New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-06-24
LIFE OF SARAH MARTN-PRlsOS VISITING


. LITE UT canaan HdhilN h4a"f 'AstA it''f
Concluded from yestrday's TrJuueI
In the year l.46 Sarah Martins grandmother
died and she came into possession Of an annual IN
come OF ten or twelve pounds. derived from the
investment Of d" between three and four hundred
pounds She then removed from Caster 20 ar
mouth. where she occupied two rooms in house
situated in a row IN an obscure par OF the town
and. from that time devoted herself with increased
energy % her philanthOpic labOrs a benevolent
lady. resident In Yarmouth, had for some years.
with view to securing her a little rest for her
hcalths sake. given her one day IN the week. by
compensating her for that day Ia the same way as
IL she had been engaged in dress making. With
that assistance and with n few quarterly subscrp
tons "chieiy g. 3D. each for bibles, testaments
tracts and other books for distribution. she went
on devoting every available moment OF her life TO
her great purpose But dress making. like other
professions is Jealous mistress customers fell of
and eventually disappeared. A question Of anx
iOus moment now presented itself the determine
ton OF which is one OF the most characteristic and
memorable incidents Of her life. Was she 10 pur-
sue her benevolent lsbOrs. even although they led
to utter poverty Her little income was not more
than enough % pay her lodging and the expenses
consequent upon the exercise Of her charitable
functions and was actual restitution Of ordinary
necessaries 20 be submitted tot She never doubt
ed but her reasoning upon the subject presents so
clear an illustration OF the exalted character OF her
thoughts and purposes aud exhibits so eminent an
example OF Christian deyOtedness ard herolsm that
it would be an injustice to her memory not TO quote
1t in her own words
"ln the fun occupation Of dress-makng had care
with H. and anxiety for the future but - that disap
urared care He'd also God who had called me into the
vineyard had said Whatsoever is right will give you
had learned from the scriptures OF truth that should
bp supported God was my master ana would not Tor
sake bic servant lie w6s my father and could not Tor
get his child. knew also that II sometimes seemed
L. - N.HaN aFfn H.
wants BY bestOwing upon them very limited means Of
support in the Of Naomi and Ruth OF the widow
OF Zsrephsh and Elijah and ny mind IA ne conielpld
tim Of such trials ssaef eIaifed By han human
Qa for had c0luied me coN and M mind made up
~ rt importing Truth 10 OihGs becqmc eposed 70 ten
uOral rant me JruatDH. mOmefary 10 az tgdrtGdL
rOuld p0tddnt Of c0mPUis0H nitt J0aoEHg me Ina "a
nus administering 10 0Hers" (L0e p 800
Noble woman A faith so firm and 50 disinter
ested, might have removed mountains selfsac-
riice founded upon such principles IS among the
most heroic Of human achievements.
This appears 20 have been the busiest period OF
Sarah Martins life Her system, If We may SO
term IT, of superintendent over the prisoners. was
now complete For six or seven hours daily she
took her station among them converting that
which without her would have been, at best a
scene ot'dissolute idleness, into hive Of industry
and order W have already explained the nature
of the employment which she provided for them
the manner OF their instruction is described as fol-
lows
Any wbo could not read encouraged 10 learn. while
others Ia my absence assisted them. They were taught
10 write also while such could write already copied
extracts from books lent 10 them Prisoners who were
ate 20 read committed verses from the Holy Scriptures
10 memory every day according 10 their ability IN
cliuation I. example also committed few verses
20 memory 20 repeat 20 them every day aud the eject
was remarkable. always silenc.ng excuse when the
pride Of prisoners would have prevented their DO
hight Many aid at nrst Il would 0e OF no use and
my reply was ltis Of use 10 aud Why should % not
ls 10 NnU HgVr Flf I rIa|Ni have
and cbdren's books snd larger books four or i've n
number OF which they were very fond. were exchanged
10 every room daily. while who could read ore.
We're supplied with larger hooss -t Lgc pd2)
There does not appear 10 have been any instance
OF prisoner long refusing % take advantage OF
this mode OF instruction. Men entered the prison
ssucy shallow. setoouceitcd lull OF ca'ls and Oh
iections, which Sarah Martin was singuiarly clever
in meeting but in n few days the most stubborn.
and those who had refused tho most peremptorly.
either % be employed or o. be instructed. would
beg 20 be allowed % take their part IN the general
course Once within the circle of her Influence
the effect was curious. Men old In years. well
in crime might be seen striving for the first time
in their lives TO hold pen or bending h0ary heads
over primers and spelling books or studying %
commit 70 memory some precept taken from the
Holy Scriptures Young rascAls. as impudent as
they were ignorant beginning with one verse
went on TO long passages and even the dullest
were enabled by perseverance % furnish their
every day All these operations It must be borne
in mind, were carried on under no authority save
what was derived from the teachers innate force
of character. Aware Of that circumstance, and
that any rebellion would be fatal o. her usefulness
she contriyed every exercise OF her power as %
" make favor of H. knowing well that o de-
part from this course would only be followed By the
prisoners doing less, and not doing IL well. ~ LIE,
p. lO4I The ascendancy she thus acquired was
very singular. general persuasion OF the sin
cerity with which " she watched, and wept, and
PRAYED and felt for all rendered her the general
depository Of the little condolences the tales o..
weakness treachery and sorrow Ia the midst OF
which she stood and thus she was enabled % fan
the rising desire for emancipation. 10 succOr the
tempted. 10 encourage the tmld and put the errng
In the way.
After tie close Of her labors at the Jail she pro
ceeded. at one time OF her life. % a large school
which she superintendent AT the work house. and
aiterwsrd, when that school was turned over %
proper teachers she devoted two nights ~ the week
20 a school for factory girls which was held In the
cspaciOus chance OF the old church OF 81 Nicholas
There, or elsewhere she was everything. Other
teachers would send their classes 70 stand by and
listen while Sarah Martin. in her striking and ef-
iective way, impaired Instruction 70 the forty or
nifty young women who were fortunate enough %
be more especially her pupils. Every countensnce
was riveted upon her: and as the questions went
round. she would explain them by piece Of poetry
command and. more especially. by Scripture Illus
tratlon. The Bible indeed. the great fountain
OF her know edge and her power. For many years
she read u through tour times every year, and had
formed mos, exact Reference Book 70 rs con
tents. Her intimate familiarity with is striking
imagery and lofty diction impressed poetcal chsr-
scter upon her own style and filed her mind with
exalted thoughts After her class duties were over
there remained 10 be performed many offices OF
kindness. which with her were consequent upon
the relation OF teacher and pupil there was per.
sOhsl communication with this scholar and with
that some inquiry here. some tale to listen 70
there for she was never mere schoolmistress.
but always the friend and counselor As vel as the
instructor.
The evenings on which there was go tuition were
devoted by her 70 visiting the sick either in the
work-house or through the town generally and &C
casionans an evening was passed with some OF
those worthy people IN Yarmouth BY whom her "a
bors were regarded with interest. Her appearance
in any of their houses was the signal for busy
evening Her benevolent smile snd quick active
manner communicated hss own ehserraae. and