She had prayer-meetings for her young friends in her own room, and distributed tracts in the town, while still acting at home, as her mother's right hand, among her little brothers and sisters.
But her vocation she felt to be for missionary life.

At one time she thought of joining a mission to the Red Indians, and her verses were full of the subject.

Her ode on Colman's death expressed the feeling of her soul in the verse: "The spirit of love from on high The hearts of the righteous hath fired; Lo! they come, and with transport they cry, 'We will go where our brother expired, And labour and die.'" The words fall sadly short of the feeling,--a very real one, but the ode not only satisfied Sarah's critics and obtained circulation, but it fired the heart of George Dana Boardman, a young student at Waterville College, intended for the Baptist ministry; and he never rested till he had found out the authoress, met her, and asked her to be his partner in "labouring and dying," as Colman had done before them.
There was no illusion in her mind; she knew her task would be full of toil and suffering; but her feeling was the desire to devote her whole self to the work of the Redeemer, who had done so much for her.

Mr.and Mrs.Hall were at first reluctant, but after a time heartily consented, and she was introduced to Mrs.Judson as a future companion in her toils.
With very questionable taste, some of her friends insisted on her reading her own elegy on Colman, aloud, before a whole circle of friends that they might see Mrs.Judson listen to it.

Blushes and refusals were of no avail; she was dragged out, and the paper thrust into her hand; she began, faltering, but as she proceeded the strong purpose of her soul inspired her, and she ended with firmness and enthusiasm--but was so overpowered that, without daring to look up and see that Mrs.Judson's eyes were overflowing, she crept away to hide in a corner the burning tears on her own cheeks.