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 LIBRA^RY 
 
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 Theological Seminary, 
 
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 ^ BV 3269 .M67 R5 
 
 Richards, Elias Jones, 1813 
 ^ 1872. 
 
 Memoir of Mrs. Anna Maria 
 ^ Morrison, of the North 
 

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MEMOIR 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 
 
M £ M I R, 
 
 MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON, 
 
 NORTH INDIA MISSION. 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. E. J. RICHARDS. 
 
 NEW-YORK : 
 M. W. DODD, 
 
 Theol. and Sunday School Bookseller and Publisher, 
 
 BRICK CHURCH CHAPEL, OPPOSITE THE CITY HALL. 
 
 MDCCCXLIII. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by 
 
 E. D . WARD, 
 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District 
 of New-York. 
 
 Universifv Press : 
 JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, 
 33 An n- street, 
 New- York. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A POPULAR writer justly remarks that "for 
 the purposes of biography, those lives are the 
 most eligible, that are the most imitable ; and 
 these are derived from characters that belong 
 to our own community ; that are found in the 
 same relations and conditions with ourselves." 
 The following pages are given to the world, 
 not because they contain any thing novel or 
 splendid, but because it is believed that they 
 exhibit a character not merely imitable but 
 worthy of imitation. The compiler has only 
 to express his regret that the materials were 
 not placed in abler hands. But however hum- 
 ble the estimate he might be disposed to place 
 upon his own abilities, he did not feel at liberty 
 to deny the urgent request of her parents, 
 who were his friends, and of her bereaved 
 husband, who for so many years had been the 
 companion of his studies. 
 
V PREFACE. 
 
 The object has not been to swell the size of 
 the volume by an indiscriminate publication 
 of every thing that came into his hands, but 
 simply to introduce such extracts from her 
 journals and correspondence, as were adapted 
 to throw light upon her character, and to in- 
 terest the general reader. And if these few 
 and simple memorials shall serve to lodge a 
 serious thought in the mind of a single youth, 
 or win one soul to God — to excite in the 
 bosom of one Christian a warmer love or 
 holier zeal, or shall induce one of the " daugh- 
 ters of Zion" to consecrate youth and talents, 
 health and life, to the work of giving the gos- 
 pel to a dying world, the deceased will not 
 have lived in vain, nor will the compiler lose 
 his reward. 
 
 Philadelphia, March 1th, 1843. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 BIRTH EDUCATION EARLY RELIGIOUS IM- 
 PRESSIONS CONVERSION REVIVAL IN 
 
 BLOOMFIELD, N. J. ITS CHARACTERISTICS 
 
 AND EFFECTS 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 UNITES WITH THE CHURCH EFFORTS TO DO 
 
 GOOD EARLY INTEREST IN THE CAUSE 
 
 OF MISSIONS CONSIDERATION OF HER 
 
 PERSONAL DUTY PERPLEXITY OF MIND 
 
 LETTERS ULTIMATE DECISION SCRAPS 
 
 FROM HER JOURNAL .... 29 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE MARRIAGE DEPARTURE 
 
 FROM HOME JOURNEY TO PHILADEL- 
 PHIA EMBARKATION . . . . 61 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SAILS FOR INDIA SICKNESS CORRESPOND- 
 ENCE VISIT TO MADEIRA ... 83 
 
VUl CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 LEAVES MADEIRA EXTRACTS FROM HER 
 
 JOURNAL SICKNESS VOYAGE TO CAL- 
 CUTTA 112 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT CALCUTTA SICKNESS DEATH 153 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 OK 
 
 MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BIRTH EDUCATION EARLY RELIGIOUS IMPRES- 
 SIONS CONVERSION REVIVAL IN BLOOMFIELD, 
 
 N. J. ITS CHARACTERISTICS AND EFFECTS. 
 
 The subject of the following memoir, Mrs. 
 Anna Maria Morrison, was the second daughter 
 of Dr. E. D. Ward of Bloorafield, N. J. She 
 was born January 14, 1814. Both her parents 
 were pious, and exemplary members of the 
 Presbyterian church in that place. With her 
 excellent and devoted mother, however, she 
 was soon called to part ; but her father still sur- 
 vives, to mourn, though not as without hope, 
 over the early grave of his beloved daughter. 
 
 Of the childhood and youth of Anna, we 
 
 have but little to record. Under the paternal 
 
 roof, and in the society of affectionate brothers 
 
 and sisters, they passed rapidly and pleasantly 
 
 2 
 
10 MEMOIR OF 
 
 away. And the possession of a singularly 
 sweet and amiable disposition, rendered her a 
 general favorite in the circle of her young as- 
 sociates. For even in childhood, she was dis- 
 tinguished for many of those lovely traits of 
 chaiacter, which marked her maturer years — a 
 strong and confiding affection, delicate sensi- 
 bilities, and an almost morbid fear of inflicting 
 a wound upon the feelings of others, by look, 
 or tone, or gesture. Nor was she wanting in 
 that beautiful simplicity and artlessness of 
 manner, which give a peculiar charm to this 
 period of life. Her juvenile studies were pur- 
 sued in the schools of her native village. And 
 though there was nothing extraordinary or 
 precocious in the development of her faculties, 
 yet she was not undistinguished among her 
 companions for the love of knowledge, and 
 the facility with which she usually acquired it. 
 Soon after the death of her mother, she was 
 placed at a flourishing school in Morristown, 
 N. J., where she enjoyed superior advantages 
 for the improvement of her moral and intellec- 
 tual character. And although she was permit- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 1 1 
 
 ted to continue here only about one year, yet 
 by her diliojence, her correct deportment, and 
 her mild and amiable temper, she won the 
 lasting esteem and attachment of the princi- 
 pal, and of many of her fellow pupils. We 
 deem it a source of no little regret, that no part 
 of the correspondence with them can now be 
 recovered, so as to find a place among these 
 simple memorials. 
 
 We have already observed, that Anna was 
 blessed with pious parents. She was, there- 
 fore, brought to the altar in infancy, and dedi- 
 cated to God in baptism. From a child she 
 was carefuly instructed in the Holy Scriptures ; 
 and taught, both by precept and example, 
 daily to feel and acknowledge her obligations 
 to God. And, if we have been correctly in- 
 formed, she was* the subject of very early reli- 
 gious impressions. But these, although often 
 visible and deep, were not lasting. In this 
 particular, however, her case is by no means 
 singular. Like the mornin']^ cloud and the 
 early dew, the first serious impressions of child- 
 hood too frequently vanish away. But why is 
 
12 MEMOIR OF 
 
 it, that they are so seldom permanent or 
 saving ? It cannot, surely, be regarded as the 
 result of a fatal necessity. We know of noth- 
 ing, in reason or Scripture, that tends to dis- 
 courage Christian parents from looking and la- 
 boring for the conversion of their children, 
 while yet young. We are aware of the ob- 
 stacles in the way. We know something of 
 the proverbial levity and waywardness of the 
 young mind ; and the vagueness of its first im- 
 pressions. And these, added to the natural 
 aversion to divine things, which always exists, 
 render it no easy task to chain the attention so 
 as to lodge the deep convictions of truth and 
 duty in the heart. The most faithful effort, 
 too often, is as fruitless as the attempt to im- 
 press durable characters upon the shifting sand 
 or the yielding wave. Yet it cannot be doubt- 
 ed but that the youthful mind is susceptible of 
 saving impressions. We may go farther, and 
 say that the mind, at that season, is in a state 
 peculiarly favorable to be powerfully and per- 
 manently impressed. It has not yet been poi- 
 soned with error, warped with prejudice, nor 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 13 
 
 steeled against the convictions of truth, by long 
 indulgence in sin. And moreover, the acknow- 
 ledged fact, that God does, occasionally^ seal 
 instruction upon infant minds, and perfect 
 praise from infant lips, shows that there is no 
 natural impossibility in the case. And as soon 
 could we doubt that it was the voice of God 
 that aroused young Samuel from the slumbers 
 of midnight, as that it is the Spirit who whis- 
 pers in the ear of childhood, " Remember now 
 thy Creator in the days of thy youth." And if 
 these seasons of visitation were always regard- 
 ed, and if this first seriousness were cherished, 
 by parental care and faithfulness, who can 
 doubt, but that we should witness far more fre- 
 quent and lovely examples of early piety .^ The 
 time is predicted, and we believe is not far 
 distant, when life will be consecrated to God 
 in the bud ; when early piety shall be the rule, 
 and the instances rare indeed of one who shall 
 " be born again when he is old." 
 
 But Anna seemed not, at first, to know that 
 it was the Lord who called her. She there- 
 fore relapsed into deeper slumbers, after these 
 
14 MEMOIR, OF 
 
 first awakenings. But still she was not long 
 at ease. Her conscience was too tender, and 
 too much enlightened to be silent ; and hence 
 the struggle was often severe between that 
 faithful monitor and the impulses of the natural 
 heart. And she has since acknowledged that 
 in the most thoughtless period of her life there 
 were moments when the conviction w^as forced 
 upon her with great power, that religion was 
 not only important but desirable. But there 
 was time enough still ; and she w^as disposed 
 to postpone the consideration of it until she 
 had numbered a few^ more years, and the effer- 
 vescence of youthful feeling had passed away. 
 Like multitudes of others Anna labored under 
 a wTong impression in regard to the influence 
 of religion. Strange as it may appear, yet 
 despite the experience of the pious, and the 
 testimony of God, it is regarded by the young 
 as fitted only for age. And they promise them- 
 selves that, as age steals on, they will seek its 
 consolation and support. But the path it 
 marks out is now altogether too strait and 
 thorny to be inviting. It fixes a ban upon 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 15 
 
 pleasure ; chills the glow of feeling ; re- 
 presses the eagerness of desire; checks the 
 ardor of pursuit; destroys the buoyancy of 
 the spirits; and imparts to the countenance 
 a gravity that is unnatural and severe. Its 
 whole aspect is glcomy, unsocial, and forbid- 
 ding. " Now is the time," exclaims the youth, 
 " to enjoy life. I cannot bid farewell to the 
 world forever, as a source of happiness, just as 
 it opens before me its scenes of enchantment. 
 I am not prepared to forego all its pleasures, 
 and to enter upon the dull round of religious 
 duty. No, I cannot become a Christian now. 
 I am too young. The flush of youth is on my 
 cheek ; the vigor of youth is in my limbs ; the 
 tide of health is rushing through my veins ; and 
 the hopes of youth are enshrined within my 
 heart ; life is still all before me." Dear youth- 
 ful reader, are these your feelings and reason- 
 ings ? Too young to be a Christian ! Who 
 told thee so ? Did God, who lays claim to thy 
 ^\first and best affections ? Did the Bible, in the 
 examples of early piety which it records ? 
 Life all before thee 1 And who gave thee that 
 
16 MEMOIR OF 
 
 assurance ? Did the history of the past, or the 
 observation of the present ? Or did a voice 
 come to thee from the tomb, as you gazed upon 
 the memorials, and trod upon the ashes of the 
 youthful, the lovely and the gay? Oh no, 
 there is nothing there to encourage or justify 
 an hour's delay in seeking the '^ one thing 
 needful." 
 
 The reasonings of the young on this subject 
 are utterly false, and often most fatal too. And 
 that they were not so in the case of our young 
 friend is to the praise of God's most free and 
 sovereign grace. He called her yet again. 
 It was not, however, until the year 1830, that 
 she became the subject of those deep and pun- 
 gent convictions, which, after a painful and 
 protracted struggle, led her to cast herself upon 
 the Lord Jesus Christ for pardon and salvation. 
 In the summer of that year, it pleased the Lord 
 to visit the church in Bloomfield* with one of 
 those delighful seasons of refreshing, which 
 marks its history with peculiar interest. It has, 
 
 * Then under the pastoral care of the Rev. Gideon 
 N. Judd. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 17 
 
 indeed, been like a well-watered garden, and 
 as a field which the Lord has blessed. The 
 writer was at this time a student in the Acad- 
 emy at that place. It was his privilege to wit- 
 ness the thrilling scenes, and to share in the 
 blessings of that glorious work of grace. And 
 memory still loves to dwell upon it as a spot 
 of living green in life's arid wastes. He has 
 since witnessed many precious revivals ; but 
 none so precious as that. It seemed as though 
 it might be the beautiful type and representative 
 of those predicted times of refreshing that are 
 yet to bless the church, and usher in the mil- 
 lenium. There was nothing extraordinary, or 
 new, in the measures employed in its com- 
 mencement or progress. It was a blessing 
 bestowed upon the ordinary and stated means 
 of grace. The word was preached, instant, in 
 season and out of season, with great plainness 
 and pungency ; and prayer, earnest, ardent, and 
 believing, ascended to heaven from the closet, 
 the social circle, and the sanctuary. Nor was 
 it offered in vain. The Lord heard, and an- 
 swered it in the descent of the Holy Spirit. 
 
18 MEMOIR OF 
 
 We have said that it occurred in summer 
 time ; yet it was something more than a sum- 
 mer shower in its duration and effects. It was 
 more Hke one of those continued and gentle 
 rains sent by a kind Providence to soften and 
 refresh the parched and thirsty earth. The 
 Spirit's influences were enjoyed during most of 
 a year. Rehgion became the all-absorbing 
 theme of conversation among the old and the 
 young. The meetings were full, solemn, and 
 deeply interesting. The voice of prayer and 
 praise might be heard in almost every place. 
 It was borne to the ear, in sweet, yet solemn 
 cadences, upon the night air; and it often 
 broke the deep stillness of midnight ! The 
 good work continued to advance, week after 
 week, and month after month, with increasing 
 interest and power, and yet there was no noise, 
 nor bustle, nor parade. It was manifest to all, 
 to the believer and the unbeliever, to the saint 
 and the sinner, that God was there. It was not 
 a season of excitement merely ; but of revival 
 and renewal. Although the subjects of renew- 
 ing grace numbered more than one hundred — 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 19 
 
 of whom a large majority were young — yet we 
 rejoice to have the testimony of the pastor, 
 that, with few exceptions, they have continued 
 to adorn their profession with a deportment 
 becoming the gospel of Christ. And the watch- 
 fulness and fidelity of the pastor were no doubt 
 instrumental in securing this happy result. 
 They were not hurried into the church without 
 being advised of the nature and solemnity of 
 the transaction. Week after w^eek these young 
 converts were assembled, that each might re- 
 ceive such instruction and counsel as his case 
 demanded. The strictest self-examination was 
 continually urged upon them ; and those tests 
 skilfully and faithfully applied, by which each 
 might determine his standing before God. And 
 at the same time the utmost caution was ob- 
 served, lest by undue severity he might " break 
 the bruised reed, or quench the smoking flax," 
 or by a mistaken tenderness, foster and encour- 
 age a fallacious and unfounded hope. 
 
 Of this interesting revival Anna was among 
 the first fruits. And we are gratified that we 
 have it in our power to introduce here a more 
 
20 MEMOIR OF 
 
 particular account of her conversion. It will 
 be read with the greater interest, since it was 
 furnished by one who was,, no doubt, instru- 
 mental in leading her to the Saviour ; and who 
 afterwards sustained to her the most intimate 
 and endearing relation. 
 
 " My acquaintance with her commenced on 
 her return from school at Morristown. She 
 was then, as she afterwards told me, thought- 
 less and unconcerned. Not long after tliis, 
 however, she applied for a class in the Sabbath 
 school, of w^hich I was superintendent. I in- 
 formed her that there was no class without a 
 teacher, but if she would collect scholars and 
 bring them into the school, she and they would 
 be cheerfully admitted. Accordingly, in the 
 course of two or three weeks, she brought her 
 class, and with them, took her place in the 
 school. She was young, and inexperienced in 
 the discharge of the duties of her new station ; 
 but she appeared to feel a deep interest in her 
 Avork, and a desire to learn her duty, and do 
 it. I urged upon her, as well as upon her fel- 
 low-teachers, the importance of visiting their 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 21 
 
 scholars, and praying much for them. This 
 troubled her ; for she said, ' How can / pray for 
 others, who have not yet learned to pray for 
 myself?' To relieve her of a difficulty she 
 felt in visiting the members of her class, I once 
 accompanied her, to aid and encourage her in 
 the discharge of this duty. And I then thought 
 it a proper time to direct her attention more 
 particularly to the concerns of her own soul. 
 The question with which the subject was intro- 
 duced — " What are your prospects for eter- 
 nity ?" appeared not merely to deepen impres- 
 sions already made,'but to be the means, in the 
 hands of the Holy Spirit, of planting an arrow 
 of conviction in her conscience. Her serious- 
 ness now continued to increase. It was, how- 
 ever, known only to her cousin," now Mrs. R., 
 *' until the commencement of the precious season 
 of revival enjoyed by the Bloomfield church, 
 during most of the year 1830. She was among 
 the first in that revival who was known to be 
 seriously inquiring what she should do to be 
 saved. Of the character of her impressions, 
 previous to that time, I could only judge, by 
 3 
 
22 MEMOIR OF 
 
 hearing her relate what she had felt; after 
 this she frequently and freely communicated to 
 me her feehngs. And during the time that in- 
 tervened between this and the breaking in of 
 the first ray of hope upon her soul, her mental 
 agony was extreme. She appeared almost in 
 despair. I feel that it would be utterly vain 
 for me to attempt a description of the agony 
 which was depicted on her countenance, and 
 found vent in every broken accent that she 
 was able to utter. So great was her distress, 
 that one evening after the family had retired, 
 she paced the room for some time, deliberating 
 upon the easiest method of putting an end to* 
 her life, and thereby terminating her present 
 suffering! All this distress appeared to arise 
 from a view of her sins, and not from appre- 
 hensions of coming wrath. In fact she ap- 
 peared to think but little of punishment due to 
 her sins, except when that subject was specially 
 brought before her mind. But she obtained 
 such a view of her own sinful character, as 
 constrained her, in deep agony of soul, to cry, 
 " Behold I am vile." The peace of mind 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 23 
 
 which followed this dreadful agony, was not of 
 that rapturous kind which many have experi- 
 enced ; nor was it introduced suddenly, by any 
 vision, nor by having her mind directed to some 
 passage of Scripture. It was calm, and serene, 
 and flowed from a sweet sense of pardoned sin, 
 and peace with God. She felt that the change 
 was wholly the result of the Spirit's agency. 
 She could trace it to no w^orks of her own ; no 
 agony of mind on account of sin ; no tears, 
 nor prayers ; no penitence, nor formal surren- 
 der of herself to God. She could only say, 
 " whereas, I was thus awfully distressed wnth a 
 view of my sins, 1 now feel as if God had, of 
 his sovereign mercy, pardoned them all.' Still 
 she hoped tremblingly, and in the exercise of 
 constant self-examination, and anxious watch- 
 fulness over her heart and life. The chief 
 source of doubt about her acceptance with 
 God, was the fear with which thoughts of death 
 filled her mind ; and never, until she learned to 
 trust God for dying grace, when she might need 
 it, did she obtain any relief from these doubts." 
 It is not the least interesting fact in regard 
 to this revival, that it commenced in the Sab- 
 
24 MEMOIR OF 
 
 bath school in which Anna was engaged as a 
 teacher. Previous to this time a large major- 
 ity of the female teachers, though amiable and 
 moral, were utter strangers to the love of God, 
 and, therefore, unprepared to discharge all the 
 duties of their responsible office. With a view 
 of promoting the spiritual interest of the school, 
 a teachers' meeting was established. Its object 
 w^as, by mutual instruction, to qualify the 
 teachers more thoroughly to instruct their 
 classes, and to seek the divine blessing upon 
 their labors. It was eminently social in its 
 character; the conversation being always per- 
 fectly free and familiar. Its influence upon the 
 school also, was soon visible. Those who at- 
 tended it were evidently interested and profited ; 
 and the Lord owned and blessed it. Here the 
 movings of the Spirit upon the heart were first 
 witnessed ; here the first contrite sigh was 
 heard, and the first tear of penitence shed : and 
 here too, the first note of praise w^as sung by 
 a soul renewed. Precious seasons ! they can- 
 not be forgotten 
 
 '' Whilst iramortaUty endures." 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 25 
 
 There we prayed, and wept, and rejoiced 
 together. Endeared friends and fellow-teach- 
 ers, where are ye now ? We weep to think 
 of the changes which the last twelve years 
 have made. That circle was soon broken. 
 Distance has severed us far and wide; and 
 death, who respects no companionships, has 
 been among us with an unsparing hand. Of 
 those who yet remain to cherish the remem- 
 brance of these interviews, a few still take their 
 seats in the village church ; while others are 
 laboring in distant parts of the vineyard. But 
 many, alas ! are numbered with the dead. 
 And of these some are sleeping quietly among 
 their fathers' sepulchres, and one among stran- 
 gers in a far-off land. But whether distant or 
 dead, ye are not forgotten. And though we 
 cannot meet again on earth, as we met in 
 other days, 
 
 "Yel still we share the blissful hope, 
 
 Which Jesus' grace has given ; 
 The hope when days and years are past, 
 
 We all shall meet in heaven !" 
 
26 MEMOIR OF 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 UNITES AVITH THE CHURCH EFFORTS TO DO GOOD 
 
 EARLY INTEREST IN THE CAUSE OF MISSIONS 
 
 CONSIDERATION OF HER PERSONAL DUTY PER- 
 PLEXITY OF MIND LETTERS ULTIMATE DECI- 
 SION SCRAPS FROM HER JOURNAL. 
 
 The conversion of a soul to God forms a 
 new and important era in its history. It is the 
 birth-day of a new existence — the commence- 
 ment of a hfe of faith and penitence, of prayer 
 and effort on earth ; and of unending bliss and 
 glory in heaven. At this solemn and interest- 
 ing crisis in the history of our young friend, we 
 have now arrived. We have seen her, on her 
 return from school, estranged from God, and in- 
 tent upon a life of pleasure ; we have seen her 
 overwhelmed with a view of her dreadful guilt, 
 and almost despairing of mercy ; and we have 
 seen her finally a trembling, yet joyful believer. 
 We are now prepared to follow her, as she 
 takes another important step. Although deeply 
 conscious of her unworthiness, yet she longed 
 
MRS. AN>CA MARIA MORRISON. 27 
 
 to take her seat at the table of the Lord, to 
 commemorate the Saviour's dying love. Sev- 
 eral months, however, elapsed before she ven- 
 tured to apply for admission into the church. 
 But the convictions of duty at length over- 
 came her fears, and she determined to enter 
 into " the fellowship of the faithful." It was 
 a memorable Sabbath, to the church as well as 
 to herself. In company with more than sixty 
 others, she presented herself before the altar, 
 and there, in the presence of a great cloud of 
 witnesses, avouched the Lord Jehovah to be 
 her God, and joined in singing the appropriate 
 hymn, 
 
 •' Lord, I am thine, entirely thine, 
 Purchased and saved by blood divine ; 
 With full consent thine 1 would be, 
 And own thy sovereign right in me," &c. 
 
 it was a scene of deep and solemn interest, 
 upon which God and angels looked down well 
 pleased ! One incident connected with it, we 
 cannot forbear to record. The pastor had 
 recently been bereaved of an endeared com- 
 panion, and his children of an accomplished 
 
28 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and devoted mother, by a calamity worse than 
 death itself. How mysterious and melancholy 
 such a visitation ! 
 
 " The mind was still all there— but turned astray ; 
 A wandering bark, upon whose pathway shone 
 All stars of heaven, except the guiding one !" 
 
 Among the most youthful of those, who on 
 that day covenanted to be the Lord's, was the 
 pastor's daughter. And never shall we forget 
 the thrill of emotion produced in every bosom 
 when her name was announced, with the sim- 
 ple and touching remark, " She comes among 
 you to take her mother'' s 'place at the table.^' 
 
 At the very threshold of her Christian course, 
 Miss W. determined to set her standard of reli- 
 gion above the ordinary level. To pursue such 
 a course as would merely save religion from 
 reproach, did not satisfy her; she aimed to 
 adorn her profession by a " holy conversation." 
 She felt and acknowledged her obligations to 
 consecrate her all to God. A life of ease and 
 inactivity was what she neither expected, nor 
 desired. Accordingly, she at once engaged, 
 with zeal and energy, in the work of Sabbath 
 
MRS. ANNA MAlllA MORRISON. 29 
 
 school instruction, the naonthly distribution of 
 rehgious tracts, and in other benevolent efforts. 
 And she habitually manifested great tenderness 
 of conscience, and anxiety to know her duty, 
 and to discharge it faithfully. Nor did she 
 neglect to cultivate her own heart, but sought 
 to make all the means of grace advance her 
 spiritual interests. With a circle of her young 
 companions, she was accustomed to meet 
 weekly, for the purpose of prayer and religious 
 conversation. And when called upon to lead 
 in their devotions, she was uniformly fervent, 
 earnest, and edifying. Her closet was now her 
 Bethel, and her Bethesda; and her Bible a 
 " well-spring of life" to her thirsty soul. She 
 made it her constant companion and most de- 
 lightful study. For some time after she united 
 with the church, she was in the habit, almost 
 daily, of recording her religious feelings and 
 exercises. But not a scrap of that journal can 
 now be found. She felt so much diffidence in 
 regard to her own abilities, that she carefully 
 concealed every thing of the kind from the in- 
 spection even of her bosom friends. And it is 
 
30 MEMOIR OF 
 
 supposed that it must have shared the fate of 
 most of her private papers, which were de- 
 stroyed by her own hand, before she left her 
 native land. But though deprived of the light 
 which these records would, undoubtedly, shed 
 upon her character ; yet we are persuaded that 
 there are facts and impressions preserved upon 
 the more enduring tablets of many hearts, 
 which will not only fully substantiate, but for- 
 cibly illustrate the views which we have here 
 expressed of her Christian character. 
 
 But while Miss W. was thus actively yet 
 unobtrusively engaged in " doing good as she 
 had opportunity," in her native place, she was 
 not insensible to the claims of a dying world. 
 Her feelings were early and deeply enlisted in 
 behalf of Foreign Missions ; but by what 
 means, especially, we are unable to say. In 
 the recent departure of a near relative, for 
 Syria, however, she had witnessed what the 
 all-constraining love of Christ would lead even 
 a timid female to sacrifice and suffer for the 
 good of others. And as her interest increased, 
 she read, with pleasure and profit, the Memoirs 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 31 
 
 of Harriet Newell and Mrs. Judson. She ad- 
 mired their character, and imbibed, in some 
 measure, their lovely and self-sacrificing spirit. 
 But still we are not aware that she even agita- 
 ted, at this time, the question of personal duty. 
 It was not long, however, before her attention 
 was specially called to it. And a brief extract 
 from the communication, already referred to, 
 will place the matter at once, and in its proper 
 
 light, before the mind of the reader. Mr. M 
 
 says : " The first time I mentioned the subject 
 of missions to her as a personal duty, was a 
 few w^eeks after my own decision. Although 
 we had conversed freely together, concerning 
 our mutual attachment, we had entered into no 
 engagement. We fully understood each other 
 on the subject; and both felt, that our duty to 
 God and his church should be first in all our 
 plans and enjoyments. We therefore felt the 
 impropriety of entering into any engagement, 
 until it should appear, satisfactorily, that our 
 duty and inclination were consistent with each 
 other." But notwithstanding this, the question, 
 as she viewed it, seemed much embarrassed. 
 
32 MEMOIR OF 
 
 And in considering it, she manifested all the 
 tenderness of conscience, and self-distrust, which 
 had hitherto been developed in the character of 
 her piety. She trembled, lest she might be 
 more influenced by an earthly affection, than 
 by her love to God and sympathy for the souls 
 of the perishing heathen. Often, when the 
 way appeared clear in every other respect, she 
 would hesitate, lest she might be deceiving 
 herself on this point. She felt that something 
 more than this was necessary to sustain and 
 console her in the midst of the privations, 
 trials, bereavements, and loneliness, incident to 
 the missionary life. If she would expect the 
 supporting grace and the cheering smiles of 
 God, she must be prompted by pure and benev- 
 olent hiotives. And she feared, moreover, that 
 her parents* might withhold their consents 
 To leave them, even if they were prepared 
 cheerfuHy to acquiesce in her decision, would 
 be extremely trying ; but she could not endure 
 
 * Her father was married acrain to an amiable and 
 excellent lady, whom Miss W. loved and respected as 
 a mother. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 33 
 
 the thought of tearing herself away from their 
 embrace, while they were unwilling to give 
 her up to such a self-denying life. Nor were 
 these the only difficulties. That which seemed 
 to her the most serious and insurmountable, 
 was, a deep consciousness of unfitness for the 
 w^ork. Upon her mental capacities, as well as 
 her attainments in religion, she was accustomed 
 to place the humblest estimate. She felt deeply, 
 therefore, her great deficiency in all the promi- 
 nent and essential qualifications of a mission- 
 ary's wife. Her love to God, and to the souls 
 of men, did not burn with such intensity as to 
 be an absorbing passion ; nor were her intel- 
 lectual capacities of so high an order as were 
 demanded for that exalted sphere. She had 
 learned something of what the station required, 
 in perusing the lives of others. And she felt 
 that she could lay no just claim to the deep and 
 uncomplaining devotion of a Harriet Newell ; 
 to the calm endurance, and untiring persever- 
 ance of a Harriet Winslow; nor to the uncon- 
 querable energy and moral heroism of a Mrs. 
 Judson. While she might be useful in some 
 4 
 
34 MEMOIR OF 
 
 retired corner of her own land, aided by the 
 counsels, and cheered by the presence of Chris- 
 tian friends, she was persuaded that God did 
 not call upon her to assume a station so respon- 
 sible and conspicuous. So deeply was she im- 
 pressed with this truth, that after a painful and 
 protracted consideration of the subject, she 
 came to the conclusion not to give herself up 
 to the work. The struggle it cost her was most 
 severe ; and for a time seriously affected her 
 health and spirits. But she felt it to be her 
 duty ; and she resolved to make the sacrifice 
 of her earthly attachment. Speaking of her 
 
 conduct during that season of trial, Mr. M 
 
 remarks, " She never once intimated a wish that 
 I should change my purpose. On the contrary, 
 she expressed her decided convictions, that I 
 ought not to think of remaining on her account, 
 ^ut that, although it might cost her her life to 
 be thus separated, she w^ould cheerfully make 
 the sacrifice for the interest of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom, bid me God speed, and follow me 
 with her prayers while she had breath to pray." 
 After her decision was announced, at her 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 35 
 
 own request, all the correspondence relating to 
 this subject was destroyed. The two following 
 letters, however, written about this time, will 
 serve to throw some light upon the state of her 
 mind. They were addressed to a young friend, 
 who seems to have enjoyed her fullest confi- 
 dence ; and to whom she loved to unburden 
 her laboring heart. 
 
 Bloom field, Feb. 21, 1836. 
 
 My Dear E : 
 
 Your esteemed favor I received some days 
 since, and hasten to answer, in compliance with 
 your closing and repeated requests. I have 
 not by any means forgotten nor undervalued 
 your kindness, in favoring me with your episto- 
 lary effusions, since I left your house. No, dear 
 
 E , far be it from me to forget one with 
 
 whom I have passed so many happy hours; 
 with whom I have talked of the joys and sor- 
 rows, trials and conflicts of our journey through 
 this wilderness of sin, and with whom I have 
 often knelt in prayer at the mercy-seat, im- 
 ploring the blessing of God upon us. Such 
 
36 MEMOIR OF 
 
 seasons as these cannot easily be forgotten ; 
 and I should be sorry to have you attribute my 
 silence to any forgetfulness or neglect. I can 
 assure you of my continued attachment ; and 
 in future, will venture to say your letters shall 
 all be regularly answered. 
 
 During the last few months our family have 
 been much afflicted with sickness ; and there 
 have also been a number of deaths in the circle 
 of our acquaintance. Some who bid as fair to 
 be spared, and to enjoy the degree of health 
 allotted to them, as either of us, have passed 
 through the dark valley of the shadow of death ; 
 and have gone to render up their final account. 
 How soon we may be called is known only to 
 God. let us live in constant preparation for 
 that hour, when the Master shall come and call 
 for us : let us have our lamps trimmed and 
 burning, and be fully prepared to enter into the 
 rest which remains for God's dear people. In 
 
 looking back upon my past life, dear E , I 
 
 cannot but regret that I have done so little for 
 Him who laid down his life for a revolted 
 world ; that I have labored so ineffectually for 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 37 
 
 the souls of my dying fellow-creatures. ! 
 can one so worthless and undeserving find a 
 seat in the mansions of the blessed ? Surely 1 
 should never be permited to enter it, if I were 
 to be treated according to my deserts. No, if 
 justice were done me, my portion would be with 
 the lost, in the fire that shall never be quenched. 
 But there is a fountain opened, to which we 
 may go, and be cleansed from sin and unclean- 
 ness. And there would I go, vile and polluted 
 as I am, and wash my soul from crimes of 
 deepest dye. Yes, dear E , this is our pre- 
 cious privilege. Let us then resolve, in the 
 language of the poet : 
 
 *' To this dear fountain I'll repair, 
 With all the wounds and pains I bear, 
 *ril keep my station near its side, 
 And wash, and drink, and there abide ; 
 Nor from its sacred streams remove, 
 Till taken to their source above." 
 
 I trust you enjoy that sweet peace in believ- 
 ing, which the world can neither give nor take 
 away ; and are reaping, daily, the reward of 
 your labors in the vineyard which God has 
 
38 MEMOIR OF 
 
 given you to cultivate. Pray for me, my dear 
 friend, that I may be qualified for the faithful 
 discharge of every duty, and be led to place 
 implicit confidence in Him who is our Advo- 
 cate with the Father, even Jesus Christ the 
 righteous. In Him there is infinite fulness. 
 Who would not be willing to make any sacri- 
 fice required, if thereby He may be honored 
 and glorified ? I am sure all other objects 
 dwindle into insignificance, when compared to 
 this. I am happy to hear of aunt K.'s decision ; 
 and do not doubt but that she will experience 
 much solid enjoyment. She has my ardent 
 prayers, that the Lord of the harvest may fully 
 prepare her for the undertaking, and grant her 
 the riches of that grace, which is promised to 
 all who trust in Him. The need of laborers in 
 the field is so great, that I have sometimes 
 
 thought, perhaps E would love to go, and 
 
 devote her time and talents to the object of teach- 
 ing the heathen the unsearchable riches of 
 Christ. Surely you could not wish a more de- 
 lightful task. But I must leave you to your 
 own reflections on this important subject ; 
 
MRS. AMNA MARIA MORRISON. 39 
 
 wishing only that I may see you soon, to have 
 some conversation respecting it. 
 Believe me ever, 
 Your affectionate sister and friend, 
 
 Anna JVL Ward, 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Bloomjield, July 25, 1836. 
 
 At the silent hour of midnight, when all 
 around me is still, I have seated myself to con- 
 verse with my dear absent E •. I delight to 
 
 commune with th>e friends I love — in whom I 
 have entire confidence — and teJl them of my 
 joys and sorrows, trials and conflicts ; for in 
 this way I think our correspondence may be 
 made useful to .each other. How often, dear 
 E , have I thought of you since our separa- 
 tion ; and longed to know whether I had an 
 interest in your intercessions at the mercy-seat, 
 or whether I was forgotten, as I richly deserved 
 to be. Since I last saw you, I have passed 
 through seasons of trial, and have, as I trust, 
 been made to feel the folly of placing my af- 
 
40 MEMOIR OF 
 
 fections on transitory things, that vanish like 
 the morning cloud and the early dew. But 
 my Father has been faithful, and given me 
 grace ; and I trust he will lead me in every 
 step of my progress through life. Thus, my 
 
 dear E , may we go on, and draw water out 
 
 of the wells of salvation. We have nothing 
 but what comes to us from Christ's fulness. As 
 long as we look into our own hearts, we shall 
 be disappointed. " All our righteousnesses are 
 as filthy rags ;" but if we cast them from us, 
 and look to Christ, we shall have a spotless 
 robe, an ample covering for our naked souls. I 
 would gladly dwell on this theme till morning 
 dawns ; but I should be unprepared for other 
 duties which press upon me. 1 long to see 
 you, that I may tell you more particularly of 
 my feelings. Your questions in regard to mis- 
 sionary subjects must all be answered in the 
 negative. I will tell you more particularly 
 when you come. I must close with the earnest 
 request, that you will present me in your pray- 
 ers to Him who heareth the cries of his chil- 
 dren ; and may you be made a rich partaker 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 41 
 
 of His love, and lean upon Him as your Sa- 
 viour. 
 
 1 am, as always. 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 Anna. 
 
 From the general tone of these letters, and 
 the manner in which she alludes to the subject, 
 it is evident that she was not entirely satisfied 
 with the conclusion to which she had come. 
 And the reader will not be surprised to find 
 her, soon after this, prayerfully engaged in re- 
 viewing the grounds of her decision. In doing 
 this she soon discovered that some of her diffi- 
 culties were altogether imaginary, and that 
 others had been greatly magnified. In a letter 
 to a friend she remarks : " At times I feel like 
 giving up in despair of ever accomplishing 
 any thing for God- But there is a bright side 
 to the picture, and I sometimes venture to look 
 at it. In the building of the temple they had 
 hewers of wood and drawers of water ; and 
 with all my unfitness and utter unworthiness, if 
 I am permitted to engage in the most menial 
 
42 MEMOIR OF 
 
 service, and perform the most self-denying la- 
 bors for the advancement of His cause, I shall 
 have abundant reason for thankfulness during 
 life." She was greatly encouraged to find that 
 others, in whose opinion she had unbounded 
 confidence, judged far more favorably than she 
 could, of her qualifications for the missionary 
 field. And she learned that her parents, so far 
 from interposing any obstacles, as she had an- 
 ticipated, were prepared, cheerfully, to give up 
 their claims upon her. The subject itself ap- 
 peared to her in a new light, by changing the 
 form of the personal question. It was now, 
 not, Why should I go abroad ? but, Why should 
 I remain at home ? And in view of the ama- 
 zing disproportion between the laborers in the 
 domestic and the foreign field, she finally was 
 constrained to exclaim, " Here am I, Lord, 
 send me far hence to the Gentiles." This de- 
 cision she never had occasion to reverse, or re- 
 gret. It dissipated, at once, the clouds of doubt 
 and uncertainty, which had so long hung over 
 the future; and filled with calmness and joy, 
 her anxious and agitated heart. The letters. 
 
RIllS. ANNA MAEIIA MORRISON. 43 
 
 which follow, will more fully exhibit her views 
 and feelings at this time. 
 
 LETTER TO MR. M . 
 
 Bloomfield, Dec. 17, 1836. 
 My dear Friend : 
 
 Your letter did not reach me until some days 
 after its date. I was somewhat anxious, lest 
 something had befallen you ; but it has taught 
 me a lesson of contentment, which I have so 
 much need to learn. I find that the safest and 
 best course for us to pursue, in seasons of 
 trouble, is to make known our requests unto 
 God, by prayer and supplication for his support 
 and guidance, and for a spirit of sweet and 
 cheerful acquiescence in His will, let our situa- 
 tion in life be what it may. I think I have felt 
 the happiness arising from this state of feeling, 
 in contemplating my future trials. If my path 
 be a thorny one, I have the precious assurance 
 that He will be with me. Since you left I 
 have been uniformly happy and cheerful. I 
 have conversed freely with my beloved parents 
 and sisters, in regard to my prospects, and laid 
 
44 MEMOIR OF 
 
 many plans for the coming year. But they 
 may all be frustrated ; God knows what is best 
 for me. They all seem satisfied with my de- 
 cision ; and I can assure you they never ap- 
 peared nearer, or dearer to me, than at the 
 present time. I feel under manifold obligations 
 to my parents ; but especially, that they have 
 given me up to this work, not knowing what 
 trials may befall me, which it will not be in 
 their power to alleviate or remove. As it re- 
 spects your choice of a station, I feel willing 
 to go wherever the path of duty may lead. As 
 far as I have had the opportunity of informing 
 myself, however, in regard to the proposed 
 fields, I have given Calcutta the preference. 
 Not that the amount of suffering will be less 
 there than at other stations ; but only that I 
 should have the prospect of greater usefulness. 
 I am anxious to know your determination, so 
 that I may look at some particular spot as my 
 home. But I feel, however, that it is of little 
 consequence where I spend the remnant of my 
 days, whether in India or China, so that I am 
 faithful to my trust. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 45 
 
 I called on Mr. and Mrs. C , the evening 
 
 before they left home for Boston ; found them 
 
 cheerful and happy. Mrs. C has left a large 
 
 circle of friends, whose faces she, probably, 
 will see no more on earth. She leaves them, " far 
 in heathen lands to dwell." Pray much for me. 
 Yours, very sincerely, 
 
 Anna M. Ward. 
 
 LETTER TO HER TRIED AND DEVOTED FRIEND IN 
 NEW-YORK. 
 
 Bloomfield, Feb. 19, 1837. 
 
 My dear E : 
 
 After suffering many severe struggles in my 
 own mind, I have finally concluded to follow 
 the leadings of Providence, and devote myself 
 to the service of my Master, in a land of dark- 
 ness and idolatry. Our field is Northern India, 
 and the station, probably, Lodiana, nearly four 
 month's voyage from Calcutta. And now, dear 
 
 E , you w'ill say, surely she will need an 
 
 abundant share of grace to strengthen her for 
 the faithful discharge of duty. I am aware 
 that nothing but His grace can sustain, and 
 5 
 
46 MEMOIR OF 
 
 prevent me from sinking, amidst the trials and 
 perplexities, which will, undoubtedly, fall to my 
 lot. But if I know any thing of my treacher- 
 ous heart, I feel no disposition to shrink from 
 the privilege of bearing the cross, or lending 
 my feeble efforts to aid in planting the standard 
 of the Redeemer in some dark corner of the 
 earth. If we have tasted of the preciousness 
 of His love, surely we should count no pleasure 
 too dear to sacrifice, that the heathen may be 
 rescued from their bondage, and taught the 
 value of their immortal souls. I cannot but 
 write freely on this subject, as I know that you 
 feel deeply interested in my case ; and ardently 
 desire the advancement of Christ's kingdom. 
 The Lord has ever been better to me than my 
 fears ; and I may exclaim, in regard to myself, 
 with propriety, 
 
 " A strange rebellious wretch am I, 
 And God as strangely kind." 
 
 It seems to me, also, that Christians gener- 
 ally are not fully aw^are of their obligations to 
 be actively engaged in their Master's cause. 
 Truly, " the time is short ;" soon all opportu- 
 
Mils. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 47 
 
 nity of benefiting our fellow-men, will be at 
 an end. Ought we not, therefore, to do what 
 we can for the extension of that blessed king- 
 dom, which is righteousness, and peace, and 
 joy in the Holy Ghost? The arrows of death 
 are flying in every direction ; and erelong he 
 may point his shaft at one of us. What we 
 do must be done quickly. The time fixed upon 
 for my departure is only eight months distant, 
 and I look forward to it with a degree of anxi- 
 ety, and interest, almost indescribable. 
 Yours, with much love, 
 
 Anna M. Ward, 
 
 As the question was now settled that she w^as 
 to spend her days among the heathen, Miss W. 
 felt anxious to make the best improvement of 
 her remaining time. She resolved, therefore, 
 to turn her attention to those branches of study 
 which seemed best adapted to render htr useful 
 in the field of labor to which she was destined. 
 And that she might pursue these studies to the 
 best advantage, she placed herself under the 
 instruction of Mrs. H. B. Cook ; a lady, in 
 
48 
 
 MEMOIR or 
 
 whom she found not only an excellent counsel- 
 lor, and competent instructor, but also a warm 
 and decided friend of the cause to which she 
 was pledged. To this subject she frequently 
 alludes in the letters which will now be intro- 
 duced. 
 
 Writing to Mr. M , under date of March 
 
 15, 1837, she gives an account of another in- 
 teresting revival, enjoyed by the church in 
 Bloomfield. 
 
 "I suppose you have heard, through Mr. 
 
 R , of the rich display of God's love to this 
 
 guilty people. Even while we were in the 
 midst of our sins, and regardless of his gracious 
 favors, he entered our dwellings, and caused 
 the anxious inquiry to be heard from many in 
 our midst, " What shall we do to be saved V 
 In the female school the work has been power- 
 ful. There were but three professors, including 
 the teacher, in the whole school; but before 
 the close of last week, we could number thir- 
 teen who were indulging hopes of pardon and 
 acceptance with God. To me it is, indeed, a 
 merciful visitation. W^hat preparation for my 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORLIISOX. 49 
 
 wotk in India more desirable than the baptism 
 of the Holy Ghost ? And what do I need 
 more than a heart warmed with a Saviour's 
 love ? How ungrateful have I been for past 
 favors ! Surely God is a Sovereign full of for- 
 bearance and mercy, or I should have been for- 
 ever cast off from his favor. But still, though 
 vile and unworthy, I rejoice in the God of my 
 salvation. But you will have reason to accuse 
 me of selfishness, in dwelling upon what the 
 Lord has done for me, rather than speak of the 
 goodness of our covenant keeping God to 
 others. Surely you will unite wdth me in 
 praising God for His mercy, in entering our 
 family, and leading my beloved brother W 
 to consecrate himself unreservedly to his ser- 
 vice. Alas! how unbelieving had I been in 
 regard to his conversion ! And when I saw, for 
 the first time, his quivering lip and tearful eye ; 
 and then heard him express the hope, that he 
 had passed from death unto life, I was forced 
 to exclaim, " Lord, I believe ; help thou mine 
 unbelief" Perhaps you will inquire, what in- 
 fluence these scenes have upon me as it regards 
 5* 
 
60/ MEMOIR OF 
 
 my leaving home. I think I am far more wil- 
 ling, than ever before, to sacrifice my idolized 
 home, with all its endearments, and subject my- 
 self to the hardships of a missionary life. Yes, 
 for Zion's sake, and the glory of my Master, I 
 will go with delight, though I may be exposed 
 to perils on the sea, and on the land. It is a 
 privilege to be permitted to bear my feeble tes- 
 timony to his dying love. And I rejoice that 
 the time is drawing near, although the thought 
 of the parting scene, at times, almost unnerves 
 me. But his grace will be sufficient for that 
 time of trial." 
 
 We have already expressed our regret that 
 the journal which Miss W. kept for some years 
 after her conversion, was destroyed. And the 
 perusal of the following fragment leads us to 
 regret it still more deeply. These " three 
 leaves were snatched from her hand, as she 
 was about to commit them to the flames." 
 
 March 22, 1837. How much I prize the 
 society of the dear ones at home, is known 
 only to God,2who has kindly given me friends 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 51 
 
 that are daily manifesting an interest in my 
 \velfare, and laboring to secure my happiness. 
 The thought often suggests itself to my mind, 
 as I look forward to the hour which will sep- 
 arate me from their embrace, 
 
 " Can I leave you— can I leave you ? 
 Far in heathen lands to dwell ?" 
 
 Can I, for the last time, look upon the en- 
 deared forms of my parents, and press to my 
 agonized bosom the circle with whom I have 
 spent my childhood and youth ? Can I relin- 
 quish my place among them at the family altar, 
 when the morning and evening sacrifice is of- 
 fered ? Oh ! can I leave such scenes, and seek 
 my home 'neath foreign skies, and take for my 
 associates the degraded Hindoo ? I answer 
 yes : I cannot refuse to bear the standard of 
 the cross and lend my feeble aid in planting it 
 where the light of the glorious gospel has 
 never yet shone. For the sake of the dying 
 heathen, I will not linger around the dear de- 
 lights of home, precious sanctuary privileges, 
 and the many tender objects which bind me to 
 my native land. If I can trust my treacherous 
 
52 MEMOIR OF 
 
 heart, I long to make the sacrifice, not for the 
 sake of worldly honor or emoluments, but for 
 the cause of my crucified Redeemer. 
 
 March 25, Saturday evening. Another day 
 and week have almost closed, and I am still 
 spared, a monument of mercy. Surely it be- 
 comes me to abase myself, and to lie low at the 
 footstool, for my sins have been aggravated in 
 the sight of a heart-searching God. O that 
 the law of God were written on my heart as 
 with a pen of iron ! I think I have had some 
 freedom in conversing with those in the Acad- 
 emy who profess to be God's children, respect- 
 ing their duty to labor and pray for the heathen. 
 It may not, indeed, be their duty to go to the 
 heathen : but it is, obviously, the duty of every 
 one to make personal efforts, somewhere, for 
 the salvation of the world. 
 
 June 4, Sabbath. This has been a precious 
 day to me. Begin to realize that the delightful 
 seasons which I now enjoy will soon pass away. 
 Soon I shall hear no church-going bell calling 
 me to the house of prayer. But I am not sad 
 at the thought. " God is my refuge and 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 53 
 
 strength, a very present help in trouble." His 
 presence is not confined to temples made with 
 hands, and he has said, " I will never leave 
 thee, nor forsake thee." His promises are sure. 
 
 that I could trust in them more implicitly ! 
 As the time of my departure draws near I 
 tremble in view of my responsibility. May I 
 be faithful unto death ! O that I might leave 
 behind me a hallowed influence, and set such 
 an example as is worthy of being imitated by 
 the dear little ones at home, to whom my heart 
 clings, and for whom I love to supplicate at a 
 throne of grace ! that my dear parents 
 would forget the follies of my youth, and follow 
 me with their daily prayers that I may be made 
 extensively useful in the vineyard of the Lord ! 
 
 1 long to spend and be spent for the Saviour. 
 I do not desire to live at ease ; no, I trust I can 
 rejoice in suffering, if Christ be honored by it. 
 Why should I hesitate to lend a helping hand 
 if the benighted Pagan needs my aid ? Why 
 should I study the gratification of selfish feeling 
 while the cry is reiterated in my ears, " Come 
 and tell me of a Saviour's love." Surely it is . 
 
64 MEMOIR OF 
 
 my 'privilege to labor for the advancement of 
 the Saviour's cause, and I will surrender my- 
 self to him, to be disposed of in the way that 
 shall best please and honor Him. 
 
 June 7. Attended the Sewing Society this 
 afternoon, and was reminded that I should soon 
 be deprived of such privileges. I have much, 
 however, to make me happy. It rejoices my 
 heart to look at my dear parents, though bur- 
 dened with cares and anxieties, still cheerful 
 and satisfied in regard to my future prospects. 
 Trust I feel grateful to God that he has given 
 them hearts to love his cause, with so much 
 ardor, that they have freely consented to relin- 
 quish their claim upon me, and bid me go to 
 make the heathen blessed. that I may be 
 successful in winning many souls to Christ ! 
 
 Jane 11. Hailed the return of our dear pas- 
 tor to his flock, after an absence of three 
 weeks, at the meeting of the General Assem- 
 bly. Attended Sabbath school and felt almost 
 discouraged in laboring with some of my class, 
 who seem careless and indifferent. My hope 
 is in prayer for them that God's blessing may 
 
' MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 55 
 
 descend and water the seed that has been sown 
 in so much weakness." 
 
 This is all of her private journal that has 
 reached us. From this, however, something of 
 the character of her piety and of her views of 
 the missionary question may be learned. But 
 while she compassionated the distant heathen 
 and longed to be engaged in leading them to 
 Christ, she did not neglect the souls of her dear 
 relatives and friends who were unreconciled to 
 God. The thought of parting with them, 
 while in this dreadful state, was most painful. 
 The followinor letter to her cousin is introduced 
 
 o 
 
 to show the pointed and affectionate earnestness 
 with which she was accustomed to address 
 them. 
 
 Bloomjield, March 29, 1837. 
 My DEAR Cousin : 
 
 In taking up my Bible this morning, my eye 
 fell upon the passage, " What thou doest do 
 quickly." And after indulging in various 
 thoughts my burdened spirit fled to the cross 
 to plead for those of ray dear friends who are 
 
56 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and 
 strangers from the covenant of promise, having 
 no hope, and without God in the world." I 
 
 cannot give you up, my dear C , I cannot 
 
 relinquish the idea of hailing you as a brother 
 in Christ, and of meeting you at the last day 
 with a crown of gold on your head, and palms 
 of victory in your hands. I can tell you from 
 experience, of the preciousness of a Saviour's 
 love. He died to atone for our sins ; and can 
 you refuse to love him ? Can you slight offered 
 mercy ? My heart is pained within me, when 
 I think of the rich provision made for all who 
 will accept of salvation, and yet that my dear 
 cousin should resist the influences of the Spirit, 
 and treat this precious Saviour with undeserved 
 contempt. "What objections have you to Him ? 
 He is the chief among ten thousand, and the 
 one altogether lovely. He will never leave 
 you, nor forsake you ; He will take care of all 
 w^ho put their trust in Him. ! I love to tell 
 you of this friend ; to speak of Him as the 
 friend of sinners. I long to greet you as one 
 of those who are journeying toward Zion, with 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 57 
 
 their faces thitherward. Do you ask, How 
 shall I become a Christian ? What shall I do 
 to inherit eternal life ? 0, 1 can point you to 
 the cross ; I can tell you of joy and peace in 
 believing. To Christ I would commend you ; 
 His grace is sufficient to save the vilest of the 
 vile. As a lost rebel come. Come while His 
 hand is extended for your relief. Come now, 
 while mercy invites. Come just as you are. 
 Do not delay; do not close your eyes in sleep 
 until you have made a full surrender of your 
 heart to Him. Perhaps this may be the last 
 opportunity that you may have ; do not slight 
 it. If you value the peace of your parents; 
 if you wish to gratify your friends, I can as- 
 sure you that nothing will afford them greater 
 happiness than to see you become a disciple of 
 the meek and lowly Jesus. Oh, my dear 
 cousin, when I think of leaving you — as I must 
 in a short time — never again to see your face 
 in the flesh, I feel unwilling to endure an eter^ 
 nal separation. 1 could leave you all with a 
 thousand times more cheerfulness if I could 
 only have the prospect of meeting you in that 
 6 
 
58 MEMOIR OF 
 
 world where parting is unknown. My friends 
 are all dear to my heart ; but my Saviour says, 
 "Take up thy cross and follow me." That 
 God may make you an heir of bliss, and pre- 
 pare you for an entrance into heaven, is the 
 prayer of 
 
 Your affectionate cousin, 
 
 Anna M. Ward. 
 
 letter to mr. and mrs. s in virginia. 
 
 Bloomfield, July 9, 1837. 
 My dear Brother and Sister : 
 
 Did I not feel the assurance that you still 
 claim me as one of your friends, I should not 
 attempt writing to you when so many duties 
 and cares press heavily upon me. When you 
 left, I anticipated the pleasure of maintaining a 
 regular correspondence with you; but the 
 necessary preparation for the great work I 
 have in prospect has demanded so much of my 
 time and attention, during the winter and 
 spring, that I have found it impossible to de- 
 vote any time to letter-writing. Notwithstand- 
 ing the pressure of necessary duties- 1 have not 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 59 
 
 for a single day forgotten you. No, my dear 
 friends, absence has strengthened the bond of 
 union ; and as the time is rapidly approaching 
 when the reality will be felt, that I shall no 
 more behold your faces in the flesh, I am forced 
 to exclaim, 
 
 '* Can I leave you ?" 
 
 Yes, I love you, with the rest of my dear 
 friends, more than at any former period of my 
 life ; but I rejoice that I can add, / love Christ 
 more. I think I never felt more cheerful and 
 happy in my life. Though the thought of sev- 
 ering many tender ties, which bind me to home 
 and friends, is painful in the extreme, yet I re- 
 joice that I shall be allowed the unspeakable 
 privilege of spending my life among the hea- 
 then. Though clouds and darkness for a season 
 encircled my dwelling, God's presence and 
 favor have dispersed the gloom ; and he is, I 
 trust, preparing me for a place in his kingdom, 
 where the thought of separation from loved 
 ones will not, for a single moment, interrupt 
 my joy. If I recollect, Mr. M told you 
 
60 MEMOIR OF 
 
 when we should probably embark for India. 
 There will be ten in our number. that the 
 Lord of the harvest would raise up many more 
 laborers who shall be willing to go and pro- 
 claim Christ, and him crucified, to the perishing 
 heathen ! Why should we study our own 
 gratification more than the interest of the Re- 
 deemer's kingdom 1 Why are there so few 
 willing to go ? I am struck with astonishment 
 when I look around and see how many are dis- 
 posed to locate themselves here, when thousands . 
 in other lands are perishing for the lack of know- 
 ledge. O pray that I may be thoroughly im- 
 bued with the spirit of Christ, and be prepared 
 for His service ! 
 
 With many wishes for your happiness, I am, 
 Dear brother and sister. 
 
 In the bonds of Christian love, 
 
 Anna M. Ward. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 61 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE MARRIAGE DEPARTURE FROM 
 
 HOME JOURNEY TO PHILADELPHIA EMBARK- 
 ATION. 
 
 Whatever the world may think of missions, 
 and however they may smile at the scheme as 
 wild and visionary, they cannot withhold the 
 homage of their admiration from the expan- 
 sive benevolence and self-sacrifice of the mis- 
 sionary. In devoting herself to the w^ork, the 
 delicate and timid female makes the costliest 
 sacrifice of earthly good. In the bloom of 
 youth and health she leaves the bosom of a 
 family, where she is the light of every eye, and 
 the joy of every heart ; severs herself at a stroke 
 from the society of friends and the endearments 
 of home ; foregoes the privileges and pleasures 
 of social and civilized life ; and goes forth, it 
 may be, to wear out long years of toil and suf- 
 fering in a distant and savage land. And what 
 is the impelling motive ? Is she prompted mere- 
 ly by romantic feeling, or a fondness of adven- 
 ture ? Is she aUured by hope of gain, or the 
 6* 
 
62 MEMOIR OF 
 
 promise of distinction ? Oh no ! these could 
 not enable her to toil on, when toil seemed 
 unrequited ; to suffer cheerfully, when deprived 
 even of sympathy ; and to die calmly, though 
 as little regarded as the tree that falls in the 
 depth of the forest. She acts under the influ- 
 ence of a higher and holier principle : " the 
 love of Christ constraineth her." 
 
 As a redeemed sinner, Miss W. regarded such 
 a sacrifice as the least that could be demanded 
 of her ; and she was resolved to make it. She 
 now looked upon India — benighted and heathen 
 India — as her future home. Although, as we 
 have seen, she was slow in coming to this de- 
 cision, yet when it was finally made, she enjoyed 
 the constant and delightful assurance that she 
 had followed the guidance of an unerring hand. 
 She had viewed the work of missions so long as 
 a matter of personal duty, that the novelty and 
 romance of it, which sometimes have won the 
 ardent and enthusiastic, had lost their influence 
 upon her mind. Her decision was made after 
 years of anxious and prayerful inquiry, and in 
 full view of the privations and sufferings, the 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 63 
 
 labors and trials of a missionary life. And as 
 the time of her departure drew near, she looked 
 forward to it, not merely with calm satisfaction, 
 but with ardent and earnest longing. The 
 "Missionary Soliloquy" expressed truly the 
 feehngs of her heart : 
 
 " I cannot rest : There comes a sweet 
 And secret whisper to my spirit, like 
 A dream of night, that tells me I am on 
 Enchanted ground. Why live I here ? The vows 
 Of God are on me, and I may not stop 
 To play with shadows, or pluck earthly flowers, 
 Till I my work have done, and rendered up 
 Account. The voice of my departed Lord, 
 <' Go teach all nations,'" from the eastern world, 
 Comes on the night air, and aw^akes my ear. 
 
 And I will go. I may no longer doubt 
 To give up friends, and homo, and idol hopes, 
 And every tender tie that binds my heart 
 To thee my country. 
 
 Let me but know 
 There is an arm unseen that holds me up ; 
 An eye that kindly watches all my path, 
 Tdl 1 my weary pdgrimage have done ; 
 Let me but know I have a/rie/ir/jthat waits 
 To welcome me to glory ; and I joy 
 To tread the dark and death-fraught wilderness." 
 
 These sentiments she constantly expressed, 
 both in her conversation and in letters to her 
 friends, as will be seen from those which follow. 
 
64 MEMOIR OF 
 
 TO MR. M , 
 
 Bloomfeld, July 12, 1837. 
 After hearing of your very uncomfortable 
 ride to Princeton, through Mr. R , my anx- 
 iety was much relieved by the receipt of your 
 last communication ; and I have abundant cause 
 to bless and praise the name of our covenant 
 keeping God that your life and health, thus far, 
 have been precious in his sight. The encour- 
 agements spoken of in your letter were truly 
 strengthening. I do not think I ever reflected 
 so much upon the rich and abundant supply of 
 food furnished for us in the promises of the 
 gospel, as I have during the past week. Those 
 marked in my album I have read repeatedly ; 
 they have been unspeakably precious to me ; 
 they seem so well adapted to my case, that I 
 love to dwell upon them. I have been led to 
 reflect more seriously, also, upon the discour- 
 agements to be met with in a missionary's life. 
 I do not think that I can fully realize the pecu- 
 liar trials and difl5culties of our future course. 
 But I can rejoice in the prospect of going, even 
 when enveloped in clouds and darkness. I have 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 65 
 
 never enjoyed more comfort, nor felt more 
 happy and cheerful, than at the present time. 
 The Saviour says, " Peace I leave with you, 
 my peace I give unto you." It is a peace that 
 springs, therefore, from an unfailing source. 
 Let us deposit our hopes and our hearts with 
 the Saviour. 
 
 The path marked out for me has for the last 
 few months seemed perfectly plain. I do not 
 think I have one doubt as it respects my duty 
 to go ; nor that I feel the least disposition to 
 waver or relinquish the performance of what I 
 know to be duty. Our communion season, as 
 I anticipated, was one of peculiar interest. I 
 was forcibly reminded of the time when, with 
 many others, 1 publicly covenanted to be the 
 Lord's, and consecrated myself entirely to His 
 
 service. Mr. J preached for us in the 
 
 morning from John xvii. 20, 21; and I was 
 struck with the text as peculiarly applicable to 
 the occasion." 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 Bloomjield, August 10, 1837. 
 I trust you are not becoming dissatisfied with 
 
Db MEMOIR OF 
 
 my silence. It has been protracted beyond my 
 expectations, but for reasons which you niay 
 possibly think justifiable. I have been suffering 
 from a cold, and for a time was unable to write. 
 As soon as I recovered, the unexampled kind- 
 ness of my friends, in calling upon me, pre- 
 vented my attention to many duties which 
 devolved upon me. We were gratified to hear 
 from you last week, because, from what I had 
 heard and read, I had come to the conclusion 
 that we should not bid adieu, the coming au- 
 tumn, to our beloved friends and native land. 
 And I hardly dare now indulge the thought. I 
 have been exceedingly troubled about it on 
 many accounts ; though I trust willing to ac- 
 quiesce in the will of Him who in infinite wis- 
 dom ordereth all our affairs. I knew that our 
 brethren in Northern India needed and would 
 be expecting help from this Christian land. I 
 trust also, that 1 feel an increasing and ardent 
 desire to be personally and actively engaged in 
 laboring among those poor idolaters. I cannot 
 bear the idea of being detained beyond the 
 appointed time ; yet I fear it exceedingly. The 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 67 
 
 embarrassment is so great through the length 
 and breadth of the land, that even the most 
 wealthy find it almost impossible to give of 
 their abundance for the spread of the precious 
 gospel of Jesus Christ. I need not tell you 
 that this state of suspense is by no means 
 agreeable. I have, however, found it sweet to 
 commit our case to Him who doeth all things 
 well. If I did not think he approved of my 
 present course, I would not take another step in 
 it. But I trust I have sought his guidance and 
 direction, and that they have been vouchsafed 
 to me in seasons of trial and difficulty. I do 
 not doubt, my dear friend, but that all our 
 trials are sent to execute the purposes of an 
 allwise and unchangeable Jehovah ; to fit us 
 for our work, or prepare us to enter mto the 
 peaceful abode of eternal blessedness, and to 
 join with seraphs and the redeemed host in as- 
 cribing praise to Him that sitteth upon the 
 throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever." 
 What a glorious prospect ! And can we look 
 forward to it as ours 1 In contemplating my 
 severest trials, they sink into insignificance, 
 
68 MEMOIR OF 
 
 when compared with the glory which shall be 
 revealed hereafter. They are not worth a mo- 
 ment's anxiety, when w^e think of the crown 
 that fadeth not away." 
 
 Under date of August 31st, she writes again : 
 
 " I am now more sensible than ever of my 
 proneness to cling 'to earth; and of the fond- 
 ness with which I cherish creature comforts. 
 But do not suppose that I begin to repent of 
 my choice. No, I ask no greater honor than 
 to go to India, and labor for those who ' have 
 no hope, and are without God in the world.' 
 With joyful anticipations I now look forward to 
 the time when, with my friend, and fellow-la- 
 borers, who are unspeakably dear to my heart, 
 I shall bid adieu to these delightful scenes. 
 My heart does and will ache at the thought of 
 parting ; but His cause is more dear to me than 
 all the world besides. And my earnest desire 
 is to yield cheerfully to God's blessed will." 
 
 We add a short extract from a letter to her 
 dear friend and correspondent in New York. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 69 
 
 " I am still expecting to sail for India this 
 fall— either in October or November — though 
 not without some fear of being detained. It 
 would be trying to be kept back another year, 
 merely for the want of funds. that the 
 Lord of the harvest would give his children a 
 spirit of self-denial and more ardent love, that 
 they may give of their abundance for the 
 spread of his gospel throughout the world I 
 Some say to me, "Your sacrifice is a great 
 one ;" but for my own part, I am ashamed to 
 say that I am making any sacrifice for one 
 who laid down His life for a revolted world. If 
 I have experienced the sweetness of his love, I 
 can count no sacrifice too great to make for 
 Him. Surely there are given unto us, " ex- 
 ceeding great and precious promises,'' and can 
 we not go on in the performance of our duty, re- 
 lying upon the strength of them ? It has been 
 my expectation to spend a few days with you 
 this summer, and I have waited for a conveni- 
 ent opportunity until it is too late. I feel, my 
 
 dear E , that the time is now reduced to a 
 
 very brief space, and the responsibilities resting 
 7 
 
70 MEMOIR OF 
 
 upon me are great. But then the time is not 
 far distant when we shall meet in a purer and 
 better world, to celebrate the perfections and 
 loving-kindness of Him who has redeemed us 
 by His blood ; and who will present us fault- 
 less before the presence of His glory w^ith ex- 
 ceeding joy. 
 
 This is the sincere and earnest prayer, 
 Of your unworthy, 
 Though ardently attached, 
 
 Anna. 
 
 The subjoined extract of a letter from Mr. 
 
 M to the parents of Miss W. may, with 
 
 propriety, be introduced : 
 
 " It affords me great satisfaction to be able 
 to say, that the prospect of my leaving this 
 country, during the approaching autumn, is 
 better now than it has been at any time before. 
 At one time Mr. Lowrie began to think that I 
 could not go, on account of the limited funds of 
 the Board. He brought the matter, however, 
 
 to the notice of Dr. P and one of the 
 
 elders of his church, when it was arranged that 
 
MRS. ANfCA MARIA MORRISON. 71 
 
 I should go out as the second missionary sup- 
 ported by them. 
 
 I have just enjoyed a very agreeable visit 
 
 from Mr. Lowrie and Dr. P . They came 
 
 to consult me about a change in my location — 
 a chano-e that will brinjy me somewhat nearer 
 home. 
 
 So you perceive, my dear friends, that the 
 duration of our personal intercourse here on 
 earth is reduced to a brief, a very brief space. 
 Two, or at most three months, will in all proba- 
 bility close up the history of my pilgrimage, 
 and that of your beloved and affectionate 
 daughter in this country. But let us ever re- 
 member that the separation must also be brief. 
 We are only separating for a short time, to take 
 different roads to the same country, that is an 
 heavenly. We leave you to pursue the beaten 
 track, lifting up your hearts to God continually 
 in prayer, that the evening of your days may 
 be calm, as a prelibation of heaven ; and that 
 your setting sun may be one of brightness and 
 glory, without a cloud to mar the grandeur of 
 the scene. And I cannot doubt that the sacri- 
 
i Z MEMOIR OF 
 
 lice which you have so cheerfully made, will 
 have a delightful and heavenly influence on 
 that solemn hour. How different will be your 
 reflections then, from what they would be, had 
 you withheld the offering that was demanded 
 by the Saviour of sinners. Then you would 
 have to lament with unavailing sorrow, that 
 you had, merely for the sake of personal grati- 
 fication, withheld the gospel from some perish- 
 ing souls ; but now how delightful the antici- 
 pation of seeing your beloved daughter, entering 
 those blissful mansions accompanied by a mul- 
 titude of redeemed spirits, as gems in the crown 
 of her rejoicing. Your dying hour will reveal 
 to you the happiness of such anticipations, but 
 I cannot. Heaven and eternity will reveal to 
 you the glorious reality ; but mortal mind can 
 never conceive, nor can mortal tongue ever 
 describe it. 
 
 We leave you to take a less frequented road ; 
 one filled with briers and thorns; one of labor 
 and suffering, but not, on that account, less 
 certain, nor less bright and glorious in its ter- 
 mination. We go, I trust, to live and labor, 
 
MRS. AKNA MARIA MORRISON. / 6 
 
 and suffer, and, if needs be, to die for Christ ; for 
 we have put on Christ, and it now becomes us so 
 to walk in Him, because He has left us an ex- 
 ample that we should follow his steps." 
 
 After perusing the foregoing extract, the 
 reader will be prepared for the announcement 
 
 of Miss W 's marriage to the Rev. John H. 
 
 Morrison, which took place at Bloomfield,N. J., 
 on the 13th of September, 1837. The brief 
 space which intervened between this and their 
 embarkation, was mostly spent in visiting their 
 large circle of relatives and friends. It was, 
 therefore, a time of continued excitement and 
 trial. But the desired, yet dreaded hour of final 
 separation, at length arrived ; and her friend, 
 
 Miss E V. N , thus speaks of it : '-' My 
 
 last visit to her furnishes hours of delightful 
 contemplation; and the scenes of the parting 
 morning are vividly impressed on my mind. 
 The calm and cheerful manner in which she 
 united in singing an appropriate hymn, — leading 
 the music herself; the long and convulsive em- 
 brace of her dear parents, — the only indication 
 
74 MEMOIR OF 
 
 that her circle of loved ones was so soon to be 
 reduced to a single individual; the clearness 
 and coldness of the morning ; the hoar frost, 
 with which the whole " green" was covered, 
 sparkling and glistening in the sunbeams; — 
 these are not yet, and I think never will be, 
 erased from my mind." 
 
 A description of their journey to Philadel- 
 phia, from whence they expected to sail, is 
 given in the following letter to her parents. 
 
 Philadelphia, October 9, 1837. 
 My dear and honored Parents: 
 
 My faithful promise to write to you has been 
 repeatedly brought to mind, since my arrival 
 here, but I have not, before this morning, been 
 left long enough to myself to fulfil my engage- 
 ment. I need not tell you of the many painful 
 struggles it cost me, to tear me from your em- 
 brace ; to leave the home of my childhood ; to 
 go away from the protection and counsel of 
 those who have watched over me from the 
 cradle ; to leave the dear circle of brothers and 
 sisters, with whom I have taken sweet counsel, 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 70 
 
 and walked to the house of God in company ; 
 to leave the place of my birth, the mount of 
 gospel privileges, and take up my abode in a 
 distant land, with but one kind, sympathizing 
 friend, for my earthly solace, during the re- 
 mainder of my pilgrimage. No, my beloved 
 parents, I need not tell you that the separation 
 pained me to the heart. But while sorrowing, 
 I have the greatest cause for rejoicing, and 
 praising the Lord, that he has thus honored me. 
 As much as I love you ; as tenderly as my 
 heart is bound to you all ; I love him still more, 
 and I could not return. the luxury of making 
 sacrifices for him ! 
 
 After taking the car at Newark, we were 
 rapidly conveyed to New Brunswick, and at two 
 o'clock w^e found ourselves at Princeton. As 
 we expected, dinner was in readiness and wait- 
 ing for us. For my own part, however, I de- 
 sired nothing more than a room to myself, 
 where 1 might pour out my sorrows into the 
 bosom of my Heavenly Father, w^ho has always 
 been better to me than my fears, and given me 
 grace equal to my day, with the precious assu- 
 
76 
 
 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ranee that he will be with me always, even 
 unto the end. The excitement through which 
 1 had passed brought on a severe attack of the 
 sick headache, and I was obliged to retire early, 
 although friends were constantly calling. On 
 waking in the night, I found my cold so much 
 increased, that I could scarcely speak so as to 
 be heard ; but by taking freely of the cough 
 drops, w^hich you gave me, the hoarseness 
 gradually left me, and on Friday morning, at 
 
 ten o'clock, we were able to leave P , and 
 
 were accompanied to Philadelphia by a number 
 
 of dear Mr. M 's friends. I must not omit 
 
 giving you an account of a precious little prayer 
 meeting, which I shall always, while reason 
 retains her seat, have cause to remember with 
 the liveliest gratitude. It was appointed at 
 
 eight o'clock in the morning, at Mrs. H 's, 
 
 a lady with whom Mr. M had boarded, 
 
 for the last five years. She welcomed us with 
 the cordiality and affection of a mother. The 
 meeting was attended by some of the most 
 
 respectable families of P , and conducted 
 
 by Drs. Alexander, Miller, and Breckinridge. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 77 
 
 Dr. M addressed himself particularly to us, 
 
 and closed his remarks by saying," Finally, my 
 dear son, and daughter, farewell ! Be strong 
 in the Lord." And he assured us of their con- 
 tinued prayers for us. Mr. M was much 
 
 tried in leaving P , where he had spent so 
 
 many days under the care and instruction of his 
 fathers in the ministry. I need not add, my 
 dear parents, that we found that little meeting 
 very profitable, and strengthening. It enabled 
 us, by the grace of God, to go on our way re- 
 joicing in Him who has marked it out for us, 
 and led us, as we trust, to make a cheerful sur- 
 render of all that is dear to our hearts, and to 
 go forth, in the name of our precious Saviour, 
 to the poor benighted heathen. 
 
 From P we took the stage for ten miles, 
 
 and then the cars, and steamboat, for Philadel- 
 phia, where we arrived about dark, much fa- 
 tigued, and almost sick in travelling through the 
 rain. We took lodgings for the night at a 
 public house, and found ourselves much re- 
 freshed by a comfortable sleep. In the morning 
 Mr. M called on Mr. Lowrie, and found 
 
78 MEMOIR OF 
 
 him quite unwell. He also met Dr. Cuyler, 
 who invited and urged us to remain in his family, 
 during our stay in the city. We accepted the 
 invitation, and were cordially welcomed by the 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. C . We have been urged 
 
 also by other friends, to make our home with 
 
 them ; but Dr. C claims us, and will not 
 
 hear to our going anywhere else. I mention 
 this, because I think it will afford you pleasure 
 to learn, that we have found very dear friends, 
 who received us as their own children. Our 
 little mission family are to meet this afternoon 
 
 at Dr. C 's, and a number of other Christian 
 
 friends are to be present. We have been on 
 board of our ship, and seen our captain, who, 
 to all appearance, is a very pleasant man. Our 
 instructions are to be given on Tuesday evening : 
 several addresses are expected, and we are 
 expecting a very interesting meeting. *The 
 mother, brother, and sister of Mrs. McEwen, 
 with whom we are to be associated, called, and 
 made us a very pleasant visit. Her mother 
 was affected to tears, on being introduced to me. 
 And now, my dear parents, do not look upon 
 
MRS. ANNA MAKIA MORRISON. 79 
 
 me in any other light than that of a happy 
 child, willinc^, and I trust ready, to obey the 
 will of Him, who has pledged himself never to 
 leave or forsake his children. I do, even now, 
 long to look in upon you, but can heartily re- 
 joice that I am counted worthy to suffer for Him. 
 If He should direct, gladly would 1 spend the 
 remnant of my days with you ; and, as far as 
 it might lay in my power, in making your path- 
 way through life comfortable and happy. But 
 it is not to be so ; He has seen fit to take me 
 from your embrace, and separate me from 
 many loved ones, to assist in planting the stand- 
 ard of the cross in distant India. And yet, I 
 ask myself, can it be, that I shall see your 
 faces no more ? Shall I no more meet with the 
 dear circle, when assenibled for prayer, and 
 unite my voice with theirs, in singing the praises 
 of Him who hath loved us, and given himself 
 to die for us 1 Yes, it is even so ; and though 
 painful the thought, I cheerfully acquiesce, and 
 rejoice in the privilege. And now I must close 
 by requesting you to pray for us j forget us not 
 at the family altar, and in your private devo- 
 
80 MEMOIR OF 
 
 tions. Farewell, my beloved parents : the 
 Lord comfort, support and strengthen you. 
 Thus prays. 
 
 Your absent daughter, 
 
 Anna. 
 
 On Tuesday evening, the 10th of October, 
 a public meeting was held in the Rev. Mr. 
 Boardraan's church, at which the missionary 
 family was present. The instructions to the mis- 
 sionaries, were read by the Rev. Dr. Phillips, of 
 New-York, in consequence of the absence of 
 Walter Lowrie, Esq., the Corresponding Secre- 
 tary of the Board, who was confined to his 
 room by indisposition. The meeting was then 
 addressed by Messrs. Wilson and Morrison, and 
 also by the Rev. Henry R. Wilson, Sen., father 
 of one of the missionaries, who touched every 
 heart while he expressed his readiness to give 
 up to the Lord, in this sacred cause, the son of 
 his fond affections, — his only son. The large 
 audience was deeply affected, and there were 
 few present who did not feel that it was good 
 to be there. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 81 
 
 In consequence of the detention of the vessel, 
 which was expected to sail on Wednesday, 
 meetings were appointed for the two following 
 evenings ; one in Dr. Cuyler's church, and the 
 other in Mr. Boardman's. The missionaries 
 were present, and delivered addresses at both 
 these meetings, and the exercises were of the 
 most pleasing and interesting kind. 
 
 The ship Edward, captain Cheyney, in which 
 they were to embark, was now lying at New- 
 castle, waiting for a favorable day to set sail. 
 And in a note to her brother, written from 
 Philadelphia, October 14th, she says : " We 
 are just ready to start for Newcastle ; and I 
 have only time to say, farewell, faiewell, my 
 native land. Full well I know, my dear 
 brother, the struggles it has caused us to part ; 
 and joyfully can I testify, that the grace of God 
 is sufficient, even for this time of need. We 
 shall have a large company of friends ' to ac- 
 company us to the ship.' If I have an oppor- 
 tunity I will write back by the Pilot. I could 
 
 say much to you all : but sisters S , and 
 
 M A., will tell you every thing. Do 
 
 8 
 
82 MEMOIR OF 
 
 not let the dear little sisters forget me. Talk 
 to them much about me, and about the poor 
 heathen, for whom I expect to labor. The 
 Lord bless you, my dear brother. Be faithful ; 
 be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And may 
 the Lord make us all faithful ; and prepare us 
 all for a seat in the mansions of bliss." 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 83 
 
 CHAPTER lY. 
 
 SAILS FOR INDIA SICKNESS CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 VISIT TO MADEIRA. 
 
 The love of borne and country is strongly 
 evinced in Mrs. Morrison's farewell letters to 
 her friends. The struggle which it cost her to 
 leave them was severe and painful in the ex- 
 treme. It was not a timid shrinking from toil 
 and suffering : it was not the want of faith in 
 God : it was not weakness, but nature, that led 
 her thus to feel and weep. Nor does it dimin- 
 ish our reorard for her, either as a woman or as 
 a Christian. When she became a Christian, 
 she did not become a stoic. Religion has no 
 tendency to seal, or dry up the gushing foun- 
 tain of sympathy in a woman's heart. And so 
 far is it from chilling our emotions, or checking 
 such natural tears, that not to feel, — not to 
 weep, in such circumstances, would evince a 
 
84 MEMOIR OF 
 
 want of humanity, as well as piety. She must 
 be something more or less than woman, who 
 could bid adieu to her home, and watch the 
 shores of her native land, as they faded forever 
 from her view, and still betray no emotion. 
 Such stoicism and indifference, we are sure, can 
 find no countenance or justification in the life 
 of Paul, or of that other first, and greater Mis- 
 sionary. It is not the want, but the sacrifice of 
 it for a benevolent and holy end, that entitles 
 an individual to our admiration or respect. But 
 strong as this feeling seemed to be in the bosom 
 of Mrs. M., there v^^as still another there, 
 more powerful and absorbing. The love of 
 Christ led her cheerfully to make the sacrifice, 
 and to become a stranger and pilgrim on the 
 earth, looking for no continuing city, until she 
 might be called to enter one, "which hath 
 foundations, whose builder and maker is God." 
 Having seen her bid adieu to friends and 
 home, we are now to follow^ her across the deep, 
 and learn the faithfulness of God in her Chris- 
 tian experience. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 85 
 
 LETTER TO HER MOTHER. 
 
 Ship Edward, off JVewcastle, f 
 Oct. 16, 1837. \ 
 
 My very dear Mother: 
 
 I presume you are thinking of me this morn- 
 ing, as tossing on the stormy ocean ; and won- 
 dering how I feel and look in my little floating 
 home. Since I have been an inhabitant of the 
 Edward, my thoughts have frequently turned 
 homeward ; and I have remarked to some of the 
 brethren and sisters, the inexpressible pleasure 
 it would afford us to have you look in and see our 
 little domicil. We left Philadelphia on Satur- 
 day morning, October 14th, at seven o'clock, 
 in the steamboat Wilmington for Newcastle ; 
 where we arrived about noon.* Many of our dear 
 friends from the city accompanied us ; and be- 
 fore leaving the steamboat, we had one of the 
 most interesting meetings I ever attended. It 
 was conducted by Dr. Cuyler and Mr. Lowrie, 
 
 * The mission family consisted of the Rev. Henry 
 R. Wilson, Jr., Rev. John H. Morrison, Mr. Reese 
 Morris, printer, and Mr. James Craig, teacher, with 
 their wives. 
 
 8* 
 
86 MEMOIR OF 
 
 who alluded most touchingly to the death of his 
 beloved daugjhter, Louisa A. Lowrie; whose 
 grave we shall all visit, if our lives are spared 
 to reach Calcutta. A copy of her memoir 
 was presented to each of the sisters by her hus- 
 band, the Rev. J. C. Lowrie. After the meet- 
 ing was concluded, the small boat belonging to 
 our ship came alongside, to convey us to our 
 new habitation. The vessel lay some distance 
 from the shore ; but the wind and tide were so 
 much against her, that the captain soon told us 
 that we should not get off before morning. 
 We all felt some unpleasantness about sailing 
 on the Sabbath ; but concluded to commit our 
 way unto the Lord, that He might direct our 
 steps. When the Sabbath dawned, all was 
 calm and peaceful : not a ripple could be seen; 
 and it was soon announced that we should sail 
 on the first ebb of the tide on Monday morning. 
 This, you may well imagine, was most agree- 
 able to our feelings. At eleven o'clock, with 
 the consent and advice of our captain, we had 
 worship on deck. The sailors were all assem- 
 bled, and I was struck with their interesting 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 87 
 
 appearance. My husband conducted the ser- 
 vice, and preached from the passage found in 
 Rom. 10 : 4. They all paid the best attention, 
 and seemed interested. that we might be 
 the means of good to this interesting, but ne- 
 glected class of men! Do not forget the poor 
 weather-beaten sailor when you pray for us. 
 Our steward and his assistant are natives of 
 India, and speak the Bengalee. The first day 
 we dined on board he gave us a dish of rice 
 and curry, of which the gentlemen seemed 
 very fond ; but as it did not look very palatable, 
 and I feared it might not agree with me, I ab- 
 stained entirely from eating it. We have on 
 board every variety of eatables which can be 
 named or thought of. The weather has. been 
 so mild and delightful, that we have not suf- 
 fered much inconvenience from sea-sickness as 
 yet ; but probably, before this reaches you, I 
 shall know what it is in its worst form. Our 
 accommodations are quite passable. The state- 
 room admits one chair, and a small table, which 
 answers the purpose also of a wash-stand, hav- 
 ing a bowl fastened to it. Our berths are large, 
 
88 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and by far more comfortable than I supposed 
 they would be. And if we could have a little 
 more air, we should sleep charmingly. 
 
 We shall now soon dismiss our pilot. And, 
 my dear mother, I begin to realize fully, what it 
 is to be wafted from my native land ; perhaps to 
 visit it no more. Though happy in my choice, 
 nature feels, and I cannot but weep when I 
 think of you all, and follow you from day to 
 day in your ordinary occupations. Even while 
 worshipping with our company of sailors, I be- 
 came lost in thought, as I followed you to the 
 house of God ; joined with you in singing some 
 favorite hymn ; visited the dear Sabbath school, 
 and finally met with you around the family 
 altar. . But our Christian privileges are great : 
 our captain has given us full permission to hold 
 religious services on the Sabbath ; and after 
 we get regulated, we are to have a Bible class 
 for the seamen. We often think and speak of 
 your kindness to us, and bear you in the arms of 
 our faith to a throne of mercy, while we plead 
 that God's comforting and supporting grace 
 may be given to you and to us, to sustain us 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 89 
 
 under every trial. Surely our anticipations are 
 bright. A few more rolling suns, and we shall 
 meet in the New Jerusalem. And the Saviour 
 will not only conduct us safe to the brink of 
 the Jordan; but he will pass through it with 
 us. I rejoice that I can look forward w^ith the 
 cheering hope of a Christian, to that hour 
 when I shall meet the many loved ones, whom 
 I have left behind, in that blissful abode where 
 the pangs of separation are never felt. The 
 ship is now moving rapidly, and I begin to find 
 it difficult to write; but I will copy a hymn 
 which we all joined in singing soon after we 
 came on board. 
 
 '• Hail, sweetest, dearest tie* that binds 
 
 Our glowing hearts in one : 
 Hail, sarred hope, that tunes our minds 
 
 To harmony divine. 
 It is the hope, the blissful hope, 
 
 Which Jesus' grace has given ; 
 The hope, when days and years are past, 
 
 We all shall meet in heaven. 
 
 " What though the northern wintry blast 
 
 Shall howl around thy cot ; 
 What though beneath an eastern sky 
 
 Be cast our distant lot ; 
 Yet still we share the blissful hope, 
 
 Which Jesus' grace has given ; 
 The hope, when days and years are past, 
 
 We all shall meet in heaven ! 
 
90 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " From Burmah's shore, from Afric's strand, 
 
 From India's burning plain ; 
 From Europe, from Columbia's land, 
 
 We hope to meet again. 
 It is the hope, the bhssful hope, 
 
 Which Jesus' grace has given ; 
 The hope, when days and years are past, 
 
 We all shall meet in heaven ! 
 
 *' No lingering look ; no parting sigh, 
 
 Our future meeting knows ; 
 There friendship beams from eye to eye. 
 
 And hope immortal grows. 
 O sacred hope ! O blissful hope ! 
 
 Which Jesus' grace has given; 
 The hope, when days and years are past, 
 
 We all shall meet in heaven ! " 
 
 And now, my beloved mother, adieu. In all 
 probability this is the last letter you will re- 
 ceive from me in many months. 
 
 From your devoted daughter, 
 
 Anna. 
 
 letter to her parents. 
 
 Shi]) Edward, near the Azores, } 
 JYov. 13, 1837. \ 
 
 My VERY DEAR AND HONORED PaRENTS I 
 
 Language cannot describe the feelings of my 
 heart, as I take up my pen to address you, at 
 the distance of three thousand miles from my 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 91 
 
 home. And though I rejoice that I have been 
 borne thus far on my voyage, and that the 
 winds and the waves are still wafting us on- 
 ward, yet my soul weeps in silence at the 
 thought, that the last look has been given, and 
 the parting kiss exchanged. Again and again 
 has the fountain of tears been opened for my 
 relief. 
 
 It was my fixed purpose, after coming on 
 board, to prepare a journal, and have it in readi- 
 ness to forward from Maidera, in case a favor- 
 able opportunity should offer ; but so far my 
 designs have been frustrated. As soon as I 
 began to feel the least motion in the vessel, I 
 was attacked violently with sea-sickness, and 
 owing to the bilious state of my system, I suf- 
 fered longer and more distressingly than any of 
 our company. But, my dear parents, this does 
 not conclude the history of the sickness through 
 which I have been called to pass. I have in- 
 deed been brought to feel that I am but dust 
 and ashes. After suffering for about two weeks 
 with sea-sickness, and just as I was beginning 
 to regain my strength, while sitting in the 
 
92 MEMOIR OF 
 
 companion-way one morning, I was seized with 
 a distressing sickness at the stomach, and a 
 violent pain in the head. Mr. M. assisted 
 me to my berth, where I was taken with a se- 
 vere chill, which was succeeded by a high rise 
 of fever, and pain between my shoulders and 
 in my side. Mr. M. determined to call in 
 Brother Wilson, who had practised medicine 
 when engaged in the Indian Mission ; and in 
 whose judgment we had much confidence. He 
 pronounced my disease to be congestion of the 
 liver. And now, at the expiration of two 
 weeks, 1 find myself recovering slowly ; though 
 unable to sit up more than half of the time. 
 
 Our voyage, thus far, has been unfavorable 
 for recruiting. Though w^e have encountered 
 no severe gales, head winds and calms have 
 marked the greater part of our passage. As 
 yet we have seen no vessel bound to iVmerica ; 
 and none to Europe within speaking distance. 
 
 I often felt, during my sickness, the wish 
 that my situation might be known to you ; that 
 you might sympathize with, and pray for me. 
 But though deprived of your presence to ad- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 93 
 
 minister to my wantsr still the precious prom- 
 ise, " I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," 
 was verified in my case. The kind attentions 
 of ray husband, who watched constantly at my 
 side, with intense interest and anxiety, could 
 not have been surpassed. And I shall re- 
 member with the liveliest gratitude the kind- 
 ness of sister C. Though to be candid I must 
 say, that I often felt that it would be delightful 
 to have one of the dear sisters from home with 
 me, to whom I might impart every feeling ; 
 still I have abundant cause to be thankful that 
 all my wants were supplied, and that the Lord 
 made all my bed for me in my sickness. I 
 trust my trials have already had the effect of 
 weaning me more from the w^orld, and of giving 
 me a more earnest desire to be engaged in his 
 service. And instead of regretting the course 
 I have pursued, or wishing that my example 
 may not be followed, 1 hope that a multitude 
 may be raised up in my native village, and in 
 my own dear circle of friends, who will ere- 
 long follow me, and engage in the same blessed 
 work. 
 
 9 
 
94 MEMOIR OF 
 
 We have been on board ship four Sabbaths ; 
 and have been permitted to enjoy a preached 
 gospel on all but one. The audience consists 
 of about thirty persons, including sailors and 
 passengers. On the first Monday in November, 
 our little band enjoyed a sweet season of prayer 
 for the cause of missions throughout the world, 
 and for those dear friends from whom we had 
 recently parted. To us all, it was a precious 
 meeting. Though unable to raise my head 
 from my pillow, and suffering much from pain, 
 I enjoyed it very much. We hope, after we 
 are all sufficiently recovered from ill health, to 
 form a Bible class for mutual improvement ; 
 and also to establish a prayer meeting. We 
 have two cabin passengers, besides our com- 
 pany, bound for Madeira ; one a native of the 
 Island, and the other a young man from Balti- 
 more, who expects to spend a few months there 
 to regain his health. Sister W. and I have 
 engaged our Portuguese friend to procure us a 
 good draught of fresh water the moment we 
 arrive. Our captain, whom we find very 
 obhging and kind, thinks that we shall remain 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 95 
 
 there about eight days. We have also ascer- 
 tained that there are two ships, bound to New- 
 York, now in the harbor ; and we are anxious 
 to have our letters in readiness, as the opportu- 
 nity of sending thera home is so favorable. 
 
 JYovember 15. Very rough sea this morning. 
 I am so weak that I can scarcely hold my pen. 
 My strength, however, is returning slowly, al- 
 though we have had no very favorable weather 
 either for sailing or recruiting. It is now 
 twenty-eight days since we left the capes of 
 Delaware ; and we have had but two days of 
 favorable wind. 
 
 LETTER TO HER SISTER. 
 
 Ship Edward, near Madeira, } 
 JYov. 21, 1837. \ 
 
 My DEAR SISTER Emeline : 
 
 It was ray intention to have answered your 
 
 dear little note, accompanied with the sweet 
 
 poetry from W., while in Philadelphia ; and 
 
 the kind attentions which I received from the 
 
 many friends of missions alone prevented it. It 
 
 is not yet six weeks since I gave you the part- 
 
96 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ing hand, and I am now almost at the Island 
 of Madeira. I can scarcely realize, dear sister, 
 that so great a distance separates us from each 
 other ; that I am addressing you while tossed 
 upon the mighty ocean, with the probability 
 that I shall no more meet you, until, with the 
 assembled universe, we shall stand before the 
 judgment seat to render up our account. Al- 
 though, since I last saw you, I have been called 
 to pass through seasons of sickness and trial, 
 still I have cause to erect my " Ebenezer," and 
 say, " Hitherto hath the Lord helped me." He 
 has, indeed, cast my lot far from you all ; and 
 I have been called to give up the endearments 
 of home and the blessings of civilized life; 
 but still His hand has been upon me for good, 
 and I can exclaim, " Bless the Lord my soul, 
 and forget not all His benefits !" Is there any 
 thing, dear E., that we should love more than 
 Christ? He that loveth father or mother, 
 brother or sister, more than me, is not worthy 
 of me. If He is the supreme object of our 
 affections, surely we can rejoice in the fact that 
 we are called to part with each other for Him. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 97 
 
 I can plead the same promises for my support 
 that I could if placed where 1 might often enjoy 
 the privilege of seeing you all. I have the same 
 inexhaustible fountain of grace to which I may 
 go ; and the same precious Saviour is ready to 
 hear when I call upon Him. And what mat- 
 ters it then, my dear sister, whether we dwell 
 together or are widely separated 1 A few more 
 revolving suns and our race will be run. A 
 few more days, or years at most, will land us 
 in the streets of the New Jerusalem, where 
 sorrow and sighing shall flee away I There we 
 shall not only be privileged to meet and enjoy 
 each other's society ; but our joy will be height- 
 ened by the presence of the blessed Saviour 
 himself None but myself, and those who are 
 similarly situated, know the trial of separation 
 from parents and brothers and sisters. But 
 when I think of the bondage from which I have 
 been rescued and the debt of gratitude I owe 
 to the Incarnate Son of God for the redemption 
 which He has wrought out ; and then cast my 
 eyes to the other side of the globe, and re- 
 member that he died for the degraded sons and 
 9* 
 
98 MEMOIR OF 
 
 daughters of India, as well as for those who 
 hear the tidings of salvation continually, I count 
 the separation as nothing, if I may be the means 
 of conveying to one dark, benighted mind, a 
 single ray of light. Surely we were not placed 
 here merely to seek our own gratification. That 
 Being who created us, and gave us powers to 
 serve Him, hath said, " Go ye into all the world 
 and preach the gospel to every creature," and 
 with this command the promise is given, " Lo, 
 I am with you always, even unto the end of the 
 world." No, that blessed Saviour has not left 
 me comfortless j he has not called me, and then 
 forsaken me ; his presence has been my con- 
 solation. I can only speak of the goodness of 
 the Lord to us ; of his watchfnl care and pro- 
 tection, both by night and by day. " As the 
 mountains are round about Jerusalem, so is the 
 Lord round about those that fear him." my 
 dear sister, I love to praise him for goodness 
 to us. I love to leave the world and retire to 
 my little room, and plead for his blessing upon 
 those whom I love, and shall see no more. I 
 often sing the beautiful hymn, commencing, 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 99 
 
 " I love to steal awhile away," &c. 
 I trust that you will " pray for us, that the 
 word of the Lord may have free course, and 
 be glorified even as it is with you." 
 
 On the 23d of November she writes to her 
 sisters J. and C. : 
 
 " Little did I realize, seven weeks ago this 
 morning, what my feelings would be in address- 
 ing you ; little did I know what tender recol- 
 lections would crowd upon my mind. Painful, 
 yet pleasing, are the emotions that fill my bo- 
 som as my thoughts are wafted back to the 
 home of my childhood. It is still dear to me 
 as when I was permitted to make one of your 
 circle. Yes, it is pleasant to call it my home ; 
 and though I may never enter it again, yet I 
 claim a oneness of spirit with you, and feel the 
 same interest that I did in those days and years 
 that cannot be recalled. Those were indeed 
 happy days. We took sweet counsel together, 
 and walked to the house of God in company. 
 We joined in singing the praises of a Father 
 
100 MEMOIR OF 
 
 who had given us hearts to love him ; and 
 also united in prayer for his blessing upon us, 
 and upon a dying world. Oh my sisters, those 
 precious seasons have fled ; but how sweet their 
 memory ; how delightful to recall that season, 
 when we felt ourselves to be lost and ruined 
 sinners ; exposed to the wrath and curse of an 
 offended God; and then heard him speak 
 peace and pardon to our troubled souls. Oh 
 what do we not owe to the mercy and conde- 
 scension of God's dear Son ! Let us, my dear 
 sisters, continue " steadfast, unmovable, always 
 abounding in the work of the Lord." I feel 
 thankful that he has singled me out from many, 
 much better qualified than myself, and called 
 me to cross the stormy deep to tell of his love 
 to the poor Hindoo. Although I feel that my 
 love for you all has increased tenfold, still I do 
 not ask to return and spend my days among 
 you. I only ask for health and strength to la- 
 bor in his cause; and for more of that spirit 
 which in his precious word is made the test of 
 discipleship. 
 
 " My health now is almost as good as when I 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 101 
 
 left you ; my strength, however, I find returns 
 slowly. During the first four weeks that we 
 passed on shipboard I was unable to attend to 
 any thing, even the spreading of my bed. Since 
 that time I have been able to rise in the morn- 
 ing, attend to various duties, and sometimes to 
 exercise on deck, when not too cold and wet. 
 After breakfast I spend a short time in reading, 
 and occasionally hold sister C.'s little girl. We 
 live like a company of brothers and sisters ; 
 and I am often reminded of the circle at home. 
 After prayers in the evening, we generally en- 
 joy a season of conversation with each other ; 
 and sometimes a little singing ; after which we 
 retire to our several apartments for the night. 
 I sometimes think, if I only had an own dear 
 sister with me, my happiness would be com- 
 plete. But [ am content to be situated just as 
 my Heavenly Father has placed me, for he 
 knows what is best for me. There has been so 
 much monotony in our voyage, thus far, that I 
 fear my letters will not be very interesting to 
 you. Pray much for me, dear sisters, and allow 
 me to breathe once more the word, " farewell." 
 
102 MEMOIR OF 
 
 * Farewell, but not forever, 
 We soon shall meet above, 
 To dwell with Jesus ever, 
 And sing redeeming love.' " 
 
 A short extract from a letter to one of her 
 brothers, will show the deep and tender solici- 
 tude she felt for those whom she left without 
 any hope in Christ. 
 
 " The interest I feel in you, my dear brother, 
 as it respects your spiritual welfare, is not of 
 recent date. The tears I have shed and the 
 prayers I have offered, are known only to the 
 Searcher of hearts. I trust that I have been 
 called, through the free and sovereign grace of 
 God, from nature's darkness into the marvel- 
 lous light and liberty of the gospel ; and that 
 when I shall have done with all things here ; 
 when time with me shall be no more ; my spirit 
 will ascend, and with the glorified millions 
 adore the matchless grace of which I have been 
 made a rich partaker. As I look around on 
 the dear circle of loved ones, whom I have no 
 expectation of meeting again until the resur- 
 rection morning, I cannot but feel a deep anx- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 103 
 
 iety for those of our clear family whom I have 
 left without any interest in that sacrifice which 
 w^as made by the death of God's dear Son. 
 Why not now, my dear brother, while the 
 day of grace is lengthened out, accept the offers 
 of mercy and take the Saviour for your friend 
 and portion. You know with what earnestness 
 I have plead with you in days and years past ; 
 and now w'hen I can see you no more, will you 
 not remember the admonition ? It was my last 
 request when I gave you the parting hand ; and 
 it is still all that I have to ask of you. If you 
 choose the Saviour as your friend, you will have 
 nothing to fear. He will guide you safely 
 through the storms and adversities of life ; he 
 will go with you * through the dark valley and 
 the shadowof death ;' and finally he will con- 
 duct you to the New^ Jerusalem, where you 
 shall go no more out forever. how long be 
 has borne wiih you ! and can you still turn your 
 back upon him ? Can you, while he yet stands 
 pleading, refuse his offers] It is surely the 
 part of wisdom to make him your friend. To 
 think of your being lost, lost forever ! Oh ! with 
 
104 MEMOIR OF 
 
 what anguish of spirit I repeat the word lost. 
 Can I bear the thought that one of our little 
 circle should have the sentence, " Depart ye 
 cursed," pronounced upon them ? listen to 
 the invitations of the gospel, lest, when sum- 
 moned to appear before the Majesty of Heaven, 
 you lament, with bitter lamentation, your folly 
 in neglecting these things until it was too late." 
 
 The following letter, containing an account 
 of her visit to the Island of Madeira, is ad- 
 dressed to two of her younger brothers ; one of 
 whom has since been called away in the joyful 
 hope of a blessed immortality, to join his be- 
 loved sister in a better world. 
 
 Funchal City, Island of Madeira, } 
 Dec. 1, 1837. \ 
 
 My dear Brothers : 
 
 We have at length arrived at the beautiful 
 Island of Madeira. Our ship anchored in the 
 harbor on the morning of the 28th of Novem- 
 ber. None of our company, however, left the 
 vessel until the next day ; and then only the 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MOURISON. 105 
 
 gentlemen. They delivered their letters of in- 
 troduction to Mr. Paine, an English gentleman 
 with whom Mr. Lowrie staid while at the Island, 
 and returned in the afternoon, bringing us or- 
 anges, lemons, green figs, bananas, guavas, Ma- 
 deira nuts, apples, and a demijohn of delightful 
 fresh water. As soon as our good captain 
 went on shore he sent us some fine beef, cab- 
 bage, turnips, and baker's bread. And we 
 have also had fresh fish, which very much re- 
 semble our shad. 
 
 Several of our company went on shore yes- 
 terday, but as sister W. was just recovering 
 from an attack of sickness, and not able to go, 
 I remained with her until this morning, which 
 is the first day of winter in America. We rose 
 quite early, dressed ourselves, and breakfasted 
 on board; and then were raised successively in 
 a large arm-chair by a tackle, and let down 
 gently, though with perturbation, into a little 
 Portuguese surf-boat ; which was rowed by two 
 natives. In about half an hour we were landed 
 safely on the beach. We were immediately 
 accosted and beset by beggars, from whom we 
 10 
 
106 MEMOIR OP 
 
 had some difficulty to rid ourselves. They are 
 probably impostors, who station themselves on 
 the beach for the sole purpose of annoying all 
 who may land. The city of Funchal is walled, 
 and subject to Portugal ; we accordingly were 
 obliged to pass through gates before we could 
 enter it. The inhabitants are as dark colored 
 as our mulattoes ; and the first thing that at- 
 tracted my attention was the cap worn by them. 
 It is made of blue cloth in the shape of a cone, 
 of about six inches in diameter at the base, and 
 some half a foot or more in height. It has no 
 brim at all, and covers, at most, not more than 
 the fourth part of the head. It was a mystery 
 to us all how they were kept on the head ; un- 
 less there is some strong affinity between the 
 head and cap. Their dress, generally, consists 
 of a shirt and pantaloons, without suspenders, 
 but gathered on a band around the waist and 
 knees. 
 
 After passing through the gates and walking 
 a short distance we were met by Mr. Barr, 
 from England ; a pious man, who has resided 
 on the Island for the last five years, and is en- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 107 
 
 gaged in business. He very kindly offered his 
 services to show us any part of the city. We 
 passed the Governor's palace, a massive old, 
 fashioned house guarded by sentinels in uniform, 
 and several other buildings which attracted our 
 attention. Finally we arrived at the English 
 burying ground, which is entered through mas- 
 sive gates. I was perfectly astonished to wit- 
 ness the beauty and regularity which charac- 
 terize it. The avenues are sufficiently broad 
 for two to walk abreast ; there is a hedge row 
 of different kinds of geraniums, all in bloom, 
 and growing as luxuriantly as weeds in Amer- 
 ica. The graves are nearly all covered with 
 vines of very rich roses. The geraniums and 
 other flowers, many of which I have seen at 
 home, grow here spontaneously ; and their fra- 
 grance far exceeds the American. While 
 passing along the streets I could not help ad- 
 miring large branches running over the top of 
 high walls, all in bloom, thinking what delight 
 
 it would afford Mr. J to see plants as large 
 
 as many of the small trees at home, which he 
 would spend years in cultivating. The orange 
 
108 MEMOIR OF 
 
 and lemon trees are many of them as large as 
 our apple trees ; they are loaded with fruit, and 
 the ground under them is literally covered. 
 They are more plentiful than apples in our 
 fruitful seasons. But I cannot give you any 
 description of the city, its inhabitants, its fruits, 
 or its flowers. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. W., Mr. M. and myself are 
 now at Mr. Paine's. His residence is situated 
 on a hill ; and the house is large and old-fash- 
 ioned ; the rooms are of enormous size. We 
 dined between three and four o'clock, on boiled 
 fish, roast beef and mutton ; then rice pudding 
 and stewed banana; and afterwards oranges 
 and apples were served. The garden attached 
 to the house is very splendid ; containing flow- 
 ers of the richest hue, and some of the finest 
 trees I ever beheld. We can scarcely look out 
 from a window in the building without seeing 
 large orange and lemon trees with their limbs 
 bending with the weight of the fruit. We ex- 
 pect to leave here to-morrow and return to our 
 ship ; feeling truly thankful that we have been 
 permitted to enjoy so delightful a visit. Our 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 109 
 
 ship will sail again on Monday ; and we are 
 all anxious to get off, though every thing is 
 calculated to please us. Although it is the 
 first of December, it is as warm as summer 
 with you. The air is clear, and the most pure 
 and healthy in the world. I wish you and my 
 dear little sisters F. and C. were by my side. 
 I think you would be delighted to hear the 
 sweet birds warbling their notes of praise to 
 Him who made them. Every few moments I 
 stop writing and look out of the window, and 
 listen to their melodious voices. 1 must not 
 omit telling you how Mrs. W. and myself were 
 conveyed to Mr. Paine's. They have no car- 
 riages or horses here, except a few which I 
 suppose are brought from England or America. 
 The ladies ride in what are called palanquins. 
 They are shaped very much like a cradle; 
 made of wood and painted green or yellow. 
 There is a strip of carpeting on the bottom ; 
 and a small cushion, covered with calico, to sit 
 upon. The back is made just like an old-fash- 
 ioned arm-chair ; and over our heads, as we sit 
 ^n it, are two long stout poles, that rest on the 
 10^ 
 
110 MEMOIR OF 
 
 shoulders of four men, two before and two 
 behind. And across these poles is thrown a 
 large calico spread, designed to cover you up 
 entirely. But wishing to see all we could of 
 the gardens and vineyards, we concluded to 
 deviate a little from the Portuguese custom and 
 ride uncovered. The houses here are two and 
 sometimes three stories high, built of stone, plas- 
 tered and whitewashed. They appear very old ; 
 but at a distance look remarkably neat and clean. 
 Every foot of ground is cultivated, and mostly 
 in vineyards. They had gathered their grapes 
 and made their wine before we arrived. There 
 are about thirty thousand inhabitants on the 
 Island, and most of them are Roman Catholics. 
 
 When on the eve of sailing she adds in a 
 postscript to her brother W. : 
 
 "We are almost ready to weigh anchor; 
 and take our final leave of this beautiful Island. 
 Brother Wilson and Mr. M. are very busily 
 engaged in sealing up bottles of fresh water. 
 We found our water so very unpleasant, partic- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. Ill 
 
 ularly in sickness, that we begged of them to 
 take some empty bottles and fill them with 
 fresh water. My health has been greatly bene- 
 fited by our visit to the Island, and the exer- 
 cise I have taken. I hope to be spared from 
 a second attack of sea-sickness. We shall 
 double the Cape in about six weeks, if we have 
 a prosperous voyage ; but before that time you 
 will have received our letters. The ship in 
 which they are sent is the Odessa, Captain Dim- 
 ming, bound to New-York. Captain D. break- 
 fasted with us, and you cannot imagine our 
 feelings towards any one who is going to our 
 native land. I do not wish to return with him ; 
 but I have looked with swimming eyes at his 
 beautiful vessel lying near our own. But they 
 are calling for my letters; the custom-house 
 officers are coming on board to give us our 
 clearance ; and in a few short hours we shall 
 again become wanderers on the pathless ocean." 
 
112 MEMOIR OF 
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 LEAVES MADEIRA EXTRACTS FROM HER JOURNAL 
 
 SICKNESS VOYAGE TO CALCUTTA. 
 
 This short visit to the beautiful Island of 
 Madeira, appears to have afforded Mrs. Morri- 
 son much pkasure. For weeks she had been 
 confined to the cabin, and most of the time to 
 •her couch, by a distressing sickness, which not 
 only enfeebled her body but depressed her 
 spirits. It was delightful, therefore, to meet 
 with any thing to relieve the monotony of a 
 long and tedious voyage. The effect of a 
 change from the ship to the shore was at once 
 visible. Every thing that she saw, or heard, or 
 felt, seemed to impart pleasure to her mind, and 
 fresh vigor to her languid system. The air 
 was pure and balmy, and all the scenes and 
 scenery possessed the excitement of novelty. 
 Th€ terraced and vine-covered hills ; the rich 
 luxuriance of tropical vegetation; the variety 
 and fragrance of the shrubs and flowers, were 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 1 13 
 
 all new and striking objects of interest. " The 
 general aspect of the mountains, as seen from 
 the sea," says Mr. M., " is truly sublime. 
 The shore is everywhere bold or precipitous, 
 and the land rises from the water's edge to 
 lofty peaks, suddenly broken by deep and 
 frightful ravines. But what adds greatly to 
 the sublimity of the scene is the cloudy state of 
 the atmosphere, which generally prevails far up 
 the mountains, while the inhabitants below 
 enjoy clear weather and a beautiful sunshine. 
 The mountains, from their height, appear to 
 attract and detain every passing cloud, as if 
 they needed, like land birds, some resting place 
 from their weary flight. Sometimes the moun- 
 tain tops appear jutting out in clear sunshine 
 above their gloomy visitors ; sometimes they 
 are entirely enveloped in the same mists which 
 shade the parts below ; and sometimes these 
 watery travellers appear too heavily laden to 
 ascend entirely to the summit ; so that while they 
 rear their heads with sufficient density to obscure 
 the peaks, they rest their feet upon the plain 
 beneath, and the whole scene is beautifully va- 
 
114 MEMOIR OF 
 
 negated, with fragments of rainbow here and 
 there interspersed, and continually shifting their 
 position to suit the varying motions of the clouds, 
 and sometimes descending to the water's edge, 
 and playing like a lambent flame upon the sur- 
 face of the ocean." 
 
 But though she was delighted with every 
 thing beautiful around her, yet she wished not 
 to linger there : she was impatient to reach 
 "her home in India, — that land of darkness 
 and spiritual death." It was with gladness 
 rather than regret, therefore, that on the 5th 
 of December she bid adieu to Madeira, as the 
 Edward spread her canvass to the breeze, 
 
 " To sail o'er silent seas again." 
 
 During the remainder of their voyage Mrs. 
 M. kept " a journal, for the perusal of her 
 parents, brothers and sisters," which no doubt 
 contains a faithful record of her views and 
 feelings, as well as the incidents occurring 
 from day to day. From this journal we shall 
 now introduce such extracts as may be adapted 
 to interest the general reader. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MOKKISOX. 115 
 
 Shi]p Edward, near the Equator, / 
 Jan. 1, 1838. \ 
 As nothinjT of much interest has occurred 
 since we left the harbor of Madeira, I have 
 postponed the commencement of my journal 
 until the present time. Thus far the winds 
 have borne us very swiftly on our voyage, and 
 w^e are within a few hours sail of the line. 
 The weather in this region is so excessively hot, 
 that we have all been studying this morning 
 how we can make ourselves most comfortable. 
 Our state-rooms we find it almost impossible to 
 occupy. We are expecting, however, to enjoy 
 cooler weather in a few days. My thoughts 
 to-day have incessantly wandered to the land of 
 ray birth ; and dwelt with mournful pleasure 
 upon precious seasons that I am to enjoy no 
 more. Obtained sweet relief, by pouring my 
 sorrows into the bosom of that Saviour who was 
 a man of sorrow^s and acquainted with grief. 
 " Nature will feel :" and although I can and do 
 rejoice in prospect of the glorious work to 
 which I have been called, I sometimes feel sad 
 to think that " I shall see your faces no more." 
 
116 MEMOIR or 
 
 But still it is my privilege to " press toward the 
 mark, for the prize of the high calling of God 
 in Christ Jesus." It is a cause of much grief 
 to me, that I have done so little for Him who 
 laid down his life for my redemption. I desire 
 to spend my few remaining day entirely in his 
 service. I know not what changes the present 
 year may effect ; perhaps the news may reach 
 me of the death of some beloved friend or rela- 
 tive ; of some endearing tie severed, that will 
 make my heart bleed at the recollection. But 
 still let us rejoice in the hope of a reunion in 
 that land, where there is no sorrow, or sickness, 
 or pain ; but where all tears shall be wiped 
 away. 
 
 January 2d. Crossed the equator yesterday, 
 and shall, if prospered, reach the Cape of Good 
 Hope in a few days. In the evening, we ob- 
 served the monthly concert for prayer. Al- 
 though we cannot meet in the sanctuary of the 
 living God, we enjoy some soul-reviving sea- 
 sons. We can meet in spirit with our dear 
 absent friends, and unitedly plead for the bless- 
 ing of God upon his cause in heathen lands ', 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 117 
 
 and we have cherished the delightful thought, 
 that your ardent prayers are ascending in behalf 
 of the wanderers on the mighty ocean. 
 
 January Stli. Yesterday, Brother Wilson 
 preacheil on deck. I never enjoyed public 
 worship more when at home. The officers and 
 sailors were all very attentive ; and although 
 we perceive nothing special, yet they manifest 
 a great deal of interest ; and a number of them 
 attend evening prayers in the cabin. This eve- 
 ning we observed, with our dear American 
 friends, the Sabbath school concert. 
 
 January ISth. We are now in latitude 31°. 
 The weather this morning is quite cold, and I 
 find my warmest clothing quite comfortable. 
 Attended our female prayer meeting in sister 
 C.'s room, and found the season very re- 
 freshing. As a company of dear sisters, we 
 love to meet and plead for the cause of Zion 
 throughout the world. We love to bear on our 
 hearts to the mercy -seat the loved ones we have 
 left, who are as dear to us as ever. And I have 
 sometimes fancied, that at the same hour, per- 
 haps, a beloved mother or father, brother or 
 11 
 
118 MKMOIR OF 
 
 sister, were sending up their earnest supplica- 
 tions in behalf of the absent ones. 
 
 From the last date to the 23d of January, 
 there is a blank in her journal, occasioned by 
 another attack of sickness still more severe 
 than those that she had been called to endure. 
 It is by no means a blank, however, in her re- 
 ligious history. Never before did her piety as- 
 sume such a heavenly lustre ; it was indeed like 
 " gold tried in the fire." Never before had she 
 been able to bear such clear and decided tes- 
 timony to the faithfulness of God ; and to the 
 unspeakable value of our holy religion. Such 
 testimony, given in such circumstances, ought 
 not to be lost : it is a valuable legacy to the 
 church. It reveals to us the Son of God, as he 
 accompanies his followers through the glowing 
 furnace of affliction; and it pours a flood of 
 glory on their passage to the tomb. Her hus- 
 band has furnished us with a narrative of her 
 religious exercises during this trying period, in 
 a letter to her parents, which we shall intro- 
 duce almost entire. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 119 
 
 Shijf Edward, Feb. 3d, 1838. 
 
 My ever dear Parents : 
 
 Since we left the Island of Madeira, we have 
 had to sing of judgment and mercy. Our 
 voyage thus far has, as I suppose, been remark- 
 ably smooth for an India voyage. We have 
 had but little of what a sailor would call very 
 rough weather ; none when we could not lie 
 down as quietly to sleep as if W'e had been 
 under the shelter of our paternal roof. Indeed, 
 I may say, we have been under such a shelter. 
 The Lord our God has been our shield and ex- 
 ceeding great reward ; so that when the light- 
 ning has flashed around us, and the thunders 
 rolled, and the winds and waves appeared to 
 vie with each other, which should rage most 
 furiously, and most threaten us with destruction, 
 we have been enabled to look abroad upon the 
 awful grandeur of the scene, and say, with the 
 most perfect composure, " My Father rules 
 them all." The Lord has performed unto us 
 his own most precious promises : he has kept 
 our minds in perfect peace, sweetly stayed on 
 
120 MEMOIR OF 
 
 his own unchanging faithfulness. And I can- 
 not express how much we are indebted to the 
 goodness of God, for sending in our company 
 a pious physician. 
 
 But kindly as we have been provided for in 
 this respect, our beloved Anna has, to all ap- 
 pearance, been brought down to the very bor- 
 ders of the grave. In some subsequent letter 
 I will give you the particulars of her complaint 
 and her medical treatment. At present I shall 
 speak more particularly of the goodness of 
 God, in sustaining her under the most intense 
 sufferings, causing her to triumph over the 
 fear of death, and restoring her again to health 
 and a good degree of strength. For the pur- 
 pose of greater accuracy, I shall extract from 
 a journal which I kept during her sickness. 
 
 She appeared pretty well, until Sabbath, 
 January 14th, when she experienced a return 
 of her headache. It commenced in the morn- 
 ing and continued gradually to increase. Be- 
 fore the hour of public worship — it being my 
 turn to officiate — I discovered that she was 
 worse, and proposed remaining with her. But 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA ? OllKlSON. 121 
 
 she replied, it would not be right to leave those 
 perishing souls without the bread of life, for 
 the sake of taking care of her body, and she 
 thought I might safely leave her, long enough 
 to discharge my public duties. On returning 
 to her bedside I found her suffering most in- 
 tensely, and hardly able to speak ; and soon 
 after she was seized with convulsions. At in- 
 tervals during the day she was entirely bereft 
 of her reason. And while suffering under her 
 more severe paroxysms of pain, and mental 
 aberration of mind, she talked incoherently of 
 home, and begged me to send into the office 
 for her father. I reminded her that she was on 
 board of a ship, and on her way to the heathen, 
 to teach them about Christ. This immediately 
 calmed her mind, and on one occasion she said, 
 "Oyes! 1 forgot that precious Saviour!" I 
 inquired, " Are you not sorry now, since you 
 have to suffer so much, far from home, that 
 you have forsaken all for Christ ?" She ap- 
 peared to feel hurt at the intimation, and re- 
 plied with peculiar emphasis : " 0, no ! I love 
 him ; I could lay down a thousand lives in his 
 11* 
 
122 MEMOIR OF 
 
 cause, if I had them." " Is the Saviour pre- 
 cious to you now?'^ said I. " yes," she re- 
 plied, " the chief among ten thousand, and the 
 one altogether lovely." This was not a con- 
 nected conversation, but was held during inter- 
 vals of partial relief from excruciating pain. 
 She several times said to me, " Do not let me 
 complain, and dishonor my precious Saviour." 
 I several times overheard her applying to the 
 great Physician for relief; but could not always 
 understand what she said. Such ejaculations 
 as these were sometimes audible to all around 
 her bed : " Precious Saviour, take me to thy- 
 self, — relieve me from this suffering, — never- 
 theless not ray will, but thine be done, — it is all 
 right, — make me patient, submissive," &c. 
 After she was completely restored to her right 
 mind, she inquired with much solicitude, 
 whether she had not dishonored her Saviour by 
 impatience, or unkindness to anyone around her; 
 or by saying any thing improper. On being 
 told that she had not, but had borne delightful 
 testimony to the preciousness of Christ, she 
 replied, " no ; it cannot be ; I am so sinful." 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 123 
 
 January 15th. Another day of worldly toil 
 and trouble ; but of spiritual joys. A little 
 after noon, her headache returning, we resorted 
 to precautionary measures, to prevent, if pos- 
 sible, a return of those dreadful convulsions 
 with which she was yesterday afflicted. Not- 
 withstanding all we could do, they came on 
 while we were thus engaged ; and the only 
 effect of our efforts was to check their violence 
 and shorten their duration. This we regarded 
 as a great blessing ; for, to all human appear- 
 ance, she could not have survived a return of 
 them in all their violence. Her great concern 
 during the whole day appeared to be, not what 
 she had suffered, or might yet suffer, but 
 whether she had said or done any thing to dis- 
 honor Him, who was so precious to her. And 
 never did I witness such a complete triumph 
 over the fear of death. Knowing that she had 
 always suffered much from this cause, I asked 
 her, if death now appeared terrible to her, 
 when it seemed to be so very near ? " Not at 
 all," she replied, "it has no terrors for me. 
 Christ has passed through the dark valley, and 
 
124 MEMOIR OF 
 
 dissipated all its gloom." During the day she 
 frequently repeated parts of hymns, and pas- 
 sages of Scripture, which appeared peculiarly 
 precious to her. On the following stanza she 
 dwelt with great satisfaction and delight: 
 
 '♦ My faith would lay her hand 
 On that dear head of thine; 
 While like a penitent I stand, 
 And there confess my sin." 
 
 At another time, I heard her endeavoring to 
 collect from the scattered fragments in her 
 memory, that inimitably beautiful passage near 
 the close of the fifteenth chapter of First Co- 
 rinthians, — " This corruptible must put on in- 
 corruption." I then repeated the whole of the 
 passage to the close of the 56th verse ; when 
 she added with great emphasis, " But thanks 
 be to God, which giveth us, — me, me the chief 
 of sinners, — the victory through our Lord Jesus 
 Christ." On being asked, which she would 
 choose, to live, or to die; she hesitated, and 
 seemed to be in a strait betwixt two, having a 
 desire '* to depart and be with Christ, which is 
 far better." She mentioned but one reason why 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 1^5 
 
 she would like to live, — to tell the perishing 
 heathen of a glorious Redeemer ; but then she 
 said, she had no will but his. She was asked, 
 if she could give me up, and leave me alone in 
 this dreary world ? "0 yes," she replied, ** I 
 can trust him with the Saviour : and I know it 
 will be but a short time before he w^ill follow 
 me." 
 
 With such and many other and similar evi- 
 dences of her ripeness for glory, and her desire 
 to be with Christ, my selfishness was so sub- 
 dued, that, while I wept at the thought of such 
 a bereavement, I could not say to her " stay 
 with me." I could only pray, Lord, if con- 
 sistent with thy righteous will, lend her to me, 
 to thy church, and to a ruined world, a little 
 longer. 
 
 January 16fh. The light of this morning 
 dawned upon me in all its beauty ; but its love- 
 liness only served, by the depth of the contrast 
 with what was passing around and within me, 
 to render more awful the gloom of that cloud 
 which overhung my path. Brother W. told 
 me, that the situation of Mrs. M. was, as I 
 
126 MEMOIR OF 
 
 feared, very critical. The dreadful thought, 
 though not a stranger to me, now flashed upon 
 my mind with a force and conviction never be- 
 fore experienced, that in a few hours, or at 
 most a few days, death w^ould, in all proba- 
 bility, snatch from my embrace my dearest 
 earthly friend, and leave me a solitary wan- 
 derer in a gloomy wilderness. My dear wife, 
 from the commencement of her sickness, said 
 she expected soon to leave me : and charged 
 me frequently to let her know when we thought 
 her dying, as she wished to leave some mes- 
 sages. She received the intelligence of her 
 probable dissolution as calmly, and I doubt not 
 much more calmly, than if it had been a sum- 
 mons to return to the home of her childhood. 
 She said it was good news : she would rather 
 depart and be with Christ, and repeated part of 
 the hymn, " If Jesus Christ be precious here," 
 &c. " Tell my friends," said she, " I am not 
 sorry. I rejoice that I have left all to suffer 
 for Christ. My dying testimony is, that ' Christ 
 is all in all.'" On recovering from one of her 
 turns of fainting, which now became frequent, 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MOKUISON. 127 
 
 owing to her great weakness, she exclaimed, 
 '•' Why did you bring me back 1 I was almost 
 home." And several times she said, that she 
 thought herself just at the gate of heaven. She 
 spoke with great emphasis and satisfaction of 
 the peace which Christ left as a legacy to his 
 disciples, and said, " I know it is so : ray peace 
 flows as a river ; a peace, I am sure, the world 
 cannot give. You know," she continued, " that 
 death has always been such a terror to me; but 
 now it has no terrors for me : Christ has en- 
 dured it, and despoiled it of them all." I can- 
 not repeat all that she said ; but this is a faith- 
 ful specimen of the tenor of her conversation, 
 and of the exercises of her mind. 
 
 But the remedies employed operated well, 
 and, by the blossing of God, were effectual in 
 subduino: her disease. Althouf^h it left her in 
 such a debilitated state, that great care was 
 necessary to prevent a relapse, yet in a few 
 days we were again hoping for her entire re- 
 covery. I have been thus particular in giving 
 you an account of every thing as far as I could, 
 because I felt assured that you would read it 
 
128 MEMOIR or 
 
 with the deepest interest. Join with us, then, 
 in thanksgiving and praise to God for his great 
 goodness to us in all his dealings with us. And 
 pray continually, that we may yet be made 
 ministering spirits, sent forth to the heathen to 
 minister to them who shall be heirs of salva- 
 tion. 
 
 We now resume her journal. 
 
 January 2M. I have been prevented from 
 writing in my journal a number of days past, 
 on account of a serious attack of sickness, 
 which commenced on the day which closed the 
 twenty-fourth year of my probationary exist- 
 ence. As my dear husband will give you a 
 particular account of the extreme sufferings 
 through which I was called to pass, I will not 
 attempt a description. Suffice it to say, that I 
 look upon myself with w^onder and astonish- 
 ment as being able so soon to sit bolstered in 
 my rocking-chair long enough to write afew 
 lines in my journal. Truly, death stared me in 
 the face , and I was very near entering the 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 129 
 
 gates of the kingdom, where, as I humbly trust, 
 1 should have enjoyed uninterrupted happiness 
 forever ; and where I still hope to meet all my 
 dear friends, redeemed by the blood of Christ. 
 But I am yet spared ; and I feel that it becomes 
 me to " bless and praise the name of the Lord," 
 that he has restored me thus far, when I was 
 apparently so near eternity. Its glories dawned 
 upon my sight ; and I desired rather to depart 
 and be with Christ, if it was God's will that I 
 should not enter on my labors, — for I knew it 
 would be far better. Yes, my dear parents, the 
 Lord then afforded me a delightful foretaste of 
 that w^orld of blessedness and glory, which I 
 cannot describe. His presence, during the most 
 trying hour, filled ray little room wMth light and 
 joy. And although he had cast my lot far from 
 those who would have watched over me with 
 yearning tenderness in that season of anguish, 
 still his presence w^as vouchsafed to me, and his 
 peace flowed into my soul like a river. ! I 
 felt with the poet, that 
 
 "Jesus can make a dying bed 
 Feel soft as downy pillows are." 
 
 12 
 
130 MEMOIR OF 
 
 He has seen fit, however, to bless the means 
 used for ray recovery ; and is again restoring 
 my strength, which I trust will hereafter be 
 spent in his service. 
 
 January 26th. Have been on deck to-day 
 for the first time in a fortnight, and enjoyed it 
 greatly. The air was so sweet and refreshing, 
 that I almost fancied I was inhaling a breeze 
 from land. We sometimes think it would be a 
 gratification to see the hills and vales of our 
 dear native land, — rendered now still dearer by 
 the immense distance which separates us from 
 it ; but my mind is kept in perfect peace, being 
 stayed on the Lord. If we are prospered, w-e 
 shall reach India in sixty days after leaving the 
 Cape of Good Hope. In visiting Madeira w^e 
 were obliged to deviate from the usual course, 
 and our voyage in consequence of it will be 
 considerably lengthened. 
 
 January 21th. Although storms are raging 
 without, and the vessel is tossed by waves 
 that are almost mountain high, yet all is peace 
 within ; and we feel the sweet assurance that 
 Christ has but to speak the word, and all will 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 131 
 
 be calm. Spent an hour this afternoon in 
 teaching our Bengalee servant to read Enghsh. 
 He seems much interested, and is a smart, intel- 
 ligent boy. Mr. M. told him, that if he would 
 learn to read before we reached Calcutta, he 
 would give him a Bible. He is a Mohammedan, 
 and I cannot describe the pleasure I felt in 
 being permitted to explain to him something of 
 the nature of the Christian religion. I com- 
 menced by hearing him spell words in the book 
 that I was reading. I pointed to the word 
 " Christ," and, after spelling it, asked him if he 
 knew what it meant. He replied, " God." I 
 then explained how, and for whom he died. 
 He exclaimed, " Not for Hindoo sinners ?" I 
 said, certainly, for sinners everywhere. " But," 
 he replied, " I shall lose caste if I take the 
 Americans' God." I urged him '^ not to fear 
 them which kill the body, and after that have no 
 more that they can do ; but rather to fear him 
 who can destroy both soul and body in hell." 
 
 January 2Sth. A very cold day ; had preach- 
 ing in the after-cabin, and Mr. M. officiated. 
 But six of the seamen were present. In the 
 
132 MEMOIR OF 
 
 afternoon, the mission family met as a Bible 
 class; and all became so much interested in 
 the subject as to forget that they were shiver- 
 ing with cold. I have also been greatly de- 
 lighted in reading the Memoirs of Dr. Carey, 
 who spent his days in the benighted land to 
 which we are bound. that I may, when my 
 work is done, be prepared to follow him to a 
 world of eternal blessedness ! I enjoy singing 
 very much ; and often wish for a dear brother 
 or sister from home to join me. To-day I have 
 been singing " My faith looks up to thee," and 
 " Rise my soul and stretch thy wings," &c. 
 
 January 30th. I have never witnessed so 
 heavy a sea, as we had this morning. Found it 
 almost impossible to write, or to keep in any one 
 position. It is much more calm this evening, 
 and we have the prospect of fine weather. To 
 our no small satisfaction we have passed the 
 meridian of the " Cape," and are now ten thou- 
 sand miles from home. Six thousand more will 
 land us in Calcutta. There we shall be " strang- 
 ers in a strange land ;" the voices of friends 
 and kindred will not greet our ears ; and we 
 
MRS. ANXA MARIA MORRISON. 133 
 
 shall be far from a land of Sabbaths and sanctu- 
 aries. But '* thus saith the Lord God, although 
 I have cast them far off among the heathen ; 
 and althoutrh I have scattered them amongj the 
 countries ; yet will I be to them as a little sanc- 
 tuary in the countries where they shall come." 
 Ezek. 11: 16. Our journey like that of the 
 children of Israel is a long and toilsome one ', 
 yet the promise given in connection with our 
 commission is cheering, " Lo, 1 am with you 
 alway, even unto the end of the world." 
 
 " Though dark be my way, 
 
 Since he is my guide, 
 'Tis mine to obey, 
 
 'Tis his to provide; 
 His way was much rougher. 
 
 And darker than mine ; 
 Did Jesus thus suffer, 
 
 And shall I repine?" 
 
 January ^\st. One of the most lovely days 
 that we have had. I have been able to exer- 
 cise on deck : the sea is calm and tranquil, and 
 the air bracing to the nerves, and exhilarating 
 to the spirits. Spent an hour with my Bengalee 
 pupil this afternoon. He says, if he can only get 
 to Calcutta, and bathe in the sacred water, he 
 12* 
 
134 MEMOIR OP 
 
 shall not want a Bible. I endeavored, but in 
 vain, to convince him, that all the water in the 
 Ganges could not cleanse him from sin. When 
 will " the day dawn and the day-star arise," and 
 shine upon poor benighted India ! This evening 
 we held our " Social Conference." The question 
 for discussion was, " The evidences of an inter- 
 est in Christ, and the best method of promoting 
 true Christian friendship." The brethren all 
 take part in the exercises ; and we have found 
 them very delightful and profitable meetings. 
 Our company, we think, is a very agreeable 
 and pleasant one. This adds much to our com- 
 fort and happiness. Truly we "have every 
 thing and abound." " for a heart to serve my 
 Saviour faithfully, and to be wholly resigned to 
 his will !" 
 
 February 3d. I could not prevent my thoughts 
 to-day, from wandering across the trackless 
 ocean, to my dear given up home. Although 
 I have the kindest of friends, and the most un- 
 wearied attention when sick ; still the counsel 
 of dear parents, and the tender concern of af- 
 fectionate sisters would be most grateful to me. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON.' 135 
 
 The sisters and brothers of the mission, I can 
 assure you, are dear to my heart. The Chris- 
 tian and social intercourse which I am permit- 
 ted to enjoy with them, I cannot too highly ap- 
 preciate ; but it is a different tie which binds 
 me to those dear brothers and sisters whom I 
 have left, in all probability, to gaze upon no 
 more until that day when our disembodied 
 spirits shall meet around the throne, and join in 
 singing "Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent 
 reigneth." And is there one of the precious 
 number whom I shall not meet there ? Is there 
 one, who shall not come forth, and with palms 
 in his hands, exclaim " victory, victory ;" — and 
 with dear parents unite in ascribing glory and 
 honor to him who hath redeemed them by his 
 blood ? That will be a glorious hour, when 
 our beloved circle shall be all complete in hea- 
 ven. I love now more than ever to think of 
 that time. It is the only meeting with you, to 
 which I desire to look forward. 
 
 February 4fh. This morning dawned upon us 
 with all the loveliness of a May morning in 
 America. Although we can see nothing but 
 
136 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " the blue above, and the blue around,'' — tend- 
 ing to impress us with a sense of our helpless- 
 ness and dependence on Him, who made the sea 
 and the dry land, — still the rest of the holy 
 Sabbath is ours. We cannot, with you, mingle 
 w4th the great congregation ; we cannot go 
 with the multitude who keep holy-day, to the 
 courts of the Lord's house ; but we can hail the 
 precious Sabbath, as a delightful antepast of the 
 rest of heaven, when the cares of this toilsome 
 life is over. The prospect of encountering a 
 severe gale of wind from the south, prevented 
 our having service on deck, as we anticipated 
 in the morning. Brother Wilson lectured how- 
 ever in the after-cabin. Towards evening the 
 sea ran very high, without much wind ; and it 
 is supposed to be occasioned by a very heavy 
 gale to the north. I went on deck to see the 
 height of the waves ; and it seemed to me that 
 we must be dashed in pieces by their violence 
 and fury. I could not but exclaim, " the Lord 
 reigneth, let the earth rejoice." 
 
 February 5th. The gale still continues with 
 increased violence. The captain said that this 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 137 
 
 was one of the most awful mornings that he 
 had ever witnessed. Every thing movable was 
 dashed around the cabin ; and none of us dared 
 mowe for fear of getting our limbs broken. In 
 the evening we met to observe the monthly 
 concert. We trust that many of the friends of 
 Zion are even now following us with their 
 prayers, as they have met to plead for the Sa- 
 viour's cause in heathen lands. 
 
 February 6th. We have been moving on very 
 prosperously to-day; for the last twelve hours we 
 have made two degrees. But it only widens 
 the distance between us. I trust, however, 
 that the separation has been sanctified to me. 
 What is there worth living for, but to serve 
 Christ? There is nothing satisfying on earth ; 
 all is vanity. But when I have toiled and suf- 
 fered a little while in his service, my rest will 
 be glorious. — Passed a part of the afternoon 
 very pleasantly in hearing my heathen pupil. 
 I find that he advances very rapidly. Every 
 moment of spare time that he can get, he is 
 seen with his book in his hand. He asked me 
 to-day, why I left father and mother; — whether 
 
138 MEMOIR OF 
 
 I can get more money in India than in America* 
 I endeavored to make him understand the mo- 
 tives that led us to make such sacrifices; but 
 he is ignorant and incredulous. He de^res 
 very much to go and live with us at Allahabad. 
 I toid him, I did not w^ant anyone to live with 
 me, who worshipped Hindoo gods. His whole 
 difficulty seems to be the fear of losing caste. 
 O that his darkened mind may be enUghtened 
 by the Holy Spirit ! 
 
 February 7th. Awoke this morning and found 
 it raining ; and to our great joy it continued to 
 increase until the afternoon. This we consider 
 as one of God's kind providences for which we 
 have abundant reason to be grateful. For 
 some days past we had been put on allowance 
 for water ; and we had great fear of being en- 
 tirely out before reaching our destination. We 
 had the misfortune to lose six hundred gallons ; 
 in consequence of which one pint a day only 
 was allowed to each person. Our pity was ex- 
 cited for the poor sailors, Avho, being obliged to 
 live on salt food, were really suffering for the 
 want of water. Every vessel was therefore 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 139 
 
 put in requisition ; and all who could bear the 
 exposure were busily engaged. And you would 
 have been amused to see with what eagerness 
 we crowded around a pitcher-full of fresh water 
 that was sent into the cabin as soon as it was 
 caught. 
 
 Feb. 1 1th. Find that there is nearly nine hours 
 difference in our time from yours. Can it be 
 that I am so far from my happy home ? I can 
 scarcely realize it, even when 1 cast my eyes 
 on the boundless w^aste of waters around me. 
 But still I am more than happy. If it were in my 
 own power to return to you now I would not do 
 it. As much as I love you all, and ardently 
 as I long to see you, I would not come back to 
 dwell in the land of my birth. No, I have been 
 made, I trust, a trophy of redeeming grace and 
 mercy ; and can I refuse to bear His name to 
 the nations, who know him not, because I love 
 father and mother, sister and brother ? Because 
 my affections cluster around the dear delights 
 of home, should I refuse obedience to my Sa- 
 viour's call ? No, I can still erect my Ebene- 
 zer, and rejoice that I am so near the heathen. 
 
140 MEMOIR OF 
 
 His presence can make the darkest hour bright, 
 even in a land of darkness ; and I do not fear 
 to trust him. I have received even more than 
 a himdred-fold. 
 
 February lAth. We are now in the Indian 
 Ocean, and our company are all in fine health 
 and spirits. We begin to feel fhat we are 
 drawing near to the shores of India ; that land 
 of spiritual darkness, desolation and death. 
 While we must rejoice at the prospect of once 
 more beholding land, there is something mel- 
 ancholy in the thought of meeting those poor 
 idolaters for whom Christ died, and seeing them 
 bow and worship gods of wood and stone, 
 which their own hands have made. The 
 brethren met this evening to read their in- 
 structions, and to make the necessary arrange- 
 ments before reaching Calcutta. We hope not 
 to be detained more than two weeks there. 
 
 February 25th, Sabbath. Since my last date 
 the Lord has again laid his afflicting hand upon 
 me and brought me through another season of 
 severe suffering. But when I reflect on the 
 goodness and mercy of God, and the salutary 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 141 
 
 influence which, I trust, these chastisements 
 have had on my heart, every rebellious thought, 
 and every murmuring word is checked ; and I 
 am enabled, cheerfully, to submit to Him who 
 " never afflicts willingly, nor grieves the chil- 
 dren of men." How gracious is our covenant 
 keeping God in chastening his children when 
 it is for their profit. I hope and pray that the 
 afflictions with which I have been visited may 
 prepare me for more extensive usefulness in 
 the vineyard of ray blessed Master ; and fit me 
 for the mansions of rest. There sorrow and 
 pain shall never enter; and the inhabitants 
 shall no more say, " I am sick." I know the 
 time is short ; my work will soon be done. 
 What matters it if w^e be separated for a sea- 
 son ; you, my dear friends, in America, and I in 
 burning India ? We have the same kind Pro- 
 tector ; and we have the unspeakable privilege 
 of meeting in spirit at the same mercy seat. 
 And what matters it if a few fleeting days be 
 spent in toil and sorrow, since we can look for- 
 ward to a crown of glory that fadeth not away ? 
 13 
 
142 MEMOIR OF 
 
 We can rejoice in tribulation, knowing that it 
 will soon be over. 
 
 '' Soon will the painful conflict cease ; 
 Soon will the raging- storm be o'er ; 
 Soon we shall reach the realm of peace, 
 Where suffering shall be known no more." 
 
 February 26th. Friday has been spent by the 
 mission family in fasting and prayer to God for 
 the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the officers 
 and crew of the vessel. Of late there has been 
 much indifference to religion manifested by 
 them. My Bengalee student has also been in- 
 duced to discontinue his visits to my room. I 
 was much grieved at this, as he manifested an 
 ardent desire to learn ; and was making very 
 fair progress. He came to my room one day 
 with tears in his eyes, and told me he could not 
 study his book any more. I inquired the rea- 
 son : he said there was some one on board who 
 did not wish him to read ; and he could not 
 learn any more until he reached Calcutta. This, 
 I suppose, is but a specimen of the difficulties 
 and discouragements w^ith which I shall meet 
 in laboring among the degraded Hindoos. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 143 
 
 March Zd. Was kept awake last night by 
 the storm. The flashes of lightning occasion- 
 ally meeting my eyes from the sky-light were 
 very vivid. A storm at sea is one of the most 
 terrific sights that can be imagined. It far 
 surpasses, in awful grandeur, any that we see 
 on land. It baffles all attempts at description. 
 The foaming mountain-waves ; the raging 
 winds; the black and angry sky; and the 
 continual glare of the lightning, are fitted to 
 create alarm and terror in any mind that is not 
 stayed on God. How often have I seen fear 
 depicted on the countenances of our wicked 
 sailors, in seasons of danger. And well they 
 may tremble, for they have no refuge, — no 
 covert from the storm of divine vengeance. 
 
 March Sth. The weather is excessively warm; 
 — the warmest days of our summer, it seems 
 to rac, would be cool compared with it. We 
 have been becalmed most of the day, — the 
 wind scarcely sufficient to ruffle the surface of 
 the water. Towards evening, however, it 
 freshened ; and we are now sailing quite swift- 
 ly. We are not far from the Equator ; and 
 
144 MEMOIR OF 
 
 shall soon be favored with the Monsoon, which 
 will waft us speedily to our desired haven. It 
 will be delightful, once more to set foot on 
 land, and to witness some change of scene. It 
 is long since we have been favored with any 
 thing, even the sight of a distant sail, to vary 
 the prospect of sky and sea. " Bear me on, 
 thou restless ocean." Waft me speedily, ye 
 winds, to my home in India. 
 
 March 10th. The weather is still almost in- 
 tolerably hot. The thermometer stood at 97° 
 in the shade, and 111° in the sun. The boards 
 inside of our companion-way were hot enough 
 to blister the hand. The sunsets on the ocean, 
 and in this latitude, are most gorgeous and splen- 
 did. Our moonlight evenings too, are delight- 
 ful ; and we always leave the deck with 
 reluctance, to breathe the confined air of the 
 cabin below. 
 
 March IM. It is five months to-day since we 
 came on board the Edward ; and you are 
 probably thinking of us, as safely landed in 
 Calcutta. The heat is still excessive ; and we 
 are parched with thirst. We seize a cup of 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 145 
 
 • water from our dirty casks, with as much avid- 
 ity as you would a glass of ice-water, or lem- 
 onade. This evenino^ however we were favor- 
 ed with a most delightful breeze, and a heavy 
 dash of rain, which has served to cool the 
 atmosphere ; so we have the prospect of a 
 comfortable night's sleep. We have now water 
 sufficient to last us until we enter the mouth of 
 the Hoogley. Truly it becomes us, with thanks- 
 giving, to record the goodness of the Lord to 
 his unworthy servants. He has been our good 
 Shepherd and supplied all our wants. He has 
 watched over us by night, and in the dark and 
 cloudy day. In the midst of our outward trials 
 he has given us inward peace. What a privi- 
 lege to have such a Guide and Protector. 
 
 " Here we meet with heavy crosses ; 
 
 Many burdens we must bear ; 
 But the Lord can make our losses, 
 
 Lighter than the ambient air." 
 
 This evening attended our social conference, 
 and found it a profitable and refreshing season. 
 
 March 16th. To-day our ship has been a scene 
 of confusion, in consequence of two sharks 
 making their appearance astern. I had a good 
 13^ 
 
146 MEMOIR OF 
 
 view of them from our cabin windows, and r 
 they presented a fine appearance while in the 
 water. The captain harpooned one of them, 
 and the other w^as caught with a hook. They 
 are the most tenacious of life of any animal 
 that I ever saw ; even after they were cut open 
 they threw themselves about with a force and 
 violence that seemed to defy death. 
 
 March 28th. We are making good progress 
 up the Bay. This morning, a Chinese ship 
 was seen distinctly with the naked eye. A 
 large English brig also passed so near us, last 
 evening, that the light from her stern windows 
 was easily distinguished. We have been much 
 encouraged within a few days, by the more 
 than usual seriousness of some of our men. 
 Mr. M. has had several conversations with them 
 at different times ; and some of them seem de- 
 termined to lead different lives. At our evening 
 worship, all attend who can be spared from 
 duty ; and they manifest an increasing interest 
 in religion. We cannot but hope that the good 
 seed sown, will yet spring up ; and that the 
 many earnest and fervent prayers which have 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORUISON. 147 
 
 been put up for them, will bring down a rich 
 and lasting- blessing upon their souls. 
 
 March 31st. Mr. M. went out with a number 
 of the crew in the small boat, to catch some 
 fish, as our stock of fre^h provisions on board 
 is nearly exhausted. They soon returned, hav- 
 ing taken a shark about four feet long, and a 
 number of small blackfish. We passed, as our 
 captain told us, the first of the week, within 
 one hundred and fifty miles of Madras. We 
 longed very much to make the missionaries 
 there a call ; but the winds and the waves soon 
 wafted us by. 
 
 JiprilAth. Cheered with good news this morn- 
 ing ; we shall probably take a pilot to-morrow. 
 And all are busy, making preparations to land. 
 The color of the water was suddenly changed, 
 this forenoon, from a deep indigo blue to a 
 light green, which is always regarded as a 
 certain indication that land is near. I cannot 
 express to you the raptures of joy which filled 
 every breast, at the prospect of a speedy termi- 
 nation of our voyage. But although the voyage 
 has been long and tedious, in many respects it 
 
148 MEMOIR OF 
 
 has been pleasant and profitable. The social 
 intercourse which we have had with each oth- 
 er ; our precious little meetings ; and the privi- 
 leges of the Sabbath, have contributed greatly 
 to our happiness; and we sometimes feel sad, 
 when we reflect that the time will soon come 
 that will separate us, it may be forever. "With 
 the officers and crew of the vessel our next 
 meeting will, in all probability, be at the judg- 
 ment seat of Christ, 
 
 The severe afflictions which I have endured, 
 I sometimes think was the very preparation I 
 needed to qualify me for usefulness in our field 
 of labor. I only regret that I have not made 
 a better improvement of the lessons which God 
 has taught me. We have the precious assur- 
 ance, " that these light afflictions," if rightly 
 improved, " will work out for us a far more 
 exceeding and eternal weight of glory." We 
 have not left our " sweet homes," expecting to 
 be exempted from trials and sufferings. No ; 
 our life is a warfare ; dangers and difficulties 
 attend it at every step ; and we feel the need 
 of " putting on the whole armor of God," that 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 149 
 
 we may be able to endure hardness as good 
 soldiers of Jesus Christ, and to " fight manfully 
 the good fight of faith." 
 
 Jipril bth. About two o'clock, the pilot-boat 
 hove in sight : and we soon perceived that she 
 was rapidly approaching. Every heart beat 
 high with joy at the sight. We all took our 
 stations on deck, to watch her as she came 
 bounding over the waves. She passed under 
 our stern, and rounded to on our lee-side. Her 
 small boat was soon lowered, and the oars ta- 
 ken by ten natives; and in a few minutes our 
 pilot was welcomed on board. He is an Eng- 
 lishman, gentlemanly in his manners, and dress- 
 ed in a blue cloth coat, white pantaloons, and 
 slippers. We all gazed at him, both crew and 
 passengers, as if we were surprised to find that 
 there were other beings in the world besides 
 ourselves. His servant is quite a young looking 
 lad, dressed in white muslin, with a yellow 
 scarf around his waist, and a red cap on his 
 head. I cannot express my feelings at the first 
 sight of the natives; their countenances are ef- 
 feminate, and bear the most evident marks of 
 
150 MEMOIR OF 
 
 degradation. And are these the beings, I re- 
 marked to sister W. who stood near me — Are 
 these the beings for whom we have come to 
 labor, and for whom the Saviour of mankind 
 died ? 
 
 This morning at five o'clock, I caught the 
 first sight of land. We are now quietly sailing 
 up the Hoogley ; and hope to reach Calcutta 
 to-morrow. ! if the dear friends at home only 
 knew of our safety and happiness, it would af- 
 ford us great satisfaction. But we must be con- 
 tent to wait a year before we can have an ex- 
 change of letters. Many changes must take 
 place before that time arrives. How well it is, 
 that we do not know what is before us, — what 
 trials and diflBculties are marked out for us; 
 and how delightful it is to lean with implicit 
 confidence on our covenant keeping God, with 
 the precious assurance that he will not forsake 
 us, " though the earth be removed and the 
 mountains be carried into the midst of the sea." 
 Our company are all in fine health and spirits : 
 happy beyond expression, though far from our 
 dear native land, and separated from friends, 
 and many of the privileges of a civilized land. 
 
MKS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 151 
 
 The above extracts from her journal, afford 
 delightful evidence of her deep and increasing 
 interest in the glorious cause to which her life 
 was consecrated. She longed to be actively 
 engaged in the work; and rejoiced that the 
 winds and waves were wafting her so swiftly to 
 the scenes of her future labor. And she seem- 
 ed to feel, that if she could be instrumental in 
 rescuing one soul from the dominion of ignor- 
 ance and superstition ; of pouring the light of 
 truth divine into one benighted mind ; of leading 
 one guilty spirit to the fountain of cleansing ; 
 and of kindling up in one despairing and deso- 
 late heart, the hope of a blessed immortality, 
 she would be amply rewarded for all the sacri- 
 fices which she had made, and for a life of toil 
 and self-denial. And it is delightful also, to 
 witness the sanctifj'ing influence of her afflic- 
 tions upon her heart and life. The beatific, but 
 unrevealed visions of her sick chamber, seem 
 to have thrown a salutary shade over all earth- 
 ly things. The world was fast losing its hold 
 upon her affections ; she no longer regarded it 
 as her home. Her heart and her hopes, were 
 
152 MEMOIR or 
 
 more than ever above; and her yearnings and 
 aspirations after the blissful realities of the hea- 
 venly world seemed to increase from day to day. 
 And there is something in the subdued and ten- 
 der spirit that she breathed ; in the freedom 
 from all anxiety in regard to her future lot, that 
 she manifested ; in the unruffled composure, 
 and sweet peace of mind that she enjoyed, and 
 in the almost prophetic tones of some of the last 
 sentences that she penned, that might perhaps 
 justify our anticipations of the melancholy event 
 which another chapter must disclose. 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 153 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ARRIVAL AT CALCUTTA SICKNESS DEATH. 
 
 After an unusually long passage of one hun- 
 dred and seventy days, the Edward anchored 
 in safety at Calcutta, on the sixth of April, 1838. 
 But although their confinement had been tedious, 
 and several of them had suffered much from 
 sickness, they were now " in fine health and 
 spirits." They had hoped not to be detained 
 there, longer than to make the necessary ar- 
 rangements for their departure up the Ganges : 
 and they were now the more anxious to proceed 
 immediately, as the cholera was raging with 
 considerable violence among the native popula- 
 tion of the city, while the country generally was 
 reported to be healthy. Although but here and 
 there a solitary case had been fatal among the 
 Europeans, still they desired, if possible, to 
 avoid any exposure to its ravages. But there 
 was an unforeseen difficulty in the way of an 
 immediate departure, and their long passage 
 14 
 
154 MEMOIR OF 
 
 had delayed them so much that the hot winds 
 were now in full blast, during the prevalence of 
 which, it is considered unsafe to travel in India, 
 by land or water. There were " perils in the 
 city," therefore, and perils in the country. The 
 season when they arrived, is regarded as the 
 most trying in the whole year. In accordance 
 with the advice of friends and physicians, the 
 missionaries deemed it best to defer their de- 
 parture until the first of June. And in the 
 course of a few days we find them " comforta- 
 bly settled in their own hired house." 
 
 Allahabad, to which, as their field of labor, 
 Mr. and Mrs. Morrison were designated, is an 
 old and important city. It is pleasantly situated 
 at the confluence of the Jumna and Ganges, 
 about four hundred and seventy-five miles north- 
 west of Calcutta. It is said to contain a popu- 
 lation, exclusive of the garrison, of twenty thou- 
 sand souls ; it has a magnificent citadel ; and 
 its fortifications are impregnable to any native 
 army. It derives its principal interest and im- 
 portance, from its proximity to the largest and 
 most holy prayaga of the Hindoos, so noted, 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. lOO 
 
 that it is called the " king of worshipped 
 places ;" and the territory, to the extent of for- 
 ty miles round, is deemed holy ground. So 
 numerous are the pilgrims who resort hither for 
 ablution, that for this indulgence an annual 
 contribution of fifty thousand rupees has been 
 paid into the vizier's treasury. And formerly, 
 human sacrifices were of frequent occurrence 
 here. The following instance is described by 
 a spectator of the scene : — " Sixteen females, 
 accompanied by as many priests, went in boats 
 on the river, opposite Allahabad, and proceeded 
 to the spot where the Ganges and the Jumna, 
 two sacred rivers, unite their purifying streams. 
 Each victim had a large earthen pan slung over 
 her shoulders. She descended over the side of 
 the boat into the river, and was then held up 
 by the priest, till she had filled the pans with 
 water, when the priest let go his hold, and the 
 pans dragged her to the bottom. And thus 
 died amidst the applauses of the spectators, and 
 assisted by the priests of the country, sixteen 
 females, as a single offering to the demon of 
 destruction. They died, under the firm persua- 
 
156 MEMOIR OF 
 
 sion, that this was the direct way to heaven. 
 The priests enjoyed the scene, and spoke of it 
 to their friends as a pleasant morning gamboh 
 We have here no weepers ; no remonstrants ; 
 no youth interposing to save them to society. 
 They go down to the bottom, as loose stones 
 which have no adhesion to the quarry ; as crea- 
 tures for which society has no use. Nor must 
 it be supposed that this is a solitary instance ; 
 these immolations are so common, that they 
 excite very little anxiety indeed at Allahabad, 
 and beyond that city they are scarcely men- 
 tioned." 
 
 The Executive Committee of the Presbyte- 
 rian Board of Foreign Missions, had this city 
 under consideration, as a station for missionary 
 operations, when an interesting communica- 
 tion was received from Mr. McEwen, who 
 was led by providential circumstances to remain 
 there for some time, instead of proceeding di- 
 rectly to the stations in the northwest. He 
 met with so much encouragement in his labors, 
 that he formed a church of ten or twelve mem- 
 bers, one of whom was a native, the others 
 
MRS. ANNA MAKIA MORRISON. 157 
 
 partly of European descent, whose minds re- 
 ceived their first serious religious impressions 
 under his ministry. The Board regarded it as 
 opening to them a large, important, and inter- 
 esting field of labor; and they determined at 
 once to establish a permanent station there. 
 And this was the spot which Mrs. M. had, for 
 many months, looked upon as her future home ; 
 here she hoped to live, and labor, and die. But 
 the Lord of the vineyard had otherwise deter- 
 mined in regard to her; she was destined never 
 to reach it. 
 
 It was not long after their arrival in Calcutta, 
 before Mrs. M. experienced another attack of 
 that dreadful pain in the head, attended with 
 convulsions, from which she suffered so severe- 
 ly on the voyage. In a letter to her sisters, 
 dated April 13lh, Mr. Morrison writes: — "Our 
 dear Anna did intend to write to you herself, 
 but she is too unwell. She had been complain- 
 ing a day or two, and yesterday she was again 
 siezed with convulsions. She was, however, 
 soon relieved, by the application of leeches and 
 ice to the head ; and is so much better to-day, 
 14* 
 
158 MEMOIR OF 
 
 that she is continually teazing me for permis- 
 sion to write some. If she continues to get 
 better, I may gratify her, and leave a small 
 corner for her to fill ; but I fear it would tend 
 to bring on another attack. If she is careful, 
 I think she will get through it very well." 
 
 The little note which she appended to the 
 above letter, must be regarded as the faint mur- 
 mur of her last farewell. 
 
 " I thought my corner would be a small one. 
 This is all I am allowed to write. I could say 
 a thousand things to you all ; but I am unable, 
 being obliged to lie upon my back most of the 
 time. I mean to have a letter ready for the 
 first ship that sails after this one. 
 
 " Adieu, dearest sisters, 
 
 " Anna." 
 
 From this attack, however, she so far recover- 
 ed as to be able to ride out again; and she con- 
 tinued to improve until the afternoon of the 
 27th, when the first symptoms of the fatal dis- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 159 
 
 ease made their appearance. The weak and 
 debilitated state of her system, no doubt, pre- 
 disposed her to its attacks, and rendered her an 
 easy and almost unresisting victim. And, "the 
 first ship that sailed," instead of her promised 
 letter, brought the melancholy and afflicting 
 intellio-ence that she was no more, — that she 
 died of Asiatic cholera, after a severe but short 
 illness of twelve hours. But the closing scene 
 will best be given, in the language of her be- 
 reaved husband. 
 
 Calcutta, May, Ath, 1838. 
 
 My ever DEAR Parents : 
 
 You know that our dear Anna was a delight- 
 ful singer, in America : but she never sung half 
 so sweetly as she does now. Within the last 
 few days she has learned a new song ; that 
 song which none but the redeemed from among 
 men can learn. She has received a golden harp 
 from the King of Zion ; and 0, what a choir 
 has she joined ! Such music was never heard 
 on earth but once, when those bright celestial 
 beings who visited the shepherds on the plains 
 
160 MEMOIR OF 
 
 of Bethlehem, sung, " Glory to God in the 
 highest, and on earth peace good will towards 
 men." Yes, our beloved Anna has finished her 
 pilgrimage, — has exchanged earth for heaven. 
 One week ago to-day, she complained a lit- 
 tle, in the morning, of sickness at the stomach ; 
 but it soon passed off, and we thought no more 
 of it, as she went about her daily duties as usual, 
 and remarked how well she felt. After consid- 
 erable exertion during the forenoon, she felt the 
 need of a little rest, and lay down, exacting a 
 promise that I would call her in time for dinner. 
 When the time camel spoke to her; and being 
 in a sound sleep she started up very suddenly 
 and was thrown all into a tremor, and at dinner 
 felt so unwell as to be obliged to leave the ta- 
 ble. During the whole afternoon, she com- 
 plained of feeling somewhat unwell ; but 
 thought that a short ride, and the fresh air, 
 would do her good. Accordingly, I procured a 
 carriage and took her and Mrs. McEwen out, 
 about a mile and a halt or two miles, to call 
 upon one of the English missionaries. We re- 
 turned immediately; but she was evidently 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 161 
 
 much worse, and went to bed with a violent 
 pain in her bowels. 
 
 [ After mentioning several remedies, which 
 he administered without any effect, Mr. M. con- 
 tinues.] 
 
 Fearing to let it go on any further, I sent 
 for a physician, who came about midnight : 
 and the moment he began to examine her case, 
 all my fears were confirmed, that she was suf- 
 ferino; from an attack of the cholera. He de- 
 cidedly approved of all that I had done; and 
 prescribed more powerful remedies, which were 
 strictly applied ; but before day she began to 
 -suffer severely, from violent spasms of cramp, 
 in her feet and legs. As soon as they came on, 
 1 sent for the doctor again, but he did not ar- 
 rive until near six o'clock. He immediately 
 gave her a tea-spoonful of black drop, and pre- 
 scribed thirty drops every hour and a half, with 
 other remedies equally energetic. But it was 
 all of no avail. The disease appeared to hold 
 on its course, as steadily, and fearfully, as if no 
 obstacle had been thrown in its way. About 
 the middle of the afternoon, she appeared re- 
 
162 MEMOIR OP 
 
 lieved from her spasms almost entirely, and her 
 symptoms were better, so that I began to en- 
 tertain some hope of her recovery ; but her ra- 
 pid sinking too soon made it evident that this 
 was only because the disease had finished its 
 work. During the forenoon the physician in 
 attendance brought in another, very eminent in 
 his profession, to consult in regard to her; and 
 he advised to continue the treatment, only to 
 apply the remedies more frequently. So that 
 I feel satisfied that every thing that human skill 
 could accomplish was done for her. 
 
 Thus much for the disease and its treatment, 
 — which is all painful to contemplate ; but let 
 us now turn to the other more interesting and 
 important part of the history of our dear de- 
 parted friend. From the first she could not be 
 persuaded that this sickness was not unto death. 
 Not that she felt any fearful anticipations of 
 death, or desired longer life, — far otherwise. 
 She had no fear ; but rejoiced in the prospect. 
 Her confidence in the hope of eternal fife, w^as 
 not at all in any thing she had done, but in the 
 finished work of Christ. This she frequently 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 168 
 
 and strongly expressed. And in view of this, 
 she said to a missionary standing by her bed- 
 side, *' Oh, how I used to be troubled with the 
 fear of death ! it made my life unhappy ; but 
 now it is altogether different, — all is bright, 
 there is not a cloud." She requested him to 
 pray with her ; " but not," she said, " for my 
 recovery, unless the Lord shall think best." 
 Her great anxiety appeared to be, lest she 
 should complain, and not suffer as a Christian. 
 She charged us all to live more for Christ than 
 she had done ; and wished me to let her know 
 when we thought her dying, as she had some 
 messages to give me. Her spasms, however, 
 came on with such violence, that although I 
 asked her what messages she had to send, long 
 before we thought her case hopeless, she said 
 her distress was such that she could not collect 
 her thoughts sufficiently to do it. She saw me 
 once deeply affected, sitting by her side, with 
 my head resting on my hand, and pulling me 
 to her, she begged me not to yield to my feel- 
 ings ; it was trying to see me suffer ; it was 
 trying to part, but we had before given each 
 
164 MEMOIR OF 
 
 other up, and could do so again, as our sepa- 
 ration would not be long. In short, she gave 
 the same delightful evidence of her readiness 
 to depart and dwell forever with the Lord, that 
 she did on board the ship. Even to her last 
 words she evinced the same calm, collected 
 state of mind, resting upon the righteousness 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground 
 of hope. When her physician gave us to un- 
 derstand that he had no hope of her recovery, 
 I went to her immediately, and asked her if she 
 was ready to receive the summons to go and 
 be with Christ ? She replied, without the 
 least appearance of agitation, " Yes," I told 
 her the opinion of the physician, and that I 
 thought this was the last day we should spend 
 together in this world. To all this she listened 
 with perfect composure. I asked her how she 
 felt now that death was so certainly near ? She 
 simply replied, " Happy." Soon after, observing 
 that she was fast sinking, 1 asked her, How 
 does the prospect now appear ? " Glorious," 
 was her only reply, — and she spoke no more 
 intil she joined the song of the redeemed ones 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 165 
 
 around the throne. In a few moments she 
 sweetly sunk to rest in the arms of JesuSj with- 
 out a struggle or a groan. 
 
 Thus, my beloved parents, has closed the 
 mortal career of one dear to me as ray own 
 life. I can yet hardly realize the fact that it 
 is so ; but my lonely situation, and every thing 
 around me, reminds me that it is no dream. Oh, 
 what a blank this world appears to me ! But 
 it is all ordered in infinite wisdom and goodness. 
 I cannot complain ; neither can I mourn for 
 her, but O how sadly I have reason to feel for 
 myself, and for this degraded, dying people ! 
 She has been taken from the evil in the world, 
 and ushered into a region of ineffable glory and 
 blessedness. then let us quell every mur- 
 muring thought, and suppress every rising sigh, 
 with the reflection, that an eternal weight of 
 glory is now revealed to her. O where is she ? 
 what is her employment ? and what is her so- 
 ciety ? Let these considerations assuage our 
 grief, animate our hopes, and stimulate us to 
 " press toward the mark for the prize of the 
 high calling of God in Christ Jesus." It was 
 16 
 
166 MEMOIR OF 
 
 our delight to anticipate a dying hour, and en- 
 deavor to prepare each other for it. It was our 
 delight to read the word of God together ; to 
 pray together ; to converse on heavenly things, 
 and read those devotional works which tended 
 more immediately to wean us from the worlds 
 and fix our hearts and hopes more firmly on 
 our eternal inheritance. And now I rejoice 
 that it was so ; for although she is gone, I 
 know it is only to enter first upon that blessed 
 inheritance, which we loved to contemplate 
 together here below. This has made our sep- 
 aration comparatively easy ; we both felt that 
 it must be short, and when the brief space is 
 past, we shall be reunited in more perfect and 
 inseparable bonds. The Lord was with her in 
 her most trying hours ; he has been with me, 
 and in all the- bitterness of the cup put into my 
 hands, he has sweetly mingled the richest con- 
 solation, and sustained me with his almighty 
 arm. And I know he will be with you to sus- 
 tain and support you ; so that you may cheer- 
 fully.submit to his will, and never entertain one 
 regret that you gave her to his service. O how 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 167 
 
 often did she speak of the delight and happi- 
 ness it afforded her, to be permitted to come ; 
 and of the pleasing hope that some of her dear 
 brothers and sisters might be privileged to join 
 her in heathen lands. It was her rejoicing, 
 even on her death-bed, that she had come ; and 
 she wished me particularly to say that she had 
 not one regret at the thought of dying for 
 Christ. If we have not reason to rejoice in 
 our tribulation, who can have ? And now 
 that we have dropped the tear of affection and 
 hallowed grief, let us seek our consolation in 
 Christ ; let us devote ourselves more unreserv- 
 edly to his service that like our dtarly beloved 
 Anna, we may be prepared with joy to wel- 
 come his coming in triumph over the last enemy, 
 and to go and reign forever with our glorious 
 King in the New Jerusalem. 
 
 The following extracts of a letter from Mr. 
 Morrison to Walter Lowrie, Esq., Correspond- 
 ing Secretary of the Board, contain some fur- 
 ther particulars of interest in regard to this 
 melancholy event. 
 
168 MEMOIR OF 
 
 " Oh how often have I had occasion to recur 
 to our last interview, and bring to mind your 
 parting exhortations. How often have I been 
 called to test the truth of your remarks, about 
 "rejoicing in tribulation." Many have been 
 the seasons of bitter anguish of soul through 
 which I have, since that time, been called to 
 pass. But in them all the Lord has sustained 
 me. Not only his staff, but his rod has been 
 my comfort. What interpreter, like the hand 
 of God upon us, can ever explain such pas- 
 sages as these, "thy rod and thy staff they 
 comfort me ;" " rejoicing in tribulation." To 
 the world this is a paradox ; but oh ! how plain 
 does the hand of God upon his children make 
 it to them. Long before this reaches you, I 
 suppose you will be made acquainted with the 
 sore bereavement with which the Lord has 
 visited me. I had felt that such a visitation 
 would make the cup of affliction overflow ; but 
 the Lord has been as good as his word, and far 
 better than my guilty, unbelieving fears. He 
 has not called me to suffer more than he has 
 enabled me to bear. And while he has severed 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 169 
 
 the tenderest of all my earthly ties ; "while he 
 has caused the heart of nature to bleed ; he 
 has also strengthened the heart with grace and 
 made faith to triumph. In the bitterest portion 
 of the cup he has called me to drink, he has 
 mingled some of the richest and sweetest mer- 
 cies. Those very sufferings which my beloved 
 wife was called to endure, and which tried me 
 to the very soul, brought to light the brightness 
 of her hopes, and the strength of her faith. 
 But while I am thus comforted in the assurance 
 of the glory and blessedness which she has in- 
 herited, the very evidence upon which that 
 assurance rests convinces me of what I have 
 lost ; of what the church has lost ; of what a 
 dying world has lost. The perfect calmness 
 and composure with which she faced the king 
 of terrors, in one of his most frightful forms, 
 would have led an observer to the conclusion, 
 that stupefying drugs, or the hand of death, 
 had deprived her of bodily or mental feeling, 
 had it not been for the violent paroxysms of 
 agony she suffered, and the clearness and intel- 
 15* 
 
170 MEMOIR OF 
 
 ligence with which she spoke to those around 
 her." 
 
 After giving some of the particulars con- 
 tained in the previous letter, he proceeds : 
 
 "I have not attempted even a sketch of 
 what passed on that gloomy, joyful day. I 
 have only mentioned a very few facts, such as 
 come first to mind, to show the spirit with 
 which she triumphed over the last enemy, and 
 to show what cause I have both to mourn and 
 rejoice. what a blank that day made in the 
 world for me ! I can yet hardly realize it. It 
 still appears as if I should soon wake from a 
 dream, and find her by my side. But every 
 time I take the deserted chair; the solitary 
 hour when I was wont to commune with her 
 of the things of the kingdom ; my lonely walk ; 
 and, more than all, that vacant place I observe 
 at the throne of grace ; all, all make me feel 
 that it is no dream. Every recurring memorial 
 of my dear departed companion tears open the 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 171 
 
 closing wound, and makes it bleed afresh. But 
 while I weep, I trust the Lord has enabled me 
 to rejoice. His rod and his staff are my com- 
 fort. I do rejoice that she is free from the toils 
 and sufferings of this gloomy wilderness, and 
 that she has had so abundantly administered to 
 her an entrance upon her heavenly inheritance ; 
 and I rejoice in the thought, that God may, by 
 this affliction, be preparing me for greater use- 
 fulness in the world, and brighter glory in 
 heaven. 
 
 " You may wish to know how she felt about 
 having left all her large circle of endeared 
 friends and relatives only to come to a heathen 
 land to set her house in order and then die. 
 Her own language on this subject was : * Tell 
 them all at home, much as I love them, and 
 fondly as my heart clings to them, tell them all 
 I am not sorry that I have left them all for 
 Christ, though it be but to die in his service ; 
 no, tell them I rejoice that I have been per- 
 mitted to enjoy the privilege.' This, as near 
 as I can recollect, is her own language. I know 
 it was the feeling of her heart, often expressed, 
 
172 MEMOIR OP 
 
 both in health and sickness. It was not the 
 mere ebullition of a moment of excitement ; it 
 was a settled feeling of the soul ; a ripened 
 principle. She had no ecstasies; all was calm 
 and serene as the cloudless setting of a summer's 
 sun. 
 
 " Thus you will perceive that, although I have 
 been called to pass through the furnace, heated 
 seven times hotter than usual, there has been 
 ' one like the Son of God' with me, to sustain 
 me, and afford me the delightful assurance that 
 it was heated only by a father's love. 
 
 " She died on Saturday evening, just three 
 weeks after she landed ; and on Sabbath eve- 
 ning I saw her remains deposited, agreeably to 
 her own wish, beside those of your own much 
 lamented daughter-in-law. Lovely were they 
 in life, lovely in death ; and there, although 
 strangers to each other in this pilgrimage, they 
 will sleep together until the morning of the re- 
 surrection ; when with us, I trust, they shall 
 rise and go to be ever with the Lord. * Where- 
 fore let us comfort one another with these 
 words.' " 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 173 
 
 The mournful yet pleasing task assigned us, 
 is now nearly accomplished. We have follow- 
 ed our dear departed friend to the close of her 
 short career on earth. It might accord with our 
 feelings to indulge in some general remarks 
 upon her character, but we deem them uncall- 
 ed for. She needs no eulogy to exalt her in the 
 estimation of those who knew her; and to the 
 stranger, we prefer to leave the few and simple 
 memorials of her life to speak for themselves. 
 Though we have been called to contemplate 
 nothing eccentric, or splendid, in human char- 
 acter, yet we have here exhibited for our admi- 
 ration, the useful and the true. We shall al- 
 ways remember, and love her, as the dutiful 
 child ; the affectionate sister ; the devoted'wife ; 
 the faithful friend ; the sincere, and warm- 
 hearted Christian ; and in feeling and purpose, 
 the self-sacrificing' missionary of the cross, tier 
 spirit deserves to be cherished, for it was the 
 spirit of the gospel ; and her conduct is worthy 
 of imitation, for she walked in the footste]is o{ 
 her ascended Saviour. But while we add no 
 remarks of our own, we feel a pleasure in re 
 
174 MEMOIR OF 
 
 cording the following testimony to her worth, 
 from one who knew her long and intimately. 
 
 " I may here indulge in the expression of my 
 own views of her qualifications for usefulness in 
 the missionary work. The more I saw of her, 
 the more I was encouraged to expect much from 
 her efforts on the field of labor. Her whole 
 soul was wrapped up in the work and honor of 
 her Master ; and her prayers for the heathen 
 seemed to flow from a heart burdened with 
 anxious desires for their salvation. She was 
 zealous in the sacred cause. She was winning 
 in her address to those whom she wished 
 to benefit ; and appeared in every way adapted 
 to be eminently and extensively useful. From 
 all I knew of Mrs. Morrison, and from all I have 
 seen in my intercourse with missionaries, for sev- 
 eral years, I feel warranted in saying, that her 
 qualifications for usefulness would have placed 
 her among the very first of her fellow labor- 
 ers, had she been permitted to make the expe- 
 riment. As a Christian she was devoted, hum- 
 ble, heavenly-minded, and an ardent lover of 
 peace. In society, she was courteous, unobtru- 
 
MRS. ANNA MARIA MORRISON. 175 
 
 sive, and diffident of her own abilities. Her 
 conversation was chiefly of heavenly things; 
 and she was constantly endeavoring to elevate 
 the standard of piety and devotedness among 
 those around her. It is not meant that she was 
 prepared to shine in circles of fashion, or of 
 worldly gayety and grandeur. For these she 
 had no relish ; nor was she one who would 
 shine at all, in the eyes of any but those who 
 regard deep, devoted piety, and practical use- 
 fulness, as the brightest ornaments of the female 
 character. She possessed ' the meek and quiet 
 spirit, which is in the sight of God of great 
 price,' and those solid attractions which won 
 for her the admiration and love of those who 
 knew her best." 
 
 Beloved sister in Christ, thou art gone ! Thy 
 race on earth was short ; and thy work of faith 
 and labor of love were well and early done. 
 We mourn sincerely over thy untimely grave ; 
 but we mourn not as those who are without hope. 
 A deep mystery hangs over thy death ; but not 
 over thine alone. But what we know not now, 
 we shall know hereafter. We submissively 
 
176 MEMOIR, ETC. 
 
 wait until it shall be revealed in heaven. We 
 can believe it was well, and wisely ordered. 
 Thou wert beloved in life, and in death thou art 
 not forgotten. The image of thy placid face 
 and mild blue eye still dwells in the memory ; 
 and thy virtues are enshrined in the heart. Thom 
 hast fallen asleep far from thy kindred and 
 country, — a stranger in a strange land, — but 
 thy dust is sacred. And the " missionary's 
 grave" will be guarded safely until the resur- 
 rection of the just. 
 
 'And so farewell, * * My sainted friend, 
 Whose bright example, not without rebuke 
 Admonisheth, that home, and ease, and wealth, 
 And native land, — are well exchanged for heaven." 
 
 THE E N D » 
 
AND FOR SALE BY 
 
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 brick church chapel, corner of park row 
 and spruce street. 
 
 New-York, 1843. 
 
 A RESIDENCE OF EIGHT ITARS IN PERSIA, 
 
 Among the Nestorian Christians. With Notices of the 
 Muhammedans. By Rev. Justin Perkins. With 
 Maps and twenty-seven beautiful colored plates. 
 One vol. 8vo. 
 
 " The attention of the Christian public has been called of 
 late years with great interest to the Nestorians of Persia, and 
 the recent visit to this country by Rev. Justin Perkins and 
 Bishop Mar Yohanon, has awakened still greater anxiety to 
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 nounced, and we are quite contidenl that the public expectation 
 will l)c more than answered by the graphic interest, the valu- 
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 Compiled chiefly from the published and unpublished 
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 Or a View of the Human Soul ; including Anthropol- 
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 MEMOIR OF MRS. ELIZABETH B. D WIGHT; 
 
 Including an account of the Plague in 1837. By Rev. 
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 With a Sketch of the Life of Mrs. Judith S. Grant, 
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