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Freeborn Garrettson.

ON a beautiful bold bluff, which extends into the Chesapeake Bay, still stands a venerable dwelling, whose quaint little bricks exhibit not only the age in which they were made, but their European origin. The dwelling was erected by Garrett Garrettson, the great grandfather of the REV. FREEBORN GARRETTSON, and the first of the family who emigrated to this country; and well had he chosen the place of his abode. On one side, the Susquehanna poured its noble waters into the broad bay, which, on the other, was seen as far as the eye could reach; while many a point of land projecting into it gave grace and variety to the landscape.

Rutland Garrettson, the only son of Garrett Garrettson, was married to Elizabeth Freeborn, an English lady, who was also an only child, and thus the name borne by so many of their descendants was introduced. They had a numerous family of sons and daughters, who were afterward all settled near this first home of their father. The plantations of five of the brothers lay side by side in a part of Harford County, still known as the Garrettson Forest; and side by side in the old Spesutia church stood their antiquated pews.

John Garrettson, who was one of these brothers, married

Sarah Hanson; she died when the subject of this memoir was quite young, leaving five sons and several daughters. Though Mr. Garrettson never again married, his family remained unbroken, and his children were brought up in those principles of integrity and virtue by which they were afterward characterized. Of the good order that obtained in his father's family, the Rev. Freeborn Garrettson often spoke, remarking, among other things, that he had never heard a profane word spoken in his father's house, either by children or servants.

The means of education were limited in that day, yet Mr. Garrettson endeavoured to supply the deficiency to his children by engaging teachers who resided with him, and taught his own and his brothers' children; and thus from the age of eight until seventeen, Freeborn, his third son, was kept at school-obtained a good English education, began to study Latin and French, but preferring the "exact sciences," abandoned the study of languages and devoted himself more exclusively to them. "I was," says he, "so drawn out in these studies, particularly astronomy, that I spent hours alone, both by night and by day, until my school-fellows began to laugh at me." Grave, sedate, and thoughtful from his early boyhood, beloved by his friends, esteemed by his teachers, with no stain on his moral character, the beautiful youth stood in the opinion of all as a rare example of Christian virtue; and when the Spirit of God showed him his real condition, and in the bitterness of his heart he sought by multiplied observances to find peace and safety, it is not at all surprising that in their darkened state they counted him as mad.

The minister of "old Spesutia," in whom he had trusted,

could give him no direction; he had already gone a step beyond his guide, and left him for those who, pointing to the cross of Christ, could bid him cast his burden therefor those who could speak of the knowledge of sins forgiven, and urge him to walk in the light of God's coun

tenance.

As

Though only twenty years of age, he was intrusted with the management of his father's plantation, and had, also, frequent land surveys to make; yet he found time to attend all the means of grace in his neighbourhood, and was "instant in prayer and supplication." He was often "ravished by the sweet drawings of heavenly love, and again he sank back into doubt and despondency. months passed, his worldly anxieties increased. His father's death left him burdened with the care of a family, and executor to the estate. At length, after several years of almost Pharisaic strictness, which, however, could by no means allay the deep thirst of his soul, he made the surrender of his heart to God. He was riding home from church on "Whitsunday-night" when it was made: there was a fearful struggle. "I felt," says he, "Satan on my left, the good Spirit on my right." The one contrasted the world and its allurements, prosperity in business, a good name, honest renown, with that which a proud man likes least to incur-obloquy, shame, distrust, the averted glance of friends, the open taunt of enemies; while the blessed Spirit of grace impressed upon his heart the ponderous realities of eternity, and demanded an instant decision. The crisis had arrived. Dropping the bridle, he clasped his hands and exclaimed, in the fulness of his heart, "Lord, I will part with all, and become an humble follower of thee!"

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