Lives of the Three Mrs. Judsons | Page 3

and the Superintendent.--Her
Tours among the Karens.--Her Personal Appearance.--Her
Acquaintance with the Burman Language.--Dr. Judson's Translation of
the Bible, 296
CHAPTER XIV.
Mrs. Boardman's Second Marriage.--Removal to Maulmain.--Letter
from Mrs. Judson.--Her Son sent to America.--Her Husband's Illness,

304
CHAPTER XV.
Illness of her Children.--Death of one of them.--Her Missionary Labors,
and Family Cares.--Her Declining Health.--Poem.--Her last Illness and
Death, 311
* * * * *

PART III.
THE LIFE OF THE THIRD MRS. JUDSON.
CHAPTER I.
Remarks on her Genius--Her Early Life.--Conversion.--
Employments--Tales and Poems--Acquaintance with Dr.
Judson.--Marriage.--Voyage to India--Biography of Mrs. S.B.
Judson.--Poem written off St. Helena--Poem on the Birth of an
Infant.--Lines addressed to a Bereaved Friend--Letter to her
Children.--Prayer for dear Papa.--Poem addressed to her Mother.--Her
Account of Dr. Judson's last Illness and Death, 321
CHAPTER II.
Reflections on the Death of Emily C. Judson--The Delicacy of her
Constitution and her Final Malady--Her Sufferings at Rangoon, and the
Good Effect upon her Health of a Removal to Maulmain--Precarious
State of her Health--Her Resignation--Death of Dr. Judson--Decides to
Leave Burmah, and Returns to her Maternal Home, in Hamilton.
N.Y.--Her death--The Traits of her Character--Domestic
Attachments--Her Missionary Life and Literary Labors, 357

PART I.
LIFE OF MRS. ANN H. JUDSON,
FIRST WIFE OF
REV. ADONIRAM JUDSON, D.D.
CHAPTER I.
MRS. JUDSON'S BIRTH, EDUCATION, AND CONVERSION.
When an individual attains a position of eminence which commands
the admiration of the world, we naturally seek to learn his early history,
to ascertain what indications were given in childhood of qualities
destined to shine with such resplendent lustre, and to discover the kind
of discipline which has developed powers so extraordinary. But in no
researches are we more apt to be baffled than in these. Few children are
so remarkable as to make it worth while, even to a parent, to chronicle
their little sayings and doings; and of infant prodigies--though there is a
superstitious belief that most of them die early, which is expressed in
the adage--
"Whom the Gods love, die young,"
those that live commonly disappoint the hopes of partial friends, who
watched their infancy with wonder and expectation.
There are certain qualities, however, which we shall rarely miss even in
the childhood of those who attain eminence by a wise employment of
their talents and acquirements. These are: firmness of purpose, industry
and application, and an ardent, and sometimes enthusiastic
temperament. These qualities were possessed in no common degree by
Ann Hasseltine, the subject of this memoir. She was born in Bradford,
Massachusetts, on the 22d of December, 1789. In a sketch which she

has given of her life, between twelve and seventeen years of age, we
find evidence of an active, ardent, and social disposition, gay and
buoyant spirits, persevering industry, and great decision of character.
Whatever engaged her attention, whether study or amusement, was
pursued with an ardor that excited the sympathy and love both of her
teachers and schoolfellows. Though little of her writing at this period is
preserved, and the generation that knew her personally is mostly passed
away, yet her whole subsequent career gives evidence of an intellect of
a very high order, carefully cultivated by study and reflection.
She seems scarcely to have been the subject of serious impressions
before her seventeenth year. Until that time she enjoyed the pleasures
of the world with few misgivings and with a keenness of relish which
led her to think herself, as she says, "the happiest creature on earth."
She adds, "I so far surpassed my friends in gayety and mirth, that some
of them were apprehensive I had but a short time to continue in my
career of folly, and should be suddenly cut off. Thus passed the last
winter of my gay life."
During the spring of 1806, she began regularly to attend a series of
conference meetings in Bradford, her native town. She soon felt that the
Spirit of God was operating on her mind. Amusements lost their relish;
she felt that she must have a new heart or perish forever; and she often
sought solitude, that she might, unseen by others, weep over her
deplorable state. Soon, however, her fears that her distress might be
noticed by her companions, were merged in her greater terrors of
conscience, and she "was willing the whole universe should know that
she felt herself to be a lost and perishing sinner." Her distress increased
as she became more and more sensible of the depravity of her heart,
and the holiness and sovereignty of God. Her mind rose in rebellion
against a Being, who after all her prayers and tears and self-denial, still
withheld from her the blessing of pardon and peace. She says, "In this
state I longed for annihilation, and if I could have destroyed the
existence of my soul with as much ease as that