My teacher asked me if I was not going to be baptized before I left school, together with some other young ladies. I had always thought I was willing, should the opportunity be presented. Here I had a trial, but went forward with some others, determined never to disobey God of keeping his commandments or doing whatever the love of God constrained me to do, however crossing it was to my carnal feelings. I returned to Lowell and resumed my labor, still feeling determined to procure an education to go to the poor heathen to carry the news of salvation; but my means became limited and I was obliged to use prudence in reference to my dress and spending my time. My oldest sister proposed to have me come and work with her at the tailoress business in Boston, and this sister I had ardently loved and looked up to for advice. But I was making very good wages at that time and thought it not best for me to go then; although I wanted a trade to help me along in case I should go among the poor and destitute. But as my sister Nancy's health was not good at that time I proposed for her to go to Boston and I would come in the Fall or early in the Winter, which was agreed to. I concluded to go to work with my sister until the slack time should come on in the Winter, and then I thought I should go to Charlestown Seminary to finish my education, as we were all to board ourselves. Accordingly I left the mill again and when I got to my sister's they were just on the point of separating. I stepped in between and proposed to reconcile matters for we all belonged to the Baptist Church, and for own character and the cause of Christ I thought it best to keep together. But it was not possible, we could not agree, though sister Mary and I had never before disagreed, and probably never should had it not been for sister Nancy. It was a sore trial to me and I often thought that my last earthly friend was taken from me. I had loved sister Mary until it had become a sin in the sight of a holy God, that I had been governed about my spiritual life by her in part, and that He saw fit to seperate us. Through the invitation of my brother Eben's wife I went to stay with her and had regular pay lest there should be any room for unpleasant feelings, I spent the winter with her at Jamaica Plain very happy, but I began to think that I was not living as I ought to; that I could be the means of doing more good by working in the mill and getting more money for the cause of Christ and come in contact with more minds to pursuade them to become reconciled to God. But again I was tried about pursuing an education, not having means to do with. What to do I did not know, and at times was almost tempted to ask assistance of my brothers, but for fear of being refused I dared not, for they never seemed to take any interest in the welfare of their sisters. My oldest sister was often sick and was not helped by them: therefore I was determined to do what I could without asking help. I