X.

MRS. POLK was born in Tennessee, and was the daughter of Captain Joel Childress. She was a pupil at a Moravian Institute, and pursued her studies for two years under the care of instructors among this singular people. Perhaps the quiet, gentle, benevolent traits of character with which she became familiar in such association contributed to mould her own, or at least to encourage the growth of those womanly and Christian virtues for which in after life she was distinguished, and which adorned the eminent position she occupied.

Soon after her education was completed, Miss Childress left North Carolina, her father having taken up his residence in Murfreesborough, Tennessee. Here, in the bloom of nineteen, she was married to Mr. James K. Polk, who had been lately elected to the Tennessee Legislature. In 1825 he was elected a member of Congress. During fourteen sessions he continued a National representative, spending the winters at Washington; and in all but one Mrs. Polk was with him. Being often appointed the chairman of important committees, Mr. Polk's house was frequented by persons of political distinction; while the estimable qualities of his wife drew around her the best in the social circles of the