We are hardly reminded, in the whole volume, of a mother's solicitude,
tears, prayers, warnings, and counsels. It shall be ours to say, that all
the daughter was reflects back with mild and gentle light upon the mother's
memory.
The childhood of Mary E. was spent mostly in Hartford, where her advantages
were great. Her parents were qualified, mentally and morally, to give her
suitable instruction. Favored by God with literary and pecuniary ability,
they lavished both upon their child, and brought her under all those
wholesome influences which were so well adapted to cultivate her abilities
and expand her mind. Besides this, the company with which she mingled in
her father's house was of the highest order. Her home was the centre of
delightful associations. She met there the minister of God, the missionary
from heathen shores, the gifted and the good, and from all these obtained
many lessons of wisdom. Perhaps she could not have been placed under more
favorable circumstances for the development of an amiable and lovely
character than those which clustered around her early years. Unlike some
young people who are obliged to struggle against adverse and unpropitious
circumstances, and who urge their way to usefulness and happiness under the
heavy pressure of want and embarrassment, Miss Hawes had every current in
her favor, and the whole tide of circumstances conspired to make her what
she afterwards became.
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