Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/612

Rh character of her pupil cannot be estimated, but Miss Stone herself has often referred to the principles of truth, so firmly instilled by this faithful teacher, as the groundwork of all her her future usefulness. . ..

"As a school-girl, Ellen Stone was a leader. She had but one rival in the honor for the 'first seat' as the head of the class, when the monthly adding of the 'credits' by the pupils them.selves assigned positions. A favorite because of her many lovable qualities, all rejoiced in her honors. These were the days of the Civil War, when patriotism ran high; and well might she, whose father and two brothers were at the front, lead her schoolmates in devotion and loyalty to her country's flag. The day for her graduation was at hand. Examinations had been passed with high per cent., and her part in the literary exercises was to declaim a patriotic poem by Elizabeth Browning:—

And then welled up the great heart of that Italian mother in such expressions of patriotism, beyond her grief, that none could read and not be stirred to the heart's depths. Ellen felt that the lofty thoughts were beyond her power to portray, but she accepted the trust; and those who heard her voice ring out over the multitude which filled the old City Hall to the doors, can never forget the inspiration to loyalty in their own country's cause, received from the young declaimer.

"Her course through the high school was marked by the same devotion to duty, the same high ideals; yet so unassuming, so beloved by all, she never seemed to realize that she was a marked scholar, the pride of her teachers and of the visiting school-board.

"Immediately upon her graduation she was installed as one of the teachers, doing faithful work, until called to another position of honor and trust, as one of the assistant editors of the Congregntionalist, with especial charge of the church news, children's department, poetry, and the missionary department. This education doubtless had much to do with her future leading, for it was not till long afterward, when she had really had her call to missionary work, and offered her services to the Board, that she knew her praying mother had consecrated her to this work at her birth, and again at her baptism.

"We have been told by her brother that she inherited the missionary spirit from both father and mother, but that her special 'call' came through a sermon preached by the late Dr. Alden, her friend. Miss Susan B. Higgins, being led to the same work by the same sermon.

"During these days of girlhood and young womanhood her spiritual life had kept pace with the intellectual. Sitting under the teaching of her beloved pastor. Dr. Albert Plumb, she gave her heart wholly and unreservedly to the Saviour. 'I shall never forget the moment,' she told the writer, one evening in the vestry of the dear old church, 'when His voice called, and I answered. We were singing' Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me,' and with my whole heart I cried, '0 Lamb of God, I come.'

"Up to that time she had lived like many another young life, doing 'the duty nearest,' yet with no definite aim for a life-work. 'As if he knew my need,' she told a friend, 'Dr. Plumb preached a sermon right to my soul, from the text, "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." 'Henceforward to serve Christ and to lead souls into His kingdom was her one undeviating purpose."

Some years of earnest Christian work in the church and Sunday-school followed, years of happy memory to those who were privileged to be her pupils. "Not only little children, but young men and maidens felt the irresistible power of Christ that shone from her face, voice, and personality; and her pastor, Dr. Addison P. Foster (successor of Dr. Plumb), found in her a valuable helpmeet in guiding and instructing young Christians who asked admission to the church during a powerful revival under his ministry. ... It was a marvel that out of her busy life she found so much time to visit