Globalization of the United States, 1789-1861

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Judson, Emily C. Memoir of Sarah B. Judson, Member of the American Mission to Burmah. New-York: L. Colby and Company, 1848.

Emily C. Judson. Memoir of Sarah B. Judson, Member of the American Mission to Burmah. New-York: L. Colby and Company, 1848. Title page.

Women were vital to the American missionary movement as activists and supporters at home, and as missionaries abroad — where the death of a child could acquire great poignancy.

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Little Sarah spoke English remarkably well for so young a child, and Burmese, like a native; she could also say some things in the Hindostanee and Karen. And what seems a little singular, she never confounded two languages, but always spoke pure English to us, and pure Burmese to Burmans. This discrimination continued as long as she had the powers of speech. She had learned the Lord’s prayer and several little hymns. Dr. Judson’s lines on the death of Mee-Shway-ee she knew by heart in Burmese, and used to chant them for half an hour at a time. She had nearly learned the Burman and English alphabets, and could repeat the names of the months, days of the week, and a part of the multiplication-table, in Burmese. These things may seem very trivial to you, but I muse upon them by the hour together; and it is only when I call my cooler judgment into action, that I can make myself believe they are uninteresting to any person on earth. I love to think of my sweet bird of immortality, expanding so beautifully in my own presence; and fancy I can judge, in some small degree, of the brilliancy of the perfect flower, from these little developments.

A few hours before she died, she called us to her, kissed us, and passed her dear hand, still full and dimpled, as in health, softly over our faces. The pupils of her eye were so dilated that she could not see us distinctly, and once, for a moment or two, her mind seemed to be wandering; then looking anxiously into my face, she said, “I frightened, mama! I frightened!”....