ct of this memoir. She was born in Bradford, Massachusetts, on
the 22d of December, 1789. In a sketch which she has given of her life,
between twelve and seventeen years of age, we find evidence of an
active, ardent, and social disposition, gay and buoyant spirits,
persevering industry, and great decision of character.

Whatever engaged her attention, whether study or amusement, was pursued
with an ardor that excited the sympathy and love both of her teachers
and schoolfellows. Though little of her writing at this period is
preserved, and the generation that knew her personally is mostly passed
away, yet her whole subsequent career gives evidence of an intellect of
a very high order, carefully cultivated by study and reflection.

She seems scarcely to have been the subject of serious impressions
before her seventeenth year. Until that time she enjoyed the pleasures
of the world with few misgivings and with a keenness of relish which
led her to think herself, as she says, "the happiest creature on earth."
She adds, "I so far surpassed my friends in gayety and mirth, that some
of them were apprehensive I had but a short time to continue in my
career of folly, and should be suddenly cut off. Thus passed the last
winter of my gay life."

During the spring of 1806, she began regularly to attend a series of
conference meetings in Bradford, her native town. She soon felt that the
Spirit of God was operating on her mind. Amusements lost their relish;
she felt that she must have a new heart or perish forever; and she often
sought solitude, that she might, unseen by others, weep over her
deplorable state. Soon, however, her fears that her distress might be
noticed by her companions, were merged in her greater terrors of
conscience, and she "was willing the whole universe should know that she
felt herself to be a lost and perishing sinner." Her distress increased
as she became more and more sensible of the depravity of her heart, and
the holiness and sovereignty of God. Her mind rose in rebellion against
a Being, who after all her prayers and tears and self-denial, still
withheld from her the blessing of pardon and peace. She says, "In this
state I longed for annihilation, and if I could have destroyed the
existence of my soul with as much ease as that of my body, I should
quickly have done it. But that glorious Being who is kinder to his
creatures than they are to themselves, did not leave me to remain in
this distressing state