as well as principles, of that sect. At this Methodist prayer-meeting
a young girl, but little older than myself, related her experience,
and prayed so earnestly for her young associates, that it took a deep
hold on my mind; and on my way home, on that beautiful evening, I
resolved to seek the Lord until I could know for myself that my sins
were forgiven. Oh, how I wished I was a Christian, as was Hannah
Bosworth. She was so young, and yet she told us how earnestly she
sought the Lord, and found Jesus so precious in the forgiveness of her
sins. It was said in that meeting that God was no respecter of
persons, and that I had read in the Bible; and then Jesus had said,
"Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not;" "and
now, this very night, I _will_ begin to seek the Lord, and I _never_
will give up trying, if it takes as long as I live, until I receive an
evidence that I am the Lord's child. I want to realize that peace and
joy those men and women expressed in that meeting." As all had
retired, I placed a candle in my brother's hand, and hurried him to
bed, that I might know positively that no human ear could listen to my
first attempt to address my Heavenly Father.

I knelt for the first time in my life, in the rear of our corn crib,
but no words could I find for prayer, and a feeling of fear came over
me, and I arose to my feet. I looked all around me, but no one was in
sight; naught but trees and shrubs of the garden below, and the
ethereal blue, bedecked with the beautiful moon and sparkling stars,
above. Is it possible that He who created this beautiful world can
notice a little girl like me? And the thought occurred that I had
better wait until I was older. But the remarks to which I had just
listened came vividly before me, and I renewed my resolve to pray to
Him who had said, "Suffer little children to come unto me," and again
knelt for prayer; but that feeling of fear increased, until it seemed