she was awake, and heard her, as though
she was weeping. She called to her, and asked her what was the matter.
She answered with a low voice, so that her mother could not hear what
she said; but thinking that it might be occasioned by some spiritual
affection, said no more to her: but perceived her to lie awake, and to
continue in the same frame, for a considerable time. The next morning
she asked her, whether she did not cry the last night. The child
answered, Yes, I did cry a little, for I was thinking about God and
Christ, and they loved me. Her mother asked her, whether to think of God
and Christ loving her made her cry? She answered, Yes, it does
sometimes.
She has often manifested a great concern for the good of others' souls:
and has been wont many times affectionately to counsel the other
children. Once, about the latter end of September, the last year, when
she and some others of the children were in a room by themselves,
husking Indian corn, the child, after a while, came out and sat by the
fire. Her mother took notice that she appeared with a more than ordinary
serious and pensive countenance; but at last she broke silence, and
said, I have been talking to Nabby and Eunice. Her mother asked her what
she had said to them. Why, said she, I told them they must pray, and
prepare to die; that they had but a little while to live in this world,
and they must be always ready. When Nabby came out, her mother asked
her, whether she had said that to them. Yes, said she, She said that,
and a great deal more. At other times, the child took opportunities to
talk to the other children about the great concern of their souls, so as
much to affect them. She was once exceeding importunate with her mother
to go with her sister Naomi to pray: her mother endeavored to put her
off; but she pulled her by the sleeve, and seemed as if she would by no