hool they seemed to grasp knowledge
with much more tenacity and vigor. The young girls, however, coming from
a similar low class were weaker in virtue than the Irish.

The number of the Germans in the poor quarters may be somewhat measured
by the population of the Wards which they inhabited. The Eleventh Ward
at that time (1854) was reckoned to contain 50,000 inhabitants; at
present (1870) it contains 64,372, and the Sixteenth Ward, another
strong German district, has 99,375.

The Association of ladies which we called together for labors among this
population happened to be composed mainly of Unitarians, a religious
body that has always felt a peculiar interest in the moral condition of
our German poor. The moving spirit in the association was a lady of such
singular grace and delicacy of character, that I hardly venture, even
after these many years, to make public her name. She occupied then one
of the foremost positions in New York society--a position accorded in
part to her name, honored for intellectual services to the Republic,
beyond almost any other in our history, but above all due to her own
singular sweetness and dignity of manner and a very highly cultivated
and strong intellect. Her power, whether with rich or poor, was her
wonderful consideration for others, and her quick sympathy. The highest
inspiration of Christian faith breathed through her life and animated
her in laboring with these children of poverty. The same inspiration
sustained her subsequently in a prolonged and terrible trial of months
under a fearful disease, and made her death a sun-set of glory to all
who knew her. Never did the faith in immortal union with God through
Christ attain a more absolute certainty in any human being. Her death,
even to many skeptics who were intimate with her, became a new and
astonishing argument for Immortality.

She numbered among her friends many of the leading intellects of the
country, as well as those among the poor who depended on her advice,
sympathy, and aid.

Into this labor of love among the Germans, Mrs. S. threw herself, in
company with a few friends, with profound earnestness.

In view of the peculiar temptations of the young German girls, one of
our objects in this school was to offer a social as well as educational
resort in the evenings. We furnished the rooms pleasantly and
tastefully, and proposed to vary our school exercises by games or an
occasional dance and frolic. Mrs. S. and other l