Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-11-30

| would sci up n school and teach the
! ovnrseer's family to read
The ergumcn, prevailed. The irreli-
gous father. who had been afraid lest his
daughter should lower her own dignity. or
hat Of his family, by assuming the Office
of Sabbath School Teacher, was now
conquered by the least exccp'ionablo
weapons in the world, and obliged TO sur
render all his objections. The services OF
Dick were the next day brought into rcqni.
| si'on, aud the granary was soon fitted up
Tor It's new purpose. Dick was to be o
scholar as a reward for his toll. Notice
went forth that a Sabbath School would
be opened on the next Sabbath morning al
Mr.. A'knson's Granary!
Sabbath morning came. 1t was bright
and glorious morning. Both the surround
ing fields aud the heavens seemed To smile
upon the enterprise. Al the appointed
hour Martha went to the scene Of her new
Iabors, and found it lhrongcd with waiting
pupils. A blush suffuscd her cheek. as
she entered and beheld some twenty adults
who, she rightly supposed, had come to
place themselves under her tuition. Re-
covering confidence and compOsure, she
proceeded TO arrange her new charge in
the best way she could and spent with
HON one of the happlest Sabbaths of her
life.
| Encouraged by this unexpected success,
and feeling that she must have assistance,
she applied herself, during the ensuing
week, to his object. She readily secured
| the cooperation of some female friends,
4 ,,,;, 1, l,,. nj Ia
unexpected and volunteer services Of her
eldest brothe-. who lived on an adjoining
| plantation. This brother had received a
! liberal education, and though young, had
already flied several important offices in
the State. Bn, he was confirmed scep'c,
I!e openly avowed his disbelief in the
divinity and authority OF the Scriptures
Yet he believed, (he sadly that the Bible
was the best book of morals in The world,
and therefore ought to be- laugh, diligently
"a q means for the Improvement of The
people. The adults in attendance for Tn"
purpose Of learning to read, were commit
ted to his charge |, was certainly novel
| spectacle. TO behold an avowed lnfidel
zealous|v tolling against ignorance and SIN
IN Sabbath School, from eight o'clock in
The morning until two or three in The after
noon. The persevering Iabors Of such o
man. in such place. reminds us of house
| divided against itself. The scene furnishes
a good lesson to every Christian who
engages leebiy and Jaiuiessly in this good
work.
| The chief responsibility, however, rested
upon our young Disciple. She wa. :he
bright sun in this l,l'le system. All looked
to her fpr counsel. II she had before been
the PRIDE OF the nerghborbood, she was now
its light. She never seemed, even to her
cautious father. to 90 out Of her appropr'-
ate sphere. and yet she caused the Blessed
influence OF her cheerful ple'y to be felt in
every dwelling around her. She would
often ride on horseback, or in her fathers
carriage. driven by trus'v Dick, who had
become absorbed 10 the same good work,
TO visit the abode> Of The ignorant and poor
for FIVE or six miles around. BY these
labors, nrw acquisitions were made to hel
charge The class under her particular
instruction, consisting at eight or ten little
grrlS, was collected by these visits. il
was indeed 81 interesting llli,e group, Il
whom, but for her Iabors, the language o
| Wv VA" o''' S'''N''y upp'ltuoIf'
Full many gem Of purest raw serene.
The dark, u"ia,homed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste It's sweetness on the desert air.
Miss Atkinson continued her unwearie,
efforts for nearly three years. As conse
qnences, many from middle age to child
hood, were taught to read copies of lh'
Scriptures were multiplied, and placed II
every famlly-ihe Spirit of God ATTENDED
the word which was occasionally preached
and several pupils Of different ages, sons
teachers and some parents became hopeful,
he children Of God; from these a churcl
was afterwards formed, to which q yonn.
|, clergyman was sent as missionary. Thu
by the means and appliances brought lnr'
u-e by one young lady, the whole aspect o
society in that sweet valley has bee
changed. The dark valley was made light
But the subject of our sketch was no
long to enjoy, on ear'h, the contemplation
of these fruits of her abors. Her humility
probably, did not contemplate them as such
J, though they were regarded by others n
connected with her Instrumentaliy. Sh
was marked tor an early grave. A hectl
flush had beea for several months upon be
4, cheek. And now, an increasing coug
was gaining over her such strength a
obliged her to suspend the work she love
: so well. This failure of health occurre
9 in the winter. With the return OF Sprin
she was in measure restored, when tn
. again prudenlly applied herself TO her Sab
u bath School. Many hearts were saddene
e by her return, In the month of June
It while lifting child five or six years ole
from u carriage, she rup'ured some vess'
l. about the lungs, and was taken with pro
y fuse bleeding. Her decIenson becam
u more rapid, aud in few weeks secon
r. hemorrhage made it evident that the spring
e of life were fatally attacked. This col
ID vlclion she bad had 70! several months, b.
n A Uove hcr M alarm She was DerfecjI