The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-10-28
b q y.
From the N. Y. Washingtonian and Pearl.
A woMAN,s POWER.

A WoMAN's POWER.
Who can say how deeply indebted our
world is to the calm and holy efforts OF wo-
men, how often have they soothed the mlnd
of the sufferer, when racked with pain, and
as ministering angels cast a last kindly LOOK
on the diving, as an earnest of the beamingS OF
those heavenly beings they are permitted 10
represent. But women are not always con-
fined to this hidden life, in offices of mercy,
for they can pass beyond to the busy and
crowded haunts of the world, or even breathe
the polluted air of prison, and instead OF be-
ing overcome by the thick vapors of wicked
ness, infuse from their own gentle spirits
elements of goodness which shall transform
tin contrast to the past-to fairy land.
We have been led to these remarks by
reading in recent number of the Edinburgh
Review an extended article ON the Life Of
Sarah Martin, of Great Yarmouth, England.
1t looks we'll to see such character intro
duced to the readers of so classic arepository,
but we consider no earthly honor could have
been i'll bestowed on the memory of one who
dispensed such continual blessings.
Sarah Martins education was only such as
could be obtained at the village schools, all
her real information was acquired by self
tuition and observation in after life-a poor
dress maker, little woman of gentle, quiet
manners, possessing no beauty OF person, nor,
as it seemed, any peculiar endowment OF
mind. In August, 1919, : woman had been
committed to Jail for beating child nearly
to death. For years Sarah had felt that there
was work for her within the gloomy walls
of the prison, and now she determined to
enter on her task. Her reception was akin to
that which we can imagine Peter gave to the
e 4 ., a, nD4
my VISIT her guilt, her need of Gods mercy,
&C., she burst into tears and thanked me"
These tears and thanks shaped the whole
course of her after life. She now relinquish-
ed one day of the poor profits of dress-making
to serve the prisoners. Obtaining an observ-
ance of the Sabbath, she soon prevailed on
the prisoners to form Sunday service, which
she attended herself. After three years per-
severance in this she introduced employment
for men and women. After another interval
she proceeded to get up fund which she
applied to furnish work for prisoners upon
their discharge. Sarah Martin also became
a Moral Teacher. For twelve years she read
printed sermons, for five years she wrote her
own discourses, and the last six years she
trusted herself to the goodness Of God, with
out writing beforehand. What shall we think
were the difficulties of woman, single han
ded, laboring in such congregation =
pert London pickpockets-boors, whose ig-
norance had led into theft-sailors, who in
boisterous mirth had committed assaults
servants, of both sexes, seduced by bad COM
pany into the commission of crimes against
their masters-prohigate women who had
added assault or theft to the ordinary vices
of a licentious life-smugglers, poachers, and
gamblers. The addresses happily were suited
to all, combining three points Il. The in
separable connection between sin and sorrow.
2. A similar and equally indissoluble con-
nection between goodness and happiness.
3. To lead her auditors to the ever open arms
of Mercy. Many a divine would do we'll to
cast away his dry chips of Divinity to teach
such lessons. During her labors, until within
the last few years of her life, she refused any
recompense, and then only accepted it be-
cause it was coarsely intimated, If we per-
init you to visit the prison you must submit
to our terms and she was converted into
a salaried servant on SIP per annum, not
quite $50. Her reasons for refusing compen-
sation are thus recorded " God was my mas
ter and would not forsake his servant; He
was my father and could not for5ake his child.
If whilst thus imparting truth
to others become exposed to temporal want,
the privation SO momentary to an Individual
would not admit of comparison with follow
Tug the Lord in administering to others."-
Well may it be said, " A faith so firm, and so
disinterested, might have removed mountains :;
selE5acrifce founded upon such principles
is amongst the most heroic of human achieve
ments." For the last few years of her labors,
six or seven hours daily were spent with the
prisoners, and her evenings devoted to visit
tbo c;oIr aitbar in tb, xro,ly boneo ~,
through the town generally No society
hailed her return at the close of day, but
solitary room, always locked up during her
absence, was her cold and cherries reception
She kept a journal of her proceedings, record
ing the names of prisoners, and often this eX-
tended long after they had left the jail. A
scrupulous account of the monies entrusted to
her for charitable purposes always re-
tanned.
For twenty-four years she thus lived and
labored in this department of Christian be-
nevolence-but from April, 1S43, she was
confined to her apartment by painful dis
ease, accompanied by extreme bodily weak
ness, then she gratifed her taste for poetry,
and beautifully does she describe her own
case -
II seem to lie
So near the heavenly portals bright,
catch the streaming rays that fly
From Eternity's own light"
After suffering intensely for six months, the
hour of rest from labors and pain arrived
1t was announced that death was approach
ing; she exclaimed, "Thank God Thank
Godp and never spoke more. Thus lived
and died woman who surely deserves me-
mortal equal with that one so favored of the
Lord; while we think we hear from her tomb
an admonition, Go thou and do likewise"
Many warrior will be gathered to the grave
with honors-many a bard will delight to tell
Of his deed;s-.man3y traveller gratefully drop
more to make pilgrimage to the humble
rraye of Sarah Martin We must lon,,n lie