"The first recollection that I have of any thing was at about the age of three or four years, when my dear mother, with her arms about me, would tell me of God-his omniscience-my accountability to him-of heaven and hell. These truths would strongly impress my mind, and commonly affect me in such a manner as to draw tears from my eyes, and induce me to go alone and pray to God. My seasons for prayer, however, were accidental: As when any calamity threatened myself or the town—as an alarming sickness, or the talk of national calamity. Then I would pray for the preservation of myself and friends. Commonly when reading or hearing of pious children, as the Lives in what is called the "Token for Children," or Edwards's "Phebe Bartlett," I was very much affected, and earnestly wished, as I thought, to be like them.

"When about eight years old I was carried by my mother to visit her friends in the District of Maine, York being her native place. I several times heard the Rev. Mr. Lyman preach. His earnest exhortations to his hearers to choose the ways of religion would forcibly impress my mind, and lead me to resolve that I would be religious. At that time I had no ideas of my

own insufficiency to be truly so; but thought it would be effected by much prayer to God-by abstaining from vanity and my childish companions and amusements, and reading the bible. But these resolutions, as they were made in my own strength, did not abide much temptation. On returning to my native place my companions claimed my attention, and my determination to be religious was relinquished for that time.

"At twelve years old I was called to bury my dear and very affectionate father; but notwithstanding God's visitations toward me I fell again into courses of vanity and folly. My mother was continually laboring with me and for me, that I might become truly pious, and devote myself to God. I was about that time much engaged and affected with reading' Alleine's Alarm to the Unconverted,' 'Boston's Fourfold State,' and some other books of the like description; but had no just ideas of the character of God. The adorable attributes of his justice, mercy and holiness, were beyond my comprehension. This was at the age of from fourteen to sixteen. I was laboriously working out a righteousness of my own, which from time to time I found incomplete and insufficient. O astonishing stupidity!—that at the very time I was reading

Boston's Fourfold State,' where this subject is so fully and plainly described, and the variety of the works of the law pointed out, that I should so repeatedly and earnestly endeavor to weave a garment of my own righteousness, in which to appear before God as a Christian. I am astonished to review my own stupidity and God's forbearance with me. Somewhere about this time I attempted to enter into what I called a Covenant with God: which was to this effect. I acknowledged myself a great sinner; endeavored to confess all the sins of my life; confessed to God that I had often resolved against sinning, but had broken these resolutions;-that now I did more earnestly resolve against transgression, and promised to avoid all sins of thought, word and action-and solemnly, on my knees, devoted myself to God; and, if I recollect aright, telling the Divine Being that if I did again return to sin he might justly cast me off. This Covenant with God, as I called it, did not, however, bring me any solid peace. I found that I daily broke God's holy law; and on examining my heart more closely, I found that it was wholly sinful-filled with sinful thoughts or desires. In this way I continued till about the age of twenty -sometimes praying, or observing the form of

private prayer; at another, neglecting it for weeks. I then thought that I was religious; but now I can see that my heart was supremely devoted to the world. About nineteen or twenty, I was visited with the yellow fever, which then prevailed in Boston. Many of my acquaintance were dying on the right hand and on the left, which greatly terrified me. My life was despaired of. I thought, one night in particular, that I should die and certainly go to hell; but O! God was pleased to spare me, again to return to life."

Here her narrative abruptly closes; but it may be added, that this sickness greatly deepened her religious impressions. During the continuance of it, though she knew that death was making great ravages, yet she was not permitted to know who were among its victims, till after her recovery-when a list of the deaths was put into her hands. Here she saw the names of many whom she knew and loved, and the inquiry arose in her mind, "Why am I spared?" She was much affected by hearing a sermon from the words, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. Luke 17: 17, 18. It was applied particularly to

those who had recovered from the fever. It was not, however, till some time after this that she obtained a hope of salvation: “Often,” said she, "have I gone home from meeting, after hearing our minister, Dr. ECKLEY, preach, saying to myself, Well, his skirts will be clear of my blood. If I do not regard these warnings. and invitations. my condemnation will be just.'' One reason, she observed, that she remained so long in the dark was, "We did not have meetings for inquiry then, and I was afraid tɔ open my mind to others. I was ignorant of the nature of true religion, and especially of the way of salvation through Christ."

"How did you finally obtain comfort?"

"Very gradually, and among other means I remember these: My mother used to invite me into the female prayer meeting which after my father's death was held at her house. Among those who attended were Mrs. Eustis, mother of Gov. Eustis; also the wife of Lt. Gov. Phillips, Mrs. Waters and Mrs. Mason. I was so ignorant as to think they were free from sin, and were perfect. But one day Mrs. Eustis was praying for her children. After she had thanked the Lord for them and permitting her to present them to him in covenant, she began to plead for