Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/692

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670
SAW. SAX.

ment in early life, personal affections and the desire to win the lore and esteem of others occupy the mind so fully, that the young rarely press steadily onward to the most elevated mark. My education had been of an exciting nature, and the circumstances of my life were calculated to foster a spirit of romance. It is very probable, therefore, that my early writings would have been imbued "with more fancy than good sense. In this last of all my works that I now send you, I have believed it my duty to paint the destiny of woman, dark as the pictures may be, in true colours; but possibly the recollections and habits of youth have acquired too much power over me. You will judge. But I hope that, at least, age, deafness, sorrows, and the active duties of religion, have rendered my motives simple and pure, and have formed, in some respects, such a character as I have pourtrayed for the example of others."

"The last of all her works" to which she alludes, was "Progressive Education," her best and most important production. It was translated into English and published in Boston. It deserves to have a place in every mother's library.

Madame de Saussure also wrote a "Biography of Madame de Staël," and translated from the German Schiegel's "Course of Dramatic Literature;" but her most earnest efforts were directed to the cause of education. She does not evince brilliancy of genius, yet few, if any, of the French female writers have displayed such good sense and Christian principles in their productions. She died in 1847.

SAWYER, CAROLINE M.,

Was born in 1812, in Newton, Massachusetts. Her maiden name was Fisher. In 1832, she was married to the Rev. Dr. Sawyer, a pastor over one of the Universalist churches in New York, where they resided until 1847, when they removed to Clinton in the same state, where Dr. Sawyer was chosen President of the Universalist Seminary. Although Mrs. Sawyer did not publish till after her marriage, she began to write both tales and poems at a very early age; by her writings we can readily perceive that her education has been thorough and extensive, and that the author possesses a mind of much power. Her translations from the German are made with faithfulness and spirit, and her original poems especially are marked by deep thought and command of language.

SAXBURGA

Was the daughter of Webba, King of Mercia, and the wife of Cenwalch, who married her previous to his accession to the throne of Wessex, which happened on the death of his father, the Christian King Kynigils, A. D. 643. When her husband, who still remained unconverted, became monarch, he dismissed Saxburga from his court with ignominy, and took another to share his throne, without, as historians generally agree, any just cause for such a step; to avenge which the Mercian king made war upon Cenwalch, and succeeded in expelling him from his dominions. He retired to the protection of Anna, King of East Anglia, and was there converted to the Christian faith, and reconciled to his excellent wife, with whom, after the recovery of his kingdom, he enjoyed many years of uninterrupted harmony. He completed the cathedral at Winchester begun by his father, and died in 672, having given a most convincing