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1o  
NOBLE
OF
AMERICAN WOMEN.
BY J. CLEMENT.
. I I
I.
I  N T R  INTRODUCTION
BY
MRS. L. H. SIGOURNEY.
ILL USTRA 7ED.
BOSTON:
LEE AND  SHEPARD.
1869.
DEEDS
EDITED
WITH AN 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851., by
OEO. H. DERBY & Co,
In the Clerk's Office  t' the Northern District of New  York. 
X'Q~~  Good_ <MC
net    As    8f'l~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~s~~~~
Yif  I  
This work was suggested by one of
similar character, entitled "Noble  Deeds
of Woman," an English work, which con\'        a r     tains  but  three  references  to American
:,d  Women,  two  of which  are of but very
little importance.   Only one article is the
.      r, MBsame in both works, and that is the letter
written by  Mrs. Sigourney to the women
of Greece, in  1828.
~ in behalf of the ladies
"~   * -'-k                ~-.~ ~~of Hartford.
This fatilure to do
. justice  to American
women,  may   have
been an oversight; be
that as it may, a work
of the kind here presented, seemed to be
needed, and we regret
that its preparation
had not been assigned
to an abler pen. Multitudes of works have
been consulted,  and
such anecdotes gleaned as it is thought will 
PREFACE.
have a salutary influence on the mind and heart. Should
the records of female courage and virtue herein presented
to the daughters of the land, encourage, even in the slight.
est degree, a laudable spirit of emulation, our humble labors
will not have been put forth in vain.
Facts are more sublime than fictions; and American
women have actually performed all the good, and grand,
and glorious deeds which  the honest and judicious novelist
dares ascribe to the female sex; hence we have found no
occasion, in striving to make this work interesting, to deviate
from the path of historical truth.
The sources whence our materials have been derived, are
largely indicated in the body of the work.' Possibly, however, we may  have failed, in some instances, to indicate our
indebtedness to historians and biographers where such reference was justly demanded;  suffice it to say, therefore, once
for all, that, although something like two hundred of these
pages are in our own language, we deserve but little credit
for originality, and would prefer to be regarded as an unpretending compiler, rather than as an aspirant to the title of
author.                                                  J. C.
NOTE TO THE REVISED EDITION.
The fact that eight thousand copies of this work have been pubhshed in less than a year after its appearance, indicates a degree of
popularity which was not anticipated.  In this edition we have thrown 
out a few pages of the old matter, and substituted, in most instances,
fresher anecdotes; and this revision, with the illustrations which the
libera]-minded publishers have added, will it is hoped, render the
work still more acceptable                                       J. C
Ni 
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTP)N..............................................
other of Washington......................................
Wife of Washington.....................................
Wife of John Adams.......................................
Ann H. Judson..........................................
A Christian Woman in the Hour of Danger....................
Humanity of Hartford Ladies................................
Mother Bailey..............................................
Elizabeth Heard...........................................
Ladies of Philadelphia in 1780..............................
Wife of President Reed.....................................
Completion of Bunker Hill Monument.......................
Lydia Darrah..............................................
Widow Storey.............................................
Mirs. Hendee...............................................
Patriotic Women of Old Middlesex..........................
The Cacique's Noble Daughter..............................
Humane Spirit of a Forest Maid............................
Hannah Dustin............................................
The Heroines of Bryant's Station............................
Mrs. Daviess..............................................
A Kentucky Amazon.......................................
Heroism at Innis Settlement................................
Bold Exploit at Tampico...................................
Dicey Langston..............................................
Rebecca Motte.............................................
Another Sacrifice for Freedom.............................
PAO S.
13
25
33
39
52
66
69
73
76
78
80
85
89
93
95
97
99
104
108
111
114
118
120
124
125
129
132 
CONTENTS.
PAGV.
133
134
136
140
142
143
145
146
164
166
169
170
171
176
178
180
182
184
186
188
190
192
195
198
199
202
204
211
213
218
221
223
237
239
241
244
246
250
A Patriotic Donation.......................................
The Little Black-eyed Rebel................................
The Benevolent Quakeress..................................
A Pioneer in Sunday Schools...............................
The Women of Wyoming...........................
Mary Gould..............................................
The Mother of President Polk................................
Trials of a Patriot.........................................
Intrepidity of Mrs. Israel.....................................
Incident in Missionary Life.................................
A Kind-hearted Chippewa..................................
Humanity of a Cherokee....................................
Self-sacrificing Spirit of the Missionary......................
Daring Exploit of Two Rebels..............................
Elizabeth Martin...........................................
The Mother's Effectual Petition.............................
Noteworthy Integrity.......................................
A Faithful Mother.........................................
Mrs. Spaulding............................................
Wife of Colonel Thomas....................................
Exemplary Piety...........................................
Adventure of a Patriotic Girl................................
Mrs. Caldwell and the Tories.................................
Mother of Randolph........................................
Cornelia Beekman..........................................
Mother of West............................................
Heroic Endurance...........................................
Maternal Heroism..........................................
A Modern Dorcas...........................................
Sarah Hoffman.............................................
Heroism of Scohliarie Women................................
A Sterling Patriot.........................................
Heroic Conduct at Monmouth...............................
Courage of a Country Girl...................................
The Ledyards at Fort Griswold..............................
Seneca Heroines............................................
Martha Bratton............................................
A l'oor Womanl's Offering..................................
viii 
OONTENTS.
PAGN.
251
253
256
258
261
263
265
266
268
270
272
275
277
279
284
297
299
303
305
308
309
311
313
316
320
323
330
331
336
338
340
341
343
345
346
352
354
356
Mother of Jackson.........................................
Heroine of Fort Henry.....................................
A Benevolent Widow........................................
Anne Fitzhugh.............................................
Esther Gaston.............................................
Remarkable Presence of Mind...............................
Wife of Governor Griswold..................................
Bold Exploit of a Young Girl...............................
Susanna Wright.............................................
Patriotism of 1770.........................................
Mrs. Spaulding..............................................
Mrs. Dillard................................................
Phoebe Phillips.........................................
Example of a Poor Widow.................................
Elizabeth Estaugh..........................................
Kate Moore,.................................................
Captivity of Mrs. Rowlandson...............................
Mrs. Bozarth...............................................
Heroine of Steel Creek.....................................
Benevolence of a Colored Woman............................
Rebecca Edwards..........................................
The Beautiful Rebel........................................
Harriet B. Stewart.........................................
A Kind and Beevolent Woman.............................
Noble Example of Pioneers.................................
Mrs. Slocumb........................................
Wife of Captain Richardson.............................
Striking Instance of Patience................................
,,usannah Elliott............................................
Anna Elliott..........................................
Patriotic Stratagem.........................................
Influence of a Faithful Teacher..............................
Wife of Thomas Heyward..................................
Noble Decision.............................................
A Tennessee Heroine.......................................
Mrs. M'Kay................................................
Heroic Conduct of a Daughter...............................
Heroic Decision............................................
ix 
CONTENTS.
Daughter of Aaron Burr....................................
Female Intrepidity.........................................
Wife of Richard Shlubrick...................................
Retort of Mrs. Ashe........................................
Wife of a Drunkard........................................
Mother of Dr. Dwight......................................
Happy Results of Maternal Fidelity..........................
Mrs. Scott.................................................
Success of Boldness.........................................
Mary Knight...............................................
Wife of William Gray......................................
Mrs. Huntington............................................
Mrs. Biddle................................................
Kindness of Convicts........................................
Margaret Prior.............................................
Noble Acts of Kindness.....................................
Wife of Dr. Ramsay.......................................
Margaret Schuyler..........................................
Noble Treatment of Enemies................................
Humanity Rewarded........................................
Margaret Winthrop.........................................
A Pioneer Settler's Adventure...............................
Mrs. McKenney............................................
The Fishermail's Heroic Wife................................
Mrs. James K. Polk.........................................
Widow Jenkins............................................
Faithful Little Girl........................................
Hospitality of California Women.............................
qarah Lanman Smith.......................................
Brother saved by his Sister...............................
Mrs. Borden...............................................
Margaret Corbin...........................................
Mrs. Channing.......................................       43
Commendable Courage.....................................
Heroine of Shell's Bush....................................
Father Taylor's Widowed Friend.............................
Revolutionary Mother.......................................
Successful Daring..........................................
x
PAGZ.
358
361
362
365
366
370
373
375
378
380
381
383
385
387
388
395
398
400
402
403
404
408
410
416
418
421
423
424
425
429
431
432
433
434
435
437
440
443 
C (} N'I l1 N'1 S.
xi
PAGE.
444
445
446
448
* 450
459
465
474
Worthy Exampie of Forgiveness............................
Crookshanks saved by a Female............................
Patriotic Artist............................................
l(,hawk Wo()men..........................................
C   emale in the Revolutionarl Arinv.......................
lizabeth Brant............................................
8 rief Anecdotes............................................
*  ias D. L. Dix........................................
t —- 
Io
! 
I 
INTRODUCTION.
THE  advantages of  Biography are obvious  and  great
To the weight of precept, it adds the force and efficacy of
example.   It presents correct and  beautiful models,  and
awakens the impulse to imitate what we admire. Other
sciences strengthen the intellect, this influences and amends
the heart.   Other  subjects  interest the imagination,  this
modifies conduct and character.   By the recorded actions
of the great and good, we regulate our own course, and
steer, star-guided, over life's trackless ocean.
In remote ages, the department of Female Biography
was almost a void. Here and there on the pages of the
Sacred Volume, a lineament, or a form, is sketched with
graphic power, either as a warning, or bright with the
hues of heaven. Yet uninspired history, though she continued to utter "her  dark sayings upon the harp," was
wont to relapse into silence at the name of woman. Classic antiquity scarcely presents aught that might be cited
as a sustained example. In the annals of ancient Greece,
the wife of one of its philosophers has obtained a place,
but only through the varied trials, by which she contributed to perfect his patience.   Rome but slightly lifts the 
INT IRODUCTIO) N.
household veil from the mother of the Gracchi, as she exulting,ly exhibits  her heart's jewels.   Cleopatra, with  hler
royal barge, casts a dazzling gleam over the Cydnus, b'ut
her fame  is like the poison of the reptile that destroyed
her.   Boadicea rushes for a moment  in  her rude  chlariot
over the battle field, but the fasces and the chains of
Rome close the scene.
Modern Paganism disclosed a still deeper abyss of degradation for woman. The aboriginal lord of the American
forests lays the burden on the shoulder of his weaker companion, and stalks on in unbowed majesty, with  his quiver
and  his tomahawk.   Beneath  the sultry skies of Africa
she crouches to drink the poison water before her judges,
having no better test of her innocence than the deliverer,
Death.   In  India, we see her plunging  into the  Ganges
her female infants, that they may escape her lot of misery,
or wrapped in the flames of the burning pile, turn into
ashes with the corpse of her husband.   Under  the sway
of the Moslem, her highest condlition is a life-long incarceration, her best treatment, that of a gilded toy-a soulless
slave. Throughout the whole heathen world, woman may
be characterized, as Humanity, in Central Asia has been,
by an elegant French writer, as "always remaining anonymous,-indifferent to herself,-not believing in her liberty,
having none,- and leaving no trace of her passage upon
earth."
Christianity has changed the scene. Wherever her pure
and pitying spirit prevails, the sway of brute force is softened, and  the "weaker vessel" upheld.   Bearing in her
hand the blessed Gospel, " a light to lighten the'Gentiles,
and the glory of the people Israel," she adds to the literature of the world a new volume, the History of WomarL
xiv 
INTRODUCTION.
She spreads a page, for which the long, slow ages had
neither looked, nor inquired,- neither waited for, nor imagined, the page of female biography.
So liberal have been our own immediate times in sup.
plying fitting materials, that an extensive and valuable library might readily be selected in this department alone.
Since knowledge has shed her baptism upon the head of
woman, her legitimate sphere of duty has become extended, and enriched by incident. We see her not only brought
forward as a teacher, but entering unrebuked the fields of
science and literature; we see her amid the  hardships of
colonial life, displaying a martyr's courage, or ascending the
deck of the mission ship to take her part in "perils among
the heathen."
The venerable moralist of Barley Wood, who so perseveringly encouraged her sex to reflect, to discriminate, to
choose the good and refuse the evil, who, after attaining
the age of sixty years, presented them with eleven new and
instructive volumes, has not long laid down her pen, for the
rest and reward of the righteous. That high souled apostle
of erring, suffering humanity, to whose dauntless benevolence crowned heads did honor, whose melodious voice I
almost fancy that I again hear, as in the plain garb of
her order, she stood as a tutelary being among the convicts at  Newgate,- she  has but recently arisen to that
congenial society of the just made perfect, who rejoice over
"one sinner that repenteth."
And the harp of that tuneful one, so recently exchanged
for a purer harmony, still breathes upon our hearts the
echoes of her varied lay, as when touched by her hand it
warbled
xv 
INTRODU CTTO N.
Fame hath a voice, whose thrilling tone,
Can bid the life pulse beat,
As when a trumpet's note hath blown,
Warning the hosts to meet;
But ah! let mine, a woman's breast,
With words of home-born love be bless'd."
She, too, who sleeps beneath the hopia-tree in Burmab,
whose courage and constancy no hero has transcended,
how rapidly has she been followed in the same self denying path, by others who "counted not their lives dear
unto them," if they might bear to the perishing heathen
the name and love of a Redeemer.
And one still lives, the wonderful Scandinavian maiden,
whose melody now holds our own land in enchantment,
and who exhibits, on a scale hitherto unknown in the
world's history, rare endowments, boundless liberality, and
deep humility; God's grace held in subservience to the
good of her fellow creatures. Through the power of song,
which, as the compeer of the nightingale, she possesses,
and with a singular freedom from vanity and selfishness,
she charms and elevates, while with the harvest of her
toils she feeds the hungry, clothes the naked, comforts the
desolate, aids the hallowed temple to uplift its spire, and
the school to spread its brooding wing over the children
of future generations.
One there lives, who doth inherit
Angel gifts with angel spirit,
Bidding streams of gladness flow
Through the realms of want and woe,
'Mid lone age and misery's lot,
Kindling pleasures long forgot,
Seeking minitds oppress'd with night,
And on darkness shedding light;
She the seraph's speech doth know,
She hath learn'd their deeds below
xvi 
INTRODUCTION.
So, when o'er this misty strand,
She shall clasp their waiting hand,
They will fold her to their breast,
More a sister than a guest
If all true greatness should be estimated by its tendencies, and by the good it performs, it is peculiarly desirable
that woman's claims to distinction should be thus judged
and awarded.   In this young western world, especially in
New England, her agency has been admitted, and her capacity tested, of mingling a healthful leaven with the elements
of a nation's character.   Here, her presence  has been acknowledged, and her aid faithfully rendered. from the beginning.   There is a beautiful tradition, that the hist foot
which pressed the snow clad rock of Plymouth was that of
Mary Chilton, a fair young maiden, and that the last survivor of those heroic pioneers was Mary Allerton, who lived
to see the planting of twelve out of the thirteen colonies,
which formed the nucleus of these United States.
In the May  Flower, eighteen wives accompanied their
huisbands to a waste land and uninhabited, save by the
wily and vengeful savage.   On the unfloored hut, she who
had been nurtured amid the lih carpets and curtains of
the mother land, rocked her new born babe, and complained not. She, who in the home of her youth had arranged the gorgeous shades of embroidery, or, perchance,
had compounded the rich venison pasty as her share in the
housekeeping, now pounded the coarse Indian corn for her
children's bread, and bade them ask God's blessing, ere
they took their  scanty portion.   When  the snows  sifted
through their miserable roof-trees upon her little ones, she
gathered them closer to her bosom; she taught them the
Bible, and the catechism, and the holy hymn, though the
war-whoop  of the Indian rang through  the wild.   Amid
2
xvil 
INTR  ODUCT ION.
the untold hardships of colonial life, she infused new strength
into her husband by her firmness, and solaced his weary
hours by her love. She was to him,
"An undergoing spirit, to bear up
Against whate'er ensued."
During the struggle of our Revolution, the privations sustained, and the efforts made by women, were neither few
nor of short duration Many of them are -delineated in the
present volume, and in other interesting ones of the same
class, which have found favor with the public.
Yet innumerable instances of faithful toil, and patient
endurance, must have been covered with oblivion. In how
many a lone home, whence the father was long sundered
by a soldier's destiny, did the Mother labor to perform to
their little ones both his duties and her own, having no
witness of the extent of her heavy burdens, and sleepless
anxieties, save the Hearer of Prayer.
A  good  and  hoary headed  man,  who  had  passed the
limits of fourscore, once said to me, "my father v as in the
army during the whole eight years of the Revolutionary
war, at first as a common soldier, afterwards as an officer.
My mother had the sole charge of us, four little ones. Our
house  was a poor one, and far from neighbors.   I have
a keen remembrance of the terrible cold of some of these
winters. The snow lay so deep and long, that it was difficult to cut or draw fuel from the woods, and to get our
corn to mill, when we had any. My mother was the possessor of a coffee mill.   In that she ground wheat, and
made coarse bread, which we ate, and were thankful. It
was not always that we  could be allowed as much, even
of this, as our keen appetites craved.   Many is the time
that we have gone to bed, with only a drink of water for
xviii 
INTROD U CTION.             I
our supper, in which a little molasses had been mingled.
We patiently received it, for we knew our mother did as
well for us as she could, and hoped  to have  something
better in the morning.   She was never heard  to repine;
and young as we were, we tried to make her loving spirit
and heavenly trust, our example.
"When my father was permitted to come home, his stay
was short, and he had not much to leave us, for the pay
of those who achieved our liberties was slight, and ir'egulaily rendered. Yet when he went, my mother ever bade
him farewell with a cheerful face, and not to be anxious
about his children, for she would watch over them night
and day, and God would take care of the families of
those who  went forth to defend  the righteous cause of
their country.   Sonmtimes we wondered  that she did not
mention the cold weather, or our short meals, or her hard
work, that we little ones might be clothed, and fed, and
taught.   But she would not weaken his ihlands, or sadden
his heart, for she said a soldier's lot was harder than all.
We saw that she never complained, but always kept in hel
heart a sweet hope, like a well of living water.   Every
nilght ere we slept, and every morning when we arose, we
lifted our little hands for God's blessing on our absent father, and our endangered country."
How deeply the prayers from such solitary homes, and
faithful hearts, were  mingled with the infant liberties of
our dear native land, we may not. know until we enter
where we see no more "through a glass darkly, but face
to face."
Incidents repeatedly occurred during this contest of eight
%ears, between the feeble colonies and the strong mother
xix 
INTRODUCTION.
land, of a courage that ancient  Sparta would  have  applauded.
In a thinly settled part of Virginia, the quiet of the Sabbath eve was once broken by the loud, hurried roll of the
drum. Volunteers were invoked to go forth and prevent
the British troops, under the pitiless Tarleton, from forcing
their way through an. important mountain pass.   In an old
fort resided a family, all of whose elder sons were absent
with our army, which at the North opposed the foe.   The
father lay enfeebled and  sick.   Around  his bedside the
Mother called their three sons, of the ages of thirteen, fifteen, and seventeen.
"Go forth, children," said she, "to the defence of your
native clime. Go, each and all of you. I spare not my
youngest, my fair-haired boy, the light of my declining
years.
"Go forth, my sons.  Repel the foot of the invader, or
see my face no more."
It has been recorded in the annals of other climes, as
well as our own, that Woman,  under the pressure of unusual circumstances, has revealed unwonted and unexpected
energies.  It is fitting that she should  prove herself equal
to every emergency, nor shrink from any duty that.dangers
or reverses may impose.
Still, her best happiness and true glory are doubtless
found in her own peculiar sphere.   Rescued, as she has
been, from long darkness, by the precepts of the religion of
Jesus, brought forth into the broad sunlight of knowledge
and re';ponsibility, she is naturally anxious to know  how to
discharge her debt to the age, and to her own land. Her
patriotism is, to labor in the sanctuary of home, and in every
xx 
INTRODUCTION.
allotted department of education, to form and train a race
that shall bless their country, and serve their God.
There has been sometimes claimed for her, under the
name of "rights," a wider participation in the pursuits, exposures, and honors appertaining to men. Were these somewhat indefinite claims conceded, would the change promote
her welfare? Would she be a gainer by any added power
or sounding title, which should require the sacrifice of that
delicacy which is the life-blood of her sex?
Would it be better for man to have no exercise for those
energies, which the state of a gentle, trustful being calls
forth; those protecting energies which reveal his peculiar
strength, and liken him to a god-like nature? Would it
add either to her attractions or his happiness, to confront
her in the arena of political strife, or enable her to bear her part
in fierce collision with the bold and unprincipled?   Might
it not endanger or obliterate that enthusiasm of love, which
she so much prizes, to meet the tutelary spirit of his home
delights, on the steep unsheltered heights of ambition, as a
competitor or a rival?
Would it be as well for the rising generation, who are
given into the arms of Woman for their earliest guidance,
that the ardor of her nature should be drawn into different
and contradictory channels? When a traveler in those lands
where she goes forth to manual toil in the fields, I have
mourned to see her neglected little ones, deprived of maternal care, unsoftened by  the blandishments  of its tenderness, growing up like animals, groveling, unimpressible, unconscientious. Whatever detaches her thoughts or divides
her heart from home duties and affections, is especially a
loss to the yomung plants that depend  on her nurture  and
supervision
xxi 
INTRODU  TION.
If, therefore, the proposed change should profit neither
man, woman, nor the rising race, how can it benefit the
world at large? Is it not the province of true wisdom to
select such measures as promote the greatest good of the
greatest number?
A  moralist has well said, that "in contentions for power,
both the philosophy and poetry of life are dropped and trodden down."   A  still heavier loss would accrue to domestic
happiness, and the interests of well balanced society, should
the innate delicacy and prerogative of woman, as woman,
be sacrificed or transmuted.
"I have given her as a help-meet," said the Voice that
cannot err, when it spake unto Adam "in the cool of the
day," amid the trees of Paradise. Not as a slave, a clog,
a toy, a wrestler, a prize-fighter, a ruler. No. A helper,
such as was meet for man to desire, and for her to become.
If the unerring Creator has assigned different spheres
of action to the sexes, it is to be presumed that some adaptation exists to their respective sphere, that there is work
enough in each to employ them, and that the faithful performance of that work will be for the welfare of both. If He
hath constituted one as the priestess of the "inner temple,"
committing to her charge its veiled shrine and sacred harmonies, why should she covet to rage amid the warfare at
its gates, or to ride on the whirlwind that may rock its
turrets?   Rushing, uncalled, to the strife,  or the tumult,
or the conflict, will there not linger in her heart the updraiding question, "with whom didst thou leave thy few
sheep in the wilderness?" Why need she be again tempted
by pride, or curiosity, or glozing words, to forfeit her own
Eden?
The true nobility of Woman is to keep her owD sphere,
xxii 
INTRODUcTION.
and adorn it, not as the comet, daunting and perplexing
other systems, but like the star, which is the first to light
the day and the last to leave it. If she win not the laurel
of the conqueror and the blood-shedder, her noble deeds may
leave "footprints on the sands of time," and her good works,
such as become those that profess godliness," find record
in the Book of Life.
Sisters, are not our rights sufficiently comprehensive, the
sanctuary of home, the throne of the heart, the moulding
of the whole mass of mind, in its first formation?  Have
we not power enough in all realms of sorrow and suffering,
over all forms of want and ignorance, amid all ministries
of love, from the cradle-dream to the sealing of the sepulchre?
Let us be content and faithful, aye, more,- grateful and
joyful, -making this brief life a hymn  of praise, until admitted to that chair which knows no discord, and where
melody is eternal.
L. HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY.
HARTFORD, Conn..
xxrll  
I~~~~
THiE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON
As the " mother" of our nation's "chief," it seems
appropriate that DIary Washington should stand at
the head of American females whose deeds are herein
recorded.  Her life was one unbroken series of praiseworthy actions -a drama of many scenes, none bloodchilling, none tragic, but all noble, all inspiring, and
many  even magnanimous.   She was uniformnly so
gentle, so amiable, so digtified, that it is dclifficult to fix
the eye on any one act more striliingly grand than the
rest.  Stretching the eye along a series of mounitain
peaks, all, seemingly, of tihe same hleig,lit, a solitary 
NOBLE DEEDS
one calnnot be singled out and called more sublime
than the others.
It is impossible to contemplate any one trait of her
character without admiration. In republican simplicity, as her life will show, she was a model; and her
piety was of such an exalted nature that the daughters
of the land might make it their study. Though proud
of her son, as we may suppose she must have been,
she was sensible enough not to be betrayed into weakness and folly on that account. The honors that clustered around her name as associated with his, only
humnbled her and made her apparently more devout.
She never forgot that she was a Christian mother, and
that her son, herself, and, in perilous times especially,
her country, needed her prayers. She was wholly
destitute of aristocratic feelings, which are degrading
to human beings; and never believed that sounding
titles and high honors could confer lasting distinctions, without moral worth.   The greatness  whicit
Byron, with so much justness and beauty, ascribes
to Washington, was one portion of the inestimable
riches which the son inherited from the mother:
"Where may the weary eye repose,
When gazing on the great,
Where neither guilty glory glows,
Nor despicable state?
Yes, one-the first-the last-the best The Cincinnatus of the West,
Whom envy dared not hate Bequeathed the name of Washington,
To make men blush there was but one-"
26 
& a   if
OF AM RICA  WOM N. -
^ 0?~O A MERICAN WOMEN.
Moulding, as she did, to a large extent, the cha racter of the great Ihero, Statesman and Sage of the
Western World; instilling into his young heart the
virtues that warmed her own, and fitting him to be come the man of unbending integrity and heroic
courage, and the father of a great and expanding re public, she may well claim the veneration, not of the
lovers of freedom merely, but of all who can appreciate moral beauty and thereby estimate the true
wealth of woman's heart.  A few data and incidents
of such a person's life should be treasured in every
American mind.
The maiden name of Mrs. Washington was Mary
Bell. She was born in the Colony of Virginia, which
is fertile in great names, towards the close of the year
1706. She became the second wife of Mr. Augustine
Washington, a planter of the " Old Dominion," on the
sixth of March, 1730.  I-Ie was at that time a resident
of Westmoreland county. There, two years after this
union, George, their oldest child, was born. While
the "father of his country" was an infant, the parents removed to Stafford county, on the Rappahannoc
river, opposite Fredericksburg.
Mrs. Washington had five more children, and lost
the youngest in its infancy. Soon after this affliction,
she was visited, in 1743, with a greater - the death of
her husband. Thus, at the age of thirty-seven, Mrs.
Washington became a widow, with five small children.
Fortunately, her husband left a valuable property for
their maintenance. It was mostly in land, and each
son inherited a plantation. The one daughter was also
27 
IOBLE DEEFDS
suitably provided for.  "It was thus," writes Afr
Sparks, "that Aug,,ustine Washington, although suddenly cut eff in the vigor of manhood, left all his children in a state of comparative independence. Confiding in the prudence of the mother, he directed that
the proceeds of all the property of her children should
be at her disposal, till they should respectively come
of age."
The same writer adds that, " this weighty charge of
five young children, the eldest of whom was eleven
years old, the superintendence of their education, and
the management of complicated affairs, demanded no
common share of resolution, resource of mind, and
strength of character. In these important duties Mrs.
Washington acquitted herself with fidelity to her trust,
and with entire success. Hier good sense, assiduity,
tenderness and vigilance, overcame every obstacle;
and, as the richest reward of a mother's solicitude and
toil, she had the happiness of seeing all her children
come forward with a fair promise into life, filling the
sphere allotted to them in a manner equally honorable
to themselves, and to the parent who had been the only
guide of their principles, conduct and habits. She
lived to witness the noble career of her eldest son, till,
by his own rare merits, he was raised to the head of
a nation, and applauded and revered by the whole
world."
Two years after the death of his father, George
Washington obtained a midshipman's warrant, and
had not his mother opposed the plan, he would have
entered the naval service, been removed from her in
28 
OF AMERIICAN WOMEN.
fiuence, acted a different part on the theatre of life,
and possibly changed the subsequent aspect of Ameri can affairs.
Just before Washingtoni's departure to the north, to
assume the command of the American army, he per suaded his mother to leave her country residence, and
assisted in effecting her removal to Fredericksbuog.
There she took up a permanent abode, and there died
of a lingering and painful disease, a cancer in the
breast, on the twenty-fifth of August, 1789.
A few of the many lovely traits of Mlrs. Washington's character, are happily exhibited in two or three
incidents in her long, but not remarkably eventful life.
She who looked to God in hours of darkness for
light, in her country's peril, for Divine succor, was
equally as ready to acknowledge the hand and to see
the smiles of the " God of battles" in the victories that
crowned our arms; hence, when she was informed of
the surrender of Cornwallis, her heart instantly filled
with gratitude, and raising her hands, with reverence
and pious fervor, she exclaimed: "Thank God! wai
will now be ended, and peace, independence and hapi)iness bless our country!"
When she received the news of her son's successful
passage of the Delaware - December 7th, 1776 -with
much self-possession she expressed her joy that the
li,ospects of the country were brightening; but when
shle came to those portions of the dispatches which
were panegyrical of her son, she modestly and coolly
observed to the bearers of the good tidings, that
' George appeared to have deserved well of his coun
29 
NOBLE DEEDS
try for such signal services. But, my good sirs," she
added, "here is too much flattery! -Still, George will
niotfo rgette lesogs Itcve tawtt7b?t kin —he will not
Corget?imself, though he is the sul)ject of so much
praise."
In like manner, when, on the return of the combined
armies firom Yorktown, Washington visited her at
Fredericksburg, she inquired after his health and
talked long and with much warmth of feeling of the
scenes of former years, of early and mutual friends, of
all, in short, that the past hallows; but to the theme
of thie ransomed millions of the land, the theme that
foir three quarters of a century has, in all lands,
prompted the highest flights of eloquence, and awakened the noblest strains of song, to the deathless
fame of her son, she made not the slightest allusion.
In the fall of 1784, just before returning to his native
land, General Lafayette went to Fredericksburg, " to
pay his parting respects" to Mrs. Washington.  "Conducted by one of her grandsons, he approached the
house, when the young gentleman observed:'There,
sir, is my grandmother!' Lafayette beheld -work
ing in the garden, clad in domnestic-made clothes, and
her gray head covered with a plain straw hat -the
mother of'his hero, his friend and a country's preserver!' The lady saluted him kindly, observing:
'Ah, Marquis! you see an old woman; but come, I
can make you welcome to my poor dwelling without
the parade of changing my dress.'" During the interview, Lafayette, referring to her son, could not withhold his encomiums, which drew from the mother this
30 
OF AMiERICAN WOMIEN.
beautifully simple remark: "I am not surprised at
what George has done, for he was always a good
boy."
The remains of AIrs. Washington were interred at
Fredericksburg. On the seventh of itay, 1833, the
corner-stone of a monuinent to her memory was laid
under the direction of a Committee who represented
the citizens of Virginia. General Jackson, then President of the United States, very appropriately took
the leading and most honorable part in the ceremony.
With the following extracts from the closing part of
his chaste and elegant Address, our humble sketch
may fittingly close:
" In tracing the few recollections which can be gathered, of her principles and conduct, it is impossible
to avoid the conviction, that these were closely interwoven with the destiny of her son. The great points
of his character are before the world. Ile who runs
may read them in his whole career, as a citizen, a soldier, a magistrate.  lIe possessed unerring judgment,
if that term can be applied to humnan nature; great
probity of purpose, high moral principles, perfect selfpossession, untiring application, and an inquiring
mind, seeking information from every quarter, and
arriving at its conclusions with a full knowledge of the
subject; and he added to these an inflexibility of resolution, which nothing could change but a conviction
of error. Look back at the life and conduct of his
mother, and at her domestic government, as they
have this day been delineated by the Chairman of
the Monumental Coimniittee, and as they were known
31 
NOELLE JEEI)S
to her contemporaries, and have been described b)y
them, and they will be found admirably adapted t(,
form and develop, the elements of such a character
The power of greatness was there; but had it not been
guided and directed by maternal solicitude and judgment, its possessor, instead of presenting to the world
examples of virtue, patriotism  and wisdom, which
will be precious in all succeeding ag(es, might have
added to the number of those miaster-spirits, whose
fame rests upon the faculties they have abused, and
the injuries they have committed..
" Fellow citizens, at your request, and in your name,
I now deposit this plate in thie spot destined for it;
and when the American pilgrimn shall, in after ages,
come up to this high and holy place, and lat his hand
upon this sacred column, may he recall the virtues of
her who sleeps beneath, and depart with his affections
purified, and his piety strengthened, while he invokes
blessings upon the 7dother of WTashington."
32 
THE WIFE OF WASHINGTON.
A woman's noblest station is retreat:
Her fairest virtues fly from public sight;
Domestic worth -that shuns too strong a l;ghlt.
LORD LYTTLETON.
The drying up a single tear has more
Of honest fame than shedding seas of gore.
BYRON.
Wolmian may possess an equal share of the elements
of greatness with man, but she has not an equal opportunity to display them in such a manner as to call forth
the admiration and applause of the world.  She was
not made to pour the tide of eloquence in the Senate
chamber, or lead on to victory the brave and heroic
spirits of the land. Her course leads mainly through
the quiet valley of domestic retirement, where the
stream can rarely leap from dizzy heights with a thundering plunge, whose echoes shall go booming on to fill
the ear of coming generations: her movements and
influence are more like those of springs, which, flowing
noiselessly and unseen, are widely scattered, and every
where diffuse incalculable blessings.
The wife of Washington could not be the hero of a
seven-years' war, or the chief magistrate of a republic;
but, as the companion of such a man, she could shine,
;4 
NOBLE  DEEDS
in her own proper sphere, with a lustre as mild, as
steady, as serene, as his. And thus she did. Prompt
to obey the calls of duty, when the voice of hliumlanity
beckoned her to the camp, she hastened away, at the
sacrifice of ease and comfort, to relieve the wants of
the suffering; and when forced to leave her "paradise"
at Mount Vernon, to preside, as the matron of the nationI, at the President's house, she did it with a dignity
and propriety perhaps never equalled, certainly never
excelled. But let us not anticipate.
Mlartha Dandridge was born in New Kent county,
Virginia, in May, 1732. She was endowed with good
sense, a strong mind, sound ideas of feminine proprieties, and correct views of womana's practical duties:
and these had to answer measurably as a substitute for
the discipline of female seminaries, which were rare in
the " Old Dominion," and in the Colonies generally,
in her younger days. The advantages to be derived
from domestic instruction, she enjoyed, and those
only. They, however, were cut off at the age of seventeen, by her union in marriage with Colonel Daniel P.
Custis, a gentleman of many excellent parts. They
settled on his plantation in her native county. Beau
tiful, lovely in disposition, and fascinating in manners,
the young wife was warmly admired by her neighbors
and all with whom she came in contact; and her residence, known as the " Wdte I~ouse," was the centre
of strong attractions, and the scene of much genuine
or - which is the same thing - VTrginian, hospitality.
Colonel Custis became the father of three children, and
then died. Previous to this solemn event, however.
34 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
the White House had been veiled in weeds for the loss
of his oldest child.
Witl' two small children, a son and daughter, Mls.
Custis Karly found herself a widow, with the disposition and management of all pecuniary interests left by
her confiding husband, at her control.  As sole executrix, it is said that she " managed the extensive
landed and pecuniary concerns of the estate with surprising ability, making loans on mortgages, of money,
and through her stewards and agents, conducting the
sales or exportation of the crops to the best possible
advantage."
But from the cares of an extensive estate the was
shortly relieved. On the sixth of January, 1759, she
gave her hand, with upwards of a hundred thousand
dollars, to Colonel George Washington, another planter
of her native Colony. At the same time, she relinquished into his hands the guardianship of her children-the son six, and the daughter four years old
together with the care of their property. From the
White House, Mrs. Washington  now  removed to
Mount Vernon, which remained  her home till her
death, and became  the final resting place of her
remains. 
In her new home, as in the White Hiouse, she superintended the affairs of thehousehold, exercising co01tinual control over all culinary matters; carefully
edLcating her offspring, and aiming to rear them up
for usefulness. These duties she discharged with tLe
utmost assiduity and faithfulness, in spite of the manay
social ob)ligations which a woman in her position niust
11.5
C) 
NOBLE DEEDS
necessarily encounter.*  Nor  did  the  demands  of
courtesy and of her family debar her fi'om habitual and
systematic charities, dispensed in her neighborlhood, or
from those most important of all daily duties, the calls
of the "closet."  In the language of Mliss Conkling,
in her Mlemoir: "It is recorded of this devout Christian, that never during her life, whether in prosperity
or in adversity, did she omit that daily self-communion
and self-examination, and those private devotional
exercises, which would best prepare her for the selfcontrol and self-denial by which she was, for more than
half a century, so eminently distinguished.  It was her
habit to retire to her own apartment every morning
after breakfast, there to devote an hour to solitary
prayer and meditation."
In 1770, she lost a child of many prayers, of onght
hopes, and of much promise, her blooming daughter.
She looked upon this affliction as a visitation from
Him who  doeth all things well, and bore it with
becoming resignation, which the Christian only is prepared to do.
During the Revolution, Airs. WTashiu-gton was accustomned to pass the winters with her husband at the
head quarters of the army and the summers at Miount
Vernon; and it was in the camp that she shone with
the lustre of the true woman.   "She was at Valley
* We have the authority of Mr. Sparks for asserting that while Washrlgton's pursuits wvere those of a retired planter, he seldom passed a day
when at home without the company of friends or strangers, frequently
persons of great celebrity, and demanding much attention from the lady
of the house.
36 
OF AMERICA_N WOME N.
Forge in that dreadful winter of 1777-8, her presence
and submission to privation strengthening the fortitude
of those who might have complained, and giving hope
and confidence to the desponding. She soothed the
distresses of many sufferers, seeking out the poor and
afflicted with benevolent kindness, extending relief
wherever it was in her power, and with graceful deportment presiding in the Chief's humble dwelling."*
In 1781, she lost her last surviving child, John
Custis, aged twenty seven. Her widowed daughterin-law and the four children, she took to her own
home, and thenceforward they were the objects of her
untiring solicitude.
The life of MIrs. Washington, after her husband
took the Presidential chair, was marked by no striking
incidents, and affords scanty material of the nature
marked out for this work. During the eight years
thlat he was Chief Magistrate, she presided in his
mansion with the same unaffected ease, equanimity
and dignified simplicity that had marked her previous course in more retired circles. Visitors were
received on all days except the Sabbath, and, irrespective of rank, shared in her courtesies and hospitalities.  A portion of each summer, at that period,
was passed in the quiet and seclusion of Mount
Vernon, she rarely, if ever, accompanying her husband on his tours through the land. She expressed
regret when he was chosen President, because she
* Mrs. Washington, in writing to Mrs. Warren, says, "The General's
apartment is very small; he has had a log cabin built to dine in, which
has made our quarters more tolerable than at first."
37 
NOBLE DEEDS
preferred "to grow old" with him'in solitude and
tranquillity;" hence it is not surprising that she found
a luxury in retiring for a season from the scenes of
public life, and in attending to the education of her
grand-children and to other self-imposed tasks aind
important duties, in the performance of which she
could bless her friends and honor God.
After the death of her illustrious companion, whiech
occurred in December, 1799, she remained at Mtount
Vernon; where she spent seventeen months mourning her loss; receiving the visits of the great from
all parts of our land, and from various parts of the
earth; attending, as heretofore, to her domestic concerns; perfecting in the Christian graces, and ripening for the joys of a holier state of being. On the
twenty-second of -Iay, 1801, she who, while on earth,
could be placed in no station which she did not
dignify and honor, was welcomed to the glories of
another world.
38 
THE WIFE OF JOHN ADAMS.
The mother ill her office holds the key
Of the soul; and she it is who stamps the coin
Of character, and makes the being who would be
But for her gentle cares, a Christian man.
OLD PLAY
0 we will walk this world,
Yoked in all exercise of noble aim.
TENNYSON,
Alt igail Smith was a daughter of the Rev. Williamn
Smith, a Congregational minister of Weymouth, Massachusetts, where she was born on the eleventh of
November, 1744, 0.S.  "It was fashionable to ridicule female learning," in her day; and she says of
herself in one of her letters, " I was never sent to any
school."  She adds, " I was always sick. Female education, in the best families, went no further than writing and arithmetic." But notwithstanding her educational disadvantages, she read and studied in private,
and kept up a brisk correspondence with relatives, and
by these means expanded and fed her mind, and culti
vated an easy and graceful style of writing.
On the twenty-fifth of October, 1764, Miss Smith became the wife of John Adams, a lawyer of Braintree.?
IThe part of the town in which he lived was afterwards called Quincy
ii honor of Mrs. Adamns's maternal grandfather. 
NOBLE DEEDS.
Her grandson, Charles Francis Adams, to whose Me moir of her we are indebted for these statistics, says,
that " the ten years immediately following, present
little that is worth recording."
Prior to 1778, Mr. and MIrs. Adams had been separated at sundry times, in all, more than three years,
which was a severe trial to her fortitude. The strength
of her conjugal affection may be gathered firom an extract from one of her letters: " I very well remember,"
she writes, " when the eastern circuits of the courts,
which lasted a month, were thought an age, and an
absence of three months, intolerable; but we are caried from step to step, and from one degree to another,
to endure that which at first we think impossible."
Thus she was schooled for separation from her husband, when, in 1778, he went to France as a joint com-linissioner. While he was absent from his countrv
on that occasion, faithful to the calls of duty, she
remained at home, and managed, as she had done
before, the affairs of the household and farm. And
there let the reader look at her and see a picture of
a true mother of the Revolution.  " She is a farmer
cultivating the land, and discussing the weather and
crops; a nmerchant reporting prices-current and the
rates of exchange, and directing the making up of
invoices; a politician, speculating upon the probaI)ilities of peace or war; and a lilother, writing the
miost exalted sentiments to her son."
What nobler deed could the mother, thus situated,
do with her son, John Quincy Adams, in a foreign
land, than to write to him in a tone like that of the
40 
OF AM.ERICAN WOMEN4
extracts which follow, and which are taken firom
letters dated 1778-SO:
"'T is almost four months since you left your native
land, and embarked upon the mighty waters, in quest
of a foreign country.  Although I have not particularlv
written to you since, yet you may be assured you have
constantly been upon my heart and mind.
"It is a very difficult task, my dear son, for a tender parent to bring her mind to part with a child of
your years going to a distant land; nor could I have
acquiesced in such a separation under any other care
than that of the most excellent parent and guardian
who accompanied you.  You have arrived at years capable of improving under the advantages you will be
likely to have, if you do but properly attend to them.
They are talents put into your hands, of which an
account will be required of you hereafter; and being
possessed of one, two, or fourl, see to it that you
double your numbers.
"The most amiable and most useful disposition in
a young mind is diffidence of itself; and this should
lead you to seek advice and instruction from him, who
is your natural guardian, and will always counsel and
direct you in the best manner, both for your present
and future happiness. You are in possession of a natural good understanding, and of spirits unbroken by
adversity and untamed with care. Improve your understauding by acquiring useful knowledge and virtue,
such as will render you an ornament to society, ani
honor to your country, and a blessing to your parents.
Great learning and superior abilities, should you (ever
41 
NOBLF DEEDS
possess them, will be of little value and small estilfation, unless virtue, honor, truth, and integrity are
added to themn.  Adhere to those religious sentiments
iand principles which were early instilled into your
mind, and remember that you are accountable to your
Alaker for all your words and actions.
" Let me enjoin it upon you to attend constantly
and steadfastly to the precepts and instructions of your
father, as you value the happiness of your mother and
your own welfare. His care and attention to you render many things unnecessary for me to write, which I
might otherwise do; but the inadvertency and heedlessness of youth require line upon line and precept
upon precept, and, when enforced by the joint efforts
of both parents, will, I hope, have a due influence upon your conduct; for, dear as you are to me, I would
much rather you should have found your grave in the
ocean you have crossed., or that any untimely death
crop you in your infant years, than see you an immoral, profligate, or graceless child.
"You  have entered early in life upon the great
theatre of thle world, which is full of temptations and
vice of every kind.  You are not wholly unacquainted
with hIxistory, in whichl you have read of crimes which
your iex)perienced mind could scarcely believe credi
ble.  You have been taught to think of them with
horrir, and to view vice as
'a nmonster of so fiigh,tfiil mien,
ThIat, to be hlated, iiee(ds butt to be seeii.'
-' iet you must keep a strict guard upon  yourself, or
tl,  9dious iiioiister will Soon  lose its terror by becom
42 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
ing familiar to you. The modern history of our own
times, furnishes as black a list of crimes, as can be
paralleled in ancient times, even if we go back to
Xero, Caligula, or Cesar Borgia.  Young as you are,
the cruel war into which we have been compelled by
the haughty tyrant of Britain and the bloody emissaries of his vengeance, may stamp upon your mind this
certain truth, that the welfare and prosperity of all
countries, communities, and, I may add, individuals,
depend upon their morals. That nation to which we
were once united, as it has departed from justice,
eluded and subverted the wise laws which formerly
governed it, and suffered the worst of crimes to go
unpunished, has lost its valor, wisdom and humanity,
and, from being the dread and terror of Europe, has
sunk into derision and infamy.
" Some author, that I have met with, compares a
judicious traveler to a river, that increases its stream
the further it flows from its source; or to certain
springs, which, running through rich veins of minerals,
improve their qualities as they pass along. It will be
expected of you, my son, that, as you are favored with
superior advantages under the instructive eye of a
tender parent, your improvement should bear some
proportion to your advantages. Nothing is wanting
with you but attention, diligence, and steady applica
tion. Nature has not been deficient.
T'lese are times in which a genius would wish to
tive.  It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose
of a pacific station, that great characters are formed.
Would Cicero have shone so distinguished an orator
43 
NOBLE DEESIS
if he had not been roused, kindled, and inflamed by
the tyranny of Catiline, Yerres, and MSark Anthony?
The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. All history will convince you of
this, and that wisdom and penetration are the fruit of
experience, not the lessons of retirement and leisure.
Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind
is raised and animated by scenes that engage the
heart, then those qualities, which would otherwise lie
dormant, wake into life and form the character of the
hero and the statesman. War, tyranny, and desolation are the scourges of the Almighty, and ought no
doubt to be deprecated. Yet it is your lot, imy son,
to be an eye witness of these calamities in your own
native land, and, at the same time, to owne your
existence among a people who have made a glorious
defence of their invaded liberties, and who, aided
by a generous and powerful ally, with the blessing
of Heaven, will transmit this inheritance to ages
yet unborn.
" Nor ought it to be one of the least of your inciteinents towards exerting every power and faculty of
your mind, that you have a parent who has taken so
large and active a share in this contest, and discharged
the trust reposed in him with so much satisfaction as
to be honored with the important embassy which at
present calls him abroad.
" The strict and inviolable regard you have ever
paid to truth, gives me pleasing hopes that you will
not swerve from her dictates, but add justice, fortitude, and every manly virtue which can adorn a good
4-4 
OF AYERICAN WOMIEN.
citizen, do honor to your country, and render your
parents supremely happy, particularly your ever affectionate mother.
"..   The only sure and permanent foundation
of virtue is religion. Let this important truth be
(,graven upon your heart.  And also, that the foundation of religion is the belief of the one only God,
and a just sense of his attributes, as a being infinitely wise, just, and good, to whom you owe the
highest reverence, gratitude, and adoration; who
superintends and governs all nature, even to clothing
the lilies of the field, and hearing the young ravens
when they cry;  but more particularly regards man,
whom he created after his own image, and breathed
into him an immortal spirit, capable of a happiness
beyond the grave; for the attainment of which he is
bound to the performance of certain duties, which all
tend to the happiness and welfare of society, and are
comprised in one short sentence, expressive of universal benevolence,' Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself.'..............
" Justice, humanity, and benevolence, are the duties
you owe to society in general.  To your country the
same duties are incumbent upon you, with the additional obligation of sacrificing ease, pleasure, wealth,
and life itself for its defence and security. To your
parents you owe love, reverence, and obedience to all
just and equitable commands. To yourself, - here,
indeed, is a wide field to expatiate upon. To become
what you ought to be, and what a fond mother wishes
to see you, attend to some precepts and instructions
45 
NOBLE DEEDS
from thie pen of one, who can have no motive but your
welfare and happiness, and who wishes in this way to
supply to you the personal watchfulness and care,
which a separation from you deprived you of at a
period of life, when habits are easiest acquired and
fixed; and though the advice may not be new, yet
suffer it to obtain a place in your memory, for
occasions may offer, and perhaps some concurring
circumstances unite, to give it weight and force.
" Suffer me to recommend to you one of the most
usefuil lessons of life, the knowledge and study of yourself. There youL run the greatest hazard of being deceived. Self-love and partiality cast a mist before the
eyes, and there is no knowledge so hard to be acquired,
nor of more benefit when once thoroughly understood.
Ungoverned passions have aptly been compared to the
boisterous ocean, which is known to produce the most
terrible effects.'Passions are the elements of life,'
but elements which are subject to the control of reason.   Whoever will candidly examine  themselves,
will find some degree of passion, peevishness, or
obstinacy in their natural tempers. You will seldom
find these disagreeable ingredients all united in one;
.but the uncontrolled indulgence of either is sufficient
to render the possessor unhappy in himself, and disagreeable to all who are so unhappy as to be witnesses
of it, or suffer from its effects.
" You, my dear son, are formed with a constitution
feelingly alive; your passions are strong and impetuous; and, though I have sometimes seen them
hurry you into excesses, yet with pleasure I have
46 
OF AMERICAN WOME N.
observed a frankness and generosity accompany your
efforts to govern and subdue them. Few persons are
so subject to passion, but that they can command themselves, when they have a motive sufficiently strong;
and those who are most apt to transgress will restrain
themselves through respect and reverence to superiors,
and even, where they wish to recommend themselves,
to their equals. The due government of the passions,
has been considered in all ages as a most valuable
acquisition. Hence an inspired writer observes,' He
that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and
he that ruLleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.'
This passion, cooperating with power, and unrestrained by reason, has produced the subversion of
cities, the desolation of countries, the massacre of
nations, and filled the world with injustice and
oppression.  Behold your own country, your native
land, suffering from the effects of lawless power and
malignant passions, and learn betimes, from your own
observation and experience, to govern and control
yourself.  Having once obtained this self-government,
you will find a foundation laid for happiness to your'self and usefulness to mankind.'Virtue alone is
happiness below;' and consists in cultivating and improving every good inclination, and in checking and
subduing every propensity to evil. I have been particular upon the passion of anger, as it is generally
the most predominant passion at your age, the soonest excited, and the least pains are taken to subdue it;
-, what composes man, can man destroy.'".
47
0 
NOBLE DEEDS
With such a mother to counsel him, one is led to
ask, how could John Quincy Adams help becoming a
noble-minded and great man?  Who  wonders that,
with good natural endowments ard his excellent privileges, coupled with maternal training, he fitted himself
to fill the highest office in the gift of a free people?
In June, 1784, Mrs. Adams sailed for London to join
her husband, who was then our Minister at the Court
of St. James. While absent, she visited France and
Netherlands; resided for a time in the former country;
and returned with her knowledge of human nature, (t
men, manners, &c., enlarged; disgusted with the splendor and sophistications of royalty, and well prepared to
appreciate the republican simplicity and frankness
of which she was herself a model.   While Mr.
Adams was Vice-President and President, she never
laid aside her singleness of heart, and that sincerity
and unaffected dignity which had won for her many
friends before her elevation, and which, in spite of national animosity, conquered the prejudices and gained
the hearts of the aristocracy of Great Britain.  Put her
crowning virtue was her Christian humility, which is
beautifully exemplified in a letter which she wrote to
Mr. Adams, on the 8th of February, 1797, " the day
on which the votes for President were counted, and
Mr. Adams, as Vice-President, was required by law to
announce himself the President elect for the ensuing
term:"
"' The sun is dressed in brightest beams,
To give thy honors to the day.'
"And  may it prove  an  auspicious prelude to each
is
A& 
OF AERIC-AN WOMEN.
Cenisuing season. You have this day to declare your self head of a nation.' And now, O  Lord,  my
God, thou hast made thy servant ruler over the
people.   Give unto him  an  understanding  heart,
that  he may know how to go out and come  in
before this great people; that he may discern between
good and bad.  For who is able to judge this thy so
great a people?' were the words of a royal sovereign;
and not less applicable to him who is invested with
the chief magistracy of a nation, though he wear
not a crown, nor the robes of royalty.
" My thoughts and my meditations are with you,
though personally absent; and my petitions to IHeaven
are, that' the things which make for peace may not
be hidden from your eyes.' MIy feelings are not those
of pride or ostentation, upon the occasion. They are
solemnized by a sense of the obligations, the important
trusts, and numerous duties connected with it. That
you may be enabled to discharge them with honor to
yourself, with justice and impartiality to your country,
and with satisfaction to this great people, shall be the
daily prayer of your                       "A. A."
From her husband's retirement from the Presidency, in 1801, to the close of her life, in 1818, 3irs.
Adams remained constantly at Quincy. Cheerful,
contented, and happy, she devoted her last years, in
that rural seclusion, to the reciprocities of friendship
and love, to offices of kindness and charity, and, in
short, to all those duties which tend to ripen the
Christian for an exchange of worlds.
But it would be doing injustice to her character
0
49 
NOBLE DEEDS
and leaving one of her noblest deeds unrecorded, to
close without  men tioning the  influence  for good
which she exerted over Mr. Adams, and her part in
the work of making him what he was.  That he was
sensible of the benignant influence of wives, may
be gathered from the following letter which was
addressed to Mrs. Adams from Philadelphia, on the
eleventh of August, 1777:
"I think I have some times observed to you in
conversation, that upon examining the biography of
illustrious men, you will generally find some female
about them, in the relation of mother, or wife, or
sister, to whose instigation a great part of their merit
is to be ascribed. You will find a curious example
of this in the case of Aspasia, the wife of Pericles
She was a woman of the greatest beauty, and the
first genius. She taught him, it is said, his refined
maxims of policy, his lofty imperial eloquence, nay,
even composed the speeches on which so great a
share of his reputation was founded.
"I wish some of our great men had such wives.
By the account in your last letter, it seems the
women in Boston begin to think themselves able to
serve their country.   What  a pity it is that our
generals in the northern districts had not Aspasias
to their wives.
"I believe the two liowes have not very great
women to their wives. If they had, we should suffer
more from their exertions than we do.  This is our
good fortune. A smart wife would have put Jiowe
in possession of Philadelphia a long time ago."
4
50 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
While Mr. Adams was wishing that some of our
great men had such wives as Aspasia, he had such
a wife, was himself such a man, and owed half his
greatness to hAis Aspasia. The exalted patriotism and
the cheerful piety infused into the letters she addressed to him during the long night of political uncertainty that hung over these Colonies, strengthened
his courage, fired  his  nobler feelings, nerved  his
higher purposes and, doubtless, greatly contributed
to make him the right hand man of Washington.
The diligent and faithful Andromaches, the gifted
and patriotic Aspasias of the Revolution, did their portion of the great work silently and unseen.  Secretly
they urged their husbands and sons to the battlefield, secretly spoke to them by letter in the camp or
convention, and secretly prayed for wisdom to guide
our statesmen and victory to crown our arms. Thus
privately acting, how little of their labor or their
worth is known. Hiow few of their names are trea
sured in our annals. With rare exceptions, like the
builders of the pyramids, their initials are lost.
Then, while we have the name and the noble example of Mrs. Adams, with a few of her patriotic
compeers, let us pledge our unswerving devotion to
Freedom over the unknown names of the wives and
mothers who secretly assisted in nerving the arm
that broke the sceptre of British dominion on these
shores, and gave the eagle of Liberty a safe and
abiding home on our mountain tops.
51 
ANN H. JUDSON.
G(od has a bright example made of thee,
To show that womankind may be
Above that sex which her superior seems.
COWL.
About the commencement of the present century,
a new field was opened for the display of Christian
heroism. The despairing wail of the pagan millions
of the East, had reached the ears of a few of the
most devoted people of God on these Western shores,
and the question arisen, Who shall lead the way to
Jheathen realms, who among us first encounter the
perils of an attempt to plant the standard of the
Cross beside the pagodas of Buddhism    i He who
would then go forth, must leave his native land with
the parting benediction of but few friends; must
be accompanied with few and faint prayers; must
make his own path through the tiger-haunted jungles, and face alone the untried dangers of a dubious
assault on  the strong-holds of  pagan superstition
]3ut, notwithstanding the discouragements inwoven
with the contemplation of the undertaking, and the
great peril that must attend its completion, it was
magnanimous and sublime, and there were hearts in 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.'
the land philanthropic enough to embark in it and
brave enough to face its terrors without fainting.
Among the foremost Americans who offered their
services in this work, were the Rev. Adoniram
Judson and his wife. They embarked from Salem,
Massachusetts, for Calcutta, with Samuel Newell and
lady, on the nineteenth of February, 1812: and five
days afterwards Messrs. HIall and Nott, with their
wives, and Mr. Rice, sailed from Philadelphia for
the same place. The names of these pioneer missionaries are sacred to the memory of all living
Christians, and, being embodied in the history of
the grandest enterprise of the age, are to be handed
down to all future generations.
While all the female portion of this little band,
exhibited many excellent traits of character, and
worked well while their day lasted, no other one
endured so many and so great hardships and trials,
encountered such fearful perils, and had such an
opportunity to test the strength of the higher virtues,
as Mrs. Judson.
Ann Hasseltine was born at Bradford, in Essex
county, Massachusetts, on the twenty-second day of
December, 1789. She was an active and enthusiastic
child; of a gay disposition, yet thoughtful at times;
and before she was seventeen, gave religion that
attention which its importance demands.
She became acquainted with Mr. Judson in 1810.
He was then a student in the Andover Theological
Seminary, preparing for the work of foreign missions.
A mutual and strong attachment sprang up, and they
53 
NOBLE DEEDS
were married in February, 1812, two weeks before
their embarkation for India.
Mfr. and Mrs. Judson first halted at Serampore.
There, soon after their arriva], they were immersed
by an English missionary, having changed their views
of the ordinance of baptism on the long voyage
across the Atlantic and Indian oceans. From that
place they were soon driven by the Directors and
Agents of the British East India Company, who were
at that time opposed to the introduction of the Christian religion into those parts.   They  sailed from
Madras for Rangoon, on the twenty-second of June,
1813, and settled at the latter place.
From the commencement of missionary toil, MIrs.
Judson had many inconveniencies to encounter, but
they were met with patience and served to strengthen
that energy which, it will be seen, was afterwards so
much needed and so strikingly displayed. Four or
five years after settling at Rangoon, Mr. Judson went
to Chittagong, in a neighboring province, to secure
help, some Arracanese converts being there, who
spoke the Burman language. I-e expected to return
within three months.   "At the expiration of this
period, however, when his return was daily expected,
a vessel from Chittagong arrived at Rangoon, bringing the distressing intelligence that neither he nor
the vessel in which  he had  embarked  had been
heard of at that port. Similar tidings were also
contained in letters which Mrs. Judson received
fi'om Beng,al.
"While the missionaries were in this state of fear
54 
OF AMERICA WOME.
ful suspense, an incident occurred which was well
calculated to increase the perplexity and dismay in
which they were plunged. MIr. Hough,* who had
continued quietly studying the language at the mission house, was suddenly summoned to appear
immediately at the court house, and it was rumored
among the affrighted domestics and neighbors who
followed the officers that came for Mr. Hough, that
the king had issued a decree for the banishment of
all the foreign teachers. It was late in the afternoon
when he made his appearance before the despotic
tribunal that was charged with the execution of the
imperial decree, and he was merely required to give
security for his appearance the following morning;
when, as the unfeeling magistrates declared,'if he
did not tell all the truth relative to his situation in
the country, they would write with his heart's blood.'
Mir. Hlough was detained from day to day on the
most flimsy pretences, himself unable to speak the
language, and with no one near him who would
attempt to explain his situation or vindicate his
objects and his conduct. The viceroy whom Mr. and
Mrs. Judson had known, had recently been recalled
to Ava, and he who now held the reins of the
government was a stranger, and, as his family were
not with him, Mrs. Judson, according to the etiquette
of the court, could not be admitted to his presence.
The order which had led to the arrest was found to
relate to some Portuguese priests whom the king had
* Ur [ough was a printer in the employment of the Baptist Boar(i
AUTHIOR.
55 
NOBLE DEEDS
banished, and Mr. Hlough was at first summoned to
give assurance that he was not one of the number,
and then detained by the officers in order to extort
money for his ransom. Hie was at length released by
order of the viceroy, to whom Mrs. Judson boldly
carried the cause and presented a petition which she
had caused her teacher to draw up for the purpose.
"The anxiety occasioned by this arrest and its
train of petty annoyances, and still more by the protracted and mysterious absence of Mr. Judson, was
at this time greatly increased by rumors which
reached Rangoon, of an impending war between the
English and the Burman governments. There were
but few English vessels lying in the river, and the
English traders who were in the country were
eOsing their business and preparing to hasten away,
at any new indications of hostilities that should be
presented. The condition of the missionaries was
rendered still more distressing by the ravages of
the cholera, which now, for the first time made its
appearance in Burmah, and was sending its terrors
throughout the empire. The poor people of Rangoon
fell in hundreds before its frightful progress. Tho
dismal death-drum continually gave forth its warning
sound as new names were added to the melancholy
list of victims to the desolating malady.  In these
gloomy circumstances, they saw ship after ship leave
the river, bearing away all the foreigners who were
in the province, until at length the only one remaining was on the eve of sailing. Harassed with doubts
concerning the uncertain fate of MIr. Jndson, and
.-)6 
OF AMsERICA.N WOMEN.I.
surrounded with perils, they saw before them what
appeared the last opportunity of leaving the country,
before the threatened hostilities should begin, and
they should be exposed to all the merciless cruelties
of barbarian warfare.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hough decided to go on board and
escape to Bengal, while escape was still in their
power, and they urged Mrs. Judson to accompany
them.   She at length reluctantly yielded to their
advice, and with a heart burdened with sorrows she
embarked with her companions, on the fifth of July,
in the only ship that remained to carry them from
the country. The ship, however, was delayed for
several days in the river, and was likely to be subjected to still further detention.  iIrs. Judson, who
had gone on board rather in obedience to the entreaties of her associates, and the dictates of prudence,
than  from  the suggestions of that  truer  instinct
which often serves to guide the noblest natures in
great emergencies, now decided to leave the ship
and return alone to the mission house, there to await
either the return of her husband, or the confirmation
of her worst fears respecting his fate. It was a noble
exhibiton of heroic courage, and gave assurance of
all the distinguished qualities which, at a later
period and amid dangers still more appalling, shone
with unfailing brightness around the character of
this remarkable woman.   The event justified  her
determination; and, within a week after her decision
was taken, Mr. Judson arrived at Rangoon, having
been driven from place to place by contrary winds,
57 
NOBLE D)EEDS
and having entirely failed of the object for which he
undertook the voyage." *
In the summer of 1820, Mrs. Judson's health had
become so far undermined by the deleterious influences of the climate, that it was deemed necessary
that she should go to Calcutta for medical advice,
better physicians being located there than in Rangoon. She was so feeble that her husband was
obliged to accompany her. She was soon removed
to Serampore, where were eminently skillfill physicians and  a purer atmosphere.  Her health  so
improved  in  six months  that  she returned with
her husband to Rangoon. The malady which had
afflicted her was  the chronic liver complaint.  It
was not entirely removed at Serampore, and a few
months after her return, it began  to distress her
more than ever. It was now thought that nothing
but a visit to her native land could save her.  Accordingly, on the twenty-first of August, 1821, she
started for Calcutta, where, after some delay, she
found a ship bound to England, by which route she
returned, reaching New York on the twenty-fifth of
September, 1822.
She remained in this country nine months. Du
ring that short period, aside from paying a visit to
her relations, she attended the Triennial Convention
at Washington, held in May, 1823; visited the larger
cities North and South; attended numerous meetings
of female associations; and prepared a history of
' Gammell's History of American Baptist Missions
58 
OF AITERICAN WO3IEN.
tlhe Burmian mission which was so ably written that
even  the Lonldon Quarterly Review, and, if we miis take not, other Engl,ishl periodicals of high critical
character, noticed it ill comiendatory terms.
The following extracts firom letters written to Dr.
Wayland while in this country, show the interest
she took in the affairs of Burinah while absent from
that land of her adoption. Under date of "Baltimore, January  twenty-second,  1823," she says, "I
want the Baptists throughout the United States to
feel, that Burmahli must be converted through  their
instrumentality.   They  must  do  more  than  they
have ever yet done. They must pray more, they
must yioe more, and snake greater efforts to prevent
the Mlissionary flame from becoming extinct.  Every
Christian in the United States should feel as deeply
impressed with the importance of making continua]
efforts for the salvation of the heathen, as though
their conversion depended solely on himself. Every
individual Christian should feel himself guilty if he
has not done and does not continue to do all in his
power for the spread of the gospel and the enlightening of the heathen world. But I need not write
thus to you. You see, you feel the misery of the
heathen  world.   Try to awaken  Christians around
aoul. Preach frequently on the subject of Missions.
It have remarked it to be the case, when a minister
feels gnucet engag,ed for the heathen, his people generaly par,take of his spirit."
Writing fr om Washington in the following Mlarch,
she says, " I long to be in Rangoon, and am anxioulslv
. t)9 
NOBLE DEEDS
hoping to get away in the spring.  Do make inquiries
relative to the sailing of ships from Boston and
Salem.  I must not miss one good opportunity."
With her health mnuch improved though not fully
restored, she sailed for her Burman home on  the
twenty-second of June, 1823, and reached Rangoon
on the fifth of the following December.  She found
the work of the mission prospering. The next year,
however, a war broke out between the Burman government and the English in Bengal, and, not only
suspended the operations of the missionaries, but
jeopardised their lives. They were supposed to be
spies employed by the English government.  Mr. and
Mrs. Judson, with Dr. Price, another of the miission
aries, were at that time at Ava, where the imperial
government of the Burman Empire had just been
removed.
" It was on the eighth of June, 1824, that a comn
pany of Burmans, headed by an officer, and attended
by a' spotted-faced son of the prison,' came to the
mission house, and, in the presence of Mrs. Judson
seized her husband and Dr. Price, and after binding
them tight with cords, drove them away to the court
house. From this place they were hurried, by order of
the king, without examination, to a loathsome dun
(eon, known as' the death prison,' where along with
the other foreigners they were confined, each loaded
with three pairs of fetters and fastened to a long pole,
so as to be incapable of moving.  Meanlwile, AMrs.
Judson was shut up in her house, deprived of her furniture and of most of her articles of property, iand
watched for several days by an unf-ehl:g guard, to
60 
OF AMERICAN; AEN.
whose rapacious extortions a-id brutal annoyances
she was constantly exposed, without being able to
make any exertion for the liberation of the prisoners, or the mitigation of their cruel sentence. She
however, at length succeeded in addressing a petition
to the governor of the city, who had the prisoners in
charge. By a present of one hundred dollars to his
subordinate officer, their condition was somewhat
:ieliorated, and by the unwearied  perseverance of
MIrs. Judson, and her affecting appeals to the sympathies of the governor, he was induced to grant her
occasional permission to go to the prison, and at
length to build for herself a bamboo shed in the
prison yard, where she took lup her abode, in order
that she might prepare food for the prisoners,
and   otherwise  minister  to  their necessities.
"At the end of nine months they were suddenly
cemoved from Ava to Amarapura, and thence to
a wretched place several miles beyond, called
Oung-pen4-la, where it was arranged that they should
be put to death in presence of the pakah-woon, as a
kind of sacrifice in honor of his taking command of
a new arrmyv of fifty thousand men about to march
against  the  English.  This sanguinary  chief had
been raised firom a low condition to the rank of
woongyee; but in the height of his power, just as
he was about to march at the head of the army
he had mustered, he fell into disgrace, was charged
with treason, and executed, at an hour's notice,
with the unqualified approbation of all classes
of people at Ava. Hiis timely execution saved the
el 
NOBLE DEEDS
missionaries from the fate which hung over thenm,
and they were left uncared for in the miserable
cells of Oung-pen-la, till the near approach of
the English to the capitol induced the king to
send for Mr. Judson, to accompany  the embassy
that was about to start for the English camp, for
the purpose of averting the destruction that now
threatened the Golden City.
"During this period of a year and  a half Mrs.
Judson followed them from prison to prison, beneath
the darkness of night and the burning sun of noonday, bearing in her arms her infant daughter, - the
child of sorrow and misfortune, who was born after
the imprisonment of its father,- procuring for them
food which  Burman policy  never supplies to prisoners, and perpetually interceding for them with
their successive keepers, with the governor of the
city, with the kinsmen of the monarch, and the
members  of the royal household.  More than once
the queen's brother gave orders that they should be
privately put to death; but such was the influence
which Mrs. Judson possessed over the mind of the
~
governor, that he evaded the order each time it was
given, and assured her that for her sake he would
not execute her husband, even though he was obliged
to execute all the others.  And  when at last they
were to be taken from  his jurisdiction and driven
to the horid prison-house of  Oung-pen-la, at  the
command of the pakah-woon, the old man liumanel
summoned Mrs. Judson from the prison where he
had permitted her to go and sit with her husband.
62 
OF AMERICA WOMEN.
in order that she might be spared the pangs of a
separation which he had not the power to prevent.
Her own pen has traced, in lines that will never be
forgotten by those who read them, the affecting
history of the dismal lays and nights of her
husband's captivity. We follow her alike with
admiration and the deepest sympathy as she takes
her solitary way from Ava, at first in a boat upon
the river, and then in a Burman cart, in search of
the unknown place to which the prisoners have
been carried. At length, overcome with fatigue,
with exposure, and the bitter pangs of hope
deferred, we see her in a comfortless cabin, prostrate with disease and brought to the very gates
of death, -while  her  infant is carried about the
village by its father in the hours of his occasional
liberation, to be nourished by such Burman mothers
as might have compassion on its helpless necessities.
"Snch is a single scene from this melancholy
record of missionary suffering. History has not
recorded; poetry itself has seldom portrayed, a more
affecting exhibition of Christian fortitude, of female
heroism, and all the noble and generous qualities
which constitute the dignity and glory of woman.
In the midst of sickness and danger, and every
calamity  which can crush the human  heart, she
presented a character equal to the sternest trial,
and an address and fertility of resources which
gave  her an  ascendency  over the minds of  her
most cruel enemies, and alone saved the missionaries  and  their fellow captives from the  terrible
63 
NOBLE DEEDS
doom  which constantly awaited them.  Day  after
day and amid the lonely hours of night was she
employed in conciliating the favor of their keepers
and in devising plans for their release, or the  alle viation of their captivity. Soiiietimes, she confesses,
her thoughts would wander for a brief interval to
America and the beloved friends of her better days;
'but for nearly  a year  and  a half, so entirely
engrossed was every thought with present scenes
and sufferings, that she seldom reflected on a single
occurrence of her former life, or recollected that
she had a friend in existence out of Ava.' I'
When peace was declared between the two powers,
by the terms of negotiation, the European prisoners
were all released; and thus closed the long and brutal
incarceration of the missionaries.  Mr. and Mrs. Judson immediately departed for Rangoon. They soon
removed to Amherst, a new town on the Salwen or
Martaban river.  After having established a mission
there, Mr. Judson had occasion to visit Ava.  He
started on the fifth of July, 18S26, leaving his wife
and infant daughter in the care of kind friends.
He was detained at the Capital longer than he had
anticipated; and before he returned he received the
painful intelligence that his wife was  dead.  "A
remittent  fever had  settled  on  her  constitution,
already enfeebled by suffering and disease, and she
died on the twenty-fourth of  October, 1826, amid
the universal sorrow, alike of the English residents
" Gammell.
64 
OF AMERICAN WOSIEN.
at Amherst and of the native Christians who had
gathered around her at her new home.  Iler infant
daughter died a few weeks afterwards, and side
by side they were laid to rest, under a large hopia
tree a few rods from the house where she had
resided. Two marble stones, procured  by the contributions of several female friends in her native
land, are the humble memorial that marks the
spot where sleeps one whose "name will be remembered in the churches of Burmah, in future times,
when the pagodas of Gaudama shall have fallen;
when the spires of Christian temples shall gleam
along the waters of the Irrawaddy and the Salwen:
and when the'Golden City' shall have lifted up
her gates to let the King of Glory in."
5
65 
A CHRISTIAN WOMAN  IN THE HOUR
OF DANGER.
O rainbow of the battle-storm I
Methinks thou'rt gleaming on my sight;
I see thy fair and fragile form
Amid the thick cloud of the fight.
SARA J. CLARKL
One grain of incense with devotion offered,
Is beyond all perfumes or Sabaan spices.
MASSINGER.
The following incident, we are informed by Mrs.
Ellet, was communicated to a minister- Rev. J. H.
Saye-by two officers in the Revolutionary war.
One of them was in the skirmish referred to; the
other lived near the scene of action; hence, it may
be relied on as authentic. The name of the heroine is unknown, which is greatly to be regretted:
"Early in the war, the inhabitants on the frontier
of Burke county, North Carolina, being apprehelnsive of an attack by the Indianlls, it was determined
to seek protection in a fort in a more densely populated neighborhood in an  interior settlement.  A
party of soldiers was sent to protect them on their
retreat. The families assembled, the line of march 
OF AMEPICAN WOMEN.
was taken towards  their place of destination, and
they proceeded some miles unmolested-the soldiers
marching in a hollow square, with the refugee families in the centre. The Indians who had watched
these movements, had laid a plan for their destruction. The road to be traveled lay through a dense
forest in the fork of a river, where the Indians
concealed themselves, and waited till the travelers
were in the desired spot. Suddenly the war-whoop
sounded in front, and on either side; a large body
of painted warriors rushed in, filling the gap by
which the whites had entered, and an appalling
crash of fire-arms followed. The soldiers, however,
were prepared; such as chanced to be near the trees
darted behind them, and began to ply the deadly
rifle; the others prostrated themselves upon the
earth, among the tall grass, and crawled to trees.
The families screened themselves as best they could.
The onset was long and fiercely urged; ever and
anon amid the din and smoke, the warriors would
rush, tomahawk in hand, towards the centre; but
they were repulsed by the cool intrepidity of the
back-woods riflemen. Still they fought on, determined on the destruction of the victims who offered
such desperate resistance. All at once an appalling
sound greeted the ears of the women and children
in the centre; it was a cry from their defenders - a
clry fi,r powder!'Our powder is giving out,' they
exclaimed.'I-ave you any?  Bring us some, or we
can fight no longer!' A woman of the party had a
good supply. She spread her apron on the ground,
67 
NOBLE DFEDS
poured her powder into it, and going round, from
soldier to soldier, as they stood behind the trees,
bade each who needed powder put down his hat,
and poured a quantity upon it. Thus she went
round the line of defence, till her whole stock, and
all she could obtain from others, was distributed.
At last the savages gave way, and, pressed by their
foes, were driven off the ground. The victorious
whites returned to those for whose safety they had
ventured into the wilderness. Inquiries were made
as to who had been killed, and one running up,
cried,'Where is the woman that gave us the powder?  I want to see her!''Yes!-yes!-let us see
her!' responded another and another;' without her
we should have been all lost!' The soldiers ran
about among the women and children, looking for
her and making inquiries. Directly came in others
from the pursuit, one of whom observing the commotion, asked the cause, and was told.'You are
looking in the wrong place,' he replied.'Is she
killed?  Ah, we were  afraid of  that!' exclaimed
many voices.'Not when I saw her,' answered the
soldier.'When the Indians ran off, she was an.Ser
knees in prayer at the root of yonder tree, and there
I left her.' There was a simultaneous rush to the
tree- and there, to their great joy, they found the
woman safe, and still on her knees in prayer.
Thinking not of herself, she received their applause
without manifesting any other feeling than gratitude
to Heaven for their great deliverance."
68 
HIUMANITY OF HARTFORD LADIES.
As the rivers farthest flowing,
In the highest hills have birth;
As the banyan broadest growing,
Oftenest bows its head to earth,
So the noblest minds press onward,
Channels far of good to trace;
So the largest hearts bend downward,
Circling all the human race.
MRS. HALE
The sympathies of a free people are always
aroused when a nation is struggling for freedom.
Hence the war between the Turks and Greeks not
only called forth the eloquence of American orators,
but the mothers and daughters of the land, reminded of the long struggle of their husbands and
fathers for liberty, were alive to the interests, and
prayed much for the ransom of the latter people.
Nor was this all;  the sufferings to which the war
reduced the Greeks, so much moved the hearts of
females that, in one instance at least, they made
a demonstration of their sympathy worthy of record.
The ladies of Hartford, Connecticut, sent out a ship
to the women of Greece, containing money, and
articles of wearing apparel, wrought by themselves 
NOBLE DEEDS
expressly for an offering to suffering humanity.
Mrs. Sigourney, the Secretary of the Ladies' Committee, wrote the following letter to accompany the
contribution:
' Uited  States of America,  Xarch  12th, 1828.
TSe ladies of Hartord, in Connecticut, to tA6
Ladies of Greece.
" SISTERS AND FRIENDs, -From the years of childhood your native clime has been the theme of our
admiration: together with our brothers and oui
husbands, we early learned to love the country of
Hfomer, of Aristides, of Solon, and of Socrates.
That enthusiasm which the glory of ancient Greece
enkindled in our bosoms, has preserved a fervent
friendship for her descendants: we have beheld with
deep sympathy the horrors of Turkish domination,
and the struggles so long and nobly sustained by
them for existence and for liberty.
"The  communications  of Dr. Iowe, since  his
return from your land, have made us more intimately acquainted with your personal sufferings.
I-e has presented many of you to us in his vivid
descriptions, as seeking refuge in caves, and, under
the branches of olive trees, listening for the footsteps of the destroyer, and mourning over your
dearest ones slain in battle.
"Sisters and friends, our hearts bleed  for you.
Deprived of your protectors by the fortune of war,
and continually in fear of evils worse than death,
our prayers are with you, in all your wanderings,
your wants and your griefs. In this vessel (which
7O 
OF AMERICAN WOMEEiN.
,nay God send in safety to your shores!) you will
receive  a  portion of that bounty  wherewith  IJe
hath blessed us. The poor among us have given
according to their ability, and our little children
have cheerfully aided, that some of you and your
children might have bread to eat and raiment to
put on. Could you but behold the faces of our
little ones brighten, and their eyes sparkle with
joy, while they give up their holidays, that they
might work with their needles for Greece;  could
you see those females who earn a subsistence by
labor, gladly casting their mite into our treasury,
and taking hours from their repose that an additional garment might be furnished for you; could
you witness the active spirit that pervades all classes
of our community, it would cheer for a moment
the darkness and misery of your lot.
"We are the inhabitants of a part of one of the
smallest of the United States, and our donations
must therefore, of necessity, be more limited than
those from the larger and more wealthy cities; yet
such as we have, we give in the name of our dear
Saviour, with our blessings and our prayers.
"We know the value of sympathy-how it arms
the heart to endure —how it plucks the sting from
sorrow -therefore we have written these few  lines
to assure you, that in the remoter parts of our country, as well as in her high places, you are remem
bered with pity and with affection.
"Sisters and friends, we extend across the ocean
olr hands to you in the fellowship of Christ. We
71 
NOBLE DEEDS
pray that His Cross and the banner of your land
may rise together over the Crescent and the Minaret-that your sons may hail the freedom of ancient
Greece restored, and build again the waste places
which the oppressor hath trodden down; and that
you, admitted once more to the felicities of home,
may gather from past perils and adversities a
brighter wreath for the kingdom of Heaven.
"LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY,
"&ecretary of the Greek Committee of
Hartford, Connecticut."
72 
"MOTHER  BAILEY."
No braver dames had Sparta,
No nobler matrons Rome.
W. D. GALAGHEPR.
Anna Warner  was  born in Groton, Connecticut,
on the eleventh of October, 1758, and married
Captain  Elijah Bailey of the same town, in 1774.
He participated in the hardships and dangers, and
she in the trials of the struggle for Independence.
He is dead; she is still living.*
She was a witness of the terrible massacre at
Fort Griswold, in Groton, on the sixth of September;
and the following morning she hurried off to the
scene of carnage, a distance of three miles, to
search for an uncle who was among the brave defenders. She found him among the fatallywounded:
at his request that he might see his wife and
child befot)re he died, she ran home, caught and
saddled a horse for the feeble mother, and taking
the child in her arms, carried it the whole distance,
that it might receive the kisses and benediction of
its dying father!
We are informed by the Postmaster of Groton, in a letter dated
the tenth of December, 1850, that Mrs. B. is still living, and that her
miud is somewhat impaired She is now in her ninety-third year. 
NOBLE DEEDS
In the month of July, 1813 a blockading fleet
appeared off the harbor of New London; and on
the thirteenth, demonstrations were noticed of an
intention to attack the place. Intense excitement
now  prevail ed not only in  New  London, but in
all the adjacent towns. Fort Griswold was once
more  occupied;  small  cannon —all to be hadwere planted, and every preparation possible was
made for a vigorous defence. The greatest deficiency was in flannel for cartridges; and in the
emergency a messenger was dispatched to the
village to consult with Mrs. Bailey on the most
expeditious method of obtaining a supply. She
promptly offered to see that each family was
visited, and the wants of the soldiery made known.
This was done, and each individual in the neighborhood cheerfully presented her and her co-laborers
whatever of the desired articles could be spared,
some in garments and some in the raw material.
When these were delivered to the messenger, and
there was still found a deficiency, she slyly slipped
an under garment from her own person and  charged him to give that to the British. As the enemy
did not deem  it expedient to make  an attack, it
is difficult to tell what aid that garment rendered;
nor does it matter: its patriotic surrender showed
the noble spirit which has always actuated
"mother  Bailey,," and was  an  appropriation  for
her country which never caused her a blush. *
* The editor of the Democratic Review, to whom we are indebted
for a portion of these facts, visited the heroine of Groton in the faiL
74 
OF AMERICAN WOM1EN.
,f 1846, in the number of his periodical for the January followig
spoke of her as a remarkable woman, physically, as well as mentally
and patriotically. She was then eighty-eight years old, yet as agile as
a girl of eighteen, and neither sight nor hearing had began to fail.
"Such then," he adds, "is Mother Bailey.  Had she lived in the palny
days of ancient Roman glory, no matron of the mighty empire would
have been more highly honored." In the same article Mrs B. is spoken
of as the Postmistress of Groton, an office, which the present Postmaster assures us, she never held.
Since the above was originally stereotyped, Mr& Bailey has diesd.
Her demise occurred in the winter of 1850-1.
-- -
75i
I
2           Pr 
ELIZABETH HEARD.
Kindness has resistless charms.
ROCHESTEL
Why should'st thou faint? Heaven smiles above,
Though storm and vapor intervene.
PARK BENJAiN.
M1rs. Elizabeth Heard, "a widow of good estate,
a mother of many children and a daughter of Mr.
Hull, a revered minister formerly living at Pisquataqua," was among the sufferers from captivity by the
Indians in the latter part of the seventeenth century.
She was taken at the destruction of Major Waldron's
garrison in Dover, New: Hampshire, about 1689. She
was permitted to escape on account of a favor which
she had shown a young Indian thirteen years beforeshe having secreted him in her house on the "calamitous day," in 1676, when four hundred savages were
surprised in Dover.*
Having been suffered to escape, writes the Rev.
John Pike, minister at Dover, to Dr. Cotton Mather,
"she soon after safely arrived at Captain Gerish's
' Drake's Indian Captivitiea 
OF A EnION WOMEN..
garrison, where she found a refuge from the storm.
Here she also had the satisfaction to understand that
her own garrison, though one of the first that was
assaulted, had been bravely defended and succesfully maintained against the enemy. This gentlewoman's garrison was on the most extreme frontier of the province, and more obnoxious than any
other, and therefore incapable of being relieved.
Nevertheless, by her presence and courage it held
out all the war, even for ten years together; and the
persons in it have enjoyed very eminent preservations. It would have been deserted if she had accepted offers that were made her by her friends to
abandon it and retire to Portsmouth among them,
which would have been a damage to the town and
land."
77 
THE LADIES OF PHI-ILADELPHIA IN 1780.
I have not shut mine ears to their demands,
Nor posted off their suits with slow delays.
SHAKSPEARE.
During  the long war which resulted in the Independence of the American Colonies, the women all
over the land were warmly interested in the condition of the soldiers, and prompt to relieve their
wants when suffering. There was, at times, a sad
deficiency of wearing apparel; and many are the
instances in which a noble sacrifice of ease and a
liberal expenditure of time and strength, were made
by the ladies that this comfort might be restored
to the self-sacrificing soldiers.
In 1780, the ladies of Philadelphia city and
county, learning  that  the soldiers were  in  great
ineed of clothing, sold their jewelry and converted
g7ter trinkets into something more serviceable; collected  by solicitation  large sums of money;  purchased  the raw material, plied the needle "with
all diligence;" and in a short time the aggregate
amount of their contributions was $7,500.*
* This samn was  raised in and  immediately around  Philadelphia. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEXN.
The number of shirts made by the ladies of Philadelphia during that patriotic movement, was twenty-two hundred!  These were cut out at the house
of Mrs. Sarah Bache, daughter of Dr. Franklin.
This lady writing to a Mrs. Meredith, of Trenton,
New Jersey, at that time, says, "I am happy to
have it in my power to tell you that the suins
given by the good women of Philadelphia for the
benefit of the army, have been much greater than
could be expected, and given with so much cheerfulness and so many blessings, that it was rather a
pleasing than a painful task to call for them. I
write to claim you as a Philadelphian, and shall
think myself honored in your donation."
The  efforts of the ladies were  not, however,  limited to  their own
neighiborhlood.  They addressed circulars to the adjoining counties and
states, and the response of New Jersey and Marylaild was truly geinerols.
79 
TIE WIFE OF PRESIDENT REED.*
Mightier far
Than strength of nerve or sinew, or the sway
Of magic potent over sun and star,
Is love, though oft to agony distrest,
And though his favorite seat be feeble woman's breast
WORDSWORTIH
Undaunted by the tempest, wild and chill,
That pours its restless and disastrous roll,
O'er all that blooms below.
SANDS' YAMOYDEN.
Prominent among the ladies of Philadelphia who,
in the summer  and fall of 1780, were active in
assisting the sufferers in the American army, was
Esther Reed, the wife of President Reed. She stood
at the head of the Association till her death, which
occurred on the eighteenth of September of that
year.   She was  succeeded  by Mrs. Sarah Bache,
Mfrs. Francis, arrs. Clarkson, Mfrs. Blair and Mrs.
Ilillegas, who were constituted an Executive Committee.
* The facts embodied in this notice of Mrs. Reed, are mainly obtained from the Life and Correspondence of President Reed.   Vid
volume II., chapter XII. 
OF AMERICAN WONETN.
The maiden name of Mrs. Reed was  De Berdt.
She was born in London on the twenty-second of
October,  1746.  There, about  the year 1763, she
became acquainted with Mr. Joseph Reed, of 5New
Jersey, then a student at the Temple. She had fond
parents and lived in affluence, but from these she at
length turned, and, being married in May, 1770,
" followed the lover of her youth to these wild Colonies." Philadelphia became the home of the happy
couple. The wife of an American, she imbibed the
sentiments and manifested the spirit of an American,
and to the day of her death showed herself worthy
to be the wife of an American soldier.'"During
five years of war, more than half the time her family was broken up, and for a long period the young
wife, with her little children and an aged mother,
was driven to seek a distant and precarious refuge."
Hier husband was an Adjutant-General, and was in
the camp much of the time, till he was chosen
President- or, as we now say, Governor-of Pennsylvania, in 1778. Hier letters written to him,
breathe a patriotic and submissive spirit, and a cheerful trust in that "presiding Power" from whom all
solace is derived in seasons of danger, disappointient and affliction.
She was placed at the head of the voluntary association of Philadelphia ladies at its formation in
May, and as early as the twentieth of the following month, it will be seen, by an extract from a
letter written by Mr. Reed to General Washington,
the business of the society was progressing admi
81
6 
NOBLE DEEDS
rally:  Thle ladies have caught the lhal)lppy contagion,
and in a few days }irs. Reed will have the lhonor
of writing to you onl the subject.  It is exp)ected
she will have a siuin equal to ~100,000, to be laid
out according to your Excellency's direction, in
such a way as may be thoughlt miost honorable and
gratifying to the brave old soldiers who have borlne
so  great  a share of the burden of this war.   I
though,,t it best to mention it in this way to your
Excellency for your consideration, as it may tend to
iforward the benevolent scheme of the donors witl
dispatch.   I miust  observe  that  the  ladies  have
excepted  such  articles of necessity,  as  clothing,
which the states are bound to provide."
The following letter, written the next month, explains itself:
"ESTHER REED TO WASHINGTON.
"Philadelphia, July 4th, 1780.
SiI, —The subscription set on foot by the ladies
of this city for the use of the soldiery, is so far
completed as to induce me to transmit to your Excellenrlcy an account of the money I have received,
and which, although it has answered our expectations, does not equal our wishes, but I am  persuaded will be received as a proof of our zeal for
the great cause of America, and our esteem and
gratitude for those who so bravely defend it.
"The amount of the subscription is 200,580 dollars, and ~625  6s. 8d. in specie, which  makes in
the whole, in paper money, 300,634 dollars.
"The ladies are anxious for the soldiers to receive
82 
OF AMERICAN WOMIEN.
1he benefit of it, and wait your directions how it
can best be disposed of. We expect some considerable addition from the country, and have also
wrote to the other States in hopes the ladies there
will adopt similar plans, to render it more general
and beneficial.
"With the utmost pleasure I offer any further
attention and care in my power to complete the
execution of the design, and shall be happy to accomplish it agreeable to the intention of the donors
and your wishes on the subject.
"The ladies of may family join me in their respectful compliments and sincerest prayer for your
health, safety, and success.
"I have the honor to be,
"With the highest respect,
"Your obedient humble servant,
"E. REED."
During the months of July and August, though
in feeble health,  Ilrs. Reed  held  frequent  correspondence with General Washington on the best
mode of administering relief to the destitute soldiers. Her desire to make herself useful may be
inferred from the tone of a letter addressed to her
husband from the banks of the Schuylkill, on the
twenty-second of August. Among other things, she
says, "I received this morning  a letter from  the
General, and hlie still continues his opinion that the
money in my hands should be laid out in linen; he
says, no supplies he has at present or has a prospect
of are any way adequate to the wants of the army.
83 
NOBLE DEEDS
His letter.is, I think, a little formal, as if he was
hurt by our asking his opinion a second time, and
our not following his directions, after desiring him
to give them. The letter is very complaisant, and I
shall now endeavor to get the shirts made as soon
as possible.   This is another  circumstance to  urge
my  return  to town, as I  can  do  little towcrds  it
here."
The responsible and onerous duties of Mrs. Reed
during the summer of 1780, were  no doubt  injurious to her already poor health, and hastened the
approach of death. Early in September she was
laid upon a bed of fatal illness, and before the
month had closed, as before mentioned, she was in
the "mysterious realm."   The Council and Assembly adjourned to pay their last respect to her exalted virtues. Her remains were deposited in the
Presbyterian burying-ground in Arch Street, and the
following epitaph was inscribed on her tomb:
"In memory of ESTHER, the beloved wife of Joseph Reed,
President of this State, who departed this life
On the 18th of September, A. D. 1780, aged 34 years.
Reader! If the possession of those virtues of the heart
Which make life valuable, or those personal endowments which
Command esteem and love, may claim respectfill and affectionate
Remembrance, venerate the ashes here entombed.
If to have the cup of temporal blessings dashed
In the period and station of life in which temporal blessings
May be best enjoyed, demands our sorrow, drop a tear, and
Think how slender is that thread on which the joys
And hopes of life depend."
84 
COMPLETION OF BUNKER HILL MONUMENT.
The tardy pile, slow rising there,
With tongueless eloquence shall tell
Of them who for their country fell.
SPRAGUE.
Ladies, you deser
To have a temple built you.
SHAKSPEARE.
The Bunker Hill Monument Association was in corporated in June, 1823. Nothing further was done
that year.  At the second annual meeting,  which
*was held on the seventeenth of June, efficient plans
were devised to carry forward the enterprise; and
at the end of another year, just half a century after
the battle, the corner stone was laid. General La fayette was then on a visit to the United States, and
was appropriately chosen to take a leading part ip
this interesting ceremony. The monument did not
get fairly under way till the spring of 1827.  This
apparent tardiness was owing to the circumstance
that the material was to be brought from a granite
quarry in Quincy, and a ranii road -the first in the
United States-had to be built from the quarry tc
the wharf in Quincy to convey the stone. 
NOBLE DEEDS
In 1828, the funds were exhausted, and the worK
was not resuimned till 1831.  Within a year the work
was again suspended fol the same cause. Nothing
further was done, and but little said, till 1839, whel
it was announced that two gentlemen-Amos  Lawrenee, Esq., of Boston, and Judalh Truro, Esq., of
New k)rleans- would give ten thousand each, provided a sum  sufficient to complete the monumrent
could be raised.  This liberal offer caused sone mlomnentary stimulation; but no proposal immediately
made was deemed expedient.
The affairs of the Association now wore, as they
had done once or twice before, a gloomy aspect. In
the annual re-,ort made on the seventeenth of June,
1840, doubts were expressed whether the presen, geieration would see the monument completed. The
same discouraging remark was made soon after, in
one of the sewing circles of Boston, when, instead of
depressing the spirits, it raised the ambition and
quickened the thoughts of the ladies, and several of
them proposed to get up a Fair. It was a happy
suggestion; was forthwith sanctioned by the board
.of directors; prompted the issuing of a circular by
a sub-committee of the same; raised the stentorian
voice of a free and patriotic press, and met with
immediate favor all over the land.
The ladies had moved in the matter-p?act taken.
t(7e work into  tteir own  tands -and  all doubts in
regard to its speedy completion seemed  to vanish.
The Fair was announiced to be held in Quincy Ilall,
Boston, to commence on the fifth of September, 1810
86 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
Every female in the land was invited to contribute
some article of her own hands' production, to the
exhibition.  The patriotic spirit of the mothers of the
Revolution was now warm in the hearts of their
daulhters, and ten thousand hands, engaged in the
work of preparation, were "plying the needle with
exquisite art."
The ladies were to have the complete management
of the Fair; and, all things in readiness, it commenced.   The  product  of so much industry and
ingenuity, dispensed at the hands of the ladies,
presented a scene to the thousands who gathered
around the numerous well-stored tables, that is described by a writer - doubtless an eye-witness-as
"brilliant and inspir ing."*
The Fair continued till the fifteenth of the month.
Its success was chronicled from day to day in a
journal called "The  Monument,"  printed  in the
Hall. It was the grandest movement of the kind
ever made in the country; was conducted throughout  in  the  most  admirable  manner,  and wouid
up in triumph. Its net proceeds were $30,035 50.
To this sum  and the $20,000 pledged by the two
gentlemen before mentioned, was soon added enough,
from other sources, to make the fund $55,153 27;
and the work went on to its completion.t Thus,
* Frothingham's Siege of Boston.                               v!
t The last stone was raised on the morning of the twenty-thlird of
July, 1842; the government of the Association and a multitude of other
people were present on the occasion.  Just before this act took place, a
cannon was raised to'he apex and discharged - a morning salute to call
87 
NOBLE DEEDS
at length, a "duty had been performed;" this impe
rishable offering to Freedom, "which had its com
mencement in manly patriotism," was "crowned by
garlands of grace and beauty."
the people together to engage in the matins of Freedom. Edward Carnes,
Jr., of Charlestown, accompanied the stone in its ascent, waving the
American flag as he went up, and the Charlestown Artillery were meanwhile firing salutes to announce to the surrounding country the interestig event.
88 
LYDIA DARRAH.
The brave man is not he who feels no fear,
For that were stupid and irrational;
But he whose noble soul its fear subdues,
And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from.
JOANNA BAILLIF..
We find the following anecdote of the amiable
and heroic Quakeress, Lydia Darrah, in the first
number of the American Quarterly Review:
When the British army held possession of Phila
delphia,  General  Howe's  head  quarters were in
Second street, the fourth door below Spruce, in a
house which was before occupied by General Cadwalader. Directly opposite, resided William and
Lydia Darrah, members of the Society of Friends.
A superior officer of the British army, believed to
be the Adjutant General, fixed upon one of their
chambers, a back room, for private conference;
and two of them frequently met there, with fire
and candles, in close consultation. About the second of December, the Adjutant General told Lydia
that they would be in the room at seven o'clock,
and remain late; and that they wished the family
to retire early to bed; adding, that when they 
NOBLE DEEDS
were going away, they would call her to let them
out, and extinguish their fire and candles. She
accordingly sent all the family to bed; but, as the
officer had been so particular, her curiosity was
excited. She took off her shoes, and put her ear
to the key-hole cf the conclave. She overheard an
order read for all the British troops to march out,
late in the evening of the fourth, and attack General Washington's army, then encamped at White
Marsh.  On  hearing  this,  she  returned  to  her
chamber and laid herself down. Soon - after, the
officers knocked at her door, but she rose only at
the third summons, having feigned to be asleep.
Her mind was so much agitated that, from this
moment, she could neither eat nor sleep; supposing, it to be in her power to save the lives of
thousands of her countrymen; but not knowing
how she was to convey the necessarv information
to General Washington, nor daring to confide it
even to her husband. The time left, was, however,
short; she quickly determined to make her way,
as soon as possible, to the American outposts.
She informed her family, that, as they were in
want of flour, she would go to Frankfort for somle;
her husband insisted that she should take with her
the servant maid; but, to his surprise, she positively
refused. She got access to General Ifowe, and solicited - what he readily granted, - a pass through
the British troops on the lines. Leaving her bag
at the mill, she hastened towards the American
lines, and  encountered on  her way an American,
90 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
Lieutenant Colonel Craig, of the light horse, who,
with some of his men, was on the look-out for
information. He knew her, and inquired whither she
was going. She answered, in quest of her son, an
officer in the American army; and prayed the
Colonel to alight and walk with her.  Hie did so,
ordering his troops to keep in sight.  To him she
disclosed her momentous secret, after having obtained from him the most solemn promise never to
betray her individually, since her life might be at
stake, with the British. He conducted her to a
house near at hand, directed a female in it to give
her something to eat, and he speeded for head
quarters, where he brought General Washington
acquainted with what he had heard. Washington
made, of course, all preparation for baffling the
meditated surprise. Lydia returned home with her
flour; sat up alone to watch the movement of the
British  troops;  heard  their footsteps;  but when
they returned, in a few days after, did not dare
to ask a question, though solicitous to learn the
event. The next evening, the Adjutant General
came in, and requested her to walk up to his
room, as he wished to put some questions. She
followed him in terror; and when he locked the
door, and begged her, with an air of mystery to be
seated, she was sure that she was either suspected,
or had been betrayed. Hle inquired earnestly whether
any of her family were up the last night he and
the other officer met: - she told him  that they all
retired at eight o'clock. HIe observed - "I know
91 
NOBLE DEEDS
you were asleep, for I knocked at your chamber door
three times before you heard me; -I am entirely at
a loss to imagine who gave General Washington information of our intended attack, unless the walls of
the house could speak. When we arrived near White
Marsh, we found all their cannon mounted, and the
troops prepared to receive us; and we have marched
back like a parcel of fools."
92 
WIDOW STOREY.*
Stick to your aim; the mongrel's hold will slip,
But only crow-bars loose the bull-dog's lip;
Small as he looks, the jaw that never yields,
Drags down the bellowing monarch of the fielda.
HOLME&
The first man who commenced a settlement in
the town of Salisbury, Vermont, on the Otter creek,
was Amos Storey, who, in making an opening in
the heart of the wilderness on the right of land to
which the first settler was entitled, was killed by
the fall of a tree. IHis widow, who had been left
in Connecticut, immediately resolved to push into
* For this anecdote and that of Mrs. Hendee, we are indebted to the
Hon. Daniel P. Thompson, of Montpelier, author of "The Green Mountain Boys," "Locke Arnsden," &c.  In a note to the author, in a letter
which contained these anecdotes, he appropriately observes that "the
women of the Green Mountains deserve as much credit for their various
displays of courage, endurance and patriotism, in the early settlement of
their State, as was ever awarded to their sex for similar exhibitions in
any part of the world.  In the controversy with New York and New
Hampshire, which took the form of war in many instances; in the predatory Indian incursions, and in the war of the Revolution, they often
displayed a capacity for labor and endurance, a spirit and firmness in
the hour of danger, and a resolution and hardihood in defending their
families, and their threatened land against all enemies, whether domestic
or foreign, that would have done honor to the dames of Sparta." 
NOBLE DEEDS
the wilderness, with her ten small children, to take
his place and preserve and clear up his farm. And
this bold resolution she carried out to the letter, in
spite of every difficulty, hardship and danger which
for years constantly beset her in her solitary location in the woods.   Acre  after acre of the dense
and dark forest melted away before her axe, which
she handled with the dexterity of the most experienced chopper.   The logs and bushes were  piled
and burnt by her own strong and untiring hand:
crops were raised, by which, with the fruits of her
fishing and unerring rifle, she supported herself and
her hardy brood of children. As a place of refuge
from the assaults of Indians or dangerous wild
beasts, she dug out an underground room, into
which, through a small entrance made to open under an  oveirhanging thicket  in the bank  of the
stream, she nightly retreated with her children.
And here she continued to reside, thus living and
thus laboring, unassisted, till, by her own hand and
the help which her boys soon began to afford her,
she cleared up a valuable farm and placed herself
in independent circumstances in life.
94 
MRS. HENDEE.
I am their mother, who shall bar me from them.
SHAKSPEARE.
On the burning of Royalton, Vermont, by the
Indians, in 1776, Sirs. Hendee, of that place, exhibited a praiseworthy  and heroic character.   The
attack was sudden, and her husband being absent,
in the Vermont regiment, and she being in the field,
the Indians seized her children, carried them across
White river, at that place perhaps an hundred
yards wide and quite deep for fording, and placed
them under the keepers having the other persons
they had collected, thirty or forty in number, in
charge. On discovering the fate of her children,
Virs. Hendee resolutely dashed into the river, waded through, and fearlessly entering the Indian
camp,  regardless of their tomahawks  menacingly
flourished round her head, boldly demanded the
release of her little ones, and persevered in her
alternate upbraidings and supplications, till her request was granted. She then carried her children
bI)ack through the river and landed them in safety
on the other bank But not content with what she 
NOBLE DEEDS
had done, like a patriot, as she was, she immedi
ately returned, begged for the release of the children of others; again was rewarded with success,
and brought two or three more away; again returned and again succeeded, till she had rescued the
whole fifteen of her neighbors' children who had
been thus snatched away from their distracted parents. On her last return to the camp of the
enemy, the Indians were so struck with her conduct
that one of them declared that so brave a squaw
deserved to be carried across the river, and offered
to take her on his back and carry her over. She,
in the same spirit, accepted the offer, mounted the
back of the gallant savage, was carried to the opposite bank, where she collected her rescued troop of
children, and hastened away to restore them to their
over-joyed parents.
96 
PATRIOTIC WOMEN OF OLD MIDDLESEX.
In the radiant front superior slfines
That first paternal virtue, public zeal,
Who throws o'er all an equal wide survey,
And, ever musing on the common weal,
Still labors glorious with some great design.
THOMSON.
"Old Middlesex" being our native county, witb
peculiar pleasure and some local pride, we record
the following anecdote.  Should the historical ploLghshare  be driven  through the other towns in  the
county, and the towns generally of M:assachusetts,
it would turn up similar gemns in ablundance, " of
purest ray serene."  We quote  from  Butler's IHis
tory of Groton:
"After the departure of Colonel Prescott's regiment of'minute-men,' Mrs. David Wright, of Pepperell MNrs. Job Shattuck, of Groton, and the neighboring women, collected at what is now J'ewett's
Bridge, over the Nashua, between Pepperell  and
Groton, clothed in their absent husbands' apparel,
anrid armed with muskets, pitchforks, and such other
weapons as they could find;  and  having elected
M{rs. Wright their conmmnandcer, resolutely determined
that no foe to freedom, foreign or domestic, should
7 
NOBLE DEEDS
pass that bridge. For rumors were rife, tiat the
regulars were approaching and frightful stories of
slaughter flew rapidly from place to place, and from
house to house.
"Soon there appeared one* on horseback, supposed to be treasonably engaged in conveying intelligence to the enemy. By the implicit command of
Sergeant Wright, he is immediately. arrested, un
horsed, searched, and the treasonable correspondence
found concealed in his boots. He was detained prisoner, and sent to Oliver Prescott, Esq., of Groton,
and his dispatches were sent to the Committee of
Safety."
Captain Leonard Whiting, of Hollis, N.H., a noted  tory, who was
the bearer of dispatches from Canada to the British in Boston.
98 
TIE CACIQUE'S NOBLE DAUGHTER.
I think of thee, sweet lady, as of one
Too pure to mix with others, like some star,
Shining in pensive beauty all alone,
Kindred with those around, yet brighter far.
MRS. WELBY.
In his history of the Conquest of Florida, Mr
Theodore Irving repeats, very interestingly, the story
of Juan Ortiz wh(, with three other Spaniards, fell into
the hands of the Indians by stratagem.  The four captives were taken to the village of Ilirrihigua, the cacique, who ordered them to be executed on a day of
religious festival.  Three were shot wth arrows; and
then "Juan Ortiz, a youth, scarce eighteen years of
age, of a noble family of Seville, was the fourth victim.
As tle- were leading him forth, his extreme youth
touched with compassion the hearts of the wife and
daughters of the cacique, who interceded in his favor.
"The cacique listened to their importunities, and
granted for the present the life of Ortiz; —but a
wretched life did hlie lead. From morning until evening he wa   emrployed in bringing wood and watet,
,.
e ~ 
NOBLE DEEDS
and was allowed but little sleep and scanty food.
Not a day passed that he was not beaten. On festivals he was an object of barbarous amusement to the
cacique, who would oblige him to run, from sunrise
until sunset, in the public square of the village, where
his companions had met their untimely end, Indians
being stationed with bows and arrows, to shoot him,
should he halt one moment.   When the day was
spent, the unfortunate youth lay stretched on the hard
floor of the hut, more dead than alive. At such times
the wife and daughters of the cacique would come t(,
him privately with food and clothing, and by their
kind treatmnent his life was preserved.
" At length the cacique, determining to put an end
to his victim's existence, ordered that hle should be
bound down upon a wooden frairme, in the form of a
huge gridiron, placed in the pablic square, over a bed
of live coals, and roasted alive.
"The cries and shrieks of the poor youth reached
his female protectors, and their entreaties were once
more successful with the cacique. They unbound
Ortiz, dragged him from the fire, and took him to
their dwelling, where they bathed him with the juice
of herbs, and tended him with assiduous care. After
many days he recovered from his wounds, though
marked with many a scar.
" His employment was now to guard the cemetery
of the village. This was in a lonely field in the bosom
of a forest. The bodies of the dead were deposited
in wooden boxes, covered with boards, without any
fastening except a stone or a log of wood laid upon
e~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
,.
. 8     
100 
OF AMERIOAN W'OMEN.
the top; so that the bodies were often cairied away
by wild beasts.
" In this cemetery was Ortiz stafftoned, with a bow
and arrows, to watch day and niglll, and was told that
should a single body be carried away, he would be
burnt alive. He returned thanks to God for having
freed him from the dreaded presence of the cacique.
noping to lead a better life with the dead than he
had done with the living.
"While watching thus one long wearisome night,
sleep overpowered him towards morning. Hie was
awakened by the falling lid of one of the chests, and
running to it, found it empty. It had contained the
body of an infant recently deceased, the child of an
Indian of great note.
"Ortiz doubted not some animal had dragged it
away, and immediately set out in pursuit.  After
wandering for some time, he heard, at a short distance
within the woods, a noise like that of a dog gnawing
bones.  Warily drawing near to the spot, he dimly
perceived an animal among the bushes, and invoking
succor from on high, let fly an arrow at it. The thick
and tangled underwood prevented his seeing the effect
of his shot, but as the animal did not stir, he flattered
himself that it had been fatal: with this hope he waited
until the day dawned, when he beheld his victim, a
huge animal of the panther kind, lying dead, the
alrow having passed through his entrails and cleft
his heart.
' Gathering together the mangled remains of the
infant, and replacing them in the coffin, Ortiz dragged
101 
NOBLE DEEDS
his victim in triumph to the village, with tie arrow
still in his body. The exploit gained him credit with
the old hunters, and for some time softened even the
ferocity of the cacique. The resentment of the latter,
however, from the wrongs he had suffered from white
men, was too bitter to be appeased. Some time after,
his eldest daughter came to Ortiz, and warned him
fthat her father had determined to sacrifice him at the
Jiext festival, which was just at hand, and that tho
influence of her mother, her sisters, and herself would
no longer avail him. She wished him, therefore, to
take refuge with a neighboring cacique named Mucozo,
who loved Hal and sought her in marriage, and who,
for her sake, would befriend him.'This very night
at midnight.' said the kind-hearted maiden,'at the
northern extremity of the village you will find a trusty
friend who will guide you to a bridge, about two
leagues hence; on arriving there, you must send him
back, that he may reach home before the morning
dawn, to avoid suspicion- for well he knows that this
bold act, in daring to assist you, may bring down destruction upon ius both.  Six leagues further on, you
will come to the village of Mucozo-tell him I have
sent you, and expect him to befriend you in your extremity- I know he will do it-go, and may your
God protect you!' Ortiz threw himself at the feet of
his generous protectress, and poured out his acknowledgments for the kindness she had always shown himn
The Indian guide was at the place appointed, and they
left the village without alarming the warlike savages
When they came to the bridge, Orti; sent back the
1 C)2 
OF AMERIOAN WOMEN.
guide, in obedience to the injunction of his mistress,
and, continuing his flight, found himself, by break of
day, on the banks of a small stream near the village
of Mucozo.
"Looking cautiously around, he espied two Indians
fishing. As he was unacquainted with their language,
and could not explain the cause of his comling, he was
in dread lest they should take him for an enemy and
kill him. He, therefore, ran to the place where they
had deposited their weapons and seized upon them.
The savages fled to the village without heeding his
assurances of friendly intention. The inhabitants sallied out with bows and arrows, as though they would
attack him. Ortiz fixed an arrow in his bow, but cried
out at the same moment, that he came not as an enemy
but as an ambassador from a female cacique to theil
chief. Fortunately one present understood him, and
interpreted his words. On this the Indians unbent
their bows, and returning with him to their village,
presented him to Mucozo. The latter, a youthful chief
tain, of a graceful form and handsome countenance,
received Ortiz kindly for the sake of her who had sent
him; but, on further acquaintance, became attached to
him for his own merits, treating him with the affection
of a brother."
103 
fIUJMANE SPIRIT OF A FOREST MAID,
"Ben u3ath the gloom
Of overshadowing forests, sweetly springs
The unexpected flower."
Some of the noblest attributes of humanity are
sometimes exhibited  by the wild  children of the
lorest.  Thiese attributes, in such cases, seem,  like
trees in the remotest wilderness, to have gained, by
their spontaneous growth, surprising height, symmetry
and beauty.
A  lovelier character than Pocahontas,  daughter
oI Powhiatan, king of the country where the first
white settlement in Virginia was made, is rarelyj
found among any people. She was lovely in the
broadest as well as noblest sense of that word-.
lovely in features, lovely in disposition, lovely iin
the highest adornments of Christian grace.  Slhe
was, in 1607, "a girl of ten or twelve years of age,
who, not only for feature, countenance and expression, much exceeded any (,f the rest of her people,
but for wit and spirit was the only nonpareil of
the country." Such was Pocahontas, as described 
OF AIERICA-N WO)MEN.
by the first white  man, probably,  who ever saw
her, and in whose behalf, at the above date, she
displayed the tenderness and true grandeur of her
nature.
The colonists, writes Mr. I:ildreth, in his new
History of the United States, "were specially istructed to seek for a passage to the South Sea;
and it was thought that possibly the Chickahoming  might  lead  thither.   Having  ascended  as
high as he could in his barge, Captain Smith followed up the stream in a canoe, with two colonists
and two Indians for companions; and when the canoe would float no longer, he left the two colonists
to guard it, and struck inland with a single Indian
as a guide. Set upon unexpectedly by a large party
of natives, who had already surprised and killed
the two men left to guard the canoe, Smith bound
his Indian guide to his arm as a buckler, and made
a vigorous defence, killing three of the assailants;
but as he retreated  backward,  he  presently sank
into a miry swamp, and was taken prisoner  HIis
captors  would  have  killed  him,  but  he  amused
them with a pocket compass. Carried in a sort of
triumph through several villages, he was taken before Powhatan, the same chief whom he had visited
ill company with Newport.  An  attempt was made
to engage his services- at least so Smith understood it- in surprising the colonists at Jamestown.
Having  failed in this, after much consultation, it
was resolved to put him to death. He was dragged to the gro und and his head placed upon a stone;
105 
NOBLE DEEDS
Powbhatan raised a club to dash out his brains";    cd now view the highly dramatic scene which fol:ws, as pictured by Mrs. Sigourney in a few lines
c —? masterly coloring:
The sentenced captive see - his brow how white.
Stretched on the turf, his manly form lies low,
The war club poises for its fatal blow,
The death-mist swims before his darkened sight;
Forth springs the child, in tearful pity bold,
Her head on his reclines, her arms his neck enfold,
"The child! what madness fires her? Hence! Depart I
Fly, daughter, fly! before the death-stroke rings;
Divide her, warriors! from that English heart."
In vain, for with convulsive grasp she clings:
She claims a pardon from her frowning sire;
Her pleading tones subdue his gathered ire,
And so, uplifting high his feathery dart,
That doting father gave the child her will,
And bade the victim live and be his servant still.
After Smith had been an inmate of Powhatan's
wigwam awhile, he was permitted to leave the Indians. Sometime after this the savages, becoming
alairmed by witnessing Smith's wonderful feats, "laid
a plan to get him into their power under the pretence of wishing an interview with him in their territory. But Pocahontas, knowing the desire of the
warriors, left the wigwam after her father had gone
to sleep, and ran more than nine miles through the
woods to inform her friend Captain Smith of the
danger that awaited him, either by stratagem o
attack."
Subsequently the colony at Jamestown was threatened with famine, when, accompanied by a few
companions, she was accustomed to go to the fort
106 
OF ALElItICAN  WO()AIiN.
every day or two with baskets of corn, and thus
her
"generous hand vouchsafed its tireless aid
To guard a nation's germ."
At the age of seventeen or eighteen, Pocahontaa
married a pious young English officer, named Thomas
Rolfe, and went with him to England, where she was
baptized and called Rebecca, and where she soon1
died. Well may it be said of her, in the language of
the poet, slightly altered,
It is not meet such names should moulder in the griave
107
...u~   - ". 
ItANNAIl DUSTIN.
Experience teaches us
That resolution's a sole help at need;
And this, miy lord, our honor teachleth us,
That we be bold in every enterprise.
SAXKSPEARE.
On the fifteenth of March, 1697, a band of Indian prowlers broke into the house of Mr. Dustin,
of Haverhill, Mlassachusetts, and captured his wife,
her nurse,* and a babe about one week old. The
last was killed before leaving the town. The other
two were marched through the wilderness for several days till they came to a halt on an island in
the Merrimac river about six miles above Concord,
New Hall-ampshire. There they were placed in a wigwam occupied by two men, three women, seven
children of theirs, and an English boy who had
beer captured about a year previous at Worcester,
M]assachusetts.  The captives remained there till the
thirtieth of that month before they planned escape.
On that day the boy was requested by MIrs. Dustin
to ask his master where to strike "to kill instantly;"
I Mrs.  ary Nefd
I 
OF AMERICAN WOMENT.
and the savage was simple enough to tell, and also
instructed him in the art of scalping. "At night,"
to use the concise language of Mr. Bancroft, "while
the household slumbers, the captives, each with a
tomahawk, strike vigorously, and fleetly, and with
division of labor,-and of the twelve sleepers, ten
lie dead; of one squaw the wound was not mortal;
one child was spared from design. The love of
glory next asserted its power;  and the gun and
tomahawk of the murderer of her infant, and a bag
heaped full of scalps were choicely kept as trophies
of the heroine. -The streams are the guides which
God has set for the.tranger in the wilderness: in a
bark canoe, the three descend the Merriniac to the
English settlements, astonishing their friends by
their escape, and filling the land with wonder at
their successful daring."
Mrs. Dustin had the happiness of meeting her husband and seven children, who had escaped from the
house before the savages entered, and the honor of
a very handsome present from Colonel Nicholson,
governor of Maryland, as a reward for her'heroism.*
* Eleven yea,,  -fter the capture of Mrs. Dustin, a party of French and
Indians from Canada made an attack upon the inhabitants of Haverhill,
and killed and captured about forty persons. Several women exhibited
on the occasion a remarkable degiee of sagacity, courage and presence of
mind.  We condense from Mirick's History of Haverhill.
Ann Whittaker escaped the tomahawk by hiding in an apple chest
under the stairs.-  A niego, seirvant,  am(d Hagar, covered a couple
of children with tubs in the cellar and then concealed herself behind
somne meat barrels.  The Indians trod on a foot of one of the childr-en and took meat from th  barrel behind which Hagar had hidden,
109
t 
NOBLE DEEDS
without discovering any of them.-The wife of Thomas Hartshorn,
took all her children except the babe-which she was aftaid would
cry-thlirough a trap-door into the cellar. The enemy entered an(la
plundered the house, but did not find the way into the cellar. They
b)ok the infant from its bed in the garret and threw it out of the
window. Strange to say, though stunned, it lived and grew to rugged manhood. - The wife of Captain Simon Wainwright, after the
en my had killed her husband, let them into the house and treated
them kindly. They at length demanded money, when she went out,
as she pretended, to get it. They soon ascertained- though too late
to find her -that she hliad fled with all her children but one; who
was taken captive.
110 
THE HEROINES OF BRYANT'S STATION.
The brave example cannot perish
Of courage.
HOSMERL
Nor could the boldest of our youth have dared
To pass our outworks.
POPE'S HOMER.
At the siege of Bryant's station near Lexington,
Kentucky, in August, 1782, the water in the fort was
exhausted; and as the nearest place to obtain a
supply was a spring several rods off; it would require no small risk and, consequently, no common
intrepidity to undertake to bring it. A body of
Indians in plain sight, were trying to entice the
soldiers to attack them without the walls, while
another party was concealed near the spring, waiting,
it was supposed, to storm one of the gates, should
the besieged venture out. It was thought probable
that the Indians in ambush would remain so until
they saw indications that the other party had succeeded in enticing the soldiers to open engagement.
The position of things was explained to the women,
and they were  invited to each take a bucket and
march to the spring in a body. "Some, as was na 
NOBLE DEEDS
rural, had no relish for the undertaking, and asked
why the men could not bring water as well
as themselves, observing that they were not bullet proof, and the Indians made no distinction between
male and female scalps. To this it was answered, thai
the women were in the habit of bringing water every
morning to the fort; and that if the Indians saw
them  engaged as usual, it would induce them  to
think that their ambuscade was undiscovered;  and
that they would not unmask themselves for the sake
of firing at a few  women, when  they hoped, by
remaining concealed a few moments longer, to obtain
complete possession of the fort: that if men should
go down to the spring, the Indians would iminediately suspect something was wrong, would despair
of succeeding by ambuscade, and would instantly
rush upon them, follow them into the fort, or shoot
them down at the spring.
"The  decision was soon made.  A  few of the
boldet declared their readiness to brave the danger,
and the younger and more timid rallying in the
rear of these veterans, they all marched down in a
body to the spring, within point blank shot of more
than five hundred Indian warriors! Some of the
girls could not help betraying symptoms of terror;
but the married women, in general, moved with a
steadiness and composure that completely deceived
the Indians.  Not a shot was fired.  The party were
permitted to fill their buckets, one after another,
without interruption;  and although their steps becamle quicker and quicker, on their return. and when
L12 
()I,  Arll1RITCAN  WOMZEN.
near the fort, degenerated into a rather uinmilitary
celerity, with some little crowding in passing the
gate, yet not more than one-fifth of the water was
spilled, and the eyes of the youngest had not dilated
to more than double their ordinary size." *
* M'Clung's Sketches of Western Adventure.
8
113
0
-_A,.
I I.1,
' I1 
MRS. DAVIESS.
'Tis late befo
The brave despair.
Samuel Daviess was an early settler at a place
called Gilmer's Lick, in Lincoln county, Kentucky.
In the month of August, 1782, while a few rods
from his house, he was attacked early one morning
by an Indian;  and attempting to get within doors,
he found that his house was already occupied by
other Indians. Pursued by his foe, he ran into a
cornfield and lay concealed till the savage gave up
the chase and returned to the house. He then ran
to his brother's station, five miles off, gave the alarm,
and was soon returning with five stout, well armed
fnen.
Meanwhile the Indians-four  in number — who
htiad entered the house while the fifth was in pursuit
of Mr. Daviess, routed Mrs. Daviess and the children firom  their  beds, and they soon understood
chat they must take up a line of march- they knew
not whitbher. As soon as she was dressed, Mrs.
Daviess " commenced showing the Indians one article of clothing and then another, which pleased them
very much; and in that way delayed them at the
THoms)N. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
house nearly two hours. In the mean time, the Indian  who  had  been  in  parsult of her husband
returned, with his hands stained with poke berries,
which he held up, and with some violent gestureb
and waving of his tomahawk, attempted to induce
the belief, that the stain on his hands was the blood
of her husband, and that he had killed him. She
was enabled at once to discover the deception, and
instead of producing any alarm on her part, she
was satisfied that her husband had escaped uninjured.
"After the savages had plundered the house of
every thing that they could conveniently carry off
with them, they started, taking Mrs. Daviess and
her children - seven in number- as prisoners,
along with them. Some of the children were too
young to travel as fast as the Indians wished, and
discovering, as she believed, their intention to kill'
such of them as could not conveniently travel, she
made the two oldest boys carry them on their backs.
The Indians, in starting from the house, were very
careful to leave no signs of the direction they had
taken, not even permitting the children to break a
twig or weed as they passed along. They had ncgone far before an Indian drew his knife and cut
off a few inches of Mrs. Daviess' dress, so  that
she would not be interrupted in traveling.
"MIrs. Daviess was a woman of cool, deliberate
courage, and accustomed to handle the gun, so that
she could shoot well, as many of the women were
in the habit of doing in those days. She had con
115 
N *JB3LE DEEDS
tenlplated, as a last resort, that if not rescued in
the course of the day, when night came on and
the Indians had fallen asleep, she would deliver
herself and children by k?illing as many of the Indians as she could —thinking that in a night attack
as many of them as remained would most probably
run ofI" *
MIr. Daviess and his comrades reaching the house
and finding it empty, hastened on in  plrsnit of
the Indians. They had gone but a few miles before
they overtook the retreating party. Two Indian
spies in the rear, first discovered the pursuers, and
running on, overtook the three others, with the
prisoners, and knocked down and scalped, though
they did not kill, the oldest boy. At that moment
the pursuers fired at the Indians, but missed. The
latter were now  alarmed  and confused, and  Mrs.
Daviess, taking advantage of this circumstance,
jumped  into a sink hole with leer infant in her
arms;  and  the  Indians fleeing,  every  child was
saved.
" Kentucky, in its early days, like most new countries, was occasionally troubled by men of abandoned
character, who lived by stealing the property of
others, and, after committing their depredations,
retired to their hiding places, thereby eluding the
operation of the law. One of these marauders, a
man of desperate character, who had committed extensive thefts from Mr. Daviess, as well as from his
* Collins's Historical Sketches of Kentuicky
116 
I 
j\                -~                                           I
II
~
~
-        I                                                                                                I i
,fr 
,,' i 
OF AERICAN WO MEN.
neighbors, was pursued by Daviess and a party
whose property he had taken, in order to bring
him to justice. While the party were in pursuit,
the suspected individual, not knowing any one was
pursuing him, came to the house of Daviess, armed
with his gun and tomahawk-no person being at
home but Mrs. Daviess and her children.  After he
had stepped into the house, Mrs. Daviess asked him
if he would drink something-and having set a
bottle of whiskey upon the table, requested him to
help himself.  The fellow, not suspecting any danger, set his gun up by the door, and while drinking,
MIrs. Daviess picked up his gun, and placing herself
in the door, had the gun cocked and leveled upon
him by the time he turned around, and in a peremptory manner ordered him to take a seat, or s.e
would shoot him. Struck with terror and alarm, he
asked what he had done. She told him he had
stolen her husband's property and that she intended
to take care of him herself. In that condition she
held him a prisoner, until the party of men returned and took him into their possession. *
collins.
117 
A KENTUCKY AMAZON.
This is true courage.
WHITEHEAD'S ROMAN  FATHER
During the summer of 1787, writes Mr. McClung,
in his Sketches of Western Adventure, "The house
of Mir. John Merrill, of Nelson county, Kentucky,
was attacked by the Indians, and defended with singular address and good fortune. Merrill was alarmed
by the barking of a dog about midnight, and upon
opening the door in order to ascertain the cause of
the disturbance, he received the fire of six or seven
Indians, by which one arm and one thigh were broken. He instantly sank upon the floor, and called
upon his wife to close the door. This had scarcely
been done when it was violently assailed by the
tomahawks of the enemy, and a large breach soon
effected. Mrs. Merrill, however, being a perfect amazon, both in strength and courage, guarded it with
an axe, and successively killed or badly wounded
four of the enemy as they attempted to force their
way into the cabin.
"The Indians ascended the roof, and attempted
to enter by way of the chimney; but here again 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN'q.
they were met by the same determined enemy. Mrs.
Merrill seized the only feather bed which the cabin
afforded, and hastily ripping it open, poured its contents upon the fire.   A  furious blaze  and stifling
smoke instantly ascended the chimney, and brought
down two of the enemy, who lay for a few moments
at the mercy of the lady. Seizing the axe, she
quickly dispatched them, and was instantly afterwards  summoned  to the door, where  the only re
maining savage now appeared, endeavoring to effect
an entrance, while Mrs. Merrill was engaged at the
chimney. He soon received a gash in the cheek,
which compelled him, with a loud yell, to relinquish
his purpose, and return hastily to Chillicothe, where,
from the report of a prisoners he gave an  exagge
rated account of the fierceness, strength, and. cour
age of the'long knife squaw!'"
119
h 
HEROISM AT INNIS SETTLEMENT.
Courage alone can save us.
SOUTHEY.
The account of the Indians' attack on the Innmis
settlement, near Frankfort, Kentucky, in April, 1792,
has been differently related by different writers. The
most reliable account is doubtless that given by the
Rev. Abraham Cook, a minister of the Baptist denomination and the brother of Jesse and Hosea Cook,
whose wives were the heroines of the settlement.
The attack was  made  on the twenty-eighth  of the
month, by about one hundred Indians, and at three
Doints almost simultaneously. The first onset was
upon the Cooks who  lived in cabins close together,
and where was displayed a degree of intrepidity
rarely matched.
" The brothers were near their cabins, one engaged
in shearing sheep, the other looking on.  The sharp
crack of rifles was the first intimation of the proximity of the Indians; and that fire was fatal to the
brothers-the elder ifell dead, and the younger was
mortally wounded, but enabled to reach the cabiei. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
The two Mrs. Cook, with three children - two whites
and one black -were instantly collected in the house,
and the door, a very strong one, made secure. The
Indians, unable to enter, discharged their rifles at the
door, but without injury, as the balls did not pene trate through the thick boards of which it was con structed. They then attempted to cut it down with
their tomahawks, but with no better success. While
these things occurred without, there was deep sor
row, mingled with fearless determination  and high
resolve within. The younger Cook,-mortally wounded,
immediately the door was barred, sank down on the
floor, and breathed his last; and the two Mrs. Cook
were left the sole defenders of the cabin, with the
three children. There was a rifle in the house, but
no balls could be found. In this extremity, one of
the women got hold of a musket ball, and placing
it between her teeth, actually bit it into two pieces.
With one she instantly loaded the rifle. The Indians,
failing in their attempts to cut down the door, had
retired a few paces in front, doubtless to consult
upon their future operations.   One  seated himself
upon a log, apparently apprehending no danger from
within. Observing him, Mrs. Cook took aim from a
narrow aperture and fired, when the Indian gave a
loud yell, bounded high in the air, and fell dead.
This infuriated the savages, who threatened -for
they could speak English -to burn the house and
all the inmates. Several speedily climbed to the top
of the cabin, and kindled a fire on the boards of
the roof. The devouring element begin to take ef
121 
NOBLE DEEDS
fect, and with less determined and resolute courage
within, the certain destruction of the cabin and the
death of the inmates, must have been the consequence.
But the self possession and intrepidity of these Spartan females were equal to the occasion. One of them
instantly ascended to the loft, and the other handed
her water, with which she extinguished the fire.
Again and again the roof was fired, and as often
extinguished. The water failing, the undaunted women called for some eggs, which were broken and
the contents thrown upon the fire, for a time holding the flames at bay. Their next resource was the
bloody waistcoat of the husband and brother-inlaw, who lay dead upon the floor. The blood with
which this was profusely saturated, checked the progress of the flames- but, as they appeared speedily
to be gathering strength, another, and the last expedient.... proved successful. The savage foe
yielded, and the fruitful expedients of female courage triumnphed. One Indian, in bitter disappointment,
fired at his unseen enemy through the boards, but
did not injure her, when the whole immediately descended from the roof.
"About the time the attack commenced, a young
man named McAndre, escaped on horseback, in view
of the Indians, who, it was supposed, would give the
alarm to the older neighboring settlements.  As soon
as they descended from the house top, a few climbed
some contiguous trees, and instituted a sharp look
out. While in the trees, one of them fired a second
ball into the loft of the cabin, which cut to pieces
122 
0' AMERICAN WOMEN.
a bundle of yarn hanging near the head of Mrs.
Cook, bue without doing further injury. Soon after,
they threw the body of the dead Indian into the adjacent creek, and precipitately fled."
123 
BOLD EXPLOIT AT TAMPICO.
A thousand hearts are great within my bosom;
Advance our standards.
SHAKSPEARIL
Rocks have been shaken from their solid ba
But what shall move a dauntless soul?
JOANNA BILLIB.
At the capture of Tampico, which took place on
the fourteenth of November, 1846, a noteworthy act
was performed by a lady, whose patriotism and daring should not be forgotten. She not only gave
Commodore Connor full information in regard to the
defence of the place, with a plan of the harbor,
town and forts, but when the squadron was approach:
ing, though opposed by the city council and even
menaced, she hoisted the American flag and persisted in waving it beneath the very eye of the
ayntamiento!  This intrepid woman was Mrs. Ann
Chase, wife of the American Consul. 
DICEY LANGSTON.
Thou soul of love and bravery I
MOORE.
Dicey Langston was the daughter of Solomon
Langston, of Laurens district, South Carolina. She
possessed an intrepid spirit, which is highly serviceable in times of emergency, and which, as she
lived in the days of the Revolution, she had more
than one opportunity to display.   Situated in the
midst of tories, and being patriotically inquisitive,
she often learned by accident, or discovered by
strategy, the plottings so common in those days,
against the whigs. Such intelligence she was ac
customed to communicate to the friends of freedom
on the opposite side of the Ennoree river.
Learning one time that a band of loyalistsknown in those parts as the "Bloody scout"- were
about to fall upon the "Elder settlement," a place
where a brother of hers and other friends were residing, she resolved to warn them of their danger.
To do this she must hazard her own life. But off
she started, alone, in the darkness of the night;
traveled several miles through the woods, and over 
NOBLE DEEDS
marshes and across creeks, through a country where
foot-logs and bridges were then unknown; came to
the Tyger, a rapid and deep stream, into which she
plunged and waded till the water was uLp to her
neck; she then became bewildered, and zigzagged
the channel for some time; reached the opposite
shore at length-for a helping Hand was beneath,
a  kind Providence  guiding  her: - hastened  on;
reached the settlement, and her brother and the
whole community were safe!
She was returning one day from another settle
ment of whigs-in the Spartanburg district, when
a company of tories met her and questioned hei
in regard t  the neighborhood she had just left;
but she refused to communicate the desired information. The leader of the band then held a pistol
to her breast, and threatened to shoot her if she
did not make the wished for disclosure. "Shoot me
if you dare!  I will not tell you!"  was her dauntless reply, as she opened a long handkerchief that
covered her neck and bosom, thus manifesting a
willingness to receive the contents of the pistol, if
the officer insisted on disclosures or life. The dastard, enraged at her defying movement, was in the
act of firing, at which moment one of the soldiers
threw up the hand holding the weapon, and the
cowerless heart of the girl was permitted to beat
on.
The brothers of Dicey were no less pati-tic than
she; and they having, by their active services on
the side cf freedom, greatly displeased the 1,yalists.
126  
____            TI'
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________________~~~~~~~~~~~~ I    I
ill                 #
ii               I
~~~~
~               ~
~
;~~\  \                                ~~>~
I
ii
COV, N     -
OEL. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
these latter were determined to be revenged. A
desperate band accordingly went to the house of
their father, and finding the sons absent, they were
about to wreak their vengeance on the old man,
whom they hated for the sons' sake. With this intent one of the party drew a pistol; but just as it
was aimed at the breast of her aged and infirm
father, Dicey rushed between the two, and though
the ruffian bade her get out of his way or receive
in her own breast the contents of the pistol, she
regarded not his threats, but flung her arms around
her father's neck and declared she would receive
the ball first, if the weapon must be discharged.
Such fearlessness and willingness to offer her own
life for the sake of her parent, softened the heart
of the  "bloody  scout," and -Ir. Langston  lived
to see his noble daughter perform other heroic
deeds.
One time her brother James, in his absence, sent
to the house for a gun which he had left in her
care, with orders for her to deliver it to no one
except by his direction.   On  reaching the house
one of the company who where directed to call for
it, made known their errand, whereupon she brought
and was  about  to deliver the weapon.   At this
moment it occurred to her that she had not demanded the countersign agreed on between herself and
brother. With the gun still in her hand, she looked
the company sternly in the face, and remarking that
they wore a suspicious look, called for the countersign. Hiereupon one of them, in jest, told her
127 
NOBLE DEEDS
she was too tardy in her requirements;  that both
the gun and its holder were in their possession.
"Do  you  think  so,"  she boldly  asked, as she
cocked the disputed weapon and aimed it at the
speaker.  "If the gun is in your possession," she
added, "take charge of it!" Hier appearance indicated that she was in earnest, and the countersign
was given without further delay. A hearty laugh
on the part of the "liberty men," ended the ceremony.
128 
REBECCA MOTTE.
We can make our lives sublime.
LONGFELLOW
During the Revolutionary war, while Fort Motte,
situated on Congaree river, in South Carolina, was
in the hands of the British, in order to effect its
surrender, it became necessary to burn a large
mansion standing near the centre of the trench.
The house was the property of Mrs. Motte.  Lieut.
Colonel Lee communicated to her the contemplated
work of destruction with painful reluctance, but her
smiles, half anticipating his  proposal, showed,  at
)nce, that she was willing to sacrifice her property
if she could thereby aid in the least degree towards
the expulsion of the enemy and the salvation of
the land. The reply',he made to the proposal was
that she was "gratified with the opportunity of
contributing to the good of her country, and should
view the approaching scene with delight!" *
'MRS. BREWTON, -since Foster -one of the most amiable and enlightened of the whig ladies, was an inmate of Mrs. Motte's family
at the time of the destruction of her house. Meeting with her shortly
after the sizing o~ the preliminary articles of peace at Philadelphia,
9 
NOBLE DEEDS
The husband of this noble-hearted widow had so
involved himself by securities for friends, that after
the struggle for Independence was over, it was
impossible for her to immediately meet all demands
against the estate. She, however, resolved that
they should some day be liquidated- that, life
and health being continued long enough, all obligations of her husband's contracting should be good
against herself. She purchased a large tract of rice
land on credit, and by industry and economy was
able, in a short time, to pay the old demands, and
lived to accumulate a handsome property. She re
minds us of So]omon's picture of the virtuous woiman: "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with
the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.'
...   She  looketh well  to the ways  of hei
household, and eateth not of the bread of idleiess."
I inquired -"How it had happened, that she, a helpless, unprotected widow, without ally charge of improper conducet, haa so far
incurred the enmity of the British commanders, as to have been arrested without ceremony, and hurried unprepared, into exile." She
answered -"That she knew no act of hers which had  merited such
ungentlemanly and inhuman treatment."' Entering, however, into
conversation relative to the siege and surrender of Fort Motte, she
gave at once a clue to the transaction. While the American forces
were at a distance, Major M'Pherson, the commander  of the post,
suffered Mrs. Motte and her family to remain, and an  apartment
was allowed for their accommodation.  But when the post at Thompson's, but a little removed from him, was attacked and carried,
anticipating the fate which awaited him, immediate removal was not
only advised, but insisted on. At the moment of departure, Mrs.
Brewton seeing a quiver of arrows, which had been presented to Mr.
Motte by a favorite African, said to her  friend, "I will take these
130 
OF AMERICAN WOMIEN.
with me, to prevent their destruction  by the soldiers."  With  the
quiver in her hands, she was passing the gate, when Major M'Pherson, drawing forth a shaft, and applying the point to his finger,
said, "what have you here, Mrs. Brewton?"  "For  God's sake be
careful," she replied "these arrows are poisoned."  The ladies immediately passed on to the out-house, which they were now to inhabit.
In the siege which  directly followed, when  the destruction  of the
house was determined upon, and missiles eagerly sought for by
Lieutenant Colonel Lee for conveying  the fire to the shingles, these
arrows being remembered,  were presented by  Mrs. Motte, with a
wish for the happy accomplishment of the end proposed. It was
afterwards known, that the first arrow missed its aim, and fell at
the feet of the commander, who taking, it up, with strong expressions  of  anger, exclaimed,  "I thank you,  Mrs.  Brewton."   The
second arrow took  effect, and set fire to the roof, when the brisk
discharge of a six pounder being maintained by Captain Finley, in
the direction of the stair-case, every effort to extinguish it proved
firuitless, until, from the apprehension of the roof falling in, the
garrison were compelled to surrender at discretion. General Greene
alTivillng soon after, paid to Major M'Pherson the tribute of applause
due to his excellent defence, declaring, "that such  gallantry could
not fail to procure for him  a high increase of reputation."  This
compl)liment, however, does not appear to have soothed the mortified
soldier; for, walking immed(iately up to Mris. Brewton, he said, "to
yoa7 madam, I owe  this disgrace; it would have been  more  charital)le to have allowed  me  to perish  by  poison, than  to be thus
compelled  to stiurender  my  post  to  the  enemny."   This  speech
alone, accounts for the enmity  against Mrs.  Brewton. -[LKnapp's
American Anecdotes.
131 
ANOTHER SACRIFICE FOR FREEDOM.
A patriot's birth-right thou may'st claim.
SHELLEY
The subject of the following anecdote was a sister
of General Woodhull, and was born at Brookhaven,
Long Island, in December, 1740.  IHer husband was
a member of the Provincial Convention which met in
May, 1775, and of the Convention which was called
two years after, to frame the first state constitution.
While Judge William Smith was in the Provincial
Congress, his lady was met, at a place called Middle
Island, by Major Benjamin Tallinadge, who was then
on his march across Long Island. Ile told her he was
on his way to her house to capture the force then possessing Fort St. George, and that he might be obliged
to burn or otherwise destroy her dwel]ing-house and
other buildings in accomplishing this object.  Ready
to make any sacrifice for the good of her bleeding
country, she promptly assured the Major  that the
buildings were at his disposal, to destroy or ~. as
efforts to dislodge the enemy might require. 
A PATRIOTIC DONATION.
Large charity doth never soil,
But only whitens soft white hands. -LOWELL.
When General Greene was retreating through the
Carolinas, after the battle of the Cowpens, and while
at Salisbury, North Carolina, hlie put up at a hotel, the
landlady of which was Mrs. Elizabeth Steele. A detachment of Americans had just had a skirmish with
the British under Cornwallis at the Catawba ford, and
were defeated and dispersed; and when the wounded
were brought to the hotel, the General no doubt felt
somewhat discouraged, for the fate of the south and
perhaps of the country seemed to hang on the result
of this memorable  retreat.   Added  to his other
troubles was that of being penniless; and Mrs. Steele,
learning this fact by accident, and ready to do any
thing in her power to further the cause of freedom,
took him aside and drew from under her apron two
bags of specie. Presenting them to him she gene
rously said, "Take these, for you will want them, and
I can do without them."*
* Never did relief come at a more propitious moment; nor would it
be straining conjecture to suppose that he resumed his journey with his
spirits cheered and brightened by this touching proof of woman's (levotion to the cause of her country. fGreene's Life of Natliaiiel Greene 
" THE LITTLE BLACK-EYED REBEL."
Some there are
By their good deeds exalted
WORDSWORTH.
Mary Redmond, the daughter of a patriot of Philadelphia of some local distinction, had many relatives
who were loyalists. These were accustomed to call
her " the little black-eyed rebel," so ready was she to
assist women whose husbands were fighting for freedoml,n  in procuring  intelligence.   " The  dispatches
were usually sent from their friends by a boy who
carried them stitched in the back of his coat. He
came into the city bringing provisions to market.
One morning when there was some reason to fear he
was suspected, and his movements were watched by
the enemy, Mary undertook to get the papers from
him in safety. She went, as usual, to the market, and
in a pretended game of romps, threw her shawl over
the boy's head and secured the prize. She hastened
with the papers to her anxious friends, who read them
by stealth, after the windows had been carefully
closed." 
OF AMERIOAN WOMEN.
Whlien the whig women in her neighborhood heard
of Burgoyne's surrender, and were exulting in secret,
the cunning little "rebel," prudently refraining from
any open demonstration of joy, "put her head up the
chimney and gave a shout for Gates! "
A -f
135 
A BE~I'EVOLENT QUAKERESS.*
How  few, like thee, inquire the wretched out,
And court the offices of soft humanity I
RowE.
Charity Rodman was born in Newport, Rhode
Island, in the year 1765. HIer father was a sea-captain, and died at Honduras while she was in infancy.
She married Thomas Rotch, of Nantucket, Massachusetts, on the sixth of June, 1790. Soon afterwards
the Rotch family removed to New Bedford, where
they have  since distinguished  themselves  by their
energy and iiprigLmess of character, and their success
in the mercantile business, being extensively engaged
in the whale-flishery. Of some of them, as traffickers,
it may be said, as it was of the merchants of Tyre in
the days of her glory: "t hey are among the honor
able of the earth."
About the year 1801, Mrs. Rotch removed with hei
husband to Hartford, Connecticut, where she remained
* Some of the facts embodied in this article were gathered by the
author while on a visit to Massillon, Ohio, in the summer of 1847, and
were communicated to the public at that time through the columns ef
the Western Literary Messenger; others were lately and very obligingly
furnished by Dr. William Bowen, of that place. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
till 1811. She then, in a feeble state of health, and
for its improvement, accompanied her husband on a
journey through Ohio, and other parts of the West.
The mildness of the winter was favorable to her constitution, and, restored to comfortable health, she
returned to Hartford in the early part of the next
summer. The following November she removed to
Kendol,; in Stark county, Ohio, near the site of the
present village of Massillon.
There the mind of Mrs. Rotch, cooperating with the
long-cherished wishes of her heart, originated and
matured plans for the establishment of a "school for
orphan and destitute children." Having traveled
much, she had made extensive observations; and with
an eye always open to the condition and wants of
human kind, she early and often felt the force ofPa
remark once made to her by an English friend: " That
there were a great many children wasted in this country" - a painful truth, but no less applicable to Great
Britain than to the United States.
Her husband died in 1823, and bequeathed to her,
during life, his large and entire estate. His personal
property was left in her hands to be disposed of as her
philanthropic heart might dictate. This formed the
basis of the school-fund which she left, and which,
four or five years after her death, which occurred on
the sixth of August, 1824, amounted to twenty thousand dollars. The interest of this sum has since purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres,
one and a half miles from the village of Massillon, and
erected, at a cost of five thousand dollars, a large
137 
NOBLE DEEDS
brick edifice for educational and dwelling purposes,
which has been open seven years and which sustains
forty pupils. The real and personal estate of the institution, is now estimated at thirty-five thousand dollars.
A class of ten pupils enter annually and remain
four years. The school is established on the manual
labor plan; and the boys are thoroughly instructed
in the art of husbandry, and the girls in culinary duties and the manufacture of their own wearing apparel.
Children enter between the ages of ten and fourteen,
hence the youngest leave as advanced in life as their
fifteenth year, a period when their habits of industry
and their moral principles usually become too weli
established to be easily changed.
This school, founded by the benevolence of a single
individual —a devout, yet modest and quiet member
of the Society of Friends-is destined to become a
source of inestimable blessings. Every half century,
five hundred otherwise neglected plants in the garden
of humanity, will there be pruned and nurtured, and
strengthened for the storms of life; and many of them
will doubtless be fitted to bear fruit here to the glory
of God, and be finally transplanted to bloom in eternal
youth in the gardens above.
The offspring of Christian philanthropy, the school
will stand as a lasting memorial of womnan's worth.
The highest ambition of its founder was to be a blessing to thlose who should come after her; and it iay
be said that while she did not live in vain, neither did
she die in vain. IHer death threw a legacy into the
138 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
lap of orphanage, the benignant influence of which
will long be felt.
The grave of Mrs. Rotch is overlooked by the monument of her munificence, but no marble nor enduring
object marks the spot, Virtues like hers neither crave
nor need chiseled words of praise; they are engraved
on the hearts of the succored, to be remembered while
those hearts continue to beat; and the feet of befriended children will keep a pathi open to the grate
of their foster-mother, for ages.
139 
A PIONEER IN SUN\DAY SCHOOLS.*
- Doubtless unto thee is given
A life that bears immortal fruit
In such great offices as suit
The full-grown energies of heaven.
TENNYSON'S IN MEMORIAM.
The Ohio Company, which was organized in Boston in the year 1787, built a stockade fort during
the next two years, at Marietta, and named it
Campus  XVartius.  The year it was completed, the
Rev. Daniel Storey, a preacher at Worcester, Mvassachusetts, was sent out as a chaplain. Ite acted as
an evangelist till 1797, when he became the pastor
of a Congregational church which he had been instrumental in collecting in Marietta and the adjoining
towns, and which was organized the preceding year.
He held that relation till the spring of 1804. Probably he was the first Protestant minister whose voice
was heard in the vast wilderness lying to the northwest of the Ohio river.
In the garrison at Malrietta was witnessed the
* The facts contained in this article we find in a series of papers,
by  S. P.  Iildreth, Esq., published in " The  American Pioneer," in
1842. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
formation and successful operation of one of the
first Sunday schools in the United States. Its originator, superintendent and sole teacher, was Mrs.
Andrew Lake, an estimable lady from New York.
Every Sabbath, after "Parson Storey" had finished
his public services, she collected as many of the
children at her house as would attend, and heard
them recite verses from the Scriptures, and taught
them the Westminster catechism. Simple in her
manner of teaching and affable and kind in her
disposition, she was able to interest her pupilsusually about twenty in number -and to win-their affections to herself, to the school, and, subsequently,
in some instances, to the Saviour. A few, at least,
of the little children that used to sit on rude
benches, low stools and the tops of meal bags, and
listen to her sacred instructions and earnest admonitions, have doubtless ere this became pupils,
with her, in the "school of Christ" above.
141 
E WOMEN OF WYOMLNG.
The guardians of the land.
HOLMES.
Justice and gratitude, writes Miner,*  "demand
a tribute to the praiseworthy spirit of the wives and
daughters of Wyoming. While their husbands and
fathers were on public duty, they cheerfully assumed
a large portion of the labor which females could
do. They assisted to plant, made hay, husked and
garnered the corn. As the settlement was mainly
dependent on its own resources for powder, Mr.
Hollenback caused to be brought up the river a
pounder; and the women took up their floors, dug
out the earth, put it in casks, and run water through
it,-as ashes are bleached:-then took ashes, in
another cask, and made ley -mixed the water from
the earth with weak ley, boiled it, set it to cool,
and the saltpetre rose to the top. Charcoal and
sulphur were then used, and powder was produced
for the public defence."
H* istory of Wyoming, page 212. 
MARY GOULD.
Far rung the groves and gleamed the midnight
With flambeau, javelin and naked arm;
As warriors wheeled their culverins of brass,
Sprung from the woods a bold athletic mass,
Whom virtue fires and liberty combines
CAMrPBELL.
Such is the power of mighty love.
DRYDEN.
Early in the evening of the third day of July,
1778 -the date of the  memorable Wyoming  massacre-l Virs. Mary Gould, wife of James Gould,
with the other females remaining in the village of
Wyoming, sought safety in the fort. In the haste
and confusion attending this act, she left a boy of
lers about four years old, behind.  Obeying the instincts of a mother, and turning a deaf ear to the
admonitions of friends, she started off on a perilous
search for the missing one. It was dark; she was
alone, and the foe was lurking around; but the
agonies of death could not exceed her agonies of
suspense; so she hastened on. She traversed the
ields which, but a few hours before,
"Were trampled by the hurrying crowd;"
where 
NOBLE DEEDS
"- fiery hearts and armed hands
Encountered in the battle cloud,"
and where unarmed hands were now resting on -cold
and motionless hearts. After a search of between
one and two hours, she found her child on the
bank of the river, sporting with a little band of
playmates.   Clasping the jewel in her arms, she
hurried back and reached the fort in safety.
144 
THE MOTHER OF PRESIDENT POLK.
Holy as heaven a mother's tender lovel
The love of many prayers, and many team,
Which changes not with dim, declining year&
MRs. NORTON.
The late President Polk's mother, who died at
Columbia, Tennessee, in the winter of 1851-2, was a
member of the Presbyterian church, a highly exemplary Christian, and a faithful mother.   The lessons
which she taught her son in youth, were not forgotten
when he had arrived at manhood, and risen to the
highest office in the gift of a free and sovereign people.
A single anecdote will show the abiding recollection
and influence of her teachings.
A  gentleman, who once visited Mr. Polk at the
White Hious", remarked to him that his respect for
the Sabbath was highly gratifying to the religious
sentiment of the country; whereupon he made the following reply: "I was taught by a pious mother to
fbar God, and keep his commandments, and I trust
that no cares of a government of my own, will ever
tempt me to forget what I owe to the government
of God." 
TRIALS OF A PATRIOT
Press on! 1it fortune play thee false
To-,lay, to-morrow she'11 be true.
PANK BENJAMIN
DIlring the latter ])art of the Revolution, Thomas
MIcCalla lived in Chester district, South  Carolina.
lIe removed  thither firom Pennsylvania, with  his
young wife, in 1778.  He was a wholehearted whig;
served in the American army before moving to the
south, and again enlisted soon after reaching his new
home. He was in all the engagements attending
Simter's operations against the enemy, till the seventeentli of August, 17SO, when, by permission, lie went
to visit his family. A short time afterwards hlie again
joined the fighting men, but was almost immediately
taken prisoner, sent to Camden, thrown into jail and
threatened daily with hanging.  The persevering and
heroic endeavors of his affectionate and patriotic wife,
to obtain his release, are detailed in the following interesting manner by the author of the Women of the
Revolution:
While this brave man was  lanYguLishing in prison,
expecting death from day to day, his wife remained
in the most unhappy state of sisluense. For about a 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
month she was unable to obtain any tidings of him.
The rumor of Sumter's surprise, and that of Steel,
came to her ears; she visited the places where those
disasters had occurred, and sought for some trace of
him, but without success. She inquired, in an agony
of anxiety, of the women who had been to Charlotte
for the purpose of carrying clothes or provisions to
their husbands, brothers, or fathers, not knowing but
that he had gone thither with the soldiers; but none
could give her the least information. Imagination
may depict the harrowing scenes that must  have
passed, when females returning to their homes and
children after carrying aid to the soldiers, were met by
such inquiries from those who were uncertain as to
the fate of their kindred.  To these hapless suffIerers
no consolation availed, and too often was their suspense terminated by more afflicting certainty.
In the midst of Mrs. McCalla's distress, and before
she had gained any information, she was called to
another claim on her anxiety; her children took the
small-pox.  John was very ill for nine days with the
disease, and his mother thought every day would be
his last. During this terrible season of alarm, while
her mind was distracted by cares, she had to depend
altogether upon herself, for she saw but one among her
neighbors. All the families in the vicinity were visited
with the disease, and to many it proved fatal.  As
soon as her child was so far recovered as to be considered out of danger, Mrs. McCalla made preparations
to go to Camden.  She felt convinced that it was he]
duty to do so, for she clunn to the hope that she miiglit
147 
NOBLE DEEDS
there learn something of her husband, or even find
him among the prisoners.
With her to resolve was to act, and having set her
house in order, she was in the saddle long before day,
taking the old Charleston road leading down on the
west side of the Catawba river. The mountain gap
on Wateree creek was passed ere the sun rose, and by
two o'clock she had crossed the river, passing the
guard there stationed, and entered Camden. Pressing
on with fearless determination, she passed the guard,
and desiring to be conducted to the presence of Lord
Rawdon, was escorted by Major Doyle to the headquarters of that commander.  Ihis Lordship then
occupied a large, ancient looking house on the east
side of the main street.  The old site of the town is
now in part deserted, and that building left standing
alone some four hundred yards from any other, as if
the memories associated with -it had rendered the
neighborhood undesirable. It was here that haughty
and luxurious nobleman fixed his temporary residence,
"sitting as a monarch," while so many truie-hearted
unfortunates, whose fate hung on his will, were languishing out their lives in prison, or atoning for their
patriotism on the scaffold.
Into the presence of this august personage Mrs.
MAcCalla was conducted by the British major. Her
impression at first sight was favorable; he was a fine
looking young man, with a countenance not unprepos.
sessing, which we may suppose was eagerly searched
for the traces of human sympathy by one who felt that
all her hopes depended on him. His aspect gave her
148 
OF.AIsERICAN WOMEIN.
some enei)uragement, and being desired to explain the
object of her visit, she pleaded her cause with the eloquence of nature and feeling; making known the distressed situation of her family at home, the fearful
anxiety of mind she had suffered on account of the
prolonged absence of her husband and her ignorance
of his fate, and her children's urgent need of his care
and protection. From Major Doyle she had at length
learned that he was held a prisoner by his lordship's
orders.  She had come, therefore, to entreat melr-cy for
him; to pray that he might be released and permitted
to go home with her.  This appeal to compassion she
made with all the address in her power, nor wa?o the
untaught language of distress wanting in power to
excite pity in any feeling heart.
Lord Rawdon heard her to the end. His r(;ply was
characteristic. "I would rather hang such -— rebels
than eat my breakfast."  This insulting speech was
addressed to his suppliant while her yeyc. were fixedl
on him in the agony of her entreaty, anrd the tears
were streaming down her cheeks.  Ilis words dried
up the fountain at once, and the spirit cf the American
matron was roused. " Would you?'" was her answer?
while she turned on him a look of the deepest scorn
A moment after, with a struggle to control her feelings,
for she well knew how much depended on that - she
said, " I crave of your lordship permission to see my
husband."
The haughty chief felt the look of scorn his cruel
language had called up in her face, for his own coiiscience bore testimony against him, but pride forbade
149 
NOBLE DEEDS
his yielding to the dictates of better feeling.  "You
should consider, madam," he answered, "in whose
presence you now stand.  Your husband is a rebel  "
Mrs. MIcCalla was about to reply - but her companion, the Major, gave her a look warning her to be
silent, and in truth the words that sprang to her lips
would have ill pleased the Briton. Doyle now interp,sed, and requested his lordship to step aside with
him for a moment. They left the apartment, and
shortly afterwards returned. Rawdon then said to his
visitor, with a stately coldness that precluded all hope
of softening his determination: " Major Doyle, madam,
has my permission to let you go into the prison.  You
may continue in the prison ten minutes only.  Major,
you have my orders." So saying, he bowed politely
both to her and the officer, as intimating that the
business was ended, and they were dismissed. They
accordingly quitted the room..
The sight of the prison-pen almost overcame the
fortitude of the resolute wife.  An enclosure like that
constructed for animals, guarded by soldiers, was the
habitation of the unfortunate prisoners, who sate
within on the bare earth, many of them suffering with
the prevalent distemper, and stretched helpless on the
ground, with no shelter from the burning sun of September. " Is it possible," cried the matron, turning
to Doyle, "that you shut up men in this manner, as
you would a parcel of hogs!" She was then admitted
into the jail, and welcome indeed was the sight of her
familiar face to McCalla. The time allotted for tile
interview was too slort to be wasted( in con-dolement
150 
OF AMERICAN WTOMEiN.
or domnplaint; she told him she must depart in a few
minutes, informed him of the state of his family —
inquired carefully what were his wants, and promised
speedy relief. When the ten minutes had expired,
she again shook hands with him, assuring him she
would shortly return with clothes for his use, and
what provisions she could bring, then turning walked
away with a firm step, stopping to shake hands with
young John Adair and the other captives with whom
she was acquainted. The word of encouragement was
not wanting, and as she bade the prisoners adieu, she
said: "iHave no fear; the women are doing their
part of the service."  " I admire your spirit, madam,"
Doyle observed to her, "but must request you to be a
little more cautious."
Mrs. McCalla was furnished by the Major with a
pass, which she showed to the officer on duty as she
passed the guard on her return, and to the officer at
the ferry. She rode with all speed, and was at home
before midnight; having had less than twenty-four
hours for the accomplishment of her whole enterprise;
in that time riding one hundred miles, crossing the
river twice, and passing the guard four times - visiting her husband, and having the interview with Lord
Rawdon, in which probably for the first time in his
ife he felt uneasiness from a woman's rebuke. It
convinced him that even in the breast of woman a
spirit of independence might dwell, which no oppression could subdue, and before which brute force must
quail, as something of superior nature. Hiow must
the unexpected outbreaking of this spirit, from time
151 
NOBLE DEEDS
to time, have dismayed those who imagined it was
elushed forever throughout the conquered province!
It is proper to say that Mrs. McCalla met with
kinder treatment from the other British officers to
whom she had occasion to apply at this time, for
they were favorably impressed by the courage and
strength of affection evinced by her. Even the soldiers, as she passed them, paid her marks of respect.
The tories alone showed no sympathy nor pity for
her trials; it being constantly observed that there
was deeper hostility towards the whigs on the part
of their countrymen of different politics, than those
of English birth.
Mrs. MIcCalla began her work immediately after
her arrival at home; making new clothes, altering
and mending others, and preparing provisions. Her
preparations being completed, she again set out for
Camden. This time she had the company of one of
her   neighbors, Mrs. Mary Nixon.  Each of the wo
men drove before her a pack-horse, laden with the
articles provided for the use of their suffering friends
They were again admitted to the presence of Lord
Rawdon to petition for leave to visit the prisoners, but
nothing particular occurred at the interview.  His
lordship treated the matron who had offended him with
much haughtiness, and she on her part felt for him
a contempt not the less strong that it was not openly
expressed. From this time she made her journeys
about once a month to Camden, carrying clean clothes
and provisions; being often accompanied by other
women bound on similar errands, and conveying arti
1.-,2 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
cles of food and clothing to their captive fathers, husbands, or brothers. They rode without escort, fearless
of peril by the way, and regardless of fatigue, though
the journey was usually performed in haste, and under the pressure of anxiety for those at home as well
as those to whose relief they were going. On one
occasion, when Mrs. McCalla was just about setting
off alone upon her journey, news of a glorious event
was brought to her; the news of the battle of iing's
Mountain, which took place on the seventh of October.
She did not stop to rejoice in the victory of her countrymen, but went on with a lightened heart, longing,
no doubt, to share the joy with him who might hopes
from the changed aspect of affairs, some mitigation
of his imprisonment.
About the first of December, Mrs. McCalla
went again to Camden. On the preceding trip she
had met with Lord Cornwallis, by whom she was
treated with kindness.    Whatever hopes she had
grounded on this, however, were doomed to disappointment; he was this time reserved and silent. She
was afterwards informed by the Major that a considerable reverse had befallen his majesty's troops at
Clermont, and the annoyance felt on this account
Doyle said -was  the cause of his not showing as
much courtesy as he usually did to ladies.  "You
must excuse him," observed the good-natured officer,
who seems to have always acted the part of a peacemaker on these occasions; and he added that Cornwallis had never approved of the cruelties heretofore
practised.
153 
NOBLE DEEDS
Tow-ards the last of December  the indefatigable
wife again performed the weary journey to Camden.
AlcCalla's health had been impaired for some months,
and was now declining; it was therefore necessary
to make a strenuous effort to move the compassion of
his enemies, and procure his release. Rawdon was
in command, and she once more applied to him
to obtain permission for her husband to go home with
lher. As might have been anticipated, her petition
was refused: his lordship informed her that he could
do nothing in tihe premises; but that if she would go
to Winnsboro' and present her request to Lord Cornwallis, he might possibly be induced to give her an
order for the liberation of the prisoner. 
To Winnsboro', accordingly, she made her way,
determined to lose no time in presenting her application.  It was on New Year's morning that she entered
the village. The troops were under parade, and his
lordship was engaged in reviewing them; there could
be no admission, therefore, to his presence for some
time, and she had nothing to do but remain a silent
spectator of tile  imposing  scene.   A woman  less
energetic, and less desirous of improving every opportunity for the good of others, might have sought rest
after the fatigues of her journey, during the hours
her business had to wait; Sarah -IcCalla was one of
heroic stamp, whose private troubles never caused her
to forget what she might do for her country. She
passed the time in noticing particularly every thing
she saw, not knowing but that her report might do
service. After the lapse of several hours, the inter
54 
OF AMERICAN WOTiCN.
7iew she craved with Cornwallis was granted. I-e re
ceived her with courtesy and kindness, listened attentively to all she had to say, and appeared to feel pit)
for her distresses. But his polished expression of
sympathy, to which her hopes clung with desperation,
was accompanied with regret that he could not, consistently with the duties of his Majesty's service,
comply unconditionally with her request.  Ile ex
pressed, nevertheless, entire willingness to enter into
an exchange with General Sumter, releasing IceCalla
for any prisoner hlie had in his possession.   Or hce
would accept the pledge of General Sumter that Mc~alla should not again serve until exchanged, and
would liberate him  on that security.  "But, mad
aml," he added, "it is Sumter himself who  must
stand pledged for the keeping of the parole.  We
have been too lenient heretofore, and have let men
go who imniediatelvy made  use of their liberty to
take up arms against us."
With this the long-tried wife was forced to be
content, and she now saw the way clear to the accomplishment of ]her enterprise.  She lost no time in
returning home, and immediately set out for Charlotte to seek aid from the American general. She
found Sumter at this place, nearly recovered of the
wounds he had received in the action at Blackstock's, in November.  Jier appeal to him  was at
once favorably received. He gave her a few lines,
stating that he would stand pledged for McCalltt's
contir-'ance at home peaceably until  he should be
reguilarlv exchang,ed.  This paper was more precious
155
I I
I 
NOBLE DEEDS
than gold to the matron whose perseverance had
obtained it; but it was destined to do her little
good. She now made the best of her way homeward. After crossing the Catawba, she encountered
the army of General Morgan, was stopped, being suspected to be a tory, and taken into his presence
for examination. The idea that she could be thus
suspected afforded her no little amusement, and
she permitted the mistake to continue for some
time, before she produced the paper  in Sumter's
hand-writing which she well knew would remove
every difficulty. She then informed the General of
her visit to Winnsboro' on the first of January,
and her sight of the review of the troops.  MIorgan thanked her for the information and dismissed
her, and without further adventure she arrived at
her own house.
A few days after her return, the British army,
being on its march from Winnsboro', encamped on
tile plantation of John Service, in Chester district,
and  afterwards at Turkey  creek.   Mrs. MIcCalla
went to one of those camlps in the hope of seeing
Lord Cornwallis. She succeeded in obtaining this
privilege; his lordship recognised her as soon as
she entered the camp, and greeted her courteously,
questioning her as to her movements, and making
umany inquiries about Sumter and Morgan.  On this
last point she was on her guard, communicating no
more  information than she felt certain could give
the enemy no manner  of advantage, nor subject
her friends to inconvenience   At length sl)a p'e
156
I. 
AF AMERICAN WOMEN.
sented to the noble Briton the paper which she
imagined  would  secure  her  husband's  freedom.
What was her disappointment when he referred her
to Lord Rawdon, as the proper person to take cognizance of the affair! The very name was a deathblow to her hopes, for she well knew she could
expect nothing from his clemency. Remonstrance
and entreaty were alike in vain; Cornwallis was a
courteous man, but he knew how, with a bland smile
and well-turned phrase of compliment, to refuse compliance even with a request that appealed so strongly
to every feeling of humanity, as that of an anxious
wife pleading for the suffering and imprisoned father
of her children. She must submit, however, to the
will of those in power; there was no resource but
another journey to Camden, in worse than doubt
of the success she had fancied just within her reach
It was a day or two after the battle of the Cowpens that she crossed the ferry on her way to
Camden.  She had not yet heard  of that bloody
action, but, observing that the guard was doubled at
the ferry, concluded that something unusual had occurred. As she entered the village, she met her
old friend Mlajor Doyle, who stopped to speak to
her.  His first inquiry was  if she had  heard the
news; and when she answered in the negative,
he told her of the "mlelancholy affair" that had
occurred at the Cowpens. The time; he observed,
was most inauspicious for the business on which he
knew she had come. "I fear, nmadam," he said,
'"that his lordship will not treat you well."
157 
NOBLE DEEDS
"I have no hope," was her answer, "that he will
let Thomas  go home;  but, sir, it is my  duty to
make efforts to save my husband. I will thank you
to go with me to Lord Rawdon's quarters."
Hier reception was such as she had expected.
As soon as Rawdon saw her, he cried angrily, "You
here again, madam!  Well-you want your  busband- I dare say! Do you not know what the
rebels have been doing?"
"I do not, sir," replied the dejected matron, foi
she saw that his mood was one of fury.
" If we had hung them," he continued, " we should
have been saved this.  Madam! I order you most
positively never to come into my presence again!"
It was useless,  Mrs. McCalla knew,  to attempt
to stem the tide; she did not therefore produce,
nor even mention the paper given her  by  Sumter,
nor apologise for the intrusion by saying that Lord
Cornwallis had directed her to apply to him;  but
merely answered in a subdued and respectful tone
by asking what she had done.
' Enough!" exclaimed the irritated noble. "You
g6 from one army  to another,  and  IIeaven only
knows what mischief you do!  Begone."
She waited for no second dismissal, but could not
refrain from saying, as'she went out, in an audible
voice,  "My  countrymen  must right  me."   Lord
Rawdon called her back and demanded what she
was saying.   She had learned by this time some
lessons in policy, and answered, with a smile, "We
are but simple country folk." Hiis lordship probla
158 
OF AMERICAN WOMB.IF.
bIly saw through the deceit, for turniniig to his officer,
he said, "Upon my life, Doyle, she is a wretelc of a
woman!" And thus she left him.
That great event -the battle of the Cowpensrevived the spirits of the patriots throughlout  the
country.  Every where, as the news spread, men who
had before been discouraged flew to arms. The action took place on the seventeenth of January,
1781; on the twenty-second of the same month, six
wagons were loaded with  corn  at Wade's island,
sixty miles down the Catawba for the  use of Gen
eral Davisoli's division.   The  whole  whig country
of Chester, York and  Lancaster  may  be said to
have  risen in  mass, and  was  rallying to  arms.
Mecklenburg, North Carolina, was again the scene
of warlike preparation; for the whigs hoped to give
the enemy another defeat at Cowans or Batisford
on the Catawba. On the twenty-fourth of January,
General Sumter crossed this river at Landsford, and
received a supply of corn from Wade's island,
Hiis object was to cross the districts to the west,
in the rear of the advancing British army, to
arouse the country and gather forces as he went,
threaten the English posts at Ninety-Six and Granby,
and go on to recover the State. While Cornwallis
marched from his encampment on Service's plantationr, the whigs  of Chester,  under  the  gallant
Captains John  AMills  and  James  Johnston, were
hovering near, watching the movements of the hostile
army as keenly as the eagle watches his intended
prey. Choosing a fit opportunity, as they followed
159 
NOBLE DEEDS
in the rear, they pounced upon a couple of Biitish
officers, one of whom was Major McCarter, at a
moment when they had not the least suspicion of
danger, took them prisoners in sight of the enemy,
and  made good their retreat.   By means of this
bold exploit the liberation of McCalla was brought
about, at a time when his wife was wholly dis heartened by her repeated and grievous disap pointments. When General Sumter passed through
the country, a cartel of exchange was effected,
giving the two British officers in exchange for the
Il)pisoners of Chester district in Camden and Charlesto)-l.
The person sent with the flag to accomplish this
exchange in Camden, was Samuel Neely of Fishing
creek.  As he passed through the town to the quLarters of Lord Rawdon, hlie was seen and recognized
by  the prisoners, and it may be supposed their
hearts beat with joy at the prospect of speedy release.  But in consequence of some mismanagemnent
of the business, the unfortunate men were detained
in jail several weeks longer. Neely was in haste
to proceed to Charleston, being anxious, in the
accomplishment of his mission in that city, to get
his son Thomas out of the prison-ship, and in his
hurry probably neglected some necessary formalities.
His  countrymen in Camden were kept in confineiient after his return from Charleston with his son.
Captain Mills was informed of this, and indignant
at the supposed disrespect shown by Lord Rawdon
to the cartel of General Sumter, wrote a letter of
160 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN..
remonstrance to Rawdon, which he entrusted to Mrs.
MecCaila to be conveyed to him.
Our heroine was accompanied on this journey by
firs. Mary Dixon, for she judged it impolitic that
the letter should be delivered by one so obnoxious
to his lordship as herself. Still she deemed it hei
duty to be on the spot to welcome her liberated
husband, supply all his wants, and  conduct  him
home. The distance was traversed this time witb
lighter heart than before, for now she had no reason
to fear disappointment. When they arrived at Camden, they went to the jail. John Adair was standing
at a window; they saw and greeted each other, the
women standing in the yard below. Perhaps in
consequence of his advice, or prudential considerations on their part, they determined not to avail
themselves of the good offices of Major Doyle on
this occasion. Adair directed them to send the
jailor up to him, and wrote a note introducing his
sister to the acquaintance of Lord Rawdon. The
two women then proceeded to the quarters of that
nobleman. When they arrived at the gate, Mrs.
McCalla stopped, saying she would wait there, and
her companion proceeded by herself. She was admitted into the presence of Lord Rawdon, who read
the note of introduction she handed to him, and
observed, referring to the writer -that the small-pox
had almost finished him; still, he had come very
near escaping from the jail; that he was  " a grand
'scape-gallows." On reading the letter of Captain
Mills his color changed, and when he had finished
11
161 
NOBLE DEEDS
it, turning to M3rs. Nixon, he said in an altered
toile: "I am sorrv these men have not been dismissed, as of right they ought."  lIe immediately
vrote a discharge for eleven of the prisoners, and
put it into her hands, saying:  "You can get them
out, madam. I am very sorry they have been confined so many weeks longer than they should have
been."  At the same time he gave  Mrs. Nixon a
guinea.  " This," he said, "will bear your expenses."
His lordship accompanied her on her way out,
and as she passed through the gate his eye fell
on Mfrs. AecCalla, whom he instantly recognized.
Walking to the spot where she stood near the gate,
he said fiercely: "Did I not order you, madam,
to keep out of my presence?"  The  matron's independent spirit flashed from her eyes, as she answered:
"I had no wish, sir, to intrude myself on your
presence; I stopped at the gate on purpose to avoid
you."  Unable to resist the temptation of speaking
her mind for once, now that she had a last opportunity, she added: "I might turn the tables on you)
sir, and ask, why did you come out to the gate to
insult a woman? I have received from you nothing
but abuse. My distresses you have made sport of,
and I ceased long since to expect anything from
you but ill-treatment. I am now not your supplicant;
I came to demand, as a right, the release of my
husband!"  So saying, she bowed to him contemptuously, wheeled about, and deliberately walked off,
without stopping to see how her bold language was
received   Mrs. Nixon hastened after her, pale as
162 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
deat'i, and at first too much frightened to speak
As soon as she found voice, she exclaimed: "Sally.
you have ruined ius, I am  afraid!  Why,  he may
put us both in jail!"
Mrs. McCalla laughed outright. "It is not the
first time, Mary," she replied, "'that I have given
him to understand I thought him a villain!" The
two made their way back to the prison, but even
after they got there Mrs. lNixon had not recovered
from her terror. She was informed that it would
be some time before the prisoners could be released.
The blacksmith was then sent for, and came with
his tools. The sound of the hammering in the
appartments of the jail, gave the first intimation
to the women who waited to greet their friends,
that the helpless captives were chained to the floor.
This precaution had been adopted not long before,
in consequence of some of the prisoners having
attempted an escape. They were then put in handcuffs or chained by the ankle. These men left the
place of their long imprisonment and suffering
in  company with  the two  women, and  as  they
marched through the streets of Camden, passing the
British guard, they sang at the top of their voices
the songs of the "liberty-men."
163 
INTREPIDTY OF MRS. ISRAEL.
He is not worthy of the honey comb,
That shuns the hive because the bees have stings.
SHAKSPEARE.
Dart-ng the Revolution, Israel Israel, a true whig
and a worthy farmer, residing on the banks of the
Delaw,6re, near Wilmington, was, for a short time,
a prisoner on board the frigate Roebuck, directly
opposite his own house and land. While thus situated, it was reported by some loyalists by whose
treachery he had been betrayed into the hands of
the enemy, that he had said repeatedly that "he
would sooner drive his cattle as a present to George
Washington, than receive thousands of dollars in
British gold for them." The commander hearing
the report, to be revenged on the rebel, sent a small
detachment  of soldiers to drive his cattle, which
were in plain sight of the frigate, down to the Delaware, and riave  them  slaughtered  before  their
owner's eyes. Mrs. Israel,* who was young and
' The maiden nrme of Mrs. Israel was Hannah Erwin. Her first
mueting with her Ausband was romantic enough Mr. Israel had 
NOBLE DEEDS
sprightly, and brave as a Spartan, seeing the movements of the soldiers as she stood in her doorway,
and divining their purpose as they marched towards
the meadow where the cattle were grazing, called a
boy about eight years old, and started off in great
haste, to defeat, if possible, their marauding project.
They threatened and she defied, till at last they fired
at her. The cattle, more terrified than she, scattered
over the fields; and as the balls flew thicker she called on the little boy " Joe" the louder and more
earnestly to  help, determined  that  the assailants
should not have one of the cattle.  They did  not.
She drove  them  all into the barn-yard, when the
soldiers, out of respect to her courage, or for some
other cause, ceased their molestations and returned
to the frigate.
sailed in a sloop, or packet, from Philadelphia, to visit New Castle
where his mother and family resided.  He observed on deck an extremely pretty girl, hardly seventeeen years of age, and very neatly
and tastefillly dressed, with the finest turned foot and ankle in the
world. All who went on such voyages were then obliged to furnish
themselves with provisions; and his attention was drawn by the young
girl's kindly distribution of her little stock, handing it about from one
to another, till but little was left for her own portion. In passing him,
she modestly hesitated a moment, and then offered him a share. This
led tG conversation; he learned that she was the daughter of highly
respectable parents, and resided in Wilmington. Love at first sight
was as common in those days as now. After seeing his mother, he
visited Wilmington; became better acquainted, offered himself and
was accepted: and on his marriage, rented the farm.above mentioned,
and commenced life anew. -[ Mrs. Ellet
165 
AN INCIDENT IN MISSIONARY LI'E.
Love's holy flame for ever burneth;
From heaven it came, to heaven returneth;
Too oft on earth a troubled guest,
... at times oppressed.
It here is tried and purified,
Then hath in heaven its perfect rest.
It soweth here with toil and care,
But the harvest time of love is there.
SOUTHEY.
No class of laborers in the broad harvest field of
the world endure so many sacrifices of comfort and
of home felicities as the missionaries to foreigu
countries.  Of the trials peculiar to mothers who  go
forth on such an errand of humanity; the keenest must
be their separation from their children.   The pel
nicious habits and influences of a pagan community,
often render it absolutely necessary that their offspring
should be sent to a civilized land to be educated.
This duty, however painful, is imperative, and they
who accuse the mother of llar(lness because she does
it, are either grossly ignorant, or haters of truth.
3many instances of heroic firmness and alhnost superhuman calmness under such trials, are on record, but
one may stand as a type of the whole. 
OF)E AMERICAN WOMEN.
Mrs. Comnstock * of the Burmah Baptist mission
felt called upon to part with her two children, whom
God had given her while on the field of labor.
The hour for separation callne, and taking therm  by
the hand, she led them down to the ship that was
to bear them for ever from her sight. Having invoked the blessing of Heaven upon themn, she gave
each the parting kiss and, with streaming eyes,
lifted her hands towards heaven and exclaimed:
"My Saviour! 1 do this for thee."
Amid the junmgles of the East,
Where gloomiest forms of sin are rif,
Like flowerets in a desert drear,
Her treasured ones had sprung to life.
And smiling round her, day by day,
Though cares uinnumbered weigh her heart,
Their piattle, full of music tones,
Unceasing joy and hope imipart.
Their little minds, like tender buds
In vernal hours, she sees unfold,
And young affection in their eyes
Is gleaming like a gem of gold.
But'mid the toils that press her sore The spirit-wants of'wildered ones -
These buds must often miss the dew,
And plead in vain for constant suns.
She sees their smiles, their music hears,
And feels affection's holy thirall;
But duty's voice, from out the skies,
In sweeter tones, is heard o'er all.
* Sarah  Davis  Comistock  was  the wife of  the Rev.  Grover  S.
Conistock, who was stationed at Kyonk  Phyoo in  the province  of
Arracan, Burmali.  Shle was born at Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1812,
and died at Ramtree, April twenty-eighth, 1843.
167 
NOBLE )DEEDS
To Westernr climes, illumed by truth,
And blest with learning's sacred flowers,
These blossoms of her heart must go,
To bloom henceforth in stranger bowers
She leads them to the waiting ship;
She kneels in anguish on the deck,
And while she breathes a silent prayer,
Their arms like tendrils twine her neck.
She tears her from the loved away,
Whom she on earth no more may see,
And looking up to heaven, exclaims,
"My Saviour, I do this for thee!"
Then hastens to her task again,
The pleasant task her Saviour's given,
That, finished all, she may ascend,
&Ad iure the distant ones to heaven
I(,i8 
A KIND-HEARTED CHIPPEWA.
Both men and women belie their na
When they are not kind.
BA[LEY's FESTUS.
In the early settlement of Ohio, Daniel Convert
was captured by the savages; but he had the good
fortune to be purchased by a noble-hearted Indian
whose wife possessed a kindred spirit. His condition, we are informed in the Pioneer Hiistory of
Ohio, "was not that of a slave, but rather an
adoption into the family as a son. The Indian's
wife, whom he was directed to call mother, was a
model of all that is excellent in woman, being
patient, kind-hearted, humane and considerate to
the wants and comfort of all around her, and especially so to their newly adopted son. To sum
up all her excellences in a brief sentence of the
captive's own language, she was'as good a woman
as ever lived.'" *
* Mr. Convers escaped from his Chippewa friends, at Detroit
Touching the treatment he received from his adopted mother, a
writer says: "How few among  the more  civilized race  of whites
would ever imitate the Christian charities of this untaught daughter
of nature I" 
HIUMANTY OF A CHEROKEE
How poor an instrument
May do a noble deed.
SHAKSPEARY.
Dining  the Revolution, a young  Shawanese In
dian was captured by the Cherokees and sentenced
to die at the stake. Hie was tied, and the usual
preparations were made for his execution, when a
Cherokee woman went to the warrior to whom the
prisoner belonged, and throwing a parcel of goods
at his feet, said she was a widow and would
adopt the captive as her son, and earnestly plead
for his deliverance. Hier prayer was granted, and
the prisoner taken under her care. Hie rewarded
her by his fidelity, for, in spite of the entreaties of
his friends, whom he was allowed to visit, he never
left her. 
SELF-SACRIFICING SPIRIT OF THE MIS                  SIONARY. 
Thou know'st not, Afric I sad of heart and blind,
Unskilled the precious Book of God to read;
Thou canst not know, what moved that soul refined,
Thy lot of wretchedness to heed,
And from her fireside, bright with hallowed glee,
To dare the boisterous surge and deadly clime for thee.
MRS. SIGOURNEY.
We know not how one may exhibit greater benevolence than to offer life for the spiritual good of the
heathen; and he virtually does this who goes to
some, at least, of the missionary stations. Those in
Africa are the most unhea]thy, and their history
presents a frightful bill of mortality.  In his journal
of January, 1846, Dr. Savage, of the Protestant Episcopal mission in Africa, states that during the nine
years previous to that date, the whole number of missionaries under the patronage of the different Boards,
in Africa, had been sixty-one, and of that number
forty were then dead. American Baptists alone lost
eleven between 1826 and 1848. Five of them were
buried in the single town of M3onrovia.  With such
facts as these, touching African missions, staring the
disciple of Christ in the face, it must require no com 
NOBLE DEEDS
mon degree of moral courage for him to embark in
the enterprise.
The  following letter, by Mliss Maria V. Chapin,
of Vermont, was written prior to her leaving this
country for West  Africa, and breathes  the sentiments of a self-sacrificing and heroic Christian. Multitudes of like examples, equally as noble, might be
pointed out, but it seems to be needless: this letter
may stand as a type of the spirit usually exhibited
under similar circumstances. It was addressed to the
Rev. Dr. Vaughan, then Secretary of the Foreign
Committee of the Protestant Episcopal church:
"The question of my personally engaging in a
mission to the heathen, has long been before my
mind, and received, as it claimed, my most serious
and prayerful consideration. This great work is now
brought nearer to my mind than I could ever before
regard it, and I trust it does not appear the less desirable.  I have considered the subject in every light,
so far as I am able from the information I have respecting it, and I can never take up the question
again, to find reasons for going. My mind is now
settled as to the duty, should no unforeseen providence
prevent, of leaving home and country for a heathen
land.  A long adieu to my kindred and friends will
rend the heart; I feel already that it will; but at the
same time, the prospect of doing good to some poor
heathen soul will fill it with joy, and the hope of ad
vancing, in ever so small a degree, the cause of my
Redeemer, will be a constant feast to the soul. The
silent tear of parental affection and solicitude would
172 
OF AMCERICAN WOMEN.
indeed overpower me, had I not confidence that iHe
who thus afflicts, will support, my beloved parents.
Neither, in the present case, can I think it proper to
follow, altogether, the opinion of friends. With the
smiles of my heavenly Father, I must be happy,
though friends forsake me. I feel an inexpressible
pleasure in commending them to God, assured that
they will be enabled to give up their child without regret, in the hope that she will do good to perishing
souls. And I have, also, that blessed hope, that,
should we never again meet in this world, we shall be
a happy family circle at the right hand of God.
Still, I feel my own insufficiency to decide a question
of such importance as that of leaving all that the
heart holds most dear on earth, to encounter the toils
and hardships of a missionary life. Indeed, I would
not decide for myself. I trust solely to Hiim who has
promised grace and strength. Though, at times, great
weakness has constrained me to shrink at the prospect before me, I have been consoled and supported
in the assurance that God will perfect strength in my
weakness. I feel a desire to act in accordance with
the will of God; to do nothing which would be displeasing in His sight. I think I am willing to be, and
to do, anything for the sake of the glory of God; and
if I can only be sure that I am wholly under the guidance of Hiis spirit, I shall be fully satisfied. It is
difficult, I know, to analyze one's feelings, and ascertain the real character of the motives by which we are
actuated; I feel my liability to be deceived, and my
need of Divine assistance. The only question which
173 
NOBLE DEEI)DS
concerns  me, is, are my  motives  pure  and  holy?
Never would I bear the missionary standard, without
having in my heart the missionary spirit. I have
calmly and deliberately weighed the subject, and feel
that no attraction from its r )velty, no impulse from
its moral dignity, can bear up, and carry forward any
one, amidst the long continued labors of almost uniform sameness which you represented to me; nothing
but a thorough conviction of being in the path of duty,
nothing but the approving smile of Heaven, can keep
one from despondency, from sinking into hopeless inactivity; but I have calmly and deliberately weighed
the subject, and feel a willingness to give up comforts,
and submit to privations, to forsake ease and endure
toil, to assemble no more'with the great congregation,' but seek the Lord in the wilderness, or in the
desert —in short, to make every sacrifice of personal
ease and gratification, for the one great object of making known a crucified Saviour to those who are p,rishing in ignorance and sin. Indeed, what sacrifice
can be too great, if what is done for Him who bought
us with his own blood can be called a sacrifice, for
those to make, who have themselves experienced the
efficacy of a Savioutr's blood? I have reflected, that
should I go out, cheered by the smiles of friends, and
encouraged by the approbation of the churches, yet
soon, amidst a people of strange speech, I shall see
these smiles only in remembrance, and hear the voice
of encouragement only in dying whispers across the
ocean. Yet, when I have considered the command of
Christ,'Go ye and teach all nations,'- and when
174 
OF AMERICA_N WOMEN.
in pouring out nmy soul on this subject to the Father
of light, I have realized more of that sweet'peace
which passeth all understanding;' objections have
,ll dwindled to a point; I have been enabled, by
the eye of faith, to discover the finger of God,
pointing nme to the benighted African, and have
]Heard his voice saying, with the affection of a Father
end the authority of a Sovereign,'Come, follow me'
-' lie that loveth father or mother more than me,
is not worthy of me;' and adding, for my encourage
ment,'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.'
I do feel that God calls me to become a missionary,
and do, with this belief, resolve to consider myself
as devoted to that service, hoping that God will
qualify me, and make me a faithful servant for
Christ's sake."*
*This letter was written in the fall of 1841. Miss Chapin, afterwards
Mrs. Savage, embarked for Africa on the twenty-eighth of the following
January, and reached Cape Palmas on the twenty-fifth of March. As
might be anticipated, her labors soon closed. She died on the field,
ti December, 1843.
"That life is long which answers life's great ends"
175 
DARING EXPLOIT OF "TWVO REBELS."
Think'st thou there dwells no courage but in breasts
That set their mail against the ringing spears,
When helmets are struck down? Thou little knowest
Of nature's marvels.
MRs. HEMANS.
During the sieges of Augusta and Cambridge, two
young men of the name of Martin, belonging to
Ninety-Six district, South Carolina, were in the
army.   Mearwhile  their wives, who remained  at
home with their mother-in-law, displayed as much
courage, on a certain occasion, as was exhibited,
perhaps, by any femnale during the struggle for Independence.
Receiving intelligence one evening that a courier,
under guard of two British officers, would pass their
house that night with important dispatches, Grace
and Rachel Martin resolved to surprise the party
and obtain the papers. Disguising themselves in
their husbands' outer garments and providing themselves with arms, they waylaid the enemy.  Soon
after they took their station by the road-side, the
courier and his escort made  their appearance.   At
the proper moment, the disguised ladies sprang firom 
OF AMERIICAN WOMEN.
their bushy covert, and presenting their pistols, or  dered the party to surrender their papers. Surprised
and alarmed, they obeyed without hesitation or the
least resistance. The brave women having put them
on parole, hastened home by the nearest route, which
was a by-path through the woods, and dispatched the
documents to General Greene by a single messenger,
who probably had more courage than the trio that
lately bore them.
Strange to say, a few minutes after the ladies
reached home, and just as they had doffed their
male attire, the officers, retracing their steps, rode up
to the house and craved accommodations for the
night. The mother of the heroines asked them the
cause of their so speedy return after passing her
house, when they exhibited their paroles and said that
"two rebels" had taken them prisoners.  Hiere the
young ladies, in a rallying mood, asked them if they
had no arms, to which query they replied, that,
although they had, they were arrested so suddenly
that they had no time to use them. We have only
to add that they were hospitably entertained, and
- the next morning took their leave of the women as
ignorant of the residence of their captors as when
first arrested.     12
177
12 
ELIZABETH MARTIN.
The mothers of our Forest-land I
Their bosoms pillowed men.
W. D. GALLAGHEIL
- A fine family is a fine thing.
BYRON.
The mother-in-law of the two patriotic women
spoken of in the preceding article, was a native of
Caroline county, Virginia.  Hier  maiden name was
Marshal]. On marrying Mr. Abram Martin, she removed to South Carolina.
When the Revolutionary war broke out, she had
seven sons old enough to enlist in their country's
service;  and as soon as the call to arms was heard,
she  said  to them, "Go, boys, and  fight for your
country! fight till death, if you must, but never
let your country be dishonored. Were I a man I
would go with you."
Several British officers once called at her house,
and while receiving some refreshments, one of them
asked her how many sons she had. She told him,
eight; and when asked where they were, she boldly
replied, "Seven of them are engaged in the service 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
of their country." Tile officer sneeringly observed
that she had enough of them. "1No, sir, I wish I
had fifty!" was her prompt and proud reply.
Only one of those seven sons was killed during
the war. He was a captain of artillery, served in
the sieges of Savannah and Charleston, and was
slain at the siege of Augusta. Soon after his death
a British officer called on the mother, and in
speaking of this son, inhumanly told her that he saw
his brains blown out on the battle field. The reply
she made to the monster's observation was: "Ilie
could not have died in a nobler cause."
When Charleston was besieged, she had three
sons in the place. She heard the report of cannon
on the occasion, though nearly a hundred miles
west of the besieged city. The wives of the solns
were with her, and manifested great uneasiness
while listening to the reports; nor could the mother
-ontrol her feelinos any better. While they were
indulging in silent and, as we may suppose, painful
reflections, the mother suddenly broke the silence
by  exclaming, as  she raised her hands:  "Thank
God! they are the children of the republic!"*
'Vide Women of the Revolution, vol. 1 p. 278.
1 79 
THIE MOTHER'S EFFECTUAL PETITION.
What rhetoric didst tho
To gain this mighty boon?
ADDISON.
James M. Wilson was one of the unfortunate young
men who engaged in the Cuban invasion, in 1851; and
he was taken prisoner and sent to Spain. His mother
petitioned for his release through President Fillmore,
and so earnest, so full of the beauty of maternal love,
and so touching was her appeal, that her request was
granted, and the erring son was permitted to return to
his mother's embrace. The following is a copy of the
letter which she addressed to the President. It is said
to have called forth flattering conmmendation firom the
heads of State and the highest encomiums from the
Majesty of Spain.
NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 25, 1851.
DEAR FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY: -TO yOU I look for
help.  Miy dear son is one of the unfortunate prisoners
to Spain.  lie is all the child I have; is only nineteen
years old, not twenty-two, as stated.  lie was innocnt
and unlsuspecting,, and the more easily duped.   I e saw 
OF AMFPRICAaN WOMEN.
no means of making a support for himself and me, we
being poor: he could get no employment; my h-.aith
was bad; he therefore hoped to do something by going
to Cuba. But, alas! I am worse than poor! Death
would, have been more welcome. His father died,
when he was very young, in Texas, which makes him
more dear to me. Oh! cruel fate; why have I lived to
see this? Perhaps to suit some wise design. God's
will be done, not mine! I have prayed for his life
from the time he left; it was spared. Dear President,
will it be possible for you to do any thing?  Can you
comfort me? I am wearing away.  Mlethinks I cannot
bear up under the idea of ten years; perhaps executed,
or detained for life, or the climate cause his death. I
feel for all of them, and pray for all. It was not my
will that he should go; he was seduced into it by
others. Dear father of the land of my birth, can you
do any tliing? Will you ask for their release? Methinks
you will, and it would be granted. Will you feel
offended with me for appealing to you for comfort?
If so, I beg pardon. My distress has stimulated me
to venture to dare to address the President. To whom
else could I look for comfort? If you could but see
me, I know you would pity me. If any one knew I
had approached you, they might think I presumed
much. Perhaps I do. Yet methinks you will view
it in charity.
With all due respect to your Excellency.
OPHELIA P. TALBOT.
181 
NOTEWORTHY INTEGRITY.
Honesty, even by itself, though making many adversaries
Whom prudence might have set aside, or charity have softened,
Evermore will prosper at the last.
TUrpER.
We have often read an interesting story of a stockbroker who, just before his death, laid a wager on parole with a Parisian capitalist; and a few weeks after
his death, the latter visited the widow and gave her to
understand that her late husband had lost a bet of
sixteen thousand francs.  She went to her secretary,
took out her pocket-book, and counted bank notes to
the stated amount, when the capitalist thus addressed
her:'"Madame, as you give such convincing proof
that you consider the wager binding, I have to pay
you sixteen thousand francs. Here is the sum, for I
am the loser, and not your husband."
An act that, in principle, matches the above, came
to light not long since in Philadelphia. During the
speculations of 1837-38, Mr. C., a young merchant of
that city, possessed of a handsome fortune, caught the
mania, entered largely into its operations, and for a
time was considered immensely rich.  But when the
great revulsion occurred he was suddenly reduced to 
OF AMERICA WOMEN.
bankruptcy. His young wife immediately withdrew
from the circles of wealth and fashion, and adapted
her expenses, family and personal, to her altered circumstances.
At the time of Mr. C.'s failure, his wife was in debt
ao Messrs. Stewart and Company, merchants of Philadelphia, about two hundred dollars for articles which
she had used personally. This debt, she had no
means of liquidating. It became barred by the statute of limitation, before Mr. C. became solvent,
though his circumstances gradually improved. After
the lapse of twelve years, and when the creditors had
looked upon the debt as lost, Mrs. C. was able to take
the principle, add to it twelve years' interest, enclose
the whole in a note and address it to Messrs. Stewart
and Company.*
* Messrs. Stewart and Company, upon the receipt of the money, adtressed a note in reply to Mrs. C., in which they requested her acceptance of the accomnpanying gift, as a slight testimonial of their high
appreciation of an act so honorable and so rare as to call forth unqualified admiration. Accompanying the letter was sent a superb brocade silk dress, and some laces of exquisite texture and great value.
-[Philadelphia Enquirer.
1I  
A FAITHFUL MOTIHER.
-Her pure and holy spirit now
Doth intercede at the eternal throne.
MISS  LANDON.
The following anecdote strikingly illustrates the
strength of maternal love, the beauty of faith, and
the efficacy of prayer. It was related by a blind
preacher:
"When I was about eighteen years of age, there
was a dancing party in Middleboro, Massachusetts,
which I was solicited to attend, and act, as usual, in
the capacity of musician. I was fond of such scenes
of amusements then, and I readily assented to the
request. I had a pious mother; and she earnestly
remonstrated against my going. But, at length, when
all her expostulations and entreaties failed in chang.
iig my purpose, she said:'Well., my son, I shall
not forbid your going, but remember, that all the
time you spend in that gay company, I shall spend
in praying for you at home.' I went to the ball,
but I was like the stricken deer, carrying an arrow
in his side. I began to play; but my convictions
sank deeper and deeper, and I felt miserable indeed. 
OF A3ERICAN WOMEN.
I thought I would have given the world to have
been rid of that mother's prayers. At one time I
felt so wretched and so overwhelmed with my feelings, that I ceased playing and dropped my musical
instrument from my hand. There was another young
person there who refused to dance; and, as I learned,
her refusal was owing to feelings similar to my own,
and perhaps they arose from  a similar cause.  My
mother's prayers were not lost. That was the last
ball I ever attended, except one, where I was invited
to play again, but went and prayed and preached
instead, till the place was converted into a Bochlim,
a place of weeping. The convictions of that wretched
night never wholly left me, till they left me at the
feet of Christ, and several of my young companions
in sin ere long were led to believe and obey the
gospel also."
185 
ANI';DOTE OF MRS. SPAULDING OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.*
Through the deep wilderness, where scarce the sun
Can cast his darts, along thile winding path
The pioneer is treading.
STREETr.
An energy
A  spirit that will not be shaken.
WILLIS
One of the first two settlers of Northumberland,
New Hampshire, was Daniel Spaulding, who removed
thither in the summer of 1767.  On the way to his
new home, with his wife and child, the last burnt
himself so badly at Plymouth that the mother was
obliged to remain and take care of him, while Mfr.
Spaulding proceeded to the end of the journey.
She soon became uneasy, and, anxious to join her
husband,  started off with  her child, twenty-one
'The substance of this anecdote we find in the second number of
the first volume of a periodical called " Historical Collections,"
published nearly thilrty years ago  at Concord,  New Hampshire, and
edited by J. Farmer and J. B. Moore.  The anecdote was communicate('
by Adino N. Brackett, Esq., of Lancaster, and appeared in the June
number for 1822.
10 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
months old, to travel twenty-six miles through the
wilderness. A friend who had agreed to accoinpany
her the whole distance with a horse, returned after
traveling about one third of the way. Undaunted
and persevering, she pushed on, alone and on foot;
waded through Baker's river with her child in her
arms; was overtaken by a heavy "thunder gust"
ill the afternoon, and thoroughly drenched; seated
herself beside a tree when darkness appeared, and
held her child in her lap through a long and sleepless night; resumed her journey early the next
morning; waded through a small pond, with the
water waist-high; pushed on to another river, which,
though swollen by the rain of the preceding day
and looking rapid and terrifying, she forded in safety;
and at eleven o'clock that day, the second of her
journey, she met her husband, who was on his
way back with a horse for her accommodation.*
*This pioneer matron  of northern  New Hampshire, was living at
La-ncaster, in 1822, then in her eighty-second year.  She was a descendaL. t, "in the third degree," of Mrs. Dustin, the heroine of Penacook.
IS7 
TIHE WIFE OF COLONEL THOMAS.
Then since there is no other way but fight or die,
Be resolute, my lord, for victory.
SHAKSPEARE.
Jane Thomas, wife of John Thomas, Colonel of the
Spartan regiment of South Carolina, was a native of
Chester county, Pennsylvania. She was a woman of
remiarkable coolness and intrepidity, as a single act
of hers, in the  times that  tried  womnen's  souls,
plainly indicates.
Governor Rutledge having stored a quantity of
arms and ammunition in the house of Colonel
Thomas, uinder a guard of twenty-five men, the
tories were determined to obtain these munitions.
To this end they sent a large party under Colonel
More of North Carolina. Apprised of their approach and not daring to engage with a force so
superior, Colonel Thomas fled with his twenty-five
soldiers, taking along as much ammunition as
could be conveniently carried. Two young men and
the women were now the sole occupants of the
house. The tories marched up to the door, but
instead of being invited by the ladies to enter, they
were ordered off the premises. Not choosing to 
OF AMERICANi WOMEN.
obey the commands of the mistress, they commenced
firing into the logs of the house. The compliment
was instantly returned from the upper story; and
the women now loading the guns for the older of
the two young men to discharge, a constant and
perilous firing was kept up from the chamber, which
soon made the assailants desperate.  They forthwith
attempted to demolish the "batten door," but it
was too strongly barricaded. Finding that themselves were likely to share a worse fate then the
door, they finally obeyed the original orders of the
intrepid mistress; withdrew from the premises and
fled. Mrs. Thomas soon afterwards descended, and
opening the door, there met her returning husband.
— The ammunition saved on that occasion by the
courage of a woman, was the main supply, it is
said, of Sumter's army in the skirmishes at Rocky
Mount and Hanging Rock.
1is') 
EXEMPLARY PIETY.
I've pored o'er many a yellow page
Of ancient wisdom, and have won,
Perchance, a scholar's name- bhlt sage
Or bard have never taught thy son
Lessons so dear, so fraught with holy truth,
As those his mother's faith shed on his youth.
GEORGE W. BETHUNE.
A lady in the district of Beaufort, South Carolina,
at the age of seventy-six, anxious once more to
enjoy the society of all her children and grandchildren, invited them to spend a day with her.
The interview was permitted and was very affecting.
It "was conducted just as we should suppose piety
and the relation sustained by the parties would dictate. She acknowledged God in this, as well as in
every other way. Her eldest son, who is a minister
of the Gospel in the Baptist denomination, commenced the exercises of the day, by reading the
Scriptures and prayer. The whole family then joined
in the song of praise to the Giver of every good
and perfect gift. This service was concluded by a
suitable exhortation from the same person. Eightyfive of her regular descendants were present. Forty 
OF AfERICAN WOMEN.
four children and grandchildren, arrived at maturity,
sat at the same table at dinner. Of that number
forty-three professed faith in Jesus Christ; of the
four surviving sons of this excellent lady, two were
preachers of the Gospel, and the other two deacons
in the Baptist church.
"Two of her grandsons were also ministers of the
same church. When the day was drawing to a close
the matron called her numerous children around her,
gave them each salutary advice and counsel, and
bestowed upon all her parting blessing. The day
was closed by her youngest son, with exercises similar
to those with which it commenced.
"Mrs.      lived eight years after this event, lea
ving, at her death, one hundred and fifteen lineal
descendants, in which large number not a swearer
nor drunkard is to be found."*
*Jabez Burns, D. D.
191 
BOLD ADVENTURE OF A PATRIOTIC GIRL.
Stand
Firm for your country:    * 
*    *    it were a noble life,
To be found dead embracing her.
JOHNSON.
There is strength
Deep bedded in our hearts, of which we reck
But little.
MRS. HEMANS.
We find the following incident in the first volume
of American Anecdotes, "original and select." The
young heroine of the adventure afterwards married
a rich planter named Threrwits, who lived on the
Congaree. She has been dead more than half a
century, but her name should be remembered while
this republic is permitted to stand.
"At the time General Greene retreated  before
Lord Rawdon from Ninety-Six, when he had passed
Broad river, he was very desirous to send an order
to General Sumter, who was on the Wateree, to
join him, that they might attack Rawdon, who had
divided his force. But the General could find no
man in that part of the state who was bold enough 
OF AMIEPICAN  WOMIEN.
to) unidertalke so dangerous a mission. The country
to be passed through for many miles was full of
blood thirsty tories, who, on every occasion that ofrered, imbrued their hands in the blood of the whigs.
At length Emily Geiger presented herself to General
Greene, and proposed to act as his messenger: and
the General, both surprised and delighted, closed with
her proposal. I-e accordingly wrote a letter and
delivered it, and at the same time communicated
the contents of it verbally, to be told to Sumter in
case of accidents.
"Emily was young, but as to her person or adventures on the way, we have no further information, except that she was mounted on horseback,
upon a side-saddle, and on the second day of her
journey she was intercepted by Lord Rawdon's
scouts.  Coming from the direction of Greene's army,
ani not  being able  to tell  an  untruth  without
blishing, Emily was suspected and  confined to a
rocmn; and as the officer in command had the modest, not to search her at the time, he sent for an
old tory matron as more fitting for that purpose.
Emily was not wanting in expedient, and as soon
as the door was closed and the bustle a little sublsi led, she ate up the letter, piece by  piece.  After
a while the matron arrived, and upon searching
c arefuilly, nothing was to be found of a suspicious
atunre about the prisoner, and she would disclose
nothing. Suspicion being thus allayed, the officer
commanding the scouts suffered Emily to depart
Whither she said  she was  bound;  but  she took
13
193 
';C)BLE DEEDS
a route somewhat circuitous to avoid further deten
tion, and soon after struck ijto the road to Sumter's
camp, where shle arrived in safety. Emily told her
adventure, and delivered Green's verbal message to
Sumter, who, in consequence, soon after joined th
main army at Orangeburgh."
194 
RACHEL CALDWELL.
- The spell is thine that reaches
The heart.
HALLECK.
Prudence protects and guides us.
YoUNG.
Rachel Caldwell was the daughter of the Rev.
Alexander Craighead  and the wife of David Cald
well, D. D., whose history is somewhat identified
with that of North Carolina.  For several years he
was at the head of a classical school at Guilford
in that state, and in the vocation of teacher he
had, at times, the efficient aid of his faithful and
talented companion. She was a woman of exalted
piety;  and such a degree of success  attended her
"labor of love" in the school, that it became a
common saying that "Dr. Caldwell makes the scholars, and Mrs. Caldwell makes the preachers."
More than once during the Revolution, the house
of Dr. Caldwell, who was a stanch friend of his
country, was assailed by tories:* and on one occa
The tories not only destroyed his property, but drove him into the
woods, where he was often obliged to pass nights; and some of his 
NOBLE DEEDS
sion, while his wife was alone and the marauders
were collecting plunder, they broke open a chest or
drawer and took therefrom a table-cloth which was
the gift of her mother. She seized it the moment
the soldier had it fairly in his hand, and made an
effort to wrest it from him. Finding she would be
the loser in a trial of physical strength, she instinctively resorted to the power of rhetoric. With her
grasp still firm on the precious article, she turned
to the rest of the plunderers, who stood awaiting
the issue of the contest, and in a beseeching tone
and with words warm with eloquence, asked if
some of their number had not wives for the love of
whom they would assist her, and spare the one dear
memorial of a mother's affection! Hier plea, though
short, was powerful, and actually moved one man
to tears. With rills of sympathy running down
his cheeks, he assured her he had a wife - a wife
that he loved -and that for her sake the tablecloth should be given up. This was accordingly
done, and no further rudeness was offered.
In the fall of 1780, a "way-worn and weary"
stranger, bearing dispatches from Washington to
Greene, stopped at her house and asked for suppei
and lodgings. Before he had eaten, the house began
to be surrounded by tories, who were in pursuit of
escapes from captivity or death are said to have been almost
miraculous.-He resumed his labors as teacher and pastor after tho
war; and continued to preach till his ninety-sixth year. He died
in 1824, at the age of ninety-nine. His wife died thie following year
in the eighty-seventh of her age.
196 
OF AMEPRICAN WOMEN.
him. Mrs. Caldwell led him out at a back-door
unseen in the darlness, and ordered him to climb
a large locust tree, and there remain till the house
was plundered and the pursuers had departed.
He did so. Mrs. Caldwell lost her property, but
her calmness and prudence saved the express,
and that was what most concerned the patriotic
woman.
19,17
I 
SHE MOTHER OF RANDOLPH
She led me first to God;
Her words and prayers were my young spirit's dew;
For whene she used to leave
The fireside every eve,
I knew it was for prayer that she withdrew.
PIERPONT.
The biographers of John Randolph mention the
interesting fact that his mother taught him to pray.
This all-important maternal duty made an impression on his heart. I-e lived at a period when
skepticism was popular, particularly in some political
circles in which he had occasion to mingle; and
hle has left on record his testimony in regard to
the influence of his mother's religious instruction
Speaking of the subject of infidelity to an intimate
friend, he once made the following acknowledgment:
"I believe I should have been swept away by the
.food of French infidelity if it had not been for
one thing- the remembrance of the time when my
sainted mother used to make me kneel by her side,
taking my little hands folded in hers, and cause me
to repeat the Lord's Prayer." 
CORJNELIA BEEKMAN.
The smallest worm will turn when trodden on,
And doves will peck, in safeguard of their brood.
SHAKSPEARE.
The vaunts
And menace of the vengeful enemy
Pass like the gust, that roared and died away
In the distant tree.
COLERIDGE.
Mrs. Cornelia Beekman was a daughter of Pierre
Van Cortlandt, Lieutenant Governor of New York
from 1777 to 1795; and she seems to have inherited her father's zeal for the rights of his country.
She was born at the Cortlandt manor house, "an
old fashioned stone mansion situated on the banks
of the Croton river," in 1752; was married when
about seventeen or  eighteen, to Gerard  G. Beekman;  and died on the fourteenth of March, 1847.
A few anecdotes will illustrate the noble characteristics of her nature.*
When the British were near her residence, which
* For a fuller account of her life, see the second volume of Mrs
Ellet's Women of the Revolution, to which  work  we  are  indebtd
for the substance of these anecdotes. 
NOBLE DEEDS
was a short distance from Peekskill, a soldier en.
tered the house one day and went directly to the
closet, saying, in reply to a question she put to him,
that he wanted some brandy. She reproved him
for his boldness and want of courtesy, when he
threatened to stab her with a bayonet. Unalarmned
by his oath-charged threats - although an old, infirm
negro was the only aid at hand - she in turn threatened him, declaring that she would call her husband
and have his conduct reported to his commander.
Her sterness and intrepidity, coupled with her threats,
subdued the insolent coward, and, obeying her orders,
he marched out of the house.
A party of tories, under command of Colonels
Bayard and Fleming, once entered her house, and,
with a great deal of impudence and in the most
insulting tone, asked if she was not "the daughter
of that old rebel, Pierre Van  Cortlandt?"  " I am
the daughter of Pierre Van Cortlandt, but it becomes
not such as you to call my father a rebel," was her
dauntless reply.  The person who put the question
now raised his musket, at which menacing act, she
coolly reprimanded him and ordered him out of
doors. His heart melted beneath the fire of her eye,
and, abashed, he sneaked away.
In one instance, a man named John Webb, better
known  at that time as "Lieutenant Jack," left in
her charge a valise which contained a new suit
of uniform and some gold. Hie stated he would
send for it when he wanted it, and gave her particular directions not to deliver it to any one without
200 
OF SIERICAN WOMEN.
a written order from himself or his brother Samuel.
About two weeks afterwards, a man named Smith
rode up to the door in haste, and asked her husband,
who was without, for Lieutenant Jack's valise. She
knew Smith, and had little confidence in his profe8s.ed whig principles; so she stepped to the door
and reminded her husband that it would be necessary for the messenger to show his order before
the valise could be given up.
"You know me  very well, Mrs. Beekman;  and
when I assure you that Lieutenant Jack sent me
for the valise, you will not refuse to deliver it to
me, as he is greatly in want of his uniform."
"I do know you very well- too well to give you
the valise without a written order from the owner
or the Colonel."
Soon after this brief colloquy, Smith wen away
without the valise, and it was afterwards asce tained
that he was a rank tory, and at that very b our in
league with the British. Indeed Major Andre was
concealed in his house that day, and had Smith got
possession of Webb's uniform, as the latter and
Andre were about the same size, it is likely the
celebrated  spy would  have escaped and  changed
the reading of a brief chapter of American history.
Who can tell how much this republic is indebted
.) the prudence, integrity, courage  and patriotism
ff Cornelia Beekman?
201
0. 
TE MOTHIIER OF WEST.
0 wondrous power I how little understood Entrusted to the mother's mind alone -
To fashion genius, form the soul for good,
Inspire a West, or train a Washington.
MRs. HALE
Wh,.n Benjamin West was seven years old, he was
]eft, one summer day, with the charge of an infant
niece. As it lay in the cradle and he was engaged in
fanning away the flies, the motion of the fan pleased
the child, and caused it to smile. Attracted by the
charms thus created, young West felt his instinctive
passion aroused; and seeing paper, pen and some red
and black ink on a table, he eagerly seized them and
made his first attempt at portrait painting. Just as
he had finished his maiden task, his mother and sis
ter entered. Hie tried to conceal what he had done,
but his confusion arrested his mother's attention, and
she asked him what he had been doing.  With reluc
tance and timidity, he handed her,the paper, begging,
at the same time, that she would not be offended.
EFxamining the drawing for a short time, she turned to
her daughter and, with a smile, said, "I declare, he
t.as made a likeness of Sally." She then gave him a 
OF AMRP.ICAN WOMEN.
fond kiss, which so encouraged him that hlie promised
her some drawings of the flowers which she was then
holding, if she wished to have them.
The next year a cousin sent him a box of colors and
pencils, with large quantities of canvas prepared for
the easel, and half a dozen engravings. Early in the
morning after their reception, he took al] his materials
into the garret, and for several days forgot all about
school. His mother suspected that the box was the
cause of his neglect of his books, and going into the
garret and finding him busy at a picture, she was
about to reprimand him; but her eye fell on some of
his compositions, and her anger cooled at once. She
was so pleased with them that she loaded him with
kisses and promised to secure his father's pardon for
his neglect of school.
How much the world is indebted to Mrs. West for
her early and constant encouragement of the immortal artist. Hle often used to say, after his reputation
was  established, "By qnother's kiss  made  me a
painter!"
203 
HlEROIC ENDURANCE.
'Tis not now who is stout and bold,
But who bears hunger best and cold.
BU';LER.
On the twenty-seventh of July, 1755, Mrs. Howe,
of Hinsdale, New  Hampshire, with seven children
and two other women and their children, was taken
captive by the Indians, and marched  through the
wilderness to Crown Point. There Mrs. Hiowe, with
some of the other prisoners, remained several days.
The rest were conducted to MIontreal to be sold, but
the French  refusing to  buy them, they were all
brought back, except Mrs. IIowe's youngest daughter,
who was presented to Governor De Vaudreuil.
Ere long the whole party started for St. Johns
by water.   Night soon came on;  a storm arose;
the darkness became intense; the canoes separated,
and just before day  frs. Hiowe was landed on the
beach, ignorant of the destiny of her children.
Raising a pillow of earth with her hands, she laid
herself down to rest with her infant onl her bosom.
A  toilsome day's journey b)ronght her and her captors to St. Johns, and pressing onward  they soon 
OF AMIERICAN WOMEN.   E
reached St. Francis, the home  of the latter.   A
council having been called and the customary ceremonies performed, Mrs. Howe, with her infant left
to her care, was put in the charge of a squaw,
whom she was ordered to call mother.
"At the approach of winter, the squaw, yielding
to her earnest solicitations, set out with Mrs. Hiowe
and her child, for Montreal, to sell them to the
French. On the journey both she and her infant
were in danger of perishing from hunger and cold;
the lips of the child being at times so benumbed,
as to be incapable of imbibing its proper nourishment. After her arrival in the city, she was offered
to a French lady; who, seeing the child in her
arms, exclaimed,'I will not buy a woman,  who
has a child to look after.' I shall not attempt
to describe the feelings with which this rebuff was
received by a person who had no higher amnbition than to become a slave. Few of our race have
hearts made of such unyielding materials,  as  not
to be broken by long-contiinued abuse; and Mrs.
Hiowe was not one of this number. Chilled with
cold, and pinched with hunger, she saw in the kitchen
of this inhospitable house some small pieces of bread,
floating in a pail amid other fiagments, destined to
feed swine; and eagerly skimmed them for herself.
When her Indian mother found that she could not
dispose of her, she returned by water to St. Francis,
where she soon died of small pox, which she had
caught at Montreal.   Speedily after, the  Indians
commenced their winter hunting. Mrs. Howe was
205 
NOBLE DEEDS
then ordered to return her child to the captors.
The babe clung to her bosom; and she was obliged
to force it away. They carried it to a place called
'Messiskow,' on the borders of the river Missisconi,
near the north end of lake Champlain upon the
eastern shore. The mother soon followed, and found
it neglected, lean, and almost perishing with hunger.
As she pressed its face to her cheek, the eager,
half-starved infant bit her with violence. For three
nights she was permitted to cherish it in her bosom;
but in the day-time she was confined to a neighboring
wigwam, where she was compelled to hear its unceasing cries of distress, without a possibility of
contributing to its relief.
"The third day the Indians carried her several
miles up the lake. The following night she was
alarmed by what is usually called the great earthquake, which shook the region around her with violent
concussions. Here, also, she was deserted for two
nights in an absolute wilderness; and, when her
Indian connections returned, was told by them that
two of her children were dead. Very soon after,
she received certain information of the death of
her infant. Amid the anguish awakened by these
melancholy tidings, she saw a distant volume of
smoke; and was strongly inclined to make her
way to the wigwam from which it ascended. As
she entered the door, she met one of the children,
reported to be dead; and to her great consolation
found that he was in comfortable circumstances. A
good-natured Indian soon after informed her, that
206 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
the other was alive on the opposite side of the
lake, at the distance of a few miles only.   Upon
this information she obtained leave to be absent
for a single day; and, with the necessary directions from her informant, set out for the place.
On her way she found her child, lean and hungry,
and proceeded with it to the wigwam. A small
piece of bread, presented to her by the Indian family
in which she lived, she had carefully preserved for
this unfortunate boy;  but, to avoid offending the
family in which he lived, was obliged to distribute
it in equal shares to all the children. The little
creature had been transported at the sight of his
mother; and, when she announced her departure,
fell at her feet, as if he had been dead. Yet she
was compelled to leave him; and satisfied herself,
as far as she was able, by commending him to
the protection of God. The family in which she
lived, passed the following  summer  at St. Johns.
It was composed of the daughter and son-in-law of
her late mother. The son-in-law went out early in
the season on an expedition against the English settlements. At their return, the party had a drinking
frolic, their usual festival after excursions of this
nature. Drunkenness regularly enhances the bodily
strength of a savage, and stimulates his mind to
madness. In this situation he will insult, abuse,
and not  unfrequently murder, his nearest friends.
The wife of this man had often been a sufferer by
his intemperance. She therefore proposed to Mrs.
Howe that they should withdraw themselves from
20T 
NOBLE DEEDS
the wigwam until -he effects of his present intoxi
cation were over. They accordingly withdrew. Mrs.
Howe returned first, and found him surly and illnatured,  because  his  wife  was  absent.   In  the
violence  of his  resentment  he took  Mrs. Howe,
hurried her to St. Johns, and sold her for a trifling
sum to a French gentleman, named Saccapee.
"Upon a little reflection, however, the Indian
perceived that he had made a foolish bargain. In
a spirit of resentment he threatened to assassinate
MArs. Howe; and declared that if he could not
accomplish  his  design, he  would  set  fire to the
fort. She was therefore carefully secreted, and the
fort watchfully  guarded, until the  violence of bis
passion  was  over.   When her alarm was  ended,
she found her situation as happy in the family, as
a state of servitude would permit. Hier new master
and mistress were kind, liberal, and so indulgent
as rarely to refuse anything that she requested. In
this manner they enabled her frequently to befriend
other English prisoners, who, from time to time, were
brought to St. Johns.
"Yet even in this humane family she met with
new trials. Monsieur Saccapee, and his son, an
officer in the French army, became at the same time
passionately attached to her.   This singular fact is
a forcible proof that her person, mind, and manners, were unusually agreeable. Nor was her situation less perplexing than singular.  The good will
of the whole family was indispensable to her comfort,
if not to her safety; and her purity she was determined tc preserve at the hazard of her life. In the
208 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
house where both her lovers resided, conversed with
her every day, and, together with herself, -%ere
continually under the eye of her mistress, the lovers
a father and a son, herself a slave, and one of
them her master, it will be easily believed that
she met with very serious embarrassments in accomplishing her determination.  In this situation she
made known her misfortunes to Colonel Peter
Schuyler of Albany, then a prisoner at St. Johns.
As soon as he had learned her situation he represented  it to  the  Governor De  Vaudreuil.   The
Governor immediately ordered young Saccapee into
the army;  and enjoined on his father a just and
kind treatment of Mrs. Howe. Hils humanity did
not stop  here.  Being  informed that one of her
daughters was in danger of being married to an
Indian of St. Francis, he rescued her from this
miserable destiny, and placed her in a nunnery
with her sister. Here they were both educated as
his adopted children.
"By the good offices of Colonel Schuyler, also,
who advanced twenty-seven hundred livres for that
purpose,  and  by the assistance  of several other
gentlemen, she was enabled to ransom herself, and
her four sons.  With these children she set out for
New England  in the autumn  of 1758, under the
lprotection  of Colonel Schuyler, leaving  her  two
daughters behind.* As she was crossing lake Cham
* After the treaty of peace at Paris, Mrs. Howe went to Canada
and brought home the younger daughter, who left the nunnery with
a great deal of reluctance.  The older went to France with Monsieur
De Vaidreuil, and was tlhere married to a man named Louis.
1.1
209. 
NOBLE DEEDS
plain, young Saccapee came on board the boat, in
which she was conveyed; gave her a handsome
present;  and bade her adieu.   Colonel Schuyler
being obliged to proceed to Albany with more expedition than was convenient for his fellow travelers,
left them in the care of Major Putnam, afterwards
Major-General Putnam. From this gentleman she
received every kind office, which his well known
humanity could furnish; and arrived without any
considerable misfortune at the place of their des.
tination." *
* Dwight's Travel&
210 
MATERNAL HEROISM
Is there a man, into the lion's den
Who dares intrude to snatch his young away?
THOMSON.
During the campaign of 1777, a soldier of the
Fifty-fifth regiment was sitting with his wife at
breakfast, when a bomb entered the tent, and fell
between the table and a bed where their infant
was sleeping. The mother urged her husband to go
round the bomb and seize the child, his dress being,
from the position of things, more favorable than hers
for the prosecution of the dangerous task: but be
refused. and running otit of the tent, begged his
wife t( follow, saying that the fusee was just ready
to communicate with the deadly combustibles. The
fond mother, instead of obeying, hastily tucked up
her garments to prevent their coming in contact
with the bomb; leaped past it; caught the child,
and in a moment was out of danger.
I1 December, 1850, the house of Peter Knight,
of' Bath, Maine, caught fire, and a small child, asleep
in the room where the flames burst out, would have
perished but for the self-possession and daring of its 
NOB)I,E  I)EEI)S
mother. One or two unsuccessful attempts had been
made by others to rescue it, when the mother, always
the last to despair, made a desperate effort, and se
cured the prize. When the two were taken from
the window of the second story, the dress of Mrs
Knight was in flames!
212 
A MODERN DORCAS.
' Tis truth divine, exhibited on earth,
Gives charity her being.
CowrPR.
Isabella, the wife of Dr. John Graham, was born
in Scotland, on the twenty-ninth of July, 1742. At
the age of seventeen she became a member of the
church in Paisley of which the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon,
afterwards President of Princeton college, was the
pastor. Dr. Graham was a physician of the same
town. Hler marriage took place in 1765. The next
year Dr. Graham was ordered to join his regiment
then stationed in Canada. After spending a few
months at Montreal, he removed to Fort Niagara,
where he remained in the garrison four years.
Just before the Revolutionary war the sixteenth
regiment of Royal Americans was ordered to the
island of Antigua. Thither Dr. Graham removed
with his family, an4 there he died in 1774.  1Irs.
Graham then returned to her native land.
In 1789 she came to this country, and permanently
settled in the city of New York.  She there opened
a school for young ladies, and gained a high reput. 
NOBLE DEEDS
tion in her profession. She united with the Presbyterian church of which John Mason, D. D., was
pastor, and was noted, through all the latter years
of her life, for the depth of her piety and her
Christian benevolence. She made it a rule to give
a tenth part of her earnings to religious and
charitable purposes. In 1795 she received, at one
time, an advance of a thousand pounds on the sale
of a lease which she held on some building lots;
and not being used to such large profits, she said,
on receiving the money, "Quick, quick, let me appropriate the tenth before my heart grows hard."
Two years afterwards, a society was organized and
chartered, for the relief of poor widows; and
Mrs. Graham was appointed first directress.  Each
of the managers had a separate district, and she
had the superintendence of the whole. A house was
purchased by the society, where work was received
for the employment of the widows;  and a school
was opened for the instruction of their children.
"Besides establishing this school, Mrs. Graham selected some of the widows, best qualified for the
task, and engaged them, for a small compensation,
to open day schools for the instruction of the children of widows, in distant parts of the city: she
also established two Sabbath schools, one of which
she superintended herself, and tte other she placed
under the care of her daughter. Wherever she met
with Christians sick and in poverty, she visited and
comforted them; and in some instances opened
small subscription lists to provide for their support.
214 
OF AMERICAN  WOMIEN.
She attended occasionally for some years at the
Alms House for the instruction of the children there,
in religious knowledge: in this work she was much
assisted by a humble and pious female friend, who
was seldom absent firom it on the Lord's day.
"It was often her custom to leave home after
breakfast, to take with her a few rolls of bread,
and return in the evening about eight o'clock. Hier
only dinner on such days was her bread, and perhaps some soup at the Soup House, established by
the Humane Society for the poor, over which one
of her widows had been, at her recommendation,
appointed." *
In the winter of 1804- 5, before a Tract or Bible
Society had been formed in New York, she visited
between two and three hundred of the poorer families,
and supplied them with a Bible where they were
destitute. She also distributed tracts which were
written, at her request, by  a friend, "and  lest it
might be said it was cheap to give advice, she
usually gave a small sum of money along with
the tracts."
On the fifteenth of March, 1806, a society was
organized in New York for providing an Asylum
for Orphan  Children;  and  Mrs. Graham occupied
the chair on the occasion. Her sympathies were
trongly enlisted in this organization, and she was
one of the trustees at the time of her death.
"In the winter of 1807 -8, when the suspension
Mra Bethune's Life of Mrs. Graham, abridged.
215 
NOBLE DEEDS
of commerce by the embargo, rendered the situ.
ation of the poor more destitute than ever, Mrs.
Graham adopted a plan best calculated in her view
to detect the idle applicant for charity, and at the
same time to furnish employment for the more worthy amongst the female poor. She purchased flax,
and lent wheels where applicants had none. Such
as were industrious took the work with  thankfulness, and were paid for it; those who were beggars
by profession, never kept their word to return for
the flax or the wheel. The flax thus spun was afterwards woven, bleached, and made into table-cloths
and towels for family use."*
When the- MIagdalen Society was established by
some gentlemen, in 1811, a board of ladies was elected for the purpose of superintending the internal
management of the house; and Mrs. Graham was
chosen President. This office she continued to hold
till her death. The next year the trustees of the
Lancasterian School solicited the services of several
women to instruct the pupils in the catechism. Mrs.
Graham cheerfully assisted in this task, instruction
being given one afternoon in each week.
" In the spring of 1814 she was requested to unite
with some ladies, in forming a Society for the Promotion of Industry amongst the poor. The Corporation of the city having returned a favorable answer
to their petition for assistance, and provided a house,
a meeting of the Society was held, and Mrs. Graham
once more was called to the chair. It was the last
*' Mr. B3ethane.
216 
OF AMERICAN WOMn..
time she was to preside at the formation of a new
society. Hier articulation, once strong and clear, was
now observed to have become more feeble.   The
ladies present listened to her with affectionate attention; her voice broke upon the ear as a pleasant
sound that was passing away. She consented to have
her name inserted in the list of managers, to give
what assistance her age would permit in forwarding
so beneficent a work. Although it pleased God to
make her cease from her labors, before the House
of Industry was opened, yet the work was carried
on by others, and prospered. Between four and five
hundred women were employed and paid during the
following winter. The Corporation declared in strong
terms their approbation of the result, and enlarged
their donation, with a view to promote the same
undertaking for the succeeding winter."
MIrs. Graham died on the twenty-seventh of July,
1814. Of no woman of the age may it be said with
more propriety, as it was of Dorcas: "This woman
was full of good works and alms-deeds, which she
did." Yet few women are more humble than was
Mrs. Graham, or think less of their benevolent deeds.
IIer daughter, Mrs. Bethune, writing of her decease,
says that she departed in peace, not trusting in her
wisdom or virtue, like the philosophers of Greece and
Rome; not even, like Addison, calling on the profligate to see a good man die; but, like Howard, afraid
that her good works might have a wrong place in the
estimate of her hope, her chief glory was that of a
"sinner saved by grace."
217 
SARAH HOFFMAN.
Still to a stricken brother turn.
WHITTIER.
In the act of incorporation of the Widow's Society,
established in the city of New York, in 1797, with
the name of Mrs. Graham, is associated that of Mrs.
Sarah  Hoffman.   This lady was  the daughter of
David Ogden, one of the judges of the Supreme
Court of New  Jersey, before the elevation of the
provinces into states. She was born at Newark, on
the eighth of September, 1742; and married Nicholas Hoffman  in 1762.   She early took delight in
doing good, being thus prompted by deep religious
principle.   Cautious and  discriminating, her charities were bestowed judiciously, and she was able to
do much good without the largest means.   In her
benevolent operations, however, she usually acted in
an associated capacity.
As  already intimated, she was a member of the
society formed " for the relief of poor widows with
small children." That this institution prospered undel the control of such women as Mrs. Hoffman and
Mrs. Graham, may be inferred from their report 
OF AMIERICAN WOMIEN.
made in April, 1803.   "Ninety-eight widows  and
two hundred and twenty-three children," this docuiment states, " were brought through the severity of
the winter with a considerable degree of comfort."
Mrs. IhIoffmnan, Mrs. Graham and their associates,
often perambulated the districts of poverty and disease, from morning till night, entering the huts of
want and desolation, and carrying comfort and consolation to many a despairing heart. They clambered
to the highest and meanest garrets, and descended
to the lowest, darkest and dankest cellars, to administer to the wants of the destitute, the sick, and the
dying.   They took with them medicine as well as
food; and were accustomed to administer Christian
counsel or consolation, as the case required, to the
infirm in body and the wretched in heart.  They
even taught many poor creatures, who seemed to
doubt the existence of an overruling Providence,.to
pray to Him whose laws they had broken and
thereby rendered themselves miserable.*
In M-rs. Hoffan's character, to tenderness of feeling were added  great firmness, strength of mind,
and moral courage.  She was often seen in the midst
of contagion and suffering where the cheek of the
warrior would blanch with fear. She exposed her
own life, however, not like the warrior, to destroy,
but to save; and hundreds were saved by her humane
efforts, combined with those of her co-workers. Her
Knapp's Female Biography.
219 
220                   NOBLE DEEDS
life beautifully exemplified the truth of what Crabbe
says of woman:
-In extremes of cold and heat,
Where wandering man may trace his kind;
Wherever grief and want retreat,
In woman they compassion find.
And if, as the poet Grainger asserts,
The height of virtue is to serve mankind,
M{rs. Hoffman reached a point towards which many
aspire, but above which few ascend. 
IIEROISM OF SCtHOHARIE WOMEN.
Invaders I vain your battles' steel and fire.
HIALLECL
During the struggle for Independence, there were
three noted forts in the Schoharie settlement, called
the Upper, Middle and Lower; and when, in the
autumn of 1780, Sir John Johnson sallied forth from
Niagara, with his five hundred or more British, tory
and German troops, and made an attack on these
forts, an opportunity was given for the display of
patriotism and courage, as well by the women of the
settlement as by the men.
When the Middle fort was invested, an heroic and
noted ranger named Murphy, used his rifle balls so
fast as to need an additional supply; and) anticipating his wants, Mrs. Angelica Vrooman caught his
bullet mould, some lead and an iron spoon, ran to her
father's tent, and there moulded a quantity of bullets
amid
"the shout
Of battle, the barbarian yell, the bray
Of dissonant instruments, the clang of arms,
The shriek of agony, the groan of death."
While the firing was kept up at the Middle fort,. 
NOBLE DEEDS
great anxiety prevailed at the Upper;  and during
this time Captain Hager, who commanded the latter,
gave orders that the women and children should
retire to a long cellar, which he specified, should the
enemy attack him.  A young lady named Mary Haggidorn, on hearing these orders, went to Captain
Hager and addressed him as follows:-" Captain, I
shall not go into that cellar.   Should the enemy
come, I will take a spear, which I can use as well as
any man, and help defend the fort." The Captain,
seeing her determination, made the following reply:
-"Then take a spear, Mary, and be ready at the
pickets to repel an attack." She cheerfully obeyed,
and held the spear at the picket, till "huzzas for
the American flag" burst on her ear, and told that
all was safe.*
Vide History of Schoharie county, p. 410-Il.
4
222 
A STERLING PATRIOT.
With nerve to wield the battle-brand,
And join the border-fray,
They shrank not from the foeman,
They quailed not in the fight,
But cheered their husbands through the day,
And soothed them through the night.
W. D. GALLAGHER.
The most noted heroine of the Mohawk valley, and
one of the bravest and noblest mothers of the Revolution, was Nancy Van Alstine. Hier maiden name
was Quackinbush.  She was born near Canlajoharie,
about the year 1733, and was married to Martin J.
Van Alstine, at the age of eighteen. Hie settled in
the valley of the Mohawk, and occupied the Van
Alstine family mansion.  Mrs. Van Alstine was the
mother of fifteen children.  She died at Wampsville,
Madison county, in 1831.
In the month of August, 1780, an army of Indians
and tories, led on by Brant, rushed into the Mohawk
valley, devastated several settlements, and killed
many of the inhabitants: and during the two following months, Sir John Johnson, made a descent and
finished the Work Which Brant had begun.  The two 
NOBLE DEEDS
almost completely destroyed the settlements through.
out the valley.  It was during those trying times
that Mrs. Van Alstine performed a portion of her
heroic exploits which are so interestingly related by
Mrs. Ellet.
"While the enemy, stationed at Johnstown, were
laying waste the country, parties continually going
about to murder the inhabitants and burn their
dwellings, the neighborhood in which Mrs. Yan A1stine lived remained in comparative quiet, though
the settlers trembled as each sun arose, lest his setting beams should fall on their ruined homes. Most
of the men were absent, and when, at length, intelligenlce came that the destroyers were approaching, the
people were almost distracted with terror. Mrs. Van
Alstine called her neighbors together, endeavored to
calm their fears, and advised them to make immediate arrangements for removing to an island, belonging to her husband, near the opposite side of the
river. She knew that the spoilers would be in too
great haste to make any attempt to cross, and
thought if some articles were removed, they might
be induced to suppose the inhabitants gone to a
greater distance. The seven families in the neighborhood were in a few hours upon the islands
having taken with them many things necessary for
their comfort during a short stay.  Mrs. Van A1stine remained herself to the last, then crossed in
the boat, helping to draw it far up on the beach.
Scarcely had they secreted themselves before they
heard the dreadedwarwhoop,and descried the Indians
224 
OF AMEPIC'AN WOMEN.
m  the distance.  It was not long before one and another saw the homes they loved in flames. When the
savages came to Van Alstine's house, they were about
to fire that also, but the chief, interfering, informed
them that Sir John would not be pleased if that
house were burned-the owner having extended civilities to the baronet before the coimmnencement of
hostilities.' Let the old wolf keep his den,' he said,
and the house was left unmolested. The talking of
the Indians could be distinctly heard from the island,
and lirs. Van Alstine rejoiced that she was thus
enabled to give shelter to the houseless families who
had fled with her. The fugitives, however, did not
deem it prudent to leave their place of concealmnent
for several days, the smoke seen in different directions too plainly indicating that the work of devastation was going on.
" The destitute families remained at Van Alstine's
house till it was deemed prudent to rebuild their
homes. Later in the following autumn an incident
occurred which brought much trouble upon  them.
Three men from the neighborhood -of Canajoharie,
who had deserted the whig cause and joined the
British, came back from Canada as spies, and were
detected and apprehended. Their execution followed;
two were shot, and one, a bold, adventurous fellow,
named Harry Harr, was hung in Mr. Van Alstine's
orchard.   Their prolonged  absence  causing  some
uneasiness to their friends in Canada, some Indians
were sent to reconnoitre and learn something of them.
It happened that they arrived on the day of HIarr's
15
225 
NOBLE DEEDS
execution, which they witnessed from a neighboring
hill.  They returned immediately with the informa
tion, and a party was dispatched-it is said by
Brant-to revenge the death of the spies upon the
inhabitants. Their continued shouts of' Aha, Iarry
Harr!' while engaged in pillaging and destroying,
showed that such was their purpose.   In their pro gress of devastation, they came to the house of Van
Alstine, where no preparations had been made for
defence, the family not expecting an attack, or not
being av.are of the near approach of the enemy.
Mrs. ANan Alstine was  personally acquainted with
Brant, and it may have been owing to this circumstance that the members of the family were not
killed or carried away as prisoners.   The Indians
came upon  them  by surprise, entered  the house
without  ceremony,  and plundered  and  destroyed
everything in their way.  Mrs. Van Alstine saw her
most valued articles, brought from Holland, broken
one after another, till the house was strewed with
fragments. As they passed a large mirror without
demolishing it, she hoped it might be saved; but
presently two of the savages led in a colt from the
;table, and the glass being laid in the hall, compelled the animal to walk over it. The beds which
they could not carry away, they ripped open, shaking out the feathers and taking the ticks with them.
They also took all the clothing.  One young Indian,
attracted by the brilliancy of a pair of inlaid buckles
on the shoes of the aged grandmother seated in the
corner, rudely snatched them from her feet, tore off
226 
OF A~IERICAN WO02IEN.
tie buckles, and flung the shoes in her face. Another took her shawl from her neck, threatening to
kill her  if resistance  were  offered.   The  eldest
daughter, seeing a young savage carrying off a basket containing a hat and cap her father had brought
her from Philadelphia, and which she highly prized,
followed him, snatched her basket, and after a
struggle succeeded in pushing him down. She then
fled to a pile of hemp and  hid herself, throwing
the basket into it as far as she could.   The other
Indians gathered round, and as the young one rose
clapped their hands, shouting'Brave girl!' while
he skulked away to escape their derision. During
the struggle 3trs. Van Alstine had called to her
daughter to give up the contest; but she insisted
that her basket should not be taken. Jiaving gone
through the house, the intruders went up to the
kitchen chamber, where a quantity of cream in large
jars had been brought from the dairy, and thlrew
the jars down stairs, covering the  floor with their
contents. They then broke the window glass throughout the house, and unsatisfied with the plunder they
had collected, bribed a man servant by the promise
of his clothes and a portion of the booty to show
them where some articles had been hastily secreted.
Mrs. Van Alstine had just finished cutting out winter clothing for her family- which consisted of her
mother-in-law, her husband and twelve children, with
two black servants- and had stowed it away in
barrels. The servant treacherously disclosed the hiding place, and the clothing was soon added to the
227 
NOBLE DEEDS
rest of the booty.  M-rs. Van Alstine reproached the
man for his perfidy, which she assured him would be
punished, not rewarded by the savages, and her words
were verified; for after they had forced him to assist
in securing their plunder, they bound him and put
him in one of their wagons, telling him his treachery
to the palefaces deserved no better treatment.
The provisions having been carried away, the family
subsisted on corn, which they pounded and made
into cakes.   They felt much  the want of clothing,
and Mrs. Yan Alstine gathered the silk of milkweed, of which, mixed with flax, she spun and wove
garments. The inclement season was now approaching, and they suffered severely from the want of
window glass, as well as their bedding, woolen
clothes, and the various articles, including cooking
utensils, taken from them. Mrs. Van Alstine's most
arduous labors could do little towards providing for
so many destitute persons; their neighbors were in
ne  condition to help them,  the roads were almost
impassable, besides being infested by Indians, and
their finest horses had been taken.   In this deplorable situation, she proposed to her husband to join
with others who had been robbed in like manner,
and make an attempt to recover their property from
the Indian castle, eighteen or twenty miles distant,
where it had been carried.   But the idea of such
an enterprise against an enemy superior in numnbers and well prepared for defence, was soon abandoned. As the cold became more intolerable and
the necessity for doing something more uLrgent,
228 
OF AMiERIOAN WOMEN.
Mrs. Van Alstine, unable to witness longer the sufferings of those dependent on her, resolved to venture herself on the expedition. Iher husband and
children endeavored to dissuade her, but firm for
their sake, she left home, accompanied by her son,
about sixteen years of age. The snow was deep
and the roads in a wretched condition, yet she persevered through all difficulties, and by good fortune
arrived at the castle at a time when the Indians
were all absent on a hunting excursion, the women
and children only being left at home.   She went
to the principal house, where she supposed the
most valuable articles must have been deposited,
and on entering, was met by the old squaw who
had the superintendence, who demanded what she
wanted. She asked for food; the squaw hesitated;
b)ut on her visitor saying she had never turned an
Indian away hungry, sullenly commenced  preparations for a meal.  The matron saw her bright copper tea-kettle, with other cooking utensils, brought
forth for use. While the squaw was gone for
water, she began a search for her property, and
finding several articles gave them to her son to
put into the sleigh.  Whenl the squaw, returning
asked by  whose order she was taking those things,
Mtrs. Van Alstine replied, that they belonged to her;
and seeing that the woman was not disposed to give
them  up peaceably, took from  her pocket-book a
poper, and handed it to the squaw, who she knew
could not read.  The woman asked whose name was
Axed to the supposed order, and being told it was
229 
NOBLE DEEDS
that of' Yankee Peter'- a man who had great
influence among the savages, dared not refuse submission. By this stratagem Mrs. Van Alstine secured, without opposition, all the articles she could
find belonging to her, and put them into the sleigh.
She then asked where the horses were kept. The
squaw refused to show her, but she went to the sta
ble, and there found those belonging to her husband,
in fine order-for the savages were careful of their
best horses. The animals recognised their mistress,
and greeted her by a simultaneous neighing. She
bade her son cut the halters, and finding themselves at liberty they bounded off and went homeward at full speed. The mother and son now drove
back as fast as possible, for she knew their fate
would be sealed if the Indians should return. They
reached home late in the evening, and passed a
sleepless night, dreading instant pursuit and a night
attack from the irritated savages.   Soon after daylight the alarm was given that the Indians were
within view, and coming towards the house, painted
and in their war  costume, and armed with tomahawks and rifles. Mr. Van Alstine saw no course
to escape their vengeance but to give up v hatever they wished to take back; but his intrepid
wife was determined on an effort, at least, to retain her property. As they came near she begged  her husband  not to  show himself-for she
knew they would immediately fall upon him -but to
leave the matter in her hands. The intruders took
their course first to the stable, and bidding all the
230 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
rest remain within doors, the matron went out alone,
followed to the door by her family, weeping and
entreating her not to expose herself.   Going to the
stable she enquired in the Indian language what
the men wanted.  The reply was'our horses.'  She
said boldly-'They are ours; you came and took
them without right; they are ours, and we mean
to keep them.' The chief now came forward threateningly, and approached the door.:Mrs. Van A1stine placed herself against it, telling him she would
not give up the animals they had raised and were
attached to.  He succeeded in pulling her from the
door, and drew out the plug that fastened it, which
she snatched from his hand, pushing him away.
He then stepped back and presented his rifle, threatening to shoot her if she did not move; but she
kept her position, opening her ileckhandkerchief and
bidding him shoot if he dared. It might be that
tile Indian feared punishment friom  his allies for
any such act of violence, or that he was moved
with admiration of her intrepidity; he hesitated,
looked at her for a moment, and then slowly dropped his gun, uttering in his native language expressions implying his conviction that the evil one
must help her, and saying to his companions that
she was a brave woman and they would not molest
her. Giving a shout, by way of expressing their
approbation, they departed from the premises. On
their way they called at the house of Col. Frey, and
related their adventure, saying that the white woman's courage had saved her and her property, and
231 
NOBLE DEEDS
were there fifty such brave women as the wife of
'Big Tree,' the Indians would never have troubled
the inhabitants of the MIohawk valley.  She experienced afterwards the good effects of the impression
made at this time.
"It was not long after this occurrence that several Indians came upon some children left in the field
while the men went to dinner, and took them prisoners, tomahawking a young man who rushed from
an adjoining field to their assistance. Two of these
-six  and eight  years of age-were  Mrs. Van
Alstine's children. The savages passed on towards
the Susquehanna, plundering and destroying as they
went. They were three weeks upon the journey,
and the poor little captives suffered much from
hunger and exposure to the night air, being in a
deplorable condition by the time they returned to
Canada.   On  their  arrival, according  to custom,
each prisoner was required to run the gauntlet,
two Indian boys being stationed on either side,
armed  with  clubs  and sticks to beat him as he
ran. The eldest was cruelly bruised, and when
the younger, pale and exhausted, was led forward,
a squaw of the tribe, taking pity on the helpless
child, said she would go in his place, or if that
could not be permitted, would carry him. She
accordingly took him in her arms, and wrapping
her blanket around him, got through with some
severe blows. The children were then washed and
clothed  by order of  the  chief, and  supper  was
given them.  Their uncle-then also a prisoner
232 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
heard of the arrival of children from the Mohawk,
and was permitted to visit them. The little creatures were sleeping soundly when aroused by a
familiar  voice,  and  joyfully  exclaiming,'U ncle
Quackinbush!' were clasped in his arms. In the
following spring the captives were ransomed, and
returned home in fine spirits." *
Prior  to the  commencement of hostilities, Mr.
Van Alstine had purchased a tract of land on
the Susquehanna, eighteen miles below Cooperstown; and thither removed in 1785. There as at
her former home, Mirs. Van Alstine had an opportunity to exhibit the heroic qualities of her nature.
We subjoin two anecdotes illustrative of foiest life
in the midst of savages.
"On  one  occasion  an  Indian whom  MrI. Van
Alstine had offended, came to his house with the
intention of revenging  himself.   IIe was  not at
home, and the men were out at work, but his wife
and family were within, when the intruder entered.
Mrs. Van Alstine saw his purpose in his countenance.
When she inquired his business, he pointed to his
rifle, saying, he meant'to show Big Tree which was
the best man.' She well knew that if her husband
presented himself he would probably fall a victim
unless she could reconcile the difficulty. With this
view she commenced a conversation upon subjects
in which she knew the savage would take an interest, and admiring his dress, asked permission
' Women of the Revolution.
233 
NOBLE DEEDS
to examine his rifle, which, after praising, she set
down, and while managing to fix his attention on
something else poured water into the barrel. She
then gave him back the weapon, and assuming a
more earnest manner, spoke to him of the Good
Spirit, his kindness to men, and their duty to be
kind to each other. By her admirable tact she 6so
far succeeded in pacifying him, that when her husband returned he was ready to extend to him the
hand of reconciliation and fellowship. He partook
of some refreshment, and before leaving informed
them that one of their neighbors had lent him the
rifle for his deadly purpose. They had for some
time suspected this neighbor, who had coveted a
piece of land, of unkind feelings towards them because he could not obtain it, yet could scarcely
believe him so depraved. The Indian, to confirm
his story, offered to accompany Mrs. Van Alstine
to the man's house, and although it was evening
she went with him, made him repeat what he had
said, and so convinced her neighbor of the wickedness of his conduct, that he was ever afterwards
one of their best friends. Thus by her prudence
and address she preserved, in all probability, the
lives of her husband and family; for she learned
afterwards that a number of savages had been con
cealed near, to rush upon them in case of danger to
their companion.
"At another time a young Indian came in and
asked the loan of a drawing knife. As soon as he
had it in his hand he walked up to the table, on
234 
OF AMEFEICA-N WOMP.2
which there was a loaf of bread, and unceremoniously cut several slices from it. One of MIrs. Van
Alstine's sons had a deerskin in his hand, and
indignantly struck the savage with it. Ile turned
and darted out of the door, giving a loud whoop as
he fled. The mother just then came in, and hearing what had passed expressed her sorrow and fears
that there would be trouble, for she knew the Indian
character too well to suppose they would allow the
matter to rest.  Her apprehensions were soon realized
by the approach of a party of savages, headed by
the brother of the youth who had been struck.
HIe entered alone, and inquired for the boy who
had given the blow. Mr. Van Alstine, starting up
in surprise, asked impatiently,'What the devilish
Indian  wanted?'  The  savage,  understanding  the
expression applied to his appearance to be anything
but complimentary, uttered a sharp cry, and raising
his rifle, aimed at Van Alstine's breast. HIis wife
sprang forward in time to throw up the weapon,
the contents of which were discharged into the wall,
and pushing out the Indian, who stood just at the
entrance, she quickly closed the door. Hie was
muich enraged, but she at length succeeded in persuading him to listen to a calm account of the
matter, and asked why the quarrel of two lads
should break their friendship. She finally invited
him to come in and settle -the difficulty in an amicable way. To his objection that they had no rum,
she answered-'But  we have tea;' and at length
the party was called in, and a speech made by the
235 
NOBLE DEEDS
leader in favor of the'white squaw,' after which
the tea was passed round. The Indian then took
the grounds, and emptying them into a hole made
in the ashes, declared that the enmity was buried
forever. After this, whenever the family was molested, the ready tact of Mrs. Van Alstine, and her
acquaintance with Indian nature, enabled her to prevent any serious difficulty. They had few advantages
for religious worship, but whenever the weather would
permit, the neighbors assembled at Van Alstine's
house to hear the word preached. Hiis wife, by her
influence over the Indians, persuaded many of them
to attend, and would interpret to them what was
said by the minister. Often their rude hearts were
touched, and they would weep bitterly while she
went over the affecting narrative of our Redeemer's
life and death, and explained the truths of the Gospel. Much good did she in this way, and in after
years many a savage converted to Christianity blessed
her as his benefactress."
236 
HEROIC CONDUCT AT MONMOUTH.
Proud were they by such to stand,
In hammock, fort or glen;
To load the sure old rifle To run the leaden ball -
To watch a battling husband's place,
And fill it should he fall.
W. D. GALLAGHER.
During the battle of Monmouth, a gunner named
Pitcher was killed; and when the call was made for
some one to take the place of her fallen husband,
his wife, who had followed him to the camp, and
thence to the field of conflict, unhesitatingly stepped
forward, and offered her services. The gun was so
well managed as to draw the attention of General
Washington to the circumstance, and to call forth an
expression of his admiration of her bravery and her
fidelity to her country. To show his appreciation of
her virtues and her highly valuable services, he conferred on her a lieutenant's commission. She afterwards went by the name of Captain Lolly.
The poet Glover tells us, in his Leonidas, that
Xerxes boasted
"His ablest, bravest counselor and chief
In Artemisia, Caria's matchless queen;"
and Herodotus also very justly eulogizes the same 
NOBLE DEEDS
character. Yet Artemisia was scarcely more serviceable to Xerxes in the battle of Salamis, than "Captain Molly"  to Washington  in the battle of Monmouth.   One  served  in  a Grecian expedition, to
gratify her great spirit, vigor of mind and love of
glory; the other fought, partly, it may be, to revenge
the death of her husband, but more, doubtless, for
the love she bore for an injured country, "bleeding
at every vein." One was rewarded with a complete
suit of Grecian armor; the other with a lieutenant's
commission, and both for their bravery. If the queen
of Caria is deserving of praise for her martial valor,
the name of the heroic wife of the gunner, should be
woven with hers in a fadeless wreath of song.
238 
COURAGE OF A COUNTRY GIRL.
Honor and shame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honor lies.
Pore
In December, 1'77, while Washington was at
Valley Forge and the enemy was in Philadelphia,
Major Tallmadge was stationed between the two
places with a detachment of cavalry, to make observations and to limit the range of British foragers.
On one occasion, while performing this duty, he was
informed that a country girl had gone into Philadelphia-perhaps- by  Washington's  instigation
ostensibly to sell eggs, but really and especially to
obtain information respecting the enemy; and curiosity led him to move his detachment to Germantown.
There the main body halted while he advanced with
a small party towards the British lines. Dismounting
at a tavern in plain sight of their outposts, he soon
saw a young girl corning out of the city. Hie watched
her till she came up to the tavern; made himself
known to her, and was about to receive some valuable
intelligence, when he was informed that the British
ligt,t horse were advancing. Stepping to the door he
sawv them in full pursuit of his patroles. lie hastily 
NOBLE DEEDS
mounted, but before he had started his charger, the
girl was at his side begging for protection. Quick as
thought, he ordered her to mount behind him. She
obeyed, and in that way rode to Germantown, a distance of three miles. During the whole ride, writes
the 3Tajor in his Journal, where we find these details,
"although there was considerable firing of pistotb,
and not a little wheeling and charging, she remained
unmoved, and never once complained of fear."
11,.. l 
THE LEDYARDS AT FOPT GRISWOLD
Ah never shall the land forget
How gushed the life-blood of the brave;
Gushed warm with hope and courage yet,
Upon the soil they fought to save.
BRYANT
How few like thee enquire the wretched out,
And court the offices of soft humanity.
Rower
"It will be remembered that at the time of the
burning of New London, Connecticut, a detachment
of the army of the traitor Arnold, under whose personal direction that feat of vandalism was performed,
was directed to attack and carry Fort Griiswold a'
Groton, on the opposite side of the river. It was
then under the command of Colonel Ledyard, a brave
and meritorious officer, whose memory will live ii,
the warm affections of his country, as that of one of
the early martyrs to her liberty, whilst the granite
pile which now lifts its summit above the spot where
he was sacrificed, shall long remain to bear the record
of his death.  The fort was, in truth, little more than
an embankment of earth, thrown up as a breast-work
for the handful of troops it surrounded, and with a
strong  log-house  in the center.  The  force whichl
attacked it was altogether superior to that of its
16 
NOBLE DEEDS
-defenders, even when the difference in their position
is taken into view. The case was so hopeless, that
the slightest share of prudence would have suggested
retreat.  But the chafed and gallant spirits of Ledyard and his men would not permit them to retire
before a marauding enemy, however powerful, without
making at least one effort to beat him back. With a
boldness and heroism scarcely ever surpassed, they
stood their ground, until overwhelming numbers of
the enemy were in the fort, and engaged hand to
hand with its heroic defenders.. Fierce and terrible,
for a few moments, was the encounter, and it was not
until the last ray of hope was gone, and nothing but
a useless effusion of blood would have resulted from
further resistance, that they at length yielded. In
doing so, however, they were inclined to believe that
the gallantry displayed by their little band, would at
least shelter them from indignity.   Ledyard  had
turned the handle of his sword to the commander of
the assailants, and in answer to the question,'who
commands this fort,' replied,'I did, sir, but you do
now,' when he was pierced to the heart with his own
weapon, and by the dastardly hand in which he had
just placed it. An almost indiscriminate butchery
now commenced; many falling instantly dead and
some being desperately wounded.  The fort was then
entirely at the disposal of the enemy. The barbarity,
however, did not end there. When it was found that
several of the prisoners Were still alive, the British
soldiers piled their mangled bodies in an old cart and
started it down the steep and rugged hill, towards the
242 
OF A3EItICAN WOMEN.
river, in order that they might be there drowned.
But stumps and stones obstructed the passage of the
cart; and when the enemy had retreated- for the
aroused inhabitants of that region soon compelled
them to the step -the friends of the wounded came
to their aid and thus several lives were saved."*
One of the " ministering angels" who came the next
morning to the aid of the thirty-five wounded men,
who lay all night freezing in their own blood, was
Miss Mary Ledyard, a near relative of the Colonel.
"She brought warm chocolate, wine, and other re
freshments, and while Dr. Downer of Preston was
dressing their wounds, she went from one to another,
administering her cordials, and breathing into their
ears gentle words of sympathy and erc3)uragement.
In these labors of kindness she was assisted by ano
ther relative of the lamented Colonel Ledyard-Mrs.
John Ledyard -who had also brought her household
stores to refresh the sufferers, and lavished on them
the most soothing personal attentions. The soldiers
who recovered from their wounds, were accustomed,
to the day of their death, to speak of these ladies in
terms of fervent gratitude and praise."t
* Democratic Renview, voL 20, pp. 93-4.
243
t MM. Ellet. 
SENECA HEROINES.
They fought like brave men, long and well.
HALLECK.
In the celebrated battle between the French and
Indians, which occurred near Victor, in the western
part of New York, in 1687, five Seneca women
took an  active part in the bloody conflict.  Mr.
Hosmer, the poet, alludes to the circumstance in
one of his celebrated "Lectures on the Iroquois,"
from the manuscript of which we have been permitted to copy, as follows:
"The memory of illustrious women who have
watched in defence of altar and hearth, the deeds
of the sterner sex, has been enshrined in song, and
honored by the Historic Muse. Joan of Arc, and
the dark-eyed maid of Saragossa in all coming
time will be chivalric watch-words of France and
Spain, but not less worthy of record, and poetic
embalmment, were the,ve* devoted heroines who
followed their red lords to the battle-field near
ancient Ganagarro, and fought with unflinching re
* Vide Doc. Hiis, VoL 1. p. 256. 
OF A MERICAN WOMEN.
solution by their sides. Children of such wives
could not be otherwise than valiant. Bring back
your shield, or be brought upon it, was the Spartan
mother's stern injunction to her son: but roused
to a higher pitch of courage, the wild daughters of
the Genesee stood in the perilous pass, and in the
defence of their forest homes, turned not back from
the spear, "the thunder of the captains, and the
shouting."
245 
MARTIIA BRATTON.
Not to the ensanguined field of death alone
Is valor limited.
SMOLLET
Our country first, their glory and their pride.
J. T. FIELDS
Martha Bratton was the wife of William Bratton
a native of Pennsylvania. She was born in Rowan
county, North Carolina. They settled near York
ville, in South Carolina, where she died in 1816.
Two or three anecdotes will suffice to illustrate her
character.
In June, 1780, a party of British and tory marauders, were attacked by a company of whigs
under Colonel Bratton, at Mobley Meeting Hiouse,
in Fairfield district, South Carolina, and defeated.
Advertised of this disaster, Colonel Turnbull, commander of a detachment of British troops at Rocky
Mount, Chester county, ordered Captain Hiuck to
proceed with his cavalry to the frontier of the
province, collecting all the royal army on his march,
and if possible to subdue the rebels. An engage
ment soon took place between Captain Huck and Col 
OF AMLERICAN WOMEN.'2
onel Bratton; but before the battle, the Colonel's wife
lihl an opportunity to display her character in a
truly heroic manner.  The evening preceding, Iluck
arrived at the Colonlel's house, and entering in an
iiucivil manner, demanded of his wife where  her
husband was.  She boldly replied "He is in Sumter's army!" Hluck  then  tried  to  persuade  her
to  induce  her husband  to join the  British, and
even went so far as to promise him a commission,
in case he would do so. But neither persuasion
nor argument availed ally thing. With the firmness
of a true patriot, she assured him  that she would
rather see himn- faithfil to his country - perish in
Sumter's army, than clothed with any power or
graced with any honor royalty could bestow!  At
this point, a soldier, exasperated at her bold and
fearless manner, seized a reaping hook that hung
in the piazza and threatened to kill her if she did
not give particular and fill information in regard to
her husband.  But  with  the weapon  still at her
throat, she promptly refused; and, but for the interference of the officer second in covnmand, she would
have lost her life.
Huck now ordered her to prepare supper for
himself and the whole band.  With this request she
complied, and then retired to an upper  apartment
with her children.   Supper over, Iluck posted his
sentinels along the road and went with his officers
to another house, half a mile off, to pass the night.
Convinced that the royalists would seek revenge
for their late defeat at Mobley's Meeting House,
247 
NOBLE DEEDS
and naturally  fearing  that his own family might
be among  the victims, Colonel  Bratton  had  that
day marched from Mecklenburg county, NXorth Carolinra, with seventy-five men.   Late in the evening
hlie drew near his house, and learning that the enemy
were there, and ascertaining their number, hlie made
speedy  preparations  for  an  attack.    The  guard
of the royalists was neglected, and he found no
trouble  in  reconnoitering  the  encampment.   All
things ready, the attack was made before IIuck
had finished his morning nap.   ie awoke only to
attempt to rally his men and then lie down again
to sleep for ever!  The tories seeing their leader
fall, fled, or made the attempt. Some did escape,
others  were  killed, others  taken  prisoners.   The
firing ceased about day light, when Mrs. Bratton
made her appearance. She received the wounded on
both sides, and showed them impartial attention,
setting herself to work immediately, dressing their
wounds and trying to relieve their pains. She who
was so brave in the hour of danger, was no less
hlumane in a time of suffering. *
Prior to the falt of Charleston at a period when
* The following toast was drunk at Brattonsville, York district, on
the twelfth of July, 1839, at a celebration of Huck's Defeat.
"The memory of Mrs. Martha Bratton.- In the hands of an infuriated
monster, with the instrument of death around her neck, she nobly
refused to betray her husband; in the hour of victory she remembered
mercy, and as a guardian angel, interposed in behalf of her inhuman
enemies.  Throughout the  Revolution she encouraged  the  whigs to
fight on to the last; to hope on to the end.  Honor and gratitude
to the woman and heroine, who proved herself so faithful a wife
-so firm a friend to liberty I"
248 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
ammunition  was  very scarce,  Governor  Rutledge
intrusted to her  a small stock of powder.   This
fact some tory ascertained, and communicated to
the British at a station not far off. A detachment
was forthwith sent out to secure the treasure, of
which movement Mrs. Bratton received early intimation. Resolving that the red coats should not
have the prize, she laid a train of powder from
the depot to the spot she chose to occupy; and
when they came in sight, she blew it up.  "Who
has dared to do this atrocious act? Speak quickly,
that they may meet the punishment they deserve,"
was the demand of the officer in command. " Know
then,'twas 1," was  the dauntless  reply of Mrs.
Bratton, "and let the consequences be what they
will," she added, "I glory in having frustrated the
mischief contemplated by the merciless enemies of
my country."
24.0 
A POOR WOMAN'S OFFERING.
The world is but a word;
Were it all yours, to give it in a breat
How quickly were it gone!
SHAKSPEARE.
the following anecdote was related, a few years
ago, by the Rev. W. S. Plumer, while addressing
the Virginia Baptist Education Society. We regret
that he did not give the name of the good woman
who possessed such commendable zeal for the missionary cause.
"A poor woman had attended a missionary meeting a few years since. Her heart was moved with
pity. She looked around on her house and furniture
to see what she could spare for the mission. She
could think of nothing that would be of any use.
At length she thought of her five children, three
daughters and two sons. She entered her closet, and
consecrated them to the mission. Two of her daughters are now in heathen lands, and the other is preparing to go. Of her sons, one is on his way to
India, and the other is preparing for the ministry,
and inquiring on the subject of a missionary life." 
THIE MOTHER OF PRESIDENT JACKSON.
How often has the thought
Of my mourn'd mother brought
Peace to my troubled spirit, and new power
The tempter to repel.
Mother, thou knowest well
That thou has bless'd me since my natal hour.
PIERPONT.
The mother of General Jackson had three childran.  Their names were JTugh, Robert and Andrevw.
The last was the youngest and lost his father when
an infant.  Like the mother of Washingcton, she was
a very pious woman, and strove to glorify God as
much  in the rearing of her chl-ildren as in the performance of any other duty. She taught Andrew the
leading doctrines of the Bible, in the form of question and answer, fiom tlje Westministercatechism; and
those lessons he never forgot. In conversation with
him some years since, says a writer, "General Jackson spoke of his mother in a manner that convinced
me that she never ceased to exert a secret power
over Trim, until his heart was brought into reconciliaion sithl God."  This clange, however, he did not
experience till very late in life-after he had retired
fi'orl t]ie Presidenyev.   ie united with the Presby 
NOBLE DEEDS
terian church near the close of the year 1839, then
in his seventy-third year.   Just before  his death,
which occurred in June, 1845, he said to a clergyman, "My lamp of life is nearly out, and the last
glimmer is come. I am ready to depart when called.
The Bible is true....          Upon  that sacred volume I rest my hope of eternal salvation, through the
merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ."
If departed spirits, the saintly and ascended, are
permitted to look from their high habitation, upon
the scenes of earth, with what holy transport must
the mother of Andrew Jackson have beheld the
death-bed triumph of her son. The lad whom she
early sent to an academy at the Waxhaw meetinghouse, hoping to fit him for the ministry, had become
a man, and led the hosts of the land through many a
scene of conflict and on to a glorious and decisive
victory; had filled the highest office in the world,
and was now an old man, able, in his last earthly
hour, by thle grace of God attending her early, pious
instruction, to challenge death for his sting and to
shout "victory" over his opening grave.
252 
TIE YOUNG HIEROINE OF FORT HENRY.
Judge me not ungeitle,
Of manner's rude, and iins)Ient of speech,
If, when the public safety is in question,
My zeal flows warm and eager from my tongue.
ROWE'S JANE SHORE.
The siege of Fort IHenry, at the mouth of Wheeling creek, in Ohio county,.Virginia, occurred in
September, 1777. Of the historical fact most people
are aware; yet but few, comparatively, knew how
much the little band in the garrison, who held out
against thirty or forty times their number of savage
assailants, were indebted, for their success, to the
courage and self-devotion of a single female.
The Indians kept up a brisk firing from about
sunrise till past noon, when they ceased and retired
a short distance to the foot of a hill.   During the
forenoon the little company in the fort had not been
idle. Among their number were a few sharp shooters,
who had burnt most of the powder on hand to the
best advantage.   Almost  every  charge  had taken
effect; and probably the savages began to see that
they were losing numbers at fearful odds, and had
doubtless retired for consultation. But they had less 
NOBI,E DEEDS
occasion for anxiety, just at that time, than the men,
women and children in the garrison. As already
hinted, the stock of powder was nearly exhausted.
There was a keg in a house ten or twelve rods
from the gate of the fort, and as soon as the hos tilities of the Indians were suspended, the question
arose, who shall attempt to seize this prize? Strange
to say, every soldier proffered his services, and there
was an ardent contention among them for the honor.
In the weak state of the garrison, Colonel Shepard,
the commander, deemed it advisable that only one
person should be spared; and in the m1idst of the confusion, before any one could be designated, a girl
named  Elizabeth  Zane,*  interrupted  the debate,
saying that her life  vas not so important, at that
time, as any one of the soldier's, and claiming the
privilege of performing the contested service.   The
Colonel would not, at first, listen to her proposal;
but she was so resolute, so persevering in her plea,
and her argument was  so powerful, that he finally
saffeeed the gate to be opened, and she passed out.
TLhe Indians saw  her before she reached her brothei's  house, where the keg was deposited;  but, for
some unknown cause, they did not molest her, until
she reappeared with the article under her arm.
Probably divining the nature of her burden, they
discharged a volley as she was running towards the
* We  learn, from  Withers, that Miss Zane  has  since  had  two
husbands.
The name of the second wss Clarke, a resident of Ohio.  She  was
living, not long since, near St. Clairsville.
254 
(OF AMIERICAN WOMIEN.
gate; but the whizzing balls only gave agility to
her feet, and herself and the prize were quickly safe
within the gate.  The result was that the soldiers
inspired with enthusiasm by this heroic adventures
fought with renewed courage, and, before the keg
of powder was exhausted, the enemy raised the siege
255 
A BENEVOLENT WIDOW
Charity ever
Finds in the act reward.
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER.
Several years ago, a poor widow had placed a smo ked herring, -the last morsel of food she had in the
house-on the table for herself and children, when a
stranger entered and solicited food, saying that he had
had nothing to eat for twenty-four hours. The widow
unhesitating,ly offered to share the herring with him,
remarking, at the same time, "We shall not be forsaken, or suffer deeper for an act of charity."
As the stranger drew near the table and saw the
scantiness of the fare, he asked, "And is this all your
store?  Do you offer a share to one you do not know?
Then I never saw charity before.  But, madam, do
you not wrong your children by giving a part of your
morsel to a stranger?"  "Ah," said she, with tears in
her eyes, "I have a boy, a darling son, somewhere on
the face of the wide world, unless Heaven has taken
lhim away;  and I only act towards you as I would
that others should act towards him. God, who sent
manna from heaven, can provide for us as he did
,)r Israel; and how should I this night offend him,  
I          II(
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I                                                                    ii
'I                                  "4/            A           /4;!
~ ~
. I 
OF AMERICAN WOM[EN.
if my son should be a wanderer, destitute as you,
and he should have provided for him a home, even
as poor as this, were I to turn you unrelieved away!"
The stranger whom she thus addressed, was the long
absent son to whom she referred; and when she stopped speaking, he sprang from his feet, clasped her
iii his arms, and exclaimed, " God, indeed, has provided just such a home for your wandering son,,and
has qive,n hoi  wealth to r      eward  the good(ness of
his benefactress. My mother! 0, my mother! "*
Abride  from Cyclopedia of Moral and Religious Anecdotes
17
257 
AN'N iE FITZIHIUGI.
Who shall find a valiant woman?
The price of her is as things brought from afar.
PROVEB.
'T is the last
Duty that I can pay to my dear lord.
FLETCHER.
The wife of Colonel William Fitzhugh, of Maryland, while he was absent at one time during the
Revolution, was surprised by the news that a party
of British soldiers was approaching her house.
She instantly collected her slaves; furnished them
with such weapons of defence as were at hand;
took a quantity of cartridges in her apron, and,
herself forming the van, urged her sable subalterns
on to meet the foe. Not looking for resistance, the
advancing party, on beholding the amazon with her
sooty invincibles, hastily turned on their heels and
fled.
On a subsequent occasion, a detachment of soldiers
marched at midnight to Colonel Fitzhliugh's house,
which was half a mile from the shore, and near the
mouth of the Patuxent river, and knocked at the  
_ ~ffiI( _____ -F
~~;~\
171,
I
i 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
door. The Colonel demanding who was there, and
receiving for reply that the visitants were "'friends
to King George," told the unwelcome intruders that
he was blind and unable to wait upon them, but
that his wife would admit them forthwith.  Lighting
a candle and merely putting on her slippers, she
descended,  awoke  her sons, put  pistols in  their
hands, and, pointing to the back door, told them
to flee.  She then let the soldiers in at the front
door.  They inquired for Colonel Fitzhugh, and said
he must come down stairs at once  and  go  as a
prisoner to New York. She accordingly dressed her
husband -forgetting meanwhile, to do as much for
herself-and when he had descended, he assured
the soldiers that his blindness, and the infirmities
of age unfitted him to take care of himself, and
that it could Nardly be desirable for them to take
in charge so decrepit and inoffensive a person.
They thought otherwise; and his wife, seeing he
must go, took his arm and said she would go too.
The officer told her she would be exposed and
must suffer, but she persisted in accompanying him,
saying that he could not take care of himself, nor,
if he could, would she permit a separation.
It was  a cold and  rainy night,  and  with  the
mere protection of a cloak, which the officer took
down and threw over her shoulders before leaving
the house, she sallied forth with the party. While
on the way to their boat, the report of a gun was
heard, which the soldiers supposed was the signal
of a rebel gathering.   They hastened to the boat,
259 
NOBLE DEEDS
where  a parole was  written out  with trembling
hand, and placed in the old gentleman's possession.
Without even a benediction, he was left on shore
with his faithful and fearless companion, who thought
but little of her wet feet as she stood and saw the
cowardly detachment of British soldiers push off
and row away with all their might for safety.
260
.1 
ESTHER GASTON.
True fortitude is seen in great exploits
That justice warrants and that wisdom guides
ADDISON.
The good alone are great
BEATTIE.
On the morning of July thirtieth, 1770, Esther
Gaston, afterwards the wife of Alexander Walker,
hearing the firing at the battle of Rocky Mount, took
with her a sister-in-law, and, well mounted, pushed on
towards the scene of conflict. They soon met two or
three cowardly men, hastening from the field of action. Esther hailed and rebuked then, and finding
entreaties would not cause them to retrace their steps,
she seized the gun from the hands of one of them,
exclaiming, "Give  s your guns, then, and we will
stand in your places." The cowards, abashed, now
wheeled, and, in company with the females, hurried
on to face the cannon's mouth.
While the strife was still raging, Esther and her
companion busied themselves in dressing the wound —
ed and quenching the thirst of the dying. Even
their helpless enemies shared in their humane services. 
N2OBLE DEEDS
During the battle of Hanging Rock, which occur
red the next week, Esther might be seen at Waxhaw
church, which was converted for the time into a hospital, administering to the wants of the wounded.
As kind as patriotic, with her hands filled with
soothing cordials, she was seen, through all her life,
knocking at the door of suffering humanity.
262 
REMARKABLE PRESENCE OF MID AND
SELF-POSSESSION.
Were I the monarch of the earth,
And master of the swelling sea,
I would not estimate their worth,
Dear woman, half the price of thee.
Gao. P. MoRRis.
Mr. Ralph Izard, a true "liberty man," resided,
during the struggle for Independence, near Dorchester, in South Carolina. He was for awhile aid-decamp to the commander of the Light Troops, and
was  an especial object of British hatred.  On  one
occasion, while at home, he came very near falling
into the hands of the enemy. A number of British
soldiers surrounded his house, and on discovering
them he hid  himself  in the  clothes-press.   They
were confident he was in the house, and having
instituted a thorough but ineffectual search, threatened to burn the building, unless his wife would
point out his place of concealment.   She adroitly
evaded answering directly all queries respecting his
quarters. They next robbed his wardrobe; seized
all the better articles they could find in the house,
and even tried to force off her  finger-rings.  She 
NOBLE DEEDS
still remained composed and courageous, yet courteous and urbane, knowing that much, every thing,
in fact, depended on her self-control. Her calmness
and apparent unconcern led the marauders to conclude that they had been misled in supposing Mr.
Izard was in the house; and at length they departed.
He then sprang from his covert, and, rushing out
by a back door, crossed the Ashley river and notified the Americans on the opposite side, of the
state of things.
Meantime, the ruffians returned to the house, aud,
strange to say, went directly to the clothes-press.
Again disappointed, they retired; but they were
soon met by a body of cavalry, handsomely whipped,
and all the fine articles belonging to Mr. Izard's
wardrobe and house were restored.
2Ci4 
TIHE WIFE OF GOVERNOR GRISWOLD
Happy the man, and happy sure he was,
So wedded.
HURIDI
The residence of the first Governor of Conliecticut,
fas at Blackblall, near Long Island Sound.  While
British ships were lying at anchor in these waters on
a certain occasion, a party of marines in puirsuit of
his Excellency, presented themselves at the door.  It
being impossible for him to escape by flight, his affectionate and thoughtful wife secreted him in a large
new meat barrel or tierce- for although he was somewhat corpulent, he could not vie in physical rotundity
with the early and honored Knickerbocker magistrates. ie was cleverly packed away in the future
home of d)oomed porkers, just as the soldiers entered
and commenced their search. Not finding him readily, they asked his quick-witted wife one or two hard
questions, but received no very enlightening answer.
The Legislature had convened a day or two before
at Hartford, and she intimated that he was or ought
to be at the capital.  Unsuccessful in their searchl,
the soldiers took their boat and returned to the ship.
Before they had reached the latter, his unpacked
Honor was on a swift steed, galloping to Guberna
torial head-quarters. 
BOLD EXPLOIT OF A YOUNG GIRL.
Some god impels with courage not thy own.
PoPE's HomER.
Robert Gibbes was the owner of a splendid mansion on John's Island, a few miles from Charleston,
South Carolina, known, during the Revolution, as the
"Peaceful Retreat."  On his plantation the British
encamped on a certain occasion; and the American
authorities sent two galleys up the Stono river, on
which the mansion stood, to dislodge them. Strict
injunctions had been given to the men not to fire on
the house, but Mr. Gibbes not being aware of this
fact, when the firing commenced, thought it advisable
to take his family to some remote place for shelter.
They accordingly started in a cold and drizzly rain
and in a direction ranging with the fire of the American guns.  Shot struck the trees and cut the bushes
beside their path for some distance. When about a
mile from the mansion, and out of danger, reaching
the huts occupied by the negroes on the plantation,
AIrs. Gibbes, being chilled and exhausted, was obliged
to lie down. Hiere, when they supposed all were
safe, and began to rejoice over their fortunate escape,
to their great astonishment, they discovered that a
boy named Fenwick, a member of the family, had 
OF AMIERICAN WOMEN.
been left behind.*  It was still raining, was  veo',
dark, and imminent danger must attend an effort to
rescue the lad. And who would risk life in attemplting it?  The servants refused.  Mr. Gibbes was gouty
and feeble, and prudence forbade him to again venture out. At length, the oldest daughter of the family, Mary Ann, only thirteen years old, offers to go
alone.  She hastens off; reaches the house, still in
possession of the British; begs the sentinel to let her
enter; and though repeatedly repulsed, she doubles
the earnestness of her entreaties, and finally gains
admittance. She finds the child in the third story;
clasps him in her arms; hastens down stairs, and,
passing the sentry, flees with the shot whizzing past
her head; and herself and the child are soon with
the rest of the family.
* In addition to her own family, Mrs. Gibbes had the care of the
seven orphan children of Mrs. Fenwick, her sister-in-law, and two other
children.  It is not surprising, that, in the confusion of a sudden flight
from the house, one of the number should be left behitail
2 67 
SUSANNA WRIGHT.
Work for some good, be it ever so slowly;
Cherish some flower, be it ever so lowly;
Labor-all labor is noble and holy.
Mas. OSGOOD.
Susanna Wright removed to this country with her
parents from Warrington, in Great Britain, in the
year 1714. The family settled in Lancaster county,
Pennsylvania. Susanna was then about seventeen.
"She never married; but after the death of her
father, became the head of her own family, who
looked up to her for advice and direction as a parent,
for her heart was replete with every kind affection."
She was a remarkable economist of time, for
although she had the constant management of a large
family, and, at times, of a profitable establishment,
she mastered many of the sciences; was a good
French, Latin and Italian scholar; assisted neighbors
in the settlement of estates, and was frequently consulted as a physician.
"She took great delight in domestic manufacture,
and had constantly much of it produced in her family.
For many years she attended to the rearing of silk
worms, and with the silk, which she reeled and pre
I 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN..
pared herself, made many articles both of beauty
and utility, dying the silk of various colors with indigenous materials. She had at one time upwards of
sixty yards of excellent mantua returned to her from
Great Britain, where she had sent the raw silk to be
manufactured."
This industrious and pious Quakeress, who seems
to have possessed all the excellencies defined in Solomon's inventory of the virtuous woman, lived more
than four score years, an ornament to her sex and a
'blessing to the race.
"There was no need,
In those good times, of trim callisthenics,And there was less of gadding, and far more
Of home-bred, heart-felt comfort, rooted strong
In industry, and bearing such rare fruit
As wealth may never purchase."
269 
PATRIOTISM OF 1770.
In conduct, as in courage, you excel,
Still first to act what you advise so well.
POPE's HOMER.
In the early part of February, 1770, the women of
B)oston publicly pledged themselves to abstain from
the use of tea, " as a practical execution of the nonimportation agreement of their fathers, husbands and
brothers."   We  are credibly informed, writes the
editor of the Boston Gazette of February ninth, "that
upwards of one hundred ladies at the north part of
the town, have, of their own free will and accord.
come into and signed an agreement, not to drink any
tea till the Revenue Acts are passed." At that date
three hundred matrons had become members of the
league.
Three days after the above date, the young womer
followed the example of their mothers, multitudes
signing a document which read as follows:  "We, the
daughters of those patriots who have and do now
appear for the public interest, and, in that, principally
regard their posterity, -as such do with pleasure
engage with them in denying ourselves the drinking
of foreign tea, in hopes to frustrate a plan which 
OF AMERICAN WXOME'.
tends to deprive the whole community of all that is
valuable in life."
Multitudes of females in New York and Virginia,
and, if we mistake not, some in other states, made
similar movements; and it is easy to perceive, in the
tone of those early pledges of self-denial for honor,
liberty, country's sake, the infancy of that spirit which,
quickly reaching its manhood, planned schemes of
resistance to oppression on a more magnanimous
scale, and flagged not till a work was done which
filled half the world with admiration and the whole
with astonishment.
2 -i.' 
MRS. SPALDING OF GEORGIA.
Through  trials hard as these, how  oft
The tender sex, in fortitude serene.
ANN SEWARD.
Mrs. Spalding was the niece of General Lachlan
Mcintosh, daughter of Colonel William Mcintosh and
mother of Major Spalding, of Georgia.
In 1778, after Colonel Campbell took possession
of Savannah, Georgia, that section of the country was
infested with reckless marauders, and many families
fled to avoid their ruthlessness. Mr. Spalding retired with his wife and child to Florida; and twice
during the Revolution, she traversed "the two hlundred miles between Savannah and St. John's river,
in an open boat, with only black servants on board,
when the whole country was a desert, without a house
to shelter her and her infant son."
The part she bore in the dangers of the Revolution
and the anxieties to which she was necessarily subjected, so impaired her health that "many years afterwards it was deemed necessary that she should
try the climate of Europe. In January, 1800, she,
wvith her son and his wife, left Savannah in a British 
OF AMERICAN WOM'EN.
ship of twenty guns, with fifty men, built in all points
to resemble a sloop of war, without the appearance
of a cargo. When they had been out about fifteen
days, the captain sent one morning at daylight, to
request the presence of two of his gentlemen passengers on deck. A large ship, painted black and showing twelve guns on a side, was seen to windward,
lunning across their course. She was obviously a
French privateer. The captain announced that there
was no hope of out-sailing her, should their course
be altered; nor would there be hope in a conflict,
as those ships usually carried one hundred and fifty
men. Yet he judged that if no effort were made
to shun the privateer, the appearance of his ship
might deter from an attack. The gentlemen were
of the same opinion. Mr. Spalding, heart-sick at
thought of the perilous situation of his wife and mother, and unwilling to trust himself with an interview
till the crisis was over, requested the captain to go
below and make what preparation he could for their
security. After a few minutes' absence the captain
returned to describe a most touching scene. Mrs.
Spalding had placed her daughter-in4-law and the
other inmates of the cabin for safety in the two staterooms, filling the berths with the cots and bedding
from the outer cabin. She had then taken her station beside the scuttle, which led from the outer cabin
to the magazine, with two buckets of water. Ilaving
noticed that the two cabin boys were heedless, she had
determined herself to keep watch over the magazine.
She did so till the danger was past. The captain took
273 
NOBLE DEEDS
in his light sails, hoisted his boarding nettings, opened his ports, and stood on upon his course. The privateer waited till the ship was within a mile, then fired
a gun to windward, and stood on her way. This ruse
preserved the ship."*
* Mr ElleL
274 
COURAGEOUS ACT OF MRS. DILLARD.
Thy country, glorious, brave and fair,
Thine all of life -
Her name alone thy heart's depths stirred,
And filled thy soul with war-like pride.
SARA J. CLARKE.
The day before the battle at the Green Spring, in
the Spartanburg district, South Carolina, Colonel
Clarke, of the Georgia volunteers, with about two
hundred men, stopped at the house of Captain Dillard
and were cordially welcomed to a good supply of refreshments. In the evening of the same day, Colonel Ferguson and another officer named Dunlap, with
a party of tories, arrived at the same house and inquired of the mistress, if Colonel Clarke had been there,
to which question she gave a direct and honest answer. He then inquired in regard to the time of
Clarke's departure and the number of his men. She
could not guess their number, but said they had been
gone a long time. She was then ordered to get supper, which she did, though in a less hospitable spirit
than she had prepared the previous meal. While at
work, she overheard some of the conversation of the
officers, by which she learned that they were bent on 
NOBLE DEEDS
surprising Colonel Clarke, and would start for that
purpose when supper was dispatched.  As soon as the
food was on the table, Mrs. Dillard hurried out at the
back door, bridled a horse that stood in the stable,
and mounting without saddle, rode till nearly daylight before reaching the Green Spring where Clarke
had encamped, and where he was to be attacked by
Ferguson, at the break of day-or sooner, as she had
learned before starting.
She had just aroused the whigs and notified them
of their danger, when a detachment of two hundred
picked, mounted men, commanded by Dunlap, rushed
into the camp. They found their intended victims
ready for the charge; were quickly driven out of the
camp, and glad to escape by flight. Thus, fortunately
for the friends of freedom, ended this battle, which,
but for the daring of a single patriotic woman, would
doubtless have resulted in the annihilation of the little
band of Georgia volunteers.
2 73  
PHOEBE PIHILLIPS.
The secret pleasure of a generous act
Is the great mind's great bribe.
DRYDEN.
Phoebe Foxeroft, afterwards the wife of SamlueJ
Phillips, the joint founder, with his uncle, of the academy at Andover, Massachusetts, was a native of
Cambridge, in the same state. Reared beneath the
shades of "' Old Harvard" and being the daughter of
a man of wealth and high respectability, it is almost
needless to say that she was well educated and highly
refined. To mental attainments she added the finishing charm of female character, glowing piety. The
last forty years or more of her life were passed at Andover, where, after the death of her husband, she
assisted in founding the celebrated Theological seminary. She died in 1818.
It is said that she was accustomed, for years, to
make the health of every pupil in the academy a subject of personal interest. Iler attentions to their
wants were impartial and incalculably beneficial. To
those that came from remote towns, and were thus
deprived of parental oversight, she acted the part
of a faithful mother. 
NOBLE DEEDS
Affectionate, kind, generous, watchful, as a christian
guardian; she was unbending, self-sacrificing and
"zealous, yet modest," as a patriot. During, the seven
years' struggle for freedom, she frequently sat up till
midnight or past, preparing bandages and scraping
lint for the hospitals and making garments for the ragged soldiers.
An offender of justice was once passing her house
on his way to the whipping-post, when a boy, who observed him from her window, could not withhold a
tear. Hie tried to conceal his emotion, but Mrs. Phillips saw the pearl drop of pity, and while a kindred
drop fell from her own eyes, she said to him, with
much emphasis and as though laying down some golden maxim-" When you become a law maker, examine the subject of corporeal punishment, and see
if it is not unnatural, vindictive and productive of
much evil." She was very discriminating, and could
detect talent as well as tears; and addressed the lad
with a premonition that he was destined to become a
legislator-which was indeed the case. Elected to the
assembly of the state, with the sacred command of his
early and revered mentor impressed on his memory,
he early called the attention of that body to the subject of corporeal punishment; had the statute book
revised and tbe odious law, save in capital offences,
expunged, and the pleasure of announcing the fact to
the origirai suggestor of the movement.
278 
WORTIIY YMJ&MPLE OF A POOR WIDOW.
Howe'er it be, it seems to me
'Tis only noble to be good;
Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood.
TENNYSON.
The following article was communicated to the
Christian Watchman and Reflector, of Boston, for
January thirtieth, 1851. The facts are given without
coloring or embellishment. The subject of the article
has gone to the grave, but the influence of her exemplary life has not ceased to be felt. Hier
"Speaking dust
Has more of life than half its breathing mould&"
Some twenty years since, the writer became pastor
of a church in thle town of B. A few weeks after
my settlement, I called at the humble dwelling of a
poor widow, with whom I had already become somewhat acquainted. Having been apprised of the high
estimation in which she was held by the church of
which she was a member, for her cheerful and consistent piety, an interesting and profitable interview
was anticipated. I had been seated but a few moments when she placed in my hand one dollar, and 
NOBLE DEEDS
proceeded, by way of explanation, to make the fol
lowing statements, which I give as nearly as possi
ble in her own language:
" Before you came among us, our church and peo ple where in a very depressed and disheartened con dition. For two or three Sabbaths we had no reli gious services during the day. Ihow sad to be as
sheep without a shepherd, and to have the house of
God closed on his holy day! If the Lord would only
send us a pastor, I felt willing to do any thing in
my power to aid in sustaining him. But then the
thought occurred to me, What can you do, a poor
widow, with four small children to support, and your
house rent to pay?   It is quite as much  as you
can do to meet necessary expenses. For a moment
I was sad; but my mind still dwelt upon the sub ject, until finally this plan occurred to me:' God
has blessed you with excellent health, and you can
sit up and work between the hours of nine and
eleven or twelve o'clock at night; and what you
thus earn you can give for that object.' I was at
once relieved, and resolved before the Lord that,
if he would send us a pastor, I would immediately
commence my labors, and do what I could to aid
in sustaining and encouraging him. I felt that now
I could pray consistently, as I was willing to do
my duty. With a faith and fervor to which I had
before been a stranger, I besought the Lord speedily
to favor us with an under-shepherd; and soon you
came here to preach for us. I believed God sent
you; and although at first you had no idea of re
280 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
maining, 1 never doubted that you would become
our pastor. As soon as you had accepted the call of
the church, I began to work in accordance with
my vow, and that dollar is the result of my earning,
the last four weeks. And 0, you would rejoice
with me, could you know how much I have enjoyed
these silent hours of night, when nmy children around
me are wrapt in slumber, and all is as the stillness
of the grave. The Lord has been with me continually,
and I have had uninterrupted communion with him.
When God had given us a pastor, I felt I must pray
for a blessing to attend his labors among us; and,
often have I been so impressed with the importance
of a revival of religion, and the conversion of my
children, and the people of this place, that I have
been obliged to leave my work, and kneel down before my LIaker, and earnestly plead with him that
his Spirit may accomplish this work. Even after I
had retired to rest, I have sometimes been obliged
to arise and pray that be would save the souls of
this people. And, blessed be his holy name, he has
listened to prayer for this object also. When I
heard of the numbers who attended the religious
inquiry meeting, and the hopeful conversion of some
to God, I felt I could say,'This is the Lord, I have
waited for him;' and I believe he will do greater
things than these in our midst.  Thus has God blessed one of the most unworthy of all his creatures;
and I have often been led to sing, while I have
been laboring here, lowly as is my condition,
281 
NOBLE DEEDS
'I would not change my blest estate,
With all that earth calls rich or great;
And, while my faith can keep her hold,
I envy  not  the sinner's gold.'"
My attention had been absorbed with this interesting and affecting narrative; nor had  I any inclination to interrupt it with remarks of my own.
I now thought I could read the secret of the apparent success which had attended my labors in so
short a time. As soon as 1 could recover from my
emotions, I said to her, I am grateful for your prayers and this proffered donation; but, as my parish
affords me a competent support, I can on no account
feel at liberty to appropriate to my own private use
the money thus earned. No; you shall have the additional satisfaction, while you are toiling at these
unseasonable hours of night, of knowing that what
you place in my hands shall be sacredly devoted
to the cause of Christian benevolence, which I am
sure you ardently love. With this she expressed
herself satisfied; and continued her toils and prayers.
It may be asked, What was the result?  The answer is recorded with pleasure, and, I trust, with
gratitude to God.   Besides punctually attending all
the meetings of the church, and laboring much in
private for the eternal welfare of souls; besides supporting her family with more ease than formerly,
as she stated to her pastor, at the close of the first
year, and paying her assessments in several charitable societies to which she belonged, and also colntributing, something whenever a public collection
282
4 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
was taken for benevolent objects; in addition to all
this, she had placed in my hands ten dollars and a
half, which was appropriated as stated above. Iher
donations for objects of religious charity must have
amounted to at least twelve dollars during that year,
which, it is presumed, exceeded the amount given for
similar objects by any other member of the church,
although quite a number  possessed a comfortable
share of wealth. It may be thought that she was
engaged in some business which yielded a handsome
profit to reward her toils.   But no; her business
was shoe-binding, not then by any means very profitable. And who, with her disposition and spirit, could
not do something to aid the cause of God?   But
what she earned and gave was not all. lier prayers,
it is believed, had secured for the church a pastor,
and been the means, with others, of the commencement of a revival of religion, which continued to
prevail to a greater or less extent, for three successive
years, during which time a large number were hopefully converted and added to the church: and among
them several of her older children, who were away
from home
2 $3 
ELIZABETH ES TAUGil.
A perfect woman, nobly planned,
To warn, to comfort and command;
And yet a spirit still, and bright
With something of au angel light.
WoRDsswo:' H.
Elizabeth IIaddon was the oldest daughter of John
Hiaddon, a well educated and wealthy, yet humble,
Quaker, of London. She had two sisters, both of
whom, with herself; received the highest finish of a
practical education. Elizabeth possessed uncommon
strength of mind, earnestness, energy and originality of character, and a heart overflowing with the
kindest and warmest feelings. A single anecdote of
her childhood, told by Mrs. Child, will illustrate the
nobleness of nature which characterized her life:
"At  one time, she asked to have  a large cake
baked, because she wanted to invite some little girls.
All her small funds were expended for oranges and
candy on this occasion. When the time arrived, her
father and mother were much surprised to see her
lead in six little ragged beggars. They were, however, too sincerely humble and religious to expvers
any surprise. They treated the forlorn little ones 
OF AMERICA  WOMN.
very tenderly, and freely granted their daughter's re quest to give them some of her books and playthings
at parting. When they had gone, the good mother
quietly said,'Elizabeth, why didst thou invite strangers, instead of thy schoolmates?' There was a heavenly expression in her eye, as she looked up earnestly, and answered,'Mother, I wanted to invite them,
they looked so poor."'
When eleven years of age, she accompanied her
parents to the Yearly Meeting of the Friends, where
she heard, among other preachers, a very young man
named John Estaugh, with whose manner of presenting divine truth she was particularly pleased. Many
of his words -were treasured in her memory. At the
age of seventeen she made a profession of religion,
uniting herself with the Quakers.
During her early youth, William Penn visited the
house of her father, and greatly amused her by describing his adventures with the Indians. From that
time she became interested in the emigrant Quakers,
and early began to talk of coming to America. HIer
father at length purchased a tract of land in New
Jersey, with the view of emigrating, but his affairs
took a new turn, and he made up his mind to remain
in his native land. This decision disappointed Elizabeth. She had cherished the conviction that it was
her duty to come to this country;  and when,  at
length, her father, who was unwilling that any of his
property should lie unimproved, offered the tract of
land in New Jersey to any relative who would settle
upon it, she promptly agreed to accept of the
28,5 
NOBLE DEEDS
proffered estate. Willing that their child should follow in the path of duty, at the end of three months,
and after much prayer, the parents consented to let
Elizabeth join "the Lord's people in the New
World."
Accordingly, early in the spring of 1700, writes
AIrs. Child, in whose sweet language, slightly condensed, the rest of the narrative is told, arrangements were made for her departure, and all things
were provided that the abundance of wealth, or the
ingenuity of affection, could devise.
A poor widow of good sense and discretion accompanied her, as friend and housekeeper, and two trusty
men servants, members of the Society of Friends.
Among the many singular manifestations of strong
faith and religious zeal, connected with the settlement of this country, few are more remarkable than
the voluntary separation of this girl of eighteen yearb
old from a wealthy home and all the pleasant associations of childhood, to go to a distant and thinly
inhabited country, to fulfill what she considered a
religious duty. And the humble, self-sacrificing faith
of the parents, in giving up their child, with such
reverend tenderness for the promptings of her own
conscience, has in it something sublimely beautiful,
if we look at it in its own pure light. The parting
took place with more love than words can express,
and yet without a tear on either side. Even during
the long and tedious voyage, Elizabeth never wept.
She preserved a martyr-like cheerfulness and serenity to the end.
286 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
The house prepared for her reception stood in a
clearing of the forest, three miles from  any other
dwelling. She arrived in June, when the landscape
was smiling in youthful beauty; and it seemed to her
as if the arch of heaven was never before so clear and
bright, the carpet of the earth never so verdant. As
she sat at her window and saw evening close in upon
her in that broad forest home, and heard, for the
first time, the mournful notes of the whippo-wil and
the harsh scream of the jay in the distant woods,
she was oppressed with a sense of vastness, of infinity, which she never before experienced, not even
on the ocean. She remained long ill prayer, and
when she lay down to sleep beside her matron friend.(,
no words were spoken  between them.  The elder,
overcome with fatigue, soon sank into a peaceful
slumber; but the young enthusiast lay long awake,
listening to the lone voice of the whippo-wil comp]laining, to the night. Yet, notwithstanding this prolonged wakefulness, she arose early and looked out
upon the lovely landscape. The rising sun pointed
to the tallest trees with his golden finger, and was
welcomed with a gush of song from a thousand warblers. The poetry in Elizabeth's soul, repressed by
the severe plainness of her education, gushed up lilke
a fountain. She dropped on her knees, and, with
an outburst of prayer, exclaimed fervently, "Oh, Father, very beautiful hast thou made this earth! How
bountiful are thy gifts, O  Lord!"
To a spirit less meek and brave, the darker shades
of the picture would have obscured these cheerfu
287 
NOBLE DEEDS
gleams; for the situation was lonely and the inconveniences innumerable.   But Elizabeth  easily triumphed over all obstacles, by practical good sense
and the quick promptings of her ingenuity. She
was one of those clear strong natures, who always
have a definite aim in view, and who see at once
the means best suited to the end. Her first inquiry
was what grain was best adapted to the soil of her
farm; and being informed that rye would yield best,
"Then I shall eat rye bread," was her answer. But
when winter came, and the gleaming snow spread
its unbroken silence over hill and plain, was it not
dreary then? It would have been dreary indeed to
one who entered upon this mode of life from mere
love of novelty, or a vain desire to do something ex+traordinary. But the idea of extended usefulness,
which had first lured this remarkable girl into a
path so unusual, sustained her through all trials. She
was too busy to be sad, and leaned too trustingly
on her Father's hand to be doubtful of her way. The
neighboring Indians soon loved her as a friend, for
they found her always truthful, just, and kind. Fronm
their teachings, she added much to her knowledge
of simple medicines. So efficient was her skill and
so prompt her sympathy, that for many miles round,
if man, woman, or child were alarmingly ill, they
were sure to send for Elizabeth Iladdon; and wherever she went, her observing mind gathered some
hint for the improvement of farm or dairy.  Her
house and heart were both large; and as her residence was on the way to the Quaker meeting-holso
28S 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
in Newtown, it became a place of universal resort to
Friends from all parts of the country traveling that
road, as well as an asylum for benighted wanderers.
The winter was drawing to a close, when late one
evening, the sound of sleigh-bells was heard, and
the crunching of snow beneath the hoofs of horses,
as they passed into the barn-yard gate. The arrival
of travelers was too common an occurrence to excite
or disturb the well-ordered family.
Great logs were piled in the capacious chimney,
and the flames blazed up with a crackling warmth,
when two strangers entered. In the younger, Elizabeth instantly recognized John Estaugh, whose preaching had so deeply impressed her at eleven years
of age. This was almost like a glimpse of homeher dear old English home! She stepped forward
with more than usual cordiality, saying:
"Thou art welcome, Friend Estaugh; the more so
for being entirely unexpected."
"And I am glad to see thee, Elizabeth," he replied
with a friendly shake of the hand. "It was not until
after I landed in America, that I heard the Lord
had called thee hither before me;  but I remember
thy father told me how often thou hadst played the
settler in the woods, when thou wast quite a little
girl."
"I am but a child still," she replied, smiling.
"I trust thou  art," he  rejoined;  "and as for
these strong impressions in childhood, I have heard
of many cases where they seemed to be prophecies
sent of the lTord. When I saw thy father in Lon          19
289
4k 
NOBLE DEEDS
don, I had even then an indistinct idea that I
might sometime be sent to America on a religions
visit."
"And hast thou forgotten, Friend John, the ear of
Indian corn which my father begged of thee for me?
I can show it to thee now. Since then I have seen
this grain in perfect growth; and a goodly plant it
is, I assure thee. See," she continued, pointing to
many bunches of ripe corn, which hung in their
braided husks against the walls of the ample kitcheil: "all that, and more, came from a single ear, no
bigger than the one thou didst give my father.
May the seed sown by thy ministry be as fruitful!"
"Amen," replied both the-guests.
The next morning, it was discovered that snow
had fallen during the night in heavy drifts, and the
roads were impassable. Elizabeth, according to her
usual custom, sent out men, oxen and sledges, to
open pathways for several poor families, and for
households whose inmates were visited by illness.
In this duty, John Estaugh  and his friend joined(
heartily  Bnd none of the laborers worked harder
than they. When he returned, glowing from this
exercise, she could not but observe that the excel
lent youth had a goodly countenance. It was not
physical beauty; for of that he had little. It was
that cheerful, child-like) out-beaming honesty of cx
pression, which we not unfrequently see in Ger
mans, who, above all nations, look as if they carried
i crystal heart within their manly bosoms.
Two days after, wllen Elizal atlh weant to vist:er
290 
OF At-ERICAN   VOAIEN.
patients, with a sled-load of medicines  and  provi sions, John asked permission to accompany her.
There, by the bedside of the aged and the suffering,
she saw the clear sincerity of his countenance
warmed with rays of love, while he spoke to them
words of kindness and consolation; and there she
heard his pleasant voice modulate itself into deeper
tenderness of expression, when he took little children in his arms.
The next First day, which we call the Sabbath,
the whole family attended Newtown meeting; and
there John Estaugh was gifted with an out-pouring
of the spirit in his ministry, which sank deep into
the hearts of those who listened to him. Elizabeth
found it so marvellously applicable to the trials and.
temptations of her own soul, that she almost deemed it was spoken on purpose for her. She said nothing of this, but she pondered upon it deeply.
Thus did a few days of united duties make them
more thoroughly acquainted with each other, than
they could have been by years of fashionable intercourse.
The young preacher soon after bade farewell, to
visit other meetings in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  Elizabeth saw  him no more until the  May
following, when he stopped at her house to lodge,
with numerous other Friends, on their way to the
Quarterly Meeting at Salem. In the morning, quite
a cavalcade started from her hospitable door, on
horseback; for wagons were then unknown in Jersey.  John Estaugh, always kindly in his impulses,
291 
NOBLE DEEDS
busied himself with helping a lame and very ugly
old woman, and left his hostess to mount her horse
as she could. Most young women would have felt
slighted; but in Elizabeth's noble soul the quiet
deep tide of feeling rippled with an inward joy. "He
is always kindest to the poor and the neglected,"
thought she; "verily he i8 a good youth." She was
leaning over the side of' her horse, to adjust the
buckle of the girth, when he came up on horseback,
and inquired if anythiig was out of order. She
thanked him, with slight confusion of manner, and
a voice less calm than her usual utterance. Hle assisted her to mount, and they trotted along leisurely
behind the procession of guests, speaking of the soil
and climate of this new country, and how wonderfully the Lord had here provided a home for his
chosen people. Presently the girth began to slip,
and the saddle turned so much on one side, that
Elizabeth was obliged to dismount. It took some
time to re-adjust it, and when they again started,
the company were out of sight. There was brighter
color than usual in the maiden's cheeks, and unwonted radiance in her mild deep eyes. After a short
silence, she said, in a voice slightly tremulous,
"Friend John, I lSave a subject of importance on my
mind, and one which nearly interests thee. I am
strongly impressed that the Lord has sent thee to
me as a partner for life. I tell thee my impression
frankly, but not without calm and deep reflection;
for matrimony is a holy relation, and should ba en
tered into with all sobriety. If thou hast no light
292 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
on the subject, wilt thou gather into the stillness,
and reverently listen to thy own inward revealings?
Thou art to leave this part of the country to-mor row, and not knowing when I should see the again,
I felt moved to tell thee what lay upon my mind."
The young man was taken by surprise. Though
accustomed to that suppression of emotion which
characterizes his religious sect, the color went and
came rapidly in his face, for a moment; but he soon
became calmer, and replied, "This thought is new
to me, Elizabeth; and I have no light thereon. Thy
company has been right pleasant to me, and thy
countenance ever reminds  me  of William  Penn's
title page,'Innocency with her open face.' I have
seen thy kindness to the poor, and  the wise man agement of thy household. I have observed, too,
that thy warmheartedness is tempered by a most
excellent discretion, and that thy speech is ever
sincere. Assuredly, such is the maiden I would ask
of the Lord, as a most precious gift; but I never
thought of this connexion with thee. I came to
this country solely on a religious visit, and it might
distract my mind to entertain this subject at present. When I have discharged the duties of my
mission, we will speak further."
"It is best so," rejoined the maiden; "but there
is one thing disturbs my conscience. Thou hast
spoken of my true speech; and yet, Friend John, I
have deceived thee a little, even now,.while we con ferred together on a subject so serious. I know not
from what weakness the temptation came; but 1
293 
NOBLE DEEDS
will not hide it from thee. I allowed thee to suppose, just now, that I was fastening the girth of my
horse securely; but, in plain truth, I was loosening
the girth, John, that the saddle might slip, and give
nme an excuse to fall behind our friends; for I
thought thou wouldst be kind enough to come and
ask if I needed thy services."
They spoke no further concerning their union; but
when he returned to England, in July, he pressed her
hand affectionately, as he said, "Farewell, Elizabeth.
If it be the Lord's will, I shall return to thee soon."
In October, he returned to America, and they
were  soon married,  at Newtown  meeting,, according to the simple form of the Society of Friends.
Neither of them made any change of dress for the
occasion, and there was no wedding feast. Without
the aid of priest or magistrate, they took each
other by the hand, and, in the presence of witnesses, calmly and solemnly promised to be kind and
faithful to each other. The wedded pair quietly returned to their happy home, with none to intrude
upon those sacred hours of human life, when the
heart most needs to be left alone with its own deep
emotions.
During the long period of their union, she three
times crossed the Atlantic, to visit her aged parents, and he occasionally left her for a season
when called abroad to preach. These temporary
separations were felt as a cross, but the strong-hearted woman always cheerfully gave him up to follow
his own convictions of duty. In 1742, he parted
294 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
fromn her, to go on a religious visit'to Tortola, in
the West Jndies. Hie died there, in the sixty seventh year of his age.  She published a religious
tract of his, to which is prefixed a preface entitled
"Elizabeth Estaugh's testimony concerning her be loved husband, John Estaugh." In this preface, she
says, "Since it pleased Divine Providence so high ly to favor me, with being the near companion of
this dear worthy, I must give some small account
of him. Few, if any, in a married state, ever lived
in sweeter harmony than we did. He was a pattern of moderation in all things; not lifted up with
any enjoyments, nor cast down at disappointments;
a man endowed with many good gifts, which ren
dered him very agreeable to his friends, and much
more to me, his wife, to whom his memory is most
dear and precious."
Elizabeth survived her excellent husband twenty
years, useful and honored to the last.  The monthly Meeting of IIaddonfield, in a published testimonial, speak of her thus: "She was endowed with
great natural abilities, which, being sanctified by
the spirit of Christ, were much improved; whereby
she became qualified to act in the affaiirs of the
church, and was a serviceable member, having been
clerk to the women's meeting nearly fifty years,
greatly to their satisfaction. She was a sincere sympathizer with the afflicted, of a benevolent disposition, and in distributing to the poor, was desirous
to do it in a way most profitable and durable to
them, and, if possible, not to let the right hand know
295 
NOBLE DEEDS
what the left -did. Though in a state of affluence
as to this world's wealth, she was an example of
plainness and moderation. Hier heart and house
were open to her friends, whom to entertain seemed
one  of her  greatest  pleasures.   Prudently  cheerful, and well knowing the value of friendship, she
was careful not to wound it herself, nor to enlcourage others in whispering supposed failings or weaknesses. Her last illness brought great bodily pain,
which she bore with much calmness of mind and
sweetness of spirit. She departed this life as one
falling asleep, full of days, like unto a shock of
corn, fully ripe."
The town of Haddonfield, in New  Jersey, took its
name from her; and the tradition concerning her
courtship is often repeated by some patriarch among
the Quakers.
Her medical skill is so well remembered, that the
old nurses of New Jersey still recommend Elizabeth Estaugh't3 salve as the'"sovereignest thing on
earth."
296 
KATE MOORE.
From lowest place when virtuous things proeed,
The place is dignified by the doer's deed.
SHAKSPEARL
Kate Moore is the daughter of Captain Moore,
keeper of the Light House on Fairweather Island,
sixty miles north of the city of New York, and about
half way between the harbors of Black Rock and
Bridgeport, Connecticut. The island is about half a
mile from shore and contains five acres of land.  On
that little, secluded spot Captain Moore has resided
nearly a quarter.of a century, and has reared a family of five children, of whom Kate is the heroine.
Disasters frequently occur to vessels which are
driven round Montauk Point, and sometimes in the
Sound, when they are homeward bound; and at such
times she is always on the alert. She has so thoroughly
cultivated the sense of hearing, that she can distinguish amid the howling storm, the shrieks of the
drowning mariners, and thus direct a boat, which she
has learned to manage most dexterously, in the darkest
night, to the spot where a fellow mortal is perishing 
N1OBLE DEEDS
Though well educated and refined, she possesses none
of the affected delicacy which characterizes too many
town-bred misses; but, adapting herself to the peculiar
exigences of her father's humble yet honorable calling,
she is ever ready to lend a helping hand, and shrinks
from no danger, if duty points that way. In the gloom
and terror of the stormy night, amid perils at all hours
of the day, and all seasons of the year, she has launched
her barque on the threatening waves; and has assisted
her aged and feeble father in saving the lives of twentyone persons during the last fifteen years! Such conduct, like that of Grace Darling, to whom Kate Moore
has been justly compared, needs no comment; it stamps
its moral at once and indelibly upon the heart of every
reader.
298 
CAF.TITY OF MRS. ROWLANDSON.
Through sorrowing and suffering thou hast pass'd,
To show us what a woman true may be.
LOWELL.
Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, the wife of the Rev.
Joseph Rowlandson, was taken prisoner by the Indians at Lancaster, Massachusetts, on the tenth of
February, 1676, and remained in captivity till the
third  of the following May.   The details of  her
sufferings, as related by herself, are too painful for
many persons to read; but she bore them with such
Christian fortitude, that nothing short of a brief ac
count of her captivity would seem to be excusable
in a work like this.
The day after the destruction of Lancaster, the
Indians began their march; and Mrs. Rowlandson
carried her infant till her strength failed and she
fell. She was then furnished with a horse, without
a  saddle.   Attempting  to  ride,  she  again  fell.
Towards night it began to snow; and gathering a
few sticks, she made a -fire. Sitting beside it on the
snow, she held her child in her arms through the
long and dismal night. For three or four days she 
NOBLE DEEDS
had no sustenance but water; nor did her child share
any better for nine days. During this time it was
constantly in her arms or lap. At the end of that
period, the frost of death crept into its eyes, and
she was forced to relinquish it to be disposed of
by the unfeeling sextons of the forest.
After its burial, Mrs. Rowlandson was sold by her
Narrag,anset captor to a Sagamore named Quanopin,
by which transfer she found in her new master's
wife "a most uncomfortable mistress." Soon afterwards the Indians went on an expedition to Medfield, and on their return one of them gave her a
Bible - her best friend and great support during
her sufferings and  trials.  She retained it during
her captivity.
The party of Indians with whom she continued,
remained for some time near Petersham, in Worcester county.  At length, hearing a report that the
pale faces were in pursuit of them, they hastily
decamped and continued their march till they crossed the Connecticut river, in the neighborhood of
Gill or Bernardston.  There Mrs. Rowlandson came
in contact with the great chief, Philip, who treated
her civilly and even politely. Ere long the Indians
re-crossed the Connecticut, and returned into Worcester county.  During this part of her  pilgrimnage,
writes President Dwight, whose concise narrative we
have  followed,  "Mrs.  Rowlandson  went  through
almost every sulffering but death.  She was beaten,
kicked, turned out of doors, refused food, insulted
in the grossest manner, and at times almnost starved.
300 
OF ASIOC   WOMLE.
Nothing but experience can enable us to conceive
what must be the hunger of a person, by whom
the discovery of six acorns, and two chestnuts, was
regarded as a rich prize.   At times, in order to
make her miserable, they announced to her the death
of her husband  and  her  children.   One  of the
savages, of whom she enquired concerning her son,
told her that his master had, at a time which he
specified, killed and roasted him; that himself had
eaten a piece of him, as big as his two fingers, and
that it was delicious meat. On various occasions
they threatened to kill her. Occasionally, but for
short intervals only, she was permitted to see her
children; and suffered her own anguish over again
in their miseries. She was also obliged, while hardly
able to walk, to carry a heavy burden over hills,
and through rivers, swamps, and marshes; and that
in the most inclement seasons. These evils were
repeated daily; and, to crown them all, she was
daily saluted with the most barbarous and insolent
accounts of the burning and slaughter, the tortures
and agonies, inflicted by them upon her countrymen.
It is to be remembered that Mrs. Rowlandson was
tenderly and delicately educated, and as ill fitted to
encounter these distresses as persons who have received such an education, now are in this and other
countries.
"There was, however, among the savages a marked
difference of character. Some of them, both men
and women, treated her with kindness. None of
them exhibited so much insolence to her as her
301
I 
NOBLE DEEDS
mistress. This woman felt all the haughtiness of
rank, as much as if she had been a European or
Asiatic princess; and spent almost as much time
in powdering her hair, painting her face, and adorning herself with ear-rings, bracelets, and other
ornaments, a part of their plunder from the English."
The captivity of Mrs. Rowlandson was terminated
through the agency of Mr. Hoar, of Concord, Massachusetts. Under a commission from the Government
he redeemed  her for about eighty dollars, which
sum was contributed by a Mr. Usher and some
female friends in Boston.
302 
MRS. BOZARTH.
To weakness strength succeeds, and power
From frailty springs.
PARK BENJAMLI.
There's no impossibility to him
Who stands prepared to conquer every hazard.
MRS. HALE.
In the spring of 1779, while two or three neighbor.
ing families, had, from fear, collected at the house of
lMrs. Bozarth, in Green county, Pennsylvania, the
little company was one day attacked by Indians.
The children, who were playing without, first discovered the foe, and, giving the alarm, had not time
to get within doors before they were overtaken, and
began to fall beneath the tomahawk. The first man
who stepped to the door when the alarm was heard,
was shot, and fell back; and before the door could
be closed, an Indian leaped over him into the house.
The other man in the house caught the savage and
threw him on the bed. He then called for a knife,
but Mrs. Bozarth, being unable to find one, seized
an axe and instantly dispatched the bold assailant.
Another Indian now rushed in, and shot at and 
NOBLE DEEDS
wounded the man before he was off the bed. Mr&
Bozarth gave this second intruder several blows,
when his cries brought a third to the door. hIim
she killed as he entered. The wounded savage was
then dragged out; the door again closed and fastened; and, through the assistance of the wounded
man, Mrs. Bozarth was able to keep out the rest
of the murderous assailants until relieved by the
arrival of friends.
304 
TE HEROINE OF STEEL CREEK.
Here and there some stern, high patriot stood.
ByRoN.
The subject of the following anecdote was the
mother of eleven sons.  Most of them were soldiers
and some were officers in the war of the Revolution.
HIer residence was in Mechlenburg county, near Steel
creek, North Carolina.
When Lord Cornwallis heard of the defeat of Ferguson at King's  Mountain,* fearing an attack of
his rear at Camden, he collected his forces and retreated towards Winnsboro.  While on  this march,
his whole army halted for the night on the plantation of Robert Wilson.   Cornwallis  and his staff
took possession of the house, and made an unstinted
levy on the hospitality of the good lady. By asking
such questions as a British lord would, under the
circumstances, feel at liberty to propound, the General learned, in the course of the evening, that the
husband of Mrs. Wilson, and some of her sons, were
then his prisoners in Camden jail.  Ier kindness
* October seventh, 1780.
20 
NOBLE DEEDS
and urbanity led him to think that perhaps s8he
was a friend to the Crown; and, after some preliminary remarks, intended to prepare her mind.
for the leading consideration which he wished to
enforce upon -it, he at length addressed her as follows:
"Madam, your husband and your son are my  prisoners; the fortune of war may soon place others of
your sons -perhaps all your kinsmen, in my power.
Your sons are young, aspiring and brave. In a good
cause, fighting for a generous and powerful king, such
as George III, they might hope for rank, honor and
wealth. If you could but induce your husband and
sons to leave the rebels, and take up arms for their
lawful sovereign, I would almost pledge myself that
they shall have rank and consideration in the British
army. If you, madam, will pledge yourself to induce them to do so, I will immediately order their
discharge."
"I have seven sons," Mrs. Wilson replied, "who are
now, or have been, bearing arms -indeed my seventh
son, Zaccheus, who is only fifteen years old, I yesterday assisted to get ready to go and join his brothers
in Sumter's army. Now, sooner than see one of my
family turn back from the glorious enterprise, I
would take these boys -pointing to three or four
small sons - and with them would myself enlist,
under Sumter's standard, and show my husband and
sons how to fight, and, if necessary, to die for their
country!"
306 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
Colonel Tarleton was one of the listeners to this
colloquy, and when  Mrs. Wilson had finished her
reply, he said to Cornwallis:  "Ah! General!  I
think you've got into a hornet's nest! Never mind,
when we get to Camden, I'll take good care that old
Robin Wilson never comes back again!" We may
add that Tarleton's threat was never executed. Mr.
Wilson and his worthy companion lived to old age,
and died at Steel creek just before the war of 1812
307 
BENEVOLENCE OF A COLORED WOMAN.
Great minds, like Heaven, are pleased in doing good.
ROWE.
The following anecdote is obtained from a reliable
source. Did the spirit which pervaded the heart of
its subject, thoroughly permeate the churches, the
great work of carrying the Gospel to every nation,
would soon be accomplished.
"In one of the eastern counties of New York lived
a colored female, who was born a slave, but she was
made free by the act gradually abolishing slavery
in that state. She had no resources except such as
she obtained by her own labor. On one occasion she
carried to her pastorforty dollars: she told him that
she wished him, with two dollars of this sum to procure for her a seat in his church; eighteen dollars she
desired to be given to the American Board; and the
remaining twenty dollars she requested him to divide
among other benevolent societies according to his
discretion." 
REBECCA EDWARDS.
Honor being then above life, dishonor must
Be worse than death; for fate can strike but one.
Reproach doth reach whole families.
CARTWRIGHT'S SIEGE.
At the celebration of our national Independence,
in 1797, the orator of the society of the Cincinnati
of South Carolina, paid the following tribute to the
magnanimity  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  Edwards: -" The
Spartan mother, on delivering his shield to her son
departing for the army, nobly bade him'return with
it or on it.' The sentiment was highly patriotic, but
surely not superior to that which animated the bosom
of the distinguished female of our own state, who,
when the British officer presented the mandate which
arrested her sons as objects of retaliation, less sensible of private affection than attached to her honor
and the interest of her country, stifled the tender
feelings of the mother, and heroically bade them
despise the threats of their enemies, and steadfastly
persist to support the glorious cause in which they
had engaged-that if the threatened sacrifice should
follow, they would carry a parent's blessing, and the
good opinion of every virtuous citizen along with 
NOBll.E  DEE,I)
them to the grave: but if from the fi'ailty of ihumian
nature-of the possibility of which she would  not
suffer an idea to enter her mind- they were disposed
to temporize, and exchange their liberty for safety,
they must forget her as a mother, nor subject her
to the misery of ever beholding them again." *
* America Anecdotes, voL 2, p. 11.
7
310 
"TIHE BEAUTIFUL REBEL."
Trembling and fear
Are to her unknown.
SIR WALTER SCOTT.
The maiden name of Mrs. Lewis Morris was Ann
Elliott. She was born at Maccabee, in 1762, and
died in New York, in 1848. She was a firm and
fearless patriot, and when the city of Charleston,
South Carolina, was in possession of the red coats,
she wore thirteen small plumnes in her bonnet. She
had so fair a face, so gracefll a form and so patriotic a spirit, as to be called "the beautiful rebel."
An English officer fell in love with her and offered
to join the Americans, if she would favor his proposals.   She ordered  the friend who interceded for
him to say to him, "that  to her former want of
esteem, was added scorn for a man capable of be
traying his sovereign for selfish interest."
While she was engaged to Colonel Mforris  and
he was on a visit one time at Maccabee, the house
was suddenly surrounded by Black Dragoons. They
were in pursuit of the Colonel, and it was impossi 
NOJBLE DEEDR
ble for him to escape by flight. What to do he
knew  not, but, quick as thought, she ran to the
window, opened it, and, fearlessly putting her head
out, in a composed yet firm manner, demanded what
was wanted. The reply was, "We want the
rebel." "Then go," said she, "and look for him
in the American army," adding "How dare you
disturb a family under the protection of both
armies!" She was so cool, self-possessed, firm and
resolute as to triumph over the dragoons, who left
without entering the house
812 
fl&RRIET B. STEWART.
Men sacrifice others -women themselves.
MRS. S. C. HALL.
Harriet Bradford Tiffany, afterwards the wife of
the Rev. Charles S. Stewart, was born near Stamford,
Connecticut, on the fourth of June, 1798.  She lost
her father when she was a small child, and till
1815, passed most of her time with all uncle, in
Albany.  At this date, an older sister married and
settled in Cooperstown, and consequently  Harriet
took up her abode in that place.  She became the
subject of renewing grace in the summer of 1819;
was married on the third of June, 1822, and sailed
with her husband and nearly thirty other missionaries, all bound to the same field, on the nineteenth
of November following. This little, heroic band, that,
by the help of God, have since been mainly instrumental in making the Sandwich islands blossom like
a rose, arrived at Hlonolulu, in Oahu, on the twenty
seventh of April, 1823.
Mrs. Stewart left a beautiful town in a thriving
part of the Empire State; tempting luxuries; a brilliant circle, and many endearing friends;  but she 
NOBLE DEEDS
had embarked  in a glorious  enterprise fol Christ',
sake, and, hence, she settled down in a little log hut,
in the town of Lahaiua, three days' sail from Oahu
contented and happy. On the first day of January
1824, she wrote as follows: "It is now fifteen months
since I bade adieu to the dear valley which con
tains much, very much, that is most dear to me; but
since the day I parted from it, my spirits have been
uniformly good. Sometimes, it is true, a cloud ot
tender recollections passes over me, obscuring, for
a moment, my mental vision, and threatening a day
of darkness; but it is seldom. And as the returning sun, after a summer shower, spreads his beams
over the retiring gloom of the heavens, and stretches
abroad the shining arch  of promise to cheer the
tface of nature, so, at such times, do the rays of the
Sun of Righteousness speedily illumine the hopes
of my soul, and fill my bosom with joy and
peace."
A few months after the above date, writing to a
friend, she says:  " We are most contented and most
happy, and rejoice that God has seen fit to honor
and bless us by permitting us to be the bearers of
his light and truth to this dark corner of the earth.
Could you feel the same gladness that often fills
our bosoms, in witnessing the happy influence of
the Gospel on the minds and hearts of many of
these interesting creatures, you would be satisfied,
ves more than satisfied, that we should be what we
are, and where we  are, poor  mi8ssionaries ti  the
distant it ds  of the sea."
314 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
In these brief extracts fiom her letters, shines, iii
its serenest lustre, the character of the Christian
heroine: * and it would be an easy task to compile
a volume of letters written on the field of moral
conflict by American female missionaries, breathing
a spirit equally as unselfish, cheerful and brave.
All pioneer women in this enterprise are heroines,
and if the conflicts and sublime victories of all
claiming American citizenship, are not herein recorded, it is because, in a work of unambitious pretensions as it regards size, a few characters must
stand as representatives of a class.
So pernicious was the influence of a tropical
climate that, in the spring of 1825, the health of
Mrs. Stewart began to fail;  and  at the end of a
year, she was  forced to leave  the country.   She
sailed, with her husband, for London; and after
tarrying three months in England,  they embarked
for home. They reached the valley of the Otsego
in September, 1826. For three or four years, it was
the prayer of Mrs. Stewart that she might be restored to health and permitted to return to the mission station; but in January, 1830, she was laid on
a bed of declension and suffering, and in the following autumn, fully ripe, was gathered into the
heavenly garner.
* For a full account of the life of Mrs. Stewart, we refer the reader
to an interesting Memoir, by her husband.
815 
A KIND AND BENEVOLENT WOMAN.
Ah I woman - in this world of ours,
What gift can be compared to thee.
GEORGE P. MORRE
Mrs. Margaret Morris, of Burlington, New Jersey,
kept a journal during the Revolution, for the amuseinent, it is said, of a sister, the wife of Dr. Charles
Mloore, of Philadelphia. A few copies were printed
several years ago, for private circulation, supplying
friends with a mirror which reflects the image of
expanded benevolence and exalted piety. Belonging
to the Society of Friends, she was not partial to
"The shot, the shout, the groan of war;"
yet her principles were patriotic, and she no doubt
rejoiced over all the victories and in the final and
complete success of the "rebel" army. She became
a widow at an early age, and died at Burlington, in
1816, aged seventy-nine years.
A single extract from her journal will illustrate
the most prominent feature of her character:
"June 14th, 1777. By a person from Bordentown,
we hear twelve expresses came in there to-day from 
OF AMERIOA.N WOMEN.
camp. Some of the gondola-men and their wives
being sick, and no doctor in town to apply to, they
were told Mrs. Morris was a skillful woman, and
kept medicines to give to the poor; and notwithstanding their late attempts to shoot my poor boy,
they ventured to come to me, and in a very humble
manner begged me to come and do something for
them. At first I thought they designed to put a
trick on me, get me aboard their gondola, and then
pillage my house, as they had done some others;
but on asking where the sick folks were, I was told
they were lodged in the Governor's house. So I
went to see them; there were several, both men and
women, very ill with fever; some said, the camp or
putrid fever. They were broken out in blotches;
and on close examination, it appeared to be the
itch fever. I treated them according to art, and
they all got well. I thought I had received all my
pay when they thankfully acknowledged my kindness;  but lo! in a short time afterwards a very
rough, ill-looking man came to the door and asked
for me. When I went to him he drew me aside,
and asked if I had any friends in Philadelphia.
The question alarmed me, supposing there was
some mischief meditated against that poor city;
however, I calmly said-' I have an ancient father,
some sisters, and other near friends there.'
"'Well,' said the man,'do you wish to hear from
them, or send any thing by way of refreshment to
them?  If you do, I will take charge of it, and bring
you back any thing you may send for.'
317 
NOBLE DEEDS
"I was very much surprised, and thought, to be
sure, he only wanted to get provisions to take to the
gondolas; but when he told me his wife was one of
those I had given medicine to, and this was the only
thing be could do to pay me for my kindness, my
heart leaped with joy, and I set about preparing
something for my dear, absent friends. A quarter
of beef, some veal, fowls and flour, were soon put up;
and about midnight the man called and took them
aboard his boat. lie left them at Robert Hopkins'
-at the point —whence my beloved friends took
them to town.
"Two nights afterwards, a loud knocking at our
front door greatly alarmed us, and opening the chainber window, we heard a man's voice, saying,' Come
down softly and open the door, but bring no light.'
"There was something mysterious in such a call;
but we concluded to go down and set the candle in
the kitchen.
When we got to the front door, we asked,' Who
are you?'
"The man replied,'A friend; open quickly.' So
the dooi was opened; and who should it be but our
honest gondola-man, with a letter, a bushel of salt, a
jug of molasses, a bag of rice, some tea, coffee, and
sugar, and some cloth for a coat for my poor boys;
all sent by my kind sisters!
"How did our hearts and eyes overflow with love
to them, and thanks to our Heavenly Father for such
seasonable supplies! May we never forget it! Bein g
now so rich, we thought it our duty to hand out a
318 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
little to the poor around us, who were mourning for
want of salt; so we divided the bushel, and gave a
pint to every poor person who came for it-having
bundance left for our own use. Indeed, it seemed
to us as if our little store was increased by distrilution, like the bread broken by our Sav'our to the
mnultitude."
319
"""''                                        I'        "            ~ 
NOBLE EXAMPLE OF PIONEERS.
In every rank, or great or small,
'T is industry supports us all.
GAY.
Count life by virtues- these will last
When life's lame-footed race is o'er.
Mrs. B ALE.
In the year 1843, the Hon. Samuel Wilkeson, of
Buffalo - since  deceased - communicated  to  the
American Pioneer, a' series of papers entitled "Early
Recollections of the West." They present a graphic,
yet painful picture of the perils, hardships and sufferings attendant on back-woods life in the midst
of the aboriginal foresters. His father's family was
one of twenty that removed from Carlisle and the
adjacent towns, to the western part of Pennsylvania,
in the spring of 17F,.   He  pays the following
tribute to the industry, perseverance and pious efforts
of the mothers of the band:
The labor of all the settlers was greatly interrupted by the Indian war. Although the older settlers
had some sheep, yet their increase was slow, as the
country abounded in wolves. It was therefore the 
OF AMERICAN WOMN.
work of time to secure a supply of wool. Deerskin
was a substitute for cloth for men and boys, but not
for women and girls, although they were sometimes
compelled to resort to it. The women spun, and
generally wove all the cloth for their families, and
when the wife was feeble, and had a large family,
her utmost efforts could not enable her to provide
them with anything like comfortable clothing.  The
wonder is, and I shall never cease to wonder, that
they  did  not  sink  under  their  burthens.   Their
patient endurance of these accumulated hardships
did not arise firom a slavish servility, or insensibility
to their rights and comforts. They justly appreciated their situation, and nobly encountered the difficulties which could not be avoided.
Possessing all the affections of the wife, the tenderness of the mother, and the sympathies of the woman,
their tears flowed freely for others' griefs, while
they bore their own with a fortitude which none
but  a woman  could  exercise.   The entire education of her children devolved on the mother, and
notwithstanding the difficulties to be encountered,
she did not allow them to grow up wholly without
instruction; but amidst all her numerous cares taught
them to read, and instructed them in the principles
of Christianity. To accomplish this, under the circumstances, was no easy task. The exciting influences which surrounded them, made the boys restless
under restraint. Familiarized as they were to hardships from the cradle, and daily listening to stories
of Indian massacres and depredations, and to the
321 
NOBLE DEEDS
neroic exploits of some neighboring pioneer, who had
taken an Indian scalp, or by some daring effort saved
his own, ignorant of the sports and toys with which
children in other circumstances are wont to be amused,
no wonder they desired to emulate the soldier, or engage in the scarcely less exciting adventures of
the hunter.   Yet even many of these boys were
subdued by the faithfulness of the mother, who labored to bring them up in the fear of God.
322 
ANECDOTE OF MRS. SLOCUMB.
Our country yet remains:
By that dread name, we wave the sword on high,
And swear for her to live- with her to die!
CAMPBELL.
One of the spiciest specimens of colloquial sparring, vis-a-vis, in our Revolutionary annals, was
between Colonel Tarleton and the wife of Lieutenant
Slocumb, of Wayne county, North Carolina.* The
Attic wit and Spartan boldness of the latter, exhibit
original powers of mind, strength of will, and a
degree of self-possession truly grand and ennobling.
But  the  character of the  heroine  of "Pleasant
Green," is most luminous in her conduct at the
battle of Moore's  Creek, which  occurred  on the
twenty-seventh of February, 1776.   She  tells  the
story of her adventures on that bloody occasion, as
follows:
"The men  all left on Sunday morning.  More
than eighty went friom this house with my husband;
I looked at them well, and I could see that every
man had mischief in him.  I know  a coward as
I Vide Women of the Revolution, vol  1. pp. 306-7, etc. 
NOBLE  DEEDS
soon as I set my eyes upon him.  The tories more
than once tried to frighten me, but they always
showed coward at the bare insinuation that our
troops were about.
"Well, they got off in high spirits, every man
stepping high and light. And I slept soundly and
quietly that night, and worked hard all the next
day; but I kept thinking where they had got tohow far; where and how many of the regulars and
tories they would meet; and I could not keep myself from the study. I went to Red at the usual
time, but still continued  to study.   As  I laywhether waking or sleeping I know not-I had a
dream; yet it was not all a dream. (She used the
words, unconsciously, of the poet who was not then
in being.) I saw distinctly a body wrapped in my
husband's guard-cloak- bloody-dead;  and others
dead and wounded on the ground about him. I
saw them plainly and distinctly. I uttered a cry,
and sprang to my feet on the floor; and so strong
was the impression on my mind, that I rushed in
the direction the vision appeared, and came up
against the side of the house. The fire in the room
gave little light, and I gazed in every direction to
catch another glimpse of the scene. I raised the
light;  every thing was still and quiet.  My child
was sleeping, but my woman was awakened by my
crying out or jumping on the floor. If ever I felt
fear it was at that moment. Seated on the bed, I
reflected a few moments- and said aloud:'I must
324
0 
OF A-MERICAN WOMEN.
go to him.'  I told the woman I could not sleep,
and would ride down the road.  She appeared  in
great alarm; but I merely told her to lock the
door after me, and look after the child.  I went to
the stable, saddled my mare- as fleet and easy a
nag as ever traveled; and in one minute we were
tearing down the road at full speed. The cool
night seemed after a mile or two's gallop to bring
reflection with it; and I asked myselt where I was
going, and for what purpose. Again and again, I
was tempted to turn back; but I was soon ten
mniles from home, and my  mind became stronger
every mile I rode. I should find my husband dead
or dying -was as firmly my presentiment and conviction as any fact of my life. When day broke
I was some thirty miles from home. I knew the
general route our little army expected to take, and
had followed them without hesitation. About sunrise
I came upon a group of women and children, standing and sitting by the road-side, each one of them
showing the same anxiety of mind I felt. Stopping
a few minutes I inquired if the battle had been
fought. They knew nothing, but were assembled on
the rode side to catch intelligence. They thought
Caswell had taken the right of the Wilmington road,
and gone towards the north-west (cape Fear). Again
was I skimming over the ground through a country
thinly settled, and very poor and swampy; but
neither my own spirits nor my beautiful nag's failed
in the least. We f)llowed the well-marked trail of
the troops.
325 
NOBLE DEEDS
"The sun must have been well up, say eight or
nine o'clock, when I heard a sound like thunder,
which I knew must be cannon. It was the first
time I ever heard a cannon. I stopped still; when
presently the cannon thundered again. The battle
was then fighting.  What a fool! my husband could
not be dead last night, and the battle only fighting
now! Still, as I am so near, I will go on and see
how they come out. So away we went again, faster
than ever; and I soon found, by the noise of the
guns, that I was near the fight. Again I stopped.
I could hear muskets, I could hear rifles, and I
could hear shouting. I spoke to my mare and dashed
on in the directiun of the firing and the shouts, now
louder than ever. The blind path I had been following brought me into the Wilmington road leading
to Moore's creek bridge, a few hundred yards below
the bridge. A few yards from the road, under a
cluster of trees were lying perhaps twenty men.
They were the wounded. I knew the spot; the
very trees; and the position of the men I knew
as if I had seen it a thousand times. I had seen
it all night! I saw all at once; but in an instant
my whole soul was centered in one spot;  for there,
wrapped in his bloody guard-cloak, was my husband's body!   How I passed the few yards from
my saddle to the place I never knew.   I remember uncovering his head and seeing a face clothed
with gore from a dreadful wound across the temple.
I put my hand on the bloody face; Itwas warn;
and an unknown voice begged for water.  A  small
326 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
camp-kettle was lying near, and a stream of water
was close by. I brought it; poured some in his
mouth; washed his face; and behold -it was Frank
Cogdell.  HIe soon revived and could speak.  I was
washing the wound in his head. Said he'It is
not that; it is that hole in my leg that is killing
me.' A puddle of blood was standing on the ground
about his feet. I took his knife, cut away his trowsers and stockings, and found the blood came from
a shot hole through and through the fleshy part of
the leg. I looked about and could see nothing that
looked as if it would do for dressing wounds but
some heart-leaves. I gathered a handful and bound
them tight to the holes; and the bleeding stopped.
I then went to the others; and-Doctor! I dressed
the wounds of many a brave fellow who did good
fighting long after that day! I had not inquired for
my husband; but while I was busy Caswell camne
up. lHe appeared very much surprised to see me;
and was with his hat in hand about to pay some
compliment:  but I interrupted him  by  asking'Where is my husband?'
"'Where he ought to be, madam;  in pursuit of
the enemy. But pray,' said hlie,' how came you here2'
"' Oh, I thought,' replied  I,'you would  need
nurses as well as soldiers. See! I have already
dressed many of these good fellows; and here is
one'- going to Frank and lifting him up with my
arm under his head so that he could drink some
more water-' would have died before any of you
men could have helped him.'
327 
NOBLE DEEDS
"'I believe you,' said Frank.. Just then I looked
up, and my husband, as bloody as a butcher, and as
muddy as a ditcher,* stood before mine.
"'Why, Mary!' he exclaimed,'What  are you
doing there?  Hugging Frank Cogdell, the greatest
reprobate in the army?'
"'I dont care,' I cried.'Frank is a brave fellow,
a good soldier, and a true friend to Congress.'
"'True, true! every word of it!' said Caswell.
'You are right, madams' with the lowest possible
bow.
"I would not tell my husband what brought me
there. I was so happy; and so were all! It was
a glorious vietory; I came just at the height of the
enjoyment. I knew my husband was surprised, but
I could see he was not displeased with me. It was
night again before our excitement had at all subsided.  Many prisoners were brought in, and among
them some very obnoxious; but the worst of the
tories were not taken prisoners. They were, for the
most part, left in the woods and swamps wherever
they were overtaken. I begged for some of the poor
prisoners, and Caswell readily told nme none should
be hurt but such as had been guilty of murder and
house-burning.   In the middle of the night I again
mounted my mare and started for home.  Caswell
and my husband wanted me to stay till next moriing, and they would send a party with me; but no! I
* It was his company that forded the creek, and, penetrating the
swamp, made the furious charge on the British left and rear which
decided the fate of the day.- [Mrs. Ellet
328 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
wanted to see my child, and I told them they could
send no party who could keep up with me. What
a happy ride I had back! and with what joy did
I embrace my child as he ran to meet me!" *
* Mra Slocumb was a dignified and generous matron, a  kind  ana
liberal neighbor, and a Christian of indomitable fortitude and
inexhaustible patience. After four or five years' extreme bodily sufferinig, resulting from a complication of diseases, she died, on the sixth
of March, 1836, aged seventy-six years
3P9 
CAP'TAIN RICHARDSON SAVED BY
HIS WIFE.
Love, lend me wings to make this purpose swift,
As thou hast lent me  wit to plot this drift.
SHARtSEAERE.
During the struggle for Independence, Captain
Richardson, of Sumter district, South Carolina, was
obliged to conceal himself for a while in the thickets
of the Santee swamp. One day he ventured to visit
his family-a perilous movement, for the British had
offered rewards for his apprehension, and patrolling
parties were almost constantly in search of him.Before his visit was ended, a small band of soldiers
presented themselves in front of the house. Just as
they were entering, with a great deal of composure
and presence of mind, Mrs. Richardson appeared at
the door, and found so much to do there at the
moment, as to find it inconvenient to make room for
the uninvited guests to enter. She was so calm, and
appeared so unconcerned, that they did not mistrust
the cause of her wonderful diligence, till her husband
had rushed out of the back door and safely reached
the neighboring swamp. 
[ RIKING INSTANCE OF PATIENCE.
Patience and resignation are the pillars
Of human peace on earth.
YoUNse.
The panegyric of Decker on patience is beautiful:
Patience, my lord! why'tis the soul of peace:
Of all the virtues't is the nearest kin to heaven;
It makes men look like gods.
Not every Christian sufferer wears this garment
in its celestial whiteness, as did the God-man, whom
the same  writer calls
"the best of men
That e'er wore earth about him."
One of the most patient beings in modern times
was Miss  Sarah Parbeck, of Salem, Massachusetts.
A  lady who visited her in 1845, gives the following
account of the interview:
The door was opened by a very old lady, wrinkled
and bowed down with age, who invited us to enter.
The room was so dark, that, before my eyes were
accommodated to the change, I could only see a
figure dressed in white, sitting upon the  bed  and
rocking to and fro. This motion was attended bv a 
NOBLE DEEDS
sound like the click of wooden machinery, which
arose, as I afterwards discovered, from the bones, as
they worked in their loosened sockets.  As  we approached, she extended her hand to my companion,
and said, in a painful but affectionate voice, "Eliza,
I am very glad to see thee;"  and then asked my
name and place of residence. She had just given
me her hand, when a spasm seized her, and it was
twitched suddenly from my grasp. It flew some four
or five times with the greatest violence against her
face, and then, with a sound, which I can only compare to that made by a child who has been sobbing
a long time, in catching its breath, she threw up both
her arms, and with a deep guttural groan was flung
back upon her pillow, with a force inconceivable
to one who has not witnessed it. The instant she
touched the bed, she uttered that piercing shriek
again, and sprung back to her former position,
rocking to and fro, with those quick, heart-rending
groans which I had heard while standing at the door.
It was several minutes before she could speak, and
then there was none to answer her.  Both my  companion and myself were choked with tears. Hier
poor mother went to the other side of the bed, and
smoothed the coverlid, and re-arranged the pillows,
looking sadly upon her poor child, writhing in torture
which she could not alleviate.  I became faint, and
trembled with sudden weakness: a cold perspiration
stood upon my face. The objects in the room began
to swim about me, and I was obliged to take hold'
of the bedside for support.   I have been in  ou1
332 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
largest hospitals, and have spent hours in going from
room to room with the attending physician. I have
witnessed there almost every form of human suffering, but I had never beheld any thing to be compared to that now before me. She afterwards told
me, as if in apology for her screams, that when she
was hurled back upon her pillow, both shoulders were
dislocated, and as they sprung back into their sockets,
the pain was far beyond endurance, and extorted
from her these shrieks.
Her sentences were broken, uttered with much difficulty, and frequently interrupted by the terrible
spasm I have described above. Yet this was her
" quiet" state; this the time when she suffered least.
Day after day, night after night, fourteen weary years
have dragged themselves along, whilst her poor body
has been thus racked. No relief; no hope of relief,
except that which death shall give. When I asked
her if her affliction did not at times seem greater
than she could bear, "0!  never," she replied.  "I
cannot thank God enough for having laid his heavy
hand upon me. I was a thoughtless sinner, and had
he not, in his mercy, afflicted me, I should probably
have lost my immortal soul. I see only his kindness and love. The sweet communion I have with
my Saviour more than compensates nme for all I
suffer.  I am permitted to feel, in a measure, in my
poor body, what he suffered to save me, and my soul
can never grow weary in his praise." This last sentence, I must say, gave me an argument which put
doubts of the verity and power of religion to flight,
333
A 
NOBLE DEEDS
more effectually than all the evidences which the
wisdom of man has arrayed against the skeptic;
and I could not but exclaim, "If this be delusion
let me be deluded!"
She spoke in the most tender terms of her Saviour's love. Her conversation was in heaven, from
whence also she looked for her Saviour, knowing
that he should change her body of humiliation, and
fashion it like unto his glorious body. I shall never
forget the tones and language in which she entreated
my sobbing companion to give that Saviour her heart.
As she recovered from a spasm, I said to her, "do
you not often desire to depart, and be with the
Saviolir you love so fervently?" She had hardly recovered her exhausted breath, but replied with great
decision, "By the grace of God, I have  ever had
that wish.  Though  death will be a welcome gift
when my Father sees fit to bestow it upon me, yet,
thanks to his supporting grace, I can wait his time
without impatience. Hie sees that there is much
dross to refine away, and why should I wish against
his will? "
I remained by her side for more than an hour;
such, however, were the attractions of her discourse,
that I was unconscious of the time. I know not
when I have been so drawn towards a fellow Christian, and never had I been led to such delightful
contemplations of our Saviour's character-his faith
fulness and love. I remarked to her, as I turned
to go away, "C God has made you a powerful preacher,
here upon your bed of pain." "0O," she replied,
334 
oF AMF,ER!CAN w OAHN.
" if he will make me the instrument of saving  blut
a single soul, I am willing to live and suffer heie
until my hair is gray with age." I noticed some
bottles standing upon a small table, and asked her
if she found any relief from opiates. "Through God's
kindness," she answered, "I probably owe the preservation of my life thus far to an extract made from
blackdrop."  "Does it enable you to sieep -. "0 no,"
she replied, "I have not known sleep for a very long
time."  "What!" I cried, "do you never rest? "  A
severe spasm here seized her, and it was some time
before she could answer me; she had been attacked ill
this way some twelve or fifteen times whilst conversing with us, and frequently in the midst of a reply.
When she recovered, she said the physicians thought
she obtained rest in her "long spasm," which lasted
for more than ail hour.  "During  that time," she
continued, "I am  dead to every thing but a sense
of the most extreme anguish. I see and hear nothing;
I only feel as though I was being crushed in pieces
by some immense weight." This was her rest! the
rack! Yet, through all this suffering, the smiles of
God penetrated to her heart. She sees him just,
and acknowledges his love
J2r.5 
SUSANNAAH ELLIOTT.
The painted folds thus fly,
And lift their emblems, printed high
On morning mist and sunset sky.
HOLMES.
She showed that her soft sex contains strong mind.
SIR W. DAVENANT.
Susannah Smith, afterwards the wife of Colonel
Barnard Elliott, was a native of South Carolina.
Ramsay, in his history of that state, and other
authors, give a glowing account of her presentation
of a pair of colors to the second South Carolina
regiment of infantry, commanded by Col. Moultrie.
The ceremony took place on the twenty-eighth of
June,'76, two or three days after the attack on Fort
Moultrie, Sullivan's island. The colors, which were
embroidered by her own hand, were presented in
these words: "Your gallant behavior in defence of
liberty and your country, entitles you to the highest
honors: accept these two' standards as a reward
justly due to your regiment; and I make not the least
doubt, under HIeaven's protection, you will stand by
them as long as they can wave in the air of liberty.' 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
irs. Elliott had a plantation called " The  Hlut,"
and  while  there  she  once  had  three  American
gentlemen as guests. These she was obliged to hurry
into a closet one day, on the sudden approach of the
enemy; and, opening a secret door, she showed
them a narrow apartment back of the chimney,
which she had contrived expressly for a hiding place.
Two of the guests entered, and were saved, while
the third, attempting to flee on horse-back, was over taken and slain.
After the British had thoroughly, though ineffectually, searched the house, and failed, by many
threats, to persuade the mistress to disclose the hiding place of the others, they demanded her silver.
Pointing to some mounds of earth near by, as they
made the demand, they asked if the plate was not
buried there.* She told them, in reply, that those
mounds were the graves of British soldiers who had
died under her roof. The officers did not believe her,
and made two of the soldiers dig till they came to one
of the coffins, which was opened and which verified
her assertion. The enemy then departed, when the two
guests came forth, filled with gratitude to their kind
and ingenious hostess for the free use of this singular
apartment.
* The silver was buried in a trunk, and remained in a marshy bed till
the close of the war. When disinterred, it had turned black.
22
3 P) -i 
ANECDOTES OF ANNA ELLIOTT.
"The spark of noble courage now awake,
And strive your excellent self to excel."
The wife of Charles Elliott, of Charleston, South
Carolina, was one of those dames of Seventy-six
who "appeared to concentrate every thought and
every hour of existence to the interests of America."
She cheered the prisoner, befriended the unjustly
persecuted, comforted the sick, fed the hungry, and
was humane alike to enemies and friends.  Major
Garden has paid her the following compliment: "I
do not know an officer who did not owe to her sonme
essential increase of comfort."
A British officer, whose cruel and persecuting
disposition was well known to Mrs. Elliott, was
walking with her in a flower garden one day, when,
pointing to the chamomile hlie asked, "What is
this, madam? "  She  at once replied, "The rebel
flower."  "And  why," asked he, "is it called the
rebel flower?"  "Because," answered she, "it always
flourishes most when trampled upon."
At another time, while an officer of the roval
army was in her house at Charleston, a French 
OF AMERICAN WOMIEN.
officer, belonging to Pulaski's legion, passed; and
pointing to him, he vociferated, "There, Mrs. Elliott,
is one of your illustrious allies. What a pity tlhe
hero is minus his sword." The spirit of the woman
was roused, and she replied, "Had two thousand
such men been here to aid in the defence of our
city, I should not at this moment, sir, have been
subjected to the insolence of your observation."
When her father, the brave and zealous patriot,
Thomas Ferguson, was put on board a transport
ship at Charleston, preparatory to exile, she hastened
from the country, where she chanced to be, and
begged permission to receive his parting blessing.
Her request being granted, she went on board the
ship. Just as she entered the cabin, she was overcome with grief, and fainted. When recovered, she
addressed her father as follows: " Let not oppression
shake your fortitude, nor the hope of gentler treatment cause you for a moment to swerve from strict
duty. Better times are in store for us: the bravery
of the Americans, and the friendly aid of France,
will achieve the deliverance of our country  from
oppression. We shall meet again, my father, and
meet with joy." X
A similar spirit was exhibited by the wife of Isaac Holmes, one
of the number who were sent into exile at St Augustine.  Just as the
guard were separating him from his family, she said to him, "Waver
not in your principles, but be true to your country. Have no fears for
your family; God is'good, and will provide for them."
339 
PATRIOTIC STRATAGEM.
What bosom beats not in its country's cause?
PorE.
r5ile the Legislature of Virginia was in session
at Charlottesville, Colonel Tarleton, with his famous
band of cavalry, made a secret march to that place,
in order to capture the. Governor and some public
stores there collected. Several of the Assembly-men
were at the house of Colonel John Walker, a dozen
miles distant, and directly on Tarleton's route. Colonel Walker was absent on duty in the lower part
:f the state.  Tarleton came  suddenly up to the
door, and succeeded in making one or two prisoners,
the other members fleeing to town. Hie then ordered
breakfast for himself and his whole corps, which
the shrewd lady of the house prepared in the
slowest manner possible. This she did in order that
the members who had fled to the capital, might
attend to the removal or concealment of the stores,
in the preservation of which she was deeply interested.
Her stratagem succeeded; and, after tarrying a day
or two at Charlottesville, Tarleton went empty away. 
INFLUENCE OF A FAITHFUL TEACHER.
Spread out earth's holiest records here.
SPRAGUE
"About the first of September, 1833, a deep and
solemn interest upon the subject of religion, began
to be visible in the Presbyterian church and congregation of Washingtonville, New York, and particularly in the Sabbath school. One teacher, feeling
deeply the responsibility resting upon her, and the
worth of immortal souls, before the school was dismissed on the Lord's day, affectionately requested
her class, consisting of little girls about twelve or
thirteen years of age, to remain after the rest of
the school had retired. She then began, with an
aching heart and with flowing tears, to reason and
plead with them upon the subject of personal religion.
They were deeply affected, and'wept bitterly' in
view of their lost condition. They then all knelt
together before the Lord, and the teacher prayed
for their salvation; and immediately the scholar next
to her commenced praying for herself, and then the
next, and so on, until the whole class, with ardent
supplications, begged for the forgiveness of their sir 
NOBLE DEEDS
and  the salvation of their souls.  It would take
long to tell the history of this class, and relate particular instances of conversions, and the happy
changes which took place in the families to which
they belonged, and  show  the  family altars which
were established. These scholars, with their teacher
and their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters,
were ere long seen commemorating a Saviour's dying
love together. The revival extended itself to other
towns, and the great day can alone unfold the
astonishing results."
342 
TIE WIFE OF THOMAS HEYWARD.
What I will, I will, and there's.an end.
SHAKSPEARE..
Immediately after the victory of the British at Guilford, order was given for the illumination of Charleston, South  Carolina.   This  order,  Mlajor  Garden
informs us, * the wife of Thomas IIeyward of that
city refused to obey; and when an officer asked
her the reason of her disobedience, she replied, "Is
it possible for me, sir, to feel a spark of joy? Can
I celebrate the victory of your army while my
husband remains a prisoner at St. Augustine 8" Enraged at her obstinacy, he told her she s8hould
illuminate. "Not a single light shall be placed, with
my consent, on any occasion, in any window in the
house," was her fearless reply. He then threatened
to destroy her house before midnight.   "You  have
power to destroy, sir," she said, "and seem well
disposed to use it, but over my opinions you possess
no control. I disregard your menaces, and resolutely
declare, I,'ill not illuminate!"  As  good  as her
word, she did not, nor was her house destroyed.
Revolutionary Anecdotes, First Series 
NOBLE DEEDS
Orders were given, at another time, for an illumination on the anniversary of the battle and surrender
of Charleston,* and Mrs. Hieyward  again refused to
obey. The mob was so indignant as to pelt her
house with brickbats; and while engaged in the mean
act, a feeble and emaciated sister of Mrs. Heyward
-Mrs. George A. Hall - expired!  When the town
major heard of this painful circumstance, he tried to
apologize to Mrs. Heyward, expressing regret for tho
indignities and damages, and offering to repair the
building.   She received his personal courtesies, but
refused his proffered aid in making repairs, hinting,
at the same time, that it was hardly possible for the
authorities, in that way, to remedy insults the offering
of which their baseness had probably prompted and
and which they could and saou7ld have prevented.
* May twelfth, 1781.
344 
NOBLE DECISION.
We are born to do benefits.
SHAKSPEARE.
When the news was received in Illinois, a few
years ago, that, owing to a deficiency of funds, the
Ceylon missionaries had been obliged to dismiss
thousands of pupils firom their schools, and that
twenty-five dollars would revive any one of them,
a minister of that state laid the subject before his
small and poor church, and between pastor and people twenty-five dollars were promptly raised. Going
home and communicating the intelligence to his wife,
the minister learned that she had been weighing the
subject, and was anxious, in some way, to raise enough
herself alone to resuscitate a school. Her husband
told her she could do it by dispensing with a tomb
stone which had been ordered from New York for a
child lately deceased, and which would cost twentyfive dollars. She promptly consented to have the order countermanded, saying that "living children demanded her money more than the one that was
dead." By suffering the love of Christ to triumph
over maternal feeling, she re-opened a nmission school,
and the day of judgment will reveal the great amount
of good thereby        accomplished. 
A TENNESSEE HEROINE.
It is held
That valor is the chiefest virtue;
Most dignifies the haver: if it be,
The man I speak of cannot in the world.
Be singly counterpoised.
SHAKSPEAR.
Milton A. Haynes, Esq., of Tennessee, furnished
for Mrs. Ellet's Women of the Revolution a lengthy
and very interesting sketch of Sarah Buchanan, of
East Tennessee.  The following anecdotes, extracted
therefrom, exhibit the heroism of her character:
On one occasion, Sarah and a kinswoman named
Susan Everett were returning home from a visit a
mile or two distant, careless of danger, or not thinking of its presence. It was late in the evening,
and they were riding along a path through the open
woods,  Miss  Everett  in  advance.   Suddenly she
stopped her horse, exclaiming, "Look, Sally, yonder
are the red  skins!"   Not  more  than a hundred
yards ahead was a party of Indians armed with
rifles, directly in their path. There was no time for
counsel, and retreat was impossible, as the Indians
might easily intercept them bef)re they could gain 
OF AMERICAN WOOMEN.
a fort in their rear.  To reach their own block-house,
four or five hundred yards distant, was their only
hope of safety. Quick as thought, Sarah whispered
to her companion to follow and do as she did, and
then instantly assuming the position of a man on
horseback, in which she was imitated by her relative, she urged her horse into a headlong gallop.
Waving their bonnets in the air, and yelling like
madmen, they camne furiously down upon the savages, who had not seen them, crying out as they
came -" Clear the track, you        red skins!"  The
part was so well acted, that the Indians took them
for the head of a body of troopers, who were
making a deadly charge upon them, and dodging
out of the path, fled for very life- and so did Sally
and Susan!  Before the savages had recovered from
their fright, the two girls were safe within the gates
of the fort, trembling like fiightened fawns at the
narrow escape which they had made.
On another occasion, when her husband  and all
the men of the fort were absent, two celebrated
horse-thieves, who had taken refuge with the Indians, came  and demanded  of AMrs. Buchanan two
of the Major's fine horses.  Knowing their lawless
character, she pretended acquiescence, and went with
them to the stable, but on arriving at the door she
suddenly drew a large hunting knife from  under
her apron, and assuming an attitude of defiance,
declared that if either of them  dared to enter the
stable, she would instantly cut him down. Struck
by her intrepid bearing, they fell back, and although
3 Zi ( 
hNOBI,E  Ii,EDS
they tried to overcome her  resolution  by threats
and bravado, she maintained her ground, and the
marauders were compelled to retire without the
horses.
On Sunday night,* about the hour of midnight,
while the moon was shining brilliantly, the Indian
army under Watts and the Shawnee, advancing in silence, surrounded Buchanan's station. In order to
effect an entrance into the fort by a coup de main,
they sent runners to frighten and drive in the horses
and cattle. This was done, and the animals camne
dashing furiously towards the fort; but the garrison,
wrapped in slumber, heeded them not. The watchman, John McCrory, at this instant discovering the
savages advancing within fifty yards of the gates,
fired upon them.  In an instant the mingled yells
of the savage columns, the crack of their rifles, arind
the clatter of their hatchets, as they attempted to
cut down the gate, told the little squad of nineteen
men and seven women that the fearful war-cloud,
which had been rising so long, was about to burst
upon their devoted heads!
Aroused suddenly from deep slumber by the ter
rible war-whoop, every man and woman felt the
horror of their situation. The first impulse with
some was to surrender, and it is related of one
woman that she instantly gathered her five children
and attempted to go with them to the gate to yield
* In the autumn of 1792, while the war with the Creeks and Chero.
kees was raging in the Cumberland valley.
3-18 
OF AMEIRICAN WOMEN.
themselves to the Indians.  Mrs. Buchanan seized
her by the shoulder, and asked her where she was
going.
"To surrender myself and children to the Indians-if I don't they'll kill us, any how," exclaimed
the terrified woman.  " Come back," said Mrs. Buchanan, "and let us all fight and die together."
An old man, who waked up as it were in a dream,
seemed paralyzed, and exclaimed, in a plaintive
voice —" Oh, we shall all be murdered!"
"Get  up then and  go to fighting!" exclaimed
Mrs. Buchanan; " I'd be ashamed to sit crouched
up there when any one else is fighting. Better die
nobly than live shamefully!"
In the mean time Major Buchanan had arranged
his men in the block-houses so as to rake the Indians by a flank fire, and was pouring a galling fire
into the head of the assaulting column. Yet, nothing
dismayed, the daring foe crowded against the gates,
their blows falling faster and heavier, while now
and then they attempted to scale the pickets. At
length, unable to do this or to force open the wellbarred and ponderous gate, the bold warriors advanced  to the block-houses, and  standing  before
them, pointed their guns in at the port holes; both
sides sometimes at the same instant firing through
the same opening. It was the policy of Major Buchananl to impress upon them the idea that the fort
contained a large ga?rr'isonl. To (do this it was necessay for his men to fire their guns often, and occasionally in volleys.  At this crisis the whis)er went
349 
NOBLE DEEDS
round -' All is lost.  Our bullets are out!"  But
there were guardian angels whoin these brave men
knew not of. Scarcely had the words been spoken,
when Mrs. Buchanan passed around with an apronful of bullets, which she and Nancy Mlulherrin,
the Major's sister, had moulded, during the fight,
out of her plates and spoons.  At the same time she
gave to each of the tired soldiers some brandy which
she carried in a pewter basin.  During the contest
they had thus moulded three hundred bullets. Not
without their fun were these hardy men in this hour
of peril.  In order to keep up a show of good spirits,
they frequently cried out to the Indians, " Shoot bullets, you squaws! Why don't you put powder in
your guns?"  This was understood, for Watts and
many others spoke very good English, and they replied by daring them to come out and fight like men.
In the midst of these banterings, Mrs. Buchanan discovered a large blunderbuss which had been standing
in a corner during the fight and had not been discharged, and gave it to an Irishman named O'Connor
to fire off. In telling the stbry afterwards the Irish
man said: An' she gave me the wide-mouthed fusee
and bade me to shoot that at the blasted creeters, and
Jimmy O'Connor he took the fulsee, and he pulled the
trigger when the rest fired, for three or four times,
and loaded her again every time, and so ye see, yei
honor, when I pulled the trigger again, the fusee went
off, it did, and Jimmy O'Connor went under the
bed.   This unequal contest lasted for four long hours,
and when the first blush of morning began to appear
350 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
in the east, most of the chiefs were killed or wounded.
The boastful Shawnee was transfixed in death, leaning
against the gate which he had so valorously assaulted;
the White Owl's son and Unacate, or the White-mankiller, were mortally wounded, and John Watts was
borne off on a litter, shot through both legs.
During this protracted fight Mirs. Buchanan aided
the defenders by words and deeds, as if life or death
depended upon the efforts-which she was then making.
She knew, and all knew, that if the assault could be
repelled for four hours, relief would come firom the
neighboring posts. Foiled, discouraged, their leaders
disabled, this formidable army of savage warriors
precipitately retreated towards their country, bearing
off most of their wounded, yet leaving many dead
upon the field. This was the first formidable invasion
of Cumberland valley, and its tide was rolled back as
much by the presence of mind and heroic firmness
of Sarah Buchanan and Nancy i[ulherrin, as by the
rifles of their husbands and friends. The fame of this
gallant defence went abroad, and the young wife of
Major Buchanan was celebrated as the greatest heroine of the West.   From 1780 to 1796, there was
not a year in which her family had not been ex
posed to peril, in which, of course, she was a partaker.*
* This heroic woman died at Buchanan's Station, on the twentythird of November, 1831. She sleeps on the site of the old fort that
witnessed her bravery; and Carcas, queen of Carcassone, who defended
that city with such courage and resolution, when it was beseiged by
Charlemagne, that the Emperor permitted her to retain the sovereignty
of the place, has scarcely higher claims to historical commemoration.
AUTHoR.
351
.1 
M]AGNANIMITY OF MRS. M'KAY.
Greatness of mind, and nobleness, their seat
In her build loveliest.
MILTON.
"In the beginning of June, 1781, the British garrison at Augusta, Georgia, capitulated to the American
forces, under command of General Pickens and Colonel Lee, of the partizan legion. Colonel Grierson,
who was obnoxious to the Americans on account of
his barbarities, was shot down by an unknown hand,
after he was a prisoner. A reward of one hundred
guineas was offered to any person who would point
out the offender, but in vain. Colonel Brown, the
British commander, expecting the same fate, con,jcious that he deserved it, from his unrelenting and
vindictive disposition towards the Americans, was
furnished with a guard, although he had hanged
thirteen American prisoners, and had given others
into the hands of the Indians to be tortured. On
his way to Savannah, he passed through the settlements where he had burned a niumber of houses,
and hung some of the relatives of the inhabitants.
At Silverbluff, Mrs. M'Kay obtained leave of the 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
American officer, who commanded his safeguard, to
speak to him;  when  she thus addressed him:'Colonel Brown, in the late day of your prosperity,
I visited your camp, and on my knees supplicated
for the life of my only son, but you were deaf tc
my entreaties; you hanged him, though a beardless
youth, before my face. These eyes have seen him
scalped by the savages under your immediate command, and for no better reason than that his name
was:I'Kay. As you are now a prisoner to the
leaders of my country, for the present I lay aside all
thoughts of revenge, but when you resume your
sword, I will go five hundred miles to demand satisfaction at the point of it, for the murder of my
son! " 
23
353 
HEROIC CONDUCT OF A DAUGHTER.
Fair was her face, and spotless was her mind,
Where filial love with virgin sweetness joined.
POPE.
Xantippe, a Roman lady, who nursed her father,
the aged Cimonus, while he was  a prisoner, and
thereby saved his life, rendered herself immortal by
this manifestation of filial affection.  But the "Roman Charity " is not comparable  to the following
extraordinary deed of filial sacrifice.
The winter of 1783 was unusually severe, and
the sufferings of the poor in the city of New York
were very great. One family, consisting of the husband, wife and one daughter, were, on one occasion,
reduced to the last stick of wood, and were wholly
destitute of provisions. The daughter, who had
thus far supported her aged and infirm parents by
her industry, was out of work, and knew not what
to do. At this juncture of affairs, she recollected
that a dentist had advertised for sound fore-teeth,
anid offered  three guineas a piece  f(or all he  was
himself permitted to extract.  In the midst of her
grief, the generous girl suddenly brightened up, 
1, 
'''/I!/".~Lt-__  _____                                                   __          __
Al 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
and  hastened  to  the  dentist's office.   She  made
known the condition of her parents, and offered to
dispose of all her fore-teeth on his terms. The
dentist, instead of extracting a tooth, with tears in
his eyes, placed in her hands ten guineas, and sent
her, rejoicing, to the relief of her parents.
355 
HlEROIO DECISION.
No thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That argued fear.
MILTON.
We have elsewhere in this work spoken of the
perils necessary to be encountered by Christian miissionaries, and particularly those who connect themselves with stations in Africa. The history of the
MIethodist Ep)iscopal mission in that quarter of the
globe, presents a noble, if not a long, list of soldiers
who early feii there while contending with Error.
They sank upon the battle field, with their armor on
and covered with glory. They fell not before the
hosts of paganism; they were conquered by the
climate. Most of those who have not died on the
field, have been obliged to shortly flee to their native
land for the restoration of health. Hlere and there
one has withstood the adverse nature of the climate,
toiled for years, and done a noble work, which has
caused rejoicing in Heaven and honored the name
of Christ on earth.
Few persons, whose names are connected with the
history of modern missions, have displayed a more den 
o  AMEtlICAN WOMEN.
noted, self-sacrificing spirit, or greater moral courage,
than Miss Sophronia Farrington.  Prior to the autumn
of 1834, of six missionaries who had entered the field
in Africa under the patronage of American Methodists, three * were in their graves, and twot
had returned to the United States for health. Miss
Farrington stood alone, and the question arose, what
she should do. The officers of the Missionary Society
were willing she should return home, and her friends
were urging it upon her. With her co4aborers all
dead or fled, she seemed herself to be left to the
alternative either to flee or fall. Should she choose
the former course, the mission would be wholly, and,
for ought she knew, for ever, abandoned. What then
should she do?  Like a hero, to use her own words,
she had "offered her soul upon the altar of her God,
for the salvation of that long benighted continent,"
and with courage that shames the facer of the cannon's mouth, she resolved to remain and toil alone,
beside the graves of her fallen companions till more
help should come or the Divine Husbandman close
the labors  of the lone  vine-dresser.   More  help
arrived in a few months, and, according to the
annual report of 183;, the mission, of whose history
she formed at one time the connecting link, "continued to loom up in bright perspective,' and promise
a rich reward for all the labors and sufferings of
the faithful missionaries."
I Rev. M. B. Cox and Rev. O. S. Wright and wife.
t Rev. Mr. Spaulding and lady.
35'7 
THE DAUGIITER OF AARON BURR.
'T is thine on every heart to'grave thy praise,
A monument which Worth alone can raise.
BROOME.
Theodosia, the only daughter of Aaron Burr, was
a woman of superior mental accomplishments, and
very strong affections. She was married to Joseph
Alston, Esq., afterwards Governor of South Carolina,
in 1801. She was then in her eighteenth year. That
she was an excellent wife may be gathered, not
merely from the story of her life, but from the testimony of her husband. Writing to her father in 1813
-soon after her death-he says, " The man who has
been deemed worthy of the heart of Theodosia Burr,
and has felt what it was to be blest with such a
woman's, will never forget his elevation." *
In regard to her attachment t8 her father, a writer,
quoted in the appendix to Safford's Life of Blennerhassett, remarks as follows: " Her love for her father
partook of the purity of a better world; holy, deep,
unchanging; it reminds us of the affection which a
celestial spirit might be supposed to entertain for a
' Memoirs of Aaron Burr, by Matthew L. Davis, voL 2, p. 432. 
OF AMERICAN WOM]EN.
parent cast down from heaven, for sharing in the sin
of the'Son of the Morning.'   No  sooner did she
hear of the arrest of her father, than she fled to his
side.* There is nothing in human history more
touching than the hurried letters, blotted with tears,
in which she announced her daily progress to Richmond; for she was too weak to travel with the
rapidity of the mail."
Hiad her health permitted, and occasion presented
itself, she would have matched in heroism any act in
the life of Margaret Roper or Elizabeth Cazotte.t
The trial of her father for treason, and his virtual
banishment, not only depressed her spirits, but fearfully racked her already feeble constitution, yet his
disgrace abated not a tittle the ardor of her affection;
and when he returned from Europe, though in feeble
health, she resolved to visit him in the city of New
York. She was then in Southl Carolina. Embarking
in the privateer Patriot, on the thirteenth of January.
* He was imprisoned in Richmond, Virginia.-AUTHOP.
t Mra Roper accompanied her father, Sir Thomas More, to prison,
and after he was executed and his head had lain fourteen days on
London Bridge, she purchased it, and thius saved it firom being thrown
into the Thames.  For this intrepidity, by the king's orders she was
cast into prison-though she was soon permitted to escape.
Mademoiselle Cazotte was the daughter of an aged Frenchman, w o,
oni one occasion, during the Revolution in his country, would have lost
his life but for her courage.  He was a "counter-revolutionist," and
after an imprisonment, during which his daughter chose to be immured
with him, on the second day of September, he was about to be slain.
An axe was raised over his head, when Elizabeth threw herself upon
him, and exclaimed, "Strike, barbarians; you cannot reach my father
but through my heart" She did other heroic deeds.
359 
~6O               NO13LE rEEDS
1813, she was never heard of afterwards.  The
schooner may have fallen into the hands of`pirates;
but, as a heavy gale was experienced fb~r severaj
days soon after leaving Georgetown, the probability
is that the craft foundered.  Thus closed a life to
which the panegyrical exclamation of Milton happily
applies:
o glorious trial of exceeding love
Illustrious evidence, example hig~ 
FEMALE INTREPIDITY.
Be not dismayed- fear nurses up a danger,
And resolution kills it in the birth.
PHILLIPS.
During the war between the Indians and Ken
tuckians, while the owner of a plantation in a thinly
settled part of the state, was at work with his slaves
in the field, a sable sentinel, who was posted near the
house, saw a party of savages approaching. One of
them was more fleet than he, and reaching the house
at the same moment, they rushed within doors together. The planter's wife instantly closed the door
and the negro and Indian grappled. The former was
the stronger of the two, though the latter was the
more expert. After a hard struggle, the negro threw
the Indian, and held him fast until the woman beheaded him with a broad-axe.  The negro then seized
the guns, and began to fire at the other Indians
through the loop-holes.  The guns were loaded by
the woman as fast as discharged.  Their frequent
report soon brought the laborers from the field, and
the surviving Indians were driven away. 
THE WIFE OF RICHARD SIIUBRICK.
Be fire with fire;
Threaten the threatener, and out face the brow
Of bragging horror: so shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behavior from the great,
Grow great by your example.
SHAKSPEARE.
The followi'ng anecdotes of Mfrs. Richard Shubrick
may be found in the First Series of Major Garden's
Revolutionary Anecdotes.   "There was," he writes,
" an appearance of personal debility about her that
rendered her peculiarly interesting: it seemed to solicit the interest of every heart, and the man would
have felt himself degraded who would not have put
his life at hazard to serve her. Yet, when firmness
of character was requisite, when fortitude was called
for to repel the encroachments of aggression, there
was not a more intrepid being in existence.
"An Americefn soldier, flying from a party of the
enemy, sough' her protection, and was promised it.
The British, pressing close upon him, insisted that
he should bIe delivered up, threatening immediate
and uni versal destruction in case of refusal.  The
ladies, ter friends and companions, who were in the 
OF OAMERICA"X WOIN.
house with her, shrunk from the contest, and were
silent; but, undaunted by their threats, this intrepid
lady placed herself before the chamber into which
the unfortunate fiug,itive had been conducted, and
resolutely said,' To men of honor the chamber of a
lady should be as sacred as the sanctuary! I will
defend the passage to it though I perish.  You may
succeed, and enter it, but it shall be over my corpse.'
'By  God,' said the officer,'if muskets were only
placed in the hands of a few such women, our only
safbty would be found in retreat.  Your intrepidity,
madam, gives you security; from me you shall meet
no further annoyance.'
" At Brabant, the seat of the respectable and patriotic Bishop Smith, a sergeant of Tarleton's dragoons,
eager for the aquisition of plunder, followed the overseer, a man advanced in years, into the apartment
where the ladies of the family were assembled, and
on his refusing to discover the spot in which the
plate was concealed, struck him with violence, inflicting a severe sabre wound across the shoulders.
Aroused  by the infamy of the act, frs. Shubrick,
starting from her seat, and placing herself betwixt
the ruffian and his victim, resolutely said,'Place
yourself behind me, Murdoch; the interposition of
my body shall give you protection, or I will die:'
then, addressing herself to the sergeant, exclaimed,
' O what a degradation of manhood - what departure
from that gallantry which was once the characteristic
of British soldiers.   Hluman nature is degraded  by
your barbarity;- but should you persist, then strike
;j'G 3 
NOBLE DEEDS
at me, for till I die, no further injury shall be done
to him.' The sergeant, unable to resist such commanding eloquence, retired." *
* "The hope, however, of attaining the object in view, very speedily
subjected the unfortunate Murdoch to new persecution.  He was tied
up under the very tree where the plate was buried, and threatened
wvith immediate execution unless he would make the discovery required.
But although well acquainted with the unrelenting severity of his
enemy, and earnestly solicited by his wife, to save his life by a speedy
confession of the place of deposit, he persisted resolutely, that a sacred
trust was not to be betrayed, and actually succeeded in preserving it."
364 
KEEN RETORT OF MRS. ASHE.
I have a thousand spirits in one breast,
To answer twenty thousand such as you.
SHAKSPEA'R.
While General Leslie was staying with the British
troops at Halifax, North Carolina, Colonel Tarleton
and other officers held their quarters at the house
of Colonel Ashe, whose wife was a firmn friend of
liberty. Iler beau ideal of the hero was Colonel
William Washington; and, knowing this fact, the
sarcastic Tarleton took great delight in speaking
diminutively of this officer in her presence. In his
jesting way, he remarked to her one time, that he
should like to have an opportunity of seeing hei
friend, Colonel Washington, whom he had understood
to be a very small man. Mrs. Ashe promptly replied,
(1 If you had looked behind you, Colonel Tarleton,
at the battle of the Cowpens, you would have had
that pleasure."*
* It is said that this taunt was so keenly felt that Tarleton laid ha
hand on the hilt of his sword. General Leslie entered the room at
the moment, and seeing the agitation of Mrs. Ashe,;and learning its
cause, said to her, "Say what you please, Mrs. Ashe; Colonel Tarleton
knows better than to insult a lady in my prese 
PHILANTHROPIC WIFE OF A DRUNKARD.
There's in you all that we believe of heaven.
OTWAY.
"The amazing influence of one Christian, who
shows in her life the spirit of Christ, is illustrated in
a striking manner, in the life of a lady who died not
long since, in one of the principal cities of the
United States. I am not permitted to give her name,
nor all the particulars of her life. But what I relate
may be relied upon, not only as facts, but as far
below the whole truth. She had been for a long time
afflicted with a drunken husband. At length the
sheriff came, and swept off all her property, not
excepting her household furniture, to discharge his
grog bills. At this distressing crisis, she retired to
an upper room, laid her babe upon the bare floor,
kneeled down over it, and offered up the following
petition: "'0 Lord, if thou wilt in any way remove
from me this affliction, I will serve thee upon bread
and water, all the days of my life." The Lord took
her at her word. lIer besotted husband immediately disappeared, and was never heard of again
till after her death The church would now have 
OF AMERIC.;N WOIIEN.
maintained her, but she would not consent to becoefie
a charge to others. Although in feeble health, aind
afflicted with the sick headache, she opened a small
school, from which she obtained a bare subsistence;
though it was often no more than what was contained
in tl.e condition of her prayer literally bread and
water. She was a lady of pleasing address, and of a
mild and gentle disposition.  "In her lips was the
law of kindness." Yet she possessed an energy of
character and a spirit of perseverance, which the
power of faith alone can impart. When she undertook any Christian enterprise, she was discouraged by
no obstacles, and appalled by no difficulties.   She
resided in the most wicked and abandoned part of
the city, which afforded a great field of labor. IHer
benevolent heart was pained at seeing the grog shops
open upon the holy Sabbath. She undertook the
difficult and almost hopeless task of closing these
sinks of moral pollution upon the Lord's day, and
succeeded.  This was accomplished by the mild influence of persuasion, flowing from the lips of kindness, and  clothed with  that power which  always
accompanies the true spirit of the gospel.  rBut she
was not satisfied with seeing the firont doors ald
windows of these houses closed. She would, therefore,
upon the morning of the Sabbath, pass round, and
enter these shops through the dwellings occupied by
the families of the keepers, where she often found
them engaged secretly in this wickedness. She would
then remonstrate with them, until she persuaded
them to abandon it, and attend public worship. In
36C7 
NOBLE DEEDS
this manner, she abolisned, almost entirely, the sale
of liquors upon the Sabbath, in the worst part of the
city.
"She also looked after the poor, that the Gospel
might be preached to them. She carried with her the
number of those pews in the church which were
unoccupied. And upon Sabbath mornings, she made
it her business to go out in the streets and lanes of
the city, and persuade the poor to come in and fill up
these vacant seats. By her perseverance and energy,
she would remove every objection, until she had
brought them to the house of God. She was incessant and untiring in every effort for doing good. She
would establish a Sabbath school, and superintend it
until she saw it flourishing, and then deliver it into
the hands of some suitable person, and go and establish another. She collected together a Bible class of
apprentices, which she taught herself. Her pastor
one day visited it, and found half of them in tears,
under deep conviction. She was faithful to the
church and to impenitent sinners. It was her habitual
practice to reprove sin, and to warn sinners wherever
she found them. At the time of her death, she had
under her care a number of pious young men preparing for the ministry. These she had looked after,
and brought out of obscurity. As soon as their piety
nad been sufficiently proved, she would bring them
to the notice of her Christian friends. She persuaded
pious teachers to give them gratuitous instruction,
and pious booksellers to supply them with books. In
the same way, she procured their board in the
368 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
families of wealthy Christians; and she form(d little
societies of ladies, to supply them with clothing.
There was probably no person in the city whose death
would have occasioned the shedding of more tears
or called forth more sincere and heartfelt grief." *
* Practical Directory for Young Christian Femajes
I- 
24
369 
THE MOTHER OF DR. DWIGHT.
Though r
Plant laurels on the warrior's grave, and  n
With bays the slumbering bard- the mo
Shall claim more dear memorials:  gratitu
Shall there abide; affection, reverence, the
Shall oft revolve the precepts which now
With emphasis divine.
MRs. WEST.
The mother of Timothy Dwight was a daugl, ter
of Jonathan Edwards, and seems to have inherited
a large share of her father's talents and spiritual
graces. Hier powers of mind were unusually strong;
her knowledge was extensive and varied, and her
piety highly fervid. She married at an early age;
became a mother when eighteen; had a large family;
and, though never negligent of domestic duties, she
daily and assiduously devoted herself to the education
of her children.   She began to instruct Timothy, it
is said, " as soon as he was able to speak; and such
was his eagerness, as well as his capacity for improvement, that he learned the alphabet at a single
lesson; and before he was four years old, was able
to read the Bible with ease and correctness...
She taught him from the very dawn of his reason
w, fear God and to keep his commandments; to be 
OF AMI-tICAN  WOM.EN.
conscientiously just, kind, affectionate, charitable, and
forgiving; to preserve, on all occasions, and under
all circumstances, the most sacred regard for truth;
and to relieve the distresses and supply the wants
of the poor and unfortunate.  She aimed, at a very
early period, to enligliten his conscience, to make
him aifraid of sin, and to teach him to hope for pardon only through Christ. The impressions thus made
upon his mind in infancy, were never effaced.  A
great proportion of the instruction which hlie received
before he arrived at the age of six years, was at
home with his mother.  I-his school room was the
nursery. IJere he had his regular hours for study,
as in a school; and twice every day she heard him
repeat his lesson.  Ihere, in addition to his stated
task, he watched the cradle of his younger brotlher.
When his lesson was recited, he was permitted to
read suchbooks as he chose, until the limited period
was expired. During these intervals, he often read
over the historical parts of the Bible, and gave an
account of them to his mother. So deep and distinct
was the impression which these narrations made upon
his mind, that their minutest incidents were indelibly
l~xed upon his memory. Ihis relish for reading was
thus early formed, and was strengthened by the conversation and example of his mother.   Itis early
knowledge of the Bible led to that ready, accurate,
and extensive acquaintance with Scripture, which is
so evident in his sermons and other writings."*
* Mothers of thle Wise and Good, D. 149
, i- t 
NOBLE DEEDS
It is easy to see, in this picture, who it was that
laid the foundation of that character which sanctified
genius, and caused it to shine with transcendent lustre, for more than twenty years, at the head of Yale
college. The mother of President Dwight was well
repaid, even in this life, for the pains she took to
rear this son for the glory of God; for, while he never
disobeyed a command of hers or omitted a filial duty,
he was kind and generous to her in her old age, and
smoothed her path to a Christian's grave. But her
true and great reward for her maternal faithfulness,
is in another world, whither she went to receive it
about the year 1807.
372 
HIIAPPY RESULTS OF MATERNAL FIDEL.TY
Lift the heart and bend the knee.
MRs. HEMANS.
The superior influence of the mother in forming the
character of the child, is generally conceded. Biographical literature abounds with illustrations of this
fact, and renders it incontrovertible. As examples,
in Great Britain, we are often, with propriety, pointed
to the mothers of Isaac and John Newton, Doddridge, the Wesleys, Richard Cecil, Legh Richmond
and many others; but it is needless for any people
to search in foreign lands for such examples.
In the notices of the mothers of Washington, Jackson, Randolph, Dwight and some others, on preceding
pages of this volume, the truth of the same proposition is endeavored to be substantiated: and, as
facts most forcibly illustrate argument, and wholesome
hints are often easiest given by example, we will add
two or three more anecdotes having a bearing on this
point.
The mother of Jonathan Edwards, it is well known,
began to pray for him as soon as he was born; and
probably no mother ever strove harder than she to 
NOBLE DEEIDS
rear a child " in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord."  The result of her efforts is known  to the
world.
The late Professor Knowles, of the Newton theological institution, received much pious instruction
from his mother ifn his infant years; and, as he lost
his father at the age of twelve, at that period she
assumed wholly the guidance of his steps and his
studies. She early discovered his love of books and
his promising talents; and while she admonished him,
and led him to the Saviour, she also sympathized
with him in his literary taste and encouraged him in
his scientific pursuits. The zealous minister, the
learned biblical instructor, the polished writer and
biographer of the first Mrs. Judson, owed very much
to the moral training and the literary encouragement
of his faithful mother.
Nearly half a century ago, the mother of the celebrated Beecher family, made the following record:
"This morning I rose very early to pray for my
children; and especially that my sons may be ministers and missionaries of Jesus Christ." The "fervent"
prayers of the good woman were "effectual:" her five
sons became "ministers and missionaries of Jesus
Christ," and all her children-eight in number-are
connected with the " household of God "-several on
earth and one,* at least, in heaven.
* The -late George Beecher.
3,t,4 
WONDERFUL ENDURANCE AND PERSE         VERANCE OF MRS. SCOTT.
Mute
The camel labors with the heaviest load,
And the wolf dies in silence; not bestowed
In vain should such examples b,; if they,
Things of ignoble or of savage mood,
Endure and shrink not, we of n )bler clay,
May temper it to bear- it is but for a day.
BYRON.
Mrs. Scott, a resident of Washington county, Virginia, was taken captive by Indians on the night
of the twenty-ninth of June, 1785.   Her husband
and all her children were slain; and before morning
she was forced to commence her march through the
wilderness.
On  the eleventh day of her captivity, while in
charge of four Indians, provision becoming scarce,
a halt was made, and three of the number went on
a hunting excursion. Being left in the care of an
ol-l man, she made him believe she was reconciled
tc her condition, and thus threw him off his guard.
Anxious to escape, and having matured her plans,
s. a, asked  hini, in the most disinterested mannler
possible, to let her go to a small stream, neai by, 
NOBLE DEEDS
and wash hel apron, which was besmeared with the
b)lood of one of her children. He gave her leave,
and while he was busy in "graining a deer-skin,"
she started off.  Arriving at the stream, without a
monient's hesitation, she pushed on in the direction
of a mountain. Traveling till late at night, she came
into a valley where she hoped to find the track along
which she had been taken by her captors, and thereby
De able to retrace her steps.  Hurry;ng across the
valley to the margin of a river, which she supposed
must be the eastern branch of the Kentucky, she
discovered in the sand the tracks of two men who
had followed the stream upwards and returned.
Thinking them to be the prints of pursuers, and that
they had returned from the search, she took courage,
thanked God, and was prepared to continue her
flight.
On the third day she came very near falling into
the hands of savages, a company whom she supposed
had been sent to Clinch river on a pilfering excursion.
Hearing their approach before they camne in sight,
she concealed herself, and they passed without noticing her.  She now became greatly alarmed, and
was so bewildered as to lose her way and to wander
at random for several days.
At length, coming to a stream that seemed to flow
fiom the east, she concluded it must be Sandy river;
and restlving to trace it to its source, which was near
a settlement where she was acquainted, she pushed
on for several days, till she came into mountainous
regions and to craggy steeps. There, in the vicinity
376 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
of a' )rodigious waterfall," she was forced to leap
from v precipice, upon some rocks, and was so stunned as to be obliged to make a short delay in her
journey.
Soon after passing through the mountain,* she was
bitten by a snake which she supposed was venomous.
She killed it, and expected her turn to die would
come next; but the only injury she received was
some pain and the slight swelling of one foot. A
writer, whose narration we follow and whose facts
are more reliable than his philosophy, thinks that,
being " reduced to a mere skeleton, with fatigue, hunger and grief," she was probably, on that account,
"saved from the effects of the poisonous fangs."
Leaving the river, Mrs. Scott came to a forked
valley, and watching the flight of birds, took the
branch they did, and in two days came in sight of
New Garden, the settlement on Clinch river, before
referred to. Thus, after wandering in the wilderness
for six long weeks, almost destitute of clothing, without a weapon of defence or instrument for obtaining
provision; exposed to wild beasts and merciless savages; subsisting a full month on the juice of young
cane stalks, sassafras leaves and similar food; looking t.) God in prayer for guidance by day, and for
protection by night; shielded from serious harm, and
led by an unseen Hand, on the eleventh of August,
the wanderings of the widowed and childless captive
were brought to a close.
* Laurel mountain.
3i77
4 
SUCCESS OF BOLDNESS.
"Courage, prove thy chance once more."
While Colonel Tarleton was marching through
North Carolina, near the close of the Revolution, he
passed two nights in Halifax county.  From malice
or because of a scarcity of provision, he caused his
troops to catch all the horses, cattle, hogs, fowls, etc.,
that could be found, most of which were destroyed.
The inhabitants generally fled and concealed themselves in the neighboring swamps and thickets.  One
young lady, however, in the upper part of the county,
where they spent the second night, refused to retire.
Remaining on the premises alone, when the marauders came for the horses and cattle thereon, liss
Bishop* ordered them off; but they did not obey.
Among the animals they drove to camp, was a favorite pony of hers, which she resolved to recover.
When night come on, she went unarmed to the camp,
about a mile distant, and boldly made known her
errand to Tarleton. "Your roguish men in red coats,"
she said to him, "came to my father's house about sundown and stole my pony, and I have walked here
* Afterwards Mrs. Powell. She died in 1840. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
alone and unprotected, to claim and demand him;
and, sir, I must and I will have him. I fear not your
men. They are base and unprincipled enough to
dare to offer insult to an unprotected female; -but
their cowardly hearts will prevent them from doing
her any bodily injury." While thus speaking, her eye
happened to fall on her favorite animal, upon which
the camp fire flung its light, and she added, "There,
sir, is my horse. I shall mount him and ride peacefully home; and if you have any gentlemanly feeling
within you, of which your men are totally destitute,
or, if you have any regard for their safety, you will
see, sir, that I am not interrupted. But, before I go,
I wish to say to you that he who can, and will not,
prevent this base and cowardly stealing from henroosts, stables and barn-yards, is no better, in my
estimation, than the mean, good-for-nothing, guilty,
wretches who do the dirty work with their own
hands! Good night, sir."
Tarleton took the hint; ordered his soldiers not to
molest her; and she was suffered to take the popy
and gallop peacefully home.
379 
MARY KNIGIHT.
— The office
Becomes a woman best; I'll take it upon me.
SHAKSPEARE
The subject of this brief notice was a sister of Gen
eral Isaac Worrell. She died two or three years
since, in Philadelphia. The following tribute to her
patriotism and humanity, was paid by a New Jersey
newspaper, in July, 1849:
"The deceased was one of those devoted women
who aided to relieve the horrible sufferings of Washington's army at Valley Forge-cooking and carrying
provisions to them alone, through the depth of winters
even passing through the outposts of the British army
in the disguise of a market woman. And when
Washington was compelled to retreat before a superior force, she concealed her brother, General Worrell,
-when the British set a price on his head-in a
cider hogshead in the cellar for three days, and fed
him through the bunghole; the house being ransacked
four different times by the troops in search of him,
without success. She was over ninety years of age
at the time of her death." 
THIE WIFE OF WILLIAM GRAY.
- Our lives
In acts exemplary, not only win
Ourselves good names, but do to others give
Matter for virtuous deeds, by which we live.
CHAPMAN.
Elizabeth Chipman was born in Essex county,
Massachusetts, in May, 1756.  She was the daughter
of a talented and eminent lawyer of Marblehead, and
inherited a highly respectable share of his mental
endowments. Her intellectual faculties and moral
feelings were early and highly developed; and when,
in 1782, she was married to William Gray, the celebrated millionaire, of Salem, in her native county,
she was prepared, in all respects, to command the
highest influence in society. But, although the wife
of the richest man in Massachusetts and probably in
New England, she never rose above her duties as a
housekeeper, a mother and a Christian. She managed
her domestic affairs personally and economically;
and inculcated in the mind3 of her six children, by
example as well as precept, the best habits and the
noblest principles. "She divided her time between
reading, household affairs, and duties to society, in 
NOBLE DEEDS
such a manner as never for a moment to be in a
hurry." * She was as well known by the poor as the
rich: her virtues irradiated every sphere. She was
anxious to exalt as much as possible the Christian
profession; hence she rode in a plain carriage, and
avoided all unnecessary display, " that no evil precedents of expense could arise from her example."
The latter years of this excellent woman were
passed in Boston, whither the family had removed,
and where she died on the twenty-fourth of September, 1823. In her benevolent acts and cheerful life,
is beautifully exemplified the truth of the poet's
assertion:
On piety humanity is built,
And on humanity, much happiness.
* Knapp's Female Biography, p. 235
382
I 
ANECDOTE OF MIRS. HUNTINGTON.
Earthly power doth then show like
When mercy seasons justice.
SHARSPEARE.
Susan Mansfield was the daughter of the Rev
Achilles Mfansfield, of Killingworth, Connecticut, and
was born on the twenty-seventh of January, 1791.
At the age of eighteen or nineteen, she was married
to Joshua Huntington, pastor of the Old South
church, Boston. She died in 1823. Her memnloirs,
written by her husbanid's pastoral successor, B. B.
Wisner, was, at one time, a very popular work. It
passed through five editions in Scotland, in a very
few years.
Her husband preceded her to the grave four years.
While a widow, she was robbed of several articles
of jewelry by a young woman; and the articles were
recovered, and the thief arrested and tried. During
the examination, Mrs. Huntington was called into
coitiut to identify the property; and having done this,
she was asked their value. Knowing that the degree
of punishment depended somewhat on the apprisal of
the property, and pitying the poor girl, she hinted that 
NOBLE DEEDS
she never used much jewelry, and was no  a good
judge of its value. A person was then called upon to
prize the several articles; and she told him to bear
in mind that they had been used for many years,
were consequently damaged, and out of fashion. In
this way she secured a low and, to herself, a satisfactory valuation. She then addressed the judge, stating
that she had herself taken the jewelry from a trunkhad carelessly left it exposed on a table; had thus
thrown temptation in the way of the girl, and suggested that her own heedlessness might possibly
have been the cause of the offence. She did not, she
assured the judge, wish to interfere with his duties,
or wrongly bias his decisions, but she would, nevertheless, esteem it a favor, if the punishment inflicted
on the unfortunate transgressor, could be the lightest
that would not dishonor the law. HIoping the igno rant girl would repent and reform, she left the stand
with tears in her eyes, which greatly affected the
judge. In his sentence he reminded the culprit, that
the person whom she had most offended, was the
first to plead for a mitigation of her punishment,
and had saved her from the extreme rigors of a
broken law.
984 
HOSPITALITY OF MRS. BIDDLE.
All were welcome and feasted.
LONGFELLOW.
In the summer of 1777, while Washington was
encamped near Brandywine, a large party of foragers
came into the neighborhood, and the General gave
orders to a company of his troops, to go in pursuit of them early the next morning, and, if possible, cut off their retreat. As an engagement might
ensue, he also gave orders that the women should
leave the camp. Receiving intelligence of the latter
order, and unwilling to be included in it, the wife
of Colonel Clement Biddle, an intimate associate of
Mrs. Washington in the camp, went to the General
and told him that the officers, who had gone on the
expedition, would be likely to return hungry, and she
would consider it a favor to be allowed to remain
and prepare some refreshment for them. Washington
complied with her request, and her servant was immediately posted off in search of provision.
Receiving information that a band of "rebels"
was in pursuit of them, the foragers took a quick
step out of the neighborhood.  The pursuers returns.
25 
NOBLE DEEDS
at a late dinner hour exceedingly fatigued and ripe
for attacking the "good  things" prepared  by  Mrs.
Biddle. Notified of her generosity, the officers forthwith repaired to her quarters, each  saying, on his
entrance, "Madam, we hear that you feed the army
to-day.'  It is said that at least a hundred officers
enjoy ed her hospitalities on that occasion.
They ate like Famine, fast and well,
Piling their plates with turkeys slain;
They conquered -bones alone could tell
Of fowls late bled at every vein.
386 
KINDNESS OF SOME CONVICTS
- -When  your head did but ache,
I knit my handkerchief about your brows,
*       *f      *       *      *       a,
And with my hand at midnight held your head;
And, like the watchful minutes to the hour,
Still and anon cheered up the heavy time.
SHAKSPEARE.
When the yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia,
several years ago, it was extremely difficult to obtain
help at the hospital; application was consequently
made to the female convicts in the prison. Braving
the danger of becoming nurses for the sick under
such circumstances, as many as were needed readily
profered their aid, and remained as long as desired.
rhere was a scarcity of bedsteads, and these females
were asked for theirs. Willing to sacrifice the meagre comforts of a convict for the sake of alleviating
the condition of the sick and the dying, they not
only gave up their bedsteads, but bedding also. Such
humane conduct, coming from whom it may, is deserving of praise and worthy of record.
Ab 
MARGARET PRIOR.
If a soul thou wouldst redeem,
And lead a lost one back to God;
Wouldst thou a guardian angel seem
To one who long in guilt hath trod;
Go kindly to him - take his hand,
With gentlest words, within thine own,
And by his side a brother stand,
Till all the demon thou dethrone.
MRs. C. M. SAWYER.
The subject of this notice was a native of Fredericksburgh, Virginia. She was born in 1773. Her
maiden name was Barrett. She was married to William Allen, a merchant of Baltimore, at the ag,e of
sixteen; resided in that city for several years, and
became the mother of seven children. All but oine
of them died in infancy. Hier husband was lost at
sea, in 1808, when her only surviving child was
about eighteen months old.
Soon after becoming a widow she removed to the
city of New York. There, in 1814, she was united
in marriage with William Prior, a benevolent and
public-spirited member of the Society of Friends:
She was herself at that time in communion with
the Baptists, she having united with them before 
OF AMIERICAN WOMEN.
the death of her first husband. In 1819 she joined
the MIethodists, with whom she remained in church fellowship the residue of her life.
When the New York Orphan Asylum was insti tuted, she was appointed one of the managers and
was, thenceforward, incessantly engaged in benevolent operations. We first find her in the more
conspicuous "walks of usefulness," in the severe winter of 1818 and'19.  There being, at that time, no
public fund for meeting the wants of the poor, she
made arrangements with her nearest neighbor-herself a kind-hearted, humane woman-to prepare soup
three times a week for the destitute ]n the ninth
ward.   She had previously visited that part of the
city and made herself acquainted with many suffering individuals. All who applied for soup, if not
known, she accompanied to their homes, and presented them with tickets entitling them to further
supplies, if found to be true objects of charity.
Mlany, it is thought, were saved from starvation by
her humane  exertions.  "These, and similar deeds
of mercy, tended to enlarge her heart: while she
watered others, she was watered also herself, and
felt continually the truth of the assertion,' It is more
blessed to give than to receive.' " *
Notwithstanding her arduous, public duties, Mrs.
Prior managed her household affairs with care, neat
ness and regularity.  It has been appropiately said
of her that she had "a place for every thing and
'.Walks of Usefilfness; or, Reminiscences of Margaret Prior, p. 17
389 
NOBLE DEEDS
every thing in its place." The timne that some spend
in fashionable and heartless calls, she devoted to industry and  humanity.   By  rising early,  workilng
late, observing the strictest rules of economy, and
subjecting herself, at times, to self-denial, she was
able to visit the suffering, and to make daily ap
propriations from her own table for their relief.
Numerous instances of her self-denial have beer
related, and one of them we will repeat. She usually
obtained assistance to do her washing, and limited
herself to a dollar a week to meet that expense.
Sometimes the amount she wished to devote to some
particular object fell short, and in such instances she
would do the washing herself, and thereby save the
dollar. She felt, in such cases, as has been remarked,
that "the personal effort was made a blessing to
herself of greater value than the sum saved."
In the year 1822, Mrs. Prior visited the families
on Bowery hill, where she had resided the three
previous years; thoroughly acquainted herself with
their moral condition and necessities; established a
school for poor children; commenced her long-continued weekly visits for conversation and prayer with
the pupils, and secured the sympathies and pecuniary
assistance of several Christians to aid in supporting
the school from year to year. She herself contributed
one hundred dollars annually for its maintenance.
On the fourteenth of September, 1829, this good
woman again became a widow. Previous to this
date she had lost her seventh child, and an adopted
one.  She had also taken a second motllerless child
390 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
into her family.  About the year her second husband
died, Bowery hill was dug away, and she changed
her residence.
When, in the early part of 1833, the Moral Reform society was organized, she became a prominent
member of its board of managers, and, four years
afterwards, commenced, under its patronage, her
memorable labors as a city missionary. These she
continued till 1842, in which year, on the seventh of
April, her earthly work was finished.
Two or three incidents connected with her labors as
a missionary, will show, in part, at least, the charactei
of her work and the philanthropic spirit by which
she was ever actuated.
As she was once passing through the streets, she
was accosted by a lady who inquired her name, and
wished to know if she did not belong to the society
which had opened a register of direction for the
accommodation of respectable females. Ascertaining
that she was not mistaken in the person, the stranger
told Mfrs. Prior that two female acquaintances of hers
were out of work, had become reduced to want, and
were so wretched as to threaten to drown themselves,
unless they soon found a situation.  They had been
working for houses connected with the southern trade
which had failed, and thus thrown them out of"
employment.   Learning their residence, Mrs. Prior
visited them immediately; told them of the enormity
of the crime they had threatened to commit; that
she would try to secure work for them, and that it
was their duty to seek the grace of God to sustain
0ID91 
NOBLE DEEDS
them in such trying seasons. The next day she found
situations for them in pious families, and thus, while
she probably saved them from committing suicide,
she was, perhaps, the instrument, in the hands of
God, of saving them from infamy and eternal ruin.
Passing through the suburbs of the city one day,
her attention was arrested by the chime of youthful
voices. Seeing that the music proceeded from some
little beggar-girls, who were sitting in the sun beside
the fence and singing a Sabbath school hymn, she
inquired of them what they were doing, when the
following dialogue occurred: " We were cold, ma'am,
and are getting warm in the sun."  "Where do you
live?"  "In Twentieth street, ma'am."  "Why have
you come so far away from your homes?"  "To get
some food and some things to make a fire."  " Why
were you singing?"  "To praise God: we go to the
Sunday school, and our teacher says if we are good
children God will never let us want."  Pleased with
the modest and artless answers to her questions, the
good woman took them across the street, procured
each of them a loaf of bread, gave them some pious
counsel, and left them with smiles on their faces andl
gratitude in their hearts.
Mrs. Prior frequently visited the city prison, and
on occasion * went to Sing Sing. She made a record
of her visit to the latter place, from which we mak)
an extract: "In visiting the female convicts at their
I June, 1840.
392 
OF AMERPICAN WOMEN.                9
cells on Sabbath morning, after Sabbath school, which,
under the customary regulations, we were permitted
to do, we found nearly all employed in reading their
Bibles.   We  conversed with  them  respecting the
welfare of their souls, and as we knelt with them at
the throne of grace, they on one side of the grated
door and we on the  other, we felt  that  ie who(
healed a Mfary Magdalene, is still the same compas
sionate Saviour, and our faith, we trust, apprehended
him as the atoning sacrifice, who bore our sins in his
own body on the tree, and opened a way for the salvation of even the chief of sinners."
Being on an errand of mercy  in G             street
one day, she stepped into a house of infamy to leave
a certain tract. As soon as she had entered and
made known her mission, the door was closed and
locked by one of the female inmnates, who told her
that she was their prisoner.  " For a moment," writes
Mlrs. Prior, in her journal, " my heart was tremulous;
I said nothing till the risings of fear were quelled,
and then replied pleasantly,'Well, if I'm a prisoner,
I shall pray here, and would sing praises to God if I
were not so hoarse. Yes, bless the Lord! his presence can make me happy here or any where, and you
can have no power to harm me unless he gives it.
This is a dreadful place, to be sure, but it is not so
bad as hell; for there, there is no hope. The smoke
of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever!
What a mercy that we are not all there! what compassion in the blessed Jesus that he spares us, when
our sins are every day so great.' I talked to them in
393 
NOBLE DEEDS
this manner till they were glad to open the door as a
signal for my release."
Such were the doings, such was the character, of
Margaret Prior.   We  see her organizing week-day
and Sabbath schools, industrial associations and
temperance societies; establishing soup houses and
orphan asylums; visiting the sick, the poor, the
idle, the culprit, the outcast; pointing the dying to
a risen Saviour, leading the destitute by the hand
to the place of relief, the idle to houses of industry, and warning the outlaw and the corrupt of the
certain and terrible doom that would attend persis.
tency in their downward course. With the sweetness,
gentleness, simplicity, and delicacy, so becoming in
woman under all circumstances, were blended in her
character, energy that was unconquerable, courage
that danger could not blench, and firmness that
human power could not bend. The contemplation of
such a character is superficial, if it does not prompt
benevolent feelings, re-affirm virtuous resolutions, and
revive and strengthen drooping piety.
399 
NOBLE ACTS OF KINDNESS
We are to relieve the distressed, to put the wanderer in the way,
and divide our bread with the hungry.-SENECA.
The Rev. Thomas Andros, of Berkley, MIassachusetts, was a firm patriot and a keen sufferer in the
strife for freedom. He was captured whilst on board
a privateer, and transferred to the Jersey prison ship.
In the autumn of 1781, he escaped; and, skulking
through the east end of Long Island, received at
the hands of females such marks of pity and kindness as were thought worthy of noting in his journal.
The following are extracts:
"I came to a respectable dwelling-house and entered it. Among the inmates were a decent woman
and a tailor. To the woman I expressed my want
of something to nourish my feeble frame, telling her
if she would give me a morsel, it would be a mere
act of charity. She made no objection, asked no
questions, but promptly furnished me with the dish
of light food I desired. Expressing my obligations
to her, I rose to depart. But going round through
another room, she met me in the front entry, placed
a hat on my head, put an apple pie in my hand, and 
NOBLE DEEDS
said,'you will want this before you get through the
woods.' I opened my mouth to give vent to the
grateful feelings with which my heart was filled.
But she would not tarry to hear a word, and instantly
vanished. The mystery of her conduct I suppose
was this: she was satisfied that I had escaped from
prison, and if she granted me any succor, knowing
me to be such, it might cost her family the confiscation of their estate. She did not therefore wish to
ask me ally questions or hear me explain who I was
in the hearing of the tailor, who might turn inforlIer.
This mark of kindness was more than I could well
bear, and as I went on the tears flowed copiously!
The recollection of her humanity and pity revives
in my breast even now the same feeling of gratitude.
" Some time after, in Suffolk county, being repulsed
from one dwelling, I entered another, and informed
the mistress of the house of my wants.   By the
cheerfulness and good-nature depicted in her countenance and first movements, I knew my suit was
granted, and I had nothing more to say than to
apprise her I was penniless.  In a few momnents she
placed on the table a bowl of bread and milk, a dried
bluefish roasted, and a mug of cider, and said,' sit
down and eat.'
"It was now growing dark, so I went but a short
distance further, entered a house, and  begged the
privilege of lodging by the fire.   My request was
granted.  There was  no one in the house  but tile
man and his wife. They appeared to be cordial
friends to  eh other-it was indeed one of the few
396 
OF A3fERICA.N WO3MEN.     E
happy matches.   Before it became late in the evening the man took his Bible and read a chapter.  He
then arose and offered up his grateful acknowledgments and supplications to God through the ]2ediator.
I now began to think I had got into a safe and
hospitable retreat.   They  had  before made  many
inquiries such as indicated that they felt tenderly and
took an interest in my welfare. I now confessed my
situation to them. All was silence. It took some
time to recover themselves from a flood of tears.
At last the kind woman said,'Let us go and bake
his clothes.' No sooner said than the man seized a
brand of fire and  threw  it into  the oven.   The
woman provided a clean suit of clothes to supply the
place of min't till they had purified them by fire.
The work done, a clean bed was laid down on which
I was to rest, and rest I did as in a new world; for
I had got rid of a swarm  of cannibals who were
eating me  up alive!  In the morning  I took  my
leave of this dear family with a gratitude that for
fifty years has suffered no abatement." *
* Mr. Andros thus describes the old Jersey: "Her dark and filthy
exterior corresponded with the death and despair reigning within. It
is supposed that eleven thousand American seamen perished in her.
None came to relieve their woes. Once or twice, by order of a stranger
on the quarter-deck, a bag of apples was hurled promiscuously into the
midst of hundreds of prisoners, crowded as thick as they could stand
-and life and limbs were endangered in the struggle. The prisoners
were secured between the decks by iron gratings;' and when the ship
was to be cleared of water, an armed guard fo)rced themrn up to the
winches, amid a roar of execratiols and  reproaches-the dim  light
adding to the horrors of the scene.  Thousands died whose names lhave
never been known; perishing when no eye could witness their fortitude, nor praise their devotion to their coimtry."
397 
THE WIFE OF DR. RAMSAY.
Unrivalled as thy merit, be thy fame.
TICKELL.
Few women of modern times have more charmingly exhibited " the beauties of holiness " than Martha Laurens Ramsay, the wife of ~e historian of
South Carolina. In his interesting series of lectures
on the Christian graces, the Rev. Dr. Williams very
happily refers to her habit of prayer, to illustrate the
spirit of brotherly kindness as shown in the mutual
intercession of brethren in the same church. " It is
animating," he writes, "and yet, as contrasted with
our present remissness, humiliating, to read how Baxter and his people held days of fasting and prayer
for each other; or to turn to the pages which describe
a Christian matron of the South, the wife of Ramsay
and the daughter of Hienry Laurens, President of the
Continental Congress, praying over a list of her fellow-members, name by name, and remembering, to
the best of her knowledge, the cares and wants of
each before the throne of grace.*
* Religious Progress, pp. 200-1. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
Prior to her marriage, and whilst residing in France
with her father, she received from him the handsome
present of five hundred guineas. Appropriating a
very small portion of this sum to her own use, with
the bulk she purchased one hundred French Testaments-all to be found in the market- and distributed them amongst the destitute in Vigan and its
vicinity, and organized a school there for the instruction of youth, constituting a fund sufficient to oblite
rate its annual charges.
Mrs. Ramsay was remarkably economical of time,
rising early and devoting every hour to some useful
service; and of money, never indulging herself in
any needless expenditure.  This principle of economy
was observed even at her funeral.  She directed that
it should be at her own private house; and that her
coffin should be plain and without a plate. She died
on the tenth of June, 1811.
399 
COUITRAGE AND PRESENCE OF MIND OF
MARGARET SCHUYLER.
-Courage mounteth with occasion.
SHAKSPEARE.
In August, 1781, when the abduction of General
Schuyler from his house in the suburbs of Albany,
was projected, and John Waltermeyer, the bold partizan of Joseph Bettys, led a motley and blood-thirsty
band-tories, Canadians and Indians-in the daring
undertaking, a daughter of the General acted so
courageous and wise a part as to justify us in giving
on outline sketch of the unsuccessful enterprise.
As the family sat in an open door, in the evening
of a very sultry day, receiving information that a
stranger was waiting at the back gate to see him,
General Schuyler mistrusted, at once, that something
was wrong; and, instead of repairing to the gate,
he instantly closed and fastened the doors, and ran
to his bed chamber for his arms. Ile then hurried
his family into the third story, where he immediately
discharged a pistol to arouse the careless guards,
and afterwards others, to alarm, if possible, the inhabitants of the city. In hurrying up stairs, his wife
-l 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
overlooked her infant, which was asleep in the cradle;
and she was about to descend, when the General
warned her of the danger, and held her back. Seeing her mother's agony, a daughter named Margaret,
rushed down stairs into the nursery, caught the
child, and was about ascending, when a tomahawk
flew past her, simply grazing her dress and slightly
injuring it. Hurrying up a private stairway, she
was met by Waltermeyer, who roughly exclaimed,
"Wench! where is your master?"  With remarkable
presence of mind, she answered, "Gone to alarm the
town." Fearing that such might be the case, Waltermeyer called his pilfering men, who were bagging
plate in the dining hall, and began a consultation.
Meanwhile the General was also thinking, and devising a stratagem by which to frighten away the
kidnappers. He soon threw up a window, and, in
the voice of an experienced commander, cried out,
"Come on, my  brave fellows; surround the house
and secure the villains who are plundering." As lihe
anticipated, the gang, hearing these words, snapped
the thread of their consultation, and tested the nimbleness of their feet.  The reports of the General's
arms had alarmed the people of the city, and they
came to the rescue just in season to be unneede(d.
23
401 
NOBLE TREATMENT OF EI-EMIES.
- True religion
Is always mild, propitious and humble,
Plays not the tyrant, plants no faith in blood;
Nor bears destruction on her chariot wheels;
Buts stoops to polish, succor, and redress,
And builds her grandeur on the public good.
MILLER'S MAHOMET.
Among the early converts to Christianity in the
Cherokee tribe, were a few women, who formed themselves into a society for propagating the Gospel.
They felt its expanding power, and, though poor,
were anxious to do something for those who were not
sharing in the same blessing. The proceeds of their
first year's efforts, were about ten dollars; and while
deliberating on the manner of its appropriation, one
of the members suggested that it be devoted to the
promotion of religion among the Osages, giving as
a reason that they were the greatest enemies of
the Cherokees, and that the Bible teaches Christians
to do good to such. 
HUMANITY REWARDED.
- -. I should some kindness show them.
SHAKSPEARE.
Among the early settlements of New Hampshire,
were several on the Piscataqua river, in the neighborhood of the present town of Dover. For awhile the
aborigines and whites were on amicable terms, and
the former not unfrequently paid the latter a friendly
visit. On one of those occasions, a pappoos was
suddenly seized with illness, and its mother was
obliged to remain several days. She found shelter
and accommodations with a widow, who received her
cordially, and nursed the feeble infant as her own.
Such  kindness would not  be forgotten, even  by
savages; and when, after the lapse of years, the bow
was bent and the hatchet raised against the settlement where the widow resided, the Indians placed a
strong guard around her house; and, though the
butchery was terrible, she and her family were unharmed. 
MARGARET WINTHROI
-When meet now
Such pairs, in love and honor joined?
MILTON.
Governor Winthrop, the father of the Massach
setts' colony, married Margaret, the daughter of Sil
John Tindal, in April, 1618. She was his third wife,
and a woman of rare qualities both of mind and
heart. Previous to their emigration to New England,
it was not an uncommon occurrence for them to be
separated, and their correspondence on such occasions
savors of the purest affection. Who does not see
the image of a devoted wife and an exalted spirit ill
the following letter, written about the year 1627:
"MY MOST SWEET HUSBAND,-How dearly welcome
thy kind letter was to me, I am not able to express.
The sweetness of it did much refresh me. What can
be more pleasing to a wife, than to hear of the welfare of her best beloved, and how he is pleased with
her poor endeavors! I blush to hear myself  commended, knowing my own wants. But it is your love
that conceives the best, and makes all things seem
better than they are. I wish that I may be always
pleasing to thee, and that those comforts we have in 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN,
each other may be daily increased, as far as they
may be pleasing to God. I will use that speech to
thee, that Abigail did to David:' I will be a servant
to wash the feet of my lord.'' will do any service
wherein I may please my good husband. I confess
I cannot do enough for thee; but thou art pleased to
accept the will for the deed, and rest contented.
"I have many reasons to make me love thee,
whereof I will name two: first, because thou lovest
God; and secondly, because thou lovest me. If
these two were wanting, all the rest would be
eclipsed. But I must leave this discourse, and go
about my household affairs. I am a bad housewife
to be so long from  them; but I must needs borrow a
little time to talk with thee, my sweet heart. I hope
thy business draws to an end. It will be but two or
three weeks before I see thee, though they be long
ones. God will bring us together in his good time;
for which I shall pray.
Farewell, my good husband; the Lord keep thee.
Your obedient wife,
MARGARET WINTHROP.)
Below is another letter from the pen of this good
woman, written after her husband had decided to
come to Massachusetts, and just before his embarklation:
" MY  MOST DEAR HUSBAND,-I should not now
omit any opportunity of writing to thee, considering I
shall not long have thee to write unto. But, by reason
of my unfitness at this time, I must entreat thee to
accept of a few lines from me, and not impute it to
405 
NOBLE DEEDS
any want of love, or neglect of duty to thee, to whom
I owe-more than I ever shall be able to express.
" My request now shall be to the Lord to prosperthee in thy voyage, and enable thee and fit thee for
it, and give all graces and gifts for such employments
as he shall call thee to. I trust God will once more
bring us together before you go, that we may see
each other with gladness, and take a solemn leave,
till we, through the goodness of our God, shall meet
in New England, which will be a joyful day to us.
'With my best wishes to God for thy health and
welfare, I take my leave and rest, thy faithful, obedient wife,               MARGART WIsrHROP."*
Governor Winthrop landed on these shores in
June, 1630, and his wife followed him in about a
year. She lived till June, 1647, and was perhaps as
The following extract from a letter written by the Governor in
March, 1629, shows that he was not unconscious of the excellence of
the gift he possessed in his "yokefellow."  Addressing her as "MINEr
owN DEAR HEART," he proceeds:
"I must confess thou hast overcome me with thy exceeding great
love, and those abundant expressions of it in thy sweet letters, which
savor of more than an ordinary spirit of love and piety. Blessed be
the Lord our God, that gives strength and comfort to thee to undergo
this great trial, which, I must confess, would be too heavy for thee,
if the Lord did not put under his hand in so gracious a measure. Let
this experience of his faithfulness to thee in this first trial, be a ground
to establish thy heart to believe and expect his help in all that may
follow. It grieveth me much, that I want time and freedom of mind
to discourse with thee, my faithful yokefellow, in those things which
thy sweet letters offer me so plentiful occasion for. I beseech the
Lord, I may have liberty to supply it, ere I depart; for I cannot thug
leave thee."
406 
OF AfiFRICAN  WO()3IEN.
useful in her more private, as her husband inl his
public and highly honorable, sphere.   "A  woman
of singular \irtue, prudence, modesty  and piety;"
though dignified, she was condescending; and knowing her place, she kept, and filled, and honored it.
With undimmed and steady lustre, she shone for
sixteen years amid the shadows of night that overhung and threatened the infant colony.
4                                  \;       IT
407 
A PIONEER SETTLER'S ADVENTURE.
Screw your courage up to the sticking place,
And we'11I not faiL
SHAKSPEARE.
The first settler in Hollis, New  Hampshire, was
Captain Peter Powers. He removed thither in 1731.
His nearest neighbor, for a time, was ten miles distant; and in order to exchange courtesies it was necessary for the families to cross the Nashua river.
It had but one convenient and safe fording place in
that vicinity, and that one only when the river was
low.
Having occasion, on a pleasant August morning, to
visit her neighbor, Mirs. Powers mounted a Narraganset, hastened away, and reached the place of destination long before noon. Early in the after part
)of the day a fearful thunderstorm came up, and contiinued for several hours.  Just at sunset the clouds
began to break away, and MNrs. Powers immediately
started on her return. She did not reach the river
until some time after dark; and coming to the ford,
she found the bank full and the water- as a narrator
of the incident has it-"pressing on it with great 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
rapidity." Added to this alarming cizcumstance, the
wind had shifted and rolled the clouds up the sky
again, so that the rain was descending in torrents, and
drowning the threatening voice of the waves. Trust
ing to the experienced animal to keep the ford, and
giving a slack rein, without realizing the danger, the
courageous woman plunged into the black stream.
The steed almost instantly lost its foothold, and " rolling in the waves at a full swim," made for the opposite
shore.  Missing the ford, and striking a forefoot on a
rock in the bed of the stream, the animal was raised
momentarily half way out of the water. Then plunging forward, it sank so deep that Mrs. Powers was
raised from the pommel; but seizing the horse's mane
as it rose, she held her grasp till they were safely on
shore. The faithful animal soon found the right track,
and in a brief hour Mlrs. Powers was under the slhelter
of her cabin.
409 
MRS. MoKENNY.
More can I bear than you dare execute.
SHAKSPEARE.
"Not a great way from Steel's and Taylor's forts
was a settlement consisting of a few families, among
which were  those of William McKenny  and  his
brother  James.   These  lived near Fishing creek.
In the summer of 1761, sixteen Indians, with some
squaws of the Cherokee tribe, took up their abode
for several weeks near what  is called  Simpson's
shoals, for the purpose of hunting and fishing during
the hot months.   In August, the two  MecKennys
being absent on a journey to Camden, William's
wife, Barbara, was left alone with several young
children. One day she saw the Indian women running towards her house in great haste, followed by
the men. She had no time to offer resistance; the
squaws seized her and.'be children, pulled them
into the house, and shoved them behind the door,
where they immediately placed themselves on guard,
pushing back the Indians as fast as they tried to
force their way in, and uttering the most fearful outcries. Mrs. McKenny concluded it was their inten
I 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
tion to kill her, and expected her fate every moment.   The  assistance  rendered  by  the  squaws,
whether given out of compassion for a lonely mother,
or in return  for kindness  shown them, -proved
effectual for her protection until the arrival of one
of the chiefs, who drew his long knife and drove
off the savages.  The mother, apprehending another
attack, went to some of her neighbors and entreated
them to come  and stay with her.  Robert Brown
and Joanna his wife, Sarah Ferguson, her daughter
Sarah and two sons, and a young man named Michael
Melbury, came, in compliance with her request, and
took up their quarters in the house. The next morning Mrs. McKenny ventured out alone to milk her
cows. It had been her practice heretofore to take
some of the children with her, and she could not
explain why she went alone this time, though she
was not free from apprehension; it seemed to be so
by a special ordering of Providence. While she
was milking, the Indians crept towards her on their
hands and knees; she heard not their approach,
nor knew any thing till they seized her. Sensible
at once of all the horroi of her situation, she made
no effort to escape, but promised to go quietly with
them. They then set off towards the house, holding
her fast by the arm. She had the presence of mind
to walk as far off as possible from the Indian who
held  her, expecting Melbury to fire as  they approached her dwelling. As they came up, he fired,
wounding the one who held Mrs. McKenny; she
broke from  his hod  and ran, and another Indian
411 
1     - NOBLE DEEDS
pursued and seized her. At this moment she was
just at her own door, which John Ferguson imprudently opening that she might enter, the Indians
without shot him dead as he presented himself.
His mother ran to him and received anotirer shot
in her thigh, of which she died in a few days.  Melbury, who saw that all their lives depended on
prompt action, dragged them from the door, fastened
it, and repairing to-the loft, prepared for a vigorous
defence. There were in all five guns; Sarah Ferguson loaded for him, while he kept up a continual
fire, aiming at the Indians wherever one could be
seen. Determined to effect their object of forcing
an entrance, some of the savages came very near
the house, keeping under cover of an outhouse in
which Brown and his wife had taken refuge, not
being able, on the alarm, to get into the house. They
had crept into a corner and were crouched there
close to the boarding. One of the Indians, conming
up, leaned against the outside, separated from them
only by a few boards, the crevices between which
probably enabled them to see him. Mrs. Brown
proposed to take a sword that lay by them and run
the savage through the body, but her husband refused; he expected death, he said, every moment,
and did not wish to go out of the world having his
hands crimsoned with the blood of any fellow creature.'Let mne die in peace,' were his words,'with
all the world.' Joanna, though in the same peril,
could not respond to the charitable feeling.'If I
am to die,' she said,'I should like first to send
412
I 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN. 
some of the redskins on the journey. But we are
not so sure we have to die; don't you hear the
crack of Melbury's rifle? He holds the house.  I
warrant you that redskin looked awfully scared as
he leaned against the corner here. We could have
done it in a moment.'
" Mrs. MlcKenny, meanwhile, having failed to get
into her house, had been again seized by the Indians,
and, desperately regardless of her own safety, was
doing all in her power to help her besieged friends.
She would knock the priming out of the guns carried
by the savages, and when they presented them to
fire, would throw them up, so that the discharge
might prove harmless. She was often heard to say,
afterwards, that all fear had left her, and she thought
only of those within the building, for she expected
for herself neither deliverance nor mercy. Melbury
continued to fire whenever one of the enemy appeared; they kept themselves, however, concealed,
for the most part, behind trees or ae outhouse.
Several were wounded by his cool and Lv]-directed
shots, and at length, tired of the contets1 the Indians
retreated, carrying Mrs. McKenny with them. She
now resisted with all her strength, preferring instant
death to the more terrible fate of a captive in the
hands of the fierce Cherokees. Her refusal to go
forward irritated her captors, and when they had
dragged her about half a mile, near a rock upon
the plantation now occupied by John Cr'.p, she
received a second blow with the tomahawk  which
stretched her insensible upon the ground. Wheu
413 
NOBLE DEEDS
after some time consciousness returned, she found
herself lying upon the rock, to which she had been
dragged from the spot where  she fell.  She was
stripped naked, and her scalp had been taken off.
By degrees the knowledge of her condition, and
the desire of obtaining help came upon her. She
lifted up her head, and looking around, saw the
wretches who had so cruelly mangled her, pulling
ears of corn from a field near, to roast for their
meal. She laid her head quickly down again, well
knowing that if they saw her alive, they would not
be slack in coming  to finish the work of death.
Thus she lay motionless till all was silent, and she
found they were gone; then, with great pain and
difficulty, she dragged herself back to the house.
It may be imagined with what feelings the unfortunate woman was received by her friends and
children, and how  she met the bereaved  mother,
wounded unto death, who had suffered for her
attempt to save others. One of the blows received
by Mrs. ZfcKenny had made a deep wound in her
back; the others were upon her head.....
"The  wounds  in Mrs.  McKenny's head never
healed entirely; but continued to break out occasionally, so that the blood flowing from them
stained the bed at night, and sometimes fragments
of bone came off; nevertheless, she lived many
years afterwards and bore several children.  She
was at the time with child, and in about three
months gave birth to a daughter- Hiannah, afterwards  married  to John  Stedman-  and living in
414 
OF AMEI~ICAN Wo0. EN.
Tennessee in 1827. This child was plainly marked
with a tomahawk and drops of blood, as if running
down the side of her face.  The families of McKenny
and McFadden, residing on Fishing creek, are descended from this Barbara MIcKenny; but most of
her descendants have emigrated to the West. The
above mentioned occurrence is narrated in a manuscript in the hand-writing of her grandson, Robert
McFadden." *
I Women of the Revolution, vol. 3.
415
. 
THIE FISHERMAN'S HEROIC WIFE
Strong affection
Contends with all things, and o'ercometh all things.
JOANNA BAILLIIL
"One  of the small islands in Boston bay was
inhabited by a single poor family. The father was
taken suddenly ill. There was no physician.  The
wife, on whom every labor for the household devolved, was sleepless in care and tenderness by the
bedside of her suffering husband.  Every remedy;-i
her power to procure was administered, but the
disease was acute, and he died.
"Seven young children mourned around the lifeless corpse. They were the sole beings upon that
desolate spot. Did the mother indulge the grief of
her spirit, and sit down in despair? No: she entered
upon the arduous and sacred duties of her station.
She felt that there was no hand to assist her in burying her dead. Providing, as far as possible, for the
comfort of her little ones, she put her babe into the
arms of the oldest, and charged the two next in age
to watch the corpse of their father. She unmoored
her husband's fishing boat, which, but two days
before, he had guided over the seas, to obtain food 
OF AMERICANO   i'.
for his family. She dared not yield to those tender
recollections, which might have unnerved her arm.
The nearest island was at the distance of three miles.
Strong winds lashed the waters to foam.  Over the
loud billows, that wearied and sorrowful woman
rowed, and was preserved. She reached the next
island, and obtained the necessary aid. With such
energy did her duty to her desolate babes inspire her,
that the voyage which depended on her individual
effort, was performed in a shorter time than the returning one, when the oars were managed by two
men, who went to assist in the last offices to the
dead."
27
417 
MRS. JAMES K. POLK.
A fault doth never with remorse
Our minds so deeply move,
As when another's guiltless life
Our error doth reprove.
BaANDON.
Sarah Childress Polk is the daughter of an enterprising and wealthy merchant of Rutherford county,
Tennessee. She was married on the first of January,
1824.
Fitted to dignify and adorn any station appropriate
for woman, while presiding at the White house she
was universally esteemed, and retired as honorably
as any woman since the days of Washington. She
is intelligent, refined, unaffected, affable, courteous,
hospitable, and, above all, pious, and exemplary as a
Christian. She has been for years in communion
with the Presbyterians; and while at the Capital, and
the eyes of the whole nation were upon her, she forbade, in the President's mansion, any amusement not
in keeping with the Christian profession. In this
respect, it may be said of her, in the language of
Shakspeare,
Thou art not for the fashion of these times 
OF ALFERICAN WVOMEN.
The following poetical tribute, from the pen and
heart of Mrs. Stephens, is well merited:
LADY I had I the wealth of earth
To offer freely at thy shrine,
Bright gold, and buds of dewy birth,
Or gems from out the teeming mine,
A thousand things most beautiful,
All sparkling, precious, rich, and rare,
These hands would render up to thee  Thou noble lady, good and fair!
For, as I write, sweet thoughts arise
Of times when all thy kindness lent
A thousand hues of Paradise
To the fleet mnoments as they went;
Then all thy thoughts were winged with light,
And every smile was calm and sweet,
And thy low tones and gentle words
Made the warm heart's blood thrill and beat.
There, standing in our nation's home,
My memory ever pictures thee
As some bright damne of ancient Rome,
Modest, yet all a queen should be.
I love to keep thee in my mind,
Thus mated with the pure of old,
When love with lofty deeds combined,
Made women great and warriors bold.
When first I saw thee standing there,
And felt the pressure of thy hand,
I scarcely thought if thou wert fair,
Or of the highest in the land;
I knew thee gentle, pure as great;
All that was lovely, meek and good;
And so I half forgot thy state
In lowv,i thy bright womanhood,
And many a sweet sensation came
That lingers in my bosom yet,
Like that celestial, holy flame
That vestals tremble to forget'
4-19 
NOBLE DEEDS
And on the earth, or in the sky,
There's not a thought more true and free
Than that which beats within my heart,
In pleasant memory of thee.
Lady, I gladly would have brought
Some gem that on thy heart may live;
But this poor wreath of woven thought
Is all the wealth I have to give.
All wet with heart-dew, fresh with love,
I lay the garland at thy feet,
Praying the angel forms above
To weave thee one more pure and sweet
420 
THE WIDOW JENKINS.
In humb! ft vales the patriot heart may glow.
J. T. FIELDS.
Al the time Colonel Watson, the commander of a'
corps of regulars and tories, was making inroads
upon the Pedee, he pitched his tent one night near
the house of a widow named Jenkins, and took up
his own quarters under her roof. Learning, in the
course of the evening,.that she had three sons fight.ng under General Marion, he commenced the foliowing conversation with her:
"So, madam, they tell me you have several sons
in General Marion's camp; I hope it is not true."
She said it was very true, and was only sorry that
it was not a thousand times truer.
"A thousand times truer, madamn!" replied he,
with great surprise, "pray what can be your meaning
in that?"
"Why, sir, 1 am only sorry that in place of three,
I have not three thousand sons with General Marion."
"Aye, indeed! well then, madam, begging your
pardon, you had better send for them immediately to
come in and join his majesty's troops under my 
NOBLE DEEDS
command: for as they are rebels now in arms against
their king, should they be taken, they will be hung
as sure as ever they were born."
"Why, sir, you are very considerate of my sons;
for which, at any rate, I thank you. But, as you
have begged my pardon for giving me this advice, I
must beg yours for not taking it.  My sons, sir, are
of age, and must and will act for themselves. And
as to their being in a state of rebellion against their
king, I must take the liberty, sir, to deny that."
"What,  madam! not in rebellion against their
king? Shooting at and killing his majesty's subjects
like wolves! don't you call that rebellion against
their king, madam? "
"No, sir, they are only doing their duty, as God
and nature commanded them, sir."
"The d      1 they are, madam!"
"Yes, sir, and what you and every man in England
would glory to do against the king, were he to dare
to tax you contrary to your own consent and the constitution of the realm.'T is the king, sir, who is in
rebellion against my sons, and not they against him.
And could right prevail against might, he would as
certainly lose his head as ever king Charles the First
did." *
* Weenms' Marion, pp. 182-3.
t22 
A FAITHFUL LTITLE GIRL.
Labor in the path of duty
Beam'd up like a thing of beauty.
C. P. CRANCS
"A very profane and profligate sailor, who belonged to a vessel lying in the port of  New York,
went out one day from his ship into the streets,
bent on folly and wickedness. He met a pious little
girl, whose feelings he tried to wound by using vile
and sinful language.   The little girl looked  him
earnestly in the face, warned him of his danger,
and, with a solemn tone, told him to remember that
he must meet her shortly at the bar of God. This
unexpected reproof greatly affected him. To use
his own language,'it was like a broadside, raking
him fore and aft, and sweeping by the board every
sail and spar prepared for a wicked cruise.' Abashed
and confounded, he returned to his ship. He could
not banish from his mind the reproof of this little
girl. Her look was present to his mind; her solemn
declaration,' You must meet me at the bar of God,'
deeply affected his heart. The more he reflected
upon it, the more uncomfortable he felt. In a few
days his hard heart was subdued, and he submitted to the Saviour." 
.HOSPITALITY OF CALIFORNIA WOMEN
Blest that abode where want and pain repair,
And every stranger finds a ready chair.
GOLDSMITH.
In his Three Years in California, the Rev. Walter
Colton speaks as follows of the native women:
Their hospitality knows no bounds; they are
always glad to see you, come when you may; take a
pleasure in entertaining you while you remain; and
only regret that your business calls you away. If
you are sick, there is nothing which sympathy and
care can devise or perform, which is not done for you.
No sister ever hung over the throbbing brain or fluttering pulse of a brother with more tenderness and
fidelity. This is as true of the lady whose hand has
only figured her embroidery or swept her guitar, as
of the cottage-girl wringing from her laundry the
foam of the mountain stream; and all this from the
heart! If I must be cast, in sickness or destitution,
on the care of a stranger, let it be in California; but
let it be before avarice has hardened the heart and
made a god of gold. 
SARAH LANM1AN SMITH.
Where'er the path of duty led,
With an unquestioning faith she trod.
T. W. RENNE.
Among the many names endeared to the friend?
of missions, is that of Sarah L. Smith, a native of
Norwich, Connecticut. Her maiden name was Huntington.  She was born in 1802; made a profession
of religion in youth; became the wife of the Rev.
Eii Smith in July, 1833; embarked with him for
Palestine the September following; and died at Boojah, near Smyrna, the last day of September, 1836.
Her work as a foreign missionary was quickly
finished. She labored longer as a home missionary
among the Moheagans, who live in the neighborhood
of Norwich, and there displayed most conspicuously
the moral heroism of her nature.   In conjunction
with Sarah Breed, she commenced her philanthropic
operations in theyear 1827. "The first object that
drew them from the sphere of their own church, was
the project of opening a Sabbath school for the poor
Indian children of Moheagan. Satisfied that this was
a work which Heaven would approve, they marked 
NOBLE DEEDS
out their plans, and pursued them with untiring energy.  Boldly they went forth, and, guided. by the
rising smoke or sounding axe, visited the Moheagans
from field to field, and from hut to hut, till they
had thoroughly informed themselves of their numbers,
condition, and prospects. The opposition they encountered, the ridicule and opprobrium showered
upon them from some quarters, the sullenness of the
natives, the bluster of the white tenants, the brush
wood and dry branches thrown across their pathway,
could not discourage them. They saw no'lions in
the way,' while mercy, with pleading looks, beckoned
them forward."
The  fioheagans then numbered a little more than
one hundred, only one of whom was a professor of
religion. She was ninety-seven years of age. In her
hut the first prayer meeting and the first Sabbath
school gathered by these young ladies, were held.
Miss Breed soon removed from that part of the
country, and Miss Huntington continued her labors
for awhile alone. She was at that time very active
in securing the formation of a society and the circulation of a subscription, having for their object the
erection of a chapel. She found, ere long a faithful
co-worker in Miss Elizabeth Raymond. They taught
a school in conjunction, and aside from their duties
as teachers, were, at times, "advisers, counsellors,
lawgivers, milliners, mantuamakers, tailoresses and
almoners." *
* Missionary Offering, p. 86. We are indebted to the same source for
most of the particulars embraced in this article.
426 
OF  AlI%.RICAN  WOMEN.
"The school was kept in a house on Fort Iill,
leased to a respectable farmer in whose family the
young teachers boarded by alternate weeks, each going to the scene of labor every other Sabbath morning
and remaining till the evening of the succeeding
Sabbath, so that both were present in the Sabbath
school, which was twice as large as the other. A
single incident will serve to show the dauntless resolution which Myiss Huntington carried into her pursuits. Just at the expiration of one of her terms of
service during the winter, a heavy and tempestuous
fall of snow blocked up the roads with such high
drifts, that a friend who had been accustomed to go
for her and convey her home in bad weather, and
had started for this purpose in his sleigh, turned
back, discouraged.  No path had been broken, and
the undertaking was so hazardous that he conceived
no female would venture forth at such a time. iHe
therefore called at her father's house to say that he
should delay going for her till the morrow.  What
was his surprise to. be met at the door by the young
lady herself, who had reached home just before, having walked the whole distance on the hard crust of
snow, alone, and some of the way over banks of
snow that entirely obliterated the walls and fences by
the roadside."
While at Moheagan, Miss Huntington corresponded
with the HIon. Lewis Cass, then Secretary of War,
and secured his influence and the aid of that department. In 1832, a grant of nine hundred dollars was
made from the fund devoted to the Indian depart
427 
NOBLE DEEDS
ment, five hundred being appropriated towards the
erection of missionary buildings and four for the
support of a teacher.  Before leaving the Moheagan,
for a wider field, this devoted and heroic missionary
had the happiness of seeing a chapel, parsonage and
school house, standing on "the sequestered land "* of
her forest friends, and had thus partially repaid the
debt of social and moral obligation to a tribe who
fed the first and famishing settlers in Connecticut,
and strove to protect them against the tomahawk of
inimical tribes, and whose whoop was friendly to
freedom when British aggressors were overriding
American rights.
* That was its original name. It is a reserved tract; contains
between two and three thousand acres, and a considerable part is now
occupied by white tenants. Its situation is on the Thames between
New London and Norwich.
428 
A BROTHER SAVED BY HIS SISTER.
Brave spirits are a balsam to themselves.
CARTWRIGHT.
During the invasion of the Mohawk valley by
Sir John Johnson, Samson Sammons, of Johnstown,
and his three sons, were taken captive early one
morning in May.  The females were not made prisoners. While a soldier was standing sentinel over
the youngest sonu named Thomas, who was about
eighteen, the latter, who  was not more than half
dressed, said he was not going to Canada in such
a plight; that he should need his shoes especially;
and asked permission to go to his chamber and get
his clothes.  The favor was not granted;  but Thomas, resolving to have his shoes, stepped towards
the door, when the barbarous soldier pointed a bayonet  at his back, and made  a plunge.   At  that
moment a sister, who had watched every movement
with breathless anxiety, sprang forward, seized the
gun, threw herself across its barrel, bore it to the
ground, and thus saved her brother's life. After a
brief struggle, the soldier disengaged his weapon,
but before he had time to make another plunge, an 
NOBLE DEEDS
officer rushed  forward  and  asked  what  was  the
trouble. The heroic girl stated the case, when the
soldier was severely rebuked, and her brother per
mitted to obtain his shoes and all the raiment he
desired.*
* It may be interesting to the reader to know that Thomas Sammons did not go to Canada. He was released in the afternoon of the
same day, with some other persons who had been taken prisoners diring the forenoon. Feigning extreme lameness in one foot, he attracted
the attention and excited the sympathy of the widow of a British
officer: she had resided in the neighborhood, knew many of the ca,ptives, and as some were her personal friends, she asked Sir John to permit their release. He did so; and on going into the field to select
them, writes Colonel Stone, "she adroitly smuggled young  Sammons
into the group, and led him away in safety."
430 
PATRIOTIC SACRIFICE OF MRS. BORDEN
They love their land because it is their own.
At the darkest period of the Revolution, New
Jersey was, for a short time, full of British soldiers,
and Lord Cornwallis was stationed at Bordentown.*
He visited  Mrs. Borden one day, at her elegant
mansion, and made an effort to intimidate her. lHe
told her that if she would persuade her husband
and son, who were then in the American army, to
join his forces, none of her property should be destroyed; but if she refused to make such exertions,
he would burn her house, and lay waste her whole
estate. Unintimidated and patriotic, she made the
following bold reply, which caused the execution
of the threat: "The sight of my house in flames
would be a treat to me, for I have seen enough to
know that you never injure what you have power
to keep and enjoy.  The application of a torch to
my dwelling I should regard as the signal for your
departure." And such it was.
* Major Garden.
HALLECK. 
MARGARET CORBIN.
Where cannon boomed, where bayonets clashed,
There was thy fiery way.
SARA J. CLARR'L
An act similar to that recorded of Mrs. Pitcher
at the battle of Monmouth, was performed by Mr.Margaret Corbin at the attack on Fort Washington.
Her husband belonged to the artillery; and, standing by his side and seeing him fall, she unhesitatingly took his place and heroically performed his
duties. Her services were appreciated by the officers of the army, and honorably noticed by Con
gress.  This body passed the following resolution
in July, 1779:
" Resolved,-That Margaret Corbin, wounded and
disabled at the battle of Fort Washington, while
she heroically filled the post of her husband, who
was killed by her side serving a piece of artillery,
do receive during her natural life, or continuance
of said disability, one-half the monthly pay drawn
by a soldier in service of these States; and that
she now receive out of public stores, one suit of
clothes or value thereof in money." 
BRAVERY OF MRS. CHANNING.
The truly brave,
When they behold the brave oppressed with odds
Are touched with a desire to shield or save.
BYRON.
Soon after the commenrcement of the Revolutionary
war, the family of Dr. Channing,* being in England,
removed to France, and shortly afterwards sailed
for the United States.  The vessel, said to be stout
and well-armed, was attacked on the voyage by a
privateer, and a fierce engagement ensued.  During
its continuance, lrrs. Channing stood on the deck,
exhorting the crew not to give up, encouraging them
with words of cheer, handing them cartridges, and
aiding such of them  as were disabled by wrounds.
When,  at length, the colors  of the vessel  were
struck, she seized her husband's pistols and side
arms, and flung them into the sea, declaring that
she would prefer death to the witnessing of their
surrender into the hands of the foe.
* This anecdote, which is recorded in several works,  annot refer to
the late William Ellery Channing, as he was not born at the comn
mencement of the Revolution.
:25~ 
COMMENDABLE COURAGE.
Have chivalry's bold days
A deed of wilder bravery
In all their stirring lays?
SARA J. CLARKE
An incident which occurred at one of the forts in
thile Mohawk valley, might have been mentioned in
connection with the heroism of Schloharie women. It
is briefly related by the author of Border Wars of the
American Revolution. " An interesting young woman," he writes, "whose  name yet lives in story
among her own mountains, perceiving, as she thought,
symptoms of fear in a soldier who had been ordered
to a well without the works, and within range of the
enemy's fire, for water, snatched the bucket from his
hands, and ran forth for it herself. Without changing
color, or giving the slightest evidence of fear, she
drew and b)rought back bucket after bucket to the
thirsty soldiers, and providentially escaped without
injury."
-il. 
THE HEROINE OF SHELL'S BUSIH.
I dare do all that may become a
Who dares do more, is none.
SIAKSrEARE.
For three-fourths of a century, there has been a
wealthy settlement of Germans four or five nailes
north of the village of I-lerkimer, in the upper part
of the Mohawk valley, called Shell's Bush. Among
the early settlers, was John Christian Shell, who had
a family of six brave sons and a no less brave wife.
When, on the sixth of August, 1781, a Scotch refugee
named Donald McDonald, at the head of sixty-six
tories and Indians, attacked that settlement, Mrs.
Shell acted the part of an heroic damine. The house
was built for border emergencies, and when the
enemy approached, the husband and older boys* fled
from the fields, entered their castle, and. strongly
barricaded the doors. From two o'clock in the afternoon until twilight, the besieged kept up an almost
incessant firing, Mrs. Shell loading the guns for her
* Thetwo youngest boys, who were twins and about eight years
old, were captured; and when the enemy fled, thiey were carried
away as prisoners. 
NOBLE DEEDS
husband and older sons to discharge.  During  the
siege, McDonald attempted to force the door with a
crow bar, and was shot in the leg, seized by Shell and
drawn within doors. Exasperated at this bold feat,
the enemy soon attempted to carry the fortress by
assault, five of them leaping upon the walls and
thrusting their guns through the loopholes. At that
moment the cool and courageous woman seized an
axe, smote the barrels and bent and spoiled them.
I1er husband then resorted to stratagem to drive the
besiegers away: running up stairs and calling to Mrs.
Shell in a very loud voice, he said that Captain Small
was approaching with help from Fort Dayton.  Then
raising his voice to its highest pitch, he exclaimed,
"Captain Small, march your company round upon
this side of the house.  Captain Getmran, you  had
better wheel your men off to the left, and come up
upon that side." * Fearing the phantom troops whom
Mr. Shell's imagination had conjured, the enemy
shouldered their guns-crooked barreled and alland quickly buried themselves in the dense forest.
* Border Wars of the American Revolution, vol. 2, p. 153.
4 (2 C) 
FATHER TAYLOR'S WIDOWED FRIEND
Humble toil and heavenward duty.
MRS. HALE.
"A pious widow, who resided among ignorant ant
vicious neighbors in the suburbs of B, Massa
chusetts, determined to do what she could for thei"
spiritual benefit; and so she opened her little front
room for weekly prayer meetings, and engaged some
pious M-ethodists to aid in conducting them.  Much
of the seed thus scattered on a seemingly arid soil,
produced fruit. One instance deserves special notice.
"Among others who attended, was a young sailor
of intelligent and prepossessing countenance. A
slight acquaintance with him discovered him to be
very ignorant of even the rudiments of education;
but, at the same time, he had such manifestly superior abilities, that the widow became much interested
in his spiritual welfare, and could not but hope that
God would in some way provide for his further
instruction, convert him and render him useful.  But
in the midst of her anticipations, he was suddenly
summoned away to sea. Ile had been out but a
short time when the vessel was seized by a British 
NOBLE DEEDS
privateer and carried into italifax, where the crew
suffered by a long and wretched imprisonment.
"A year had passed away, during which the good
woman had heard nothing of the young sailor. Still
she remembered and prayed for him with the solicitude of a mother. About this time, she received a
letter from her relations, who resided in Halifax, on
business which  required  her to go to that town.
While there, her habitual disposition to be useful, led
her with a few friends to visit the prison with Bibles
and tracts.  In one apartment were the American
prisoners. As she approached the grated door, a
voice shouted her name, calling her mother, and a
youth appeared and leaped for joy at the grate. It
was the lost sailor boy! They wept and conversed
like mother and son, and when she left she gave him
a Bible-his future guide and comfort. During her
stay at Halifax, she constantly visited the prison,
supplying the youth with tracts, religious books, and
clothing, and endeavoring by her conversation to
secure the religious impression made on his mind at
the prayer meetings in B. After many months
she removed to a distant part of the provinces; and
for years she lieard nothing more of the young sailor.
"We pass over a period of many years, and introduce the reader to Father T, the distinguished
mariners' preacher in the city of B. In a
spacious and substantial chapel, crowded about by
the worst habitations in the city, this distinguished
man delivered every Sabbath, discourses as extraordinary, perhaps, as are to be found in the Christian
438 
OF AMERICAN WOMIEN.
world.   In  the  centre  column of seats, guarded
sacredly against all other intrusion, sat a dense mass
of mariners-a strange medley of white, black, and
olive; Protestant, Catholic, and Pagan. On the other
seats in the galleries, the aisles, the altar, and on the
pulpit stairs, were crowded, week after week, and
year after year-the families of sailors, and the poor
who had no other temple-the elite of the city-the
learned professor-the student-the popular writerthe actor-groups of clergymen, and the votaries of
gayety and fashion, listening with throbbing hearts
and wet eyes, to a man whose only school had been
the forecastle, and whose only endowments were those
of grace and nature.
" In the year 183-, an aged English local preacher
moved into the city of B             from the British
provinces.
" The old local preachler was mingling in a public
throng one day with a friend, when they met' Father
T.' A few words of introduction led to a free
conversation, in which the former residence of his
wife in the city was mentioned, and allusion was
made to her prayer meeting —her former name was
asked by'Father T;' he seemed seized by
an impulse-inquired their residence, hastened away,
and in a short time arrived in a carriage, with all his
family, at the home of the aged pair.  There a scene
ensued which must be left to the imagination of the
reader.'Father T'was the sailor boy of the
prayer meeting and the prison. The old lady was
the widow who had first cared for his soul."
439 
PICTURE OF A REVOLUTIONARY
MOTHER.
This is my own, my native land.
SCOTT.
True wit is nature to advantage dressed.
POPE.
Airs. Eliza Wilkinson resided during the Revolution
on Yonge's island, thirty miles south of Charleston,
South Carolina.   She was  a cheerful, witty and accomnplished  young widow,  and a keen sufferer on
account of her whig principles. Her letters, arranged
by M5rs. Gilman, and published several years ago,
afford a panoramic  view of many dark  scenes  at
the gloomiest period of American history, and beautifiully daguerreotype her own pure and patriotic heart.
A  single extract will show  her  character.   She
visited the city of Charleston soon after its surrender,
and witnessed tie departure of her exiled friends.
Referring to matters  about that period, she writes;
"Once I was asked by a British officer to play
the guitar.
"'I cannot play; I am very dull.'
"'How long do you intend to continue so, Mir.
Wilkinson a' 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
"'Until my countrymen return, sir!'
"'Return as what, madam?-prisoners or subjects?'
"' As conquerors, sir.'
" lHe affected a laugh.' You will never see that,
madam!'
"' I live in hopes, sir, of seeing the thirteen stripes
hoisted once more on the bastions of this garrison.'
"'Do not hope so;  but come, give us a tune on
the guitar.'
"'I can play nothing but rebel songs.'
"'Well, let us have one of them.'
"'Not to-day - I cannot play - I will not play;
besides, I suppose I should be put into the Provost
for such a heinous crime.'
"I have often wondered since, I was not packed
off, too; for I was very saucy, and never disguised
my sentiments.
"One day Kitty and I were going to take a walk
on the Bay, to get something we wanted. Just as
we had got our hats on, up ran one of the Billets
into the dining-room, where we were.
"'Your servant, ladies.'
" Your servant, sir.'
' Going out, ladies?'
"'Only to take a little walk.'
"iHe immediately turned about and ran down
stairs.  I guessed for what...  Ile offered me his hand, or rather arm, to lean upon.
"'Excuse me, sir,' said I;'I will support myself
if you please.'
19*
441 
NOBLE DEEDS
"'No, madam, the pavements are very uneven;
you may get a fall; do accept my arm.'
"'Pardon me, I cannot.'
"'Come, you do not know what your condescension may do.  I will turn rebel!'
"'Will you?' said I, laughingly -' Turn rebel first,
and then offer your arm.'
"We stopped in another store, where were several
British officers. After asking for the articles I wanted,
I saw a broad roll of ribbon, which appeared to be of
black and white stripes.
"' Go,' said I to the officer who was with us,'and
reckon the stripes of that ribbon; see if they are thtr- 
teen!' (with an emphasis I spoke the word) -and he
went, too!
"'Yes, they are thirteen, upon my word, madam.'
"'Do hand it me.'  He did so; I took it, and
found that it was  narrow black ribbon, carefully
wound round a broad white. I returned it to its place
on the shelf.
"'Madam,' said the merchant,'you can buy the
black and white too, and tack them in stripes.'
"By no means, sir; I would not have them slghttly
tacked, butfirmly unted.'  The above mentioned officers sat on the counter kicking their heels. Hiow
they gaped at me when I said this! But the merchant laughed heartily."
44S 
SUJCCESSFUL DARING.
— He stopped the fliers.
SIaAKSPEARE'S CORIOLANUIS.
Many years ago, while a stage was passing through
Temple, New Ilampshire, the driver's seat gave way,
and himself and a gentleman seated with him, were
precipitated to the ground. The latter was killed.
the horses took fright at the noise, and ran a mile
Dr more at full speed. Meanwhile, Miss Abig,ail
Brown, the only inside passenger and now the sole
occupant of the stage, endeavored, by speaking soothingly, to stop the horses. At length they catile to
a high hill, when their speed began to slacken, and
Miss  Brown, having  previously opened  the  door
and taken a convenient position to alight, sprang
out. Not content to save her own life, but bent
on acting the part of a heroine, she rushed forward,
seized the leaders, turned them out of the road, and
held them fast till persons whom she had passed
and who had tried to stop the flying steeds, came
to her relief. hIad this feat, trifling as it may seem,
been performed by the wife of some Roman dignitary, she would have been apotheosized and her bio.
graphy inserted in Lempriere's Classical Dictionary. 
WORTHY EXAMPLE OF FORGIVENESS
They who forgive most shall be most forgiven.-BAILEY.
"A worthy old colored woman in the city of New
York, was one day walking along the street, on
some errand. to a neighboring store, with her tobacco
pipe in her mouth, quietly smoking.  A jovial sailor,
rendered a little mischievous by liquor, came sawmng down the street, and when opposite our good
Phillis, saucily crowded her aside, and with a pass
of his hand knocked her pipe out of her mouth,
iHe then halted to hear her fret at his trick, and
enjoy a laugh at her expense. But what was his
astonishment, when she mneekly picked up the pieces
of her broken pipe, without  the least resentment
in her manner, and giving him a dignified look of
mingled sorrow, kindness and pity, said,'God forgive you, my son, as I do.' It touched a tender
cord in the heart of the rude tar. He felt ashamed,
condemned and repentant. The tear started in his
eye; he mnust make reparation. He heartily confessed his error, and thrusting both hands into his
two full pockets of' change,' forced  the contents
upon her, exclaiming,'God bless you, kind mother,
I'll never do so again."' 
CROOKSIIANKS SAVED BY A FEMALE.
Oh the tender ties,
Close twisted with the fibres of the heart.
YOUNG.
The night before the surprise of Georgetown, Adjutant Crookshanks, one of the enemy's officers, together with some of his commissioned  comrades,
slept at a public house. The next morning it was
surrounded, and the Adjutant would have lost his
life, but for the interposition of the landlord's daughter, to whom he was affianced. Awakened and, at
first, alarmed by the firing without and the bustle
at the door, and hearing her lover's voice, she sprung
out of bed and rushed, half dressed, into the piazza.
At that moment the swords of her countrymen
were raised over his head, and she threw her arms
around his neck, exclaiming, "O  save! save Major
Crookshanks!"  Though made a prisoner, he  was
forthwith paroled, and left, for the time, with the
brave and true-hearted maiden. 
A PATRIOTIC ARTIST.
Genius, the Pythian of the Beautiful,
Leaves its large truths a riddle to the dull.
BuLwErR
"At the commencement  of the Revolution, Mrs
Wright, a native of Pennsylvania,  a distinguished
modeler of  likenesses and figures of wax, was exhibiting  specimens of  her skill in London.   The
king of Great Britain, pleased with her talents, gave
her liberal encouragement, and, finding her a great
politician, and an enthusiastic republican, would often
enter into discussion relative to passing occurrences,
and endeavored to refute her opinion with regard
to the probable issue of the war.   The  frankness
with which she delivered her sentiments, seemed
rather to please than to offend him; which was a
fortunate circumstance, for, when he asked an
opinion, she gave it without constraint, or the least
regard to consequences. I remember to have heard
her say, that on one occasion, the monarch, irritated
by some disaster to his troops, where he had prognosticated a triumph, exclaimed with  warmth:'I
wish, Mrs. Wright, you would tell me how it will be
possible to check the silly infatuation of your country 
OF AMERICA WOMEN.
men, restore them to reason, and render them good
and obedient subjects.'-'I consider their submission to your majesty's government is now altogether
out of the question,'replied Mrs. Wright:' friends
you may make them, but never subjects; for America, before a king can reign there, must become a
wilderness, without any other inhabitants than the
beasts of the forest. The opponents of the decrees
of your parliament, rather than submit, would perish
to a man; but if the restoration of peace be seriously
the object of your wishes, I am confident that it
needs but the striking off of three heads to produce
it.'-'O, Lord Nrorth's and Lord George Germaine's,
beyond all question; and where is the third head?'
0, sir, politeness forbids me to name him.   Your
majesty could never wish me to forget myseli; and
be guilty of an incivility.'
" In her exhibition room, one group of figures particularly attracted attention; and by all who knew
her sentiments, was believed to be a pointed hint at
the results which might follow the wild ambition of
the monarch. The busts of the king and queen of
Great Britain, were placed on a table, apparently
intently gazing on a head, which a figure, an excellent representation of herself, was modeling in its
lap. It was the head of the unfortunate Charles the
First."
447 
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT AMONG
MOIHAWK WOMEN.
Beware the bowl! though rich and bright
Its rubies flash upon the sight,
An adder coils its depths beneath,
Whose lure is woe, whose sting is death.
STREET.
In the years 1801 and 1802, great efforts were
made by the chiefs of the AMohawk Indians to prevent the sale of spirituous liquors among their people.
In this humane movement  the women of the tribe
readily joined; and haviIng assembled in council, on
the twenty-second of Ailay, 1802, they addressed the
chiefs, whom they had summoned, as follows:
" UNCLEs,- Some time ago the women of this place
spoke to you, but you did not then answer them, as
you considered their meeting not sufficient.  Now,
a considerable number of those from below having
met ai.d consulted together, join in sentiment, and
lamnent, as it were with tears in our eyes, the many
misfortunes caused by the nse of spirituous liquors.
TWe therefore mutually request that  you will  use
your endeavors to have it removed from our neighborhood, that there may be none sold nigher to us 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
than the mountain. We flatter ourselves that this
is in your power, and that you will have compassionI on our uneasiness, and exert yourselves to have
it done."                     STRINGS OF WAMPUlM.
This appeal had a good effect on the chiefs; and
received suitable attention, drawing from them the fol.
lowing reply.  It was delivered by Captain Brant:
"NIECEs,- AVe are fully convinced of the Justice
of your request; drinking has caused the many
misfortunes in this place, and has been, besides, a
great cause of the divisions, by the effect it has upon
the  people's  speech.   We  assure  you, therefore,
that we will use our eideavours to effect what you
desire. Hiowever, it depends in a great measure
upon government, as the distance you propose is
within their line. We cannot, therefore, absolutely
promise that our request will be complied with."
SR29G.
29
449 
A FEMALE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY
ARMY.
She'll be a soldier too, she'll to the wars.
SHAKSPEARE.
Deborah Samson, the daughter of very poor
parents, of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, began,
when about twenty years of age, to feel the patriotic
zeal which had prompted the sterner sex in heir
neighborhood to take up  arms in their  country's
defence. She accordingly assumed male attire, and
enlisted in the RPevolutionary army. We agree with
Mrs. Ellet that, while this course cannot be commended, her exemplary conduct, after taking the first
step, goes far to plead her excuse, and is worthy of
record. Her method of obtaining men's garments,
and her military career, are thus narrated by the
author just mentioned:
By keeping the district school for a summer term,
she had amassed the sum  of twelve dollars.  She
purclihased a quantity of coarse fustian, and, working
at intervals when she could be secure from obselrvation, made up a suit of men's clothing; each article, 
OF AMERIOAN WOMEN.
as it was finished, being hid in a stack of hay
HIaving completed her preparations, she announced
her intention of going where she could obtain better
wages for her labor. Hier new clothes and such
articles as she wished to take with her, were tied in a
bundle. The lonely girl departed; but went not far,
probably only to the shelter of the nearest wood,
before putting on the disguise she was so eager to
assume. Although not beautiful, her features were
animated and pleasing, and her figure, tall for a
woman, was finely proportioned. As a man, she
might have been called handsome; her genera,
appearance was extremely prepossessing, and her
manner calculated to inspire confidence.
She now pursued her way to the American army,
where she presented herself, in October, 1778, as a
young man anxious to join his efforts to those of his
countrymen, in their endeavors to oppose the common
enemy. Her acquaintances, meanwhile, supposed
her engaged in service at a distance. Rumors of her
elopement with a British soldier, and even of her
death, were afterwards current in the neighborhood
where she had resided; b tt none were sufficiently
interested to make such search for her as might have
led to a discovery.
Distrusting her own constancy, and resolute to
continue in the service, notwithstanding any change
of her inclination, she enlisted for the whole term of
the war. She was received and enrolled in the army
by the name of Robert Shirtliffe. She was one of the
first volunteers in the company of Captain Nathani
451 
NOBLE DEEDS
Thayer of Medway, Massachusetts; and as the young
recruit appeared to have no home or connections, the
Captain gave her a home in his family until his company should be full, when they were to join the main
army.
We now find her performing the duties and
enduring the fatigues of military life. During, the
seven weeks she passed in the family of Captain
Thayer, she had time both for experience and reflection; but, in after years, her constant declaration was
that she never, for one moment, repented or regretted
the step she had taken.  Accustomed to labor fromn
childhood, upon the farm and in out-door employ
meut, she had acquired unusual vigor of constitution
her frame was robust, and of masculine strength
and having thus gained a degree of hardihood, she
was enabled to acquire great expertness and precision
in the mualnal exercise, and to undergo what a female
delicately nurtured would have found it impossible
to endure.  Soon after they had joined the company,
the recruits were supplied with uniforms by a kind
of lottery. That drawn by Robert did not fit; but,
taking needle and scissors,, hlie soon altered it to suit
him.  To Mrs. Thayer's expression of surprise,  at
finding a young man so expert in using the implements of feminine inrdustry, the answer was-that his
mother having no girl, he had been often obliged to
practice the seamstress's art.
WThile in the house of Captain Thayer, a young
girl visiting his wife, was much  in the society of
Deborah, or, as she was then called, Robert. Coquet
452 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.45
tish by nature, and perhaps priding herself on the
conquest of the " blooming soldier," she suiiffered her
growing partiality to be perceived. Robert, on his
part, felt a curiosity to learn by new experience how
soon a maiden's fancy might be won; and had no
scruples in paying attentions to one so volatile and
fond of flirtation, with whom it was not likely the
impression would be lasting.  This little piece of
romance gave some uneasiness to the worthy Mrs.
Thayer, who could not help observing that the lilking
of her fair visitor for Robert was not fully reciprocated.   She took an opportunity of remonstrating
with the young soldier, and showed what unhappiness
might be the consequence of such folly, and how
unworthy it wfas of a brave man to trifle with a girl's
feelings.  The caution was taken in good part, and it
is not known that the " love passage" was continued,
though Robert received at parting some tokens of
remembrance, which were treasured as relics in after
years.
For three years our heroine appeared in the character of a soldier, being part of the time employed as
a waiter in the family of Colonel Patterson. During
this time, and  in both situations, her exemplary
conduct, and the fidelity with which her duties were
performed, gained the approbation and confidelnce of
the officers. She was a volunteer in several hazardous
enterprizes, and was twice wounded, the first time by
a sword cut on the left side of the head.  Many were
the adventures she passed through; as she herself
would often say, volumes might be filled with theirm.
453 
NOBLE DEEDS
Sometimes placed, unavoidably, in circumstances in
which she feared detection, she nevertheless escaped
without the least suspicion being awakened'among
her comrades. The soldiers were in the habit of
calling her " Molly," in playful allusion to her want
of a beard; but not one of them ever dreamed that
the gallant youth fighting by their side, was in reality
a female.
About four months after her first wound she re
ceived another severe one, being shot through the
shoulder. Her first emotion when the ball entered.
she described to be a sickening terror at the probability that her sex would be discovered. She felt that
death on the battle-field were preferable to the shame
that would overwhelm her, and ardently prayed that
the wound might close her earthly campaign. But,
strange as it may seem, she escaped this time also
unsuspected; and soon recovering her strength, was
able again to take her place at the post of duty, and
in the  deadly conflict.   Her immunity was  not,
however, destined long to continue  she was seized
with a brain fever, then prevalent among the soldiers.
For the few days that reason struggled against the
disease, her sufferings were indescribable; and most
terrible of all was the dread lest consciousness should
desert her, and the secret she had guarded so carefully be revealed to those around her.  She was
carried to the hospital, and there could only ascribe
her escape to the number of patients, and the negligent manner in which they were attended.  I-er case
was considered a hopeless one, and she perhaps
*64 
OF AMERICAN WOWEN.
received less attention on this account.   One  day
the physician of the hospital, inquiring-" IHow is
Robert?" received from the nurse in attendance the
answer-" Poor Bob is gone." The doctor went to
the bed, and taking the hand of the youth supposed
dead, found that the pulse was still feebly beating;
attempting to place his hand on the heart, he perceived that a bandage was fastened tightly around
the breast.   This was removed, and to  his utter
astonishment he discovered a female patient where he
had least expected one!
This gentleman was Dr. Binney, of Philadelphia.
With a prudence, delicacy and generosity, ever afterwards warmly appreciated by the unfortunate sufferer, he said not a word of his discovery, but paid
her every attention, and provided every comfort her
perilous condition required. As soon as she could be
removed with safety, he had her taken to his own
house, where she could receive better care. His
family wondered not a little at the unusual interest
manifested for the poor invalid soldier.
Here occurred another of those romances in real
life, which in strangeness surpass fiction. The doctor
had a young and lovely niece, an heiress to considerable property, whose compassionate feelings led her
to joi]n her uncle in bestowing kindness on the friendless youth. Many censured the uncle's imprudence
in permitting them to be so much in each other's
society, and to take drives so frequently together.
The doctor laughed to himself at the warnings and
hints he received, and thought how foolish the censbo
455 
NOBLE DEEDS
rious would feel when the truth should come out.
His knowledge, meanwhile, was buried in his own
bosom, nor shared even with the members of his
family. The niece was allowed to be as much with
the invalid as suited her pleasure. Her gentle heart
was touched by the misfortunes she had contributed
to alleviate; the pale and melancholy soldier, for
whose fate no one seemed to care, who had no possession in the world save his sword, who had suffered so
much in the cause of liberty, became dear to her.
She saw his gratitude for the benefits and kindness
received, yet knew by intuition that he would never
dare aspire to the hand of one so gifted by fortune.
In the confiding abandonment of woman's love, the
fair girl made known her attachment, and offered to
provide for the education of its object before marriage.  Deborah often declared that the moment in
which she learned that she had unwittingly gained
the love of a being so guileless, was fraught with the
keenest anguish she ever experienced.  In return fobr
the hospitality and tender care that had been lavished
upon her, she had inflicted pain upon one she would
have died to shield. Her formner entanglement had
caused no uneasiness, but this was a heart of a different mould; no way of amends seemed open, except
confession of her real character, and to that, though
impelled by remorse and self-reproach, she could not
bring herself. She merely said'to the generous girl,
that they would meet again; and, though ardently
de,iring the possession of an education, that she could
not avail herself of the noble offer. Before her de.
156 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
rart-tre, the young lady pressed on her acceptance
several articles of needful clothing, such as in those
times many of the soldiers received from fair hands.
All these were afterwards lost by the upsetting of a
boat, except the shirt and vest Robert had on at the
time, which are still preserved as relics in the family.
TIer health being now nearly restored, the phlysician had a long conference with  the commanding
officer of the company in which Rtobert had served,
and this was followed by an order to the youth to
carry a letter to General Washington.
HIer worst fears were now confirmed.  From the
time of her removal into the doctor's family, she had
cherished a misgiving which sometimes amlouited
almost to a certainty, that hlie had discovered her
deception.  In conversation with hirrm she anxiously
watched his countenance, but not a word or look
indicated suspicion, and she had again flattered herself that she was safe from detection.  WVhen the
order came for her to deliver a letter into the hands
of the Commander-in-chlief, she could no longer deceive herself.
There remained no course but simple obedience.
When she presented herself for admission at the
head-quarters of Washington, she trembled as she
had never done before the eniemy's fire. Her heart
sunk within her: she strove in vain to collect and
compose herself, and, overpowered with dread and
uncertainty, was ushered into the presence of tle
Chief.  He noticed her extremie agitation, and, supptovnig it to proceed fioom diffidence, kindly endea
457 
,NOBLE DEEDS
vored to re-assure her. HIe then bade her retire
with an attendant, who was directed to offer her
some refreshment, while he read the communication
of which she had been the bearer.
Within a short time she was again  suninoned
into the presence of Washington. He said not a
word, but handed her in silence a discharge from
the service, putting into her hand at the same tnme
a note containing a few brief words of advice, and
a suim of money sufficient to bear her expenses to
some place where she might find a home. The delicacy and  forbearance thus  observed  affected  her
sensibly.  " I-low thlankfitl," she has often said, " was
I to that great and good man who so kin-dly spared
my feelings!  -te saw me ready to sink with shame;
one word from  him  at that moment would  have
crushed me to the earth.  But he spoke no word
and I blessed him for it."
After the termination of the war, she married
Benjamin Gannett, of Sharon. When Washington
was President, she received a letter inviting Robert
Shirtliffe, or rather NIrs. Gannett, to visit the seat
of government.  Congress was then in session, and
during her stay at the capital, a bill was passed
granting her a pension in addition to certain lands,
which she was to receive as an acknowledgmnent
for her services to the country in a military capacity.
She was invited  to the houses of several  of  the
officers,. and to parties given in the city; attentions
which manifested the high estimation in which she
\vas there held.
458 
IOSPITALITY OF ELIZABETH BRANT.
Stranger, whoe'er tiou art, securely rest
Affianced in nmy faith, a friendly guest.
POPE.
At the close of the last war, John and Elizabeth
Brant, children of the celebrated warrior, took possession of their father's mansion at the head of
lake Ontario, and  dispensed  his  "ancient hospitalities."  While making the tour of Canada West
with two of his daughters, in 1819, James Buchanan,
Esq., British consul for the port of New York, visited
the "Brant House," and afterwards published the
following interesting account in a small volume of
Indian sketches:
"After stopping more than a week under the truly
hospitable roof of the Honorable Colonel Clarke, at
the Falls of Niagara, I determined to proceed by
land, round lake Ontario, to York; and Mrs. Clarke
offered to give my daughters a letter of introduction
to a Miss Brant, advising us to arrange our time so
as to sleep and stop a day or two in the house of
that lady, as she was certain we should be iuteli
pleased with her and her brother. Our friend did
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NOBLE DEEDS
not intimate, still less did we suspect, that the introduction was to an Indian prince and princess. Hiad
we been in the least aware of this, our previous
arrangements would all have given way, as there
was nothing I was more anxious to obtain than an
opportunity such as this was so well calculated to
afford, of seeing in what degree the Indian character
would be modified by a conformity to the habits and
comforts of civilized life.
"Proceeding on our journey, we stopped at an
inn, romantically situated, where I determined to
remain all night. Among other things, I inquired
of the landlord if he knew the distance to Miss
Brant's house, and from him I learned that it was
about twenty miles farther. Hie added, that young
Mr. Brant had passed that way  in the forenoon,
and would, no doubt, be returning in the evening,
and that, if I wished it, he would be on the lookout
for him. This I desired the landlord to do, as it
would enable me to intimate our introduction to
his sister, and intention of waiting on her the next
morning.
"At dusk Mr. Brant returned, and, being intro duced into our room, we were unable to distinguish
his complexion, and conversed with him, believing
him to be a young Canadian gentleman.  We  did
not, however, fail to observe a certain degree  uf
hesitation and reserve in the manner of his speech.
Hie certainly expressed a wish that we would. do his
sister and himself the favor of spending a few days
with them, in order to refresh ourselves and our
4-60 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
horses: but we thought his style more laconic than
hospitable. Before candles were brought in our new
friend departed, leaving us still in error as to his
nation.
"By four o'clock in the morning we resumed
our journey. On -arriving at the magnificent shores
of lake Ontario, the driver of our carriage pointed
out, at the distance of five miles, the house of Miss
Brant, which had a very noble and commanding
aspect; and we anticipated much pleasure in our
visit. Young Mr. Brant, it appeared, unaware that
with our carriage we could have reached his house
so soon, had not arrived before us; so that our ap  proach was not announced, and we drove up to the
door under the full persuasion that the family would
be apprised of our comining. The outer door, leading
to a spacious hall, was open. We entered and re  mained a few minutes, when, seeing no person about,
we proceeded into the parlor, which, like the hall,
was for the moment unoccupied.  We  therefore had
an opportunity of looking about us at our leisure.
It was a room well furnished, with a carpet, pier
and chimney glasses, mahogany tables, fashionable
chairs, a guitar, a neat hanging bookcase, in which,
among other volumes, we perceived a Church of
England Prayer Book, translated into the Mohawk
tongue.  Having, sent  our note of introduction in
by the coachman, and still no person waiting on us,
we began to suspect (more especially in the hungry
state we were in) that some delay or difficulty about
breakfast stood in the way of the young lady's
461 
NOBLE DEEDS
appearance. I can assure nay readers that a keen
morning's ride on the shores of an American lake
is an exercise of all others calculated to mnake the
appetite clamorous, if not insolent. We had already
penetrated into the parlor, and were beginning to
meditate a farther exploration in search of the pantry, when, to our unspeakable astonishment, in walked
a charming, noble-looking Indian girl, dressed partly
In the native and  partly in the English  costume.
Her hair was confined on the head in a silk net,
but the lower tresses, escaping from thence, flowed
down on her shoulders.  Uniider a tunic or morning
dress of black silk was  a petticoat  of tlhe. same
material and color, which reaclied very little below
the knee.  Her silk stockings and  kid shoes were,
like the rest of her dress, black. The grace and
dignity of her  movement, the style of her dress
and mainner, so new, so unexpeeted, filled us all with
astonishment.  With great ease, yet by no means
in that commonplace mode  so generally prevalent
on such oeeasions~ she inquired how we found the
roads, accommodations, etc.  No flutter was at all
apparent on account of the delay in getting breakfast; no fidgeting, and fuss-making,. no running in
and out, no idle expressions of regret, such as'h011t
dear me! had I known of your coming, you would
not have been kept in this way!' but, with perfect
ease she maintained  conversation, until  a s(luaw,
wearing a man's hat, brought in a tray with prepa
rations for breakfast.   A  table-cloth of fine white
damask being laid, we were regaled with tea, coffee,
462 
OF AMEPICAN WOBIEN.
hot rolls, butter in water and ice-coolers, eggs, smoked
b1eef, haml, broiled  chickens, etc., all served  in a
truly neat  and comfortable  style.  The  delay, we
afterwards discovered, arose from the desire of our
hostess to supl)ly us with hot rolls, which were actu ally baked  while we were waiting.   I  have  been
thus minute in my description of these comforts, as
they were so little to be expected in the house of
aji Indian.
" After breakfast Miss Brant took my daughters
out to walk, and look at the picturesque scenery of
the country.  She and  her brother had  previously
expressed a hope that we would stay all day; but,
though I wished of all things to do so, and had deteririned, in the evenlt of their -)pressing, their invitation, to accept it, yet I declined the proposal at
first, and thus fbleited a pleasure wlhlih we all of
us longed in or hearts to enjoy; for, as I afterward
learned, it is not  the custom  of any uncorrupted
Indian to repeat a request if once rejected. They
believe that those to whom they offer any mark of
friendship, and who give a reason for refilsing it,
do so in perfect sincerity, and that it would  be rudeness to require them to alter their determination or
break their word.  And as the Indian never makes
a show of civility but when prompted by a genuine
feel:ing, so he thinks others are actuated by a simnilar
candor.  I really feel ashamled when I consider how
severe a rebuke this carries with it to us who boast
of civilization, but who are so much  carried away
by the general  insincerity of expression pervading
463 
)OBLE DEEDS
all ranks, that few, indeed, are to be found  who
speak just what they wish or know. This duplicity
is the effect of what is termed a high state of refinement.  WVe are taught so to conduct our language
that others cannot discover our real views or inten.
tions.  The Indians are not only free friom this deceitfulness, but surpass us in another instance of
good breeding and decorum, namely, of never interrupting those who converse with them until they
have done speaking; and then they reply in the
hope of not bein,g themselves interrupted.  This was
perfectly exemplified by -Iiss Brant and her brother;
and I hope the lesson my daughlters were so forcibly
taught by the natural politeness of their hostess will
never be forgotten by them, and that I also may
profit by the example."
Elizabeth was the youngest daughter of Joseph
Brant.  She was married to William Johnson Kerr,
a gentleimani  who bore a commission in the last war,
and foughlt against the Americans on the Niagara
fi'rontier.  He is a grandson of Sir William Johnson.  The author of American Border Wars, wrote
in, 1S843, as follows: " Mrs. KICerr, as the reader must
infer fromn what has been previously said respecting
her, was educated with great care, as well in regard
to her mental culture as her personal accomplishmnents. With her husband and little family, she
now occupies the old mansion of her father, at the
head of lake Ontario; a noble situation, as the iuthor can certify firom personal observation."
464 
BRIEF ANECDOTES.
The worthy acts of women to repeat
MIRROR FOR MAGISTRATE&
Immediately after the dreadful massacre of Virginia colonists, on the twenty-second of March, 1622,
Governor Wyat issued an order for the remainder
of the people to " draw  together" into a "narrow
compass;"* and most of the eighty plantations were
forthwith abandoned. Among the persons who re
mained at their homes, was Mrs. Proctor, whom Dr.
Belknap calls "a gentlewoman of an heroic spirit."t
She defended her plantation against the Indians a
full month, and would not have abandoned it even
then, had not the officers of the colony obliged her
to do so.
One of the best women of her times was Experience West, wife of the Rev. Dr. West, who was
pastor of a church in New Bedford, Massachusetts,
for  nearly half a century.   iler life abounded  in
praiseworthy, though unrecorded, deeds. The Doctor
t American Biography, vol.'), p. 182.
30
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NOBLE DEEDS
was aware of the worth of his "help-meet," and had
a punning way of praising her which must have
sounded odd in a Puritan divine a hundred years
ago.  She was unusually tall, and he sometimes remarked to intimate friends, that he had found, by
long Experience, that it is good to be married.
The Rev. Dr. Mather Byles, of Boston, a tory of
considerable notoriety, paid unsuccessful addresses
to a young lady who subsequently gave her hand
to a gentleman of the name of Quincy.   Meeting
her one day, the Doctor remarked:  "So, madam,
it appears that you prefer a Quincy to Byles."
"Yes," she replied, "for if there had been any thing
worse than biles, God would have afflicted Job with
them." *
A married Shawnee woman was once asked by a
man who met her in the woods, to look upon and
love him:  " Oulman, my  husband, who is forever
before my eyes, hinders me from seeing you or any
other person."
* Sabine's American Loyalist. The loyal divine was himself a wicked
punster. " Near his house, in wet weather, was a very bad slough.
It happened that two of the selectmen who had the care of the streets,
driving in a chaise, stuck fast in this hole, and were obliged to get
out in the mud to extricate their vehicle.  Doctor  Byles came out,
and making them a respectful bow, said;'Gentlemen, I have often
complained  to you  of this nuisance  without any attention being
paid to it, and I am very glad to see you stirring in the matter now.'
On the celebrated dark day in 1780, a lady who lived near the
D)octor, sent her young son with her compliments, to know  if he
could  account for the uncomnmon  appearance.   His  answer- was
'My dear, you will give my compliments  to your mamma, and tell
her that I am  as much in the dark as she is.'
466 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
While the husband of Mrs. Dissosway, of Staten
island, was in the liadcls of the Britishi, her brother
-Nathaniel RPandolph, i Captain in  the American
army, repeatedly and g:reatly annoyed the tories; and
they were anxious to be freed from his incursions
Accordingly,  one of their colonels promised  Mrs.
Dissosway to procure her husband's release, if she
would prevail upon her brother to leave the army
She  scornfully replied:  "And  if I could  act so
dastardly a part, think you that General Washington
has but one Captain Randol1ph in his army?"
\When, by permission of the Britishli authorities, the
wife of Daniel Hall was once going to Johnl's island,
near Charleston, to see her mother, one of the king's
officers stopped her and ordered her to surrender the
key of her trunk.   On  her asking  hiim  ~wiat lihe
wished to look for, lie replied, " For treason, madam."
"Then, said she, you  may be  saved the trou)le of
search, for y )u may find enough of it at my tongue's
end.'' *
When a party of Revolutionary patriots left Pleasant River settlement, in MIaine, on an expedition,
one of the number forgot his powder horn, and his
wife, knowing he would greatly need it, ran twenty
miles through the woods before she overtook hiim.
When the village of Buffalo was burnt  utiring, the
last war, only one dwelling-ihouse was  suffered to
stand. Its owner, Mrs. St. John, was a woman ot
* Major Garden.
467
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NOBLE DEEDS
wonderful courage and self-possession; and when the
Indians came to fire it, and destroy its inates, she
ordered them away in sulch a dignified, resolute and
commanding,  yet  conciliatory, manner, that  they
seemed to be awed in her presence, and were kept at
bay until some British officers rode up and ordered
them to desist from the work of destruction. Saved
by her presence of mind  and  heroic bravery, she
who saw her neighbors butchered at their doors and
the young village laid in ashes, lived to see a new
village spring up, phoenix-like, and expand into a
city of thirty-five thousand inhabitants.
Mirs. Beckham, who resided in the neighborhood of
Pacolet river, South Carolina, was a true friend of
freedom, and a great sufferer on that account.   Tarleton, after sharing in her hospitality, pillaged her
bhouse, and then ordered its destruction. I-cr eloquent
remonstrance, however, caused him to recall the
order.  Concealing a guinea in her braided hair, she
once went eighty miles to Granl)y, purchased a bag
of salt, and safely returned with it on the saddle
under her.*
The house of Captain Charles Simins, who resided on
Tyger river, South Carolina, was often plundered by
tories; and on one of these occasions, when his wife
was alone and all the robbers had departed but one,
she ordered 7Ihn away, and he disobeying, she broke
his arm with a stick, and drove him from tlie house.
*'ide- -Women of the Revolution, vol. 1, p. 296.
468 
OF AMERICAN WOSEN
Several years ago, a family, residing on the
Colorado, in Texas, were attacked by a party of
Camanche Indians, who first fell upon two workmen
in the fields and slew them. Seeing one of them fall,
the proprietor of the establishment, who was standing near his house, caught two guns and ran towards
the field. A daughter hastily put on her brother's hat
and surtout, and followed her father. She soon overtook him, and persuaded him to return to the house.
She bravely assisted in guarding it until the Indians,
tired of the assault, departed.
In the year 1777, when General Burgoyne entered
the valley of the lhudsoni, the wife of General Schuyler hastened to Saratoga, her husband's country seat,
to secure her furniture. " tier carriage," writes the
biographer of Brant, " was attended by only a single
armed man on horseback.  When within two miles
of her house, she encountered a crowd of panicstricken people, who recited to her the tragic fate of
Miss M'Crea,* and, representing to her the danger
of proceeding farther in the face of the enemy, urged
her to return. She had yet to pass through a dense
forest within which even then some of the savage
I
* The circumstances in regard to the murder of Jane M'Crea, have
been variously stated. The following version of the cruel story is
probably correct: "Mliss Ml'Crea belonged to a family of loyalists,
and had engaged her hand in marriage to a yoiung refugee named David
Jones, a subordinate officer in tihe British service, who was advancing
with Burgoyne. Anxious to possess hlirms.lf of his bride, he dispatched
a small party of Indigens to bring her to the British camp.   Her family
and friends were strongly opposed to her going with such an escort;
Lut her affection overcame her prudence, and she determined upon thie
469
i 
NOBLE DEEDS
troops might be lurking for prey. But to these prudential counse]s she would not listen.'The General's
wife,' said she,'must not be afraid!' and, pushing
f]orward, she accomplished her purpose."
While Thomas Crittenden, the first Governor of
Vermont, was discharging the functions of an exeutive, he was waited upon one day, in an official
capacity, by several gentlemen firom Albany. The
risitors were of the higher class, and accompanied
)y their aristocratic wives.   At  noon the hostess
summoned the workmen from the fields, and seated
them at the table with her fashionable visitors.
When the females had retired from the dinner table
to an apartment by themselves, one of the visitors
said to the lady of the house, "You do not usually
have your hired laborers sit down at the first table
hazardous adventure. She set forward with her dusky attendants on
horseback.  The family resided at the village of Fort Edward, whence
they had not proceeded half a mile before her conductors stopped to
drink at a spring. Meantime, the impatient lover, who deserved not
her embrace for confiding her protection to such hands, instead of going
himself, had dispatched a second party of Indians upon the same
errand.  The Indians met at the spring; and before the march  was
resumed, they were attacked by a party of the Provincials. At the
close of the skirmish, the body of Miss M'Crea was found among the
slain, tomahawked, scalped, and tied to a pine-tree, yet standing by the
gide of the spring, as a monument of the bloody tralnsaction.  The
ascertained cause of the murder was thlis  The promised reward fol
bringing her in safety to her betrothed was a barrel of rumr.  The
chiefs of the two parties sent for her by Mr. Jones quarreled respecting
the anticipated compensation.  Each claimed it; and, in a momlent of
passion, to end thi controversy, one of them struck her down with his
hatchet."
470 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
do you?"  "Why yes, madamn," MIrs. Crittenden replied, " we have thus far done so, but are now thinking of making a different arrangement.  The Governor and myself have been talking the matter over
a little, lately, and come to the conclusion that the
men, who do nearly all the hard work, ought to have
the first table,- and that he and I, who do so little,
should be content with the second. But, in complimenlt to you, I thought I would have you sit down
with them, to-day, at the first table." *
At the Fair held in Castle Garden, in the autumn
of 1850, was exhibited a large Gothic  arm-chair,
backed  and  cushioned  with  beautifully  wmrouglht
needle work in worsted.  The needle work was from
the hands of AMrs. AMillard Filllimore.  It was setting
a noble example for the wife of a President to present her handiwork at an industrial exhibition; and,
if the decisi(on of the three Roinan  banqueters in
regard to their wvives, was correct-  they preferring
the one who was found with her maidens preparing
loom-work, - Mrs. Fillmore must be ranked among
the best of wives.
During  the last war,  Major  Ksennedy of South
Carolina, wished to raise recliits  for his troop of
* We  find the substance of this anecdote in a copy of the Green
Mountain Freemnan published in March, 1851.  The paper is edited by
Daniel. P. Thompson, Esq., who prefaces the article with the renmark
that the anecdofe was related to him "by the late Mrs. Timothy Hubbard, of Montpelier, who, while a girl, was intimate with the Governor's family, and knowing to the amusing incident at the time of its
occurrence."
471
I
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NOBLE DEEDS
norse; and accordingly went to AIrs. Jane White,
who had several hardy sonls, and made known his
wants.  She was  a true patriot, like her husband,
who was an active "'liberty man" in the war of'76:
hence she was ready and anxious to further the
M,ajor's plans. Iter sons being at work in the field,
excepting  the  youngest, she  called  the  lad, and
ordered him, in her broad Scotch-Irish dialect, to
"rin awa' ta the fiel' an' tell his brithers ta cum in
an' gang an' fight for their counthry, like their father
afotre them."*
Amnong the fine sentiments quaintly uttered by
the old dramatic poet, Webster, are these:
The chiefest action of a man of spirit
Is, never to be out of action; we should think
The soul was never to be put into the body,
Which has so many rare aid curious pieces
Of mathematical motion, to stand still.
Virtue is ever Sowing of her seeds.
COne of the models in activity and virtue, and  one
who doubtless secured  thereby the prize of healthy
and extreme old age, was AIrs. Lydia Gustin, a native of Lyme, Connecticut. She had five children,
all of whom were at home to celebrate the hundredth
anniversary of her birth day.  She  deed in New
IIaml)shire, on the twentieth of  July, 1847, in the
hundred  and second year of her age.- A  part of
the labor performed during her hundredth year, was
the knitting of twenty-four pairs of stockings.
Mrs. Ellet.
172 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, who resided near Philadelphia, was one of the number who assisted the
American prisoners taken at the battle of Germantown. She spun linen and sent it into the city, with
orders that it be made into shirts. She was noted
for huinanity and benevolence. Learning, one time,
while visiting her friends in Philadelphia, that a
reduced merchant had been imprisoned for debt,
and was suffering from destitution, she sent him a
bed and other articles of comfort, and, though far
from wealthy, put twenty dollars in money into his
hands.  She refused to give him  her name, but was
at length identified by a description of Jier person.
At the battle of the Cowpens, Colonel Washington wounded Colonel Tarleton; and when the latter
afterwards, in conversation with MNrs. Wiley Jones,
observed to her: "You appear to think very highly
of Colonel Washington; and yet I have been told
that he is so ignorant a fellow that he can hardly
write his own name;" she replied, "It may be the
case, but no man  l)ctter than yourself, Colonel, can
testify that he mknows how to make his mark."
I
473
i
t
t
t
1
4
.6
.i 
PIIILANTHROPY OF AMERICAN WOMEN:
MISS DIX.
To the blind, the deaf, the lame
To the ignorant and vile,
Stranger, captive, slave he came,
With a welcome and a smile.
Help to all he did dispense,
Gold, instruction, raiment, food
Like the gifts of Providence,
To the evil and the good.
MONTGOMERY.
It requires the enlightening and expanding infilu
ence of Christianity to show the full extent of fraternal obligation, and to make one feel the wants
of his brother's threefold nature. WVe must, therefore, look for large hearts, whose antennte stretch
through the domiain of man's mental and moral, as
well as his physical necessities, among a Christian
people: there such hearts abound, and the strongest
are among the female sex. Nor is this strange: the
feelings of Twoman are more delicate, her constitution
is less hardy, than mian's. Physically more firail,
She feels more  sensibly the need  of a helper  and
protector; and, being the greate-r sufferer, she thinks
tmore of the suffierings of otliers, and consequently
mnore f1tl v develops  the  sisterly and  syrmpathletic
feelings of her nature. 
OF AMERICAN WOMEN.
It is not, therefore, surprising, that in all the huinanitary movements of the age, American women
are interested; but it is surprising to see with what
masculine energy, heroic courage and sublime zeal
they often prosecute their philanthropic labors. They
lead in the distribution of the poor fund; are untiring in their efforts to sustain Sabbath schools in
by-places; form and nobly sustain temperance organizations among themselves; establish and conduct
infant schools on their own  responsibility; manage
orphan asylums; pray, and plead, and labor for
the comfort of the insane, and for the education of
the deaf, dumb and blind; and, with the religious
tract in one hand and the Bible in the other, plunge
into the darkest deons of vice, and, nerved by divine
power, sow t1le (I)o(I seed of truth in the most corrupt soil, with coiiuae that seems to palsy tlhe giant
arm of Infamy.
Heroines in the philanthropic movements which so
beautify the present age, are found in most of the
villages and  in every city in the  land.  Isabella
Graham, Saralh Hoffman, A{argaret Prior, and others
whose names are recorded in this work, are representatives of a class whose,number is annually increasing and whose philanthropic exertions are manifest
wherever human suffering abounds or the current of
moral turpitude is strong and appalling.  With the
delicacy and fragility inherent in their sex, they possess the bravery and perseverance of the ambitious
leader in the military campaign, and shrink  from
no task, however formidable or disheartening.
475 
NOBLE DEEDS
They visit the abode of sickness, and the pillow
is softened and the pain allayed; they enter the
but of penury, and the cry for bread is hushed,
they pour the tide of united and sanctified effort
through the Augean stables of iniquity, and the
cleansing process is astonishing. Such is the work
of philanthropic women; they are the "salt" of the
community.
A lady is now living in the city of Buffalo, whose
benevolent exertions, in her restricted sphere, would
compare favorably with those of the celebrated Quakeress whose mission at Newgate justified, for once, at
least, the use of angel as an adjective qualifying
woman.  The person to whom we refer- who would
blush to see her name in print- is foremost in all
the humane and charitable operations of the (lay,
and has, for years, been in the habit of visiting the
jail regularly and usually alone on the Sabbath, to
instruct its inmates from the word of God  and to
lecture before them on all that pertains to human
duty.  She is married, and has a faimily -her children being, adopted orphans, -hence her opportunities for public usefulness are measurably limited: but
her life-long actions seem t( say,
"Give me leave
To speak my  mind, and I will through and through
Cleanse the foul body of the infected world,
If they will patiently receive my medicine."
Aside from our female missionaries, whose heroism
is elsewhere partially illustrated in this work, the
finest example of a living American philanthropist
476 
O  AItEIICAN WOMIEN.EN
is lIiss D. L. Dix, of Massachlusetts. Her extreme
modesty, learned through her New England friends,
with whom we have corresponded, withlholds all facts
touching her early and private history, and leaves
us a paucity of materials out of which to frame
-een an outline of her public career.
We first hear of her as a teacher in the city of
Boston, in which vocation she was faithful and
honored.   At  the same time, she was  connected,
as instructor, with a Sabbath school-belonging
we believe, to Dr.  Channilg's  society- and while
searching in by-places for poor children to enlarge her
class, she necessarily came in contact with many destitute persons, and saw much suffering.  Ere long she
became  interested more especially  in the condition
and wants of poor seamen, and endeavored to enlist
the sympathies of others inll their behalf. As opportunities presented themselves, she visited the hospital and other benevolent institutions in and. near
Boston, together with the State Prison. Anon we
find her in the possession of a small legacy left )by
her deceased grand-mother; and, having resigned the
office of teacher, she is traveling through the state.
Having visited all the counties and most if not all
the towns in Massachusetts, hunting  up the insane
and acquainting herself with their condition, visiting
the inmates of the poor-houses and jails, and learning
the state of things among all the unfortunate and
suffering, she went to the Legislature, made a report,
and petitioned for reforms where  she thought they
were needed.
477 
NOBLE DEEDS
tlaving thoroughly canvassed one state, feeling her
benevolent heart expand, she entered another, and
went through the same routine of labors - visiting,
reporting, pleading for reforms.   She has traveled
through all the states but three or fur, and has extended her humane mission to Canada.
She overlooks no alnshouse; never fails of seeing
and learning the history of an insane person; goes
through every jail and prison; and usually, if not
invariably, has a private interview with each inmate,
imparting such counsel as wisdom and Christian sympathy dictate.   She has lately petitioned Congress
-as yet unsuccessfully  for a large appropriation
of the public lands for the benefit of the insane.
Her petitions are usually presented in a very quiet
and modest manner.  In her travels, she acquaints
herself with the leading minds, and among them the
state and national legislators; and when the lawmaking bodies are in session, she obtains an interview with members in the retirement of the parlor or
the small social gathering; communicates the facts
she has collected; and secures their cooperation in
her plans and their aid in effecting her purposes.
She who began the work of reform as a teacher in
a Sabbath school, has advanced, step by step, until her
capacious heart has embraced the Union, throughout
which the benign influence of her philanthropic labors is sensibly felt.  Some  one has truthfully remarked that " the blessings of thousands, ready to
perish, have come down upon her head," and that
the institutions which she has caused to be erected or
478 
OF Ag!L:RiCA''  WOMLEN.
mnodified in the several states "are monumlents mnore(
I honorable, if not more enduring than tile pyramids."
While Miss Dix has brought about important re   forms, she has accomplished her labors by great
hardship and the most rigid economy. She had not
a princely fortune, like Airs. Fry, to expend in be   nevolent causes; she could not ride from place to
place in her own  private  and  splendid  carriage,
saying to this servant, do this, and to another, do
that; she has been obliged to travel by public, hap   hazard  conveyances   often in mnost uncomfortable
vehicles in the most uncomfortable weather.  A part
of her early labors in the state of New York were
performed in the winter, and when in the north
eastern and coldest part, she was under the necessity,
on one occasion, of traveling all night in the se  verest part of the season in an open carriage. To
show her economy, which has been hinted at, it is
necessary merely to say that she purchases the ma  terials for most of her garments in the places which
she visits, and makes them up with her own hands,
while traveling on steamboats, waiting for stages at
public houses, and such odd intervals of leisure.*
The character of MAliss Dix is both pleasant and
profitable to contemplate.   Every thing connected
with her public career is noble and worthy to be
imitated. Would that the world were fall of such
* For the two past mentionled facts. and some others in regard to
Miss  Dix, we  are indebted  to the Rev.  G. W, Hosmor, pastor of
cbh- Unitarian church, Buffalo.
-1 79 
NOBLE DEEDS OF A_MERICAN WOMIEN.
characters:  they are needed.   Al'          ]i!! t hough she has dclone a great work,
Y'._:\\,,I/  much  is yet to do.  Our c)unitry
j    -'>    (f!, is wide, and enlarging almost every
^'' i   -year; the field of benevolence is whlit
to barvest, arid where are the reap'-":~   ers, who, like Miss Dix, will mak      *q~l,X,\~llA,,r9their I I lives sublime?
k
/',
THE END.
450'