A Memoir of Mrs. Henrietta Shuck, the First American Female Missionary to China

p. 13Henrietta Hall’s birth-place—Parentage—Religious training—Education—Mrs. Little's letter—Her religious awakening—The Lancaster Camp-meeting—Henrietta’s conversion—Baptism—Her mother’s death—Her father’s removal to Richmond—She was sions—Her engagement to Mr. Shuck—Vindication of Christian missions, and her motives—Her letter to Sunday Schoot scholars—

Her marriage—Misionaries set apart—Mrs. Shuck’s trip to Boston —Her farewell letter to her father—Mr. Hall’s letter and parting advice to his daughter.

Tue peninsula, lying between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers, in the North Eastern part of the state of Virginia, is generally known as the “Northern Neck.” It is distinguished as the birth-place of three Presidents of the United States—Washington, Madison, and Monroe. In the Eastern extremity of the “Neck,” in the county of Lancaster, within a few miles of the Chesapeake bay, is situated the little village of Kilmarnock. Here was born, Oct. the 28th, 1817, Henrietta Hall, (afterwards Mrs. Shuck.) Her parentage on both sides was highly respectable. Her father, the Rev. Addison Hall, was, in his early years, a successful lawyer. For several sessions he represented his county in the state legislature to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. Hall’s mother was a lady of decided genius. She wrote two poems of no small p. 14merit; one on the death of the Rev. Lewis Lunsford, and the other on that of her brother-in-law, the Rev. Samuel L. Skaughan, both eminent baptist ministers, her endeared pastors, who were called to their reward in the maturity of their ears, and in the zenith of their usefulness. With early culture, and favorable circumstances, abe would have been a brilliant ornament of her sex. The maiden name of Henrietta’s mother was Susan Edmonds. She was a daughter of Col. Elias Edmonds of Lancaster county—a gentleman held in deserved estimation by his fellow citizens.

Mr. and Mrs. Hall were both baptized, while young, by the Rev. S. L. Skaughan, and admit~ ted into the fellowship of the Morattico baptist church. They, like Zacharias and Elizabeth, “were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.” Henrietta was nurtured in the lap of piety. Her parents were deeply impressed with the importance of training up their children for usefulness, and for heaven. Her mind and heart were cultivated with tender solicitude, and untiring assiduity. To her infant ears the voice of prayer and praise was familiar. She grew up with the deep and abiding impressions which tHe family altar, and the family bible, and sanctuary observances were adapted to make on her sensitive mind.

p. 14Our acquaintance with Henrietta Hall commenced in the close of the year 1825. She was then a little more than eight years old; and a bright and lovely child she was. The interview seems to have made a durable impression on her p. 15MRS. LITTLE’S LETTER. 16 memory. In her last letter to us—the last which she wrote, she referred to it with a vivid recollection and a lively interest.

Fortunately for Henrietta, her devoted father entertained enlarged and liberal views on the subject of female instruction. He was desirous to give his daughters a solid and useful education. In her fourteenth year, Henrietta was sent to Fredericksburg, and placed in the school of Mrs. Little, a lady of high reputation as a teacher. How well she deserved this reputation the following letter, addressed by ber to the Rev. A. Hall, since the death of his daughter, clearly indicates. '

Dear Sir, I am truly happy to hear that a memoir of your lamented daughter is in a state of preparation. Her active virtues, and devoted missionar labors, will render such a memoir a valuable it to the public, as well as a cherished memorial to her friends.

Most gladly would I furnish any documents in my power, which might aid in preparing the biography of one whose memory is so dear to me. I wish I could recall more vividly the circumstances to which you refer, which occurred while your daughter was a member of my school and family.

A’ a pupil she was very diligent in her studies, and blameless in her course of conduct. Her mind was sprightly, and her disposition ardent, enthusiastic and sincere. She possessed strong social affections, and was universally beloved by her classmates. Although she had not then . p. 16“chosen the good part,” she was not unmindful of the necessity of so doing, and it occurred to me that the best opportunity of directing her serious attention to matters of so great moment would be by close personal conversation, on the subject of her highest interests.

With a view to her benefit, as well as that of other of my pupils, I had been accustomed daily to write something new and stziking on the blackboard, generally a text of scripture, in the form of a question. On one occasion the question was, “ Where shall I be a hundred years hence?” The pupils were requested to give an answer to me privately, after due consideration, and solemn reflection.

p. 16The effect produced on the mind of Henrietta ‘was deep and pungent—her words I cannot at this distant period recall, but the intensity of her emotion convinced me that the Lord himself had directed the arrow to its mark. She seemed never afterwards to forget that she was a probationer for an endless state of existence beyond the grave, though she did not then have clear and just ideas of the depravity of her own heart; there was, therefore, no change in her outward character or conduct.

Literary pursuits chiefly occupied her time. She was ambitious to excel in all her studies from her regard for you, whom as a father she ‘highly honored. She seemed determined to exert herself to deserve your approbation and affection.

During her vacation, as you know, she was made a partaker of the heavenly gift, and it was gratifying to me to learn that her first serious impressions were received in my school. I never p. 17‘before so deeply felt the importance of combining religious with literary instructions, and doing all to the glory of God.