Whence flow these wishes for the common good,, Was snatch'd from Afric's fancy'd happy seat: pray, 5. In her leisure moments she often indulged herself in writing poetry, and a small volume of her composition was published in 1773, when she was about nineteen years of age, attested by the Governor of Massachusetts, and a number of the most respectable inhabi-tants of Boston, in the following language: 6. "We, whose names are under-written, do assure the world that the Poems specified in the following pages were, (as we verily believe,) written by Phillis, a young negro girl, who was but a few years since, brought an uncultivated barbarian from Africa; and has ever since been, and now is, under the disadvantage of serving as a slave in a family in this town. She has been examined by some of the best judges, and is thought qualified to write them." 7. Her master says-"Having a great inclination to learn the Latin language, she has made some progress in it."* 8. After the publication of the little volume mentioned, and about the 21st year of her age, she was liberated; but she continued in her master's family, where she was much respected for her good conduct. Many of the most respectable inhabitants of Boston and its vicinity,. visiting at the house, were pleased with an opportunity of conversing with Phillis, and observing her modest deportment, and the cultivation of her mind. * Most of her poetical productions have a religious or moral cast; all breathe a soft and sentimental feeling. Twelve relate to the death of friends. Others on the works of Providence; on virtue, humanity, and freedom; with one to a young painter of her own color. On seeing his works, she vented her grief for the sorrows of her countrymen, in a pa-thetic strain. 9. When about 23, she was married to a person of her own color, who having also obtained considerable learning, kept a grocery, and officiated as a lawyer, under the title of Doctor Peters, pleading the cause of his brethren the Africans, before the tribunals of the state. 10. The reputation he enjoyed, with his industry, procured him a fortune; but Phillis being much indulged, had not acquired sufficient knowledge of domestic concerns; and her friends continuing their particular attention to her, gave him uneasiness, which operating on a disposition that was not willing to have her more respected than himself-which first manifested itself by reproaches; which were followed by harsh treatment. The continuance thereof affecting her susceptible mind, and delicate 'constitution, she soon went into a decline, and died in 1780, about the 26th year of her age, much lamented by those who knew her worth. She had one child, which died very young; and her husband surviv-ed her only three years. Poor Sarah ; Or, Religion Exemplified in theLife and Death of a Pious Indian Woman. The subject of the following narrative lived and died in a town in the eastern part of Connecticut. We are well acquainted with the writer, and can assure our readers that the account here given is true.-Editor of the 'Religious Intelligencer.'. 1. It was a comfortless morning in the month of March, 1814, when I first formed an acquaintance with the subject of the following sketch. 2. She called to solicit a few crusts, meekly saying, she "deserved nothing but the crumbs---they were enough for her poor old body, just ready to crumble into dust." I had heard of Sarah, a pious Indian woman, and was therefore prepared to receive her with kindness. And remembering the words of my Lord, who said, "Inas-much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me," I was ready to impart a portion of my little unto her, (for little, alas !. was my store.). 3. And how (I asked her) have you got along, this long, cold winter, Sarah? "O, misse, (she replied,) God better to Sarah than she fear. When winter come on, Sarah was in great doubt. No husband, no child here, but -- she wicked, gone a great deal. What if great snow come? What if fire go out? Nabor great way off---what if sick all 'lone? What if I die? Nobody know it? 4. "While I think so, in my heart, then I cry: while I crying, something speak in my mind, and say, trust God, Sarah; he love his people, he never leave them, he never forsake them; he never forsake Sarah, he friend indeed. Go tell Jesus, Sarah, he love hear prayer, he often hear Sarah pray. 5. "So I wipe my eyes, dont cry any more; go out in bushes, where nobody see, fall down on my old knees and pray. God give me great many words; pray great while. God make all my mind peace. When I get up, go in house, can't stop praying in my mind. All my heart burn with love to God; willing live cold, go hungry, be sick, die, all 'lone, if God be there. He know best, Sarah dont know, so I feel happy; great many day go singing Baptist hymn-- "Now I can trust the Lord for ever, He can clothe, and he can feed,. 6. "Well, Sarah, have you been comfortably supplied?" "O yes," she replied, "I never out corn-meal once all winter." "But how do you cook it, Sarah, so as to make it comfortable food?" "O, I make porridge, Misse; sometimes I get out, like to-day, and I go get some crusts bread and some salt put in it, then it is so nourishing to this poor old body; but when can't get none, then make it good I can, and kneel down, pray God to bless it to ine; and I feel if God feed me, and be so happy here," (laying her hand on her heart.) 7. Oh what a lesson, thought I, for my repining heart. "But do you, have no meat or other necessaries, Sarah ?" Not often, Misse; sometimes I get so hungry for it, I' begin feel wicked, then think how Jesus hungry in the desert. But when Satan tempt him to sin, to get food, he would not. So I say, Sarah won't sin to get victuals. I no steal, no eat stole food, though be hungry ever so long.* 8. "Then God gives me small look of his self, his Son, and his glory. And I think in my heart, they all be mine soon; then I no suffer hunger any more---my Father have there many mansions." "Sarah," said I 'you seem to have some knowledge of the Scriptures; can you read?” "I can spell out a little, I can't read like you white folks; Oh, if I could!" Here she burst into tears. 66. 9. But after regaining her composure, she added, "This, Misse, what I want above all things, more than victuals or drink. O how often I beg God teach me to read, and he do teach me some. When I take Bible,. kneel down and pray, he show me great many words, and they be so sweet, I want to know a great deal more. O when I get home to heaven, then I know all, no want to read any more." In this strain of simple piety, she told me her first interesting story. And when she de-parted, I felt a stronger evidence of her being a true child of God, than I have acquired of some professors. by a long acquaintance. 10. In one of her many visits she afterwards made me, she gave me, in substance, the following account of her conversion. She lived, according to her own account; until she became a wife and a mother, without hope and without God in the world, (having been brought up in extreme ignorance,) her husband treating her with great severity. She became dejected and sorrowful, and to use her own simple language, "I go sorrow, sorrow all day long. When the night come, husband come home angry, beat me so, then I think, O, if Sarah had friend, Sarah no friend; I no want tell nabor I got trouble, that. *This might refer to food stolen by her wicked daughter. make only worse. So I be quiet, tell nobody, only cry all night and day for one good friend. 11. "One Sunday, good nabor come, and say, come, Sarah, go Meetin. So I call my children, tell 'em stay in house while I go Meetin. When got there, minister tell all about Jesus; how he was born in stable, go suffer all his life, die on great cross, bury, rise, and go up into heaven, so always be sinner's friend. He say too, if you got trouble, go to Jesus. He best friend in sorrow, he cure all your sorrow, he bring you out of trouble, he support you, make you willing suffer. 12. "So when I go home, think great deal what minister say, think this the friend I want, this the friend I cry for so long. Poor ignorant Sarah, never hear so much about Jesus before. Then I try hard to tell Jesus how I want such friend. But, O, my heart so hard, can't feel, can't pray, can't love Jesus, though he so good. This make me sorrow more and more. When Sunday come, want go Meetin 'gain. Husband say, you shan't go; I beat you if you go. So I wait till he go off hunting, then shut up children safe, and run to Meetin, sit down in door, hear Minister tell how bad my heart is--no love to God, no love to Jesus, no love to pray. 13. "So, then, I see why can't have Jesus for friend, 'cause got so bad heart: then go prayin all way home, Jesus make my heart better. When got home, find children safe, feel glad husband no come: only feel sorry 'cause my wicked heart don't know how make it better. When I go sleep, then dream I can read good book: dream I read there, Sarah must be born 'gain: in morning keep thinking what that word mean. When husband go work, run over my good nabor, ask her if Bible say so. 14. "Then she read me, where that great man go see Jesus by night, 'cause 'fraid go in day time. I think he just like Sarah. She must go in secret, to hear 'bout Jesus, else husband be angry, and beat her. Then feel 'couraged in mind, determined to have Jesus for friend. So ask nabor how get good heart. She tell me, give your heart to Jesus, he will give Holy Spirit, make it |