About this time, having been relieved of her part of domestic service by the coming into the family of a young relative—­whose devotion to her was unbounded—­she opened in the house a school for little girls.  It consisted at first of perhaps eight or ten, but their number increased until the house could scarcely hold them.  She was a born teacher and her young pupils fairly idolized her. [10] In this year, too, she took a class in the Sabbath-school composed of nearly the same group who surrounded her on the week-days, and they remained under her care as long as she lived in Portland.

The Rev. Mr. Vail having retired from the pastorate of the second parish in the autumn of 1837, Cyrus Hamlin, just from the Theological Seminary at Bangor, became the stated supply for some months.  His preaching attracted the young people and during the winter and spring there was much interest in all the Congregational churches.  Following the example of the other pastors, Mr. Hamlin invited persons seriously disposed to meet him for religious conversation.  Elizabeth besought me, with all possible earnestness and affection, to “go to Mr. Hamlin’s meeting.”  One day she came to see me a short time before the hour, saying that I was ever on her mind and in her prayers, that she had talked with Mr. Hamlin about me, nor would she leave me until I had promised to attend the meeting.  I did so; and from that time we were united in the strong bonds of Christian love and sympathy.  What a spiritual helper she was to me in those days!  What precious notes I was all the time receiving from her!  The memory of her tender, faithful friendship is still fresh and delightful, after the lapse of more than forty years. [11]

In the summer of 1838 the Rev. Jonathan B. Condit, D.D., was called from his chair in Amherst College and installed pastor of our church.  He was a man of very graceful and winning manners and wonderfully magnetic.  He at once became almost an object of worship with the enthusiastic young people.  The services of the Sabbath and the weekly meetings were delightful.  The young ladies had a praying circle which met every Saturday afternoon, full of life and sunshine.  Indeed, the exclusive interest of the season was religious; our reading and conversation were religious; well-nigh the sole subject of thought was learning something new of our Saviour and His blessed service.  All Lizzy’s friends and several of her own family were rejoicing in hope.  And she herself was radiant with joy.  For a little while it seemed almost as if the shadows in the Christian path had fled away, and the crosses vanished out of sight.  The winter and spring of 1840 witnessed another period of general religious interest in Portland.  Large numbers were gathered into the churches.  Lizzy was greatly impressed by the work, her own Christian life was deepened and widened, she was blessed in guiding several members of her beloved Sunday-school class to the Saviour, and was thus prepared, also, for the sharp trial awaiting her in the autumn of the same year, when she left her home and mother for a long absence in Richmond.