Page:Women of distinction.djvu/282

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WOMEN OF DISTINCTION.

which there could be made a great woman, and advised her parents to send her to a school for women and girls, then just opening in the basement of the Friendship Baptist Church of Atlanta, Ga. In the fall of 1882 this child took leave of home and dear ones for the above school, which afterwards became Spelman Seminary. Misses Packard and Giles, the founders of this now famous institution, soon discovered this child's rare qualities, and, as was their habit, they inquired of her whether or not she was saved. On receiving an answer in the negative, these two soul-winners set out to win this precious soul for Christ. And, in the midst of her term with them, their hearts were made glad by her salvation. With her birth into the kingdom came her call to Africa; this desire burnt upon the table of her heart from the very day she was converted. The ye that followed in her career at Spelman were full indeed, and might of themselves fill a volume with very interesting facts. But as our space is so limited suffice it to say that she stood foremost as a soul-winner and a scholar. As a student-teacher she often had the joy of seeing scores of her pupils saved under her teaching. As a teacher she is winsome, firm and gentle. Wherever she has taught she could teach again, so greatly loved is she. At Spelman she was and is still their pride. Here she graduated with the honor of Class Poet in 1888, when a position was offered her in the Mitchell Street Graded School of Atlanta, Ga. Her plans for beginning work in Africa were fast formulating, but being pressed she consented and served at said school