It was common for me to arrange my subjects while riding or walking alone, or while engaged in some other business, sometimes "in wakeful hours by night." I have, however, sometimes spoken from the impulse of the present moment, and found as much liberty in speaking as when I had most attentively studied and arranged my subjects. But I have never found myself so much embarrassed for something to say, and that according to truth too, as I have to find in myself those internal and external qualifications which Paul has declared necessary for a minister of the gospel.

CHAPTER VI.

In November, an afflicting circumstance occurred in my society. Mr. Luther Walker, (whose father was member of our church, and a neighbor to me,) returned from the West Indies, very sick of a contagious fever. He was too ill to be taken home to his father's house five or six miles distance, and was conveyed to Mr. Andrew Walker's, his uncle, who lived near the Port. He was here confined, extremely ill part of the time, for a week or two; but at length so far recovered as to be conveyed home. Mr. A. Walker's wife, and Jane, his edest daughter, were members of our church.

About the time that Luther was taken away, Jane began to complain; Mary and Susan, the two next, were also attacked with the same disease; and shortly after Palmer, Sophia, Lydia, Joseph, and Anna were confined, and last of all, Mrs. Walker herself. Mr. W. and Andrew the youngest son, only escaped this distressing fever.

The

In about a week or ten days, Jane died, strong in the faith. She was one of the most devoted and exemplary young persons I was ever acquainted with: she was about twenty. Mary, about eighteen, and Joseph, about eight were in a few days after laid by the side of Jane. others recovered, and a young widow also, who took the same fever in the family. The neighbors were so much alarmed, that they were afraid to go to the house. It was a fortunate circumstance that Mr. Walker himself was not sick. Dr. Langdon, their physician, was indefatigable in his attention, and sat up with them many nights. In the course of their sickness, I watched with them seventeen nights, and several gentlemen from the Port, especially Messrs. John and Samuel Davis, were particularly attentive.

This calamity retarded me in my business, and I was

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liable to a heavy fine, if I failed to make out my return in due season. But Mr. W. was one of my most intimate friends, and he was desirous that I should pay all the attention I possibly could to his family, and told me that if I was fined, he would pay it himself. I however succeeded, and made out my return in season, to the entire satisfaction of the marshal. From the avails of this service, I was enabled to discharge some of my debts, and to procure some necessaries that we could not well do without. Thus God, in his abounding mercy towards me, graciously supplied my wants, so that I had a comfortable living, and myself and family could make a respectable appearance.

For thirteen or fourteen years, I taught the school of the district, in which I resided, three or four months in a year; and at length had the gratification of seeing some of my earliest female scholars, lead their little ones to my school.

In the year 1807, I was, by governor Sullivan, commissioned as the chaplain of the sixth regiment in the first brigade and sixth division of the militia of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. This office I sustained nine or ten years; little suspecting, however, when I accepted the appointment, that I should ever be called to any other services than a regimental review: but in this was mistaken, for after the war commenced, in 1812, there were ten thousand, if my memory is correct, of the militia of the commonwealth, detached to defend the Coast, &c. The major and several companies, with myself, were detached from our regiment, to be stationed at Kittery point, for the defence of Portsmouth harbor:But when governor Strong was elected, he countermanded those orders, so that we never took that station. We had something, however, to attend to nearer home; for the enemy committed depredations on our coast, within a few miles of us, more than once. Our regiment was

once called out to defend our own harbor, but the enemy did not think it best to land. They entered Saco harbor, a few miles to the east of us, took several vessels, and burnt one on the stocks. They chased a privateer ship on shore, within a mile of our harbor, and finally captur

ed her, got her off and took her away. It was said that the privateer had on board a number of deserters from the British navy, but they made their escape before the enemy got possession of the privateer. Had they fallen into the hands of the British, they would probably have been hanged. We had hard times, in consequence of the embargo and war, and had to endure many priva tions. At one time Indian corn was two and a half dollars per bushel, and many were entirely destitute of bread for weeks together; but our sufferings were nothing, in comparison with many others, in different sections of our country.

name.

This

In the year 1814, I was appointed one of the assistant assessors of the direct tax. My district consisted of the towns of Wells and Arundel. I was at that time, as might well be expected, in narrow circumstances; as was also a large proportion of my fellow citizens. Any legal means to increase our funds, was very desirable. I never sought for the office, however, either directly or indirectly, nor did I know any thing of the matter, until Daniel Wood, Esq. the principal assessor, called on me with a commission, and other documents made out in my I viewed the hand of divine providence in this, and thought it to be my duty to accept the office. I afterwards ascertained that judge Thatcher, who kept the post office in Kennebunk, and was afterwards the collector of the revenue at Eastport, recommended me. business, however, proved very fatiguing and unpleas ant, and we earned the small pittance which government allowed for this service, at a dear rate. It was winter season, and we had short time allowed us in which to perform the service, and were much exposed to inclem⚫ent weather. A large proportion of the people were hostile to the measures of government. The officers of the large town of Wells would not permit me to have the least access to their town documents; of coarse I had much difficulty in making out lists of valuation, and although I was treated with politeness by many of the re fined part of community, yet there were those of high standing, who would encourage and countenance the vul. gar to insult and abuse me. Sometimes I had my horse

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turned loose, and sometimes his harness was cut. some places I felt in danger, if out in the evening. one instance a merchant, who had held high and responsible offices, gave a weak and clamorous woman a quarter of a pound of tea, because she had treated me with insolent and abusive language. One lady, (if such a title be proper,) threatened to drive me out of the house with her broom stick. Numbers were very loquacious, but not altogether so determined for war. These circum. stances discover, in some degree, what was at that period the spirit of the times.

About the winding up of this business, as I was returning home on Saturday evening with a bushel of Indian corn on my horse, for which I had just paid two dollars and fifty cents, I was passing the dwelling of an old baptist deacon. I knew he had recently been very sick, but had just got out again, and I saw him a little before me, staggering along with some wood on his shoulder. He was a very poor man, and remarkably pious. I contrasted the old gentleman's condition with my own, and in a moment felt an impression to give the old saint a quarter of a dollar. About sixty cents was all the money I was master of, and this I had in small change; I therefore questioned the propriety of dividing my little purse so equally with this man, and queried whether half the sum would not do, but durst not reject the first impression. My wife was at this time in poor health, tho' not destitute of the common comforts of life, and I again queried whether it was expedient for me thus to part with my money. It would be some time before I should get my money for my services, and that would not be sufficient to pay all my debts; but by the time I had got up with my old brother, and enquired about his healthhe told me he had been very sick, &c. It was about the setting of the sun, and I had about four miles to ride, and felt in haste, but my conscience would not suffer me to leave him, until I had given the little sum of twenty-five

The old man was exceeding grateful, and began to lavish encomiums on my wife for deeds of charity towards him; but his manner of speaking induced me to be off as soon as I could, and I went on my way, more at