MEMOIR
ov
CATHARINE BROWN,
CHRISTIAN INDIAN,
OF THE
CHEROKEE NATION.
"RBPARED fOR THE AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNIOA
BY REV. RUFUS ANDERSON,
AND REVISED BY THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
PHILADELPHIA: NO. 146 CHESNOT STREET.

ENTERED according to the Act of Congress, in the ydpr 1C oy PJUI. BECK, Jr. Treasurer, in trust for the American School Union, in the Clerks Office of the District Court, of! Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

PREFACE
TO
THE ORIGINAL WORK.
THIS Memoir was commenced as a biographical article for the Mission ary Herald. In its progress, however, the materials were round to be so abundant as to suggest the inquiry, whether a distinct publication were not expedient.
Such a publication being advised by the Prudential Committee of the American Board of Foreign Missions, it is respectfully offered to those who feel interested in the success of mis sionary efibrts.
The author is not conscious of hav ing e.\a<r<rcrated a single fact, nor of having made a single statement not drawn from authentic documents. His object has been to give a plain and
3

iv

PREFACE.

true exhibition of the life and charac ter of a very interesting convert from
heathenism. The hope is cherished, that this
little volume will augment the cour age, animate the zeal, and invigorate the efforts of the friends of missions,
in their benevolent attempts to send the gospel of Jesus Christ to all
nations.

Missionary Rooms, Boston, Mass. Dec. 1824.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER!.

HER HISTORY UNTIL SHE ENTERED THE MISSION

SCHOOL AT BRAINERD.

J*a

W

PAOB

Her nativity.--Notice of her parents.--Igno

rance of her people.--Her triumph over temptation.--A missionary station com

menced at Chickamaugah, and named Brainerd.--She becomes a member of the school. 9

CHAPTER II.

FROM HER ENTERING THE SCHOOL AT RRA^ERD, UN TIL HER REMOVAL BY HER PARENTS,

Her appearance when she entered the school.

--Her diligence and progress.--Her religi

ous knowledge.--Character of her teachers.

--Her conversion, and solicitude for her

people.--Instance of earnest prayer.--Pros

pect of her removal.--Her baptism.--Tem

porary absence.--Admission to the church.

--The early success at Brainerd uncom

mon.--The chief obstacles to success among

the Indians.---Visit of the Treasurer of the

American Board.--His account of the school,

and description of Catharine.--She is re

moved from Brainerd.--Is visited by one of

the missionaries.--Letter.

17

A2

5

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III.

FROM HER RETURN TO BRAINERD, UNTIL SHE TAKBSli

CHARGE OF A SCHOOL AT CREEK-PATH.

"*

Benefits resulting from her being taken from the school.--Her return.--Her brother Da
vid a member ofthe school.--His conversion. --:Catharine and David visit their sick father. --A school established near Mr.. Brown's.. --Account of John Arch.--Efforts of Catha rine and David at Brainerd.--The latter' goes to New England.--His subsequent his tory.--A female toacher wanted at Creek-
Path.--Catharine undertakes this service.-- Letters. - - - - -

CHAPTER IV.
FROM HER TAKING CHARGE OF A SCHOOL AT CR1
PATH, UNTIL HER SICKNESS,
Extracts from her diary.--Hor school.--Con version of her parents and others of the family.--She and her family visit Brainerd. Traits in Catharine's character.--Further extracts from her diary.--Eulogium of her brother John.--She visits Huntsvillo.--Es timation in which she was there held.-- Goes to reside with her parents.--Appre hensions respecting her health.--Goes to Brainerd for medical aid.--Returns.--Let ters to different friends.

CONTENTS.

vii

CHAPTER V.
HER SICKNESS AND DEATH. PAOB
Brief agitations of her mind.--Her love for her people.--Is visited by Dr. Campbell.--Let ter to Mrs. Campbell.--Alarming symptoms in her disease.--Her resignation and conso lations.--Dr. Campbell advises her removal to Limestone.--State of her mind at this time.--Strong manifestation of affection for her at Creek-Path.--Account ofher removal. --Temporary improvement in her health.-- Dictates a letter to her brother David.-- Hopes of her recovery relinquished.--This fact stated to her father and herself--Her last hours, death, and burial.--Monument 94

CHAPTER VI.
HER CHARACTER.
Remarks upon her character.--The excellen cies in her character a result of missionary labour.--How much can be made of the In dian character.--Grounds for encourage ment.--Importance of presont efforts.--Civi lization never precedes Christianity.--The life of Catharine an appeal to the commu nity, ....... 113

luPPJENDIX,







.

-

-

124

MEMOIR op
CATHARINE BROWN.

CHAPTER I.

HER HISTORY UNTIL SHE ENTERED THE MISSION

If

SCHOOL AT BRAINERD.

Her nativity.--Notice of her parents.--Con*
dition of her people.--Her triumph over temptation.--A missionary station com menced at Chickamaugah, and named Brainerd.--She becomes a member of the school.

CATHARINE BROWN was born about the year 1800. The place of her nativity was a beautiful plain, covered with tall forest trees in a part of tfte country belonging to the Cherokee Indians, now called Wills-valley, and lying within the chartered limits of the State of Alabama. It is between the Raccoon and Lookout mountains, twenty-five miles south cast of the Tennessee river. David Brown, the brother of Catharine, says, that the name, by which the place is known among his
9

10

MEMOIU OF

countrymen, is Tsu-sau-ya-sah, or, the ruins of a great city: but, if such ruins ever exist ed, all traces of them have long since disap
peared. The Indian name of Catharine's father, is
Yau-nu-gung-yah-ski> which signifies the drowned by a bear. He is known among the whites by the name of John Brown. The Cherokee name of her mother is Tsa-luh: the whites call her Sarah.
Neither of Catharine's parents understand the English language. They are now about sixty years of age. Since the decease ofjjjie daughter, whose history and character are^to form the subject of this memoir, they have
removed beyond the Mississippi river, to the Arkansas Territory, whither a part of the Cherokee nation of Indians have emigrated, within the last fifteen or twenty years.*

* A more particular account of the family of Catharine, may be acceptable to the reader.
Mr. John Brown was the son of a man named Brown, who has long been dead. It is not known whether he was a white man, or partly Indian. The mother of Mr. Brown was a " full-blooded" Cherokee. So, also was the mother of Mrs. Brown; b^t her father was white. Catharine's parents were brought up like others of their nation;--no better acquainted with the language, religion, manners, or c-ustoijis >f iho white people.
Mr. jjnnvu has had three wives. The first had two chil dren, neither of whom ore living. One of these children became a man of much distinction. Jn the Creek war h had the title of colonel, as he commanded'a large nurobe? of Oherokees, whp made a part of the army under General Jnrkson. lie wfo severely wounded at the battle of tho Horseshoe; bur recovered, and died subsequently of a ie-

CATHARINE BROWN.

ll

Mr Brown is represented as possessing a mind more than commonly discerning; yet

vcr, or consumption. He is said to have possessed uncom

mon povyers of mind, and to have exerted much influence

among his pecplc. Ho is familiarly referred to by the name

of Col. Dick Brown.

The children of Sarah, the second and present wifepf

Mr. Brown, were John, who died in the Christian faith,

February, 1822, leaving a widow, Susannah, who is a pro

fessor of religion; Catharine, the subject of this memoir;

and David, of whose piety hopes have been entertained for

almost five years.

The children of the third wife, named Wallet, or Betsy,

who for some years, has been living in the Arkansas Terri

tory, are Polly, (or Mrs. Gilbreth,) Alexander, Susan, and

Edmund. Polly and Susan are esteemed pious.

Sarah and Belsy lived with Mr. Brown at the same time.

But some difficulty arising, the latter separated from him.

Sarah was ihe wife of a man named Webber, before she

married Mr. Brown. The children by this marriage are

Betsy, (now Mrs. Looney,) a professor of religion, and Wal

ter, called Col. Webber, lie was at Washington city> about

two years since, and possesses a handsome property. Thjse,

children were quite young, when their father died. Uol,"

Webber is now about thirty-five years old.

V. -i

It appears, therefore, that of Mr. Brown's family no les&

than nine have become hopefully pious, within the last

seven years, viz. Mr. and Mrs. Brown, John, Catharine,

David, Polly, Susan, Susannah, and Mrs. Looney.

The reader will be apt to infer, when he sees individuals

called by names and titles, with which he is familiar, that

they are very much like other individuals whomjtie has

known under similar titles; in short, that they orafciviiized

and intelligent persons. Such an inference, however, is

not warranted. The mere possession of an English name,

in an Indian country, is no evidence that the person thus

distinguished is able to speak the English language, much

less, that his habits are those of civilized life, or that his

nind has been in any degree cultivated.

As to the military titles of captain, major, colonel, and

even general,, they arc conferred as a matter of courtesy

it'. consequence of some sort of undefined authority, which

if exercised over others, and which is supposed to bear some

12.

MEMOIR OF

\>

as having, when the missionaries first saw

him, but few ideas on the subject of religions '

He believed in a Supreme Being, the creator

of the visible world, and that there is a state

of rewards and punishments after the present

life; and appeared conscious, that there were

things implied in this short creed, of which

he had no distinct apprehension; such as the

character of the Supreme Being, the nature

of the rewards and punishments, and the

manner in which the one is to be obtained,

and the other avoided. He seemed to have

no notion of forgiveness of sin upon any terms.

When told of these things, he said he had

never heard of them before.

,

Concerning the mother, less is known to <

the writer of this memoir. Her religions <

knowledge did not probably exceed that of

her husband. She was more attentive to

neatness and order in the arrangement of her

family, and more conversant with domestic

duties, than her countrywomen generally.

But ignorant as were the parents of Catha

rine on the more important subjects, they be

longed to the more intelligent class of their

people: for until within a few years, the

distant analogy to the authority implied in these titles among us. Ofcourse, the titles are conferred by the whites. In some instances, when Indian auxiliaries have been env ployed in active warfare, by European governments, or by the United States, individuals may have received regular commissions. Mr. Brown and his son John were both de nominated captain.

CATHARINE BROWN.

13

Cherokees had scarcely begun to, feel an im pulse towards civilization; and indeed, as a nation, were almost entirely destitute of the means of intellectual or moral culture. In a very few instances, a youth was sent to school in the white settlements bordering on the Indian territory; and still more rarely, perhaps, an outcast from civilized society would undertake, for a short time, and from interested, and perhaps sinister motives, to instruct among them. In 1801, a Moravian mission was established at what is now called Spring-place, and one or two excellent men have, since that period, resided there: but, their means having been limited, their influ
ence could not be extensive. Very com mendable exertions in support of a school among the Cherokees, were also made, for a few years subsequent to 1803, by the Rev. Gideon Blackburn.
Excepting these efforts, there was,* until the year 1816, nothing done for the Cherokees by the Christian church, nothing by the civilized world. They inhabited a country, which is described as being susceptible of the highest cultivation: but most imperfect was their agri culture. They possessed a language, that is said to have more precision and strength than some into which learning has poured richness of thought, and genius breathed the enchant ments of fancy and eloquence: but they had no literature. Not a book existed in the lan-
B

14

MEMOIR OP

guage: the language was unwritten: the fourj

tains of knowledge were sealed: the mind

made no progress.

After these statements, the reader will be

prepared to credit what will be said, in the

progress of this memoir, respecting Catharine's

intellectual condition, when she first came un

der the care of the missionaries.

It is pleasing to observe here, that her moral

character was ever good. This is remarkable,

considering the looseness of manners then

prevalent among the females of her nation,

and the temptations to which she was ex

posed, when, during the war with the Creek

Indians, the army of the United States was

stationed near her father's residence. Were

it proper to narrate some well authenticated

facts with reference to this period of her life,

the reader would admire the protecting care

of Providence. Once she even fled from her

home into the wild forest, to preserve her

character unsullied.*

f

These occurrences took place before tljje

establishment of a school at Brainerd, while

Catharine was young, ignorant of the world,

without any clear views of morality, and de$-

titute of the knowledge and love of God.

Strange that her resolution should then have

* I was pleased to find," says a friend, " that Gen. Jack son, (who commanded in the war with the Creeks,) had a high opinion of Catharine. In the course of our conversa tion he remarked, she was a woman (/ Roman virtue, and above suspicion.

CATHARINE BROWN.

15

been PO influenced by a sense of character. ]>u' lu-r heavenly Father interposed in her be half, and ;i hand, which she did not then know, was extended for her preservation.
Early in the autumn of 1816, a missionary, sent by the American Board of Commission ers for Foreign Missions, made his appearance in a general Council of the Cherokees, and offered to establish schools among them. His offer was favourably received. After con sultation, a principal chief took him by the hand, and said: " You have appeared in our full council. We have listened to what you have said, and understand it. We are glad to see you. We wish to have the schools esta blished, and hope th;y will be of great advan tage to the nation." This missionary was
the Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, who, after com mencing the first establishment of the Board among the Cherokees, took up his residence with the Choctaws, was the chief agent in forming the stations of Elliot and Mayhew, and is now the superintendent of the Choctaw mission.
The place selected for the first school, was called Chick-a-mau-gah; but it subsequently received the name of Brainerd, in memory of David Brainerd, that devoted friend and bene factor of the American Indians, who stands pre-eminent among modern missionaries. Early in the following spring, Mr. Moody Hall and Mr. Loring S, Williams, with their

16

MEMOIR OF

wives, arrived as assistant missionaries, and, soon after their arrival, a school was opened under favourable prospects.
Information of these proceedings soon spread through the nation, and coming to the ears at Catharine, then living at the distance of a hundred miles, excited in her a desire to at tend the school. She besought her parents to send her, and they granted her request. Accordingly, on the 9th of July, 1817, when about seventeen years of age, she entered the missionary school at Brainerd.

CATHARINE BROWN.

17

CHAPTER II. *
PROM HER ENTERING THE SCHOOL AT BRAINERD,
UNTIL HER REMOVAL BY HE& PARENTS.
Her appearance when she entered the school. --Her diligence and progress.--Her reli gious knowledge.--Character of her teach" ers.--Her conversion and solicitudefor her people.--Instance ofearnest prayer.--Prospect o/f her removali.--Hrrer bi aptism.--m Tem porary absence.--Admission to the church. -- The early success at JBrainerd uncom mon.-- The chiefobstacles to succes^among the Indians.-- Visit of the Treasurer of the American Board.--His account of me school, and description of Catharine.-- She is removedfrom Brainerd.--Is visited by one ofthe missionaries.--Letter.
THE features of Catharine were comely; her person was of the middle stature and erect; her manners were naturally easy; her demeanor was modes land prepossessing; and she was, even when she entered the school, an interesting girl.
" It was, however, manifest," says Mr Kingsbury, " that, with all her gentleness and apparent modesty, she had a high opinion of herself, and was fond of displaying the cloth* ing and ornaments in which she was arrayecL At our first interview, I was impressed with

18

MEMOIR OF

\;

the idea, that her feelings would not easily , yield to the discipline of our schools, especP*
ally to that part of it, which requires manual > labour of the scholars. This objection I freef \y stated to her, and requested that, if she fell my difficulty on the subject, she would seek admission to some other school. She replied* that she had no objection to our regulations.
I advise4 her to take the subject into consi deration, and to obtain what information she could, relative to the treatment of the scholars, and if she then felt a desire to become a mem
ber of the school, we would receive her. " She joined the school, and the event has
shown, that it was of the Lord, to the end that his name might be glorified. I have of ten reflected, with adoring gratitude and thank fulness, on the good providence, which con ducted that interesting young female to Brainerd, and which guided her inquiring and anxious mind to the Saviour of sinners."
Some time before this, it is not known pre* cisely how long, while residing at the house of a Cherokee friend, she bad learned to con verse in, the English language on common subjects, and to read words of one syllable. These acquisitions, which were of no parti cular service at the time they were made, are to be noticed as the probable means of leading her to Brainerd. They excited desires which
she could gratify no where else. Her teachers declare that, from her first ad-

CATHARINE BROWN.

19

mission to the school, she was attentive to her learning, industrious in her habits, and reiparkably correct in her deportment. From reading words of one syllable, she was able, in sixty days, to read the Bible intelligibly, and, in ninety days, could read as well as most persons of common education. After writing over four sheets of paper, she could use the pen with accuracy and neatness, even
without a copy. From the testimony of different persons it
appears, that her knowledge on religious sub jects was exceedingly vague and defective when she entered the school. Her ideas of God extended little farther than the contem plation of him as a great Being, existing
somewhere in the sky; and her conceptions of a future state were quite undefined. Ol the Saviour of the world, she had no knowf ledge. She supposed, that the Cherokees were a different race from the whites, and therefore had no concern in the white people's religion; and it was some time before she could be convinced, that Jesus Christ died for the Cherokees. Subsequently to her. conver sion she remarked, that when first conversed with in regard to religion, she thought Chris dans had no enjoyment in this world, and that if she became religious, she too shoujd be rendered unhappy. Plow much her opinions and sentiments on this subject were in a short time changed, \vul appear as we proceed*

20

MEMOIR OP

That the reader may be duly sensible of the Christian devotedness of the men, undei whose instruction this interesting female had ' placed herself, he is informed, that, not long after her introduction to them, they adopted the following resolution, which developes an economical principle carried through all the missions to the Indians, under the direction
of the American Board of Commissioners for'
Foreign Missions:-- " That, as God in his providence has called
us to labour in the great and good work of building up his kingdom among the Abori gines of this country, a work peculiarly 'ar duous, and which will be attended with much
expense; and above all, considering that we Jiave solemnly devoted ourselves, and all that
we have, to the prosecution of this work; we declare it to be our cordial, deliberate, and fixed resolution, that, so far as it respects our future labours, or any compensation for them, we will have no private interests distinct from the great interest of this institution: and, that if it meets the views of the Prudential Com mittee, we will receive no other compensation for our services, than a comfortable supply of food and clothing for ourselves and families, and such necessary expenses as our peculiar circumstances may require; observing at all times that frugality and economy, which our duty to the Christian public and the great Head of the church demands."

CATHABINE BROWN.

21

Catharine had been in the school but a few months, before divine truth began to exert an influence upon her mind. This was mani fested by a tenderness of spirit, and an in
creased desire to become acquainted with the Christian religion. The same effect* were ^Iso observed, at the same time, in two or three other Cherokees.
She did not seem to be greatly influenced by a fear of the punishment threatened against sin. Her chief object of solicitude seemed rather to be, that she might know and do the
will of God. She spent much time in reading the Scriptures, singing, and prayer, and was often observed to be in tears.
In December, 1817, she indulged a hope of pardon and acceptance through the Lord
Jesus. And it is no small proof of the excel lent practical tendency of her religion, that of her own accord, she very soon began to pray with her associates, and to assist in teaching the Lord's prayer and the catechism to the younger girls in the school.
The Rev. Willaim Chamberlain, now re siding at a missionary station called Willstown, not far from the place of her nativity, states that her desires for the salvation of her
people were now strong and ardent; and that she wept and prayed for them in the company of her female friends, at their weekly prayejr meetings,--as we may suppose she did, also* in the places of her secret retirement.

22

MEMOIR OF

The case of her brother David, then oil the Arkansas river, was specially interesting t& her. One morning, having withdrawn to the neighbouring wood for devotion, she became^
so deeply engaged in prayer for this det brother, that the time passed insensibly, and; she remained in her secret retreat till the sun was near setting. As she had been favoured with unusual nearness of access to her hea
venly Father, she returned home with an' humble confidence that he would fully answef =
her prayers. After David had gone to New* | England to complete his education, having ,| previously given satisfactory evidence of piety,' 1 she related these facts to a confidential friend? i and said she wished to remember them with.;.]
gratitude.
At the commencement of the year 1818, ai event occurred, which showed how much! Catharine was attached to the society and the1 privileges she enjoyed at Brainerd. Her fa ther, designing to remove with his family be yond the Mississippi river, came to take het from the school. The prospect of a separation was equally painful to Catharine and to thef missionaries. They regarded her as the first fruit of their missionary labours, and loved her, as well on that account, as on account of her pious and amiable conduct. On her part, there was not less affection; and besides, sh$ felt herself too little established in her Chrisrialr habits to go into the howling wilden,es

CATHARINE BROWN.

23

" Perhaps," said her teachers^andj spiritual

guides, " the Lord is taking her fromrigsf that

she may be more useful in promoting his

cause in some other place." We shall see,

ere long, that they ultimately found occasion

to rejoice, not only on account of the brief

separation which now took place, but also of

the more painful separation which happened

in the latter part of the same year.

>

Catharine desired to receive, before her de

parture, in the ordinance of baptism, the seal

of the covenant of grace. As no reasonable

doubt could be entertained of her piety, this

request was cheerfully granted. On the 25th

of January, Mr. Kingsbury preached from

Gal. iii. 28, on the fellowship of those who

are in Christ, of whatever colour, or nation,

and then, in the presence of a large assembly,

administered the ordinance to the deeply at-

fected convert.

She was the first Indian baptized by the

missionaries of the board. This event oc

curred about eight months after the opening

of the school at Brainerd. Since then, about

one hundred" adult Cherokees have received

the same ordinance, preparatory to admission

to the visible church.

The month of February was spent by Catha

rine at her father's house : but circumstances

preventing the immediate removal of her pa

rents, she was permitted to revisit Brainerd

24

MEMOIR OF

for the purpose of spending a few months 5
more on that hallowed ground. She had been closely questioned, while at
home, by some irreligious white people, with respect to her religious faith. They endea voured to perplex her mind, by objection^; against the Scriptures. Her parents, how* rver, were pleased that she had learned many good things, and expressed a desire to
be themselves instructed. Her return furnished an opportunity to aii-|
mit her to full communion in the visible church of Christ; which was done on the 29th oifj March, about two months after her baptism.] Six other Cherokees joined with her at th( time in celebrating the Lord's Supper. " Oi red brethren and sisters," say the missionaries, 1 " declared that their joys, while at the table^ exceeded every thing they had before coi ceived."
It has not been common for missionary stj (ions among Pagans to be favoured so earlj as Brainerd was, with the converting influent of the Spirit of God. Generally, in these lat t ;r days, the faith and patience of a missioi r,ry, under such circumstances, have beel considerably tried, before he has seen the fruit 01 his labours; though, in due season, thei has seldom failed to be a harvest amply coi pensating him for all his toils. But aim those Indians of North America, who hai not incorporated the worst vices of civilize

CATHARINE BROWN.

25

life with their own, the -preacher of the gospel has some peculiar advantages. They possess not, as do most heathen nations, a complicated system of false religion, trans mitted from their fathers, which must be overthrown before the gospel can prevaO. They are, to a great extent, " without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without au ephod, and without a teraphim." There is scarcely any thing among the Indians them selves to oppose the prevalence of the gos pel, except their unfortified ignorance and depravity. The greatest obstacles to mission
ary success among them, arise from a foreign, iniluence, industriously and powerfully ex
erted. In May, Jeremiah Evarts, Esq.* at that
time Treasurer of the Board of Missions, ar-

* Mr. Evarts was well fitted to feel the utmost in*
ilucnce of such a scene as ho describes. No man could feel & deeper interest than he took in the effort to introduce among the Indians the blessings of Chris tianity and civilization; and it is easy to conceive that ^.
his first approach to the mission house, under such circumstances as he describes, must have been attend
ed with peculiar emotions. It was to the cause of the Indians, which then en
grossed so much of his thoughts and affections, that he devoted his latest strength. He died at Charleston, . fi. 0. May 10, 1831, leaving previous testimony that
c "the righteout hath hope in his death"

26

MEMOIR OF

rived at Braincrd, on a visit of inspection and superintendence. By extracting two or three passages from a letter, which he then wrote to Dr. Worcester, corresponding secretaiy of the board, the reader will have a view of the internal economy of the missionary es tablishment, with which Catharine was con
nected.

" It was on Friday evening, the 8th inst., just after sun-set," says Mr. Evarts, " that I .alighted at the mission house. The path, .which leads to it from the main road, passes .through an open wood, which is extremely beautiful at this season of the year. The mild .radiance of the setting sun, the unbroken soli-| tude of the wilderness, the pleasantness of the' forest with all its springing and blossomi] vegetation, the object of my journey, and tl nature and design of the institution which 1 was about to visit, conspired to render the .scene solemn and interesting, and to fill mind with tender emotions.
" Early in the evening, the children of ill school, being informed that one of their north ern friends, whom they had been expecting,] .had arrived, eagerty assembled in the hall, and: were drawn up in ranks and particularly in-! 'troduced.. They are neither shy, nor forward! in their manners. To a stranger they appear? not less interesting than other children of ' *

27

CATHARINE BROWN.

29

same age; but, if he considers their circum
stances and prospects, incomparably more so. " At evening prayers, I was forcibly struck
with the stillness, order, and decorum of the children, and with the solemnity of'the family worship. A portion of Scripture was read, with Scott's practical observations ; a hymn was sung, in which a large portion of the children united ; and Mr. Hoyt led the devo tions of the numerous family. If all the mem bers of the board could hear the prayers, which are daily offered in their behalf at this station, (and I presume at all others under their superintendence;) and if all patrons and contributors could hear the thanks, which are returned to God for their liberality; and espe cially if they could see a large circle of chil dren, lately rescued from heathenism, kneel ing with apparent seriousness, and engaging in the solemnities of Christian worship, one of them [Catharine] already a hopeful con vert, and others thoughtful and inquiring;-- if all these things could be seen, one may safely predict, that the exertions and sacrifices of the friends of missions would be increased four-fold. These things are not the less real,, however, because they cannot be seen by every friend to the cause."
The Rev. Ard Hoyt, mentioned in th* above extracts, joined the mission in the January preceding, and in June succeeded
Mr Kingsbury as superintendent of the c2

SO

MEMOIR OP

Cherokee mission, the latter having removed
to the Choctaw nation. A farther extract from the letter of Mr.
Evarts will not only confirm much that has already been said respecting Catharine, but will add some other particulars.
" Her parents are half-breeds, who have never learnt to speak English; yet if you were to see her at a boarding school in NewEngland, as she ordinarily appears here, you would not distinguish her from well-educated females of the same age, either by her com plexion, features, dress, pronunciation, or manners. If your attention were directed to
her particularly, you would notice a more than ordinary modesty and reserve. If you
were to see her in a religious meeting of pious females, you would not distinguish her, uniless by her more than common simplicity and humility. When she joined the school in July last, (having come more than one hundred miles for that sole purpose,) she could read
in syllables of three letters, and was se
venteen years old. From her superior man ners and comely person she had probably at tracted more attention than any other female in the nation. She was vain, and excessively fond of dress, wearing a profusion of orna-
Inents in her ears. She can now read well in the Bible, is fond of reading other books, and has been particularly pleased with the Me, moirs of Mrs. Newell. Last fail she became

CATHARINE BROWN.

31

serious, is believed to have experienced reli gion in the course of the autumn, and was baptized in January. Since that time, she has been constantly in the family, and all the fe male members of it have the most intimate knowledge of her conduct, and receive a frank disclosure of her feelings. It is their unani mous opinion, that she gives uncommon evi dence of piety. At meetings for social prayer and religious improvement, held by them on every Thursday afternoon and Sabbath even ing, Catharine prays in her turn, much to the gratification of her sisters in Christ. Her prayers are distinguished by great simplicity as to thought and language, and seem to be the filial aspirations of the devout child. Be fore Mrs. Chamberlain took charge of the girls, Catharine had, of her own accord, com menced evening prayer with them, just as they were retiring to rest. Some time after this practice had been begun, it was disfltovered by one of the missionaries, who, happen ing to pass by the cabin where the girls lodge, overheard her pouring forth her desires in very affecting and appropriate language. On being inquired of respecting it, she sim ply observed, that she had prayed with the girls because she thought it was her duty Yet this young woman, whose conduct mighi now reprove many professing Christians* who have been instructed in religion from iheir infancy, only ten months ago had nevei

32

MEMOIR OP

heard of Jesus Christ, nor had a single thought \vhelher the soul survived the body or not. Since she became religious, her trinkets have gradually disappeared, till only a single drop remains in each ear. On hearing that pioua females have, in many instances, devoted their ornaments to the missionary cause, she has determined to devote hers ateo. In coming to this determination, she acted without influ ence from the advice of others."*
The time fled rapidly away, in pious em ployments and in Christian intercourse, and brought the expected, dreaded separation. It shall be described in the words of those, who, next to the interesting sufferer, felt it most.
"Nov. 4, 1818. The parents of Catharine Brown called on us. They are on their way to the agency. The old gray-headed man with tears in his eyes said he must go over the
Mississippi. The white people would not
suffer him to live here. They had stolen his cattle, horses, and hogs, until he had very little left. He expected to return from the agency in about ten days, and should then wish Catharine to go home, and perpare to go with him to the Arkansas. We requested him to leave his daughter with us yet a little while, and go to the Arkanssfe without her; and we would soon send her to him with much more knowledge than she now has. To this he would not consent, but signified a
* Panoplist, vol. xiv. p. 344.

CATHARINE BROWN.

38

desire that some of us would go along with
him."
While her parents were gone to the agency, Catharine made a farewell visit to Springplace, the seat of the Moravian mission, about thirty-five miles from Brainerd. The feelyags with which she parted from Mr. and Mrs. Gambold, the venerable missionaries there, were such as might he expected from her high regard for their characters, and her prospect of never seeing them again. She returned to Brainerd on the 9th; and, on the 20th, the missionaries thus describe her removal.
" Her father and mother, returning from the agency to go to the Arkansas, stopped yesterday for the purpose of taking her with them. She knew that she needed more in struction to be prepared to go alone into the wilderness, and entreated them to leave her with us a little longer. She is their only daughter,* and they would not consent on any terms. The struggle was very severe. She wept and prayed, and promised to come lo them, as soon as she had finished her literary education, and acquired some further know ledge of the Christian religion. We engaged that she should be provided for while here, and assisted in going to them. Her mother
said, she could not live if Catharine would
not now go with them. Catharine replied,

4 Catharine had half-sisters, but was the only daughter of Mr. Brown by this rriage.

34

MEMOIR OP

that to her it would be more bitter than death to leave us, and go where there were no mis sionaries. Her father became impatient, and told her if she would not mind him, and go with them now, he would disow:: her for ever; but%if she would now go, as soon as mission aries came to the Arkansas, (and he expected they would be there soon,) she might go and
live with them as long as she pleased: he wished her to have more learning.
"Never before had this precious convert
so severe a trial; and never, .perhaps, did her graces shine so bright. She sought for nothing but to know her duty, and asked for a few minutes to be by herself undisturbed. She
returned, and said she would go. After she
had collected and put up her clothing, the family Were assembled, a parting hymn was sting, and a prayer offered. With mingled emotions of joy and grief, \ve commended her to the grace of God, and they departed.
".Precious babe in Christ! a few months ago brought out of the dark wilderness ; here illuminated by the Word and Spirit of God; and now to be sent back into the dark and chilling shades of the forest, without one fel low traveller, with whom she can say, *Our Father!' O ye, who with delight sit under the droppings of the sanctuary, and enjoy the communion of saints, remember Catharine in your prayers."
Thus was she removed from a place, en-

CATHARINE BROWN.

35

deared to her by some of the most pleasing associations of her life, and she departed ex pecting to return no more. It was a day of sorrow to the members of the school, whose warm attachment she had effectually secured. But the whole had been ordered by Infinite Wisdom.
Early in the following month, information was received at Brainerd that two children, who had been taken captive by the Cherokeee, from the Osage tribe of Indians, were in ihe lower part of the nation, and that one of the was supposed to be the sister of Lydia Carter, the interesting " Little Osage Captive,"* who ' was then a member of the school. There be ing some reason to believe that the man, in whose possession they were, might be in duced to surrender them to the care of the mis sionaries, Mr. Hoyt, accompanied by his son, set out in quest of the unfortunate children. They travelled bet'.veen two and three hun dred miles, and encountered many hardships on their way. But though they found the children, and ascertained that one was indeed
the sister of Lydia, they failed in their great
object. The man who professed to be the owner of the children, would not relinquish them.t

* The little girl, a namtive of whom was published, in 1822, by the Rev. Elios Cornelius, Pastor of the Tabernacle Church, in Salem, Ms.
* The girl was never obtained by the missionaries: but

36

MEMOIR OF

The journey was not, however, in vain, Mr. Hoyt had the happiness of meeting with Catharine at her father's house. This occur rence is thus noticed, in the journal of the
mission. " In this tour, father Hoyt spent two nights
and a day at the house of Catharine Brown's father. He was received with great cordiality by the whole family; and Catharine's joy was so great, that he says, * I felt myself more than paid for the fatigues of the whole journey, by the occurrences of the first evenng.' Catharine said, it had been very dark times with her, since she left Brainerd. All around her were engaged for the riches and pleasures of the world; and because she could not unite with them as formerly, they were telling her, they supposed she thought herself very good now ; that she expected *,o go to heaven alone, &c. Her greatest burden was a fear that she should be drawn away from the right path, and at length be left to do like those around her."
While Mr. Hoyt was at her father's, he preached to a small audience of Cherokees, and one Indian woman was so much affected, that she wept during the whole service. After the departure of Mr. Hoyt, this woman sent

the boy was afterwards placed under their care, through the kindness of Col. Moig?, the United States agent, and through the benevolent enterprise of Mr. John Row, a promising Chcrukro young man. The boy was named Jnkn Oeage ItoM, in honour of Mr. Ron.

CATHARINE BROWN.

37

for Catharine to read and explain the Bible to her, and to pray with her, which was repeat edly done. There is reason to believe, that a salutary and abiding impression was produced; for after Catharine's return to Brainerd, this poor female came all the way, a distance of more than a hundred miles, to hear, as she said, more about th*1 Saviour.
This chapter will be closed with a letter from Catharine to two of her friends at Brai nerd, which are among the earliest of which her biographer has any knowledge. And this oc casion is taken to remark, that the letters which will find a place in this memoir, were written with little study or effort, from the overflow ings of her heart, to persons with whom she wag intimately acquainted. The greater part, of them have never before been published.. They are generally copied from originals, which are in a plain, intelligible, running hand, and the orthography is seldom incorrect. Al terations in the sense, are never made; cor rections in the grammar, but rarely.

TO MR. AND MRS. CHAMBERLAIN, AT BRAINERD.
Fort Deposit, Dec. 12,1818. My dearly beloved Brother and Sister,--
I just sit down to address you with my pen. But is this all ? Am I so soon called to bid you adieu, and see your faces no more in this world? O my beloved friends, you know not the love I bear to that blessed spot,
D

38

MEMOIR OF

where I have spent so many happy hours with you; but it is past, never to return.
Dear friends, I weep; my heart is full; tears flow from my eyes while I write: and j why is it so ? Do I murmur ? God forbid. Ought I not to praise the Lord for what 11 have received, and trust him for every thing ? j 0 yes, his ways are best, and he has gra-1 ciously promised, that all things shall work |
together for good to them that love him." | But do I love him ? Have I that love to him, which will enable me to keep all his com mandments? Do I love him with all my heart ? O that the Lord would search me, and lead me in the way of eternal life.
I am here amongst a wicked set of people, and never hear prayers, nor any godly \x>n
versation. O my dear friends, pray for me: I hope you do. There is not a day passes but I think of you and the kindness I received du ring the time I staid with you. It is not my wish to go to the Arkansas; but God only knows what is best for me. I shall not at tempt to tell you what I have felt since I left you, and the tears I have shed when I called to mind the happy moments we passed in singing the praises of God. However, I bear
it as well as I possibly can, trusting in our dear Saviour, who will never leave nor for sake them that put their trust in him.
It is possible that I may see you once more; it would be a great happiness to me if I don't

CATHARINE BROWN.

39

go to the Arkansas; perhaps I may; but if 1 should go, it is not likely we shall meet in
this world again:--but you will excuse me, for my heart feels what I cannot express with my pen. When I see the poor thoughtless Cherokees going on in sin, I cannot help blessing God, that he has led me in the right
path to serve him. O may we meet at last in the kingdom of
our blessed Saviour, never more to part. Fare well, my dear brother and sister, farewell.
From your affectionate sister in Christ, CATHARINE BROWN.

40

MEMOIR OF

CHAPTER III.
FROM HER RETURN TO BRAINERD, UNTIL SHE
TOOK CHARGE OF A SCHOOL AT CREEK-PATH.
Benefits resulting from her being taken from the school.--Her return.--Her brother Da vid a member of the school.--His conver sion.--Catharine and David visit their sickfather.--A school established near Mr. Browns.--Account of John rfrch.--Ef forts of Catharine and David at Brainerd. -- The latter goes to New England.--His subsequent history.--A female teacher wanted at Creek-Path.--Catharine undertai~js this service.--Letters.
THOSE who will but observe, may often witness very affecting instances of the particu lar and merciful providence which God exer cises towards his children in this world. Both the removal and the return of Catharine may be regarded as such instances.
What was the precise influence upon her own character, of her removal from Brainerd, cannot be determined; though there is little doubt but her faith and patience were thereby increased. But the consequences of her re moval, to others, are more obvious. It led the way to the formation of schools, and to the

CATHARINE BROWN.

41

stated preaching of the gospel, at Creek-Path, the place of her father's residence, and to the hopeful conversion of nearly all her family; thus showing that our greatest blessings may spring from our severest afflictions.
Her return was scarcely expected by the missionaries, when, on the 23d of May, 1819, her father brought her again to Brainerd, and committed her to their care until her educa tion should be completed, intending to remove immediately with the remainder of his family beyond the Mississippi.--This purpose, as has been intimated, was not executed. Mr. Brown did not proceed to the Arkansas coun try until more than four years after this time, and not till the beloved daughter, for whose society he was so desirous, had been laid in the dust. The causes of this delay are un known to the author of this memoir.
Catharine ascribed the change in the inten tions of her parents respecting her, wholly to the special providence of Him who heareth prayer. The appointed time for their depar ture drew near: she was convinced that it was not best for her to go: her continual in tercessions were, that her parents might be induced to leave her behind. And her prayers were answered. After one of her seasons of private devotion, she returned to her family with a delightfully confident hope that God had listened to her requests; and as she en tered the room where her parents were sitting;
D2

42

MEMOIR OF

she found they had been consulting on .the expediency of sending her hack to Brainerd, and had actually resolved upon her return. This was just half a year from the period of her removal from that consecrated place.
On this occasion, the missionaries very na turally exclaim;--" How unsearchable are the ways of God ! We thought it a very afflicting providence that this lamb should be snatched from the fold of Christ, to go, as we thought, where she would be exposed to be devoured
by wolves; and weu ready to say in our hearts, when her father required her to go with him, *not so.' But in this very way, God has given her an opportunity to set an example of filial obedience, by submitting to the authority of a father in a most painful re
quisition, and of manifesting her love to the Saviour, by her willingness to forsake all for him; and, at the same time, has granted her -the object of her pious and fervent desire."
In November, 1819, we find David Brown, the brother of Catharine, a member of the school, and employed, in connection with another young Indian named John Arch, to assist the Rev. D. S. Btitrick, one of the mis sionaries at Brainerd, in preparing a Cherokee spelling-book, which was afterwards print
ed for the use of the schools. We may safely conclude that she, who had prayed so earnest ly for this brother when lie was absent, would
not fail to exert herself for his spiritual good

CATHARINE BROWN.

43

when present. Her efforts,in conjunction with those of the missionaries, were not ineffectual. David became thoughtful--deeply impressed--convinced of his sinfulness and his need of salvation by Jesus Christ--and, early in the year 1820, gave evidence that he had become truly pious.
Soon after this, hearing that their father
was ill, these young converts went home to see him, where they remained about seven weeks.
Catharine says, " David seized his Bible as soon as he reached home, and began to read and interpr et to his father and mother and the other members of the family, exhorting them to attend to it as the word of God, to repent of their sins, which he told them were many and great, and to become the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ."
With his father's consent, David maintained the worship of God in the family, morning and evening, and craved a blessing and gave thanks at the table. He also conversed freely with friends and neighbours, boldly professing himself a Christian.
The impression made by this visit, in coa nection with the previous efforts of Catharine, was such, that when Mr. Brown, after re covering from his illness, brought his childrat? back to Brainerd, he delivered to the mission aries the following letter, signed by himself and others, headmen and chiefs.

44

MEMOIR OP

" We, the headmen, chiefs of the Path town, Cherokee nation, have this day assembled ourselves together for the purpose of devising some plan for the education of our children. We daily witness the good effects arising from education, and therefore, are ex tremely anxious to have a school in our neigh bourhood, as the distance from this part of the nation to Chickamaugah is so great as not to suit our convenience. We, therefore, so licit your aid in carrying our plan into execu tion. We can raise twenty, or perhaps twen ty-five children. You will please write us immediately on the receipt of this. Given under our hands, this 16th of February, 1820."*
In consequence of this request, Mr. Butrick left Brainerd for Creek-Path, on the 11 th of March, and, at a place about two milfis from. Mr. Brown's residence, the natives hav ing erected a convenient house for the purpose, he opened a school under very favourable auspices.
Mr. Butrick was accompanied and much assisted by John Arch, a converted Cherokee of good promise, whose name has already been mentioned.
This young man was born and bred among the mountains, near the confines of South

* It may not be amiss to observe, that the above letter must have been written for the chiefs by some white per* son then at Creek-Path.

CATHARINE BROWN.

45

Carolina, in the most ignorant part of the na tion. Happening to be at Knoxville, Tenn. in December, 1818, he saw Mr. Hall, who informed him of the school at Chickamaugah. Returning home, he took his gun and set off in search of the place. After travelling a hun dred and fifty miles, he arrived at the station, told the missionaries he had come to attend the school, and offered them his gun, which was his only property, for clothes. His ap pearance was so wild and forbidding, that the
missionaries hesitated to receive him, especi
ally as he was supposed to be not less than twenty years of age. But he would not be refused. They took him vpon trial. It was not long before he discovered an anxious so licitude respecting his soul, and soon gave the most satisfactory evidence of piety. His thirst for knowledge was ardent, and hiatproficiency
in learning great. In ten months he could read and write well. Some time after he became serious, he was falsely accused, by some one of his schoolmates, of doing an improper act. Being conscious of innocence, his high spirit was indignant at the charge. That evening and night he was missing, and the next morn ing it was concluded that he had absconded. But in the forenoon he made his appearance. On being questioned respecting his absence he made this reply; " I felt angry, and knew that it was wicked; but I could not suppress my feelings. I therefore went to seek the

"

46

MEMOIR OF

Saviour, tnat ne might reconcile my heart. It appeared, that he had spent the night io| devotional exercises. He was at length adVj
mitted to the church, and, from that day toj the present, has sustained a good Christian! character. He has been much employed as; an interpreter, both at the different stations, and in the evangelical labours of the mission aries in various parts of the nation.
While Mr. Butrick was prosecuting his labours at Creek-Path, Catharine and David were employing themselves diligently at
Brainerd. Once in particular it is recorded that, after a prayer-meeting conducted by the missionaries, these two young Cherokees, aided by a pious Indian woman of great age, collected a little group of their people who had come to spend the Sabbath there, and held a religious conference, with prayer and praise, in.the Cherokee language.
These united labours were, however, inter rupted on the 11 th of May, by the departure
of David for the foreign mission school in Cornwall, Conn. He left Brainerd a few days after his admission to the church.
David had been desirous, for some time, of being fitted to preach the gospel to his coun trymen, and was encouraged to aim at such a preparation, first by his sister Catharine, and then by the missionaries. He arrived at Corn wall sometime in the summer: was connected
with that highly favoured school about two

CATHARINE BROWN.

4?

years; was then removed to Andover, Mass, where he remained a year, and, without be coming a member of the theological seminary in that place, enjoyed many of its distinguish ed advantages. In consequence of the state of his health, and of the great need of- his ser vices among those of his countrymen who reside in the Arkansas country, he returned to them early in the year 1824. The addresses which he delivered in many of our principal towns and cities, on the wrongs and claims and prospects of the American Indians, will not soon be forgotten byjthose who heard them.
Since his return, a letter has been received, by the corresponding secretary of the board, which, coming from one so nearly related to Catharine, and giving an amiable view of her family, will interest the reader. It was dated * Point Pleasant, Arkansas, Sept. 20, 1824," and is as follows:

Dear Sir,
Long before this time, you must have heard of my speedy passage from Washington city to Arkansas, and of my delightful and joyful meeting with my brethren and kindred accord ing to the flesh. My father and mother em braced me with tears. We were unable to converse, for more than an hour: our mutual ',oy was so great, that we could not speak for some time. My friends ran as far as they

48

MEMOIR OF

could see me, in order to meet me, and e;

brace me. The scene was somew lat sim

to that of Jacob meeting with his beloved 8

Joseph.

'

I was glad to find so much religious feelii

among my friends. My parents are very us

ful in this country, by making known

others the way of salvation. Since my arrival

I have had no rest. My friends and relatives

are so numerous, that I am constantly on a

visit. J) wight, and the residence of my brother

Webber, I have made my homes. At Dwighi

I have all my books. On the Sabbath I inteip*

pret English sermons, and sometimes preach

myself in the sweet language of Tsallaktt

[the Cherokee.] Never were there greater

prospects of success among the Cherokees,

than at present.

I expect to revisit my mother-country soon,

on my father's business, and once more fo be

at Brainerd and Creek-Path, beneath the tall

trees of Tsu-saw-ya-toa-sah. In November

and December please to write me at Brainerd,

and inform me whether the board can send us

a printer who is accomplished in his art.

Pray send us one.

My fond remembrance to your family.

Time and distance can never erase from my

bosom the marks of friendship and attention

t received in Boston.

DAVID BROWN.

About the lime of David's departure for

CATHARINE BROWN.

'49

New England, Mr. Butrick's school at CreekPath had so increased in the number of its scholars, that there was no more room for the admission of other applicants. The people therefore desired another school. They said if a female would come to instruct their daugh ters, they would build a school house for her. At the same time it was evident, that a spirit of deep seriousness and anxious inquiry was beginning to prevail among them.
These facts being known at Brainerd, the missionaries thought it their duty to advise Catharine to go and take charge of the con templated school. In this advice she acqui esced, though not without a painful diffidence in respect to her qualifications for such a ser vice.
When it was known at Creek-Path that she was to take charge of the school, the most enthusiastic joy was occasioned among the people. They seemed to feel that the pre parations could not be made too soon. Not less than fifty Cherokee men, besides negroes and boys, assembled immediately to build the school housey-which, in two days, was nearly completed according to their stipulation.
Every thing being in |eadiness, Mr. Brown came for his daughter. She was at Taloney, the missionary station where her friends Mr. and Mrs. Hall resided, and he waited at Brainerd for fyer return; during which time
it was perceived, that the venerable old man E

50

MEMOIR OP

was anxiously inquiring after the truth. Ofl the last of May, 1820, a little less than two years and eleven months from her first enter ing the school as an untaught heathen girl) Catharine bade an affectionate adieu to Brain-
erd to take charge of the school for females
near her paternal home. * How very different the scene"--say the
missionaries--" from that, which passed heie not quite two years since, when her father required her to leave the society of Christians, and to accompany him to the then dark shades
of the Arkansas ! Now, he does not ask her without our consent; will not take her except
by our advice; and she is going, not into the wilderness unprepared to teach, but into a place where divine light has already begun to shine, prepared, as. we think, to instruct others. Yet, it is highly probable that this removal will not be productive of so much good as the former. So unsearchable are the ways of God, and so incompetent is man to judge. It now appears that her first removal was the means of sowing the seed, which is now springing up at Creek-Path with such hopeful promise."
Letters written during the period embraced by this chapter, will now be inserted. The fourth was origin ally published at the close of the narrative os <iw Tattle Osage fcaptive."

CATHARINE BROWN.

Cl

i *

TO MR. AND MRS. WILLIAMS.

'

Erainerd, July 5, 1819.

My dear Brother and Sister,---

ALTHOUGH I have long omitted answering. your affectionate letters, my heart has been often with you. Yes, dear brother and sister*.

I do not forget you, and all the pleasant nieet*

ings we had together, when you were here. But pain is mixed with pleasure when I think

they are gone, no more to return! When I

remember the kind instruction I received from you, before you left this place, my heart' swells with gratitude. 1 feel much indebted to

you, but more particularly to that God, who sent

you here to instruct the poor ignorant Indians in the way that leads to everlasting life. Oh,

my dear friends, may the Lord ever bless you, and make you the instrument of doing

great good where he has called you. You may pass throug^jmany trials; but
remember, beloved brotherlptd sister, -all our trials here will only make us richer there

when we arrive at our home. A few more

days, and then,. I hope, our weary souls witt be at rest in our Saviour's kingdom, where

we shall enjoy His blessed presence forever. When I wrote you before, I expected to go
to the Arkansas, and never to see this place again. But the Egfrd has in mercy ordered it otherwise. He has permitted me to live with the dear missionaries here again, though my

52

MEMOIR OP

parents could not bear to think of leaving me behind. My mother said, if I remained here, she did not expect to see me" again in this, world. Indeed, she wished she had neve sent me to this school, and that I had never received religious instruction. I told her, if. she was a Christian, she would not feel sp i; she would be willing to give me, arid all she*
had, up to Christ. I told her I did not wishj to stay on account of my own pleasure, but that I wished to get more instruction, so that it might be for her good, as well as for mine.1
I felt very sorry for my poor parents. I
thought it was. my duty to go in obedience to their commands, and commit myself to the will of God. I knew the Lord could change the hearts of my parents.
They are now perfectly willing that I should" stay here two years longer. I left them in March. They expected to set out in that month /or the Arkansas. They had already prepared for the journey. But the Lord has so ordered, that they have concluded not to go until next fall. I don't know whether they will go then. I hope you will pray for them, and also for me, that I may be useful to my dear people. My heart bleeds for their immor tal souls. O that I might be made the means of turning many souls from darkness unto* marvellous light.
My dear brother and sister, I love you
and feel that the time is short when we si

CATHARINE BROWN.

03

sit down with our Saviour, and experience that love which no words can describe.
From your affectionate sister in Christ, CATHARINE BROWN.*

TO MR. MOOD If HALL, AT TALON&Y.f
Brainerd, Oct. 25,1819.
A FEW moments of this day shall be spent in writing to my dear brother. It seems a long time, since you left us. I long to see you. I long to hear from you. I hope the Lord is with you this day, that you enjoy the presence of our dear Redeemer. My sincere desire and earnest prayer to the throne of grace is, that your labours may be blessed, and that God would make you the instmment of saving many souls from eternal destruction.
O how I feel for my poor Cherokee breth ren and sisters, who do not know the blessed Jesus, that died for us, and do not enjoy the blessings that I do. How thankful I ought to
* Any person who had witnessed the separation of Mrs. Williams from her Cherokee friends, when she and her husband left Brainerd, and set out for theChoctaw mission, in May, 1818, could well understand the affectionate ex pression in this lutrer. When the boat was ready to pro ceed, and the hour of parting had arrived; when Mr. Cornelius had made the last prayer; and the last hymn had been sung; Catharine was among those who seemed ready to sink under a burden of grief tgp great to be borne. Mrs. Williams had always been peculiarly dear to her from their first acquaintance, and, like an older sister, had guided her youthful steps in (he path ofpeace.
t Now called Carmel.
E2

54

MEMOIR OF

be to God, that I have ever been brought to

the light of the gospel, and was not left to

wander in darkness. O I hope the time is at

haficl, when all the heathen shall know God,

whom to know is life everlasting.

My- dear brother, may we be faithful to our

Master, knowing that in due season, we shall

reap, if we faint not. Our pilgrimage will

shortly be ended, and all our trials will be

over. Do not forget me in your daily prayers,

for I need very much the prayers of God's

children. My heart is prone to leave my

God, whom I love. From your unworthy

sister in Christ.

CATHARINE BROWN.

TO A LADY IN CONNECTICUT.
Brainerd, Jan, 12,1826.
Dear Sister in Christ,
I THANK you much for your affectionate letter, which I received on the 23d of Decem ber. O how great, how rich is the mercy of our dear Redeemer, who has magfe us the subjects of his kingdom, and Ief3|jis : as we trust, from death unto life. jMy defir sister, I can nover express my gratitude to God, for his goodness toward me, and my dear people. Surely, it is of his own glorious mercy that he is sending to us the gospel of the Lord Jesus, in this distant land, where the people had long sat in darkness, and \vere perishing for 1,-ick of the knowledge of God. /Blessed be his holy n^me ! O my sister, let us rejoice

CATHARINE BROWN.

85

continually in our Lord and Saviour, and as

we have put on Christ, not only by outward

profession, but by inward and spiritual uniijn,

let us walk worthy of our high and holy voca

tion, and show the world that there is some

thing in true religion. And may the Lord

give us strength to do his will, and to follow

continually the example of our meek and low*

ly Jesus. I thank you for the present you sent

me, which I received as a token of love.

The mission family are all well, and also the

dear children. Many of them are serious.

and we hope they love and pray to God daily

0 that I were more engaged for God to pro

mote his cause, among these dear children,

and my people. I am going soon to visit my

parents, which is an hundred miles from here,

and expect to stay two months. I hope you

will pray for me, that the Lord would bless

my visit, and renew the hearts of my dear

parents. Your sincere friend and sister in

Chrit.

CATHARINE BROWN.

TO MRS. ISABELLA HALL, AT TALONEY.

My dear Sister,

Brainerd, Mardt 8, 1820.

OUR Heavenly Father has separated us.

Perhaps we loved each other more than we

loved him, and did not pray to him, and praise

him, and thank him, as we ought to have

done. And is it not so, dear sister? Did wte

not neglect our duty, and grow cold and care-

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MEMOIR OF

*
less, when we were together ? Now we are

sorry, and the Lord will forgive us. StiU

dear sister, we can pray for each other* <

Tnink you not that our prayers often meet fy

the throne of grace ? O then let us pray on/

rnd never cease to pray for each other, while

he lends us breath: and when we meet in ,

hravcn, we shall see him whom our soul lovetiu '

Let us pi^iise the Lord for what he is doing* :

My dear brother David is now rejoicing in his ,

blessed Redeemer. He has a great desire td .i

do good among our people. I expect he will 1

leave us, in two or three weeks, for Cornwall, I

to study divinity, and prepare to preach tfj0

gospel of Jesus Christ. I do hope r,nd pray 1

that the Lord will go with him, and enable 1

him to do much good in the world.

He and myself spent seven weeks with our j

dear parents, and returned to school the last I

week. I hope to continue here some time j

longer, but know not how long. My dear

mother feels that she cannot spare me muck

longer. I wish to learn as much as I can, be

fore I go.

>

And now, my dear sister, may we both be j

faithful to our Lord, and do much in the world* ]

And when time with us shall be no more* i

may we be permitted to meet in that world,

where Christians will be collected to sing

through eternity the song of Moses and the ,

Lamb. From your sister,

.i

CATHARINE BROWN,

CATHARINE BROWN.

TO HER BROTHER DAVID.

While on his way to New England.

My very dear Brother,

Srainerd, May 16,1820.

IT is impossible for me to express what I

felt, the morning you left us. But I thought,

that if I should never see you again in this

world, I should meet you in a better, where

there will be no separation. O how thankful

we ought to be to God, who has brought us

from darkness into the light of the gospel.

Many of our dear people are yet deprived

of this great privilege. They know not the

Saviour, whom we have found so precious.

Yes, even our dear parents are yet living

without any hope in God. O my brother, let

us never cease to pray for them. God will

surely hear us, if we ask in faith.

Dear brother, forget me not in your prayers.

Your sister Catharine will never forget you.,

When you are far from this place, your poor

fiister C. will be praying for you. Good night,

dear brother, till we meet again. CATHARINE BROWN.

BS

MEMOIR OF

J

CHARTER IV.

:v

FROM HER TAKING CHARGE OF A SCHOOL AT

CREEK-PATH UNTIL HER SICKNESS.

j

/I
Extract from her diary.--Her school.--Con* ; version of her parents, and others of tht family.--She and her family visit J$rain* erd.-- Traits in Catharines character. Further extractsfrom her diary.--Eulogium of her brother John.--She visits Hunts* \ mile.--Estimation in which she was there i held.-- Goes to reside with her parents. Apprehensions respecting her health. Goes to Brainerd for medical aid.-->J?e* , turns.--Letters to differentfriends.

WE now enter upon the last three years of Catharine's life, in which we shall behold het in new circumstances; her character more fully developed; her graces shining with greater lustre.
In order that she may speak for herself a*
rr as possible, that part of her private diary *..4 h" inserted, which was saved from the
on to which many of her papers were little before her sickness. It was
from a sister of Catharine, and -a faithful copy was transmitted by Mrs. Potter, the wife of the Rev. William Potter, mission-

CATHARINE BROWN.

69

ary at Creek-Path. It commences the day before her departure from Brainerd.

EXTRACTS FROM HER DIARY.
BRAINERD, May 30, 1820. To-morrow morning I shall leave this school, perhaps never to return. It is truly painful to par! with my dear Christian friends, those with whom I have spent many happy hours in the house of worship. . I must bid them farewell This is the place, where I first became ac quainted with the dear Saviour. He now calls me to work in his vineyard, and shall I, for the sake of my Christian friends and of my own pleasures, refuse to go, while many of my poor red brothers and sisters are pe rishing for lack of knowledge ? O no, I will not refuse to go. I will go wherever the Sa viour calls me. I know he will be on my right hand, to grant me all the blessings that I shall need, and he will direct me how to instruct the dear children, who shall be committed to my care.
"31. This morning I set out from Brain erd, with my dear father. Travelled about twenty miles. Thought much of my beloved Christian friends. Whether I shall ever see them again, is uncertain. The Lord only knows.
" June 2. Have been very sick to-day: but, blessed be God, am now a little better. Hope

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MEMOIR OF

I shall be able to travel to-morrow.

Lord is very kind and merciful to all those1 1

who put their trust in hi - Last nightlslep

on the floor without any bed. Felt quite

py in my situation. Though very sick in'

body, yet I trust my heart was well.

"5. Have arrived at my father's, but ain

yet very unwell. Have a bad cold. Aril

sometimes afraid I shall not be able to teach

school at Creek-Path. We slept two r.ights

on the ground with our wet blankets, beforJ3

we reached our home.

'

"20. Blessed be God, who has again rci-

stored me to health. It is two weeks to-day

since I commenced teaching a girl's school.

O how much I need wisdom from God. I

am a child. I can do nothing. But in God

will I trust, for I know there is none else to '

whom I can look for help.

" Sept. 5. This day I received a letter froBji

brother David. I rejoice much to hear, thai

he has arrived safely at Cornwall, May th0

Lord be with him, and make him useful as

long as he lives, and at death may he be re

ceived at the right hand of God. This is the

prayer of his affectionate sister Catharine."

Before proceeding further with the extracts from the diary, it seems proper to insert some notices not found in that document.
Catharine opened her school with abouj twenty scholars, and the number soon iri-

CATHARINE BROWN.

|j

creased. Not only the daughters, hut the mothers also, manifested a strong desire to receive instruction. Several of her pupils, in
consequence of previous tuition, could read in the New Testament, when they came under her care. These it was her delight to lead to a more perfect acquaintance with that sa cred volume. But most of the children began with the rudiments of learning. This school
she continued three quarters of a year, when the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Potter at Creek
Path gave her an opportunity to prosecute her own studies, with a view to greater usefulness among her people.
The spirit of serious inquiry at Creek-Path, to which allusion has already been made, in creased after the arrival of Catharine, especi ally among her own kindred. Doubtless she was not backward with the meekness of hu
mility and the earnestness of affection to warn and exhort. Nor were her efforts without
effect. Ere long she had the joy of behold* ing her father, mother, a brother, .and fe> or three sisters, unitedly seeking the v pardon of their sins, and that peace which the world giveth not. After a suitable trial, and due instruction, all these her relatives, with others of their countrymen, were received into the
visible church. It is gratifying to be able to remark, that no
one of them has hitherto dishonoured the Christian profession, and that all who survive
F

62

MEMOIR OP

are believed to be the humble followers of th$

Lord Jesus. One has " fallen asleep,"

of him an affectionate record will be found in;

that part of Catharine's diary which is yt to'

be inserted.

''

Some time in the autumn, nearly the whole*

family made a visit to Brainerd. The hearts of

the missionaries were made glad, by the sight

of this little band ; and how must the heart of

Catharine have exulted with joy, while, fa

the first time, she presented her beloved rela

tives, one after another, as the friends and fol

lowers of her blessed Saviour!

Here some remarks may probably be intro ;

duced, on the traits of character, which Catha

rine exhibited during a part of the time em

braced in her diary. These remarks are taken

from the letter of Mrs. Potter, which enclosed

that document.

"In the spring of 1821," says Mrs. P.

" while making the necessary preparations for

a settlement at Creek-Path, Mr. Potter and

myself, for two months, made Mr. Brown's

house our home. Here we had an opportu

nity of noticing Catharine's daily deportment,

as a member of the domestic circle.

" For sweetness of temper, meekness, gen

tleness, and forbearance, I never saw one who

surpassed her. To her parents she was un

commonly dutiful and affectionate. * Nothing

which could contribute to their happiness, was

considered a burden, and her plans were

CATHARINE BROWN.

69

readily yielded to theirs, however great the sacrifice to her feelings. The spiritual inter
ests of the family lay near her heart, and she sometimes spent whole evenings in conversa tion with them on religious subjects.
"Nor did she forget the poor slaves. Hav ing, at her own expense, put a spelling-book into the hands of each of the younger ones, she began with zeal to teach them to read. On of these she had the happiness, before her
death, of seeing able to -read in the New Tes tament with fluency, committing hymns to memory, &c. and another considerably ad
vanced in the same path. " She never spoke of any good thing, which
she had herself performed, except when cir cumstances made it her duty, and then it was
with great apparent humility. " Before our arrival, she had established a
weekly prayer-meeting with the female mem
bers of the family, which was also improved as an opportunity of reading the word of God, and conversing upon its important truths. Such was her extreme modesty, that she did not make this known to me, until more than a week after my arrival; and the usual period had passed without a meeting. She at length overcame her diffidence, and in a manner ex
pressive of the most unfeigned humility, in* formed me what their practice had been. These meetings were continued while we remained in the family, and I believe they were highly

64

MEMOIR OF

useful. A monthly prayer-meeting among sisters of the church was soon after establish -; ed, in which Catharine took a lively interestj*^ nor did she ever refuse, when requested, to take an active part in the devotional exercises**.i
" Soon after we removed to our station, 1 Catharine became a member of our family,,; and of the school. All her energies were now j bent toward the improvement of her mind, j with a view to future usefulness among her
people. Both ; n school and in the family her deportment was such as greatly to endear her to our hearts, and she wai most tenderly loved by all the children.
' She was not entirely frte from the inad vertencies of youth ; but always received reproof with great meekness, and it never failed to produce the most salutary effect.
" Shes was deeply sensible of the many fa vours she had received from Christian friends,' and often, in the strongest terms, expressed1 her gratitude.
" She was zealous in the cause of Christ, and laboured much to instruct her ignorant | people in the things that concern their ever* 1 lasting peace. The advancement of the Re* j deemer's kingdom was to her a subject of deep ' interest, and she read accounts of the triumphs , of the cross in heathen countries, with pecn* ' liar delight. Not many months after we sefe j tied hare, a plan was devised to form a female charitable society. This plan was proposed te

CATHARINE BROWN.

66

Catharine. She was much pleased with it, and spared no pains to explain it to the under standings of her Cherokee friends. And so successful were her exertions, that, at the meeting for the formation of the society, at which a considerable number were present, not one refused to become a member. For the* prosperity of this society, she manifested the most tender concern till her death; and she had determined, if her life should be spared to reach the Arkansas country, to use her ex* ertions to form a similar society there."*
The extracts from the diary will now be resumed, and will be continued without in terruption.

EXTRACTS FROM HER DIARY.
" Creek-Path, May 1, 1821. Commenced boarding with Mr. and Mrs. Potter. My pa rents live two miles from this place. I think 1 shall visit them almost every week, and they will come to see me often.
" 2. \ love to live here much. It is retired, and a good place for study. Every thing looks pleasant around the school-house. The trees
* This society first sent its annual collections to the mis sion at Dwight, in iho Arkansas. But the last year their collection was devoted to the spread of the Gospel among the Osages. The Cherokee woman who proposed the reso lution to appropriate the money in this way, observed to the society, " The Bible tells us to do good to our enemies, and 1 belie veAtiae Osages are the greatest enemies tho Cherokecs naffs' The sum was about ten dollars.
F2

66

MEMOIR OF

are covered with green leaves, and the birdd sing very sweetly. How pleasnnt it is to be in the woods, and hear the birds praising the Lord. They remind me of the divine com mand, ' Remember thy Creator.' O may I never be so stupid and senseless [as to forget; my Creator,] but may I remember to love and serve him, the few days I live in this world; for the time will soon come when I must ap pear before him. Help me, Lord, to live to thy glory, even unto the end of my life.
' I think I feel more anxious to learn an$ to understand the Bible perfectly, than I ever ] did before. Although I am so ignorant, th# * Saviour is able to prepare me for usefulness I among my people.
" 5. Saturday evening. Again I am brought '] to the close of another week. How have I spent my time the past week ? Have I done any thing for God, and any good to my fellow creatures ? T fear I have done nothing to glo* rify his holy name. Oh, how prone I am to sin, and to grieve the spirit of a holy God, who is so kind in giving me time to prepare for heaven. May I improve these precious moments to the glory of my God.
" 6. Sabbath evening. How thankful I ought to be to God, that he has permitted me once more to commemorate the love of a Sa viour, who has shed his precious blood for the remission of sin. It was indeed a solemn season to me, and I hope refreshing to each

CATHARINE BROWN.

67

of our souls. While sitting at the table, I thought of many sins, which I had committed against God through my life, and how much I deserved to be cast out from his presence forever. But the Son of God, who was pleased to come down from the bosom of his Father, to die on the cross for sinners like me, will, I hope, save me from death, and at last raise me to mansions of eternal rest, where I shall sit down with my blessed Jesus.
"8. This evening I have nothing to com plain of but my unfaithfulness both to God and my own soul. Have not improved my precious moments as I ought. Have learned but little in school, though my privileges are greater than those of many others. While they are ignorant of God, and have no oppor tunity to hear or learn about him, I am per mitted to live with the children of God, where I am instructed to read the Bible, and to un derstand the character of Jesus. O may I be enabled to follow the example of my teachers, to live near the Saviour, and to do much good. I wish very much to be a missionary among my people. If I had an education--but per haps I ought not to think of it. I am not wor thy to be a missionary.
"14. Mr. Hoyt called on us this week, on his return from Mayhew. He gives us much interesting intelligence respecting the Choctaw mission. Mr. Hoyt expected to have brought Dr. Worcester with him, but he was

68

MEMOIR OF

I-/

too sick to travel, and was obliged to stay be- ^ hind. He hopes to be able to come on Boon,. | I long to see him. He has done a great deal J towards spreading the gospel, not only in this I nation, but in other heathen nations <>f the I earth. May the Lord restore his health, that f he may see some fruits among the heathen, j for whom he has been so long labouring. J
" This day I spent my time very pleasantly 1 at home with my dear friends. Find that | brother John is the same humble believer in Jesus, walking in the Christian path. I am truly happy to meet my dear parents and sis ters in health, and rejoicing in the hope of eternal glory. O may God ever delight to
bless them, and to pour his spirit richly into their hearts. I am much pleased to see them
making preparations for the Sabbath. They have been engaged to-day in preparing such food, &c. as they thought would be wanting to-morrow. I think brother John and sister Susannah have done much good here with re spect to the Sabbath.
" 30. This day attended another solemn meeting in the house of God. Mr. Potter preached by an interpreter. I think more peo ple than usual attended. All seemed atten tive to hear the word of God. Mr. P. spoke of the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy. I hope it will not be in vain to all those who were present.
" June 4. This day being thefirat Monday

CATHARINE BROWN.

69

in the month, the people met to pray and re ceive religious instruction. It was truly an in
teresting time. The congregation, though small, was serious. One man and his wife, who have been for some time in an anxious state of mind, remained after the meetingT and Mr. and Mrs. P. earnestly entreated them to seek the Lord while he was near unto them. They appeared very solemn, and said they wished to know more about God, that they might serve him the rest of their days. We hope and pray, that they may be truly con verted, and become our dear brother and sister N in the Lord.
"July 1. This day I have enjoyed much.
Was permitted once more to sit down at the table of the Lord, and commemorate his dying love. O how good is the Saviour in permit ting me to partake of his grace. May I im prove my great privileges in the manner I shall wish I had done, when I come to leave
the world.--P. M. Went to Mr. G's where Mr. Potter preaches once in two weeks. Most of the people present were whites, from the other side of the river. It was pleasant to hear a sermon preached without an interpreter.
"Sept. 2. Think I have had a good time to-day, in praying to my heavenly Father. I see nothing to trouble me, but my own wicked heart. It appears to me, that the more I wish to serve God, the more I sin. I seem never
to have done any thing good in the sight of

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God But the time is short, when I shall b

delivered from this body of sin, and enter th*.

kingdom of heaven.

" 3. The first Monday iu the month. No

doubt many Christians have been this day

praying for my poor nation, as well as for

other heathen nations of the earth. O why dd

I live so little concerned for my own soul,

and for the souls of others ? Why is it that T:

pray no more to God ? Is it because he is nofc

merciful ? Oh no. He is good, kind, merciful,

ahvays ready to answer the prayers of hisfjj

children. O for more love to my Saviour than

I now have.

;

" 4. I am now with my sister, with whom

I expect to spend a few days. I hope the Lord:

will make our communion sweet.

" Visited at Mr. ----'s, but had no oppor-'j

tunity of conversing with Mrs. ---- on relief!

gious subjects, as we intended to have done*

Mr. ---- said he had seen so many different

ways among professed Christians, that it was

hard to tell who was right. I felt too ignorant

to instruct such a well educated man; though,

I knew that there is but one way under heaven

whereby men can be saved, and that is, by

coming to him, who came to seek and to save

that which was lost.

"9. Returned yesterday from sister G's*

Found the mission family in good health. I

cannot express how much 1 love the mission*

aries with whom I live. I do not feel my pri-

CATHARINE BROWN.

71

vileges, until I am away from them, and min gle with worldly people. Then I long to gel back to be with Christians.
" I rejoice and bless my heavenly Father that he has kept mv dear brother John, and permitted me to meet him once more in the land of the living. I am sorry to see him so unwell, and fear he will not recover. But the Lord's will be done, and not mine. I know that he will do all things for the good of those who love him.
" Left home, in company with brother John and sister Susannah [his wife,! for the pur pose of visiting the sulphur springs in Blount county, Alabama.
"21. About noon we came to a spring, which is said to possess the same qualities with those we intended to visit, and we .con cluded to make it the place of our abode for a few days. We therefore pitched our tent a few yards from the water, and at night spread our blankets on the ground, and slept very well.
" 22. Feel very uneasy respecting my brother, he is so unwell. May the Lord be with us in this lonely place.
" 23. Brother John drinks the water, and bathes in it, but has yet received no benefit I do not feel .so well as I did before I came here, and almost wish to return immediately. Perhaps it is lying on the ground, that makes me feel sick. But if brother John had a com-

72

MEMOIR OF

fortable place to sleep, I should not care f( myself. The Lord knows whet is best for
" 24. We expect a boy with our horses day, and hope to reach home to-morrow. Sa1 Mr. J. R. to-day in a very low state of healtl Conversed with him a little on the subject religion. This I really felt was my duty, as thought it likely I should never have anothe: opportunity. He said, he was very wicked* and afraid to die. I told him we were wicked, but the Saviour, who was willing die for us, would pardon our sins, if we would; only give ourselves to him. He replied, th when he was in health, he did not do hi duty towards God, but if he recovered would try to do better. As he was not able; to converse much, I commended him to GocJ, and left him. God is able to make him hiji dear child, and to prepare him for heaven.
" Jan. 3, 1822. This was truly a sole and interesting day to me, one which wi never be forgotten. My dear father and mother were baptized in the name of the Holy Trini ty. How kind is our Creator, in his willing ness to take notice of us sinful worms of the dust, and allowing us to become acquainted with Jesus Christ. O may we walk close with God, and be enabled to set such an ex ample to others, that they may be led to glorify 1 our Father, who is in heaven.
" 14. Have not attended school since last vacation, having been at home taking care qf j

CATHARINE BROWN.

73

my sick brother. He has failed very fast the past week. I fear he will not live many days. The will of the Lord be done. -- -.r* t
"16. My dear brother is very low. Per haps he will soon depart from this sinful world, and fly to the arms of his blessed ReJcemer. Had some conversation with him in the evening. His mind seemed to be in a happy state. He asked me whether, after his decease, I thought we should stay here, or go to the Arkansas. I told him I hoped he would be restored to health. He said he thought that was very doubtful, and added, that he thought In-other Webber would come for us after his departure. My heart was full. I could make-
no reply. "18. Mr. Butrick and John Arch, who*
have been visiting us,for a few days past, left us this morning, with the intention of going through the nation, preaching Jesus Christ to those who are in darkness. This will proba bly take three months. May the Lord go with his dear servants on their long journey through the wilderness, and bless their labours to many immortal pouls. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude to God, for sending out missionaries to this distant land, that we, who were wanderers in the wild woods, might find the road to heaven. How kindly are they in viting us to come and partake of the rich feast, which has been provided for all who will ac ccpt it. Yet how few are willing to comply
G

74

MEMOIR OP

-|

with the invitation! Frequently do I weejjlj for my Cherokee brothers and sisters, whe$| I consider their awful situation while out o: Christ; and willingly would I ofier myself for, their assistance, were I qualified for a religioui teacher. I hope God will prepare me to dor; some good among the heathen. O that it may1 be my greatest desire to do the will of my heavenly Father. I am determined to pray for j my people, while God lends me breath; and] ftvhen I die, may my Saviour receive me to; :2ny heavenly home, to join with millions of saints in singing the praises of redeeming love through a never-ending eternity.
"20. Eternity seemp near. A few day*
more, and if I am indeed a child of God, I shall walk the golden streets of the New Je rusalem, O happy day, when I shall see all the Christians who have ever lived, and when God himself shall he my joy.
" 30. Brother John is senseless most of the time. I fear he is to remain but a little while in this world. But in that case he will soon go to his Father in Heaven. May we be sub-! missive, knowing that he, who sent us into ;j this world, has a right to call us hence when ever he sees best. Our great consolation is, that our dear brother will soon be freed from pain, and rest in the bosom of his dear Jesu
"31. Had the pleasure of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Potter at this place. I love them as my own brother and sister.

CATHARINE SHOWN.

T5

"Feb. 2. My dear brother very sick.. O thou blessed Jesus, take him not away ty this sickness. Restore him to health, that he-may live long, and be a great blessing to our nation* But O may I be submissive to thy holy will.
" Sabbath morning. Painful is it to record, that my dear brother John appears, this day, to be on the borders of eternity! Lord, come near to us at this time. Help us to give up our dear brother into thy hands.
" Evening. Brother John is no more! O distressing thought, he has gone to return no more ! But we shall soon go to him. I trust, indeed, we have much reason to believe he
has gone to Christ his Saviour. Through his sickness he seemed reconciled to the will*of God, and said he was not afraid to die. He said, that though his sufferings were great, they were nothing in comparison with Christ's sufferings. About a week before he died, he spoke to the family as follows :--It is now more than a year since we began to follow Christ, and what have we done for him ? Do we live like Christians ? I fear we do not. I do not hear you talk to the people about our Saviour when they come to visit you. We are professors of religion, and why is it that we do not show it to others ? You should always remember to keep the Sabbath holy. You are too much occupied in domestic concerns on the Sabbath, so that you cannot get time ^to converse about God.' He asked me if the mis

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MEMOIR OF

siomnie? did their cooking on the Sabbath. I toll! him their preparations were made before the Sabbath. He said, 'that is what we ought to do.' He frequently requested me to read and explain the Bible to him, which was my great delight."

Here ends her diary. And the reader witt doubtless wish that all had been saved, breath ing as it does so much unfeigned piety.
Of her brother John, the journal of the mis sion at Brainerd contains the following eulogium, penned on hearing of his death.
" Two years ago lie was in heathenish dark ness. About that time his brother and sister told him of the Bible, and some of the imporlant truths it contained ; and he soon felt an unconquerable desire to read it. He could then talk and understand familiar English. Soon after, a school was opc-ned in his neigh bourhood, and he applied himself, with the most unwearied diligence, to study. In the course of six months, he learned to read intel ligibly ; read the New Testament through once, and about half through again; wrote a number of legible letters to his friends; be came a hopeful convert to the Christian re ligion, and a member of the church of Christ, which he continued to adorn by an exemplary .ife, till his departure from these dark and af flictive scenes, to join, as we trust, the church of the first-born in heaven.'*

CATHARINE BROWN.

77

Not long after the decease of this brother, Catharine accompanied her father to Huntsville, in the state of Alabama.
Hero, either at that time, or later in the season, she spent two or three months in the family of Dr. Alexander A. Campbell, a pious and esteemed physician. Dr. Campbell had ' seen her at her father's house before she went to Brainerd, and was so favourably impressed by her personal appearance, that he subse quently procured for her a Bible and some other religious books, which were forwarded, but never received.
Nearly five years had elapsed since that in terview. Dr. Campbell's own words, ex tracted from a letter to the Rev. Mr. Pottqjf of Creek-Path, will best describe the impres sions which she now made upon him, and upon others in Huntsviile.
*' She was not now the wild, untutored girl,'* he says, " she was then. She was graceful! and polite, and humility and benevolencebeamed from her countenance. Some of my acquaintance were unwilling to believe shewas an Indian.
" At your request, I returned with her to her nation to see a diseased Indian 'child, and. though it was at the expense of neglecting im portant professional business, I was amply re paid, by the interesting conversation I had with her.
* 4 At first, indeed, she was backward to enc2

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MEMOIR OF

ter into free conversation. A diffident reserve was a prominent trait in her character. Bu,t when we became well acquainted, I found her perfectly agreeable and intelligent on any or dinary subject. But her favourite theme was the SAVIOUR. She dwelt much, also, on the situation of her people, and manifested the greatest solicitude for their spiritual interests, often expressing the hope, that I would come and live among them and teach them respect
ing the Lord Jesus. ** During the summer of this year, she spent
several months in my family. A part of that time she was suffering very severely from a bilious fever, which she bore with all possible f alienee and resignation, never showing that peevishness and fretfulness so common in per sons recovering from that disease. She al ways looked upon her afflictions .s resulting from the chastising haad of God, and designed
for her improvement. " She received very marked attentions from
the visitors at my house, and many of the principal families in the town sought an ac quaintance with her, appeared sensible of her worth, and esteemed her friendship highly. These attentions, so far from exciting her vanity, had the effect to humble her the more. Sk<s &ppeare<i ever to tbitik rwicU less highly of herself than others thought of her. I have often been astonished to see how the flattering addresses and high encomiums of people of

CATHARINE BROWN.

79

elevated standing in society, seemed to render her more distrustful of her own worth."
This, though evidently the warm language of friendship, is justified by the concurrent testimony of all the intimate friends of Catha
rine. In September, 1822, at the earnest request
of her parents, she left the family of Mr. Pot ter to reside with them. Being engaged, at that time, in some favourite studies, it was a great trial to leave the school. But so tender
was her regard for her aged parents, that she made not the least objection.
Near the close of the year 1822, the Rev. Reynolds Bascom, accompanied by several Indian youths from the Foreign Miss&n School at Cornwall, arrived at Creek-Path, on his way to Elliot, where he designed to spend a few months in missionary labour.
" Here," says Mr. Bascom, " I had an op portunity of seeing the precious fruits of mis sionary instruction and divine grace, in the intelligence, amiable manners, and Christian temper, of Catharine, and other members of the little church, which had been formed in the place, chiefly among her family connexions.
" The impression made on my mind by my first interview, which was at her father's house, was that of uncommon simplicity, mo desty, and meekness. We arrived after the family had dined, and she received us, and spread a table for our refreshment with the

80

MEMOIR OF

unaffected kindness of a sister. The graceful}ness of her figure, and the sweetness of net expression, have often been the subject of r mark ; and I was the more delighted with h humilit/, as I greatly feared I should discover"' an unhappy influence from the misjudged praise, which had been heaped upon her.. The fact was, she gave me evidence, by her habituai behaviour, of being a sanctified child
of God." It was soon after her removal to her pater
nal home, that the disease, the seeds of which had, probably for several years, been germi nating in her constitution, began to assume an aspect-which excited some alarm.
Jn consequence of this, she took a journey to Brainerd, in February, 1823, with a view to consulting Dr. Butler, a medical gentleman residing at that station. She hoped, also, to derive benefit from the journey. These hopes were disappointed. A cold, tempestuous storm arose soon after she left home, to the whole of which she was unavoidably exposed; and the slight cough, to which she had for some time been subject, was very much increased. She spent three weeks at Brainerd, and then returned to Creek-Path, intending to obtain permission from her parents to place herself again under the care of Dr. Butler. But hei increased illness rendered her unable to en counter the fatigues of another journey.

CATHARINE BROWN.

8*

TO HER BROTHER DAVID, AT CORNWALL.

My dear Brother,

Creek-Path, Aug. 12, J820.

YOUR dear lines I received this evening,

for which I lhank you. I hope they will not

be the last you will write me. O dear brother,

how much it would rejoice my heart to see

you this evening, and converse with you fade

to face ! But our good Lord has separated us,

perhaps never to see each other again in this

world. I often think of the morning you left

Brainerd. It was a solemn hour, and I trust it

was a sweet season to our souls. We wept

and prayed, and sung together, before our

dear Saviour; and longed for that blessed dsfy,

when we should meet, to part no more. What

is a short separation in this world ? Nothing

compared to an eternal separation! How

thankful we ought to be then, my dear brother,

that we have a hope to be saved through the

blessed Lamb of God. Yes, I trust when our

bodies shall die, our souls shall be raised

above the sky, where we shall dwell together,

in singing the praises of him who bought us

with his precious blood. I hope we shall meet

our parents, and brothers, and sisters there.

Since you left, the Lord has reached down

his arm, to take sinners from darkness into

the marvellous light of the gospel. Dear

brother, let us praise and rejoice contmu&Hy

in the Lord, for his goodness to our dear peo-

8*

MEMOIR OF

pie, in giving them hearts to love and praire| his holy name. Surely the Lord is with IH here. We feel his presence. Our dear fath< and mother are inquiring what they shall to be saved. Mother says she is grieved think her children are going to leave her ber.j hind. But she says she will pray as long as; she lives, and that the Saviour will pardottj
her sins, that she may go with her children!
to heaven. I hope you will write to our parents as oft
as you can. I 'jometimes think the Saviot has given them new hearts, especially <n fdear father. He appears quite changed.
Soon after you left Brainerd, I was called here to take charge of a school of females*! about two miles from home. I take great dc light in teaching. The number of girls ia| school is twenty-eight. They are very gO( children, and learn fast. Sister Anna is assie ing me in the school. She rejoices with us hear from you in this distant land.
O dear brother, I hope you will pray for ij me. Pray that I may do good to the immortal; souls of my pupils. Sometimes the work| appears too great for me, and I am almost discouraged. But I know he that hi called me to work in his vineyard, is to keep me.
I could tell you a great many good things^ if I had time. But I must stop, after asking your prayers for all your Creek-Path friends.

CATHARINE BROWN.

88

I hope when you return to your nation, you will find many Christians. Farewell, dear brother, may the Lord be with you, and pre pare you for great usefulness in the world. This is the prayer of your sister,
CATHARINE BROWN.

TO MR. AND MRS. HALL.

Creek-Path, Nov. 19, 1820. My dear Brother and Sister,

Tins is the first opportunity I have had

to answer the kind letter which you wrote some time since. I thank you for it, and hope

you will forgive me for not writing sooner. I , think of you every day, and long to see you once more in this world. I often think of the

happy hours we used to spend together, .while I was with you at Brainerd. But the happy hours are gone, I fear never to return. I hope,

if we may not meet in this world, we may in heaven, where we shall never be separated. O, my dear friends, do you not sometimes long to see that glorious day, when Christians

shall sing

he the

gathered from praises of our

all parts of the world dear Redeemer ? What

*"

a day it will be for Christians ! And shall we

be among the number? Sometimes I fear I

shall not be, my wicked heart is so prone to ., sin. But I know the blood of Christ is sufljcient to wash away ail my sins, and prepare me for his eternal glory. I will, therefore commit myself to God. It is all that I can dp

84

MEMOIR OF

O, how good it is to lie at the feet of Jesus and feel ourselves purified by his blood. Thi we have no reason to fear what the world ci do unto us.
My dear friends, I cannot tell you ho much I love you because you are willing i leave your native land, and your dear people, to come into this heathen part of the world, to instruct me and my people in the way of salva-'l lion. May the Lord reward you for this laboui$ of love. Probably you must have some trialsii to pass through, as other missionaries do; we ought to rejoice that we are accoun worthy to labour for God. Our days will sooit be past, and if we are the children of God j* we shall soon be at rest in the bosom of oui,i dear Saviour.
My father, mother, brothers, and sisters^ wish to be remembered affectionately to you. * Write often. I am always happy to hear from you. From your sister,
CATHARINE BROWN.

TO HER BROTHER DAVID, AT CORNWALL.
Crcek-Putti, Ftb. 21, 1821. My d^ar Brother,
I RECEIVED your kind letter some time since, and it gave me great satisfaction to heat from you. I should have -written to you before this time, but did not know how to send to Urainerd. I am truly happy to hear that you feel so well contented with your situation in

CATHARINE BROWN.

85

school, and that you are well pleased with
your instructor. Our dear parents are in good
health. They have removed from the place where they lived before, and are now living with brother John. I think they have truly passed from death unto life. They seem to be growing in grace and in the knowledge of him who has redeemed their souls from hell. In
deed you cannot imagine how different they seem from what they did when you left us. All they desire now, is to do the will of our dear Saviour. This work is the Lord's, and no doubt he will keep them and carry them safe through this sinful world, until he re ceives them to his heavenly kingdom. O, dear
brother, truly the Lord has heard our prayers for the souls of our parents. We have great reason to rejoice. May we not say,--not unto us, but to thy name be all the praise ? You have doubtless heard that brother John has joined the church. Dear brother David, my heart is full while I am writing. How shall I express my gratitude to God for bringing him to a knowledge of the Saviour? He says sometimes he feels happy in praying to Go$* and feels willing that he should do with him as seemcth good in his sight.
My brother David, when we look back and see what the Lord has done for our family in the course of a few years, O let us call upon our souls and all that is within us to praise our God for his great blessings to us.
H

86

MEMOIR OF

I sometimes long to see your face once; more in this world, to converse and pray with} you before our Saviour. I often think of theft happy hours which we spent when we wewfj at Brainerd, when we first tasted the sweet*!; ness of religion, and when we used to take)' each other's hand to walk and sing our fa,
vourite hymn,
" Come we that Jove the Lord."
We then knew the happiness of saints, and; felt that religion was not 'designed to mate \ our pleasures less.' But now our heavenly] Father lias separated us for a time in this world; I hope for his glory, and for the good, of perishing souls around us. We have much to do for our Saviour. As we hope we are children of the most high God, let us be good soldiers, and not be weary in well-doing, for in duo season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Father and mother send love to you, and to \ the scholars in Cornwall. I hope you will write to us soon, and let us know how you do, Adieu, dear brother, till we meet again.
CATHARINE BROWN.

TO THE SAME.

My dear Brother,

Creek-Path, 1821.

ALTHOUGH we may be separated many hundreds of miles, the God of the Universe, whom \vc -serve, will often give us the enjoy-

CATHARINE BROWN.

87

ment of himself, which you know is of far

greater value than all this world can afford. I

hope the time is not far distant when all the

heathen shall he brought to the knowledge of

the Redeemer. We have recently formed a

female society* in this^lace. Vhe members

pay fifty cents a year. I trust you will pray

that we may be blessed, and that we may

be instrumental in the great work of building

up the cause of the Redeemer. I can never be

sufficiently thankful to God for sending us

missionaries, to teach us the way we should

p"* We love them as our own brothers and

.su, ers. That you may enjoy the light of our

Saviour's countenance, while in this short

journey of life, and finally be received to the

mansions of eternal glory, is the prayer of

your sister,

CATHARINE BROWN.

TO MR. AND MRS. HALL.
Creek-Path, June 1,1822. My dear Brother an'l Sister,
SWEET and reviving is the thought, that we are not to continue long in this world, but hope soon to rest in the cit1* of our God. My dear brother and sister, be patient in all your trials and hardships, remembering that you are labouring for Go'd, and not for man alone. The Saviour will give you an unfading crown of glory in due season. I often think of the glorious day, when I shall meet you, and all
* The suc-iety of which mention was made at p. 65.

88

MEMOIR OF

good missionaries, in the kingdom of ot

Saviour. I shall then be always with the

dear friends, who have told me so much abot

heaven, and taught me to love and serve!

Christ. I hope you will not forget to pray*|

that I may possess morfe of the spirit of Christ^

The pupils in the school here generally^

make good improvement. The religious pros*$J

pects are encouraging. Meetings on the Sab-fj

bath, and weekly conferences, are well at-';

tended. The Church appears well. Last;

Sabbath I, for the first lime, met my parentr!

at the table of the Lord.

I have many things to tell you; but my |

health will not allow me to write much at one

time. The little I have written gives me pain.?

My health has been feeble for some weeks

past, but my complaints are not alarming. I

shall try to visit you next vacation, if life is

spared. Will my dear brother and sister write

soon to their affectionate

CATHARINE.

TO HER BROTHER DAVID.

My dear Brother,

Huntsville, Aug. 30,1822.

REMEMBER that your sister Catharine loves

you much, and prays for you every day. I

trust you will not return before you are pre

pared to preach the gospel. Let me know

your feelings in this respect when you write

again, and I shall know how to pray for yon.

I do not expect you to go through all the

CATHARINE BROWN. *

61

studies, that ministers generally do in New England, but wish you to be qualified to with stand the enemies of God, and teach the truths of Christianity. If your health does not permit you to study, and your hesitation of speech still continues, I should not think it was your duty to pursue your studies.
CATHARINE.

TO THE SAME AT ANDOVER.
Creek-Path, Jan. 18, 1823.
My dear Brother,
YOURS of Nov. 2, 1822, was received a few days since. I am much gratified to hear, that you are to continue in New.England another year. I hope you will be the better qualified for usefulness to our countrymen, when you return. I pray for you daily, that God may be with you and bless you in your undertaking.
It is now eleven months, since our dear brother John departed from this lower world, and entered the unseen regions of eternity, where I hope he is now walking in the streets of the new Jerusalem, filled with holy love. Oh boundless love, and matchless grace, of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! How happy shall we feel when we land on the shores of eternal felicity. There we shall meet our dear brother, and all who have gone he fore us, and shall reign in the paradise of God for ever and ever.
I often think of our relations in the Arkan
H2

90

MEMOIR OF

sas. I long to hear of their conversion.

us not neglect to pray for them daily;

ticularly for brother W. The Lord, I

will renew his heart, and make him abundan

ly useful to the cause of missions.

We rejoice to see brother A. once more

our dwellings. After a long journey from tl

Arkansas country, he arrived here, much:

fatigued, in the latter part of November. He

intends to spend a few months with us, and?

then return with sister Susan. I do not feel

very well about her going into the wilderness'H

and far from Christian society, where she will

perhaps have no religious instruction.

4

Her mother has removed thirty or forty. 1

miles from the missionary station [at Dwight/pj

But we commend her into the hands of the'

Almighty, who is able to keep her from evil,''

and from all the temptations of this delusive

world. I am glad to hear from our relations

in that country. Brother Walter was expect- i

ing to set out in a few days for the city of

Washington, and had thoughts of visiting

some of the northern states before he returned.

It is likely you may see him in New England.

He has placed brother Edmund in the mis

sionary school at Dwight, to continue three or

four yf.'.-irs. He has become very steady and

attentive to his books. I hope the Lord will

give him a new heart, and prepare him foi

usefulness.

Brother W. has given up trad'ng, and has

CATHARINE BROWN.

91

commenced farming. He has purchased land in the Osage country, at the Salt Springs. Whether he intends removing his family to that place, I know not. It is my prayer* that ho may be brought to bow to the sceptre of King Jesus, in whom is life everlasting. As for our going to the Arkansas it is not decided. Perhaps we shall know better when you re turn. You know mother is always very anxious to remove to tfrat country; but father is not. For my own part, I feel willing to do whatever is duty, and the will of our parents.
I feel willing to go, or stay. The Lord will direct all things right, and in him may we put all our trust.
We had the pleasure of seeing your school mates McKee and Israel Folsom. They called on us on their way to the Choctaw nation. They said there were many good people at the north. They had rather live arilong the Yankees, than any other people. I hope they will be very useful to their nation.
Mr. Potter has gone to Brainerd on some business, and 1 shall stay with Mrs. P. until he returns. We expect him home this week. I hope he will bring a large packet of letters from our Brainerd friends. Mrs. P. is engaged in teaching school while her husband is absent. Several of the scholars are very attentive, and make good progress in their studies. Sarah* is in the first class. She is a good girl to learn, and is much beloved by her teacher

02

MEMOIR OF

She has begun to read the Bible in course and has read partly through the Memoirs Miss Caroline Smelt. When I wrote to you? last, I was in a declining state of health, for that reason I left my studies to have more| exercise. The Lord has been pleased to rei,>. store me to my usual health, and I now feetj pretty well.
I spent two months in Huntsville, last spring, in the family of Dr. Campbell. I bO", came acquainted with several pious families in Huntsville, who, I believe, feel interested in the cause of missions. The pious ladies made up clothing for the children in CreekPath. We hope this is only the beginning of a missionary spirit in that place
I am glad to tell you, that our female societ is growing in its numbers. We have collects
nearly double the sum this year that we did last. The society has concluded to send our *] money for this year to the Arkansas mission**/
I am glad the people are so willing to assist < in advancing the Redeemer's kingdom in our heathen land. May the glorious period soon arrive, whim all the nations of the earth shall be brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. Oh, dear brother, though we are widely separated in person, yet we are nea^ in spirit, and can unite our prayers for the ap proach of this happy day.
O let us do with our might what our hands find to do. I am now in my little study. I

CATHARINE BROWN.

93

have spent in this room many happy hours m prayer to my Heavenly Father. But Oh, how cole and stupid my heart is! How little I feel for the salvation of souls !

O for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame; And light to shine upon the road, That leads me to the Lamb.

Please to write soon, and tell me every tiling respecting your present situation.
CATHARINE BROWN.

94

MEMOIR OF

CHAPTER V.
FF.R SICKNESS AND DEATH-
Brief agitations of her mind.--Her love fin , her people.-- Is visited by Dr. Campbell.-- Letter to Mrs. Campbell.--Alarming symp toms in her disease.--Her resignation ana consolations.--Dr. Campbell advises her removal to Limestone.-- State of her mind at this time.-- Strong manifestations of affection for her at Creek-Path,--Account of her removal. --Temporary improvement in her health.--Dictates a letter to her brother David.--Hopes of her recovery re linquished.-- Thisfact stated to herfather and herself.--Her last hours, death, and burial.--Monument.
AFTER Catharine returned from Brainerd, she seems generally to have considered her removal from the world as not very distant, and, to have spent much time in reflecting on death and its consequences. These subjects she not unfrequcntly made the topics of conversaiion. An instance of this kind is describ ed by Mrs. Potter.
" Entering her room one evening, at early hour, I found she had retired with un usual debility. Sh requested me to read from

CATHARINE BROWN.

95

some medical author, the symptoms of con sumption I complied ; and, after comparing them with her own, she expressed a belief, that she had that disease. I inquired what were her feelings in view of this conclusion. She replied with tears, * I am not prepared to die.' You have a hope, I said, of happiness beyond the grave ? * Yes, I have n hope yest.'ng on the promises of the Saviour; but I have been unfaithful!'
44 We were both too much affected to say .norc, and remained for some time silent. At length Catharine sweetly raised her voice, and said, 4 Sister Potter, how beautiful is this hymn ;' and then she repeated--

4 Why should we start and fear to die! What timorous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate of endless joy, And yet we dread to enter there.

The pains, and groans, and dying strife, Fright our approaching souls away.
Still we shrink back again to life, Fond of our prison and our clay.

'Oh, if my Lord would come and meet, My soul should stretch her wings in hasi.i ;
Fly fearless through death's iron gate, iS'or feel the terrors as she passed.

Jesua can make a dying bed, Feel )ft as downy pillows are,
While on hi* breast I lean my head, And breathe my life out sweetly there.'
" I inquired if she could adopt this as the language of her heart, and she answered with great meekness, that she hoped she could."

96

MEMOIR OF

It does not appear that, after this, her was again seriously disturbed by appri sions respecting her own future well-being."
But when she saw her aged parents in infirm state of health, and needing all the tentions of an affectionate daughter, and w she reflected how many of her dear peopl remained ignorant of the only Saviour of si ncrs, she clung to life, and her earnest prayi was that she might recover. We are informei that her trials from these sources were at oni time very severe.
She said to a beloved friend, " I know th it is my duty to submit entirely to the will o; God. He can carry on his work without me. He can take care of my parents. Yet I am anxious to recover. I wish to labour more for my people."
How strong her desires were for the im provement of her people, is further eviden from this fact, that though David was the only surviving brother who had the same mother with herself, and though he was dearer to her than any one else, except her parents, she was for some time unwilling he should be inform ed of her sickness, lest he should be induced^ to leave his s'udies, and come home to see her. Much as she loved h]m, she said she had rather lie would remain in New England, until he was prepared to prcuch the gosofil tr his countrymen.
In April she \tfas visited by that kind friend

.'*

CATHARINE BROWN.

97

of herself and family, Dr. Campbell. JHe strongly advised, that she should remove to his house, thinking it probable that he might then relieve her. Her friends all consented, only desiring her to remain at home a few days, till the departure of her brother Webber, who had come from the Arkansas. But his stay was unexpectedly prolonged a month. During this time Catharine failed so rapidly,
that she was unable to ride to Limestone, where Dr. Campbell then resided.
On this occasion, Catharine thus wrote to Mrs. Campbell.

Creek-Path, April 17,1823.
My dear Mrs. Campbell,
MY heart was made truly glad this morning, by the arrival of Dr. Campbell. I have long been very anxious to see him, on account of the low state of my health. For two months past, it has Keen declining, and I am now re duced to extreme debility. This affliction I view as coming from my heavenly Father. I deserve correction, and hope to bear the chas tising rod with humble submission.
I have a wish to recover, that I may be useful to my poor countrymen, but know that all human means will be ineffectual without ihu blessing of God. I pray that Dr. Campbell may bo the instrument in his hands of restoring me'to health. If the weather were pleasant, I
should be disposed to return with him.

98

MEMOIR OF

1' thank you for your present, and wish IJ

had something valuable to send in return. Dr. 1

rj

* !

Campbell will hand you a little riband. When

you wear it remember Catharine.

Mrs. P. sends love, and hopes to receive a

visit from you ere long. Much love to your

family.

Farewell, my friend, my sister. May hea

ven grant you its choicest blessings, and re

ward you an hundred fold for all your kind

ness to me. Again I say, farewell. May we

meet in heaven. Yours affectionately,

CATHARINE BROWN.

As she approached nearer to eternity, her faith evidently grew stronger, and she became more and more able cheerfully to resign not only herself, but her parents, her friends, her people, her all, to the disposal of her Lord.
May 15th, she was reduced very low by a hemorrhage from the lungs, and for a few days was viewed as upon the borders of the grave.
Before this alarming symptom, it had been proposed to send again for Dr. Campbell. But her parents were persuaded first to try the skill of some Indian practitioners. Their pre- < scriptions were followed until the hemorrhage occurred. Then her alarmed, parents sent im mediately for Mr. Potter, hoping he could do something to relieve their darling child. Provi dentially the Rev. Reynolds Bascom, of whom mention has been already made, had just ar

.:*

CATHARINE BROWN.

09

rived from the Choctaw nation, on his way to the northern states ; and having been afflicted in a similar manner himself, he was able to administer effectual remedies.
It is gratifying to be able to insert hare the notices, which Mr. Bascom made at the time, respecting his interview with her in this hour of trial.
"May 15. Soon after our arrival at Mr Potter's, a message came that Catharine Brown had been taken with bleeding at the lungs, and Mr. Potter was requested to visit her. We acordingly rode over to her father's house, and found her entirely prostrated by a copious hemorrhage. After bleeding her in the arm, she experienced a sensible relief.
" 16. Visited Catharine, with Mr. Potter, and found it necessary to bleed her again. Conversed and prayed with her, and left her in a peaceful frame of mind.
"19. Left Creek-Path for Brainerd. Mr. Potter rode with u > Mr. Brown's. Catha rine appeared sweetly composed. Her coun tenance was cheerful, and her soul filled with tenderness and filial trust in God. After con versation and prayer, I asked her what she would have me say to her brother David.
44 She replied, * Tell him not to be uneasy about me. If I do not meet him in this world, I hope to meet him in heaven. I have a great desire to see him, but the Lord may not per
mit us to meet here.'

iOO

MEMOIR OF

" These words were spoken in a low, but audible whisper, and with the significant em*1
phasis of a heart filled with fojth and love. * I Lave rarely, if ever, seen a more lovely
object for the pencil, than she appeared to me on her dying bed. The natural mildness of her features seemed lighted witli a beam of heavenly hope, and her whole aspect was that, of a mature Christian, waiting with filial pa tience the welcome summons to the presence
of her Lord." Mrs. Potter says of her,--" Death was now
disarmed of his terrors. She could look into the grave without alarm. She confessed her sins with great meekness, and mourned that she had not been more faithful in the service of God ; yet rejoiced to resign her soul into the hands of her Redeemer. Once, when I visited her, she affectionately took my hand and said,--* My dear sister, I have been wish ing to see you, for several days. I have thought a great deal of you and Mr. P. I love you much, but am going to leave you. I think I shall not live long. You have done much foi me. I thank you, and hope the Lord will re ward you. I am willing to die, if it be the will of God. I know that I have experiencec his love. I have no desire to live in thif world, but to do good. But God can carry 01 his work without me. I hope you will continue the meetings of females. You must not to discouraged. I thought when I should get t

CATHARINE BROWN. . 101
the Arkansas, 1 would form a society among the females, like ours. But I shall never live to get there. I feel for my dear parents, but the Lord will take care of them.'
"At another interview she-said,--'I feel perfectly resigned to the will of God. I know he will do right with his children. I thank God that I am entirely in his hands. I Jge}. willing to live, or die, as he thinks best. My only wish is, that he may be glorified. I hope, should I ever recover, I shall be more faithful in the cause of Christ, than I have ever been.' "
A request was sent to Dr. Campbell to visit her as soon as possible. But he was unable to 6ome till the 21st, by which time Catharine was so much enfeebled, as to be entirely con fined to her room. She could not even raise herself without assistance.
The physician gave it as his opinion, that she could live but a few days, unless she was removed to Limestone, it being impossible for him to attend on her at so great a distance. Whether such a removal was practicable, was at first doubted. But a kind Providence fur nished unexpectedly such facilities for the measure, that it was determined on.
Before entering on an account of her re moval, some further notices of the state of her mind will be given.
Just before her leaving home, she requested a friend to write thus, on her behalf, to her brother David.

,02

MEMOIR OF

" I nm entirely resigned to the will of GocM and hope you will feel the same resignatioml I am perfectly willing to die, or to live, as thtf-f Lord shall direct. This world is nothing bull sin. I have no wish to live in it but to do good. If it be the Lord's will to take me now] I am willing to go."
Dr. Campbell says:--"Religious confi^j donee and tranquillity were at this time hef sweet companions. How happy she seemed/! in my view, so near the confines of the nal world, about to relinquish all earthly cares^ J and sorrows ior the enjoyment, of her deari* Redeemer's presence.
ii On the 23d, she seemed to have the most cheering evidence of her interest in the Jesus. Thus she exclaimed,--' Now I ready to die. Oh, how delightful is the view* of my Saviour ! How happy shall I be, when I arrive at my* Father's house.'
44 On huinp asked, what would be her feel ings, if it was the will of God she should live, she replied; * The Lord's will be done and not mine. If I can promote his cause in any way, I am desirous to live. But if I am taken av/ay, I hope my brother David will be use ful, in bringing our benighted nation to a knowledge of Jesus.'
" Her soul appeared full, and more than full, of love to God. She spoke much of his goodness to her, and expressed much regretf that she had done so little in his cause. Thfc

CATHARINE BROWN.

103

day preceding this, she had expressed a wish to go to Huntsville, and unite with Mrs. L. ami C. in forming an association for prayer and in endeavouring to do something for the cause of Christ."
Catharine was now unable to endure the motion of a carriage, even for a short distance. It was necessary, therefore, in proceeding to Limestone, to carry her on a litter to the Ten nessee river, which was six miles distant; then to take her in a boat down the river, forty miles, to a village named Trianna; and from thence, on a litter again, about five miles to Dr. Campbell's. But, in order to the suc cessful prosecution of this enterprise, the aid of some person, through the whole distance, who was acquainted with the English lan guage, was indispensable. And it should be noted, that just when the question of removal was agitated, Mr. William Leech, a pious ac quaintance from Huntsville, providentially ar rived at Creek-Path, and very kindly tendered his services.
Monday, the 2Gth of May, was the time appointed for commencing the journey. Her people then manifested strong proofs of affec tion and respect.
" Numbers," says Mrs. Potter, "assembled to take, as they feared, and as it proved, a last look of their beloved friend. After a prayer, in which she was commended to the divine Protection, the canoe was announced to be in

fc'i-t

104

MEMOIR OF *^

readiness, and we followed the litter, bo by her affectionate people, to the river. * O and young were bathed in tears, and were obliged to use1 their influence to prevent-'! a general and loud lamention. Catharine alone | was calm, while she bade farewell to those1
she tenderly loved." Mr. Leech says, that small groups of hef1
acquaintance were frequently seen on the| road, waiting her approach. When she arrived -I where they were, they would hasten to the side of the litter, take her by the hand, and often walk away without speaking a word, the tears all the while rolling down their cheeks.
From Mr. Leech's narrative of the voyage and journey, several extracts will be given. *
" About 4 o'clock P. M. on the 26th, we Oogan to glide quite pleasantly down the stream, accompanied by several of Catharine's relatives. Our design was to stop as soon as t became dark, until the moon arose. But we could discover no suitable place for landing, till daylight was gone, and then the'difficulty was increased. The margin of the river was generally covered with brush-wood. In some places, the shore was a deep mire; at others, I here were bluffs and rocks This made land ing difficult and dangerous in the dark; a*nd along this part of the river were scarcely any settlements. .
" At length the danger of running was such, as to determine us to get upon the land in

CATHARINE BROWN.

105

some way. We accordingly steered towards the shore, and providentially discovered a good
landing-place, near which was also a house, where our party was kindly entertained, and our various wants supplied. Had we passed
this place, we should not have found such another, for twenty miles.

i " When the moon was sufficiently risen* we again started. The night was beautiful, and the rocks and mountains, towering up from the river's brink, looked grand by the moonlight as we passed along. The next day

IOP

MEMOIR OP

the heat of the sun was excessive, arid
did not reach Trianna till one o'clock in tl
afternoon. " Here we were all strangers. I had, howi
ever, a letter from Dr. Campbell to a young^ gentleman, which I delivered. He obtained carriage, but Catharine was too weak to rid in.it. How to procure people enough, in thisjj land of strangers, to carry her on a litter to Dr. C.'s, a distance of five miles, I knew not. But our situation becoming known, men were soon at hand to carry her, free of all expense.
* And here I would observe, that every person, who saw her, was, so far as I could'^ discover, much interested in her behalf.
" When we were ready to start, our yotm{ friend, to whom I brought the letter, plac the mother and sister of Catharine in the riage, and went himself with them. Thus wa : were assisted on our way, the Lord putting it into the hearts of strangers to afford us every. facility in their power, and we arrived at Dr Campbell's, a little before dark, on the 27th.w
Here, not less than at her father's house, she found friends, who were ready to make' any sacrifice for her comfort, and with whom. she could freely converse on the subject which lay nearest her heart. Under the skilful care of Dr. Campbell, she soon began to amend, and hopes were entertained, that she would, even partially recover.
Early in June, her dear friend, Mrs. Potter,

&.

CATHARINE BROWN.

107

came from Creek-Path to see her. This lady, in a letter to the corresponding secretary of the board, remarks as follows:
" She then seemed to think she might re cover ; but manifested no wish to live, unless it should be for the glory of God. She said, 1 When I enjoy the presence of the Saviour, I long to be gone.'
" While at Dr. CampbelFs I wrote a letter to her brother David, informing him of her illness. When about to close the letter, I went to her bed-side, and said, * Catharine, what shall I say .to your brother for you ?'
"After a short p-iuse, she replied, 'If you will write, I will dictate a short letter.' " " Then raising herself in the bed, and wip ing a tear, that was falling from her eye, she, with a sweet smile, began to relate what God had done for her soul while upon that sick bed.
" To my partial eye, she was, at that mo ment, an interesting spectacle, and I have often wished, that her portrait could then have been taken. Her countenance was softened with the affectionate remembrance of an en deared brother, her cheek was a little flashed with the exertion of speaking, hex* eye beamed with spiritual joy, and a heavenly smile ani mated the whole scene. I shall never forget it, nor the words she then whispered in my ear."
The reader, will naturally desire to see the letter, whicn was dictated and penned under circumstances so interesting. It was written

;08

MEMOIR OF

in exact accordance with her dictation, Was as follows :

Limestone, June 13,1823.
My dear Brother.
Mrs. Potter has told you the particulars ofJ my illness. I will only tell you what I have' experienced on my sick-bed.
I have found that it is good for me to be? afflicted. The Saviour is very precious to me.^ I often enjoy his presence, and I long to where I can enjoy it without sin. I have ia-| deed been brought very low, and did not ea&M pect to live until this time. But I have joy, such as I never experienced before, fonged to be gone; was ready to die at any| moment.
I love you very much, and it would be great happiness to me to see you again in thji world. Yet I don't know that I shall. God only knows. We mu-st submit to his will.1 We know, that if we never meet again in world, the Lord has prepared a place in his heavenly kingdom, where I trust we shall; meet, never to part. We ought to be thank- j ful for what he has done for us. If he had not sent us the gospel, we should have died without any knowledge of the Saviour.
You must not be grieved when you hear of my illness. You must remember that this world is not our home, that we must alii
soon.

CATHARINE BROWN.

1C0

I am here under the care of Dr. Campbell, and His very kind family. My mother, and sister Susan are with me. Since I came here, I have been a great deal better, and the doctor sometimes gives encouragement of my getting well. But we cannot tell. I am willing to sub mit myself to the will of God. I am willing to die, or live, as he sees best.
I know I am his. He has bought me with his blood, and I do not wish to have any will liut his. He is good, and can do nothing wrong. I trust if he spares my life, he will enable me to be faithful in his cause. I have no desire to live in this world, but to be en gaged in his service.
It was my intention to instruct the people more than I had done, when I returned from Brainerd; but when I got home, I was not
able to do it.. It was a great trial to me not to b~ able to
visit our neighbours, and instruct them. But I feel that it is all right. It is my prayer that you may be useful, and I hope the Lord will make you useful lo our poor people.
From your affectionate sister* CATHARINE.

How much soever her hopes and those of
licr friends were raised at this period, with respect to her recovery, they were of brief duration. Though every attention, which an unwearied kindness could bestow, was given
K

no

MEMOIR OP

her, and prayer was offered continually or^ net behalf, her Lord and Master was pleased hasten her departure. She had entered the~ last six weeks of her life, and thenceforward her descent towards the grave was regular and unremitted.
Dr. Campbell now thought it his duty to inform her parents and herself, that his hopes, even of her partial recovery, were gone.
Upon communicating this intelligence to her father, who a little before had gone to Limestone, the good old man, after a solemn silence of several minutes, observed, *' The Lord has been gocd to give me such a child, and he has a right to take her when he thinks; best. But though it is my duty to give her up, it is hard to part with her."
Catharine received the notice without mani*? Testing any alarm. She only requested the. doctor to inform her, how long she might probably live.
On the morning of July 17th, she was sup-* posed to have commenced her last agonies,? and Dr. Campbell was immediately called to her bed-side.
He found some appearance of anxiety ov her countenance, the result of new sensations of bodily distress, not ,of any agitation of mind. As soon as siie could speak, (for she was sometimes speechless,) extending her hand to her medical friend, she calmly ob served, * I am gone.'

CATHAKINE BROWN.

Some hours after this, when her distress

returned, and her respiration had become very

difficult and painful, she said, in reference to

her sufferings, What shall I d^ ?' She was

asked, whether in this trying'hour, she could

not confidently rely on her Saviour ? She an

swered, * Yes.*

Through the day her mind was tranquil,

and though several times, when her mother '

and friends were veeping about her, the tears

started into her eyes, she would quickly sup

press them. She seemed to spend most of the

time in prayer.

^

The night was distressing, owing to her'

difficulty of breathing. In the morning she

looked toward the window, and asked if it

was not day. She was told that it was. Then,

turning her eyes towards heaven, an inde

scribable placidness spread over her coun

tenance.

She expired so gently, that even those

around the bed scarcely knew that the last

breath had left her, until the physician- in

formed them she was gone.

This lovely convert from heathenism died

a little past 6 o'clock, on the morning of July

18th,

Her afflicted relatives conveyed her remains to Creek-Path, where, on the 20th, they were
deposited near the residence of her parents, and by the side of her brother John, who had

. 12

MEMOIR OF

died about a year and a half before, in thft]

triumphs of the same faith.

r\

" Her ngc was about twenty-three. Six yeai

had elapsed from her first entering the schocflf

at Braincrd. She was then unacquainted 5ft

the religion of the Bible. I>ut she became en*1

lightened and sanctified through the instru-il

mentality of the gospel of Jesus, preached to

her by the missionaries of the cross: and her

end was glorious.

A neat monument of wood, erected by her

bereaved relatives, covers the grave where she.

was laid. And though, a few years hence,

this monument may no longer exist to mark

the spot where she 'slumbers, yet shall her

dust be precious in the eyes of the Lord, and

her virtues shall be told for a memorial of h$r.

CATHARINE BROWN.

113

CHAPTER VI.
HER CHARACTER.
Remarks upon her character.--Tht excellen cies in her character a result of missionary labour.--How much can be made of the Indian character.-- Grounds of encouragement.--Importance of present efforts.-- Civilization never precedes Christianity-- The life of Catharine an appeal to,;i community.
THE mind of Catharine was of a delicate texture, well proportioned, and happily ba lanced. It perceived clearly, and usually judged correctly. In the acquisition of knowledge,'it operated with ease, and it had more than com mon facility in imparting its knowledge to others.
It is obvious to remark, also, her delicate sensibility, her exact views of propriety, her high principles of action, her gentleness and sweetness of manner. With her advantages of person and her excellencies of mind, she need ed only greater opportunities to have attained a high degree of reiinement and grace.
But until she came to the age at which the females of our nation have nearly or quite completed their education, she derived no benefit whatever from the use of books, and
K2

.14

MEMOIR OF

enjoyed very little intercourse with civiliz people. Her mind, like the wilderness in whi she had her home, was uncultivated : jand B lived but six years after her admission to tl school at Brainerd.
" The most conspicuous trait in her c! racter," Mrs. Potter says, "was humilit^ Though elevated far above most of her sex around her, her conduct towards them waa such as to gain their entire confidence and esteem ; nor was it ever said--* Catharin'e it
proud' " I never could discover that her vanity
was excited by the numerous attentions, which she received from difi'erent parts of our coun try. She received them as paid her for Christ's sake. When presents came, her language was, 4 These do not belong to me. I do not deserve them. Many Clnistians have heard that I love the Saviour, ana send me presents on this account. But oh, 1 feel ashamed that I live so far from him.'
" She received many letters, some of which were highly complimentary; but so far from fostering pride, they always seemed to in crease her humility. Once having received a letter full of expressions of the strongest ad miration of her character, sjje was gently cautioned against being lifted up with vanity. The tears started into her.eyes, and she re plied, ' that she believed people had formed too high an opinion of her, and that if they

CATHAmNE BROWN.

, 115

knew her personally, their esteem would be diminished.'
" She was much distressed, that so many of her letters had been published, and for a season it was with difficulty that we could persuade her to write to her correspondents. * I suppose,' she said, * the object at first was, to show that an Indian could improve. But two or three letters would have answered this purpose, as well as all I have ever written.' "*
Another says, " I have often seen her in company at Huntsville, and although she was very much caressed, and her society sought by the most respectable people, yet she al ways appeared humble. There was nothing about her that was vain, or assuming. This was not the effect of insensibility to those acts of kindness. She would sometimes say to her particular friends, * I wish I was more worthy of such friendly attentions.' "
Great forbearance was a consequence of this humility of spirit. Says Mrs. P. " I once heard a person rail at her with much ill nature, because she had not performed a small task which lie requested might be done, but whj " oihur engagements forbad at the time, heard with entire composure without saying a word, and tten, although under no obliga-
* Her letters were published by different friends to whom they were addressed, to gratify the laudable curioea. ty of the community. It is proper to remark, however, that not more than two or three were ever inserted in the pub Vcations of the American Board.

116

MEMOIR OP

lion to do the work, she quietly took
and performed it." Another and most interesting trait in
character, will be describe^ in the langw of her friend and benefactor, Dr. Campbelh*
" The Saviour seemed to be continually anchor of her hope, the source of her const and greatest happiness, and the object of hi most ardent love. With her friends, she wi at all times communicative and interesting!j but when He became the theme of conversation, the faculties of her soul appeared to re-! ceive new vigor, and she became doubly inter-< esting. Every expression showed, that she' was charmed with the goodness of God, in making such provision for fallen, lost man,' Although on other subjects she was not gener ally very animated, her whole soul seemed to \ feel thfe importance of this, which produced I an earnestness of expression and manner, that constrained those around her to feel its im portance too."
Her habits of devotion were remarkable, and show how much she delighted in communion with her Saviour. Mrs. Potter says-- 3? " The Bible was her constant companion. The law of God was her delight and medita tion all the day. And I think I may safely say, that no morning or evening passed, dur ing her residence with us, (which was con siderably more than a year,) when she did not retire to hold communion with her God.

CATHARINE BROWN.

117

At these seasons of devotion, I was not unfrpquently permitted to be by her side, and listen to the fervent breathings of her soul. In strains of deepest humility, she confessed her sins, acknowledged her obligations to her heavenly Father, and with great fervency prayed for complete conformity to the divine will. Her dear people were never forgotten, and her petitions were extended from them to
all mankind.

" In the waA season of the year, the ad jacent woods was the place of her retirement, and there are several spots around our humble mansion, on which I never tread but as upon

18

MEMOIR OF

ground consecrated by the prayers of
lovely saint. " She not unfrequently spent whole days
fasting and prayer. One iine summer's day; she had been absent nearly all the forenoon in the woods, and knowing that some intoxicated Indians had passed, I felt anxious for her safely, and sent some of the children in search of her. She returned, expressing much con cern that she had caused me so much anxiety, and added, that she was sorry she had not told me of her intention to pass that day in the mountain, which was but a short distance from the house. I then discovered to what employments she had devoted the day, and regretted that I had disturbed her."
Nor was she unmindful of the duties she owed her people. She seems ever to have watched for opportunities to do them good. Indeed their conversion to God was a favour ite object through every vicissitude of health and circumstances, down to the end of life

" Patient she strives,

By prayer, and by instruction, to arouse

Reflection in the hearts of those she styles

:, Her wretched people. Modest, tender, kind,

Her words and actions; every vain desire

Is laid obedient at the feet of Christ.

And now no more the gaiety she seeks

t

Of proud apparel: ornaments oljgold

She gladly barters for the plain attire

Of meek and lowly spirits. *

* Traits of the Aborigines of America, pp. 161,162.

CATHARINE BROWN.

no

** Through iaith in the Lord Jesus," says
the .first spiritual guide she ever had, the Rev.
Mrs, Kmgsbuiy, "she was enabled to bring forth the iruits of righteousness, and has left
a bright example of the power of divine grace over one who was born in the darkness of
heathenism, and is now rejoicing with he Saviour."

SUCH was Catharine Brown, the converted Cherokee. Such, too, were the changef wrought in her, through the blessing of Al
mighty God on the labours of missionaries. They, and only they, as the instruments of divine grace, had the formation of her Chris tian character; and that character, excellent and lovely as it was, resulted from the nature of their instructions. Her expansion of mind, her enlargement of views, her elevated affec tions, her untiring benevolence, are all to be traced, under God, to her intercourse with them. The glory belongs to God; but the in strumental agency, the subordinate success,
were theirs.
In her history, we see how much can be made of the Indian character. Catharine was ap Indian. Her parentage, her early circum
stances and education, with a few unimportant exceptions, were like those of the Cherokees generally. She dwelt in the same wilderness, was conversant with the same society, was
actuated by the same fears, and hopes, and

120

MEMOIR Of

expectations, and naturally possessed the 8; traits of character. Yet what did she becomeH How agreenMe as an associate, how exempla ry as a member of the domestic and social circle, and of the Christian church, how blame less and lovely in all the walks of life! Her Christian character was esteemed by all who knew her, while she lived, and will bear the strictest scrutiny, now she is dead. To such an excellence may the Indian character attain; for, to such an excellence did it actually attain in her. And why may it not ? Are there no other Indian minds as susceptible of disci pline and culture ? no other spirits, that, in the plastic hands of the Divine Agent, can receive as beautiful a conformation ? Are there not dispositions as gentle, hearts as full of feeling, minds as lively and strong ? And cannot such minds be so fashioned and adorned, that hea venly grace shall beam as charmingly from them, as it did from hers ?
The supposition, that she possessed mental end moral capabilities, which are rare among
her people, while it adds nothing to our re spect for her, does injustice to her nation. In personal attraction, and in universal propriety ef manner, she was, undoubtedly, much dis tinguished. But, in amiable-ness of disposfr tion, in quickness of apprehension, in intel lectual vigour, it is believed there are hun dreds of Cherokee youth, who are scarcely less favoured.

-

CATHARINE fcROWN.

121

Inhere have been other converts from among her people, both among the old and the young, in whom similar transformations have been wrought. Her brother John, her aged and venerable parents, and others still, might be named. More than fifty Cherokees were addod to the church, the first year after the de cease of Catharine, the great proportion of whom adorn their profession in a manner re sembling what we admire in her.
It is hardly possible, indeed, that any of these converts should become so well known lo our community, as she was. Circumstances have changed. The novelty of Indian missions is (rone. The multiplication of converts di minishes our curiosity respecting individuals. Hut excellence and worth of character are none the less real for being unnoticed and unknown.

The life of Catharine Brown should operate1 as an appeal to the benevolence of the Chris;i;in community. Though dead, she speaks : :iid let her voice fall with persuasive, irre sistible eloquence upon every ear.
!Sh:ill her people, of whom, by the purifying :iii(! ennobling influences of the gosJ' sc in::. J can be made, be abandoned to r;i;i<v and wo ? Shall beings, who are capable of k no win f God, of understanding the grand economy of his grace, of enjoying the im perishable blessings of his salvation, be shut
LJ

122

MEMOIR OF

out eternally from such wisdom, and debai for ever from such enjoyment ? Are they no! susceptible of whatever is useful, and beau tiful, and even sublime, in character ? Can they not appreciate, and will they not use, the means of Christian civilization, if placed with in their reach ?
And may we not expect an abundant re ward ? Nay, have we not already been amply rewarded ? To say nothing of the impulse given to the intellect, the industry, and the enterprise of the nation, to which the subject of this memoir belonged; or of their accelerated progress in legislation and government , or of the melioration in the habits and manners of their dome.* ac and social life; or of the rudi ments of learning imparted to a multitude of children and youth; or of the amount of sacred truth, the only means of conversion and sane tification, instilled into their minds ; or of an inheritance in the heavens secured to many souls :--to say nothing of all this, were not the holy life and triumphant death of Catharine Brown, an ample remuneration for all the la bours and expenditures of the mission to her tribe ?
Say, ye missionaries of the cross, should ye repent of your self-denying toils, if this had proved your only reward ? Say, ye churches of the Redeemer, would ye recall her sainted spirit from the skies, if what ye have expend ' ed for her nation could be refunded ? A thbii

CATHARINE BROWN.

123

sand worlds would not be worth what you have, through the grace of God, secured to her, as is humbly believed, in the regions o* the blessed. And when ye, also, stand on the heights of the Zion above, and behold hei ransomed spirit " filled with all the fulness of Gojfc" and exulting amid the hosts of heaven, will ye have any regrets for the sacrifices it
cost you to send the gospel to her people ? Let the grasp of avarice be loosed ;*let be
nevolence reign; and let the messengers of salvation speedily be sent to every nation and tribe in the great western wilds.
" The wilderness and the solitary place
shall be glad for them, and the desert shah
rejoice and blossom as the rose."

APPENDIX.
MR. JOHN BROWN, THE FATHER OF CATHARINE.
THE Memoir of Catharine furnishes various notices of this venerable Indian.
After the decease of his affectionate and be loved daughter, Mr. Brown removed, with his family, to the Arkansas Terr.itory, and settled not far from the missionary station at Dwight. He had not been long in that country, before he became seriously ill with the ague and fever, and remained so for many weeks ; but through his long and painful sickness he mani fested a truly Christian temper. * My heaven ly Father," he said, " knows best wffat I need, and will make every thing work for my good. I would not change his holy will re specting me, if I could.'* During the paroxisms of fever, he was considerably delirious. Though his remarks at such times were wild and incoherent, they indicated a resigned and sanctified temper. He frequently repeated in English the words, My heavenly Father, rriy Saviour, Jesus, Heaven. When favoured
124

APFEMtir

m

with ftn interval of recollection, he said, " I

\vish to think of my Saviour and heaven, but

my disordered brain forbids." This sickness

was in the autumn of 1824.

The next spring we hear of his taking

measures to expose the impositions of an In^

dian prophet, who pretended to have inter

course with invisible beings, and to be able to

foretcl future events, and had agitated the

Cherokees with alarm. The impostor shrunk

away from the sagacity of the venerable cabman.

Mr. Brown adorned his professioncRhe

last, by a bright example of piety and be1$|vo-

lence. He died some time in the autumn of

1826, nged about 65.

The mother of Catharine still lives in the

Arkansas.

.... -

DAVID BROWN, THE BROTHER OF CATHARINE.
Tins young man, of whom repeated menlion is made in the preceding memoir, was seized with bleeding at the lungs, in the spring of 1829, and died at Creek-Path, about the middle of September, of the same year. His conduct was exemplary to the close of life, and he died in a very happy state of mind. In a letter to the corresponding^ secretary of the board, dated June 1st, he said; *-*On

126

APPENDIX.

bed of sickness I have enjoyed sweets munion with my dear Saviour."--Material
had been collected for a brief memoir of amiable young man ; but they were consume^ by the flames, which destroyed the missionary rooms in Boston, in the spring of 1830.

(__,

14

MISSION OF THE AMERICAN BOARD OF FOREIGN
MISSIONS AMONG THE CHEROKEES.
IT has been mentioned, in the preceding memoir, that the board of missions commenced its operations among the Cherokees in the spring of 1817, by opening &. school at a place to which the name of Brainerd was subse quently given. The memoir affords, also, the materials for learning the internal economy of that missionary establishment. The following additional facts respecting the mission, and the people for whose benefit it was established, will be acceptable to the reader.
The country inhabited by the Cherokees, eastward of the Mississippi river, was re ceived by them from their ancestors. Their present territory is supposed to contain up wards of 10,000 square miles, or more than 6,000,000 of acres. About two thirds of this country lie within the conventional limits of the state of Georgia, one fifth in Alabama,

one tenth in Tennessee, and a small fraction in North Carolina. Some of their land is of the best quality, much of it is inferior, and not a little incapable of cultivation. The number of Cherokees scattered over this territory is about 14,000.
miiong this people the board has seven mis sionary establishments--at JSrainerd, Carmel, Creek-Path, ffightower, Willstown, Haweis, and Candy's Creek. The three first are re peatedly mentioned in the memoir. Brainerd is situated near the 35th parallel of latitude, .seven miles south-east of the Tennessee river, and within the chartered limits of Tennessee. Carmei is sixty-two miles south-east of Brain erd. Creek-Path is one hundred miles westsouth-west of Brainerd. Hightower is eighty miles south-south-east, and Haweis fifty miles south of Brainerd. Willstown is fifty miles south-south-west of Brainerd; and Candy's Creek is twenty-five miles north-east of Brainerd.
Four clergymen are employed by the board among the Cherokees as missionaries, or evan gelists. Five schoolmasters are also em ployed, of whom one is a physician. Six others perform the duties of fanners or me chanics. A number of the married females, and one who is unmarried, assist in teaching the Indian girls connected with the schools.
The venerable Father Hoyt died suddenly

128

APPENDIX.

at Willstown, in February, 1828, in old age. His memory will long be blesseo among the people, for whose sake he made the wilderness his home.
About one hundred and fifty Cherokees have been received into the mission church, con nected with the establishments of the board.
Schools are taught at all the stations, and though constantly varying in the number of pupils, and often embarrassed by the insta bility .of parents, they are generally popular with the natives, and exert a salutary influ ence. A description of one will afford the means of judging with respect to all, since the nature and results of all are similar. The schoel at Creek-Path wil) be selected, in which, the reader will remember, Catharine was once an instructor. The description, is from the pen of the Rev. Joseph Allan, of Huntsville, Alabama, who visited Creek-Path in September 1827, for the purpose of attend ing an examination of the school.
" The school at Creek-Path," he says, "is composed of about thirty Indian children, of various ages, and in various stages of improve ment. The examination commenced after prayer, by exercises in reading. A very con siderable portion of the scholars can read with fluency. This acquisition, by a Cherokee child, is not made but with considerable difli-
culty : our language abounding so much moie

APPENDIX.

129

with consonants than theirs, renders the pro nunciation of it with any tolerable degree of accuracy, a very serious task to them. It was truly pleasing to witness their success in ob viating the difficulty. Some of them, I am persuaded, read as well as any children of the snme nge among the whites. The next ex ercise to which our attention was called, was spelling. In this branch they acquitted them selves with great propriety. A few words were spelled wrong, and but a few, out of a considerable number. To see these children of the forest thus advancing in the first ele ments of knowledge, was truly gratifying: but the pleasure was still greater on finding, a much larger number of them than I had an ticipated, possessing quite a respectable know ledge of grammar and geography. The ex amination in these branches was thorough and highly satisfactory. In addition to this, a few of the most advanced pupils stood a very par ticular examination on the history of this coun try, the different periods of its settlement by the whites, and of their wars with the Indians. On this subject many questions were asked and readily answered, which indicated a pro gress in historical knowledge not surpassed, I believe, in many of our best regulated acade mies. But this was not all. The audience were next to be gratified by an exhibition of speaking talent. Several single speeches, and

130

APPENDIX.

a very interesting dialogue, founded story of Joseph and his brethren, were spoke! uncommonly well. This was indeed novel an( unexpected; and though the children hi never witnessed any thing of the kind in lives, yet I am confident I do not exaggerate^ when I say that the performance was excel-* lent. The speech of Brutus oil the death of Cspsar, and that of Mark Antony on the same occasion, were spoken by two of the boyg^l with great animation. I was much interested^ in another spoken by a full blooded boy. Itl was taken from the Columbian Orator, at*'f tributed to an Indian, and begins with these*' words--"Fathers, when you crossed the-*great waters."--This piece, as you may sup-"
pose, appeared quite in keeping with the little' Cherokee orator, who delivered it with great propriety. After this entertaining exercise, the " girls were called on to exhibit specimens of their work. Of their skill in this matter I could not so well judge. A lady from Huntsville, however, who was present, assured me that their performance in this department gave pleasing proof of their ingenuity in the use of the needle.
" After this the children were catechised. Their answers were generally prompt and accurate ; evincing that they had been faith- ' fully instructed in the important principles of the Christian religion. The highly interesting

131
exercises of the day were concluded by two addresses and a prayer. One of the addresses was made by an aged chief in the Cherokee language. The purport of it was to encourage the children in learning, and to Inculcate obe dience to their instructors. I must beg leave once more to express the very great degree of satisfaction I felt in attending this examina tion. It afforded at once most grateful evidence of the happy effects of missionary operations, of the fidelity and ability of those who have charge of this station, and of the capacity of Indian children to receive useful instruction. And I could have wished that all those who felt either indifferent, or opposed to missions,, had been present: their ill-founded prejudices must surely have vanished in view of such an interesting spectacle. From the preceding re marks it will be seen, that the missionary cause had made some progress in Creek-Path; and even were there nothing to speak of but the interesting school there, this alone would justify7'all the expense which the board have incurred : but something more has been done. A goodly number of adults residing there have been brought out of darkness into the marvel lous light of the Gospel."
Some other notices from Mr. Allan's com
munication are subjoined. " The examination was followed by a sacra
mental occasion, commencing on Saturday and

132

APPENDIX.

ending on Monday. The public exerct& were alternately in English and in Cheroke< On the Sabbath the Lord's Supper was a ministered to about fifty communicants of va rious colours and nations. The assembly, though small, reminded me of that mentioned by John, composed of all nations, kindreds, and tongues ; and might, I thought, not inapt ly be considered as a representation of heaven upon earth. A communion season under or dinary circumstances is interesting; but it seemed doubly so here. To reflect on the former desolate condition of these dear people, and to contrast it with their present eligible situation, was calculated to elicit from the pious heart the highest praise to God. A few years ago they were utterly unacquainted with the blessed gospel; they were immersed in the grossest darkness ; no voice of mercy had reached their ears; no friendly Sabbath col lected them together to hear the word of God; but now we beheld them under the influence of gospel light; rejoicing in the mercy of God, in the privileges of the Sabbath, in the in structions of the sacred word, and seated around the Lord's table, partaking of the memorials of his broken body and shed blood. To hear of these facts, sir, is tv blessed thing; hut it is more blessed to see them.
*'On Monday was the anniversary of the Creek-Path female benevolent society. At

APPENDIX.

133

their request a sermon was preached, adapted to the occasion. The members of the society met after sermon, and attended to the business of the day. The little society contributes an nually something like ten or twelve dollars ; thus .setting an example of Christian benevo lence, which we should like to see imitated by many of the professed disciples of Christ among the whites."
The memoir makes mention of the Mora vian mission at Spring-Place. This mission ha.s buen enlarged by the addition of one more station. Mr. Gambold finished his labours on rarth in November 1827.--The American baptist board of missions has also two mis sionary stations among the Cherdkees,/al each of which a missionary resides ; and the Amer ican mcthodist episcopal society employs four missionaries, who preach in different circuits.
The Cherokees have made considerable progress in civilization. In 1826 they were said, on authority deserving of credit, to possess 22,000 horned cattle, 7,000 horses, 46,000 swine, 2,500 sheep, 762 looms, 2,488 spin ning wheels, 172 wagons, 2,943 ploughs, 10 saw-mills, 31 grist-mills, 62 blacksmith-shops, and 8 cotton machines. Sixteen years before, with a more numerous population, they pos sessed only three saw-mills, 30 wagons, and
500 ploughs.

134

APPENDIX.

Courts have been established for

years, and justice administered according to

the usages of civilized countries. The national

council hns met annually, and exercised the

functions of a legislative body. Lately a regu

lar constitution has been adopted, the provi

sions of which, should there be no interference

from abroad, seem likely to ensure to the

Cherokces the blessings of a wisely framed

government.

/

In 1826, the national council of the Chero-

kees ordered a printing establishment to be

procured at the public expense, chiefly with

a view to publish a weekly newspaper at the

seat of their government. Such an establish

ment lias accordingly been procured, and sent

to them. It consists of an iron press of an im

proved construction ; a fount of English types,

and another in the characters invented by a

native Ch'crokee, to represent the syllables in

the language ; together with the entire furni

ture of [i printing office. The Cherokees have

hired a printer and an editor to superintend

the establishment, the latter of whom is one

of iheir own countrymen, who was educated

in part at the foreign mission school in Corn

wall. . The newspaper is to be printed partly

in Chorokoe and partly in English.

The name of the Cherokee who invented

the syllabic alphabet above mentioned, is

George Guess. He does not speak

APPENDIX.
and was never taught to read Enghsa books. Having become acquainted with the principle of the alphabet, viz. that marks can be made the symbols of sounds, this man conceived the notion of expressing all the syllables of the Cherok-ie language by separate characters. After long study and trial, he collected eightytwo syllables, and could discover no more. To express these, he used the characters in our alphabet, and various modifications of the jn } and some characters of his own inven tion. Vrith these symbols he set about writing letters, and soon a correspondence was main tained between the Cherokees in Wills Val ley a-id their countrymen beyond the Missis sippi, live hundred miles apart. This was dune by individuals who could not speak English, and who had learned no alphabet ex cept the one invented by Guess. The interest in this matter has increased to a high degree of enthusiasm. Great numbers have leaftied to read. Hymns and portions of Scripture, written by means of this alphabet, are exten sively circulated, and letters are written every day; and the nation have awarded a medal to the inventor of a wonderful method of writing their own language. Either Guess himself, or some othi't- person, has discovered four oilier syllables ; thus making all the known syllables in this language eighty-six. This is a curious fact; especially when it is considered, that

136

APPENDIX.

the language is very copious on some jects, a single verb undergoing some thousand! of inflections.
" Among the Cherokees, we are to see-the first printing press ever owned and employed by any nation of the Aborigines of this conti nent; the first effort at writing and printing ip characters'of their own; the first newspaper, and the first book printed among themselves; the first editor; and the first well organized systems for securing a general diffusion of
knowledge among the people. Among the Cherokees, also, we see established the first regularly elective government, with the legis lative, judicial, and executive branches dis tinct ; with the safeguards of a written con
stitution and trial by jury. Here, also, we see first the Christian religion recognized and pro tected by the government; regular and ex emplary Christian churches ; and flourishing schools extensively established, and in many instances taught by native Cherokees."

The Cherokees of the Arkansas are a brandi of the old nation; their territory lies west ward of the Mississippi river, and north of th Arkansas, in the territory of the same name; They have emigrated from their native coun try since the year 1804; chiefly between tht years 1816 and 1820.

The American boa

among them in 3820,1

D wight. The reader, who is desirous

certaining the precise location of this irifeesf*

ing point in that great territory, may dircf&t

his eye, on a map, to the western bank of the

Illinois creek, about four miles from its junc

tion with the Arkansas. The distance of

D wight from the mouth of the Arkansas, fol

lowing the course of the river, is^abdfc.t five

hundred miles; and, in a direct like,'about

two hundred.

$ t.

The Cherokees of the Arkansas are not

subject to the jurisdiction of their brethren

cast of the Mississippi. Though a colony,

they legislate for themselves. But they follow

the example, which is there set them, with

commendable zeal, and have made much ad-

vr.nce in their government towards a regular

organization.

The mission has exerted an important in

fluence, and is growing in favour with the

pr-ople. The missionaries make frequent ap

pointments to preach the gospel in different

districts, and are heard by attentive and in

creasing congregations. They seldom meet

with an individual from any part of the nation,

who fails to request a visit to his 'neighbour

hood for ihe purpose of preaching the gosptel.

For two successive years, Mr. Washburn "

138

APPENDIX.

been invited to preach before the council on the Sabbath. During the session 18'26, he also attended prayers with the eil daily. In the autumnal session of this duty was performed, twice a day, by David Brown, the brother of Catharine.

THE END.

CHEROKEE ALPHABET.

Da ga ka * ha w ]a y ma e na tr hna x gwa
V sa <a 8
t da w ta
A dla c tla o dsa
&, wa a ya

Re
K go
P he 6 lo 01 me ^i ne U) gwe 4 so & de t; tc L dlo T dse <ss we P ye

Ti y gi A hi E li
n mi It ni 1> gwi
si
JL di a ti c dli h dsi s wi A yi

*o
A go
ho Ga 1lo0 & mo
z no ^V* gwo
* so
V do v dlo K dao W wo
a yo

o u
J gtl
r hu
M 111
y mn nu cO gwn
t 811
s du * dlu j dsu s wu (?yu

iV
E gV $, nv
a Iv
0 nv
8 gWV
IZ SV
<r dv p dlv cs dsv
6 WV
B yv

Sounds represented by Vowels.
a as a in father, or short as a in rival, c as a in hate, or short its e in met, i as t in pique, or short as t in pit, o as aw in /au>, or short us <> in not, nearly, u as 00 in moon, or short as u in puff, v as M in 6uf, nasalized.

Consonant Sounds.
The sound of g is nearly as hard g in English, but approaching to k. That of d nearly as in English, but approaching to t. Other consonants as in English.
In some words g, 1, n, d, w, and y are aspi rated, as if preceded by h. Aspiration gives to g the power of k, and to d the power oft.

THE LORD'S PRAYER IN CHEROKEE.
i-4i.I 8*<&V1T. ifKSGfJt I-R SSe^AT. Dli ROJJ IrliSf oSJoJ'. IUVVWZ ASfcStiB I oiyiB A.A TS.

ofi

I-RT, D<T

D<P

INTEBPBBTATION. WITH PBONUNCIATION ACCORDING TO THE ALPHABET.

aw gi daw da

Our Father

ga 1 la di ehi

heaven dweller,

ga \v quo di yu

Hallowed

fe se sdi e tsa daw v I

be thy name.

dsa gv wi yu hi ge sv Thy kingdom [ance.

wi ga na nu gaw i

let it make its appear-

a m e law hi

Here upon earth

wi dsi ga li sda

take place

ha da nv ste go i

Thy will,

na sgi ya

the eame as

ga lo la di

in* heaven

6! tsi ni ga li sdi ha
ni da daw da qui so

it] is done. 'ailr [adj.]

aw ga li sda yo di

our rood

sgi si

give to us

gaw hi iga

this day.

di ge sgi o si qoo naw Forgive us

de sgi du go i

our debts,

na sgi ya

the same as

tsi di ga yaw tsi na haw

we forgive

tsaw tsi du gi

our debtors.

a le tla sdi

And do not

oo da gaw le ye di yi ge so temptation being

wi di egi ya ti nv sta no gi lead us into [it].

sgi yu da le sge sdi quo sgi ni Deliver us from

oo yaw ge so i

evil existing.

tsa tee li ga ye naw

For thine

tsa go wi yu hi

the kingdom

ge so i

is,

a le

and

tlna li ni gi di yi

the power

ge so i

**A '

ale

and

e dsa lo quo di yu

the glory

ge so

is,

ni gaw hi lo i

forever

e me n

amen.