ACCOUNT

OF

MARY SOPHIA POND,

AGED NINE YEARS.

MARY SOPHIA POND was born at Trowbridge, October 1796. Her brief life demonstrated at once the depth of human corruption, as inherited from our first parents, and the vastness of almighty grace and mercy, as derived from our adorable Redeemer.-The depth of human corruption, for her excellent uncle remarks" that she was naturally of a petulant, obstinate, perverse disposition, and manifested this continually, till she was between four and five years of age"the vastness of almighty grace and mercy, as will appear in the sequel, from the statement of the same valuable relative. "At that time she was placed under the care of an aunt, who bestowed uncommon pains upon her. By degrees, though with great difficulty, (for she often rebelled in the most violent manner,) she was

brought under proper restraint and discipline. The impropriety of her conduct was calmly pointed out to her, with all the address of reason and affection-the portraits of good and bad children were constantly laid before her-she was taught to commit to memory, with remarkable emphasis and feeling, till at length her mind, under the divine influence, imbibed all the lovely principles of virtue, genuine affection, and filial duty towards her friends, love to all mankind, and real piety towards God. The change was visible to all her disposition became remarkably sweet and engaging, and upon every occurrence she would make the most suitable reflections, particularly lamenting the evil of sin and sinful conduct. Her whole deportment was truly the admiration of all her friends. Evangelical religion had a most powerful effect upon her whole soul; and the Lord Jesus Christ, by an early sickness, took her to himself." The wonderful change which took place, through grace, in her character, will be further apparent, from the Memoir drawn up by the affectionate aunt alluded to above.

"At three years of age she came to reside with her grandmother, when her education, with that of an elder sister, deolved upon me. Little

did I then, or for a long time after, imagine what

delightful employ it would prove; for surely the first part was truly rugged! The violence of her passions, and impatience of contradiction, would often terrify me, and render me almost incapable of administering correction; but how did the lion become a lamb under the teaching of God! Education moderated, but it was God subdued, and made the mighty change! For more than a year there was no getting forward in reading, until Sermons to Children, by a Lady,' were given to her. They were read to her, but that was not sufficient-they were so sweet, that she must read for herself; and her determination was, to fight through every difficulty to accomplish this end. Every cloud now began to vanish from her intellects, and before the age of five was attained, her desires for knowledge and improvement became insatiable! And now how gratefully would she receive instruction! At seven, she had gone through the translations of the Iliad and Odyssey, descanting on the different actions and characters in passing through them. At this time she read with elegance, and evidenced by her manner that she entered into the meaning of all that she read.

As a hint to young people, I would observe, that this dear girl never thought of beginning a second book, until the first was finished.

"She seemed to have a mind superior to the little vanities that usually accompany childhood; for although neat and particular in her person, to an extreme, I never perceived any thing that looked like delight in finery, except when about to adorn her doll: and though all admired her as beautiful, I believe she was unconscious of possessing a personal charm. Thus far, I think, she had proceeded without religion; and I judge so, from a disposition to trifle in the house of God. One Sabbath, after reproving her for this, I remember having used the following expression:'Mary, would your mother have behaved as you have done this day in the house of God? No; your mother is a pious woman, and is going to heaven, for she loves all the ways that lead thither; if you love her, Mary, how will you bear to be eternally from her?' The poor little thing burst into an agony of grief, and from this time always gave serious and solemn attention to every part of worship.

December, 1803, she was seized with the measles: this disorder we had rather dreaded,

from an apprehension that her lungs were weak; and the event realized our fears. Her constitution was not strong enough to throw off the disorder; for though she appeared to pass through it well, a cough remained, which, with other unpleasant symptoms, induced the apothecary to recommend change of air, so soon as the weather would admit. During this illness an unusual seriousness commenced, with an increased sweetness of temper, accompanied with grateful expressions for every act of attention, and affectionate solicitude lest my health should suffer by my attending so much to hers; and all this unceasingly continued, till our attentions were no longer needed.

she replied, you

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"I one day was trying to divert her, and on succeeding, jocosely said, 'O saucy girl, what, laugh at aunt!' 'Ah, aunt,' have often made me cry.' nished you, do you mean?' 'Yes.' This I felt as a dagger; till, on asking if I had done this too often, she with energy answered, 'Oh! no, no, not once; if, my dear aunt, you had let me go on my own way, what a bad girl I should have been!'-and then expressed her thanks by kisses.