place where there was no preaching, and no religious
instruction; but every day I went out amongst the hay-stacks, where
the presence of the Lord overshadowed me, and I was filled with
sweetness and joy, and was as a vessel filled with holy oil. In this
way I continued for about a year; many times while my hands were at my
work, my spirit was carried away to spiritual things. One day as I was
going to my old place behind the hay-stacks to pray, I was assailed
with this language, "Are you going there to weep and pray? what a
fool! there are older professors than you are, and they do not take
that way to get to heaven; people whose sins are forgiven ought to be
joyful and lively, and not be struggling and praying." With this I
halted and concluded I would not go, but do as other professors did,
and so went off to play; but at this moment the light that was in me
became darkened, and the peace and joy that I once had, departed from
me.

About this time I was moved back to the farm where my mother lived,
and then sold to a stranger. Here I had deep sorrows and plungings,
not having experienced a return of that sweet evidence and light with
which I had been favoured formerly; but by watching unto prayer, and
wrestling mightily with the Lord, my peace gradually returned, and
with it a great exercise and weight upon my heart for the salvation of
my fellow-creatures; and I was often carried to distant lands and
shown places where I should have to travel and deliver the Lord's
message. Years afterwards, I found myself visiting those towns and
countries that I had seen in the light as I sat at home at my
sewing,--places of which I had never heard.

Some years from this time I was sold to a Presbyterian for a term of
years, as he did not think it right to hold slaves for life. Having
served him faithfully my time out, he gave me my liberty, which was
about the thirtieth year of my age.

As I now lived in a neighborhood where I could attend religious
meetings, occasionally I felt moved to speak a few words therein; but
I shrank from it--so great was the cross to my nature.

I did not speak much till I had reached my forty-second year, when it
was revealed to me that the message which had been given to me I had
not yet delivered, and the time had come. As I could read but little,
I questioned within myself how it would be possible for me to deliver
the message, when I did not understand the Scriptures. Whereupon I was
moved to