Anxious to learn and quick to acquire at this very early age of seven or eight years, she astonished her teacher and mistress beyond measure, in that she was able in one year and a half to read and write with much accuracy; and at the end of four years from the time she was purchased in the slave-pen she could extensively and intelligently converse and write upon quite a large number of difficult subjects. Her wonderful intellectual powers, keen insight and general scholarship became a matter of such admiration among the educated Bostonians that her society was in great demand by a large part of the aristocracy of that city. Some of the best citizens were kind to her in lending her books and pushing her forward whenever possible.
Having made considerable advancement in the English branches, she began the study of Latin, in which she succeeded to such an extent that she made a translation of "Ovid's Tales," which was published in Boston, also in England, and was regarded by the best critics as an excellent rendering.
At the age of sixteen she became a Christian and (although an exception to the rule of a slave's relations to the Church) was baptized into full membership into the "Old South Meeting House" with the noted Dr. Sewall as pastor. Her Christian life added much to the quality and effect of her writings. In public or in private she was noted for the emanations of gratitude from a thankful heart in appreciation of any kindness rendered her. She was a great lover of her race, although remembering but little of her former home and
