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 ".<; 

 
 A MEMOIR 
 
 DANIEL SAFFORD, 
 
 BY HIS WIFE. 
 
 'FATHER, SON, AND HOLY O HOST, H A LL E LU J AH ! " 
 
 fageSCS. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE 
 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 28 CORNIIILL, BOSTON.
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 18C1, by the 
 
 AMERICAN TRACT SOCIKTY, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Couituf the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 ELECTROTYPE!) AT THE 
 BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY. 
 
 Printed by 
 
 OEO. C. HAND It AVEUV, 3 COKNI11LL, BOSTO7*.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 SOON after the death of Mr. Safford, an earnest desire was 
 expressed by various persons that a portraiture of his life 
 might be drawn, which should be grateful to his friends, and 
 not without benefit to the public. Among other expressions 
 of this desire was the following, received from two of the pas- 
 tors of Boston, who had known him long and intimately * : 
 
 " Deacon Safford's character and influeugp svere the sub- 
 ject of some interesting conversation at the pastors' meeting 
 yesterday ; and we were requested to see those immediately 
 connected and interested, and urge the preparation of a tran- 
 script of the life of that good man, as one whose example is 
 not above the comprehension of all ; as one which we need 
 to have repeated in thousands of instances in our churches. 
 It seems to us that the blessed Spirit might use it to fill a want 
 among us, for which the churches would long be grateful." 
 
 One who had been associated with him in office, in the 
 church, and elsewhere,t also wrote, 
 
 "Do let us have a description of our excellent friend, 
 whose benignant smile and cordial grasp we shall never for- 
 get, that will perpetuate his example, und do as much good, 
 we may hope, as he did while on earth, leading multitudes to 
 seek and obtain his genial piety and large-hearted benev- 
 olence." 
 
 It is with great diffidence, and after much persuasion, that 
 the writer has undertaken to meet the desires thus expressed. 
 The only ability she can claim for this attempt is a vivid 
 recollection of incidents, and the inexpressible interest with 
 which she cherishes the impressions of his life and character, 
 received during twenty-eight years of his acquaintance, first 
 as a sister-in-law, and afterward in the nearest of all earthly 
 relations. The most that she dares to undertake is a simple 
 narrative, in unadorned language ; which, she ventures to 
 
 * Drs. Blagdcn and Adams. f Henry Hill, Esq.
 
 4 PREFACE. 
 
 hope, may escape unfriendly criticism if it fail to show a lit- 
 erary excellence to which she does not aspire, and for which 
 experience has not qualified her. 
 
 Indulgence is asked for the use of the third person in those 
 parts where the writer is necessarily introduced into the nar- 
 rative. 
 
 It has been her care to admit no statement of fact which 
 she has not the fullest reason to believe to be strictly true. 
 In respect to the early portion of Mr. Safford's life, and 
 many transactions of later periods, which came not within 
 her personal knowledge, she has given the facts as narrated 
 to her by himself. So, likewise, when describing events in 
 the history of other persons, she has invariably recorded them 
 as they were detailed to her by the persons themselves, or by 
 others who were believed to be acquainted with the facts. 
 She can be responsible for the statements in such cases no 
 further than this. 
 
 At the request of the publishers, permission has been given 
 them to insert in the Appendix a more particular account of 
 Mr. Safford's property and charities. This consent has been 
 granted only in the hope that others may thereby be stimulated 
 to a more enlarged beneficence, and a richer experience of 
 the privilege of honoring the Lord with their substance. 
 
 It has been far from the aim of the writer, in preparing a 
 Memoir of her husband, to hold him up to view as a faultless 
 character. Could the departed spirit return to read these 
 pages, nothing would be more abhorrent to his feelings than 
 this. He well knew his imperfections, and bewailed them 
 daily before the Lord. Nor has it been her intention to claim 
 for him the sole, or even chief, credit for whatever was ac- 
 complished by him, in connection with others, for the cause 
 of Christ. It was ever his delight to speak in warm com- 
 mendation of what others did ; and if his efforts appear more 
 prominent in this narrative, it is only because the task she had 
 undertaken required her to speak of him, rather than them. 
 
 It is upon the aid and blessing of the Holy Spirit, that the 
 writer humbly relies for the usefulness of this Memoir. His 
 grace alone made Mr. Safford what he was ; and her prayer 
 is, that He will still use the recorded life and character of his 
 servant as he condescended to employ his active life on earth . 
 for the promotion of his own glory, and the advancement 
 of the cause of the Redeemer. A. E. S. 
 
 BOSTON, April, 1861.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 ' CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 
 
 Birth. Parentage. The Homestead. Domestic Scenes. The Or- 
 chard. The Grandmother. School. Labors on the Farm. The 
 Transgression and Punishment. Mr. Safford's Brothers 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 
 
 Apprenticeship. Fidelity therein. Religious Experience. Profession 
 ef Religion. Goes to Boston. Kilters into Business in the City. 
 Habits of Industry and Economy. Sketch of his Early History, 
 written by Himself. 17 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 
 
 Death of his elder Brother and Father. Marriage. Housekeeping. 
 Apprentices. Correspondence with his Brother Ephraim. Death of 
 his Brother David. Receives his Children into his own Family. 
 Little Susan. Her sudden Death. Letters. Views of Dress. 
 Death of his Brother Ephraim. Sickness and Death of Mrs. Safford. 
 Impaired Health 29 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 
 
 First large charitable Donation. Amount of his Property in 1W>. 
 Increase of his Business. His Horse " Blackie." llules of the 
 Workshop. Efforts to promote Temperance among his Men. In- 
 terest in their Spiritual Welfare. Narrative of two Individuals. 
 Description of his Business. Respect for his Calling. Reputation 
 for Integrity. Self-restraint under Provocation. Skill in hia Work. 47 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 CONNECTION WITH THE SALEM CHURCH. 
 
 Organization of the Church. Chosen Deacon. View of his official 
 Duties. Love for his Brethren. Attachment to the Pastor, Rev. J. 
 Kd wards. Kindness shown to his Family 5'J 
 
 1* (5)
 
 6 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 
 
 Marriage to Miss Abby Jane Bigelow. Visit to her Parents. Dom- 
 inie. Mr. SafFord, "the Minister's Friend." Rev. Dr. Cornelius. 
 Birth of a Son. Death of his Wife. Views of Mourning Apparel. 
 Extracts from Correspondence 05 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Marries Mrs. Mary S. Boardman. Her Death. Letter* to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gale. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner. Death of Mr. Turner. Letter to 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gale. To his little Son. Encounter with a drunken 
 Man. Religion in traveling. Letter to Mr. Asa JJigelow. Mr. 
 Bigelow's Estimate of his Character. Winter Night Ride. His Bi- 
 ble Class. Anxiety for the Conversion of his Family. Formation 
 of a Legislative Temperance Society. State Fast. Purchase of a 
 House. Marriage to Mrs. Turner , 78 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 
 
 Reestablishmcnt of domestic Relations. Enjoyment in them. Hospi- 
 tality. The German Woman. The outcast Child. The Irish Cath- 
 olic Woman. The Feast for the Poor. Evening Parties for Church 
 Members. Religious Worship on these Occasions. Arrangements 
 to promote the Comfort of his Family. The Chaise. Family Wor- 
 ship. Conversion of ail Irish Domestic 104 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 
 
 Letters to his Wife. Kicked by a Horse. Enjoyment of Solitude. 
 Visits to his Partner, Mr. Low. Mutual Regard of the Partners. 
 Mr. Low's Present of a Cane. Care for his Family. Removal to 
 Beacon Street. Hospitalities. Mary Lyon. Dr. Edwards. Mis- 
 sionaries. Letter of Dr. Anderson 117 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 
 
 Removal to Park Street Church. Debt of Salem Church paid. Or- 
 ganization of the "Central Church," and Rcmovnl thither. Return 
 to Park Street Church. His Interest in Preaching. Remodeling of 
 the House of Worship. Labors in the Sabbath School. Interest in 
 the Young. Preparations for a Revival. Rev. E. N. Kirk invited 
 to Boston. Manner of his Reception by the Pastors of the City. 
 Special Meetings. Conversions. Letters to Mr. Kirk. Second Visit 
 of Mr. Kirk to Boston. Organization of Mount Vernon Church. 
 Rev. Mr. Aiken's Testimony to Mr. Saflbrd's Character and Useful- 
 ness 129
 
 CONTENTS. 7 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 
 
 Dependence upon God's Blessing 1 . Object sought in the Formation of 
 the Church. Regard for the Poor. Readiness to yield to the Opin- 
 ions of his Brethren. The Church Prayer Meetings. Cultivation 
 of Benevolence. The Two Cent Subscription. Construction of the 
 Church Edifice. Efforts to render it convenient and pleasant. 
 Aversion to Display. Social Circles in the Church. Gathering in 
 the Masses. Labors for the spiritual Growth of the Church. Rela- 
 tions to his Pastor, as described in a Communication of Mr. Kirk. . 156 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 
 
 Appointed Delegate to the World's Evangelical Convention in London. 
 
 Accompanied by his Pastor. Sails from Boston. Incidents of the 
 Voyage. Arrival at Londou. Meetings. Letter to Deacon Palmer. 
 
 Journey to Scotland. Kdinburgh. Gl.-isgow. Manchester. Let- 
 ters from Home. Departure from England. Brighton Paris. 
 Fontmni-bleau. The River Seine. Brussels. Antwerp. Cologne. 
 
 The Rhine and its Cities. M:innhcim. Strasburg. Basle. Lau- 
 sanne. Geneva. Tour among the Alps. Ch.imouni. Mont Blanc. 
 
 Martigny. Lake of Geneva. Journey to Paris. Sickness. Lon- 
 don. The Evangelical Conference. Dublin. The Giant's Cause- 
 way. Belfast. Liverpool. Embarkation for Home. Arrival.. . . 172 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 
 
 Orphan Children. Little Jane. Delight in the Pleasures of Children. 
 Little Mary. Counsel and Care for the Poor. Story of the West 
 Indian Family. The Widow and her Boy Testimony of a Lady. . 218 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 
 
 Interest for young Men. The Young Artist. The Bookseller. The 
 Student. The Clerk. The Prodigal, his History and Death. Res- 
 olutions recommended. Letters to his Sons. Conversion of his Son 
 in College. Testimony of a young Man 239 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE. 
 
 Dissolution of Partnership. Proposal of new Connections. Accept- 
 ance of them. Characteras a Merchant. Member of the Legislature 
 of Massachusetts. Affability. Peacemaker 275 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 
 
 Effort!) to gather the Poor into Places of Worship. Elected President 
 of the City Missionary Society. Deacon Farns worth's Statement.
 
 8 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 How to preserve Health. Extracts from private Journal. "Deacon 
 Safford's Party." Statement of Deacon Cashing. Member of the 
 Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. M. Kev. Mr. Treat's State- 
 ment. Director of the House of Industry. Old Ladies' Home, &c. 283 
 
 CHATTER XVII. 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 
 
 Impaired Health. Journey to the Western States. To Canada. 
 With Mrs. Reid, to Rhode Island. Scsond Voyage to Europe. 
 Liverpool. Chester. Dublin. Cork. Lakes of Killarney. Bel- 
 fast. Glasgow. Edinburgh. The Highlands. London. Paris. 
 Brussels. Aix. The Rhine. Fronkiort. The Salt Minos. Mu- 
 nich. Through Switzerland to Italy. Milan. Verona. Venice. 
 Florence. Leghorn. Rome. Naples. Marseilles. Homeward 
 Voyage 297 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE 
 SEMINARY. 
 
 Interest in the Cause of Education. Visit to Belchertown. Sugges- 
 tion of a School for Young Ladies. Consultation with Dr. Edwards. 
 Visit of Mary Lyon. Tier Plans. Subscribes Five Hundred Dol- 
 lars in Aid of them. Subsequent Contributions and Efforts for the 
 Seminary. Letter of one of the Teachers 323 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 
 
 Chronic Disease of the Heart. Anticipations of Death. Cheerfulness 
 under them. Sudden Attack of Illness. Purchase of a House. 
 Repairs and Removal thither. Efforts and Prayers for a Revival. 
 Second severe Attack. Spiritual Enjoyment. Home Occupations. 
 Annual Meeting of A. B. C. F. M Marriage of his eldest Son. 
 Last Visit to Mount Holyoke Seminary. Last Letter. Council of 
 Physicians. Severe Suffering. Last Prayer Meeting with his Breth- 
 ren, and Attendance on Public Worship. Conversation in Prospect 
 of Death. Abounding Comforts. Peace. Directions about his Fu- 
 neral. &c. Lying at Jesus' Feet. His Work done. Death. Fu- 
 neral 334 
 
 APPENDIX, 373
 
 MEMOIR. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 
 
 Birth. Parentage. The Homestead. Domestic Scenes. The Orchard. 
 The Grandmother. School. Labors on the Farm. The Transgres- 
 sion and Punishment. Mr. Safford's Brothers. 
 
 DANIEL SAFFORD was born in Hamilton, Essex 
 County, Massachusetts, October 30, 1792. He was 
 the youngest of four sons of Samuel and Priscilla Saf- 
 ford. During his childhood, the parents, an aged and 
 very godly grandfather and grandmother, the four 
 sons, and usually one domestic, constituted the family. 
 Samuel Safford was a substantial farmer, a sensible 
 and well informed man, whose daily life was strictly 
 conformed to the principles of the Bible. He man- 
 aged his worldly affairs with prudence and economy ; 
 and the wants of his family being simple, they were 
 enabled to live respectably on a moderate income. 
 
 Mr. Safford cherished through life recollections of a 
 peculiarly sunny childhood. Often would he recount 
 its incidents, and live again amid its happy scenes. 
 He could not remember that, as a child, he had been 
 conscious of but one unsupplied want. He had no 
 sister ; and when he saw other boys more favored in 
 this respect, he often said within himself, " Oh, how I 
 
 (9)
 
 10 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 do wish I had a sister ! " To this ungratified desire 
 he attributed in a measure, in later life, his peculiar 
 affection for his sisters by marriage, whom he always 
 adopted as his own. This want of his childhood was 
 partially supplied by a large circle of cousins in the 
 neighborhood, who were allowed frequently to meet 
 at their respective homes, and in whose society and 
 childish sports he was a very hearty and joyous par- 
 ticipant. 
 
 A ride of twenty-five miles in an easterly direction 
 from Boston brings us to the quiet village of Hamilton. 
 Passing about two miles beyond this, we turn from the 
 road into a circuitous wagon track, and are in a few 
 moments at the old homestead of the family. In this 
 secluded spot, and this humble dwelling, were culti- 
 vated those social affections and beautiful moral traits 
 which distinguished Mr. Safford, and the foundation 
 laid for his life of uncommon usefulness. 
 
 The present occupant of the premises purchased 
 them of the widowed mother, and lived there one year 
 before she left them. He is an aged man, but retains 
 a lively interest in the family history, and delights to 
 show a visitor the localities of the place. Here he 
 opens the sitting-room, where Daniel was cared for by 
 one of the kindest of mothers ; with its old-fashioned 
 cupboards, one for her best dishes, and the other for 
 those in common use. In one corner stood the bed 
 upon which his father died, and which during the sick- 
 ness had been protected from the air by a bed-spread 
 suspended before it from two forks fastened in the 
 ceiling. Above is the chamber where the mother used 
 every night to put her boys to bed, " tuck them up," 
 and then return to busy herself with mending their
 
 CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 11 
 
 stockings, and other similar labors, homely yet needful, 
 until a late hour at night, feeling that of all happy 
 mothers, she was the happiest. 
 
 The front door of the house opens upon an orchard 
 of apple trees, in a remote corner of which is one 
 that Daniel, when a boy, claimed as his own ; and its 
 fruit has ever since borne the name of the " Safford 
 apple." For this fruit he had a peculiar fondness, 
 always considering it among the best treats he could 
 offer to his guests; but never finding, as he often 
 said, any " quite so nice as those which grew in my 
 father's orchard." 
 
 We can almost see him as described to us a 
 happy, ruddy-faced boy, running about under those 
 trees, or walking with his little hand clasped in his 
 grandmother's, between whom and himself, although 
 she was now very aged and infirm, there existed a 
 remarkable friendship. She was ever associated with 
 his earliest and most cherished recollections. He not 
 only loved, but greatly venerated her. He was accus- 
 tomed to pay great deference to her opinions. When 
 the boys at school disputed any thing affirmed by him, 
 he felt strong if he could reply, " My grandmother 
 said so." Once a pert lad, in answer to this argument, 
 exclaimed, " Well, what of that ? Who is your grand- 
 mother ? " He replied, " My grandmother ! Why, 
 she knows every thing; mother knows some things, 
 and father knows more ; but grandmother knows all! " 
 The respect for the aged, thus early rooted in his heart, 
 he never lost. It was often exhibited by him in after 
 life, especially while acting as a director of the Boston 
 Home for Aged and Indigent Females. In his deep 
 interest in that institution we recognize the ripened
 
 12 MEMOIR OP DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 fruit of this early attachment to his venerable grand- 
 mother. 
 
 But notwithstanding his strong affection and respect 
 for her, he had the feeling that it did not belong to 
 her to punish him for his faults, regarding her rather 
 as a companion than a disciplinarian. "When about 
 three years old, having done something which she 
 thought merited a chastisement, and anticipating her 
 intentions, he threw himself on his back upon the 
 floor, and whirling round and round, and shaking his 
 hands and feet, laughingly shouted, " Take care, 
 grandma'am ! take care, grandma'am ! " until she 
 concluded to give up the case. 
 
 It was in a small school house, about a mile from his 
 father's dwelling, that he received all his school ed- 
 ucation. Until he was eight years old he attended 
 there six weeks in the summer, and as many in the 
 winter. But on arriving at that age, his services 
 were required on the farm, and his school privileges 
 were limited to the six weeks in winter. He was even 
 then a thinker, rather than a student of books; and 
 was especially interested in his arithmetical problems, 
 which he often solved mentally when he first awoke in 
 the morning, before rising, while other boys would be 
 unable to accomplish this without slate and pencil. 
 
 At eight years of age he commenced working stead- 
 ily all day upon the farm. Though remarkably fond 
 of play, he was always willing to work. The idea 
 that he could be useful to his father gave him much 
 pleasure, and it was never necessary to reprove him 
 for tardiness, or for stopping to play in working hours. 
 Before he was able to hoe as fast as the men, his 
 father allowed him to skip every other hill in order to
 
 CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 13 
 
 keep up with them ; and he was much delighted when 
 at length he found he could do this without skipping 
 any. His ambition was quite satisfied when he one 
 day overheard his father, in conversation with a neigh- 
 bor, say of him, " I would as lief have my Daniel to 
 hoe potatoes or corn as any man I can hire. He will 
 do as much in a day, and do it as well." As a reward 
 for his industry and faithfulness, his father one year 
 gave him a small patch of ground to cultivate for 
 himself. This he planted witli potatoes. The crop 
 brought him fifty cents, cash the first money he ever 
 possessed. Thus he learned the valuable lesson, to 
 earn before spending. 
 
 Being employed to carry milk to market during one 
 season, in his boyhood, a customer once querulously 
 said to him, as he was measuring her supply, " How 
 much water do you think you have put in it ? " He 
 made no reply, but never carried milk to her again. 
 He could not deal with a person who entertained a 
 question of his honesty. 
 
 Mr. Safford's father was a man of cheerful disposi- 
 tion and pleasant manners, a kind and obliging neigh- 
 bor, and, while very affectionate to his children, not 
 weakly indulgent. He ruled his own household well, 
 believing, with Solomon, that " a child left to himself 
 bringeth his mother to shame, while the rod and 
 reproof give wisdom." In the training of this son 
 there was one instance, and but one, in which he 
 thought it necessary literally to follow the inspired 
 direction, " Withhold not correction from the child ; 
 for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall 
 not die." 
 
 There had been what is called " a raising " in the 
 2
 
 14 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 village, and, as usual, all the men and boys were 
 assembled on the occasion. According to custom in 
 those days, they were treated with ardent spirits. 
 Daniel, who was then about fourteen years old, drank 
 with the others, not to intoxication, but so as to be 
 somewhat excited. At the close of the day, instead 
 of returning home, he was induced, by several older 
 than himself, to go into the bar room of a neighboring 
 tavern. There they sat, chatting and amusing them- 
 selves, until, to his astonishment, lie found that it was 
 eleven o'clock. He had never before transgressed his 
 father's commandment forbidding him. to be out late 
 at night. The offense in this instance was aggravated 
 by the character of the company and the place. He 
 knew that his father would be much displeased. His 
 only hope of escaping the punishment he deserved 
 was, that, weary with the toils of the day, he might 
 have retired early, and thus remained ignorant of the 
 disobedient act. Encouraged bythis thought, he has- 
 tened home, and opening as gently as possible the out- 
 side door, into a small entry, in which was the stair- 
 way leading to his chamber, he closed the door softly, 
 crept up the stairs, walked on tiptoe to the bed, leaped 
 in, and said to himself, " Now I am safe." But the 
 father had not been unmindful of his son. He had 
 been sitting by the kitchen fire, watching the clock, 
 hour after hour, with growing anxiety. No sound, 
 however slight, escaped his wakeful ear. He heard 
 the stealthy entrance, itself a confession of guilt, and 
 after a little consideration, followed the transgressor to 
 his apartment, but gave no intimation of his approach, 
 until the smart of the rod aroused the slumberer to a 
 sense of his presence, and of the purport of his visit.
 
 CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH. 15 
 
 Although not a word of explanation was uttered, 
 either before or after the infliction of the punishment, 
 yet Daniel perfectly understood its meaning, and 
 recognized its justice. In after life he often blessed 
 God and his father for the timely correction, consid- 
 ering it a great mercy that it was administered when 
 he had taken but one step in the way of transgressors. 
 No child ever more sincerely loved and respected a 
 parent than Daniel did his father. A few weeks pre- 
 vious to his last illness, speaking of him to his wife, 
 he said, " Oh, I wish you had known my father ; you 
 certainly would have loved him." 
 
 His brothers, David, Samuel, and Ephraim, were all 
 men of genial temperament and high moral principle. 
 There were no wranglings or contentions between 
 them in childhood ; and, as they advanced in years, 
 nothing occurred to mar their mutual friendship. 
 Daniel cherished their memories to the last, delighting 
 to dwell on the interesting characteristics of each, and 
 the great enjoyment he had had with them. In 
 speaking of them, he once said, " I did love my broth- 
 ers very much when we were children together 
 quite as much as myself, if not more ; and after we 
 became men, when Ephraim made a good voyage, or 
 the others succeeded well in business, it made me 
 quite as happy, and I am inclined to think even more 
 so, than when I succeeded myself." 
 
 Thus, in the language of a friend, " In this mral 
 home, and amid these healthy influences, at an equal 
 remove from poverty and from riches, supplied with 
 food convenient for him, never so full as to deny the 
 Lord, and never so hungry as to covet another's goods, 
 Mr. SafFord, during, the first sixteen years of his life,
 
 16 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 laid the foundation for that bodily vigor and impertur- 
 bable good nature, for that filial reverence and quiet 
 self-reliance, for that cheerful industry and universal 
 contentment, that wise economy and modest useful- 
 ness, which distinguished his manhood, and gave him 
 eminence among the good."
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 
 
 Apprenticeship. Fidelity therein. Religious Experience. Profession of 
 Religion. Goes to Boston. Enters into Business in the City. Habits 
 of Industry and Economy. Sketch of his Early History, written by 
 Himself. 
 
 IN the fall of 1808, Daniel left the paternal roof, at 
 the age of sixteen years, to become an apprentice to 
 his brother David, who was established in Salem as a 
 blacksmith. He at once manifested superior mechan- 
 ical skill, as well as great muscular energy. Although 
 never much devoted to books, he was very fond of 
 mathematics, natural philosophy, and astronomy, and 
 acquired a good practical knowledge of them. 
 
 While an apprentice he took pleasure in promoting 
 his employer's interests as faithfully as if they had 
 been his own. In after life he but described his own 
 earlier history, when he said to apprentices, to clerks, 
 and to his own son, " Make your employer's interests 
 your own. Aim to be so useful to him that he can 
 not do without you." So thoroughly did he carry out 
 this unselfish fidelity, that he not only gave his time 
 and strength, but exerted his inventive genius also, to 
 promote the interests of his employer. As an instance, 
 he succeeded in exactly imitating a screw nut used in 
 the construction of chaises, which, until that time, 
 had been imported at a high price. This, and other 
 
 2*
 
 18 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 v 
 
 imitations and inventions of his, sensibly increased the 
 profits of the business. 
 
 The working hours of the day being thus faithfully 
 employed for his brother, he availed himself of the 
 privilege afforded him of using the shop and tools, in 
 his leisure hours, for his own benefit. At the close of 
 his apprenticeship, the proceeds of this extra labor 
 amounted to sixty dollars, which constituted his only 
 capital for commencing business in Boston. 
 
 It was in his eighteenth year that Mr. Safford was 
 first effectually awakened to a concern for his eternal 
 interests. One night, at a late hour, after having been 
 in the company of some irreligious young men, the 
 conviction came home to his reason and conscience, 
 that he must immediately separate from them, or be 
 ruined. Their scorn and ridicule were anticipated, 
 and the question of bearing these, or the wrath of 
 God, well weighed. Before he went to sleep the mo- 
 mentous choice was made. Not more decided was 
 Bunyan's pilgrim, when, with his fingers in his ears, 
 he fled from the City of Destruction, crying, " Life, 
 life ! eternal life ! " To that decisive hour he always 
 looked back with the most solemn interest, regarding 
 it as the moment of his existence when his destiny 
 was happily settled for this world and the next. Two 
 years later he united with the Tabernacle Church in 
 Salem, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Samuel 
 Worcester. 
 
 Near the close of the year 1812 Mr. Safford ended 
 his apprenticeship, and went to Boston. As he could 
 not afford to ride thither in the stage coach, he deter- 
 mined to walk. The day for starting came, and with 
 it a severe December snow storm. Time was too
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 19 
 
 precious to admit of waiting for fair weather. With 
 that adherence to his purposes which ever marked his 
 course, he set forth on foot. When well on the way, 
 he was hailed by a man in a sleigh, who invited him 
 to ride. Recognizing the voice of an acquaintance, 
 and thinking a ride would be more comfortable than 
 his cheerless walk, he accepted the invitation, but 
 soon found that he was expected to pay dearly for the 
 favor. His driver, besides proving a very uncongenial 
 companion, not only called at all the taverns on the 
 road, but turned out of his way to find others, ex- 
 pecting at each one to be treated with a dram. Al- 
 though Mr. Safford drank no spirits himself, he 
 thought it would be dishonorable to refuse this 
 courtesy to the man who was giving him the ride. 
 Thus the whole day was consumed, and as much 
 money as would hare paid for a seat in the public 
 conveyance. The sun was just setting as they drove 
 into Boston. Mr. Safford hastened to leave his com- 
 panion, and determined, more strongly than ever, to 
 avoid thereafter the society of all drinking persons. 
 The lesson of that day he never forgot. 
 
 It was a stormy Saturday night when he arrived, a 
 stranger in the city. At early dawn the next morning 
 he left the hotel to find the only person in the city 
 whom he knew. This was Mr. William Adams, who 
 had formerly been a neighbor of the Saffords, and a 
 playmate of Daniel in their childhood. Just as Mr. 
 Adams was crossing Washington Street, with a pan of 
 coals for kindling his fire, which he had procured at 
 the " Lamb Tavern," he looked up the street, and saw 
 a robust young man advancing toward him with quick 
 and vigorous step. The short gray overcoat and large
 
 20 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 yellow buckskin gloves marked him as a country lad. 
 Mr. Adams soon recognized him, and their greetings 
 were very cordial. Daniel took a seat in Park Street 
 Church with his friend that day ; and this became his 
 regular place of worship. 
 
 On Monday morning a copartnership was formed 
 between Mr. Adams and his young friend. The 
 " taking account of stock " was easily accomplished. 
 It was found that the older partner possessed, in iron 
 and tools, two hundred and forty dollars. The 
 younger put into the firm twenty dollars in cash, 
 and gave his note for two hundred and twenty more. 
 He then took off his coat, and went to work. The 
 copartnership, thus commenced, continued about 
 seven years. Their workshop was in the yard of the 
 " White Horse Tavern," which, with the " Lamb Tav- 
 ern," the older inhabitants of Boston will remember 
 as standing in Newbury, now Washington Street, near 
 the present Hayward Place. 
 
 During the first few years of Mr. Safford's life in 
 Boston his circle of acquaintance was very limited. 
 He was industrious and economical, spending money 
 for nothing which he could do without. As he never 
 desired forbidden indulgences, the temptations of a 
 city had little power to attract him. He never entered 
 a theater nor a dancing hall ; never visited a billiard 
 room, a drinking shop, nor even a refreshment saloon. 
 His healthful appetite was satisfied with three plain 
 meals a day at a low-priced boarding house ; and his 
 nights were spent in refreshing sleep. At this period 
 he^ might frequently have been seen, at twilight, with a 
 merry countenance and elastic step, crossing the Com- 
 mon arm in arm witli his partner, or playing and leaping
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 21 
 
 with him, more like a boy let loose from school, than 
 a man who had been all day at the anvil. Never a 
 thought that his was a hard lot, never a feeling of 
 jealousy toward those who seemed to be more highly 
 favored than himself, gained entrance to his heart. 
 His contented mind was a " continual feast." In 
 after life, when enjoying the abundance God had given 
 him, he frequently remarked that he had never been 
 happier than at this period, when he was thus most 
 industriously employed every hour of the six working 
 days of the week, and in the evening adjusting his 
 accounts, or administering to the wants of some person 
 poorer than himself. For his charities commenced 
 with his earnings, and J^ept pace with them through 
 his life. 
 
 At this period Mr. Safford bought his iron one bar 
 at a time, and carried it to his shop quite a distance 
 on his shoulders. As this consumed time and 
 strength, he ventured one day to ask the iron mer- 
 chant to sell him on credit as much as he could work 
 up in a month, that it might be carted to the shop. 
 The man hesitated a little, but at length replied, " I 
 think I would rather keep my iron." In later life 
 Mr. Safford often referred to this circumstance in 'a 
 manner which showed that he was not ashamed of his 
 small beginnings, and with something of the gratitude 
 of David, when he exclaimed, " Lord, by thy favor 
 thou hast made my mountain to stand strong." His 
 friends, to whom he used to tell the story, could 
 hardly believe that there had ever been a time when 
 Daniel Safford could not be trusted in Boston for .a 
 load of iron ; but he could never forget it. 
 
 He strictly observed the Sabbath, continuing to
 
 22 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 attend regularly the Park Street Church. Curiosity 
 never led him to stroll about on the Lord's day, to see 
 other churches, or hear a variety of preachers. Not 
 seeking to be known, nor expecting any attention to 
 be paid him, it was with much surprise that, on lifting 
 his eyes from his work one day, covered as he was 
 with dust, he saw the majestic figure of the Rev. Dr. 
 Griffin stoop to enter his shop, and heard him say, 
 as he advanced, " I have come to seek you out, having 
 noticed your constant attendance upon my preaching." 
 The sermons of this faithful and eloquent man, to 
 which he was indeed an interested listener, impressed 
 his mind deeply. The seed thus sown fell into good 
 ground, and brought forth fruit after the sower had 
 gone to his reward. 
 
 Notwithstanding it may involve some repetition, we 
 will close this chapter with Mr. Safford's own history 
 of his early life, as we find it in a letter, written to 
 his eldest son on his becoming of age. It is dated 
 April 1, 1851. 
 
 " MY DEAR SON : You are now twenty-one years 
 old a * free man.' I have no longer a legal right to 
 dictate to you, or to control you, and you have no 
 longer a legal claim on me for pecuniary aid or sup- 
 port. By this I do not intend to intimate that you 
 will have less regard for my opinions and wishes, or 
 that I shall feel less solicitude for your temporal and 
 spiritual welfare. You have now launched your little 
 skiff upon the broad sea of life, with nothing to de- 
 pend upon but your paddle and the favoring breezes 
 of heaven. 
 
 " By this I am reminded of my own past history ;
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 23 
 
 and, as I do not recollect having told you much about 
 it, I will now give you a very brief account of my 
 earlier life, which may be of some use to you while 
 I live; at least a gratification to you when I am 
 gone. 
 
 [After stating the particulars of his parentage and 
 boyhood, as already recounted, Mr. Safford pro- 
 ceeds : ] 
 
 "At the age of sixteen I went to Salem as an 
 apprentice to my brother David, at the blacksmith's 
 business. Soon after this I became acquainted with 
 three other mechanics' apprentices, older than myself, 
 who worked near me. They invited me to go out 
 with them in the evening, and I did so several times. 
 I soon found that they were profane, intemperate, and 
 licentious. On one occasion, when I came home, I 
 found the door locked ; it was nearly eleven o'clock. 
 I succeeded in entering the house by way of the cellar 
 door, and thus found my way to my bed without dis- 
 turbing the family. I went to bed, but not to sleep ; 
 for although I had not fallen into any immoral prac- 
 tices, I saw that if I continued in such company, my 
 reputation would suffer, and there was danger that my 
 character would soon become like theirs. I deter- 
 mined at once to break off all intimacy with them, 
 and to avoid their society altogether, which I did from 
 that night. About that time my attention was called 
 to the subject of my own salvation. I then spent my 
 evenings in reading the Bible and other good books, 
 and attending religious meetings. After this, my old 
 associates asked me a few times to go with them to 
 their haunts of sin, and, when I declined, they said, 
 t Oh, you have become very pious ! ' I replied that I
 
 24 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 wished it were true. When they found they could 
 neither coax nor laugh me out of it, they left me to 
 myself. 
 
 " My interest in religion gradually increased. I 
 became more and more convinced of my lost condition 
 as a sinner against God, and my need of such a Sa- 
 viour as the gospel provides. Although the struggle 
 was great, and my progress slow, I trust I was ulti- 
 mately led by the Spirit of God, whose aid I daily 
 implored, to commit my soul unreservedly to him. I 
 now found new associates a few young men, with 
 whom I met weekly for prayer and religious conversa- 
 tion, became my most intimate and faithful friends. 
 In their society I was far more happy than I had ever 
 been in that of my former associates friends I can 
 not call them. In the one case the interviews afforded 
 a pleasant and profitable topic of thought and con- 
 versation ; in the other nothing but remorse and 
 shame. 
 
 " Of these last friends, the one with whom I was 
 most intimate died in the triumphs of faith, while pre- 
 paring for the ministry. Another became a wealthy 
 merchant, and, after a life of usefulness, died about a 
 year ago, leaving a large amount of property to dif- 
 ferent benevolent institutions. Two others have been 
 faithful and successful ministers of the gospel, and 
 are still living and laboring in the vineyard of their 
 Lord and Master. Very different is the history of my 
 three earlier associates. Not long after I left them, 
 one of the number pilfered from his master, ran away, 
 and, so far as I know, has not been heard from since. 
 The other two sank lower and lower in vice and dissi- 
 pation, until they lost their employment and friends,
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 25 
 
 and became poor and shabby in their appearance. I 
 have met them when they would look down or another 
 way, so as not to see me when I passed them. I think 
 they both died from the effects of their dissipation be- 
 fore they arrived at the age of thirty-five years. How 
 true that ' the way of transgressors is hard,' and that 
 ' the path of the just, like the shining light, shineth 
 more and more unto the perfect day ' ! 
 
 " For a long time my hope that I was a Christian 
 was feeble and vacillating, so that I did not offer my- 
 self to the church until I was about nineteen years 
 old. I was then received into the Tabernacle Church 
 in Salem, of which the Rev. Dr. Worcester, who was 
 subsequently the first secretary of the American Board 
 of Missions, was at that time the pastor. 
 
 " Near the close of the year 1812, when I was a 
 little more than twenty years old, my brother, who 
 had another apprentice, and very little business, told 
 me he would give me the remainder of my time, if 
 I would release him from his obligation to give me, 
 as was then the custom, a ' freedom suit ' of clothes. 
 I accepted this proposition, and on the last Saturday 
 of December came to Boston, having in hand about 
 twenty dollars, with forty more due me, which I 
 could not then collect. This money I had earned 
 during my apprenticeship, by working at unseason- 
 able hours. 
 
 " I was very poorly clad, had but these twenty dol- 
 lars, and knew the face of but one man in Boston. 
 Business of every kind was extremely dull, in conse- 
 quence of the existing war with England. I thought 
 if I could earn a living the first year, I should do well, 
 and be satisfied, though the prospect even for this 
 
 3
 
 26 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 looked doubtful ; but I set my face to seek the Lord, 
 and my hands to work ; and at the close of the year I 
 found, to my surprise, that I had gained three hundred 
 dollars. This I have ever considered, in. view of 
 all the circumstances, the most successful year of 
 my life. 
 
 " About this time I was informed that a very poor, 
 pious old widow lived in a little attic room near my 
 shop. I went to see her, and found her almost with- 
 out fuel, and her room cold. I got a small load of 
 wood for her, and hired a man to saw it, and after I 
 had done work I went and carried it up a narrow, 
 winding stairway, and piled it up snugly in her cham- 
 ber. The relief which this little act afforded her, and 
 the gratitude which she expressed, gave me more 
 pleasure than any like sum which I ever spent for my- 
 self. As my acquaintances were then few, I used fre- 
 quently to visit her, and assist her from time to time, 
 as she needed ; but I was abundantly repaid by her 
 pioiis and instructive conversation, and I doubt not 
 that I was blessed in answer to her fervent prayers. 
 From that time to this I have been in the habit of 
 contributing for the relief of the poor, and for various 
 benevolent purposes, as opportunity has offered, and as 
 the Lord has prospered me ; and in my own case I 
 have experienced the fulfillment of the declarations, 
 * He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord, 
 and that which he hath given will he pay him again,' 
 and ' There is that scattereth and yet increaseth.' 
 
 " If it had been told me, when I commenced busi- 
 ness in Boston, that I should one day be worth ten 
 thousand dollars, I should have been greatly surprised, 
 and perfectly satisfied. That was a larger amount
 
 EARLY MANHOOD. 27 
 
 than I ever expected to acquire. When about to take 
 any important step in my worldly affairs, I have been 
 in the habit of asking for the guidance of God as sin- 
 cerely as in spiritual matters ; and, although I do not 
 expect an answer in an audible voice, I do expect him 
 so to influence my mind as to lead me to decide in the 
 way which he sees, on the whole, to be best. "What a 
 privilege, when in doubt as to what course to pursue, 
 to be permitted and invited to ask wisdom of One who 
 knows all things, the future as well as the present 
 and past! 
 
 " When I reflect upon my success in business, and 
 upon my social and religious standing, I love to attrib- 
 ute them to the blessing of God upon my exertions. 
 We must not look for his blessing without our exer- 
 tions, but upon our exertions. 
 
 " Perhaps you are ready to say, ' / do not take any 
 pleasure in reading the Bible, in thinking about God, 
 in praying to him, or in the society of those who talk 
 about God, and heaven, and eternal things.' Is it so ? 
 Then you or God must change, or you can never be 
 happy with him and holy beings. And now, my dear 
 sou, let me entreat you to set your face, your heart, 
 your whole soul, to seek the Lord in earnest. Will 
 you do it ? Will you resolve never to do it ? No, I 
 am sure you will not. Will you resolve to do it at 
 some future time ? That time may never come ; and 
 if it does, it may, and probably will, find you less 
 inclined than now. Christ says, * Seek first the king- 
 dom of God and his righteousness, and all these 
 [necessary] things shall be added to you. 
 
 " Give yourself unreservedly to God, and he will 
 give himself to you. God will be your portion, heaven
 
 28 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 will be your home, and there will be laid up for you 
 an exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Only 
 think ! exceeding all worldly glory a thousand times, 
 and that for ever. 
 
 " That this may be your lot, let it be your daily 
 prayer, as it is the prayer of your ever affectionate 
 father, DANIEL SAFFORD."
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 29 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 
 
 Death of his elder Brother and Father. Marriage. Housekeeping. Ap- 
 prentices. Correspondence with his Brother Ephr aim. Death of his 
 Brother David. Receives his Children into his own Family. Little 
 Susan. Her sudden Death. Letters. Views of Dress. Death of his 
 Brother Ephraim. Sickness and Death of Mrs. Safford. Impaired 
 Health. 
 
 Two years of Mr. Safford's business life had glided 
 pleasantly away, and his prospects were still brighten- 
 ing, when a series of bereavements commenced, which 
 constitute a remarkable feature in his history. 
 
 Mr. Safford's love for his brothers, their early prom- 
 ise and high moral character, have already been men- 
 tioned. This fourfold cord was now to be sundered. 
 Samuel, the eldest of the band, who had been the 
 leader of the brothers and cousins in their childish 
 sports, whose playful humor and musical voice ren- 
 dered him very attractive in more mature years, was 
 first called away. He was at this time thirty years 
 old, a husband and a father. Life seemed opening 
 upon him with increasing charms. But consumption 
 laid upon him its blighting hand, and after oscillating 
 for months between hope and fear; his friends wero 
 forced to the painful conclusion -that he must die, and 
 sent for Daniel to come and pass the few remaining 
 days with him. It was the first death which Mr. 
 Safford had ever witnessed, and it was witli the most 
 
 3*
 
 30 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 intense interest that he watched the process of that 
 great change in one so dear to him. " Daniel," said 
 the expiring brother, " I have seen others die, and 
 thought it a very solemn scene ; but it is quite a dif- 
 ferent thing to die myself.'- Mr. Safford felt as never 
 before the inestimable value of that hope in Christ 
 which proves an anchor to the soul in such an hour. 
 Samuel had for two years indulged this hope ; and he 
 now, without fear, saw death approaching. Perceiving 
 that the friends around his bed were waiting to catch 
 the last token of recognition, he said, " I am not going 
 now ; my time has not come yet." A few hours later 
 he looked upon them with a smile, and said, " I am 
 going now," and ceased breathing. Mr. Safford re- 
 tained with great vividness, through his entire life, the 
 impression of this death. The calmness with which 
 this beloved brother, trusting in the Lord Jesus, faced 
 the king of terrors, assured him of the possibility of 
 triumphing over death, and increased his confidence in 
 the foundation on which he had based his own hopes 
 for eternity the atonement of Christ. But he was 
 led to inquire whether he was bringing forth those 
 fruits of the Spirit which are the only proof of a gen- 
 uine trust in Christ, and to seek with greater earnest- 
 ness to make his salvation sure. 
 
 The next year, 1816, Mr. Safford was called to part 
 with his father. An incident connected with his death 
 is related with tender interest by a maternal aunt of 
 Daniel, who survived him, and was able, though at the 
 great age of ninety-eight, to recall much of the history 
 of her nephew. Early piety was not so frequent then 
 as now. Mr. Safford, this aunt tells us, was called 
 home to see his father, who lay on his dying bed.
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 31 
 
 He had made his visit ; and, as he was about to take 
 leave, his father said, " Daniel, can not you pray with 
 us before you go ? " " He was but a youngster, then," 
 said she, " and there was David, with his girl, and 
 Ephraim, with his girl, and all the rest of the family ; 
 but he knelt and prayed, without a moment's hesita- 
 tion, and we never, any of us, doubted, after that, that 
 Daniel was a man of prayer." This was the first time 
 his relatives had heard his voice in prayer, and this 
 was the last interview on earth between the son and 
 father. The latter fell asleep soon after, at the age of 
 sixty years. His body rests in the village churchyard 
 at Hamilton. On his tombstone are inscribed the words, 
 " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for 
 the end of that man is peace." 
 
 In 1817, Mr. Safford was married to Miss Sarah 
 Ashton, of Boston. He was then twenty-four years of 
 age, and had been four years in business. He hired 
 part of a house, adjoining his shop, in Devonshire 
 Street. This he fitted up with second-hand furniture, 
 every article of which he paid for, and conveyed home 
 after the work of the day in the same manner he had 
 formerly carried his iron to the workshop. When all 
 was completed, and lie saw every thing neatly and 
 pleasantly arranged under the guiding hand of his 
 skillful housewife, and all paid for by the blessing 
 of God upon his own labor, his heart was filled 
 with delight and gratitude. 
 
 He erected a family altar as soon as he had a fam- 
 ily, and every member of his household was expected 
 to be present at the devotions. He never thought of 
 excusing himself from this, or any other duty, on the 
 plea that he was not gifted, or had not been educated.
 
 32 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPPORD. 
 
 Using the gifts he had, his one talent became five, as all 
 will testify who have united in his prayers in the fam- 
 ily, in the conference room, the dying chamber, or the 
 house of mourning. To him the promise was richly 
 verified, " Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and 
 he shall l\ave more abundance." 
 
 Mr. Safford, at the time of his marriage, was con- 
 nected with a circle of young men, who met weekly at 
 each other's homes for prayer and religious conversa- 
 tion ; and now it gave him great pleasure to be able, 
 in his turn, to accommodate them at his own house. 
 Thus early did he commence making his dwelling a 
 sanctuary of prayer and praise. 
 
 As his business increased, he began to take ap- 
 prentices, and received them all into his own famil}*-, 
 until the number amounted to ten. These he not 
 only boarded and lodged, but supplied them also with 
 clothes, all of which were made and mended in his 
 house, under the personal care of his wife. For these 
 young men Mr. Safford felt the solicitude of a truly 
 Christian master. He required them all to be pres- 
 ent at the family devotions, and to go regularly to 
 some place of worship on the Sabbath. Other whole- 
 some regulations were enforced ; one of which was, 
 that they should always be at home for the night as 
 early as ten o'clock. Nor was this care diminished 
 after he ceased to board his apprentices himself. 
 Though no longer under his own roof, they still 
 received his parental oversight. The fruits of this 
 solicitude in their behalf were apparent. Five of 
 them were admitted successively as partners with him 
 in business, all of whom became hopefully Christian 
 men. Two preceded Mr. Safford to their home above,
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 33 
 
 and three yet live to testify to his faithfulness, and 
 cherish his example and counsels as a sacred boon 
 from Heaven. 
 
 The earliest correspondence of Mr. Safford which is 
 left us was held with his brother Ephraim. This 
 brother was one for whom he ever cherished great 
 respect and affection. He possessed a well-balanced 
 and cultivated mind ; being unusually fond of read- 
 ing, even from his childhood. He had desired to go to 
 college, but his father's limited income forbade this ; 
 and, as his constitution was naturally delicate, it was 
 judged best to send him to sea, in the hope that a few 
 voyages might strengthen it. He became a sailor, and 
 soon a commander of a ship. Mr. Safford's first letter 
 to him is dated December 5, 1819. It is directed, 
 " Capt. Ephraim Safford. To be left at the Sun 
 Tavern, Salem, Mass." We give it entire. 
 
 " DEAR BROTHER : Since I left you I have thought 
 much of the importance of your situation, and of the 
 difficulties attending it. If any thing I could do or 
 say would lessen these difficulties, or afford you any 
 assistance, I would spare no pains to do it. But when 
 I consider my inability to say any thing that will be 
 instructive to you, it is with much diffidence that I 
 make the attempt. 
 
 " I will, first, briefly give you my idea of the best 
 mode of government, and leave you to judge how far 
 it may answer for you. 
 
 " The best mode of commanding, I think, is to say, 
 * Do this,' or ' Do that,' in a pleasant, but firm manner. 
 I know that sea captains have said that it is necessary 
 to swear at men, in order to be obeyed quickly. This
 
 34 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPPORD. 
 
 may be true when a man has always been in the ha,bit 
 of accompanying every command with an oath ; but 
 when the reverse has been the practice, I am confident 
 the simple command will be obeyed with more pleasure 
 by the men, and with much more credit to the com- 
 mander. I do not say this to you because I have ever 
 heard that you were in the least addicted to the 
 very ungentlemanly as well as unchristian habit of 
 swearing. 
 
 " As to that part of government which comes under 
 the name of correction, I think it is much more diffi- 
 cult to administer it wisely. It is all-important that 
 the offender, whether the correction be in word or 
 deed, -should, if possible, be made sensible that he is 
 not punished with a malicious and revengeful spirit, 
 but from the impulse of sober reason and a sense of 
 duty ; for although our passions are as necessary as 
 our reason, they should no more be exercised without 
 reason, than the sails of a ship should be hoisted to 
 the wind when she has no rudder. 
 
 " I think that the Sabbath should be more regarded 
 than it usually is at sea. ' Remember the Sabbath 
 day to keep it holy,' is one of the ten commandments, 
 against the profanation of which much is said in the 
 Bible. For that sin the nation of Israel was threat- 
 ened with destruction ; and we have no right to expect 
 prosperity, either as a nation or as individuals, if we 
 disregard this command. When the weather is such 
 as to render it practicable, if the officers of vessels 
 would read a sermon and prayers with the crew, and 
 keep up the form of worship, I think they would find 
 it to promote peace and good order, though no other 
 good effect were realized. I send you a parcel of
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 35 
 
 tracts, that you may occasionally drop some of them 
 where the sailors will get them, or give them directly, 
 as you may think best. As there is something novel 
 in them, your men may be induced to read them, when 
 they would not read the Bible ; and if it has no other 
 effect, it may employ them when they would otherwise 
 be studying mischief. 
 
 " I hope you will be careful to use means for the 
 restoration of your health, and look to God for his 
 blessing upon them. I commend you to God, whose 
 favor is life. That He who corninandeth the winds and 
 waves, and they obey, may bear you prosperously to 
 all your destined ports, and in good time return you 
 in health and safety to your country and friends, is the 
 earnest pra) er of your anxious brother." 
 
 In 1822 Mr. Safford was called to Salem to witness 
 the death of his brother David, with whom he had 
 served his apprenticeship, and* who, like Samuel, was 
 fast sinking under a consumption. His wife had al- 
 ready fallen by the same disease. When dying, he 
 committed to Daniel his four children, David, Ephraim, 
 Ruth, and Susan. He received them into his own 
 family, and acted towards them the part of an affec- 
 tionate father. All except the youngest grew up to 
 mature years under his fostering care. 
 
 The following letter, addressed to his brother 
 Ephraim, is directed, " Ship Minerva, Charleston, 
 South Carolina." 
 
 ' May 6, 1823. 
 
 " DEAR BROTHER : As I have no news to communi- 
 cate, it may not be unprofitable to spend a thought on 
 the present life as connected with the future. It is
 
 36 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 compared to a journey, a voyage, a race, and a war- 
 fare, each of which supposes something ahead as the 
 great object. If we reflect on the sicknesses and 
 pains, the losses, disappointments, and troubles, of 
 every kind, to which mankind are constantly exposed 
 in this life, we cannot suppose that a Being of infinite 
 goodness and wisdom would have created man and 
 placed him here, unless there were some important 
 work for him to do. From the Bible we learn that 
 this important work is to prepare for another, a never- 
 ending state of existence. We also learn that this ex- 
 istence is to be happy or miserable, beyond our present 
 conception, according to the deeds done in the body. 
 Now, if, by any thing we can do, this happiness may 
 be secured and this misery avoided, surely this life, 
 though short, is of infinite importance. In the gospel 
 we are assured that whosoever will may come and 
 drink of the water of life freely. Now, dear brother, 
 as you value your soul, be entreated, by one to whom 
 your happiness is dear, to make a serious business of 
 religion, and that without delay ; for life is short, and 
 death is certain and near. I know you are deprived 
 of many privileges with which I am favored ; but you 
 have the Bible, which is the best guide, and the pres- 
 ence of its divine Author, who is the God of the seas 
 as well as of the dry land. I wish, if you have time, 
 you would write me something of your religious views 
 and feelings, and particularly of your health. I feel 
 anxious for your welfare in port and your safety 
 at sea, but rejoice to leave you in the hands of Him 
 who can calm the raging elements with a word. 
 I a*m very busy, but shall endeavor to write you 
 again before you sail from Charleston. Please write
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEBEAVEMENTS. 37 
 
 me how you like your ship, officers, men, and your 
 cook. 
 
 " Your sincere friend and affectionate brother, 
 
 " DANIEL." 
 
 In a letter to Captain Ephraim Safford, dated May 1, 
 1824, he says, 
 
 " I have just bought a house, for which I paid fifty- 
 five hundred dollars, and I used your money to make 
 out the amount ; but I shall hold myself ready to 
 meet any demand you may make on me. When you 
 return we shall probably be living in Sullivan Court, 
 directly opposite father Ashton's houses, in Federal 
 Street. 
 
 "I have lost five hundred dollars this year by a 
 failure, but my business is very good. I sincerely 
 regret, brother, your present adverse fortune, but I 
 hope the result will not be so bad as you fear. At any 
 rate, may it lead you and me to take the advice of 
 the poet, 
 
 Lean not on earth ; 'twill pierce thee to the heart; 
 A broken reed at best, but oft a spear, 
 On whose sharp point peace bleeds, and hope expires.' " 
 
 It lias been mentioned that, on the death of his 
 brother David, Mr. Safford received the four orphan 
 children to his own hoiise, Susan, the youngest, 
 being then three years old. Having no children of 
 his own, he became very much attached to this little 
 one. It was his first experience of loving and .being 
 loved by a little child. It was her sweet voice and 
 kiss which usually first greeted him on his return 
 
 4
 
 38 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 home ; and in her prattle, as she sat upon his knee, at 
 the close of the day, he learned to forget all his toils 
 and cares. For three years she was permitted, as a 
 sunbeam, thus to enliven the home of her adoption, to 
 receive and reciprocate the affection of her uncle. In 
 the spring of 1825, on the day of General Lafayette's 
 arrival in Boston, she stood at the window in the 
 morning, watching for her uncle ; and when he en- 
 tered the house, she jumped into his arms, full of life 
 and animation, saying, " Now, uncle, I want some 
 money to buy me a blue ribbon. I am going to have 
 some visitors, and we must all be dressed in white, 
 with a Lafayette ribbon." The purchase was made. 
 Susan was dressed, and her little friends came. They 
 were full of glee, the house resounding with their 
 merry voices, as they played " bo-peep " in the yard. 
 Running into the shed, she leaped up to catch a 
 glimpse of them through the window. Missing her 
 hold, she fell into a vault, and was suffocated before 
 assistance could be procured. Her uncle was absent 
 at the time, engaged, with others, in escorting our 
 country's benefactor into the city. On his return no 
 pattering feet ran to welcome him. The dear child 
 whom he had clasped in his arms a few hours before, 
 in perfect health, lay still in death. He at once recog- 
 nized the hand of his Father, and heard him saying, 
 " Be still, and know that I am God." But a friend 
 who accompanied him home, and witnessed the scene 
 that ensued, describes it as one of the most affecting 
 he ever witnessed ; and Mr. Safford could never speak 
 of it in after life without manifesting much feeling. 
 Mrs. Safford never recovered from the shock. 
 
 Captain Ephraim Safford was at this time with a
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 39 
 
 physician in New Hampshire, in the hope of improv- 
 ing his health. His brother wrote to him thus : 
 
 " In consequence of Lafayette's visit, our city and 
 house have been crowded with company. The Me- 
 chanics' Association, of which I am a member, gave 
 him a dinner. The occasion was one of great interest. 
 The governor, lieutenant governor, Hon. Daniel Web- 
 ster, and the mayor, with the son and suite of the 
 general, were present." 
 
 The matter of dress is not wholly without signifi- 
 cance. It may therefore be remarked in passing, that 
 at the dinner referred to in the above extract, Mr. 
 Safford was introduced to Lafayette as the leading 
 blacksmith of the city. The marquis, eying him from 
 head to foot, said, with some surprise, " Why, I should 
 sooner have taken him for the leading tailor" The 
 incident shows the care which Mr. Safford had of his 
 personal appearance. His piety did not lift him above, 
 nor his occupation sink him below, proper attention to 
 his dress. He was equally removed from every thing 
 finical and slovenly. His aspect and attire were in 
 keeping with his character and habits ; so that stran- 
 gers often asked, " Is that gentleman a clergyman ? " 
 This may seem unworthy of record ; yet an experienced 
 and observing merchant remarks, that he has rarely 
 seen the lad or the young man, who was indifferent to 
 his appearance, and slovenly in his dress, succeed in 
 business. 
 
 The next letter is to his brother Ephraiin. 
 
 " August 21, 1825. 
 
 " VERY DEAR BROTHER : Reflecting this evening on 
 your situation, I have thought that if any remedy
 
 40 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 could be found for your disease, I would spare neither 
 money, time, nor exertion to procure it. At the 
 same time, I have been still more strongly impressed 
 with the importance of doing something that, with the 
 blessing of God, may procure for you that which is of 
 infinitely greater moment ; I mean an interest in the 
 atonement of Christ. For what is time compared with 
 eternity ? To assist my laboring mind to some faint 
 idea of eternity, I have supposed one particle of dust 
 to drop from this earth in a million of years, and so 
 onward ; the period would at length arrive when the 
 last atom would drop. At that distant time, should it 
 be asked how much of duration remains, the answer 
 would be, Eternity. Now, dear brother, if your eter- 
 nity should be a happy one, and happy beyond your 
 powers of conception, what a blessing that you were 
 
 born ! if otherwise, what ! This is your state 
 
 of probation. Now there is hope. If delays in other 
 cases are dangerous, they must be dreadfully so in 
 this. Go, I entreat you, to God ; confess your sins, 
 and if you do not feel yourself to be a great sinner, 
 ask him to disclose to you your true character. 
 
 " Perhaps you recollect some time when you have 
 been sick or in great danger ; when you have promised 
 that if your life were spared, you would seek and serve 
 the Lord. If so, confess the sin of failing to perform 
 vows made under such solemn circumstances. Pre- 
 tend not to any merit of your own as a reason why 
 you should obtain mercy and forgiveness, but plead 
 the merits of Him who died to save sinners, and who 
 is ready to save, even at the eleventh hour, all who 
 truly repent and believe. Let the Bible be your 
 guide ; the reading of that, with prayer, your employ-
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 41 
 
 ment. 'He that never prayed can never conceive, 
 and he that has ever prayed as he ought can never 
 forget, how much is to be gained by prayer.' All 
 I have said to you, my brother, I hope I have said to 
 myself; it is needful." 
 
 Ephraim came to Mr. Safford's house soon after the 
 date of this letter, and remained until his death, which 
 occurred in the following month. Mr. Safford thus 
 enjoyed the privilege, during the last days of his 
 brother, of performing for him those kind offices 
 which are so grateful to an invalid of delicate sensi- 
 bilities, when they are known to be the expression of 
 sincere affection and devoted attachment. Ephraim 
 left his property in the care of his brother, requesting 
 that their mother, while she lived, might be supported 
 from the income a request which Mr. Safford al- 
 lowed to be fulfilled partially, and for a time only, as 
 he claimed to share with him the privilege of support- 
 ing her. 
 
 Within a few hours of his death, Ephraim said to his 
 wife, " Daniel does not need my money. There is noth- 
 ing I can do to show my gratitude and love for him ; 
 but if our child should be a son, will you name him 
 Daniel, as a token of my respect and affection for him ? " 
 In accordance with this request, the child was called 
 Daniel Ephraim. The widow soon followed her husband 
 to the grave, and left this child to the care of his uncle. 
 Although his early training devolved chiefly on his 
 maternal grandmother, yet Mr. Safford ever regarded 
 him more as a son than a nephew, and felt the most 
 tender interest both for his temporal and spiritual 
 welfare ; managing the property so prudently that it 
 nearly doubled while in his hands. 
 
 4*
 
 42 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Captain Ephraim Safford was the last of his three 
 brothers. As already mentioned, they all died of con- 
 sumption, between the ages of thirty and thirty- six 
 years. It was hard for Mr. Safford to see brothers of 
 so much promise die so soon. But this was God's 
 method of teaching an enterprising young man the 
 uncertainty of life, and the importance of seeking first 
 the kingdom of God and his righteousness. That les- 
 son, indeed, had been taught him from his childhood, 
 by a heart affection, from which he often suffered. 
 When running, or engaged in any of the athletic 
 sports of youth, he was frequently compelled to stop 
 instantly, and remain quiet until the palpitation sub- 
 sided. In after life these attacks became of a more 
 serious character. He was sometimes seized witli 
 them while conversing quietly with a friend. He 
 ceased talking. His countenance assumed a thought- 
 ful expression, and if asked what was the matter, he 
 replied, " Do not speak to me." Sometimes he would 
 remain sitting ; at other times throw himself upon a 
 sofa. On placing an ear to his chest, the heart would 
 seem to be entirely still. A fluttering motion succeed- 
 ed, followed by a violent beating. These paroxysms 
 occupied from five minutes to half an hour. When 
 relief came, it was as sudden as the attack. He some- 
 times bounded to the floor with joy. When asked to 
 describe his sensations, his reply was, " I can give no 
 account of them. I do not yet know what dying is, 
 but I have the impression that this suffering is as near 
 the sensation of dying as any thing can be." It was 
 this heart disease which led him habitually to expect 
 that he should die suddenly. He was thus from his 
 youth under sentence of death, and of^^ reminded 
 that it might come at any hour.
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 43 
 
 We now see Mr. Safford residing in Sullivan Place ; 
 the family consisting of his invalid wife, his widowed 
 mother, who had conie to take up her permanent 
 abode with him, and the three orphan children of his 
 brother David. His extensive business, the declining 
 health of his wife, and his care for these children, press 
 heavily upon him, but with great cheerfulness and 
 fidelity he discharges every duty. Yet he is but little 
 known beyond the circle of his business. There are 
 men, however, in the church, wise and observing, who 
 have marked his course, silent and unobtrusive, al- 
 ready saying one to another, " There is a great deal 
 in that man. He is yet to become an ornament in the 
 church, and a blessing to the world." 
 
 Mrs. Safford lingered in consumption for two years. 
 It was during her protracted illness that he learned 
 those lessons of patient watching with the sick, and 
 acquired that skill in the treatment of them, which 
 rendered him so well adapted ever after to the cham- 
 ber of sickness. We could mention numerous in- 
 stances in which he was enabled thus to comfort the 
 suffering by giving himself to minister to them. A 
 gentleman living at a distance from the city, who had 
 been long ill and was now confined to his bed, was 
 visited by Mr. Safford just before his death, and his 
 offer to sit with him through the night was accepted. 
 The wife of the invalid says, " I shall never forget the 
 expression of pleasure and gratitude with which my 
 husband said to me, as I approached his bed in the 
 morning, ' I have had a good night. What a wonder- 
 ful man Mr. Safford is ! He knows exactly how to 
 treat a sick person. Never has any one turned me in 
 bed with such ease, always placing the pillows in the
 
 44 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 way to render my position the most comfortable.'" 
 He conferred and received an unusual amount of 
 pleasure in thus personally waiting upon the sick, in 
 imitation of his divine Master, who " came not to be 
 ministered unto, but to minister." The first time the 
 writer ever heard Mr Safford's name mentioned, was 
 more than thirty years ago, when he was described to 
 her as " the good Deacon Safford, whose wife had been 
 ill so long, and who had been so patient and kind in 
 the care of her, and whom every body loved." 
 
 The summer previous to Mrs. Safford's death, she 
 was removed to Randolph for the benefit of the coun- 
 try air. All the sleep he had during that season was 
 obtained while riding to and from that place, a dis- 
 tance of fourteen miles. He was obliged to remain at 
 his business until the latest moment ; then he would 
 get into his chaise, place the reins on a hook, fold his 
 arms, and sleep until the horse stopped at the door of 
 the house, spend the night in watching with her, and 
 just at daybreak seat himself again in his chaise, sleep- 
 ing on his return in the same way; his trusty horse 
 " Blackie " conducting him just as safely as by the 
 most careful driving. 
 
 Mrs. Safford died in November, 1827, leaving pleas- 
 ing evidence to her bereaved husband that she had 
 departed to be with Christ. She had been educated a 
 Unitarian, her parents and most of her relations having 
 been of that faith ; but she had experienced a change 
 of views, and united with the Park Street Church be- 
 fore her marriage. The fact that Mr. Safford pro- 
 fessed a different faith did not obstruct the most free 
 and affectionate intercourse with her friends. He was 
 never accused of bigotry by them, although he did not
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE AND BEREAVEMENTS. 45 
 
 'compromise or conceal his sentiments, but endeavored 
 to be the same in all places and circumstances. Her 
 mother, who survived his wife, made him her adviser 
 in all her secular affairs, and the executor of her will. 
 Her brothers also placed unlimited confidence in him. 
 One of them, having taken up his residence in Europe, 
 left a large amount of property in his hands, requiring 
 no security, and giving no directions about it, except 
 to say, " Use your own judgment and discretion." 
 They trusted him because they saw that he constantly 
 endeavored to do unto others whatsoever he would 
 that others should do unto him. 
 
 He continued to visit, his mother-in-law, and kindly 
 to attend to all her requests during the many years 
 she remained a widow and an invalid, even after he 
 had formed many new relationships by his subsequent 
 marriages. 
 
 During Mrs. Safford's long confinement, she had 
 come to feel the loneliness of their residence in Sulli- 
 van Court ; in consequence of which Mr. Safford sold 
 the house and removed to rooms on the corner of Avon 
 Place and Washington Street, where she died. After 
 her death, he sent the children under his care to 
 school in the country, and he with his mother became 
 boarders. His own health was now seriously impaired. 
 Apprehensions were awakened that he, too, might fall 
 a victim to the same disease which had carried to 
 the grave all his brothers, two of their wives, and 
 his own. 
 
 His physician having advised immediate relaxation 
 from business, he engaged passage for himself and 
 faithful " 1'lackie " on board a vessel bound for the 
 coast of Maine, where he spent several weeks travers-
 
 46 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 ing those vast primitive forests on horseback, eschew- 
 ing all medicine, and breathing God's pure air. The 
 unfavorable symptoms disappeared, and he returned to 
 the city greatly invigorated. This seems to have been 
 a crisis in his physical condition, no indications of pul- 
 monary disease ever recurring afterward.
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 47 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 
 
 First large charitable Donation. Amount of his Property in 1826. Increase 
 of his HusiiK'ss. His Horse " Blackie." Rules of the Workshop. 
 Efforts to promote Temperance among his Men. Interest in their Spir- 
 itual Welfare. Narrative of two Individuals. Description of his Busi- 
 ness. Respect for his Calling. Reputation for Integrity. Self-re- 
 straint under Provocation. Skill in his Work. 
 
 " How long," the writer asked of a distinguished 
 clergyman of this city, " had you been acquainted 
 with Mr. Saffbrd ? " " Ever since," he replied, " that 
 subscription of one thousand dollars which he made to 
 the funds of the American Education Society." The 
 event thus referred to occurred in the year 1826. At 
 that time donations to charitable objects of such an 
 amount were rare, and the fact of this being offered 
 by Mr. Safiford could not fail to bring him into notice 
 in the religious community. 
 
 While listening to a sermon by the Rev. Dr. Cor- 
 nelius on the importance of educating pious young 
 men for the ministry, in which it was proposed that 
 some one should give a thousand dollars to found a 
 scholarship, the interest of which should be perma- 
 nently devoted to aid one beneficiary, the question 
 arose in his mind, " Can not /do it ? " His heart 
 responded, " I can." And he did it. At that time 
 Mr. Safibrd was worth twenty-five thousand dollars.
 
 48 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 This had not been gained by the rise of stocks, nor by 
 speculations of any sort, but was wholly the product 
 of industry and untiring application to his business, 
 through the blessing of God, which, he says, " from the 
 beginning I sought upon my labors." The preceding 
 year had been one of unusual prosperity; and he now 
 came with his thank offering, in accordance with the 
 principle, upon which he acted through life, of giving 
 as the Lord had prospered him. 
 
 " But this subscription," he said to a friend years 
 afterward, " cost me a great deal of pain. I saw in 
 my heart risings of self-complacency, which were very 
 odious, and led me to fear that God would not accept 
 the offering." 
 
 Until about this time Mr. SafFord had been accus- 
 tomed to labor with his men in the shop. He now 
 took into partnership Mr. Isaiah Low, one of his early 
 apprentices, a man of sterling worth and more than 
 ordinary mental -culture. His views of the principles 
 and mode of conducting business harmonized entirely 
 with Mr. Safford's ; and he proved himself so compe- 
 tent in every respect, that the shop and the mechanical 
 part of the business were at length left mostly in his 
 hands. Mr. Low took the house adjoining their place 
 of business, and received the apprentices into his 
 family. 
 
 Although by this arrangement Mr. Safford was 
 relieved from the immediate care of the shop, still 
 the rapid extension of his business required his whole 
 attention abroad. His work was called for in remote 
 parts of the city and suburbs. It was in the prosecu- 
 tion of these labors that he purchased for a saddle 
 horse the favorite " Blackie," already spoken of an
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 49 
 
 animal which from his own qualities, and his celebrity, 
 deserves more thaii a passing mention. 
 
 This horse was brought for sale from the country, 
 because unmanageable by his owner. His appearance 
 was quite striking, being above the medium size, finely 
 proportioned, of a jet black color, and his countenance 
 remarkably intelligent. Having some confidence in 
 his own horsemanship, Mr. Safford said he would try 
 him. To his surprise, the horse behaved extremely 
 well. Perceiving no fault in him, he concluded that 
 the owner must have been very timid, and have yielded 
 the mastery to the animal, who discovered this, and 
 used the liberty given him. He purchased the horse ; 
 but the very first time he mounted him afterward, he 
 made known his intention not to be controlled. His 
 first effort was to throw his rider an art in which he 
 was manifestly well practiced. He reared, he kicked, 
 he plunged, dashing and foaming in his rage. The 
 battle was fought in a lumber yard, where boards and 
 much timber were lying loosely about. Mr. Safford 
 *oon found that the contest was to be a severe one, and 
 of very doubtful issue. The horse had always before 
 gained the victory, and seemed quite confident he 
 should now. Many persons were attracted to the spot 
 to witness the scene. His friends begged him to dis- 
 mount, saying that he would certainly be killed. But 
 lie was not accustomed to yield to difficulties in any 
 work he had undertaken. He held the reins firmly, 
 and with perfect calmness and great adroitness retained 
 his scat, confident that he must conquer now or never, 
 yet doubting whether the horse would yield until 
 death. A large raw-hide whip was completely used 
 up ; the blood was flowing copiously down his legs ; 
 
 5
 
 50 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPFOBD. 
 
 when suddenly the horse surrendered. Standing en- 
 tirely still, with the exception of an involuntary and 
 universal trembling, he seemed to say, " I submit ; I 
 wait your bidding as my master." From this moment 
 there was always the best understanding between the 
 horse and his owner. For the succeeding twelve years 
 they were associated with each other in the minds of 
 many in this community. Mr. Safford was often des- 
 ignated by those who did not know his name as " the 
 man who owns the black horse." 
 
 All the boys in the city knew Blackie. He would 
 follow his master whenever permitted, run to him 
 when called, if within sound of his voice, and perform 
 many pranks which were to them a great amusement. 
 His master frequently left him at the door of an 
 establishment, with the reins over the saddle, and 
 however long the time he was occupied, Blackie would 
 be found on his return patiently waiting for him. At 
 one place the boys, for several successive days, had 
 been teasing him. At length, after he had borne the 
 annoyance until his patience was exhausted, he sud- 
 denly reared, as if intending to spring upon them. 
 The boys were frightened, and ran behind the building. 
 After remaining there a little time, they crept timidly 
 out, when the horse again sprang toward them, and 
 drove them back. After this was repeated several times, 
 Blackie concluded that he would hide, too. He went 
 around the other side of the building, and remained 
 until the boys appeared. "While they were looking 
 about, wondering if he were gone, he suddenly leaped 
 at them from his hiding place. This play of hide and 
 go seek by Blackie and the boys was repeated on sev- 
 eral occasions, and it was so amusing that many were 
 attracted to witness it.
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 51 
 
 It was with deep sorrow that Mr. Saflbrd felt obliged 
 to part with so faithful a servant, when he became old 
 and blind. Twenty years afterward he said, " I have 
 sometimes regretted that I had not paid his board and 
 kept him in my possession, although perfectly useless 
 to me, until his death." 
 
 About this time Mr. Safford took a long lease of the 
 property on the corner of Devonshire Street and 
 Spring Lane, then his place of business. The ques- 
 tion whether he should lease or purchase it had been 
 for some time under consideration. There was a 
 strong probability that the value of this property 
 would greatly increase ; but his aversion to being in 
 debt prevailed. It was with him an established rule 
 never to contract a debt which he might not be able 
 to pay. 
 
 The number of men in his employment varied from 
 twenty to fifty. In his intercourse with them lie was 
 kind, but firm. Tho order and discipline of the shop 
 during working hours were strict. No profane or 
 improper language was allowed. Long before the 
 temperance movement was commenced, Mr. Safford, 
 as has been already seen, had practically adopted its 
 principles. He saw and felt that the habit of drinking 
 ardent spirits was a great evil. But how to meet it in 
 the case of his workmen, for whom he was especially 
 responsible, was a difficult question. They considered 
 themselves as much entitled to their " grog " as to 
 their wages. He first proposed to substitute beer, and 
 placed in the cellar a barrel of it, to which they all had 
 access. He next persuaded them to exchange the 
 beer for milk. At last he adopted the plan of paying 
 each man an equivalent in money for the liquor, when
 
 52 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 he settled with him at the close of the week. This 
 measure proved more satisfactory than either of the 
 others. A few years later, when the evils of intem- 
 perance began to be publicly discussed, and total ab- 
 stinence societies to be formed, he invited all his work- 
 men to meet in his own house, and listen to an address 
 from Rev. Dr. Edwards, then a distinguished advo- 
 cate of this cause. He set before them the dangers of 
 the temperate drinker in his usual plain and earnest 
 manner ; after which the men formed themselves into 
 a temperance society, every one of them signing the 
 pledge. 
 
 Mr. Safford made himself acquainted with the habits 
 of his workmen, both in and out of the shop. If he 
 learned that one was guilty of immoral practices, he 
 embraced the earliest opportunity for a private inter- 
 view, and kindly but faithfully urged an immediate 
 reformation. If this did not follow, the man, however 
 valuable his services were to him, was dismissed. Nor 
 did he rest content with this. Pie sought even more 
 earnestly their spiritual welfare, and did not cease to 
 pray and labor for their salvation. One who in early 
 life was apprenticed to him, and subsequently became 
 a partner in the business, says, " I can never express 
 what I owe to Mr. Safford's example, and to his efforts 
 for my welfare. It was a conversation which he had 
 with me by the door of the shop, after the business of 
 the day was closed, and the other workmen had re- 
 tired, together with his prayers for me, which availed 
 to bring me to Christ." This man is now a respected 
 officer of a church in the suburbs of the city. 
 
 Another says, " I never hear the name of this good 
 man mentioned but it stirs up within me the most
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 53 
 
 pleasant emotions. When I first came to Boston, I 
 applied for work to Deacon Saffbrd, and was successful. 
 He was employing at that time more than fifty work- 
 men. Soon afterward, I joined a company of young 
 men who spent their evenings in dissipation. One 
 Saturday evening, as the men came forward to receive 
 their pay, Mr. Safford asked me to stand aside and 
 wait a moment. After all the cithers had gone away, 
 he turned to me, and in one of the most faithful and 
 earnest exhortations I ever heard, urged me to aban- 
 don my course of life at once, as my only hope of suc- 
 cess in this world, or of salvation in that which is to 
 come. During his remarks he recounted the history 
 of many individuals, whom he had seen commence 
 life in Boston with much promise, but who, following 
 the same course I was then pursuing, had brought 
 ruin upon themselves, and disgrace upon their friends. 
 The conversation ended with a solomn prayer. It was 
 the turning point in my life. I at once abandoned my 
 evil associates, and avoided the theater ; and from that 
 hour my prospects brightened. This is not all. When 
 thrown into the company of irreligious men, that con- 
 versation and its infinite worth to me have many times 
 occurred to my mind, and led me to try to imitate it." 
 As has been already intimated, his business was not 
 that of the ordinary blacksmith. There were parts of 
 it which required much skill and taste, such as the 
 constructing of doors, locks, and safes, for banks. 
 Many of the ornamental iron fences, balconies, and 
 verandas first constructed in Boston, were not only 
 of his workmanship, but the patterns were of his 
 device. His work was sent to different parts of this 
 and other countries. He introduced hot-air iron fur-
 
 54 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 naces for warming dwelling houses and large build- 
 ings, of which the first used iii the Capitol at Wash- 
 ington was one. He invented some articles, and im- 
 proved others, which came into extensive use. He was 
 sometimes urged to take out patents on these ; but he 
 always said, " No ; I choose that all shall be at lib- 
 erty to use my inventions. If the public are ben- 
 efited, I am satisfied." He entered into many large 
 contracts with the city, and with other corporations ; 
 among them one for the iron work in Quincy Market, 
 and another for that in the House of Industry. His 
 last large engagement with the city was for the build- 
 ing of the iron fence around the Common. This he 
 executed in connection with his former partner, Mr. 
 Adams, more than fifteen years after the dissolution of 
 their copartnership. Mr. Adams had continued in a 
 prosperous business of the same kind, and Mr. Safford 
 was ever scrupulously careful to avoid competition 
 with him. Indeed, he always avoided every thing like 
 competition with his fellow-mechanics. When pro- 
 posals were solicited for these and similar large con- 
 tracts, he would not underbid others, nor descend to 
 any unfair means to procure the work. In making an 
 estimate, he carefully acquainted himself with the cost 
 of proper materials, and of the requisite labor, and 
 then added what he regarded as a fair profit. Nor did 
 he desire any engagements which were only to be had 
 upon less honorable terms. 
 
 Mr. Safford never allowed himself to be insulted. 
 A builder in the city, who had acquired eminence and 
 influence, and whose favor was much sought by me- 
 chanics, on account of the business it was in his power 
 to furnish, in fulfilling large contracts found it for
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 55 
 
 his interest to employ Mr. Safford. The man was 
 haughty, overbearing, often passionate, and withal very 
 profane ; but these peculiarities were borne with by 
 many who wished to obtain his work. One day his 
 large figure was seen in the door of Mr. Safford's shop. 
 In a loud voice, and with an oath, he called out, " You 
 son of a Vulcan, why is not the work done on those 
 buildings?" The shop was large, and Mr. Safford 
 was in a remote part of it. All the men paused in 
 their work, and fixed their eyes on him. They had 
 never seen him lose his temper ; but this was a severe 
 test, and the interest was intense to see how he would 
 bear it. He remained silent for a moment. The man 
 spoke again at the top of his voice, repeating the same 
 words. Mr. Safford turned and walked toward him, 
 and with calm dignity replied, " Mr. , such lan- 
 guage as that can not be allowed in my shop. I have 
 always treated you as a gentleman, and I expect the 
 same treatment from you in return. The work is in 
 progress, and will be completed at the time agreed 
 upon ; but if we must receive such language from you, 
 I prefer that in future you should get your work done 
 at another place." The workmen did not fail to 
 notice the very deferential manner in which this per- 
 son ever after addressed Mr. Safford, and were pleased 
 to see that they received from him more orders for 
 work than before. 
 
 The only respect which Mr. Safford valued was that 
 inspired by true worth of character. This he aimed 
 to attain in his calling, choosing to be known, at home 
 and abroad, as a blacksmith. On one occasion, after 
 he had retired from business, he said, " I was never at 
 any time of iny life ashamed of my trade, nor to be
 
 56 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 seen working at it. I have always regarded any hon- 
 est employment, by which a person may earn a living, 
 as respectable, and I can see nothing in it degrading 
 to any man. I can not say that I have not aimed to 
 be at the head of -my profession, but have never enter- 
 tained for a moment the wish to change my business, 
 as I have sometimes been advised to do by friends, for 
 one which in the eyes of many might be more respec- 
 table ; choosing to be, as the proverb is, ' a king 
 among beggars rather than a beggar among kings.' 
 Of late years, since I have retired from business, it has 
 sometimes happened that a lawyer, in drawing up legal 
 instruments, has proposed to write ' Daniel Safford, 
 gentleman,' as is common in such cases, and has 
 sometimes done so ; but I always disliked it, preferring 
 to be designated by my former calling." 
 
 After it was almost forgotten that he ever labored 
 with his own hands, he received, at different times, 
 proposals from mercantile gentlemen to invest capital 
 with them in business. Reflecting upon the risk which 
 this would involve, he one day remarked to Mrs. Saf- 
 ford, " Should I lose all, and it should be necessary, I 
 could return to the anvil, wife, and just as cheerfully 
 as ever earn our bread in that way. It might be a 
 little severe at first, but this arm has not lost its power, 
 and, I think, not its skill." This had been proved not 
 long before. When the Lowell Railroad was in process 
 of construction, it became necessary, not imfrequently, 
 to weld together two of the iron rails. Inquiry was 
 made of Mr. Safford if this could be done. He said 
 it could, and directed some of his most experienced 
 men to undertake it. The foreman in the forging 
 department pronounced the thing impossible. He
 
 BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES. 57 
 
 said they could not get up a welding heat in that shop 
 sufficient to do it, and that it would be foolish to 
 attempt it. Mr. Safford, still insisting that it could be 
 done, at length said, " You do not intend to compel 
 me to take hold myself do you ? " "I should like 
 to see you try it," replied the foreman, in a somewhat 
 defiant tone. Mr. Safford knew that there was an 
 Englishman in the shop who could do it, but he was 
 not willing to have his foreman beaten by him. He 
 ordered a man to the bellows, laid aside his coat, called 
 for a leather apron, and took his stand at the anvil. 
 Four men on each side of him supported the rails. The 
 men had never before seen him in this position, and 
 stood by, laughing among themselves, and expecting 
 to witness his failure. He quietly worked on, until, to 
 the astonishment of all, and the extreme mortification 
 of the foreman, the work was successfully completed. 
 Contented with the wise allotments of Providence, 
 Mr. Safford knew not the feelings of jealousy, which 
 many in the working classes entertain respecting those 
 who occupy a position in society higher than them- 
 selves. He cherished a noble magnanimity toward men 
 in every station; and gladly gave honor to whom honor 
 was due. He respected man, of whatever color or 
 nation, as a brother, even though clothed in rags. 
 His kindness to all classes was proverbial. He pos- 
 sessed that good sense, and had acquired those habits 
 of close observation, which enabled him to judge cor- 
 rectly of character. If he met with persons who, on 
 account of their wealth, arrogantly claimed undue 
 deference, he pitied them. He never courted the 
 favor of those who were elevated by office or wealth, 
 or sought to gain consideration by any connection with
 
 58 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 them. It was not thus he aimed to rise in the world. 
 But when, from time to time, he found himself unex- 
 pectedly occupying positions which were new to him, 
 whatever they might be, he always seemed to be en- 
 tirely at home in them. He knew just where he 
 stood, and that it was on a solid foundation. Con- 
 scious that his aim was not to establish a reputation 
 among men, but to be good and to do good, he was 
 very little affected by what others thought or said of 
 his course.
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE SALEM CHURCH. 59 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE SALEM CHURCH. 
 
 Organization of the Church. Chosen Deacon. View of his official Duties. 
 
 Love for his Brethren. Attachment to the Pastor, Rev. J. Edwards. 
 
 Kindness shown to his Family. 
 
 A GROWING interest in evangelical religion led to the 
 belief that a new Congregational church should be 
 organized in the northern part of the city. To com- 
 mence this enterprise a number of persons were desig- 
 nated by the other churches, among whom was Mr. 
 Safford. At the first meeting of the new church he 
 was elected deacon, and appointed one of the com- 
 mittee for calling a pastor. He was inducted into 
 office, with two associates, on the second Sabbath in 
 January, 1828 the Sabbath following the installation 
 of the pastor. 
 
 Mr. Safford's estimate of himself was such that he 
 would never have sought this office. Many years 
 later, after he had served in a similar capacity in three 
 other churches, he one evening remarked, on returning 
 home from a meeting for prayer and conference, over 
 which he had presided, " I ought not to be in this 
 
 place. There are men in the church Mr. and 
 
 others more competent to edify people than I am." 
 Deeming it, however, a call of God, he did not refuse 
 to obey it, and enter at once, with his customary
 
 60 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 fidelity, upon its duties. Visiting " the widow and 
 fatherless in their affliction," and ministering to those 
 who needed sympathy and relief, were no new em- 
 ployments to him ; but he now adopted them as part 
 of his daily routine of duty. One who was subse- 
 quently associated with him in this office writes, 
 
 " Deacon Safford cherished a profound sense of the 
 dignity and responsibilities of the office, and discharged 
 its duties with unsparing zeal and devote dness, al- 
 though diffident and distrustful of himself. Like the 
 seven who were appointed to attend to such business 
 as encumbered the apostles, that they might give 
 themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry 
 of the word, he made it his first duty to perform any 
 service that would relieve or assist his pastor. His 
 watehfulness for opportunities to cU} this was so con- 
 stant, and his perception and judgment so accurate, 
 that a thing was often done by him before it would 
 occur to another that any thing needed to be done. 
 
 "It often devolved upon him in person to solicit 
 contributions for charitable objects ; and this he did in 
 such a pleasant way that all were glad to see him 
 coming, even when they knew it was to ask for money 
 which they could, perhaps, ill afford to give. 
 
 " His visits to the sick and the afflicted were marked 
 by gentleness and sympathy. He possessed great skill 
 in gaining their confidence, and knew better than most 
 men how to afford relief." 
 
 One of the objects which Mr. Safford strove to 
 accomplish was to induce people to attend upon the 
 services of the sanctuary. "Never shall I forget," 
 remarked another, " after having mentioned one day 
 to Mr. Safford the name of a family in the neighbor-
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE SALEM CHURCH. 61 
 
 hood of Salem Church, who I thought might be drawn 
 to the house of God if efforts were made to that effect, 
 the promptness and zeal with which he attended to 
 the case, looking them up himself, and persevering in 
 his exertions until they were all established as constant 
 attendants on divine worship." 
 
 On one occasion, when a series of meetings was 
 about to be held, he looked around to see whom he 
 could induce to attend them. Among others, he in- 
 vited a widow lady, with three young daughters, who 
 were dependent in part on their needle for support. 
 The mother reasonably objected that they could not 
 afford to give their time to meetings during the week. 
 He asked her how much they could earn in the given 
 time. She told him, and he said, " Let your daughters 
 come to these meetings, and I will see that you do not 
 lose by it." They went, and were converted, and sub- 
 sequently filled important positions both in social life 
 and in the church. 
 
 He regarded the family of Christ as his own family. 
 It was his custom to keep a list of the members of the 
 church, and to cultivate a personal acquaintance with 
 each ; loving those united with him in these sacred 
 bonds " with a pure heart fervently." He supplied 
 the immediate necessities of the poor from his own 
 purse, and with this never failed to point them to the 
 full fountain of Christ's love, from which he himself 
 drank so deeply. 
 
 The pastor who had been called to the charge of 
 this infant church was the Rev. Justin Edwards, of 
 Andover. At this time his health was found to have 
 been so much impaired by his former labors, that it 
 was deemed inexpedient for his family to remove 
 
 6
 
 62 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 immediately to Boston. They were accordingly placed 
 for the time in Dorchester, and he himself allowed to 
 pass the summer at Saratoga Springs. In these cir- 
 cumstances, Mr. Safford assumed the care of the fam- 
 ily ; or, as Mrs. Edwards said, " He adopted us. He 
 was present at the house in Dorchester to receive our 
 goods, and did not leave us until they were all ar- 
 ranged, aiding himself in the work through the entire 
 day." It is with much gratitude that Mrs. Edwards 
 remembers his kind attentions during this season of" 
 trial, while among strangers, in delicate health, with 
 the sole care of her young children, and burdened 
 with anxiety for her husband. 
 
 The approach of Blackie and his master always sent 
 a thrill of joy through the house the little boys 
 vied with each other in their efforts to get first to the 
 gate and open it ; and were often permitted to perfom 
 the no less agreeable service of relieving the chaise 
 of its contents, consisting of nice fruits of the season, 
 and other " good things." One instance of Mr. Saf- 
 ford's kindness made an abiding impression on the 
 minds of these boys. He took them in his carriage 
 into the city, and purchased for each a new pair of 
 boots the first they had ever possessed. He could 
 never forget their manifestations of delight as they 
 passed through the street leaping by his side, and 
 filling his heart with a joy equal to their own. 
 
 " On the removal of the family to the city, in the 
 autumn," Mrs. Edwards writes, " he was at the house 
 in Sheafe Street, to receive us again, and to render 
 the needed assistance. After the furniture was ar- 
 ranged, he perceived that some additional articles were 
 wanting to render the parlors comfortable and attrac-
 
 CONNECTION WITH THE SALEM CHURCH. 63 
 
 tive, and saying nothing to any one, he went and 
 ordered them, paying the bill himself. Thus, with his 
 kindness ever wakeful and active, he provided for our 
 good, during our residence in Boston, many comforts, 
 which are still gratefully remembered. When the ill 
 health of my husband rendered it necessary for him 
 to resign his charge and return to Andover, our dwell- 
 ing here was, at his expense, handsomely painted, and 
 furnished with window blinds. These and many other 
 acts seemed to be done by him with the same interest 
 with which he would have done them for his own family, 
 expecting and wishing for nothing in return. During 
 the absence of my husband most of the time for seven 
 years, our dwelling was often cheered by his presence ; 
 and whenever we entered his own, we were sure to be 
 met with a smile which gave full proof that his heart 
 meant what his lips uttered ' I am glad to see you.' 
 To be ever greeted with kind looks and other expres- 
 sions of a sincere and sympathizing heart, in this cold, 
 selfish world, we have felt to be no small favor from 
 the Lord. 
 
 " Throughout his life my children received from him 
 numerous acts of kindness. For many months, while 
 attending school in the city they had a home in his 
 house. At the time when my husband was appointed 
 President of the Theological Seminary at Andover, 
 he made important repairs upon the house we were 
 to occupy, and procured the additional furniture 
 requisite." 
 
 In completing her narrative of the kindness received 
 from him by her husband and family through his life, 
 Mrs. Edwards adds, " In 1855, he, with my sons, 
 selected a monument for my husband, the expense
 
 64 MEMOIR OP DANIEL 8AFFORD. 
 
 of which was mostly defrayed by contributions from 
 his acquaintances and friends. His usual good taste 
 and judgment were manifest in this. Though now in 
 declining health, the care of its transportation and 
 erection was, at his own request, left to him. He not 
 only superintended the labor, but wrought with his 
 own hands day after day, until the work was com- 
 pleted. . . . 
 
 " It was affecting to witness how constantly he em- 
 ployed himself for the good of others, even in illness 
 and weakness. During the last summer of his life, he 
 gathered in his daily rides materials for a rustic gate 
 for our garden hedge. This he constructed himself, 
 in his own house in Boston, spending several days in 
 the work. We received it by express, with the hinges 
 upon it, ready to be put in its place. There it still 
 remains more than six years afterward opposite 
 our windows, reminding us daily that we once had 
 such a friend and brother. 
 
 "From many rooms in our dwelling his fervent 
 prayers have ascended to the Giver of all good for his 
 blessing to rest upon us ; and oh, how many, many 
 dwellings have shared in the same sincere and heart- 
 felt supplications ! 
 
 " May his mantle, with the blessing of Heaven, rest 
 upon his family and posterity to the latest generation."
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 65 
 
 * CHAPTER VI. 
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 
 
 Marriage to Miss Abby Jane Bigelow. Visit to her Parents. Dominie. 
 Mr. Safford, " the Minister's Friend." Rev. Dr. Cornelius. Birth of 
 a Son. Death of his Wife. Views of Mourning Apparel. Extracts 
 from Correspondence. 
 
 WE have related the circumstances in which Mr. 
 Safford's acquaintance with Rev. Mr. Edwards's family 
 commenced. The kindness so gratefully acknowledged 
 by Mrs. Edwards was at first prompted solely by his 
 regard for his pastor, and the cause for which he was 
 laboring. That attachment was now to be strength- 
 ened by the formation of a tenderer tie. On the 25th 
 of December, 1828, he was married to Miss Abby Jane 
 Bigelow, of Colchester, Connecticut, sister of Mrs. 
 Edwards. 
 
 Miss Bigelow had professed religion six years before, 
 at the age of twenty. Her temperament was placid, 
 and her tastes were simple. Being little disposed to 
 enter into fashionable life, it was her delight now to be 
 introduced by her husband to those members of the 
 church who could be comforted or aided by her, and 
 share with him the pleasure of doing good. 
 
 The wedding had taken place in Boston, at the resi- 
 dence of Mr. Edwards, where Miss Bigelow was on a 
 visit to her sister. Though the approbation of her 
 
 6
 
 66 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 aged parents had been sought and bestowed, yet four 
 months of her married life passed ere they had an 
 opportunity of seeing him who almost seemed to have 
 taken their daughter by stealth, she having left them 
 apparently only for a few weeks, and often having said, 
 " I shall be the one, of all the six, to stay at home and 
 take care of you." But now, on a loveljj spring morn- 
 ing, Blackie was seen wending his way through their 
 quiet village. He first stopped at the house of her 
 sister, Mrs. T. ; who, with her husband, accompanied 
 them to the old mansion, feeling no small interest in 
 witnessing the first greeting between the parents and 
 the son. A visit of a few days fully satisfied them 
 respecting their daughter's choice ; and their esteem 
 for him increased ever afterward while they lived. 
 
 During this first visit to Colchester, he made an- 
 other acquaintance, which, as illustrative of his 
 character, deserves to be mentioned. It was with 
 " Dominie," an old negro who lived alone in a little 
 hut on the edge of a wood, some distance from the 
 village. Many yet living remember him as spinning 
 worsted in their fathers' families, when they were chil- 
 dren, and singing as he spun, 
 
 " Oh, when shall I see Jesus, 
 
 And reign with him above, 
 And from this flowing fountain 
 
 Drink everlasting love ? 
 When shall I be delivered 
 
 From this vain world of sin, 
 And, with my blessed Jesus, 
 
 Drink endless pleasures in ? " 
 
 But now, too old to spin, he spent his time, when able, 
 in going about to stimulate Christians to a higher
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 67 
 
 piety, and to warn the impenitent of their danger. 
 When too feeble for this, he, alone in his hut, occupied 
 himself with his Bible, and in prayer and praise. Mr. 
 Safford made him a visit, and enjoyed an hour of de- 
 lightful Christian communion with him. His furni- 
 ture consisted of a bed, a chair, a table, and his spin- 
 ning wheel, which now bore as strong marks of age as 
 himself. And often he knew not whence his next meal 
 was to come, except that Elijah's God would provide 
 it. But he sung with as much heart as ever, - 
 
 " I need not go abroad for joy, 
 Who have a feast at home ; 
 My sighs are turned into songs 
 The Comforter is come." 
 
 And Mr. Safford felt that, if he had the wealth of a 
 world at his command, he would not venture essentially 
 to change Dominie's situation. He gave him a small 
 sum to furnish present necessaries, and left an order 
 at a store for his annual supplies a deed which the 
 Master doubtless accepted as done to himself. It was 
 not long, however, that Dominie needed this aid. 
 Inquiring after him on a subsequent visit, he learned 
 that a neighbor had one day called at Dominie's hut, 
 and finding him very sick, had removed him to his own 
 house, where ho was tenderly nursed and cared ibr 
 until his death. The poor spinner, of a despised race 
 on earth, had gone to be a prince in the kingdom of 
 glory. 
 
 Mr. Safford now began to be commonly known as 
 the minister's friend, and a helper in every good cause. 
 Three sisters of his wife had married clergymen : the 
 llcv. J. Edwards, his own pastor, Rev. J. Reid, of
 
 68 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Reading, and Rev. W. Gale, then of Eastport, Maine, 
 whom he seemed to receive in place of the three 
 brothers he had lost. In a letter addressed to Mrs. 
 Edwards, Dec. 16, 1832, he writes thus : 
 
 " I have often considered the transaction which took 
 place in your house in Sheafe Street, four years ago, 
 as the most important event in my history. It con- 
 nected me with a family circle whose example and 
 precepts have been a great benefit to me, and would 
 have been much greater were I not so slow to learn. 
 I love to follow the chain of providences connected 
 with it down to the present time. If, during the 
 absence of your husband, whom I love and respect 
 more than any man now living, I can serve you in any 
 way, I hope you will use all the freedom you would 
 with an own brother." 
 
 As his acquaintance with the religious world ex- 
 tended, he began to take larger and more compre- 
 hensive views of the work which Christ has com- 
 mitted to his people. He felt more deeply his re- 
 sponsibility as a steward, soon to be called to account 
 for his use of the talents intrusted to him, and com- 
 menced keeping an exact account of his family and 
 charitable expenses. Letters written by Mrs. Safford 
 at this period, descriptive of their housekeeping, show 
 that much economy was used in providing for their 
 table, as well as in furnishing the house, in order that 
 they might have more to give to the cause of be- 
 nevolence. 
 
 " Dr. Cornelius," she writes, " preached economy to 
 us while here, and we have been considering whether 
 it would not be right for us, as Christians, to dispense 
 with many of the luxuries of the table in which we
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 69 
 
 have been accustomed to indulge, and devote the 
 money to charitable objects. All that we have belongs 
 to the Lord ; and should we not learn to eat to live, 
 and not live to eat ? We think so, and are trying the 
 experiment of living very simply." 
 
 Dr. Cornelius was, during the first winter after Mr. 
 Safford's marriage, a frequent and welcome guest at 
 his table. A strong and mutual attachment was 
 formed between them, and after his death the inter- 
 course and instructive conversation of this eminent 
 man were remembered in the family with much 
 delight. 
 
 On the 1st of April, 1830, he first experienced 
 the joy of embracing a son of his own. This seemed 
 to complete his domestic bliss. But alas! six weeks 
 only had passed in the mutual enjoyment of this 
 new gift, when God revealed to them his will that the 
 mother must die. Who can tell how crushing was the 
 burden thus laid upon his servant ? Only seventeen 
 months had she been his, and daily had their union 
 seemed blessed anew by Heaven. He sought for a 
 place to weep, and poured out his soul before the 
 Lord. With strong crying and many tears he prayed 
 for her life, for his sake and for that of the helpless 
 infant. At length his bleeding heart submitted ; iior 
 did he leave the place until he could say, in humble 
 imitation of the Sufferer in Gethsemane, " Not my 
 will, but thine, be done." 
 
 The summons did not find Airs. Safford unprepared 
 to meet it. Her first anxiety, as was natural, was 
 for her babe ; and when her sister, Mrs. T., promised 
 to receive and educate him as her own, her mind 
 was at rest, and she bowed meekly to the appointment
 
 70 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD, 
 
 of her Father. She did not, however, for a time, 
 enjoy as she desired the consciousness of her Saviour's 
 presence and love. Her life "was reviewed with severe 
 scrutiny, and compared with the purity of heaven. 
 " How can I," she exclaimed, " who have so little 
 sought the glory of God, hope to enter that holy 
 world ! " She could not see, as others did, that this 
 very jealousy of herself was an evidence of true piety ; 
 nor did she remember that salvation is a boon not to 
 be merited by works, but received with humble faith 
 as the gift of God to sinners. 
 
 When the last struggle came, after she had left 
 many touching messages for her friends, her hus- 
 band asked her, " Can you commit your soul to God ? " 
 She answered quickly, and with emphasis, " Oh, yes ; 
 and you and the babe too." Then summoning her 
 little strength, she said, " Christ is my Friend." And 
 again, with emphasis, " Oh, how good Christ is ! " This 
 was what her husband had prayed for. The Saviour 
 was with her in this trying moment, and the chamber 
 of death, illumined by his presence, became as the 
 gate of heaven. The friends who surrounded her 
 exclaimed, almost involuntarily, " death, where is 
 thy sting ? " A few moments more, and the sufferer 
 was at rest for ever. 
 
 At the funeral, Mr. Safford stood at the head of her 
 coffin, and with an unfaltering voice united with the 
 friends in singing the hymn, 
 
 " Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb ; 
 
 Take this new treasure to thy trust, 
 And give these sacred relics room 
 To slumber in the silent dust.
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 71 
 
 " Nor pain, nor grief, nor anxious fear 
 
 Invade thy bounds ; no mortal woes 
 Can reach the peaceful sleeper here, 
 While angels watch the soft repose. 
 
 " So Jesus slept; God's dying Son 
 
 Passed through the grave, and blessed the bed. 
 Rest here, blest saint, till from his throne 
 The morning break, and pierce the shade. 
 
 " Break from his throne, illustrious morn ! 
 
 Attend, O earth, his sovereign word ! 
 Restore thy trust a glorious form 
 Called to ascend and meet the Lord." 
 
 The views of Mr. Safford under this severe stroke * 
 may best be ascertained from his correspondence with 
 his friends ; some extracts from which are subjoined. 
 
 " You ask me to write and tell you about myself, 
 and more of our dear Jane. About myself I can not 
 tell you so that you can fully understand me. If you 
 should be called to part with your dear husband, you 
 would better know my feelings than by any description 
 of them. I feel as though a large part of myself were 
 gone, a strong cord which bound me to earth broken, 
 and another motive held up before me, to give all dili- 
 gence to make my calling and election sure. If I 
 should suffer myself to sit down and dwell upon those 
 
 * The custom of wearing mourning apparel at the death of friends 
 had been often considered by Mr. Safford. Having himself been 
 repeatedly visited by bereavement, he had had ample opportunity to 
 observe the effects of this custom ; and while desirous, so far as was 
 proper, to conform to the usages of society, he saw, as he thought, 
 important reasons why Christians should make no change in their 
 apparel on such occasions. His wife had concurred in his views, and 
 requested that they might be observed at this time ; which was done.
 
 72 MEMOIK OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 nameless little kind words and looks which were so 
 interesting to me, and which I can hear and see no 
 more for ever, I should be quite overwhelmed. But 
 there are views to be taken of her life, sickness, and 
 death, which are calculated to stimulate me to greater 
 activity. In health she was punctual and constant in 
 the performance of duty, making religion the object to 
 which all others must yield. In sickness, she was 
 patient and submissive ; in death, peaceful and happy. 
 Oh, my sister, how ought we to love and adore that 
 Saviour who manifested himself so sweetly to our dear 
 friend, at the trying hour when all other helpers failed, 
 when her physician stood by without offering any 
 assistance, and when friends gazed in silence, waiting 
 for her happy spirit to take its upward flight ! I love 
 to linger on the scene ; to remember how calmly she 
 committed her babe and her husband to God; how 
 sweetly she spoke of the love of Christ, while I waited 
 with my ear upon her heart to hear its last beating, 
 even after the pulse ceased. Angels, I thought, were 
 waiting to bear her soul with rapid flight to Abraham's 
 bosom. It was a solemn and delightful hour. Heaven 
 seemed almost within reach. 
 
 " A favorite text of hers was, ' Looking to Jesus.' 
 Often, as I went to her bedside in her sickness, she 
 said, ' You must keep looking to Jesus.' Yes, my dear 
 sister, let us continue looking to Jesus, through his 
 word and his providence, until we be changed into his 
 image." 
 
 " My loss is in part made up by the kind interest 
 which her friends take in my welfare and happiness,
 
 73 
 
 favoring me so frequently with letters, and giving me 
 so much evidence that I am remembered by them in 
 their prayers. I sometimes think my loss is even more 
 than made up to me by the views which God, in his 
 infinite mercy and kindness, is pleased to grant me of 
 his glorious character and government. When I con- 
 template the great God, seated upon the throne of the 
 universe, governing suns and systems, the numberless 
 worlds that he has made, and then think of the in- 
 terest he takes in the inhabitants of this planet, this 
 little speck in the universe, manifested so wonderfully 
 in sending his dear Son to die for those who have 
 rebelled against him ; and think of the care he takes 
 of every inhabitant of this world, especially of his own 
 dear children, watching over them by day and by 
 night, and seeing that nothing docs them any harm, 
 but that all things work together for their good ; when 
 1 take this view of God, I feel that he is all, and I am 
 nothing ; that it becomes me not only to acquiesce, 
 but to rejoice in all he does, and inquire only, ' Lord, 
 what wilt thou have me to do ? ' What a glorious 
 hope the gospel presents the hope of being with and 
 like Christ ; of being entirely delivered from sin, and 
 every temptation to sin ; the hope of meeting Abra- 
 ham, Isaac, and Jacob, the prophets, apostles, and 
 martyrs, our dear Jane, and all who ever have died, or 
 ever will die, in the Lord, and joining them in an ever- 
 lasting song of praise to God and the Lamb ! 
 
 41 ' Oli, glorious hour ! Oh, blest abode ! 
 I .shall bo near and like my God, 
 And flesh and sin no more control 
 The sacred pleasures of my soul.' 
 
 7
 
 74 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 " Seeing we hope for such things, dear brother and 
 sister, what manner of persons ought we to be in all 
 holy conversation and godliness ! " 
 
 " Since I wrote you last, another year has closed 
 an eventful one to us both, but especially to me. The 
 last day of the year was observed by our church as a 
 day of humiliation and prayer. The last of the pre- 
 ceding year was observed in the same way, and a very 
 solemn and interesting day it was. We considered it 
 the commencement of the revival. At our last meet- 
 ing, one of the brethren remarked, that since we met 
 a year ago, three of our number had, he trusted, gone 
 to heaven, one of whom then occupied one of these 
 seats, and united her prayers and praises with us. I 
 was so much affected by the thought that I should see 
 her face no more on earth, that in attempting to speak 
 I found it difficult to control my feelings. My mind 
 soon became composed and comforted by reflecting 
 that she was now in the presence of that dear Friend 
 who manifested himself so sweetly in the dying hour; 
 and that she was in far holier and happier society 
 than Salem Church, her capacities enlarged, and her 
 voice joining with the redeemed in heaven in praising 
 him who loved her, and washed her garments white 
 in his precious blood. 
 
 ' f I suppose you wish to hear something about little 
 D. B. Safford, and I want as much to tell you about 
 Mm. If I had the power of description which some of 
 his aunts have, I would place him before you, running 
 about, with his little hands up and his mouth wide 
 open, laughing with all his might, and showing his 
 white teeth, of which he has four ; getting hold of a
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 75 
 
 chair, shaking it, and jumping until he gets tired, or 
 sitting on the floor with his playthings ; then creeping 
 to a chair or sofa, and raising himself up without help, 
 an exploit of which he is quite proud. I often wish 
 his aunts E. and M. could see him performing his little 
 feats, of which he has some new one every day ; and 
 think, too, with tearful eyes, how pleased his mother 
 would have been, if her life had been spared, to see 
 his little nameless, engaging looks and actions, and to 
 witness his father's delight in him. But then I chide 
 myself, and remember how much more she is pleased 
 now." 
 
 Not only did he thus speak of his own sorrows, and 
 the consolations afforded him under them, but lie took 
 care to improve this afflictive event in addressing 
 solemn admonitions to relatives who made no profes- 
 sions of personal religion. One of these addresses to 
 a brother of his wife was as follows : 
 
 "February 17, 1831. 
 
 " MY DEAR BROTHER : I thank you for your two 
 letters which I recently received, especially for the one 
 giving an account of the revival in your city. I hope, 
 my dear friend, and almost believe, that ere this you are 
 rejoicing in the love of Christ, and prepared to tell me 
 in your next what God has done for your soul. But 
 if not, let me entreat you as for your life, your eternal 
 life, to go to Christ without delay, with all your sins, 
 remembering that ' he came not to call the righteous, 
 but sinners, to repentance.' If you wait to make your- 
 self better before you go, you will be like the woman 
 in the gospel who spent all she had upon physicians,
 
 76 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. 
 Like her you must, if you are ever saved, cast your- 
 self at the feet of Jesus. 
 
 " You say you are determined to attend all the meet- 
 ings you can. This is right, and I am rejoiced to learn 
 that you are so determined ; but this is not all. You 
 must take time for reading the Bible, for serious med- 
 itation upon the holy character of God ; upon the love 
 which Christ manifested in leaving the throne of glory 
 and coming to this sinful world, to suffer and die for 
 his enemies ; upon the kind invitations of the gospel ; 
 upon the glories of heaven and the woes of hell ; 
 upon the incalculable value of your soul, which is to 
 exist, either in a state of unceasing suffering or of 
 happiness, for ever and ever. All these motives, and 
 many more, are presented in the Bible, to induce men 
 to forsake sin and turn to God. You should also take 
 time for frequent seasons of secret prayer, especially 
 to pray that the Holy Spirit may be sent to convince 
 you of your sins, and guide you to Christ, ' the Lamb 
 of God, who taketh away the sins of the world.' 
 
 " There is another difficulty, growing out of your 
 extensive connection with fashionable and polite so- 
 ciety, to which, I apprehend, you are peculiarly ex- 
 posed. There may be society into which it would be 
 safe and proper for a Christian to go, that would be 
 dangerous and improper for one who is seeking the 
 salvation of his soul. Whatever tends to divert the 
 attention from religion, and dissipate serious thought, 
 should be carefully avoided at such a time as this. 
 
 " I have feared, my dear brother, that you wish to 
 hold the world fast in one hand, and get religion (if 
 you can) with the other ; but remember, you can not
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 77 
 
 serve God and Mammon. Therefore l choose ye this 
 day whom ye will serve." I think that this is a very 
 critical period with you one which will probably 
 determine your eternal destiny. 
 
 " I have addressed you in a very plain and unre- 
 served manner, as I should not dare to address any 
 but a friend who would appreciate my motive. If it 
 requires any apology, it may be found in the deep 
 solicitude I feel in your eternal welfare. 
 
 " That you may find that joy and peace in believing 
 which the world can not give nor take away, is the 
 earnest desire and prayer of 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 DANIEL SAFFOBD." 
 7*
 
 78 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Marries Mrs. Mary S. Boardman. Her Death. Letter to Mr. and Mrs. 
 Gale. To Mr. and Mrs. Turner. Deatli of Mr. Turner. Letter to 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gale. To his little Son. Encounter with a drunken 
 Man. Religion in traveling-. Letter to a Brother in Law. The 
 latter's Estimate of his Character. Winter Night Hide. His Bible 
 Class. Anxiety for the Conversion of his Family. Formation of a 
 Legislative Temperance Society. State Fast. Purchase of a House. 
 Marriage to Mrs. Turner. 
 
 AFTER the death of his wife, Mr. Safford placed two 
 of the orphan children whom he had adopted in 
 boarding schools, and one in a store in the city, while 
 lie himself continued with his aged mother and infant 
 son at housekeeping. On the 27th of April, 1831, he 
 married Mrs. Mary S. Boardman, formerly Miss Smith, 
 of Reading. She had been a school associate, and 
 subsequently a correspondent, of his late wife. His 
 friends were happy in seeing him united again to one 
 so well qualified to be both a companion to himself and 
 a mother to his child. She entered cheerfully on the 
 duties of the latter relation ; and, so far as her del- 
 icate health would permit, continued most conscien- 
 tiously to discharge them as long as she lived. In 
 one year and three months after their marriage, she 
 too was taken from his side, leaving an infant son, who 
 was called George Blagden, for their pastor. The 
 father, in a letter written soon after her death, says,
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 79 
 
 " She expressed a strong presentiment that our con- 
 nection would not long continue. I think the subject 
 of death was very familiar to her before our marriage, 
 and I know it has been since. During my acquaint- 
 ance with her, she exhibited a truly Christian char- 
 acter, a consistent deportment, and a sweet submission, 
 to the will of God in all circumstances." 
 
 To his sister-in-law, Mrs. Turner, he writes also, 
 
 " Little did I think, when parting with you last, 
 that I should so soon have this painful intelligence to 
 communicate, although even then I had my fears. My 
 dear Mary died about half past ten, on the 31st of 
 July, in the full possession of her reason, and in the 
 exercise of that faith which enabled her to triumph 
 over death and the grave. I could not at any time 
 discover in her the least degree of agitation or alarm, 
 although she was perfectly sensible of her situation. 
 With entire composure she exhorted David to prepare 
 for death, wot more than one minute before she 
 breathed her last. 
 
 " Her departure was so sudden that I found myself 
 quite unprepared for it. It was a distressing hour to 
 me. I had not till then considered her case to be 
 critical. When she was gone, I immediately went to 
 my chamber, where I had a severe struggle with feel- 
 ings which my pen can not describe, and which you 
 can not fully conceive without experiencing the same. 
 But I do hope that there my hard heart broke down 
 under the chastening rod, and that, by divine assist- 
 ance, I was enabled to commit my Mary, myself, and 
 my all to Him who never corrects his children will- 
 ingly, but always for their good. Now, while my 
 heart bleeds at every pore, and while I feel alone in
 
 80 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 the world, in a sense which none fully realize who have 
 not lost a bosom friend, I am constrained to call on 
 my soul, and all that is within me, to praise the Lord 
 for his great goodness in giving me wives whom I 
 could love, whose society was so pleasant to me ; and 
 especially in removing from them in the last hour the 
 sting of death, and permitting me to indulge the 
 cheering hope that they are beholding the face of their 
 blessed Saviour without a vail. .When I think of 
 heaven, I involuntarily adopt the language 
 
 There my best friends, my kindred, dwell, 
 There God, my Saviour, reigns.' 
 
 " I earnestly desire your prayers, and those of your 
 husband, that these repeated afflictions may lead and 
 keep me near to God. In less than four years and 
 seven months, I have followed three dearly beloved 
 wives to the mansions of the dead. There their 
 earthly remains will rest until the morning of the res- 
 urrection ; when, I doubt not, that which was sown a 
 natural body will be raised a spiritual and glorified 
 body, in the likeness of our divine Saviour." 
 
 Mr. Safford kept no diary, or other record of his 
 religious experience, but its place is in a measure sup- 
 plied by his very abundant and intimate correspond- 
 ence with his friends. In this, particiilarly in his 
 letters to Mrs. Turner, whose husband was now in 
 declining health, we discern the feelings and experi- 
 ences of a servant of God, deeply afflicted, yet clinging 
 ever to the consolations of the gospel, and growing 
 more and more in the graces of humility and submis- 
 sion to the divine will.
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 81 
 
 To MR. and MRS. GALE. 
 
 " I have received your very kind letters of con- 
 dolence, and read them with much pleasure. It 
 affects me to tears, and, I hope, excites feelings of 
 gratitude to God, to receive such expressions of deep 
 sympathy from the friends of my dear Jane. How 
 good God has been, after taking away all my own 
 brothers, to give me brothers and sisters who can 
 so kindly enter into my feelings, and to whom I can 
 unbosom myself with the utmost freedom ! You are 
 very kind to offer to take Daniel ; but I find my attach- 
 ment to him is increasing daily, and can not at present 
 think of placing him so far from me. He is now, with 
 my mother and his nurse, at Mr. Reid's, in Reading. 
 I am alone, and take my meals at a hotel. I ought 
 not to ask for the time which you might employ in 
 doing more good, but I hope you will not neglect to 
 write to your lonely and afflicted, yet comforted 
 brother. I felt, for a few days after my wife's death, a 
 great reluctance to giving my mind at all to business ; 
 and was more inclined to shut myself up alone, and 
 reflect upon the dealings of God with me, or to visit 
 such friends as could sympathize with and aid me, 
 under my heavy affliction, in looking to the only source 
 of consolation. I remembered, however, that our 
 dear brother Edwards said to me, after Jane died, ' It 
 is not best to sit down and brood over our sorrows and 
 work up our feelings by thinking of our departed friends; 
 but rather inquire what the Lord will have us do, 
 as we are now situated, and when the path of duty is 
 made known, go steadily forward.' "When I considered 
 that I had eighteen or twenty men employed, and none 
 of them at all acquainted with taking the charge of
 
 82 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 business ; that we were under contract for a large 
 amount of work ; that my partner was sick in the 
 country ; and that my own health was unusually good, 
 it appeared plainly my duty to stay at home and 
 attend* to business. And without doubt I have found 
 more religious enjoyment than would have attended 
 any other course, with the conviction that I was run- 
 ning away from duty. Let me close by requesting an 
 interest in your prayers." 
 
 To MR. and MRS. TURNER. 
 
 " August 27, 1832. 
 
 " I think much of you, my dear brother and sister, 
 daily, knowing by experience what it is to watch the 
 progress of disease upon beloved friends, and a little, 
 though but a little, what it is to be very sick myself. 
 If I could say or do any thing that would in the least 
 benefit my dear brother's health, I would most gladly 
 do it. Still more would I desire to say something to 
 enable him to bear his trials with that Christian pa- 
 tience and sweet submission to the will of his heavenly 
 Father, of which he has already a large share ; but to 
 this also I feel incompetent. I will, however, relate 
 a little incident, which, by the blessing of God, may 
 prove of use to you both. 
 
 " Before Mary left Reading, I used to visit her gen- 
 erally twice a week. At one time when I was there, 
 two or three weeks before she came home, she was 
 very anxious to return with me ; so much so, I 
 thought, as to manifest a little want of submission. 
 As her physician and friends thought it advisable 
 for her to remain there rather than remove to this 
 noisy place, at this season of the year, I told her she
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 83 
 
 had better make up her mind just to float upon the 
 tide of Providence, wherever it carried her. She said 
 no more about it then. The next time I saw her, I 
 asked her if she wanted to go home with me then. 
 She replied, ' Not unless you think it best. I have 
 made up my mind to " float upon the tide of Prov- 
 idence," and have no will of my own.' From that 
 time she appeared indeed to glide down to the grave 
 upon that stream without occasioning the least ripple 
 upon its smooth surface ; and now, I think, she is sail- 
 ing in the open sea of God's eternal love, basking in 
 the meridian splendor of the glorious Sun of right- 
 eousness." 
 
 " Wednesday Eve. Here I am in solitude, with the 
 whole house to myself ; and I assure you it is very 
 pleasant. I have been out to visit brother R. this 
 evening. He has had a lame knee ever since last 
 winter. He has since spent much money upon physi- 
 cians, been confined to the house, and a large part of 
 the time to his bed. His limb is perished and cold, 
 and his general health is so much impaired that it is 
 doubtful whether he will live long. We have had a 
 very pleasant interview. After much conversation 
 upon the manner in which we ought to feel and act 
 under various afflictions, we came to the conclusion 
 that, if we felt just right, we should be careful for 
 nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication 
 with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known 
 unto God. In other words, we should be diligent in 
 the use of those means which may be adapted to 
 remove the sufferings we endure, with prayer for the 
 blessing of God upon these means, and then leave the
 
 84 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 whole so entirely with him as not to feel anxious or 
 distressed about the result. If we can exercise this 
 entire submission to God, and confidence in him when 
 we are sick, we shall be more likely, I think, to get 
 well, than if we are low-spirited and anxious about 
 ourselves. 
 
 " I have of late been occupied in looking at the 
 attributes of God, and have found it profitable. By 
 the help of a reference Bible I have examined some of 
 the passages upon each attribute. Last evening I was 
 led to consider his omniscience and omnipresence. If 
 we say he sees and knows every thing, and that he is 
 every where present, we say in general all that these 
 attributes imply. But to be profitably aifected by 
 them ourselves, it appears to me necessary to descend 
 to particulars, such as these : He sees me when I rise 
 in the morning, when I walk in the street, and when I 
 engage in business ; he knows every dishonest thought, 
 every unlawful desire of gain, every secret desire for 
 sinful gratification. Who can follow out such a train 
 of thought without feeling his need of being washed 
 all over in that fountain which alone can cleanse from 
 sin and pollution! David, in Ps. cxxxix., dwells on 
 particulars in the contemplation of this subject: be- 
 ginning with the formation of his body, the fearful and 
 wonderful manner in which it was made, in all its del- 
 icate parts, and going on to the thoughts and acts of 
 life, the impossibility of fleeing from God's presence, 
 or of finding any place where he might hide himself, 
 he might well exclaim, ' Such knowledge is too won- 
 derful for me ! ' Oh, how this sinks and humbles the 
 creature, and exalts the Creator ! 
 
 " My partner, Mr. Low, has returned from his jour-
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 85 
 
 ney, but has given up the idea of recovery. How 
 many friendly warnings gather around, to remind me 
 of my own dissolution ! It seems as if my earthly ties 
 and connections were only formed to be broken. May 
 the condemnation of him who, being often reproved, 
 hardeneth his neck, not fall on me." 
 
 To MRS. TURNER. 
 
 "Bosxox, October 1, 1832. 
 
 " MY DEAR SISTER : I found in the post office to- 
 day yours of Saturday last, containing the painful 
 intelligence of the mental and bodily sufferings of your 
 dear husband ; and have endeavored, in compliance 
 with your request, as I have walked the streets, or 
 been engaged in business, but especially when bowing 
 the knee in this my place of retirement, to send up 
 my earnest cries to God, that he would graciously 
 appear for both of you in this your extremity. 
 
 " As I opened my desk just now, I saw, in your own 
 hand, the following lines, dated Monday morning, 
 June 14, 1830 : - 
 
 Still lift to God the supplicating voice, 
 And leave to him the measure and the choice.' 
 
 " The circumstances in which this was written you 
 will doubtless recollect. I well remember that, for 
 days, if not weeks, after you repeated them to me, they 
 were scarcely out of my mind. 
 
 " Although it appears to us very desirable, that those 
 whom we love should, on the bed of death, find the 
 Saviour near and precious, and bo able cheerfully to 
 commit their own souls, their friends, and all their 
 interests to him, yet I do not think that this is the 
 place to look for the most satisfactory evidence of their 
 
 8
 
 86 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Christian character. Little dependence can be placed 
 upon the exercises of the mind, when the poor body is 
 racked with pain, or reduced to great weakness. 
 Hence we sometimes see those who had before fur- 
 nished no evidence of piety, expressing a willingness, 
 and even a desire, to die, that they may be delivered 
 from their sufferings. On the other hand, some who 
 have for years maintained a consistent Christian char- 
 acter, in the near approach of death are found groping 
 in darkness, with only now and then a ray of light, 
 complaining of their ' wicked, very wicked hearts,' 
 and ready, as they cross Jordan, to sink beneath its 
 billows. How will such liberated spirits make heaven 
 ring with the high praises of God and the Lamb, when 
 they find themselves safely landed on the shores of 
 Canaan ! 
 
 " I know not, my dear sister, whether I am writing 
 to one who is watching with anxious solicitude beside 
 the bed of a suffering, dying husband, or to one who 
 is sitting in passive silence, experiencing that strange 
 loneliness which can not be fully understood but by 
 those whose strongest earthly ties have been sundered ; 
 but in either case, the source of comfort and support 
 is the same. The Lord reigns, and does all things 
 well. I will only add the words which dear Jane 
 often repeated to us ' Keep looking to Jesus.' That 
 you and your dear husband may be prepared for all 
 that God, in his infinite wisdom and goodness, has 
 prepared for you, is the daily prayer of your affec- 
 tionate brother." 
 
 Mr. Turner lived but a few days after the preceding 
 letter was written. In that interval Mr. Safford visited
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 87 
 
 him, watched with him one night, and by conversation 
 and prayer comforted him, and strengthened his cour- 
 age and trust in God. His faith finally triumphed 
 over all fear ; and, while dying, he requested the 
 friends who were around his bed to sing the hymn 
 which closes with the verse, 
 
 " There shall I bathe my weary soul 
 
 In seas of heavenly rest, 
 And not a wave of trouble roll 
 Across my peaceful breast." 
 
 The last line had scarcely died upon the ear, before 
 his ransomed soul was greeted, as we trust, with 
 the song of the angels, amid the high praises of 
 heaven. 
 
 To MR. and MBS. GALE. 
 
 " October 30, 1832. 
 
 " DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER : You have doubtless 
 heard before this that our dear brother Turner is 
 no longer an inhabitant of earth. I was not pres- 
 ent when he died, having gone to New York ; but I 
 returned to Colchester the day after, and was at the 
 funeral. I will not attempt to give you the partic- 
 ulars of his last sickness and death, as you will doubt- 
 less have them more minutely from one who was with 
 him through the whole. Our dear sister is written a 
 widow. She feels deeply afflicted. It was to me a 
 great privilege to mingle my tears and prayers with 
 hers, on that trying occasion ; but how miserable are 
 all earthly comforters, without the divine Comforter ! 
 She enjoyed, I believe, the presence of this blessed, 
 heavenly Friend in an uncommon degree. Brother 
 Asa says that nothing ever impressed his mind so
 
 88 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 deeply with the value of religion, as seeing her, and 
 hearing her converse on that occasion. He said that 
 he was determined at any rate to know more of the 
 Bible. How important to have a well-grounded hope 
 in Christ ! When afflictions come which sink the 
 worldly mind in despondency and gloom, they only 
 serve to draw the true Christian nearer to his heavenly 
 Father, and thus increase his real happiness." 
 
 The following is the first letter written by Mr. 
 Safford to his little son Daniel, who was at the time 
 two and a half years old. It has been mentioned that 
 his mother, on her dying bed, had requested Mrs. 
 Turner to take the responsibility of his training. In 
 accordance with this request, his father, after the death 
 of Mr. Turner, placed the little boy under his aunt's 
 care. 
 
 " How do you do, my dear little son ? Do you love 
 your aunt, and your grandmother Bigelow, and do 
 every thing they request you, so that they can love 
 you, and tell father, when they see him, that you have 
 been the very best boy they ever saw ? Father hopes 
 you will ; and then how much he will love his little 
 son ! Oh, how he will hug and kiss him ! And father 
 wants him to think of the dear Saviour, who took little 
 children in his arms and blessed them, and said, ' Of 
 such is the kingdom of heaven.' He hopes Daniel 
 prays to this Saviour to help him be a good boy, so 
 that when he dies he can go to heaven, and be with 
 his dear mother and all good people, and with the dear- 
 Saviour, too. Will you ask your aunt to write me a 
 little letter for you ? Your very affectionate father."
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 89 
 
 The following extracts are chiefly from letters ad- 
 dressed to Mrs. Turner, and will serve to continue the 
 narrative of his life and progress in Christian expe- 
 rience, as delineated for the most part by himself: 
 
 " BOSTON, October 26, 1832. 
 
 " MY DEAR SISTER : On my journey home, I took 
 tea at Milford, thirty miles from Boston, with a com- 
 pany of intelligent and apparently respectable gon tie- 
 men, who had been overturned in the coach, and were 
 all more or less injured. After tea, we had a little 
 conversation upon the circumstances of their disaster, 
 and various other subjects. When this slackened, I 
 took out my pocket Testament, and commenced read- 
 ing silently. Soon after, a drunken man bolted into 
 the room, and, after muttering over something which 
 I could not understand, said, ' I believe I have made a 
 mistake ; this ain't the bar room,' and attempted to go 
 out, but was so much intoxicated that he could not 
 open the door. I said to him, ' You made a greater 
 mistake before you came in/ and then opened the 
 door, and let him out. 
 
 " This circumstance presented a favorable oppor- 
 tunity for some remarks upon the evils of intem- 
 perance and its kindred vices, and to recommend the 
 Bible as the safest guide for a man through life. To 
 this several of the company responded, admitting that 
 the subject of religion was a suitable one for strangers 
 to converse upon, as all mankind are equally inter- 
 ested in it. Then I corameijced reading again in my 
 Testament. One of the company, who proved to be a 
 theological student, said, ' Is that a Testament you are 
 reading in ? ' When 1 told him it was, he said, ' If the 
 
 8*
 
 90 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 company have no objection, I should like to have some 
 devotional exercises.' No one objecting, we read a 
 chapter, and united with the gentleman who made the 
 suggestion in a very interesting prayer. The company, 
 being bruised and lame, retired early, except the stu- 
 dent, with whom I had a very precious season. He 
 was a Baptist, and, as I judge, a spiritual, devoted 
 Christian." 
 
 It had been Mr. Safford's custom for many years to 
 carry a Bible with him in traveling, and to spend his 
 time, when not otherwise engaged, in reading it. 
 Long before this, he had made a short sea voyage with 
 one of his brothers, whose life, it was hoped, would 
 thus be prolonged. They went in a packet, with a 
 number of passengers, and were all thrown together 
 in the common cabin. While the others were playing 
 games, or beguiling the time in amusements, he drew 
 his Bible from his pocket, and read it with evident 
 pleasure and satisfaction. We find a description of 
 this voyage in one of the papers of the day. The 
 writer says, " It was plain, from his whole aspect, that 
 he was reading it because he enjoyed it, and not for 
 the sake of setting a good example. But the sight 
 of this young man, absorbed in perusing God's word, 
 impressed more than one of that gay company with 
 the conviction that religion was a grave reality, and 
 that peace with God was worth more than treasures 
 of fine gold." 
 
 " November 19. My partner, Mr. Low, appears 
 more unwell, and keeps house to-day. What the Lord 
 intends to do with him is unknown to me ; but I am
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 91 
 
 sure he will do just right. If he should die, the loss 
 to me would be great ; but I doubt not it would be his 
 gain. We are in a dying world. Let us live to die, 
 that we may die to live a better life with our dear 
 friends and all who sleep in Jesus. 
 
 " To niy surprise, on my return I found a notice 
 from the city clerk, informing me that, during my 
 absence, I had been elected a representative to the 
 General Court. 
 
 " I think I desire and pray more than ever I have 
 done before that the Lord will direct me in all things ; 
 that he would guide me in little things. We need 
 assistance in every step we take, and we should esteem 
 it a great privilege that we may in all our ways ac- 
 knowledge him, with the blessed assurance that he 
 will direct our paths. 
 
 " Evening. ' Bless the Lord, my soul, and all that 
 is within me bless his holy name ; bless the Lord, O 
 my soul, and forget not all his benefits ; who forgiv- 
 eth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases. 
 He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded 
 us according to our iniquities.' Do read the one 
 hundred and third Psalm, and let us praise the Lord 
 together. 
 
 " I had retired last night with a headache, and had 
 just fallen asleep, when the watchmen waked me by a 
 loud knock on the door of my house. He informed me 
 that my shop was on fire. Hastening to the place, I 
 found that some of the neighbors had extinguished 
 the fire before it had done much damage. Being con- 
 fined to my room the next day, I tried to spend as
 
 92 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOKD. 
 
 much of the time as possible in self-examination and 
 prayer. But I found myself unable to get any realiz- 
 ing sense of God, or of the preciousness of Christ. 
 All seemed dark and dull. At the close of the day, I 
 went down to attend family prayers. While Ruth * was 
 reading a chapter full of precious promises, my soul 
 seemed to be liberated. I could not but interrupt her 
 repeatedly, to speak of the preciousness of those prom- 
 ises, and the faithfulness of God in performing them 
 all, in their full extent ; and when we bowed at the 
 family altar, I could not pray ; I had nothing to ask 
 God for, but every thing to thank him for. It did 
 appear to me then, and does now, that if he will only 
 give me himself, he may take away my friends, prop- 
 erty, health, and any thing he pleases. I can rejoice 
 with joy unspeakable. Oh, how inconceivable his love 
 and goodness to sinners, if they will repent and trust 
 their souls and all their interests in the hands of the 
 blessed Jesus! What is a creature's love compared 
 with that of the adorable God ! Well may angels and 
 glorified spirits dwell upon it unceasingly, and tune 
 their harps to sweetest notes of praise." 
 
 To his Brother in Law in New York. 
 
 " November 23, 1832. 
 
 " I hope, my dear brother, you will not be so anx- 
 ious to accumulate property as to overlook or neglect 
 the pearl of great price. By this I would not have 
 you understand me as objecting to any of your busi- 
 ness enterprises, for it is a twofold command, ' Not 
 
 * His niece, the surviving daughter of his brother David, who 
 continued in his family until her marriage in 1836.
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 93 
 
 slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.' 
 But remember, dear brother, "that diligence in business 
 alone will not save the soul. I take the liberty to 
 speak freely to you, because- 1 love you, and know that 
 you will receive it kindly. 
 
 " But think not that the importunity of your friends 
 with you or for you can be a substitute for your own 
 importunity at the throne of grace. The wise virgins, 
 whose lamps were well supplied with oil, had none to 
 spare for their destitute neighbors. Oh, be persuaded 
 to go now and buy for yourself, that you may be pre- 
 pared to enter in with the bridegroom ; for remember, 
 when the foolish virgins applied for admission, the 
 door was shut. Please write me, and if there is any 
 way in which I can serve you, you know I shall do it 
 with heartfelt satisfaction." 
 
 In connection with this last letter to this friend, it is 
 appropriate to introduce the following reply of this 
 Brother to a request that he would record his estimate 
 of Mr. Safford's character. 
 
 " MY DEAR SISTER : I feel it impossible, as you re- 
 quest, to write of that dear good man as I knew him, 
 or describe his character and image as they are en- 
 graven on my heart. My first acquaintance with him, 
 I think, was in 1828, riding from Boston to Dorchester 
 with him in his own chaise, and after that beautiful black 
 horse of his. I remember him as he then appeared, 
 and from his conversation at that time received a 
 most favorable impression of him as a gentleman 
 and a Christian. My recollections of him whether 
 as a traveler with me in steamboats, sleeping in the
 
 94 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 same stateroom, in visiting him at his own house, or 
 receiving him at mine, on week days or Sabbaths, in 
 church or elsewhere, since that first acquaintance, 
 until his departure for his final, blessed rest, have 
 left upon my mind the impression that he was, all in 
 all, the most perfect man I ever knew." 
 
 To MRS. JUSTIN EDWARDS. 
 
 " MY VERY DEAR SISTER : I have just been reading 
 again your last three letters, for each of which you have 
 my hearty thanks. I am deeply affected by the expres- 
 sions of kindness which are so often received from the 
 friends, and especially from the sisters, of my dear, 
 departed Jane. Her memory is none the less dear to 
 me on account of the years which have elapsed since 
 she left me for a better Friend, and my dwelling for a 
 far happier abode. I love often to think of her as she 
 is now, in the presence of her dear Lord and Saviour, 
 who manifested himself so very precious to her in the 
 hour of death. I love to imagine what rapid strides 
 she has made in the knowledge of God, and of the 
 glorious plan of redemption, amid those bright scenes 
 where glorified spirits dwell, and which even the eye 
 of faith, in this life, sees but very imperfectly. While 
 here she thought but little of the customs and fashions 
 of this world, which soon pass away; but oh, how 
 trifling they must appear to her now ! 
 
 " I hope that thoughts like these sometimes have a 
 sanctifying effect upon me, begetting in me stronger 
 desires to follow her so far as she followed Christ, And 
 yet I follow Christ afar off, if at all, and am some- 
 times astonished, and almost overwhelmed, at his long- 
 suffering patience with me. It does seem as if he had
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 95 
 
 done all that, as a moral Governor, he could do, to 
 bring and keep ine near to him. 
 
 " I thank him for inclining you, my dear sister, to 
 offer those prayers for your unworthy brother. I 
 think much of you, your dear husband and children, 
 and remember you all in my prayers, especially that 
 your children may be early partakers of the renewing 
 grace of God ; that instead of the father may be the 
 sons, to preach the gospel of Christ, and to plead the 
 cause of temperance and religion in this dying world. 
 At half past nine o'clock every evening you may think 
 of me as thus employed a season which I have set 
 apart particularly to pray for absent friends." 
 
 To MRS. TURNER. 
 
 " January 20, 1833. 
 
 " In order to reach home before the Sabbath, I en- 
 gaged Mr. C , who keeps the City Hotel, in Nor- 
 wich, to take me thirty miles, to meet the Hartford 
 stage at Ashford, at two o'clock in the morning. I 
 had a more pleasant journey than could have been 
 expected in such a cold, dark night. I found Mr. 
 
 C to be a professor of religion, and apparently an 
 
 active Christian, and, as he said, a friend to - temper- 
 ance, a secretary of a temperance society, and one who 
 had delivered addresses on the subject. I reminded 
 him of his great inconsistency in having his bar room 
 furnished with decanters of brandy, and set out with 
 nice oranges and apples, to attract attention, and 
 entice all who entered to drink of his liquid poison. 
 He acknowledged his inconsistency, said he had no 
 excuse to offer, and promised me he would put it out 
 of sight, and, as soon as he could, dispense with it
 
 96 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 altogether. I shall send him some extracts of the 
 Fifth Eeport of the American Temperance Union, and 
 some copies entire, which he has promised to read and 
 circulate." 
 
 February 7, 1833. 
 
 " The subject of our church meeting this evening 
 was ' growth in grace.' The Scripture read was in 
 Matt. ch. 5, a part of the best sermon ever preached 
 in our world. What abundant cause we have to 
 praise the Lord that this large and edifying discourse 
 of our blessed Redeemer was recorded for our use ! 
 Surely never man spake as our dear Saviour has here 
 spoken. Oh that our souls may be fixed in a humble, 
 attentive posture, to receive the law from his lips ! 
 How well calculated was this, his first public sermon, 
 to correct the false notions and humble the pride of 
 those who were expecting in the Messiah a temporal 
 prince, to subdue their enemies and establish an 
 earthly kingdom, and thus gratify their pride and 
 ambition ! 
 
 " Let us stir up our souls to cultivate those amiable 
 and delightful graces which are here recommended in 
 so interesting a manner to our pursuit, and accompa- 
 nied wifli such rich promises ; this humility and meek- 
 ness, this penitent sense of sin, this ardent desire after 
 righteousness v this purity of heart, this peaceful dispo- 
 sition, and this fortitude, or confidence, rather, in God, 
 which will support the mind through evil as well as 
 through good report. Then we may rejoice and be 
 exceeding glad in the blessed assurance that our 
 reward is great in heaven." 
 
 " Sabbath Eve. There has been a prayer meeting 
 this evening. The twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 97 
 
 was read, which led vis to think and remark upon that 
 solemn and eventful day when all nations shall be 
 assembled before the Judge ; when the grand and last 
 separation shall take place between the righteous and 
 the wicked ; when ' these shall go away into everlasting 
 punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.' Not 
 one of the human race will then be missing, nor will 
 there be one idle spectator there. All will be deeply 
 and personally interested in the momentous events of 
 that day. As the punishment of the wicked is de- 
 clared to be everlasting, all hope of restoration, or 
 even of annihilation, will then be cut off. Do we be- 
 lieve this? And are we surrounded by impenitent 
 friends and neighbors ? How strange that we feel no 
 more, pray no more, labor no more for their conver- 
 sion ! Do we believe this, and are we doubtful 
 whether we are Christians or not ? How strange that 
 we can rest, till we make our calling and election sure ! 
 Oh, what a blessed, joyful, triumphant day to the 
 righteous ! all doubt forever removed, all sin, all 
 temptation to sin at an end. What music to their 
 ears to hear the Judge say, ' Come, ye blessed of my 
 Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from 
 the foundation of the world.' ' 
 
 To MRS. TURNER. 
 
 " February 12, 1833. 
 
 " As you have received Fisk's Bible Class Book, I 
 will tell you that our next lesson is on the twenty-first 
 page 'the moral condition and character of man- 
 kind.' I am in the habit, after seeking the guidance 
 and teaching of the Holy Spirit, of consulting com- 
 mentaries, Scott, Doddridgo, <fcc., on the several
 
 98 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOKD. 
 
 passages referred to, in order to get as good an under- 
 standing of them as possible. When I meet the class, 
 which numbers from ten to fourteen, I ask the ques- 
 tions, and they are generally answered readily. After 
 each question, I read the texts referred to under it, 
 and ask and answer such questions as may arise, con- 
 verse familiarly upon them, and usually make a few 
 practical remarks before proceeding to the next ques- 
 tion. At first it was rather dull, as I had all the talk- 
 ing to do ; but now they are like a family circle, which 
 renders it very interesting to me ; and judging by their 
 punctual attendance, and the manner in which they 
 prepare their lessons, it is not less so to them. Some 
 of the class are members of the church ; some are 
 married and some single ladies ; and some, at least, 
 are wiser than their teacher. There are eight Bible 
 classes in the school, and I think they are more cal- 
 culated to do good than any instrumentality ever 
 before adopted by this church. If your church will 
 adopt it, I will furnish the class books. 
 
 " I have been in the habit of reading the Scriptures 
 from a child, but not of studying and searching them 
 as for hid treasures. The more I do this, the more I 
 arn interested in them, and the more I am convinced 
 that they contain mines of hidden wealth, which are 
 not to be found but by prayerful, careful search. I 
 am ashamed and astonished that I have so long pos- 
 sessed this invaluable treasure, and yet know so little 
 of its contents." 
 
 February 24, 1833. 
 
 " I have not been so well as usual, owing probably 
 to sitting in the Representatives' chamber, without 
 exercise, and to a cold, as second cause ; but to a kind
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 99 
 
 heavenly Father as the great first cause. He sees 
 that I need often to be reminded of my frailty and 
 entire dependence on him. This I think he has en- 
 abled me to realize to-day more than usual, and it is 
 delightful. I love to feel that my friends, my prop- 
 erty, my life, all I have, all I am, are in his hands, and 
 that he will dispose of all just as he sees fit. I kept 
 house to-day. I regretted being absent from my Bible 
 class, but do not know as I have any cause to regret it 
 on my own account. I have had some freedom in 
 private prayer, and some sensible evidence of the pres- 
 ence and preciousness of the blessed Saviour." 
 
 " Monday Eve., March 4. Yesterday was our com- 
 munion, and a truly interesting day to me. Ten 
 were added to the church. If I am not deceived, the 
 Lord Jesus vouchsafed his gracious presence, and 
 granted me sweet seasons of secret prayer and com- 
 munion with him. It did seem as if the Holy Spirit 
 interceded for me ' with groanings which could not 
 be uttered.' In the morning, after looking over my 
 Bible lesson, I tried, as usual, to implore the blessing 
 of God upon myself and the class while we should be 
 attending to it, and particularly to remember two 
 members who are not pious. For them I felt an im- 
 portunity I have rarely experienced. Then came up 
 my family, not one of whom makes any pretensions to 
 religion. I was deeply impressed with my responsibil- 
 ity as the head of such a family. Then I thought of 
 my dear little boys coming forward in a world of sin 
 and temptation ; and here, I have been so in the habit 
 of counting you with them, that, before I was aware, I 
 found myself saying ' we,' instead of ' I,' forgetting
 
 100 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 that you were not here kneeling by my side, lifting up 
 your heart with me that these dear boys might early 
 be brought into the fold of Christ. For these several 
 objects I scarcely knew when to stop weeping and 
 praying, confessing my sins, and pleading the merits 
 of Christ. Oh, there is something sweet in mourning 
 for sins when the Saviour is near. 
 
 " In the Bible class I felt an unusual solemnity and 
 freedom in urging the practical improvement of the 
 lesson. I noticed that the two members who are not 
 professors of religion appeared affected, and at the 
 close I had personal conversation with each, and found 
 them anxious. I wish to engage your prayers partic- 
 ularly for them." 
 
 " My heart has been gladdened to-night, and still 
 feels the joyful impression, by the formation of a Mas- 
 sachusetts Legislative Temperance Society in the Rep- 
 resentatives' chamber. I hope I feel grateful to God 
 for putting it into my heart to propose it, and inclining 
 others to favor it. After a prayer by Mr. Blagden, 
 brother Edwards opened the subject by a very inter- 
 esting statement of facts. His address riveted every 
 eye, and fixed the attention of a large assembly. 
 After he concluded, a number of resolutions were 
 offered, addresses were made, the society was formed, 
 with the governor at its head." 
 
 " April 4. This is the day of the state fast. In the 
 morning, except while at family prayers, I kept my 
 chamber, and had a pleasant and not altogether un- 
 profitable season. I was enabled to confess my sins 
 with some penitential feeling. Christ appeared pre-
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 101 
 
 cious, both as the great atoning Sacrifice and the all- 
 prevalent Intercessor. I had unusual freedom in com- 
 mending you, my dear E., to our kind heavenly 
 Father, praying especially that you may do honor to 
 the religion you have professed, on your journey and 
 visit, and be preserved from receiving any injury from 
 the fashionable society into which you may be thrown. 
 
 "At the first ringing of the bell, I attended a 
 prayer meeting at the vestry. In the intermission, the 
 examining committee met at my house, finished the 
 business of the previous evening, and spent the rest of 
 the time in prayer. This evening, I have spent two 
 hours in prayer and conversation with a brother who 
 has conducted in a manner unbecoming a professed 
 follower of Christ. I fear the result will be his ex- 
 communication. Oh, how important that we should 
 live near to God, and guard against the first departure 
 from him, and take heed lest we too should fall, 
 wound the Saviour in the house of his friends, destroy 
 our own souls, and prove stumbling blocks over which 
 others may fall into perdition ! 
 
 " You see I have not had so much time alone to-day 
 as is desirable on such occasions to call to mind my 
 numerous sins, to confess them before God one by one, 
 to implore his pardon for each, and to renew my cov- 
 enant with him. But as providential circumstances 
 have hindered, and the time lias been occupied as duty 
 seemed to dictate, I trust the day has not been spent 
 unprofitably." 
 
 " Yesterday I made a bargain for the house von 
 saw in Montgomery Place, for seven thousand dollars, 
 and I expect to get the deed to-morrow. 1 want you 
 
 9*
 
 102 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 to learn all you can on this journey, and remember 
 every thing which you may think it best to adopt, for 
 I expect you to manage every thing in our domestic 
 concerns in your own way. Thus far the Lord seems 
 to be ordering things kindly. Let us praise him for 
 all past favors, and trust him for all future good, both 
 temporal and spiritual." 
 
 The last paragraph discloses an event now approach- 
 ing which was to restore to Mr. Safford those domestic 
 ties which had been so often broken, and which, as we 
 have seen, he had so greatly enjoyed. It may interest 
 the reader to give a single extract from his correspond- 
 ence, having immediate reference to that event, to 
 show with what views and feelings, both as a man and 
 a Christian, he anticipated it. 
 
 " Do not let us expect too much happiness from any 
 created source, but ever remember nothing which this 
 world contains can, without God's blessing, afford one 
 drop of real joy, and desire that we may resolve, with 
 good Joshua, that as for us and our house, we will 
 serve the Lord. 
 
 " The happiness which my attachment to you affords 
 me excites in me a lively gratitude to God. He can 
 render you a great blessing to me and my family ; and 
 I love to think that notwithstanding all my frailties 
 and sins, he is able to make me a blessing to you. It 
 is my sincere desire, and will ever be my endeavor, to 
 make up, as far as possible, the loss you have sus- 
 tained in the removal of the dear husband of youv 
 youth." 
 
 " April 9. I have this day taken a deed of the 
 house in Montgomery Place, and given the occupant
 
 CORRESPONDENCE. 103 
 
 notice to leave it in six months. The more I consider 
 your proposition to furnish the house yourself, the 
 more favorably I think of it. I shall wish you to fur- 
 nish just so much, and in just such a manner, as you 
 choose, as you will doubtless feel more at home, and 
 more at liberty to manage all things just as you please, 
 which you know I shall wish to have you do. I can not 
 help thinking how pleasant it will be, if the Lord will 
 grant me so great a favor, when I return from business 
 to meet your welcome smile, sometimes, perhaps, in 
 that little study by the side of the front parlor, where I 
 have thought you may love to retire, to write to absent 
 friends, to commune with your Saviour, and to pray 
 with the dear little boys. Let us continue instant in 
 prayer, that we may walk humbly with God, and make 
 it our great object to shine as Christians, and not as 
 worldlings. 
 
 " Shall we ever be permitted to kneel together daily, 
 and pour out our hearts before our heavenly Father, 
 and thank him for all the way in which he has led us? 
 I think sometimes that I anticipate_as much pleasure 
 from your society in this delightful employment as in 
 any other way. It appears to me there is no means 
 by which pure love in the hearts of the pious husband 
 and wife is so much increased as by frequent seasons 
 of prayer together, each leading alternately." 
 
 Mr. Safford and Mrs. Turner were married in An- 
 dover, at the house of Rev. J. Edwards, June 26, 1833.
 
 104 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPPORD. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 
 
 Reestablishment of domestic Relations. Enjoyment in them. Hospitality. 
 
 The German Woman. The outcast Child. The Irish Catholic Wo- 
 man. The Feast for the Poor. Evening Parties for Church Members. 
 
 Religious Worship on these Occasions. Arrangements to promote 
 the Comfort of his Family. The Chaise. Family Worship. Conver- 
 sion of an Irish Domestic. 
 
 THE union which now restored to Mr. Safford those 
 domestic ties that had so often been broken was one 
 not only of affections, but also of principles and views 
 of life. Mrs. Safford knew that he had, ere this, 
 adopted it as a fixed rule no longer to accumulate 
 property, but to give his whole income, beyond what 
 was needed for the support of himself and family, to 
 charitable uses, and she fully concurred therein. 
 
 Rejoicing that she was ready to unite in his most 
 cherished plans and pursuits, he once more gathered 
 about him his little family, which now included 
 her mother and his, each (5f whom was nearly eiglily 
 years of age ; also his niece, and his two little sons, 
 one a year and a half, and the other three years old. 
 There seemed to be no drawback to his complete hap- 
 piness, except the fear which continually haunted him, 
 that death might interrupt it. Three times in less 
 than five years had his conjugal ties been severed, and 
 it seemed to him too much to hope for that- they could
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 105 
 
 now be of long cor/inuance. Contrary to the usual 
 habit of his mind, and to his established principle 
 never to borrow trouble in advance, this fear for a 
 time very much marred his enjoyment. 
 
 On entering the parlor at the close of a day not long 
 after their marriage, Mrs. Safford found him slowly 
 and pensively pacing the room. In reply to the ques- 
 tion, " What troubles you, husband ? " he said, " I am 
 thinking what I should do if my family were to be 
 again broken up ; how I could bear it. I deserve it ; 
 I should not murmur ; but how could I bear it ? And 
 what should I do with all this furniture ? " referring, 
 in the latter remark, to the fact that, in making their 
 purchases, more regard had been paid to its durability 
 than before. It was to him an occasion for self-re- 
 proach that he had made any calculations upon the 
 continuance of life, when he had found it so frail. 
 With this was also mingled a fear that the additional 
 expenditure was not perfectly consistent with their 
 obligations to God as his stewards. He wished to deal 
 honestly and truly with God, and he was morbidly 
 afraid to enjoy the possession of blessings which he 
 was so liable to lose. The more cheerful view of 
 God's providence was suggested, in which there is so 
 much to show that he delights in seeing his children 
 happy. His wife playfully said to him, " It is my im- 
 pression that God is going to allow us to live and do 
 good together for many years, perhaps twenty" a pre- 
 diction which was more than verified in the result. It 
 was not long before these morbid feelings gave place 
 to an absorbing interest in the work of doing good, 
 and his peace, which increased with his years, became 
 truly " like a river."
 
 106 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 When lie saw that his house and furniture could he 
 made subservient to the great object for which he 
 wished to live, they became to him sources of much 
 enjoyment. He gained a new view of the inspired 
 declaration, " Every creature of God is good, and 
 nothing to be refused if it be received with thanks- 
 giving, for it is sanctified by the word of God and 
 prayer." 
 
 In a letter written to her brother two years later, 
 Mrs. Safford says, " Our home is a very happy one to 
 we, and I think it is to my husband. Our family 
 arrangements are quite as much to my mind as I ex- 
 pect them ever to be, or as I can wish to have them. 
 I have comparatively few, if any, trials. Search the 
 world over, and I do not believe one could be found 
 better calculated than Mr. Safford to make the life of 
 a wife happy, he is so even and tranquil in himself, 
 and so benevolent and kind to all. As to selfishness, 
 I think sometimes he has none. A desire to make 
 others happy is constantly predominant with him, and 
 I believe that it is this which makes him so happy. 
 As to comforts, we abound in them. The Lord has 
 seen fit to give us all that we need for our own use ; 
 and what we have more than this we feel belongs to 
 him, and should be used for the good of others, and 
 especially to send the word of life to those who are 
 perishing in ignorance and sin. This renders what we 
 use ourselves doubly valuable." 
 
 Mr. Safford was in an eminent degree " given to 
 hospitality." It was the natural consequence of his 
 desire to do good to all, as he had opportunity. He 
 aimed at no ostentatious display of either his generos- 
 ity or his wealth in the presence of his guests, but
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 107 
 
 simply sought to make them happy. Therefore the 
 unexpected arrival of a visitor produced no disturb- 
 ance, and placed no extra burden upon his family. 
 His manner of receiving guests has often reminded us 
 of the patriarch that sat in his tent door, and called in 
 the strangers as they passed by, who proved to be an- 
 gels, and one of them the Lord of angels himself. 
 And if Sarah had not been able to dress the calf, and 
 prepare the fresh cakes, he annoyed neither her nor 
 them with apologies or complaints. One day when 
 he had brought home two gentlemen to dinner, with- 
 out any intimation to his wife of their coming, the 
 meal happened to be an economical disposal of the 
 previous day's fragments. When she had made the 
 apology usual in such cases, he remarked, in his most 
 pleasant manner, " Gentlemen, I am happy to be able 
 to give you so good a dinner." 
 
 The good brother R, to whom reference has been 
 made, had been obliged, in consequence of his misfor- 
 tune, to give up his employment, and consequently his 
 dwelling. After paying his physician's bill, nothing 
 remained for his board in the city, while he was pre- 
 paring to go west to seek new means of support. It 
 was with sincere pleasure that Mr. Safford, besides 
 aiding him with money, said to this excellent Christian 
 brother, " Come with Mrs. R., and spend the six weeks 
 with us." 
 
 He did not inquire whether one would prove an 
 agreeable visitor, but whether there was room in the 
 house for another, and whether, by receiving him as a 
 guest, he could aid in a good cause. A young man, 
 who had just completed his course of study in a theo- 
 logical seminary, proposed to labor in the city as a
 
 108 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 .children's missionary. Mr. Safford thought such 
 labors desirable, and invited him to .stay in his house 
 until it should be ascertained whether he could be 
 supported. One morning, on taking an early walk in 
 Charles Street, the missionary observed a little girl 
 asleep under the board fence which then enclosed the 
 public garden. He aroused her, and, in answer to his 
 inquiries, she told him she had lived with an intemper- 
 ate aunt, who employed her in begging cold victuals. 
 When she came home the night before, her aunt was 
 just recovering from a fit of intoxication. Feeling 
 inclined, in the course of the evening, to eat some- 
 thing, she examined the contents of the child's basket, 
 and finding nothing tempting enough for her appe- 
 tite, she became very angry, and, in her passion, 
 pushed her into the street, and locked the door. The 
 poor girl wandered about until, sleepy and tired, she 
 laid herself down, where she was found asleep. The 
 young man brought her to Mr. Safford's house, where 
 she was washed, her ragged clothes exchanged for new 
 ones as soon as materials could bo purchased and gar- 
 ments made, and her sad heart for one grateful and 
 happy. The change produced in her in a few days 
 was very wonderful. The " Children's Friend Society" 
 was just then starting into life, and she was one of the 
 first received by it. In the course of a few months 
 she was adopted into a respectable family, and grew 
 up an accomplished and interesting young lady. This 
 was the first time that Mr. Safford was permitted lit- 
 erally to receive one who was " cast out to his house." 
 At this time the attention of the good people of 
 the city had not been particularly directed to the 
 condition of indigent and neglected children. The
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 109 
 
 numerous homes for the destitute which have since 
 blessed so many of the poor and needy had not been 
 established. ^ 
 
 An illiterate and eccentric German woman came to 
 the city to solicit funds toward completing a church 
 in a destitute part of Pennsylvania, to which she had 
 first given all her own property. Having examined 
 her credentials, and found them, as he thought, trust- 
 worthy, lie gave her a sum of money, and then pro- 
 posed that, to save the expense of her board, she 
 should make his house her home while she was solicit- 
 ing aid. She could eat nothing that had been " kilt," 
 and was in other respects disagreeable ; but he was 
 willing to bear with all this for the sake of the benev- 
 olent object which she seemed to have truly at heart. 
 Redeeming qualities were found in her social char- 
 acter, unpromising as this at. first appeared. She had 
 a faculty for amusing the children, and, on the whole, 
 the happiness of the family was increased by her 
 presence. 
 
 At the close of a day early in the autumn of 1834, 
 a young Catholic woman, about eighteen years of age, 
 appeared at the door of his house. She had come to 
 the city to look for her husband, whom she had mar- 
 ried at sixteen, without the knowledge of her parents. 
 She had looked for him three weeks in vain. " And 
 now," said she, " my heart is bruk." She had left 
 one child in Ireland, and expected soon to become the 
 mother of another. " I went to the praste," she 
 added, " and axed him to let me jist lie doon in the 
 chapel o' nights until I should find him, or to give 
 me a little money to pay for my lodging ; but he had 
 too many poor already." 
 
 10
 
 110 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 The family with whom she was staying had told her 
 that in the morning they should put her goods upon 
 the sidewalk, and that she must pay them a quarter 
 of a dollar, or she could not stay there that night. 
 Although against Mr. Safford's rqle to give money to 
 persons applying for it in that way, without investiga- 
 tion, an exception was made in her case. Before the 
 sun rose the next morning, two of his family were on 
 Fort Hill, looking for Mary, but hardly expecting to 
 find her story true, although it had been told with 
 such deep sorrow and true simplicity that they knew 
 not 'how to doubt it. There she stood by a little pile 
 of rubbish, which comprised all her earthly possessions. 
 The tears were trickling down her cheeks ; but when 
 she saw and recognized the ladies, her face lighted up 
 with a smile. 
 
 Twenty years afterward, she said, " From that time 
 I never knew a want." Mr. Safford provided for her 
 immediate necessities, and soon after procured for her 
 a bed in the hospital. About three weeks later, she 
 appeared at his door again, with a bright, cheerful face, 
 and, as she said, " the nicest boy in the city." She 
 was now able to " scrub and wash," and only wanted a 
 little room which she could call her home, to be quite 
 independent. Her first expressed wish was to be per- 
 mitted to call her child Daniel Safford. She said, 
 " I want him to have not only Mr. Safford's name, but 
 his religion. I can no longer be a Cat'olic myself, and 
 my child shall not be brought up in that church. I 
 can never forget that the praste turned away from me, 
 and that Mr. Safford tuck pity on me when my heart 
 was bruk." 
 
 A room was procured for her. She made Mr. Saf-
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. Ill 
 
 ford her savings bank for several years, and always 
 came to him when in any trouble. Besides supporting 
 herself and her husband, (who came back to her when 
 he found she had a comfortable home, and was for- 
 given and received by that true Irish heart,) she 
 earned money sufficient to send for her daughter in 
 Ireland. She commenced attending Park Street 
 church, which she did for some time, but at length 
 returned to her own church. Mr. Safford, nevertheless, 
 continued his interest in her, and labored perseveringly 
 to reform her husband, who was an inebriate of the 
 worst kind, often signing the pledge, and as often 
 breaking it. There were few persons in the city more 
 grateful and happy than Irish Mary. After Mr. Saf- 
 ford's death, she came to his house to express her 
 grief that she had not known of his illness. She con- 
 soled herself by looking at his portrait, and recounted 
 with the deepest feeling his many kindnesses. " Wasn't 
 he a fine gentlemun ? " she said. " That first quarter 
 dollar saved my life. My Daniel is now twenty-five 
 years old, has good larnin', has never been a Cat'olic, 
 never drunk any rum, and never brought a tare into 
 my eye!" 
 
 In his early housekeeping in Montgomery Place, 
 Mr. Safford's attention was called to the direction of 
 our Lord, " When thou makest a dinner or a supper, 
 call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kins- 
 . men, nor thy rich neighbors, lest they also bid theo 
 again, and a recompense be made thee. But when 
 thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the 
 lame, the blind, and thou shalt be blessed, for they 
 can not recompense thee ; for thou shalt be recom- 
 pensed at the resurrection of the just."
 
 112 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 He was aware that a literal compliance with this 
 injunction would subject him to notice, and perhaps 
 imputations upon his motives by the world. But he 
 cared little for this, if persuaded that it was right. 
 Writing to a friend upon another subject, he re- 
 marks, 
 
 " But you say public opinion is against it. I know 
 it is, to some extent, though I think it is changing in 
 this region. But what if public opinion is against it, 
 if the thing itself is not a real evil, and if real evils 
 are prevented by it ? Are Christians to be governed 
 wholly by public opinion ? If so, no reformation of 
 any kind will take place. Public opinion was once 
 against the temperance cause." . . . 
 
 Though he believed that the precept just quoted 
 might be obeyed in spirit without a strict conformity 
 to the letter, yet the more he reflected the more he 
 was convinced that in this matter Christ had not been 
 honored by his professed disciples, and that there was 
 too much conformity to the world in their feasting. 
 For himself, he felt that he should be delighted to 
 obey the command literally. On his marriage to Mrs. 
 Turner, he had introduced her to the poor women, 
 the widows and laundresses, the sick and infirm, of 
 Salem church. And the first dinner party he made 
 was for them. The folding doors were thrown open, 
 the tables extended through both parlors, and the visit 
 closed in the evening with a cup of tea, and devotional 
 exercises, conducted by Rev. Mr. Blagden, the pastor, 
 who was present on invitation. To say nothing of the 
 apparent enjoyment of the visitors, Mr. Saiford, it is 
 believed, never took more pleasure in entertaining 
 guests than on that day. It was to this incident,
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 113 
 
 doubtless, that Dr. Blagden particularly referred in 
 the remark which he made at the funeral of Mr. Saf* 
 ford : " He was devoted to the poor ; seating them at 
 his own table as one who had been more blessed in 
 worldly goods than they, while he counted these 
 goods as nothing, compared with the interests and 
 the cause for which he labored, and in which all were 
 equal." 
 
 He never afterward made a party exclusively for 
 the same class of persons, but in the Mount Vernon 
 church, with which he was last connected, improved, 
 as he thought, upon that method. During one winter, 
 he invited to his house the members of the church in 
 order, as their names stood on the register ; the rich 
 and the poor together, seventy or eighty at a time, 
 until the whole church, numbering several hundred, 
 had been invited. Among the company, one evening, 
 was a colored sister, who could not understand that 
 she was invited to a visit, and had come in her washing 
 dress. She was, however, furnished, after her arrival, 
 with a cap and black silk apron, and conducted to the 
 parlors, where she received rather more attention, from 
 all classes, than any other one present. 
 
 He made it a rule, in every social gatliering at his 
 house, that God should be acknowledged by religious 
 worship the singing of a hymn, or reading the 
 Scriptures, or both, followed by prayer. Persons not 
 religiously disposed, men of the world, who had never 
 witnessed this before at an evening party, on meeting 
 him afterward have expressed to him their conviction 
 of the propriety of this practice, assuring him that 
 they should never lose the impression received on 
 that occasion. He was thus encouraged to persevere 
 
 10*
 
 114 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 in the practice, notwithstanding the objection of some 
 professors of religion that it was mixing incongruous 
 things. He wished, he said, to allow nothing in his 
 own house which would not harmonize with religious 
 worship. 
 
 It may well be believed that one who was so much 
 awake to the interests of others would not be neglect- 
 ful of those of his own family. He studied to make 
 his house as convenient as possible, so as to save labor, 
 and increase the comfort and the health of its occu- 
 pants. He chose to own his dwelling, that he might 
 make such improvements as he desired ; and these were 
 always very perfect, of their kind. Mrs. Safford be- 
 came the teacher of the children, instructing them at 
 home until they reached the ages of eight and ten. 
 
 To induce her to take open-air exercise as much as 
 was necessary for her own health, and to provide safe 
 and agreeable recreation for them, he purchased a 
 horse, and had a chaise built, containing many new 
 contrivances of his own, which he kept in a livery 
 stable, near the house, subject entirely to her direction. 
 In pleasant weather he expected her to drive out every 
 day with her little companions, or with one of the 
 grandmothers, if either of them chose to go. 
 
 He had consecrated himself, and all that he had, to 
 Christ ; and in his domestic arrangements he had 
 supreme reference to the divine favor and blessing. 
 With David, he said, " I will walk within my house 
 with a perfect heart ; " and with Joshua, " As for me 
 and my house, we will serve the Lord." His family 
 prayers were the earnest outpouring of his heart be- 
 fore the Lord, and as regular and constant as the 
 return of morning and evening. Nothing was allowed
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. llo 
 
 to interrupt them ; and no domestic work, nor any 
 thing else, to hinder the servants from attending them. 
 They were always informed of this rule of the family 
 before engaging in his service ; and so came into the 
 house with this understanding. To several of them 
 this was the means of their conversion. 
 
 The following instance of this kind is worthy of 
 mention. An Irish Catholic woman, about forty years 
 old, who had been for many years a cook in one of the 
 most respectable families in the city, applied for a sit- 
 uation at Mr. Safford's. Her recommendations were 
 satisfactory, but she was told that the servants being 
 considered as members of the household, were ex- 
 pected to be always present at family prayers ; and 
 that if she could not conscientiously unite with them 
 it would be better for her not to come. She replied 
 that that would not prevent her coming, and that she 
 wished to come to this house, because no dinners were 
 cooked on the Sabbath. She was a widow, with 
 grown-up daughters ; a very strict Catholic ; and had 
 refused to speak to one of her children, who had be- 
 come a Protestant. After coming into the family, she 
 continued to attend her own church, no one interfering 
 with her religious views. She came regularly to prayers, 
 and read, in her turn, in the Scriptures ; being allowed 
 to use the Douay version. One morning, after a few 
 months, during the singing of the hymn, the tears were 
 seen trickling down her checks. She held her hymn 
 book up, and followed every word with her eye. As she 
 passed out of the room, she said to the other servant, 
 "What beautiful hymns those are!" A short time 
 after, she asked Mrs. Saflford if her church would bo 
 willing to have her little nephew, eight years old, corao
 
 116 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 to their Sabbath school. Being told that he would be 
 very welcome there, she herself aided in clothing him 
 for that purpose. At length she asked, one day, if 
 she could obtain a seat in their church. Mrs. Safford 
 said, with surprise, " Elizabeth, do you intend to leave 
 your own church ? " " Yes, ma'am," she replied, " I 
 have been thinking of it for some time ; I prefer your 
 religion." " And why ? How is it that you have 
 changed your opinion, when, only one year ago, you 
 were so strong in your attachment to the Catholic 
 church ? " " Oh, I have been observing the religion 
 of this family ever since I came into it, and it seems 
 to me more like what I find in the Bible than that of 
 the Catholic." " In what respect ? What is one thing 
 which has led you to think so ? " " Why, ma'am, 
 Mr. Safford prays every day for his enemies, and our 
 church curses them ; and the Bible tells us that we 
 must forgive our enemies, and pray for them that hate 
 us." " Have you told your priest that you are going 
 to leave?" " No, ma'am." " Are you not afraid he 
 will excommunicate you ? " "I expect he will, but I 
 am not afraid of it. I told him I came to your 
 prayers, and that there was not a bishop in Boston 
 could pray better than Mr. Safford." It was found 
 that she had indeed been studying her Bible, and had 
 received Christ. She continued firm in the faith until 
 her death.
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 117 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 
 
 Letters to his Wife. Kicked by a Horse. Enjoyment of Solitude. Visits 
 to bis Partner, Mr. Low. Mutual Kegard of the Partners. Mr. Low's 
 Present of a Cane. Care for his Family. Removal to Beacon Street. 
 Hospitalities. Mary Lyon. Dr. Edwards. Missionaries. Letter of 
 Dr. Anderson. 
 
 IN the summer of 1834, his wife and children passed 
 a few weeks in Belchertown, with her sister, Mrs. Reid, 
 whose husband, Rev. J. Reid, had recently removed 
 thither from Reading. The following extracts are 
 from letters addressed at that time to Mrs. Safford : 
 
 "August 5, 1834. 
 
 " After leaving you yesterday I rode twenty miles, 
 to South Brookfield, where I took supper; and then, 
 committing myself and you to our heavenly Father, 
 enjoyed a refreshing night's rest. At half past four 
 o'clock, this morning, I called the hostler, and went to 
 the stable to see Charlie. I had on light pantaloons, 
 and, as it was dark, the horse probably saw nothing 
 but them, which frightened him so much that he stood 
 on the defensive, and gave me a broadside without 
 ceremony. The blow was very severe, and caused me 
 to groan aloud ; but after a few moments, I found that 
 I was not so seriously hurt as at first seemed probable. 
 At Worcester a physician was called, whose prescrip-
 
 118 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 tions I am following, and hope to be fully restored in 
 a few days. I desire gratefully to acknowledge the 
 good hand of God in this narrow escape from imme- 
 diate death ; for if Charlie had been two feet further 
 from me, I have very little doubt he would have killed 
 me upon the spot." 
 
 " Sabbath Evening, August 10. 
 
 " MY DEAR WIFE : Your last calls for lively grat- 
 itude to our kind heavenly Father for his great good- 
 ness in restoring your health, and rendering you all 
 so happy in breathing his pure air, and drinking his 
 pure water. After reading it I almost involuntarily 
 sung the lines I have heard you teach the children, 
 
 ' The Lord is good and kind to me, 
 And very thankful I should be.' 
 
 And now I ask you not to think of me as feeling mel- 
 ancholy or lonely here, or wishing me in a good board- 
 ing house. There is no place where I can be so happy 
 as in our own house, and no company in Boston is so 
 desirable to me as solitude. I hope, by the blessing 
 of God, it has already been profitable to me, and that 
 it will be still more so. I need more time for reading 
 and reflection. If not deceived, I have had, since my 
 return from Belchertown, some precious seasons of 
 communion with God, in reading the Bible, meditation, 
 and prayer. 
 
 " How are my dear Daniel and George ? Tell them 
 I hope they thank God for his goodness to them, and 
 to their father and mother, and that they will both 
 become Christians ; and then they may be happy, at 
 home or abroad, in company or alone ; they will not 
 be dependent upon outward things for happiness, the 
 source of it being within them."
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 119 
 
 'BOSTON, August 31, 1834. 
 
 " Can it be that another summer has gone, to return 
 no more for ever ? Is it so ? Ah, there is a fearful 
 sense in which it will return, at the great day, for 
 which all other days were made ; and as its mouths 
 and weeks, days, hours, and moments shall pass before 
 my quickened memory, laden with duties neglected 
 and sins committed, how unwelcome its return, how 
 insupportable the sight, if it shall not then appear that 
 this polluted soul has been cleansed in the precious 
 blood of Christ! Oh, what should we do without 
 Christ ? Dear Jesus, take this guilty soul of mine, 
 and wash it all over in thy precious blood, for it is 
 altogether polluted. If the faint glimpse thou hast 
 now given me of the evil of my heart is such as to 
 baffle description, how must I appear to the eye of 
 infinite purity ? Let those who have a righteousness 
 of their own present it, and plead their own merits ; 
 but, dear Saviour, I will present thy righteousness, and 
 plead thy merits alone. 
 
 " My dear wife, I had almost forgotten that I was 
 writing to you ; but as it is to you, I will let it go. 
 Can you not easily conceive of the burst of praise from 
 the ' ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands 
 of thousands,' as, with a loud voice, they sing, ' Wor- 
 thy is the Lamb, that was slain, to receive power, and 
 riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and 
 glory, and blessing ' ? " 
 
 Mr. Low, his partner in business, was now rapidly 
 declining in health, and had left the city. Mr. Safford 
 writes, 
 
 " I received a letter from Mr. Low yesterday. Ho
 
 120 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 desires our prayers for him, and for his wife, who, he 
 says, will soon be a widow ; and for his children, who 
 will soon be fatherless." 
 
 Again he writes, in September, " I have just re- 
 turned from a visit to Mr. Low, at Beverly. He looks 
 like a living skeleton, but appears perfectly tranquil 
 and happy ; talks about dying, and what may come, or 
 be done after, much as he would if he were going on 
 a journey." 
 
 He continued to visit Mr. Low until his death. It 
 was delightful to witness the sweet confidence they 
 manifested in each other. Mr. Safford, in speaking of 
 him, said, " He has always been so faithful and trust- 
 worthy." And Mr. Low said of Mr. Safford, " He has 
 always been so just and honorable toward me, repeat- 
 edly giving me, of his own accord, an increased per- 
 centage of the profits of our business, because, as he 
 said, it was right ; never waiting for a proposition of 
 this kind from me." 
 
 The last visit was paid to Mr. Low a few hours pre- 
 vious to his death ; when he presented Mr. Safford 
 his cane, with a penciled note which he had written, 
 not expecting to see him again. This note Mr. Safford 
 carried in his pocket-book many years, until it was 
 worn into several pieces, and he then laid it by, among 
 his choice papers. Twenty-two years after Mr. Low's 
 death, and just before his own, he found this note, and 
 read it with much emotion. Seeing that the writing 
 was almost effaced, he copied it in his own hand. It 
 is as follows :
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. ' 121 
 
 " MY DEAREST FRIEND : Please accept this cane, as 
 the last token of respect and friendship from one who 
 loves you, and who will soon be no more. Keep it in 
 remembrance of me, and let it serve you the same 
 useful purpose that it has served me. And when the 
 hour of dissolution shall arrive, may we both be able 
 to say, in the language of holy joy in our Redeemer, 
 ' Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 
 death, I Will fear no evil ; for tliou art with me ; thy 
 rod and thy staff they comfort me.' 
 
 ISAIAH Low." 
 
 After the death of Mr. Low, his widow, with her 
 two little boys, looked to Mr. Safford as to a brother 
 for advice and sympathy, it being manifest that it was 
 a pleasure to him to render her any service in his 
 power. He took great care in investing her property, 
 wishing to render it as available as possible. She 
 called upon him with entire freedom ; and if, for 
 any length of time, she failed to do so, she was sure to 
 receive a call from him to inquire after her welfare. 
 Tliis friendly interest continued when she had removed 
 from the city, and even after her marriage to Mr. Lin- 
 coln, the warden of the state prison. 
 
 The tragical death of Mr. Lincoln by a blow from a 
 prisoner left her again a widow, with the care of a 
 large family of children, in addition to her own ; and 
 called forth anew Mr. Safford's sympathies in her 
 behalf. This is one of many cases which illustrate a 
 striking trait in his character. Ilia interest being once 
 enlisted, his constancy and perseverance in acts of 
 kindness never failed. Neither lapse of time nor 
 pressure of business was permitted to excuse him 
 
 11
 
 122 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 from alleviating the burdens of the desolate and 
 afflicted, which he had once taken upon his heart. 
 
 One morning, in the spring of 1836, on the way to 
 his counting-room, a gentleman met him and asked if 
 he would sell the house in which he resided, in Mont- 
 gomery Place. He had no wish to exchange his dwell- 
 ing for any other ; but as the price offered was four 
 thousand dollars more than he had paid for it, four 
 years before, he thought he ought to give the question 
 some consideration, and returned to consult with Mrs. 
 Safford about it. Looking at all events as occurring 
 iinder the direction of God, they asked what could 
 *be the meaning of this providence. At first lie 
 thought that it might be an indication that the time 
 had come for him to give up business, and remove into 
 the country ; it having long been his intention not to 
 stand in the way of young men who wished and ought 
 to come forward in life. His brother-in-law, Dr. Ed- 
 wards,' learning that he was inclining to this view of 
 the subject, strongly protested against it. " For," said 
 he, " Mr. Safford has now boon twenty-four years in 
 the city, and by a steady course in the right direction, 
 lias laid a foundation for exerting an influence, and 
 acquired a power for doing good rarely possessed, and 
 which it would be a great mistake for him thus to 
 relinquish. It would be much like an artisan throw- 
 ing away his tools, after years spent in learning his 
 trade." 
 
 The wisdom of this counsel could not be denied. 
 He remembered, too, that he had been able to do good 
 by affording Christian hospitality to missionaries and 
 other servants of the Lord, and believed that his use- 
 fulness might be still further increased in the same
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 123 
 
 direction. After much prayer, therefore, it was de- 
 cided to accept the offer which had been made him, 
 and purchase a larger and more commodious houso 
 at No. 3 Beacon Street. 
 
 Miss Lyon, the founder of Mount Holyoke Female 
 Seminary, was at this time engaged in the preparatory 
 steps of that important enterprise. She had already 
 visited several times at the house of Mr. Safford, and 
 he had indorsed her scheme by a subscription of five 
 hundred dollars ; and had also called a meeting of 
 gentlemen at his own house, at which several thousand 
 more were pledged to her. His interest in the insti- 
 tution never afterward abated. His house was her 
 home whenever she chose to resort to it. In the lan- 
 guage of the Shunammite respecting Elisha, he said, 
 " This is a holy woman of God, who passeth by us 
 continually. Let us make a little chamber on the 
 wall, and let us set for her there a bed, and a table, 
 and a stool, and a candlestick." Her wants they 
 knew to be few, and very simple. It was only a place 
 to rest and to pray in that she required. 
 
 Her genial and Christ-like spirit had already proved 
 a blessing to their household. Her manner toward 
 the servants, who were Germans, and but recently 
 from their mother-land, had been so kind and conde- 
 scending, that they regarded her as their friend, and 
 welcomed her as if she had been their own mother. 
 It was very pleasant to witness their joy on her arriv- 
 ing. One of them, on answering, late one evening, to 
 the ringing of the bell, finding her with her trunk 
 upon the doorstep, in her joy left her there, and ran 
 back through the hall, exclaiming, "The Lyon, she bo 
 come! the Lyon, she be come!" The chamber set
 
 12-1 MEMOIR OP DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 apart for her use was the scene of some of her most 
 interesting labors. Here she superintended the pub- 
 lishing of the " Principles and Design of the Mount 
 Holyoke Female Seminary $ " and afterward wrote 
 the stirring little book called " The Missionary Offer- 
 ing." This was the Mount Carmel, where she would 
 come in her extremity, and bow herself before the 
 Lord, until she was assured he had heard her prayer. 
 In this chamber she passed that week of prayer pre- 
 vious to a remarkable effusion of the Holy Spirit upon 
 her beloved seminary in 1843.* She left Boston early 
 in March, and on the 13th of April she wrote, " When 
 I returned from Boston there were a few more than 
 fifty without hope. In about three weeks all but six 
 expressed some hope that they had found the Saviour ; 
 in a single week of this time more than thirty of the 
 number." 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Justin Edwards was now devoting 
 himself to the cause of temperance ; and, much of the 
 time, needed a home in the city. Mr. Safford's in- 
 terest in this cause, and his love and respect for this 
 honored and beloved minister of Christ, rendered it very 
 pleasant to make provision for him also. He believed, 
 more especially, that he should have the approval of his 
 Master in providing for those of his servants who were 
 from time to time coming to the city to embark as 
 missionaries, a comfortable home for the last few days 
 which they were to spend in their native land. For 
 many years he had gladly made contributions in 
 money to this cause, and he could now have shown his 
 interest by paying their board at a hotel ; but this 
 
 * Memoir of Mary Lyon.
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 125 
 
 could not satisfy him. He chose rather to receive 
 Christ, in the person of his servants, at his own house. 
 He loved the cause of missions, and desired to be iden- 
 tified with it as far as possible ; deeming the command 
 to preach the gospel to every creature, as binding upon 
 himself as upon them. 
 
 The first missionaries who were thus welcomed by 
 him were Mr. and Mrs. Lindley,* and Dr. and Mrs. 
 Wilson, bound to South Africa. The week they spent 
 with him in Montgomery Place convinced him that a 
 cup of cold water, given in the name of a disciple, 
 could be returned, even in this life, fourfold into his 
 own bosom, and upon his household. As, for succes- 
 sive weeks after their departure, he heard his little 
 son, three years old, alone in his closet praying every 
 morning so affectionately ; " God, take care of the 
 missionaries while they are on the big water, and don't 
 let the boat tip oder," the father could not doubt that 
 impressions had been made upon his child's mind 
 which would be as lasting as his being. One of the 
 missionary ladies had often taken the child upon her 
 lap, and had told him about the heathen, who have 
 
 * Just after the above was written, Mrs. Safford had the pleasure 
 of welcoming again to her house these veteran missionaries, with their 
 numerous family. Mr. Lindley could now say, as did the ancient pa- 
 triarch, " With my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have 
 become two bands." After twenty-five years of devoted labor among 
 the Zulus of South Africa, the parents return to visit once more their 
 native country, with eleven children, all in good health, and a house- 
 hold which might be considered a model both for Christian and 
 heathen families. They have experienced trials and hardships ; but 
 these they regard as trifles, compared with the great delight they have 
 had in seeing the dark minds of those heathen enlightened by the 
 precious truths they have taught them. 
 
 11*
 
 126 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 never heard of Jesus, while he listened with intense 
 interest ; and when she asked him whether, when he 
 came to be a man, he would not go, as they were 
 going, over the great waters, and carry *the Bible, and 
 preach to them, his quick reply was, " Yes, if monner 
 [mother] will go, Dordie will." The father did not 
 live to hear this child preach the gospol, but he lived 
 to receive a visit from him after he had entered upon 
 his theological course, the object of which was to 
 obtain his father's consent to his becoming a mission- 
 ary ; his love for Christ and for the souls of his fellow- 
 men now rendering him willing to forsake father and 
 mother, and thus follow Christ. This was more grat- 
 ifying to Mr. Safford than to have been told that his 
 son had become heir to a throne ; for his faith beheld 
 the invisible things promised to such as count not 
 their lives dear for his sake. 
 
 The following is an extract of a letter written to her 
 sister, by Mrs. Safford, in 1836 : 
 
 " I will now tell you a little of what is doing at No. 3 
 Beacon Street. If you could step in here you might 
 be introduced to ten missionaries, bound to the Sand- 
 wich Islands, who have spent the last two weeks with 
 us. We breakfast at half past six twenty at the 
 table ; family prayers immediately follow ; the Scrip- 
 tures are read by each one, two verses in turn ; a 
 hymn is sung ; and after prayer, those who have no 
 other engagements retire to the parlor above, and 
 spend another half hour in prayer, interspersed with 
 singing, ' Come, ye that love the Lord,' ' Rock of Ages,' 
 * Yes, my native land, I love thee,' &c. Then the 
 missionaries disperse ; some to pack their goods, and 
 some to purchase articles for the voyage and mission.
 
 DOMESTIC LIFE, CONTINUED. 127 
 
 At one o'clock all come home, hungry and tired, to din- 
 ner. As you may imagine, the house is brought into 
 thorough use. Seven are accommodated in the attic ; 
 as many more in the fourth story ; and in the third, 
 six. There is frequently additional company to dine. 
 We all accompanied them to the ship this morning, 
 expecting them to sail at ten o'clock ; but there was 
 no wind ; and all returned, to remain, we do not 
 know how long." 
 
 The following testimony of Rev. Dr. Anderson, Sec- 
 retary of the American Board of Commissioners for 
 Foreign Missions, describes Mr. Safford's hospitality, 
 and its bearings upon the missionary cause. 
 
 " He appreciated more fully than any man I have 
 known, not a secretary, the importance of hospitality 
 toward departing missionaries. He was averse to their 
 embarking from hotels or boarding houses. He would 
 have them go out from the warm bosom of the Chris- 
 tian family, when departing from their native land to 
 reside in remote fields. To make it easy for the secre- 
 taries to find such entertainment for them, he not only 
 placed his own name first to the following paper, but 
 also procured a respectable list of other names to 
 it ; viz. : 
 
 "'The subscribers, residing in Boston, declare their 
 willingness to receive missionaries of the American 
 Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions into 
 their families, when they embark from this city, should 
 it be convenient, at tbc time, to do so ; and they re- 
 quest the officers of the Board to apply to them when 
 there is need. When thus applied to, they engage to 
 state frankly whether it be convenient or not to accede 
 to the request.'
 
 128 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 " He was always accessible to us on this point ; 
 always ready to act ; and was unwearied from year to 
 year until his mortal disease fastened upon him. 
 "When sickness in his family did not prevent, his doors 
 were open, and he was ready to use his influence on 
 others. Nor was he anxious to have the best in a 
 company of missionaries sent to his house. We might 
 arrange that matter as we pleased. 
 
 " He loved the kingdom of our blessed Lord ; de- 
 lighting to do what he could to promote it. He loved 
 to have good men and women in his house ; and, if they 
 were missionaries, to speed them on their way. I could 
 never see that Christian hospitality seemed to him a 
 burden. He enjoyed it, and wondered that others did 
 not enjoy it as he did. A few such men as he, with 
 ample means, would give a character of hospitality to 
 a city. A few such, whatever their means, are a rich 
 blessing to a church. They are invaluable at the seat 
 of a .great foreign missionary institution. May the 
 gracious Lord be pleased to give us many such men as 
 Mr. Safford was."
 
 REVIVAL LABORS 129 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 
 
 Removal to Park Street Church. Debt of Salem Church paid. Organiza- 
 tion of the "Central Church," and Removal thither. Return to Park 
 Street Church. His Interest in Preaching. Remodeling of the House 
 of Worship. Labors in the Sabbath School. Interest in the Young 
 Preparations for a Revival. Rev. E. N. Kirk invited to Boston. Man- 
 ner of his Reception by the Pastors of the City. Special Meetings. 
 Conversions. .Letters to Mr. Kirk. Second Visit of Mr. Kirk to Bos- 
 ton. Organization of Mount Vernon Church. Rev. Mr. Aiken's Tes- 
 timony to Mr. Safford's Character and Usefulness. 
 
 PREVIOUS to 1835 the attention of several gentlemen 
 had been called to the desirableness of purchasing the 
 Federal Street theater, in Boston, and converting it into 
 a place of religious worship. Mr. Safford promised to 
 share the responsibility of the enterprise, should it be 
 undertaken. While the matter was in suspense, as his 
 services were no longer indispensable in Salem church, 
 and as his residence was near Park Street church, he 
 proposed to return to the latter. He was, however, 
 unwilling to leave it while it was still embarrassed 
 with a debt ; though it was not large. He therefore 
 drew up a subscription paper for liquidating that 
 debt; himself contributing, for that purpose, as ap- 
 pears from a private memorandum then made, thir- 
 teen hundred and sixty-eight dollars. This effort 
 proving successful, he felt himself at liberty to with- 
 draw; but lu's love for the church and his interest
 
 130 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 in their prosperity remained undiminislied till his 
 death. He was received into communion with the 
 Park Street church March 1, 1835. He had, how- 
 ever, scarcely become settled there before the Academy 
 of Music, having leased the Federal Street theater, 
 offered it to the gentlemen above referred to, for the 
 purposes of worship. He was therefore called upon to 
 redeem the pledge which he had given to engage in 
 this enterprise. Before dismissing him, the brethren 
 of Park Street church obtained from him a promise 
 that, as soon as the new enterprise could spare him, 
 he would again return to them. 
 
 May 11, 1835, a church, consisting of sixty-three 
 persons, was organized in the vestry of the Bowdoin 
 Street church ; and on the next evening, Mr. Safford, 
 Mr. John C. Proctor, and Mr. Daniel Noyes were 
 elected deacons. In the following August, having 
 invited the Rev. W. M. Rogers to be their pastor, they 
 commenced worshiping in the theater, then called 
 the " Odeon." A flourishing congregation was soon 
 gathered ; and in about two years the church had so 
 increased in numbers and strength, that the brethren 
 of Park Street church reminded him of his pledge to 
 return to them. Of this they were now the more de- 
 sirous, as it was becoming increasingly obvious that 
 their edifice must be remodeled ; and he was told re- 
 peatedly that it could not be accomplished without 
 him. But his family were reluctant to leave the new 
 and flourishing society, to which they had become 
 much attached. Thef had seen its beginnings, shared 
 its trials, labors, and joys ; and were identified with all 
 its interests. Mr. Safford's relations, also, to the pas- 
 tor and his brother officers, and all its members, had 
 been very pleasant.
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 131 
 
 The trial of sundering these ties was not small ; and 
 many weeks passed before he was able to decide the 
 question before him. At length his convictions of 
 duty and his love for Iris first church-home in the city 
 prevailed. Sunday, March 26, 1837, found him with 
 his family in Park Street Church, listening to the first 
 sermons which the new pastor, Rev. S. Aikeu, preached 
 after his installation. Both of them were clear, simple, 
 faithful exhibitions of truth. He was grateful and 
 happy to find that, while he had not sought his own 
 edification in the change, the providence of God had 
 given him a minister whose preaching commended 
 itself to his judgment and taste. The preaching of 
 Mr. Aiken he always regarded as peculiarly adapted to 
 his own wants ; being eminently scriptural, instructive, 
 and practical. Perhaps few men ever more valued the 
 faithful ministrations of the sanctuary, or were more 
 thoroughly benefited by them, than Mr. Safford. He 
 had his preferences, but was far from being fastidious. 
 If the preaching was adapted to its appointed end, to 
 convert the soul and lead to holiness of heart and use- 
 fulness of life, he counted it above all price ; and 
 for nothing did lie more cheerfully contribute his money 
 and influence. His seat in his own church was never 
 vacated for the sake merely of hearing other preachers, 
 however eloquent and renowned. He gave the most 
 humble and earnest attention to the word, carefully 
 obeying the injunction, " Take heed how ye hear;" and 
 feeling deeply his accountability for the practical im- 
 provement of every sermon. It was not unusual for 
 him to retire immediately after service to his closet, 
 to pray that a divine influence might be given to the 
 word as it had been preached, and every hearer be
 
 132 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 savingly benefited by it. The habit of attention 
 which he thus acquired, it is believed, was very val- 
 uable to him ; increasing not only his piety, but also 
 his intellectual strength, especially the memory. He 
 could give an excellent report of every good sermon 
 he had heard. 
 
 Although, when Mr. Safford left the Franklin Street 
 church, it appeared to him so strong in numbers and 
 wealth that he was justified in taking that step, yet the 
 great commercial embarrassments of that year (1837) 
 so seriously affected some of their most reliable mem- 
 bers, that a committee was appointed to wait upon him 
 and urge his return. His heart was, however, so 
 much set upon aiding his brethren in remodeling Park 
 Street Church, that he did not yield to their request. 
 The building was uncomfortable and unattractive, on 
 account of the high pulpit and pews. The debt was 
 increasing every year, with no prospect of paying it ; 
 and indeed the fear had been expressed that this noble 
 edifice, which had been erected in the midst of obloquy 
 and discouragement, but which had been signally 
 owned and blessed of God, might yet have to be sold 
 for debt. The greatest difficulty in the way of the 
 proposed enterprise was the opposition of a few aged 
 pew-proprietors to any change in the interior of the 
 building, and their persistent refusal to surrender the 
 deeds of their pews. All efforts to get a vote to this 
 effect had failed. He had dwelt so much upon this 
 subject during the winter previous to his return as 
 often to prevent his sleeping, which it was very un- 
 usual for any trouble or anxiety to do. His affection 
 for the church had not been diminished by his separa- 
 tion from it ; and to see that fail would have been to
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 133 
 
 him a sore trial. It was because his family had found 
 that he could not " give sleep to his eyes nor slumber 
 to his eyelids," while any thing was wanting on his 
 part to save it, that they had consented to sacrifice 
 their own preferences, and make the change. He was 
 prepared to enter upon the effort with all his heart. 
 He believed it could be accomplished ; and he was al- 
 ways willing to perform labor which might never be ap- 
 preciated, when, as now, the object commended itself to 
 his judgment, and he felt called of God to it. Of these 
 labors, in various churches, a gentleman who was at 
 this time an officer in Park Street church writes as 
 follows : 
 
 " The death of Deacon Safford was to me more than 
 the loss of a brother. We had long labored in the 
 church in unison, and taken sweet counsel together. 
 His judicious zeal and ardent love for the cause of 
 Christ inspired confidence in him as a leader in every 
 good enterprise. Three times in fourteen years he 
 was dismissed, with others, from this church, to organ- 
 ize new churches, superintend the erection of meeting 
 houses, and settle pastors. In every instance he ac- 
 complished his object faithfully, as those churches will 
 testify, and within that time, in addition to these 
 arduous labors, lie has done as much for Park Street 
 church as a deacon. During the ministry of Rev. Dr. 
 Griffin and Rev. S. Dwight, we had no vestry but the 
 little room over the front door of the church. When 
 the revival of 1823 had rendered that place too strait 
 for us, we had to dig out a cellar under the church, 
 alongside the tombs, to make what we called the ' lower 
 vestry.' It was so dark, damp, and dismal, that we 
 could not bear it long, neither would it contain our 
 
 12
 
 134 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 increasing numbers. Numerous consultations were 
 held to see how we could get a better vestry ; but land 
 and building materials were dear, and we were deeply 
 in debt. In this dilemma Deacon Safford proposed 
 that we should raise the roof, and erect a second floor, 
 twelve feet above the original one, upon which the 
 pews, organ, and pulpit should be placed, and leave 
 the first floor for a large vestry, and four other rooms, 
 which could be let for schools, the income of which 
 would pay the interest of the cost of the alteration, 
 and create a sinking fund, which would yearly dimin- 
 ish the debt, which was now annually increasing. 
 This wise and simple plan was adopted. Mr. Safford 
 was chairman of the committee to superintend the 
 work. It was speedily completed, and we now have 
 the comfort of this spacious vestry, and the debt which 
 it occasioned has long since been extinguished by the 
 income derived from the new rooms. I could say 
 much of his amiable disposition, his love of prayer, 
 and his brotherly affection ; but it is unnecessary 
 they are known to all." ' 
 
 The work of remodeling the building * being ac- 
 complished, he gave himself, with his brethren, to 
 increasing prayer and efforts for the spiritual interests 
 of the church. Being superintendent of the Sunday 
 school, he had meetings of the teachers at his own 
 house every Saturday evening. One of these teachers 
 thus writes : 
 
 " The meetings at his house, which it was my 
 
 * His last act in reference to it was to ascend the lofty spire, and, 
 at great risk, as was thought by those who knew of his disease of the 
 heart, to stand on tiptoe upon the bars which indicate the points of 
 the compass, and lift the large gilded ball or vane into its place.
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 135 
 
 privilege so long to attend, differed from all others 
 which I have ever known, in the familiar and unre- 
 strained intercourse of superintendent and teachers. 
 We gathered about him in his own house, as children 
 about a father, to pass an hour in the study of the 
 Scriptures, and in conversation about the lesson. No 
 one feared to ask questions, to state difficulties, to 
 express doubts, or to confess ignorance to that kind, 
 paternal friend. His sympathies were with us; he 
 understood us individually, and his patience was un- 
 wearied in returning again and again to explain our 
 difficulties. Do you recollect his kindness to young 
 
 Mr. , when the subject of man's free agency and 
 
 God's sovereignty were for several evenings the subject 
 of the lessons ? Every night the young man came 
 back to the same difficulty, apparently unconscious 
 that it had been again and again met to the satisfac- 
 tion of every mind save his own. 
 
 " Those of us who, for months and years, met in 
 that social manlier, formed life-long attachments to 
 Deacon Safford and to one another. As we still meet, 
 at long intervals, in later years, we love to refer to 
 those happy evenings. Their influence may still be 
 traced in the clear and distinct ideas we then obtained 
 on many points of doctrine, where else we had re- 
 mained in darkness and confusion. 
 
 " I wish I could express all the affectionate and 
 grateful remembrance which I cherish of those pleas- 
 ant and valuable hours." 
 
 In the Sunday school, as in every other work, his 
 chief reliance was on prayer. Never, we think, did a 
 winter pass while he was superintendent, in this or 
 any other school, in which he did not call on the
 
 136 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 teachers to observe at least one day of fasting and 
 prayer. He usually invited them to meet in his own 
 house, where, before God, they confessed their sins 
 and the sins of their pupils, and pleaded for the 
 descent of the Holy Spirit upon them. In the school 
 his manner was so kind and fatherly toward the chil- 
 dren that it won their hearts ; for even the youngest 
 child could see that it was the expression of a sincere 
 regard, especially for their immortal interests. Every 
 one found more than a school and superintendent a 
 home and a personal friend. 
 
 He was observed one day, just as the school was 
 about to begin, to step to the door and speak to a 
 young man who was standing there alone, apparently 
 considering whether to venture in or not. He brought 
 him to a seat, and sat down by his side. He found 
 him to be the son of a minister, residing some miles 
 distant in the country, who had, for the first time in 
 his life, left his parents, and was employed as a clerk 
 in a store here. He looked sad, and every now and 
 then brushed away a falling tear. He said he was 
 very homesick, for lie felt friendless and alone in this 
 large and strange city. Mr. Safford cheered and en- 
 couraged him, invited him to his house, and continued 
 to treat him and care for him as he would like to have 
 some good man do for his son, if similarly situated. 
 The youth joined the Bible class, was converted, and 
 united with the church not many months after. It is 
 believed that, during the subsequent twenty years, Mr. 
 Safford was made the happy instrument, by similar 
 attentions and expressions of kindness, of saving num- 
 bers of young men from the vortex of destruction to 
 which they are exposed on being first introduced to 
 the city.
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 137 
 
 A young lady, one of a large family of children, 
 who was connected with him, first in Franklin Street, 
 and afterward in Mount Vernon church, says, 
 
 " I shall never forget one evening when Deacon Saf- 
 ford called upon us, and I was requested to go with 
 my sisters to the parlor and see him. After we were 
 seated, he looked round upon us, smiled benignantly, 
 and said, ' My own children are out of the city, and I 
 have not them to talk with, and so I thought I would 
 come and talk with some of my other children.' He 
 proceeded in such an affectionate, familiar, and earnest 
 manner to speak of the importance of becoming Chris- 
 tians now, and giving our hearts at once to Christ, that 
 we could not resist it. However much we might, 
 before this, have disliked being talked to about reli- 
 gion, it was so manifest that he really loved us, and 
 sought our good, that we could not but thank him in 
 our hearts. For myself, I can say, that from that 
 evening I did not rest until I had a hope in Christ." 
 
 Besides these earnest efforts in the Sabbath school, 
 he, with other brethren, held informal meetings in 
 the winter of 1839 and 1840, among the families of 
 the congregation, the special object of which was to 
 gain access to the impenitent members of each house- 
 hold. If practicable, they were always conversed with 
 personally on the subject of religion at the close of the 
 meeting, and special prayer was offered for them. 
 Several conversions occurred in connection with these 
 meetings. 
 
 On March 3 of that year, these brethren, with Dea- 
 con J. C. Proctor, who had been associated with Mr. 
 Safford in Salem and Central churches, commenced a 
 daily eight o'clock morning prayer meeting in the new 
 
 12*
 
 138 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 and beautiful vestry of Park Street Church. This 
 continued without interruption for five years, and it is 
 believed he never once failed of attending it during 
 that period, unless when absent from the city. 
 
 A blessed work of the Holy Spirit was now be- 
 gun, which continued several years, bringing hundreds 
 into our churches. In this work Mr. Safford's heart 
 and hands were fully employed. It has been said by 
 one of his pastors that he was usually the first to dis- 
 cern and welcome the presence of the divine Spirit. 
 He sought to prepare the way for his coming by prayer 
 and fasting, often setting apart a day for these exer- 
 cises, and recommending the same to others. On these 
 occasions he searched diligently to learn the sins of his 
 heart, and with great self-abasement confessed them 
 before God. The ninth chapter of Daniel, in which 
 the prophet speaks of setting his face with fasting and 
 prayer to seek the Lord, confessing his sins and the 
 sins of the people, was the passage of Scripture which, 
 more than any other, was read by him. On the ears 
 of many still linger the tones with which he used to 
 repeat the words, " Lord, hear ; Lord, forgive ; O 
 Lord, hearken and do ; defer not, for thine own sake, 
 O our God." 
 
 No one ever more highly valued the established 
 ordinances of the gospel. Every Christian, it is be- 
 lieved, on whom the light of his example fell, was 
 stimulated by it to stand in his lot to improve every 
 opportunity for usefulness, and to encourage and sus- 
 tain his pastor by prayer and cooperation. Yet his 
 eye was continually turning to the masses who, in a 
 large city, are not reached by stated preaching and the 
 ordinary means of grace. The Rev. Jacob Knapp, the
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 139 
 
 well-known Baptist evangelist, was then preaching in 
 the city, and drawing multitudes to hear him. At 
 this time Mr. Safford received a letter from his 
 brother-in-law in New York, describing the labors of 
 the Rev. E. N. Kirk, in the Mercer Street church, 
 then under the care of Rev. Dr. Skinner, and of the 
 marked success with which they were attended. Hav- 
 ing heard from other sources similar accounts of the 
 great revivals which had been enjoyed in connection 
 with his labors in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New 
 York, Mr. Safford was led very strongly to wish that 
 Boston might be favored with the same instrumentality. 
 He believed that there was work enough for the pas- 
 tors, and for both of these evangelists ; and that if 
 a cooperation of the pastors and laymen could be 
 secured, a great spiritual harvest might be gathered. 
 At this time, however, on account of measures which 
 had been introduced in some parts of our country by 
 rash and inconsiderate men, most of our pastors were 
 opposed to inviting any minister from abroad to labor 
 in their congregations. Mr. Safford, never willing to 
 ,do any thing which was, or which even might bo 
 thought to be, detrimental to the influence of the set- 
 tled ministry, for some time repressed his strong 
 desires in this direction. There was a large circle of 
 young persons, from different churches, and of differ- 
 ent denominations, who had met at his own and at 
 other houses for two successive winters, to labor for 
 the support of a col porter in France. This social 
 circle was an auxiliary to the Foreign Evangelical 
 Society, of which Mr. Kirk was then Secretary ; and 
 had received encouragement from Mr. Safford, that 
 before their meetings should close for the season, he
 
 140 MEMOIB OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 would endeavor to procure an invitation for Mr. Kirk 
 to address them. As the season was advancing, 
 they reminded him of this promise. He was iii 
 doubt what course to tako, and spread the case before 
 the Lord. 
 
 He at length said, " I will go and consult my pastor. 
 If he does not object, I will go on to New York and see 
 Mr. Kirk. But if he is not willing, I will do no more 
 about it for the present." After his band was upon 
 the door of his chamber, he turned, and said to his 
 wife, " Let us pray once more about it, because we are 
 to consider the opinion which Mr. A. shall express as 
 the mind of the Lord to us on this subject." Tbey 
 knelt at the same chair, and earnestly implored for his 
 pastor the light and direction of the Holy Spirit, in a 
 matter of so much importance. He arose from his 
 knees, and went directly to the study of his pastor. 
 He freely communicated to him his views of the con- 
 dition and wants of the masses in the city ; and his 
 belief that Mr. Kirk's preaching, in the existing state 
 of things, might be productive of great results, and 
 his strong desire that he should be invited to come to 
 the city. Yet he also stated, that he was aware how 
 the ministers generally felt, as to employing evange- 
 lists ; and declared his purpose to do nothing in the 
 matter, unless it should meet with his pastor's ap- 
 probation. To his great joy, Mr. Aiken replied, "I 
 see no reason why you should not follow your own 
 convictions of what is right and best in the case." 
 
 Learning thus, as he thought, what the will of God 
 was, he went immediately to New York. Not finding 
 Mr. Kirk there, he addressed him a line, conveying to 
 him the wishes of the young people, and added, in a
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 141 
 
 postscript, " If you bring some gospel sermons with 
 you, I think you will be invited to preach them." 
 
 Mr. Kirk was happy in the opportunity of aiding 
 the benevolent in Boston in their efforts to circulate 
 the gospel in France, where he had been sojourning 
 many months, and in the welfare of whose people he 
 felt an absorbing interest. He arrived at Mr. Safford's 
 house, June 26, 1840, and on the following Tuesday 
 addressed the interesting social circle above referred 
 to, assembled in his parlors. 
 
 On the morning of his arrival, the pastor of Park 
 Street church invited him to preach in his pulpit while 
 he should remain in the city, as often as his strength 
 would allow, and to employ such other means as he 
 had found to be blessed of God. This was Friday 
 morning ; and notice having been given in the church 
 meeting, Mr. Kirk on Saturday evening preached his 
 first sermon in Boston, from the text, " Prepare to 
 meet thy God." Thus commenced, in that noble edi- 
 fice, just after it was remodeled, a series of remark- 
 ably interesting meetings. For nine successive days 
 there were services every afternoon and evening. At 
 the daily morning prayer meetings fervent supplica- 
 tion was offered. The audiences constantly increased, 
 until the aisles were filled ; the pulpit-stairs were cov- 
 ered ; and many were obliged to go away from the 
 house because they could not find a place even to 
 stand. Such crowds listening to simple and faithful 
 exhibitions of gospel truth, new to many of them, 
 such deep attention and solemn stillness pervading the 
 house, and plainly indicating the presence of the Holy 
 Ghost, were, to Mr. Safford and those dear brethren 
 who sympathized with him, a most cheering spectacle.
 
 142 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 The results of this experiment having been even 
 greater than was anticipated, the desire was expressed 
 to Mr. Kirk that lie should return in the autumn, and 
 resume his labors. After receiving a pledge from the 
 brethren that if he would thus devote himself to labors 
 for the conversion of souls, they would be responsible 
 for making the collections for his society, he con- 
 sented to return. 
 
 Accordingly, in the November following, he arrived 
 again in the city, making his home at Mr. Safford's 
 house. As Mr. Aiken was averse to monopolizing his 
 labors, or to appearing not to act in concert with his 
 ministerial brethren, he waited to see what steps they 
 would take ; and Mr. Kirk thus remained for several 
 days unoccupied. Mr. Safford greatly desired that all 
 the pastors, whom he so sincerely loved and respected, 
 should cooperate with him ; and that every church 
 should share in the blessing which he believed would 
 follow these united efforts. Hoping that by personal 
 conference they might see eye to eye on this subject, 
 he went himself to the ministers and the leading lay- 
 men in the churches, and invited them to come 
 together and talk the matter over freely. They met ; 
 and after some conversation, Dr. B., one of his former 
 pastors, who acted as the moderator of the meeting, 
 said, " I would inquire for what purpose we are come 
 together." Somo one replied, " I suppose it is to 
 decide what shall be done with brother Kirk." Dr. B. 
 then said, " I should like to be informed, in the first 
 place, by whose invitation brother Kirk came to the 
 city. Who brought him here ? " One made answer, 
 " I imagine that brother Safford can enlighten us on 
 that point as well as any one." Mr. Safford then arose,
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 143 
 
 and made a simple statement of his agency in the 
 matter ; and after some discussion, the moderator 
 pleasantly remarked, " Well, I propose that as brother 
 Safford brought brother Kirk here, brother Safford 
 take care of him." ' Thus the matter ended. 
 
 Although the views of Dr. B. and Mr. Safford with 
 regard to evangelists, and some other subjects, did not 
 coincide, there was, nevertheless, the most friendly 
 feeling between them. And in after years, when Mr. 
 Safford had learned to love and revere Mr. Kirk as his 
 pastor, to bear his burdens, and minister most lib- 
 erally to his wants, ho -reminded Dr; B. that in this 
 he was only following his former pastor's directions, 
 which he was always happy to do when they accorded 
 with his judgment. 
 
 Mr. Aikcn now saw that he was left to judge for 
 himself what would best promote the spiritual good of 
 the multitudes who were desirous of attending upon 
 the preached word, both in season and out of season, 
 and repeated his invitation to Mr. Kirk to preach in 
 his pulpit as often as his strength would admit. For 
 many successive weeks, the doors of Park Street 
 Church were open, and the house was thronged with 
 attentive listeners. The preaching was preceded and 
 followed by meetings for prayer ; and meetings for 
 inquiry were also frequent. Many, not connected with 
 any evangelical society, as they were drawn in to hear 
 the truth, and became convicted of sin, found their 
 way to Mr. Safford's house, for personal conversation 
 and prayer, either with himself or with Mr. Kirk. 
 Indeed, prayer could be heard ascending from one 
 room and another of his house at almost all hours 
 of the day. Often, late at night some wounded soul
 
 144 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 would come in to receive one word more of counsel, or 
 to be prayed for again. Mr. Safford's heart was thus 
 cheered by seeing sinners flocking to Christ. Little 
 gatherings fee prayer of those who were agreed as touch- 
 ing the same thing, were held often in his own parlors. 
 Among those who thus met every afternoon for 
 several weeks to pour out their hearts before the Lord, 
 were included Hon. Samuel Hubbard, Deacons Willis 
 and Dana, and Rev. Louis Dwight. Judge Hubbard 
 always insisted on having a record kept of every meet- 
 ing, and the special subjects of prayer noted, so that, 
 when answers were received, thanks could be returned, 
 and God's faithfulness and truth made known, that the 
 humble might " hear thereof and- be glad." He was a 
 man of profound biblical knowledge, as well as un- 
 common good sense and earnest piety ; and Mr. Saf- 
 ford had great confidence in his judgment on all sub- 
 jects pertaining to Christian faith and duty. Deacon 
 Nathaniel Dana, too, whom Mr. Safford used to desig- 
 nate as " an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile," 
 stood shoulder to shoulder with him in his zeal to pro- 
 mote these efforts for the salvation of the people. 
 " Now," as their pastor, Mr. Aiken, has well said, 
 " they are doubtless all uniting in ascriptions of praise 
 above." As the fruit of this revival season, numbers 
 were added to the Lord ; and the hearts of Christians 
 were greatly encouraged and strengthened. After 
 Mr. Kirk left the city the second time, the interest was 
 found to be so deep and extensive, that Mr. Safford, 
 urged by Mr. Hubbard and others, went to Hartford, 
 where he was then laboring, to persuade him to return 
 and resume his labors in Boston. The following letter, 
 written after this interview, explains itself:
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 145 
 
 To REV. EDWARD N. KIRK. 
 
 " BOSTON, March 9, 1841. 
 
 " MY VERY DEAR FRIEND : When I left you at 
 Hartford, you said you must visit New York, and 
 labor four or five weeks for your society ; after which 
 you gave me some reason to expect you would visit 
 Boston. You remarked, indeed, that you would like 
 to go to Philadelphia and Baltimore, but that you had 
 almost done making plans for the future, as the Lord 
 had often sent you in a different direction from that 
 which you "had designed. It appears to me that, as 
 far as raising money for your society is concerned, 
 your way is hedged up in those cities by the suspen- 
 sion of the banks. 
 
 " Now for Boston. It is increasingly evident that 
 your labors here produced a very extensive movement 
 in the minds of this community, which has been fol- 
 lowed by a pretty general inquiry after the truth. Mr. 
 G. and Mr. C., in a course of Sabbath evening lec- 
 tures, have been telling what they believe to be truth, 
 and what Unitarianism is. Many have attended who 
 never have attended religious meetings in the evening 
 before. Now, if you were here so as to commence 
 your public labors about the time Mr. G. closes, I 
 believe many of the same persons would come to hear 
 you, and see the difference ; or perhaps you can come 
 immediately and rest, and write sermons, and 'just 
 preach a little ' in Park Street Church. 
 
 " Tbe morning meetings are kept up with increasing 
 interest. There is also a prayer meeting in our own 
 house every day, and sometimes two or three times a 
 day, at which you and Mr. G. are not forgotten. Mr. 
 Aiken never stood so high in the judgment and affec- 
 
 13
 
 146 MEMOIR OP DAN 7 IEL SAFFORD. 
 
 tions of his people as now. He appears deeply inter- 
 ested in his work. So far as I hear, the churches are 
 pleased with the manner in which our church and 
 pastor, invited you. Deacon P., of Bowdoin Street 
 church, told me, if we had not invited you this season, 
 they should have done it. He also said he was satis- 
 fied that Park Street Church was much the best place 
 for you to preach in, both on account of its size and 
 location. And now, dear sir, do come, and come soon. 
 We have an open house, open hearts, open and 
 almost empty purses, but think, if you should 
 come, we should shake them again.* If you do not 
 come immediately, please let me know whether we 
 may expect you at no very distant time, that I may 
 encourage the hearts of these praying ones, who are 
 asking me daily about you. 
 " Yours very affectionately, DANIEL SAFFORD.' 
 
 Mr. Kirk did not return at that time. At Mr. Saf- 
 ford's suggestion, another day was set apart by the 
 church, to pray that the influences of the Holy Spirit 
 might be given in larger measure. He observed this 
 day strictly, with fasting and entire abstraction from 
 worldly concerns. His anxiety was great, lest Chris- 
 tians should feel that because one instrumentality 
 daily preaching had been suspended, and one agent 
 was withdrawn, the work must necessarily cease, and 
 his pastor, for whom his love and respect were greater 
 than ever, should not be sustained by the prayers and 
 increased cooperation of the members of his church. 
 He stirred up their minds not only to call upon God 
 
 * Referring to collections Mr Kirk was making for the Foreign 
 Evangelical Society.
 
 REVIVAL LABORS'. 147 
 
 more earnestly, but to labor more with individuals ; 
 himself setting the example. His heart was partic- 
 ularly drawn out in desire for the conversion of his 
 own workmen, and he was led to labor and to pray 
 with them individually. His reward was given him. 
 Several of them were brought under deep conviction 
 of sin, and, as they hoped, to the feet of Christ. After 
 this day of prayer, the work seemed to deepen ; and, 
 in several families connected with the congregation, 
 conversions occurred. 
 
 In scenes like these, the energies of his whole being 
 were brought into exercise. His joy can not be de- 
 scribed when, at an evening meeting, seventy-one, who 
 had recently, as was hoped, been converted, arose at 
 the request of the pastor, and sung, 
 
 "Welcome, welcome, dear Redeemer, 
 
 Welcome to this heart of mine ; 
 Lord, I make a full surrender ; 
 Every power and thought be thine, 
 
 Thine entirely, 
 Through eternal ages thine." 
 
 It was to Mr. Safford peculiarly interesting to find 
 among the persons now awakened to serious inquiry 
 upon religious subjects, some with whom, in his early 
 life in Boston, he had been intimately, and very pleas- 
 antly, associated. It lias already been remarked that he 
 never obtruded his sentiments upon those who differed 
 from him in their religious views. While it was his 
 earnest desire and constant prayer tli.it they might be 
 led to accept Christ as the only Saviour of man, he 
 depended more upon the exhibition of the fruits of his 
 faith in his daily life* than in the power of argument 
 or controversy. The following instances may serve to 
 illustrate the influence thus exerted.
 
 148 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 A gentleman one day about this time invited him 
 into his counting room, where was an open Bible upon 
 the desk. Laying his hand upon it, he said, very seri- 
 ously, " Mr. Safford, I would give all that I possess to 
 be able to believe in this blessed book as you do. Can 
 you tell me how I can get your faith in it ? I have so 
 long been taught that this and that passage are not 
 inspired, that I am continually in doubt, as I read, 
 what is and what is not the very word of God. I am 
 anxious to know whether I am prepared to die, and if 
 not, what more I must do in order to be ready to meet 
 my Judge." Mr. Safford rejoiced in an opportunity 
 thus afforded him to declare his firm belief in the 
 whole Bible, to show some of the evidences that it is 
 all " given by inspiration, and is profitable for doctrine, 
 for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteous- 
 ness," and to urge this friend immediately to receive 
 Christ as the Saviour of his own soul. 
 
 A relative of Mr. Safford' s first wife was ill, and 
 sent for him to visit her. He had not met her for 
 some months, and was surprised and saddened, on 
 entering her room, to discover at once the hectic flush, 
 and other unmistakable symptoms of that disease with 
 which it had been his lot to become so familiar. As 
 he seated himself beside her, she said, taking his hand, 
 " Mr. Safford, I have sent for you to tell me what I 
 must do to prepare to die. My pastor visits me fre- 
 quently, and it is pleasant to see him ; but he aims 
 solely to encourage me that I am better, and shall soon 
 be well. This is not pleasant, for I know it is not so. 
 I am going to die. The hope which answered for me 
 when in health is not sufficient now ; my own works 
 can not save me. I want a Saviour who is almighty 
 and divine ; such a Saviour as you believe in."
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 149 
 
 It was his joy to give, as it was her delight to listen 
 to, simple instructions from the word of God, in which 
 Christ reveals himself as an all-sufficient Friend to the 
 dying sinner. And in his repeated visits he obtained 
 evidence, as he thought, that she received Christ as 
 her Saviour, and died in the comforting hope of ac- 
 ceptance in him. 
 
 Early in the autumn of 1841, the Park Street church, 
 with the entire approbation of Mr Aiken, invited Mr. 
 Kirk to return and resume his labors, in connection 
 with their pastor. The latter requested Mr. Safford 
 to convey this invitation to him ; and at the same 
 time recommended that he should, as before, receive 
 him to his own house, as the work would be best pro- 
 moted by this course. This Mr. Safford was most 
 happy to do. Mr. Kirk accordingly came, and the 
 religious interest increased, especially among a class 
 who had not before attended evangelical preaching. 
 
 Soon after this, a few gentlemen, feeling the desira- 
 bleness of securing his labors permanently in Boston, 
 consulted informally with him on that subject. Hav- 
 ing received some encouragement, a meeting was 
 called at the house of Mr. Safford, December 16, of 
 the pastors and several loading laymen of all the evan- 
 gelical Congregational churches in the city, to consider 
 the question. They were unanimous in the opinion 
 that it was desirable to form a new church, and invite 
 him to become its pastor. 
 
 As the way for it grew clearer, it became necessary 
 to decide who should constitute the new church, and 
 take the responsibility of carrying forward the work. 
 The gentlemen engaged in it said that they could not 
 go forward unless Mr. Safford would join them. The
 
 150 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 brethren of Park Street church very strenuously op- 
 posed his leaving them ; and a meeting was called at 
 Judge Hubbard's for the purpose of laying before him 
 the importance of his remaining with them. For six 
 weeks he remained undecided, asking continually that 
 the Lord would make known to him the way in which 
 he should walk. Learning, at length, that one of the' 
 gentlemen whom he considered more essential to the 
 enterprise than himself, was wavering, he said, " I will 
 go down to brother S., and tell him that I can not join 
 the enterprise unless he does ; and that if he consents, 
 I will." But the circumstances of the case, and the 
 responsibilities thrown upon him, led him still, at every 
 step, earnestly to ask counsel of the Lord. We believe 
 he never engaged in any enterprise, in which he so 
 strongly desired that he and every one else connected 
 with it should constantly seek the divine guidance and 
 blessing. His life seemed to be an unceasing prayer, 
 from the day that he first went to consult his pastor 
 about inviting Mr. Kirk. 
 
 In June, 1842, forty-two persons, including Mr. Saf- 
 ford, were set apart, in the vestry of Park Street 
 Church, as a distinct body, which afterward received 
 the name of the Mount Vernon Church. On the first 
 Sabbath of that month they met for worship in the Old 
 South Chapel, where they listened to the first sermon 
 of their pastor, and in the afternoon both of the sacra- 
 ments of the New Testament were administered. 
 
 Thus closed Mr. Safford's connection with Park 
 Street church, though he still ever cherished a lively 
 interest in its prosperity, and a very warm attachment 
 both to its pastor and members. On taking leave of it, 
 he addressed the following affectionate letter
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 151 
 
 To the SUPERVISING COMMITTEE OP THE PARK STREET 
 SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 " DEAR BRETHREN : Having believed it to be my 
 duty to unite with others for the purpose of forming a 
 new evangelical church in this city, and having asked 
 a letter of dismission for that purpose, I now resign to 
 your care the Sabbath school. 
 
 " Allow me to say, dear pastor and brethren, that if 
 I know any thing of my own heart, nothing but a 
 sense of duty to the great Head of the church, and to 
 the souls of my fellow-sinners in this city, could have 
 made me willing to be separated from the pastor, 
 church, and Sabbath school with whom I have been so 
 happily connected, and from whom I have received so 
 many tokens of forbearance and affection. 
 
 " May I ask an interest in your prayers, especially 
 for the enterprise in which we have engaged ? In re- 
 turn, it shall be my earnest desire that the good Shep- 
 herd of the sheep may gather all the lambs of your 
 flock in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and 
 finally present them and you spotless before his throae. 
 
 " I am, dear pastor and brethren, with increasing 
 love, affectionately yours, D. S AFFORD. 
 
 " To Rev. Silas Aiken, N. Willis, 
 Samuel Hubbard, N. Dana." 
 
 As his official connection, with both Mr. Aiken and 
 that church, here closes, it will be appropriate to 
 conclude this chapter with the following letter of Mr. 
 Aiken, communicating his views of Mr. Safford's char- 
 acter and usefulness : 
 
 " My acquaintance with him commenced at the time
 
 152 MEMOIll OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 of my settlement in Boston, March, 1837. From the 
 day of my installation, I had the best opportunities of 
 learning his character ; but it is riot easy to give a full 
 and accurate impression of it to one not personally 
 acquainted with him. Modest and unassuming in his 
 manners, his voice rarely, if ever, heard in assemblies. 
 for public discussion, his remarkable efficiency and 
 great influence over others can be appreciated only by 
 those who knew him intimately in his every-day life. 
 He was a man of deeds, rather than of words ; and 
 of his deeds he made no boast. They were the uncon- 
 scious development of his inner life. 
 
 " For many years, as I was told, Deacon Safford had 
 been associated with successive colonies in the estab- 
 lishment of evangelical churches in different parts of 
 the city, and his name, in any such enterprise, car- 
 ried witli it something like a charm, insuring ulti- 
 mate success. At the time alluded to, he was just 
 returning to his old church home. The Park Street 
 church had parted with many efficient members to 
 form the Bowdoin Street, Salem, Pine Street, and Cen- 
 tml (formerly the Franklin Street) churches. It had 
 been repeatedly thwarted in endeavoring to obtain a 
 pastor to succeed Dr. Linsley, and was laboring under 
 great discouragement. The church needed the effi- 
 cient aid of Mr. Safford, and he cheerfully returned to 
 strengthen the things that remained, to renovv Chris- 
 tian fellowship and labor with those well-known breth- 
 ren, Samuel Hubbard, Nathaniel Dana, George J. 
 Homer, Henry Homes, Louis Dwight, and other con- 
 genial spirits, then associated in Park Street church, 
 and now united in holier bonds in the presence of 
 Christ.
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 153 
 
 " I often think of those brethren as they prayed and 
 labored together on earth ; and I love to think of them 
 now, and Daniel Safford among them, in the perfect 
 union and fellowship of heaven. Happy is the pastor 
 who has the confidence, prayers, and cooperation of 
 such Christian men. Mr. Safford was at once ap- 
 pointed deacon, and used that office well. His heart 
 and hand were in every thing that concerned the wel- 
 fare of the church and society. Always in his place, 
 he was ever ready for every good work. 
 
 " With no uncommon advantages for education, his 
 mind was naturally active and vigorous, and, what is 
 more, habitually under the control of religious prin- 
 ciple. No one could be much with him without the 
 conviction that the glory of Christ in the extension of 
 his kingdom, at home and abroad, was the paramount 
 object of his life. There was no ostentation about 
 him. His whole demeanor, even to the tones of his 
 voice, indicated a humble, self-abasing spirit. He 
 assumed no airs, put forth no pretensions, was every 
 where and every day the same unassuming, active, 
 earnest Christian man. Those who were associated 
 with him soon found that there was something for 
 every Christian to do. How they came by the discov- 
 ery they could hardly tell. It was more from what 
 they saw in him than from any thing he said of per- 
 sonal duty. Energy, indomitable energy, was a prom- 
 inent, if not the leading trait of his character. Once 
 enlisted in any cause which commended itself to his 
 judgment, the thought of failure seemed never to enter 
 his mind. Steadfast to his purpose, and trusting in 
 God, the work was prosecuted to the end. If unex- 
 pected difficulties arose, they called forth hitherto
 
 154 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 reserved energies to meet them. I have known him 
 to engage in arduous enterprises, but never knew him 
 falter, much less turn back, from any work which he 
 had undertaken. In ways and means of doing good, 
 his mind was very fruitful, and in executive energy I 
 never knew his superior. 
 
 " He was a leading spirit in every good enterprise, 
 without any thought or purpose on his part of being 
 so. It was a matter of course. He was guileless, 
 frank, and transparent in all he said and did. His 
 words were the true index of his heart. No person 
 acquainted with Deacon Safford would suspect him of 
 any thing like craft, concealment, or duplicity. Hence 
 he had great power over other minds, which was owing 
 in part to his sound judgment of men and things, and 
 an almost intuitive perception of what was practicable, 
 and how a good object could best be accomplished. 
 Any enterprise in which he saw his way clear to en- 
 gage, was very sure to be successful. Great confidence 
 was placed in his practical judgment. When it be- 
 came known that he had put his hand to any work, 
 there was a general expectation that it would be car- 
 ried through ; and his power to enlist others consisted 
 mainly in the fact, that he assumed the chief responsi- 
 bility himself, and stood ready to give more time, and 
 thought, and money, than he asked from any body else. 
 
 " Nor was it only great public objects that could en- 
 list his sympathies, and incite him to action ; as mis- 
 sions to the heathen, the evangelization of our own 
 country, the formation of new churches, and the build- 
 ing or remodeling of houses of worship in the city, or 
 the endowment of seminaries of learning. These 
 were objects which shared largely in his regards. But
 
 REVIVAL LABORS. 
 
 he cared no less earnestly for the church to which he 
 belonged, aiid its Sabbath school for the poor, and 
 ignorant, and vicious of the city ; and some of his 
 most efficient labors were expended in these more 
 private ways of usefulness. To him foreign objects 
 and home objects were but different parts of the same 
 work of the Lord ; and with an enlightened liberality 
 he contributed to each as, in his judgment, its relative 
 importance required. 
 
 "The piety of Deacon Safford was remarkably 
 cheerful. Amid his self-forgetting cares and labors 
 for others, he always seemed in a pleasant mood when 
 meeting his friends ; and this was the more noticeable 
 as connected with his characteristic energy and de- 
 cision. At home and abroad, in the counting room 
 and at the prayer meeting, he was the same hopeful, 
 happy Christian. There was a rare combination of 
 good elements in his Christian character. That he 
 had faults and imperfections is not to be doubted. He 
 thought he had many. Yet he was a fine model of a 
 Christian layman. The Lord grant that his mantle 
 may fall upon many others. 
 
 " How much the cause of evangelical religion in 
 Boston and elsewhere is indebted to his labors ; how 
 many of Christ's disciples have been quickened in 
 duty by his example ; how many of the ignorant and 
 destitute have been, by his instrumentality, instructed 
 and brought to the knowledge of Christ, will not be 
 known in the present world. Deacon Safford has left 
 behind many precious memorials of his Christian fidel- 
 ity, nor can wo doubt that in the day of Jesus Christ 
 it will be seen and known, as it can not be now, that 
 his abounding in the work of the Lord was not in vain."
 
 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 
 
 Dependence upon God's Blessing. Object sought in the Formation of the 
 Church. .Regard for the Poor. Readiness to yield to the Opinions of 
 his Brethren. The Church Prayer Meetings. Cultivation of Benevo- 
 lence. The Two Cent Subscription. Construction of the Church Edi- 
 fice. Efforts to render it convenient and pleasant. Aversion to Dis- 
 play. Social Circles in the Church. Gathering in the Masses. Labors 
 for the spiritual Growth of the Church. Relations to his Pastor, as 
 described in a Communication of Mr. Kirk. 
 
 IN the undertaking described in the last chapter, 
 Mr. Safford's dependence was placed, in a preeminent 
 degree, upon the guidance and blessing of God. It 
 was the continual burden of his prayers, " If thy pres- 
 ence go not with me, carry us not up hence." And it 
 was the inward assurance, received by undoubting 
 faith, that the response had been given, " My pres- 
 ence shall go with thee," which inspired him'with 
 courage. He had a clear discernment of the responsi- 
 bilities involved in the enterprise, and of the specific 
 objects to be accomplished ; and he " had a mind to 
 work." It was with him a maxim in spiritual, as well 
 as in temporal things, " We may expect God's blessing 
 upon our labors, not without them." Previously, as 
 we have seen, he had been in his church relations a 
 devoted laborer; but he had never before as now 
 entered into all the details required to give a church 
 the greatest efficiency ; never had studied so carefully
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 157 
 
 what it is that constitutes the spring of its life and 
 power, and renders it truly the light of the world and 
 the salt of the earth. 
 
 The pastor continuing to be a member of his family 
 for mote than two years after his settlement, they be- 
 came of one mind in respect to all the interests of the 
 church, daily conferring, planning, and praying to- 
 gether. The fear had been expressed that the forma- 
 tion of this church might injure the interests of the 
 other churches in the central part of the city, partic- 
 ularly that in Park Street. Therefore it was his aim, 
 and that of his brethren, to prevent this result ; and 
 only one person left that church with him. 
 
 He had desired the formation of the new church 
 with reference to the unconverted thousands in the 
 city who attend no place of worship, and also the large 
 numbers who had professed religion before coming 
 hither, and were living in neglect of its ordinances, 
 but who were manifestly interested in Mr. Kirk's 
 preaching. It was to gather in these persons that he 
 labored, front the day that he put his hand to the work 
 until his death. He had no sympathy with the desire 
 expressed by some persons to attract the higher classes 
 especially. He would make no effort and subscribe to 
 no policy looking to this, but would welcome the rich 
 and the poor equally ; he was anxious to prevent the 
 formation of cliques in the church, recognizing, in this 
 relation, no distinction except that arising from pe- 
 culiar resemblance to the Master. He had a full 
 appreciation of those impressive texts in which the 
 church is compared to the body, particularly the fol- 
 lowing : " Those members of the body which we 
 think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow 
 
 14
 
 158 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 more abundant honor ; that there should be no schism 
 in the body, but that the members should have the same 
 care one of another." To promote brotherly love and 
 union was a cherished purpose with him ; and he was 
 willing to sacrifice almost any thing except principle 
 to effect this. 
 
 Sometimes lie found his brethren differing from him 
 in judgment respecting the course adapted to do the 
 most good. At such times, after expressing his views, 
 if they could not be brought to coincide with him, he 
 would cheerfully yield ; always acknowledging the 
 principle that the majority should govern. It was 
 proposed, for example, that the weekly church meeting 
 for prayer and conference should be confined to the 
 members of the church. As this meeting was entirely 
 devotional, admitting no secular business, and was 
 usually attended by the pastor, Mr. Safford differed in 
 his judgment decidedly from those who favored the 
 plan. He thought that, if it was profitable for the 
 members of this church, it would be for other Chris- 
 tians worshiping with us ; he would allow these and 
 all others to come who were disposed, and could be 
 thus profited. Perhaps in this instance there was, on 
 both sides, more determination than in almost any 
 other of equal importance in our early history. But 
 after the discussion, the vote being taken, it was found 
 almost unanimous for an exclusive meeting. Return- 
 ing home, he remarked, " I yield to the majority ; they 
 have made a mistake, but they will find it out in time." 
 He waited patiently two or three years for this change, 
 when, without opposition, the doors were thrown open 
 for all who wished to enter. 
 
 Next to the promotion of brotherly kindness and
 
 MOUNT VEBNON CHURCH. 159 
 
 sympathy in the church, he considered it important to 
 cultivate the spirit of practical benevolence by contrib- 
 iiting freely to extend the knowledge of salvation to 
 all men. He believed that, to enjoy the benefits of 
 the gospel ourselves in the highest degree, we must 
 give as freely as we have received. He coveted for 
 this church the fulfillment of the promises to those who 
 thus give, desiring that each member, even the poorest, 
 might share in them. 
 
 On one occasion, after the pastor had preached a 
 sermon on cheerful giving, in which he had requested 
 every one to subscribe, though it were but a single 
 penny, we shall never forget with what delight Mr. 
 Safford received the subscription of an aged woman, 
 blind with one eye, who had herself been for years a 
 recipient of charity. He waited patiently for her to 
 unroll her handkerchief, in which were carefully de- 
 posited two cents, the avails of her earnings with her 
 needle. As she placed them in his hands, she said, 
 with an expression of great pleasure, " Mabbe I shall 
 get two more by next Sunday." He wrote her name 
 upon the list, with the sum attached, anticipating with 
 joy the time when her Lord will acknowledge it as an 
 expression of her love to him ; for he said he believed 
 if there was no record kept in heaven of any other 
 offering on that day, there would be 0110 of Ann 
 Lane's. 
 
 At the close of each year, when the charities of the 
 church were added up, he always examined the record 
 with interest, hoping to find them in advance of those 
 of former years. He regarded this as a criterion of 
 the life and energy of the church, and an eminent 
 means of its prosperity, believing that " there is that
 
 160 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 scattereth and yet increaseth ; and there is that with- 
 holdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to pov- 
 erty." 
 
 He advocated the use of subscription papers on some 
 occasions, because he thought it well for us to see our- 
 selves, and be sometimes willing to have others see 
 what we gave, and whether we were each contributing 
 our proportion in support of a good cause ; referring 
 to the subscription lists in the Old Testament, and also 
 to Christ's own words, " Let your light so shine before 
 men that they may see your good works, and glorify 
 your Father which is in heaven." It was well understood 
 that he never proclaimed his own deeds of this nature 
 to obtain praise of men, much less because he fancied 
 himself thereby laying up merit ; for he never forgot 
 his entire sinfulness by nature, nor ceased to fix his 
 only hope of salvation upon the atoning blood of 
 Christ. 
 
 In saying this it is not intended to intimate that he 
 stood alone. This was the spirit inculcated from the 
 pulpit, and exemplified by many in the church, with 
 whom he was united in truest fellowship. The fruits 
 of it were apparent in the fact, that in the thirteen 
 years preceding his death, the benevolent offerings of 
 the church, not including sixty thousand dollars 
 paid for the erection of the edifice, and fifty-six thou- 
 sand for current expenses, exceeded one hundred 
 and ten thousand dollars. 
 
 The corner stone of the church edifice was laid on 
 the 4th of July, 1843, and the building was dedicated 
 the 4th of January, 1844. The spirit of the enter- 
 prise was expressed in the passage, " God forbid that 
 I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus
 
 MOUNT VERXON CUURCil. Page 160.
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 161 
 
 Christ," on which the dedication sermon of the pastor 
 was founded. 
 
 Mr. Safford was a member of the building committee, 
 of which the Hon. George W. Crockett was chairman. 
 The action of this board was always characterized by 
 great harmony, although their views on subordinate 
 points sometimes differed. It is interesting to re- 
 member how the esteemed chairman, now no longer 
 on earth, when his own preferences were not adopted, 
 which was but seldom, used to say in his peculiarly 
 pleasant manner, " Yes, they floored me there ; " as 
 if boasting, rather than complaining, of the fact. 
 
 Mr. Safford gave much time and thought to the fin- 
 ishing of the interior of the building. Many new 
 arrangements were introduced, some at his own sug- 
 gestion, others at that of the pastor, or his associates 
 of the committee. Among them was the construction 
 of the doors, above and below, so that they might open 
 and shut noiselessly ; of the book board of the pulpit 
 so that it may slide up or down, as each preacher may 
 require ; the form of the pews, enabling every person 
 in the house to see the preacher. " We do not in- 
 tend,'' he said, " that there shall be an uncomfortable 
 or unpleasant seat in the building, if we can prevent 
 it. I want the poorest person there to have as good a 
 seat as the one I shall occupy myself." This he ex- 
 erted his skill to secure, not only by the form of the 
 pews, but the bight and shape of the backs, and the 
 upholstery. Nothing was too minute in his view to 
 be other than as perfect as possible. But he desired, 
 at the same time, to preserve the greatest plainness 
 and simplicity consistent with fitness and durability. 
 He would have nothing to attract the eye on entering, 
 
 14*
 
 162 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 or to divert the mind while the truth was being pro- 
 claimed. The presence of God filling the house he 
 regarded as the glory of the interior ; and while he 
 approved of beautifying the city which he loved with a 
 strong affection, yet he preferred to dispense with a 
 costly exterior and tower, considering that these would 
 involve increased pew-rents, and hinder those in mod- 
 erate circumstances from participating with him in the 
 privileges of the sanctuary. Yet he wished all to pay 
 something. In his judgment it was better to have 
 low-priced pews than free seats, believing that the rule 
 would apply in this case, that we value that least 
 which costs us nothing. 
 
 Benevolent sewing circles in our congregations were 
 at this time considered by some as nuisances, because 
 they were constituted by subscription, and met at the 
 houses of the members. The tendency, accordingly, 
 was to exclusiveness. those only being invited to sub- 
 scribe whose society would be congenial ; and it was 
 thought also that they were very much devoted to un- 
 profitable gossip. 
 
 Mr. Safford preferred that the whole congregation 
 should constitute a circle, the ladies to meet at six 
 o'clock and the gentlemen at eight, the invitation to 
 be given from the pulpit ; and before the edifice was 
 commenced, a meeting of this kind was organized in 
 his own house. Large carpeted vestries, with cush- 
 ioned seats, were then unknown in our churches. The 
 committee decided to provide one such, capable of 
 accommodating six hundred people, with several 
 smaller rooms, furnished in a similar manner. The 
 circle was thus amply accommodated, and since then 
 has continued in successful operation.
 
 MOUNT VEENON CHUECH. 163 
 
 The young people wished to form an association in 
 addition to this. They did so, and met at Mr. Safford's 
 house once in four weeks during six months, for a 
 number of years. He would have this invitation also 
 given from the pulpit, that all the youth in the congre- 
 gation should be free to come. This being before the 
 formation of Christian associations for young men, 
 now so common, it gave to many the only opportunity 
 they had v of spending a pleasant evening in social 
 intercourse, the attendance varying from fifty to one 
 hundred. Simple refreshments were provided, and 
 Mr. Safford improved the occasion to make himself 
 acquainted, especially with those who were not likely 
 otherwise to be known by any in the church. These 
 meetings he greatly enjoyed, for he could always make 
 himself one with young people, and they never con- 
 sidered his presence a restraint. The avails of this 
 circle, as of the one with which he was before con- 
 nected, were devoted to the support of colportage in 
 France. 
 
 Nor was his interest confined to purely religious 
 matters in his sympathy with them. lie entered with 
 great spirit into the formation of a little history class, 
 composed of young persons in the society. They met 
 at his house during two winters, and he took his part 
 in the exercises, writing once an interesting sketch 
 from Scottish history. 
 
 Any possible effort or sacrifice for the good of the 
 whole he made most cheerfully. The congregation 
 soon became so large that the pastor found him- 
 self unable to become personally acquainted witli 
 them. Mr. Safford strove to remedy this difficulty as 
 far as- possible. For this purpose he often invited to his
 
 164 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 house as many as his parlors would accommodate, and 
 sometimes more, to render them mutually acquainted, 
 as well as to introduce them to their pastor. Often has 
 the remark been made, " Mr. Safford was the first one 
 who took me by the hand, and made me feel at home ; 
 when I met him I always knew that I met a true 
 friend." 
 
 For many years after the church was finished, a 
 supply was furnished for the pulpit in the afternoon of 
 the Sabbath, during the winter season, that the pastor 
 might preach in the evenings to large numbers who 
 would otherwise be unable to attend. Mr. Safford's 
 influence was exerted, and his money gladly paid, for 
 this purpose. He always kept in view the masses, who 
 had none to care for their souls ; and often, without 
 the knowledge of his pastor, he inserted an advertise- 
 ment of this evening service in the Saturday's paper 
 a practice which was among the few things about 
 which he and his pastor differed. He could not enjoy 
 these good things alone ; his pew, however well con- 
 structed and cushioned, was not comfortable to him 
 while any thing remained which he could do to fill 
 other seats. He thought of the thousands in the city 
 needing as much as he did the water of life, and 
 echoed the voice of mercy, " Ho, every one that thirst- 
 eth, come to the waters and drink." 
 
 There was no service he rendered more cheerfully 
 than that of aiding the sexton in accommodating 
 strangers with seats. His eye, after reaching his pew, 
 would uniformly turn to the porch to see if any were 
 waiting there ; and it was very common for him to 
 return and wait upon them in, often resigning his own 
 seat to them. Many remember the kind welcome they
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 165 
 
 have thus received when they have entered with a fear 
 of intrusion. 
 
 But success in the sale of the pews, and crowded 
 attendance, did not satisfy him, without the conversion 
 of souls. His earnest prayer continually ascended, 
 that the preaching might be accompanied by the Holy 
 Ghost. The brethren who heard will never forget his 
 earnest and solemn manner, as he endeavored to stir 
 up their minds to prayer and personal effort, by ad- 
 verting to the extensive and marked success which had 
 followed the preaching of the pastor before being set- 
 tled among them ; the responsibility they had assumed 
 in calling him hither, and thus confining his labors to 
 this field ; reminding them, too, again and again, of 
 their design in the formation of this church. 
 
 Still he feared lest they should lean too much upon 
 the preaching of the pastor, and feel excused from 
 their part of the work personal efforts with the im- 
 penitent. Many have said, " It was a conversation 
 which Mr. Safford had with me which first decided 
 my mind on the subject of religion." One gentleman 
 says, " I was a very thoughtless man, and did not live 
 comfortably with my wife, because she refused to go 
 with me to the theater and other places of worldly 
 amusement. Our pastor had, on one occasion, 
 preached a very solemn discourse, but I should prob- 
 ably have soon forgotten it, as I always had before 
 done ; but Mr. Safford, leaving his own aisle, came 
 around to ours, followed me out, and laying his hand 
 upon my shoulder, said, * C., what are you doing? 
 Will you go on and perish in spite of all this?' I 
 could have resisted the sermon, but I could not resist 
 Mr. Safford's kindness and faithfulness." This gen-
 
 166 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOED. 
 
 tleman was converted, and is now a member of the 
 church.* 
 
 We have hitherto in this chapter spoken chiefly of 
 Mr. Safford's character and influence as a member of 
 the church. What he was in his relations to his pas- 
 tors may be seen from the following testimony of Dr. 
 Kirk, who was perhaps more favorably situated for 
 knowing him thoroughly than either of the others. 
 
 " In the Congregational churches the deacons not 
 only ' serve tables,' they are also the confidential ad- 
 visory council of the pastor. For the peculiar duties 
 of that office Mr. Safford was qualified to an extraordi- 
 nary degree. The pastor needs some medium of com- 
 munication with the people to know many tilings 
 about their ever-varying spiritual and temporal condi- 
 tions which he can not learn by personal intercourse 
 with them ; and they, too, need, besides the privilege 
 of free access to him, a channel through which they 
 can reach him indirectly. Into the spirit of this office 
 our brother entered most fully, and brought to its ser- 
 vice a sound judgment, an acute discrimination, an 
 earnest and self-sacrificing love not often witnessed. 
 
 " It is now more than twenty years since I first met 
 Mr. Safford ; and having enjoyed the opportunity of 
 knowing very many good men, with whom I may com- 
 pare him, my conviction is, that I never saw human 
 nature come nearer perfection than in him ; while I 
 never saw the man that more repudiated the claim of 
 having attained to it. 
 
 * The church, at its organization, consisted of forty-seven mem- 
 bers ; in 1857, or at the time of his death, there had been added 
 eleven hundred and thirty-three seven hundred and thirty-five 
 from other churches, and three hundred and ninety-eight by pro- 
 fession.
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 167 
 
 " The trait of character in which he excelled was 
 not so much unselfishness as positive love. He not 
 only did not seek to be prominent, or honored, or com- 
 fortable, or rich, or treated with consideration ; but he 
 was always seeking to make others good, honored, and 
 happy. He could scarcely enjoy even the pleasure 
 of eating an apple his favorite fruit unless he 
 shared it with a friend. He preeminently acted upon 
 the Saviour's maxim, ' It is more blessed to give than 
 to receive.' He loved his pastors, not with a blind 
 admiration, not because they were of his denomination, 
 and laboring for his church ; but chiefly because they 
 had given themselves up to the salvation of men's 
 souls as their chief employment. Their popularity 
 was important in his view, mainly because it would 
 facilitate their accomplishing this great work. He 
 knew how to encourage without flattering. He knew 
 there was no aid to a pastor more efficient than pray- 
 ing. No man had a more clear discernment of the 
 true end of the ministry, and of the adaptation of 
 preaching to this design. For himself, he desired the 
 clear, unqualified statement, by the preacher, of every 
 doctrine contained in the Scriptures, and derived from 
 them by an honest and intelligent interpretation of 
 their language. But with him doctrine was designed 
 for practical results. ' All Scripture was given by 
 inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine and 
 for reproof, that the man of God may be perfect ; thor- 
 oughly furnished unto every good work.' Personal 
 perfection and a useful life were the results of preach- 
 ing which he most earnestly sought for himself. No 
 searching of the heart, no piercing by ' the sword of 
 the Spirit,' was ever complained of by him. The
 
 168 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPPORD. 
 
 reproofs uttered in the pulpit he received, first and 
 chiefly, for himself. Generally in advance of the pastor 
 in his earnestness for the revival of religion in the 
 church, he was never harsh in his judgment, nor cen- 
 sorious in the expression of his desire that others 
 might be more in earnest. It was manifest that noth- 
 ing furnished him more intense gratification than 
 seeing his pastor awakened to any unusual degree of 
 earnestness. A stickler for no one method of useful- 
 ness because it had been used, he welcomed whatever 
 promised to give the gospel more ready access to men's 
 hearts. If a preacher presented himself whose style 
 or topics arrested attention, with no -diminution of 
 interest in his pastor, he did every thing in his power 
 to sustain that preacher. 
 
 " But I would speak more particularly of his relation 
 to his pastor. I have not an idea of that interesting 
 relation which Mr. Safford did not reduce to the reality 
 of every-day life. Our intimacy was that of brothers, 
 for sixteen years. We studied, labored, prayed, jour- 
 neyed, suffered, and rejoiced together. He was not an 
 angel, but a man ; not a perfected saint, but a man 
 lamenting his own defects, which he saw as I could 
 not. But in him my heart rested with a complete 
 repose. If he reproved me, I knew it was from an 
 honest heart, longing for my perfection. If he opposed 
 my plan, I knew it was generally from a profounder 
 wisdom than mine. In these points we were in per- 
 fect harmony ; that the kingdom of Christ is not 
 merely conservative, but reformatory and aggressive ; 
 that the ministry was not instituted with supreme ref- 
 erence to its incumbents, but to its issues and the good 
 of the people ; that the true recruiting of the church
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 169 
 
 of God is mainly from the middle section of society, 
 and its principal triumphs among those occupying the 
 less prominent conditions of life. 
 
 " The new church was organized, and Mr. Safford 
 elected deacon. What he was to that church, and to 
 its pastor, can better be felt by us all, than described 
 by any one. My health, my comfort, my success, were 
 as dear to him as if they were his own if I dared 
 to say all I believed, I would say, dearer. The proofs 
 of this were so constant, so unstudied and natural, 
 some of them so costly, that I could not enumerate 
 them all. I only ask the liberty of stating a question 
 I proposed to him once in a little group of us who 
 were studying the Scriptures together. We came to 
 the passage in the Acts of the Apostles, in which Luke 
 says of himself and Paul, The brethren * brought us 
 on our way.' Some person inquired what that meant. 
 I turned to our brother, smiling, and said, * Brother 
 Safford can tell you.' His simple reply was, ' / think 
 I understand US I speak of his costly contributions 
 to my comfort, and allude to instances like these : 
 Twice I crossed the ocean to recruit my strength, the 
 entire expense of each journey being borne by him ; 
 and when, on my return, other dear friends wished to 
 bear their share of this testimonial of affection, lie 
 passed their contributions over to an investment for 
 my benefit. 
 
 " But in the proper work of the ministry I experi- 
 enced his peculiar worth, and saw what a deacon may 
 be to his pastor. When I consulted him on any step to 
 be taken, 1 was sure to have the benefit of a spiritual, 
 as well as a sound judgment. The first aspect of tho 
 proposed measure which he contemplated was, its rela- 
 
 15
 
 170 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 tions to the glory of God, the spiritual welfare of the 
 church, and the salvation of men. 
 
 "If I had any plan for concentrating men's thoughts 
 oil their religious interests, he was never behind me 
 in zeal. He was ready to devote his time, house, and 
 heart to do whatever would facilitate the success of his 
 pastor's work. His aim, in fact, seemed to be, to aid 
 me to the utmost of his power, and then to surround 
 me with prayer. And I may say, I know not how a 
 member of the church could more faithfully and effec- 
 tively promote his pastor's usefulness and comfort. 
 His was a true Christian self-denial, without will- 
 worship, without any ascetic element, or any morbid 
 feature. Nor should it be passed over without notice, 
 that his zeal, fervent as it was, was balanced by the 
 soundness of his judgment. He loved his own church 
 fervently ; but cherished, at the same time, the most 
 lively interest in the prosperity of all other churches. 
 He loved his denomination, but he loved the church 
 catholic even more earnestly. Once, when I recom- 
 mended to him a denominational religious newspaper, 
 his reply indicated that he took but little interest in 
 reading on points that divide true Christians. This I 
 do not hold up as a model for all, but as an index of 
 the catholic tone of his piety. In the meetings and 
 exercises of the Evangelical Alliance, at London, he 
 saw more than merely pleasant meetings and kind 
 words. He believed that between men holding the 
 essential doctrines of the gospel there ought to be no 
 partition walls that should shut out the most lively 
 sympathy, delight in each other, and in the prosperity 
 of each. 
 
 " I would also speak of him as a peacemaker. His
 
 MOUNT VERNON CHURCH. 171 
 
 maxim was, * It requires two to make a quarrel ; ' 
 and as he never would be the second, no other could 
 be the first with him. He took no part in the quarrels 
 of others. He was with both, and loved both parties, 
 and aimed simply to get them to regard each other 
 kindly, and to settle their difficulties as Christians 
 at once. 
 
 " He never entertained his friends with recitals of 
 others' failings. There was a delicate reserve, a cau- 
 tion, in speaking to the disadvantage of the absent, 
 which showed great purity and kindness of heart. 
 
 " To him Mount Vernon Church owes a debt of grat- 
 itude which, I doubt not, all in it who knew him, deeply 
 feel ; and for myself this is but a slight tribute of 
 thankfulness for favors. On this Memoir, as on a 
 monument, would I inscribe 
 
 "' Sacred to the memory of a true believer and dear 
 friend, and to the glory of Him who made him what 
 he was eminent among the saints.' "
 
 172 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 
 
 Appointed Delegate to the World's Evangelical Convention m London. 
 Accompanied by his Pastor. Sails from Boston. Incidents of the 
 Voyage. Arrival at London. Meetings. Letter to Deacon Palmer. 
 Journey to Scotland. Edinburgh. Glasgow. Manchester. Letters 
 from Home. Departure from England. Brighton. Paris. Fontaine- 
 bleau. The River Seine. Brussels. Antwerp. Cologne. The Rhine 
 and its Cities. Mannheim. Strasburg. Basle. Lausanne. Geneva. 
 Tour among the Alps. Chumouni. Mont Blanc. Martigny. Lake 
 of Geneva. Journey to Paris. Sickness. London. The Evangelical 
 Conference. Dublin. The Giant's Causeway. Belfast. Liverpool. 
 Embarkation for Home. Arrival. 
 
 IN the year 1846 a convention had been called, in 
 the city of London, for the purpose of promoting the 
 spirit of brotherly love throughout the Protestant 
 churches of the world. To this meeting Mr. Safford 
 and his pastor were appointed delegates by the Mount 
 Vernon church. The question of accepting the ap- 
 pointment he weighed, as a Christian man, in " the 
 balances of the sanctuary." On the one side was the 
 amount of money it would cost for two to make the 
 voyage ; for it admitted with him of no question 
 whether he should bear his pastor on his way if they 
 should go. Every consideration seemed to favor an 
 affirmative decision. Chief, we believe, in his mind, 
 were the improvement of his pastor's health, and the 
 promotion of union in Christ's church. 
 
 In May they sailed for Liverpool ; and his own jour-
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 173 
 
 nal and correspondence will henceforth best continue 
 the narrative. 
 
 To MRS. SAPPORD. 
 
 HALIFAX, Sabbath, May 2, 1846. 
 
 MY DEAR WIPE: Since I saw the wave of your 
 handkerchief, I have learned that seasickness is not 
 all in the imagination. I have thought much of you 
 and of the church to-day, noticing the time of the 
 morning prayer meeting, and thinking of you at this 
 moment as seated around the table of our common 
 Lord and Saviour. 
 
 Left Halifax at three P. M. Distant one hundred 
 and eighty-six miles. Can eat my full allowance, and 
 feel perfectly well. For all which I would be thankful 
 to the great Giver of all good. Find we can enjoy 
 united and private prayer in our state room without 
 interruption. 
 
 May 5. Clear weather ; wind from N. N. E. The 
 pitching and rocking of the ship is to me as delightful 
 and soothing as the rocking of the cradle to the infant. 
 
 " Thus far the Lord has led me on." 
 
 May 6, 12 o'clock. Six hundred and twenty-two 
 miles from Halifax ; weather delightful ; appetite, 
 food, health, and spirits, all good. 
 
 Monday, llth. Nineteen hundred and twenty- 
 three miles from Halifax. Quite a gale last evening ; 
 sea broke over the upper deck. Notwithstanding, I 
 slept well, and have done so every night on board. 
 
 Wednesday, \%th. Discovered the coast of Ire- 
 
 15
 
 174 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 land at five o'clock, P. M., yesterday, and arrived at 
 Liverpool at nine, P. M. ; twelve days and seven hours 
 from Boston. Had our trunks passed through the 
 custom house just in time to take the cars for London, 
 at quarter past nine o'clock. Saw but little of Liver- 
 pool, except in passing from the wharf to the custom 
 house, and from there to the railroad depot, a distance 
 of two miles. The city has a somber appearance, the 
 buildings being of dark freestone, or sandstone, of 
 brick, and almost black. I ought to have remarked 
 that Captain Lott, the officers, and waiters on board 
 the steamer, were all attentive, kind, and gentlemanly, 
 as were also the passengers, except that there was more 
 smoking and wine-drinking than was agreeable to me. 
 
 To MRS. SAFFORD. 
 
 LONDON, May 16, 1846. 
 
 We have arrived safely in this great city, a world 
 in itself, and are now in lodgings at Mrs. F.'s, Fitz- 
 roy Square. When the Sabbath comes, I am ready to 
 sigh for one of those Mount Vernon church Sal> 
 baths ; I think of that Sunday morning prayer meet- 
 ing, and look around from seat to seat upon those 
 dear Christian friends whom I have so often met there. 
 I could name them now, and tell you the seats they 
 usually occupied. I can almost hear their earnest 
 prayers for the presence of the Holy Spirit, for a bless- 
 ing upon the labors of their " dear pastor," and upon 
 the instructions of the Sunday school ; and although 
 absent in body, I am still present in heart and mind. 
 At two o'clock here I think it is nine there, and that 
 they are about to commence that meeting. Then I 
 think of that beloved class in the Sunday school, 
 how gladly I would be with them, and then of the
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 175 
 
 public services. But I will leave this subject, upon 
 which my mind so loves to linger, and tell you about 
 my Sabbaths since I left home. 
 
 On account of our arriving at Halifax on the Sab- 
 bath, service was omitted on shipboard that day. The 
 next Sabbath, the sea was rough, and Mr. Kirk some- 
 what seasick ; yet he preached his " blind Bartinieus " 
 sermon ; but on account of the motion was obliged to 
 sit most of the time. The officers and crew, and those 
 of the passengers who were not sick, attended the 
 service. Persons of seven different nations, and of 
 various religious views, and even some infidels, were 
 present. They were all solemn and attentive, and 
 some eyes were filled with tears. Although there were 
 smoking, drinking, and gambling during the voyage, 
 yet it was evident that the example of a few individ- 
 uals exerted a restraining influence, from the apologies 
 that were made for indulging in these practices. 
 
 Our ride in the cars from Liverpool to London, a 
 distance of two hundred and twelve miles, was per- 
 formed in eight and a half hours, including stoppings. 
 The cars are very roomy and comfortable, and so 
 arranged that the head is not only supported at the 
 back, but also on the sides; consequently one may 
 sleep very comfortably in them. We passed numerous 
 manufacturing cities and villages, with their tall chim- 
 neys, say from one hundred to two hundred feet high, 
 sending forth volleys of thick black smoke. The 
 scenery is pleasant, the land generally highly culti- 
 vated, although I should think having a rather light, 
 sandy soil. Vegetation is about two weeks later than 
 in the vicinity of Boston. 
 
 After breakfast this morning, wo set off on an 
 exploring tour. Our first object was to consult in
 
 176 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 respect to going to Palestine ; but after learning the 
 time it would require, both by water and across the 
 continent, we were obliged to relinquish the idea alto- 
 gether. We then called upon Alderman Challis, an 
 old friend of Mr. Kirk's, who conducted us to a meet- 
 ing of Congregational ministers. Two or three hun- 
 dred were assembled, discussing various important 
 subjects. Soon after we entered, Rev. Dr. Blackburn 
 introduced Mr. Kirk and his deacon to the meeting, 
 who received us with numerous greetings. After leav- 
 ing that meeting we went into Exeter Hall, to attend 
 a meeting for the better observance of the Sabbath, 
 but could not find a vacant seat. 
 
 After dinner we attended a meeting of the Con- 
 gregational Colonial Missionary Society, and heard a 
 number of speeches, manifesting an excellent spirit, 
 especially toward their colonies in America. Near 
 the close Mr. Kirk spoke fifteen minutes, as I 
 thought, in a very happy strain ; which was frequently 
 interrupted and followed by expressions of approbation. 
 After taking his seat, the Rev. Mr. Binney, who was in 
 Boston last year, gave a glowing description of Mount 
 Vernon Church, " its spacious altar, carpeted floors, 
 cushioned seats, and upholstered pews ; also its elegant 
 chapel below, large enough for a common church, car- 
 peted and cushioned." 
 
 During the day we visited St. James's Park, a 
 beautiful spot, in the center of which is a pond, prob- 
 ably a quarter of a mile long, with swans, geese, and 
 ducks of various kinds, in great numbers, swimming 
 upon it. We passed by Buckingham Palace, Her 
 Majesty's mansion, to Hyde Park, where the nobility 
 often ride in elegant style, with a coachman and two 
 footmen, dressed in uniform of small-clothes, and
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 177 
 
 white stockings or white top-boots. While standing 
 at this corner, the police who, by the way, are to be 
 seen all over the city stopped all carriages, of every 
 kind, that were passing in the street, which, in a few 
 moments, produced a large collection on both sides. 
 Immediately after, we saw four men, mounted on 
 horseback, wearing red coats, coming toward the gates. 
 They were followed by an open barouche, in which 
 were seated Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. We 
 were within six feet of the carriage, and had a full 
 view of them. 
 
 May 18. To-day have crossed the suspension 
 bridge, through the tunnel under the Thames, and 
 passed down the river in a steamer several miles below 
 London Bridge. This is the lowest bridge upon the 
 river. Above, the river abounds in small steamers, 
 coal boats, and other small craft ; below, for miles it is 
 lined with larger vessels on both sides, sometimes six 
 to eight ships deep, beside the numerous docks, filled 
 with shipping. In the evening, had a long and pleasant 
 conversation with the young ladies in the house on the 
 subject of doing good to the poor and vicious in cities. 
 
 To Mr. JULIUS A. PALMER. 
 
 May 21, 1846. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER : You have doubt- 
 less learned that we have been obliged to abandon the 
 hope of seeing the land promised to Abraham, which 
 was for thirty years the residence of our adorable 
 Saviour. This is no small disappointment to us. But 
 if we may inhabit that land, of which this is only a 
 type ; reside in some of those mansions which Jesus 
 has gone to prepare, and be witli him where he is, not
 
 178 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 for thirty years only, but duration without end, we 
 can afford to wait, and to bear this disappointment. 
 
 Mr. Kirk finds so many old friends here, that it is 
 difficult for him to get away. Sunday evening he 
 preached in Surrey Chapel, where he labored in a 
 revival in 1839. That large building was crowded ; 
 and at the close of the meeting the congregation sung 
 a revival hymn and tune which they had learned from 
 him at that time. 
 
 We find our conversation and prayers frequently 
 dwelling upon the dear friends in Mount Vernon 
 church and society. I endeavor to keep the run of all 
 your meetings on week evenings, as well as the Sab- 
 bath, making an allowance of five hours, so as to know 
 the very time when you are engaged in worship. 
 Your evening meetings are at an hour when I am 
 sometimes asleep; but your Sabbath meetings, espe- 
 cially the Sabbath morning prayer meeting, and the 
 Sabbath school, I never forget. Do let me hear from 
 you, and the church, too, by the next steamer. Love 
 to brothers H. and A., Mrs. P. and the children, and 
 our whole family in Christ. 
 
 Your much obliged brother, DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Friday, May 22. 
 
 At nine o'clock in the morning, left London in the 
 cars for Newcastle. The weather was pleasant so that 
 we had a very good view of the country, with its low, 
 dark brick houses, covered with tile or thatch, gen- 
 erally the former. Farm houses are not placed in the 
 center of the farms, as in New England, but in small 
 clusters or villages, with a little church in the midst. 
 Sometimes not a house can be seen for miles. The land
 
 VISIT TO EUBOPE. 179 
 
 appears not to be very good naturally, but cold and 
 wet : to obviate this, it is nearly all laid down in waves 
 eight or twelve feet wide, so that the water can run otf 
 in the drains between them. Multitudes of blind 
 ditches also are made of earthen ware. In addition 
 to this, they manure the land highly, using a great 
 deal of lime, which is easily obtained where limestone 
 and coal are so plenty. 
 
 In all of this part of England, cattle and sheep 
 are very abundant and fine. In the north of England 
 the land improves, and after we entered Scotland it 
 appeared better than any we saw in England ; and in 
 a perfect state of cultivation. Here wheat is raised in 
 great abundance, and a large amount kept over each 
 winter. Upon some farms we saw from fifteen to 
 twenty large stacks of old wheat. The fodder for their 
 cattle, and their wheat, are all stacked out. The latter 
 is not threshed until they have a market for it, because 
 it will keep better in a stack than in any other way. 
 
 We passed directly by the castle of the Duke of 
 Northumberland, a very extensive and splendid edifice ; 
 also the palace of the Duke of Sutherland, and rode 
 for miles under the walls which inclose his grounds, 
 occasionally getting a view which was beautiful indeed. 
 The yearly income of each of these dukes is said to 
 be five hundred thousand pounds. These are the men 
 who refused to soil land for free churches. We passed 
 also Dunbar and Preston Pans, where some of Crom- 
 well's battles were fought ; arriving at Edinburgh at 
 half past one, P. M. 
 
 At Newcastle wo stopped at the Queen's Head ; 
 here we stop at the Black Bull. We have taken two 
 largo chambers, with a., door connecting them, pleas-
 
 180 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 antly situated, for which we pay two shillings each, 
 two shillings for breakfast, one and sixpence for tea, 
 and for dinner according to the articles ordered. We 
 have a table by ourselves, and take our meals at any 
 hour we please ; every thing is neaj; and good. 
 
 To MRS. SAFFORD. 
 
 EDINBURGH, May 26, 1846. 
 
 MY DEAR WIFE : This city, in many respects, and 
 the people in it, remind me of my beloved Boston 
 more than any other city I have seen in Europe. It 
 has not the smoky, gloomy' aspect of other cities 
 through which I have passed ; but the broad, neatly- 
 paved streets, the public monuments and buildings, 
 and the private dwellings generally, greatly surpass 
 those of Boston, or any other city I ever saw. Al- 
 though our house is in a central part of the city, it is 
 as quiet, both within and without, as our own dear 
 home. When we went out to go to church, the side- 
 walks were filled with people walking to the house of 
 God silently, and, as it appeared to me, more seriously 
 than the people in our streets. Their dress and ap- 
 pearance are more like those of our own people than I 
 have elsewhere seen. 
 
 This morning, after private and social prayer, and 
 a season of conversation about our friends at home, the 
 dear church, (which appears dearer to us than ever,) and 
 many of its individual members, a very delightful 
 exercise, in which we often indulge, I went into my 
 bed room, and read Paul's Letter to the Philippians. 
 As I thought of him in prison at Rome, chained to a 
 Roman soldier, yet exhorting Christians to persevere 
 in their Christian course, joying and rejoicing in their
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 181 
 
 faith and holiness, espepially as I saw how his whole 
 soul was filled with Christ, having a desire to depart 
 and be with him, but willing to live on in suffering in 
 prison, his whole will being in subjection to the will 
 of God, I had such a sense of my own vileness, un- 
 faithfulness, and ingratitude, as almost overwhelmed 
 me. I wept, I prayed, I read and meditated, until, to 
 the glory of the grace of God be it said, the Lord 
 Jesus did manifest himself to me in a manner more 
 delightful than I have experienced for years. It 
 seemed to me that if I had a thousand lives, I could 
 give them all to him. I knew I loved him better than 
 all that this earth affords. I believe now that he loves 
 me. How affecting the thought that he can love one 
 who has always been so unfaithful ! How many times 
 you have tried to lead me to say, " Yes, I know I love 
 Christ " ! But to your repeated question, " Do you not 
 know that you love Christ?" I could only reply, 
 " I don't Imoiv ; I hope I do." Just now, I can say, if 
 I do not love him, I know not what I do love. Let us, 
 my dear wife, like Paul, count all things but loss for 
 the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jes'us our 
 Lord, that we may win Christ, and be found in him, 
 not having our own righteousness, which is of the law, 
 but that which is through the faith of Christ, the 
 righteousness which is of God by faith. 
 
 Monday, May 25. After visiting various places of 
 interest in the city, we went into the meeting of the 
 General Assembly of the Established church of Scot- 
 land, which is in session at the same time with that of 
 the Free church. They spoke very kindly of the Free 
 church, and of their movements, and are evidently 
 
 16
 
 182 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 stimulated by them to greater exertion, especially in 
 the missionary cause. They complained that about 
 one third of their parishes had not contributed any 
 thing for missions. There is reason to hope that the 
 separation will be overruled by Providence for the 
 quickening of them to greater efforts in this cause. 
 We next went into the meeting of the Free church, 
 where were, I should think, three times as many 
 assembled, and much more spirit and interest man- 
 ifested. 
 
 Glasgow, May 27, 1846. This morning, after some 
 consultation, we concluded to separate for a few 
 days ; Mr. Kirk in pursuit of his friends in the south- 
 western part of Scotland, and I to come to this place, 
 with the hope of meeting in Manchester, on Saturday. 
 Accordingly, at eleven o'clock, I left the beautiful city 
 of Edinburgh, and passing the ruins of Nidding Castle, 
 and some other objects of interest, arrived at this city 
 about one o'clock. After supplying myself with a 
 map of the city and the " Stranger's Guide," I made 
 my way to the Necropolis, or City of the Dead. It is 
 upon a hill four hundred feet high, ascended by ser- 
 pentine walks, and ornamented with shrubbery and 
 flowers. Upon these walks are erected monuments of 
 every size and form, many of them very elegant. 
 Upon the extreme summit of the hill is that of John 
 Knox, with his figure holding a Bible in his hand. 
 The view of this hill from below, with its numerous 
 monuments rising one above another, is one of the most 
 beautiful sights of the kind I ever saw. This is all, 
 worthy of note, that I have yet observed in Glasgow. 
 Here, as in all other cities I have thus far seen in 
 Europe, the poorer class of the population is very large,
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 183 
 
 and the females especially are filthy and degraded in 
 the extreme, standing, walking, or sitting about the 
 streets, with heads, arms, and feet bare. 
 
 May 28. This morning I set out to see Dixon's 
 iron works, about one mile from my lodgings. I found 
 one of the foremen, who informed me I could not be 
 admitted without a line from the proprietor or his head 
 clerk, Mr. Campbell. This was not obtained without 
 difficulty, nor until I had explained that I was from 
 Boston, <fec., and given the assurance that I was in no 
 way connected with any establishment of the kind. 
 The foreman then went with me through the works, 
 explaining every process, giving me as much time as I 
 wanted, and appeared willing to entertain me longer 
 than I could afford to stop. 
 
 To-day the streets are every where in perfect con- 
 fusion. In all directions we see heaps of old furni- 
 ture piled up ; men, women, and ^children running 
 hither and thither, with old chairs, beds, pots, kettles, 
 crockery, provisions, some in their hands, some on 
 their heads, some lashed to their backs, and some in 
 handcarts. Women drawing heavy carts, laughing, 
 scolding, or crying ; groups of half-naked children ; 
 trucks, drays, cabs, and the ordinary business of the 
 dUy, rendered it necessary to have eyes before and be- 
 hind. I asked one of the police what all this meant. 
 " Oh," said he, " this is the 28th of May, when all the 
 moving is done for the year." 
 
 There is near the center of the city an open 
 square, larger, I should think, than Boston Common, 
 lying along the river Clyde. This square and the 
 fence were nearly covered with clothes drying. Upon 
 inquiry, I was told that the poor are so crowded to-
 
 184 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 gether, that the authorities allow them to dry their 
 clothes here. Near this is another smaller square, 
 where the women have small tents, in which are ex- 
 posed for sale articles of almost every description, such 
 as old clothes, furniture, boots and shoes. Women 
 appear to do most of the retail business. You may 
 see them blacking old boots and shoes for sale, with 
 much more that we should think very unsuitable for 
 women to do. 
 
 Manchester, Friday, May 29, 1846. At three o'clock, 
 yesterday, I left Glasgow for Androssan, on the rail- 
 road. At that place, I took the steamer for Fleet- 
 wood, then the railroad for this place, arriving about 
 nine o'clock, P. M., at the Albion. I find here a num- 
 ber of our fellow-passengers in the Caledonia from 
 Boston, also other -Boston gentlemen, who recog- 
 nized me, whom I do not know ; also found one with 
 whom I boarded in London. This is very pleasant, 
 after passing two days without seeing one human being 
 I had ever seen before. Mr Thornton, a partner of 
 Deacon Kimball, pressed me hard to stop with him 
 while he-re ; but I thought it not best. 
 
 This place has about the same number of inhabit- 
 ants as Glasgow, say three hundred and fifty to four 
 hundred thousand, but it spreads over more terri- 
 tory. Here are great numbers of tall chimneys con- 
 nected with the manufactories, principally cotton. I 
 had been told so much about the city being filled with 
 smoke from these chimneys, that I am quite agreeably 
 disappointed. Many of the streets are wide and pleas- 
 ant, and some of the buildings are elegant. There is, 
 however, nothing worthy of particular notice, except 
 the Old Church, as it is called. It is more than four
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 185 
 
 hundred years old, was formerly Roman Catholic, but 
 is now occupied by the Episcopal church. It has one 
 apartment more than four times as large as Mount 
 Vernon Church. Although the seats are not econom- 
 ically arranged, it will seat four thousand persons. In 
 the lower part, the seats are free for the poor of the 
 city. Besides this, there are a number of other large 
 rooms and chapels, some as large as an ordinary 
 church. There is chapel service here twice every 
 week day, in addition to the Sabbath, in the large 
 room. The floor of the church, and the large yard 
 that surrounds it, are all covered with gravestones, 
 which constitute the pavement. 
 
 To MRS. SAFFORD. 
 
 Sabbath Evening, May 31, 1846. 
 
 Can it be that this is the same month on which I 
 left home ? It seems almost impossible. Not because 
 I have been unhappy, but because I have seen, and 
 heard, and traveled so much. 
 
 This morning, just before going to church, one of 
 the waiters handed me a package containing the richest 
 treasure I have received since I left home. I had been 
 invited out to dine, but had declined, choosing to 
 spend the Sabbath in my own hired room alone, if I 
 could not have my fellow-traveler's company. On my 
 way to church, after dinner, I met Mr. M., of New 
 York, who exclaimed, " How is this, that you are 
 not at the Queen ? I saw Mr. Kirk's name there." 
 After a little explanation, I went with a quick step to 
 the Queen's Hotel, which is on another side of the 
 same square with the Albion, where I am. We had 
 a meeting like that of old friends who had been scp-
 
 186 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 arated. He came in last evening, but entered the 
 depot at the opposite end from that in which I was 
 waiting for him. We proceeded to read our letters 
 together, and were very much affected by them, espe- 
 cially the expressions of unmingled kindness from 
 various members of the church. When we had fin- 
 ished, we knelt down together, and in turn, with flow- 
 ing tears, and I trust with grateful hearts, blessed the 
 Lord together, and poured out our fervent prayers for 
 you all. 
 
 I am glad you have been with my Bible class. 
 Give my love to them all. They arc very dear to me. 
 Tell th^ai we will meet around the mercy seat. 
 
 London, Wednesday, June 3. Left our kind friends 
 at Fitzroy Square, and took the cars at two o'clock 
 for Brighton, about fifty miles. This is a fash- 
 ionable watering place, and a very delightful spot. 
 Here we went on the steamer to Dieppe, eighty miles ; 
 then thirty-eight by post coach. 
 
 Riding upon the top, I had a fine view of the 
 scenery. That which arrested my attention partic- 
 ularly during this ride, was the rapidity with which 
 the horses were changed. I noticed in one instance 
 that from the time the coach wheels stopped until four 
 horses had been taken out, four more harnessed in, the 
 driver upon his box, and the coach in motion, was but 
 one minute and five seconds. I think it was some- 
 times done in less time than that. 
 
 Eighty miles more on the railroad, and we were in 
 Paris. Took lodgings at the Hotel Meurice, a house 
 mostly occupied by English and Americans. Here we 
 have a parlor, with a small bed in one corner, and a
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 187 
 
 bed room, for which we pay seven francs a day, and 
 get our meals where we please. This is a very exten- 
 sive and well-regulated house, and every thing is ren- 
 dered very easy and pleasant. 
 
 To MRS. SAPFORD. 
 
 PARIS, Sabbath Morning, June 7, 1846. 
 
 MY DEAR WIPE : This is the sixth Sabbath I 
 have spent away from you and home. After our 
 morning devotions, Mr. Kirk conducted me to an 
 English church, and went himself to hear his favorite 
 preacher in French. Oh, how unlike Edinburgh, or 
 even Boston, is Paris ! the stores open, goods dis- 
 played, and every kind of business going forward ; 
 companies of soldiers marching through the streets 
 with martial music, &c. We were glad to get back 
 into our room, which is comparatively retired and still. 
 
 We took our church book, read a part of the 
 history of our church, articles of faith, and church 
 covenant ; then all the names of the members, nearly 
 every one of whom we were enabled to call to mind 
 distinctly. Some have removed to other churches ; 
 some gone to heaven ; and others, we believe, are fast 
 ripening for it. It is interesting to witness how the 
 heart of our pastor is bound up in his people how 
 lie sighs and cries for the spiritual well-being of those 
 committed to his charge. I never had such evidence 
 of his attachment to his people as I have since our 
 leaving home. 
 
 After some conversation upon the way in which the 
 Lord lias led this church, and some of its members, 
 in particular, we kneeled down together, and in turn 
 committed them all, and our own souls, to Him who
 
 188 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 loves his church and gave himself for it. I believe 
 the Lord was present, and taught us how to pray. 
 How delightful, when far. away from home, and friends, 
 and accustomed religious privileges, to find a present 
 Saviour ! 
 
 PARIS, June 13, 1846. 
 
 I think you may by this time be tired of reading 
 about palaces, abbeys, museums, monuments, shady 
 walks, &c. ; so I will tell you a little about myself and 
 suite. On one side of my room is the bed room of my 
 chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Kirk. As you have some ac- 
 quaintance with him, I will only say respecting him 
 that his health appears very good, that he is faithful, 
 kind, and attentive as usual. On the other side is the 
 bed room of my physician, Dr. W., of whom I must 
 say, he is the most agreeable, and I think the most 
 skillful, physician I have ever employed. I will give 
 you one instance as a specimen of his practice. Last 
 night we came home very tired with the labors of the 
 day. Soon after we were seated at the center table, 
 he placed before us a basket containing more than four 
 quarts of large pills, with directions that we should 
 take as many as we could ; and to make them the 
 more palatable, he gave us a quantity of pulverized 
 sugar to take them in. These pills were of the form, 
 color, and flavor of strawberries, and I should think 
 we took nearly a quart apiece of them. Strawberries 
 here are very large and abundant, and of excellent 
 flavor. When eating them, we often wished we had 
 some help from Boston. 
 
 Sabbath Evening. The weather has been very 
 warm to-day. In the afternoon heard a sermon in
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 189 
 
 English. The text was very good. Spent most of the 
 day in my room. Read the Epistles of Peter and John. 
 If it were not for the Bible, I should hardly know how 
 to get along in this land of a strange tongue. It is 
 melancholy to see the multitudes in this city that neg- 
 lect this blessed day altogether, continuing their busi- 
 ness as on other days, or devoting it to amusements. 
 This evening, in the garden of the Tuileries, directly 
 opposite our house, there are probably tens of thou- 
 sands of people, of all ages and conditions, walking 
 and sitting about, some playing ball, some jumping 
 rope, with music from the royal band, and a display 
 of the waterworks ; giving it more the appearance of 
 our national celebration of the 4th of July than of 
 the Sabbath. How I long for a -quiet Boston Sabbath 
 in Mount Vernon Church, and No. 3 Beacon Street. 
 It is now nine o'clock. I think of you as in the 
 midst of your afternoon service. I have thought much 
 of you and of our dear church to-day. If I ever get 
 there again, I shall be prepared to prize it more highly 
 than ever. As soon as we get our letters, which we 
 hope to do on Wednesday next, without fail, we design 
 to prosecute our journey as fast as we can with com- 
 fort and safety. 
 
 June 21. Went yesterday, in company with the 
 Rev. Mr. Boucher, and lady, to Fontaineblcau, about 
 forty miles from Paris. There is in this place a small 
 Protestant chapel, built by a converted Frenchman in 
 his garden, at his own expense, where he sustains wor- 
 ship every Sabbath. When lie can not procure a 
 minister, he reads a sermon himself; lie also reads to 
 and converses with his neighbors at other times, as he
 
 190 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 can get opportunity. Mr. Kirk preached in this chapel, 
 in English, in the morning, and Mr. Boucher in the 
 afternoon, in French, to a house nearly full, although 
 the weather was excessively hot. Mr. Boucher is an 
 old friend of Mr. Kirk, and I found it very pleasant to 
 have for a time such a companion as Mrs. Boucher, she 
 being almost the only lady I have been able to speak 
 with since leaving London. 
 
 Took a steamer, and went down to Paris, on 
 the River Seine, enjoying a view of the scenery on its 
 banks, some of which is very pleasant. There were 
 numerous rafts of wood and timber floating down, 
 and a large number of flat-boats, sometimes eight or 
 ten together, one after another, drawn by from six to 
 fourteen horses. Arriving near the city, we saw hun- 
 dreds of people bathing in the river. 
 
 23d. Left Paris at seven o'clock in the cars for 
 Brussels, a distance of two hundred miles. This 
 being a new road, and the second day of its being 
 open for travel, the conductors were awkward, made 
 long stops, and appeared in a good deal of confusion, 
 so that we did not arrive in Brussels until eight and a 
 half o'clock. When we crossed the line into Belgium, 
 we were detained more than an hour to have all our 
 baggage taken from the cars, carried into an office, and 
 the contents examined. This I understand is to be 
 done every time we pass from one country or kingdom 
 to anather. The weather grew cool through the day, 
 and before morning I found it necessary to put on my 
 cloak, and was cold with that. 
 
 2,4th. After breakfast, in company with two Eng-
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 191 
 
 lishmen who had been fellow-passengers from Boston, 
 took a carriage to Waterloo, to see that famous battle 
 ground, and monuments. This being twelve miles 
 distant, it occupied the whole day. Mr. Kirk, having 
 seen it, and wishing to make some calls in the city, did 
 not accompany us. 
 
 25th. Visited the cathedral, senate, and chamber 
 of deputies, lace manufactory, &c. Brussels is a very 
 neat and pleasant city, with about one hundred thou- 
 sand inhabitants. Many English families reside here, 
 and most of the company at the hotels appear to be of 
 that nation. At four, P. M., left in the cars for Ant- 
 werp, about twenty miles distant. This city is situated 
 on the River Scheldt, which is navigable for ships of 
 the largest class. Here we saw large ships from Amer- 
 ica, from England, and various parts of the world, 
 besides a very great number of their own Dutch-built 
 vessels, most of which were small, with but one mast. 
 The city is well fortified, with a strong citadel at one 
 end, and two fortresses on the opposite side of the 
 river. The streets are generally wide, and as clean as 
 any I have ever seen ; the houses not extravagant, but 
 in good taste. We visited the cathedral, citadel, 
 wharves, and docks ; also a collection of ancient paint- 
 ings, by some of the best masters. Antwerp has eighty 
 thousand inhabitants. 
 
 Friday, June 2>. Left at six o'clock, A. M., in 
 the cars for Cologne, a distance of one hundred and 
 thirty-four miles, passing Lorraine, Liege, Aix-la-Cha- 
 pelle, and numerous smaller towns, and arrived at 
 Cologne at four and a half o'clock. This is also a 
 walled city, of nearly the size of Antwerp, but tho
 
 192 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOED. 
 
 streets are not so wide, nor the buildings nearly as 
 pleasant. It is situated on the river Rhine, which is 
 truly a noble river, larger than the Thames. We vis- 
 ited the immense cathedral, which was commenced 
 nearly six hundred years ago, and is still in progress, 
 but will not probably be finished for centuries to come. 
 It is built of stone, without any wood, inside or out. 
 The amount of delicate carved work upon it is almost 
 incalculable. The stones which were first laid are 
 already crumbling to pieces. It has two towers, which 
 are to be each five hundred feet high. There is one 
 bridge across the river, composed of a line of boats. 
 When a vessel is to pass, two or more of the boats are 
 disconnected, and allowed to fall down stream ; after- 
 wards, they are brought back again to their place. 
 We crossed this bridge, and took lodgings at a very 
 pleasant hotel on the bank of the river opposite the 
 city. There are twenty-four distilleries for Cologne 
 water in this city. 
 
 27th. At seven o'clock, A. M., took the cars to Bonn, 
 about nineteen miles from Cologne, and at that place a 
 steamboat for Mannheim, a distance of one hundred 
 and seventy miles, passing by Coblentz, Bingen, May- 
 ence, Worms, where Luther met the Diet, and more 
 than one hundred smaller towns and villages. We 
 stopped an hour or two at Mayence, a pleasant city of 
 about thirty-six thousand inhabitants. Many of the 
 streets are crooked and narrow, but they are very 
 clean, and the buildings generally are beautiful. Na- 
 poleon had a palace here ; it was one of his favorite 
 cities. We regretted not seeing Worms, as we passed 
 it in the night, when we were asleep.
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 193 
 
 We entered tlie Rhine with some misgiving as to 
 its claims to its great popularity. Our own Hudson 
 River was continually in remembrance when the glo- 
 ries of the Rhine were lauded. The day proved ex- 
 actly what we could desire, and greatly did we enjoy 
 it. The scenery excels the Hudson in the great 
 length of its interesting portion about ninety miles, 
 from Bonn to Bingen. This part every traveler must 
 be sure to take by steamboat, even after railroads shall 
 have been constructed between these points. The de- 
 scent is said to be too rapid to allow a full enjoyment 
 of the scenery. 
 
 Mannheim is in some respects more beautiful than 
 any city we have seen. It is surrounded by a dense 
 forest, so that in approaching it nothing can be seen 
 except the cathedral, the castle, and a few of the high- 
 est public buildings. In this forest are laid out beauti- 
 ful circular walks. It abounds with birds, whose 
 singing contributes much to the pleasure of the walk. 
 The streets of the city are wide, and arranged with 
 perfect regularity. The buildings are rather remark- 
 able, some of them being very old. On the chimney 
 of one we saw a stork's nest as large as a two-bushel 
 basket, and three or four of these ugly birds upon it. 
 
 In the morning we attended a Lutheran church. 
 After the sermon the congregation was dismissed, and 
 the Lord's supper administered to about twenty men 
 and one hundred and twenty women, in a manner dif- 
 ferent from any that I had ever witnessed. At each 
 end of the altar stood a minister ; one with the bread, 
 the other witli the wine. The communicants came 
 two and two to him who held the bread, first the men 
 and then the women. They bowed to the altar, or tho 
 
 17
 
 194 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 minister, who broke off a small piece of bread and 
 gave to each of them, saying some words. They ate 
 it, then bowed again, and passed around the back of 
 the altar to the other end, and took the wine in like 
 manner. The females generally left their bonnets in 
 the pews. Some of the latter courtesied with great 
 ceremony and display. I could not understand a 
 word, and of course was not much edified. 
 
 There is in this place a very large palace, quite as 
 large as the one at Versailles, near Paris, one wing of 
 which has never been finished. Large bushes have 
 grown upon the walls. 
 
 Monday Morning, June 29. Left Mannheim for 
 Basle in the cars ; traveled all day with two clergymen 
 from England very intelligent and gentlemanly men. 
 We dined at Strasburg, in France, where our trunks 
 were again examined. After dinner went into the 
 famous cathedral of this place, which is very large and 
 beautiful, and the highest in Europe. After this we 
 had a pleasant ride, in view of the distant highlands 
 of Switzerland, and arrived at Basle about nine o'clock 
 in the evening. 
 
 Rose at five o'clock, and were told that a 
 diligence had just left for Geneva, but that another 
 would leave at nine o'clock. Went to the office, and 
 found that the seats were all taken, but that a fourth 
 would start at half past two o'clock, P. M. This was 
 a disappointment, having directed our letters to be 
 forwarded to us at Geneva. We engaged seats in the 
 last named ; then visited an old cathedral, where we 
 heard a sermon, and witnessed a wedding and a 
 christening. At half past two o'clock we took our
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 195 
 
 seats in the diligence for Geneva, and soon found our- 
 selves winding our way up the far-famed hills and 
 mountains of Switzerland, by the side of an ever rest- 
 less, murmuring mountain stream, which diminished 
 in size as we ascended. 
 
 We crossed the little tributaries that came leaping 
 down from the rocks on either side, and plunging into 
 its bosom. This reminded me of the Notch of the 
 White Mountains. In one place the road was cut 
 through a ledge, so that we passed under an arch of 
 solid rock. About nine o'clock in the evening we 
 reached Delsperg, a walled town on the mountains, 
 where we took tea ; then resumed our seats in the dil- 
 igence. The weather was dark and rainy, and not 
 being able to see much, we passed most of the night 
 in sleep. Early in the morning we arrived at Berne, 
 an old town with walls and watch towers, but 
 stopped only long enough to have our luggage changed 
 from one diligence to another. We rode on through 
 numerous towns and villages without any opportunity 
 for breakfast or dinner until we arrived at Lausanne, 
 the former residence of Madame Feller. Saw her 
 brother-in-law, and took a hasty dinner about three 
 o'clock, at the hotel kept by her son-in-law, but did 
 not see him. We arrived at Geneva about nine o'clock 
 in the evening. 
 
 To MRS. SAFFORD. 
 
 GENEVA, July 3, 1846. 
 
 We arrived here last evening at nine o'clock, after 
 the post office was closed. We requested the landlord 
 to inquire for us in the morning. Early in the morn- 
 ing the servant came to our door with your letters by
 
 196 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 the Great Britain. One who has not been from home, 
 and from those most dear on earth, can not realize 
 with what eagerness, and almost breathless, but not 
 tearless silence, the seals were broken, and the contents 
 devoured. The last I heard from you, you were ill, 
 in consequence of which I had indulged in unwarrant- 
 able forebodings and painful misgivings ; but now 
 come the joyful tidings that the Lord has had mercy 
 on you, and not on you only, but also upon me, " lest 
 I should have sorrow upon sorrow." This is indeed 
 like " cold water to a thirsty soul." Oh that we may 
 learn to trust the Lord at all times, and pour out our 
 hearts before him. " God is a refuge for us." 
 
 After reading our letters, uniting in thanksgiving 
 and prayer, and taking breakfast, we went upon the 
 lofty roof of our hotel, where we had a full view of 
 the scenery on every side, which is beautiful beyond 
 description. In front is the lake ; in the distance be- 
 yond are seen, with great distinctness, many of the 
 highest peaks of the Alps, all covered with snow, as 
 white as if just fallen from the clouds, which was 
 probably the case, while it was raining in the valleys 
 below. On the opposite side are the Jura Mountains, 
 forming nearly another half circle ; on these, also, 
 some snow remains ; the effect of the whole is that of 
 a beautiful panorama. 
 
 Toward night we rode out to Colonel Tron chin's 
 country residence. From a tower in his grounds we 
 had a delightful view of Mont Blanc, and many other 
 high peaks of the Alps. Long after the sun had passed 
 from view, we could see his rays lingering upon these. 
 Mont Blanc detained them longest. At length from 
 perfect white it became tinged with pink, as it received
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 197 
 
 trie borrowed rays from the clouds above it. From 
 a bright pink it became darker and darker, until it 
 faded away from our view. The whole scene was 
 splendid, and the close somber and impressive. I 
 could not but feel and say, " Our God is a great God, 
 above all gods." 
 
 I have passed through the market. The whole of 
 the business is done by women, who bring in the pro- 
 visions either upon their heads or in carts or wagons 
 drawn by mules or donkeys. Oxen all draw by yokes 
 made fast to their horns. The washing here, as in 
 many other cities in Europe, is done in floating houses 
 constructed for that purpose to accommodate hundreds 
 at a time, with sloping boards, running down to the 
 water, upon which they rub their clothes. 
 
 Sabbath, July 5. In company with Mr. and Mrs. 
 A., from Boston, I attended service in the cathedral 
 where Calvin used to preach. But few persons were 
 present. We heard an aged, tall, spare man preach, 
 who I thought must have resembled Calvin in appear- 
 ance. He was animated in delivery, but I could not 
 understand what he said. After the close of this service 
 we attended another in an English Episcopal church. 
 I kept my room the remainder of the day. I have been 
 reading many of the Psalms of David. They never 
 appeared so delightful to me before. What a rich 
 experience his was, and how full and abundant the 
 promises of God ! 
 
 We have decided to leave Geneva to-morrow morn- 
 ing for a tour of a week among the Alps. On our 
 return we hope to find more letters from home. Tell 
 P. I was much pleased with his letter. lie says ho 
 
 IT'
 
 198 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 finds he has some little bad habits which he is trying 
 to correct, but finds it hard work. Tell him it is the 
 little things that make up the character; and it is 
 worth working hard to have the character right. 
 
 Tuesday, July 7, 1846. At seven o'clock set out 
 for a tour among the Alps, in company with Mr. Guers. 
 In little more than an hour we entered Sardinia, one 
 of the kingdoms of Italy, where our baggage was very 
 closely examined. It is governed by a very liberal 
 monarch, who is himself governed by a very illiberal 
 system. The road was literally lined with beggars. 
 Sometimes eight or ten would be on both sides of the 
 diligence at a time, holding out their hats or hands, 
 saying, as I was told, (for I could not understand,) 
 " Have mercy on a poor sick man, for God's sake ; " or, 
 " Pity a poor lame or blind man, for the Virgin Mary's 
 sake." The degradation of women, as far as I have 
 gone in Italy, is painful to behold. A large portion of 
 the out-of-door work is done by them. I have seen 
 twelve of them reaping in one field, with about half 
 that number of men ; also sharpening their scythes, 
 and mowing. Much of the hay is carried into the 
 barn on their heads. They tie up large bundles, 
 weighing, I should judge, one hundred pounds, then 
 put their heads down by the side of them, and, by the 
 help of another person, raise them, and walk off to 
 the barn. They are generally short, and evidently not 
 injured by lacing. Many of them have a disease called 
 the goitre, which shows itself by bunches on the neck 
 half as large as the head. 
 
 Pears, apples, and cherries appear to be abundant. 
 The fruit trees grow very high, and sometimes very
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 199 
 
 large more in form like our forest trees. Passing 
 through Clusse, a village recently destroyed by fire, and 
 partly rebuilt, we enter the beautiful scenery of the 
 Alps. Following up the valley of the river Arve, 
 which empties into the Rhone just below Geneva, for 
 some distance it appears as if the mountains had been 
 separated, like the Blue Ridge in Virginia, and thrown 
 apart, thus making a passage for the river, and stand- 
 ing perpendicular on either side. In other places the 
 mountains are more distant. Leaving a beautiful fer- 
 tile valley between, we passed another village called 
 Sallenche, still more recently burned down by light- 
 ning. Here we left the diligence for a smaller car- 
 riage, the name of which I did not learn, adapted to 
 the rougher roads of the higher regions. In this we 
 went to the Falls of Bon Nant, where are the famous 
 baths of St. Gervais ; also hot sulphur springs. This 
 is quite a resort for invalids and travelers generally. 
 The entrance is so narrow and crooked, that when at 
 the baths you appear to be entirely surrounded by 
 high mountains, so that it would seem impossible to 
 get out. 
 
 After dinner, and looking at the falls, springs, and 
 scenery, we engaged a man to carry our luggage round 
 to Mont Joli Hotel, and we took a zigzag path up the 
 side of the mountain, which was very steep. Here we 
 passed the night, and early next morning, being joined 
 by Mr. Do Watteville, the president of the Geneva 
 Evangelical Society, with three mules and a guide we set 
 out for Mont Bellevue, where we arrived in about five 
 hours. Here we were in full view of Mont Blanc, a deep 
 ravine being between it and us, the atmosphere very 
 clear, and the snow so white that the mountain seemed
 
 200 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 almost within reach. Our fellow-travelers then re- 
 turned to the Mont Joli Hotel, and we took a zigzag 
 path down a steep side of the mountain too steep to 
 ride to Chamouni, a village in the plain of the Arve. 
 
 9/A. We set out with two mules, two guides, and 
 pike poles, or large canes, about six feet long, with a 
 sharp iron point in one end. In about two hours, 
 riding up a steep winding road, we readied Montan- 
 vert. Here, leaving our mules and taking our feet, we 
 hoped, with the aid of our pikes, to reach, if possible, 
 a place called the " Garden." This is a verdant spot 
 in the midst of an immense glacier, or sea of ice, 
 surrounded by the most beautiful of the Alps the 
 needles, with their thousand sharp peaks, of different 
 higlits, pointing up to their Maker. 
 
 The entrance to the Garden is crooked, so that, 
 when there, one appears to be entirely shut in by high 
 and beautiful mountains. The glacier which we passed 
 over was probably nearly ten miles long, and on an 
 average of perhaps one thousand feet broad, and from 
 three to five hundred feet deep, all of solid ice. From 
 the lower end of this, or near it, issues the River 
 Arveiron, connecting with the Arve, which has its rise 
 at a glacier a little above this. These rivers probably 
 extend the whole length of the glacier at the bottom, 
 as in the crevices and holes in the ice, the water pro- 
 duced by thawing on the top is constantly running 
 down. 
 
 Leaving Le Montanvert, a hotel erected for a rest- 
 ing place for travelers. our guides took some cold 
 meat, bread, and cheese in their knapsacks, urging us 
 to take some brandy to put in our ice water on our
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 201 
 
 journey, which of course we declined for ourselves, 
 allowing them to take what they chose. We first 
 passed through a beautiful flowery walk a short dis- 
 tance, then began to descend to the glacier over an 
 almost perpendicular ledge, where we had to step with 
 great care upon little projections of the rock of not 
 more than two or three inches' breadth, and those 
 frequently far apart. We all got down safely, and 
 after some difficulty mounted upon the glacier, the 
 surface of which is very rough, and all the way as- 
 cending. It abounds with deep crevices or fissures, 
 requiring great care in stepping or jumping across 
 them. If one should make a misstep here, he might 
 be precipitated a hundred feet, and find himself wedged 
 in between two vast bodies of ice ; or perhaps he might 
 go through, into the river below. Here we found our 
 pikestaffs a great safeguard. In some places, for a 
 considerable distance, where the fall was greater, the 
 ice had broken up and come down in avalanches, in 
 such wild confusion that it was as impossible to pass it 
 as to walk upon the needles of the Alps. In such 
 places we got along upon the sides of the mountain 
 ledges as best we could. All along on the glacier are 
 immense masses of stone, thrown sometimes into the 
 middle of it by the avalanches of snow and ice which 
 are coming down from the mountains on both sides. 
 I noticed one stone of, I should think, twenty or thirty 
 feet in diameter. We were told by the guides that 
 most persons who set out on this journey stop at the 
 glacier near the hotel where wo left our mules, and 
 that of those who start for the Garden, a majority turn 
 back before they reacli it. I should remark that, 
 although I have spoken of this as one glacier, it being
 
 202 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 all connected, yet it is called by different names at 
 different points. 
 
 This was a hard four hours' walk. Probably two 
 thirds or more of it was upon ice or snow. Where 
 there was snow, as it was rather steep, and the top 
 softened by the sun, it was even more tiresome walking 
 than on the ice. This excursion may be thought a 
 very dangerous one, but I do not regard it so to one 
 who is careful and has a steady head. 
 
 In returning, it was descending most of the way, 
 and we were but three hours in going to the place 
 where we left our mules. "We mounted them, and in 
 a little more than two hours were at our lodgings in 
 Chamouni before sundown, highly gratified with what 
 we had seen, but tired enough to keep quiet. I find 
 my description so meager as not to deserve the name. 
 I can only say, with regard to what we have seen yes- 
 terday and to-day, in the language of my friend, 
 " Wonderful, more wonderful, most wonderful ! " 
 
 Friday, July 10. At five o'clock in the morning we 
 mounted our mules, with our luggage strapped on 
 behind, and a guide on foot to take our mules back, 
 and set out for Martigny, walking the mules all the 
 way for eight hours and a half. Our road or rather 
 path, for it was not passable for carriages of any kind 
 was all the way winding among mountains the most 
 wild and rugged imaginable ; some covered with snow, 
 and the ravines with glaciers ; some with sharp rocks 
 like needles, and some with forests, making a constant 
 variety, as one after another opened to our view. We 
 followed up a ravine from the river Arve until the 
 last rill that ran into it terminated. Then, as we began
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 203 
 
 to descend, a little rivulet came down from one of the 
 mountains, and ran toward the Rhone. This was in- 
 creased by tributary streams from the right and left 
 continually, until it became a powerful river, emptying 
 into the Rhone at Martigny. 
 
 Our path was not less romantic than the scenery 
 around sometimes along the rapidly descending 
 stream, which was constantly leaping down among the 
 rocks in wild confusion ; sometimes winding up the 
 side of a mountain ; sometimes cut through a perpen- 
 dicular ledge, with solid rock entirely overhanging the 
 path ; and in one case piercing the solid rock about 
 one hundred feet, so that we could ride through on our 
 mules. About three miles of the last of our ride were 
 down a steep hill, which looked dangerous ; but our 
 mules were sure-footed, and by a kind Providence we 
 got down without injury. 
 
 There are along the path a number of poor Swiss 
 villages, with patches of land cultivated whenever a 
 little soil can be found. These villagers live in mis- 
 erable little log cabins, usually without any glass win- 
 dows, and frequently occupied partly by themselves 
 and partly by their cows. At half past one o'clock we 
 arrived at Martigny, in the valley of the Rhone. This 
 river has just overflowed its banks, flooding many fields 
 of grain and grass, and doing a large amount of dam- 
 age. Just opposite this place is where Napoleon 
 crossed the Alps with his army. 
 
 Geneva, July 11. This morning at eight o'clock 
 left Martigny in a small carriage, in which we rode 
 sideways, very common in this country, called c7/ar, 
 drawn by one horse, down the valley of the Rhone to
 
 204 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 Villeneuve, on the Lake of Geneva, a distance of 
 twenty-four miles ; then we took the steamer down tho 
 Lake of Geneva. This lake is a beautiful sheet of pure, 
 transparent water, about sixty miles long, and nine 
 wide in the middle, very narrow at the ends, and quite 
 circular, being nearly of the form of the new moon. 
 Toward the upper end of the lake, on the south side, 
 were some high mountains ; with this exception, the 
 land rises gradually, is very fertile, and settled with 
 numerous towns and villages, and many very beautiful 
 country residences and splendid mansions. 
 
 July 17. I went with Miss Gaussen to a charity 
 school of little girls, in which she is interested, and 
 heard Mr. Kirk address the children in French. 
 
 Passed through the different markets. The 
 amount of meats was very small in proportion to the 
 vegetables. Every thing, except meat and grain, is 
 sold in the open public streets ; and in some of those I 
 verily believe there were more than ten thousand 
 women at one time, filling the street more than a 
 quarter of a mile, so that it was difficult to pass, and 
 scarcely a man to be seen except the police. 
 
 Mr. Bargnani has arrived, and is meeting 
 Mr. Kirk and others in consultation respecting the 
 interests of the Christian Alliance and Italy. I can 
 not but hope and believe that our long stay here will 
 result in good to each. We have decided to leave 
 Geneva on the 21st, and I have taken our seats to-day 
 in the diligence. Although this is a delightful place, 
 it is more delightful to set my face toward home. 
 
 Sabbath, July 19. On our way to church, passed
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 205 
 
 hundreds of peasants, male and female, who had come 
 into the city to find employment, the men with a 
 scythe on their shoulders, and the women with an in- 
 strument for reaping. On the morning of each Sab- 
 bath, before the people of the city have arisen, com- 
 panies of the peasantry may be heard marching 
 through the streets, with implements of husbandry, 
 singing as they go. First the men sing a tune, and 
 then the women respond. The time is perfect, and 
 the tune flowing and easy. The words I can not un- 
 derstand. Their voices are very clear and sweet, and 
 the effect would be delightful when all else is still, but 
 for the fact that it is the Lord's day, and they are seek- 
 ing employment for the coming week. I returned to 
 my room, and when seated, my thoughts reverted to 
 the many quiet Sabbaths I had passed in Boston. For 
 although there are many profanations of the Sabbath 
 there, still, in comparison with any place I have seen 
 on the continent of Europe, it is kept externally as 
 sacred. 
 
 20th. Mr. Bargnani took breakfast with us, and 
 spent most of the forenoon in conversation upon the 
 condition and prospects of Italy. Being out of funds, 
 I furnished him with two hundred dollars. How mel- 
 ancholy, that a people living in a climate the most 
 salubrious, and on a soil the most productive, should 
 be among the most poor, degraded, and miserable of 
 civilized nations ! 
 
 21st. After spending a sleepless night, although 
 not sensibly ill, started in the diligence for Paris. 
 Following up the lake to Nyon, then turning at a right 
 angle, we commenced ascending the range of the Jura 
 
 18
 
 206 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Mountains. The road being steep and winding, the 
 driver opened the door, and gave all an opportunity 
 to walk. Nearly all, and among the number two 
 ladies, embraced it. A foot path ran straight up the 
 mountain, shortening the distance, but of course being 
 more steep. When we came to the first crossing of 
 the road, I was so much exhausted that I waited for 
 the diligence to come along, and resumed my seat, 
 although the ladies walked on. About ten o'clock we 
 reached a town in the mountains where we took break- 
 fast. I did not think myself ill, but was still surprised 
 at my weakness. Soon after starting I was seized with 
 violent pain, indicating the approach of dysentery, 
 which increased through the day. About nine o'clock 
 in the evening, we came to a village, where we were to 
 sup. I told Mr. Kirk if he would send me a cup of 
 tea, I would lie down upon the cushion. "While he 
 was gone I had a very distressing turn, nearly fainting, 
 which led me to doubt the propriety of proceeding 
 further ; but as this was an inconvenient place, and 
 being privileged with the coupe entirely to ourselves, 
 after making the best provision we could for my com- 
 fort, we decided to proceed. Although my bodily suf- 
 ferings were considerable, and, at times, almost insup- 
 portable, I was almost entirely spared that anxious 
 foreboding which so often adds mental misery and 
 anguish to bodily pain ; having endeavored to profit 
 by that delightful text, " Be careful for nothing." 
 
 At -eight o'clock we arrived at Dijon, a large town 
 of thirty thousand inhabitants. Here Mr. Kirk sent 
 for a physician, who said I must not proceed further. 
 He took us to a nice hotel, where we found a large 
 room, a quiet place, and the people all kindness. He
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 207 
 
 also provided an excellent old nurse, whose great kind- 
 ness and care I can not soon forget. My physician 
 proved to be very skillful, and soon relieved me en- 
 tirely. He seemed very much pleased when he could 
 get some English words to speak with me. Having a 
 little book of translations, after he had done what he 
 could at that time, he took it to the window, and 
 seemed for some time to be studying it. At length 
 he returned, smiling, and said, " Quiet, diet, friend- 
 ship," then shook hands very affectionately, and left 
 me. Being so much relieved, I slept most of the next 
 day, and the day following took some gentle medicine* 
 When my doctor came that night, he said I might 
 start in the diligence the next afternoon, at five o'clock. 
 He appeared to write down all the directions, ar- 
 ranging my drinks, &c., so that I took something once 
 in an hour, my good nurse keeping them and my watch 
 before her all the time, and so quiet that I should not 
 have known she was in the room. The doctor visited 
 me four times, and charged but fifteen francs, or less 
 than three dollars. The nurse asked six francs ; but 
 learning that she was poor, and had a sick husband, 
 whom she would occasionally run home to see, I gave 
 her twenty. 
 
 During this short illness I received so much sym- 
 pathy and kindness from the French, not only from 
 my physician and nurse, but from the people of the 
 hotel and my fellow-travelers in the diligence, that 
 I wish ever to remember it with gratitude to them and 
 to Him who thus inclined them. I shall long remem- 
 ber a French lady who traveled with us from Geneva, 
 and had some knowledge of the English language, 
 who, when I got out of the diligence, came to me, and,
 
 208 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 after hesitating a little, evidently to make out the sen- 
 tence, said, " Be you vary sick ? " It was uttered 
 with an expression of countenance and tone of voice 
 so expressive of sympathy and kindness, that I could 
 not say, " Yes," but smiled, and said, " Not very." 
 She said, in the same sweet tone and expression, " Are 
 you leetel better ? " I said, " Owt, madame" At 
 five o'clock, we started again for Paris, having the 
 coupe again to ourselves. Although very weak when 
 I started, I rode three days and nights, making very 
 short stops. 
 
 Among the many mercies of the last week, not the 
 least has been that of having my pastor with me. 
 "Without him I know not what I should have done. 
 Most sincerely would I thank my heavenly Father for 
 the discipline of the past week. I do not pray for 
 afflictions, but I do pray for sanctification ; and if this 
 work can not go on in this treacherous heart without, 
 then let afflictions come, in whatever garb he may 
 clothe them. 
 
 London, July 31. After breakfast, went out and 
 engaged our passage home on the 4th of September 
 next. This leads me to feel that the time is coming 
 when, with the good hand of our God upon us, we 
 shall see our beloved country, and more beloved 
 friends again. 
 
 Friday. A return of former illness, which kept me 
 in bed all day, abstaining from food, remembering the 
 direction of my old French physician, " Quiet, diet." 
 
 Monday and Tuesday. Attended meetings of the 
 committee, which were increasingly interesting, espe'
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 209 
 
 cially in the spirit of prayer and brotherly love that 
 prevailed. Subjects were discussed with spirit and 
 freedom, and in two cases, when the members ap- 
 peared to be nearly divided, finding discussion did not 
 bring them together, prayer was proposed ; after which 
 the vote was taken, and found to be unanimous. 
 Upon which an old gentleman said, " Let us sing the 
 doxology, ' Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.' " 
 I never saw such an effect produced by the singing of 
 a verse before. Many of the committee were in tears. 
 In the other case, when the vote was taken after 
 prayer, there were only five hands up in the negative, 
 although there were probably more than four hundred 
 present. 
 
 Wednesday, August 19. This is the first day of the 
 General Conference a day which I hope never to 
 forget. An assembly of eight or ten hundred Chris- 
 tian brethren, probably nine tenths of whom were 
 ministers of the gospel, from more than twenty differ- 
 ent denominations of Christians in England, Wales, 
 Scotland, Ireland, America, France, Germany, Swit- 
 zerland, and different missionary stations, for the pur- 
 pose of laying aside their sectarian prejudices, and 
 uniting together for the promotion of Christian love 
 and union, is such a sight as was never seen in this 
 fallen world before. Praying and singing might be 
 heard in different languages, in the general meeting or 
 in the committee rooms. Never did I hear such pray- 
 ing before old, gray-headed ministers, with tears in 
 their eyes, confessing their uncharitablcness, the un- 
 kind and censorious feelings they had indulged, and 
 words they had uttered ; their prayers for pardon, and 
 
 18*
 
 210 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 that they might all be filled with love to each other 
 and to their common Head, and that they might all be 
 one ! The prayers of Christians in different parts of 
 the world, I do believe, have been heard for this con- 
 ference. 
 
 20tk. The meetings of the conference to-day have 
 been full of interest, and a spirit of kindness and love. 
 In the morning, after spending an hour in devotional 
 exercises, the first two resolutions were passed unani- 
 mously, after a free discussion, and many interesting 
 * addresses, which occupied more than three hours. In 
 the evening, the third and important resolution to 
 form the Evangelical Alliance was discussed more 
 than two hours. All spoke in favor of the Alliance. 
 But many proposed amendments to the resolution, and 
 advocated them with tenacity. All amendments, how- 
 ever, were rejected, except the striking out of " the" 
 before "church." Before taking the final vote, the 
 chairman requested all to stand up a few moments in 
 silence, saying that he doubted not all would find 
 their hearts ascending in prayer that God would decide 
 this important question. After a short time, he broke 
 the silence by saying, " All who are in favor of pass- 
 ing this resolution will hold up their hands." The 
 vote was unanimous. An old gentleman said aloud, 
 " Thanks to God that I have lived to see this day." 
 Another said, " Sing * Praise God, from whom all bless- 
 ings flow.' ' All joined in singing that delightful dox- 
 ology with so much heart and earnestness as to make 
 the hall tremble. In less than a moment the whole 
 audience were shaking hands with each other with a 
 cordiality and earnestness I have seldom, if ever, wit-
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 211 
 
 nessed. I was between a clergyman of the Established 
 church and a dissenting minister, both of whom seized 
 my hands and shook them, saying, " I can reach across 
 the Atlantic to take a Christian brother's hand." 
 
 Sabbath, 23d. Rev. Baptist Noel gave yesterday an 
 invitation to the Alliance to partake of the sacrament 
 at his church to-day. It was an interesting sight 
 the large collection of ministers and laymen, of dif- 
 ferent denominations, kneeling around the altar, par- 
 taking of the emblems of the body and blood of Christ 
 from the hands of an Episcopalian. 
 
 The meetings of the Alliance were very in- 
 teresting all day. In the evening, the vote in favor of 
 the doctrinal basis of nine articles was unanimous, 
 with but one dissenting voice ; whereupon they united 
 in singing the Coronation Hymn, " All hail the power 
 of Jesus' name." This morning the meeting was in 
 Exeter Hall, which was filled to overflowing, not only 
 the seats, but every inch upon which a man could 
 stand. After many interesting addresses, following 
 that of Sir Culling E. Smith, Rev. William Jay, D. D., 
 was announced. Loud and long expressions of ap- 
 plause filled the hall. The old gentleman, now 
 seventy-seven years of age, was so much affected in 
 view of such an assembly, and the occasion, as to be 
 entirely deprived of the power of utterance. He sat 
 in his chair and wept like a child, which was probably 
 the most eloquent speech he could have made. Tins 
 was the most interesting meeting I ever attended. 
 There were some of the most learned and pious men 
 of the age, clergymen, statesmen, private citizens, of 
 various denominations, acknowledging their past un-
 
 212 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 charitableness and unkindness ; some who had been 
 engaged in controversy, confessing the bitterness with 
 which they had conducted it ; all pledging themselves 
 that, while they would feel at liberty still to discuss 
 and defend what they believed to be truth, they would 
 put away all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and 
 clamor, and evil speaking, with all malice, and be 
 kind, tender-hearted, forbearing one with another in 
 love, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's 
 sake, had forgiven them. I sat upon a plank five 
 hours, without scarcely thinking of myself. And al- 
 though many stood during the services, scarcely an 
 individual went out or appeared tired. 
 
 There are now present twelve hundred and fifty 
 members of the Alliance, most of whom are ministers 
 of the gospel. Of this number, two hundred and fifty 
 are clergymen of the Church of England, many of 
 whom appear to be among the choicest spirits in the 
 Alliance. Many of the speakers spoke as if inspired 
 from on high ; Dr. James, especially, appeared to be 
 carried, and his audience with him, up to that great 
 meeting of the Christian Evangelical Alliance from 
 every nation and denomination around the throne 
 of God. 
 
 Dublin, Ireland, August 29. Arrived here this 
 morning. A gentleman, finding that I was from 
 America, went with me through the college, where are 
 seven hundred students ; and, I should think, accom- 
 modations for three times that number. I have walked 
 or rode nearly all day, and seen most of the principal 
 streets and public buildings. Although these are 
 handsome, and many of them elegant, indicating
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 213 
 
 wealth, prosperity, and happiness, the back streets and 
 alleys, with the buildings on them, and their inhabit- 
 ants, furnish painful evidence of extreme degradation, 
 poverty, and suffering. Beggars are very numerous, 
 appearing in the most dirty, ragged, pitiable condition 
 conceivable. Still, the gentry compare favorably with 
 those of other cities in Europe whom I have seen. I 
 have been treated with more attention and respect by 
 entire strangers here than in any other city, and I 
 must say, I have seen a larger proportion of good 
 looking, and even handsome, ladies than in any 
 other city. 
 
 Sunday, August 30. I went out in pursuit of a 
 meeting, but finding the Protestant churches do not 
 open until twelve o'clock, entered a large Catholic 
 church just as they were engaged in saying high mass. 
 In the center of the house, and in front of the altar, 
 were a few people of respectable appearance seated, 
 with kneeling benches before them, separated from the 
 rest of the audience by a railing. On either side were 
 crowds of the poor, some dressed decently, others very 
 ragged and dirty : these were kneeling upon a stone 
 floor, with their lips constantly in motion, with strings 
 of beads in their hands, occasionally moving a bead 
 from the right hand to the left, while the priests, in 
 their gorgeous attire, were busily engaged sprinkling 
 the holy water, or burning incense, or chanting some- 
 thing I did not understand ; taking off and putting on 
 their caps ; kneeling around the altar, sometimes in 
 one place and sometimes in another, with a sanctimo- 
 nious air. The scene made my heart sicken, perhaps 
 the more so as I had just been reading a description
 
 214 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 of Luther's first visit to Rome, when he became so 
 disgusted with the wickedness of the priests, and the 
 heartlessness of their worship. 
 
 In the afternoon I heard a sermon, in a Protestant 
 church, from the text, " He doeth all things well." 
 The preacher appeared to have more orthodoxy than 
 unction. 
 
 2. t Visited the Giant's Causeway ; also went 
 into a number of the most miserable-looking huts I 
 could find in the outskirts of the town. They are 
 generally very filthy, and some of the clothing, of both 
 sexes, so ragged as to afford but a partial covering. 
 When asked how they were situated, and if they got a 
 comfortable living, they would say, " Yes, I thank 
 God." But when spoken to about making provision 
 for the soul, they excuse themselves by saying, " We 
 have as much as we can do to get along and provide 
 for ourselves and children, and have no clothes to go 
 to church." Upon being reminded of the danger of 
 making excuses now, which will not justify them be- 
 fore God at the judgment, they appeared solemn and 
 willing to hear. In one case, quite a congregation of 
 men, women, and children collected about the door. 
 In some cases I gave a trifle to the aged and infirm. 
 I went through the workhouse here, which is well 
 managed, the children being instructed in all the com- 
 mon branches. When the keeper had gone around 
 and shown me their beds, which are of straw, laid upon 
 the floor, their school rooms, mode of cooking, &c., he 
 said, " I suppose you have nothing of this kind in your 
 country ! " 
 
 Belfast, September 2. After visiting the Botanic
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 215 
 
 Garden, spent two hours in the poorhouse, where are 
 about a thousand inmates. This poorhouse system, 
 established by Parliament about five years ago, I think 
 must be a great blessing to the nation, especially to 
 the children, who, instead of living in the streets, in 
 ignorance, filth, and vice, are now not only instructed, 
 but also form habits of cleanliness and industry. 
 Adults generally dislike it, and many will not enter 
 because they are obliged to keep themselves clean, and 
 are deprived of their beloved whiskey and more be- 
 loved tobacco ; for almost all the poorer part use their 
 stub pipes, and, having limited mental resources, are 
 miserable when deprived of them. The master of 
 the house gave me all the information I wanted, and 
 some more. Leaving this institution, I visited a large 
 linen manufactory, owned by Mr. M., a very gentle- 
 manly man, as, indeed, most of the intelligent Irish- 
 men are. Here are eight hundred persons employed, 
 the most of whom are girls. I was kindly accompa- 
 nied through all the apartments, and shown the whole 
 process through which the flax passes, from its crude 
 state to the finest fabric. At five o'clock I went on 
 board the Sea King, for Liverpool. 
 
 3d. I arrived at Liverpool at half past six o'clock, 
 after a very smooth passage and good night's sleep. 
 Am occupying a bed room at Brown's Temperance 
 House, Clayton Square. Visited the Zoological Gar- 
 dens, and afterward passed through the poorhouse of 
 Derby Union, two miles from the city. 
 
 4:t/i. Embarked on board the Cambria at six 
 o'clock for Boston. Weather mild and very pleasant; 
 sea smooth ; one hundred and twenty-five passengers.
 
 216 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 We have an excellent state room, high and airy, suffi- 
 ciently large to contain all of our luggage, and afford 
 room for dressing. 
 
 12th. A gale commenced in the afternoon of last 
 Sabbath, and before night Mr. Kirk, myself, and sev- 
 eral others became sick. The wind increased and 
 blew almost a gale from Sabbath night until last night 
 five days. The first two days the wind was dead 
 ahead, and so strong that we could make but five miles 
 an hour, and accompanied by rain a part of the time. 
 At other times the sea would break over her bows, and 
 sweep and wash the whole deck, even the upper deck, 
 the spray striking high up on the chimney and masts, 
 the ship at the same time pitching and rolling so that 
 it was almost impossible to stand without holding by 
 something. One of the passengers was thrown against 
 a gun with such violence as to break his knee pan. 
 The cow, which was an old sailor, was sick, and beat 
 about so much that she died, and was thrown into the 
 sea yesterday. Of the one hundred and eight passen- 
 gers, I was told that on one day but seven appeared at 
 the table. We kept our berths most of the time for 
 three days, unable to read, or do any thing. Many 
 suffered much more than we did. To-day the weather 
 is very pleasant, the wind light ; still there is much 
 motion. 
 
 Sabbath, September 13. The captain refused a re- 
 quest that Mr. Kirk might preach, signed by forty 
 persons ; the first name being that of Washington 
 Irving. 
 
 Friday Morning, September 18. At eight o'clock the
 
 VISIT TO EUROPE. 217 
 
 travelers arrived safely in Boston, and were welcomed 
 by some hundreds assembled in the Park Street morn- 
 ing prayer meeting, and on the Sabbath by the Mount 
 Vernon congregation, the services wearing the form 
 appropriate to a thanksgiving day. A sermon was 
 preached from the Psalm, " I will extol thee, my God," 
 <fec. But the rejoicings were mingled with mourning ; 
 for, as the ship was Hearing the harbor, bringing to them 
 their pastor and deacon, one of the most lovely of the 
 flock was passing away, to return no more, and the 
 oldest deacon had also, during their absence, left this 
 church for the church above. 
 
 On his return the subject of our narrative resumed 
 his work with increased delight. His health was never 
 more vigorous, and his spirits were joyous and light. 
 The portrait from which the engraving here presented 
 is a copy, was taken at this time. 
 
 19
 
 218 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 
 
 Orphan Children. Little Jane. Delight in the Pleasures of Children. 
 Little Nelly. Counsel and Care for the Poor. Story of the West In- 
 dian Family. The Widow and her Boy. Testimony of a Lady. 
 
 IN Mr. Safford's family, during the last ten or twelve 
 years of his life, might always be found two or more 
 orphan children. We have seen him as early as 1826 
 taking into his family the children of his own brother, 
 and becoming a father to them ; but we shall now see 
 him receiving many times that number, of those who 
 had not the claims of kindred upon him. Among 
 them were the children of Germans, Irish, French, 
 Scotch, and English. These were seated at his table, 
 and retained in his family for weeks, months, or years, 
 as the case might require. Some of them were at 
 length adopted by others, and some were placed in 
 situations where they could support themselves. He 
 might truly say, with the patriarch, " I have not eaten 
 my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not 
 eaten thereof." And never did he eat it with a better 
 relish, never did his whole countenance beam with 
 more delight than when his table had been extended 
 to furnish new accommodations for others. 
 
 His own children were now leaving home, the one 
 for a residence in New York, and another to enter
 
 NARRATIVES OP CHARITABLE AID. 219 
 
 college. But he had other children, as he said, besides 
 his own to care for, and these were without number, 
 and of all countries. The first was a youth from 
 India, by the name of Barlow, who had been converted 
 to Christianity ; the next, a little homeless German 
 girl ; then, a family of three children, with the mother ; 
 then, an English girl, of ten years, with her little 
 brother of four ; after that, another English family of 
 three children, with the mother, whose husband was 
 supposed to be lost at sea, leaving the widow sorrowful, 
 sick, and discouraged ; the next, a bright little Scotch 
 girl of seven, whose mother had been accused of crime, 
 and committed to jail, and the father brought this, his 
 only treasure, to leave it with Mr. Safford, as he for- 
 sook the country, never to return. 
 
 Of a little Irish child received into his family he 
 thus speaks in a letter to his sou : 
 
 January 26, 1849. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : I wish you could step in and pass 
 an evening with us occasionally. We have a very 
 pleasant family this winter. Besides Daniel Ephraim, 
 we have L. E. and II. W., who, by invitation, are 
 passing the winter with us ; and also little Jane, an 
 orphan child about twenty months old. When your 
 mother found her, she looked dirty and miserable, had 
 sore fingers, and was almost sick. For nearly a week 
 she would scarcely look up, and never smiled, but pout- 
 ed out her lips, and was very uninteresting. She is 
 now in good health, is lively and happy, and talks very 
 well for one of her age. She has beautiful hair, very 
 pleasant dark eyes, fine complexion, with rod cheeks, 
 is very affectionate, and, we think, truly handsome.
 
 220 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 A lady has commenced a correspondence with us who 
 wishes to adopt her as her own. If she does not take 
 her, I do not know but we shall keep her ourselves. 
 
 This little child, after a few months, was claimed 
 by distant relatives, who had previously refused to do 
 any thing for her support, or even to inquire after her 
 welfare, supposing her to be still in the almshouse, 
 where they left her under Roman Catholic influences. 
 But on being told that she was in a Protestant family, 
 they came and carried her to the Sisters of Charity, 
 who had also, until now, refused to receive her. 
 These relatives acknowledged that she had every 
 desirable comfort and care in Mr. Safford's house, and 
 that she appeared perfectly happy. They manifested 
 no affection for her ; indeed, the child had never be- 
 fore known what it was to be loved by any one. But 
 they said her soul would be lost, and they would have 
 to suffer in purgatory for the sin of allowing her to 
 become a heretic, and their priest had told them they 
 must at all events get the child away from the Protes- 
 tants. 
 
 The case of this child very strikingly illustrated the 
 power of love to transform the character. She became 
 truly lovely, although, as Mr. Safford has stated, sho 
 had been so uninteresting that even he was not at all 
 attracted toward her for the first two or three weeks. 
 But one day he came home bringing a doll in his coat 
 pocket. As he opened the package and held it up, 
 looking smilingly upon her, she ran up to him witli 
 her hands extended, and was taken upon his knee. 
 She now found that she was really loved by him, and 
 their friendship was soon sealed. She learned the
 
 NARRATIVES OP CHARITABLE AID. 221 
 
 sound of his key as it was introduced into the lock of 
 the front door, and however absorbed with her play- 
 things, they were left, and her little feet were heard pat- 
 tering through the entry to greet him on his entrance. 
 So effectually had she conquered the habit of pouting, 
 the most powerful stimulus with her being the fear 
 that she should not be loved, that, when the time of 
 parting came, which was truly a sad event to the 
 whole household, as well as to the child, as she was 
 carried out of the door by the stranger, it was with 
 her lips compressed, while her eyes overflowed with 
 tears. This inspired the hope that other teachings had 
 not been in vain. 
 
 Mr. Safford loved children. His kindness was not 
 bestowed in pursuance of any formal plan in respect to 
 them ; but as he had a heart and hand for every good 
 work, if the providence of God brought to his notice 
 a little child in circumstances needing fatherly kind- 
 ness, whether it was of refined and cultivated parent- 
 age, or otherwise, he could throw his arms around it, 
 and, if need be, add it to his household. He was 
 never annoyed or troubled with any thing which this 
 involved, except the fear of the care that it imposed 
 upon his family. 
 
 It was delightful to witness the pleasure imparted 
 and received by such children and their newly-found 
 friend. Never could there have been a more beautiful 
 illustration of the sentiments expressed by another 
 " Live not for selfish ends ; live to bless others ; for 
 every act of this kind will find a speedy echo in your 
 own breast." One of them, whom we will call Mary, 
 then a pleasing little girl of throe summers, was often 
 taken by him to ride ; he allowing her to sit in his lap 
 
 19
 
 222 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 and entertain him with her childish prattle, and then 
 disputing with her which should sing first, settling the 
 matter by taking turns. On one occasion a family 
 party, including little Mary and her brother, visited a 
 watering place forty miles distant from Boston. In 
 this excursion, not only Mr. Safford's enjoyment, but 
 that of the whole party, was much enhanced by the 
 pleasure it afforded them, especially the brother, then 
 a boy of eight years. He had expressed the greatest 
 desire to see that Atlantic Ocean in reality which he 
 had so often examined upon the map. When he first 
 came in sight of the sea, inspired with wonder and 
 delight, lie asked, " Is that truly the Atlantic ? " and 
 after gazing at it a moment, exclaimed, " Well, I have 
 never before in my life seen the ocean in all its gran- 
 deur." On reaching the beach, he was seized with 
 such an irrepressible desire to bathe in it, that Mr. Saf- 
 ford said, " Well, jump out of the carriage, and lay off 
 your jacket and pantaloons, and run." The tide was 
 flowing out, and the sea was very calm. With delight, 
 and, as he thought, the bravery of a hero, he obeyed. 
 But the first ripple that passed over his feet so thor- 
 oughly affrighted him, that he turned and ran back 
 with all possible speed to the carriage, saying, " I can 
 not contend with those mighty waves ! " Such inci- 
 dents, though trivial in themselves, show at least ono 
 of the sources from which Mr. Safford's enjoyment 
 came. 
 
 The providence of God which had brought him into 
 connection with these children was one of peculiar 
 interest. A wealthy and truly estimable gentleman 
 and lady, in a distant town in the state, had been early 
 called to consign one after another of their dear chil-
 
 NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 223 
 
 dren to the grave. Five little mounds may be seen 
 side by side in a burial place near their beautiful man- 
 sion. They had taken to their stricken hearts two 
 children of a missionary, whom they had educated, 
 and who were expecting soon to leave their adopted 
 home, the one to be married, and the other to travel 
 in foreign countries. In anticipation of this, the lady 
 had requested Mrs. Safford, if she became acquainted 
 with any child suitable for adoption, that they might 
 be informed of it. The latter, having casually met 
 with little Mary, and learned something of her history, 
 believed that she would please her friends, and wrote 
 them accordingly. 
 
 They came ; all the arrangements were made, and 
 the next day she was to go to her new home. At the 
 tea table were seated, with Mr. Safford's family, little 
 Mary's two sisters, older than herself, her two brothers, 
 and her newly-found parents. She was happy in going 
 with them, for she had been fully informed about the 
 beautiful borne to which they were taking her. But 
 she was too much excited to eat, and leaving her seat, 
 tripped around the table with her fairy-like step, laugh- 
 ing and shaking her curls, touching each one as sho 
 passed, in order to get a look and a smile from them. 
 But whenever she passed Mr. Safford, she would draw 
 down his ear to her mouth, and whisper, 
 
 " If you love me as I love you, 
 'Twill take a great chopping -knife to cut our loves in two ! " 
 
 In December following, Mr. Safford, with two other 
 of these children, and a bright little girl of seven 
 years, who had been rescued from a very exposed sit- 
 uation in the city, and prepared by a short residence
 
 224 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 in his family, started in the cars for their new homes 
 in the western part of the state. Mary's brother was 
 the only sad one of the party ; for he did not wish, as 
 he kept saying, to be " docted," (adopted ;) he wanted 
 Mr. and Mrs. Safford for his father and mother. But 
 a kind Providence had found a place for him in an 
 excellent family, to take the place of a dear son who 
 had been removed by death. He soon became a joyous 
 and grateful recipient of their affections and care, and 
 a light in that dwelling which had been so shaded with 
 sorrow. 
 
 When he had grown to be a lad of fourteen, and 
 nearly fitted for college, he called upon Mrs. Safford at 
 her house. He was taken to the room where his early 
 benefactor had passed through his last weeks of suf- 
 fering and sickness, and listened with tearful eye to a 
 description of them, and of the manner in which his 
 faith had sustained him, and triumphed over death. 
 In that solemn chamber, and looking forward to their 
 next meeting, all the kindness he and his family had 
 received from Mr. Safford, and all that he had wit- 
 nessed of his daily life, returned to his recollection 
 with increased force. The next intelligence from him, 
 as furnished by his letter to Mrs. Safford, stated that 
 he had chosen the Lord for his God, and was expecting 
 on the following Sabbath to unite with his people by a 
 public profession of religion ; also, that his sister Mary, 
 whose home was but a short distance from his own, 
 believed that she, too, had recently obtained an in- 
 terest in the Saviour. 
 
 But there were methods in which Mr. Safford's be- 
 nevolence was exercised, which can not be appreciated 
 without a more minute description. No service was
 
 NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 225 
 
 undignified, in his view, which Jie could render to add 
 to the comfort or relieve the suffering of a human being. 
 The same arms which carried up the load of wood for 
 the poor widow, when a young man and a blacksmith, 
 were ready to perform any similar labor, when neces- 
 sary, throughout his life. He had studied the example 
 of Christ, and been deeply impressed by it. A brother 
 deacon remarked of him, " The directions of the Sa- 
 viour 'If I, your Lord and Master, have washed 
 your feet, ye ought to wash one another's feet ' he 
 received in their literal import, and beautifully illus- 
 trated them in all his official character." 
 
 The history of one of the families who shared, not 
 only in his pecuniary benefactions, but in his personal 
 counsels and care for many years, seems worthy of 
 more minute detail. It will serve to illustrate the 
 wonderful ways of God in fulfilling his promises to 
 those who put their trust " under the shadow of his 
 wing." A day of fasting and prayer had been ap- 
 pointed at his house for the sisters of Mount Vernon 
 church. Mrs. Safford had retired to her room to 
 spend a little time in preparation for the meeting, 
 when she was called to the basement, where sat a 
 stranger, clad in the habiliments of mourning. Her 
 countenance showed marks of intelligence, mingled 
 with deep sadness, and when she spoke, her accent 
 being French, the tones of her voice and manner were 
 those of a cultivated and refined woman. Her dress 
 also, although threadbare and very rusty, was of the 
 finest texture. A deep struggle was apparent as she 
 attempted to make known the object of her call ; but 
 receiving encouragement and sympathy, she at length 
 expressed herself freely. She said, "I have been
 
 226 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 educated with the impression that to be poor is the 
 greatest disgrace possible, and poverty has always been 
 regarded by me as the most terrible calamity that 
 could befall me. On the way here I have not lifted 
 my eye from the sidewalk, because I imagined, al- 
 though a stranger in the city, that every body knew I 
 was going to beg bread for my children. But the 
 Lord knows what a proud heart I have had, and he 
 will cure his children in his own way." 
 
 She then gave an outline of her history, which was 
 so strange, and yet told with such simplicity and ap- 
 parent sincerity, that it was listened to with intense 
 interest. Mrs. Safford informed her that she would 
 soon call and see her family, and returned to her 
 chamber, half doubting whether it were not all a fab- 
 rication, having so many times been thus deceived. 
 Opening the Bible to find a portion of God's word on 
 the subject of fasting and prayer, her eye rested first 
 on that in Isaiah. She read it, paused and pondered, 
 and read it again, and said, " Is this the voice of the 
 Lord to me at this moment ? ' Is not this the fast 
 that I have chosen, that thou deal thy bread to the 
 hungry, and that thou bring- the poor that are cast out 
 to thy house ? when thou seest the naked that thou 
 clothe them, and that thou hide not thyself from thine 
 own flesh ? ' ' The words of the stranger, as she was 
 leaving, " Mrs. Safford, if you will help me God will 
 bless you, I know he will ; " returned witli double 
 power. God himself was uttering them. " Then shall 
 thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health 
 shall spring forth speedily. Then shalt thou call, and 
 the Lord shall answer. Thou shalt cry, and He shall 
 say, Here I am." It was the voice of the Lord, and 
 could not be resisted.
 
 NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 227 
 
 Mrs. Safford went to Pitts Street, where she was 
 told she would find them, and followed a dark stair- 
 way up to the door. After knocking, all was silent for 
 a moment ; at length a little face, with pretty black 
 eyes, peeped out, and a sweet voice said, " Mother told 
 us not to admit any one in her absence." " I have 
 seen your mother," replied Mrs. Safford, " and she 
 would be willing I should come in. If any blame is 
 incurred, I am responsible." The door opened, and 
 presented a scene such as may seldom be witnessed. 
 It was only necessary to look upon it to read the story. 
 Every thing was in confusion. There were articles 
 which must have been possessed in days of affluence, 
 mingled with those indicating deep poverty. The 
 mattress was thrown upon the floor, and the bedstead 
 taken down. The little girls, in their simplicity, 
 answered all the questions asked. " Why is your bed 
 taken to pieces ? " " Oh, the man of whom my 
 mother hired the bedstead says we can not have it any 
 longer if she does not pay for the use of it ; and 
 mother has no money, and so he is going to send and 
 take it away." 
 
 Their history, as related by herself, was this : The 
 mother was born in the Island of Martinique. Her 
 mother was a French Catholic, and her father an Eng- 
 lishman, son of a highly respectable man who held an 
 office under the British government, as collector of 
 the English revenues of Canada. This lady had in,, 
 herited a princely fortune from her father, who was 
 killed in the time of the insurrection at St. Domingo, 
 at which time his family fled to the Island of Mar- 
 tinique with only their jewelry, which alone enabled 
 them to live in princely style until their other prop-
 
 228 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 erty was partially recovered. Nurtured thus in the 
 lap of affluence, the fond mother never imagined that 
 her daughter could ever know a want, and uncon- 
 sciously fostered that pride which now the latter said 
 she had to suffer so much in curing. Diamonds had 
 been displayed so profusely that they were regarded as 
 very common ornaments, and she was not allowed to 
 wear any thing but the most costly articles of dress 
 if possible, not one that could be obtained by any other 
 person on the island, all their goods being imported 
 expressly for her from Paris. 
 
 But what was a more serious evil, and one from 
 which she now suffered most, was the impression which 
 her mother had given her that it was very degrading 
 for her to perform the least service for herself or for 
 others. She must rely on servants for every thing. 
 Her mother, once seeing her with a broom in her hand, 
 angrily caught it and threw it down, saying, " Do not 
 ever let me see you with such a vulgar thing as that 
 in your hand again." 
 
 At length her father died, and her mother married 
 again ; and by a series of events over which she had 
 no control, her handsome fortune was gradually dimin- 
 ished, till she had but a single estate remaining. In 
 the hope of recovering that which she had lost, she 
 was strongly urged to permit the sale of this also. 
 Her better judgment convinced her of the futility of 
 such anticipations, but, unable to withstand the press- 
 ure of entreaty, she took the pen, and signed the pa- 
 per ; then turning to her daughter, and bursting into 
 tears, she exclaimed, " Now, my daughter, you are a 
 poor girl," and died very soon of a broken heart. 
 
 This idol of that mother gathered up what could be
 
 NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 229 
 
 saved from the wreck of her fortune. She was accom- 
 plished, attractive, and still young, and soon after 
 accepted the hand of a lawyer of very respectable 
 parentage, well educated, but trained in the dissipated 
 habits of the society in which he had mingled. He 
 died young, and left her a widow, with four little chil- 
 dren, two of whoru. were adopted by relatives. 
 
 When a girl of sixteen, a New England gentleman 
 had been a guest at her father's house, then the abode 
 of luxury. He was captivated with her, and sought 
 unsuccessfully her hand in marriage, but, on leaving, 
 asked her to accept from him a volume of the New 
 Testament. She had never seen one. After he left, 
 she turned over its leaves with contempt, then threw it 
 down, and it was carried, with other rubbish, to the 
 garret. 
 
 But the gayeties and frivolities to which she was 
 accustomed failed to satisfy the cravings of her higher 
 nature ; neither was there any thing in the religion of 
 forms in which she was educated to interest her. She 
 often retired to a solitary place, weary and sick at 
 heart. God had marked her for his own, and was 
 beginning within her a work which required a process 
 of severe and protracted discipline to complete. At 
 length she remembered the New Testament which she 
 had so contemptuously thrown away. She found it in 
 the garret ; she read it with avidity, then knelt and 
 offered her first sincere prayer. God heard it, and 
 ever after that little book was cherished by her as her 
 most precious treasure. 
 
 We pass over some years of her history, and find 
 her brought by a second marriage to North Carolina, 
 still attached to the Catholic church, and knowing no 
 
 20
 
 230 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 other form of Christianity. One day, influenced, as 
 she afterward believed, by the divine Spirit, she said 
 to herself, " I will just go in for a few moments and 
 see this Protestant worship." She was at once im- 
 pressed with its stillness and spirituality, and thought, 
 ." Why, this is just what I have longed for." Her 
 mind, naturally simple and clear, had been bewildered 
 by forms, rites, dogmas, and penances ; now she was 
 listening to the simple gospel. Her Saviour was re- 
 vealed as her own precious Friend and Guide ; she 
 received him fully, with joy and gratitude, and never 
 again entered a Catholic church. Henceforth she 
 found support under sorrows deeper than ever before 
 experienced ; for she was soon after left a widow, with 
 three little children, entirely destitute. Her husband 
 was wrecked at sea, and all his property, which was 
 invested in the ship and cargo, was lost with him. 
 
 We now pass over another interval of two or three 
 years, and find her in Boston. She had come north, 
 hoping to find relatives of her last husband able to aid 
 her ; but being disappointed in this, she repaired to 
 this city, thinking, as her last resource, to support 
 herself by teaching French. Here her faith had been 
 sorely tried. Month after month her eiforts to procure 
 scholars were ineffectual. At the same time, she con- 
 cealed her destitute condition as carefully as possible, 
 selling one article after another, until, as we have 
 seen, she had nothing more even to buy a loaf of bread 
 for her children. But she said, " It is my heavenly 
 Father ; he abhorred my pride, and will by this fire 
 of adversity consume it. I submit. It is as when you 
 have a very sore finger ; the doctor orders a remedy to 
 be applied which is extremely painful, but it is the
 
 NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 231 
 
 only way to save your finger, and you say you will 
 bear it. I will drink the bitter cup, for it is my Father 
 who mingles it." 
 
 Let us now see Mr. Safford undertaking this case. 
 He as yet knew nothing beyond her own statement. 
 To do any thing for her effectually, much must be. 
 done. Should he give her money ? She knew noth- 
 ing about the use of money, for one of the saddest 
 effects of her education was to render her wholly 
 ignorant of its value. Should he buy her provisions 
 from day to day ? But that would make her unhappy, 
 and tend to destroy that self-respect which he wished 
 to cherish. She desired to teach ; but, in her present 
 circumstances, it would be impossible to procure schol- 
 ars. He called at her room; he listened, and was 
 deeply affected by her story. He asked, " What can 
 you do besides teaching ? " "I can sew ; " and she 
 showed him a garment she was trying to make, by 
 which she would earn a small pittance. But though 
 extremely nice with her needle, she was very slow. 
 " Can you do nothing else ? " " Yes, one thing. All 
 the daughters of the island were taught and allowed to 
 make jellies, and I have now the very kettle I received 
 from my mother for that purpose." Mr. Safford caught 
 the idea. It would test her willingness to make an 
 effort for her own support. If successful, it would 
 encourage her, and the occupation would be a diverr 
 sion from her deep sorrow. 
 
 Accordingly, we see him in Tremont Street, accom- 
 panying a man with a wheelbarrow. He goes first to 
 a provision store for a bushel of quinces ; next to a 
 grocery for the sugar ; then to a crockery store for 
 the cups, and to a hardware store for a little hand fur-
 
 232 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 nace; and lastly to his own cellar for the charcoal. 
 The load being made out, it is sent to the place, and 
 she commences her task. But few can understand the 
 severity of this test to this delicately-trained woman. 
 She had indeed performed the process before, but with 
 servants to do all the labor. Mr. Safford was as much 
 delighted as she was when at length she triumphed 
 over all her discouragements, and brought the jelly to 
 his house. A sample was placed upon his dinner 
 table, at which she was a happy guest ; the remainder 
 was sold for her benefit. 
 
 After a sufficient time had elapsed for a thorough 
 acquaintance, it was decided that a house should be 
 rented for her, and she should make the effort to pro- 
 cure scholars in French. In this undertaking, a very 
 respectable and truly benevolent lady, who had been 
 informed of it, desired to unite. The tenement was 
 found, furniture was provided, and Mr. Safford sent a 
 man in the morning to remove her goods. In the 
 afternoon, he went to the house to see what progress 
 she was making. There the poor woman stood in the 
 midst of her goods, just as they had been left, with 
 her hands folded in perfect helplessness and bewilder- 
 ment, not knowing the first thing to do to get them in 
 order. Mr. Safford immediately took hold of the 
 work himself, and did not leave until he saw her little 
 parlor carpeted, a fire in the grate, with provision and 
 fuel to commence housekeeping. But though, when 
 kindling the fire, he took care to instruct her how to 
 do it, it was ascertained next day that she had none. 
 The third morning it being December Mr. Saf- 
 ford was found dressing himself while it was yet dark ; 
 and being asked, " Why have you risen so early ? " he
 
 NARRATIVES OP CHARITABLE AID. 233 
 
 said, " Oh, I thought I would go over and build Mrs. 
 C.'s fire for her, before breakfast." He continued this 
 minute supervision of her affairs for many months. 
 She manifested a true desire to do what she could, 
 although her progress was like that of a child in learn- 
 ing to walk she must take one step at a time. She 
 at length gained sufficient experience to venture upon 
 opening a French boarding house, Mr. Safford be- 
 coming responsible for her rent. Her friends multi- 
 plied, and not a few became her patrons, and afforded 
 her important aid. She was employed in five different 
 schools as a teacher of the French language, and her 
 amiable disposition and many interesting qualities 
 attached her pupils strongly to her. But no kindness 
 of friends could prevent the recurrence of her troubles. 
 Though strictly honest, she could not learn how to 
 keep her pecuniary affairs unembarrassed, pay her 
 debts, and make the most of her little income. Mr. 
 Safford often patiently investigated her accounts, and 
 aided her in settling them. But during a summer 
 when he was absent from the city, she became in- 
 volved, and her liabilities were so great that she was 
 obliged to give up what she had to her creditors. 
 Such was the bitter fruit she now reaped from the 
 mistaken kindness of her parents, who trained her in 
 elegant idleness, and utter ignorance of all that was 
 needed to procure a livelihood for herself, and secure 
 her independence in the days of adversity which were 
 before her. 
 
 But God fulfilled to her his word, on which he had 
 caused her to hope. Many friends sympathized with 
 and comforted her. By an accident which occurred 
 to her while walking in the street, she received a very 
 
 20*
 
 234 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOKD. 
 
 severe bodily injury, which subjected her to weeks of 
 suffering, and from whose effects she did not recover 
 till her death, several years afterward. Her last hours 
 were cheered in a remarkable manner by the presence 
 of the Saviour. To her weeping children she said, 
 " Do not forget, so long as you live, that your mother 
 was once too poor to buy a loaf of bread ; that she cried 
 to the Lord, and he delivered her out of her distresses. 
 Never be ashamed to have this known. Remember, 
 God's word is true ; it will never fail ; not one of 
 those who trust in him shall be desolate. Oh, the 
 tender mercies, the tender mercies of Jesus ! " Mr. 
 Safford provided for her funeral, laid her body in his 
 own tomb, and took the three daughters, now of the 
 ages of ten, fourteen, and eighteen, to his own house, 
 which was their home for some months. The faith of 
 their dying mother has been verified in their history. 
 God has fulfilled his promises, and proved himself the 
 Father of the fatherless. 
 
 Before the founding of the " Home for Aged and 
 Indigent Females," Mr. Safford was often seen upon a 
 cold, snowy morning at the door of a large, old build- 
 ing in Pleasant Street, where single rooms were rented 
 by many of this class, with articles in his sleigh to be 
 distributed among them, which they might not be able 
 to face fy& storm to procure for themselves. Several 
 of these were widows, and earned their living by wash- 
 ing. During the winter of 1838-9, he attended and 
 conducted a religious meeting on Sunday evenings for 
 their benefit, in a room occupied by a poor, pious 
 widow, who had a little boy about ten years old. We 
 remember how clean and pleasant that humble little 
 sanctuary looked, lighted up at his expense, and how
 
 NARRATIVES OF CHARITABLE AID. 235 
 
 attentively his audience listened as he read and ex- 
 pounded to them a portion of the precious word, 
 especially the little boy, sitting upon his stool. 
 
 Eighteen years after, as Mrs. Safford was seating 
 herself in the rail car at Rochester, New York, a well- 
 dressed and very respectable looking gentleman en- 
 tered, and hearing her name spoken, came up to her, 
 and, with a peculiarly earnest manner, asked, " Is this 
 Mrs. Deacon Safford, of Boston ? " Being told that it 
 was, he added, " May I have the privilege of speaking 
 with you ? " He was seated, and continued : " You do 
 not recognize me; but do you not recollect Mrs. C^, 
 the widow who used to live in what was called the old 
 college building in Pleasant Street, and her little boy 
 who used to carry the clothes she washed to and from 
 her customers ? / am that little boy. And never shall 
 I forget, or cease to be grateful for, the kindnesses my 
 mother received from Mr. Safford and yourself; espe- 
 cially do I remember, and bless God for, those prayer 
 meetings which he used to hold in my mother's room 
 on Sunday nights. As I sat on that stool by her side, 
 I received impressions of the truth and value of reli- 
 gion, as it was exhibited in Mr. Safford, which I never 
 lost. I owe much of what I am to the power of his 
 example, as I saw it there and knew of it elsewhere. 
 God has prospered me. I was able to give my mother a 
 comfortable home the last years of her life. She is now 
 in heaven ; and I am mourning the loss of one of the 
 best of wives, who has followed her thither. I desire 
 to use my property, as Mr. Safford did his, in doing 
 good. Will you tell me about his sickness and death ? 
 for I have earnestly desired to hear more than I know, 
 and would have called when in Boston, but feared to
 
 236 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 intrude upon his family." Mrs. Safford learned after- 
 ward that this gentleman was a member of one of the 
 Presbyterian churches of the city of Rochester, an 
 exemplary Christian, a Bible class teacher, and that 
 he possessed a handsome property. Just one year 
 from the day of his wife's death he followed her to 
 heaven. 
 
 The following is an extract from the communication 
 of a lady, who, with her family, had been aided by Mr. 
 Safford in a season of deep affliction, and for ten or 
 twelve years before his death shared largely in his 
 counsels and parental care. 
 
 " I can scarcely recall a scene of importance, during 
 the past eight years, with which Mr. Safford is not 
 intimately associated. He was the friend, the coun- 
 selor, the guide, of myself and children ; and when, in 
 difficulties, I had conferred with him, I felt safe. I 
 wish to give my heartfelt testimony to his disinterested 
 kindness, benevolence, and sympathy. I love to think 
 of his peculiar tact in smoothing the rough places so 
 familiar to the widows and the fatherless ; to remem- 
 ber how his heart was drawn out toward the helpless 
 little ones, whose eyes, sadly and unnaturally dimmed 
 by sorrow, I have so often seen brighten with delight, 
 as they exclaimed, ' Oh, here comes Mr. Safford ! ' 
 and with a bound ran to meet this father of the fa- 
 therless. And as I have many an evening seen him in 
 his parlor, surrounded by a flock of these little ones, 
 and watched the interest with which he joined in their 
 innocent sports, I have sometimes been at a loss to 
 decide who seemed the most delighted, they in the 
 happiness conferred, or he in making them thus happy. 
 In this connection I wish to speak of the influence of
 
 NARRATIVES OP CHARITABLE AID. 237 
 
 his Christian example upon these children. He seldom 
 made a direct personal appeal to them ; yet his whole 
 life, every word, and look, and act, spoke so emphat- 
 ically of the principles which actuated him, that they 
 felt that, to be like him whom they so dearly loved, 
 they must be holy. 
 
 " I always noticed and admired the spirit of his char- 
 ities. He had a faculty, peculiar to himself, of making 
 those obliged by him feel that he was being blessed, 
 and also that in them individually he was deeply 
 interested. thus taking hold of the very heart. His 
 assiduity in any benevolent enterprise in which he 
 had enlisted was untiring. Duty plain, and the work 
 of love decided upon, no obstacles were suffered to 
 thwart his purpose. After he became connected with 
 the City Missionary Society, and his facilities for ob- 
 serving the crime and misery which so abound in the 
 city were increased, his cheerfulness seemed to me to 
 be of a more subdued character ; and while he found 
 so much of his happiness in laboring for the relief of 
 this misery, his countenance often assumed a cast 
 which folly might mistake for want of joy. 
 
 " Another trait prominent in his character, which 
 always impressed me much, was his unwavering trust 
 in God. It was always exhibited in himself, and he 
 never failed to impress its value upon others. I well 
 recollect, in a time of trial, when entering upon an 
 uncertain position, and speaking to him of my doubts 
 and anxieties, the expression of his countenance, as, in 
 his deliberate manner, he replied, * Trust in the Lord, 
 and do good ; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and 
 verily thou shalt be fed.' And in numberless other 
 cases did he thus lead me to rest in God. Oh, he was
 
 238 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 a kind, dear friend, a blessed counselor and adviser, a 
 good man, a large-hearted, whole-souled Christian ; 
 and having done all his work, and done it well, he has 
 entered upon that abundant, that full reward which 
 awaited him, the foretastes of which, in no small de- 
 gree, he seemed here to enjoy."
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 239 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 
 
 Interest for young Men. The young Artist. The Bookseller. The Stu- 
 dent. The Clerk. The Prodigal, his History and Death. Resolutions 
 recommended. Letters to his Sons. Conversion of his Son in College. 
 Testimony of a young Man. 
 
 MR. SAFFORD ever felt a deep interest for young 
 men. He remembered his own early history when 
 dependent solely upon his character and industry, and 
 was ready to help others in all practicable methods 
 which promised to give them respectability and success 
 in life. In very many instances young men have been 
 saved from despondency by the heartfelt sympathy 
 expressed by him, sometimes only by advice, sometimes 
 by aiding them to procure a situation, and at other 
 times by giving or lending them money, though never 
 in large sums. It was not in his power to " set up " 
 as the term is, young men in business ; but his course 
 shows in a striking manner how very moderate re- 
 sources could be turned to great account. Of this 
 the following instances may serve as examples. 
 
 A very respectable, worthy young man had come to 
 the city hoping to establish himself as an artist ; but 
 he had no friends and no money, and all his efforts 
 nad failed. He was almost ready to surrender him- 
 self to despair, when he met Mr. Safford, who had somo
 
 240 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOED. 
 
 knowledge of him through a business friend in the 
 country. He inquired into his affairs, and received 
 from the young man a very discouraging account of 
 himself. Mr. Safford took out his pocket-book, and 
 handed him one hundred dollars, saying, " Take that, 
 and wnen you get able you may pay me." As Irish 
 Mary said of the quarter of a dollar given her, " That 
 saved my life," so this young man says of this one 
 hundred dollars, " It saved me from despair, and gave 
 me new life." He has now stood at the head of his 
 profession for many years in our city, and has been 
 able to do many acts of kindness to others. 
 
 One of our prominent booksellers says, " I com- 
 menced business in Boston in 1846, with small means. 
 I felt myself cramped, and unqualified for competition 
 with the men of capital. I went to capitalists ; they 
 gave me a cold shoulder. Some one advised me to go 
 to Mr. Safford : I went to him ; he met me cordially ; 
 said, " I'll bear it in mind," but was then unable to 
 help me. Soon after he came to me : he had found a 
 person who wished to invest some money, and thought 
 I could make an arrangement with him. He did me 
 a real service, and was like a father to me." 
 
 In his charity account there occur frequent entries 
 of donations to aid individuals in getting an education, 
 besides annual subscriptions to the American Educa- 
 tion Society. One of these was an apprentice of his 
 own, who studied for the ministry. 
 
 We have the testimony of another, who has been a 
 useful pastor, and a more than ordinarily successful 
 preacher of the gospel, for twenty years. He says, 
 " I was accidentally brought into contact with Mr. Saf- 
 ford when I was poor and struggling to get an educa-
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 241 
 
 tion. He inquired into my circumstances, spoke 
 kindly, and before leaving the house where we passed 
 a day or two together, dropped a five dollar bill into 
 my hand. This act of kindness was repeated as we 
 met occasionally. A person was owing nxe forty dol- 
 lars. On this I depended for completing my prepara- 
 tion for the ministry. The person failed just at the 
 time when I most wanted it. This overwhelmed me. 
 The lady with whom I was boarding discovered my 
 sadness, and urged me to allow her to inform Mr. Saf- 
 ford of my trouble, as he was there on a visit at the 
 time. Shortly after, she came to me with forty-five 
 dollars. Mr. Saiford had spoken of it to another gen- 
 tleman, who had given twenty, and he added the 
 twenty-five, making up my loss, principal and interest. 
 What those forty-five dollars were to me at that mo- 
 ment, I can not express." 
 
 On going, early one morning, to the prayer meeting 
 in the vestry of Mount Vernon Church, he engaged in 
 a pleasant conversation with a young member of the 
 choir, who had also come early, being somewhat inter- 
 ested in the subject of religion. During the conversa- 
 tion, the young man told him of his desire to obtain a 
 situation. Mr. Saffbrd cordially promised his aid and 
 influence, at the same time kindly and delicately ad- 
 vising his young friend to abandon the habit of smok- 
 ing a piece of advice which he desires us to say was, 
 after a severe struggle, complied with, to the great 
 benefit of his health and purse. A few days after, 
 Mr. Saffbrd sent him a note to the effect that Rev. Mr. 
 Bliss, then Secretary of the American Tract Society, 
 would like to confer with him. An interview was at 
 once had, resulting in a pleasant connection, which 
 
 21
 
 242 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 has for eleven years continued unbroken. The young 
 man is now depositary of the society, being the only 
 one remaining there of those who were then in its 
 service. Shortly after the interview mentioned above, 
 he became a Christian, and enjoyed the friendship and 
 confidence of his benefactor until his death. 
 
 While Mr. Safford had great satisfaction in seeing 
 'his efforts prove to many a blessing, and was permitted 
 to reap a rich reward in their expressions of gratitude 
 and affection, he was greatly pained by the conduct of 
 one who was an orphan early committed to him, and who 
 was followed by him for many successive years with 
 earnest counsels and prayers. The following letters 
 addressed to this young man will show something of 
 his history, while they illustrate the faithfulness and 
 kindness with which Mr. Safford reproved his faults. 
 
 March 23, 1835. 
 
 MY DEAR : Yours of the 14th instant is 
 
 before me ; but what shall I say in reply ? You have 
 inherited nearly two thousand dollars, and have been 
 blessed with good natural and acquired abilities. You 
 have four times been situated in business where your 
 prospects were good for future success, but in each 
 instance your discontent or misconduct threw you out 
 of employment. You have " spent your substance 
 with harlots and in riotous living," and, as you say, 
 have involved yourself in debt to the amount of one 
 thousand dollars. And now, knowing, as you do, that 
 your course has been directly opposed to my repeated 
 advice and earnest entreaty, you come to me for help. 
 But I ask, What encouragement have I to help you ? 
 You say you will never step your foot into a house of
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 243 
 
 ill fame again, you will never enter a theater again, 
 and will drink 110 more ardent spirits ; therefore you 
 think I need not be afraid to trust you in future. I 
 admit your confessions and promises would" be entitled 
 to some confidence, did I not remember the tears you 
 shed, the confessions and resolutions you made, when 
 you called me into the parlor in Salem Street, and at 
 other times ; and did I not read, in a letter from you 
 now before me, dated New York, June 3, 1832, after 
 similar confessions to those in your last, the following 
 sentence : " I have now done with such places, and, 
 with the help of God to keep my mind, I will never 
 again enter either, except it be to do some good." 
 
 I know your aversion, and the aversion of all who 
 have done wrong, to review the past. I remind you 
 of this for your good, that you, like the penitent prod- 
 igal, may return to God, and confess to him your sins, 
 and be willing to be even a hired servant ; to do any 
 thing to obtain an honest living, and restore, as far as 
 possible, the injury you have done to society, to the 
 feelings and reputation of your friends, and especially 
 to yourself. Remember, that before I can reasonably 
 have confidence in your reformation, you must bring 
 forth fruits meet for repentance. 
 
 And now, what shall I say in conclusion ? I am 
 distressed to see that you enumerate your horrid, 
 Heaven-daring sins with apparently very little concern 
 except on account of the poverty which they have 
 brought upon you. Oh, the stupefying and degrading 
 effects of sin ! Repent, repent, or not only your 
 health, your reputation, and your happiness, are de- 
 stroyed in this life, but your poor, dying soul is doomed 
 to an endless hell. 
 
 With deep anxiety, yours, D. SAFFORD.
 
 244 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 September 21, 1835. 
 
 MY DEAR : I have been made happy to-day 
 
 by the receipt of your kind letter, dated yesterday, 
 especially by the spirit you manifest, and the resolu- 
 tions you say you have made ; and now, allow me to 
 lay down six rules, which I deem of the first impor- 
 tance for you to observe, and never deviate from them. 
 
 1. Abhor your past sins, principally because they 
 are offensive to God. Seek pardoning mercy through 
 Jesus Christ, and resolve in his strength to devote 
 yourself to him. 
 
 2. Drink no intoxicating liquor. 
 
 3. Daily read a portion of the Bible, for the purpose 
 of understanding, believing, and obeying it; and 
 heartily seek the blessing of God. 
 
 4. Avoid all worldly business and amusement on the 
 Sabbath, and always attend public worship. 
 
 5. Treat all persons kindly, but ever avoid the com- 
 pany of the openly vicious, of all descriptions. 
 
 6. Trust not to your own heart or resolutions, but 
 to the grace of God, and seek, in all that you do, to 
 please him. 
 
 I send you Abbott's Young Man's Guide, and 
 Corner Stone, which you will find interesting and 
 useful. If you have time, please write before you 
 leave New York ; if not, as soon as you arrive at 
 Mobile, and tell me what business you are in, and in 
 whose employ. Be assured that every thing about 
 yourself does, and always will, interest me. 
 
 Yours very affectionately, DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Besides these wise counsels, Mr. Safford, as far as 
 he thought it prudent, aided him with money, always
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 245 
 
 endeavoring to do it in sucli a way as not to encour- 
 age a dependence upon him. Several years after the 
 date of the last letter, the young man came to this 
 city, reduced to a mere skeleton. Disease had ren- 
 dered him unable to attend to business. Although he 
 had had seasons of apparent repentance, during which 
 his fine business talents procured him a respectable 
 support,- yet successive relapses into his old habits en- 
 sued, until, in a confirmed consumption, he returned to 
 Boston, and from a hotel addressed a line to Mr. Saf- 
 ford, asking him to come and see him, which was im- 
 mediately done. At first he was opposed to hearing 
 any thing on the subject of religion, having dismissed 
 it from his thoughts entirely, and, as he said, not wish- 
 ing to be troubled about it any more. Toward the close 
 of his life, however, he listened with apparent interest 
 to the reading of the Scriptures, and to prayer offered 
 in his behalf, and occasionally appeared anxious to 
 know what he should do to be saved. But having often 
 repressed such feelings, and resisted the warnings of 
 the Holy Spirit, it was easy to do so now, and the hope 
 excited by these manifestations of interest in him was 
 speedily dispelled. 
 
 Late one evening Mr. Safford received a request 
 from him to come immediately to his room in the hos- 
 pital. He hastened thither, and found him upon his 
 bed, alone, and but just alive. There was a little fire 
 in the grate, and a dim lamp burning upon the table, 
 with an open Bible before it, to screen his eyes from 
 the light. His watch lay in a position to enable him 
 to see the hands, as they counted off the last minutes 
 he had to live ; for the doctor had informed him he 
 had but an hour or two more remaining. As Mr. Saf- 
 
 21
 
 246 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 ford entered the room, he said, " I have sent for you 
 because I had something special to say to you before I 
 die." He had not strength to proceed. Mr. Safford 
 seated himself, and a silence of several minutes fol- 
 lowed, which he thought it not best to break. At 
 length the young man signified to him that he wished 
 him to bend his ear to his mouth, when, in a very faint 
 whisper, he said, " I shall die to-night. I have been 
 very foolish and wicked. You have been all right, 
 and I have been all wrong. I can not express in lan- 
 guage the misery and wretchedness I have suffered in 
 my sinful course. I must die now. It is too late to 
 undo what I have done. I do not wish you to stay to 
 see me die. I wish no one present who will have any 
 sensitiveness or sympathy with me. I desired to say 
 this, and thank you for all you have done for me. 
 Now I wish to be left to die alone." 
 
 Early the next morning Mr. Safford went to his 
 room. It was vacant ; the spirit had departed ; the 
 lifeless clay was in its coffin. In the vigor of man- 
 hood, before he had lived out half his days, he had 
 passed away. But the impression made upon Mr. 
 Safford's mind by that life and that death was never 
 effaced. He had been deeply interested for young 
 men before, but never felt as now the importance of 
 guarding against the .first beginnings of a wrong 
 course, for he saw how difficult it was to retrace the 
 steps thus taken. 
 
 The following is a set of resolutions which he once 
 assisted a young man to frame when about leaving his 
 paternal home, as a safeguard from temptations to 
 which he might be exposed, and which Mr. Safford 
 knew, both from his own early experience and later 
 observation, could not bo too strenuously resisted :
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 247 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 1. I will rise early in the morning, and make it a 
 rule not to be out of my boarding house after ten 
 o'clock in the evening. 
 
 2. I will have a regular place of worship, where I 
 will attend, forenoon and afternoon, on each Sabbath, 
 unless prevented by sickness ; and will never engage 
 in business or amusement on that day. 
 
 3. I will endeavor to promote the interest of my 
 employer as if it were my own. 
 
 4. I will not play with cards, nor gamble in any 
 way, even for the smallest amount. 
 
 5. I will not drink wine, nor any other intoxicating 
 liquor, as a beverage, under any circumstances. 
 
 6. I will not use tobacco in any way. 
 
 7. I will never visit a theater, or any other place 
 where immoral practices are encouraged. 
 
 8. I will carefully avoid all profane language, and 
 will not voluntarily associate with those who use it, or 
 with those who are intemperate or dissolute in their 
 habits. 
 
 9. I will employ my leisure time in such manner as 
 will have a tendency to improve my mind or health. 
 
 10. I will keep an accurate account of all tho 
 money I spend, what I spend it for, and make a 
 monthly return of the same to my father. 
 
 The above resolutions I pledge myself conscien- 
 tiously to comply with. 
 
 Signed, 
 
 The extracts which follow arc from letters addressed 
 to his two sons, one of them now in business in New
 
 248 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 York, and the other a member of Yale College. They 
 will not only show Mr. Safford as a father, but also 
 the kind of advice which he was accustomed to give 
 to young men. Such counsels can not but be valuable 
 to all who would lay broad and deep the foundations 
 of future usefulness and happiness. The following is 
 to his son in college : 
 
 October 20, 1848. 
 
 Your account is very acceptable and minute. I 
 think it very important for you to continue this prac- 
 tice of keeping your accounts in detail. I am very 
 much pleased with your habit of early rising and re- 
 tiring, and doubt not, if you persevere in it, you will 
 find it both pleasant and beneficial, especially if ac- 
 companied with systematic daily exercise. 
 
 He again writes to the same : 
 
 January 22, 1849. 
 
 It affords me very great satisfaction to know that 
 you have commenced your college life with so much 
 honor to yourself, and satisfaction to the faculty of the 
 college, and the family with whom you room and 
 board. If you continue through your college course 
 the habits of economy, study, exercise, and general 
 regularity of deportment with which you have com- 
 menced, and especially if you add to these the " one 
 thing needful," you will reflect iipon it with satisfac- 
 tion during the whole of your future existence. Many 
 a man has spent life in unavailing regrets that he has 
 wasted his college privileges. Many more will no 
 doubt spend eternity in the same way, because they 
 have wasted their religious privileges through life. 
 That neither may be* your case, improve the present, 
 and thus bless the future.
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 249 
 
 He thus addresses bis son in New York : 
 
 January 26, 1849. 
 
 There is quite a rush for California here, as well as 
 in your city. Mr J., one of my partners, thinks of 
 going, and two or three of my journeymen. My im- 
 pression is, that one half who go from these parts will 
 lose their lives or health ; a few of the remainder will 
 make fortunes ; but the great majority of those who 
 return at all, will return as poor as they went, owing 
 to their own misconduct or the villany of others. 
 
 To his son in college. 
 
 March 20, 1849. 
 
 Mrs. B. informs me that you and your chum have 
 received the two highest prizes in your division. This 
 is very gratifying to us. I hope, in all your study of 
 books, you will not neglect the Book of books, or the 
 duties which it requires. If it is important for us to 
 obey the laws of the land, in order to escape their pen- 
 alties and secure their rewards, how important to obey 
 the law of God, to escape its penalties and secure its ' 
 rewards ! You have probably heard of Miss Lyon's 
 death, which occurred two weeks since. She was sick 
 but eight or ten days, of inflammation of the brain, 
 probably occasioned by over mental exertion. Her 
 loss is very great. The mourners are many and sin- 
 cere ; her reward in heaven glorious, without doubt. 
 
 I hope you do not neglect daily exercise ; if the 
 weather is unpleasant, take it in the gymnasium. 
 
 I hope you will take sufficient time at your meals, 
 oven if you sit a long while after the others have left ; 
 as eating fast is unquestionably injurious to health.
 
 250 .'... MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 March 31, 1849. 
 
 I congratulate you and your chum on your success ; 
 but while I do this, I must caution you against apply- 
 ing yourself so closely to study as to injure your eyes 
 and health. Many an ambitious student has so injured 
 his eyes and health, while in college, as to prevent his 
 ever using his learning to profit, either to himself or 
 others. 
 
 I am glad an effort is being made in behalf of tem- 
 perance among the students, and hope you will aid it 
 by personal efforts and subscriptions. 
 
 To his son in New York. 
 
 June 5, 1849. 
 
 MY DEAR SON: On the subject of -changing your 
 place I hardly know what to say. Frequent changes 
 usually have an unfavorable effect upon one's char- 
 acter. I do not think it would, be wise at any rate 
 to leave your present situation, until you are sure of 
 another, such as you like and your uncle would ap- 
 prove. If you can do that, and leave where you are 
 with honor, I should not probably object. In that 
 case, I should go on to New York, and see about it 
 with you. I send this by Mr. J. B., of the firm of 
 Palmer & Bachelders. You may have seen by the 
 papers that I have become a limited partner in that 
 concern, and' left the old firm, " D. Safford & Co." 
 
 Your affectionate father. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 October 31, 1849. 
 
 I feel as anxious as you can that you should acquire 
 all the knowledge possible of business during the brief
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 251 
 
 period of your minority ; but remember that, wherever 
 you are, practical knowledge can only be obtained by 
 close and persevering application. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 February 9, 1850. 
 
 MY DEAR SON: Since you left I have scarcely 
 been out of the house. Dr. L. calls my illness the 
 " shingles." If it is so, I hope I shall not need shin- 
 gling again very soon. I hope to get out next week. 
 I am pleased to learn that your new situation is se- 
 cured. Your mother received a letter from you yes- 
 terday, of which she is quite proud. She will answer 
 it as soon as she has attended to the wants of all the 
 poor and sick she knows of. She will send you some 
 books also, now that you have become so fond of read- 
 ing. This leads me to think that a book-case would 
 be very convenient. If you find one that suits you, 
 you had better get it. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 July 10, 1850. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : Your very pleasant letter of the 
 8th instant was received yesterday. It is peculiarly 
 gratifying to me to learn that your business connection 
 is going on so pleasantly and prosperously. The only 
 way to secure proper compensation for services, is to 
 render them so valuable as to make it for the em- 
 ployer's interest to secure those services by giving 
 such compensation. 
 
 This morning brings the melancholy intelligence of 
 the death of our excellent president, General Taylor. 
 How mysterious the providence that ho should be
 
 252 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOED. 
 
 taken away so suddenly, in this critical state of public 
 affairs ! But God can bring order out of confusion, 
 and overrule for good what seems to us a great evil. 
 Oh, how happy are they, whether nations or individuals, 
 who have the God of Israel for their God ; who in 
 times of trouble and disappointment, public or private, 
 can not only submit, but cheerfully acquiesce in, his 
 providence, which extends over all his creatures, and 
 all their actions ! 
 
 To effect a change in his circumstances which might 
 promote the health of his family, Mr. Safford, in 1851, 
 took a furnished house and garden in Andover, for six 
 months ; but his love for Boston prevented the antici- 
 pation of any increased enjoyment for himself. He 
 remarked, as he was preparing for the removal, that he 
 felt very much like one who had been sentenced to the 
 house of correction for that length of time. He, how- 
 ever, became very happy in his new occupations, which 
 we allow him to describe in a letter to his son. He 
 had not given any attention to agriculture since he left 
 his father's farm, at the age of sixteen. 
 
 May 24, 1851. 
 
 L confess I have become much attached to our An- 
 dover home, with the various objects of interest in and 
 around it. Corn, peas, beans, and a variety of other 
 vegetables are showing their heads above the ground ; 
 flowers of different kinds are unfolding their beauties, 
 and sending forth their grateful odors. The apple 
 trees are white with blossoms ; the snowballs also, and 
 the lilacs, are in bloom. This morning I commenced 
 mowing some of the tall grass. So much for vegetable
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 253 
 
 life ; now for the animal. Our horse Jenny, and cow, 
 are in fine health and spirits, and perform their duties 
 faithfully. Your mother has made seventeen pounds 
 of excellent butter. We have twenty-nine chickens 
 and fifteen young ducks. By the time you visit us. I 
 think some of them will find their way to the grid- 
 iron or spit. 
 
 To his son in New York. 
 
 May 26, 1851. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : I know some young men get the 
 idea that it is mean and disgraceful to economize ; but 
 is it not much more so to run into debt beyond one's 
 ability to pay, and have the collector, and perhaps the 
 constable, following him day after day ? I should not 
 so frequently allude to this subject, did I not regard it 
 as indispensable to your future success and respecta- 
 bility. 
 
 JulyS, 1851. 
 
 Our new home becomes more and more interesting 
 as vegetation advances, and our flocks and herds in- 
 crease in number and size. 
 
 
 
 September 30, 1851. 
 
 We are still at Andover, but I begin to think Boston 
 preferable, and when it is cold and stormy I believe 
 your mother does, although she does not like to say so. 
 
 December 23, 1861. 
 
 When I received your letter on business, I had but 
 a little time before the mail closed, and wrote without 
 much reflection, with a view of having you make 
 such inquiries as are obviously necessary before coin- 
 ing to a decision. 
 
 22
 
 254 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 I am pleased with the views expressed in your letter, 
 and doubt not but you would get more information, 
 and feel more interest, by being a partner in the con- 
 cern, even though you should only make a living for 
 the first year or two ; that is, if you could do business 
 in a safe way ; but I should be very sorry to have you 
 lose your capital. 
 
 If, after a full examination, it should promise to be 
 a good and safe business, I will furnish the amount for 
 you without much delay. I was struck with the coin- 
 cidence when I read the amount named in your letter, 
 it being the same I had calculated to furnish you with, 
 when the time should come for you to commence busi- 
 ness. In forming a copartnership, the most important 
 thing to be ascertained is the moral and business char- 
 acter of the man or men. In Boston, I could as- 
 certain the character and standing of almost any man, 
 and I frequently think how pleasant it would be to 
 have you in business here, and board at home ; but if 
 it is best for you to be in New York, I submit. That 
 the Lord will guide you, my dear son, in this matter 
 of business, and in all your undertakings, is the daily 
 prayer of your ever affectionate father, 
 
 DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 To his son in college. 
 
 February 26, 1852. 
 
 Thursday next will be observed by the churches 
 here as a day of fasting and prayer for colleges. I 
 hope your college, and yourself, in particular, will re- 
 ceive a great blessing on that day. 
 
 The desire that Mr. Safford felt for the conversion
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 255 
 
 of this son was much increased after his connection 
 with college, not merely on account of his exposure to 
 new temptations, but .because the education he was 
 receiving, and which he had himself always felt -so 
 much the need of, would increase his power for good 
 or for evil in the world. It was a painful thought to 
 him, that he might be educating a son in opposition to 
 the cause of Christ, as he believed would prove to be 
 the case if the latter remained unconverted. He did 
 not often write to him directly on the subject; he 
 depended more upon setting him a right example, 
 expressing kind feelings, and mingling religious in- 
 struction with ordinary conversation. These were 
 accompanied with unceasing prayer. Those of the 
 church who were accustomed to meet upon the day of 
 the annual concert of prayer for colleges will not soon 
 forget his earnest request that this son might be re- 
 membered in their prayers on that day, nor the fervent 
 pleadings which followed this appeal, from those breth- 
 ren who led in prayer on that occasion. 
 
 But God saw fit to try his faith for one year more. 
 When the son came home at the next January vaca- 
 tion, having now entered upon his last collegiate year, 
 his father, after asking for the influence of the Holy 
 Spirit to guide them both, in a private interview dis- 
 closed to him the deep feelings of his soul, and then 
 took him to the feet of Jesus, and implored him to 
 make this child whole, pleading especially his own 
 example when on earth, in healing a son in answer to 
 the earnest supplications of his father. 
 
 It was at length his great joy to receive the fulfill- 
 ment of his desires. That vacation did not close until 
 he was permitted to hear from the lips of his son an
 
 256 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 expression of his hope in the Saviour. On returning 
 to college, the father addressed a note to Professor G., 
 informing him of the great change, and asking for his 
 son his counsels and prayers. In May following he 
 had the unspeakable satisfaction of welcoming him to 
 membership in Mount Vernon church. 
 
 To his son in New York. 
 
 January 28, 1852. 
 
 We have received a letter from your brother G., 
 since his return to college, of a very satisfactory char- 
 acter. The change which appears to have taken place 
 in him I regard as of more importance than all the 
 wealth and honor which this world can afford com- 
 bined. And why should I not ? The blessing of the 
 latter would be imperfect and temporal, that of the 
 former perfect and eternal. In this change he was 
 not a passive recipient, but an active agent. He set 
 himself, by reading the Bible, by prayer, and attending 
 religious meetings, to seek the Lord in earnest. Do, 
 my dear son, take up this subject in earnest, and then 
 we cnay hope to meet, one unbroken family, in heaven. 
 Your affectionate father, DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 The great blessing which Mr. Safford had received 
 from God, in the conversion, as he hoped, of this son, 
 led him to express his gratitude by doing more for 
 others. He thought of the anxiety of parents who 
 had sons in our city, for whom he might do something 
 more than he was doing. 
 
 To his son in college. 
 
 February 20, 1852. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : "We have just returned from our 
 church prayer meeting. Dr. Kirk held an inquiry
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 257 
 
 meeting in the committee room at the same time. He 
 had twenty-one present, nearly all of whom indulge 
 more or less hope that they have given their hearts to 
 Christ. 
 
 On Sunday of last week, we invited all the young 
 men of the congregation to visit us on Monday evening, 
 to spend the evening partly in devotions, and partly 
 socially, closing with some refreshments. About sixty 
 were present, although the evening was very stormy. 
 I told them the object "of the visit, that we might 
 become better acquainted with them, and that they 
 might become better acquainted with each other, 
 and mentioned some of the difficulties of a large 
 congregation like ours, scattered among a population 
 of one hundred and fifty thousand, becoming ac- 
 quainted, and spoke of some of the advantages of such 
 an acquaintance, referring also to the means by which 
 it might be accomplished, such as the Young Men's 
 Christian Association, the Mission Circle, and the 
 Sunday, School. After this, Dr. Kirk read from the 
 Bible, and commented upon it, sung a hymn, and 
 prayed. The remainder of the time was occupied in 
 conversation, <fcc. Before we separated, eight young 
 men gave me their names, proposing to form them- 
 selves into a Bible class in the Sabbath school, if I 
 would become their teacher. One was a lawyer, one 
 a physician, and others merchants or clerks. I told 
 them I would not engage to become their teacher, but 
 would meet with them. We met on last Sunday for 
 the first time, and on Monday evening, at the mission 
 circle, several others applied for admission to the 
 class. 
 
 On Thursday evening of last week we had about 
 22*
 
 258 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 one hundred young married people of the congrega- 
 tion at our-house, half of whom were strangers to us, 
 and most of them strangers to one another. The time 
 was occupied very much as on Monday evening, when 
 the young men were here. Before they left, a large 
 Bible class was formed, of which Deacon P. is teacher. 
 Both parties appeared very happy, expressed many 
 thanks to us for the privilege, and, I believe, went 
 away feeling that it was a suitable way of conducting 
 a party composed of members of the same religious 
 society. One young man kept his wife (who is pious) 
 up nearly all night to talk and pray with him. I 
 learned from her the next day that he would like to 
 see me ; I called at the store in which he is salesman. 
 As soon as I entered, one of the proprietors, whom I 
 did not know, came up, and calling me by name, said, 
 " I am glad to see you ; I suppose you have called to 
 look after Mr. D.'s soul ; he is occupied just now ; you 
 shall see him in a few moments ; " and added, " There 
 are eight young men in my store anxious." x It is a 
 very interesting fact, that in the revivals now in prog- 
 ress, a large proportion of the converts are young 
 men. 
 
 Christians are looking forward with' great interest to 
 the day of prayer for colleges. How important that 
 your class should all be brought into the fold of 
 Christ before they graduate ! Is there any special 
 interest among the pious students, or anxiety among 
 the impenitent ? Did you find in your brother D.'s 
 state of mind any thing more favorable ? Oh, how 
 important that he should now choose God for his por- 
 tion ! If I could see him a humble, devoted Christian, 
 it seems to me I should be ready to adopt the language
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 259 
 
 of Simeon, " Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart 
 in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Have 
 you thought about making a profession of religion ? 
 and if so, where ? As your college course is nearly 
 closed, you will be likely to be more in Boston for a 
 few years to come than in New Haven. I have no 
 wish to dictate on this subject ; my feelings would lead 
 me to desire that you should unite with the Mount 
 Vernon church, but our feelings are not always a safe 
 guide. Your affectionate father. 
 
 To his son in New York. 
 
 April 1, 1852. 
 
 While dating this letter, it occurs to me that it is 
 your birthday anniversary. Is it possible that you are 
 twenty-two years old ? How soon probation will close, 
 and the retributions of eternity be commenced, never 
 to end ! Now, my son, while you are trying to make 
 preparations for the future, in this short life, which 
 may never come, and for which I commend you, are 
 they not far more important for that future life which 
 certainly will come, and will never end ? Will you 
 not be persuaded to obey the command of Christ, and 
 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 
 and then all these things will be added to you ? 
 
 To the same. 
 
 August 14, 1852. 
 
 Your mother and George start to-morrow for 
 Montreal. I do not expect to accompany them, as 
 I am engaged introducing water into the Mount Hoi- 
 yoke Seminary from the river below, with bathing 
 rooms, tc.
 
 260 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 October 7, 1852. 
 
 I returned from South Hadley last evening, where I 
 have been the last month, aiding in bringing into the 
 building the water from the river back of the seminary, 
 by. means of a force pump, and conducting it, hot and 
 cold, into all the stories. It operates very finely, and 
 will be much for the health and comfort of the young 
 ladies. It was my intention to visit New York before 
 this, but so much of my time has been taken up at 
 South Hadley, that I may not find it convenient to do 
 so this autumn. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 March 21, 1853. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : In reference to the subject you 
 now propose, I wish to say, that it is dangerous for a 
 young man of little experience, and whose time is all 
 taken up in business, to engage in speculation in real 
 estate, stocks, or paper securities of any kind, as he 
 can not compete with men of experience in those mat- 
 ters, who have time and facilities for investigating 
 every security that is offered. I assure you that it 
 requires more skill to keep money than to get it. You 
 say you had an opportunity, a short time ago, to invest 
 where you might have made eight per cent., arid not 
 much risk. I understand that money is worth one 
 and one half per cent., at this time, in State Street ; 
 but /would not do it, for three reasons: 1st. It is un- 
 lawful ; 2d. It is risky, and if I should succeed six 
 times without loss, I might the seventh time lose all 
 that I had made, and more too; and, 3d. I have 
 none unemployed.
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 261 
 
 But perhaps you would say, " I would not engage in 
 speculation ; I would only make some safe and profit- 
 able investments." To that I should reply, " You would 
 not make permanent investments, as you might soon 
 want your funds for business, and if you depend on 
 selling again, that makes it a matter of speculation ; 
 it may sell for more, and it may sell for less than the 
 cost." You say, " I am very anxious to get a little 
 ahead to have some property." Now, my dear D., 
 no man would rejoice more in tl;e prosperity of a son 
 than I should in yours. In fact, I think you are 
 
 prospering.. To receive a year is certainly doing 
 
 very well ; and if you had property, you would find 
 happiness was not in that. The order which God has 
 laid down is, u Seek first the kingdom of God, and its 
 righteousness ; " but if we reverse his order, we shall 
 be disappointed in the result, or, what is worse, he 
 may give us the desire of our hearts, and send lean- 
 ness into our souls. 
 
 To the same. 
 
 March 31, 1853. 
 
 By this day's express I send you a watch an 
 English lever, with a chronometer balance as a birth- 
 day present. After carrying a small one, you may 
 think, at first, this is large and heavy ; but I wish you 
 to have one that will last you as long as you live, and 
 keep good time, and you can not be so sure of this in 
 a small, light one. 
 
 " Punctuality is the life of business," was a maxim 
 in use long before " men traveled by steam and wrote 
 by lightning." And if it was true then, it is more 
 so now. Punctuality consists in being in the place
 
 262 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 appointed at the time appointed, not a long time be- 
 fore, nor a short time after. And in order to that, one 
 must have the correct time. 
 
 To his son George. 
 
 April 7, 1853. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : I am very glad you have so freely 
 mentioned the different plans you have had in mind, 
 upon none of which you have yet decided. After four 
 years' close study in college, you doubtless needed one 
 year for partial relaxation, general reading, and ob- 
 taining knowledge of men and things. Some of these 
 objects can be attained in your present situation, as 
 well as any you would be likely to find. 
 
 As you ask my advice, I would say, taking it for 
 granted that your intention is to study theology, my 
 opinion is, that when your present engagement termi- 
 nates, you had better commence the study of your 
 profession in such place and manner as will be most 
 agreeable and useful to you, without regard to any 
 reasonable expense. If, by any thing I have said at 
 any time, you have received the impression that I wish 
 you to earn the means of finishing your education, I 
 will remove that impression entirely. I am paying 
 more or less, nearly every year, to aid young men in 
 preparing for the ministry ; and now that my own son 
 is looking forward to that profession, I regard it as one 
 of the greatest privileges of my life to be permitted to 
 educate him to preach the gospel of Christ to dying 
 men, and wherever God, in his providence, may call 
 him. 
 
 On the mode of studying theology, whether in a 
 seminary or out, I will state my impressions, so far as
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 263 
 
 I have any, without wishing, or even being willing, to 
 influence you against your own judgment. As at 
 present advised, I should think it best for you to com- 
 mence in a seminary, and after two or three years, or, 
 perhaps, after going through the whole course, spend 
 a year or less with some good practical pastor ; but of 
 that you can judge better hereafter. 
 
 As to the place, it may be well for you to spend the 
 first year in New York Seminary, and finish in An- 
 dover. 
 
 I trust I need not remind you that, while it is proper 
 to ask my advice on this subject, and gratifying to me 
 to have you, it is infinitely more important to ask wis- 
 dom of Him who giveth to all men liberally, and who 
 has promised those who acknowledge him in all their 
 ways that he will direct their steps. 
 
 And now, my dear son, that you may be guided in 
 the right way, now and through life, and that your life 
 may be one of great usefulness, is the earnest prayer 
 of your affectionate father. 
 
 To his son in New York. 
 
 April 25, 1855. 
 
 MY DEAR SON : Since I saw you last I have had 
 another attack of my heart difficulty, by which I was 
 entirely prostrated in body and mind, having been for 
 a time deprived of all consciousness. But by the 
 kindness of my heavenly Father, I was soon relieved, 
 and in a few days was nearly as well as before. Since 
 that attack I have frequently been admonished that I 
 am a minute man, and ought to hold myself ready to 
 be summoned before my Judge at any moment. 
 
 My pecuniary affairs are arranged according to my
 
 264 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 best judgment ; and although I have great occasion to 
 mourn over my own sins, and that I have done so little 
 for Him who has done so much for me, yet I have for 
 the most of the time a comfortable hope that, through 
 the abounding grace of God in Jesus Christ, to whom 
 I endeavor daily to consecrate myself, my own soul 
 is safe. 
 
 But there is one thought that presses upon my spirits 
 almost constantly, and sometimes with great weight. 
 It is that my sou, my oldest son, my beloved sou, has 
 lived in God's world more than a quarter of a century, 
 and furnished no satisfactory evidence that he has ever 
 exercised one emotion of love or true gratitude to Him 
 who has given him all the temporal blessings he en- 
 joys, and who has, at such immense expense, provided 
 a way for his pardon and eternal salvation, if he will 
 only repent of and forsake his sins, and believe in the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 If you die an impenitent, unbelieving sinner, as 
 surely as God is true, you must go away into everlast- 
 ing punishment, where will be weeping and gnashing 
 of teeth, " where their worm dieth not and the fire is 
 not quenched." 
 
 Do you think it hard and unkintl for a father to 
 write thus to a beloved son ? It is the language of 
 Him who so loved the world as to leave a heaven of 
 glory and happiness for a death of greater suffering 
 than any other being ever endured, that the world 
 through him might be saved. " Greater love hath no 
 man than this, that a man lay down his life for his 
 friends." But Christ has laid down his life for his 
 enemies, and all the terrible threatenings and warnings 
 of the Bible I regard as evidence of his love, as really
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 265 
 
 as the invitations and promises which so abound in 
 that book. 
 
 May 8. I had written the above, when I received 
 your letter, stating your intention to be in Boston in a 
 few days. I then thought I might have an opportunity 
 to say to you all that was in my heart on this great 
 subject ; but you know I saw you only a short time, 
 and that in company with others. 
 
 Yesterday I had a free conversation with my physi- 
 cian on the nature and probable result of my disease. 
 He told me he had no doubt that ossification had taken 
 place in some important artery connected with the 
 heart, which was incurable ; and although I might 
 possibly live years, I was liable to die at any time, 
 without a moment's warning ; and that when I die, it 
 is probable that my consciousness will leave me before 
 I am aware of any immediate danger. 
 
 Think not, because you are not aware of any fatal 
 disease upon you, there is time enough yet for you to 
 prepare for death. A few days ago N. E. was appar- 
 ently in as good health as you ; but before his absent 
 friends could reach him, he was called to meet his 
 Judge. Oh, my son, do not defer this work to a future 
 time. If you could be sure of a long life, and of 
 being converted before you die, would it not be wicked 
 and ungrateful in the extreme to be willing to live in 
 rebellion against God all the best of your days ? But 
 you are not sure of long life ; and if your life should 
 be spared, the probability is, that your disinclination to 
 repent would increase witli your years. 
 
 Were I to enter your chamber, and find that the 
 only stairway by which you could escape was on fire, 
 and should cry out, " Escape for your life, or you will 
 
 23
 
 266 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 perish in the flames," would you not thank me, and 
 think it very kind in me ? So God, in view of a more 
 dreadful death than that of the body, calls after you, 
 saying, " Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die ? " 
 But suppose that, instead of thanking me for the 
 timely warning, you should say, " I am writing a letter 
 to send by the steamer which leaves to-day ; I can not 
 leave just now," and should remain until the stairway 
 had fallen, and was consumed ; would you not be act- 
 ing quite as rationally as you do in disregarding the 
 warnings and entreaties of your heavenly Father ? 
 There is, however, this difference : in the one case, you 
 would lose all the enjoyment you anticipate in this 
 world in a few years, and suffer the pains of a con- 
 suming fire a few moments, while, in the other case, 
 you would lose the everlasting enjoyments of heaven, 
 and suffer the eternal torments of hell. Oh, my son, 
 do be entreated by the threatenings, the invitations, 
 and the promises of the Bible to turn now to the Lord. 
 Read over and over the parable of the prodigal son ; 
 notice his first thoughts of his father's house con- 
 trasted with his own condition, with the prospect of 
 starving ; then his determination to return ; then his 
 actually setting out with his face toward home ; then 
 think of the feelings and conduct of his father, who, 
 seeing him a great way off, ran to meet him, and em- 
 braced him in all his rags. Now, this represents the 
 feelings of God toward the penitent, returning sinner. 
 After reading this over, and reflecting upon the sub- 
 ject it presents seriously and prayerfully, will you not 
 write me just how you feel, and what you intend to do 
 about it, and when ? Do not resolve to attend to it at 
 some future time : by so doing, you resolve not to
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOE YOUNG MEN. 267 
 
 attend to it now ; you quiet your conscience for pres- 
 ent neglect of duty, and harden your heart against 
 future appeals. Why can we not write and talk as 
 freely on this subject as on any other ? Is there any 
 thing else half so important, especially if we take into 
 account our whole existence, the future as well as the 
 present ? Surely not. 
 
 Your affectionate father. 
 
 The following was written on receiving a present of 
 a walking cane from his two sons : 
 
 May 26, 1855. 
 
 MY DEAR SONS : I have frequently thought of late 
 that a cane would be a support to me in walking ; and 
 when I opened the box last night, and saw that beautiful 
 one from you, I thought there was nothing of equal 
 value that would be so acceptable to me. It exactly 
 suits my taste in color, size, and form. The length is just 
 right, and it is rendered doubly valuable by the names 
 of the donors which it bears. It will be my constant 
 traveling companion. How pleasant to be supported 
 by my sons when walking about the city ! 
 
 I can not bless you as Jacob did the two sons of 
 Joseph, when he " worshiped, leaning on the top of 
 his staff," but my prayer shall be, that the God of Ja. 
 cob may crown you with all needed temporal blessings 
 while you live, and that when you are called to walk 
 through the valley of the shadow of death, his rod 
 and staff may comfort you. And then may we all 
 walk together the golden streets of the heavenly Jeru- 
 salem, beside that river of the water of life, clear as 
 crystal, proceeding out of the throne of Ood and the 
 Lamb, and together cast our crowns at tlio foot of Him
 
 268 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOKD. 
 
 who sits upon it, tuning our harps in unison with the 
 redeemed out of every nation, in praise to Him who 
 loved us and gave himself for us. 
 
 Your very affectionate father. 
 
 To his son in New York. 
 
 BOSTON, May 22, 1855. 
 
 MY DEAR SON: Your very kind, frank, and con- 
 fiding letter of the 13th instant was duly received and 
 repeatedly read with great pleasure and solicitude ; 
 with pleasure to learn that you are and have been 
 thinking so seriously upon the great subject of reli- 
 gion, and your own salvation, which I think must be 
 attributed to the Holy Spirit ; with solicitude lest you 
 should not yield to his gracious influences, and be left 
 in a more hardened and hopeless state than before. 
 You may grieve the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways. 
 You may do it by caviling at the doctrines of the 
 Bible; by indulging hard thoughts of God; by neg- 
 lecting prayer, the reading of the Scriptures, or any 
 other known duty ; you may do it by thinking or 
 speaking lightly of religion, in the presence of ungodly 
 persons, thus showing that you are ashamed of Christ 
 and his cause ; and by any other sin of commission or 
 omission. 
 
 But perhaps there is no way by which a person feel- 
 ing as you say you do, " anxious to be a Christian, and 
 determined to be one," is more likely to grieve the 
 Holy Spirit, than by trying to work out a righteousness 
 of his own, thus rejecting the righteousness of Christ. 
 It is true, if you live in the neglect of any known 
 duty, or in habitual commission of any known sin, you 
 have no right ever to expect the favor of God. But
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 269 
 
 if you should live a perfectly holy life in thought, 
 word, and deed, from this moment to the end of your 
 life, this would not atone for one of your past sins. 
 The great adversary of your soul would gladly per- 
 suade you that it is presumption for you to go to Christ 
 until you have broken off your bad habits, have prayed 
 a great deal more, read the Bible more, felt -a deeper 
 conviction of sin, &c., <fec. If the prodigal son had 
 waited until he could procure a rich robe, shoes for his 
 feet, and a ring for his hand, in which to meet his 
 father, it is not likely he would ever have returned. 
 Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to 
 repentance. The conduct of the father in running to 
 embrace his son, while yet a great way off, in all his 
 rags, was doubtless designed to represent the readiness 
 of God to receive and welcome the penitent, believing 
 sinner. 
 
 When the jailer came trembling, and fell down be- 
 fore Paul and Silas, with the inquiry, " Sirs, what 
 must I do to be saved ? " Paul did not tell him, 
 You must make amends for the injuries you have 
 done to us, or, You must perform a long round of 
 duties, but simply, " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and thou shalt be saved." After that he took them 
 into his house, washed their stripes, set meat before 
 them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. 
 Xow, my dear son, your true and only safe course is to 
 go directly to Christ, in penitent faith, just as you are, 
 with your feet stained with his blood, which you have 
 so long trampled upon. And if you have got as far as 
 this without deep conviction of sin, pray for the Holy 
 Spirit, whose office it is to reprove of sin, of righteous- 
 ness, and of judgment. " Of sin because they believe 
 
 23*
 
 270 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 not on me" as if unbelief were the greatest sin in the 
 world. If you are troubled with wandering thoughts 
 in prayer, or while listening to the preaching of the 
 gospel, with pride, selfishness, or any other sin, do not 
 try to forget it, and think that God will ; but tell him 
 all about it,. especially those things that trouble you 
 most, on account of which you feel most guilty, and 
 ask pardon for Christ's sake. It is a great mistake 
 that some make when they have been guilty of sin : 
 instead of going directly to God, to confess it and ask 
 forgiveness, they wait until a sense of guilt is a little 
 worn off, or try to forget it, which they may do ; but 
 God never forgets. 
 
 I have recently met with a hymn, in which I am 
 very much interested, which I copy for you, with the 
 hope that you will adopt the language as your own. 
 
 Just as I am, without one plea, 
 But that thy blood was shed for me, 
 And that thou bidd'st me come to thee, 
 O Lamb of God, I come. 
 
 Just as I am, and waiting not 
 To rid my soul of one dark blot, 
 To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, 
 O Lamb of God, I come. 
 
 Just as I am, though tossed about 
 With many a conflict, many a doubt, 
 With fears within and foes without, 
 O Lamb of God, I come. 
 
 Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind, 
 Sight, riches, healing of the mind, 
 Yea, all I need, in thee to find, 
 
 O Lamb of God, I come.
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 271 
 
 Just as I am, though so depraved, 
 So long by Satan's power enslaved, 
 To be by thee renewed and saved, 
 
 O Lamb of God, I come. 
 
 Just as I am, thou wilt receive, 
 
 Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve, 
 
 Because thy promise I believe. 
 
 O Lamb of God, I come. 
 
 Just as I am thy love, unknown, 
 Has broken every barrier down : 
 Now to be thine, yea, thine alone, 
 
 O Lamb of God, I come. 
 
 Remember, my dear son, that religion is something 
 between God and your own soul. Your friends can 
 advise you, but they can not compel you to take their 
 advice ; they pray for you, but they can not repent and 
 believe for you. 
 
 Give my love to all of our friends, but especially to 
 H. I hope you talk freely with her upon this great 
 subject ; and I advise you to talk with your pastor 
 also. And do not fail to write to me in the same con- 
 fiding manner which you have done, and thus add to 
 the happiness of 
 
 Your affectionate father. 
 
 This was the last letter whicli Mr. Safford ever wrote 
 to this son, except a note on business, in which he 
 remarks, " The date of my letter (October 30, 1855) 
 reminds me that I am threescore and three years old 
 to-day." 
 
 He was comforted by receiving evidence before his 
 death that God had heard his prayers, and blessed his 
 faithful efforts in behalf of this dear son ; and soon
 
 272 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 after his father's death he made a public profession of 
 his faith in Christ. 
 
 The young men who were, in various ways, aided 
 by Mr. Saiford, as already mentioned, retained a grate- 
 ful respect and affection for the memory of their ben- 
 efactor, and have expressed, in numerous instances, 
 since his death, their sense of obligation to him. 
 From the very full testimonial of one of those who 
 was fer some months a member of his family, the fol- 
 lowing extracts are subjoined : 
 
 " It was in the year 1847 that I began to receive from 
 Mr. Safford and his family those practical expressions 
 of friendship and kindness which form a prominent 
 part of the experiences of my life. 
 
 " Having come to Boston through his invitation, he 
 secured for me almost immediately a pleasant and val- 
 uable situation, in which I remained for many years. 
 In every perplexity and trial, when I sought his coun- 
 sel, I found it to be wise and practical, and given with 
 evident marks of gratification that it had been sought. 
 After some years, when making an important change 
 in my business, I found his assistance valuable, en- 
 abling me to carry out some long-cherished plans in 
 reference to establishing myself in life ; and to the 
 present time I am daily experiencing the good results 
 of his influence exerted in my behalf, in matters of 
 business. 
 
 " The aid which Mr. Safford rendered to those who 
 regard him as their benefactor, was, I think, very 
 frequently, laborious aid ; it increased his own cares, 
 as well as expenses. Instead of sending-, he would go ; 
 he would plan, inspect, remove, arrange, load, unload.
 
 FRIENDLY EFFORTS FOR YOUNG MEN. 273 
 
 I have seen him, in the latter years of his life, take off 
 his coat, and put his shoulder to the work, with a 
 cheerful energy which insured its speedy accomplish- 
 ment. This was accompanied by a delicate regard for 
 the feelings of those he helped a desire to make 
 them feel at ease. There was an ingenuity in his 
 kindness ; his cheerful smiles and quick pleasantries 
 making the recipient feel as if he was bestowing, 
 rather than receiving, the benefit. 
 
 " I was early impressed with Mr. Safford's kindness 
 in reproof. A faithful friend, he did not shun to give 
 admonition when it was needed. I well remember 
 an instance in my own experience, the occasion for 
 which might be charged equally to ill health and a 
 naturally indolent disposition. Calling me aside one 
 morning when I had been a few weeks in the situation 
 he had obtained for me, he said, ' I was talking with 
 Mr. B. yesterday about you ; he says he likes you very 
 well ; he thinks you are capable, and will give him 
 satisfaction ; but he says you are not quick enough, 
 don't step quick enough, don't run up and down stairs. 
 Now, when you were in the country, I have no doubt 
 you were as lively as any body ; but you notice people 
 in the city don't move as they do in the country ; every 
 one seems to be in a hurry, as if he had a great deal 
 to do. I wished just to mention this to you, so that 
 you might learn to step a little more briskly ; ' and 
 with a pleasant smile he bade me good morning. 
 
 " During the first six months of my residence in 
 Boston, I was, through invitation of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Safford, an inmate of their family. I have always 
 reverted with peculiar pleasure to this arrangement, 
 showing, as it did, their kind feelings toward myself
 
 274 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 and relatives, saving me from the inconveniences at- 
 tending the scanty pay of a boy's ' first year,' shield- 
 ing me from the corruptions of a strange city, and 
 bringing to bear upon me the hallowed influences of 
 their own peaceful, Christian family."
 
 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE. 275 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE. 
 
 Dissolution of Partnership. Proposal of new Connections. Acceptance of 
 them. Character as a Merchant. Member of the Legislature of Mas- 
 sachusetts. Affability. Peacemaker. 
 
 IN 1848 Mr. Safford made known to his partners in 
 business his intention to retire from the establishment. 
 Two months, however, had not passed before the re- 
 maining senior partner entreated him to return, saying 
 that he should leave himself if he did not. It was 
 with much difficulty that Mr. Safford persuaded him 
 that, as the connection had been dissolved, it was not 
 best to renew it. He assured him that it was wholly 
 to favor the interests of the other partners that he had 
 left, as he was not willing to share the profits, while he. 
 performed none of the labor, and bore scarcely any of 
 the responsibility. 
 
 As soon as it was known, and even before it was 
 announced, that he had retired, he received proposals 
 from respectable mercantile houses in the city to con- 
 nect himself with them. These he declined, regarding 
 it as a hazardous experiment for a person at his period 
 of life to enter into a new business of any kind. 
 
 At length the offer of a silent partnership, in a firm 
 at the head of which was a brother officer of Mount 
 Vernon church, was taken into serious and prayerful
 
 276 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 consideration. He thoroughly investigated all parts 
 of the business, the principles on which it was con- 
 ducted, and the existing state of their affairs. It was 
 his habit to acquaint Mrs. Saiford with all business 
 matters affecting her interests as well as his own, both 
 that he might have her opinion concerning them, and 
 that their prayers might be united for divine guidance. 
 This he regarded not only as " woman's rights," but 
 as his rights also. Accordingly, with her cordial ap- 
 probation, he accepted the proposals made to him, and 
 became a member of the house of Palmer & Batch- 
 elders. The history of this connection is related, in 
 part, in the following statement of Mr. Palmer : 
 
 " It gave us the most sincere pleasure to be able to 
 pay liberal dividends to Mr. Safford, for we could not 
 doubt that he became our partner as much to oblige 
 us as to promote his own interest. Indeed, I have 
 always traced the origin of his connection with our 
 firm to a circumstance which occurred some years 
 before, and which peculiarly exhibited the kindness of 
 his heart. 
 
 " On the death of a former partner, we were called 
 to pay out his capital at a time when it was peculiarly 
 disadvantageous to do so. Mr. Safford, on learning 
 the fact, (although we were not then on those familiar 
 terms which have existed since,) came in one day, and 
 made several inquiries as to how we were likely to get 
 on, and what terms of settlement we had made with 
 the estate of the deceased partner. A day or two after 
 he called again, and said, ' I did not ask those ques- 
 tions the other day from mere curiosity, or without a 
 motive. I have been thinking that it must have -been 
 at considerable sacrifice that you so speedily and hon-
 
 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE. 277 
 
 orably settled up with the estate, and that possibly you 
 might need some assistance in carrying forward your 
 future plans of business. I have mentioned the sub- 
 ject to a Christian brother, and proposed that if he 
 would furnish you with five thousand dollars, I would 
 put in the same amount. He readily consented, and 
 now the ten thousand are at your service for five years, 
 without security, for simple interest.' This offer, 
 which was entirely unsolicited and unexpected, was 
 gratefully accepted ; and the disinterested friendship 
 it evinced induced an intimacy of business relations 
 which resulted, a few years afterward, in our partner- 
 ship, when the business which this generous loan had 
 increased would justify the employment of a still 
 larger capital. As this connection became from year 
 to year more profitable to brother Safford, I could but 
 regard it as a fulfillment of the promise, ' The liberal 
 soul shall be made fat ; and he that watereth shall be 
 watered also himself.' ' 
 
 His connection with these gentlemen continued until 
 his death, seven years afterward. The oldest partner 
 was one of like spirit with himself, a " brother be- 
 loved ; " and toward the others he soon learned to 
 exercise a kind and fatherly friendship. At the close 
 of the first year, Mr. Saffbrd's share of the profits was 
 so large, that when he considered the two younger 
 partners had borne the burden and done the labor, in 
 which he had not participated, he, on receiving it, 
 passed over a thousand dollars into their hands. 
 
 " He was," says Mr. Palmer, " a merchant of liberal 
 and enterprising policy, clear in his perceptions, sound 
 in judgment, and conscientious in all his dealings. A 
 prominent trait of his business character was, the 
 
 24
 
 278 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 carefulness of his examinations into a project before 
 making an engagement. All the bearings of an en- 
 terprise were duly considered before he would embark 
 in it; and often his keen foresight would discover 
 obstacles to success which escaped the vision of those 
 who had been longer on the post of observation than 
 himself. But when once committed to a course, he 
 never faltered, but met the responsibilities involved in 
 it fearlessly and promptly." 
 
 He regarded it as a remarkable favor of God that 
 he was thus furnished with the means for gratifying 
 his desire, to do good, more liberally than ever before, 
 after he gave up the care of business, and devoted 
 all his time to benevolent objects. This was unex- 
 pected to him ; but he trusted in the Lord, when he 
 saw, as he thought, the time had arrived for him to 
 make the change, and endeavored to do good, and 
 accordingly received the fulfillment of the promise, 
 " Thou shalt dwell in the land, and verily thou shaft 
 be fed." 
 
 Allusion has already been made to the fact that 
 Mr. Safford was at different times called by his fellow- 
 citizens to serve as a member of the legislature of the 
 state. The following brief statement of his character 
 in this capacity has been kindly furnished by a gentle- 
 man who, having served as chaplain in the same body, 
 is well qualified to speak on this subject : 
 
 " Deacon Safford was no politician. But he was 
 a patriot, and never shrunk from any responsibility 
 which the public necessities seemed to impose. He 
 was not ambitious of official rank, yet he accepted 
 such positions of civil trust as he felt he could con- 
 sistently fill, respectfully declining all besides. He
 
 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE. 279 
 
 i 
 
 was urged by friends in high esteem to be a candidate 
 for mayor of the city of Boston, but, for reasons satis- 
 factory to himself, he declined all such overtures. In 
 the autumn of 1833, on his return from a journey, he 
 found he had been chosen, during his absence, a repre- 
 sentative to the General Court of his state. In 1835, 
 1836, and 1837, he was reflected to the same office. 
 In 1845 and 1846 he represented the county of Suf- 
 folk in the. Senate of his state, and in the session of 
 1846 he was chairman of the standing committee on 
 accounts. As a legislator he was modest, seldom speak- 
 ing, never at length ; yet he was ever found punctual 
 in his place. He always examined carefully every 
 subject requiring action, and voted as his intelligence 
 and conscience dictated, whether alone or with the 
 multitude. He was a very close observer of all that 
 occurred ; so that, with his characteristic good sense 
 and sound judgment, though a more than ordinary 
 silent, yet he was a more than ordinary efficient and 
 useful member of each house in its turn. 
 
 " But he did not content himself with exerting an 
 influence in this one direction alone. He labored in 
 1833, at the very commencement of his legislative 
 career, to secure the organization of a legislative tem- 
 perance society ; and very soon he had the joy of com- 
 plete success. His excellency, the governor, signed 
 the temperance pledge, in imitation of whose good 
 example many members of both houses signed it also ; 
 and a series of legislative temperance meetings in 
 the representatives' hall was inaugurated, which have 
 been continued at every session until the present 
 time. 
 
 " Still further true to his instincts as a Christian, in
 
 280 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 1836 he invited all the members of both branches, who 
 were so disposed, to come on Saturday evening to his 
 house, for a season of prayer. And the meeting thus 
 begun was continued every week during that and 
 the session of 1837. Then, comparatively few of the 
 members of either house returned to their homes to 
 spend the Sabbath. This prayer meeting afforded a 
 delightful and useful mode of occupying Saturday 
 evenings, of which many availed themselves. It was 
 every way agreeable to him, and very pleasant to 
 them." 
 
 An incident occurred while Mr. Safford was in the 
 Senate which has been related to us to illustrate his 
 habitual courtesy and kindness toward all, without 
 distinction. A carpenter, who had a large family 
 depending upon his daily labor for support, was 
 without employment, and felt much depressed on 
 that account. He says, " As I was passing down Park 
 Street one day I was overtaken by Mr. Safford. He 
 saluted me in his usual pleasant manner, and then 
 observed, ' You look sad ; is business dull ? ' Finding 
 he had judged correctly, he immediately passed his arm 
 within mine, and drew from me a statement of my 
 affairs. He walked on, expressing interest and sym- 
 pathy, suggesting a course to me which he thought 
 would relieve me from my embarrassment, and prom- 
 ised to use his influence in my favor. It was in the 
 middle of the day, and I was in my working dress ; 
 it was in a public part of the city, and he was con- 
 stantly being saluted by his friends. I became very 
 uneasy, because I thought that I must be subjecting 
 him to mortification, and made more than one effort to 
 drop his arm. At length he paused, and, in a tone
 
 BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LIFE. 281 
 
 of pleasantry, said, ' What is the matter ? Are you 
 ashamed to be seen walking with me ? ' 
 
 Besides his services in the legislature, Mr. Safford 
 was often called to arbitrate in cases of difficulty be- 
 tween neighbors and friends, to settle estates, and to 
 advise in the adjustment of family differences. " He 
 was," says a ministerial friend, " early known as a 
 peacemaker. Being from principle and habit thorough 
 in investigation, naturally self-possessed and independ- 
 ent in his opinions, and withal so affectionate and 
 accessible, he easily secured the confidence he so pre- 
 eminently deserved, and which he never betrayed. 
 Patiently and attentively hearing the statements of all 
 sides in the controversy, he invited and secured the 
 confidence of each of the parties, and thus, when in 
 possession of all the facts, his clear, sound judgment 
 enabled him to draw the lines, and usually bring the 
 contending parties together. 
 
 " Such qualities fitted him for great usefulness and 
 great influence in ecclesiastical councils, where he was 
 frequently called. Few laymen or clergymen ever had 
 more influence in these bodies than he, when it seemed 
 to him some important principle was at issue and en- 
 dangered, for the rescue of which he ought to exert 
 himself. He talked less than most, but his utterances 
 usually carried conviction that few could produce or 
 resist. 
 
 " He was a member of an ecclesiastical council a 
 few years previous to his death, when an excommuni- 
 cated member complained that the church, under the 
 ruling of the pastor, had proceeded quite contrary to 
 the rules of Congregationalism, and had thus wrong- 
 fully cut him off. To sustain the complainant, who 
 
 24*
 
 282 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 was evidently in the wrong, to say the least, would 
 implicate the pastor, who had as evidently gone quite 
 beyond his prerogatives. The testimony was full and 
 clear on both those points. The case was skillfully 
 managed on the part of the church and its pastor. 
 There was a full discussion by the council when by 
 themselves. By appointment, a former pastor of Dea- 
 con Safford prepared a result entirely exonerating the 
 minister, and made an earnest speech in its defense. 
 No one immediately replying, Deacon Safford arose, 
 and in a few fitting words expressed his high respect 
 for ministers of the gospel, and his great reluctance, 
 by word or vote, to cast even a seeming censure upon 
 any of them ; ' but truth,' he added, ' has higher 
 claims than they.' In a few forcible and plain sen- 
 tences he presented the case as it seemed to him, and 
 as it was in fact ; he gave the reasons why he could 
 not vote for the result as it had been presented ; and 
 closed by saying, if it was adopted, he should insist 
 upon having his protest entered upon the minutes of 
 the council, and that as much for the sake of the min- 
 istry as for the party now aggrieved. As soon as he 
 sat down, the author of the result, whispering to the 
 brother who was sitting near him, said, ' There is no 
 such thing as resisting Deacon Safford's common sense 
 logic.' Another result was quickly prepared, in ac- 
 cordance with the views Deacon Safford had expressed, 
 and it was at once unanimously adopted."
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 283 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 
 
 Efforts to gather the Poor into Places of Worship. Elected President of 
 the City Missionary Society. Deacon Farnsworth's Statement. How 
 to preserve Health. Extracts from private Journal. " Deacon Safffcrd's 
 Party." Statement of Deacon Gushing. Member of the Prudential 
 Committee of the A. B. C. F. M. Rev. Mr. Treat's Statement. Di- 
 rector of the House of Industry. Old Ladies' Home, &c. 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the success which had attended the 
 enterprise of founding Mount Yernon Church, there 
 was one cherished object which Mr. Safford did not at 
 once see accomplished so fully as he wished. The 
 poor had not been gathered in. There were empty 
 seats in the Sabbath school, and also in the church, 
 which he earnestly desired should be filled by them. 
 He was not sure that the majority of the church would 
 approve of this," as the prevailing policy seemed to be 
 to gather such into mission schools by themselves. It 
 was at his own suggestion that a vote was taken by the 
 church on this subject, and found to be in favor of tho 
 measure. In this his heart rejoiced. Returning from 
 the meeting, he said, " Now wo will fill all our vacant 
 seats with the poor." Several young persons enlisted 
 in the undertaking. The mission circle at that time 
 were devoting their contributions to sustain labor for 
 the Grand Ligne mission, in Canada ; but they re- 
 solved to combine with it the clothing of poor children,
 
 284 .MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 and the managers entered at once into the field. Mr. 
 Safford interested himself very much in these efforts, 
 engaging in them personally, becoming himself that 
 winter a true city missionary. Prom sixty to seventy 
 children were gathered into the Sabbath school, and a 
 number of the parents came to church. Often they 
 were seen seated upon the steps of the gallery pews, 
 all the seats being filled.* 
 
 As he looked around upon this pleasant sight, Mr. 
 Safford said, " Now I believe God will bless Mount 
 Yernon Church." He found, in his walks among the 
 poor this winter, five heads of families who were intem- 
 perate. These he persuaded to sign the temperance 
 pledge, and visited them repeatedly, often upon the 
 Sabbath, to encourage them to keep .the day holy. 
 Of twelve families thus brought to church, four of the 
 parents had long been drunkards. Among them was 
 a valuable engineer in a manufacturing establishment, 
 who had not before attended church for eleven years, 
 and for eighteen years had been in the habit of spend- 
 ing the Sabbath in drinking. Mr. Safford' s efforts 
 with this man resulted in his becoming permanently 
 temperate, and an habitual attendant' on divine wor- 
 ship, with his family, hiring a pew himself. The man 
 also induced his employer, and all his fellow- workmen, 
 several of whom, like himself, had been intemperate, 
 to sign the pledge. 
 
 Many of the poor children thus gathered were al- 
 lowed to come to Mr. Safford's house in the morning 
 
 * One Sabbath morning, a young Irish woman appeared in the 
 porch, with her baby in her arms. She insisted that the sexton 
 should take her to Mr. Safford's own pew. "Himself invited me; 
 indade he did."
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 285 
 
 of the Sabbath, to be washed and dressed ; aiid more 
 than a dozen of the rudest boys during the season 
 spent the intermission there, and were provided with 
 their dinner, to secure their attendance at church in 
 the afternoon. These children were from the very 
 lowest grade of society. At first, when in his house 
 they were noisy, and on being let out, on their way to 
 church, the boys would shout and whistle, and the 
 little girls would sing, some running on before him, 
 and some in the rear. In the school they did not 
 know how to behave properly ^ for they were wholly 
 uncivilized. 
 
 Mr. Safford's attention had never before been so thor- 
 oughly awakened to the duty of the churches toward 
 this class of people in our large towns and cities. He 
 could not approve the policy of erecting elegant houses 
 of worship, and then sitting down in them to enjoy 
 the blessed hopes and privileges of the gospel, while 
 the poor heathen at the door of these sanctuaries were 
 left to perish. Often did he express the fear that the 
 church was satisfying herself with contributing in 
 money for distant millions, for whose good others 
 were toiling. He deemed it a duty not only to semi 
 the gospel, but to take it also ourselves to the perishing 
 within our reach, wherever they were accessible. 
 
 In 1850 Mr. Safford was elected president of the 
 City Missionary Society of Boston, which office he held 
 until his death. He entered upon its duties with 
 great interest and diligence. His predecessor in it 
 Deacon Farnsworth says, 
 
 " My long acquaintance with him, extending back 
 to the organization of the Franklin Street Church, in 
 1835, has left upon my mind a deep impression of the
 
 286 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 power of example. At the time Deacon Safford as- 
 sumed this office I saw a good deal of him, and talked 
 freely with him. I believe I was the first to suggest 
 him as a most suitable person for it, if he could be 
 induced to take the position. I well remember the 
 remark made to me by Mrs. Safford soon after his 
 acceptance of the office : ' I am greatly obliged to you 
 for getting my husband into business.' This remark 
 expressed what was emphatically true, viz., that with 
 Deacon Saiford the service of God was the business 
 of his life ; and to that simple fact, it appears to me, 
 we can attribute the unusually large amount of good 
 which he was enabled to accomplish. His connection 
 with the City Missionary Society was a most important 
 event. In this labor his whole soul was engaged, and 
 his prudent, judicious, beautifully symmetrical Chris- 
 tian character was fully and most favorably exhibited." 
 After entering upon these labors, he met one day in 
 the street a retired merchant, who took him by the 
 hand, and said, " Mr. Safford, how well and cheerful 
 you look ! You must be in perfect health." " I was 
 never in better health," he replied. " Will you tell 
 me," said the gentleman, " how it is that you keep 
 your health and spirits so good? What do you do 
 with yourself, now that you have no business ? / am 
 often at a loss what to do ; my time passes heavily, my 
 health suffers, and I frequently wish myself back in 
 my business again." Mr. Safford answered, " I was 
 never more pressed for time than I am now, and if you 
 will spend one day with me, you shall see what I do 
 with myself. There are thousands of poor, neglected 
 children in the city ; our missionaries are looking after 
 them, and I am now on my way to Kilby Street, to
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 287 
 
 receive the contributions in goods of some of our mer- 
 chants, to aid in clothing them, that they may attend 
 the day and Sunday schools. This is a specimen of 
 the employments which occupy my time in these days." 
 The following memoranda of the labors of a single 
 month, copied from his private record, will show more 
 fully the nature of these employments : 
 
 " March 7, 1850. Commenced a neighborhood 
 meeting among the colored people in May Street, as- 
 sisted by Deacon K. ; room full ; three appeared anx- 
 ious for their souls' salvation. 
 
 " 8th. Distributed tracts in West Margin Street. 
 Most of the inhabitants Roman Catholics ; all but two 
 received tracts ; saw the heads of all the families, and 
 had more or less conversation with all. 
 
 " 9th. Called on Mr. Samuel Lawrence, who sub- 
 scribed fifty dollars for city missions, and said he weuld 
 find employment for at least fifty boys, and as many 
 girls, from fourteen to twenty years of age. 
 
 " IQth. Induced a family of seven, including a 
 father, mother, and five children, to attend Bowdoin 
 Street Church and Sabbath school, after they had been 
 clothed by a company of ladies who met at our house 
 on Friday last. 
 
 " llth. Weather cold and clear ; visited Dr. C. in 
 the evening ; bought one share in Boston and Sand- 
 wich Glass Company, for Rev. Mr. H. ; par value, one 
 hundred dollars ; cost ninety-two dollars and a half.* 
 
 Mr. Safford was often employed by clergymen, as well as wid- 
 ows, minor children, domestics, and others, to invest for them their
 
 288 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 " 15th. Found a family, consisting of a father, 
 mother, two sons, and three daughters, who arrived 
 here from Ireland about nine months since. All are 
 members of the Episcopal church, but being strangers, 
 had not found a house of worship where they could 
 have a seat. 
 
 " 16 th. Induced an intemperate man, who has a 
 wife and seven children, to sign a temperance pledge, 
 and found employment for him. 
 
 " Sunday, 1.7th. Went with the Episcopal family 
 found on Friday last to Christ's Church, in Salem 
 Street, and obtained a good pew for them, free of 
 expense, and gave them a letter to the rector of that 
 church. Also carried two children into the Bowdoin 
 school. 
 
 " ~L8th. In the evening attended a meeting at No. 6 
 North Charles Street ; sixteen present, in all ; most of 
 them do not attend church any where ; left the meet- 
 ing in charge of brothers B. and B., who will attend it 
 in future. 
 
 Spent the day. in collecting for the society, 
 and in writing. 
 
 " 20th. Spent a part of the day in getting subscrip- 
 tions for the City Missionary Society, and a part in vis- 
 iting the poor. 
 
 " 21st. Found an American family that did not 
 attend any church. They appeared thankful for the 
 offer of a pew, and agreed to go next Sabbath. Ap- 
 
 small funds ; and it was mentioned by him with much satisfaction, 
 near the close of his life, that only in a single case was any loss 
 incurred from these investments.
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 289 
 
 pointed a weekly evening meeting at Mr. Nixon's, five 
 houses back of 34 South Margin Street, Tuesday 
 evenings, at half past seven o'clock. 
 
 Spent the day in visiting and collecting. In 
 the evening, presided at the church meeting, the pastor 
 being sick. 
 
 " 23d. Snow storm all day ; collected a hundred 
 and fifty dollars from a friend of missions." 
 
 The officers of the City Missionary Society included 
 all the Trinitarian Congregational pastors in the city, 
 and one layman from each of their churches. To 
 secure their attendance, and keep alive their interest 
 in the society, every February during the six years of 
 Mr. Saffbrd's connection with it, he invited them, with 
 their wives, to spend an evening at his house. This 
 was the annual meeting of the board of managers for 
 organization, choice of committees, and transaction of 
 other business. 
 
 While the- gentlemen were thus engaged, the ladies 
 held a meeting for prayer, in another apartment. 
 After a year or two, the missionaries in the employ- 
 ment of the board were also invited to be present, and 
 numerous other guests who were interested, or whom 
 Mr. Saffbrd desired to interest in the cause. 
 
 After the business and the prayer meeting, a short 
 time was given for social conversation ; the serving of 
 supper followed ; and then the guests all assembled in 
 the parlors, and listened to short statements from some 
 of the missionaries, intermingled witli addresses from 
 others, and the exercises closed with united praise and 
 prayer. This was called " Mr. Snffonfs party" 
 
 25
 
 290 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 A fuller account of the society, and of Mr. Safford's 
 connection with it, has been kindly furnished by a 
 gentleman who was associated with him in this work. 
 
 " This society was organized in 1816, under the 
 name of ' The Boston Society for the Religious and 
 Moral Instruction of the Poor.' It had been very effi- 
 cient in its efforts for the spiritual welfare of the city, 
 in the organization of Sabbath schools, the distribution 
 of tracts, sustaining preaching for sailors, and chapels 
 for the poor, and in kindred labors ; but for several 
 years its operations had been limited, its policy had 
 been frequently changed, and the interest of the 
 churches in its work had greatly diminished. 
 
 " The election of Mr. Safford to its presidency 
 marked a new era in its history. He devoted himself 
 with assiduity and energy to the promotion of its in- 
 terests, and under his direction its operations were 
 greatly extended, and its efficiency increased beyond 
 that of any former period. The receipts of the society 
 rose from twenty-eight hundred to eighty-five hundred 
 dollars per annum, and the number of missionaries 
 employed, from two to twenty-two. 
 
 " He was remarkable for order and system in all his 
 personal affairs, and he saw at once that these were 
 especially necessary in extended missionary efforts. 
 The fields of labor, the results sought to be secured, 
 and the instruments and influences to be used, were 
 clearly defined. Books of record and forms of reports 
 were introduced, so that the labors of the missionaries, 
 properly classified, might be known from month to 
 month ; and the missionaries were thus made to feel 
 their responsibility, not only to God, but to the society 
 under whose direction they labored. All the opera-
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 291 
 
 tions of the society were brought under strict and con- 
 stant supervision. 
 
 " Perhaps the most important measure secured by 
 his influence was the employment of female mission- 
 aries. He saw at once that devoted, pious women 
 would exert an influence for good, especially over 
 females and children, in many families where male 
 missionaries would not be admitted, or, being admitted, 
 would fail to secure the confidence of those visited ; 
 that the gentleness and sympathy of woman peculiarly 
 fitted her to visit the sick and suffering poor. The 
 results have proved the wisdom of the measure. Two 
 thirds of the missionaries now employed by this soci- 
 ety are females, and its recent reports show that much 
 of its success results from their labors. 
 
 " There was one strong desire of his heart which he 
 failed to secure the union of all evangelical Chris- 
 tians in this good work. He always felt that there 
 should be nothing sectarian in its character. The 
 society, at his suggestion, employed missionaries of 
 different denominations, and his instructions, to them, 
 as to the manner and spirit in which they should pros- 
 ecute their work, were always remarkable for their 
 catholicity.* He spent much time in laboring to 
 induce the evangelical churches of different denomina- 
 
 * Evidence of his truly catholic spirit is seen in an effort he made 
 as early as 1834. A young man, who was preparing for the ministry 
 in the Baptist Theological Seminary at Newton, was in the habit of 
 coming into Boston on Saturday, and superintending a Sunday 
 school in Broad Street, composed of Irish Roman Catholic children. 
 His labors attracted the attention of Mr. Safford, and he said, " That 
 young man must be brought into the city ; he has the right spirit, 
 and is just the man for a city missionary." lie addressed a note to
 
 292 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 tions to unite as one in missionary operations among 
 the poor and neglected classes ; but in this he was not 
 successful. Only one church was induced to unite 
 with this society before his death, though another has 
 since followed its example. If any man could have 
 secured such a union, it was Mr. Safford ; for none ever 
 possessed more fully the confidence and affection of 
 Christians of all denominations ; but the time had not 
 yet come. He always rejoiced in the belief that it 
 was coming. 
 
 " His heart and his hand were always open for the 
 poor, and he never turned a deaf ear to the tales of 
 suffering and sorrow which the missionaries brought 
 to his notice. Their ' poor's purse ' was seldom empty, 
 for he had such influence in the community, without 
 regard to sect, that men gave liberally when he told 
 them of want and destitution. All believed that- what- 
 ever went through his hand would be well bestowed, 
 and men who had little sympathy with his religious 
 views confided in him as their almoner, and did 
 not doubt that others, under his direction, must be 
 discreet. 
 
 him, asking him whether, when his course in the Seminary should be 
 finished, he would accept the position, provided his support could be 
 secured to him. This letter he showed to a friend, who took the hint 
 and raised a subscription. Mr. H. came ; continued his labors in 
 Broad Street, opened another school in Commercial Street, out of 
 which grew the Baptist Bethel, and a third in Chambers Street, which 
 originated a church, of which he became the pastor, containing more 
 than three hundred members, who were nearly all converted under 
 his ministry. When directing the efforts of the missionaries, Mr. 
 Safford always desired them to gather the families into the nearest 
 evangelical church which would receive them, without regard to the 
 denomination.
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 293 
 
 " He met with the missionaries, from week to week, 
 for prayer and mutual counsel. He sympathized with 
 them in their difficulties and trials, rejoiced with them 
 in their successes, and commended them and the ob- 
 jects of their labor to God in fervent prayer. They 
 loved him as a brother, and respected him as a father. 
 His benignant countenance, the warm grasp of his 
 hand, and words of cheerful greeting, were as a cor- 
 dial, refreshing them when weary and worn with care 
 and labor ; and they went from his presence with re- 
 newed courage and love for* the work of visiting the 
 poor, relieving their sufferings, and pointing them to 
 Him who, * though lie was rich, for their sakes became 
 poor, that they through his poverty might be rich.' ' 
 
 In 1852 Mr. Safford was elected a member of the 
 prudential committee of the American Board of Com- 
 missioners for Foreign Missions, and continued as such 
 till his death. Of his character and services in this 
 capacity, Rev. Mr. Treat, one of the secretaries, writes 
 as follows : 
 
 " No one can expect to reach the highest point of 
 usefulness as a member of the prudential committee, 
 till he has been an attendant upon its meetings for a 
 number of years. The questions which we are called 
 to consider* and decide have certain relations, for 
 the most part, to other questions which have gone 
 before. There is a history of facts, as also a history 
 of principles, which needs to be mastered in order to 
 the formation of a reliable judgment. Deacon Safford 
 felt this difficulty, as others had felt it, and waited 
 patiently for the knowledge that should enable him to 
 take a more active part in our deliberations. 
 
 " His opinions were becoming inoro and more val-
 
 294 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SA'FFORD. 
 
 liable every year, and, had he enjoyed the long train- 
 ing of some of his associates, he would have been very 
 useful. If I were to specify the mental attribute 
 which seemed to me most conspicuous, I should say 
 that it was ' common sense.' His manner of looking 
 at questions was simple and practical. He was never 
 hasty in his judgments ; on the contrary, in cases 
 which he did not fully understand, as he supposed, he 
 was sure to say but little. But when he had satis- 
 fied himself, after dire reflection, there was no hes- 
 itancy. Nothing, I am sure, could have induced him 
 to deviate from the path of rectitude. 
 
 " In justice to Deacon Safford, it should be stated 
 that he was always prompt, always courteous, always 
 ready to do whatever was assigned to him. Our re- 
 membrance of him is exceedingly pleasant. There is 
 great need of just such men in all our churches, as 
 well as in our benevolent organizations. Would that 
 there were more of them." 
 
 Mr. Safford's connection with this committee awa- 
 kened in him feelings of strong attachment and deep 
 sympathy for the members of the board. He often 
 spoke of the weight of responsibility devolving upon 
 them, the great variety of matter coining before them 
 in their weekly sessions, to which they gave so freely 
 their time and absorbing attention, and " all for love, 
 and nothing for reward." He used to say, " How little 
 do those who contribute only their money to this cause 
 know commonly of the perplexing and harassing ques- 
 tions to be decided by this committee ! " Especially 
 was his mind impressed, as he observed the weight of 
 care and anxiety connected with the office of the sec- 
 retaries. His feelings toward the senior secretary
 
 CONNECTION WITH BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 295 
 
 are indicated iiTthe following letter written by him 
 while in Europe, in view of an effort then in progress 
 for securing to that officer the unembarrassed owner- 
 ship of his house, which enterprise, through the favor 
 of Providence, was completely successful. The letter 
 was addressed to Henry Hill, Esq., Boston. 
 
 MILAN, September 7, 1855. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER : I am glad to learn that some 
 effort is making for the payment of Dr. Anderson's 
 debt, [for his house.] When I consider how long, 
 how steadily, how earnestly, how ably, and ho*w suc- 
 cessfully he has labored to carry out the last expressed 
 desire of our adorable Saviour ; how he has ever been 
 willing " to spend and be spent " that the gospel might 
 be preached to the heathen ; and when I think what 
 his talents might have commanded in some other 
 sphere, I agree fully in the opinion that the whole debt 
 of four thousand dollars might and should be paid by 
 the friends of Dr. Anderson ; and it should be done 
 without much delay, that he may have the comfort of 
 thinking, if he should be taken away by death, that 
 his family would not be left without a shelter. It does 
 appear to me that if some judicious, proper person 
 would assist you in this matter, it might be done in a 
 few weeks, and in a way not materially to affect other 
 charitable objects. To encourage a speedy effort, I 
 will pay one hundred dollars for each thousand that 
 shall be subscribed for this object before January next, 
 an<J I do sincerely hope the whole amount will be 
 raised. When any sum becomes due from me on the 
 conditions above named, you may call on Deacon 
 Palmer for the money, and show him this letter, which
 
 296 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 will be a sufficient order on him for the amount thus 
 due. Yours truly, 
 
 DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Besides his connection with these institutions of be- 
 nevolence, he was, for several years, a director of the 
 House of Industry, and a member, and one of the 
 vice presidents,- of the board of directors of the Insti- 
 tution for Aged and Indigent Females, to which he 
 had contributed five hundred dollars. He was also 
 for many years a director of the Penitent Females' 
 Refuge, and connected, more or less intimately, with 
 various other charitable societies for the relief of the 
 needy, and the promotion of the cause of the Re- 
 deemer
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 297 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 
 
 Impaired Health.-^ Journey to the Western States. To Canada. With 
 Mrs. Reid, to Rhode Island. Second Voyage to Europe. Liverpool. 
 
 Chester. Dublin. Cork. Lakes of Killarney. Belfast. Glasgow. 
 
 Edinburgh. The Highlands. London. Paris. Brussels. Aix. 
 The Rhine. Frankfort. The Salt Mines. Munich Through Swit- 
 zerland to Italy. Milan. Verona. Venice. Florence. Leghorn. 
 Rome. Naples. Marseilles. Homeward Voyage. 
 
 AFTER Mr. Safford had spent three successive win- 
 ters in the legislature, his health was found to be much 
 impaired. The difficulty in his heart, from which he 
 had suffered more or less for many years, had increased 
 to an alarming degree, owing, it was thought, to pro- 
 tracted sittings in a crowded house, without proper 
 ventilation, it being previous to the enlargement of the 
 session chamber. His physician advised that he should 
 spend his summers thereafter in traveling, as the means 
 most likely to prolong his life. Of this he had hereto- 
 fore done little, except for purposes of business. His 
 occupations had been too numerous, and his interest 
 in them too deep, to permit it. He would, indeed, 
 have enjoyed journeying very much ; but before he 
 could decide thus to spend time and money, there 
 must be some object out of himself more weighty than 
 his own gratification. He often said, " I should never 
 leave Boston in the summer, or make any change, on 
 my own account."
 
 298 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Acting under this advice of his physician, he now 
 planned a journey for health, yet blending with it 
 efforts for the benefit of others. Miss Lyon, of the 
 Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, was at this time 
 greatly worn, both in body and ;nmd, and in need of 
 the relaxation of a journey ; and he desired also to 
 visit a relative in the west, who was reduced'in circum- 
 stances, and had not been heard from for a long time. 
 Accordingly, at his invitation, Miss Lyon accompanied 
 him and Mrs. Safford, by way of Niagara Falls, as far 
 as Ohio, where she stopped with a brother. After much 
 inquiry, Mr. and Mrs. Safford found their lost relative 
 in the wilderness of Michigan, in a condition to greatly 
 need their advice and aid. He accordingly added this 
 family to the many already dependent upon him ; pur- 
 chased a house the use of which he gave them free of 
 rent, and during the remaining years of his life was 
 a father to them, taking afterward several journeys on 
 their account. At this time he passed through the 
 States of Michigan and Illinois by stage coach as far as 
 Quincy, then down the Mississippi to St. Louis, and 
 from thence to Guyandotte, and through the State of 
 Virginia, to "Washington. His health was much ben- 
 efited by this journey of several thousand miles, occu- 
 pying more than two months. 
 
 The next summer he visited Canada, spending two 
 or three weeks in the mission at Grand Ligne, and 
 encouraging the hearts and strengthening the hands 
 of the missionary laborers in that field. In 1844 
 the health of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Reid, who had 
 been a very devoted Christian woman, and, as a min- 
 ister's wife, indefatigable in her endeavors for the good 
 of others, was found to be rapidly declining. He
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 299 
 
 had little hope of a permanent restoration, but ear- 
 nestly desired to do what he could to render her re-' 
 mainiiig days as comfortable as possible ; and this 
 summer he planned his journey with reference to her, 
 inviting her and her son to accompany him at his own 
 expense ; and after her return, hearing that her pros- 
 pect of recovery was still diminishing, he took a jour- 
 ney in his chaise to Tiverton, Rhode Island, then the 
 place of her residence, provided a nurse for her, and 
 continued his kind attentions till her death in the Feb- 
 ruary following. 
 
 In 1846, as already recounted, he accompanied his 
 pastor, Dr. Kirk, to Europe, as a delegate to the 
 World's Evangelical Alliance. 
 
 In 1853 he again crossed the Atlantic, with his wife, 
 whose health was delicate, and who, it was hoped, 
 might be benefited by the voyage. Some of the par- 
 ticulars of it are subjoined, taken mostly from his 
 journal and letters. 
 
 Monday, May ll//*, 1853. Left, in steamer Can- 
 ada, for Liverpool, with Mrs. Safford. The weather 
 on Wednesday and Thursday was mild and pleasant, 
 and the sea uncommonly smooth. At night a thick 
 fog coming up delayed our arrival at Halifax until six 
 A. M. on Friday. During the four or five days fol- 
 lowing the weather was cold and stormy. On the 18th, 
 weather clear, but not cold, so that we were able to 
 remain on deck. During the greater part of the pas- 
 sage, however, many of the gentlemen, and most of 
 the ladies, were seasick ; many, including Mrs. Saffbrd, 
 being confined to the cabin. I have not been sick my- 
 self, although we had at one time a heavy blow from
 
 300 MEMOIR OP DANIEL "SAFFORD. 
 
 the south-west, which tossed the vessel about like an 
 egg shell. On the whole, the passage was a more fa- 
 vorable one than the former. 
 
 We arrived at Liverpool Dock at ten o'clock on 
 Sunday morning, eleven days from Boston. At noon, 
 found ourselves most comfortably established in Mrs. 
 Blodgett's excellent boarding-house. As it was too 
 late for the morning service, we rested until evening, 
 when we attended the church of Dr. Raffles. A col- 
 lection was taken for the Liverpool Town Missionary 
 Society, which employs twenty-four lay missionaries, in 
 a manner similar to the Boston society. 
 
 23d. Walked about the town, and were much 
 pleased with the cleanliness of the streets and the gen-' 
 eral order which prevailed, as well as with the public 
 buildings, and many of the warehouses, especially 
 those in Bold Street. After dinner, Mr. and Mrs. J. 
 called with their carriage, and gave us a delightful 
 drive of some fifteen miles about the suburbs, through 
 a country in the highest state of cultivation, and hav- 
 ing many splendid residences. 
 
 25A. Left for Dublin at ten A. M., via Chester, 
 Bangor, and Holyhead. Stopped a few hours at Ches- 
 ter, an old walled city of thirty thousand inhabitants. 
 Visited the cathedral, nearly eight hundred years old. 
 Portions of it had crumbled to ruins, and were re- 
 paired about eighty years ago. A part of the original 
 walls are still standing, though probably not a particle 
 of the original surface is left. St v John's Church, as 
 appears from an inscription on the wall, was built A. D. 
 689, and is now, therefore, eleven hundred and sixty- 
 three years old. Much of the building is in ruins,
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 301 
 
 though a portion has been repaired, and is used as a 
 place of worship. At Bangor, visited the suspension 
 and tubular bridges across the Menai Straits. Each 
 span is four hundred feet in length, and more than 
 one hundred feet above high water. Visited*Coiiway 
 and Penrhyn Castles, and the Penrhyn slate quarry, 
 where three thousand hands are employed. I was 
 very much interested in it. Left Bangor on Thursday, 
 at five P. M., and arrived at Dublin, by steamer from 
 Holyhead, at twelve o'clock the same night. 
 
 Dublin, 26th. During the day looked about the 
 town, and in the evening attended a social meeting of 
 the Evangelical Alliance, where about two hundred 
 ladies and gentlemen were assembled from different 
 countries. After a cup of tea and some plain cake, 
 the evening was passed in devotional exercises, familiar 
 conversation, and hearing the statements of persons 
 from other lands, some of whom are visiting Dublin 
 on account of the great Exhibition, which is just 
 opened. The Rev. Mr. Roussel, of Paris, was present, 
 and related what had been done there. Two gentle- 
 men from Scotland spoke, together with myself. I 
 gave some account of the City Missionary Society, in 
 Boston, which awakened much interest, especially in 
 reference to the Irish Roman Catholics, and the em- 
 ployment of women in the work, which was a new fea- 
 ture to them. Having been deprived of the social 
 meetings of the church for some weeks, it was like a 
 green spot in the desert thus to meet with some two 
 hundred warm-hearted Christians of different denom- 
 inations r and to join with them in singing the hymn, 
 " There is a land of pure delight," &c. 
 
 26
 
 302 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 2Sth. Made an excursion through County Wicklow, 
 where much of the scenery is beautiful beyond de- 
 scription. Visited Bray, Glenmore, Glen of the 
 Downs, Dargle, &c. Returning, took tea and passed 
 the evening with Rev. Mr. King, meeting Mr. Roussel, 
 of Paris, and others. 
 
 Sabbath, *2&th. At twelve o'clock went to the Rev. 
 Dr. Elkins' Independent Church, and, upon invitation, 
 partook of the Lord's supper. Our names were pub- 
 licly announced, and we were welcomed. The church 
 to which we belonged, and our pastor, were particularly 
 remembered in prayer ; the services were about three 
 hours long ; preaching extemporaneous, and very good. 
 
 Started by railway for Cork, one hundred 
 and sixty-five miles, through the counties of Kildare, 
 Queen's, Kilkenny, and Limerick, observing on our 
 way many ruins of castles, towers, churches, and other 
 objects of interest. Some of the round towers are 
 supposed to be more than two thousand years old. 
 One, from one hundred to one hundred and fifty feet 
 high, appears to be in perfect order and preservation. 
 The land in the south of Ireland is generally very 
 good much better than in the northern part ; but in 
 some large districts, it is lying waste, or nearly so. 
 The mud houses, in which all of the poorer class live, 
 are usually without windows, or any light, except what 
 may come through the open door. Many are fallen 
 down, and their inhabitants gone to America or to the 
 poorhouses. 
 
 In Cork, I visited the County Jail, Lunatic Asylum, 
 Ragged Industrial School, and Poorhouse, all of 
 which are objects of much interest. In the latter are
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 303 
 
 more than four thousand persons, many of whom are 
 the most horrible and distressed objects I have ever 
 seen. In the hospital there are seventeen hundred 
 persons, with all manner of diseases, and some dying 
 almost hourly. 
 
 The country around Cork is most beautiful. There 
 are many fine residences, the grounds about which are 
 enchanting. Americans are evidently much respected 
 and honored by Irish gentlemen and ladies. Our own 
 treatment in Cork is in proof. We went without let- 
 ters of introduction to any one ; we stopped at the 
 Imperial Hotel, kept by a Scotch lady, who had gone 
 to London, leaving in charge a daughter, a very in- 
 teresting and intelligent lady. We inquired of her 
 about the Independent and Presbyterian Churches and 
 pastors. Learning we were from America, she invited 
 us to take seats in her carriage after dinner, drive 
 about the city, and call on her pastor, of the Presbyte- 
 rian Church, which we readily accepted. When we 
 came out from dinner, we found the minister of the 
 Independent Church, and one of his deacons, waiting 
 to see us. The deacon said his family were expecting 
 us to take tea with them, a little out of the city, and 
 would suit our convenience as to the hour. This we 
 agreed to do at seven o'clock. On arriving at the gate, 
 which was opened by the porter, we drove through a 
 circuitous road, shaded by trees, to his mansion. 
 After tea, family worship, and two or three hours of 
 pleasant conversation, and some music from the daugh- 
 ter, we were accompanied by the pastor to our hotel. 
 On leaving us, he said we were expected to breakfast 
 with Deacon McMullen (another of his deacons) at 
 nine o'clock the next morning, and he would call for
 
 MEMOIR OF DANIEL S AFFORD. 
 
 us. Accordingly, at the time appointed, he came, and 
 walked with us about a mile and a half to the house 
 of Deacon M. Most of the way was shaded by a thick 
 row of trees on either side, and on one a beautiful 
 stream of water, clear as crystal. We ascended the 
 side of the hill, which runs the whole length of the 
 city, to the deacon's house, from which we had a fine 
 view, both of the city and surrounding country. Here 
 we were very cordially received by the family, and two 
 mothers in Israel, who had been invited there. After 
 breakfast, family worship, and about two hours of 
 familiar conversation, most of which had a religious 
 tendency, and which made us feel much at home, we 
 were told the carriage was at the door, and we were in- 
 vited to ride with the deacon to Blarney Castle, which 
 we explored with great interest, and returned in time 
 for dinner with them at five o'clock. After this we 
 went to the chapel, and heard the Rev. Mr. Henderson 
 preach his usual weekly lecture an excellent extem- 
 poraneous discourse. After the lecture, we were in- 
 vited to take tea at the house of two maiden ladies, 
 whom I shall call Martha and Mary. Here we found 
 the pastor, deacons, and other members of the church, 
 and some Episcopalians and Presbyterians, to the num- 
 ber of forty or fifty, in a very large room. The good 
 ladies were very particular to place their pastor at one 
 end of the room and myself at the other, and then 
 he began to question me about our church, social and 
 public meetings, how we admitted members, necessary 
 qualifications, &c., and all about our charitable insti- 
 tutions and missionary operations, all of which kept 
 me talking until eleven o'clock. The idea of female 
 prayer meetings was new to them. They were so
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 305 
 
 much interested, that, just before we left Cork, sev- 
 eral ladies came to our rooms at the hotel, and com- 
 menced a prayer meeting, which they intended to 
 continue. 
 
 Wednesday, June 1. We accepted an invitation 
 from our landlady to breakfast in her private parlor ; 
 after which, with a very agreeable party of eight per- 
 sons, including the pastor and his wife, and Deacon 
 and Mrs. McMullen, we took an excursion down the 
 river to Queenstown, which has one of the best har- 
 bors in the world. Along the banks of the river, and 
 shores of the harbor, the scenery was very beautiful. 
 In Cork, we visited the Ragged Industrial School. 
 The children are, or were, mostly Roman Catholic ; 
 some have no homes, but sleep in the streets or yards, 
 and most are but little better off. The teacher said 
 most of the boys were pickpockets. They have clean 
 hands and faces, but their clothes are ragged. They 
 seem to be attentive, and to be getting a good knowl- 
 edge of the Bible, which is read to them by the teach- 
 ers, a few verses at a time, explained, and then ques- 
 tions asked. The school is supported by a society, at 
 an expense of about eight hundred dollars per an- 
 num. When it was first opened, the Roman Catholic 
 priests came in front of the building, and cursed the 
 school and all who attended it, and large boys came 
 with clubs, to beat the boys and girls; but the 
 school was defended by the police, and now has rest 
 and quiet. 
 
 The county Jail is considered in this country a 
 model institution, and in neatness and order is quite 
 equal to any prison that I ever saw. Discipline, very 
 
 20*
 
 306 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 good, without much severity ; inmates, about six hun- 
 dred; they sleep in separate cells, and work in sep- 
 arate apartments. They grind their own corn, and 
 make their own clothing from the raw material, as in 
 the workhouse. 
 
 %d. After dinner, left by railway, and at seven ar- 
 rived at the Victoria Hotel, situated upon the shore of 
 the lower and larger of the lakes of Killarney. 
 
 3e?. Took a carriage and rode eight miles into the 
 great gap or gorge of the mountains, surrounded by 
 scenery the most wild and romantic. We were con- 
 stantly assailed by beggars, of all ages and descriptions, 
 and frequently by women and large girls, with a bottle 
 of goat's milk, and another of " mountain dew " 
 (whisky) for sale. In several places, our guide blew 
 his bugle, the echo of which among the mountains 
 surpassed any thing I ever heard, of the kind. In 
 several places, small cannon were discharged for the 
 sake of the echo. After leaving the carriage, we 
 walked about six miles through the gorge of the 
 mountain, to the head of the upper lake, where a large 
 four-oared row boat, which had been sent from our 
 hotel, was in waiting with our lunch, which we took 
 upon one of the numerous islands with which these 
 lakes abound. We were then rowed down about 
 twelve miles, through the upper, middle, and lower 
 lakes, among islands surrounded by mountains, some 
 of them more than a thousand feet high, and nearly 
 perpendicular. Upon their sides many eagles have 
 built their nests and rear their young. After return- 
 ing to our hotel, we rode about four miles to the ruins 
 of Muckross Abbey.
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 307 
 
 4th. Left Killarney at nine, and arrived at Dublin 
 at six P. M. 
 
 bth. Went to Independent Chapel, and heard a 
 Welsh preacher. Dined with Mr. King, Mr. Roussel 
 being still there. 
 
 6th. Arrived at Belfast at four P. M. After din- 
 ner visited Queen's College, and the Botanic Garden, 
 which is very beautiful ; also Mulholland's Linen 
 Spinning Mills, and the Ragged Industrial School, 
 where were about one hundred girls, poor and ragged, 
 some employed in making fine lace, under the instruc- 
 tion of a lady teacher from Belgium. 
 
 Slh. Arrived this morning at Glasgow, and took 
 rooms at Queen's Hotel ; visited the Cemetery, Cathe- 
 dral, <fec. 
 
 9th. At half past six A. M. left Glasgow for the 
 lakes and Highlands of Scotland ; passed down the 
 Clyde nine miles, then by railway to Loch Lomond, 
 then by steamer about twenty-five miles up the lake, 
 passing many beautiful islands. On landing, we walked 
 for half a mile up a hill too steep for a carriage, then 
 taking a mountain vehicle, rode about five miles, 
 through a wild and almost uninhabited mountain 
 country, rising higher and higher to the end of Loch 
 Katrine or Robens, and stopped at the Trosachs. 
 
 1.0th. At five o'clock in the morning left for Cal- 
 lender, on the Loch Denethan, and passing Donne 
 Castle and many objects of interest, at half past ten 
 o'clock arrived at Stirling. Here we visited the 
 castle where King James was secreted when an infant,
 
 308 MEMOIB OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 John Knox's pulpit, the room where James II. mur- 
 dered William, Earl of Douglas, and drove to Ban- 
 nockburn, and saw where the standard of Bruce was 
 planted. We left Stirling in the afternoon, and ar- 
 riv^d by steamer at Edinburgh this evening. 
 
 Sunday r , 12A. Rain all day ; in the morning at- 
 tended Dr. Alexander's church, (Independent ;) in the 
 afternoon went to Dr. Candlish's Free Presbyterian 
 Church, and heard him preach to a large and very 
 attentive audience. His voice, manner, and pronun- 
 ciation were so peculiar, that I found it very difficult to 
 understand enough to keep the run of his discourse ; 
 but from what I could understand, I should think it 
 was a very spiritual, earnest, and faithful sermon. 
 At half past six o'clock went to St. George's Pres- 
 byterian Church, and heard Dr. Malan, of Geneva. 
 His voice was strong and clear, and his manner com- 
 manding. 
 
 Liverpool, June 17. We are now awaiting the ar- 
 rival of our son and our pastor, who are on the way to 
 join "us in our tour on the continent. We have visited 
 some of the most wild and romantic parts of England, 
 Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and have experienced 
 many varieties of traveling, from the ocean steamer to 
 the lake row boat, and from the mail coacli of England 
 to the one-horse car of Ireland, and sometimes went 
 on foot where no carriage could pass. Although Mrs. 
 Safford has often been much fatigued, I think the 
 variety of air, exercise, and scenery, with the many 
 objects of interest we have visited, has given much 
 pleasure and been a decided benefit to her. 
 
 19//t. The Europa arrived yesterday evening, and
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 309 
 
 our friends have joined us. We walked this morning 
 to the Dingle, and heard an excellent sermon from the 
 Rev. Dr. McNeal, and in the evening attended Dr. 
 Raffles' church. A striking peculiarity here at this 
 season is the long twilight. At nine o'clock in the 
 evening we could see to read as well as at any other 
 time of the day. 
 
 Left London at eight A. M., and arrived at 
 Paris at eleven o'clock in the evening. Took a suit 
 of rooms at the Hotel Meurice, consisting of parlor, 
 three bed rooms, and dining rooms. Price, twelve 
 francs per day. The rooms are well fiuyiished, but 
 the floors have no carpets ; they are of dark wood, 
 kept well waxed. This process of waxing is performed 
 by persons sliding about with brushes attached to their 
 feet. It somewhat resembles skating, but is decidedly 
 more laborious. 
 
 Sunday, July 3. Attended church, morning and 
 evening, at the Methodist Episcopal Church ; services 
 in English ; partook of the sacrament with the church, 
 and passed the remainder of the day at home ; read 
 again " Christ is all," with a new interest. 
 
 Monday, IWi. The past few days were spent in 
 viewing the many objects of interest with which Paris 
 abounds, and in making various purchases. The 
 weather has been very warm. We obtained some light 
 French traveling trunks, and left our heavier luggage 
 at the hotel until our return. Left Paris by railway 
 this morning, and arrived at Brussels at half past 
 nine this evening. We are at the Hotel Bollevue, an 
 excellent house, witli a public square in front, and a
 
 310 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 large park in rear, with fine trees and walks, and a 
 pond containing thousands of goldfish. 
 
 Antwerp, ~L2th. This morning we drove to the field 
 of Waterloo, about twelve miles from Brussels, of 
 which we made a thorough examination with maps 
 and guides. Returned to town in time to visit a lace 
 factory, and the cathedral, and to take the five o'clock 
 train for this place. 
 
 13A. Drove about the city ; looked at the docks 
 and public works ; saw Mount Calvary, built princi- 
 pally of cinders set in cement ; here are groups of 
 men and wt>men, of life size, represented as in purga- 
 tory, and surrounded by red and yellow painted flames. 
 They are inclosed by iron gratings, and have the most 
 distressed and imploring countenances. Near by are 
 money boxes. Visited the cathedral, in which is a 
 curious pulpit, having beneath it a boat, with net, and 
 the remarkable draught of fishes. Saw Rubens' great 
 painting of the Descent from the Cross. Left by rail- 
 way, at five o'clock, for Aix-la-Chapelle, where we ar- 
 rived at nine in the evening. 
 
 14^A. We find here (Aix) a great gathering of 
 Catholics, to witness the septennial display of relics, 
 including the swaddling clothes, the garments in 
 which Christ was laid out, John the Baptist's leathern 
 girdle, and many others, equally valuable. These we 
 saw exhibited from the top of the cathedral. The 
 streets and houses in the vicinity were crowded with 
 people. The exhibition is continued during fourteen 
 days. Drove to Louisberg, a beautiful place on the 
 top of a high hill, from which we had a fine view. 
 Left by railway in the afternoon for Cologne, where
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 311 
 
 we arrived in time to visit the cathedral, which has 
 been eight hundred years in building, to buy a box of 
 Cologne water, and to inhale so great a variety and 
 degree of the charming odors of that fragrant city 
 that we were quite ready for the early morning train 
 for Bonn, a distance of forty miles. Here we took a 
 small steamer for the voyage up the Rhine. 
 
 16//J. Railway from Castel to Frankfort on the 
 Maine ; drove about the latter city ; saw the birthplace 
 of the Rothschilds, and the present residence of one 
 of them, who is eighty-seven years old, and whom we 
 saw sitting at the window ; saw also two of the four 
 villas which he has in the suburbs of the city. Visited 
 the cemetery, and the hall where the emperors dine 
 after their coronation ; here are portraits of all the 
 emperors of Germany. In the course of our drive we 
 stopped at a large farm house, where we had a very 
 German lunch, and succeeded in enjoying ourselves 
 highly, although neither party had any very distinct 
 comprehension of the remarks of the other. At five 
 o'clock P. M. left by railway for Leipsic ; but finding 
 that we should encroach upon the Sabbath, we left the 
 train at eleven in the evening at Gunterhausen, where, 
 contrary to our expectation, we found an excellent 
 hotel. It stands quite alone, far from any town, but 
 is pleasantly situated, in an elevated position. 
 
 Sunday, llth. Walked two or three miles through 
 the fields to a little village, and attended a German 
 Reformed church ; after which we visited a number of 
 families in their houses, which are very dark and 
 comfortless ; spinning wheels were plentiful. The 
 people examined us as if we were curious specimens
 
 312 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 in natural history ; they seemed very glad to see us, 
 and wanted us to stop and take some coffee. 
 
 18^. Left Gunterhausen at eight o'clock ; passed 
 the castle in which Luther was confined ; stopped at 
 Erfurth ; visited the monastery in which Luther was 
 converted ; saw his cell, the walls of which were cov- 
 ered with his writing ; also the mark, on the wall, of 
 the inkstand which he threw at the devil, and the ink- 
 stand itself. Saw his Bible, the margin of which was 
 marked with his notes, and those of Melancthon and 
 other reformers. Erfurth is the most disagreeable 
 town we have met, and the hotel wretched ; our dinner 
 made an impression never to be effaced. 
 
 Dresden, 21st. This is a charming city of one hun- 
 dred thousand inhabitants, full of objects of interest. 
 It contains a beautiful garden, which is illuminated at 
 night, where fine music may be heard. There is a 
 collection of jewels, which I am informed is the most 
 valuable known to exist in the world ; among them 
 are blue, green, and white diamonds in abundance ; 
 also, a celebrated pink diamond ; there are two watches, 
 set in finger rings, and, though so small, they will run 
 eight days without winding, and keep correct time. 
 
 22d. Left Dresden at two o'clock P. M., by rail, for 
 Prague. At Bodenbach, where we entered the Aus- 
 trian dominions, passports were called for, and, in 
 some cases, pockets examined and letters read. We 
 observed a young lady traveling with us, who seemed 
 interested in our conversation. Some remark was 
 made to her, to which she responded. She was the 
 only one of her party who understood English. After 
 a time the conversation took a religious turn. She
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 313 
 
 had read Uncle Tom's Cabin, and said she was tired 
 of forms and ceremonies, and wanted a religion like 
 that of Uncle Tom a religion of the heart, of peace 
 and love. She had never seen a Bible, meaning the 
 New Testament; had endeavored to find one, but 
 could not : we asked her to call at our hotel in Prague, 
 where she resided, she was a German Swiss, and 
 with the aid of a Protestant minister we found a Ger- 
 man Bible ; but when she saw it she looked disap- 
 pointed, and, after a little while, said she could never 
 keep so large a book ; that she was watched when she 
 entered the hotel, and, even if she should succeed in 
 getting it home, her parents would not allow her to 
 keep it ; she had hoped it would be a little book, and 
 in English, so that it could lie about with other books, 
 and no one would know what it was. "We gave her 
 Clark's Selection of Promises, and some tracts. She 
 appeared very thankful, and quite surprised that they 
 should be furnished to a stranger, and compensation 
 refused. We afterward succeeded in putting her in 
 the way of obtaining a New Testament, which she 
 said a friend would keep locked up for her, and let her 
 come to her house and read. 
 
 Prague , 25th. We passed the Sabbath here, and 
 attended a Lutheran church ; the service seemed a 
 sort of compromise between Catholic and Protestant. 
 About one half of the congregation were soldiers, and 
 the rest looked depressed and miserable. We were 
 informed that the people are taxed about thirty per 
 cent, of their income. We found government officers 
 in and all about the hotels ; our passports were called 
 for two or three times a day, and we were told that
 
 314 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 all our movements were closely watched. Beggars 
 abounded. 
 
 Salzburg; August 2. After remaining a few days 
 at Vienna, we passed up the Danube two hundred and 
 fifty miles to Lintz, and thence by horse railway to 
 Gmiinden, where we spent the Sabbath. Our trunks 
 were taken to our rooms by women porters, who do all 
 the heavy work, while the men make beds, do light 
 housework, when they do any thing, and, the rest of 
 the time, smoke pipes and drink beer. On Monday, 
 took a steamer ten miles to the end of Lake Gmun- 
 den, then a private carriage to Ischel, where we hired 
 a convenient traveling vehicle for this place. On the 
 way, we stopped for the night at the post house of the 
 little mountain village of St. Gilgen. Here were as- 
 sembled all the peasants of the surrounding country, 
 for a grand dance in holiday costume. There were 
 two rooms, both well filled with men, women, and to- 
 bacco smoke. They danced with wonderful energy, 
 the girls sometimes spinning like tops, and then whirl- 
 ing around the room in most extraordinary confusion. 
 At intervals, all would stamp violently on the floor 
 with their thick hob-nailed shoes, and then all clap 
 hands with great vigor, always keeping accurate time 
 with the music. The dance was continued until day- 
 break, and, as our rooms were directly above them, we 
 could duly appreciate the sport. 
 
 We are passing a few days in this place to rest and 
 recruit. One of our party brought a memento of the 
 music gardens of Dresden and Prague, in the shape 
 of chills and fever, but in this splendid mountain air 
 is rapidly recovering.
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 315 
 
 On Sunday there was a great gathering of peasants 
 from the country, and their costumes were a study. 
 Some of the men wore coats, the waists of which were 
 ornamented by two buttons between the shoulders, 
 while their long skirts almost reached the ground. 
 The churches were quite full in the morning, but in 
 the afternoon were almost deserted, while the beer 
 gardens were crowded. We had our own private de- 
 votions, as usual ; a sermon was read, hymns sung, 
 and the day not unprofitably spent. 
 
 8th. We hired a large traveling carriage for the 
 journey to Munich, for which we made a written con- 
 tract. Our first stop was at Hallein, from whence we 
 visited the celebrated salt works. After being drawn 
 up a very steep mountain, in a wagon shaped like half 
 an egg shell, we found ourselves at the entrance of the 
 mine ; but before going in, we were each furnished 
 with a suit of thick white duck, a woolen cap, heavy 
 leathern gloves, and apron, the latter put on behind 
 instead of before, and a candle. Thus equipped, 
 with one guide to lead and another to follow, we en- 
 tered the side of the mountain by a passage six feet 
 high, three feet wide at the bottom, and two feet at 
 the top, cut most of the way through solid rock, a part 
 of which is salt. The walk was about a mile in length, 
 and the path nearly level. We passed many similar 
 paths diverging from this, which we did not explore. 
 There were five places where we slid down from one 
 to four hundred feet, at an angle of about forty-five 
 degrees, sitting between two large, round, smooth 
 poles, placed about twelve inches apart ; a rope enabled 
 the guide, who went first, to regulate the speed of the
 
 316 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 party. We passed through immense caverns, and in 
 one instance crossed a large lake in a boat. We were 
 told, at one time, that we were three thousand feet 
 below the surface. 
 
 When within a quarter of a mile of the outlet, we 
 were requested to take seats upon a narrow plank, to 
 the ends of which were attached wheels running upon 
 a tramway. The passage was straight, and a little 
 descending. A boy took the tongue of the vehicle, 
 and we were drawn rapidly to the open air, where we 
 were met by an attendant, with the clothing, &c., 
 which we had left at the entrance. 
 
 After dinner rode to Batersgarten, where we ob- 
 tained a great variety of carvings in wood and ivory, 
 and other curiosities. The hotels, or post houses, in 
 this part of our journey, we found to be excellent, and 
 very cheap. For dinner, lodging, and breakfast, we 
 were sometimes charged but fifty cents for each person. 
 We often saw women laboring in the field, mowing 
 the grass, sometimes in a pouring rain. On several 
 occasions a woman appeared harnessed with straps to a 
 plow, which was held and guided by a man ; and once 
 we saw the plow drawn by the joint efforts of a woman 
 and a mule. 
 
 Arrived at Munich at seven P. M. On the 
 way dined at a place where our table was spread under 
 the trees of a pleasant garden. We were joined at 
 dinner by a little brown squirrel, which ran down 
 from a tree to our table, and helped himself from 
 our plates. 
 
 Ylth. After passing a few days in Munich, a city 
 devoted to art, where we saw many fine pictures, stat-
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 317 
 
 uaiy, <fec., we left for Switzerland and Italy, by way of 
 Constance, Geneva, and the Sirnplon Pass. 
 
 Milan, September 7. We arrived this afternoon by 
 private carriage from Bareno, by way of Cesto Calen- 
 der, at head of Lake Maggiore. The contrast between 
 this level country and the mountain scenery through 
 which we have been passing, is very striking. The 
 vine, Indian corn, and mulberry tree seem to be the 
 principal productions. 
 
 The cathedral of Milan is four hundred and eighty- 
 five feet long, and two hundred and fifty-two feet wide. 
 The roof is of marble, from which ascend a multitude 
 of slender spires, each having a marble statue upon its 
 summit. There are already about the building seven 
 thousand statues, and the design calls for three thou- 
 sand more. The prominent object within is the mag- 
 nificent tomb of St. Carlo Borromeo. The shriveled 
 remains of this saint may be seen through a crystal 
 coflin. A large diamond sparkles upon the remnant 
 of a finger, and many rich jewels adorn the tomb. 
 There is a church here, the interior walls of which are 
 entirely of skulls and other human bones, arranged in 
 regular order. Many other objects of interest arc seen 
 in this place. 
 
 Leaving Milan, we passed through Brescia to Ve- 
 rona, where we spent a Sabbath. Here, at the risk of 
 our liberty, if not our lives, as we afterward learned, 
 we presented to a servant girl the Protestant Bible 
 which we bought for the Jewish lady of Prague. She 
 seemed desirous to know the true religion, and the 
 city of Verona certainly afforded at that time few 
 facilities for the accomplishment of her desire. On
 
 318 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOHD. 
 
 Monday we visited the amphitheater, supposed to have 
 been built in the first century. It is oval in form, and 
 in a good state of preservation. It would seat some 
 thirty-nine thousand persons. 
 
 Venice, September 13. We have provided ourselves 
 with a gondola, the only means of navigating these 
 streets of water. There are, however, many narrow 
 passages by which one may traverse the city on foot, 
 but a horse or carriage of any kind is unknown. 
 Water for drinking is obtained from artesian wells, 
 and carried in copper kettles, fastened to each end of 
 long elastic poles upon the shoulders of women. The 
 city abounds with rich palaces of stone and marble, 
 highly ornamented with carving; many of these pal- 
 aces are falling to decay, some unoccupied, and others 
 used as hotels. There are also many splendid churches, 
 which are in themselves works of art, and contain val- 
 uable paintings ; but on this, as on most of the cities 
 in this region, " Ichabod " is plainly written. 
 
 Ferrara, 1.Qth. We are now in the dominions of 
 the pope. On crossing . the line at the River Po, our 
 persons and property were being subjected to a search- 
 ing examination, which, however, was very essentially 
 modified by a little liberality toward the well-fed offi- 
 cials. )ur course now lies through Bologna, and over 
 the Apennines to Tuscany. Mrs. Safford and myself 
 occupy the coupe of a diligence, while the others of 
 our party prefer the more open view from the elevated 
 position of the banquette. The diligence is drawn up 
 the mountains, sometimes by horses, and sometimes by 
 pxen. The descent is rapid, though the wheels are 
 confined by a drag. At midnight we were obliged to
 
 TRAVELING FOR HEALTH. 319 
 
 unpack ourselves at the custom house on the frontier 
 of Tuscany ; but a small present satisfied the conscien- 
 tious officers that our luggage contained nothing which 
 ought to pay duty. 
 
 In passing from Venice to these mountains, generally 
 through a very level and apparently productive coun- 
 try, I was struck with the large number of fine-looking 
 oxen, nearly all of which were clear white. I observed 
 the contrast between the modes of plowing and the 
 teams employed in Italy and in Germany. In Italy I 
 have seen twelve teams, of five to seven yoke of oxen 
 in each, plowing in one field. The plows are large 
 and heavy, and cut a very deep furrow. The German 
 method of propelling this instrument I have spoken of 
 previously. The plows used in Germany are very light, 
 and seem to do but little more than scratch the ground. 
 
 Florence, 21st. We have passed several days here, 
 and seen many most beautiful objects. Nature and 
 art seem to have combined to render Florence charm- 
 ing. Unlike most of the old European cities, it seems 
 to be in a thriving condition. Many of the buildings 
 appear new, and there is an air of industry and activ- 
 ity about the streets. Most of the streets are narrow, 
 but are neatly paved with large, smooth stones, laid 
 lowest in the middle, having occasional holes in them, 
 to let the water into the sewer below. The moral and 
 political condition of Tuscany is sad indeed. The 
 grand duke thinks he has a commission from God to 
 put down heresy, and says he is determined to do it 
 effectually. It is here that the Madaii were impris- 
 oned for having little religious meetings in their own 
 house, and on the week of our arrival a Scotch lady
 
 320 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAPFORD. 
 
 was arrested, imprisoned, and is likely to t>e condemned 
 to labor for several years in a prison, for the offense 
 of giving a religious tract to an Italian girl. 
 
 We had a letter of introduction to Mr. Powers, the 
 eminent sculptor, who was of great service to us, even 
 giving much of his valuable time to accompany us to 
 various galleries of art, and, by his remarks and crit- 
 icism, enabling us to appreciate much that we should 
 not otherwise have observed. 
 
 Leghorn, 21th. We left Florence by railway, and 
 passed through Pisa, where we stopped for a few hours 
 to see the celebrated Leaning Tower. This tower was 
 built in the twelfth century, and, as nothing is known 
 of the intentions of its architect, each traveler must 
 decide for himself the great question whether it was 
 meant to be a leaning tower, or has become so from 
 the settling of the foundations of one side. I am of 
 opinion that the tower, with the exception of the upper 
 story or tier of columns and arches, was built leaning. 
 First, because the cathedral, which stands close by it, 
 and is of a similar material and style of architecture, 
 leans out, except the upper section, which is perpen- 
 dicular. Second, because if it had been built upriglit, 
 and had afterward settled, the upper story would have 
 leaned with the others. I believe, however, that it 
 leans more now than when first built, as the greatly 
 increased weight upon one side of the foundation 
 would cause it to settle. 
 
 Leaving Pisa, and passing a night at Lucca, where 
 are some celebrated baths, we arrived here (Leghorn) 
 just too late for the steamer which we intended taking, 
 and have now been obliged to wait a week for the
 
 TRAVELING FOB HEALTH. * 321 
 
 steamer of to-day for the south. Leghorn seems to be 
 a flourishing commercial city. In many parts the 
 buildings are new and spacious, and the streets are 
 beautifully paved with large, irregular stones, neatly 
 fitted together. 
 
 On the Sabbath we attended the Presbyterian Church, 
 and heard two good sermons from a Scotcli minister, 
 who supplies the temporary absence of Dr. Steward, 
 the pastor. The congregation in attendance num- 
 bered less than one hundred. 
 
 Rome, October 7. We left Leghorn by steamer 
 September 27, at five o'clock P. M., and arrived next 
 morning at Civita Yecchia. After much delay and 
 annoyance at the custom house, we obtained an extra 
 diligence for Rome, where we arrived late in the even- 
 ing. We have previously traveled by means of an 
 extra diligence, which sometimes affords an agreeable 
 variety, though in rainy weather it is not so pleasant. 
 The horses and postilions are changed every hour, as 
 with the principal diligence, but the carriage is also 
 changed every hour. Sometimes we have a large, 
 roomy, and luxurious vehicle, and the next hour may 
 bring us a little narrow box, with worn-out springs 
 and no proper place for the luggage. One soon learns 
 to take things as they come, when traveling in Europe. 
 We established ourselves comfortably at the Hotel des 
 Isles Britanniques, in the Piazza del Popolo. Engaged 
 a carriage by the day, and for the past week have been 
 fully occupied with the many interesting " lions " of 
 Rome. With regard to St. Peter's I had very high 
 expectations, and they were more than realized. I 
 climbed to the ball, from whence I had a fine view.
 
 322 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Naples, 8th. Yesterday we left Rome by diligence 
 a ride of thirty-one hours to this place. We were 
 surrounded by the most importunate of beggars at 
 every stopping place. The road was very dusty, and 
 Mrs. Safford not at all well. We were stopped several 
 times for the examination of passports and baggage, 
 and were plainly told that a fee would avoid the open- 
 ing of trunks. 
 
 12th. We have now visited all the prominent ob- 
 jects of interest in Naples and vicinity, and are to take 
 a steamer this afternoon for Marseilles, on our home- 
 ward way. The people of this country are certainly 
 in a most unhappy condition of religious and political 
 bondage. To witness this detracts greatly from the 
 pleasure of travel here. 
 
 Our party arrived at Marseilles on the 16th of Oc- 
 tober, the steamer having laid over a day each at 
 Civita Vecchia, Leghorn, and Genoa. We went on 
 shore each day, and made various purchases of pic- 
 tures, prints, curiosities, &c. From Marseilles to this 
 place we had a long, tedious diligence ride of fifty-two 
 hours. At times our loaded vehicle was hoisted from 
 its wheels upon a railway truck, but we were drawn 
 most of the way by horses. Our road lay through 
 Avignon and Lyons, but we had no opportunity for 
 more than a flying view of those cities. After passing 
 a week at Paris, we left, on the 26th of October, for 
 London, where we remained a few days, and arrived 
 at Liverpool in time for the steamer " America," Cap- 
 tain Lang, thence for Boston. After a stormy passage 
 of fifteen days, I found myself sailing up the harbor 
 of my beloved Boston.
 
 MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY. 323 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 EFFORTS IN BEHALF OF MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE 
 SEMINARY. 
 
 Interest in the Cause of Education. Visit to Belchertown. Suggestion 
 of a School for Young Ladies. Consultation with Dr. Edwards. Visit 
 of Mary Lyon. Her Plans Subscribes Five Hundred Dollars in Aid 
 of them. Subsequent Contributions and Efforts for the Seminary. 
 Letter of one of the Teachers. 
 
 AMONG the objects of benevolence which ever greatly 
 interested Mr. Safford was the cause of education. 
 Mention has already been made of the frequent sums 
 contributed by him for the aid of young men pre- 
 paring for the ministry. Incidental allusion has been 
 had also to his interest in the Mount Holyoke Female 
 Seminary, and its laborious and devoted founder, 
 Mary Lyon. The present is deemed an appropriate 
 place to speak more particularly of his connection 
 with that institution. 
 
 In the year 1833 Mr. and Mrs. Safford paid a visit 
 to their brother-in-law, Rev. J. Reid, then residing at 
 Belchertown. The immediate object of the visit was 
 to aid him in a comfortable settlement in that field of 
 labor by purchasing for him a dwelling house. The 
 journey was made in a chaise his usual manner of 
 traveling at that time. In conversation during the 
 ride, Mr. Safford remarked, that having experienced, as
 
 324 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 he thought, much good from his resolution to devote 
 his income, except what was needed for the wants of 
 himself and family, to purposes of benevolence, and 
 having been blessed of God also with an increase of 
 resources, he was desirous of finding some proper ob- 
 ject, to which not only his money, but his time, now 
 less engrossed than formerly in business, might be 
 given. In reply, it was suggested that a school for the 
 thorough education of girls on Christian principles, 
 whose privileges might be within the reach of all, was 
 one of the great wants of the age. The idea at once 
 commended itself to him. He saw, on reflection, 
 how disproportionate the means furnished for the ed- 
 ucation of young ladies, as compared with that of 
 young men, and remembered that he himself, though 
 he had done much for the latter, had done nothing 
 for the former. He expressed a wish that he might 
 be instrumental in establishing a school to meet this 
 want. 
 
 On entering the village of Belchertown, his attention 
 was attracted by a large, unoccupied building, and he 
 remarked, " Perhaps here is a house all ready for us." 
 The next day he obtained an entrance into it, and 
 examined the premises. On a subsequent visit, an 
 estate in the vicinity was offered to him for sale, which 
 he was strongly inclined to purchase for the purpose 
 mentioned. Judging it, however, wise to consider of 
 the matter further, he shortly after paid a visit to Dr. 
 Edwards, at Andover, and laid the whole subject before 
 him. Dr. Edwards informed him that Miss Mary 
 Lyon was devoting herself to the accomplishment of a 
 similar object, and recommended that before taking 
 any decided measures, he should acquaint himself with
 
 MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY. 325 
 
 her plans. Mr. Safford, having some knowledge of 
 Miss Lyon, felt that if a person of her character and 
 qualifications had undertaken- the work, it might be 
 well for him to wait the result before engaging in it 
 further ; and other objects claiming his notice, the 
 winter passed without his giving further attention to 
 the subject. 
 
 Early in the spring of 1836 he received a line from 
 Miss Lyon, asking that, if she should be passing 
 through Boston the following week, she might have 
 the privilege of spending a night with his family ; to 
 which he gave a prompt and cordial affirmative. Ac- 
 cordingly, just at dusk one evening, the rattle of a 
 stage coacli was heard in their quiet court, and her 
 arrival was announced. Mr. Safford, having a slight 
 acquaintance, was the first to receive her, and, with a 
 hearty welcome, introduced her to Mrs. Safford. Her 
 toilet occupied but a moment, as she had merely to 
 exchange her bonnet for that broad white turban which 
 many remember as the distinguishing feature of her 
 dress at this period. 
 
 She was in the vigor of life ; time had plowed no 
 furrows on that broad, cheerful face ; the large, beam- 
 ing blue eye, the open forehead, indeed, her whole 
 countenance, revealed a mind and heart expressive of 
 lofty sentiments and expanded views of life and its 
 ends. This was the first introduction to the family of 
 one who ever after was like a member in it. Children, 
 servants, and guests henceforth regarded her as having 
 a right to come, to tarry, and go as she pleased. 
 
 After tea and family devotions, Miss Lyon occupied 
 several hours in explaining the specific object of her 
 visit, and giving the detail of her plans. She had 
 
 28
 
 326 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 undertaken a great work, which was to be accomplished 
 by faith, but by a faith which required much self-denial 
 and toil, on her part and on the part of many others. 
 She had collected the first thousand dollars in small sums, 
 from her friends in Ipswich, for an institution the build- 
 ings of "which alone would cost sixty thousand dollars. 
 She possessed herself but two thousand dollars, and had 
 no relative or friend upon whom she could found the 
 expectation of assistance ; but believing herself called 
 of God to this service, she relied on him implicitly, 
 accompanying every step with fervent prayer for guid- 
 ance and help. After completing this collection in the 
 town of Ipswich, where she had been thoroughly 
 known and appreciated for a number of years, she had 
 looked anxiously to the metropolis of New England, 
 for the hearts and hands she needed. She asked God 
 to guide her to some gentleman who would candidly 
 listen to the statement of her plan, who was capable 
 of appreciating her views, and who could devote both 
 time and money to carry them into execution. The 
 answer to her note she thought indicated where the 
 pillar of cloud was resting, and it was with much so- 
 licitude that she waited for the result of this visit. 
 The essential features of her plan were these : 
 
 1. The education afforded should aim first and 
 most earnestly at so cultivating the mind and heart as 
 to secure in the pupil a supreme purpose to labor for 
 the conversion of the world, and suitable qualifications 
 for the work. 
 
 2. The buildings and apparatus requisite should be 
 bestowed by the public gratuitously, as in the case 
 of colleges for young men, so as to diminish the ex- 
 pense to the pupils, and bring the advantages of the 
 institution within the reach of all.
 
 MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY. 327 
 
 3. All the pupils should be put upon a footing of 
 equality in every department of the institution. 
 
 4. Independence and industry should be secured by 
 dividing the entire housework among the pupils. 
 
 5. Teachers should be employed who would be con- 
 tent to receive, like the minister or missionary, not 
 compensation, but support. 
 
 In this detail of her views and plans, Mr. Safford 
 found an expression of many thoughts which had be- 
 fore been more or less clearly suggested to his own 
 mind. He was therefore well prepared to espouse the 
 object which she had so much at heart, and com- 
 bine his own efforts with hers for its accomplishment. 
 On the following day he presented her a subscription 
 of five hundred dollars,* and his interest, his prayers, 
 and contributions were enlisted for life in its behalf. 
 He long afterward remarked to a friend, as death was 
 approaching, " No money, time, or effort which I have 
 bestowed on any object, affords me more satisfaction in 
 the review than those given to Mount Holyoke Sem- 
 inary." 
 
 * Miss Lyon had heard his name, and had been told that he might 
 regard her undertaking with favor. A gentleman who had married 
 one of her Buckland scholars, and who is now a professor in one of 
 our theological seminaries, commended her to his friendly notice. 
 She found an open ear. His wife opened her doors and her heart to 
 Miss Lyon and her coadjutors. When, after their first interview with 
 her, this gentleman said to his wife, "How much do you think I had 
 better give to Miss Lyon ? " she replied, I thought perhaps you 
 would give five hundred dollars." The husband was surprised ; hut 
 he slept upon the subject, and rejoiced the hearts of the friends of the 
 cause by affixing that sum to his well-known name. It was the first, 
 but by no means was it the last, five hundred dollars which he gavo 
 to that cause. The time, influence, and sympathy which he and his 
 partner have to this day given to it have been worth more than thou- 
 sands of silver and gold. Memoir of Mary Lyon, p. 206.
 
 328 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Miss Lyon, in after years, frequently alluded to this 
 visit and subscription as having greatly cheered and 
 encouraged her. The donations in Ipswich were, to a 
 great extent, the expressions of personal friendship 
 and confidence ; but Mr. Safford was the first stranger 
 who, upon the mere merits of the enterprise itself, 
 ventured to contribute a large sum. 
 
 In the following autumn, he convened a number of 
 gentlemen at his house, to give Miss Lyon an oppor- 
 tunity of laying her plans before them. At this time 
 he subscribed one thousand dollars more to the ob- 
 ject,* and continued his subscriptions afterward, as the 
 work progressed, till their entire amount exceeded 
 four thousand dollars. He was at his death the largest 
 contributor to the seminary in money, and, with An- 
 drew Porter, Esq., of Monson, the largest contributor 
 in services. 
 
 But his pecuniary aid, serviceable as it was, bore no 
 comparison in value with his personal labors. Of 
 these perhaps no better idea can be conveyed than by 
 
 * Thursday evening, though it was so rainy, we had a very inter- 
 esting little meeting in Deacon Safford's parlor. The gentlemen 
 thought there would be no impropriety in admitting three ladies to 
 hear what was said on the subject Mrs. Safford, Miss C., and myself. 
 Deacon Safford wished to have us present, and asked the opinion of 
 several gentlemen, who approved of it. Rev. Messrs. Cogswell, An- 
 derson, Blagden, Winslow, Rogers, and Boies, with some fifteen or 
 twenty laymen, were present. Mr. Anderson made some very perti- 
 nent and effective remarks, and read a part of your letter in connec- 
 tion with them. At the close of the meeting, a subscription was 
 taken up of a little more than three thousand dollars, which has since 
 been increased to four thousand. The largest subscriptions were, one 
 of one thousand dollars from Deacon Safford, two of five hundred 
 dollars each, and four of two hundred and fifty dollars each, from 
 other individuals. Memoir of Mary Lyon, p. 238.
 
 MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY. 329 
 
 the following communication of one of the devoted 
 teachers of the seminary, who has now joined him, we 
 trust, in the praises of heaven. 
 
 " Pleasant as it is to speak of Deacon Safford, how can 
 I tell you what he was and is to us ? As well might I 
 describe a fresh sunny morning in the budding spring 
 time, so pure, reviving, and diffusive was the influence 
 of his personal presence, and our recollection of him 
 when absent. 
 
 " There was always joy in the house when it was an- 
 nounced that Deacon Safford had come. We, teachers, 
 hastened to receive his genial greeting, and to tell him 
 how glad we were to see him. When he came down 
 to the supper table there was an expression of pleasure 
 on the faces of all the young ladies who knew him ; 
 and to none was he long a stranger. We often heard 
 the exclamation, " It seems good to see Deacon Saf- 
 ford," or, of him and Deacon Porter together, " Our 
 fathers have come." All loved to hear his voice in 
 the family prayer. The young ladies honored him, 
 and had an instinctive sense of a debt of gratitude 
 which they owed him as a benefactor and friend. In- 
 numerable are the Holyoke daughters who rise up 
 from the several parts of the earth to call him blessed. 
 
 " How sweet are the memories which come back in 
 living freshness of those informal evening gatherings 
 which often happened in the family parlor, when the 
 teacher's day was done, and, as children at home, we 
 passed an hour with him ! With a quick sympathy 
 and delicate playfulness he inquired into the affairs of 
 the house wood, water, changes in the building, the 
 wherewith by which the multitude should be fed, do 
 
 28*
 
 330 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 mestic and pecuniary matters generally. We brought 
 our wants and perplexities, and spread them out freely 
 before him. But sweeter counsel did we take together 
 on the spiritual welfare of our great household. It 
 was this which most deeply interested Deacon Safford's 
 heart ; and his simple, earnest expressions of his own 
 dependence on the quickening Spirit, of the impor- 
 tance of the soul's salvation, and the efficacy of prayer, 
 often brought us with him low before God. The more 
 we knew him, the more we felt how beautiful and 
 noble is religion. 
 
 " Deacon Safford manifested his benevolence not 
 alone by words of love and faith ; money and labor were 
 as freely given ; and for none of his innumerable ser- 
 vices or traveling expenses did he take the least remu- 
 neration. From its beginning he assumed the task of 
 making for the seminary its large and frequent pur- 
 chases, in Boston, of groceries and a variety of other 
 articles. Our tables daily reminded us of the gen- 
 erous donor of three hundred silver-plated forks, which 
 serve the convenience of this great family. Our libra- 
 ry, also, is a pleasing monument of his liberality and 
 effort. Two or three years before his death, he con- 
 ceived the design of raising five thousand dollars for 
 the purchase of books ; and the avails of most of that 
 sum the school are now enjoying in the silent teachers 
 brought together from the good and wise of all times 
 and countries. Not only the books, but the place and 
 finish of the library room, will always be associated 
 with Deacon SafTord.* 
 
 * In a letter written after his death, Miss Chapin, then principal, 
 says, "The library is a priceless treasure just what we had long 
 felt the need of. I never go into it without feelings of grateful joy
 
 MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY. 331 
 
 " At different times he spent several weeks at the 
 seminary to superintend some mechanical operations, 
 and with his own hands ministered to our necessities. 
 The laborious undertaking of bringing water into the 
 building, and conveying it to its different parts, so as 
 to meet the convenience of the household, he planned 
 and directed. Well do we remember that long visit 
 which he made us soon after his return from Europe, 
 and how assiduously he worked day after day, looking 
 every night weak and exhausted. Would that he had 
 heeded our entreaties that he would spare himself, for 
 a severe illness was in part induced by this undue 
 exertion. Four or five weeks of one of our long va- 
 cations, Deacon and Mrs. Safford spent at the semi- 
 nary, in company with two of the teachers, laying 
 plans for the future, and attending to various matters 
 connected with the necessities of the institution. 
 Even in his brief visits, Deacon Safford was all the 
 day engaged in looking carefully about the house and 
 grounds to see what was wanting. He would have 
 every thing in the nicest order, and did not fail to 
 appreciate the utility of beauty among the educating 
 influences of the school. Still, he never seemed to 
 think that he did any great thing ; and it was quite 
 embarrassing to attemi t to thank him for his kind- 
 nesses. 
 
 " In his later visits, it was affecting to hear his ex- 
 pressions of regret that he could be of so little service, 
 while even then painfully taxing his strength. As he 
 
 that we are permitted to have such an aid in our work ; and I wish 
 those who so kindly contributed to it could know how much they 
 have done for u.. I am sure they would foul more than repaid for 
 their labor of love."
 
 332 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 was going away next to the last time, and we were 
 urging him to come soon again, he made some reply 
 depreciative of himself, and added, ' Next time I. will 
 bring my minister, and then you will be glad to- see 
 me.' He seemed not to understand that, deeply 
 grateful as we were for the visits of his minister, 
 nobody could be more welcome than himself. And 
 little did we think when his minister should come, it 
 would be alone, to speak to us of our common bereave- 
 ment, our departed friend. 
 
 " Our thoughts tenderly linger around Deacon Saf- 
 ford's last visit and last parting. We knew that in 
 much weakness and pain he had made a great effort 
 to take the journey for the purpose of attending to 
 important business. There was a look of patient suf- 
 fering on his still cheerful face, which gave a chastened, 
 anxious feeling to all that group who gathered around 
 him. Deacon Porter, his friend and fellow-helper, was 
 with us also ; and that last evening, as a few of us 
 met in the parlor, though we felt upon us a deep 
 shadow of coming sorrow, still our two friends talked 
 not of sickness or separation, but of what could be 
 done for the school. Late into the evening of his life, 
 Deacon Safford was busy in his Master's work. Our 
 good byes the next morning were said with hardly 
 suppressed tears ; and yet the usual kindly pleasantry 
 marked his manner. 
 
 " The intelligence that Deacon Safford was sick unto 
 death was exceedingly painful to the household. How 
 could we, who so loved and relied upon him, bear to 
 have him taken from us ? And how could this insti- 
 tution, with whose interests he had been so vitally 
 united, live when he was dead ?
 
 MOUNT HOLYOKE FEMALE SEMINARY. 333 
 
 " God is a strong tower, and at such times of earthly 
 bereavement he makes us feel his merciful strength 
 closing firmly about us, and hear his voice saying, 
 ' Be not dismayed, for I am thy God.' Thus has he 
 spoken to this afflicted institution ; and so far as his 
 own glory and work are concerned, we believe he will 
 furnish another pillar, and fit' it to this weakened 
 fabric. Of the many wreaths of grateful love which 
 are thrown upon his grave, none can be more enduring 
 than that woven by Holyoke daughters ; and many, 
 undoubtedly, are the jewels in his crown, polished for 
 the Master's use through his instrumentality in sus- 
 taining this school founded for God. 
 
 " When another anniversary shall sadly remind us 
 that this trustee comes up no more with his associates 
 to the councils of the seminary, and the graduating 
 class receive their diplomas, from other hands, shall 
 we not look above and see him, with Mary Lyon, prais- 
 ing God for the harvest which, from their sowing, tho 
 stricken reapers have been permitted to gather ? 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 CATHARINE McKEEN."
 
 33-1 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 
 
 Chronic Disease of the Heart. Anticipations of Death. Cheerfulness un- 
 der them. Sudden Attack of Illness. Purchase of a House. Repairs 
 and Kemoval thither. Efforts and Prayers for a Revival. Second 
 severe Attack. Spiritual Enjoyment. Home Occupations. Annual 
 Meeting of A. B. C. F. M. Marriage of his eldest Son. Last Visit 
 to Mount Holyoke Seminary. Last Letter. Council of Physicians. 
 Severe Suffering. Last Prayer Meeting with his Brethren, and Attend- 
 ance on Public Worship. Conversation in Prospect of Death. Abound- 
 ing Comforts. Peace. Directions about his Funeral, &c. Lying at 
 Jesus' Feet. His Work done. Death. 
 
 IT has been already mentioned, that, from his early 
 childhood, Mr. Safford had indications of an organic 
 disease of the heart. These appeared more or less 
 frequently during his whole life, but became partic- 
 ularly alarming after he had passed the age of three- 
 score. It was consequently his expectation that he 
 should die suddenly, and he once remarked, that if he 
 were allowed to express a wish on the subject, it 
 would be his choice to die thus. It was ever a painful 
 thought to him, that he might outlive his usefulness ; 
 and his prayer, which was fully answered, was, 
 
 " Teach me to live that I may dread 
 The grave as little as my bed." 
 
 He often closed his eyes for the night uttering the 
 child's petition,
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 335 
 
 1 ' Now I lay me down to sleep ; 
 I pray the Lord my soul to keep ; 
 If I should die before I wake, 
 I pray the Lord my soul to take." 
 
 Though he regarded it as more than possible that he 
 should awake in another world, he still lay down as 
 peacefully as if he had never known aught but the 
 most perfect health. 
 
 There was no gloom associated with death in his 
 mind. He spoke of it as a certain event, for which 
 he aimed always to be ready, but as naturally as he 
 would talk of any thing else ; always seriously, but 
 never as diminishing his enjoyment in his friends, or 
 in any of the things of this life. But while this an- 
 ticipation interfered with no plan, pursuit, or pleasure, 
 of an earthly nature, it led him to do, while in health, 
 what many defer to a death bed. Three times within 
 the last twenty years he made his will, and with ap- 
 parently the same feelings with which he transacted 
 other important business. With him it was a serious 
 thing to live ; about this he felt much responsibility, 
 saying ever, " If we can only live rightly, it will be 
 easy to die." 
 
 Ton years previous to his death, he purchased a lot 
 in Mount Auburn Cemetery, to which he removed the 
 bodies of his friends, which had been resting in a tomb 
 under Park Street Church, and at the same time 
 marked the spot where he wished his own body to rest, 
 and gave directions about his gravestone, saying, " It 
 is my choice to have my dust mingle with its mother 
 earth, but not to have a costly monument mark the 
 place of its interment." After thus making what lie 
 thought proper provision for the last resting of his
 
 336 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 body, he dismissed the subject, and did not name it 
 again until just before his death. 
 
 In the summer of 1853, while in Europe, he heard 
 of the death of his brother-in-law, Rev. Dr. Edwards, 
 and was much affected by it. He seemed to regard it 
 as a special summons to himself to be also ready ; and 
 had he known that within three years he should follow 
 this much beloved brother into the world of spirits, he 
 could not have more diligently prepared himself for it. 
 His first thought was, that he must return home im- 
 mediately and finish his work at South Hadley, and in 
 the City Missionary Society ; but after a little consid- 
 eration he satisfied himself with deciding definitely 
 upon the time of embarkation, engaging passage for 
 himself and party, and then proceeding to carry out 
 his original plan of travel. On his homeward passage, 
 the weather being much of the time boisterous, con- 
 fining him to his berth, he occupied himself with his 
 favorite employment of repeating hymns from Watts' s 
 Collection, mostly descriptive of heaven. One, of which 
 he was particularly fond, was the folio-wing : 
 
 " Up to the fields where angels lie, 
 
 And living waters gently roll, 
 Fain would my thoughts leap out and fly, 
 But sin hangs heavy on my soul. 
 
 " Thy wondrous love, dear, dying Christ, 
 Can make this world of guilt remove ; 
 And thou canst bear me where thou fly'st 
 On thy kind wings, celestial Dove. 
 
 " Oh, might I once mount up and see 
 
 The glories of the eternal skies, 
 What little things these worlds would be 
 How despicable in my eyes !
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 337 
 
 " Had I a glance of thee, my God, 
 
 Kingdoms and men would vanish soon 
 Vanish as though I saw them not, 
 As a dim candle dies at noon. 
 
 " Then they might fight, and rage, and rave ; 
 
 I should perceive the noise no more 
 Than we can hear a shaking leaf 
 
 While rattling thunders round us roar. 
 
 " Great All in All, eternal King, 
 
 Let me but view thy lovely face, 
 And all my powers shall bow, and sing 
 Thine endless grandeur and thy grace." 
 
 The twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans he 
 had also committed to memory, and often repeated. It 
 had been his practice, for many years, to engage in such 
 recitations with his family, at the close of the Sabbath. 
 Oil his passage out to Europe, a little book, entitled 
 " Christ is All," had been given him. He read this 
 repeatedly, with deep interest, and carried it in his 
 pocket-book from that time until his death, together 
 witli the hymn, written in his own hand, 
 
 " Just as I am, without one plea." 
 
 He found this such a benefit to himself, that he pur- 
 chased copies enough to supply one to each member 
 of the Mount Vernon church, and presented them on 
 the first Friday night on which lie conducted the meet- 
 ing after his return. He always kept one at hand also 
 for any Christian whom he found troubled with doubts, 
 and for others who were seeking the way of life. 
 
 His joy and gratitude on finding himself once more 
 in his beloved city, church, and home were very great. 
 
 29
 
 338 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 But he allowed himself to remain there only from 
 twelve o'clock, Saturday night, until the next Monday 
 afternoon, when .he left for South Hadley, to superin- 
 tend the waterworks for the new wing of the semi- 
 nary, which had been waiting his arrival. He labored 
 there for three weeks, in almost entire forgetfulness of 
 himself and his own concerns ; rising with the sun, and 
 occupying himself until dark every day with the work- 
 men, until the whole was completed. 
 
 This labor was probably too severe for him. There 
 were indications, during the following winter, that the 
 disease of the heart was assuming a serious character, 
 although he seldom spoke of it, and appeared to his 
 friends generally remarkably vigorous and cheerful. 
 In returning with Mrs. Safford from a visit to a sick 
 person one evening, he was seized with great distress, 
 which obliged him to stop and lean some minutes 
 against the door of a livery stable, and then walk 
 home very slowly. After recovering a little, he went 
 to the church meeting, and aided in the services, as 
 usual. 
 
 This ill turn led Mrs. Safford to consult their physi- 
 cian, and obtain from him, without the knowledge of 
 her husband, directions in case of a similar attack. 
 About three weeks after this, he left the house at eight 
 o'clock one morning, to attend the Old South prayer 
 meeting, proposing to call at the market on the way. 
 It was a chilly morning in March. In about fifteen 
 minutes afterward he was brought to the door by his 
 physician, aided by another gentleman, and laid upon 
 the sofa in a helpless and almost insensible state. 
 Under the application of friction and stimulants, he 
 recovered sufficiently, in an hour or two, to speak in a
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 339 
 
 faint whisper. He remained thus two days, snffering 
 intensely and without intermission.. His life was not 
 expected to continue from one hour to another. 
 
 In one of these nights of suffering, hearing, about 
 midnight, voices in an adjoining room, he asked who 
 were there. On being told they were his pastor and 
 Deacon Palmer, he said, in a whisper, " Oh, I have a 
 good pastor, a good brother, and a good wife ; " and 
 afterwards, very slowly, and in the same faint man- 
 ner, 
 
 " Just as I am, without one plea, 
 
 Save that thy blood was shed for me, 
 And that thou bidd'st me come to thee, 
 O Lamb of God, I come ! " 
 
 He manifestly felt that he was just going into the 
 presence of the Unseen ; and these words, as he ut- 
 tered them, expressed the feelings witli which, in per- 
 fect composure, he was waiting to meet his Judge. 
 The circumstances of this attack seemed specially 
 providential. His physician had called that morning 
 at the market, at the same moment with himself, and, 
 having been apprised by Mrs. Saffbrd of the state of 
 his health, looked at him very attentively ; and de- 
 tecting, as he turned to leave, a slight wavering in his 
 step, sprang forward, and saved him from a fall, which 
 very probably would have been fatal. 
 
 It was two weeks before he was able to resume his 
 usual business ; but he was never afterward at any 
 time free from the distress in his chest, termed by 
 the physicians angina pectoris. Tbey had told him 
 that he was liable to die at any moment, but his ap- 
 pearance indicated vigorous health ; his spirits were 
 generally buoyant, and his interest in his family, and
 
 340 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 all the affairs of life, especially those relating to the 
 salvation of his fellow-men, never seemed so great 
 as during the subsequent two years. Professor Phelps, 
 of Andover, had offered him his house for the summer, 
 while he should be absent in Europe, which offer he 
 had accepted previous to his illness ; and immediately 
 upon his recovery he removed thither. This was a 
 very merciful arrangement of Providence, affording 
 him a delightful residence in a bracing, salubrious, 
 country atmosphere for six months. The summer was 
 spent by him in the open air, cultivating the garden, 
 riding, and superintending the erection of a monument 
 for Dr. Edwards, which several friends had been 
 instrumental of procuring, grading and sodding the 
 ground ; and, during a severe drouth of several weeks, 
 carting water, with his own horse and man, to pre- 
 serve the grass green. 
 
 While in Andover he sold his dwelling in Beacon 
 Street ; and it was a question with him whether he 
 should return to the city again, or build a house for 
 his family in the country. Although he had been 
 much interested in the erection of houses of worship, 
 and had sometimes expressed a desire to build a dwell- 
 ing of his own, he had never found the time ; but now, 
 as it seemed probable that he must soon leave his fam- 
 ily, he expressed a strong desire to provide for them a 
 residence which would be more convenient and com- 
 fortable than any he could buy ; and he examined sev- 
 eral building lots for this purpose. But from this he 
 was finally dissuaded by the consideration of the pre- 
 carious state of his health. After much prayer for the 
 divine guidance, and receiving, as he thought, distinct 
 intimations of the leadings of Providence, he pur-
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 341 
 
 chased and remodeled the house in Beacon Hill Place, 
 in which he died. The energy and enthusiasm which 
 he manifested in this undertaking were very remark- 
 able. He superintended all parts of the work himself, 
 hastening it forward as if he felt that his time was 
 short, and constantly making the impression that he 
 was preparing the house, not for himself to live in, hut 
 for his family. He rarely spoke of the pressure of 
 disease which was upon him, and strangers who met 
 him, and even some of his familiar acquaintances, 
 scarcely suspected its existence. 
 
 At new year's, after three months' labor, he was very 
 happy in seeing his family settled, and enjoying their 
 new home. One evening in February, about forty of 
 his friends, including six pastors of the city, assembled 
 at his house, for social religious services of a dedicatory 
 character. The house he had prepared for his family, 
 but he wished it to be given to Christ, and used by 
 them for his cause. It was by him sincerely thus con- 
 secrated. This meeting was one to be long remem- 
 bered. Those who were present will not forget his 
 appearance on the occasion, although none but his 
 family understood fully the deepest thoughts of his 
 heart. God had said to him, as he did to Moses, 
 " Behold, the days approach that thoti must die." 
 These pastors were very dear to him ; with all of them, 
 for many years, he had sympathized, labored, and 
 prayed. Others present represented the dilFercnt 
 churches in the city with which he had been connected, 
 and with these lie had enjoyed delightful fellowship 
 and communion. His words were very few, but his 
 countenance was more than usually radiant and serene ; 
 and as he took each brother and sister bv tho hand at 
 
 21) *
 
 342 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 parting, his heart overflowed with affection, believing 
 that this was one of the last seasons of communion 
 with them, until they should meet where parting is 
 no more. Their sympathy with him in this dedication 
 gave him great joy. Like every other thing of the 
 kind, it was done by him heartily. It was a reality ; 
 and he believed God accepted it just as much as if he 
 had seen the fire coming down upon the altar to con- 
 sume the sacrifice, or the pillar of cloud filling the 
 house. The subdued, tender feeling which pervaded 
 that little company, he could not doubt was the effect 
 of the divine presence. One head of a family, on 
 leaving, said, under the same impression, with tearful 
 eyes, " I want to go back and commence our house- 
 keeping life anew with such a meeting as this." An- 
 other said, " The influence of this meeting will be felt 
 by your family, Mr. Safford, as long as they live. How 
 I wish we had commenced thus ! " 
 
 This winter was Mr. Safford's last season of labor 
 on earth. As soon as he had finished the work of 
 providing a home for his family, his mind became en- 
 grossed with the spiritual interests of the church and 
 congregation, and he set himself with unusual earnest- 
 ness to devise means to promote them. A day was set 
 apart by the church for fasting and prayer, and, as 
 usual, he was anxious to have it followed by increased 
 effort, such as would show the sincerity of the prayer. 
 He arose at the close of a Friday evening meeting, 
 and, with hardly suppressed tears, said to his brethren, 
 " We have prayed for the descent of the Holy Spirit ; 
 we have talked about the importance of accompanying 
 our prayers with efforts to save the perishing ; but
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 343 
 
 what have we done ? " He closed his remarks with an 
 invitation to all his brethren who wished to do some- 
 thing, to repair, at the close of that service, to his own 
 house, to confer together respecting it, and agree upon 
 some systematic efforts. Between twenty and thirty 
 accepted the invitation. After prayer and conference, 
 it was agreed that each one present should, during the 
 coming week, seek opportunities for personal conversa- 
 tion with at least one impenitent person, whom they 
 should make a subject of prayer ; and on the ensuing 
 Friday evening they should meet there again, and re- 
 port the results. He also appointed a meeting for 
 prayer, to be held in the same room daily, at early 
 dawn, to which persons might be invited who were 
 found in an anxious state of mind. 
 
 These meetings commenced the next morning, and 
 were held for several weeks. Although his nights at 
 this time were frequently very unquiet, from the dis- 
 tress in his chest, he invariably arose to attend and 
 lead them. At the same time, inquiry meetings were 
 appointed in the chapel of a somewhat peculiar char- 
 acter. Professors of religion were invited ; teachers in 
 the Sunday school, witli their classes, and all imcon- 
 verted persons, whether they were anxious or not. They 
 were requested also to bring their friends and acquaint- 
 ances, for familiar conversation upon the great inter- 
 ests of their souls. Mr. SafFord entered with his whole 
 heart into these meetings. The great and solemn 
 truths of the Bible impressed and absorbed his whole 
 being, and his benevolent heart, as he felt increasingly 
 their awful import, was stimulated to stir up the minds 
 of his brethren, by way of remembrance. 
 
 His heart was drawn out toward any whom he found
 
 344 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPPORD. 
 
 struggling with unbelief and temptation ; not satisfied 
 with one conversation, he has many times followed 
 them until the light has dawned upon their minds. 
 He made great use this winter of his little book, 
 " Clirist is All," and more than one found sweet relief 
 from the hymn given them by him to read " Just as 
 I am, without one plea." 
 
 But in the midst of these efforts, God spoke to us 
 again, in a manner we could not misunderstand "In 
 an hour ye think not, the Son of man cometh." Mr. 
 Safford had been appointed delegate, and accompanied 
 his pastor to an installation service in Waltham. It 
 was just about a year from the time of his serious 
 attack in 1854. After the close of the services, fear- 
 ing that his pastor would not be in season to fulfill an 
 engagement in the city, he was a little agitated when 
 walking to the cars, and, before reaching them, he lost 
 his consciousness, and would have fallen, had not a 
 friend, who accompanied him, supported him until his 
 pastor and others came to his aid. He was conveyed 
 to the nearest dwelling, and an express sent immedi- 
 ately to his family. To their great relief and joy, 
 however, in about two hours, he entered his dwelling 
 very weak, and still suffering, but cheerful and happy, 
 accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. W., dear friends who 
 had been in faithful attendance upon him from the first 
 moment of his attack. 
 
 The next day, when describing his illness to Mrs. 
 Safford, he said, with a look of the deepest tenderness, 
 " At that moment, my dear, I thought I should never 
 see you again ; I believed my time had come ; but I 
 can not tell why, perhaps it was owing to my stupid- 
 ity, I had not one anxious feeling ; my mind was
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 345 
 
 perfectly peaceful and happy. I could leave myself 
 and you entirely in the hands of God. I did not think 
 of any thing more I had to say or to do. I thought, 
 if that was God's time, it was mine." But he seemed 
 delighted to be restored again to his family and to his 
 work ; and in less than two days he was found at his 
 post in the committee meeting of the American Board, 
 and the day following at the meeting, in a neighboring 
 town, of an association assembled to transact business 
 in which he was deeply interested, as a friend of one 
 of the parties. At the latter he made a statement of 
 facts, which he thought justice demanded of him, with 
 his usual self-possession and clearness. 
 
 The month of August, of this summer, Mr. Safford 
 spent at Mount Holyoke Seminary, superintending the 
 construction of a library room, and the erection of a 
 barn. This was the last work he did for that institu- 
 tion. Excepting these few weeks, he passed the sum- 
 mer at home, more comfortably, he thought, than he 
 could have done any where else. He often spoke of 
 the great pleasure he was experiencing in this life, 
 while he had bright anticipations of the future. 
 Every thing seemed to give him delight. He once 
 remarked, in this connection, " I can not appreciate 
 the feeling of those who speak of childhood as the 
 happiest period of life. Were I asked which period 
 of my life I count the most happy, I should say, the 
 present. I never, at any time, was conscious of so 
 much enjoyment as now." Ho was growing feeble, 
 but grateful, increasingly so, for all the gifts of Prov- 
 idence, frequently saying, " Why is it that God deals 
 so kindly with me ? " 
 
 It was interesting to see how he contrived to bo
 
 346 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 industriously employed all the time. He had fitted 
 up a room in the basement of his house with a carpen- 
 ter's bench and tools, and a blacksmith's anvil. This 
 furnished him with amusement and exercise when in 
 the house. It was at this period that he constructed 
 the rustic gate for Mrs. Edwards' garden in Andover, 
 which has already been mentioned. He rode out six 
 miles to a wood, and procured the materials, brought 
 them home in his carriage, made the gate, put on the 
 hinges, and sent it to her by express, all ready to be 
 hung in its place, where it still remains, a monument 
 of his brotherly care and affection for a widowed sister- 
 iu-law. All summer he occupied his place punctually 
 in the Prudential Committee, the City Missionary So- 
 ciety, the Old Ladies' Home, and numerous evening 
 meetings for religious and business purposes. 
 
 In September he was able to attend the annual 
 meeting of the American Board in Utica, New York, 
 but it was with great effort and increased suffering. 
 He officiated as deacon at the sacramental table, and 
 entered with great interest -into all the subjects which 
 came before the meeting. His favorite chapter, the 
 twelfth of Romans, was read at the communion, and 
 again at the hotel on his journey home, in the devo- 
 tional exercises of a small party of Christian friends 
 with whom he was in company. As before remarked, 
 he was in the habit of often repeating this chapter, 
 without changing or omitting a word, and so delib- 
 erately and emphatically as to make the impression 
 that it was indeed written by the Spirit of God upon 
 his heart. 
 
 From the meeting of the Board he went to New York, 
 and attended the wedding of his oldest son, spending
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 347 
 
 a few days in that city, for the last time. It was truly 
 affecting to see how, with his increasing weakness and 
 infirmities, his interest in every thing relating to the 
 cause of Christ, and the welfare of the community 
 and of his friends, also increased. Worn down with 
 the fatigue of his journey, during the wakeful hours 
 of the first night after his return, he was occupied in 
 framing a letter he wished to address to a brother, who, 
 he thought, was pursuing an unwise and improper 
 course ; and it was with difficulty he was persuaded to 
 save himself the effort of writing the letter in the 
 morning 4 . His mind was awake, and intent on doing 
 every thing his hands found to do. Not a meeting of 
 the church, for prayer or business, was neglected. 
 Twice a week he attended the City Missionary meet- 
 ings, in one of which he listened to reports usually two 
 or three hours, and to reach it ascended long flights 
 of stairs, which always caused him great distress. But 
 no entreaties could avail with him to relinquish them. 
 His whole demeanor seemed to say, Wist ye not that I 
 must be about my Master's business ? 
 
 The health of two of his young lady friends was at 
 this time declining. As long as he was able to ride, 
 he called often and invited them to ride with him. 
 He enjoyed the annual thanksgiving in November, and 
 the family gathering at his own house, participating in 
 the amusements of the evening, and never, perhaps, 
 contributing so much himself to the enjoyment of the 
 occasion as on that evening ; but complained, on re- 
 tiring, that it had cost him much suffering. On the 
 next Monday, he started with his new daughter-in-law, 
 whom he invited to accompany him, on his last jour- 
 ney, to visit his much-beloved seminary. He returned
 
 348 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 late on Wednesday evening, and said, as he retired to 
 rest, " I believe every thing I have desired to do for 
 the institution is now done. I have had great satisfac- 
 tion in seeing all parts of the building completed ; the 
 arrangements for supplying water and hoisting the 
 wood fo/ the different stories working perfectly, the 
 library room finished, and the books in their places." 
 The new steward whom he had engaged had entered 
 upon his duties, and proved admirably adapted to the 
 position, keeping every thing in perfect order about 
 the establishment. The following is the last letter he 
 ever wrote, addressed to Miss Chapin, the principal of 
 this seminary. 
 
 December 20, 1855. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND : Your kind letter was duly re- 
 ceived. Since my return from South Hadley, my 
 health has been failing daily ; but I do not think the 
 journey injured me. The last two or three nights I 
 have been obliged to sit in an arm chair most of the 
 time, to enable me to breathe. I have a good deal of 
 pain in the region of the liver and kidneys, which the 
 physicians think has increased, for the time being, my 
 heart difficulty, causing my distress for breath. Last 
 night, Dr. L. expressed a wish to call in another phy- 
 sician to examine the case with him, to which I con- 
 sented, and this morning he met Dr. B. here. I be- 
 lieve they think that when other troubles are removed, 
 the difficulty of breathing, and pain about the heart, 
 will be diminished. When I commenced I had no 
 idea of saying so much about myself. 
 
 Be assured your kind feelings are fully reciprocated. 
 I know your labors and responsibilities are great, and 
 have often spoken of them ; but I hope you will not
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 349 
 
 attempt to carry your burdens alone ; that having done 
 what you can, you will cast yourself, with all your 
 cares, upon Him who careth for you, and the institu- 
 tion you represent. 
 
 With much love to your dear associates, and all the 
 teachers, 
 
 Your sincere friend, DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 The medical examination here referred to inspired 
 hope that the seat of the disease was the liver, of which 
 there was found to be an enlargement, and that it 
 could be reached by medicine. But the experiment 
 soon banished this hope. An entire loss of appetite 
 and swelling of the limbs followed ; indeed, the dis- 
 ease seemed now to pervade every part of his system. 
 The night before he wrote the preceding letter, he had 
 tried to rest in his bed, first by reclining, and then 
 sitting erect, supported by pillows ; but in vain. He 
 then went into the adjoining room, kindled a fire, and 
 seated himself in a chair for the night. He had re- 
 quested his wife not to rise, saying, " You can do me no 
 good, and I am sorry to have your rest so much dis- 
 turbed." But she soon followed, and seated herself in 
 silence. It was a solemn stillness at midnight, and 
 the voice of God alone was heard, each understanding, 
 but not willing to express, what they knew that voice 
 was saying to them. At length her eye turned to the 
 large family Bible which lay upon the center table, and 
 she opened to the closing scene of the life of Moses, 
 and read the words first addressed to that faithful ser- 
 vant of old, " The eternal God is thy refuge, and un- 
 derneath are the everlasting arms." These words 
 gave him new strength, and several weeks after, in a 
 
 30
 
 350 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 season of great distress, when Mrs. Safford expressed 
 to him a wish to do something to comfort him, " Oh," 
 said he, " the everlasting arms do that." 
 
 In that awful night we were made to feel that the 
 season appointed for the baptism of suffering had 
 come. Previously he had, by the energy of his will, 
 been able to concentrate his thoughts on outward ob- 
 jects, and so divert them from his bodily distress. But 
 this was the still hour of midnight ; there was nothing 
 to engage the attention. Weakness had utterly pros- 
 trated that manly frame. Nothing had he then to do, 
 but simply to suffer. It was no power of persecution 
 that was applying the instruments of torture ; it was 
 God's own hand a divine Father, chastening, re- 
 proving, and sanctifying his child. 
 
 One day his pastor made a remark to this purport : 
 " You have been a faithful child ; you have worked 
 hard, and loved to work. But there is one lesson 
 which I think you have not yet perfectly learned." 
 He inquired what that was. " It is this : to be still, 
 and do nothing, and appear to be useless. This, for 
 one of your temperament, is not an easy lesson. I 
 think, when you shall have learned that thoroughly, 
 you will be taken home." He replied, " That is prob- 
 ably the case." 
 
 After the circulation of blood had become very slug- 
 gish, his resolution to overcome what he feared was lazi- 
 ness or stupidity was quite remarkable. This had for 
 months troubled him in his private devotions. He was 
 afraid that it was caused by a lack of religious fervor, 
 and said he often enjoyed more in prayer when walk- 
 ing the streets, than in his closet ; but as the disease 
 increased, the nature of this difficulty became apparent
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 851 
 
 to himself, as it had been before to others. For a few 
 days, about this time, he suffered great mental de- 
 pression. He was still walking out daily, and attend- 
 ing somewhat to business. He came in one day, and, 
 seating himself, said, " I can not give one any idea of 
 the darkness which has come over me ; there seems to 
 be a shade of gloom upon every thing." This was a 
 new experience to him, and caused great distress ; he 
 could not explain or account for it ; it reminded us of 
 the horror of great darkness which once fell upon Abra- 
 ham, the friend of God. At another time he said, " I do 
 not know what this is. Can it be what is called ner- 
 vousness ? If it is, I shall always pity nervous people 
 more than I ever have done." 
 
 As long as he was able to walk there, he was found 
 daily in his accustomed seat at the Old South prayer 
 meeting. He was associated with the brethren at the 
 commencement of that meeting, and his interest in it 
 increased with his declining health. The last time he 
 was able to preside in it, he read the account of Job's 
 vision of God, and the prayer of Daniel, and gave as 
 a reason for it his deep conviction that they needed to 
 have more of God in those meetings ; that they ought, 
 like these men, so to see God that they would cast 
 themselves in the dust, and cover their faces with self- 
 loathing. More than a year after his death, a stranger 
 arose in that meeting, and said, " Some months since, 
 I was present at this meeting ; a gentleman presided 
 whom I never saw before, and whose name I never 
 knew ; but his face, his manner, and his words, I shall 
 never forget." He then mentioned the subject which 
 he brought before the meeting, and some of his re- 
 marks on the holiness of God, our own vileness and
 
 352 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 nothingness before him, which made, he said, an inef- 
 faceable impression upon his mind. Many whole days 
 were devoted by him, during the last months of his 
 life, to prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in 
 connection with his brethren of that meeting; and 
 when at length he could meet with them there no 
 more, he invited a few of them to come to his room 
 daily at five P. M., for one week, to have a half-hour 
 season of prayer. Although he found himself every 
 day growing weaker, and scarcely able to endure it, 
 he persevered through the week. His ruling passion 
 was love to Christ's church and the souls of men ; 
 nothing else would have sustained him through this 
 series of meetings, while suffering so much. This 
 closed his seasons of communion with his brethren on 
 earth. He parted with them, not doubting that their 
 fellowship would soon be renewed in heaven. 
 
 The weekly meetings of the pastor with the deacons 
 of Mount Vernon church had for some time been held 
 at Mr. Safford's house. When he found himself un- 
 able to descend the stairs, he received them as he sat, 
 in his own room. But at length he found his strength 
 unequal to the effort. It was deeply affecting to see 
 his resolution to try to sustain himself until the end ; 
 but at length he whispered to Mrs. Safford, who had 
 remained by his side, " Dear, you must ask them to 
 retire ; I am not able to bear it." And he bade fare- 
 well to these dear brethren, taking each by the hand 
 as they left him, never to meet again on earth. It was 
 hard for him to dissolve the connection, and give up 
 his' responsibilities in all the departments of labor to 
 which he had been so devoted. 
 
 The church was so near his dwelling, that he at-
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 353 
 
 tended its services upon the Sabbath until the middle 
 of December. The last time, as he was returning, he 
 was obliged to stop and sit some moments upon the 
 doorsteps of a house, although within a few yards of 
 his own door. While able to read, Edwards' History 
 of Redemption, and the Memoirs of Miss Lyon and 
 Dr. Edwards, were kept beside him, and portions of 
 them read by him with great interest. He seemed to 
 be renewing his acquaintance with those dear friends, 
 preparatory to meeting them in heaven. The last 
 chapters of St. John's Gospel were read and re-read 
 by him with great delight. Sometimes he would ex- 
 claim with emotion, after reading a passage aloud, 
 " Do you realize that Christ says this to us ? " It 
 seemed as if the Holy Spirit in an unusual manner 
 was taking those last words of our Lord, and showing 
 to him through them the fullness of his love, and thus 
 preparing him for that separation from friends which 
 was so near. 
 
 He did not wish to pain his family by talking about 
 his death as being near ; and yet, wishing them to be 
 prepared for it, he in various ways showed what was 
 passing in his mind. After returning from church 
 one Sabbath afternoon, as he sat by the fire, in his 
 room, apparently absorbed in thought for some time, 
 he commenced singing, in a very low, soft tone, 
 
 " A few more months, or days, perhaps, 
 Or moments, passed in silent lapse, 
 And time with me shall be no more ; 
 No more the sun these eyes shall view ; 
 Earth o'er these limbs her dust shall strew," 
 
 the tune repeating, " Her dust shall strew." He gave 
 up the attempt to receive food, all relish for it having 
 
 30*
 
 354 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 left him. His sufferings were beyond the power of 
 human skill to relieve, and can not be described ; but 
 his family had not yet admitted to him that they 
 thought him irrecoverably ill ; and he to accommo- 
 date himself to their feelings, if necessary to speak of 
 the subject, would say, "'If I die." At length, how- 
 ever, as the thrush appeared in his mouth and throat, 
 with other indications equally unmistakable, he one 
 day, in their presence, said to his physician, " Doctor, 
 my opinion is, that there is no reasonable ground to 
 expect any relief from my distress ; that the disease is 
 working its way through every part of my system, and 
 must, before long, terminate in death. Is not this 
 your opinion ? " The doctor appeared reluctant to 
 reply, but, after hesitating a little, said, "Yes ; about 
 that." After this Mr. Safford conversed more freely, 
 and it seemed a relief to him to do so. 
 
 The following conversations with Mrs. Safford oc- 
 curred at different times : " Well, dear, it will make 
 but little difference whether I go now, or wait a few 
 years longer, and then go." " Why, no, husband, it 
 will not make much difference with you, because you 
 are prepared, and death, at any time, will be gain to 
 you ; but the difference to me will be very great." 
 He quickly replied, " If any one has much to live for, 
 I have. Surely no one ever had more to render life 
 desirable than I have, and it never seemed more pleas- 
 ant to me to live than now." It was increasingly diffi- 
 cult for him to converse much, owing to the weakness 
 in his throat, which he said seemed dry and parched, and 
 he only said a few words at a time. Until the last week, 
 he occupied an easy chair in a room adjoining his bed 
 room, which he desired the family to retain as a sitting 
 room, that he might see them all around him.
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 355 
 
 Once, when being aided in getting into bed, he 
 asked, " Do you know what kind of death the doctor 
 thinks I shall die ? " This was unexpected, as he had 
 not manifested any solicitude before on that subject ; 
 but, in reply, it was said, " Probably he thinks the dis- 
 ease will have expended itself before death, it is now 
 making such havoc with you, and that your death will 
 be an easy one." " How different," he replied, " God's 
 way with me from what I have always anticipated ! I 
 have supposed I should die suddenly. Perhaps he 
 has seen that I thought too lightly of death ; and he is 
 showing me that it is no light thing to die." Mrs. Saf- 
 ford said, " I think, husband, that all this suffering must 
 be for me, rather than for you." He quickly replied, 
 " Oh, I can see reasons enough why I needed it. I 
 have always had a strong will, and that must be all 
 broken down before I can get into heaven. When I 
 have had any thing to do, it has been my habit to do 
 it, and finish it up at once ; but here God is keeping 
 me in entire suspense ; he does not tell me what he is 
 going to do with me, what shall be the end, or how 
 long I am to suffer, but holds me just here, day after 
 day, and night after night." 
 
 His nights, at this stage of the disease, were very 
 tedious, his nervous system so much enfeebled as 
 to render him extremely sensitive, and he was in 
 constant fear lest he should become impatient. His 
 prayer continually was, that he might not do any thing 
 to dishonor religion. He said, " Wife, you must watch 
 over me, and not allow me to be irritable." Bottles 
 of hot water were placed in his hands and at his feet, 
 but he could get no warmth or rest. Hours passed 
 very tardily : as the clock struck, he would say, " Is it
 
 356 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFOKD. 
 
 possible it is no later ? " but never a murmur or com- 
 plaint escaped his lips. He thought he had very little 
 patience, and said, " I keep thinking how much more 
 patiently you have borne sickness than I do." One 
 day, when he was obliged to have the window open to 
 enable him to breathe, and it was too cold for any one 
 to sit by him constantly, on entering the room, Mrs. 
 Safford said, " What is your mind dwelling upon, hus- 
 band, as you lie here alone ? " " Oh," said he, " I 
 have been thinking what a mistake we have made." 
 As he spoke with much emphasis, she was somewhat 
 alarmed, supposing he referred to the medicine, or 
 something in the treatment of his disease, and said, 
 quickly, " Mistake ! About what ? " " Why, that we 
 have not understood that God is love. And such love ! 
 How wonderful, wonderful ! I do not grasp it yet, but 
 I shall." And he made a great effort to describe it as 
 it was then being revealed to him, but language failed 
 him. At another time, reference being made to the 
 convenience of his apartments for his sickness, and the 
 goodness of God in allowing him to complete the house 
 before he was laid aside, he responded, saying, " Oh, 
 yes, it is all goodness; nothing but goodness;" and 
 after a little while added, " You must have a day of 
 thanksgiving; I do not know when, but you must 
 have one." 
 
 He could not easily be convinced that he might give 
 up all responsibility for others. He was careful for 
 those who watched with him. The first offer to per- 
 form this office which the family accepted was that of 
 a younger partner in the business firm with which he 
 was connected. He loved this young man very much, 
 and was much pleased that he was going to spend the
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 357 
 
 night with him. But when, about three o'clock in the 
 morning, Mrs. Safford entered the room, Mr. B. said 
 to her, " Your husband has not slept any, and I fear 
 you will find him quite tired out ; for he has been so 
 careful lest I should not make myself comfortable, 
 that the fire would go down, and I should get cold, or 
 that I should not get any sleep, that he has not rested 
 at all." On going to his bed, she found him exhausted 
 and restless, and said, " I fear you have not had a good 
 night ; have you been taking care of Mr. B., instead 
 of allowing him to take care of you ? " " Why, I do 
 not know ; " and then, recollecting himself, " Why, 
 yes, I believe I have been feeling all the responsibility 
 about him, myself, and every thing else." " Will you 
 not now give it all up to me, and go to sleep ? " 
 " Yes, yes, I will ; " and in a moment he sank into a 
 deep slumber. 
 
 Dr. B., one of his former pastors, came in and re- 
 marked to him, " Mr. Safford, it must be a great satis- 
 faction to you that you have been permitted to do so 
 much for the cause of your Saviour, and the benefit 
 of others." He was reclining, with his head on a 
 pillow, upon a sofa ; the tears flowed from his eyes 
 upon the pillow as he replied, " Dr. B., think of me 
 and pray for me as a poor, unworthy sinner. My sole 
 consolation is, that the blood of Christ cleanseth from 
 all sin." He delighted in the doctrine of salvation by 
 grace, and, in his extreme weakness, he repeated the 
 entire hymn, commencing with, 
 
 Grace, 'tis a charming sound." 
 
 Humility, and renunciation of all claim to any merit 
 of his own, had been a marked characteristic of his
 
 358 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 piety in health ; and these became increasingly appar- 
 ent as he drew near to the end of his course. An- 
 other hymn, which he repeated with his family assem- 
 bled on Sabbath evenings, evidently expressed the deep 
 feelings of his heart, and his manner of reciting it 
 will never be forgotten. 
 
 " Father, I long, I faint to see 
 The place of thine abode ; 
 I'd leave these earthly courts, and flee 
 Up to thy seat, my God. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 " There would I vie with all the host 
 
 In duty and in bliss ; 
 While next to nothing I could boast, 
 And vanity confess. 
 
 " The more thy glories strike my eyes, 
 
 The humbler I should lie ; 
 Thus, while I sink, my joys should rise 
 " Immeasurably high." 
 
 His brother-in-law, Rev. W. Gale, writes, " Wishing 
 to make some fuller expression of my esteem for Mr. 
 Safford, and my sense of indebtedness to him for his 
 uniform kindness to me and mine, as I was sitting by 
 him the night before his death, I said to him. ' You 
 have been a good brother to me.' He instantly re- 
 plied, though extremely weak and helpless, ' You have 
 been a better one to me, you have been a better one to 
 me ; ' thus indicating emphatically an unwillingness 
 to hear any thing relating to his own useful life, and 
 preventing me from saying more on the subject." 
 
 He used to say that he never, in his whole life, had 
 known what it was to feel slighted ; he always consid- 
 ered that he received more attention and respect than
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 359 
 
 he had a right to claim. When his sufferings had 
 become extreme, and none but the family were allowed 
 to enter the room, hearing the voice of a venerable 
 and much-esteemed citizen inquiring for him below, he 
 said, " Do allow Mr. T. to come up.; he has taken the 
 trouble to call before, and I think I can see him." 
 When this friend entered the room, he was sitting in 
 his easy chair, unable to recline on account of diffi- 
 culty of breathing. He extended his hand with a 
 smile, which was all he could do, and silently listened 
 to his kind expressions of sympathy. After the gen- 
 tleman retired, and he recovered strength, he said, 
 with a smile, " I remember, when I was putting up Mr. 
 T.'s fence, [which was perhaps thirty years previous,] 
 with my men, he came out and handed me a tem- 
 perance tract." And then remaining silent a while, 
 probably revolving in his mind events in his past his- 
 tory, he exclaimed, with emphasis and deep emotion, 
 " Wife, I am over-estimated ; I have always been over- 
 estimated ; but then, if the Lord is pleased to carry it 
 out, I don't know as I have any thing to do about it." 
 His expressions of kindness and sympathy for those 
 in attendance upon him were very tender. After he 
 became unable to hear conversation, he loved to see 
 his family around him. One day, when Mrs. Safford 
 had been out, as he knew, on some business errands, 
 she found him sitting up on her return ; and, as she 
 entered the room, he said, " I have been praying for 
 you this afternoon, that you may receive grace and 
 wisdom for the increased responsibilities that are com- 
 ing upon you." At another time, be asked, " Which 
 will make you the most happy to know that 1 wish to 
 die or to live ? " Receiving the answer, " If you must
 
 360 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFOBD. 
 
 die, I shall be happier to know that you desire to die 
 to see you happy in the near view of death." He 
 then said, " Well, God has brought me now where 
 [raising his eyes as he spoke] I long to have him take 
 me to himself, and to the holy about his throne. I 
 should love to live on with you, and do things for your 
 comfort ; and I think I could do more than I have 
 done to render you happy." Having been unwilling 
 to increase his pain by an allusion to her own sorrows, 
 she had hitherto refrained from an expression of them, 
 and, as far as possible, had appeared cheerful when in 
 his presence ; but now she could not refrain from giving 
 free vent to her grief, saying, " Notwithstanding, hus- 
 band, I am glad to have you rejoice to die if you must 
 die, still I feel that / can not live if you die. I go into 
 my little room beside yours, and frequently spend the 
 whole night in weeping." " Why, wife, you amaze me ! 
 I did not suppose you felt so. You amaze me. You 
 must not do so. You must trust in the Lord. When 
 the time of the separation comes, he will sustain you ; 
 I know he will. Do not try to be prepared for it by 
 anticipating it, but leave all in the hands of God. Suf- 
 ficient for your day will be your strength ; and I think 
 it may be you have already passed the severest part of 
 the trial. Remember what dear Jane used to say to 
 us 'Keep looking to Jesus.'' At another time, 
 when he had become wearied with a little attention to 
 business, he raised his eyes, and said to her, with a 
 smile, " Oh, how sweet it will be when we have nothing 
 to do but to look at Jesus together, and are not troubled 
 with money matters ! " He often repeated the lines, 
 
 " 'Tis sweet to look beyond our pains, 
 And long to fly away ; "
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 361 
 
 and, as better expressing his own state, 
 
 " Sweet to lie passive in his hands, 
 And know no will but his." 
 
 The power to lie passive in such continued suffering, 
 with no relief by day or by night, was, to those who 
 attended him, manifestly the effect of sustaining grace, 
 derived from intimate communion with the Saviour. 
 Once, after an attempt to describe the distress in his 
 chest, raising one hand, and pointing with a finger of 
 the other to its palm, he said, " But those nails caused 
 greater suffering. Oh, yes, Christ has suffered much 
 more than this for me." 
 
 The 28th of January, which was the Monday pre- 
 vious to his death, his eldest son and wife left him, 
 with the intention of returning in a few days. In an 
 hour or two after they had left, a change came over 
 him which indicated the near approach of death. A 
 bed was brought into his sitting room, and, as he was 
 laid upon it, we all felt, as he doubtless did, that he 
 was laid down now to die. A telegram was immedi- 
 ately sent to meet the arrival of his son in New York. 
 He was told that it had gone, and asked if he had any 
 word to say for them, in case he should not be living 
 on their arrival. He looked thoughtfully a moment, 
 and then, with perfect self-possession, delivered a most 
 affectionate message for them. 
 
 He had before this had turns of sleeping, with hard 
 breathing, and when he awoke complained of this stu- 
 por, as he called it, and said, " I should be alarmed 
 by it if it were not for the fact that I have been, for 
 several weeks, almost deprived of sleep ; " and added, 
 " Perhaps some time, when I awake from it suddenly, 
 
 31
 
 362 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 I may appear to you to have lost my mental faculties, 
 as I find it very difficult to articulate distinctly, and 
 hardly know whether I am using the right words to 
 express my ideas ; but wait until I am sufficiently 
 aroused, and you will find I have my mind perfectly, 
 and that I am just as well able to answer any question 
 about business, or any thing else, as I ever was in my 
 life." But on this day, and subsequently, he lay, not 
 asleep, but quietly ; much of the time with his eyes 
 closed, being too weak to make any effort, and appar- 
 ently unconscious of every thing that took place about 
 him. At one time, after arousing him, Mrs. Safford 
 asked, " What are you thinking about, as you lie ap- 
 parently so unconscious, seeming almost unwilling to 
 be disturbed ? " He said, in a faint, low whisper, 
 "Christ that great company." She asked, "Does 
 Christ seem very near to you ? " " Oh, yes ; some- 
 times I seem to see him as he is ; " and after a little, 
 added, " Oh, he said he would come ; " alluding to the 
 promise, " And if I go away, I will come again, and 
 receive you to myself, that where I am there ye may 
 be also." The Saviour was now manifestly fulfilling 
 these words to his servant. At another time, while 
 Mrs. Safford was sitting by him, he having been for 
 some time in this state, he suddenly opened his eyes, 
 and asked, " Is there music in this room ? " " No," 
 she replied, " there is no music here." He looked so 
 much surprised, that she listened, thinking there might 
 be some in the street, but heard none. He said again, 
 with increased earnestness, " Do not I hear music ? " 
 She answered, " No, I hear none." An expression of 
 surprise remaining on his countenance, she said to him, 
 " It is heavenly music that you hear, if any." He 
 immediately closed his eyes, as if he would listen still.
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 363 
 
 His sufferings were from this time slight. Indeed, 
 he said, " I am so entirely relieved that I should al- 
 most think there were nothing in the way of my 
 recovery, were I to judge simply by my feelings." 
 But his limbs were very much swollen, as well as his 
 body, and his tongue was almost useless. The blood 
 coagulated, so that it appeared like drops under the 
 skin. It was suggested to him that he might be re- 
 lieved by cupping. " No, no," he said ; " I do not 
 wish any thing more done." On Friday, a letter was 
 received, addressed to him, from his brother-in-law in 
 New York. He was told of it, not supposing he could 
 listen to it. But he said, " I will hear it." The letter 
 was of considerable length he heard it all. In order 
 to test his ability still to be interested in the concerns 
 of his household, and the strength of his mental fac- 
 ulties, a question was asked for information from him, 
 which involved thought and recollection. He heard 
 the question, and then gave the information with per- 
 fect correctness. An order for the collection of div- 
 idends was to be written. Mrs. SafFord told him of it, 
 and asked if she could sign it. " You sign it ? " he 
 said, with surprise. She then said, " Mr. P. can, per- 
 haps." " Let him try it," he playfully replied. A 
 little while after, he asked to be seated in his chair. 
 " Now bring the order," he said. A pen was handed 
 him, and it was with great effort, which showed strik- 
 ingly the strength of his will and resolution, his name 
 was written by him for the last time. No business of 
 an earthly nature was attempted by him after this. 
 Mr. Palmer came in, and finding him perfectly sen- 
 sible, told him the result of the year's business, as 
 they had just completed the account of stock. He
 
 364 MEMOIR OF DANIEL SAFPORD. 
 
 said, " Then subscribe for me the usual amount for 
 foreign missions." This was his last subscription 
 one thousand dollars. That evening, he asked his 
 wife to read to him the chapter giving the account of 
 Hezekiah's recovery and prayer ; which when she had 
 done, she asked, " Is there any thing here applicable 
 to your case ? " She wished to know if he had any 
 of that desire for life manifested by Hezekiah. He 
 simply said, " What he expresses about having walked 
 before the Lord with a perfect heart does not apply to 
 me." The same evening he said to her, pleasantly, 
 " Is there no little carriage we can go to heaven in to- 
 gether ? " alluding to the many rides they had taken in 
 company. She replied, " No ; I never heard of but 
 one being taken thus to heaven." " And that," he 
 added, " was a chariot of fire." 
 
 He sunk away again for some minutes, and on being 
 aroused, Mrs. Saiford said, " There is one question 
 more I wish to ask, which concerns only myself, if it 
 will not trouble you." " Ask it." " If you die, do 
 you not think it best, all things considered, for me to 
 wear mourning for you ? " He answered very dis- 
 tinctly, and with more strength of voice than he had 
 had for some time, " No, no ; I wish nothing done for 
 display nothing." He had months previously said, 
 in contemplation of his death, "I do not wish you to 
 go mourning for me all your days. I want to feel 
 that you will be happy without me, and to have you 
 take the course which will be calculated to make you 
 the most so." He had desired that a request for 
 prayer in his behalf should be sent to the church 
 meeting, saying to Mrs. Safford, " You know my feel- 
 ings sufficiently ; express them to Deacon P., who
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 365 
 
 will communicate them to the church." She said, 
 " You are willing they should pray for your life 
 are you not ? " With a little hesitation, he answered, 
 " Yes, not forgetting the ' nevertheless,' " in allusion 
 to the prayer of our Saviour, " Nevertheless, not my 
 will, but thine, be done." 
 
 That evening, after the family had left, and she was 
 alone with him, he said, " I am glad we are left alone ; 
 it is best that we should be alone sometimes. And 
 now, we will first pray together, and then we will talk 
 about some things which I wish to speak of, while I 
 have strength to do it." After the season of prayer, 
 he said, u I want you should remember, if I die, that 
 about funerals, and every thing connected with them, 
 my taste is for the greatest possible plainness and sim-> 
 plicity." Mrs. Safford remarked, " The church will 
 probably wish a public funeral." He replied, " About 
 that your feelings must be consulted ; and about every 
 thing else. As to mourning, you know what my 
 opinion and my course have been. I should be sorry 
 to subject you to severe remark and censure. You 
 recollect the directions I gave you about the place 
 where my body is to lie when we arranged the lot, and 
 the kind of gravestone which is to be put up just 
 like the others." " Are you not willing," she asked, 
 " that yours should be a little larger and taller, to dis- 
 tinguish it ? " " No, not the least. I wish no distinc- 
 tion to be made." He then gave her his opinion and 
 advice about some business matters, and requested 
 that the family should remain living just as they were 
 for at least one year, without making any change, nor 
 even then, unless they preferred to do so. 
 
 On Saturday, February 2, he appeared to be but just 
 31*
 
 366 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 alive, one eye being closed, and the other nearly so, 
 and it being difficult for him to swallow. As his wife 
 attempted to bathe his eye and moisten his mouth, he 
 said, " Oh, do not trouble yourself so much. You 
 think a great deal more about my eyes and throat than 
 I do. Lay me down at Jesus' feet, and let me die." 
 She said, " But I am afraid you will not be able to see 
 me if I do not wipe your eyes." Opening his eyes as 
 wide as he was able, he said, " Oh, yes, I shall ; I see 
 you perfectly ; I see you as well as I did several days 
 ago ; " repeating, with a smile, " Yes, I see you per- 
 fectly." He then asked, very seriously, " Have 1 
 died ? " He was answered, " No, you have never yet 
 left us ; you are in the body still." " Well," said he, 
 " let me die ; do not take me from Jesus' feet." It 
 was evident that his views of Christ and of heaven 
 had been so much more distinct and real than any he 
 had before had, that he was doubtful whether he had 
 passed through the gate of death or not. 
 
 It was so interesting to witness this state into which 
 he was brought, and his departure seemed so near, 
 that the family were called. As they surrounded his 
 bed, he was told that they were now all around him, 
 and asked if he could see them. His attention was 
 particularly called to his nephew, Rev. Mr. E., who, 
 he was told, was on his way to R., to commence his 
 new pastoral work. Receiving his hand, he said, 
 "The Lord bless you, J., and prosper you." His at- 
 tention was then directed to one standing near him, 
 who had not professed religion ; he said to her, " Make 
 Christ your friend, Jane." As their names were 
 called, he gave each a token of recognition, saying, 
 "I see you all everyone." Then closing his eyes,
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 367 
 
 he said, " Now lay me at Jesus' feet, and let me die." 
 Mr. E. proposed that we should sing the hymn, 
 
 " When I can read my title clear," 
 
 with the chorus, 
 
 " Oh, that will be joyful, 
 When we meet to part no more." 
 
 He commenced moving his hand, in time with the 
 music, but it was soon apparent that he was absorbed 
 in what was to us invisible ; and during the remainder 
 of the day he was scarcely conscious of any thing 
 passing around him. Once Mrs. Safford said to him, 
 " I am beginning to realize the fact that you belong to 
 Christ, husband, more than to me." He replied, 
 " Yes, there are many reasons why I belong to Christ." 
 She said, " I shall want to live nearer to Christ than 
 ever, and then I shall know that I am near to you." 
 He caught the idea quickly, and with unusual dis- 
 tinctness and strength of voice replied, " Oh, yes, 
 that's it, that's it ; live near to Christ, and then we 
 shall be near to each other." Perceiving her noticing 
 the settling of the blood at the end of his fingers, he 
 raised his hand, now stiff and cold, and, passing it 
 across her cheek, said, " There will soon be no more 
 tears ; they will all be wiped away by that blessed 
 hand!" 
 
 Preparation having been made for the night, he was 
 told who would sit with him. He said, " I like him 
 for a watcher. And now, can not you give me up to 
 Christ, and go to bed and go to sleep ? " This was 
 said with so much earnestness that she could not but 
 reply, " Yes I can and I will." He said, " Do,
 
 368 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAPPORD. 
 
 then ; " and, with a smile, he bade her his last " good 
 night." 
 
 The morning of the Sabbath dawned, and, unex- 
 pectedly to us all, found him in the body. As Mrs. 
 Safford approached his bedside, and inquired how he 
 had rested, instead of replying, he asked, " How are 
 you ? " and said, " Your health amazes mo ; with all 
 your care and anxiety, it amazes me." She said, " Do 
 you think you shall be in heaven to-day ? " He an- 
 swered, " I think I shall." His brother in Christ, 
 Deacon Palmer, came in, and remarked to him, " This 
 is a beautiful Sabbath." " Yes," he replied, " but 
 there's a nobler rest above." He was told, " Here is 
 your pastor, come to comfort you." He looked upon 
 him, and said, " Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, 
 saith your God ; " and then asked, " Can you tell me 
 how far it is over Jordan ? " 
 
 Miss G., one of the city missionaries, remained with 
 him through the day, and, just before noon, she read 
 to him the description of the New Jerusalem, in the 
 book of Revelation, which was the last of the written 
 word to which he listened. As he lay upon his bed, 
 utterances were from time to time escaping his lips, 
 showing that he was absorbed in the contemplation of 
 God, of Christ, and the invisible world. Once, he was 
 heard to say, " My work is done ; " again, " I shall be 
 satisfied ; I am satisfied now, but I shall be fully satis- 
 fied." His last audible expression, save a murmured, 
 " That is good," on receiving a cup of cocoa, was, 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Hallelujah ! " As 
 his head was laid back upon the pillow, it was discov- 
 ered that his spirit was departing ; the family were in
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 369 
 
 a moment at his bedside, but he breathed only once ; 
 his eyes were closed in death. ^f 
 
 Like an infant sinking to repose in its mother's arms, 
 so did he " fall asleep " in Jesus. We stood around 
 him gazing, but could only see the gentle closing of 
 the eyelids. We could not say, " Lord, if thou hadst 
 been here, he had not died," for we knew that the 
 Lord had been here through the whole. Neither could 
 we doubt that he had now taken his servant to him- 
 self; we could almost hear the rejoicings of kindred 
 spirits, as they welcomed him home ; and truly did we 
 " wish ourselves among them." 
 
 The silence of the room was broken by a member 
 of the family, standing at the foot of the bed, repeat- 
 ing the hymn, 
 
 " How blest the righteous when he dies 
 
 When sinks the weary soul to rest ! 
 How mildly beam the closing eyes ! 
 How gently heaves th' expiring breast ! " 
 
 A short prayer followed, by the nephew to whom he 
 had given his benediction, and thus the scene on earth 
 closed. Disease had sadly changed the once pleasant 
 and benign countenance ; but we could not look upon 
 it in its serene and holy peace, without hearing the 
 sweet voice of the Comforter saying, " So he giveth his 
 beloved sleep."
 
 370 MEMOIR OP DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 l!kfr. Safford died on the Sabbath, February 3, 1856. 
 His funeral was attended at the dwelling house on the 
 Wednesday morning succeeding, at nine o'clock, fol- 
 lowed by public services at the church. The follow- 
 ing account of the latter is abridged from the Boston 
 Evening Traveller: 
 
 " FUNERAL OF HON. DANIEL SAFFORD. The funeral 
 of this respected citizen, lately deceased, was attended 
 this morning, at eleven o'clock, in the Mount Vernon 
 Church. The meeting house was crowded in all its 
 parts, and many were compelled to stand in the aisles. 
 The Prudential Committee of the American Board 
 of Commissioners for Foreign Missions occupied the 
 front seats, the relatives of the deceased and the 
 mourners occupying those directly back, in the body of 
 the house. The coffin, containing the body of Deacon 
 Safford, was brought in by three bearers, and placed 
 upon a table draped in black velvet, directly in front 
 of the pulpit. While the body was being carried down 
 the aisle, the choir chanted the words, ' I am the res- 
 urrection and the life,' &c. Dr. E. N. Kirk, the pas- 
 tor of the church of which the deceased was an officer, 
 read an appropriate and impressive selection of pas- 
 sages from the Scriptures ; after which the choir 
 chanted, ' Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.' 
 Dr. Blagden, pastor of the Old South Church, then 
 delivered an address, briefly recounting the chief 
 points in Deacon Safford's history and character ; and 
 closed with repeating the .beautiful lines of Bishop 
 Heber, ' Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not 
 deplore thee,' &c. The choir then sung, < Unvail thy
 
 SICKNESS AND DEATH. 371 
 
 bosoin, faithful tomb.' After which, Dr. Nehemiah 
 Adams, of the Essex Street Church, offered an im- 
 pressive prayer, followed by the chant, ' Thy will be 
 done, through devious ways.' After the benediction, 
 an opportunity was given to the audience to look at 
 the face of the deceased, whose remains were then 
 followed to Mount Auburn by a large procession, in 
 carriages and on foot." 
 
 On the ensuing Sabbath, a funeral discourse was 
 preached by Rev. Dr. Kirk, from Rev. 3 : 12 " Him 
 that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of 
 my God ; and he shall go no more out. And I will 
 write upon him the name of my God, and the name 
 of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, 
 which cometh down out of heaven from my God ; 
 and I will write upon him my new name."
 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 MR. SAFFORD'S death was noticed extensively in the pa- 
 pers of the city. The Boston Daily Traveller of February 4, 
 1856, contained the following: 
 
 " DEATH OF HON. DANIEL SAFFORD. We regret to an- 
 nounce the death of Hon. Daniel Safford, well known to the 
 citizens of Boston as one of our most respected and honored 
 citizens. Mr. Safford has filled various public stations with 
 much credit to himself. Some years since he retired from 
 active business ; and since then his tune and energies have 
 been devoted to labors of charity and benevolence. He was 
 president of the City Missionary Society, and took an active 
 part in other organizations having for their object the tem- 
 poral and spiritual welfare of the poor and destitute. He was 
 a man of enlarged practical benevolence. We have heard 
 it said of him, and we believe the statement is true, 
 that for some years past he has given away all his income 
 for benevolent purposes. His death will cause a loss which 
 will be deeply felt. Deacon Safford was sixty-three years 
 of age." 
 
 The Evening Transcript, of the same date, remarked, 
 " The name of the Hon. Daniel Safford appears in our list of 
 deaths, this evening. Mr. Safford was widely known for his 
 high personal character, and the interest he has always man- 
 ifested in religious and philanthropic movements. He filled 
 various public stations with great credit, and leaves a name 
 and example deserving of the most honorable mention." 
 
 (372)
 
 APPENDIX. 373 
 
 Resolutions appropriate to the occasion were adopted by 
 various public bodies with which Mr. Safford had been con- 
 nected. The following are subjoined : 
 
 From the Mount Vernon Church. 
 
 BOSTON, February 9, 1856. 
 
 At a meeting of the Mount Vernon Congregational Church, 
 held in the chapel, Friday evening, February 8, brother George 
 W. Crockett, on behalf of a committee appointed by the 
 church, reported the following preamble and resolutions : 
 
 It having pleased the wise Disposer of all events to re- 
 move from the church on earth our senior deacon, the late 
 Hon. Daniel Safford, the surviving members, with a deep 
 sense of an irreparable loss, adopt the following resolves : 
 
 1. That we bow submissively to the divine will under this 
 afflictive dispensation, which has deprived us of an honored 
 leader and a beloved brother ; while we devoutly acknowl- 
 edge our obligations to the Giver of all good, who placed 
 him here as " a burning and a shining light," to the end of 
 his mortal life. 
 
 2. That we appreciate lus example and influence in all 
 that was noble and praiseworthy, and would cherish a grate- 
 ful remembrance of his wise counsels, liberal contributions, 
 and unceasing labors for our welfare ; and also of the kind- 
 ness and affectionate sympathy ever manifested toward us, 
 both as a private member and an officer of the church. 
 
 3. In his decease we recognize a loss to the community ; 
 and especially would we sympathize with the American 
 Board of Foreign Missions, the City Missionary Society, 
 the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary, and the Home for 
 Aged Females ; to all of whose objects so large a share of 
 his prayers and counsels, his labors and contributions, was 
 cheerfully given. 
 
 4. We tender our sincere sympathies to the bereaved 
 family of our deceased brother, with our united prayers that
 
 374 APPENDIX. 
 
 He who is the widow's God and the Father of the fatherless 
 may be their comforter and portion. 
 
 The above resolutions were adopted unanimously, all the 
 members of the church rising as the question was put. 
 
 On motion, the clerk was instructed to enter them upon 
 the records of the church, and also to furnish a copy to the 
 family of the deceased. 
 
 Attest, LANGDON S. WARD, 
 
 Clerk of the Church. 
 
 From the Prudential Committee of A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 MISSIONARY HOUSE, BOSTON, February 6, 1856. 
 DEAR MRS. SAFPORD : I send herewith an extract from 
 our minutes of yesterday. It indicates our feelings very im- 
 perfectly, because it simply conforms to our established pre- 
 cedents. You will need no assurances, however, that your 
 departed husband had our entire confidence as a man and as 
 a Christian. Few are better prepared to die ; few, alas ! 
 are so well prepared to live. 
 
 Sympathizing most truly with you and yours, I am, very 
 respectfully, yours, S. B. TREAT, 
 
 Secretary of A. R C. F. M. 
 
 At a meeting of the Prudential Committee, held at the 
 Missionary House, Tuesday, February 5, 1856, the opening 
 minute was as follows : 
 
 Hon. Daniel Saiford, a member of the Prudential Com- 
 mittee, having departed this life since the last meeting, the 
 following resolution was adopted, viz. : 
 
 Resolved, That, deeply sympathizing with the family of 
 our deceased friend and brother, we will make our arrange- 
 ments to attend his funeral. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of this minute be transmitted to 
 Mrs. Safford. S. B. TREAT, 
 
 Clerk of the Prudential Committee.
 
 APPENDIX. 375 
 
 From the Boston City Missionary Society. 
 
 BOSTON, March 11, 1856. 
 
 DEAR MADAM : The undersigned, privileged associates 
 of your late lamented husband in the work to which he de- 
 voted himself so unsparingly, beg leave to intrude so far 
 upon the privacy of your sorrows, as to communicate the 
 accompanying resolutions, passed at a meeting of the Board 
 of Managers of the Boston City Missionary Society, held 
 March 10th, and to assure you personally of their heartfelt 
 sympathy and abiding friendship. 
 
 To MRS. DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God to remove by death 
 from our counsels and labors our respected and beloved Pres- 
 ident, the Hon. Daniel Safford, 
 
 Resolved, That we hereby record our acknowledgment of 
 his most valuable services in the cause of city missions ; our 
 obligations as pastors and members of the Evangelical Con- 
 gregational churches in. Boston, for his wise and efficient 
 efforts in this enterprise ; and our great sorrow at the loss of 
 one who had endeared himself in an extraordinary degree, 
 as a fellow-laborer and Christian friend, to all our hearts. 
 
 Voted, That the foregoing be entered upon our records, 
 and that a copy of the same, signed by the vice president and 
 secretary, be transmitted to Mrs. Safford, with the assurance 
 of our Christian sympathy and regard. 
 
 G. W. BLAGDEN, Vice President. 
 
 A. L. STONE, Secretary. 
 
 From the Board of Managers of the Home for Aged Indi- 
 gent Females. 
 
 IN BOARD OF MANAGERS, BOSTON, April 17, 1856. 
 Mr. Grant submitted the following, which was adopted 
 unanimously : 
 
 Whereas, since we last met, it has pleased our heavenly
 
 376 APPENDIX. 
 
 Father to remove by death Daniel Safford, Esq., one of the 
 vice presidents of this association, we deem it our duty to 
 express our sincere respect for the character of the deceased, 
 and our deep sorrow for the loss which is sustained by us, in 
 common with the whole community. 
 
 Resolved, That the above be put on record, and that a 
 copy be sent to the afflicted family, as a feeble expression of 
 our sympathy in the loss they are called upon to bear. 
 
 A true copy from the records. Attest, 
 
 F. R. WOODWARD, Secretary. 
 
 From the New England Glass Company. 
 
 At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the New Eng- 
 land Glass Company, on Monday evening, February 18, 
 1856, the following preamble and resolutions were unan- 
 imously passed : 
 
 Whereas, in the providence of God, we have been de- 
 prived by death of the valuable services of our frien3 and 
 associate Director, the Hon. Daniel Safford ; it is hereby 
 
 Resolved, That, in testimony of our appreciation of his 
 high character and usefulness as a Director for many years 
 of this company, for his long, true, and devoted attention to its 
 interests, we sincerely mourn his loss, and direct this resolu- 
 tion to be placed upon our records. Also, 
 
 Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with the family of 
 the deceased, in the great loss they have sustained by this 
 afflicting bereavement, and that a copy of these resolutions 
 be sent to them by our clerk. 
 
 A true copy from the records. 
 
 JOSEPH N. HOWE, Okrk. 
 
 BOSTON, March 6, 1856. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the New 
 England Glass Company, held yesterday afternoon, the fol- 
 lowing preamble and votes were unanimously adopted :
 
 APPENDIX. 377 
 
 Whereas, we have received intelligence of the death of 
 Deacon Daniel Safford, for many years an efficient Director 
 in this company, 
 
 Voted, That we look back upon his services with gratitude 
 and satisfaction, and that we feel we sustain in his death a 
 great loss. 
 
 Voted, That this resolution be entered upon the records, 
 and a copy be sent to his family by the clerk of the corpo- 
 ration. 
 
 A true copy from the record. Attest, 
 
 SAMUEL GOULD, Clerk. 
 
 from the Mount Vernon Association of Young Men. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Mount Vernon Association, 
 held last evening, the following resolution was unanimously 
 adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That in the death of Deacon Daniel Safford, of 
 Mount Vernon Church, we, as young men, recognize the 
 death of a sincere Christian, counselor, and guide, and of 
 one whose heart ever grew warm at the success and pros- 
 perity of our beloved association. 
 
 DANIEL D. ANDERSON, Secretary. 
 
 BOSTON, February 6, 1856. 
 
 The intelligence of Mr. Safford's decease was received 
 with profound grief by a very large circle of friends and 
 acquaintances. From the numerous letters of condolence 
 which were addressed to the bereaved family, a few passages 
 are selected, which may serve not only to show the estimation 
 in which he was held by them, but to exhibit a more com- 
 plete portrait of his character, as it appeared to those who 
 best knew him. 
 
 " I need not repeat to you," writes Rev. Professor Phelps, 
 of Andover, to Mrs. Safford, " what you doubtless hear from 
 all other sources how greatly, as Christians and Christian 
 
 32*
 
 378 APPENDIX. 
 
 ministers, we feel the departure of such a man. We have 
 few such to lose ; and when one of them is taken, the great 
 cause which he loved so heartily seems to fall back on our 
 hearts with a heavier weight of responsibility. I do not 
 know of a death that has occurred in Boston since the de- 
 cease of Judge Hubbard, which has excited this feeling so 
 generally and deeply, as the death of Deacon Safford. We 
 never knew, till he was gone from us, how much his Chris- 
 tian gentleness and serenity had won upon our affections. I 
 think I speak the universal feeling of the ministry, in saying, 
 that we have respected other men ; we have trusted others ; 
 we have labored happily with others ; but him we have loved. 
 Dr. Kirk's affectionate tribute to his worth touches the hearts 
 of us all." 
 
 " 1 could write much of his character and worth," says 
 Rev. Dr. Hallock, of New York ; " modest,- self-sacrificing, 
 retiring, laborious, persevering, unwearied, liberal, ever seek- 
 ing others' good but you know it all far better than I. 
 The death of very few, if any one, in Boston, could be more 
 felt in all that pertains to the interests of the Redeemer's 
 kingdom, and the best temporal and eternal welfare of men. 
 I bless God for all he enabled him to do." 
 
 A former superintendent of the Moun^ Vernon Sabbath 
 school says of Deacon Safford, " His characteristic zeal, mod- 
 esty, and liberality were in exercise continually, in connec- 
 tion with his Sabbath school labors. He was always the first 
 choice of the teachers for superintendent ; and, though he 
 was induced to fill that post for several years, he would al- 
 ways have preferred a subordinate position. His sympathies 
 led him to search for the poor, the most needy and most 
 ignorant, and bestow on them his more abundant labors. 
 Opportunities to do good unobserved were thus opened to 
 him, which were eagerly embraced ; nor did he wait for such 
 opportunities to offer ; he made them. 
 
 " In the autumn of 1850, he spoke with the writer respect-
 
 APPENDIX. . 379 
 
 ing the disuse of committing the Scriptures to memory, which 
 was then, and still is, so deplorably prevalent. ' What can 
 be done,' he asked, Ho induce our pupils to commit the 
 Scripture references to memory, so that the questions can be 
 answered without turning to the chapter and verse, to read 
 them?' After conversation over the matter, he made the 
 following proposition that I, as superintendent, should an- 
 nounce to the school that a gentleman, whose name I was 
 not then at liberty to mention, had offered to present a Bible 
 to each pupil of the school, who should recite perfectly a 
 specified number of verses every Sabbath for one quarter. 
 
 " The announcement was made, and the teachers requested 
 to keep an accurate record of the recitations. The result 
 was, that a general impulse was given to this excellent 
 method of learning Sabbath school lessons, which continued 
 throughout the year. At the close of the first quarter, an 
 aggregate of fifteen thousand eight hundred and seventy-six 
 verses had been recited. One pupil had committed, in the 
 thirteen Sabbaths, five hundred and sixty verses, and several 
 others a very large number. Thirty-one pupils received 
 each a large volume of the Scriptures for having learned 
 over twenty verses every Sabbath, and thirty-five a smaller 
 volume for having learned over fifteen verses each week. 
 The sixty-six Bibles were purchased by me at his request, 
 so that neither the seller nor the recipients of the Bibles 
 should know the benevolent hand that furnished the money 
 to pay for them."
 
 380 APPENDIX. 
 
 MR. SAFFORD' S PROPERTY AND CHARITIES. 
 
 The impression has extensively prevailed among those 
 who judged only from the number and amount of his dona- 
 tions to benevolent purposes, that Mr. Safford possessed 
 great wealth. Such was not the case. The publishers of 
 this Memoir have obtained permission to extract from his 
 private account books. the following memoranda, which will 
 show the facts on this subject. They do this for the purpose 
 of demonstrating how much may be accomplished for good, 
 with very moderate means, if there be first a full and entire 
 consecration to the Lord ; and also how strikingly he oft ful- 
 fills the declaration of his word, " There is that scattereth, 
 and yet increaseth." 
 
 It has been mentioned (p. 104) that Mr. Safford early 
 formed a resolution no longer to accumulate property, but to 
 give his whole income, except what was needed for his sup- 
 port, to the cause of Christ. That resolution, as it stands in 
 his own hand on his book, was as follows : 
 
 "In view of the numerous calls for benevolent contributions, 
 and my accountability to God as a steward of his bounty, I 
 here record my determination to give all my future earnings, 
 and all the income of my property, after defraying the ne- 
 cessary expenses of my family, to such charitable objects as 
 shall most commend themselves to my judgment ; while I 
 would continue to pay suitable regard to economy and in- 
 dustry. DANIEL SAFFORD. 
 
 January 27, 1832." 
 
 The whole amount of his property, of every kind, at this 
 time, deducting his debts, is recorded as forty thousand one 
 hundred and sixty-seven dollars. Two years later, having 
 received, by his marriage with Mrs. Turner, some addition to 
 that sum, he adds, in his record,
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 381 
 
 " I consider it consistent with my determination, recorded 
 in 1832, to add that amount to the sum to which I then lim- 
 ited myself; considering, hereafter, all over forty-five thou- 
 sand dollars as consecrated to the Lord." 
 
 This resolution was faithfully observed during the re- 
 mainder of his life. At the close of each year he made a 
 careful inventory of his property, and whatever excess ap- 
 peared beyond the prescribed limits was entered against 
 himself as " due to charity." The entire amounts thus paid 
 by hmi for this purpose during thirty years, were as 
 follows : 
 
 1827 
 
 . . .588.04 
 
 1842 . . 
 
 1125.25 
 
 1828 
 1829 
 
 . . 717.75 
 . . 791 62 
 
 1843. . 
 1844 . . 
 
 '. 820.25 
 964.00 
 
 1830 
 
 . . 595.99 
 
 1845. . 
 
 1874.37 
 
 1831 
 
 . . 404.75 
 
 1846. . 
 
 3249.34 
 
 1832 
 
 . . 1540.30 
 
 1847 . . 
 
 2476 05 
 
 1833. ..., 
 1834 
 
 . . 1053.15 
 . . 2206.91 
 
 1848. . 
 1849 . . 
 
 3581.50 
 1819 42 
 
 1835 
 
 . . 3428 60 
 
 1850 . . 
 
 3024 87 
 
 1836 
 1837 
 
 . .6017.14 
 . . 4153.15 
 
 1851. . 
 1852 . . 
 
 4939.07 
 4303 57 
 
 1838 
 
 . . 1898.78 
 
 1853 . . 
 
 5303.03 
 
 1839 
 
 . . 4544.98 
 
 1854 . . 
 
 2584.40* 
 
 
 . . 1293.33 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 $70,825.29 
 
 This expenditure for benevolent purposes was not made in 
 a few large sums only, which could not fail to attract notice 
 by their liberality. It was the aggregate of numerous small 
 benefactions, for the most part unknown to all but the giver 
 and the recipients. We may, for the sake of example to 
 others under similar responsibilities of Christian stewardship, 
 so far intrude upon the sacredness of his private record, as to 
 show the items mentioned for a single year, that of 1837, 
 a year memorable for the distress which prevailed in the 
 commercial world : 
 
 * Thin year also he gave to his two Rons five thousand dollars each.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 JANUARY. 
 
 Monthly concert, $1.25 
 
 Student, for books, tuition, and 
 
 board, 111.60 
 
 Poor oil man 5.00 
 
 Two poor widows, 3.00 
 
 City missionary, cloak, .... 2.00 
 
 Foreign Missionary Society, . 500.00 
 
 Contribution, Andover, .... .50 
 
 Given, 2.00 
 
 Poor woman, provision store, . 2.00 
 
 Poor widows, 6.50 
 
 Tract Society, 20.00 
 
 Divinity student, 60.00 
 
 FEBRUARY. 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.25 
 
 Carriage, 1.00 
 
 Poor, 2.25 
 
 Education Society, 300.12 
 
 Books, &c., given 2.00 
 
 Given, 12.75 
 
 Do., 3.00 
 
 To A female member of F. 
 
 Street Church, 5.00 
 
 MARCH. 
 
 Divinity student, 50.00 
 
 Founder of Mt. Holyoke Sem., 6.50 
 
 Poor family, 1.25 
 
 Seamen's Friend Society, . . . 10.00 
 
 Mount Holyoke Seminary, . . 500.00 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.00 
 
 APRIL. 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.00 
 
 Poor man, 25.00 
 
 Poor woman, . . . ' 50 
 
 Given, 2.12 
 
 Do., 3.00 
 
 Deacon G., 25.00 
 
 Infant School Society, 2.00 
 
 Corban Society, 2.00 
 
 Colored woman, 1_10 
 
 Bible Society, 2.00 
 
 Given, 12.00 
 
 Female member F. St. Church, 1.00 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Paid for tuition, &c., 87.60 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.25 
 
 Spring St. Church, 1.00 
 
 Student's expenses, 17.00 
 
 Clergyman, anniversary week, 50.00 
 
 JUNE. 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.00 
 
 Clergyman, 10.00 
 
 Clergyman's wife, 5.00 
 
 Given, 3.00" 
 
 Poor family, .40 
 
 Sufferers by the fight, 10.00 
 
 JULY. 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.00 
 
 Moral and Religious Society, . 101.00 
 
 Prison Discipline Society, . . . 20.00 
 
 Poor family, 20.00 
 
 Miss Lyon 50.00 
 
 Sundries, Mount Holyoke Sem- 
 inary, 75.00 
 
 AUGUST. 
 
 Poor family, 15.00 
 
 Poor woman, &c., 6.00 
 
 Divinity student, 50.00 
 
 Given on visit, ........ 6.00 
 
 Given, traveling expenses, . . 22.00 
 
 Two dresses to girls, 4.10 
 
 Contribution, Sunday school, . 1.50 
 Pew rent at Franklin St. Church, 21.00 
 
 SEPTEMBER. 
 
 Student at college, 104.00 
 
 Do., suit of clothes, 43.44 
 
 Monthly concert, 1.00 
 
 Clergyman's family, 130.00 
 
 Paid stage, &c., 5.00 
 
 Poor widow, 5.00 
 
 Mr. C., missionary, ....... 10.00 
 
 OCTOBER. 
 
 Monthly concert, 2.00 
 
 Home Missionary Society, . . 50.00 
 
 Jews' Society, 5.00 
 
 Poor widow, 10.00 
 
 Poor widow, 2.00 
 
 Seamen's Friend Society, . . . 3.00 
 
 Sabbath school library, .... 32.58 
 
 NOVEMBER. 
 
 Mount Holyoke Seminary, . . 262.75 
 
 J. G., 20.00 
 
 Poor family 5.00
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 383 
 
 Penitent Refuge, 5.00 
 
 Sailor boy, 1.00 
 
 Given, Thanksgiving, 10.34 
 
 1.25 
 
 5.50 
 
 Year's pew rent, F. St. Church, 21.00 
 
 Subscription, do. 100.00 
 
 Poor woman, 2.00 
 
 Sabbath school children, . . . 3.00 
 
 DECEMBER. 
 
 Monthly concert, 2.50 
 
 German Church, 5.00 
 
 Sewing circle, 1.00 
 
 Mrs. A., life member 2.00 
 
 Barlow, 1.00 
 
 City missions, 5.00 
 
 Poor family, 20.00 
 
 Given, 50 
 
 Student, 90.75 
 
 Tracts and other books, .... 12.00 
 
 Poor family, 1.00 
 
 Notes to sundry persons,* . . 612.00 
 
 Poor woman, 5.00 
 
 Mount Holyoke Female Sem- 
 inary, 300.00 
 
 Total, 4,153.15 
 
 By his last will, Mr. Safford gave each of his sons five 
 thousand dollars, making, with the sums given in 1854, ten 
 thousand dollars each. The remainder he left to his wife, 
 adding, in a separate note to the latter, " If, at my decease, 
 my property should amount to more than forty-five thousand 
 dollars, my desire is, that all over and above that amount 
 should be sacredly devoted to such benevolent objects as you 
 may think will be most pleasing to God. I do not wish it to 
 be all given at once, but at such times as you may think 
 expedient D. SAFFORD." 
 
 From a notice of Mr. Safford in the Congregational Quar- 
 terly, for January, 1861, written by Rev. Mr. Langworthy, 
 we extract the following anecdote : 
 
 "In 1848, the American Board was deeply in debt. At 
 the annual meeting, held in Boston, an earnest effort was 
 made to pay off, or, at least, to greatly reduce this debt, then 
 and there ; and strong and touching appeals were made with 
 this noble end in view. Subscriptions were volunteered and 
 announced from time to time, varying from one hundred to 
 one thousand dollars each. Deacon Safford was seen to 
 enter the house, go directly to his pastor, speaking with him 
 for a moment. His pastor went immediately upon the plut- 
 
 * These were for loans to young men and others, and were now relin- 
 quished.
 
 384 APPENDIX. 
 
 form, and spoke to the treasurer of the Board, who soon 
 announced another subscription of five hundred dollars, but 
 he gave no name. It was natural enough to suspect Deacon 
 Safford as the giver, from what had transpired. To one 
 knowing his habits of giving or pledging all his probable 
 income before so late in the year, there was a natural curios- 
 ity to know how it came about. So the writer, dining with him 
 that day, half seriously and half playfully, finding him alone, 
 inquired how it was. Throwing his arm around him, and 
 drawing him close to his side, as he often did, he said, ' You 
 know Peter, and the carriage I got for Mrs. Safford. They 
 are hers; but she is now better. When I listened to the 
 condition and wants of the Board at the Temple, I thought I 
 must do something. If we should sell Peter and the car- 
 riage, we could give five hundred dollars. So I ran home 
 and asked Mrs. Safford, and she said, " Yes." Then I went 
 back and made the subscription ; but I did not mean it should 
 be known from whom it came.' The sacrifice in feeling and 
 convenience to both was great, and especially to Mrs. Saf- 
 ford, as her health was far from being restored ; but it was 
 cheerfully made, as unto Christ ; and it is worthy of remark 
 that, in this case, the will was taken for the deed by Hun for 
 whose sake it was done. A propitious Providence enabled 
 them to pay their subscription, and, after all, keep their 
 favorite horse."
 

 
 THE LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Santa Barbara 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
 Series 9482
 
 
 A 001 1 029 1 830"
 
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