which usually marks the character of those who break away from the home of their fathers, and encounter the perils and privations of a rugged desert. That they possessed their full share of intellectual worth is manifest from the fact, that of the youth in this small parish, with a population of less than seven hundred, one has become a member of Congress, one a judge of the superior court, and as many as fourteen have entered the office of the Christian ministry. Deacon Rose was one of the first settlers, and a practical agriculturist. Having a farm to subdue that was covered with thick forest, Lemuel had the simple and hardy education common to these mountainous regions. The God of the forlorn sent him into this religious family, where the Sabbath was sanctified, daily prayer offered, and the evening preceding the Sabbath sacredly employed in the religious instruction of the household. In this beloved retreat he found a home, not only till he was "twentyone," but until his ordination as a minister of the gospel. Thus removed from the low and froward associates to which such a child must have been exposed in many places, he was here trained up under the influence of pious example, and his mind was early imbued with religious knowledge. A more suitable place could not have been found. As a servant-boy, he was strictly and firmly faithful to his trust; so that any one acquainted with him would not be inclined to inquire with Solomon, Prov. xx., 6, "A faithful man who can find ?" Indeed, but few years had passed over his head before he discovered such prudence in the management of his master's business, that the oversight of it was almost wholly committed to him. If a horse was to be purchased, Lemuel was the purchaser. He went unbidden

to his daily toils and cares, and every thing prospered

in his hands.

When he was a small boy he experienced a dreadful alarm in a thunder-storm, which made an impression that was never effaced. The circumstances of this affecting event he used to relate to his family in nearly the following words: "One evening, as I was left at home alone, a dark cloud came over, and the air was filled with streams of lightning, and with terrible peals of thunder, and the house shook. At first I had fearful apprehension that the last great day was come, and that the world would be burnt up. My mind was filled with solemn awe of God's great power and majesty. I was afraid of being struck dead and sent to hell. I had a solemn conviction that I was unprepared, and that it would be a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

To what extent the scenes of this evening affected his tender and thoughtful mind is not fully known. It is stated, however, that he retained the impression which the solitude of his condition, and especially his view of his unfitness to die, were calculated to make. Ever after he was peculiarly affected during thunderstorms, and never failed to allude to them in prayer in terms of grateful recollection. Of these the following is a specimen: "We thank thee that thy lightning's awful blaze has not consumed our dwelling, nor been commissioned to burn the thread of life as in a moment." If a storm of thunder arose during the hour of worship in his family, it was their custom to sing Watts's hymn, entitled, "God the Thunderer; or, the Last Judgment and Hell."

About the same time he experienced a wonderful deliverance from perishing in the water. He had gone, with a number of his mates, to bathe in the river. It was one of his first attempts in learning to swim. While they were amusing themselves near the shore, Lemuel ventured beyond his depth, and soon sunk in deep water. His young friends had not the skill, nor even the power, to save him. In his allusions to this memorable event of his life, he used to say-" I immediately sunk to the bottom, and should without doubt have been drowned, had not a friend, who was not far off, plunged into the water and conveyed me to the

shore." This narrow escape from a watery grave he often alluded to, even in the pulpit, as illustrating the special and merciful care of Divine providence towards himself in that dangerous season of life.

"Those who observe providences shall have providences to observe." Some time after this, there was another event which he could never call to mind but with admiration and gratitude. He went out to drive a young ox to the slaughter, and, as he was passing through a forest, the ox determined to return. But he resolutely urged him forward with considerable violence, till at length, irritated to madness, the animal turned upon his driver, and with his sharp horns inflicted several wounds on his face and head. With much difficulty, and pursued by the ox, he escaped to a tree. By passing continually and rapidly round it, he was able just to elude the strokes of his horns. At the moment when he was nearly exhausted by exertion and terror, some person came and diverted the attention of the infuriated animal, and saved his life. His wounds, by medical aid, were ultimately healed, but his deliverance from an untimely and dreadful death was never forgotten. Long afterward, even to the close of his life, it was remembered and mentioned with much gratitude. He was a firm believer in a special providence, and often expressed his belief by quoting a favourite passage from John Newton : "Did I not believe in the particular providence of God, I should not dare to step my foot out of doors."

It was a just saying of Juvenal, "Maxima pueris debetur reverentia." An instance strikingly illustra

* "The most circumspect deportment should be maintained in the presence of children."

tive of this principle occurred to Lemuel Haynes, at the age of nine or ten. Being very expert as a ploughboy, he was frequently employed by a neighbour of licentious principles. By this man religion was often ridiculed in his hearing, and the prayers of his godly, master were from day to day the subject of profane jest. The infection, thus infused, soon produced unhappy effects in his susceptible mind. He actually began to think, that, peradventure, religion is but a small business. Not many months passed away, however, before the family of the scoffer was visited with mortal disease, and one or more of them were carried to the grave. "In the time of adversity" he began to "consider." His views respecting the important subject of religion were changed, and he sent for Deacon Rose to pray with him. Lemuel saw the force of truth at once. He reasoned thus-" If prayer and religion are needful in sickness and in death, they must be important in health and in life." Nearly seventy years afterward, in his last visit to Granville, he referred to this remarkable incident with grateful acknowledgment of the hand of the Lord, which had thus saved him from the withering influence of infidelity.

The extent, particularity, and accuracy of the knowledge which he eventually acquired of various subjects, and especially of his profession, have led intelligent men who were acquainted with him to inquire how he emerged from his obscurity, and by what means and efforts he arrived at the intellectual rank and influence which he held during so great a portion of his life. From all that can now be learned respecting him, it appears that he possessed the facility in the acquisition of knowledge which is "the birthright of genius." It was