Have we not encouragement in our concert? Nine grandchildren, and a daughter with her husband, of our honored grandfather, have become pious, within the last year! A. and H. R. join the church about this time. Cousin M. and J. leave next week, -the latter I believe thinks much of serious things; and brother J. requested me to pray particularly for the former, as he thought her impressed on Thursday evening by a sermon of Dr. Payson, from the text, To-day, if ye will hear his voice,' &c. I think a great deal of your children, and intended to have asked Mr. H. if they manifest any susceptibility on religious subjects. I want to hear them sing' Hosanna,' in infancy."

"I should have mentioned in my last, that uncle Thomas's oldest daughter is a subject of the revival in Brooklyn-all grandpapa's female descendants of any maturity of age are now pious."

5*

CHAPTER VI.

COMMENCEMENT

MISSIONS

AND PROGRESS OF HER

EFFORTS

INTEREST

AMONG THE MOHEGAN INDIANS LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR.

IN

THE object of the present chapter is to give some extracts from the correspondence of Miss Huntington, which show the commencement and progress of missionary tendencies in her mind. To go back and see her first thoughts on the missionary service; and to follow her through successive years, to the time when divine Providence opened the door for her entrance upon it, indicates how great a change may take place on the subject, even in the mind of a Christian.

Writing to her sister, January 21, 1823, she says, "Mr. Maxwell took some pains to convince me that I ought to be a missionary; but I told him I never had thought that my calling."

The subject, in the course of this year, was before the mind of a much esteemed cousin, and some interchange of views was passing among the relatives of the circle. She writes, September 10—"Grandmamma Lanman says she thinks that cousin Mary might be as useful at home, as on missionary ground; and mamma does not appear pleased with her plan. I asked grandmamma why it should not be consistent for our friends to make sacrifices for the church, as well as for others."

October 3, 1824. "Mr. Gridley, an agent of the American Board, preached here last Sabbath, and is to return in the course of a week or two, to establish associations among us. He intends to go to Palestine, and I think him well adapted to the situation. How missions increase in

importance! It seems to me that all classes and ages should be excited to some effort for them. Children might do much by devoting an hour or two in a week to employments for their aid. I intend that Sarah Ann shall learn to do something in reference to the great object."

August 29, 1826."I have thought much, recently, upon the subject of missions. I never felt it a duty to go myself to the heathen. But I do feel that I ought to make every exertion with my hands (my all) in their behalf. How much we might do by devoting an hour every day to some employment for them! "We have not money, but we have time and strength, the talents which God has seen fit to bestow upon us, and for which we must account. The cry is, More funds, and more shall be accomplished.' I hope God will enable me to fulfil the resolutions which I have recently made, respecting these duties. I shall be no less guilty than the possessor of thousands of gold and silver. It requires a stronger effort for the covetous man to bestow his wealth, than for the naturally active to put forth his strength and redeem his time.”

February 28, 1827.- "I have become a subscriber to the Missionary Herald, the last two numbers of which are very interesting. Do you not think the missionary cause is constantly gaining ground? What a privilege to be engaged in it!"

August 27, 1827." At a recent Bible class, Mr. Mitchell remarked upon the costly sacrifice which Mary offered to our Saviour, in gratitude for the restoration of her brother Lazarus, as an example to those whom God has blessed in the conversion of their friends. It went to my heart. I am deficient in gratitude and devotedness." This followed the conversion of one of her younger brothers.

September 8, 1828.-"I read, some time since, with much feeling, 'Missionary Paper, No. 9,'* and have re

* Published by the A. B. C. F. M.-title, "Something has been done during the last forty years," a tract of thrilling interest.

perused it of late. I also read extracts from it at our Missionary Association. Have you seen the tract entitled 'True Believer Bountiful'? It is a sermon by Mr. Clark, one or two sections of which are introduced into the Missionary Paper, No. 9. I think the plan proposed in the Missionary Herald, which I have just received, is the best which has appeared, for the arrangement of annual meetings and collections."

November 1, P. M. "I have put on my hat and habit to attend the Monthly Concert, but the rain makes me doubtful about my duty. If three or four only could meet, it would be pleasant to add even a little, to the cloud of incense which is rising every hour of the twenty-four. Evening. I have returned from the Ladies' Meeting, where nine assembled; and I hope we were not wholly destitute of the spirit of the occasion. In the 'Recorder' a series of pieces is published adapted to the monthly concert. The last, entitled 'The Alternative,' is calculated to arouse a new set of feelings, in regard to the duty of Christians."

December 15, 1829, after being permitted to see the conversion of her second brother, she says, "I feel now as if I should rejoice to be a missionary to the heathen. We owe a thank-offering. Our dear father has appeared very

happy in looking upon us all.”

January 15, 1830.-"I regret to hear what you say of a deficiency of missionaries. I have thought, lately, that if individuals from what are called the first families,' of both sexes, were to consecrate themselves to the work, it would give a new impulse to the cause. Suppose, for instance, a young lady or gentleman, from the midst of our pleasant circle, in Norwich, should go to the heathen; would not our monthly concerts have a deeper interest? If one who meets with us at the missionary room were to be transplanted to labor among pagan females, would not our hearts be inflamed with new zeal and self-denial ? Could not every place furnish and support one missionary? Oh! the hundreds that are sinking into misery while I

write. Are we not in danger of fixing our eyes upon the future prospects of the church, rather than upon the souls who are perishing every passing hour? It appears to me there is no time to be lost in consulting with pride, under. the specious names of 'respectability, and suitable conformity.' It is with the present generation of heathen, our brothers and sisters and neighbors, whose cries ring in our ears, that we have to do. And certainly in regard to our own country, there is not a moment to spare, if 'prevention is better than cure.' Let the world, who certainly are the majority, spend their energies in holding up a little longer, the inventions which must one day be overthrown; but let not Christians sell the souls of their fellow-men at so cheap a rate. Sacrifices must be sacrifices; they require a struggle with selfishness, of course. We must expect to feel them, and suffer for them. Have you not seen persons profess to keep a Fast, and because they felt hungry, go and eat something? Christians must learn to attach a new meaning to such passages as these: My kingdom is not of this world.' 'Be not conformed to this world.' • A peculiar people, zealous of good works.""

At a time when she spent her Sabbaths in teaching a Sabbath school among the Mohegan Indians, to which she walked six miles, she writes, September 11, 1831,—“It is astonishing what an effect is produced upon my interest in society here, by an absence from our church every Sabbath. I scarcely know who are in town, or how the congregation look. Yet it is a self-denial which ought to be practised for the good of others. The missionaries give up every thing. I should like to go to the Washington Islands, mentioned by Mr. Stewart, where no Christian has been. But my path seems plainly marked out; and I wish, dear brother, you would pray that I may have grace to subordinate every duty to those filial ones which are now so important."

In October of this year, (1831,) it appears her mind had made such progress on the subject of missions, that