30 EARLY UNDERTAKINGS. [1831, 



theories and explanations, most eminently truthful in 

 all inquiries, and a devout Christian. Mrs. Torrey 

 was a woman of rare character, refined, of intellectual 

 tastes and cultivation, great independence, extremely 

 benevolent, and with a capacity for government and 

 control. She was devotedly religious, not only for her- 

 self and her own household, but for all who could 

 possibly come within her influence. It was a new ex- 

 perience to the country-bred young man, and she saw 

 in him many capabilities of which he was as yet himself 

 unconscious. He always said that in his development 

 he owed much to her in many ways. She criticised 

 and improved his manners, his tastes, his habits, and 

 especially, together with Dr. Torrey, exercised a strong 

 influence on his religious life. His parents and 

 family were conscientious, good and faithful church 

 members. But they were not people who talked much, 

 and indeed had little direct oversight of their son 

 after he was fourteen years old, when he left home. 

 He never returned to the family roof after that for 

 more than a few months at a time, and his youthful 

 surroundings away from home were of very varied 

 influence ; some of them, though never vicious, were 

 of a decidedly irreligious character. When he en- 

 tered the Torrey family, the difference in the life, the 

 contrast in the way of meeting trials and sorrows 

 struck him forcibly, and the religious side of his 

 nature was roused, a serious interest awakened, which 

 from that time on made always a strong and perma- 

 nent part of his character. 



Dr. Torrey saw the ability of the young student, 

 and writing to his friend, Professor Henry, in Feb- 

 ruary, 1835, to see if a place could not be found for 

 him at Princeton, says : 



