
 
 THE NATIVES IBRAHIM PASHA CASE OF AN ENGLISH 
 
 WOMAN SORROWS OF A MOHAMMEDAN WIFE ARRIVAL 
 
 OF MISS WILLIAMS VIEWS OF MISSIONARY LIFE MR. 
 
 SMITH'S LABORS FURTHER HINTS ON MISSIONARY QUALI- 
 FICATIONS FEELINGS RESPECTING HER PARENTS. 
 
 MRS. SMITH spent three or four weeks of the warm 
 season of 1835 with her husband at Aaleih, one of the 
 villages on Mount Lebanon. Here she devoted herself, 
 with increased diligence, to personal efforts for the spiritual 
 benefit of those among whom she resided ; especially the 
 Druzes. There was obviously a steady increase of her love 
 for the missionary work; and she delighted to devise and 
 execute plans by which its great objects might be promoted. 
 
 " AALEIH, SEPT. 8. 
 
 " Our fast and concert, yesterday, were solemn and profit- 
 able. In view of the absence of God's Spirit for several 
 years, in which no conversions have taken place among us, 
 we were led to examine into the obstacles which have been 
 in the way, both in our own hearts, and lives, and in our mode 
 of operation ; and we desired to renew the dedication of our- 
 selves to our work, and to seek with more earnestness that 
 wisdom which cometh from above. I resolved this morning, 
 that during our stay in this village, I would endeavor to 
 rouse the conscience of at least one individual, every day. 
 Consequently, after breakfast, I walked down a long, steep, 
 
 974
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 275 
 
 and stony path, into the ' Christian quarter ' of the village, 
 to make one or two calls." 
 
 Mrs. Smith availed herself of several opportunities for free 
 conversation with females on the subject of religion, with 
 whom she met in this excursion. On the supply of the 
 spiritual wants of the people, she remarks 
 
 " Could a missionary take up his permanent abode in any 
 one of the villages of Mount Lebanon, and live and labor 
 as he ought, I am confident that in a few years he would 
 reap an abundant harvest. Oh, when will the churches be 
 so liberal as to give a spiritual shepherd, to collect flocks 
 now scattered upon the mountains ? 
 
 " September 10. Yesterday Mr. Smith was absent 
 nearly all day upon a little missionary tour ; and this morning 
 he left me again, expecting to be absent two or three days. 
 It is a self-denying duty, but it is duty ; and if a dozen men 
 could come from our country with the gift of tongues, they 
 could step directly into a field ' white unto the harvest.' After 
 dinner I went into the Christian quarter to make some calls. 
 As I was entering it, a family invited me in, pretending that 
 they were Christians, when, as I afterwards learnt, they were 
 Druzes. However, I had a plain, serious conversation with 
 them. This evening I invited to prayers the woman in 
 whose house we are, and her children. They are Druzes, 
 but the most simple, inoffensive, diminutive little family you 
 ever met. 
 
 " September 14. Mr. S. returned on Saturday, at noon, 
 after a fatiguing ride. He found some favorable opportuni- 
 ties for religious conversation ; but he says that he thinks 
 Satan employs filth and vermin to deter missionaries from 
 seeking intercourse with his subjects. Missionaries who are 
 stationary can enjoy cleanliness and comforts in their own 
 habitations, however humble they may be ; but those who 
 itinerate, ' without purse or scrip,' depending upon the ac- 
 commodations which the country affords, have actual experi-
 
 276 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ence of the self-denial which our Saviour and his followers 
 exercised. I can readily imagine what groups surrounded 
 the benevolent Saviour in his wanderings; whom his 
 disciples sometimes wished to drive from his presence, but 
 never with his consent. 
 
 "September 17. This evening six Druzes were present 
 at family prayers, one of them a woman whom I have had 
 repeated opportunities to address on the subject of religion. 
 1 believe that she is solicitous respecting her eternal welfare. 
 My dear parents, you cannot imagine what a spring it would 
 give to our feelings, should only one Druze become a 
 true convert to the Lord Jesus Christ. Think of it when 
 you pray for us, and remember distinctly this ignorant, 
 benighted, and perhaps idolatrous sect. 
 
 "September 18. This morning I walked out before 
 breakfast, and directed my steps towards the Christian quar- 
 ter, for the purpose of conversing with some of the females. 
 I first entered a Druze graveyard. A woman was upon a 
 mulberry tree gathering leaves. Advancing towards her, I 
 inquired respecting the dead who reposed near by. She 
 asked me why I was walking alone. I told her that I loved 
 to walk at an early hour, before my mind became occupied 
 with care, and meditate upon God and his works. I sought 
 to draw her mind towards eternal things, particularly appeal- 
 ing to her maternal feelings, and the duties which that 
 relation involved. She was a Druze, and talked most 
 fluently and piously ; perhaps a thought may have been 
 lodged in her breast that she cannot thrust from her. Two 
 reflections are suggested to my mind this evening: one is, 
 that perhaps there is a providence in my rreeting with a 
 Druze so frequently, when I am seeking a nominal Chris- 
 tian ; the other, that pious language being so universal in 
 this country, we must trust more to the influence of our ex- 
 ample than our words, upon those around us. 
 
 " Mr. and Mrs. Pease went to Korneil this morning, where 
 is a coal mine, and where the wife of the head laborer, an 
 English woman, is in the last stages of the consumption, but
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 277 
 
 manifests no solicitude respecting her future state. We 
 have had an especial female prayer-meeting for her, as she 
 is without hope, going into eternity. 
 
 " September 20. Mr. Smith has preached again this 
 evening, and I think more were present than on the former 
 occasion. The subject of the discourse was regeneration. 
 The audience were quiet and attentive to this new and im- 
 portant exhibition of truth. Since the brethren have no 
 church here to strengthen them by their prayers, let your 
 fervent supplications call down what we most need the in- 
 fluences of the Holy Spirit. After meeting, I had a few 
 words of conversation with Mrs. Dodge's servant, an old 
 woman who has lived much with her. She told me that she 
 felt as if her heart was changed, and I cannot but hope it 
 may be so. 
 
 " Since returning to our room, I have read a chapter in 
 Martha,' to Mr. Smith the one containing a description 
 of natural scenery, in which she became much absorbed on 
 a certain evening ; and as the writer sat beside her, watching 
 the emotions of her soul depicted in her countenance, she 
 turned to him and exclaimed, ' Brother ! ' That one word 
 awakened in my breast such powerful and tender associa- 
 tions as to choke my utterance, and I was obliged to stop, 
 and wipe the falling tears before I could proceed. I had so 
 much enjoyment with my own dear brothers, and received 
 from them so much affection and kindness, that my recol- 
 lections of the fraternal relation are exceedingly touching 
 and unalloyed. 
 
 " September 21. It is two years to-day since we sailed 
 from America. In prayer, my husband returned thanks for 
 all our mercies, and especially that God had permitted us to 
 enter upon a work that we love a work that we prize 
 above all others. My heart responded to the sentiment 
 fully. May we see many such anniversaries together ; and 
 be permitted to offer the same thanksgiving. 
 
 " Will you pray that we may have wisdom to guide our 
 affairs with discretion ? Our establishment is
 
 278 MEMOIR OF 
 
 must have persons to serve us ; but we would not forget, in 
 our intercourse with them, that they are among those whose 
 eternal interest we came to seek." 
 
 " Beyroot, September 27. We reached our homes in 
 safety, about mid-day, on Wednesday. 
 
 " This morning, after our few Sabbath-day cares were 
 disposed of, I went down to the kitchen on an errand , 
 as I reached the bottom of the stairs, I beheld on each side 
 a row of Moslems, fourteen in all, seated in perfect silence, 
 who had fled hither for refuge ; a report being in circulation 
 that orders had again come for the seizure of soldiers. I 
 uttered, in Arabic, an exclamation of surprise ; when they 
 all smiled upon me, and gave me their salams. The fear 
 proved to be groundless, as the Pasha had only ordered the 
 soldiers already enlisted to depart suddenly, without knap- 
 sacks, to a place on the borders of the Bukaa, where Ibrahim 
 Pasha is at present. 
 
 " As we went to chapel, we met a company of women, 
 who were crying and shrieking at .the departure of husbands, 
 sons, and brothers. Cowper says, 
 
 ' My ear is pained, 
 
 My soul is sick, with every day's report 
 Of wrong and outrage with which earth is filled.' 
 
 But alas ! how would his tender soul have shuddered at the 
 sight of this! With more pathos, if possible, would he have 
 exclaimed, 
 
 ' Oh, for a lodge in some vast wilderness ! ' 
 
 "September 29. Yesterday I commenced my school 
 again, with twenty scholars; which for the first day was a 
 good number. Mrs. Whiting has ten little Moslem girls in 
 Jerusalem, and the promise of more. 
 
 "October 5. Monthly Concert and Fast. Yesterday 
 being our communion season, I was explaining to my little 
 Druze girl the nature and object of the ordinance which
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 279 
 
 she was about to witness for the first time ; of which a 
 Druze child is perhaps as ignorant as a heathen. Indeed 
 the Druzes are supposed to be idolaters themselves; though 
 perhaps few, except the initiated, know the fact, or actually 
 worship images. I did not expect, in the first attempt, to 
 give her very clear ideas respecting the mystery of the 
 atonement ; but I repeated to her the words of our Saviour 
 to his disciples, when he instituted the sacrament ; and as 
 I employed the first person, her feelings became consider- 
 ably interested, and with the utmost simplicity she exclaimed, 
 ' Selamatik,' that is, ' Peace to you,' which is a universal 
 compliment among the Arabs, if one is complaining of ill 
 health or sorrow in his own person. I mention this to show 
 you that we have to teach the very first principles, and to 
 feed ' with milk, and not with meat.' Blessed be God, it is 
 his office 
 
 ' To pour fresh life in every part, 
 And new create the whole.' 
 
 "October 21. We have dismissed our Maltese servant. 
 He was in many respects useful, but he had begun to feel 
 above his place; and being disposed to go with Mr. and 
 Mrs. Bird, we cheerfully dismissed him. When about to 
 leave us, I told him that I had one thing only to say to him ; 
 I wished to inform him why I had not placed more con- 
 fidence in him that from the first I had discovered that he 
 had no regard for truth. He wept, and begged me to enter 
 into particulars ; but I declined. As he turned to go 
 down the stairs, his usual erect form and firm step gave 
 place to the cringing movement of the Maltese of the island, 
 the first beings whom I saw on missionary ground. The 
 recollection of the feelings which overcame me when I first 
 beheld his pitiable and contemptible countrymen, rushed 
 upon me, and I was obliged to struggle with my emotions. 
 
 " About a fortnight since there was great fear among the 
 mountaineers, and one family begged us to take their most 
 valuable articles home for safe keeping. The woman took
 
 280 MEMOIR OF 
 
 off the gold from her head, and made a bundle of her best 
 clothes; they also tied up a few articles of plate, and the 
 man came with us and left them in our house. He pro- 
 fessed to be a Protestant, though he gave no evidence of 
 piety. Such circumstances show the confidence which is 
 reposed in us. 
 
 " I mentioned the refugee Druzes. Our house is sur- 
 rounded by the habitations of this sect. A few mornings 
 since, we saw stretched upon the sands near us a murdered 
 man ; but no one could give any account of this deed of 
 darkness, except that on the previous evening he was at a 
 dram shop, in a state of intoxication. In consequence of 
 this, several of the neighboring Druzes were seized and 
 imprisoned, which caused others to flee to our house. 
 Our room at evening prayers has been filled for several 
 nights. One morning I had nine attendants, who sheltered 
 themselves under the wing of me and my little donkey, on 
 my way to school. 
 
 " October 24. For several days Ibrahim Pasha has 
 been a near neighbor of ours, having come to Beyroot for 
 a season, and taken up his residence at the house of a rich 
 Moslem. Mr. Smith called upon him with our Consul. 
 He says that he is a large, jolly, laughing, cunning man, 
 with a very penetrating eye. He was principally occupied 
 at the time in watching the movements of his courtiers, who 
 were playing chess. 
 
 " October 29. I mentioned in my journal from Aaleih 
 that the wife of an Englishman who works in the coal mines 
 at Korneil was going to the grave, with a rapid consump- 
 tion. A week or two since she was brought to the city. 
 On Sunday, after service, I called to see her. Learning 
 from her that she did not expect to recover, I asked how 
 she felt in view of exchanging worlds. ' Happy,' said she, 
 ' perfectly happy.' ' May I inquire,' said I, ' what is the 
 ground of your happiness?' 'I have always obeyed my 
 Saviour's laws ; have been very attentive to the religious 
 duties of the family, and of my church. I have never done
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 281 
 
 harm to any one.' At this reply my heart shuddered. I 
 said to myself, ' Poor woman, though born in a land of light, 
 your hope of heaven is not better than that of the deluded 
 natives of this dark land.' I thought how innumerable are 
 the ways which Satan has devised to keep mankind from 
 resting on the only true foundation. I almost burst into 
 tears. I felt that I must be faithful, for her time was short. 
 I remarked that ' I was religiously educated too, but there 
 came a time when I realized that something was necessary 
 which I had not experienced, and so it was with Paul. 5 
 I then preached to her Jesus Christ and his atonement, and 
 begged her to review the subject with great seriousness, in 
 consideration of the solemn event immediately before her. 
 Yesterday, while in school, Dr. Whitely came and begged 
 me to go and see her again ; said that her end was rapidly 
 approaching ; that she had related to him my conversation 
 with her, telling him that it affected her deeply ; and he 
 thought she expressed sentiments more evangelical. At 
 mid-day, therefore, when my school closed, I went to her. 
 She was much changed, and could scarcely articulate in- 
 telligibly, yet was in perfect possession of her faculties. 
 She told me that my remarks on Sunday gave her a great 
 shock, and she now felt that her reliance was wholly on 
 Jesus Christ, and disclaimed ail personal merit. She felt 
 no wish to recover, but was perfectly happy in the prospect 
 of rest and holiness with her Saviour. God only knows her 
 real state. Her case is left in the usual uncertainty of 
 death-bed experiences. 
 
 "Sabbath Evening, November 1. To-day we have had 
 our second storm, the first having occurred about ten days 
 since. Both were violent and accompanied with thunder 
 and lightning. My nerves are becoming accustomed to the 
 tremendous peals and vivid flashes of a Mediterranean thun- 
 der-storm. It is sublime, and at first terrifying, to watch 
 the lightning's play over the deep blue sea ; and during the 
 livelong night listen to the thunder's roar as it reverberates 
 through the range of Mount Lebanon.
 
 282 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " On Sabbath, dear father, I think of you more than 
 usual. How are your Sabbaths 1 Precious as ever, 1 trust ; 
 and fitting you for one long, glorious Sabbath, which 1 
 believe we shall spend together. I remember that when I 
 lived under your smiles, you appeared to enjoy these days 
 of rest exceedingly. I find it quite another thing to be the 
 mistress of a family, from what it was to be a daughter in a 
 father's house. The former station involves a thousand 
 cares, of which in the other I had no knowledge. And in 
 this land too, which furnishes no external aid, but on the 
 contrary every thing to impede the progress of moral in- 
 fluence, the spirits sometimes sink beneath the weight of 
 responsibility. However, I love to think that the Saviour 
 pleased not himself, even on the Sabbath : so should I re- 
 joice to give the whole seven days to him and to my fellow- 
 beings. 
 
 "November 4. This evening Mr. Smith has com- 
 menced a weekly religious meeting, expressly for the 
 Druzes, at which a number were present. I beg your 
 prayers, especially in reference to it; for I believe that 
 God has some chosen ones among this hitherto unprom- 
 ising class. 
 
 " This morning, very early, a little Mohammedan woman 
 came, and bringing me a nosegay, sat beside me a moment, 
 with more than usual dejection in her countenance ; then 
 suddenly rising and kissing my hand, she said, sorrowfully, 
 with her face half veiled, ' Can you give me any medicine 
 for my eye 1 ' Supposing her to be afflicted with the ophthal- 
 mia, the universal disease of the natives, I said, ' Does your 
 eye pain you ? ' ' No,' said she, ' but for several years 
 something has been growing upon it, and for one year I 
 have not been able to see with that eye ; ' and she added, 
 ' Ahmed (that is, her husband) says, if I cannot see, he shall 
 send me away from him.' Poor woman ! my heart ached 
 for her, and I promised to consult Dr. Whitely in reference 
 to her case. Such is the kindly nature of the religion of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 283 
 
 Mohammed ! How effectually it tends to overthrow the 
 plan of Jehovah's government ! 
 
 " November 9. A company of Druzes were at prayers, 
 as usual, to-night. Poor beings ! I really think that this 
 portion of them, who are called ' Skitt,' and are scarcely 
 acknowledged by their own sect, are more ignorant and im- 
 penetrable than the veriest heathen. 
 
 '' I have had a pleasant and prosperous day in my duties. 
 It being the first of my keeping school since the new ar- 
 rangement of our meals, I had no occasion to hurry in the 
 morning to have marketing done ; and to give directions for 
 dinner, and to hasten from school to see that it was properly 
 prepared. 
 
 " November 19. Mr. Smith has gone down to the Laz- 
 aretto to bring Miss Williams to our house I am alone 
 and waiting to receive her. 1 have solemn and deep feel- 
 ings at the thought of her coming, and my heart goes forth 
 towards her as to a sister. Will you pray that we may prove 
 messengers of mercy to our degraded sisters here? 
 
 "November 27. One week yesterday I had the pleasure 
 of welcoming to my Syrian home the dear sister for whom I 
 wrote, not without trembling, a year ago last May. She is 
 well, cheerful, and quite happy in the little apartment 
 appropriated to her. I almost envy her the quietness and 
 freedom from care which she enjoys ; and am reminded of 
 those days when I could shut myself for hours together in 
 my room in Norwich, and the family and the world go on 
 just as well without me. Now, I never think of locking my 
 door except before light in the morning and again in the 
 evening. I rise early, and thus have an opportunity to re- 
 flect that I am hastening to eternity, and that my own soul 
 must be fitted for it. But the remainder of the time it is 
 all business, and absorbing, distracting care. I need not 
 inform you how happy and grateful I am for the safe arrival 
 of Miss Williams. Many thanks to my dear friends for 
 their affectionate remembrance of me, and for the tokens of 
 love received. But of the flowers, and the sweet poetry
 
 284 MEMOIR OF 
 
 accompanying them, what shall I say ? A flood of tears 
 was the reception given to them, and told me how my heart 
 yet clings to 
 
 ' The sweet remembrances of former years.' 
 
 , * * * * * 
 
 ' To that loved scene, where peaceful years 
 In calm retirement flew ; 
 Where deep afflictions, trials, cares, 
 Came but as angels, unawares.' 
 
 " November 28. Saturday. To-day is the season 
 when I especially remember you, my dear Sarah, at the 
 throne of grace : and my prayer is, that you may be an 
 eminently holy and devoted Christian, and amid all the 
 attractions of your favored lot, may rise superior to earthly 
 good and common attainments ; and in the circle in which 
 you move, bear others onward and upward by your own 
 elevated example. That sweet little Peter, how tender are 
 my feelings towards him ! You say he uses ' some foreign 
 language.' Perhaps it is Arabic ; if so, he will be qualified 
 to come to Syria ! Some one has informed me, or I have 
 dreamed it, that you have a little daughter. Give her a 
 sweet kiss from me, and teach her to love an unknown 
 aunt. Miss Williams who has now for a week cheered 
 our dwelling was much gratified by her visit to you. She 
 says that Edward's fraternal attentions reminded her of her 
 own dear brother, who is next in age to herself. We can 
 talk together with much sympathy of the tenderness of a 
 brother's love. Say to aunt Faith, that I love and sym- 
 pathize with and pray for her and hers. I often try to 
 supplicate the grace of God in behalf of Jedediah and 
 Joshua. Oh! it is a great thing to be really a child of 
 God to have these depraved hearts changed; and I 
 cannot but fear that many of the dear youth in America, 
 were they removed from the influences and restraints that 
 surround them, would be surprised to find how readily they 
 would fall back to the world. I feel much on this subject
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 285 
 
 since I have become expatriated, as it were. The conflicts 
 and perplexities which a missionary experiences, are cal- 
 culated to try his soul and show him of what spirit he is. 
 I thought that I was farther advanced in sanctification than 
 I have found myself to be ; and the effort necessary to main- 
 tain a warfare against sin is increased fourfold. Give my 
 kind regards to Mrs. Ewen ; * and will brother present her 
 with five dollars from me, and charge the same to my ac- 
 count ? ' Thine own and thy father's friend, forsake riot.' " 
 
 " BEYROOT, Nov. 30. 
 
 " My very dear Brother and Sister : I know of none, 
 except the members of my own family, who have a higher 
 claim upon my affections and my time, than yourselves; 
 and none that I remember with more unfeigned satisfaction. 
 I love to think of you both, as the ever-watchful and paternal 
 friends of my dear husband. I love to bring to mind the 
 pleasant yet sorrowful hours which I passed under your 
 roof; and to think of your dear children. Two years have 
 doubtless made changes in the youthful trio ; and they have 
 changed us, at least me. My home, my interests, my as- 
 sociations, my language, have all become foreign ; and my 
 lot (unless some great political convulsion takes place) is 
 fixed, until I exchange my earthly abode for that beyond the 
 grave. In looking back upon these two annual revolutions, 
 I have much for which to be grateful, and great occasion 
 for humiliation. While every important want has been sup- 
 plied, and innumerable comforts and refinements added, 
 which I never anticipated as a missionary ; I have scarcely 
 passed one quiet American day since I parted from you. 
 From the hour that I lost sight of my native shore, I have 
 been fully aware that I had thrown myself into the wide and 
 wicked world, and forever deprived myself of the moral 
 repose and security which my once favored home had fur- 
 nished. But I have never for a moment regretted the step 
 
 * An aged woman who was her nurse in childhood.
 
 286 MEMOIR OF 
 
 which I took. ' There remaineth a rest,' which, if permit- 
 ted to partake of it, I shall enjoy more highly, for the labors 
 and disquietudes, and the new and deeper views of spiritual 
 truths which this expatriation has occasioned. I suppose 
 you often desire to know what we are doing, and how we 
 are living ; and what are our daily hopes and fears in regard 
 to the one great object which has torn us from you. Your 
 dear brother has his hands and heart full. The preparation 
 of books for the press is an arduous and responsible task ; 
 beside which, the entire Arabic preaching, the Sabbath 
 school, and the English service every alternate Sabbath, 
 rest upon him. Foreign and native visitors occupy many 
 of his hours ; and he has just been telling me, that this day, 
 now closed, has been completely broken by miscellaneous 
 occupations, the consequence of repeated interruptions. 
 He has, however, a most delightful study, in the most airy 
 and conspicuous part of the house, looking forth upon the 
 waters of the azure sea, and the verdure of the variegated 
 landscape which intervenes. 
 
 " December 5. Having risen, as usual, some time before 
 dawn, I stepped out towards the front of the court, to glance 
 at the prospect before me. The distant sea, forming a semi- 
 circle around me, and sending to my ears its unbroken 
 roar, powerfully associated my thoughts with the murmur of 
 your falls, to which we so often listened in my dear native 
 place. The snowy peak of Lebanon, rising magnificently in 
 the east, was rendered more conspicuous by the rays of the 
 full moon, descending to the horizon in the opposite west, 
 while her beams, reflected by the sea beneath, gave a strong 
 outline to the objects upon the intermediate shore, especially 
 to two or three points which rose gracefully above. Two 
 finely-formed clouds and the brilliant stars, completed the 
 Boft and charming scene. I thought of that other world, 
 unmarred by sin, where the Author of so much beauty has 
 prepared inconceivable glories for his redeemed people; and 
 my soul bounded at the thought.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 237 
 
 " December 8. The return of our Monthly Concert and 
 Fast is a precious day to us. I wonder that it never occurred 
 to me while in America, that Christians might defer their 
 special domestic labors on that day, and thus have time and 
 strength, for themselves and their families, to attend the 
 prayer-meetings. I now make this arrangement in my own 
 family ; and, at 3, P. M., we all go to the mission house for 
 prayer ; we take no food until evening. Mr. Smith and I 
 secure as much of the day as possible for private devotion ; 
 and always have a season of prayer together, in addition to 
 our daily habit at other times." 
 
 In connection with some remarks on the duty of consult- 
 ing for the spiritual good of hired persons, employed by pro- 
 fessors of religion, she remarks " How many of this class 
 will be seen at the day of judgment, whose powers of body 
 and of mind will have been worn out, and their souls ruined 
 in serving their superiors ! " 
 
 "December 14. On Saturday, our native female prayer- 
 meeting consisted of twenty, besides two children ; fourteen 
 were Arabs more than were ever present before. We 
 met in the girls' school-room, where we intend in future to 
 assemble. We sung part of a psalm, as we have begun to 
 teach music in our school. We find the children quite as 
 capable of forming musical sounds as those in our own 
 country; but, alas ! we have no hymns or psalms adapted to 
 their capacities. The Arabic cannot be simplified like the 
 English, without doing violence to Arab taste ; at least, such 
 is the opinion now. What changes may be wrought in the 
 language we cannot tell. Of this obstacle in the instruction 
 
 O 3 
 
 of the young here, you have not perhaps thought. Ameri- 
 can youth have extraordinary privileges. It is a painful 
 thought to us, that children's literature, if I may so term it, 
 is incompatible with the genius of this language; of course, 
 infant school lessons must be bereft of many of their attrac- 
 tions. Mr. Smith and Mr. Whiting have each superintended
 
 238 MEMOIR OF 
 
 a translation of the first, part of the ' Child's Book on the 
 Soul ; ' the use of which must prove its adaptedness to Arab 
 children. The result of this experiment has justified the 
 expectation. 
 
 "December 24. In dating a note to Mrs. Dodge, in- 
 viting her to meet our other friends here on Christmas day, 
 I am reminded that this is the anniversary of our dear Peter's 
 death. Dear brother ! I weep to think of thee, as the sweet 
 little child whom I led to school ; as the buoyant boy, the 
 college youth, and the gentle and dignified man. In the new 
 heavens and the new earth, I trust we shall unite our hearts 
 and our hands, in the service and in the presence of our di- 
 vine Redeemer." 
 
 In a letter written by Mrs. Smith in the course of this 
 month, she adds a few suggestions to those previously ad- 
 dressed to her young relative,* on qualifications for the 
 missionary service: " In a former communication, I men- 
 tioned some qualifications which would be requisite, should 
 you come to Syria. I believe I did not add to these the im- 
 portance of cultivating polished manners. In many respects, 
 all the foreigners whom we find in these countries, exhibit 
 the good breeding which is to be found in the best circlqp in 
 America ; and so far from becoming rusticated by a resi- 
 dence in Eastern cities, our countrymen usually improve 
 much in external deportment. Perhaps it might be thought 
 an unnecessary suggestion; but the plain, independent man- 
 ners of some of our good republican citizens, would be offen- 
 sive to foreign taste ; and were it not for the extraordinary 
 talent of assimilation which Americans possess, they would 
 err oftener than they now do. 
 
 " I think that the infant school system is admirably adapt- 
 ed to the uninformed and undisciplined habits of this coun- 
 try, and I hope you will familiarize yourself with it, to a great 
 extent. 
 
 See page 226.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 289 
 
 " My remarks on the subject of languages, in my former 
 letter, I hope will not be overlooked. If there were no other 
 argument in their favor, the fact that a person who has 
 studied one foreign language, more readily acquires another, 
 is a sufficient inducement to an intended missionary, to 
 make this branch of study prominent. It should stand first 
 of all. Our countrywomen have hitherto done but very little 
 towards removing the curse of Babel. This has arisen from 
 their comparatively isolated situation. In these contiguous 
 countries, the knowledge of several tongues is considered 
 indispensable. I hope it will yet be esteemed so in America; 
 not as an accomplishment, but for the sake of usefulness." 
 
 Speaking of her own spiritual state at this time, she thus 
 writes : " My feelings and religious exercises in this 
 country, are wholly free from excitement very different 
 from what they were in America. I cannot account for it, 
 since rny views of truth are greatly enlarged and strength- 
 ened, and my confidence in our blessed gospel daily increas- 
 ing. Sin also appears much more heinous in my eyes, and 
 my own character far more despicable. I clasp the Bible to 
 my heart with affection and admiration, and love to read its 
 sacred pages. Prayer, too, I prize and enjoy ; but for want 
 of that excitement of which I have spoken, it often seems to 
 me destitute of fervor. The Saviour's offices and mediation 
 are magnified in my estimation ; and yet I do not enjoy that 
 sensible communion with him, which I have before experi- 
 enced. I sometimes think that the Holy Spirit cannot dwell 
 in this wicked land ; but, 
 
 ' like a peaceful dove, 
 Flies from the realms of noise and strife.' " 
 
 "January 3, 1836. This is the first Sabbath evening 
 of the year ; and permit me, my dear parents, brothers, and 
 sisters, to wish you a happy new year. I was going to say, 
 that could I control your every hour, not a sorrow, however 
 small, should disturb your serenity, but each minute should 
 
 Smith. 1 ;j
 
 290 MEMOIR OF 
 
 bear upon its wings peace and pleasure to your bosoms. 
 But our heavenly Friend loves you more ardently, more 
 wisely than I do ; and he is the chosen friend of you all 
 yes, all ! To him I commit your destiny, and pray that in 
 his favor you may have life and joy, whatever else may be 
 bestowed or denied. 
 
 " I often think, my dear parents, that not many years are 
 before you, and I shudder at the thought that I may live to 
 hear that you are no longer inhabitants of earth, and ask 
 myself what will be my feelings then. I still think of you 
 and pray for you as alive and happy. 
 
 x ' Yet prostrate at the mercy seat, 
 
 Oft shall my lips your names repeat, 
 Cherished with filial love.' " 
 
 "Monday, January 4. We love to think that this day 
 will be regarded by many as a Fast for the conversion of the 
 world, and that prayer will ascend for us. Oh that the 
 church would indeed earnestly wrestle for souls. 
 
 " My own sins rise in awful magnitude before me, to-day, 
 and I feel wholly unfit to hold the sacred station of a mis- 
 sionary. You know not, my dear parents, what unlooked- 
 for conflicts and obstacles you would find, were you trans- 
 ported to this region of darkness this empire of Satan. 
 Pray for me incessantly and fervently, for foes without and 
 foes within obstruct my path to heaven, and I sometimes 
 fear that I have never even entered it. 
 
 "January 13. My beloved Father : Your long, good 
 letter of July 27 to August 31, inclusive, came to hand a 
 few days since, and refreshed my spirit. Oh ! my dear 
 parent, my heart clings to you closer than ever. The longer 
 we are separated, the more tenderly I think of you, and the 
 more warmly I anticipate our meeting above. Your letter, 
 however, together with what we heard from Smyrna, made 
 me sorrowful, and I tremble for our country every hour, 
 Should her sun set in darkness, sad would be the tale. 
 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon ;
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 291 
 
 lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters 
 of the uncircumcised triumph.' It seems to me as if a bril- 
 liant star, the centre of attraction to a thousand other orbs, 
 were about to be blotted from the moral firmament. That 
 which pains me most, and most excites my apprehensions, 
 is the fact that Christians are becoming worldly and con- 
 tentious. Had you informed me that all the elements of 
 wickedness were in commotion, but that the followers of 
 Christ were humble, prayerful, self-denying, and devoted, I 
 should fear nothing. But now I tremble ' for the ark of 
 God ; ' and I feel that I must make mention of my country 
 in every approach to the mercy seat. We have been ' proud 
 boasters,' regarding ourselves as the favorites of Heaven. 
 Oh that his Spirit might speedily go forth among his pro- 
 fessed friends, exciting them to repentance and prayer, that 
 his wrath may be turned away ! 
 
 " I rejoice much that dear mother is well and happy, and 
 confiding in God. She does not know the inexpressible 
 tenderness I feel for her. I am often obliged to put her 
 image away from my mind, and to cease talking about her, 
 lest I dissolve in tears. When we meet in heaven, we shall 
 both be young, and perfect in body and spirit ; and then 
 will be revived that sweet communion which we so enjoyed 
 on earth. 
 
 "January 30. You express some solicitude, my dear 
 father, respecting my health. It is certainly important, 
 in this climate, and under our circumstances, to avoid ex- 
 citement. I do not think that I am in danger from this 
 source at present ; as I am almost uniformly calm and quiet, 
 and, unlike my former temperament, am comparatively un- 
 susceptible of strong excitement. I have seen and heard so 
 many strange things since I came from my native land, that 
 I am accustomed to them, and not much affected by them. 
 
 " When I rise at 4, as this morning, I think of you as 
 just retiring to rest. Perhaps the bell in Norwich was ring- 
 ing for 9 o'clock, as I rose from my bed. I should love to
 
 292 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMTIH. 
 
 hear it again ! In heaven I trust we shall together listen to 
 sweeter sounds. 
 
 " When I have reached, on Saturday, the close of the 
 native female prayer-meeting, I feel as if I must ' take a long 
 breath ; ' for my duties are arduous." After mentioning 
 the domestic labors she assigns to this day, she proceeds to 
 speak of her religious occupations. " For the prayer-meeting 
 I have also to make preparation, in reading, first by myself, 
 and then either with Mr. Smith or a teacher, a portion of 
 Scripture, and collecting my thoughts to lead devotions in a 
 foreign tongue ; of the difficulties of which you can form no 
 conception. The responsibility of this meeting falls prin- 
 cipally upon me."
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THOUGHTS ON THE WORLD AS A PORTION CLOSE OCCUPA- 
 TION OF TIME A MOSLEM WEDDING VIEWS OF HER 
 
 EMPLOYMENT OF A HEAVENLY INHERITANCE INTER- 
 EST IN AMERICAN FRIENDS ENGAGEMENT IN A PLAN FOR 
 
 RELIGIOUS VISITS. 
 
 As Mrs. Smith advanced in her labors, she evidently be- 
 came increasingly interested in them. And there was an 
 apparent growth in the fervor of her spiritual affections. 
 These remarks will be found illustrated in the extracts 
 which compose the present and succeeding chapter. 
 
 " BZYROOT, JAH. 4, 1836. 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Tod : This is a changing, wearisome 
 state ; and the great cause of sorrow is, that we are ever 
 aiming to find rest and enjoyment, which the Scriptures 
 assure us are not the portion of God's people on earth. The 
 rest ' remains ; ' and like repose to the weary, it will be 
 more precious from the conflicts and perplexities of this life. 
 Oh ! how unenviable is the lot of those who choose their 
 happiness here ! I often think of the experience of a pious 
 grandmother, which, at the age of eighty, she related to me 
 with much animation. After her marriage, she became the 
 subject of religious anxiety, which blunted the edge of every 
 worldly enjoyment. Her husband was fond of seeing her 
 handsomely dressed, and imported from England an eleganl 
 cloak, and hat to correspond, which was a most becoming 
 winter suit. When she first looked at the articles, she said 
 to herself, ' Such things of the world shall not be my por- 
 tion ; J will not have them for ray portion ; i will have a 
 
 293
 
 294 MEMOIR OF 
 
 better one.' She never wore the articles together, lest they 
 should excite the envy and jealousy of her contemporaries , 
 and she soon found that portion which she has left as an 
 inheritance to her children, and children's children, to the 
 latest generation. For even now, we feel that we receive 
 answers to her prayers. I rejoice that your little daughter 
 has a praying mother. It is the richest inheritance which 
 she could possess." 
 
 " BEYROOT, JAN. 20. 
 
 " My ever dear Friend : Although you have many cares 
 in America, yet perhaps there is not such sacredness at- 
 tached to every half hour, as here. When you think of 
 writing a letter, you have not, like me, to inquire whether 
 you are not encroaching upon some duty more important 
 and pressing. Often should I delight to sit down and pour 
 forth the warm affections of my heart to dear absent ones in 
 my native land ; but an Arabic or an Italian lesson, a native 
 visitor, or some household arrangement to enable me to leave 
 my family for three or four hours each day, in school, calls 
 me away. I wish also to help my husband, as his duties are 
 still more urgent. I have just completed the writing of 
 seventeen sheets for him. There are twelve persons daily 
 employed under our roof, as translators, printers, servants, 
 whose eyes are turned towards my husband and myself for 
 superintendence. 
 
 " I am much gratified to hear that you are endeavoring to 
 benefit the poor Pequod Indians. I thought you would not 
 leave them to perish before your eyes. May God own you 
 and your dear husband herein ; and may you be richly blest 
 and prospered in the effort. It is only by faith that we can 
 labor for those who have long dwelt in ignorance and in- 
 sensibility, whether in America or in Syria. 
 
 " I wish that you could have been with us on Monday 
 evening, when, for the first time, we attended a Moslem 
 wedding. It is said there were a thousand persons in the 
 procession. It was just at dark when we arrived at the house 
 of the bridegroom ; who, under the escort of an immense
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 295 
 
 number of torches and wax candles, was at that moment 
 leaving the door of his dwelling, to go to another house and 
 receive his visitors. According to Mohammedan etiquette, 
 the gentlemen who were with us proceeded to the latter 
 place, while Miss Williams and I entered the former, to 
 mingle in the bridal group of females. As we entered an 
 open court, in the centre of which grew an orange tree, we 
 were met by some women in attendance, who, taking our 
 calashes and cloaks, tied them up in Miss W.'s white 
 merino shawl, and disposed of them in a Safe, if not clean 
 place. 'They inquired if we would take off our shoes also; 
 but this we declined, saying, that as it was not our custom, 
 we should expose our health. We then approached the up- 
 per end of the court, where, in a semicircle, sat more than a 
 dozen women in state, completely borne down with ' gold 
 and pearls and costly array.' Our appearance presented a 
 strong contrast to theirs ; for however deficient we may have 
 been in ' the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,' in out- 
 ward appearance we were arrayed as women ' professing 
 godliness.' The female who occupied the central seat, 
 beside a profusion of other ornaments, had upon her head 
 two tassels of glass fibres, such as I have occasionally seen 
 among curiosities in America, standing erect, and giving her 
 a wild, Oriental appearance, quite imposing; while her 
 features were commanding and beautiful. She had the dark, 
 full eye of an Eastern beauty, with all her characteristic 
 hauteur, not deigning to speak to us. Before her were 
 several immense wax tapers, taller than our heads, and sup- 
 ported by women of a lower rank, who sat upon the floor. 
 A crowd of females were before her; some sitting, others 
 standing, and all chattering like so many magpies, only a 
 great deal louder, ' and suiting the action to the word ; ' for 
 gestures, as well as words, are the language of this people. 
 One of the women who sat upon the floor, had an exhaust- 
 less store of nuts, raisins, &c., which she dealt out by hand- 
 fuls to the guests. In a short time, a relative of the family, 
 through whose influence we were invited to the wedding,
 
 296 MEMOIR OF 
 
 urged her way through the crowd, and taking a seat beside 
 us, conversed with us politely for a few moments, and treated 
 us with sherbet and coffee. 
 
 " Presently one or two of the ' singing women ' began 
 their bridal song ; a shrill, monotonous cry, between a shriek- 
 ing and singing, and which to me seems like the appropriate 
 accompaniment of an event, which introduces the daughters 
 of Eve to a new scene of trials, closely connected with 
 eternity. They were notes which went to my heart ; pro- 
 ducing melancholy rather than joyful associations. We 
 were apprized that the bride was approaching, having just 
 arrived at the house of the groom, from that of her father, 
 where, from an early hour, she had been passing through 
 various ceremonies, with which I am not acquainted. She 
 came attended by women with torches, and ascended to a 
 retired room above. 
 
 " After the lapse of half an hour, perhaps, it was said, 
 ' Behold, the bridegroom cometh ; ' when all the group has- 
 tened to throw on their vails, while the bride, accompanied 
 by her maidens, with their torches, descended to meet the 
 bridegroom. We witnessed the meeting of the bridal pair, 
 which took place near the orange tree in the open court. 
 She was supported by her attendants ; being incapacitated for 
 guiding herself, as her eyes were closed, and her hands were 
 held up before her, as in the attitude of supplication. When 
 she met her intended husband, her vail, which was a piece 
 of scarlet gauze embroidered with gold, was raised, and he 
 gave her one look, and retired again to his guests. Her 
 attendants then led her towards us, while we advanced and 
 gave her the usual salutation, ' Mabarakeh ya aroos,' (May 
 you be blest, O bride!) She was then conducted into an 
 adjoining room, and seated upon cushions, while a friend 
 made a place for us directly before her, giving us a fine 
 opportunity to observe her whole appearance. 
 
 " I cannot give you any just idea of her dress or attitude, 
 except that she looked more like a pagan priestess than any 
 other imaginable being. Her garments were of rich bro-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 297 
 
 cade, and her ornaments beyond description or enumera- 
 tion. Her face was painted first with rouge, and then 
 fantastically ornamented 1/nth patches of gold leaf, while 
 her trimmed eyebrows and eyelashes were touched with 
 black paint ; and curved lines of the same were drawn 
 from her ear on each cheek toward the centre of her face. 
 Her hands and feet were also stained in small dark checks. 
 
 " But the most extraordinary thing of all was, that cus- 
 toin required her to sit motionless, with closed eyes, and 
 entirely speechless ; and this martyrdom, which commenced 
 the morning of this day, was to be maintained until the next 
 morning. Poor creature ! she looked as if she were in the 
 extreme of misery. Here, again, nuts were distributed, in 
 the same style as before, among the company. 
 
 " The friend who had furnished us a seat before the bride, 
 conducted us to the bridal chamber. It was a small room, 
 containing on each side three rows of shelves, on which 
 were spread out plates, cups, household utensils, etc., the 
 father's gift to his daughter ; also all her dresses were sus- 
 pended beneath them, and the bridal couch was furnished 
 with silk embroidered appendages. We then descended to 
 another apartment, in a distinct portion of the building ; 
 and seating ourselves informally upon cushions, with the 
 wife of the Governor of Beyroot on one side and the bride- 
 groom's mother upon the other, a small, low table was placed 
 before us, and a large waiter filled with sweetmeats pre- 
 sented for our refreshment, followed by coffee. I was not 
 a little touched with the fact, that the mother of the bride- 
 groom, yet a young woman, was totally blind ; and though 
 the bustle of the scene prevented my making known to her 
 the sympathy and tender associations which she excited in 
 my mind, I expressed it silently, by passing into her hand 
 the varieties of the entertainment, before partaking of them 
 myself, and giving her a kiss and a blessing as we parted. 
 
 " The ceremony of the marriage union, according to 
 usage, took place by proxy, at the house of the judge of the 
 city, several days previous ! But this is not all ; the par- 
 
 13*
 
 
 298 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ties, after their espousal or engagement, which often occurs 
 a year or more previous to marriage, do not see each other ! 
 Thus you perceive that love, confidence, and sympathy, 
 must be created after the knot is tied ; for before, the 
 parents are the principal actors in the scene. 
 
 " After the above-mentioned repast, we left the company. 
 The scene which I had witnessed forcibly reminded me of 
 the last drama of this world ; and I admired the wisdom 
 which employed an illustration not only calculated to make 
 a deep impression upon the present occasion, but by the 
 frequent occurrence of such scenes, continually calling to 
 mind, in this portion of the world, the force of our Lord's 
 instructions and warnings." 
 
 To one of her early friends, for whose spiritual benefit 
 she had watched and prayed, she thus writes : 
 
 " BEYROOT, JAN. 28. 
 
 " My dear Mary : In the act of dating my letter, I am 
 reminded that it is two years to-day since I landed on the 
 shores of Syria. It would interest me much to know where 
 you are ; what you are doing ; how you feel ; whether your 
 days pass quietly and peacefully, beneath the smiles of your 
 reconciled Friend ; or whether new sorrows have been added 
 to those which are past, weaning you still more from earth, 
 and purifying you for the state of rest which remains. And 
 your mother, how and where is she? and R. and S., and 
 your brothers, and aunts? It is sometimes a painful thought 
 to me, that there are many whom I knew and loved in the 
 land of my birth, respecting whom I shall never hear another 
 word, even if I should survive them, until I see their deaths 
 in the public prints. 
 
 " You would naturally inquire, whether your once ' fas- 
 tidious' friend Sarah is happy in the marriage relation. I 
 would answer, that, through the kindness of Providence, I 
 am entirely so. I feel that God has been very good to me 
 in this respect. We have a pleasant residence, from whence 
 
 n.;
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 299 
 
 I often look forth upon the illimitable sea, towards the going 
 down of the sun ; and think, but with no regret, of the friends 
 whom I have left beyond. It is a good work to which we 
 have devoted our lives, and its importance magnifies in our 
 estimation every day ; and we would not exchange it for 
 the most eligible station which our country could furnish us. 
 I know not how I should endure a North American winter 
 now. In the spring and autumn, the weather is perfect, 
 and often exhilarating in its genial influence. Not unfre- 
 quently the nightingale greets us with her inimitable song, 
 at mid-day. 
 
 " Our greatest trials arise from the absence of God's Holy 
 Spirit. Would he visit our hearts and those of our neigh- 
 bors and friends, we should rejoice. Without this our 
 planting and watering will be in vain. Pray for us ! Bey- 
 root is continually increasing in importance. We have by 
 no means gone out of the world, though we have come to 
 the eastern extreme of the Mediterranean. We think that 
 American trade will yet be established here." 
 
 " BEYROOT, FEB. 4. 
 
 " I have indulged many pleasing anticipations of wel- 
 coming you in Syria, my dear brother, and do not yet re- 
 linquish them. Still, there is a better country and a better 
 house above ; and purer love and higher joy than all which 
 earth can give. I never shall forget the feelings which I had 
 the day you left Norwich for New York, after the death of 
 our dear Peter, and a short time before I became acquainted 
 with Mr. Smith. You were packing up those articles of 
 family plate which father gave you. I said to myself, ' My 
 treasure is in heaven ; ' and I have frequently looked back 
 upon the feeling, as an evidence of my regeneration. I speak 
 not this boastingly, but with tender and grateful recollections. 
 Much as I love you, I have scarcely indulged a moment's 
 uneasiness respecting you, though I am desirous of knowing 
 particulars in regard to your commercial interests. 
 
 " Dear friends, write to me often, very often. I have
 
 300 MEMOIR OF 
 
 reason to be grateful for a comfortable degree of bodily vigor 
 and mental composure. The weather is now becoming de- 
 lightful. The mildness of spring is returning, ' the time of 
 the singing of birds has come,' and my own physical powers 
 seem to sympathize with nature around me. I am trying 
 to get away from a legal state of mind, which drains the soul 
 of all comfort. I have indulged it too much. Pray for me, 
 that I may rest joyfully in Christ. May you, dear brother 
 and sister, do the same." 
 
 " BEYROOT, FEB. 11. 
 
 " It is an indisputable fact, my dear cousin, that my in- 
 terest in my friends has not diminished an iota since I left 
 my native land. I wish to know every thing about them as 
 much as ever. They too, doubtless, would like to look in 
 upon me, and see how I am situated. Here I have the ad- 
 vantage, for I can form some idea of almost any possible 
 circumstances in America ; but you must picture to your- 
 selves strange and unknown scenes, and after all, perhaps, 
 be forced to exclaim, 'Well, I can't tell how cousin Sarah 
 lives, or how her house looks, or any thing about her.' " 
 
 The following extract from the same letter with the 
 above, describes the indisposition in which commenced 
 Mrs. Smith's final decline of health the first step of her 
 descent to the grave : 
 
 " I should prepare a longer and more particular letter for 
 you, my dear cousin, were it not that I am suffering from a 
 severe cold upon my lungs, in consequence of sitting within 
 the cold, damp walls of our school-house. Our exposures 
 of this kind, in the xvinter, are very great. I have had an 
 incessant and somewhat painful cough for some days, but I 
 think it is now breaking up. This urges me to make some 
 early provision against a similar attack next winter, if I 
 should live." 
 
 " February 16. We have recently entered into an 
 agreement to visit certain families and individuals once a
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 301 
 
 month, something in the way that the Tract distributers in 
 America do, for the purpose of personal religious conversa- 
 tion ; and then to hold a meeting to report to each other 
 our success. We have made a selection for ourselves, from 
 among our friends and neighbors. Much wisdom and gracs 
 will be required to pursue our plan. It will not be like vis- 
 iting the same number of persons in America. In the first 
 place, we cannot talk to them in English ; and in the next, 
 we must be very cautious of exciting their apprehensions and 
 prejudices, thus defeating our object." 
 
 " BEYROOT, FEB. 25. 
 
 " Mr. Nicolayson will inform you respecting our new 
 plan of effort, and we beg that you will constantly remember 
 it in your prayers. My field is the mothers of our female 
 scholars, and I have already commenced calling upon them. 
 My intention is to visit the whole, and become acquainted 
 with them ; and then select as many individuals from among 
 them as I can be faithful to, and such as present the most 
 encouragement to effort. This thought, my dear sister, has 
 been upon my mind much of late that, as it is so difficult 
 to make truth intelligible to the minds of this people in the 
 first endeavor, and as they are so unaccustomed to fix their 
 attention on any subject of serious reflection, it would be 
 better to bestow our energies upon a limited number, for 
 whose benefit we can repeat our efforts, giving ' line upon 
 line, and precept upon precept,' rather than to scatter our 
 influence over a wider field. This is particularly applicable 
 to the women of this country. Perhaps one visit and one 
 conversation may make an impression ; another may affect 
 them slightly, but if not followed by a third, may be as the 
 morning dew; while twelve visits in a year may do some- 
 thing for them. Perhaps it will be a long time before we 
 shall see any fruit. Indeed, those who enter into our labors 
 may gather it in our stead ; yet I am anxious that we should 
 persevere until we die, though no apparent effect may be 
 produced. You well know, from experience, how much
 
 302 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 
 
 missionaries need a degree of healthful excitement in their 
 labors. As all our time and all our plans have one ob- 
 ject, we engage in Christ's service as a matter of course. 
 But if we can make especial efforts for the immediate con- 
 version of one, two, or more souls, we shall always have 
 something to enliven us. 
 
 " I am deeply interested in the perusal of Mrs. Winslow's 
 life. It brings my native place, familiar scenes and friends 
 so vividly before me ; and her trials in breaking away from 
 the endearing ties of home and country were so similar to 
 my own ; that my sensibilities are too strongly excited by 
 the book. On Saturday night I was quite exhausted by the 
 powerful, yet almost unconscious hold which it took of my 
 feelings."
 
 1 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 LETTER TO THE MEMBERS OF THE YOUNG LADIES' ACADEMY, 
 
 NORWICH VIEWS OP THE EFFECTS OF THE MISSION 
 
 CLIMATE IMPORTANCE OF RESPECTABILITY OF APPEAR- 
 ANCE IN MISSIONARIES GOOD FRIDAY TRANSLATION 
 
 OF AN ARABIC GRAMMAR SPRING AND ITS PRODUCTIONS 
 
 IMPEDIMENTS TO MISSIONARY LABORS RELIGIOUS 
 
 CONVERSATION HEALTH SCHOOL LETTER TO MRS. 
 
 TEMPLE. 
 
 FOR some time before leaving this country, Mrs. Smith 
 had taken a deep interest in the Female Academy in Nor- 
 wich ; and with a young lady, one of the teachers, was ac- 
 customed to meet and pray for the influences of the Holy 
 Spirit upon that institution. In some of her letters to her 
 Christian friends she asked their prayers for it. She ad- 
 dressed a letter to its members, dated February 26, 1836, 
 which will be read with interest, as the affectionate and 
 earnest counsels of a devoted missionary to some of the 
 daughters of her native land. 
 
 "TO THE PUPILS OF THE FEMALE ACADEMY IN NORWICH. 
 
 " My dear young friends : With much pleasure, though 
 not without diffidence, I attempt to comply with a request 
 of your respected teachers, that I would address you on the 
 great subject of missions. Could I enjoy the pleasure of a 
 personal interview, I might communicate much that would 
 be interesting; and could adapt myself to your individual 
 views and feelings much better than I can at the distance of 
 5,000 miles, a stranger probably to nearly all of you. My 
 
 303
 
 304 MEMOIR OF 
 
 heart is full on this topic, and I could cover many sheets in 
 discussing it ; but perhaps it would be more tedious for you 
 to read than for me to write. I must therefore compress 
 my communication into as small a compass as possible, and 
 give only outlines, for yourselves or your teachers to fill up. 
 " Allow me first to indulge my imagination a little, and 
 picture to myself the appearance of your Academy when 
 you are assembled for your daily exercises; that I may draw 
 a contrast between you and your youthful contemporaries in 
 this and other unenlightened lands. I see you not only 
 comfortably, but nea-tly dressed, and your persons indicating 
 that suitable attention was paid to them before leaving home. 
 You are abundantly supplied by your parents, or other kind 
 friends, with books, paper, and every thing necessary for pur- 
 suing your studies with success. When your teacher com- 
 mences the morning devotions of the school, the instructions 
 of God's word are familiar to every ear, and intelligible to the 
 youngest pupil ; and prayer is regarded at least as a solemn 
 exercise, demanding outward respect. Then observe the 
 beautiful arrangement of your little company. Each one 
 knows her place and duties. Kindness, gentleness, and re- 
 spect, I trust, characterize your deportment towards your 
 teachers and companions ; and intellectual cultivation, as 
 well as amiable feeling, beam in every countenance. Each 
 day advances you in some useful attainment, which enlarges 
 your capacities, and helps to prepare you for future happi- 
 ness and usefulness. When you return to your homes, you 
 are greeted by kind friends, who encourage you in all your 
 efforts to improve, and who have no higher ambition than to 
 see you increasing in knowledge of every kind. The family 
 circle is a scene of quiet, cheerful enjoyment, and kind 
 affection ; while the wider circle of social intercourse adds 
 grace and polish to every attainment. I could thus indulge 
 my imagination to an almost indefinite extent, and dwell 
 upon your exalted privileges of a religious nature; but I 
 hasten to present the contrast, which is not before my 
 imagination only, but before my eyes. I will say nothing
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 305 
 
 of larger sections of the globe, but will confine myself to 
 Syria, because I am here, and can speak from personal ob- 
 servation of what exists. 
 
 " My dear friends, will you send your thoughts to this, 
 which is not a heathen, but an unevangelized country. I 
 will not invite you to look at our little female school of 
 twenty or thirty, because these form but a drop among the 
 thousands and thousands of youth throughout Syria ; al- 
 though I might draw a contrast even from this, not a little 
 in your favor. But we will speak of the young Syrian 
 females at large, moving in one unbroken line to the land 
 of darkness and sorrow. Among them you will find many 
 a fine form and beautiful face ; but alas ! the perfect work- 
 manship of their Creator is rendered tame and insipid, for 
 want of that mental and moral culture, which gives a 
 peculiar charm to the human countenance. It is impossible 
 for me to bring the females of this country before you in so 
 vivid a manner, that you can form a correct idea of them 
 but select from among your acquaintances a young lady who 
 is excessively weak, vain, and trifling ; who has no relish 
 for any intellectual or moral improvement ; whose conversa- 
 tion is altogether confined to dress, parties, balls, admiration, 
 marriage ; whose temper and faults have never been cor- 
 rected by her parents, but who is following, unchecked, all 
 the propensities of a fallen, corrupt nature. Perhaps you 
 will not be able to find any such, though I have occasionally 
 met with them in America. If you succeed, however, in 
 bringing a person of this character to your mind, then place 
 the thousands of girls, and the women too, of this land, 
 once the land of patriarchs, prophets, and apostles, in her 
 class. 
 
 " These weak-minded Syrian females are not attentive to 
 personal cleanliness ; neither have they a neat and tasteful 
 style of dress. Their apparel is precisely such as the Apostle 
 recommended that Christian females should avoid ; while 
 the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit is thrown wholly 
 out of the account. They have no books, and no means of
 
 306 MEMOIR OF 
 
 moral or intellectual improvement. It is considered a dis- 
 grace for a female to know how to read and write, and a 
 serious obstacle to her marriage, which is the principal 
 object of the parent's heart. This abhorrence of learning 
 in females, exists most strongly in the higher classes. 
 Nearly every pupil in our school is very indigent. Of 
 God's word they know and understand nothing, for a girl is 
 taken to church perhaps but once a year, where nothing is 
 seen among the women but talking and trifling ; of course, 
 she attaches no solemnity to the worship of God. No sweet 
 domestic circle of father, brother, mother, and sister, all 
 capable of promoting mutual cheerfulness and improvement, 
 greets her in her own house. I do not mean to imply, that 
 there exists no family affection among them, for this tie is 
 often very strong; but it has no foundation in respect, and is 
 not employed to promote elevation of character. The men sit 
 and smoke their pipes in one apartment, while in another 
 the women cluster upon the floor, and with loud and vocif- 
 erous voices gossip with their neighbors. The very lan- 
 guage of the females is of a lower order than that of the 
 men ; which renders it almost impossible for them to com- 
 prehend spiritual and abstract subjects, when first presented 
 to their minds. I know not how often, when I have at- 
 tempted to converse with them, they have acknowledged 
 that they did not understand me, or have interrupted me by 
 alluding to some mode or article of dress, or something 
 quite as foolish. 
 
 " Thus you see, my young friends, how unhappy is the 
 condition of the females of Syria, and how many laborers 
 are wanted to cultivate this wide field. I have not told you 
 a tenth part of the calamities of their condition ; how their 
 fathers and brothers are oppressed by this unjust and des- 
 potic government; how they have learned to tremble at the 
 falling of a leaf, and many other things which you may know 
 from different sources. 
 
 " If I knew the precise state of feeling which exists in 
 your Academy, in reference to preparing yourselves for use-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 307 
 
 fulness, either in your own country, or in some foreign land, 
 I should know better what appeals to make to you, and what 
 counsel to bestow. I will imagine that there are two classes 
 among you ; those who have seriously resolved to devote 
 their days to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind 
 and those who have no fixed intentions of this kind, but are 
 on the whole indifferent to the subject. To this last class 
 permit me to say a few words. Can you, young friends, be 
 satisfied to devote your time and energies to personal grati- 
 fication ; and leave so many interesting females to spend an 
 eternity in unavailing regrets in the world of wo? Remem- 
 ber that they are your contemporaries, and that you and they 
 will stand side by side on the great day of final account. 
 What overwhelming emotions will pervade your breasts, when 
 you see them sink down to the pit of destruction ! You will 
 remember that on earth you knew this would be their des- 
 tiny, yet preferred your own gratification for a few useless 
 years and sacrificed the eternal happiness of these your 
 sisters upon the altar of a weak and guilty self-love. Then 
 you will have more than your own souls to account for. The 
 young females of Syria, of India, of every inhabited portion 
 of the globe, who are upon the stage of life with you, will 
 rise up, either to call you blessed, or to enhance your con- 
 demnation. 
 
 " But I turn from this painful theme to address those of 
 your number whose minds are already in some measure fixed 
 on this important subject, and who love to think that they 
 may one day be permitted to enter the sphere of missionary 
 labor, either at home or abroad. To you, my dear sisters, 
 I would say, Avoid all romantic notions in reference to this 
 subject, and all undue excitement. The real difficulties and 
 labors of the undertaking will chase away all romance ; and 
 it is better not to set out with it. Excitement is too much 
 the element of our beloved country; but it will go only a 
 little way in the arduous work of moral reformation ; and it 
 is not a principle which is sufficient to overthrow the deep- 
 laid foundations of Satan's kingdom. Strength of character,
 
 308 -MEMOIR OF 
 
 discipline of mind, steadiness of faith, patience, persever- 
 ance, and self-denial, are the requisite qualifications. 1 
 need not remind you that ardent piety lies at the foundation 
 of the whole. This you must cultivate upon the altar of de- 
 votion in your closets. Commune with God there, respect- 
 ing your feelings and purposes, more than any where else. 
 He will feed and cause them to grow and expand ; and in 
 due time will furnish you with a sphere in which to exercise 
 them. You need not wait to get upon missionary ground, 
 before becoming an accepted missionary with God. Ere I 
 left my father's house, I was convinced of the truth, and am 
 now confirmed in it, that within the walls of her own dwell- 
 ing, a young lady may cultivate and exhibit all the qualifica- 
 tions of a devoted missionary. As a daughter, sister, friend, 
 she may be so faithful, humble, obliging, and self-denying, 
 and may acquire such self-control, that even should she die 
 before entering upon a wider sphere, she would merit the 
 commendation, ' She hath done what she could.' Therefore 
 be not impatient and uneasy, while you are providentially 
 detained, amid every-day duties, within a narrow circle; but 
 'whatever your hand findeth to do there, do it,' at the same 
 time cherishing the determination to assume greater respon- 
 sibilities, and more self-denial, whenever God shall give the 
 opportunity. 
 
 " Next to piety, the most important qualification for active 
 usefulness, is habitual self-control. ' He that ruleth his own 
 spirit, is greater than he that taketh a city.' Perhaps you 
 are exposed to some trials of temper now ; but on mission- 
 ary ground they will be increased a hundred fold, where 
 every thing is crooked and wrong ; where ignorance, stupid- 
 ity, insolence, and deceit, provoke the corresponding emo- 
 tions of pride, impatience, contempt, imperiousness, and 
 dislike. 
 
 " Avoid all habits of particularity and daintiness, which 
 will prevent your assimilating readily to new and unlooked- 
 for circumstances in which you may be placed, prove a 
 source of uneasiness to yourselves, and interfere with your
 
 MRS SARAH L. SMITH. 309 
 
 usefulness to others. Learn the happy, yet difficult art of 
 forgetting yourselves, in all unimportant things. Much 
 general knowledge and discipline of mind are essential in 
 preparing you to do good to your fellow-beings; but if you 
 choose a foreign station, the first mental qualification neces- 
 sary, is a taste for acquiring languages, and the knowledge 
 of several. This accomplishment, and valuable qualification, 
 has been too much overlooked by young ladies in America, 
 and I hope to hear of a change in this respect. The great- 
 est obstacle and most painful discouragement on missionary 
 ground, arises from the want of language by which to ex- 
 press the common sympathies of our nature, and to impart in- 
 struction in a thousand nameless ways, aside from formal 
 exhortation and preaching." 
 
 Mrs. Smith here gives advice on the study of languages, 
 similar to that contained in the letter inserted page 226; 
 and which needs not be repeated. 
 
 " 1 could say much more respecting the cultivation of 
 your minds and hearts, and the formation of your characters 
 for future usefulness, but your teachers are best able to do 
 this. Suffice it to say, all your time and talents must be de- 
 voted to the undertaking. And. how much more ennobling 
 are employments and motives like these, than the trifling 
 occupations which pleasure and fashion demand, or even the 
 comparatively innocent concerns which relate to one's per- 
 son and comforts. Indeed, if your minds are fixed upon the 
 one great object of existence, you will have little relish for 
 meaner pursuits. God is furnishing American females their 
 high privileges, with the intention of calling them forth into 
 the wide fields of ignorance and error, which the world ex- 
 hibits. I look over my country, and think of the hundreds 
 and thousands of young ladies, intelligent, amiable, and 
 capable, who are assembled in schools and academies there; 
 and then turn my eye to Jerusalem, Hebron, Nazareth, 
 Sychar, Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, Yafa, &,c., and to the
 
 310 MEMOIR OF 
 
 numerous villages of Mount Lebanon, and think, Why the 
 inequality of condition and privileges? Why can there not 
 be stationed at every one of those morally desolate places, at 
 least one missionary family, and one single female as a 
 teacher ? Does not Jesus Christ, the good Shepherd, require 
 it of his youthful friends in America ; that from love to him, 
 gratitude for their own distinguished mercies, compassion 
 for perishing souls, and the expectations of perfect rest and 
 happiness in heaven, they should spread themselves over the 
 wide world, and feed the sheep and the lambs scattered with- 
 out a shepherd upon the mountains ? Yes ! he requires it, 
 and angels will yet behold it ; but shall we not see it in 
 our day? 
 
 " You, rny dear young friends, who belong to the Nor- 
 wich Female Academy, are a prominent portion of those 
 who are called upon to answer this question." 
 
 "February 29. My dear Brother: A steam packet 
 arrived last evening from England, via Malta and Alex- 
 andria; from the last port only forty-eight hours. It is the 
 first of a line which is to visit Beyroot once a month. We 
 begin to feel a great deal nearer to you than formerly. 
 From French papers we have learned particulars of the 
 dreadful fire in your city. We took a map of the city, and 
 tried to discover if you were probably a sufferer, but we 
 could not fix the location with sufficient accuracy to deter- 
 mine. I long to hear all about you." 
 
 "March 8. We have now for our guest Mr. Eliot, a 
 clergyman of the Established Church of England, on his 
 way to Jerusalem, and in feeble health. He says that re- 
 ligion in England is advancing extensively. My affection 
 for our mother country has increased since coming into in- 
 tercourse with her sons and daughters in this Eastern world. 
 
 '.' This has been our Fast and Concert. I have been as 
 quiet as possible, having last night taken medicine for an 
 uncomfortable cough. Nothing has moved or troubled me
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 31] 
 
 this livelong day. I have enjoyed a season of especial 
 prayer with Mr. Smith, and another with Miss Williams, 
 according to our custom, besides the public service. 
 
 "March 17. On Monday we were cheered and ex- 
 cited by the arrival of Mr. Hebard, bringing your kind de- 
 spatches. How shall I sufficiently thank you all for these, 
 and for your abounding love; or my heavenly Friend for all 
 his kindness to you, my beloved ones? I have received 
 twenty-eight sheets. 
 
 " You wish, dear father, to hear about my health. It has 
 been excellent since my return from Jerusalem. In conse- 
 quence of exposure within the damp walls of our new school- 
 house, I have had a severe cold and cough, which continue. 
 I was confined only a day or two, and have not been inter- 
 rupted in my usual avocations. You know my lungs are 
 not my weak part. If I eat a very little, of almost any kind 
 of food, I am perfectly well and happy, if I at the same time 
 avoid too much exertion. 
 
 " In answer to your inquiries respecting the success of 
 our labors, I would say, that with our press, schools, preach- 
 ing, conversation, and other social intercourse, in which we 
 are busy from morning till night, we feel that a broad foun- 
 dation is being laid, upon which, at some future day, God 
 knows when, a glorious superstructure will be raised. It 
 is true we cannot tell you of conversions, or of any imme- 
 diate and striking success ; and this pains us. But progress 
 is making, and we look for fruit, even in our own day. 
 Send us as many more as you can to help us. The field ra 
 wide. There need be no idlers here. While you supply us 
 from time to time, let your faith be firm and constant, rely- 
 ing on the promises of Jehovah ; and be but little affected 
 by the sounds of ' Lo here, and lo there.' It is a long and 
 trying work that the church has undertaken, and many will 
 fall in the contest ; but the victory will be won at last. 
 
 " I am pained to hear of sister's ill health. Knowing, as 
 she does, her peculiar danger, she ought to be particularly
 
 312 MEMOIR OF 
 
 careful to avoid excitement. The church is not resting 
 upon her ; God can do without her, even. My missionary 
 life, thus far, has been beneficially affected by my last year's 
 experience in America, when sister thought I was on the 
 ground of 'little faith.' I used to think myself of con- 
 siderable consequence in the service of Christ ; but during 
 that year, I felt my own insignificance unusually ; and here, 
 on missionary ground, with closed lips, I have been obliged 
 to feel this more than ever. And if the discipline had not 
 commenced before I came here, I might have sunk down 
 into a state of morbid sensibility, from which I could not 
 have risen. 
 
 " I love this climate exceedingly. I told the new mis- 
 sionaries in quarantine yesterday, that I could not present 
 them with a better wish, than that they might be as happy 
 in Syria as I had been. By the way, Lamartine's work 
 is too much that of a French poet, to be relied upon for 
 accuracy. If the Maronites are to revive the true religion 
 here, their hatred and opposition are part of the machinery 
 with which God designs to bring about his purposes." 
 
 March 21. After mentioning some articles of dress to 
 be procured for her in America, she says " You have 
 doubtless perceived from my letters, that we have not come 
 out of the world by coming to Beyroot, but that we require 
 as much as ever to be respectably dressed. In our chapel 
 we are seldom without the presence of English travellers, 
 and not unfrequently there are with us English noblemen. 
 For two reasons, at least, .1 think our little company should 
 appear respectable first, for the honor of the missionary 
 cause ; and secondly, for our national dignity. For these 
 reasons, I think that America should send forth her best to 
 foreign lands. I never was so conscious of our national 
 peculiarities as now, and cannot help being made a little 
 nervous, occasionally, by certain Americanisms. Now you 
 must not laugh at me, and say, *O! sister is fastidious.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 313 
 
 Were our countrymen to spend a few years abroad, they 
 would not, so much as now, be inclined to say, ' We are 
 the people, and wisdom will die with us.' " 
 
 " April 1. This is Good Friday, and we had a morning 
 service in English. It was affecting, as we passed through 
 the city, to see nearly all the flags half-mast high, and our 
 own among the rest. The reflection was sublime and al- 
 most overwhelming 'It is to commemorate the death of 
 the Son of God.' 
 
 " I have commenced to-day translating a grammar in 
 Arabic manuscript into English, for my own benefit, and 
 for that of others, if I succeed. I become every day more 
 interested in this delightful language ; and could spend my 
 whole time with it agreeably. 
 
 " My mind is much upon a female boarding-school ; and 
 if I can get the promise of ten girls, we shall, God willing, 
 remove the press from our house, and commence one in 
 the fall. 
 
 " April 20. Sabbath. Yesterday we held a meeting to 
 consult upon the best method of promoting a revival of re- 
 ligion in our own hearts, and among those around ; and 
 to-day we have had the communion ; anticipating the regu- 
 lar season a week, for the purpose of having brother and 
 sister Whiting with us. Their visit has proved one of great 
 importance, as some subjects of deep interest came before 
 the brethren. 
 
 " April 26. Our family now consists of thirteen ; and as 
 the gentlemen kindly invited us to be present at their meet- 
 ings for business, where, as silent spectators, our minds 
 become informed on many important subjects connected 
 with the interests of our mission, I have put aside many 
 other duties for this privilege; and have frequently seated 
 myself with them at eight o'clock in the morning. We 
 protract the vacation of our school until the termination of 
 Mr. and Mrs. W.'s visit. 
 
 " April 28. I have just been down into our little garden, 
 
 Smith 1 4
 
 314 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Unfortunately the sparrows love its products as well as our- 
 selves, and I fear they will share too largely with us for our 
 benefit." 
 
 "I was affected, my dear cousin Sarah, to notice the 
 death of your excellent father. How many souls he will 
 meet in heaven, carried there through his instrumentality ! 
 And your uncle R., too, has gone thither. Thus that gen- 
 eration are falling, ' like leaves ia wintry weather.' I 
 shrink from the anticipation of other breaches in that same 
 circle, which, if I live, will still more tenderly affect me. 
 The Lord grant that they may be long deferred. 
 
 " We think that we can see some progress in knowledge 
 of the truth, and have no doubt that we are carrying forward 
 a system of means, which God will eventually bless, in the 
 joyful establishment of his kingdom here. But it is a land 
 of apostates from the true faith, and as such peculiarly 
 cursed. Christians at home, as well as missionaries abroad, 
 must possess patience and perseverance in this work of 
 converting the world. They must go straight forward, con- 
 fiding more in the promises of Jehovah, than in what they 
 see and hear. They must be willing to work, faithfully, and 
 let others reap the fruits. I hope to live here to be very old ; 
 if so, I think that in thirty, or forty, or fifty years, I may be- 
 hold some important changes for the better. I do not wish 
 to plead for the exercise of too much indulgence towards 
 myself and my fellow-laborers in the missionary service, but 
 I think too much is expected from our individual influence. 
 Suppose that the inhabitants of Norwich, for example, were 
 all Mohammedans and Papists, and other corrupt Christian 
 sects ; with how much courage would you and your husband 
 establish yourselves among them, to do them good, especial- 
 ly if printing the books, keeping the schools, preaching, and 
 sundry other important duties, devolved wholly upon your- 
 selves ? Yet the proportion of laborers in the missionary 
 field is by no means equal to one family in 7 or 8,000. You 
 see how much we need your sympathies and your prayers."
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 315 
 
 Mrs. Smith describes an interview which she had with a 
 mother for the purpose of religious conversation. After 
 speaking of the other females of the family, she remarks 
 " I was left alone with the mother, the thing which I desired. 
 I turned to her, and began to tell her how much I felt 
 for her soul ; and that I wished to talk with her of it ; that 
 if we met before the judgment-seat, we should think it very 
 strange that we had not in this world conversed upon some- 
 thing else than clothes, food, our neighbors, &c. I said, 
 'You have a wicked heart, like myself;' and to convince 
 her of the necessity of a change of heart, I related my own 
 experience. She listened with attention and tears. I said 
 to her, ' These truths which I tell you are not my words, but 
 they are the Saviour's, found in his gospel, and I know them 
 to be true, because I have read them there. If you could 
 read, you would find the Scriptures full of truths of which 
 you now know nothing.' Thus I went on for some time ; 
 and after putting into her hands a piece of cloth to make 
 her infant a dress, which she had sought of me some days 
 before, I went up to look at her silk-worms. There, in my 
 presence, she repeated to the other women all which I had 
 said to her, with one variation. 
 
 " This visit was one of a series, connected with a system 
 of visiting which our mission circle have recently estab- 
 lished. My sphere is an interesting one, promising pleasure 
 and usefulness. But, alas ! I cannot, as in America, go 
 from house to house alone. Many of them are within the 
 city walls, and thither I must go upon my donkey, attended 
 by a man servant, and can make not more than one, or at 
 most two calls in one excursion. There is no dropping in 
 unobserved here, as with you. Our presence attracts all 
 the neighborhood, and I have often had quite a congrega- 
 tion, when I went to see one only." 
 
 " BEYROOT, MAT 1. 
 
 " I am much impressed this evening, my dear parents, 
 with the goodness of God, in permitting me to close and
 
 316 MEMOIR OF 
 
 forward to you one communication after another, and to 
 commence new ones. By a vessel which sailed yesterday, 
 I sent a journal of three sheets; together with letters to 
 different individuals, aside from our family. Perhaps you 
 sometimes imagine that I am so occupied, and so distant, 
 that I am becoming weaned from my beloved home and 
 friends. Far from it. On the contrary, the cord which 
 binds me to you becomes stronger every day, and I love to 
 have you say that you talk about us continually. In answer 
 to your kind inquiries, dear father, in my last letter I men- 
 tioned my health more particularly. Perhaps it will be well 
 for me oftener to allude to this in my journals, that I may 
 keep you advised of any alterations that may occur. For a 
 few days past, the heavy cold which I have had during the 
 winter, seemed to return again in some measure. This 
 morning I did not attend the English service, but kept my 
 bed chiefly ; reserving my strength for the Sabbath school, 
 whither I went and remained to the Arabic preaching. 
 This evening I am much better. 
 
 " On Friday, Mr. and Mrs. Whiting and Mr. Lanneau, 
 left us for Jerusalem ; and on Saturday, Mr. Smith, Miss 
 Williams, Mr. Hebard, our two little girls, Antonio a young' 
 translator, and myself, took a ride up the mountains, to a 
 Maronite convent. On our way, about two hours from Bey- 
 root, we stopped at Mansooreeyeh and looked into the house 
 in which Mr. Smith, with Tannoos and his wife, spent a 
 winter, and where Mr. Smith laid the foundation of his 
 knowledge of Arabic. It was the winter after my visit to 
 Andover. I little imagined then, that my future husband was 
 dwelling in an Arab hut on Mount Lebanon. I had some 
 peculiar feelings in looking at it. It is a small, one-story 
 stone building, in the form of a parallelogram, containing two 
 rooms and a stable. It is now deserted, and we were obliged 
 to remove the rubbish, that we might look in upon its mud- 
 dy floors and rough walls. I sat down upon the terraced 
 roof, and opened Pollok's " Course of Time," upon these 
 lines, which I thought a singular coincidence :
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 317 
 
 *The man of science to the shade retired, 
 And laid his head upon his hand, in mood 
 Of awful thoughtfulness ; and dived, and dived 
 Again deeper and deeper still.' 
 
 " Many of us have envied my husband the results of that 
 diving among Arabic roots, with a teacher who then had DO 
 knowledge of the grammar of the language. It was of incal- 
 culable benefit to him, shut out as he also was from all use of 
 the English language, and compelled to employ the Arabic. 
 
 " To-day we commenced another term of our school, with 
 twenty-six scholars. I am always most happy when I am 
 thus occupied in teaching. Two native princesses from the 
 mountains called this morning and occupied the time appro- 
 priated to my Arabic and Italian lessons. They were digni- 
 fied and rational, and visited and examined the press. They 
 inquired respecting the comparative attractions of this coun- 
 try and our own. I then simply stated to them the principal 
 and vital difference which exists, that the females in Amer- 
 ica have similar advantages with the other sex, and that not 
 the rich and great only, but, by the liberality of these, the 
 poor, may enjoy equal advantages for mental improvement. 
 I love to inform the nobility here of this fact, as they are 
 taught to read themselves, but pay no regard to the educa- 
 tion of their inferiors. 
 
 " Oh ! the time will come when knowledge shall be in- 
 creased here, but ' how long, O Lord, thou knowest.' The 
 wife of a persecuted Druze is very anxious to learn to read, 
 and she comes to our house every day, when the school 
 closes, to get instruction from Raheel. To-day the latter 
 was visiting her parents, and Keffa, the daughter of the 
 woman, gave her a lesson. It was affecting to see a little 
 girl, six years of age, standing by her mother's knee in the 
 office of a teacher. This female (the mother) we all love, 
 her manners are so gentle, and her disposition so unobtru- 
 sive. The whole family are under our influence, and I beg 
 that you will make them especial subjects of prayer."
 
 318 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " BEYROOT, MAT 6. 
 
 "Dear Mrs. Temple: I think that missionaries must 
 unavoidably become very much matter-of-fact persons, and 
 almost wholly absorbed in the daily round of care and labor, 
 with little opportunity to choose their occupations. One 
 duty after another forces itself in rapid succession upon our 
 attention ; and we are obliged to conclude at length, like 
 good Dr. Payson, ' the person who wants me, is the one I 
 want.' If no other good results from this course of impera- 
 tive duty, it has a tendency to interrupt self-complacency, 
 since we are never as fond of being driven, as of walking at 
 our leisure. But our Divine Master pleased not himself; 
 and as we have voluntarily engaged in his service, we must 
 stand by our post, and shrink from nothing. I rejoice that 
 you have so promising a field of usefulness. It must make 
 you quite happy. Our Beyroot school is an interesting one, 
 increasingly so, though not large. When we shall have 
 three or four female schools to superintend I know not. 
 We feel the want of books exceedingly. The little girl 
 whom I took more than a year since, and who advances 
 steadily in intelligence and knowledge, has no book but the 
 Bible to read not one. I translate to her ' Mary Lothrop,' 
 and the ' Child's Book on the Soul ; ' but giving oral instruc- 
 tion is a slow process. I give lessons in geography and on 
 the globe to our scholars; but how much they must neces- 
 sarily forget, for want of committing it to memory, from 
 books in their hands ! Never did I realize so fully the 
 exalted privileges of our American youth! Then again, 
 should our press get into successful operation, I despair of 
 doing any thing in the way of infant schools, because the 
 Arabic language cannot be simplified, at least under existing 
 prejudices. If every hymn and little story must be dressed 
 up in the august habiliments of the Koran, what child of 
 three and six years old will be wiser and better for them? 
 How complete is the dominion of the great Adversary over 
 this people ! All the links in the chain must be separated,
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 319 
 
 one by one. And what a long, I had almost said, tedious 
 process ! But I forget that to each one will be assigned a 
 few only of these links. We are doing a little, perhaps, in 
 this work ; if faithful, we shall rest in heaven, and others 
 will come and take our places and our work." 
 
 The following passage was written by Mrs. Smith upon 
 the blank leaves of a pocket Testament, given her before 
 she left this country, and which she returned to the donor 
 a few months previous to her death. It is without a date ; 
 but was probably written subsequent to the failure of her 
 health, and under premonitions that she was approaching 
 the close of life. 
 
 " When you presented me with this precious little book, 
 my dear brother, you probably did not expect to see it again. 
 It has been my companion in all my wanderings since I left 
 my native land. And now I return it to you, for the single 
 reason, that it has made a visit to the Garden of Geth- 
 semane. In that spot I seated myself, and in solitude pe- 
 rused Matthew xxvi. 36 56, with peculiar feelings ; and 
 then I plucked the sprig which you will find herein. Take 
 this little Testament to your communion table, and urge 
 upon your church, once more, the parting command of their 
 Buffering Saviour. 
 
 SAHAH L. SMITH."
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 FAILURE OF MRS. SMITH'S HEALTH DEPARTURE FROM BEY- 
 ROOT SHIPWRECK ARRIVAL AT SMYRNA CONTINUED 
 
 DECLINE OF HEALTH REMOVAL TO BOOJAH LAST DAYS 
 
 DEATH FUNERAL. 
 
 IN consequence of the failure of the health of Mrs. 
 Smith, her physician advised a voyage to Smyrna. For 
 this purpose, and also for other reasons which will appear, 
 she left Beyroot with her husband on the llth of June. 
 The history of this voyage will be given from her own 
 journal, and that of Mr. Smith. 
 
 " SMYRNA, JULY 28, 1836. 
 
 "My dear Parents: A few days before the close of our 
 disastrous voyage from Beyroot to Smyrna, of which Mr. 
 Smith gave you a brief account soon after our arrival here, 
 and while I was lying exhausted upon the deck of our 
 vessel, my thoughts suddenly reverted to an object in your 
 drawing-room, which had not before crossed my mind since 
 I left the home of my childhood. It was the picture of the 
 shipwrecked mariner, that filled my imagination, as he stood 
 friendless and desolate before the door of a solitary cottage, 
 pointing to the distant sea as the scene of his sufferings, at 
 the same time soliciting the compassion of its benevolent 
 inmates. I well remember, that in my youthful days, when 
 I stood beside our visitors who were admiring the beauty of 
 the execution, I almost invariably inquired, ' Do you notice 
 the tear upon the sailor boy's cheek?' I little imagined 
 then, that the picture would ever be associated with any 
 events in my own history. Now, however, I think that my 
 
 330
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 321 
 
 dear father will look at it with new and tender interest ; and 
 that my dear mother, with no less feeling, will recall it to 
 her mind. But I hope it will be with more of gratitude 
 than sorrow, that their shipwrecked daughter lives to relate 
 her own history. I will not, however, dwell on this subject 
 at present, but return to Beyroot, that I may inform you of 
 the process by which my health became so suddenly changed. 
 
 " In the fall, soon after the rains commenced, the terrace 
 of our newly-made female school-house was broken up, and 
 its walls and floor soaked : and I there caught a severe cold, 
 which produced a tight and violent cough. I was confined 
 to the house but a few days, however ; and though my cough 
 continued through the whole winter, yet, presuming on the 
 strength of my lungs, I felt no anxiety, and took no precau- 
 tionary measures; continuing all my labors as usual. As 
 the spring advanced, I began to expectorate somewhat copi- 
 ously ; my strength became suddenly exhausted, and my pulse 
 rose to 110 per minute. Mr. Smith called in Dr. Whitely, 
 who examined my lungs with the stethescope, and pronounced 
 them diseased ; though in what way, and to what extent, he 
 did not positively determine. He urged the necessity of 
 immediately relinquishing all my employments, and giving 
 myself up wholly to rest and relaxation. I complied with 
 his advice, and found myself benefited. 
 
 " As the state of the press rendered it desirable for Mr. 
 Smith to visit Smyrna, and as it was thought a voyage would 
 be of more service to me than any thing else, and would 
 take me away from all my cares and responsibilities; with 
 aching hearts we commenced our preparations for a de- 
 parture. The plague, in the mean time, had broken out 
 in Beyroot, and suspended our missionary labors; and our 
 friends had all gone to the mountains, except Miss Williams, 
 whom the exhaustion of the season required to follow them 
 immediately. The intensity of my feelings was enhanced 
 by the possibility that the wants of the press would require 
 us to extend our voyage to America. This also made it 
 necessary that we should put our furniture in a state to be 
 14*
 
 322 MEMOIR OF 
 
 left one or two years, and likewise to pack up many more 
 clothes and articles of convenience than we otherwise should 
 have done. 
 
 " An early opportunity offered for Smyrna, and the day 
 was fixed for our sailing. The afternoon of our embarka- 
 tion, which was Friday the 10th of June, a few of our 
 native friends and neighbors, together with our servants, 
 assembled to bid us adieu. Mr. Smith made a short ad- 
 dress, and offered prayer in Arabic. It was a scene of 
 sorrow and desolation, such as I cannot describe. As you 
 are not familiar with the scenes presented in time of plague, 
 where families and individuals put themselves in quarantine, 
 you can form little idea of the solemnity which was thus 
 added to our parting interview. Our poor Druze neighbors, 
 carefully avoiding contact with every object and with our- 
 selves, walked one by one into our vacated parlor, and took 
 the seats that were appointed for them. Every heart seemed 
 ready to burst with grief, and we all wept together. An- 
 tonio, our young translator and teacher, a most interesting 
 youth, seemed inconsolable. He seized our hands and 
 gave himself up to the violence of grief. 
 
 "I had set my heart much upon taking Raheel with me. 
 Parents, however, in Syria, have an especial aversion to part- 
 ing with their children for foreign countries. One of my 
 last acts, therefore, was to make a formal committal of her 
 into the hands of my kind friend, Miss Williams. I had 
 become so strongly attached to the little girl, and felt myself 
 so much rewarded for all my efforts with her, that the cir- 
 cumstances of this separation were perhaps more trying than 
 any associated with our departure. 
 
 " After so many months of pleasant intercourse and labor 
 with my dear friend, Miss Williams, you need not be told 
 of our mutual sorrow at parting.* Having wept and prayed 
 together for the last time, I left her room, expecting to re- 
 
 * Miss Williams was afterwards married to the Rev. Mr. Hebaud, 
 End died at Beyroot on the 8th of February, 1840.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 323 
 
 turn and bid her a final adieu. But this my feelings would 
 not allow. I descended the stairs to depart, supposing the 
 last farewell was taken. I found, standing by my little don- 
 key, our Mohammedan servant, who had often accompanied 
 me in my rides ; and who, the moment he saw me, began to 
 weep aloud, and express the deepest grief at our departure. 
 This completely overcame me ; so that on mounting my 
 donkey to ride to the shore, I was so much exhausted as 
 scarcely to be able to support myself. 
 
 " On reaching the place of embarkation, we sat down 
 upon the solitary shore, with the friends who accompanied 
 us, to await the arrival of the boat to convey us to the ves- 
 sel. After considerable detention, the captain approached 
 us, and informed us that two English travellers had just 
 arrived ; and for their accommodation he wished to detain 
 his vessel until the afternoon of the following day. For 
 this purpose, he must send on shore sixteen poor Jews, who 
 had taken passage, and, moreover, been waiting seven days 
 for us. The captain left it with us, whether to go on board 
 that afternoon, or to wait on shore until the morrow. But 
 as it was Friday evening, and if we returned to our house, 
 our friends could not go to the mountains until Monday, 
 and more than all, as we dreaded another parting scene, we 
 went on board with our Druze servant. After tossing in 
 the harbor for twenty-four hours, our fellow-passengers joined 
 us, and we set sail. The travellers were, the Rev. Mr. 
 Wynne, a clergyman of the Established Church of England, 
 and Mr. Stobart, an evangelical member of the same church. 
 
 " On the 15th of June, five days after we left Beyroot, we 
 were sailing on the north side of the island of Cyprus, with 
 a strong head wind. My feelings had become much de- 
 pressed as I lay in my berth that afternoon, having been 
 deprived so long of my usual religious privileges ; and my 
 husband came, and conversed and prayed with me. About 
 nine o'clock, we retired to rest. Before closing his eyes, 
 Mr. Smith had some unusual exercises of mind ; being led 
 to question himself with more than customary earnestness as
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to his being prepared for a watery grave, if such should be 
 our lot that night ; and finding more than ordinary satisfac- 
 tion in the reply his feelings suggested. About half an 
 hour after lying down, we were suddenly awaked by a crash, 
 which we perceived was occasioned by the vessel's striking 
 upon a reef. Mr. Smith started from his bed and went upon 
 deck without speaking. I was soon upon my feet, but re- 
 mained below alone, and began to pray for our lives, and 
 the lives of all on board. 
 
 " In the mean time, crash after crash succeeded the first, 
 some of them exceedingly terrific, threatening the entire and 
 speedy destruction of the. vessel. But amid the confusion 
 on deck, I remained calmly upon my seat, with my little 
 basket containing my combs and brushes in one hand, and 
 a bag enclosing a few loose articles in the other. From 
 the first moment of danger, my mind reverted to the long 
 boat, and some desolate shore; while hope predominated 
 that we should escape with our lives. Presently Mr. Smith 
 appeared at the cabin door, and called me above. The 
 tossing of the broken vessel upon the rocks interfered with 
 the lowering of the boat, while a wave broke over the deck 
 just as I reached it. I spoke not a word ; but as I turned 
 towards the place where they were lowering the boat, sup- 
 ported by my anxious husband, the mild rays of the evening 
 star caught my eye, as it was just about to descend below 
 the horizon; and it seemed like the star of hope. 
 
 " I found myself the first in the boat, I know not how, and 
 Mr. Smith followed. Our simple-hearted Druze servant was 
 soon by our side ; and I was much affected by the smile of 
 relief and satisfaction which played upon his countenance, 
 as he exclaimed, ' My master ! My mistress ! ' One after 
 another of the passengers and sailors threw themselves into 
 the boat, to the number of fourteen. One of them, a poor, 
 dissipated, and sick young Englishman, whose presence on 
 board had been a great annoyance, as he was dragged into 
 the boat, first fell into the sea, and afterwards across my feet, 
 and for some minutes lay upon them, pressing them into the
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 325 
 
 water in the bottom of the boat. But every feeling of re- 
 pugnance towards him had vanished ; and when I learned 
 that all were safe in the boat, my heart glowed with gratitude 
 to God, and unmingled kindness towards all my associates in 
 affliction ; and I opened my lips for the first time to express 
 it to my dear husband. Then it was that we saw the kind 
 providence of God in preventing the embarkation of the 
 sixteen Jews ; for had they been on board, certainly many 
 lives must have been lost, as our boat was barely sufficient 
 to contain the present ship's company. The sailors plied 
 their oars, and we turned our backs upon the wreck, left our 
 property to its fate, and committed ourselves to the boister- 
 ous waves. 
 
 " As none of us knew how far we were from shore, we 
 feared we might be tossed in our little boat the whole of the 
 night ; even if we were preserved from the violence of the 
 waves. Our inefficient captain had no control over his 
 crew, and all were giving directions at once. At length Mr. 
 Smith raised his voice, and commanded attention ; saying 
 that our danger was greater now than when on board the 
 wreck, unless order was preserved ; he directed them to 
 the north star for their guidance, and soon we found our- 
 selves near a low beach, upon which the waves were dashing 
 furiously. But for his influence, we should have been land- 
 ed immediately in the midst of the surf; and thoroughly wet, 
 if not drowned. He, however, persuaded them to continue 
 along the shore, in search of some quiet indentation ; and 
 the wind having died away, we at length discovered a spot 
 where there appeared to be no surf. Here, an hour after 
 leaving the wreck, we landed safely. The passengers were 
 all left on shore, while the crew, excepting the cook, re- 
 turned to the ship, with the hope of securing a part of the 
 property. 
 
 " I said to the English youth before mentioned, ' My young 
 friend, were you ever so near eternity before? ' He replied, 
 % No.' I inquired, ' Did you feel prepared to enter eternity so 
 suddenly ? ' He replied again in the negative. ' Then,' said
 
 326 MEMOIR OF 
 
 I, ' you know not what a Christian's hope is worth, at such 
 an hour ; and I entreat you to give the remainder of your 
 days to preparation for death.' I had not strength to say 
 more; neither could I perceive that my words made any very 
 deep impression. 
 
 " In the mean time, a place was prepared for me. A few 
 sticks, which had been washed upon the beach, were set up 
 by our servant, and a wet sailor's jacket thrown over them, 
 to defend me from the wind. Beneath me were spread upon 
 the damp sand, the bag which I had brought, a black shawl 
 that was in it, and our servant's jacket; all of them wet. 
 Upon these I lay, with my cloak around me, and perhaps 
 you will be surprised when I say, slept also. The gentlemen 
 walked backwards and forwards near me ; and no other ob- 
 ject was seen, except the poor, disabled cook, whose fingers 
 had been sadly bruised, and nearly dissevered, at the time of 
 the wreck, and who had thrown himself upon the sand at a 
 distance from us. 
 
 " About midnight the boat returned, filled with what had 
 been taken from the wreck. This was soon deposited upon 
 the shore ; and in the darkness of the night, each one began 
 to search for his own property, while I lay quietly waiting 
 for the result. It was found that each sailor had secured 
 his own chest ; they had brought also the portmanteaus of 
 our companions, and a bag of hard bread. For ourselves, 
 they had brought Mr. Smith's travelling bag, which contained 
 his old cloak, double-gown, boots and shoes; a little trunk 
 of shaving apparatus, containing also his purse, which in the 
 confusion of the wreck he had transferred to it from a large 
 chest; and our two mattresses. The mattresses were of no 
 use that night, they were so thoroughly soaked. Of our 
 eight chests, two writing-desks, and our provisions, they 
 brought nothing. 
 
 " As soon as the boat was unloaded, they returned to the 
 wreck, and we still had strong hopes of recovering the re- 
 mainder of our goods. But about daybreak they returned, 
 bringing nothing, and informing us that the vessel had dis-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 327 
 
 appeared beneath the waves. As the boat neared the shore, 
 I had lifted up my heart to God, that he would prepare me 
 for whatever was the result. When it was made known, 1 
 had not a word to say. I felt then, and I still feel, that it was 
 a sacred deposit which God had made in the bottom of the 
 ocean. Nor have I had a heart to wish the recall of a single 
 article that was lost. And I hope that you will all cherish 
 the same feelings with myself, as I believe my dear hus- 
 band does. 
 
 " You may perhaps like to be informed of the nature and 
 extent of our losses. We had with us a number of very val- 
 uable books and manuscripts ; not many of general literature, 
 but mostly connected with our Arabic studies, and the his- 
 tory and condition of Syria, which Mr. Smith had procured 
 at considerable expense and effort. Our writing-desks, also, 
 which were lost, contained journals of Mr. Smith's travels in 
 Syria and the Holy Land ; three volumes of private journals 
 of my own ; unfinished letters, and letters received from 
 friends ; all Mr. Smith's sermons, and a small sum of 
 money ; our medicine chest, silver articles, and my watch." 
 
 Here Mrs. Smith states further particulars ; from which it 
 appears that her own and her husband's wardrobes, with the 
 exception of a very few articles, which they were wearing 
 in short, that nearly all their effects brought from Beyroot 
 were lost. She continues 
 
 " I could not but recognize the hand of God very re- 
 markably, in my feeble state, in preserving to us our mat- 
 tresses. Had it not been for them, I think that I could not 
 have survived the voyage. It is true I was sometimes 
 obliged to resort to Jacob's pillow, and had nothing but a 
 cloak to cover me; as our bedding had gone to the bottom. 
 With the exception of the captain, the loss of every indi- 
 vidual except ourselves, was comparatively trifling; and yet 
 all of them, during the remainder of the voyage, were
 
 328 MEMOIR OF 
 
 obliged to find their resting-place either upon the hard earth 
 or the hoards of a ship. 
 
 " Our party had much conversation during the night re- 
 specting the manner in which we should relieve ourselves 
 from our present embarrassments. We knew not where we 
 were, except that we were beneath the mountains of Cara- 
 mania, in Asia Minor. If the sun should rise upon us in 
 our unsheltered situation, we should be scorched by its 
 burning rays. I was too feeble to walk fifteen minutes, had 
 we known what direction to take. Our only food was a 
 bag of sailors' bread; not like the bread of American 
 sailors, but unpalatable and unwholesome ; yet we were all 
 glad to make our breakfast of it. But God, who is ever 
 rich in mercy, interposed wonderfully in our behalf. The 
 dawn of day discovered to us, at a short distance from the 
 shore, a small native craft, becalmed. You may imagine 
 what were our sensations, especially as the approaching day 
 showed us still more distinctly, the hopeless natuye of our 
 situation. We were on a sandy beach,* extending eight or 
 ten miles into the sea, so low as to be entirely overflowed, 
 when the water is raised by storms ; and without a single 
 tree, or any thing else upon it, to afford us shelter from the 
 heat. In our boat, which had but just returned from the 
 last visit to the wreck, we immediately sent to ask succor 
 from the vessel we had discovered. Soon we saw it ap- 
 proaching us. It proved to be a lumber boat from Dami- 
 etta, in Egypt, with a captain and crew of Egyptian Arabs. 
 We all immediately went on board, and the captain, whose 
 appearance was any thing but that of a courtier, passed me 
 a few little fish, fried in oil; which I ate with avidity; 
 though in my diseased state, I perhaps could scarcely have 
 eaten more unsuitable food. 
 
 " By noon the captain cast anchor in a deserted harbor, 
 called Selefkeh, under pretence of watering ; and there re- 
 mained, during that and the following day; though none 
 
 * Called Lisan el Kahbch.
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 329 
 
 but putrid water could be obtained, and we had contracted 
 with him, at a large price, to take us to an inhabited place, 
 not very distant, on the coast. On our way we had found 
 our jolly-boat ; into which, at the time of the wreck, our 
 D'ruze, supposing we were to leave in it, had thrown his 
 own bundle of clothes, a copper wash-basin, and my foot- 
 stool. On shore we wandered about in the hot sun, to find 
 a place of shelter; which we at length obtained under a 
 large kharoob tree, where a strong wind closed our pores, 
 and made us any thing but comfortable. There we cooked 
 a dinner of rice and oil, which we had bought of the captain ; 
 and passed that day. At night we returned to the vessel. 
 It had no cabin, nor awning, nor shelter of any kind. Mr. 
 Smith placed one mattress upon the lumber, for me to lie 
 upon, and the other to shelter me from the wind. I dressed 
 myself in my hood and vail, and he lay beside me upon the 
 timbers. 
 
 " The next morning, finding that the captain was still 
 trifling with us, we went on shore again. 
 
 " We became at length somewhat hungry, and solicited 
 of the captain some rice, and a vessel to cook it in. But as 
 he was making all this delay for the purpose of obtaining a 
 higher price for our passage, which we declined paying, he 
 refused to furnish us ; and we knew not but we should be 
 literally left to starve. Just then, however, some of the 
 sailors of our old crew, who had been out in their boat, re- 
 turned and informed us that two or three other vessels were 
 lying in a harbor two or three hours distant, from which 
 we could probably obtain provisions. This softened our 
 Egyptian captain immediately, since he found we were not 
 so entirely in his power as he had imagined. Ann fearing 
 he might lose the opportunity of taking us, he hastened 
 to provide us with what we had requested. We, however, 
 had lost all confidence in him ; indeed we feared to be any 
 longer in his power ; for his dark visage indicated a capa- 
 bility for almost any deed of darkness. As Mr. Smith was 
 the only one of the passengers who could communicate
 
 330 MEMOIR OF 
 
 with the captains of the vessels which had been discovered, 
 in their native tongues, it was proposed that he should visit 
 them, to obtain relief. He left a little before sundown, com- 
 mitting me to the kind care of our good friend Mr. Stobart. 
 
 " Soon after his departure, we removed, for the night, 
 from our tree to the shore. Here Mr. Stobart made my 
 bed under the lee of a pile of timber. Our servant built a 
 large fire to keep away wild beasts and musquetoes; with 
 which also he cooked us a supper of eggs, in the sailors' 
 copper wash-basin, the only vessel we had now at our com- 
 mand. The eggs had been bought that afternoon, by the 
 sailors in their visit to the vessels. I leaned against the pile 
 of timber, and ate one with my fingers, using some dirty salt, 
 which had been pounded with a stone for our use. Then, 
 almost smothering myself with my cloak, hood, and vail, I 
 laid myself upon my couch. The mild beams of the stars, 
 and placid surface of the water, composed me to sleep ; 
 though I was not without considerable anxiety for the fate 
 of my husband, upon those unknown, barbarous shores. 
 About half past ten, however, the sound of oars broke in 
 upon the stillness of the scene ; and ere I was aware of 
 it, he stepped upon the shore, and my heart bounded with 
 gratitude. 
 
 " He had become satisfied that an arrangement could be 
 made with some one of the vessels, far better than to depend 
 upon the Egyptian ; though, owing to the absence of one of 
 the captains, no contract had been made ; and they were all 
 Arab lumber vessels, which would evidently make the most 
 of our distressed situation. Our sailors attached themselves 
 to us, and immediately removed their baggage from the 
 Egyptian boat to the shore. The captain, as soon as he had 
 been paid for what he had furnished us, weighed anchor, 
 and left the harbor. We were a little surprised at his haste, 
 until our own captain informed us that he had left his com- 
 pass on board ; which was probably a sufficient reason for 
 his sudden departure. Mr. Smith, at a late hour, lay down 
 supperless by rny side, while the others arranged themselves
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 331 
 
 at various distances around us, the sailors with the arms by 
 their side which they had saved from the wreck. These, 
 however, we needed not, for He who ' never slumbereth uor 
 eleepeth ' watched over our little company ; and under his 
 protection we enjoyed a few hours of undisturbed and re- 
 freshing rest, giving us strength for the unknown scenes of 
 another day. 
 
 " On awaking in the morning, we found our situation 
 sufficiently desolate. Not only our harbor, but the whole 
 coast, was without inhabitants, and villages were to be found 
 only at the distance of several miles in the interior. Our 
 first movement was to despatch the captain of the Staflfetta 
 Prusiana, the vessel we had lost, to make a contract with 
 one of those which lay at a distance from us. We then 
 made preparations for our breakfast, which consisted of 
 boiled rice, cooked in our wash-basin. I partook of it with 
 the company ; using, for a spoon, a piece of brown earthen 
 ware, which my husband had picked up upon the shore. 
 
 "The gentlemen went in search of a resting-place for 
 the day, and soon returned, saying that they had found a 
 habitation, to which they invited me. It was a ruined stone 
 building, which appeared to have been used for a stable, 
 by the nomadic Turkmans, during the winter. We had 
 the floor, which was earth, swept and covered with fresh 
 branches. My bed was spread in the most comfortable 
 part ; and as I entered, I can assure you it seemed ' as the 
 shadow of a great rock in a weary land.' This was my 
 birth-day ; and although in every respect the most sorrowful 
 of any that I had passed, perhaps none ever found me with 
 so many causes for gratitude. 
 
 " Could I have had the society of our Christian com- 
 panions only, in this spot, I should have been compara- 
 tively happy. But God saw fit to try me in a variety of 
 ways. That poor dissipated youth, whom I have mentioned, 
 shared with us in all our arrangements. And thus, as he 
 lay upon his bed of leaves in the same apartment, I was 
 compelled to listen to his incoherent, wild, and sometimes
 
 332 MEMOIR OF 
 
 wicked conversation, during two long days. He would re- 
 peat the same story many times; and though he was not 
 destitute of intelligence or taste, yet vice had ruined him 
 mentally, morally, and physically. I soon discovered that 
 direct religious conversation rather irritated than benefited 
 him, and attempted to pursue another course for his good. 
 During the absence of the gentlemen, I endeavored to 
 soothe and encourage him. I talked to him of his mother 
 and sisters, and recommended to him, for the recovery of 
 his health, to give up his wanderings, and return to them. 
 I know not that any thing was gained by this, except that 
 it secured to myself, invariably, respectful treatment. 
 
 " A few hours after we were located in our new accommo- 
 dations, my comforts were a little increased, by the kindness 
 of one of the sailors. He brought me a few lumps of sugar 
 from his chest, which Mr. Smith, after scraping it with his 
 knife, carefully wrapped in a paper for my particular use. 
 A small white bowl, also, he brought me, which, with a 
 wooden spoon, made by my husband, rendered me quite in- 
 dependent. He furnished us likewise with a small spirit 
 lamp, containing one or two tin cups. And as Mr. Stobart 
 had saved from the wreck a small caddy of tea, we were able 
 to refresh ourselves with a cup of tea, using the yolk of an 
 egg for milk ; while mine was rendered still more palatable 
 by the sugar. At dusk our captain returned, and reported 
 that no one of the three vessels he had visited would carry 
 us to Rhodes for one hundred dollars; and this being the 
 limit of what we had authorized him to offer, he had con- 
 cluded no bargain. 
 
 " Our habitation we did not find as comfortable at night 
 as during the day, for the musquetoes poured in upon us, so 
 that we were obliged to build a fire to smoke them out. 
 Once in the night I awoke, suffering from the heat almost as 
 much as if I were in an oven; and found not only a smoke, 
 Lut a large flame blazing up in the corner of the room. The 
 poor sick youth, having a turn of ague, had thrown on the 
 fire a large pine timber, while we were all asleep, and laid
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 333 
 
 himself down near it, as a substitute for a bed and bedding, 
 of which he had none since our shipwreck. We had it im- 
 mediately extinguished, or we should all have been suf- 
 focated. 
 
 " The next morning, the Sabbath dawned upon us in this 
 desolate spot; and found us, in our distressed circumstances, 
 little able to spend its sacred hours without interruption. 
 We composed our minds for religious exercises. Gathering 
 together a few stones for a pulpit, we spread over them my 
 black shawl ; and the Rev. Mr. Wynne read the liturgy of the 
 Church of England, and preached a written discourse. It 
 was to me ' a feast of fat things.' The prayers, the appro- 
 priate selections from Scripture, the confessions of sin, all 
 seemed suited to my case. Never did I so realize the beauty 
 of that formulary, and its value under such circumstances. 
 And those walls never resounded such language before. Our 
 sick friend lay stupid and indifferent during the religious 
 services ; but afterwards rose and opened his trunks for the 
 first time since the wreck, and spent an hour or two in dry- 
 ing his pictures and books. Alas ! he little imagined that 
 it was his last Sabbath on earth. 
 
 " In the course of the day, as Mr. Smith was walking out- 
 side of the building, an old woman and a little boy, with a 
 donkey, passed by, the first inhabitants of the country we 
 had seen. She informed him that they were from an en- 
 campment of Turkmans, about an hour distant in the moun- 
 tains that rose up behind us. This incident, instead of 
 comforting us with the idea of the vicinity of human beings, 
 alarmed us somewhat for our safety ; as these Turkmans are 
 known to have a propensity for robbing, and our defenceless 
 situation would now become known to them. On the ap- 
 proach of night, we accordingly requested the sailors to bring 
 their arms and lodge in our apartment. But as some of 
 them had become intoxicated by their visit to the vessels, we 
 were more annoyed by their noise, than defended by their 
 arms. In the mean time the captain, who had gone to seek 
 a passage for us in one of the Turkish vessels, returned,
 
 334 MEMOIR OF 
 
 having concluded a bargain with one of the captains to take 
 us as far as Castello Rosso. 
 
 " The next morning we prepared ourselves for an early 
 departure. As I passed out from our humble roof, my feel- 
 ings were of a mingled nature. I had realized this morn- 
 ing, more fully than before, that disease had taken hold of 
 my constitution, and that probably my days were numbered. 
 With our mattresses, and a large umbrella saved from the 
 wreck, which Mr. Smith purchased of the captain, I was 
 made very comfortable in the boat; and after rowing an 
 hour or two, we reached the vessel. I was placed on board, 
 while the rest of the company, with our goods, including 
 even my little basket of combs, were carried to the shore 
 to be examined by a custom-house officer, who had come 
 from his village, three hours distant, professedly to aid us in 
 our departure, but really to extort from us money. 
 
 "I wrapped myself in my cloak, and sat down upon the 
 deck. There being no one on board but a small cabin-boy, I 
 begged of him a little bread and some water, which a hun- 
 gry cat came to share with me. After an hour the party 
 returned from the shore, having been obliged to give up 
 their bargain with the owner of the ship I was in, and con- 
 clude one with another. I had accordingly to make the 
 painful effort of ascending another near by. Our new ship 
 was now on her first voyage ; and of course was cleaner 
 than most native craft; and more free from vermin, except 
 that we were annoyed, day and night, by fleas. Mr. Smith 
 and I had the cabin (which was low and small, and without 
 berths) entirely to ourselves, except that the cabin-boy often 
 came in for stores. Cooking utensils could not be bought, 
 and our vessel furnished only one copper kettle, one small 
 frying-pan, one copper plate, two wooden bowls, and some 
 eight or ten wooden spoons : these were to be used by the 
 whole ship's company, now consisting of twenty-two souls. 
 
 " The day was spent in negotiations with the custom- 
 house officer, and the aga of a distant village, who refused 
 to give our ship her papers, (she being under the national
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 335 
 
 flag,) until they had made every effort to extort from us an 
 exorbitant present; and had actually secured five dollars, to 
 which they had no right. By sunset we were ready to sail ; 
 but the wind then would not permit. And it was not until the 
 approach of day, the following morning, the 21st of June, 
 the sixth day after our wreck, that our anchor was raised 
 and we put to sea. For me to remain in our confined cabin 
 during the day was impossible. My mattress was spread 
 upon the deck; and there I lay regularly, from morning to 
 night, often throwing myself upon it completely exhausted, 
 after being almost dragged upon deck. A piece of sail was 
 thrown over me for an awning, so torn as scarcely to defend 
 me from the burning rays of the sun : and the air I breathed 
 was often filled with the smoke of the cooking apparatus; 
 which for some of our large company was always in opera- 
 tion. My situation at night was no better. My mattress 
 was thrown upon the cabin-floor, where, having nothing 
 against which to brace myself during the tossings of the 
 ship, whose motion was very great, she being light in 
 ballast, and we at the stern, the effort to keep in one 
 position was exceedingly wearisome." 
 
 Mr. Smith, continuing the account of their voyage, ob- 
 serves " The wind was high, and being contrary to the 
 current, raised a cross and troublesome sea. The vessel was 
 terribly tossed ; and being very slightly put together, threat- 
 ened to founder at almost every plunge. Mrs. Smith, besides 
 rolling to and fro, for want of something to support her 
 against the motion, was writhing under violent sea-sickness; 
 which, instead of allaying, served only to increase her cough. 
 She had some fears that she should not survive the night, 
 and for a time I did not myself know what would be the 
 end of her sufferings. 
 
 " All this time the floor and partition of our cabin were 
 so slight, that every noise reached us from the hold, where 
 lay the sick young Englishman she has already mentioned. 
 He was crying loudly, a good part of the night, I supposed 
 from fright ; while those about him were endeavoring to
 
 336 MEMOIR OF 
 
 comfort him. Had I known what was really his case, and 
 could have left Mrs. Smith, I should have gone to his assist- 
 ance; for he had no one about him but ignorant Greek 
 sailors. What was my surprise, on being told, in the morn- 
 ing, that he was dead ! Mrs. Smith had anticipated this, 
 having distinguished, among his incoherent cries in the 
 night, calls upon the Saviour for mercy ; and conceived a 
 presentiment of the result. Such a death in the midst of us, 
 shocked the most unfeeling heart; and I found even our 
 ignorant, thoughtless sailors prepared to respond to exhorta- 
 tions to prepare for eternity. The body being wrapped in a 
 sail, the burial service of the Church of England was read 
 over it, by the Rev. Mr. Wynne, and it was plunged into its 
 watery grave." 
 
 From the history of the remainder of their voyage to 
 Rhodes, given by Mr. Smith, we forbear to make further 
 extracts. Their nights were mostly spent at anchor ; their 
 days in working their way as the winds favored. They 
 suffered considerably from the difficulty of obtaining sup- 
 plies of food, at the places along the coast. At Castello 
 Rosso they took passage in a Greek vessel, in which they 
 made much more rapid progress, and found in their captain 
 a kind old man ; but were exceedingly discommoded by the 
 uncleanliness of their accommodations. This was to such 
 an extent the case, that Mrs. Smith could not spend a mo- 
 ment in the cabin ; and therefore, with her husband, passed 
 the night upon deck, although the air was cold. Mr. Smith 
 remarks, " As I lay down by her side, in that exposed situa- 
 tion, my anxious heart anticipated, as a certainty, all which 
 has actually happened. And I even now think the mourn- 
 ful result of her disease was at least hastened by the ex- 
 posure of that and the following night." 
 
 Arrived at Rhodes, we resume Mr. Smith's journal. 
 " Going on shore, I found a room in the suburb where 
 the Consuls reside, and succeeded in removing Mrs. Smith 
 tliither. The walk, however, from the boat to the house,
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 337 
 
 cost her all the strength she had remaining. Our accommo- 
 dations we considered comfortable, though our room was 
 but small, and we had to sleep upon a table. 
 
 " It soon appeared that my dear wife's symptoms had all 
 become more threatening. Before leaving Beyroot, so con- 
 fident was she in the native strength of her lungs, that she 
 could not persuade herself there was much cause for alarm. 
 Her first very serious conviction of danger, as she has men- 
 tioned, was at our deserted harbor. Here she became still 
 more alarmed, and much dispirited. Her pulse, which had 
 diminished, the first days of our voyage, was now much 
 increased in quickness ; a distressing headache troubled 
 her without intermission ; she complained much of a stop- 
 page and pain in her ear; and other symptoms of a fresh 
 cold were apparent. The affection in her ear, now felt for 
 the first time, never left her ; and was often afterwards her 
 most troublesome complaint. 
 
 "The three or four days of our delay at Rhodes we im- 
 proved to fit out ourselves more folly for the remainder of 
 our voyage. 
 
 " No better vessel offered here than the one which had 
 brought us from Castello Rosso, and we engaged her to take 
 us on to Smyrna, our English friends still in company. By 
 going on board and seeing the cabin thoroughly washed, 
 from top to bottom, and having a board knocked off to admit 
 more air, I obtained her consent to go into it. She was too 
 weak to walk to the shore, and I procured a chair fastened 
 between two poles, and borne by two men, to carry her 
 thither; taking her through the city, that she might have 
 the satisfaction of seeing a place so famous in history, and 
 now the cleanest city in Turkey. She reached the vessel 
 somewhat refreshed by her ride, and we sailed again about 
 noon, the 2d of July. 
 
 " It is needless that I should detail all the particulars of 
 the remainder of our voyage. An almost constant head 
 wind, often violent, made it long; and to my beloved wife 
 it was indescribably tedious and wearisome. In fact her 
 
 Smith. 1 5
 
 338 MEMOIR OF 
 
 recollections, not only of this part, but of the whole voyage 
 from Beyroot, were afterwards so unpleasant, I might say 
 revolting, that she took pains to exclude it from her mind. 
 And it was only by making it a point of duty, that she could 
 bring herself to dictate her journal. She saw not one mo- 
 ment of comfort, or of rest. Her nights were disturbed by 
 coughing, often attended with distress and vomiting, partly 
 the effect of disease, and partly of sea-sickness, from which 
 she was never entirely free. Her days were spent on deck, 
 where I had a mattress spread for her under an awning ; for 
 she could sit up but little. Here I was most of the time by 
 her side ; her cough, however, would allow her to converse 
 but little, and the motion of the vessel so affected her head, 
 that she could not bear much reading. Indeed what should 
 I read to her ? The sea had swallowed up all our books, 
 even to our Bibles and psalm books. Happily Mr. Stobart 
 had saved his prayer book, and from that I used daily to 
 read to her a short portion of Scripture, always precious, and 
 especially so now that we had so little of it. He had also a 
 volume of short sermons by Mr. Jay, and with one of these 
 we would refresh ourselves, when she was able to bear it." 
 
 The following remarks of Mr. Smith in another con- 
 nection will apply to her case during most of the voyage. 
 " With every alleviation, you cannot well conceive how 
 trying was her state. To do so, you must have been with 
 her, having your heart borne down by anxiety, and laboring 
 day and night, in our pinching circumstances, to relieve her 
 sufferings. Or, rather, you must have taken her place, and 
 actually suffered the languor of disease, and the weariness 
 of perpetual motion, and the coarseness of our crowded 
 company, and the filth every where apparent. Her long 
 voyage of nearly thirty days after the shipwreck, deprived 
 of suitable conveniences, was far more injurious to her than 
 that event itself. I look back with wonder that she could 
 endure it. And yet her patience and fortitude held out to 
 the last; and feeble as she was, she contrived various ways to 
 contribute to the comfort of others. Our English friends
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 339 
 
 evidently felt that her society contributed much to relieve 
 the tediousness of the voyage. Her chief complaint was for 
 want of opportunity for devotional exercises and the cultiva- 
 tion of religious feelings ; which she ever found a desid- 
 eratum at sea. . 
 
 " We reached Smyrna on the 13th of July, thirty-three 
 days after our embarkation at Beyroot, and twenty-eight 
 from the time of our shipwreck ; and we could then look 
 back upon the evils of our tedious voyage as past ! 
 
 " Would that it had pleased God to pronounce our other 
 evils past also. Hitherto we had not known what portion 
 of Mrs. Smith's complaints to attribute to disease, and what 
 to the effect of the fatigue, exposure, and privations of such 
 a voyage. It was natural for us to hope that when delivered 
 from these unhappy circumstances, placed in the midst of 
 friends, and surrounded by comforts, she would again revive. 
 We had both of us by this time lost the expectation of her 
 entire recovery ; but were neither of us wholly without the 
 hope of her so recruiting, as yet to continue her voyage 
 home. 
 
 "The day of our arrival, hope prevailed in her mind, at- 
 tended, no doubt, with considerable excitement at seeing her 
 friends. But the next morning, on rising to dress herself, 
 she found that she was weaker than at sea. In fact she could 
 not accomplish it, and was obliged to return to her bed. It 
 was a sad hour. She at once feared that she should never 
 be any better, and was overcome by the thought. A physi- 
 cian was called in, the best the place afforded, and such a 
 regimen pursued as her case seemed to demand. A few 
 days made quite a visible improvement in her nervous sys- 
 tem ; but not a single important alleviation could be dis- 
 covered in one of her pulmonary complaints. This was her 
 state when I wrote to you my second letter. It was a 
 sorrowful day. Most of it was spent by both of us in tears. 
 Her love to you surpassed the love of a daughter. She almost 
 adored you. It had been a favorite wish that she might live 
 long enough to save you the pain of hearing of her death.
 
 340 MEMOIR OF 
 
 Now she feared your heart would break at the information 
 she felt obliged to convey to you ; and it seemed as if her own 
 would burst with the feelings it occasioned. But when once 
 the letter was written and sent, she appeared to feel that the 
 struggle was over. I believe she from that day gave you up ; 
 and I account for the fact that she afterwards spake of you 
 less frequently than before, by supposing that she feared to 
 trust her feelings, lest they should bring upon her again the 
 same struggle. -~- But you know her heart too well to need 
 that I should interpret it. It will gratify dear mother to 
 know, that she afterwards told me she continued to dream 
 of her ; always, as she had invariably done, imagining her in 
 the full enjoyment of her sight, and in perfect health. 
 
 " Her feelings, when she came now to look at her course 
 as inevitably tending downward to the grave, were far from 
 being such as she wished. The same trait of character, 
 that made the thought of leaving you so painful, made also 
 the anticipation of being taken from her other numerous 
 friends, a source of the most sorrowful feelings. You know 
 how ardent, and how many were the friendships she cher- 
 ished. When she came to think of their all being rent 
 asunder, she said, much as had been the pleasure she had 
 derived from them, it were almost better to have no friends. 
 But having given you up, the severest pang was over, and as 
 she drew near eternity, other feelings threw a shade over 
 these. She did not love the world in a bad sense ; and yet 
 it was evident that death was to a degree taking her un- 
 awares ; and was occasioning her a most trying disappoint- 
 ment. How long and how ardent had been her attachment 
 to the cause of missions ! And how unremittingly had she 
 labored to qualify herself for the work ! And now, just as 
 she had mastered the language, had her plans of operation 
 marked out and successfully commenced, saw herself per- 
 manently settled in a commodious residence, had obtained a 
 valuable female friend to share in her labors, and was fondly 
 expecting another in a beloved relative, to be called away 
 at such a time, she had not expected, and many tears did
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 341 
 
 she shed at giving up such bright anticipations and favorite 
 plans, the subjects of so many prayers. No one, perhaps, 
 ever enjoyed more the buoyancy of health than she. And 
 now, when she found the symptoms of disease fastening them- 
 selves upon every part of her system, the thought that she 
 was never more to have one healthful feeling, would some- 
 times give her a pang of sorrow, and cause bitter tears to 
 flow. Such thoughts, however, were soon dismissed, and 
 apparently never more indulged. In health she enjoyed 
 more beautiful and delightful thoughts of heaven, than 
 almost any person I have known. But in doing so, she had 
 looked, not through, but over the grave, and the natural fear 
 of death, which, as well as the dread of all bodily suffering, 
 seems to have been in her unusually strong, was not over- 
 come. When, therefore, she came to look at the dying 
 pangs as near, her nature shrunk from the view with un- 
 definable horror. It was the last of her painful feelings that 
 was subdued, and I have no doubt it shed a deeper gloom 
 over all the others, if it did not occasion some of them. 
 
 " These were a few of the sorrowful sensations that 
 crowded into her mind in these days of darkness. But I 
 have not yet mentioned the worst, the most deeply seated of 
 them. She that had been so bright an example of the in- 
 fluence of ardent piety ; had enjoyed so many blessed 
 seasons of communion with God, and been the means of 
 giving to so many others the hope of heaven, was now left 
 in spiritual darkness, almost ready to say that she was with- 
 out faith and without hope. Day after day she prayed and 
 longed for her Saviour's presence, but groped for him as in 
 the night, and could not find him. She opened her heart to 
 Mr. Temple and to myself, and we both endeavored by con- 
 versation and prayer to comfort her, and lead her to Him 
 whom she sought; but for a long time without success. 
 How these clouds at length gradually passed away, the sequel 
 will show. 
 
 " Although she had given up the hope of arresting her 
 disease, she still hoped, and so did we all, that she might yet
 
 342 MEMOIR OF 
 
 rally sufficiently to live several months, and perhaps through 
 the winter. But in Smyrna, though in the kindest of 
 families, her situation was very unfavorable for this. The 
 house was a good deal frequented, and consequently not 
 quiet ; the streets were noisy, especially from carpenters and 
 masons erecting a house near at hand ; the air was confined 
 and warm ; and myriads of musquetoes annoyed her at 
 night, or obliged her to breathe air confined by a net. 
 
 "At this time Mr. and Mrs. -Adger removed to the coun- 
 try, and very kindly invited us to take lodgings with them 
 at Boojah. Accordingly on the 7th of August, I removed 
 Mrs. Smith hither. A sedan chair was the only carriage to 
 be had, and in that she arrived with comparatively little 
 fatigue. This village is in a lovely, retired situation, about 
 four or five miles from Smyrna. It is a favorite summer re- 
 Bort for the English families of the city. 
 
 " Here Mrs. Smith's spirits, which had already begun to 
 recruit, were very much improved. From this time she 
 was generally cheerful. And so much did she feel herself 
 revived, that her hopes of gaining yet a little strength before 
 she should be called away, were a good deal encouraged. 
 She could bear some reading, uniformly read daily a portion 
 of Scripture herself, at times enjoyed more connected thought 
 in prayer, dictated occasionally a page or two of her journal, 
 and once wrote with her own hand a few letters and notes. 
 She amused herself occasionally, also, in sewing ; making 
 with her own hand several little mementos for friends. But 
 yet it was often evident that these labors were the result of 
 efforts which it required all the resolution of her energetic 
 mind to make. 
 
 " At the time of our wreck, when I reminded her that her 
 private journals were lost, she said she was glad of it, and 
 her countenance indicated strongly the sincerity of her dec- 
 laration. For she said she had feared use might be made 
 of them which she did not wish. Upon reflecting, however, 
 afterwards, that she had never allowed me to read them, she 
 expressed some regret that they were gone. She would
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 343 
 
 have liked particularly to recover two parts; that which re- 
 lated to her conversion and her records of the Mohegan 
 mission. Of the latter she remarked, that no complete ac- 
 count was to be found, and many interesting passages must 
 be lost. 
 
 " Her conversion, I induced her, on Sabbath afternoon, 
 the 28th of August, briefly to relate. In a few days I com- 
 mitted it to writing and submitted it for her correction. 
 She smiled as she read over parts of it, saying, ' If any of my 
 friends should see this, they would be amused that I knew 
 myself so well.' * 
 
 " On the 23th of August, being the Sabbath, and during 
 the subsequent week, we had much conversation respecting 
 the ground of her hope. She had not yet that full assur- 
 ance of faith which she wished. She was not favored with 
 the sensible presence of her Saviour that she desired. Her 
 difficulty seemed to lie in the want of some specific feeling of 
 acceptance, which at such a time she had hoped would be 
 given her ; and which would have been to her a source of 
 joy such as she needed to cheer her while going down into 
 the dark valley. I suggested to her that she was probably 
 expecting too much, and was therefore dissatisfied with what 
 she had, though God saw it to be enough for her. I asked 
 if she did not love the Saviour, if his cause was not dear to 
 her, and if she could think of separation from him without the 
 greatest horror. On examination, all the specific evidences 
 of a gracious state appeared perfectly clear in her feelings ; 
 and in her speculative views not a single difficulty troubled 
 her. And yet, in drawing the conclusion of her being ac- 
 cepted, the actual consciousness of her acceptance was de- 
 fective. That she had had it in former years, she was satis- 
 fied ; but it was a question of anxious interest, how far she 
 might look to past experience for comfort. She remarked an 
 apparent inconsistency in religious instructions on this point. 
 In addressing men, she said, preachers were very apt to warn 
 
 * This has been embodied in chapter first.
 
 344 MEMOIR OF 
 
 them against trusting to past experience ; but in speaking 
 of departed Christians, they would invariably exhibit their 
 life as an evidence of their piety. As to looking back upon 
 her past feelings or conduct, for the purpose of building up a 
 righteousness of her own, nothing could be farther from her 
 thoughts, or more revolting to her feelings. But that she 
 might refer to both, regarding them as so many instances 
 of the grace of God to her ; not as what she had done, but 
 as what Christ had done in her, and thus seek to find assur- 
 ance of her gracious state, I endeavored fully to convince 
 her. I suggested to her that to neglect all these past tokens 
 of her acceptance, would be an act of ingratitude to God. 
 
 " Another question she proposed at this season with some 
 anxiety. She inquired how far she ought to call up the 
 specific sins of her life in order to mourn over and repent of 
 them. She had already done so to some extent. She had 
 been back to her youth and childhood, and called up many 
 sins, which had caused her heart to ache with grief and pen- 
 itence. I dissuaded her from pursuing far such an attempt 
 to recall particular transgressions, as calculated at the pres- 
 ent time unnecessarily to distress her. God would be better 
 pleased, I assured her, with her passing them over as for- 
 given and blotted out, through his abounding mercy. She 
 would not err by contenting herself with a more general re- 
 pentance of her past life, feeling that it had been all imper- 
 fection and sin, and abhorring herself on account of it; 
 which, with a great deal of earnestness, she assured me, she 
 most heartily did. 
 
 " You will perceive, my dear parents, how honestly your 
 beloved daughter dealt with herself as her last hour ap- 
 proached; how she examined the foundation of her hopes at 
 every point, even until they trembled as if it were about to 
 give way beneath them. That you may see how they finally 
 settled down more firmly upon the Rock of Ages, I give you 
 a journal, in which I began at this time, without her knowl- 
 edge, to record the daily progress of her feelings and of her 
 disease, for your special comfort and my own."
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 346 
 
 "Sept. 4. Sabbath. On returning from morning ser- 
 vice, I found Mrs. Smith in a happies state of mind than 
 usual, indicating that she was enjoying a Sabbath day's 
 blessing. She told me that God had favored her with a 
 season of more than common connectedness and satisfaction 
 in prayer. Calling for Pilgrim's Progress, she began to read 
 the description of Christian's passage over the river of death ; 
 but soon stopped. After dinner, at her request, I commenced 
 reading to her the remainder of the account ; but had hardly 
 advanced a page, before she desired me to desist, saying that 
 she could not bear it. Subsequently, she spoke with much 
 emphasis of its being a great excellence in the Bible, that it 
 contained so little that was exciting. She said it was chiefly 
 plain instruction, intelligible to the simplest minds, and not 
 too exciting for the weakest nerves. She felt that it was 
 better adapted to her, in her present state, than any other 
 book ; and she intended to confine her reading chiefly to it. 
 
 " She requested me, at evening prayers, to express her 
 thanks to God, that he had in some measure removed the 
 clouds that had been resting upon her mind. She had 
 prayed that morning, that the day might not pass without her 
 receiving some token of divine favor. The attempt to read 
 Pilgrim's Progress had been the occasion of her receiving 
 it. It had convinced her, that had God given her those 
 spiritual joys she had been desiring, with her excitable tem- 
 perament and present weak frame, they would have at once 
 overcome and sunk her into the grave. God knew better 
 than she how her constitution needed to be dealt with ; and 
 she was now prepared to be contented with such a degree 
 of light as he saw fit to give her. 
 
 " Sept. 6. I inquired respecting the state of her mind. 
 She replied, that she could best express it by saying that she 
 felt submissive. She was certainly resigned to God's own 
 pleasure respecting her. On the whole, her choice was to die. 
 Yet her hope was hardly founded on any thing she now felt, 
 but on the evidence she could gather from her past life and 
 experience, and on the mercy of God. If any one thought this 
 
 15*
 
 346 MEMOIR OF 
 
 a wrong foundation, or that she was deceived she wished to 
 be informed. All expectation of living, she assured me, she 
 had entirely given up. She indulged not the most distant 
 hope of it. And when she saw and recollected how much 
 imperfection existed in the best, here, she felt that it would 
 be a relief to get to heaven. 
 
 " Sept. 7. On awakening at an early hour in the morn- 
 ing, she said, ' How delightful it will be to reach heaven, 
 where there will be none of these pains, and wearinesses, 
 and imperfections ! ' 
 
 " She spent the strength she had during the day in arran- 
 ging her worldly matters, writing out directions to be at- 
 tended to after her death, which she sealed and carefully 
 deposited in her portfolio. The whole was done with per- 
 fect composure, though with manifest intensity of feeling; 
 and when it was finished, she evidently felt relieved by the 
 consideration that she had closed up her concerns with the 
 world. The scene was too much for me. Struggling to 
 master her own feelings, she said, 'My dear husband, you 
 would not call me back to the world?' I told her that I 
 had sometimes felt as if I could not let her go. She replied, 
 ' All my other friends 1 have given up ; but with you I feel 
 that the struggle is not yet past.' 
 
 " Sept. 9. At an early hour, she said to me, ' What 
 long lines of ancestors have I to meet in heaven ! ' I remind- 
 ed her, that in health she had been unusually fond of antici- 
 pating meeting and recognizing her friends in heaven, and 
 asked whether such continued to be her anticipations. She 
 replied that they did ; that a large share of the pleasure she 
 hoped for in heaven she expected from this source. It 
 seemed to her absurd to imagine, that friends would not 
 recognize and be interested in each other there. 
 
 " Sept. 10. On opening the Bible to read to her in the 
 morning, I selected a chapter in Isaiah. She stopped me, 
 and requested to hear something from the Gospels. She pre- 
 ferred them, she said, because they contained the words of 
 our Saviour. And if she was going to be with him, she
 
 MRS. SARAH L. "SMITH. 347 
 
 thought to prepare herself t>y thus becoming more acquainted 
 with him, and having her heart more drawn towards him. 
 Besides, his words were all simple, and it did not fatigue her 
 weakened mind and body to understand them. 
 
 " Sept. 13. Mr. Moulton, a pious American friend, upon 
 whom a consumption had recently fastened, being in the 
 house, she expressed a desire to see him alone. Her object 
 was to tell him what was thought of his case ; and to en- 
 deavor, by suitable suggestions, to prepare his mind for the 
 event apprehended. It gratified her to find him, to some 
 extent, m a prepared state of mind. He afterwards re- 
 marked, that she was the only person who had told him of 
 his danger. 
 
 " Mrs. Brewer also called, and Mrs. Smith conversed con- 
 siderably with her on spirituality in prayer, and the means 
 and necessity of the cultivation, by missionaries, of a greater 
 degree of holiness. 
 
 " Sept. 14. Her physician, who had been absent a week 
 or two, called in the evening. In giving his prescriptions, 
 he expressed the hope that she would every day find herself 
 getting better. In this he conformed to the universal prac- 
 tice in this part of the world, of endeavoring to conceal from 
 the sick their danger; and in fact, in all his intercourse 
 with her, he seemed incapable of bringing himself to act 
 upon any other principle. Most persons here would be 
 shocked at the idea of telling the sick there was no hope of 
 their living, though they might be going very fast downward 
 to the grave. Even the English of this village seem to en- 
 tertain fully these ideas ; and the fact that Mrs. Smith was 
 aware of her danger, and anticipated so calmly the. result, 
 not merely interested, but surprised them; so that a deep 
 and happy impression was produced thereby. On this oc- 
 casion Mrs. Smith showed herself shocked at the kindly 
 meant attempt of her physician at deception ; and told him 
 distinctly, that she had no hope nor wish to live. 
 
 "Sept. 17. Symptoms came- on in the morning, indi- 
 cating that the sands of life were fast running out With
 
 348 MEMO1K OF 
 
 anxiety she asked whether I thought God would give her 
 patience to the end ; and expressed a desire to know whether 
 she had hitherto been otherwise than patient. ' At the be- 
 ginning,' said she, as I commended her patience, ' I had 
 many more rebellious feelings than any one knew ; but 
 latterly they have all passed away.' 
 
 " In the early part of the night, sleep being driven from 
 me by anxiety, in consequence of her low state, I arose, and 
 read, with great comfort, the history of our Saviour's death. 
 On going to her, I reminded her how different was his situa- 
 tion, with no one to stand by him, or to speak a kind word 
 and deprived of his Father's smiles from hers, with 
 some kind friend to watch over her constantly, and attend 
 to all her wants. She said that my suggestions comforted 
 her; but remarked, that her mind was weak, as she ought 
 to have anticipated that it would become, with the advance 
 of her disease. Though her mind was weak, it had nothing 
 of the weakness of childhood or of idiocy. Her judgment 
 remained unimpaired ; and her opinions, with the exception 
 of two or three short periods of partial delirium, I continued 
 to value, to the last, as when she was in health. Its weak- 
 ness consisted in an inability to think much, or connectedly. 
 
 " In the midst of her uneasiness to-night, she expressed the 
 greatest satisfaction with every thing that was done for her. 
 ' Every pillow,' said she, as I composed her after coughing, 
 ' is placed right, every inch of it.' This disposition to be 
 contented with the attentions that were paid her, and the 
 services she received, was prominent from the first. It was 
 a pleasure, every day, to wait upon her, she was always so 
 satisfied and thankful r or every thing. 
 
 " About midnight she revived, and seemed more than 
 usually disposed to converse; she had received, and read, 
 in the course of the day, several letters from home, and had 
 derived great pleasure from their contents. Now, in ref- 
 erence to some observations in one of her sister Faith's, she 
 said it ought to be considered, that she wrote her journals 
 that were sent home, for the eyes of many friends. Her pri-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 
 
 vate journal was a more proper place for records of her states 
 of minrl and private experience. This would account for 
 some apparent want of spirituality. 
 
 " In reference to her present feelings, she expressed a 
 wish to dwell, more than she had done, upon heaven ; but 
 complained that her diseased body drew most of her thoughts 
 to itself, and thus her conversation was more than she de- 
 sired about her pains, her food, her position, and the like. 
 Of one thing she was certain; she hated Satan and his king- 
 dom. That she loved the kingdom of Christ she was not so 
 certain; and was at times troubled lest it should be for God's 
 glory to make her an example of his vengeance. Yet in 
 Satan she had no complacency, and it had been her great 
 object to aid in destroying his kingdom. She felt, too, that 
 she cast herself upon the Lord Jesus Christ for help, for 
 ' what else, 1 said she, with emphasis, ' can I do? ' But she 
 had only her former usual feelings. I suggested to her, as 
 I had done before, that, probably, here was her mistake ; 
 she had expected, at such a time, something new and extra- 
 ordinary ; whereas, God saw fit to require that she should 
 be satisfied with the ordinary experience of his grace. She 
 replied, that she knew she had been unreasonable. 
 
 "Sept. 18. Sabbath. The latter part of the night, 
 the beginning of which is described above, I lay down, at her 
 request, to sleep near her. She awoke me, at seven o'clock, 
 with a kiss, having made a great effort to lean forward for 
 that purpose, and said, with a sweet smile which I shall 
 never forget, and with all the animation her emaciated fea- 
 tures could express, ' My dear, I want to ask a great favor 
 of you that you will take your breakfast with me this morn- 
 ing. I will drink a cup of tea with you, and we will eat a 
 meal together once more.' 
 
 " The day was passed very comfortably, and she was much 
 disposed to converse. The death she was brought to, she 
 said, was just such a one as had often filled her imagination, 
 Time was given her to put her worldly matters in order, and 
 to give her friends previous information, that they might not
 
 850 MEMOIR OF 
 
 be shocked by its suddenness. The remark being made, 
 that if she had remained in the United States, she would 
 perhaps now have been well, instead of dying with consump- 
 tion; she replied that she should not wish it. She would 
 rather be lying here on her death-bed, on missionary ground, 
 than to be in health at home. 
 
 " Sept. 19. A distressing cough disturbed her slumber, 
 and exhausted her strength, during the whole of the last 
 night ; and she awoke this morning oppressed with stupor 
 and extreme languor. 
 
 " She had had a desire to write, or at least to dictate, a 
 letter to her sister Faith, and had designed doing it to-day ; 
 but finding herself very low, she only gave me a message for 
 her, to be communicated in a letter from myself. In the 
 afternoon, she was so feeble that we did not know but she 
 would immediately expire. But after a while, reviving a 
 little, she said to me, in a whisper, that there were one or 
 two things she had been intending to charge me with, re- 
 specting her last hours. One was, that she wished to have 
 a plenty of air admitted to the room. Another referred to 
 the custom, sometimes practised by friends, of crowding 
 around the bed and repeating texts of Scripture, and verses 
 of hymns. She thought it must distract the departing spirit; 
 and wished for nothing of the kind, but for order and still- 
 ness. She desired her soul, at that solemn moment, ' to be 
 left alone with God.' 
 
 " Sept. 21. I read to her the 5th chapter of 2d Corinthians. 
 She listened with great attention, and seemed much inter- 
 ested, but said nothing. Not long after, however, she in- 
 formed me that it had comforted her more than she could 
 express. It had removed all the remaining clouds from her 
 mind. She wanted no more. She was going to be with her 
 Saviour, arifl that was enough for her. Repeatedly during 
 the day, she alluded to these thoughts ; and in the evening, 
 Mr. Temple coming in, she repeated the same remark to 
 him. ' No visions of angels,' said she, ' are given me, and 
 no excessive joy, but a settled quietness of mind. I believe
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 351 
 
 all that is written in the word of God ; and upon the strength 
 of this faith I am going into eternity.' This steady calmness 
 of faith, especially in a person of her naturally ardent tem- 
 perament, I considered a much more satisfactory state of 
 mind, and more surely indicative of maturity for heaven, 
 than a high excitement of feeling would have been. 
 
 " Sept. 22. In the afternoon, she said to me with much 
 earnestness, ' When you write to my friends after all is over, 
 one thing I wish you would make prominent. It is, that I 
 feel satisfied with the course I have taken, and that all has 
 been ordered by God.' [Meaning in her becoming a mis- 
 sionary.] ' I have no disposition to boast of my labors ; but 
 I feel that I have not left my friends and my country in vain. 
 I never have regretted having done so, nor do I now. This 
 is my dying testimony.' 
 
 " In the evening I received the Missionary Herald, con- 
 taining a portrait of Dr. Wisner. Thinking to surprise, and 
 at the same time to gratify her, I took it, with a candle, and 
 putting my hand over the name at the bottom, showed it to 
 her. Though she had for two or three days required assist- 
 ance to rise or turn herself, the moment her eyes, just then 
 opened from sleep, caught it, she sprang forward, seized and 
 kissed it, exclaiming, ' Dear man ! I shall soon be with him. 
 He was the last person with whom I shook hands.' Said 
 she, her voice faltering, ' You ought not to have shown it to 
 me to-night. It is too much for me.' She had before men- 
 tioned it as a pleasing reflection, in her sickness, that she 
 should soon be permitted to associate with Cornelius, Wis- 
 ner, and their predecessors. 
 
 " On another day she said, ' What a wonderful passage 
 is that, " We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of 
 his bones." It has been in my mind all the morning.' 
 
 " Sept. 23. She was quiet the last night, blit appeared 
 more than ever exhausted this morning. Reviving towards 
 noon, she expressed a wish to see Dr. Wisner's portrait 
 again. It produced the same delighted expression of counte- 
 nance. She said, ' I cannot tell you how it affected me last
 
 352 MEMOIR OF 
 
 evening. You know how much I loved him. Next to my 
 parents, I have thought of no one more. I seemed, some- 
 how, to be expecting to see him. Repeatedly, during the 
 night, his image recurred to my mind, and it was as if I had 
 seen an angel. I thought perhaps God had sent him to be 
 nigh me, and comfort me ; and I imagined he might be the 
 first to greet me in the world of spirits. I do not doubt that 
 God ordered the circumstance to comfort me.' 
 
 " Sept. 24. I found her this morning weak, and waiting 
 continually for her summons. She requested me, most 
 earnestly and solemnly, to pray that the Saviour would give 
 her his presence. Not long after, having revived again, she 
 said, ' I have come to a conclusion which satisfies me. It 
 is, that when the Saviour calls, he will come.' Subsequently, 
 as she was expressing a wish to have his presence in the 
 dark valley, she checked herself, saying, ' But I have not 
 entered it yet ; when I do, I shall find him.' 
 
 " In the afternoon, she inquired if a shroud had been 
 made for her, and being told that one was prepared, she 
 soon said, ' I have now done with earth.' Not long after, 
 she said, ' How strong is that expression of our Saviour, " I 
 will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where 1 
 am, there ye may be also." ' I then read to her John xiv. 
 16; xvii. 24; 2 Cor. v. 110, and Rom. viii. 33, 34, 
 with such remarks as I thought would assist her medi- 
 tations. 
 
 " Seeing me conversing with a friend who was going to 
 town, she asked me if I did not find that conversation upon 
 other topics distracted my thoughts. I told her that I had 
 been inquiring where the English here buried their dead ; 
 and had found that it was in the city. There her remains 
 would probably lie, not far from the ashes of Polycarp, and 
 other sainteM members of that ancient apocalyptic church. 
 She only replied, ' All, sinners saved by grace.' 
 
 " In the evening her fever came on with unusual violence, 
 producing great excitement. All the energies of her mind 
 seemed to be braced up to meet the king of terrors ; not that
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 358 
 
 she feared the consequences of death, but her natural dread 
 of the mortal struggle was not yet gone. And there was, at 
 times, a sublimity in her aspect, her manner, and her lan- 
 guage, as she seemed to be gathering up her fortitude for 
 the last great contest. 
 
 " After a while, I observed her apparently absorbed, for 
 some time, in private prayer. She then called me to her, and 
 said, ' My dear, I fear I have been putting you in the place 
 of God, and placing too much dependence upon you. It 
 has occurred to me, that he will not show himself until I 
 look to him alone. I have always intended, at the last, to 
 have a season of giving you up. Now I have done it ; and 
 I feel as though God had accepted me, and would bless me. 
 I still love you, however ; you will not misunderstand me on 
 that point.' She said to me, the next day, that she had been 
 happier since she resigned me. 
 
 "Sept. 25. Sabbath. She said to me, 'This is the 
 precious Sabbath.' ' Yes,' said I, ' I was going to remind 
 you of it.' ' Oh,' she replied, ' I have been thinking of it all 
 night.' After a while she added, ' This is a desirable day 
 in which to die.' And again, ' How should I be disappoint- 
 ed not to be called away to-day ! ' 
 
 " She sent her love to her missionary friends in Smyrna, 
 Cyprus, and Syria. Then turning to me, she said, ' Tell 
 my friends, I would not for all the world lay my remains any 
 where but here, on missionary ground.' After a good many 
 remarks, showing the brightness of her views of spiritual 
 things, some of which could be but indistinctly heard, she 
 exclaimed, ' What a goodly company of ancestors shall I 
 meet there ! Yes, and the holy angels, and the Son of God ! 
 Oh, the Almighty God ! You know nothing of his glorious 
 majesty. I cannot express it ; but I wanted to speak of it, 
 that you may think that yourselves are nothing. I have 
 thought too much of myself. In this sickness I have thought 
 it too important that my ease and wants should be consulted. 
 We all think that we are of more importance than we are. 
 Beware of pride.' Her mind seemed now, and at times
 
 354 MEMOIR OF 
 
 subsequently, to be burdened with presentiments of inex- 
 pressible grandeur, in anticipation of being ushered into the 
 immediate presence of God. Hitherto, she had seen only 
 'through a glass darkly;' now she was every moment ex- 
 pecting the vail to be withdrawn, which would leave her 
 * face to face ' before Him who dwelleth in light unapproach- 
 able, and at whose majesty the highest angels tremble, and 
 vail their faces. 
 
 " We sung that beautiful hymn of Doddridge on the eter- 
 nal Sabbath, commencing, 
 
 ' Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love.' 
 
 " To my surprise, her voice, which she had so long been 
 unable to use for singing, was occasionally heard mingling 
 with ours. Her face beamed with a smile of ecstasy ; and 
 so intense was the feeling expressed in her whole aspect, 
 that we stopped after the first verse, lest she should even ex- 
 pire while drinking the cup of joy we had presented to her. 
 But she said to us, 'Go on;' arid, though all were bathed 
 in tears, and hardly able to articulate, we proceeded. I was 
 sitting with her hand in mine. While singing the second 
 verse, she pressed it, and turned to me at the same time 
 such a heavenly smile as stopped my utterance. Before we 
 reached the end, she raised both her hands above her head, 
 and gave vent to her feelings in tears of pleasure, and almost 
 in shouting. After prayer, she said, ' I have had a little 
 glimpse of what I am going to see. It was but a glimpse, 
 and perhaps it was imagination. But it seemed a glorious 
 sight. Tell Mr. Sarkis, (an Armenian present, who, she 
 knew, had read Pilgrim's Progress with particular inter- 
 est,) I have had a slight view of something like what befell 
 Christian after he had crossed the river of death.' During 
 this deeply affecting scene, there were standing by, besides 
 ourselves, three Greeks, an Arab, an Armenian, and a part 
 of the time a Persian, while tears flowed freely from almost 
 every eye. 
 
 " Some time afterwards, as she was imagining she should
 
 MRS. SARAH L SMITH. 355 
 
 die about the going down of the sun, I told her it was Mr. 
 Temple's opinion, formed from the observation of many 
 cases, that she would not die before she had lost her phys- 
 ical dread of death. Christ had taken away the sting of 
 death, and he generally gave the world opportunity to ob- 
 serve it in the dying experience of his followers. She re- 
 plied, ' That feeling has entirely gone. I have no more 
 fear.' In fact, after the religious exercises above men- 
 tioned, she seemed to be in even an exhilarated state of 
 mind. As I was giving her some food or medicine, she 
 said to me, smiling, ' I have been pleasing myself by think- 
 ing how I am going to drop all these things, the tapioca, 
 and the arrow-root, and the bread-tea, and this clothing. I 
 am going to leave them all to you, and I shall be clear of 
 them.' Afterward she said, ' I have been imagining how 
 smiling all the faces in heaven will look, if they are like 
 
 's on the day of her conversion. You do not know x 
 
 how I shall smile upon you, when you come there.' Again 
 she said, ' I have had some most sublime conceptions to-day, 
 of what I shall see when I enter the world of spirits.' 
 
 " Sept. 26. Early in the morning she seemed much re- 
 vived. Her fever had subsided; and though weak, she 
 was quiet, and disposed to sleep. A sweet expression of 
 pleasure was on her face the whole day, and she often 
 smiled so cheerfully as to make us all happy. It was re- 
 ligious joy that cheered her. She said to me early in the 
 day, ' Perfect happiness, what an idea ! The perfection of 
 bliss! It is worth waiting a day or two for.' And again, 
 * I thought a little while ago, that I was ushered into the 
 presence of Almighty God, and saw the all-seeing eye!' 
 But there was none of the excitement of yesterday. She 
 even had a more than natural, I may say, heavenly calm- 
 ness. She proposed uniting with us in the holy commun- 
 ion, which she had thought herself unable to bear before; 
 saying, she thought she should enjoy it, seeing that our 
 Saviour had said, ' Do this in remembrance of me.' Ac- 
 cordingly, at four o'clock in the afternoon, we celebrated
 
 356 MEMOIR OF 
 
 that solemn ordinance in her room. Mr. Temple officiated, 
 with great solemnity and appropriateness of remarks. Hers 
 were almost the only dry eyes in the room ; not from want 
 of enjoyment, for a heavenly expression of countenance 
 showed what she afterwards said that she enjoyed it 
 highly. But it appeared, rather, that her nature had, since 
 yesterday, undergone a change, and received already some 
 of the peace and calmness of the glorified state. 
 
 " Sept. 27. She said to me, ' I have been thinking all 
 night, that there is nothing at all melancholy in the death 
 of a Christian, either to himself or to others. I feel very 
 happy in the prospect of death.' 
 
 " Sept. 28. She requested me to pray that if God had 
 any thing more for her to do, for which he was thus keep- 
 ing her here, he would lead her to do it ; and this she again 
 asked me to petition for, when I prayed with her at the 
 close of the day. 
 
 " Sept. 29. The latter part of the night she began to be 
 nervous, as on Saturday night and Sabbath, except that she 
 was weaker. Yet her patience held out ; only she once ex- 
 claimed in the morning, ' O Lord, how long ! ' 
 
 " Sept. 30. It was about half past four when I entered 
 the room. Her hand had a death-like coldness as I took 
 it, and I perceived that her hour was come. After being 
 raised as at other times, without expectorating, she also 
 perceived the same ; and, falling back gently upon her 
 pillow, said in a faltering whisper, ' Lord Jesus, receive my 
 spirit.' 
 
 " The family soon assembled, including the servants, 
 and our Armenian friend, already mentioned. It would 
 have been a gratifying circumstance, had her last hours 
 been passed in the midst of the nation to whose spiritual 
 good she had devoted her life. As it was, our own ever- 
 faithful and kind-hearted servant was the only Arab that 
 witnessed her dying scene. He took his position by the 
 side of her bed, and there stood until the last ; showing, by 
 uninterrupted tears and suppressed sobbing, how thoroughly
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 357 
 
 she had won his attachment. The rest of the company 
 stoo'd or sat at a little distance, while I sat by her side with 
 her hand in mine. As soon as all were assembled, I asked 
 her if Mr. Adger should pray. With indistinctness she re- 
 plied, ' Yes.' It was the last word she spoke. Convulsions 
 had begun before he commenced, but she was quiet in a 
 good degree while he prayed. We then remained silently 
 watching her ; feeling that we had nothing more to do, but 
 to pray in our hearts for her speedy relief from suffering. 
 
 " Involuntary groans were occasionally uttered in her 
 convulsions. These, as we were listening to them with 
 painful sympathy, once, to our surprise, melted away into 
 musical notes ; and for a moment our ears were charmed 
 with the full, clear tones of the sweetest melody. No words 
 were articulated, and she was evidently unconscious of every 
 thing about her. It seemed as if her soul was already join- 
 ing in the songs of heaven, while it was yet so connected 
 with the body as to command its unconscious sympathy. 
 Not long after, she again opened her eyes in a state of con- 
 sciousness. A smile of perfect happiness lighted up her 
 emaciated features. She looked deliberately around upon 
 different objects in the room, and then fixed upon me a look 
 of the tenderest affection. Bending over her, I touched 
 her lips with mine, and she returned my token of love, 
 [t was her farewell. Her frequent prayers that the Saviour 
 would meet her in the dark valley, have already been men- 
 tioned. By her smile, she undoubtedly intended to assure 
 us, that she had found him. Words she could not utter to 
 express what she felt. Life continued to struggle with its 
 last enemy, until twenty minutes before eight o'clock ; when 
 her affectionate heart gradually ceased to beat, and her soul 
 took its final departure to be forever with the Lord." 
 
 " Mr. Adger went early to town, to inform our friends of 
 the sorrowful event, and to make arrangements for the fu- 
 neral. The American Consul, on receiving the intelligence,
 
 358 MEMOIR OF 
 
 raised his flag at half-mast; and all the American vessels in 
 the harbor, eight or ten in number, did the same. After 
 Mr. A.'s return, a place for her burial was selected by us, 
 and the funeral appointed for ten o'clock to-morrow. 
 
 "Oct. 1. The English of this village had appeared, 
 from the first of our coming here, to feel much sympathy for 
 Mrs. Smith. This was exhibited to-day in the numbers that 
 were present at the funeral. Besides most of the American 
 Missionaries from town, quite a congregation of residents 
 assembled at Mr. Adger's. Mr. Temple addressed them in 
 a most appropriate and impressive manner, and prayed. 
 Out of respect for her, all the ladies present broke 
 over the immemorial custom at Smyrna of not attending 
 funerals, and joined the procession to the grave. There, 
 at my request, the solemn funeral service of the Church of 
 England was read by the Rev. Mr. Lewis, varied only by 
 singing the following beautiful and appropriate hymn : 
 
 ' Unvail thy bosom, faithful tomb ; 
 
 Take this new treasure to thy trust, 
 And give these sacred relics room 
 To slumber in the silent dust. 
 
 ' Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear 
 
 Invade thy bounds no mortal woes 
 Can reach the peaceful sleeper here, 
 While angels watch the soft repose. 
 
 ' So Jesus slept God's dying Son 
 
 Passed through the grave, and blest the bed. 
 Rest here, blest saint, till from his throne 
 The morning break, and pierce the shade. 
 
 1 Break from his throne, illustrious morn ! 
 Attend, O earth ! his sovereign word ; 
 Restore thy trust a glorious form 
 Shall then arise to meet the Lord.' "
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 359 
 
 The length of Mrs. Smith's missionary labors was Less 
 than two years and four months. Her age, at the time of 
 her death, was thirty-four years. The village where she is 
 interred is beautifully retired, and the spot a quiet one in 
 which to rest, until the archangel's trumpet shall break 
 the slumbers of the grave. A white marble slab covers her 
 remains, on which is the following inscription : 
 
 THE MONUMENT 
 
 OF 
 
 SARAH LAN MAN SMITH, 
 
 WIFE OF THE REV. ELI SMITH, 
 
 WHO WAS BORN IN NORWICH, CON., U. S. A., 
 
 JUNE 18, 1802. 
 
 TO BENEVOLENT EFFORTS 
 FOR THE YOUTH AND THE IGNORANT OF HER NATIVE CITY ; 
 
 FOR THE NEGLECTED REMNANT 
 OP ITS ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS; 
 
 AND FOR THE 
 BENIGHTED FEMALES OF STRIA ; 
 
 SHE DEVOTED ALL HER 
 
 ARDENT, EXPANSIVE, AND UNTIRING ENERGIES, 
 AS A SERVANT OF CHRIST, 
 
 UNTIL, 
 SINKING UNDER MISSIONARY LABORS AT BEYROOT, 
 
 SHE WAS BROUGHT HITHER, 
 
 AND DIED IN TRIUMPHANT FAITH, 
 
 SEPTEMBER 30, 1836, 
 
 AGED 34.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 
 
 THE closing chapter of this volume, from the pen of the 
 Rev. Mr. Smith, is devoted to general remarks upon some 
 traits of the missionary character and habits of the subject 
 of this Memoir. 
 
 Mrs. Smith entered upon her work with a high sense of 
 its importance and responsibilities. Love to her Saviour, a 
 lively faith in eternal things, and consequently a high esti- 
 mate of the value of the soul, were her inducements to un- 
 dertake it. These emotions were the mainspring of her un- 
 tiring diligence in her work; and sometimes operated so 
 powerfully upon her mind, as, of themselves, almost to over- 
 come her delicate frame. 
 
 Entering thus upon her sphere of labor, she devoted her- 
 self to missionary work as her leading business. Every 
 thing was made secondary, and as far as possible, auxiliary 
 to it. This principle pervaded and regulated all her do- 
 mestic arrangements. To be a mere housekeeper and mis- 
 tress of a missionary's family, and thus to spend her time in 
 ordinary domestic occupations, she felt would be degrading 
 to her calling. Her table she always furnished abundantly 
 for those who composed her family. Suitable and becoming 
 apparel she ever provided for herself and others. And no 
 house need be kept in better order, or in more perfect neat- 
 ness than hers. It was a model for imitation. But she was 
 ever devising ways in which these objects might be accom- 
 plished with the least expense of her time. This she ef- 
 fected by observing system, and doing as much as possible 
 
 360
 
 MEMOIR OF MRS. SMITH. 361 
 
 by the hands of others. In her house, it may be said with 
 truth, there was a place for every thing and every thing was 
 kept in its place; there was a time for every thing, and 
 every thing was done in its time. Articles for the table 
 which required her time, and were not necessary to health, 
 were dispensed with, and their place supplied by such as her 
 domestics could prepare ; though, owing to their ignorance, 
 these were necessarily of the very plainest kind. Time was 
 too precious for her to spend it in labors, the object of which 
 was merely to gratify the appetite. In her estimation, the 
 matter of food was a thing of minor importance, and she 
 liked to have it occupy as little time and as little prom- 
 inence as possible, in her domestic arrangements. For this 
 object the regular meals of her family were reduced to two 
 breakfast, at seven in the morning, and dinner, at five in the 
 evening. Thus the whole day was left unbroken for labor, 
 and much time was saved. 
 
 This subject deserved mention, both to show how she 
 found time to accomplish what she did, and because mis- 
 sionary ladies so frequently complain, that domestic occu- 
 pations interfere with, and to a great extent hinder, the be- 
 nevolent labors they would be glad to accomplish. Some 
 have been almost ready to lay it down as a principle, that 
 the wives of missionaries must expect to do little, if any 
 thing, more than take care of their own families. The 
 adoption of such an expectation by ladies entering upon the 
 missionary life, Mrs. Smith exceedingly deprecated. Her 
 own labors were a practical demonstration, that a much 
 higher standard of usefulness is within reach. 
 
 It should be remarked, however, that her industry was of 
 no ordinary kind. It can be said of her, with hardly any 
 qualification, that during her missionary life, she never lost 
 an hour. Her daily labors were begun early. It always 
 seemed to give her great pleasure to throw off sleep, and 
 rise from her bed. The last winter she arose regularly at 
 half past four. The duties of the closet demanded her first 
 attention, and in these she usually spent an hour, or an hour 
 
 Smith. Jg
 
 362 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and a half. It was this that made her love early rising. 
 She found great relish in communion with God, when alone 
 with him in the stillness of morning, before any one was 
 moving in the house. Her devotions performed, she began 
 the labors of the day. In these her energy was great. Noth- 
 ing was shrunk from which ought to be done; and what was 
 begun, was never left unfinished. Her despatch was extraor- 
 dinary. One could hardly tell when she accomplished all 
 that she did. Whilst another would be talking, and think- 
 ing of labor to be done, she would have it finished. 
 
 The labors she carried forward were many. She had no 
 children of her own, and was consequently relieved from many 
 domestic duties, which would otherwise have occupied much 
 of her time, and diminished her labors as a missionary. Yet 
 her family was not small. It consisted the last winter, most of 
 the time, of four friends connected with the mission, two 
 boarding scholars, and three servants; making, with herself 
 and her husband, eleven individuals, without reckoning occa- 
 sional guests. These were all to be cared for, and still 
 she spent three hours daily, for five days each week, in 
 teaching school. She carried forward a system of visiting 
 among the native females, for religious purposes. Every other 
 day she studied and recited a lesson in a large native Arabic 
 grammar, and on the alternate days translated a portion of a 
 smaller one into English. She took lessons daily in Italian, 
 and translated the weekly Sunday school lessons from the 
 Union Questions into Arabic. She regularly attended a 
 weekly conference meeting, and two female prayer meetings ; 
 and kept up an extensive correspondence. Some arrivals 
 would bring fifteen or twenty letters to be answered. And 
 in addition to all, numerous native visitors made large en- 
 croachments upon her time. 
 
 Her perseverance in what she considered duty, was invin- 
 cible. She was not glad of an excuse for neglecting it, with 
 apparent consistency. Were it the duty of the hour to at- 
 tend a meeting, all arrangements were made to give place to 
 it ; and she was rarely absent from her post. In her school,
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 363 
 
 whatever were her domestic labors, whatever company de- 
 manded her attentions it might almost be said, whatever 
 was her health she was punctual at the hour. She might 
 have suspended the school every ecclesiastical festival ; 
 the customs of the country favored it ; the contrary was in 
 fact almost regarded as heretical ; and had she served as a 
 hireling, she would have done it. But she saw that such fre- 
 quent interruptions injured the school ; and with the excep- 
 tion of a few great festivals, when the scholars would not 
 come, it was always open. 
 
 She could never persuade herself to allow plans of per- 
 sonal gratification and relaxation to interfere with her labors. 
 She made several excursions, of deep interest to her culti- 
 vated mind and rich imagination ; one of which led her to 
 the very summit of Lebanon, and the ruins of Baalbek, and 
 another to Jerusalem through the length and breadth of Pal- 
 estine ; but none of these were made at the sacrifice of this 
 principle. Much as she desired to visit the Holy City, such 
 a gratification was no argument to her, nor would she allow 
 herself to listen to the persuasions of her friends, so long as 
 her school would be stopped thereby. She had been in fee- 
 ble health during the winter, and the journey promised to 
 recruit her ; but she could not make a doubtful experiment 
 for her health, at the expense of interrupting her school. 
 At length a beloved Christian sister, not then connected 
 with the mission, but now a valued member of it, came for- 
 ward and offered to take her place, so that none of her im- 
 portant labors would be suspended. Then she saw her way 
 clear, and set her face toward Jerusalem with a cheerful 
 heart. 
 
 Though so closely bound to her duties, she did not go to 
 them as a slave. Her affections were the strong power 
 within, that accelerated her movements. She succeeded 
 remarkably in interesting her feelings in whatever duty 
 required her to undertake. She did it with her whole heart. 
 Her labor was her delight ; and she never was happier than 
 when she was the most busy. This was exhibited in her
 
 364 MEMOIR OF 
 
 cheerful, animated countenance during the day, and the sat- 
 isfaction she manifested often in finding she had no more 
 strength remaining, when the hour arrived for her to seek 
 restoration of it in sleep. 
 
 These general observations upon Mrs. Smith's views and 
 character, have been deemed important, as introductory to 
 a more detailed view of her labors. 
 
 On entering her station, she devoted herself exclusively to 
 the natives. She might have found much to do for the ben- 
 efit of the European population of Beyroot. Among the 
 English and Americans alone, there were children enough 
 to form a school ; whose parents were grieved to see them 
 growing up without proper instruction, and were anxious 
 to have them taught by some missionary friend. Surprise, 
 indeed, was sometimes expressed, that she neglected them 
 to devote her time to the Arabs. She did not, however, 
 neglect them. She felt and prayed for them, and for all 
 the inhabitants of Beyroot, and did what she could inci- 
 dentally for their good. But it was to the natives she had 
 devoted herself. To them she felt herself a debtor, and she 
 would allow no other engagements to interfere with their 
 claims, and divert her energies from them. 
 
 Such views rendered a knowledge of the Arabic language 
 necessary. Nor would a mere passing acquaintance with 
 it suffice ; such as is picked up by most Franks in the coun- 
 try, enabling her to express herself intelligibly on ordina- 
 ry topics. Her object required that she should be able 
 to converse freely and acceptably on religious subjects, and 
 to lead in prayer, to the edification of natives. To thia 
 end a thorough acquaintance with the principles of the lan- 
 guage, and a ready command of an extensive vocabulary of 
 words, were necessary. Such a knowledge of that most 
 difficult language, she deliberately set herself to acquire, 
 and unremittingly and successfully did she pursue her aim. 
 
 The alphabet she learned while on her voyage from 
 Malta to Alexandria ; but before reaching Beyroot, she had 
 acquired no appreciable knowledge of the language. With-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 365 
 
 in four months after, she began the study of a native gram- 
 mar entirely in Arabic ; though for about half of that time 
 she had had no instruction, except for an hour or two a 
 day from a common Arab who knew nothing of grammar; 
 and during nearly the whole of it was engaged in school 
 every other week. In less than nine months, she was ready 
 to commence praying in Arabic, with a little girl whom she 
 then took into her family to educate. And in eleven months 
 she conducted the devotional exercises at the commence- 
 ment of the native female prayer meeting. Her prayers, 
 at these times and subsequently, were always extemporary. 
 The grammar above mentioned, she read through, sur- 
 mounting its numerous difficulties ; and the last winter of 
 her life, she commenced translating another for the benefit 
 of the sisters who might tread after her the bewildering and 
 thorny mazes of the Arabic language. The many new and 
 guttural sounds of the language, became familiar and nat- 
 ural to her organs of utterance. She could converse ac- 
 ceptably, and with readiness, upon most topics; and some 
 time before leaving her station, ^he could fairly master dif- 
 ficulties which many a foreigner never surmounts; and was 
 prepared to use this indispensable instrument efficiently, in 
 the great work of imparting a knowledge of salvation to the 
 perishing females of Syria. 
 
 Yet it was not because she had any peculiar taste for the 
 study of language, that she was so successful. There was 
 not, to the last, perhaps, one of her labors in which she en- 
 gaged with less relish for it, in itself. She had also many 
 obstacles to contend with. Her school from the first took 
 up much of her time, and consumed the best part of her 
 strength. Her family, likewise, became large, and her inter- 
 ruptions were exceedingly numerous. She could never get 
 a teacher, who knew any thing of grammar, except her hus- 
 band ; and little of his time was at her command. Per- 
 plexed and baffled by the difficulties of Arabic, she would 
 often weep, and almost in despair say, that she could never 
 learn it. Had she been willing to listen to an excuse for
 
 366 MEMOIR OF 
 
 remaining ignorant of it, or for learning it slowly, she 
 had enough at hand that were weighty. But she never har- 
 bored a thought of living in the missionary field, without a 
 thorough knowledge of the language of the people she 
 wished to save. Principle urged her on. The study of 
 Arabic was her duty. As such, it was one of the things 
 never to be omitted ; and very rarely did she pass a day 
 without getting a lesson. 
 
 Mrs. Smith's missionary labors literally began at home, 
 The efforts she made for the spiritual good of her own 
 household, were not the least important of her benevolent 
 exertions ; and they formed an integral part of her general 
 plans of usefulness. 
 
 She began her missionary life with two settled principles 
 in regard to servants, viz : that they should be natives, and 
 that she would have as few as possible. The first she 
 deemed important, in order that whatever was attempted for 
 their benefit, might form a component part of our system of 
 missionary efforts for the natives generally ; that whatever 
 success resulted from the attempt, might be set down entire 
 to the amount of good actually effected in behalf of the na- 
 tion ; and that whoever was thus benefited, might, through 
 the numerous channels of family connections and friendships 
 immediately around him, be in circumstances to propagate 
 and multiply the effects to an indefinite extent. The second 
 principle she was partial to, as a matter of economy, which 
 she ever studied most conscientiously ; because it accorded 
 with that simplicity of life which it is so desirable mission- 
 aries should maintain, while they have many temptations to 
 swerve from it. 
 
 These two principles somewhat interfered with each other 
 in practice. With a foreigner, a Maltese who accompanied 
 her and Mr. Smith from Alexandria, and whom faithfulness 
 induced them to keep for a number of months, she was able 
 fully to practise upon the second ; for he was generally 
 their only domestic. Upon dismissing him, the first prin- 
 ciple was brought into practice. But of the natives, it was
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 367 
 
 found necessary to have two in the place of one Maltese. 
 They were taken fresh from the mountains, that they might 
 be free from evil habits often contracted in Frank families, 
 and that she might have the training of them herself. An 
 emancipated Abyssinian girl likewise, of Mohammedan pa- 
 rentage, had previously been offered to her, and appearing to 
 be fond of religious instruction, she was continued in the 
 family chiefly as a charity. When Mr. and Mrs. Smith left 
 Beyroot, the girl was put into a pious native family, and her 
 board paid until the last day of December, when she died, 
 after a lingering illness. Religious conversation, prayer, 
 and the mere name of Jesus, continued to give her pleasure, 
 and soothe her in her sufferings, until the last; and the 
 latest expressed wish of her heart was, that she might die 
 and go to her departed mistress. Perhaps at the day of 
 judgment, this poor, ignorant Moslem slave may appear 
 clothed in the Redeemer's righteousness, as one of the 
 many jewels in the crown of rejoicing of that kind friend 
 who so faithfully instructed and prayed for her. 
 
 Over these domestics she watched as one that must give 
 an account. Oriental customs, in the seclusion they pre- 
 scribe to the female sex, put a guard upon morals ; which, 
 though artificial, is of great practical effect in the absence 
 of enlightened conscience ; and it too often happens, that 
 in Frank families, serious evils spring up among native 
 servants from the simple neglect of these salutary precautions, 
 which are called into existence by the wants of society. 
 Mrs. Smith, possessing an acute sense of propriety, and a 
 quick apprehension of danger that kept her always on the 
 alert ; and governed by a tender conscience that rendered it 
 impossible for her to be at ease when any one for whom she 
 was responsible was exposed to temptation ; soon discovered 
 this principle, and determined to apply it in the government 
 of her domestics. The precaution was first taken, at the 
 expense of considerable trouble, to procure a man servant 
 who was brother to her maid ; and then entrance to the apart- 
 ments where the latter worked, was prohibited to other
 
 368 MEMOIR OF 
 
 men. Instead of encouraging her women to go unvailed in 
 the streets, as many a Frank would have done, she procured 
 them vails, which she directed them to wear. This course 
 she had the satisfaction of seeing not only attended by the 
 results she wished, but also acquiring for her house that 
 confidence of the natives which is withheld from many 
 Frank families. 
 
 Another important feature in her domestic management, 
 tending to the good of those in her employ, was a constant 
 care to keep them always provided with some species of 
 labor. As she was never idle herself, she would allow none 
 in her service to be unoccupied. She deemed the loss of 
 their time, a sin for which she was accountable ; she knew 
 that to keep them busy, was the most effectual way to keep 
 them from sin ; and she felt that to give them habits of in- 
 dustry, was performing for them a most important act of 
 benevolence. She regarded it as much her duty, and made 
 it as regular a part of her business, to see that they were 
 provided with work as with food. That they should be 
 trained to such habits of industry, was almost a miracle 
 among Arab women. Yet in reality hardly an hour ever 
 came, in which they did not find something already laid out 
 for them to do. It is proper to mention this feature in her 
 treatment of domestics, not only because it is so often neg- 
 lected, to the great injury of servants and the impeding of 
 the usefulness of employers, but because it shows how well 
 proportioned and mature was her missionary character; in 
 that, while attending to more important public labors, she 
 suffered none of those less noticeable, yet essential duties to 
 be overlooked. 
 
 It was also with her a fundamental principle, that her ser- 
 vants should learn to read. This she thought a matter of 
 great consequence, in a country where hardly any of the fe- 
 males have this knowledge. She would have turned away 
 any who were unwilling to be taught; for she could not 
 bear to have one in her service merely to supply her tem- 
 poral wants, while no permanent good was received in re-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 369 
 
 turn. Her women were at first taught their letters at home. 
 Afterwards she so arranged her household affairs, as to al- 
 low them to attend school alternately each a half of the day. 
 The man servant also every day attended one of the mis- 
 sionary schools for two or three hours. So that all the do- 
 mestics of the family, were actually regular attendants at 
 school. The experiment pleased her exceedingly. It con- 
 tributed much to her happiness. The furnishing of her 
 table with more nicely dressed articles of food, that would 
 occupy the time thus spent by her servants, was not an 
 object to be allowed, as an impediment to such an arrange- 
 ment. She took pleasure in diminishing the amount of her 
 house-work, that it might be accomplished. So pleased 
 with it was she, as to be satisfied that it would be justifiable, 
 where servants' wages are no more than hers received, to 
 increase their number, in order that they might be thus in- 
 structed. 
 
 Mrs. Smith never interfered with the attendance of her 
 servants to the rites of their own religion. Their fasts they 
 were allowed freely to keep ; and their church they attended 
 on Sundays and festivals. But the religious rules of the 
 family they were required also to regard. From profane- 
 ness, and from Sabbath-breaking by work, or by visiting or 
 receiving visits, they were strictly prohibited. And they 
 were expected to worship God daily with the family. One 
 who declined this would not have been employed ; upon the 
 principle that those ought to be selected for servants, who 
 were most likely to receive religious benefit. For their 
 sake, family prayers in the evening were always offered in 
 Arabic; an early hour being selected, that they might be 
 more wakeful. 
 
 On the Sabbath also, the servants had many privileges. 
 In the morning, during the last winter, a native brother 
 came, and exhorted and prayed with them in the house ; 
 enough of the neighbors being present to form a small con- 
 gregation. In the afternoon, they always attended the Sab- 
 bath school and Arabic service; and in the evening at 
 
 16*
 
 370 MEMOIR OF 
 
 family prayers, they were examined upon the sermon they 
 had heard. But these public privileges Mrs. Smith did not 
 regard as excusing her from more private duties to her 
 female servants. Besides hearing them read, she always 
 found time, notwithstanding her exhausting duties on the 
 Sabbath, to spend a season with them in private. At this 
 hour, two or three Druze women were often present. She 
 read, conversed, and prayed with them. Variety was given 
 to the exercise, by reading some interesting religious nar- 
 rative; though for the want of books of this nature in 
 Arabic, she was obliged to translate them orally into that 
 language as she read along. In this way, she read through 
 the Memoir of Mary Lothrop, during the last winter, much 
 to their gratification. So persevering was she in this, as 
 in every duty, that she was found engaged in it, the last Sab- 
 bath she was at Beyroot, though so feeble as to be lying on 
 her bed. It is believed that she had also stated times for 
 praying with each one by herself. 
 
 It will not be wondered at, that servants \yho had such a 
 mistress, were so reluctant to part with her, and so over- 
 come with grief, as they all were at her departure ; nor that 
 her poor colored girl, in view of death, fondly cherished the 
 desire of being again allowed to be with her, as a bright, 
 cheerful ray from the dark prospect before her. 
 
 Such were some of Mrs. Smith's domestic missionary 
 labors. And those missionary sisters, who, by domestic 
 cares or other causes, are prevented from engaging in the 
 more public duties that demanded her principal energies, 
 may be encouraged by seeing how much may be done of a 
 missionary nature, even within their limited circle. They 
 can give to a missionary's family a missionary shape and 
 character. They can surround him with a missionary atmos- 
 phere, which every one must breathe who comes within it. 
 They can save many souls by their own instructions, with- 
 out going beyond the bounds of their families. 
 
 Very soon after her arrival at Beyroot, Mrs. Smith had a 
 fixed desire to take a little Arab girl to be brought up in her
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 371 
 
 family. It originated from a variety of motives. The warm 
 affections of her heart sought the constant presence of some 
 such object of attachment. The little girl's soul she hoped 
 to save ; and she desired also to train her up to be a helper 
 in the great work of enlightening and saving others. It 
 gratified her feelings of benevolence to bring home to the 
 scene of her domestic labors, a subject upon which to exer- 
 cise them ; that they might know no cessation ; for thereby, 
 in her most domestic occupations, she was enabled to feel 
 that she was still doing good to one of the natives, to whom 
 she wished every hour of her life to be devoted. She hoped 
 also, by thus creating continual occasion for the use of the 
 Arabic language, to be able to learn it sooner. 
 
 She at length selected from her school one of the most 
 promising scholars, about eight years of age, and with the 
 consent of her parents, adopted her. In Mrs. Smith's care, 
 attentions, and gradually in her affections also, she took 
 almost the rank of a daughter. But it was settled as a 
 fundamental principle in her education, from the first, not to 
 Europeanize her, and thereby unfit her to live contentedly 
 and usefully among her countrymen, where she was to have 
 her abode. She was therefore always dressed in the native 
 costume, and took a rank in the family midway between a 
 daughter and a servant. In addition to needle-work, she 
 was taught to assist in most kinds of domestic labor ; and 
 so thoroughly was she initiated into habits of industry, as 
 never to sit down with nothing to do. 
 
 Yet with the servants she was never allowed to associate. 
 Mrs. Smith's hope of special benefit to the child from resi- 
 ding in her family, was based very much upon the princi- 
 ple of segregation ; and she had the opinion firmly fixed, 
 that unless every avenue by which contamination might be 
 contracted were strictly guarded, all her labor would prob- 
 ably be lost. She was watched, therefore, with a care that 
 parental anxiety rarely gives rise to ; and had no access to 
 the kitchen, except on an errand for a moment; nor was she 
 ever left alone in the house, with the servants ; and though
 
 372 MEMOIR OF 
 
 permitted to visit her parents regularly, she was allowed to 
 spend the night at home but once a year. In religion, her 
 family was of the Greek church ; and in regard to ceremo- 
 nial observances, Mrs. Smith allowed her to be governed 
 very much by the wishes of her friends. The fasts she was 
 allowed to observe, so far as they strenuously insisted ; yet 
 not without being fully taught their futility in themselves to- 
 ward aiding at all in the great matter of her soul's salvation, 
 nor without her parents being warned of the false ideas 
 of religion they were likely to give her. In remonstrating 
 with the little girl's mother on this subject, she is known to 
 have most affectionately pressed upon her the extreme ab- 
 surdity and sin of attaching such importance to fasts and fes- 
 tivals, while Sabbath-breaking, lying, and profaneness were 
 indulged with an undisturbed conscience ; and to have sol- 
 emnly warned her of the great danger she was in, of ruining 
 her daughter's soul forever, by leading her into paths de- 
 viating from the strait and narrow way of salvation. 
 
 Mrs. Smith's object in taking her, at the outset, was re- 
 ligious ; and this object she ever kept uppermost in training 
 her. It has been already mentioned that she knelt with her 
 in prayer, the day of her entering the family, though Mrs. 
 Smith had then been less than nine months studying her 
 language. This practice was continued every day she was 
 with her, and doubtless while it impressed the child, and 
 called down the blessing of God upon both, it gave Mrs. 
 Smith the ability she had to commence so early praying in 
 her school, and in the female prayer meeting. 
 
 Mrs. Smith's instruction of the little girl was daily and 
 constant. In addition to the privileges she enjoyed in com- 
 mon with the servants, which have been mentioned, her 
 habit was to hear her read a portion of Scripture while 
 dressing in the morning, thus accomplishing an object ever 
 dear to her the saving of time. She then questioned her 
 upon what she had read, gave her other instruction, and led 
 her to the throne of grace. Thus her pupil not only became 
 an intelligent reader, but acquired a knowledge of the prinei-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 373 
 
 pies of religion, which would be considered good in an 
 American child of her age. It was a pleasure to question 
 her upon the Scripture read at family prayers, and upon the 
 sermon she heard on Sunday ; her answers were so appro- 
 priate. Her conscience becoming thus enlightened, she 
 was sometimes much impressed by the truth. 
 
 In a word, the expectations Mrs. Smith had formed in 
 taking her were fully answered ; and she was often heard 
 to say, that she had every day been amply repaid for the 
 pains bestowed upon her. It will not be wondered at, that 
 her affections became entwined very closely around so prom- 
 ising a pupil, and that the attachment assumed much of the 
 character of parental kindness. Mrs. Smith's sharpest trial, 
 perhaps, at her departure from Beyroot, arose from leaving 
 her behind : and in her last days she made arrangements 
 which she hoped would secure to her a small legacy. The 
 sum she desired has since been appropriated for that pur- 
 pose, and it is hoped will serve as an inducement for the 
 little girl to remain in some of the missionary families, until 
 the seed sown with so many prayers, shall spring up and 
 bear fruit 
 
 The female school at Beyroot was commenced by Mrs. 
 Thomson and Mrs. Dodge, in 1833. A few girls were 
 previously found in some of the public schools supported by 
 the mission. But these ladies wished to bring them more 
 directly under missionary influence, and to confer upon 
 them the benefit of a system of instruction adapted to fe- 
 males. A commencement was accordingly made, by giv- 
 ing lessons to such little girls as could be irregularly as- 
 sembled for an hour or two a day at the mission-house; 
 such an informal beginning being not only all that the ladies 
 had time to attempt, but being also considered desirable as 
 less likely to excite jealousy and opposition. For the pro- 
 ject was entered upon with much trembling and apprehen- 
 sion. Not merely indifference to female education had to be 
 encountered, but strong prejudice against it, existing in the 
 public raiiid from time immemorial. The Oriental prejudice
 
 374 MEMOIR OF 
 
 against innovations from any quarter, and especially from 
 foreigners, threatened resistance. The seclusion of females 
 within their own immediate circle of relationship, originally 
 Oriental, but strengthened by Mohammedan influence, stood 
 in the way. And, more than all, religious jealousy, look- 
 ing upon the missionaries as dangerous heretics, and their 
 influence as contamination, seemed to give unequivocal 
 warning, that the attempt might be fruitless. The older 
 missionaries, who could weigh the full force of all these 
 obstacles, having felt them through so many years of op- 
 position to many of their labors, were less sanguine of suc- 
 cess, than the brethren and sisters who had newly arrived. 
 But they were not aware of the hold they had gained upon 
 the public confidence. The event proved, in this as in 
 many other missionary attempts, that strong faith is a 
 better principle to act upon in the propagation of the gospel, 
 than cautious calculation. Even down to the present time, 
 it is not known that a word of opposition has been uttered 
 against the school, which was thus commenced. 
 
 In this initiatory state Mrs. Smith found the school, on her 
 arrival at Beyroot in January of 1834. Some six or eight 
 girls assembled in the afternoon in Mrs. Thomson's room 
 at the mission-house, and were taught sewing and the alpha- 
 bet. One was far enough advanced to aid in teaching ; and 
 knowing something of English, could act as interpreter. 
 The widow of Gregory Wortabet also occasionally assisted. 
 Mrs. Smith commenced her labors in the sewing department 
 the second week after her arrival, and soon Mrs. Wortabet 
 was engaged as a permanent helper. Mrs. Thomson re- 
 moving to Jerusalem in the spring, the school devolved upon 
 Mrs. Dodge and Mrs. Smith ; who took alternate weeks in 
 teaching it, until it was discontinued in June on account of 
 the heat. In the fall, Mrs. Dodge also removed to Jerusa- 
 lem, and then it was left wholly upon Mrs. Smith's hands. 
 Thus it continued for more than a year. Soon after reach- 
 ing Beyroot, Mrs. Smith saw that a promising field was 
 open for female usefulness, and after much prayerful con-
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 375 
 
 sideration, she determined to invite a female friend, Miss 
 Rebecca W. Williams, to come from America, and help her. 
 Miss W. immediately complied with the invitation ; and 
 with the resolution of deep Christian devotedness, left her 
 friends and country, by the earliest opportunity, on this er- 
 rand of benevolence. The measure proved a happy one, 
 and both ladies saw constantly increasing reason to rejoice 
 that it had been taken. Miss W. went into the school 
 immediately on her arrival. But Mrs. Smith, preferring 
 that the school, rather than herself, should be benefited 
 thereby, determined that it should be open twice as many 
 hours as before, and continued to give to it nearly as much 
 time as she had done. 
 
 The difficulty of appropriating to the school a room in 
 the mission-house, caused it to suffer many inconveniences 
 at the outset. A benevolent daughter of the American 
 Consul at Alexandria, Mrs. Tod, then a resident at Beyroot, 
 observing this, and desiring to contribute something toward 
 the salvation of the Syrian women, opened a subscription for 
 a school-house. Two hundred dollars were subscribed in 
 Syria, at Alexandria, and Bagdad, for this purpose, and 
 promptly paid. This sum enabled the mission to erect a 
 substantial stone building, on the premises belonging to the 
 Board ; which in the spring of 1835, was ready to be occu- 
 pied, and furnished excellent accommodations for the school. 
 
 Mrs. Smith had very little acquaintance with school teach- 
 ing at home; none, in fact, except what she had acquired in 
 Sabbath schools and in her charitable labors among the Mo- 
 hegans. Nor had she a taste for it. She often humorously 
 expressed to her husband her surprise at finding herself so 
 thoroughly a school-mistress. It was because Providence 
 directed her to this, as the way for her to do good, and be- 
 cause she saw that otherwise it would not be done, that she 
 engaged in it. Yet she did not enter upon it reluctantly, 
 nor continue it as a task. In this, as in almost every case, 
 what was her duty became her pleasure. Her heart entered 
 fully into it. This was seen in the uneasiness it gave her
 
 376 MEMOIR OF 
 
 to lose a day from school, and the great reluctance with 
 which she closed it for a vacation. It has been mentioned 
 that the first summer it was closed in June, on account of 
 the heat. But then she had no sooner retired to the moun- 
 tains, for a cooler climate, than she gathered a few little 
 girls around her there, whom she taught regularly every 
 day. The second summer she would not consent to close 
 her school until August ; and then she wrote to a friend 
 that she " did it in the spirit of obedience to her husband." 
 She was strict in the preservation of order in every move- 
 ment of the school. Another would perhaps have thought 
 that such untutored Arab girls must needs be indulged, or 
 they would conceive a disgust for the place of instruction, 
 and come no more. But she settled it as a principle, that 
 order was essential to the well-being of a school, and was 
 moreover one of the things, and that not the least, which 
 the children needed to be taught. It was surprising to see 
 how soon they learned to understand and regard it. This 
 doubtless made them love school the. better. A more or- 
 derly collection of cheerful faces, is not often to be found 
 in a school-house in a Christian land. The chief means 
 employed for the preservation of order, was a black-board, 
 for debt and credit marks ; and this was generally sufficient 
 to secure the most perfect subordination. The employment 
 of rewards was not adopted without due deliberation. Her 
 opinion was, that among children so ignorant and untutored, 
 and so unaccustomed to the restraints of a school ; who 
 came with so little relish for study, and whose parents were 
 so ignorant of the value of education ; it was necessary at 
 the outset thus to address a principle, whose control they 
 would all feel, and access to which was direct and easy. 
 She never saw reason to change this opinion ; and the re- 
 wards were so managed, that she could say upon her death- 
 bed, that she could recollect no instance in which, to her 
 knowledge, envy had been caused among the scholars by 
 means of them. The rewards were regulated by the num- 
 ber of credit marks, and were distributed two or three times
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 377 
 
 a year, consisting chiefly of plain articles of dress. At 
 these times, she had begun to have an examination. The 
 last she held in company with Miss Williams, but a short 
 time before she was obliged to leave. The mothers of the 
 children, and some other female friends, were present. The 
 scholars, together, amounted to upwards of forty ; the room 
 was well filled, presenting a scene that would have de- 
 lighted the heart of many a friend of missions. Classes 
 were examined in reading, spelling, geography, first lessons 
 in arithmetic, Scripture questions, the English language, 
 and sacred music ; and the whole was closed by a brief 
 address from Mrs. Dodge. The mothers then came forward, 
 of their own accord, and in a gratifying manner expressed 
 their thanks to the ladies for what they had done for their 
 daughters. 
 
 Had M*s. Smith been unable to connect her labors in 
 this school directly with the great work of saving souls, she 
 would have felt little interest in it. To this object she 
 was wholly devoted. Any employment directly bearing upon 
 it had a charm for her. Every thing aside from it, or from 
 religion in some of its relations, was insipid. Only a few 
 weeks after she began to take her turn in the school, and 
 during the absence of her husband in the Hauran, she took 
 a step which had an important bearing upon its religious 
 character. Her desire to have God formally acknowledged 
 in it, induced her to request Mr. Bird to come in and close it 
 with prayer. The first time he did so, the children, as they 
 knelt down, were so amused at the novelty of the position, 
 that all were overcome with laughter, which was continued 
 through the exercise. So much did the thought grieve her, 
 that they were so brutishly ignorant as to be thus affected by 
 this solemn exercise, that her feelings rose beyond her con- 
 trol, and she wept. They had even then begun to be much 
 attached to her ; and perceiving, when they arose, how their 
 conduct had affected her, they all of them, of their own ac- 
 cord, came forward and expressed their sorrow for what 
 they had done. From this time, prayer was Tarely, if ever,
 
 378 MEMOIR OF 
 
 omitted for a single day. Mrs. Wortabet soon began to lead 
 in the exercise, accompanying it with the reading of the 
 Scriptures, and remarks. One of the missionary gentlemen, 
 however, often conducted the closing exercises of the week, 
 until Mrs. Smith was able herself to perform devotional 
 duties in Arabic. After that, she alternated with her as- 
 sistant ; and once a week it was their habit to stop after 
 school, and unite in prayer for the blessing of God upon 
 their labors. The religious instructions she gave, in general 
 addresses to all and in private conversation with individual 
 scholars, were varied and constant. Hardly a school in 
 America, probably, has more religious instruction given in 
 it, and that in a more direct form, than was received by this. 
 And who were these children that listened to it ? Most of 
 them were Arabs of the Greek church; two were Jewesses, 
 some were Druzes; and at times there were eight or ten 
 Moslems. All loved her with a sincere attachment ; for 
 such labors of love could not but win their hearts. On the 
 return of her husband to Beyroot, after her decease, his 
 mere presence in the school drew tears from many eyes, by 
 the recollections it occasioned. 
 
 May God yet cause the seed thus sown to take root and 
 bear fruit ; that she may ere long welcome some of these 
 dear children, the objects of so much effort, of so many 
 warm affections, and of so many prayers, to join her in 
 the labors and enjoyments that occupy her in heaven. 
 
 The native Sabbath school at Beyroot originated with 
 Mrs. Smith. In this department of instruction, her first 
 public effort of benevolence was made in the land of her 
 birth ; and in it she was still engaged, when called to adopt 
 Syria for her field of labor. It might be expected that her 
 interest in Sabbath schools would not be diminished, by this 
 removal to a land where she must constantly see increased 
 need for them. 
 
 A Sabbath school for the English and American chil- 
 dren at Beyroot, was in existence before her arrival. To 
 this, after the return of her husband from the Hauran, in
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 379 
 
 the spring after their arrival, she proposed that a native 
 class should be added. He had little faith in the suc- 
 cess of the project, but urged by her entreaties, consented 
 to attempt it. At first, two or three boys only came and 
 recited to him. Soon a class was brought in from the fe- 
 male school, then taught by Mrs. Dodge and herself. The 
 succeeding winter, the Arab scholars, at her suggestion, 
 again were separated from the others, and assembled at the 
 house of a native brother. There were sometimes enough 
 to give him and Mrs. Wortabet also a class. In the spring, 
 the female school-house being finished, the school was re- 
 moved thither ; and from that time, there continued to be 
 regularly from twenty to thirty scholars, with usually five 
 teachers. These teachers met every Friday evening, around 
 her table, to study the lessons for the following Sabbath, 
 and for prayer. Three of the teachers being natives, this 
 meeting was not less important for the profit they derived 
 from it, than from that which accrued to the scholars. In 
 the instructions given, the Union Questions of the American 
 Sunday School Union, were used as a guide ; and for this 
 purpose the lesson of each Sabbath was translated during 
 the week into Arabic. This labor, as has been already 
 mentioned, Mrs. Smith began, the last winter, to take upon 
 herself. 
 
 Most of the scholars were females, and these chiefly from 
 the school. The servants of the mission families, and some 
 adult inquirers, used also to attend. Some strong induce- 
 ment must have operated to bring children together for this 
 object on the Sabbath. At home they were never told that 
 it was their duty to attend ; but on the contrary, it was nat- 
 ural for their parents to regard it with coldness or suspicion. 
 They had been accustomed to be permitted, on the Sabbath, 
 to engage as fully as they desired in their recreations. This 
 was an abridgment of their liberty, by confinement to 
 studies for which they had naturally no relish, and for which 
 they were likely to be ridiculed by their companions. The 
 chief influence which led them to assemble under such cir-
 
 380 MEMOIR OF 
 
 cumstances, it would be wrong not to ascribe to the blessing 
 of God in answer to prayer. But, doubtless, affection for 
 their teachers had influence with some of these scholars, 
 and attachment to the school was not wanting as a motive. 
 Rewards also were given, according to the number of marks 
 each one received; for the same reasons that justified their 
 introduction into the day school. But here they always 
 consisted of religious books. 
 
 In this school the fullest evangelical instruction was given, 
 and in the plainest manner, both catechetically arid by direct 
 address. Thus to keep such a number of young persons, for 
 an hour or two on the Sabbath, from merely the various 
 ways of profaning holy time, in which they would otherwise 
 have been engaged, was an object of no small importance. 
 How much more important was the object actually accom- 
 plished, might have been estimated by one who should have 
 gone into the school, and witnessed the nature of the in- 
 struction given, and the eager attention with which it was 
 received. He would have found Mrs. Smith seated on a 
 low stool, with six or eight bright little girls half surround- 
 ing her, and in their eagerness to catch her instructions 
 bending forward till their heads often formed a semicircle 
 very near her own; while their lively faces, and animated 
 inquiries, showed the interest excited by the words that fell 
 from her lips. The scene was edifying to those who con- 
 stantly witnessed it ; and she was often heard to affirm, that 
 she never had a more interesting and improving class at 
 home, than this which she here trained up of untutored Arab 
 girls. The hour was always too short for what she had to 
 say ; and the superintendent generally had to interrupt her, 
 when the time came to close the school with his customary 
 address. 
 
 When the exercises were finished, each class followed its 
 teacher to the Arabic preaching, at the mission-house. Here 
 she sat with the female scholars, to mark their behavior; 
 and on Monday morning, at the opening of the school, they 
 were questioned by her upon the sermon delivered. Some
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 381 
 
 learned to give a very good abstract of what the preacher 
 had said ; and under such training, they became his most 
 attentive and interesting hearers. 
 
 The native female prayer meeting, at its commencement, 
 was an untried experiment even at Beyroot, the oldest of 
 American missions in the Mediterranean. Up to about this 
 time, there had been little opportunity to establish one. 
 Only one missionary lady on the ground was capable of 
 conducting the exercise ; and there was but one native sis- 
 ter to attend and aid. Serious obstacles stand in the way 
 of such a meeting on missionary ground. The hinderances 
 missionary ladies often meet with, in learning the language, 
 are apt to delay for some time their acquiring a sufficient 
 acquaintance with it for such purposes ; though they may in 
 a short time know enough for common use. And then the 
 strangeness of such a meeting among the natives, makes it 
 appear to female diffidence a formidable undertaking. Yet 
 these hinderances exist perhaps more in imagination than in 
 reality ; and at the most, need have weight only at the com- 
 mencement of a mission. For it is practice that so soon 
 gives command of a new language for ordinary purposes ; 
 and practice will as surely give command of it for the con- 
 duct of religious exercises. And after such exercises have 
 been once commenced at any mission, the strangeness of the 
 thing passes away ; while the new sisters are both encour- 
 aged by the example of those they find on the ground, and 
 are helped soon to unite with them, by what they learn of 
 the language from habitually hearing others use it in devo- 
 tion. Much, very much, depends upon the sisters, as well 
 as upon the brethren, at the outset of a mission. For if they 
 take a high stand in such positively missionary labors, an 
 elevated standard is permanently set up for those who come 
 after, which they will naturally imitate; while if little is 
 attempted, it is only now and then one of more than ordinary 
 character, who, on entering the field subsequently, will ven- 
 ture to go farther than her elders ; and thus years may see 
 very little done in the female department. The native sis-
 
 382 MEMOIR OF -, v 
 
 ters are not to be taken into account in this matter, for they 
 will generally go no faster than they are led ; and unless a 
 missionary lady shows them the way, and goes before them 
 herself, they will hardly ever take a single step. 
 
 The desirableness of such a meeting as the one in ques- 
 tion, was first suggested to Mrs. Smith by one of her dearest 
 friends, who has already been mentioned as having taken 
 the female school during her visit to Jerusalem. The 
 modesty of this sister, equalled only by her benevolence, 
 would allow her to give no encouragement of taking a part 
 in it herself. But the proposal received the cordial appro- 
 bation of the only missionary lady besides Mrs. Smith then 
 on the ground ; and it was found that at least half a dozen 
 Arab women would probably attend, at the beginning. To 
 show Mrs. Smith that any labor connected with the Redeem- 
 er's kingdom, within her sphere, was desirable and practi- 
 cable, never failed to enlist her energies in its immediate 
 execution. This plan presented especial claims, arising from 
 the peculiar circumstances of those for whose benefit it was 
 to be attempted. 
 
 The Oriental seclusion of females renders them difficult 
 of access to the ordinary means of grace used by a mission- 
 ary gentleman; their assembling even for religious purposes 
 in the same apartment with the other sex being condemned 
 by custom. They are also a neglected class, even among 
 the native Christians, as regards the religious means enjoyed 
 by their own countrymen; being crowded into a distinct 
 part in their churches, where an intelligent hearing of 
 the services is rendered difficult, both by their distance, 
 and by the confusion often prevailing among themselves. 
 At Beyroot, so far is their gallery from the altar, in the 
 Greek church, that it is never expected they will understand 
 any thing; and so great is the confusion they sometimes 
 create, that at the last Easter, they were actually prohibited 
 coming to some of the more important services, in order that 
 the church might be quiet; while, by established custom, it 
 is hardly allowable for a female ever to attend church more
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 383 
 
 than two or three times a year, until she is married. Being 
 thus difficult of access to the influence of the missionary 
 gentlemen, and neglected by their own countrymen, they 
 present special claims, and constitute a field peculiarly open 
 to the efforts of missionary ladies. 
 
 Finding herself in such a field, Mrs. Smith needed no 
 urging, to enter heartily into every practicable measure for 
 its cultivation. The first meeting was appointed at the 
 house of a native friend, and it devolved upon Mrs. Smith to 
 conduct its opening exercises. From that time, it was con- 
 tinued regularly ; at first once a fortnight, but afterwards 
 every week. All the missionary ladies who were in the field 
 when it was commenced, including those who were then at 
 Jerusalem, had an opportunity, in turn, to assist in the con- 
 duct of it ; as well as two native sisters, one of whom aided 
 from the beginning. Including some of the older scholars 
 of the school, as many as twenty were at times present, 
 though the number was often less. The experiment, though 
 commenced with much trembling, was fully successful ; and 
 were those who attended, to give an account of its exercises, 
 they would doubtless speak of many affecting appeals to the 
 conscience and the heart to which they there listened; and 
 of many precious seasons of sweet communion with God 
 which it afforded. May this, which was probably the first 
 female prayer meeting held in Syria in modern times, be the 
 forerunner of many more; until all the daughters of that 
 ancient land shall learn to worship God in spirit and in 
 truth ; as their ancestors were once taught by the blessed 
 Redeemer in person. 
 
 Early in the spring, before Mrs. Smith was removed from 
 her labors, the little company of missionaries at Beyroot 
 was awaked to inquire, with more than usual earnestness, 
 why it was, that while the means of grace were so constantly 
 used, so few conversions occurred. Some thought a succes- 
 sion of special religious meetings would be attended with a 
 blessing. Of these, a few were held among the missionaries 
 themselves, with manifest benefit. And out of them grew a
 
 384 . MEMOIR OF 
 
 weekly evening conference in Arabic, held in rotation at the 
 houses of native friends, which was soon attended by forty 
 or fifty. Others still thought more needed to be done in the 
 way of personal religious conversation with individuals, in 
 order that the truth might thus be brought into direct con- 
 tact with each one's own conscience ; and the proposition was 
 either made or warmly seconded by Mrs. Smith, that some- 
 thing of this kind should be attempted systematically. Ac- 
 cordingly the circle of native acquaintances, who could be 
 properly visited for such an object, was surveyed, and a 
 certain number assigned to each brother and sister. A 
 meeting was also appointed on the last Monday in "every 
 month, for each to report what he had done, and for prayer 
 in behalf of the effort. 
 
 Mrs. Smith, as has already appeared in a former chapter, 
 chose for her parish the mothers of her scholars. She im- 
 mediately commenced the labor ; and though already de- 
 bilitated by the first stages of the disease that terminated her 
 life, she was able to state at the first monthly meeting, that 
 they had all been visited. From some she made an inter- 
 esting report ; her conversations, so new and so impressive, 
 having evidently affected them ; and her visits manifestly 
 tended to win the attachment of all. This was ever the ten- 
 dency of her conversations of this nature; for her affection- 
 ate heart qualified her naturally for such a work, and long 
 practice in faithful admonition, had given her unusual 
 facility for doing it with propriety and without offence. She 
 deeply felt the duty of thus personally calling the attention 
 of her acquaintances to their eternal interests; and it is be- 
 lieved few have been with her any length of time, without 
 hearing something from her of this nature ; while still fewer 
 can be found who have not been rather won than offended 
 by her conversation. 
 
 To one thoughtless Syrian female, she took occasion once, 
 in such a conversation, to give an account of her own con- 
 version. An impression was made by it, which, from that 
 time, changed her whole deportment ; and the grace of God
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 385 
 
 ere long brought out in her character many pleasing evi- 
 dences of piety. This new sister Mrs. Smith had the satisfac- 
 tion of finding ready to lead the devotions of others, at the 
 last native female prayer meeting she was permitted to attend. 
 And this, among many other things, gave her reason to feel, 
 in leaving the country, that she had not dwelt there in vain. 
 
 The preceding effort, had Mrs. Smith's life been spared, 
 would probably have led her to another somewhat different. 
 The poor around her presented a most interesting field for 
 labor. Many of them in Syria are real objects of charity. 
 And while a little contribution goes a great way towards 
 supplying their wants, if given in a proper manner, it will 
 win for the donor their attachment, and also the applause of 
 the community. Nothing there insures so high a character 
 for religion as charity ; and yet the poor are sadly neglected, 
 and religious visiting of them is almost, if not entirely, un- 
 known ; so that a pious individual, entering the cellars and 
 hovels of the needy, with a little charity in his hand, would 
 find, while he afforded relief to their bodily necessities, that 
 he had won a way for the provisions of the gospel to their 
 hearts ; at the same time, that instead of exciting jealousies, 
 he had gained the good opinion and confidence of others. 
 What a beautiful example of Christian benevolence would 
 be exhibited by a missionary lady, who should thus devote 
 herself to scattering temporal and spiritual consolations 
 among the abodes of poverty and disease ! Could there be a 
 more literal imitation of our blessed Saviour's example? It 
 is a field entirely open for cultivation ; and would probably 
 remain open, though all others should be shut. 
 
 Such an effort of religious charity was often presented to 
 Mrs. Smith's mind ; but her school had prevented her en- 
 gaging in it systematically. It was her intention, however, 
 to give up the school more entirely to Miss Williams, as 
 the latter grew familiar with the language ; and to devote 
 herself very much to labors of this nature. For such a 
 work, she was strongly inclined. She had a taste for it. 
 She loved the poor, and at any time took more satisfaction 
 
 Smith. 17
 
 386 MEMOIR OF 
 
 in visiting their hovels, than the mansions of the rich. It 
 accorded with her ideas of a missionary's duty, to pay spe- 
 cial attention to them. She experienced great delight from 
 an incident of this kind, one of the first mornings after her 
 arrival at Beyroot. As her husband entered her room, she 
 said to him, with an animated expression of countenance, 
 " I have been for half an hour enjoying one of the most 
 gratifying scenes I have yet witnessed upon missionary 
 ground. That," said she, looking out of the window by 
 which she was sitting, " that is missionary work" It was 
 Mr. Bird sitting under a fig tree, in the yard of the mission- 
 house, reading the gospel to some beggars to whom he had 
 been distributing bread. 
 
 She was habitually charitable to the poor who solicited 
 her bounty, though she had not yet found time to search 
 many of them out in their own dwellings. After moving to 
 the house in the gardens in which she resided during the last 
 year, it was some time before any beggars applied for char- 
 ity. When they began to come, she expressed her pleasure 
 that they had found their way ; and it is believed no one was 
 ever, to her knowledge, turned away without some article of 
 food, unless evidently not an object of charity. Nor was her 
 generosity merely of an indiscriminate nature. She studied 
 to accomplish other objects, besides supplying the wants of 
 the persons aided. In several instances, poor children were 
 clothed, that they might be able to attend school. And in 
 other cases, some article of dress was given to poor persons, 
 as an indirect way of securing their attendance upon the 
 means of grace, by putting them under obligations to the 
 missionaries. 
 
 But it was the ignorance and moral degradation of the 
 poor, which chiefly excited her compassion ; and she began, 
 in connection with the system of religious visits, to take 
 some steps, which, as already intimated, would doubtless 
 have led her in time to systematic efforts for their spiritual 
 benefit. In addition to the mothers of her scholars, she put 
 upon her list of persons to be visited, a number of her poor
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 387 
 
 Druze neighbors. Many of these, besides being needy, 
 were also in the extreme of ignorance, having really no re- 
 ligion of any kind, and living almost like the beasts that 
 perish. Despised by Christians and Moslems, and disowned 
 even by the Druzes, they are regarded as the offscouring of 
 society ; and, as if in order that no sect might be disgraced 
 by having its name applied to them, an epithet has been in- 
 vented specially for them, and they are called Skitt. But 
 the very fact of their being disowned by others, makes them 
 accessible to the missionaries ; and her heart became strong- 
 ly set upon carrying the light of the gospel into their dark 
 abodes, and darker minds. Even when informed by her 
 physician, only a few days before she left, of the danger she 
 was in, and that she must suspend all labor and excitement, 
 and even keep as much as possible in a reclining posture; 
 she earnestly begged the privilege of occasionally going with 
 her Bible to the houses of these poor people, and instructing 
 them in the salvation of the gospel. The physician, seeing 
 the strength of her feelings, and fearing that to put too much 
 restraint upon them would be worse than to allow of some 
 bodily fatigue, yielded to her entreaties, and consented to 
 her seeking, in this way, an outlet for the irrepressible emo- 
 tions of benevolence that swelled her heart. It was this 
 disposition, that finally, more than any thing else, decided 
 the expediency of a voyage, which should at once remove 
 her from the objects of her benevolent labors the presence 
 of which was like fuel to the flame, and threatened too soon 
 to consume her delicate frame. How delightful to reflect 
 that now her benevolence needs no such checks, and meets 
 with none ! All its clogs have been dropped in the grave. 
 In their stead, it has received angels' wings, themselves a 
 flame of fire ; and the warmest aspirations of her heart meet 
 with the perfect ability to accomplish their dearest, highest 
 objects. 
 
 Much more might be said of Mrs. Smith's missionary la- 
 bors. But it is time to close this sketch, by one or two in- 
 quiries to which it naturally leads. It was remarked in the
 
 388 MEMOIR OF 
 
 beginning, that she gave herself up exclusively to mission- 
 ary work, and that her industry in it was uncommon. These 
 remarks have been borne out by the brief account that haa 
 been given of her labors. But from what did such devoted- 
 ness and such industry spring 1 Their seat was in her 
 heart. They were planted there both by grace and by 
 nature. 
 
 Grace nourished in her heart a piety whose prominent 
 features were essentially missionary. Her devotions, upon 
 which it lived, were of a nature that brought eternity, with 
 all the immortal interests of the soul, unusually nigh ; and 
 constantly presented a great variety of objects to be em- 
 balmed in her most devout affections. Prayer was emphat- 
 ically her vital breath. It was the life of her soul. Her 
 customary meals she diminished in number, and often 
 omitted, but prayer never. When travelling, and when at 
 home, it was equally indispensable. Often, when so situated 
 that retirement could not well be obtained otherwise, did 
 she rise while it was yet dark, and all others were asleep, 
 that she might go alone to God. But this she did, not 
 merely in such circumstances. She loved to do it. It wag 
 this feature in her devotions, that helped her to bring eter- 
 nal things nigh to her. She removed as far from the world 
 as she could, and in doing so she got very nigh to eternity. 
 Upon her Sabbaths and her hours of prayer the world had 
 no permission to intrude. 
 
 The benevolent labors that occupied a part of each Lord's 
 day, have already been mentioned. Having given so much 
 of it to others, she felt that the remainder sacredly be- 
 longed to her own soul ; and she would allow neither family 
 cares nor visitors by any means to steal it from her. Mar- 
 keting was always done, water brought, and food prepared, 
 on the preceding day; so that her servants were never seen 
 abroad on business upon the Sabbath, nor were they any 
 more unnecessarily employed at home. A dinner they were 
 never called upon to cook. Equally thorough was she in 
 excluding company. Had she not been, visitors would have
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 339 
 
 crowded upon her from morning to night, for among the na- 
 tives it is the principal visiting day. She might have rea- 
 soned, that to admit them would give her opportunities for 
 doing good. But such opportunities, she had abundantly 
 during the week. For every day, business crowded upon 
 her, and her house was frequented by visitors at all hours. 
 Having settled the principle, that her Sabbaths should not 
 be interrupted, it became a rule that knew no exceptions ; 
 and whoever called, high or low, was refused admittance, ex- 
 cept the two or three Druze women, who came for instruc- 
 tion with the servants. And how precious were such Sab- 
 baths ! So complete an arrest of the bustle and duties of 
 the week, in the quiet retirement of her residence, made 
 these like a sweet foretaste of the calmness and rest of 
 heaven. And such they were to her. She looked forward 
 to them with delight; every moment of them was sweet and 
 precious as they passed ; and they left her animated with new 
 zeal and diligence for the benevolent labors of the week en- 
 suing. They were like so many successive implses, urging 
 her on in her Christian race. And she might be observed 
 commencing her duties on Monday, generally with increased 
 animation ; as if impelled by some new motive, and often 
 with some new plan of usefulness. 
 
 Her seasons of devotion were as sacred from all intrusion 
 as her Sabbaths. She made it an essential item in the ar- 
 ranging of her house, to appropriate one room for an oratory. 
 When this was secured, she richly enjoyed her hours of re- 
 tirement. Her regularity in them, and her partiality to the 
 quietness of the early morning, while the world was yet 
 asleep, have been already mentioned. In her prayers she 
 was explicit and particular even in little things. For she 
 felt that He who cares for sparrows, directs and takes an 
 interest in the least matters, and that nothing is too small to 
 be referred to him. She put Him in the relation of a fa- 
 miliar though exalted friend ; and her devotions were a rev- 
 erential cultivation of intimacy with him. And in thus 
 
 17*
 
 390 MEMOIR OF 
 
 drawing nigh to God, in the recesses of such retirement, she 
 found heaven drawing nigh to her. It was in that field her 
 rich imagination delighted to roam. Nothing gratified her 
 so much, as to gather from Scripture some new or striking 
 thought about that blessed world. And in no conversation 
 was she so animated, as in such as had this for its subject. 
 So great was her heavenly-mindedness, that the favorite sub- 
 ject of her waking thoughts often occupied her also in sleep. 
 Heavenly scenes were objects about which she frequently 
 dreamed. 
 
 With the spirituality of mind she thus cultivated, no bodi- 
 ly indulgence was allowed to interfere. She delighted to 
 " keep her body under, and to bring it into subjection." It 
 was with her a principle to contract no habit of any kind, in 
 regard to food, so strong that it could not with perfect ease 
 be dispensed with ; for she would by no means consent to 
 be, in any sense, a slave to bodily appetite. This it gave 
 her pleasure to sacrifice to the interests of her mind. Food 
 was to her a most insipid topic of conversation, which she 
 avoided with care, even at table ; and to blunt her mind by 
 indulgence in it, was what she was almost ignorant of by 
 experience ; while those who did it, lost thereby much of 
 her esteem. Her diet was almost wholly of vegetable food, 
 and of that she ate but little; for the reason that her 
 thoughts were thus left more free, and her affections more 
 lively. With those who esteemed fasting an inconvenience, 
 or unprofitable, she felt no sympathy. She usually fasted 
 the first Monday of every month, in connection with the 
 monthly concert ; when she ate nothing until the day was 
 closed. And at no time did she have more elasticity and 
 cheerfulness of spirits, or enjoy herself more than on these 
 occasions. 
 
 Thus she lived above the world. And is it wonderful, 
 that with a mind so pure and spiritual, and a heart so fixed 
 on heaven she should not hesitate, when her summons came, 
 to leave the body and go to be forever with the Lord 1 It is
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 391 
 
 believed she prayed for recovery but once during the whole 
 of her sickness. She was induced to do it then, by reading 
 the 33d chapter of Job. 
 
 But such habits of spirituality and heavenly-mindedness 
 did not merely prepare her own soul for heaven. They gave 
 her an overwhelming sense of the guilt and danger of those 
 who, devoting themselves altogether to the world, lose all sight 
 of eternity. When she found herself surrounded by an entire 
 community wholly of this character, her emotions became 
 sometimes almost too strong for her constitution to sustain. 
 Occasionally, when walking upon a terrace which overlooked 
 the city of Beyroot, and reflecting that the thousands upon 
 whose dwellings she gazed, would almost inevitably soon de- 
 scend into a miserable eternity, did she express such exercises 
 of soul, as could be experienced only by one to whose faith 
 eternity was unvailed with the clearness of unclouded 
 vision. 
 
 It was a heart swelling with benevolence of such an or- 
 igin, that impelled Mrs. Smith in her course of untiring 
 labors. Yet she re.sted not satisfied with the interest in the 
 eternal welfare of others, to which spirituality of so heavenly 
 a cast naturally gives rise. She cultivated it by long and 
 persevering practice. 
 
 Her devotions were as little selfish as her life. Others 
 had a large share in them. Her manner of observing the 
 monthly concert of prayer for missions, has been already 
 alluded to. She had also many private concerts of prayer 
 with friends, for particular objects and particular persons, 
 which her heart would by no means allow her to neglect. 
 For a large circle of friends, she prayed individually ; re- 
 membering some in rotation, and others at stated times. 
 Were the list of individuals to be summed up who thus 
 found a place weekly in her prayers, it would surprise many 
 a cold-hearted Christian, who knows little of her attachment 
 to the closet. Yet, instead of feeling it a burden, she always 
 loved to increase the number. Thus she suffered those 
 deep, heartfelt emotions, which the soul only knows when it
 
 392 MEMOIR OF 
 
 is alone with God, to go away from herself; and benevo- 
 lence found its way, and imparted its coloring to the very 
 innermost sources of feeling in her heart. These emotions, 
 too, thus sent abroad, entwined themselves around the ob- 
 jects she prayed for, and drew them into a close and sacred 
 union with herself. It was like a generalizing of her being, 
 and to feel for others became so much a part of her nature, 
 as largely to share the throne in her heart, with the love of 
 self naturally predominant there. 
 
 The analysis of Mrs. Smith's character for benevolence, 
 would be imperfect, without adding, that what grace thus 
 cherished in her, was engrafted upon a stock unusually con- 
 genial by nature to its growth. Her distinguishing char- 
 acteristic, naturally, was warm and generous affection. She 
 delighted to love ; and her love was expansive. It sought 
 to embrace a wide circle, and was ever seeking for new 
 objects to rest upon. She would often discover something 
 to interest her, in a character where others could discover 
 nothing. And she would still feel and hope for a friend, 
 and be devising ways to do him good, when all others had 
 given him up. It might almost be said, that nature did for 
 her, what grace fails to do for some. While yet in an uncon- 
 verted state, and quite a girl, she took a leading part in the 
 establishment of one of the earliest Sabbath schools in New 
 England ; and in after life she was once greeted as a Chris- 
 tian sister, by one who traced her conversion to instructions 
 received from her at that time, as a member of her class. 
 
 The generosity of her affections was such, that she de- 
 lighted to forget herself, in giving pleasure to others ; noth- 
 ing was too good for her friends. The best and most grati- 
 fying use she knew how to make of any thing she valued, 
 was to give it away ; and this she was very sure soon to find 
 some occasion to do. It was her way of laying it up. She 
 enjoyed it more in the hands of her friends than in her own ; 
 and she secured, besides, a place in their recollections. She 
 was carefully and systematically economical in whatever she 
 used in her family and in her labors. She was avaricious of
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 393 
 
 only one thing the affections of her friends. They were a 
 treasure she loved to secure and increase. 
 
 The strength of her emotions was often the occasion of 
 wonder and admiration to her friends. They were a great 
 deep in her breast Yet so thoroughly were they under her 
 control, as to form no disproportioned excrescence or de- 
 formity in her character. And as she felt strongly herself, 
 she liked this trait in others. An intellectual character, 
 even of the highest order, she could look upon with compar- 
 ative indifference. But let her catch indications of strong 
 affections, and her interest was secured. She seemed to feel 
 a sympathy of soul with such a person. 
 
 From such generous and strong emotions, directed and so 
 highly cultivated by divine grace, did Mrs. Smith's devoted- 
 ness and industry in the cause of benevolence spring. They 
 were the irresistible, untiring, moving power, that urged her 
 on in her labors of love. And oh ! what a soul of ardent, 
 benevolent feeling swelled her breast ! Her dearest friend, 
 near as he was to her, never felt that he fully comprehended 
 it. Its depths he could not fathom, and it was to him a 
 constant object of admiration. Had her frame been as 
 strong as her soul was great and ardent, she might have 
 been still going on in her course. But her bodily strength 
 was literally consumed by the flame which burned within her. 
 Now, however, she is tied to no such clog, to hinder her in 
 her heavenly course. For surely such a character was not 
 brought to so high a degree of excellence, to be at once and 
 forever extinguished by death. Can we doubt that she is 
 transferred to scenes where her noble heart finds scope for 
 its most expanded emotions ? And much as limited views, 
 and personal attachment, may tempt her friends to feel that 
 she was taken from earth too soon, her character almost 
 authorizes us to say, that earth had her labors long after she 
 was ripe for heaven.
 
 MONODY 
 
 MRS. SARAH L. SMITH. 
 
 So, Asia hath thy dust, them, who wert born 
 Amid my own wild hillocks, where the voice 
 Of falling waters, and of gentle gales, 
 Mingle their music. How thy soft, dark eye, 
 Thy graceful form, thy soul-illumined smile, 
 Gleam out upon me, as I muse at eve 
 'Mid the bright imagery of earliest years ! 
 
 Hear I the murmured echo of thy name, 
 From yon, poor forest-race ? 'Tis meet for them 
 To hoard thy memory, as a blessed star, 
 For thou didst seek their lowly homes, and tell 
 Their sad-browed children of a Saviour's love, 
 And of that clime where no oppressor comes. 
 Cold Winter found thee there, and Summer's heat, 
 With zeal unblenching. Though, perchance, the sneer 
 Might curl some worldling's lip, 'twas not for thee 
 To note its language, or to scorn the soul 
 Of the neglected Indian, or to tread 
 Upon the ashes of his buried kings, 
 As on a loathsome weed. Thine own fair halls 
 Lured thee in vain, until the hallowed church 
 Reared its light dome among them, and the voice 
 Of a devoted shepherd, day by day,
 
 
 MONODY TO MRS. SMITH. 395 
 
 Called back these wanderers to the sheltering fold 
 Of a Redeemer's righteousness. 
 
 And then, 
 
 Thy path was on the waters, and thy hand 
 Close clasped in his, who bore so fearless forth 
 The glorious Gospel to those ancient climes 
 Which, in the darkness and the shade of death, 
 Benighted dwell. Strong ties detained thee here 
 Home, father, sightless mother, sister dear, 
 Brothers, and tender friends, a full array 
 Of hope and bliss. Yet what were these to thee, 
 Who on God's altar laid the thought of self ? 
 What were such joys to thee, if duty bade 
 Their crucifixion ? 
 
 Oh, Jerusalem ! 
 
 Jerusalem ! Methinks I see thee there, 
 Pondering the flinty path thy Saviour trod, 
 And fervent kneeling where his prayer arose, 
 All night on Olivet ; or with meek hand 
 Plucking from pure Siloam's marge a flower, 
 Whose tender leaflets drink as fresh a dew 
 As when unhumbled Judah wore the crown 
 Of queenly beauty ; or with earnest eye 
 Exploring where the shepherd-minstrel kept 
 His father's sheep, before the cares that lodge 
 Within the thorn- wreathed circlet of a king 
 Had turned his temples gray ; or with sweet smile 
 Reposing wearied in thy simple tent, 
 By turbid Jordan, and the bitter wave 
 Of the Asphaltites. 
 
 Back to thy place, 
 
 Amid the Syrian vales, to thy loved toils 
 For the forsaken Druzes, and the throng 
 Of heathen babes, who on thine accents hang,
 
 896 MONODY TO MRS. SMITH. 
 
 As on a mother's. Lo ! the time is short. 
 Perils upon the waters wait for thee ; 
 And then another Jordan, from whose flood 
 Is no return. But thou, with lip so pale, 
 Didst take the song of triumph, and go down 
 Alone, and fearless, through its depths profound. 
 Snatches of heavenly harpings made thee glad, 
 Even to thy latest gasp. 
 
 Therefore, the grief 
 
 Born at thy grave, is not like other grief. 
 Tears mix with joy. 
 
 We praise our God for theo. 
 
 L. H. S.
 

 
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