fighting against slavery, and for two years he was in the service, and was only released by death without ever seeing his wife and children again.
The life of Lulu up to fifteen was marked only by the trials common to poor slave children generally, except being fortunate in having a mother, although a slave without education, who was deeply concerned for the welfare of her children, and doubtless her influence had good effect upon Lulu.
Touching her conversion, she must bear witness in her own happy words as copied from a private letter to a friend, and here introduced. After speaking of the "kind Heavenly Father's care" over her mother and children, she adds:
At the age of fifteen He drew me unto himself, and after passing through the shadow of doubts, I entered into the blessed light of His love, wherein to walk is fullness of joy, December, 1877. I was a missionary like Andrew of old from the very day I found the Lord. Six years ago, while engaged as public school teacher in St. Augustine, Florida, I met in my Sabbath-school Dr. Kellsey, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who became deeply interested with the manner in which I expounded the Word of God to my class, which consisted of the pastor of that church, the licensed ministers and the adults generally of the school.
This gentleman, who was then in the rear of the room, came up and introduced himself to me, asking if I were a Floridian, and then he asked where I was educated. I told him. He thought I should have a higher course, as my heart was so much interested in missions, I told him my mother had educated me to the extent of her means, and that I was now on life's ocean for myself. He said, "I will see if I can't help you if you care to attend college." Accordingly he interested a company of young ladies in his church in me, and by them I was educated, graduating from Shaw University, Raleigh, N. C, May 27, 1885, with the honor of class valedictorian.
