I was a most firm believer in the truth of the Bible, and I have often
thought more inclined to take the greater part as literal than most
others. I had often read with fear and trembling the passage, "I will
pour out my fury upon the heathen, and upon the families that call not
upon my name." To dwell in a Christian land and be considered no better
than heathen--what a dreadful threatening; a condemnation, however, not
above the comprehension of a child. Here I was in such a family, and
here I was expected to remain for a full year. I do not recollect to
have entertained any fears for my personal safety, yet every time a
thunder-storm seemed to rack the earth, and as peal after peal with
reverberated shocks were re-echoed from one part of the firmament to the
other, I was in dread lest some bolt might be sent in fury upon our
dwelling on account of such neglect. Little did these friends know what
thoughts were often passing through my mind as I ruminated upon their
privileges and their disregard of so plain and positive a duty. I did
often long to confide to my aunt, whom I so much venerated, my thoughts
and feelings on religious subjects, with the same freedom I had been
encouraged to do to my own dear mother. I can never forget the struggle
I had on one occasion. A lady came to pass a day in the family. The
conversation happened to turn upon the importance and efficacy of
prayer. Here now, I thought, is an opportunity I may never have again to
express an opinion on a subject I had thought so much about; and
summoning to my aid all the resolution I could, I ventured to remark,
"the Bible says, 'the effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous
_prevaileth_ much.'" I saw a smile pass over the radiant and beautiful
countenance of my aunt, and I instantly conjectured that I had misquoted
the passage. For a long time, as I had opportunity, I turned over the
pages of my Bible, before I could detect my mistake. I cannot say how
long a period elapsed, after I left this pleasant family, before the
family-altar was erected, but I believe not a very long period. One