about
thirteen years of age. After this period, she was put out to work to
earn her own living. She had many trials to endure which she would fain
forget; but in the midst of them all she had an ardent thirst for
knowledge and a remarkable talent for composition, as she evinced at the
age of fourteen in an article which attracted the attention of the lady
in whose family she was employed, and others. In this situation she was
taught sewing, took care of the children, &c.; and at the same time,
through the kindness of her employer, her greed for books was satisfied
so far as was possible from occasional half-hours of leisure. She was
noted for her industry, rarely trifling away time as most girls are wont
to do in similar circumstances. Scarcely had she reached her majority
ere she had written a number of prose and poetic pieces which were
deemed of sufficient merit to publish in a small volume called "Forest
Leaves." Some of her productions found their way into newspapers and
attracted attention. The ability exhibited in some of her productions
was so remarkable that some doubted and others denied their originality.
Of this character we here copy an extract from one of her early prose
productions:

CHRISTIANITY.

"Christianity is a system claiming God for its author, and the
welfare of man for its object. It is a system so uniform,
exalted and pure, that the loftiest intellects have acknowledged
its influence, and acquiesced in the justness of its claims.
Genius has bent from his erratic course to gather fire from her
altars, and pathos from the agony of Gethsemane and the
sufferings of Calvary. Philosophy and science have paused amid
their speculative researches and wondrous revelations to gain
wisdom from her teachings and knowledge from her precepts.
Poetry has culled her fairest flowers and wreathed her softest
to bind her Author's 'bleeding brow.' Music has strung her
sweetest lyres and breathed her noblest strains to celebrate his
fame; whilst Learning has bent from her lofty heights to bow at
the lowly cross. The constant friend of man, she has stood by
him in his hour of greatest need. She has cheered the prisoner
in his cell, and strengthened the martyr at the stake. She has
nerved the frail and shrinking heart of woman for high and holy
deeds. The worn and weary have rested their fainting heads upon
her bosom, and gathered s