SUSAN GRAY. 1

giving me of the best of what she had to
eat or drink, and suffering me to go unpu-
nished for many grievous faults, yet she
sometimes fell into the most violent passions
with me upon the most trifling occasion. She
would sometimes beat me severely for throw-
ing down her tobacco-pipe or snuff-box; and
would, at the same time, allow me to swear
and tell lies, without correcting me in the
least.

In this manner I lived till I was about ten
years of age, and seemed entirely to have for-
gotten every lesson I had ever received from my
parents; but although God was absent from
my thoughts, yet was I remembered by him,
and in due time he returned and took pity
upon me.

Where was I different from my young com-
panions? Where was I better than these, that
the Lord should save me as a brand plucked
out of the fire, while these were left to perish?
O, God! how can I praise thee sufficiently for
that thou hast preserved me from the ways
that lead to destruction? .

When I was about the age of ten years,
my aunt sent me to gather sticks in the
fields; and I took with me, as a companion,
a little girl of my own age, the daughter of a
widow, who kept an huckster’s shop near my
aunt's house. This little girl, whose name was
Charlotte Owen, was no better taught than my
self, though she was indulged in being dressed
in as costly a manner as her mother could
afford; and the gay apparel of this little girl