MEMOIRS OF MISS SARAH SMITH.

THE subject of the following brief memoir lives in the remembrance of her numerous friends; but the excellence of her character ought to be more extensively known, for its bright ness and dignity may attract others to goodness.

She was the daughter of the late Rev. John Smith, D. D. professor of ancient languages in Dartmouth College, a man no less eminent for oriental learning, than for piety. She was born at Hanover, (N. H.) April 23, 1789, and died August 17, 1812, in the 24th year of her age. Having an easy access to books and a taste for reading, she pcrused, while yet very young, many volumes; but as she afterwards perceived, she read with out judgment and with little improvement. To the undisciplined mind of a youth, whose imagination is ardent and whose heart is tender, the wild and affecting scenes of fiction have very powerful attractions. She devoured many novels; but happily at the age of fourteen her reason acquired strength, and the enchantment of romance was in a great degree dissolved. Her reading was now more wisely directed, and her application so VOL. IX.

intense, as to prove injurious to her health.

Her letters and her poetical productions, written at the age of fifteen or sixteen, furnish proof, that her mind was much more matured, than is common at that period. With the pencil also she became unusually skilful. She possessed genius and talents; but unless they had been conjoined with the unfading beauties of religion, the remem brance of them would be accompanied with unavailing regret for their perversion. It was her religion, which made her friends look upon her almost as upon an angel, and which gave her peace and triumph, as she went down to the grave.

Although, through the care of pious and faithful parents she' was early instructed in the great truths and duties of the Christian religion; yet before she reached the nineteenth year of her life she seems not to have been actuated by the principles and motives, nor to have been cheered with the hopes of the Gospel.

The renovation of the sinful heart is a most interesting and important event; and the redeemed servants of Jesus delight to retrace the steps, by which they have been rescued from perdition.

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spirit beamed in her countenance and controlled her conduct.

The world has the idea, that melancholy is the sister of religion; but if the world had known Miss Smith, it would have known one, who seemed to experience continually a joy unspeakable and full of glory. It would have perceived, that to have the stings of conscience plucked from the heart, and to possess the assurance of eternal felicity in the future world, cannot destroy the sources of enjoy ment in this life; and that benevolence, and piety, and hope, and faith can impart real and permanent happiness.

It is not usual for young ladies to be very accurate and thorough in the investigation of religious subjects. Miss Smith, however, in the summer of 1810, engaged in a very important inquiry respecting the character of Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Scriptures, and the result of her studies was an entire conviction of his Divinity; a conviction, which was at no time shaken, and which gave strength to her hope of salvation by the Redeemer.

In the autumn of this year she went to Springfield, and thence to Boston, where she remained during the winter and spring, being very attentive to religious institutions, and anxious to become more conformed to the image of her Savior.

She returned to Hanover in June 1811 with symptoms of the consumption, and from that period this disease preyed upon her frame until it terminated her mortal life. Delighting in the ervices of the sanctuary, she was in the habit of repairing to the

house of God, when prudence forbade the probable exposure of her health. But as winter approached, she yielded to the unwelcome necessity of remaining at home. At home, however, she found the presence of that God, who dwelleth not in temples made with hands. She seemed now to be persuaded, that her disease would be fatal, and instead of banishing the thought of death, she made it familiar. To her mother she said, "I don't know, that my feelings are right; but I can't make death seem otherwise than pleasant

The winter passed away, and the spring revived the hopes of her friends, and inspired her with some expectations of recovery. But after returning from a short journey in June 1812, she was settled in the opinion, that she must soon die; and she had no desire left but to honor her Redeciner, and do good to her acquaintance by her conversation, and by a peaceful and triumphant death.

Let the giddy and thoughtless, who look upon death with terror, draw near and see how Sarah Smith could converse, and could die.

In the month of July she requested two of her dearest friends to make her grave clothes. Seated by her bedside, she bade them be cheerful, and observed, "that she was going a short journey, and the sight of her clothes made her feel so happy, she could not but cast a wishful thought to the time, when she should put them on." From this time she conversed with all who wished to see her, adapting her conversation with wonderful propricty to their characters, and addressing

them with the energy and eloquence of truth.

One evening, when she was supposed to be dying, she took leave of her mother and kissed her, saying, "It is a sweet kiss; there is no bitterness in it" To an acquaintance she said, "you have come to witness the happiest period of my life."

She urged upon a young gentleman, who called one day to see her, the necessity of being prepared to enter the eternal worid, and as a motive she reminded him of the example of his dear and excellent mother, and of her many prayers for his salvation.

To another she remarked, that 'it afforded her unspeak. ble satisfaction to be able to say, that what constituted her present support, peace, and happiness, had been her chief delight, when in health. With earnest solicitude she pointed out to him the infinite importance of acquiring an interest in the merits of the Savior, that he might triumph over death, and alluded to his high responsibility for the manner, in which he improved the opportunities of diffusing good, and promoting the cause of the Redeemer, which, as a physician, might be given him. As he left her, she said, 'I do most earnest ly pray, that when you are brought to my situation, yeu may experience the joy which I feel; and that I may meet you, with all our dear friends, around the throne of God'

On being asked, if she felt no fear, when she apprehet && her seif to be dying, she replied; "No. I cannot feel fear. Ha I the least shadow of hope in myself then indeed 1 stoc 1 trovy

ble. But I hope to appear clothed in the robe of my Savior's righteousness; and, so clothed, I know I shall be accepted."

She said also, I feel that I do not think of my Redeemer as I ought, nor love him as I ought. I feel the coldness, the hardness, the deadness of my heart, and this makes me long to be gone, that I may see Christ as he is, and love him as I ought. I feel the coldness and deadiness of my heart so much, that at times k am almost tempted to fear I have deceived myself, and have thought I loved my God and Savior when I did not; but at such times my consolation arises from feeling myself cold and dead to other things, and therefore I must charge it to the weakness of the fesh. I endeavor to look into my evidences. I recall to mind how it was with me, when in health, my delight in prayer, my longings after God, my enjoyment of his ordinances, my desire to promote his cause, and my earnest wish to be delivered from the power as well as from the punishment of sin. Of these I am sure; and I say to myself, these certainly are not natural to an unrenewed heart. Therefore I cannot doubt; but charge my celiness, my deadness to the weakness of the flesh, from which

long, ardently long to be freed. But I await God's time. I am not impatient, but feel full confidence of sufficient support to and through death."

The towing is a specimen of the manner, in wrich she add ́essed children. To two little girls da gtters of a friend, she

You have come to see sunt Sarad once more before De Ces. Do be grieved, lit

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tle dears; aunt Sarah is very happy; she is going to die, to live with God and Christ. must die too, sooner or later, and if you wish to die as happy as aunt Sarah, and go and live with God and Christ, you must try to learn to love them. You cannot love God too soon. The younger you are, when you begin to love him, the more he will love you. You are old enough to learn some things about God, and how Christ came and lived in this world, and took little children into his arms, and blessed them. If you would come and live where aunt Sarah is going, you must obey your parents, and constantly pray God to teach you to love him and Christ. If you do, he will teach you, and when you die he will let you live with Him and be happy forever.'

She observed to a friend, I am frequently asked, if the things of the world are not lessening in value. I never know how to answer. They seem to think it must be the case. I'm sure for three years the world has been as nothing to me, and it can't be less now.'

At one time she said: 'It gives me no pain to see this body decay; there will be less left for worms; but,' she exultingly exclaimed, 'it will be raised in the likeness of my Savior at the glorious resurrection.'

Two of the domestics being called at her request, she said to one; You ought to be careful of yourself; you have a bad cough, and can't tell but it may soon bring you to this situation, in which you see me. I would address myself to both of you. I would tell you how much God

has done for me, and that the same fountain is freely opened to you. Your souls are of infinite value. You may now secure cternal happiness; but if you refuse, you must be forever miserable. This is a solemn thought! make God your friend, and you will never fear.'

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She recommended to friends more frequent conversation upon religious subjects, saying; 'In company, even when we know all present are profess ed Christians, we speak of evcry subject except the most important one. If we felt the subject more ourselves, we should not remit our exertions to make others feel it.'

In the near prospect of death, she said, that she was 'only going from one company of friends to another, and 'soon' added she, 'we shall be all together.' The day before she died, on bcing reminded that her hands were cold, and that this symptom always attended the close of life, she said, 'what a delightful chill that will be!'

In the morning of the last day of her life she requested some one to read in the Bible. When asked, where? She replied, 'Any where in the life of our Savior, it is all good,-you know he went about doing good." During the forenoon several hymns, by her desire, were sung. In the afternoon, to one of her friends who was deeply affected, she said, 'Dear giri, don't be grieved; in a few hours I shall be happy with my dear Redeemer. Dear girl, remember your God while young, and we shall meet again far from this world of trouble. Icaven bless you.'