Sarah Josepha Hale - Wrote this description about herself in The Ladies' Wreath (pp. 383 - 388)  Published 1837.   (Her poems are on pages 389 - 408)

It is no very easy matter to introduce one's own " Sketch," or decide on the relative merit of one's own performances. That I have written some things not unworthy a place in this collection, I certainly believe ; nor could I see that there would be more presumption in thus including them among the poems of my sister authoresses, than in publishing mine in a separate volume. But whether to preface them or not, was the question. I flattered myself that those who were interested in my writings, might regret the  omission of any notice of the writer : to speak of myself in the third person savored too much of affectation ; still there is great discretion required in using the great I. - Finally, I decided to confine my remarks chiefly to the influences which have made me what I am; -as thus, it appeared to me, my history might be of some benefit or consolation to those who are suffering similar sorrows, or struggling with similar difficulties ; and such of my readers as are happily exempt from these, may find, in their " halcyon lot" the reason that their talents have never been directed to literary pursuits. Few females are educated for authorship; and as the obstacles which oppose the entrance of woman on the fields of literature are many and great, it requires, usually, a powerful pressure of outward circumstances to develop and mature her genius. --It may be truly said of her, that

--------" Strength is born In the deep silence of long suffering hearts,
Not amidst joy."

My family name was Buell, and my birth-place Newport, now a pretty village nestled among the " green hills " of New Hampshire. My parents were originally from Saybrook, Connecticut, which they left soon after the close of the revolutionary war, carrying with them to the then wilderness of the North, that love of learning and those strict religious observance; which distinguished the inhabitants of the " Charter State." But good schools could not at once be established in the new settlements ; and I owe my early predilection for literary pursuits to the teaching and example of my mother. She had enjoyed uncommon advantages of education for a female of her times possessed a mind clear as rock-water, and a most happy talent of communicating knowledge. She had read many of the old black-letter chronicles and romances of the days of chivalry ; and innumerable were the ballads, songs and stories with which she amused and I instructed her children-- for she always contrived to teach us some serious truth, while she charmed us by these legends. We did not need the "Infant School" to make us love learning.

The books to which I had access were few, very few, in comparison with those given to children now-a-days; but they were such as required to be studied, and I did study them. Next to the Bible and Pilgrim's Progress, my earliest reading was Milton, Johnson, Pope, Cowper, and a part of Shakespeare--  I did not obtain all his works, till some years after. The first regular novel I read, was " The Mysteries of Udolpho," when I was about seven years of age. I name it on account of the influence it exercised over my mind. I had remarked, that of all the books I saw, few were written by Americans, and none by women. But here was a work, the most fascinating I had ever read, always excepting " Pilgrim's Progress," written by a woman. How happy it made me! --The wish to promote the reputation of my own sex and my own country, were among the earliest mental emotions I can recollect and had I then been told that it would be my good fortune to gather even this humble Wreath of poetical flowers from the productions of female writers, I should have thought it the height of felicity. And how often I breathed the aspiration of Burns, when reading the praises of European authors,

" That I, for my dear country's sake.
Some useful plan or book might make,
Or write a song, at least."

These feelings had a salutary influence in directing my thoughts to a definite object ; and if, in what I have written, common sense and practical usefulness have predominated over romance and sentiment, I am persuaded that I owe this result to my early mood of mind.
 

From my brother * I acquired some knowledge of the Latin language, and of Philosophy. In childhood our studies had been pursued together, and he seemed very unwilling that I should be deprived of all his collegiate advantages.

I had written some poems, a few of which were published, previous to my marriage; and during my husband's lifetime, he occasionally sent an article of mine to the Journals, though my chief aim in literature was to prepare something for the amusement of our own fireside. Till my husband's death, which occurred September, 1822, I had never seriously contemplated becoming an authoress. I dare not speak of my husband as I think he deserved;

* The late Judge Buell, of Glen Falls, N. Y. it would be accounted vanity or weakness ; but a few words respecting one whose character so influenced mine, will, I trust, be pardoned. The pious Mrs. Graham, named, as among her best earthly blessings, that her husband was a man of " sense and sensibility: "  Such a man was David Hale. Of a calm, deliberative, yet tender disposition, he united, with a cool and sound judgment, a persevering spirit in all his pursuits; quick discrimination and refined taste, with that benevolence which "hopeth all things," and is therefore always kind : his was that combination of intellectual and moral powers, which make the perfectly balanced mind. He was a number of years my senior in age, but far more my superior in knowledge. His profession, the Law, he had pursued with zeal and success, but general literature occupied much of his leisure, and in the English classics and language he was a thorough scholar. Under his instruction and example, my prose style of writing, which the critics generally allow to be "pure idiomatic English," was formed ; I acknowledge that my early predilection was for the pompous words and sounding periods of Johnson and I had greatly admired the sublime flights and glittering fancies of Counsellor Phillips, the Irish Orator, then in the meridian of his fame ; but my husband convinced me, by analyzing his sentences, that these were, as he had called them, "sublime nonsense." To me, the period of our union was one of unbroken happiness; for I do not think that ill health need make one wretched who has mental resources, a happy home, and faith in heaven. We commenced, immediately after our marriage, a system of study, which we pursued together, with few interruptions, and these unavoidable, during his life. The hours we allotted were from eight o'clock in the evening till ten. In this manner we studied French, Botany, then almost a new science in the country, but for which my husband had an uncommon taste ; and obtained some knowledge of Mineralogy, Geology, &c. ; besides pursuing a long and instructive course of reading. In all our mental pursuits, it seemed the aim of Mr. Hale to enlighten my reason, strengthen my judgment, and give me confidence in my own powers of mind, which he estimated much higher than I did. I equaled him in imagination, but in no other faculty. Yet this approbation which he bestowed on my talents has been of great encouragement to me in attempting the duties which were to be my portion. In short, had we known the future, the course pursued could not have been more judicious. But such a result seemed utterly improbable, for he enjoyed the most perfect health, while mine was very delicate.  Still I was to be the survivor he died suddenly, as with a stroke and with him seemed to expire every earthly hope. His business was large, for the country, but he had hardly reached that age when men of his profession begin to lay up property, and he had spared no indulgence to his family. We had lived in comfort, but I was left poor. For myself, the change added not one particle to my grief but for my children I was deeply distressed. I had five, the eldest only seven years of age ; how were these to be supported and educated ? I cared not that they should inherit wealth I never coveted great riches but to be deprived the advantages of education was to make them " poor indeed." At length, after revolving the subject deeply in my mind, I determined to attempt to provide for their education myself, in some measure as their father would have done. I resolved to devote my whole earthly care to that one object, and, relying on Providence, to go onward, whatever obstacles might impede.*

 

* I am sure that the benevolent reader will be glad to learn that I have been, thus far, successful in my design. My eldest son, educated at West Point, is now a Lieutenant in the U. S. service; and from his small pay assists me and my other children are so far advanced in that course of education I had marked out, as to give me good reason to believe that I shall, in a few years, see them intelligent and useful members of the community.

The very few employments in which females can engage with any hope of profit, and my own constitution and pursuits, made literature appear my best resource. I prepared a small volume of Poems, mostly written before my husband's decease; these were published, by the aid of the Free Masons, of which order he was a distinguished member. My next work was "Northwood," a novel in two volumes, chiefly descriptive of New-England character and manners. In 1828 I was invited to come to Boston, and take charge of " The American Ladies' Magazine," there to be established. I had many fears for its success ; no publication of the kind had been long sustained; but the adventure promised advantages in educating my children and I accepted. I have continued the periodical now almost nine years, with what success the public must judge. The task has been an arduous one, and by its demand for a great variety of intellectual topics has prevented me from attempting any connected plan of much importance. My works published since I came to Boston, are " Sketches of American Characters," " Flora's Interpreter," " Traits of American Life," and several books for children. I have found many kind friends, and, relying on their support, I have prepared this work. And though ray own share in it may not challenge applause, yet I trust the critics will allow that

''Next to genius, is the power
Of feeling where true genius lies."