The whole community was poor for some time after the Revolution, and everyone saved pennies.
As to her education, she used to sit on the doorsteps of the schoolhouse and hear the privileged boys recite their lessons.

She also had four or five months of instruction in the schoolhouse, and was a student in Hopkins Academy for a short time and, when fourteen years old, attended school at Hartford, Connecticut, for a term of twelve weeks.
[Illustration: SOPHIA SMITH] Then a long, uneventful, almost shut-in life, and in 1861 her brother Austin left her an estate of about four hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Hon.

George W.Hubbard of Hatfield was her financial adviser.

He advised her to found an academy for Hatfield, which she did; and after Doctor Greene had caused her to decide on a college for women, Mr.
Hubbard insisted on having it placed at Northampton, Massachusetts, instead of Hatfield, Massachusetts.

With her usual modesty, she objected to giving her full name to the college, as it would look as if she were seeking fame for herself.